Making the Ordinary Extraordinary: My Seven Years in Occult Los Angeles with Manly Palmer Hall — Occult Philosophy

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🕯️ Occult Philosophy

Making the Ordinary Extraordinary: My Seven Years in Occult Los Angeles with Manly Palmer Hall

Name: Making the Ordinary Extraordinary: My Seven Years in Occult Los Angeles with Manly Palmer Hall
Price: 16.99 USD
Availability: OutOfStock
ISBN: 9781644113752

✍️ Tamra Lucid, Danny Goldberg

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4.5

(1 review)

$16.99

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

This memoir offers an unparalleled glimpse into the private world of esoteric giant Manly P. Hall during the vibrant 1980s Los Angeles occult scene. Through Tamra Lucid's unique perspective, we witness her unexpected journey from discovering Hall's *Secret Teachings* to becoming his trusted confidante and "girl Friday." Lucid recounts her deep friendship with Hall and Ronnie Pontiac, initially mistaken as Hall's potential successor, revealing the quirky characters and hidden dynamics within the Philosophical Research Society, including the enigmatic "Mad Marie." It's a personal tale of initiation into a fascinating, bygone era of mystical exploration.

🕯️

Occult Philosophy

Praise for this book

“Beautifully written, touching, historical, fast-paced, and fun. This is a book magical people everywhere will love and learn from.”

— Amanda YaTeS Garcia, author of Initiated: Memoir of a Witch

🏛 Inner Traditions International 📅 2021 📖 160 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781644113752

Fun Fact

This memoir is a genuine treasure, offering a vibrant, unsentimental look behind the curtain of Manly P. Hall's later life and the captivating 1980s LA occult scene. Lucid excels at humanizing a legend, presenting both the profundity and the peculiarities. Readers seeking a purely academic or reverential biography might be surprised, but those hungry for an authentic, often humorous, and deeply personal journey into esoteric history will find it immensely rewarding. It stands as a vital, character-driven addition to the Hall canon.

📝 Description: Making the Ordinary Extraordinary: My Seven Years in Occult Los Angeles with Manly Palmer Hall

An intimate, funny, yet tragic portrait of extraordinary esoteric scholar Manly P. Hall and the occult scene of 1980s Los Angeles - Details how the author and her boyfriend developed a close friendship with Manly Hall and how Hall at first mistook her boyfriend as his heir apparent - Explains how Hall adopted the author as his "girl Friday" and personal weirdo screener, giving her access to the inner circles of occult Los Angeles - Richly depicts the characters who worked and gathered at Hall's Philosophical Research Society, including Hall's wife, the famed "Mad Marie" In the early 1980s, underground musicians Tamra Lucid and her boyfriend Ronnie Pontiac discovered the book The Secret Teachings of All Ages at the Bodhi Tree bookstore in Los Angeles. Poring over the tome, they were awakened to the esoteric and occult teachings of the world. Tamra and Ronnie were delighted to discover that the book's author, Manly Palmer Hall (1901-1990), master teacher of Hermetic mysteries and collector of all things mystical, lived in LA and gave lectures every Sunday at his mystery school, the Philosophical Research Society (PRS). After their first tantalizing Sunday lecture, Tamra and Ronnie soon started volunteering at the PRS, beginning a seven-year friendship with Manly P. Hall, who eventually officiated their wedding in his backyard. In this touching, hilarious, and ultimately tragic autobiographical account, Tamra shares an intimate portrait of Hall and the occult world of New Age Los Angeles, including encounters with astrologers, scholars, artists, spiritual seekers, and celebrities such as Jean Houston and Marianne Williamson. Tamra vividly describes how she used her time at the PRS to learn everything she could not only about metaphysics but also about the people who practice it. But when Tamra begs Hall to banish a certain man from the PRS--the same man who inherited Hall's estate and whom his wife Marie later alleged was Hall's murderer--Tamra and Ronnie are the ones banished. Tamra's noir chronicle of an improbable friendship between a twenty-something punk and an eighty-year-old metaphysical scholar reveals Hall not only as an inspiring esoteric thinker but also as a genuinely kind human being who simply wanted to share his quest for inner meaning and rare wisdom with the world.

