#The Esoteric

[uwmspeccoll]

(Pseudo)Science Saturday

Solar Biology, by spiritual leader (or cult leader, depending on your perspective) Hiram E. Butler, was published in Applegate, California by The Esoteric Publishing Co., one of the commercial endeavors of Butler’s Esoteric Fraternity. First published in 1887, we think our 19th edition came out around 1915. To the best of our knowledge, the last time the book was put out by the Esoteric Publishing Co. was in 1970 as a 40th edition. In addition to churning out copies of Solar Biology, Butler and his adherents published over 30 books, booklets, and periodicals from their 500 acre compound in in Northern California, some of which are advertised in the backmatter of our copy. In a pseudoscience twofer, the London publisher of the book is listed as L. N. Fowler, after American phrenologist Lorenzo Niles Fowler, who spent much of his career in London and had a background in publishing; his American publishing house Fowler & Wells Co. was a leader in the “field” of phrenology.

The Esoteric Publishing Co. actually predates the Esoteric Fraternity; Solar Biology was first published in 1887 when Butler was still located in Boston. There, Butler (as founder and contributing editor) produced a monthly magazine called The Esoteric. While in Boston, Butler founded the “Genii of Nations, Knowledge and Religions” (GNKR) to promote his teachings. Butler's moves in Boston apparently drew the ire of  Helena Blavatsky, co-founder of the Theosophical Society, and Butler was basically run out of town by the powerful mystic, who had labeled Butler and his ilk as charlatans. Once relocated to California, Butler rechristened the GNKR as the Esoteric Fraternity. 

Solar Biology might have been the first book to publicize a simplified astrology, the kind that is familiar to anyone who might have casually asked “what’s your sign?” Prior to Butler, astrological readings always involved the more detailed calculations involving time and place of birth that may be familiar to more hardcore astrology buffs. Butler's book directly influenced the English astrologer and founder of modern astrology Alan Leo and therefore one could draw a direct line from Solar Biology to the popular astrology found in newspaper horoscope columns (or these days, horoscope apps). It was also fascinating to see the Christian religious underpinnings of Butler’s work. The links between contemporary astrology and (granted, extremely fringe) Christian esoteric tradition was news to me!

Find more Science Saturday (with actual science!) posts here.

-Olivia, Special Collections Graduate Intern

[stuckstucktrolls]

might be fun to have Tattva possess Teagan again for a bit. but not today, and not unless I can think of a good reason for it

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[dangeroustaintedflawed]

[lilacheavenbby]

creds: @beautifuiprincessdisorder

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[mojavedoll]

not all angels are in heaven. for example i’m mostly at home

[dlwrish]

mentally a living corpse

[stargirlintodust]

[ninarexic]

It’s so toxic

[pandoras-prison]

[rosieandthemoon]

oil on canvas, by Rebecca Rebouché

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