Tim Wallace-Murphy is a respected authority on the esoteric orders and related mythology. Very well informed on such topics as Rosslyn Chapel, Rennes-le-Chateau, Rex Deus bloodlines and the Knights Templar.

In this book we are taken through the history of the esoteric orders through the means of tracking the secret traditions and their radical spiritual philosophies. This process initiates in Neolithic times with a consideration of the poorly remembered wisdom of the megalithic site builders and cave artists.

Though the core beliefs and practices of these ancients are almost entirely veiled by the mists of times we still receive one clear transmission from this area of human past. Ancient people saw something greater to life than just the physical grind of daily survival, and they reached for something higher within life itself. They also had areas of understanding that later became obscured, such as a details understanding of the Earth energy lines we now call Ley Lines.

The loss of commonly held Ley Line knowledge in the Western nations (due to suppression) and our fairly recent rediscovery of it, exemplifies the history of hidden esoteric wisdom in the cultures of a large section of the planet. Even in recorded history we find that cultures such as the ancient Egyptians had profound understandings of the nature of human life and its interaction with cosmic forces, as well as the inner psychic mechanisms of people.

In this book Tim Wallace-Murphy presents a very strong argument for the commonality of core esoteric philosophy and much of its practice. We are presented with evidence, difficult to refute, that the Hebrews and Egyptians had much in common in part because they shared the common predecessor of shamanic esoteric practices. It was then not so surprising that at some point the two groups were able to fuse much of their lore and create the embryo of modern Judeo-Christian religion. Some may be surprised to find that there is overwhelming evidence to suggest the two controversial historical figures, Moses and Akhenaton, were in fact one person. This is supported by records from the time, archaeological findings, and indeed by the religion practiced at the time.

The thread of esoteric understanding is followed through cultures in ancient Greece, Celtic Nations and the Middle East. In this we see the further commonality of human hidden wisdom in many parts of the world during recorded history. Ideas such as reincarnation, Karma, Chakras, enlightenment and self perfection as a means to perfected society were all present in disparate locations. With modern recognition of the movement of people, and thus of ideas, is suggestive that ideas moved with wandering groups or busy trade routes. Though group’s eventually diverged on many points they still held a shared core of esoteric philosophical thought. The reason for this is that the ideas had continually proven to be effective in forging a better way of living as a harmonious society.

The question that needs to be asked, and which is well tackled in this book, is what is the use of this current under the surface of historical events?

It transpires that virtually all notable positive progression in human history has been brought about by members of esoteric traditions. Not by exoteric religions nor by pure mechanistic science as many would suppose. A long list of figures recorded in our history as notable movers and shakers for advancement are also now recognised as adherents to esoteric spiritual philosophy and members of secretive wisdom orders. Perhaps rather than secretive it is more useful to say ‘initiatory’. Initiation is all that it takes to be made aware of the retained information and anyone willing to bring his life into a place where initiation was practicable could partake in the wisdom irrespective of class or religious background.

The most fascinating area of elucidation in my view had to be the study of the early Christians. Of course when we say early Christians we are really talking about slightly radical Hebrews involved in Judaic religious philosophy. Most modern Christians do not comprehend the idea that Jesus would not have seen himself as outside of Judaism, nor would any of the disciples or early members of his spiritual group. There is not point at which Jesus makes statements of ‘blasphemy’ such as calling himself God, or suggesting people should drink symbolic blood.

I was very excited to find how much evidence there is to show that Jesus was a secondary Messiah after his brother James, and how James was the replacement for John the Baptist after he lost his head. James is shown to have been the spiritual messiah whilst Jesus was the more secular or political messiah. The ways in which such matters have been covered up by the Christian churches are very telling. I won’t ruin all the surprises but he most notable point is the fact the disciples referred to Paul (St. Paul the founder of modern Christianity) as the, ‘spouter of lies’. It is well known that Paul never met Jesus and placed upon himself the mantle of ‘apostle’.

