Wondrium Now: Secret Societies and the Occult

Introduction

• Host: Rich Burnett
• Guest: Rick Spence, Professor Emeritus of History, University of Idaho
• Series: "Secrets of the Occult" streaming on Wondrium

Overview of the Occult

• "Occult" means hidden
• Not inherently good or evil, depends on intent
• Greater reality beyond our senses
• Occult practices include divination, alchemy, witchcraft, Satanism, UFOs, Santa Claus, quantum physics
• Influence on historical events, politics, crime, culture, and religion

Occult Rituals and Traditions

• Rituals involve a series of actions for a desired result
• Example: Christmas tree as a ritualistic practice
  • Use of evergreen trees, specific placement, decoration, placing gifts underneath

Occult in American History

• Native American traditions also have occult elements similar to Old World cultures
• Puritans viewed Native practices as devilish
• Common language of magic and spirits among separate cultures

The Role of Satan

• Ancient gods were neither fully good nor bad
• Evolution of Satan parallels ambiguous ancient gods
• Modern Satanism as an inversion of Christianity

Real-World Dangers of the Occult

• Philosophy and techniques to access greater world
• Requires preparation, akin to venturing into the wilderness
• Importance of intention in occult practices

Occult and Commerce

• Ouija board: Invented by Charles Kennard and William Fold in 1891
• Popularized by Parker Brothers and Hasbro

Viewer Questions and Conspiracy Theories

Illuminati

• Historical Bavarian Illuminati led by Adam Weishaupt
• Existence from 1776 to 1786
• Not destroyed, possibly continued in less visible form
• Modern myths about their existence

JFK and Secret Societies

• JFK's speech addressed secrecy and secret societies
• Connection between his assassination and secret societies is speculative

Influence of Illuminati

• Speculation about the Illuminati's influence on culture, politics, and pandemics
• No definitive proof of their current existence or activities

Closing

• Rick Spence's work can be found through the University of Idaho and Wondrium
• Wondrium offers a variety of educational content across different subjects
• Stay updated through Wondrium's social media for upcoming shows and guests