Pagan Time Relived, 1985

Local Psychotherapist / Astrotherapist Alan Salmi ( website / Facebook ) recently posted this image to the Chicago Pagans group on Facebook. 

 

Alan says:

"For those of you who think Pagans are recent in Chicago: this is from Feb. of 1985. My teacher, Althea had been initiated more than ten years before that in Chicago. She's left of center and is now coming on 40 years of magickal practice. Before that occult revival, there were Theosophists, new thought practitioners, magickal lodges, masonic groups, spiritualists and groups with contacts to inner plane masters. Chicago has been a center for the esoteric community for years and years!"

Chicago Followers of Strange Religions

Chicago Tribune - April 16, 1899

Isis Worshipers, Martinists, Hermeticism and more. 

UPDATE:  Blogspot reduced the size of this image.  I've uploaded a larger, legible 6.3 mb  jpeg of this article here:  http://www2.zshare.ma/r1gm8ufd5efv
 

Dance of the Witches in front of Chicago federal building, 1969

I now have in my possession this original press photograph, titled "Dance of the Witches in Front of Chicago Federal Building, Oct. 31 1969."  I'm not exactly thrilled about newspapers purging their historical archives, but if they are getting rid of this particular photograph then I might as well be the one to own it.

I've been looking through various archives to try to find more information about this image.  Do any of my amazing readers have any thoughts??

UPDATE:  It is now known that this image is of the Women's International Terrorist Conspiracy from Hell.

Lauren de Laurence being booked

I know that some followers here are probably getting tired of hearing about Lauren de Laurence.  I promise to move on soon, but I did just find the photograph of de Laurence being booked for mail fraud in 1912.

REATED/PUBLISHED
[1912]
SUMMARY
Portrait of Prof. Lauron. W. De Laurence leaning on a counter, standing with other men and a policeman in a room in Chicago, Illinois.
NOTES
This photonegative taken by a Chicago Daily News photographer may have been published in the newspaper.
Cite as: DN-0059852, Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago History Museum.

College of Occult Studies

 

from The Circle Classifieds, May 19, 1971

I've only been able to find minimal information regarding the College of Occult Studies.  The most that I currently know is this:  it was around in the late 1960s and early 1970s and was located at 410 S Michigan Avenue, later to relocate to 505 N Michigan. 

Does anyone else have more information?

Occult Craze Sweeps City; Seek the "Why"

As a Walpurgis treat, here is an article from the Chicago Defender dated December 1, 1919.

Madame Colette Willy

From the Chicago Examiner.  September 4, 1910.  Madame Colette Willy is shown "practicing occultism."  I was going to quote a few things from this, but I love every bit of it.  So you'll just have to look at it yourself.

Order of the Black Rose, 1915

From the now defunct Chicago Examiner, November 1915.  Lauren de Laurence apparently headed numerous magical orders in the area and wrote several books.  This article makes sure to let you know that "both men and women, both negroes and whites" took part in his ceremonies.