Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are linked and controversial figures, but few people know of the underlying occult and positive-thinking philosophies that drive them, some of their advisers and most ardent followers. I caught up with respected occult historian Gary Lachman in London to dive deeper into the story detailed in his recent book Dark Star Rising: Magick and Power in the Age of Trump and his forthcoming book The Return of Holy Russia: Apocalyptic History, Mystical Awakening, and the Struggle for the Soul of the World. “Reality,” he told me, “is stranger than we want it to be.”
Diane and I visited Lachman in his flat tucked away in a London neighborhood. Lachman, a founding member of the new wave rock group Blondie, is now one of the leading scholars of alternative spirituality and the occult. The area, a longtime home for London’s artistic, intellectual and cultural elite, is marked by traditional brick two story brick homes and quiet tree-lined streets. He works on his prodigious output (now more than 20 highly regarded books and counting) in London’s world-class research libraries and in his flat surrounded by well-curated memorabilia from historical Sci-Fi films and books.
Recording the podcast at Lachman’s London flat. I found truth was stranger than fiction in this head-spinning conversation that spanned postmodernism to the occult. (Diane Bishop photo)
We talked about Dark Star Rising about the relationship between a resurgent far right in Europe and the US, and a world where a simplistic understanding of scientific materialism and post-modernism have undermined many of the grand religious narratives that used to give life meaning. He also talks about his forthcoming book The Return of Holy Russia exploring Russia’s new mix of mysticism, traditional values and social order. These trends are both part of the Russian national psyche and are also being initiated by Vladimir Putin to reinforce support for his regime and Russian expansionism. In this, Putin is partly influenced by adviser Alexander Dugin, a devotee of occult traditionalism (as was former Trump adviser Steve Bannon).
Listen to our 51 minute podcast here. You’ll find some additional background below this link which may help you follow the twists and turns of the conversation.
Lachman speaks at Watkins Books in London (Diane Bishop photo)
We were also fortunate to hear Lachman talk about Dark Star Rising the next evening at Watkins Books in London’s Theater District. As in his book, he was gracious in his talk to cite my blog post “New Thought’s Darth Vader Move” (linked below this post) as one of the inspirations for Dark Star Rising.
In a too brief summary of Dark Star Rising, Lachman argues that:
1) In the absence of grand narratives that give life meaning we’ve ended up in a post-truth world where anything goes and what’s real is what is real to you as an individual.
2) Without meaning as an anchor we’ve ended up in a strange “unreality” where entertainment is called “reality TV” even though its ultimately scripted and unreal. These shows also play out on the heightened reality of HD large screen TVs. In such a world Donald Trump parlayed his image of a decisive boss from “The Apprentice” into the White House. He is, says Lachman, the first “reality show president.”
3) People’s hunger for truth and meaning is being exploited by demagogues in Europe and the US much as cult gurus have exploited that same hunger.
4) The far right in the US and Europe has embraced the need for meaning through magic and mysticism while progressives generally mistrust spiritual beliefs and practices they consider superstitious. Many on the far right believe they used mind power to help elect Donald Trump. We can’t conclusively say that they did, notes Lachman, but we also can’t say they didn’t. “Reality,”he says, “is stranger than we’d like it to be.”
5) Our simulated media world spreads images, symbols, and ideas rapidly. Lachman says the Jungian phenomenon of synchronicity clearly shows that mind and matter interpenetrate. If an individual can “tinker” with reality why can’t a collective group, such as the far right, shape synchronicities— even the election of a president— via the Internet?
(Diane Bishop photo)
5 tips from Lachman for navigating these difficult evolutionary times:
1) Anchor in your spiritual center and strength; 2) Take a break from the digital barrage and take a longer evolutionary view; 3) Exercise your brain to understand what led to these crazy-making times to learn the way forward; 4) Snyc with the next evolutionary impulse to balance the intuitive and rational parts of your brain; 5) Take the long view. All times have their challenges and the evolutionary impulse requires resistance to manifest. (On the podcast Lachman draws lessons and inspiration from the experiences of P.D. Ouspensky who interpreted Gurdjieff’s teachings in books. Ouspensky survived turmoil and transition in Russian society to bring important spiritual insight to the world.)
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