Whereas Jesus and his people were the Nazarene sect of the Essene Jews and fully enmeshed in the Hebrew traditions, Paul took it upon himself to represent Christianity for the gentiles. It is then not so surprising that in Paul’s version of the teachings we find many aspects that would appeal to pagans rather than to Jews, such as divine sacrifice, blood drinking, transfiguration and the like. It is a sad fact that the beautiful spirituality of James and Jesus is mostly obscured by a bastardisation brought about by a self aggrandising tertiary figure wading in from the side lines of historical events.

The new Christianity adopted by the Roman Empire, and later refined for political reasons, suited such purposes as war and the oppression of objectionable ideas. These things it very much enhanced and perfected. We likely all know of horrors brought about by the supposedly loving mother church in Rome. The terrors of the crusades, burning of people as witches, decimation of the Cathars, religious inquisitions and crushing of alien cultures all form the backbone of modern Christian history. Tim Wallace-Murphy is the first man to educate me on the story of the Cathars and it is a sad one to say the least. If this had not come about the enlightenment in Europe would likely have occurred hundreds of years earlier than it did.

The founding of modern society has a great debt to those that kept the flame burning and managed to pass it on through hidden esoteric orders. Even the Knights Templars (not everyone favourite organisation) did a powerful amount of good for humanity. These more enlightened knights helped to make international trade a safer affair and allowed the seed of modernisation and betterment for all to find soil. Rather tellingly of their hidden beliefs, they also took no active role in the crusade against the Gnostic Christian Cather’s. They would of course later fall fowl of similar accusations of heretical thinking themselves. It is well argued that they were Gnostic Christians themselves and held strong evidence for an alternative picture of Christian history (hence the Church allowing them such a powerful position).

Once the church had finished its orgy of violence and almost every culture with an overt esoteric system had been put to sword and flame mankind was sufficiently retarded to allow the horrors of modern warfare to come about. Our barren spiritual landscape assisted in the ultimate horrors of the first and Second World War. The powerful internal forces of spiritual understanding were now mostly absent in our world, men were instead full of notions such as patriotism and blind obedience to leader figures.

In pre-war Germany Hitler’s Nazis used their own understanding of hidden wisdom to subvert the spiritually bereft common man. Though perverted, the Nazi doctrine contained philosophical aspects that resonated with a spiritually hungry and hugely down trodden German nation. Having lost the true thread they made do with a twisted version to empower them during a time of great adversity. This was the true evil genius of the Nazi movement and the reason why it was able to lead a nation in ruins to almost complete domination of our planet.

The pure version of the esoteric traditions is much more powerful of course, and may yet lead our modern spiritually bankrupt culture to a happy ending if adopted en-masse.

Tim Wallace-Murphy takes us to a conclusion which reflects this very idea of a last hope being kept alive in the mystery schools. The initiates of the Celtic, Greek, Hebrew, Egyptian and other ancient peoples, have passed on a flame which can empower man to be a force of great good in the world. It also teaches of a brotherhood of man in which we are all our brothers’ keepers. With speculation on an end time for our materialist culture now abounding (see the 2012 phenomena for example) he raises the possibility of a hidden hope for humanity. It is not yet too late for a global culture based on a love of life to arise, strengthened by the loving gentle men and women of history who writhed in the fires of the dark brotherhoods rather than betray their sacred duties to generations yet to be born. We owe them a debt; we owe them the manifestation of their dreams upon the face of the Earth. With the help of the hidden esoteric traditions of the West, and the more overt esoteric traditions of the East, mankind can yet prevail. Let us not go quietly into the night.

This book is without doubt the most comprehensive and well informed examination of the history of the Western esoteric tradition I have encountered. Tim Wallace-Murphy has succeeded in both shining a great light on our deliberately obscured philosophical history, and in raising my hope that a new enlightened culture will rise phoenix-like from the ashes of our dying materialist mechanistic order. If you desire to understand the wider view of how our modern civilisation grew to what it is, and what went wrong, then this book is a must read.

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By Bruce Fenton