The Golden Thread: The Timeless Wisdom of the Western Mystery Traditions Joscelyn Godwin Foreword by Richard Smoley 172 pages 5 ½ x 8 ½ $16.95 paper 978-0-8356-0860-2

The Golden Thread weaves deep insights into the history of Western esoteric thought, revealing its hidden though foundational impact on the modern world. Joscelyn Godwin's clear voice guides and expands our understanding in unexpected and rewarding ways, illuminating fascinating and little explored areas of the perennial philosophy.

The Western Esoteric Tradition, including Hermeticism, Gnosticism, alchemy, magic, and theosophy, can be viewed as a continuous thread running beneath the surface of Western history. Those within the walls of traditional faith, and even more so those outside it, have all drawn upon its perennial wisdom throughout the ages.

The Golden Thread traces the interconnectedness of esoteric wisdom in the Western world, from classical antiquity to contemporary Europe and America. Joscelyn Godwin lends personal perspective to an arrangement of text that is historical and wisdom that is timeless, creating a source of inspiration that calls us to action in our everyday spiritual practice. Every chapter, therefore, makes reference to some aspect of contemporary life and issues of immediate concern.

Elegantly written and not without irony and humor, readers will appreciate the non-threatening tone of Godwin’s writing, which is not meant to preach or convert but rather inform the public on an often baffling field. Educated readers who are curious about the esoteric and mystery traditions and interested in finding surprising, new approaches to subjects that veer away from the trends of current thought will be particularly drawn to this book.

Reviews

Endorsements

The Golden Thread weaves deep insights into the history of Western esoteric thought, revealing its hidden though foundational impact on the modern world. Joscelyn Godwin's clear voice guides and expands our understanding in unexpected and rewarding ways, illuminating fascinating and little explored areas of the perennial philosophy.
—John Major Jenkins, philosopher; author, Unlocking the Secrets of 2012

The Golden Thread is Joscelyn Godwin’s beautifully written and engaging thematic set of meditations on subjects strung like beads along the long golden thread of ancient wisdom. Thoughtful and thought provoking, this is a delightful and erudite collection of gently subversive essays—a book to savor.
—Arthur Versluis, author, Magic and Mysticism and The New Inquisitions; professor, Michigan State University

I first read these essays when they were published in Lapis. They were brilliant then and they're brilliant now. Joscelyn Godwin is a modern day psychopomp, leading us into the secret chambers of the ancient world. With him as our guide, the mysteries of the past become immediate and compelling, urgent, timeless and alive.
—Gary Lachman, author, In Search of P.D. Ouspensky and Rudolf Steiner: An Introduction to His Life and Work

I am always delighted when a new book by Joscelyn Godwin is published. Godwin has the rare gift of discussing history—and esoteric history, no less—in an erudite yet very accessible way that is a pleasure to read. The Golden Thread is not to be missed.
—Jay Kinney, co-author, Hidden Wisdom; former editor, Gnosis Magazine

Joscelyn Godwin was born in England in 1945, and educated as a choirboy at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, then as a music scholar at Radley College and Magdalene College, Cambridge. In 1966 he came to the United States and earned a Ph.D. in Musicology from Cornell University. After two years teaching in Cleveland, he returned to New York State and joined the music faculty at Colgate University. He has taught Music History at Colgate since 1971.

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