In Ad Lucem’s world history, as well as our own, western esotericism and various occult movements gained momentum in the late 19th century. This was partially a countering phenomenon to the strictly rational fields of science, or perhaps a way to explain what science could not, and a pursuit to bridge the gaps between religion and science.

 

In Ad Lucem, the popularisation of occultist and spiritualistic activities as parlor games among the upper crust of the society, and the formation of secret societies to alleviate the boredom of the rich soon became quite a diluted and mundane shadow of their origins. However, there are those who are truly capable, truly knowledgeable and those who truly believe in the powers with which some inane, inebriated party-quests dare to casually trifle with. Those who see.

 

In our game setting, there are three major branches of occultism during the late 19th century: Spiritualism, Enlightenment and Primalism. It is worth noting that all branches have “good” and “evil” practices, for instance, the right- versus the left-handed path in the Kabbala, or Tantra with its rituals for murder, while we today (as modern individuals) mostly would associate it with “Tantric sex”. Below are more detailed explanations for all the branches included in Ad Lucem’s world.

 

Spiritualism

Spiritualism is perhaps the most known of all the occult traditions, and séances that allow people to communicate with the dead happen in nearly every British city.  At the start of the 20th century it is beginning to go out of fashion, with many of its practitioners exposed as con men and charlatans.

No matter how many are exposed, however, there remains that which not even the sharpest minds of the day can explain. Voices in the dark, spirit boards answering in languages that the medium could not possibly know, and spirits reacting violently when challenged by non- believers.

 

The original practices and traditions seem to have largely evaporated from general memory, and Spiritualists are widely counted off as ‘phooey’.

 

In a fairly unorthodox way of reasoning, we are including some practices of Christian religion (“magic of God”, exorcism, channeling, lay on hands healing etc.) within this realm of magic.

 

Enlightenment

Western Occultism rose to prominence around the same time as the great pyramids were uncovered in Egypt, and the general interest in the occult grew, as it seemed to be offering solutions and answers that science could not.

Enlightenment is mostly forged from a mix of Renaissance esoteric thought, egyptian lore and Christian beliefs, aiming to usher people into a new age of spiritual enlightenment, as the generalising title suggests. First and foremost in this endeavour stands the Hermetic Order of The Golden Dawn is a “secret society” with members from all layers of the English society (or so they claim, at least) and connections abroad.

The Hermetic order is a very strict organisation with a clear hierarchy, and for each new stage of initiation the practitioner gets access to new secrets. The magic beliefs focus heavily on precisely formulated rituals, magical languages and words, such as those of Enochian (language of angels) and the uncovering of knowledge from earlier magical cultures, such as the Rosicrucians,  Egyptians or even Atlantis.

 

For many, being a part of one of these secret societies is counted as either the height of sophistication, a means of escaping boredom or the best way to make connections with the powerful. Especially after so many famous people have become members of The Golden Dawn, joining such a society has risen in status. (Noted famous members: W.B Yeates, Bram Stoker, Aleister Crowley, E.Nesbit)

 

Examples of occultist enlightenment paths include: Gnostics, Order of Isis, Kabbala and Order of Oriental Templars.

 

Primal

This branch covers a very wide range of occult practices and beliefs, from the Indian Tantric acts to the practices from the darkest parts of Africa. As the colonial Englishmen and their servants returned home to England, they brought with them the traditions from the regions they had been in. Very often these beliefs were somehow modified, such as Vodoun (or ‘Voodoo’) which received the “Christian treatment”, while purists prefer a more “native” approach, fully accepting the practices in their original form. All of these are something that often are disregarded as “primitive” or “foolish superstition”, but of course those who practice them know better.

Primalism often draws from a symbolic connection between spell casting and its results, such as performing acts on a magical fetish to bring about the desired effects, or blood sacrifices.

 

Examples of Primalistic paths include: Vodoun/Voodoo, YIH King and Tantra