The Call of the Old Gods: My Occult Journey on the Pagan Path

(Paperback)

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Personal revelations on living a magical life

Examines the rise of Paganism in Europe and the U.S. from the late twentieth century

Explores numerous pagan and esoteric practices, including Stav (a form of Nordic Tai Chi), sacred gardening, breath work, and many seasonal rites, rituals, and ceremonies

Includes rare personal accounts of the authors friendships with pagan luminaries and occult scholars

For millions of people, the spiritual journey is focused on a God in heaven. But what if the answers we are seeking lie in the re-enchantment of life In this illuminating workpart memoir, part meditationscholar and pagan practitioner Christopher McIntosh takes readers on the deeply personal quest that led him to paganism, illustrating how forming stronger connections to the world around us awakens the magic that lives within us.

There was a time when McIntosh believed that a spiritual path should fulfill four centers: the soul, the mind, the heart, and the belly. He later discovered, however, that there was a fifth component to this mystical equation: the feet. The land on which we stand and to which we feel a profound relatedness is the key to wholeness and inner peace. These subtle but significant realizations about connection to the land and nature inspired McIntosh and ultimately led to his following of what he calls the Fivefold Path. He also recounts pivotal meetings with pagan luminaries and important figures from esoteric scholarship, the arts, and the occult renaissance of the twentieth century, including Colin Wilson, Joscelyn Godwin, Keith Critchlow, and Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke, as well as offers an evolving portrait of the occult scene of the late twentieth century.

Woven throughout with examples of seasonal rites and rituals, reflections on sacred gardening, and the practice of energetic breath work, as well as a deep dive into Stav, a form of Nordic Tai Chi, this book provides valuable insight into the pagan world as both a field of study and a system of practice.

Author Bio

Christopher McIntosh is a British-born writer and historian specializing in the esoteric traditions of the West. He has a doctorate in history from Oxford University, a degree in German, and a diploma in Russian. The author of many books, including Beyond the North Wind, Occult Russia, and Occult Germany, he lives in Lower Saxony, North Germany.