📑 What's inside

Foreword by Danny Goldberg
Cast of Characters
Making the Ordinary Extraordinary
The Big Book
My First Sunday at the Philosophical Research Society
First Lecture
The Inner Circle
Appointment with Destiny
The Japanese Altar
9 Pluto
At Home with the Halls
Jazz Cigarettes
The Alchemy of Baking
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
Fabulous Creatures
The Pinch Hitter
Warnings from the Sybils
Book Hunting with the Halls
Midnight Archaeology
The Space Mother
Lost and Found
Two Funerals
A Wedding
The Society of Five Fellows
The Ice Cracks
Regulars
Among the Hungry Ghosts
The Yellow Sweater Cult
One Very Bad Apple
The Curtain Falls
Cassandra
Don't Look Back
False Sunrise
To the Strongest
An Olympian Goodbye
The Rest of Art
Applied Metaphysics
Epilogue
"Mad Marie's" Zucchini Pancake Recipe
About the Author

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

This memoir succeeds in humanizing a towering figure of esoteric thought, offering a fresh, personal view of the Philosophical Research Society. However, it may not suit readers seeking rigorous academic analysis or those uninterested in biographical anecdotes from the 1980s Los Angeles scene. It is less about profound philosophical theory and more about the social fabric of a specific mystical community. Those expecting dense metaphysical treatises might find the narrative too anecdotal, but fans of behind-the-scenes glimpses into occult history will likely enjoy its candid and engaging storytelling style.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers fascinated by the inner workings of esoteric institutions will find this memoir a delightful and insightful journey. If you are drawn to the legacy of Manly P. Hall or interested in how philosophical societies operate behind closed doors, Lucid’s narrative provides a rare, intimate perspective. It is ideal for those who appreciate personal stories of spiritual initiation and the quirky dynamics of community life within occult circles. The book offers warmth and humor, making the abstract concepts of esoteric philosophy feel grounded and accessible through the author's unique experiences as Hall's trusted confidante.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

If you’re captivated by the personal lives of esoteric masters, the vibrant history of occult movements, or the unique blend of spirituality and eccentricity found in 1980s Los Angeles, this memoir is an essential read. Prepare for an intimate journey into a hidden world.

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

This memoir succeeds in humanizing a towering figure of esoteric thought, offering a fresh, personal view of the Philosophical Research Society. However, it may not suit readers seeking rigorous academic analysis or those uninterested in biographical anecdotes from the 1980s Los Angeles scene. It is less about profound philosophical theory and more about the social fabric of a specific mystical community. Those expecting dense metaphysical treatises might find the narrative too anecdotal, but fans of behind-the-scenes glimpses into occult history will likely enjoy its candid and engaging storytelling style.

❓ Frequently asked questions

While Hall's teachings are the backdrop, the book focuses more on his personal life, his relationships, and the daily operations of the Philosophical Research Society. It's a character study and a cultural snapshot.

Absolutely. The narrative is accessible, portraying Hall as a compelling figure within a fascinating social scene. It serves as an excellent introduction to his world, even for those new to his work.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Occult Los Angeles (1980s)

The book vividly transports readers to a specific era and locale, detailing the underground mystical scene of 1980s Los Angeles. It paints a rich picture of the characters, organizations, and spiritual fervor that defined the city's esoteric landscape, offering a rare, insider's view beyond the public façade.

Mentorship and Succession

At its heart, this narrative explores the complex relationship between the aging esoteric master, Manly P. Hall, and the young, aspiring occultists, Tamra Lucid and Ronnie Pontiac. It delves into Hall's search for an intellectual heir and the nuanced dynamics of power, expectation, and eventual disillusionment within a spiritual lineage.

Insider's Esoteric Biography

Rather than a dry academic biography, this work presents an intimate, personal account of Manly P. Hall, revealing his quirks, vulnerabilities, and brilliance through the eyes of someone who knew him profoundly. It offers a humanizing portrait of a legendary figure, demystifying the myth while honoring his profound legacy.

📜 Historical context

This memoir provides a crucial, firsthand account of Manly P. Hall's later years, a period often less documented than his earlier rise to prominence. It bridges the gap between the golden age of esoteric publishing and the evolving occult landscape of the late 20th century, offering a unique perspective on the continuation of Hermetic and mystical traditions in modern America.

📚 Glossary

Manly P. Hall
Philosophical Research Society (PRS)
Girl Friday

📔 Questions to reflect on

How might a personal, intimate relationship with a revered spiritual or intellectual figure reshape one's understanding of their public persona and teachings?
What elements of the 1980s Los Angeles occult scene, as described, resonate or differ from contemporary esoteric communities you might know or imagine?
Reflect on the concept of mentorship and succession in esoteric traditions. What makes for a true heir, and what challenges arise in such a dynamic?