A Secret History of Secret History, Part II

In the second episode of "The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast," Earl Fontainelle delves into the history of Western Esotericism, particularly focusing on the period from the late Medieval era to modernity. He critiques the common historical narrative that overlooks the Middle Ages, emphasizing the importance of Jewish Kabbalah, Christian mysticism, and the intellectual contributions of the Islamic world, especially in Southern Spain. Fontainelle then discusses the esoteric movements of the Renaissance and Reformation, including Christian Kabbalah, Rosicrucianism, Christian Theosophy, and Illuminism, and introduces the concept of "mnemohistory" to distinguish between historical events and the myths surrounding them. He concludes with a brief overview of modern occultism, spiritualism, and the New Age movement, setting the stage for a discussion with Professor Wouter Hanegraaff in the next episode.