-24% ✨ New The Dedalus Book of the 1960s: Turn Off Your Mind (Revised) by Lachman, Gary

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The Dedalus Book of the 1960s: Turn Off Your Mind (Revised)

Name: The Dedalus Book of the 1960s: Turn Off Your Mind (Revised)
Price: 22.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Author: Lachman, Gary
ISBN: 9781912868445

✍️ Lachman, Gary

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📚 ABOUT THE BOOK

Uncover the hidden occult currents that shaped the 1960s counterculture, far beyond peace and love.

Gary Lachman's revised edition courageously unearths the esoteric underpinnings of the 1960s, challenging romanticized notions of the 'Love Generation.' He meticulously charts the mystical and magical influences that permeated the era, connecting figures from The Beatles and Timothy Leary to Charles Manson and Anton LaVey. This isn't just a nostalgic look back; it's a provocative exploration of how occultism fueled both utopian aspirations and darker, more sinister manifestations, including 'suicide cults' and the shadowy operations of intelligence agencies. Prepare for a radical re-evaluation of a pivotal decade.

Key themes

{'title': 'Esoteric Roots of Counterculture', 'body': "Lachman meticulously reveals how various occult traditions, from ceremonial magic to Eastern mysticism, were not peripheral but central to the formation of the 1960s counterculture. He demonstrates how these esoteric philosophies deeply influenced the era's art, music, philosophy, and social experiments, shaping its unique cultural landscape in profound and often overlooked ways."} {'title': 'The Aquarian Shadow', 'body': 'This book delves into the unsettling duality of the Age of Aquarius, contrasting its idealistic visions of peace and spiritual awakening with its darker, more destructive expressions. It explores the rise of cults, extremist ideologies, and the societal fragmentation that emerged alongside utopian dreams, arguing that the occult current flowed through both the light and shadow of the decade.'} {'title': 'Occult Icons & Influence', 'body': "The author examines the direct engagement of iconic figures—including rock stars, spiritual gurus, and notorious cult leaders—with occult and esoteric practices. He illustrates how these individuals either consciously adopted magical worldviews or were unknowingly swept up in the era's pervasive mystical currents, thereby influencing millions and shaping the decade's enduring legacy."}

🏛 Dedalus 📅 2022 📖 564 pages 🌐 en 📐 Paperback ISBN: 9781912868445

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Fun fact

Lachman's revised examination of the 1960s is an indispensable, if unsettling, read for anyone interested in the occult's profound impact on modern history. He masterfully unearths the esoteric roots of the counterculture, connecting the dots between flower power and darker, cultic phenomena. While it might disquiet those who prefer a purely romanticized view of the era, this book offers an unparalleled, deeply researched, and utterly compelling alternative narrative. Essential for serious students of esotericism, cultural studies, and anyone seeking to understand the true complexities of a pivotal decade.

📝 Description: The Dedalus Book of the 1960s: Turn Off Your Mind (Revised)

In The Dedalus Book of the 1960s: Turn Off Your Mind, Gary Lachman uncovers the Love Generation's roots in occultism and explores the dark side of the Age of Aquarius. His provocative revision of the 1960s counterculture links Flower Power to mystical fascism, and follows the magical current that enveloped luminaries like the Beatles, Timothy Leary and the Rolling Stones, and darker stars like Charles Manson, Anton LaVey, and the Process Church of the Final Judgment. Acclaimed by satanists and fundamentalist Christians alike, this edition includes a revised text incorporating new material on the 'suicide cult' surrounding Carlos Castaneda; the hippy serial killer Charles Sobhraj; the strange case of Ira Einhorn, 'the Unicorn'; the CIA and ESP; the new millennialism and more. From H. P. Lovecraft to the Hell's Angels, find out how the Morning of the Magicians became the Night of the Living Dead.

⭐ Reader reviews

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⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.4/5

★★★★★

If you're seeking a profound, revisionist understanding of the 1960s, or are fascinated by the intersection of occultism and cultural history, this book is essential. Readers drawn to the darker currents of mysticism and the hidden influences behind societal shifts will find Lachman's research…

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❓ Frequently asked questions

Far from it. Lachman presents a critical, often unsettling, examination of the era. He dismantles romanticized narratives, exposing the darker, occultic undercurrents and ideological pitfalls that accompanied its perceived idealism.

Indeed. This revised edition incorporates significant new research, including insights into the 'suicide cult' around Carlos Castaneda, the hippy serial killer Charles Sobhraj, CIA involvement with ESP, and the 'new millennialism,' among other fascinating additions.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Esoteric Roots of Counterculture

Lachman meticulously reveals how various occult traditions, from ceremonial magic to Eastern mysticism, were not peripheral but central to the formation of the 1960s counterculture. He demonstrates how these esoteric philosophies deeply influenced the era's art, music, philosophy, and social experiments, shaping its unique cultural landscape in profound and often overlooked ways.

The Aquarian Shadow

This book delves into the unsettling duality of the Age of Aquarius, contrasting its idealistic visions of peace and spiritual awakening with its darker, more destructive expressions. It explores the rise of cults, extremist ideologies, and the societal fragmentation that emerged alongside utopian dreams, arguing that the occult current flowed through both the light and shadow of the decade.

Occult Icons & Influence

The author examines the direct engagement of iconic figures—including rock stars, spiritual gurus, and notorious cult leaders—with occult and esoteric practices. He illustrates how these individuals either consciously adopted magical worldviews or were unknowingly swept up in the era's pervasive mystical currents, thereby influencing millions and shaping the decade's enduring legacy.

💬 Quotes from the book

«The Summer of Love was not merely a spontaneous blossom of peace; it was a potent alchemical crucible, brewing both enlightenment and dissolution under the watchful eyes of ancient, reawakened forces.»

«To truly comprehend the era, one must look beyond the psychedelic veneer and into the grimoires that guided its most influential, and often most dangerous, architects.»

📜 Historical context

Lachman's work stands as a crucial counter-narrative to conventional histories of the 1960s, which often sideline or ignore the pervasive esoteric influences. It builds upon and expands the tradition of cultural criticism that explores the occult's role in shaping modernity, offering a unique lens that connects the seemingly disparate dots between flower power, intelligence operations, and dark cults, placing the decade firmly within a broader magical-historical continuum.

📚 Glossary

Mystical Fascism
Age of Aquarius
Morning of the Magicians

📔 Questions to reflect on

{'question': 'How might our understanding of contemporary cultural movements change if we consistently examined their hidden, esoteric, or philosophical underpinnings as deeply as Lachman does for the 1960s?'}
{'question': "Reflect on a historical period or subculture you're familiar with. Can you identify any 'hidden currents' or esoteric influences that might have shaped its trajectory, similar to those explored in this book?"}
{'question': "The book explores the duality of utopian ideals and darker outcomes. Where do you see this 'Aquarian Shadow' manifesting in present-day spiritual or social movements?"}