Synergy Magazine

Master of the Mysteries

The Life of Manly Palmer Hall

Louis Sahagun

Process Media

The Secret Teachings of All Ages published in 1928 by Manly Palmer Hall was truly a magnum opus, it was a tome of obscure knowledge, forbidden ideas and superb marketing ! It was presented in a format which was akin to a Grimoire with strange and impenetrable images, arcane descriptions and a presentation which made it look rare and unique. It is even more astounding which you realize this work was written when Hall was only 28 years old.

I remember first seeing this volume in my youth, it was a book every occultist, esotericist, witch and pagan had on their shelves, even though I doubt any had actually read it cover to cover. The first editions were slip-cased with full colour images and a limited distribution (with a price to match), these were followed by various other editions including the Jubilee edition, reduce sized edition and even, finally, a paperback reading edition ! The attraction of this volume was always in its presentation, while it lacked a certain academic credibility, its alluring artwork, leather like cover, arcane texts and emphatic emphasis on ancient wisdom made it a winner. Hall’s insistence on holding the secret wisdom of the ages to be the core of all religions and symbol systems made him a beacon for those unsatisfied with conventional religions and made this and his foundation exceptionally successful.

What has always intrigued me was the man behind this volume. Throughout the years Manly Palmer Hall continued to run the Philosophical Research Foundation producing one volume after another of arcane wisdom (some seventy five in all) and producing a veritable library of lectures, talks and smaller works. Indeed he continued to lecture and write up until his untimely and questionable death at the age of 89 in 1990. He also accumulated one of the most amazing libraries of esoteric texts in the United States. Yet he was an incredibly private man, while he has the strength, some say arrogance of someone who believed he had the “knowledge”, he decried the cult of personality and avoided placing his private life in the limelight.

At the same time Hall was a phenomenon; he lived during the renaissance of occultism in California and was friends with a large number of politicians and high flyers. His unique vision of the United States as being at the forefront of spiritual evolution and his lecture style which combined arcane knowledge with homespun wisdom made him an immensely charismatic figure. He was central to the 30 and 40’s occult movements in California and again returned to popularity during the Sixties occult revival.

His life is nearly as fascinating as the myths and legends he expounded, indeed the circumstances of his death are still a matter of controversy with rumours of murder. Surprisingly, there has been no biography of this strange and enigmatic man until now. The Master of the Mysteries: The Life of Manly Palmer Hall (Paperback) by Louis Sahagun is the very first comprehensive examination of the life and work of Manly Palmer Hall and it is certainly a joy to read. It is exhaustively researched and illustrated throughout with rare ephemera, images and photographs.

The volume offers an “insiders” view of how a Canadian teenager with a sixth grade education could arrive in Los Angeles in 1919 and transform himself into part sage and part occult scholar, develop one of the most successful esoteric organisations of the twenty century, one that continues today and become known and respected worldwide. It is a surprisingly honest book which while avoiding sensationalism is more than willing to explore the rumours and controversy surrounding his life and death and to discuss his critics and detractors as well as his admirers. His personal life is also covered including his difficult marriages, the first ending in his wife’s suicide, his second to a woman who was abusive as well as the strange circumstances surrounding his death.

This is a bold, daring and intelligent biography, which offers a credible examination of a life of a man who is seen by many to be one of the greatest occultists of the twentieth century. It is beautifully illustrated, superbly written and masterfully edited.

The Master of the Mysteries is a must have volume.