Consider the three pillars of occultism: alchemy, astrology, and ritual magic. Through an exploration of these forces, get a better understanding of key terms and concepts of the occult.
Dive into the seedier side of the occult with a look at the superstitions, symbolism, and nefarious deeds that have helped stigmatize occult practices over the centuries.
Tour American occultism with a look at colonial witch trials, supernatural locales, caches of hidden knowledge, multicultural magical practices, unique religious sects, and more.
As you examine numerous cultures and practices from around the ancient world, consider practices like human sacrifice, effigies, magic spells, divination, and thaumaturgy.
Look at the larger context of occult influence in the Red Russia of Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin and better understand how the Bolsheviks set out to create a new system of faith and mysticism.
Creatures like vampires, werewolves, and zombies have become modern pop culture mainstays, but their origins are much older and more interesting than their current iterations would suggest.
Was Hitler the sole mastermind of the Nazi regime or the pawn of darker forces? Examine the realities of Nazi occultism, a tangle of charlatanism, appropriation, and pure evil.
Between the 14th and the 17th centuries, science and the occult began to separate. Ponder the mysteries of the Rosicrucians and the occult roots of science.
Delve into the world of spirit communication and necromancy from Stone Age shamans to Harry Houdini's anti-spiritualist crusade of the early 20th century.
Explore the very close relationship between mainstream religion and the occult, from snake handling and speaking in tongues to relics and miracle working.
Explore the surprising connection between the occult and another unexplainable mystery of the universe that began to take hold of the imagination in the mid-20th century: UFOs.
Are occult techniques just "mental hacks" that allow us to tap into our own natural abilities? Turn now to the utilitarian side of occultism: practical magic.
Occultism posits a hidden world inhabited by intelligent beings that we don't typically encounter in our lives. Consider these various "others" and their role in cultures around the world.
Consider what witchcraft really is and how it has been popularly conceived with a look at the controversial work of two 20th-century witchcraft scholars.
Here, consider the occult concepts and symbolism embedded in common religious practices across different traditions, including the Christmas tree and a Native American Ghost Dance.
In this episode, meet the "Mad Monk" Rasputin and consider the power of the occult to influence the political transformation of Europe in the 20th century and beyond.
Visit two notorious locales with a reputation for strange occurrences and unique purposes: Stonehenge and the "haunted" house built by American heiress Sarah Winchester.