start of the new age era

I was reading "Scratching the Beat Generation", by Michael McClure, and reference was made of William Blake appearing to Allen Ginsberg in a vision.

I also found that The Theosophical Society (1783) was attended by Blake as well. In any case theosophy seemed to have touched the Beat Generation.

There was also the Buddhist connection via Kerouac. The basic tenets for New Age/Hippie movement appear to be in place during these times. Social outcasts, Peyote, MJ, anti-war, anti-establishment, spirituality, back to Nature, free or open thinking, a New Generation (vs New Age) and with Poetry/BeBop (rather than anti-war, etc. songs) as a social/cultural force. The seeds were well in place. There is a Movie released outlining the Beat Generation start, with Daniel Radcliffe (?? !!) as Ginsberg - if I have it right...

w.r.t. Blake/Theosophy/Swedenborg, there is an article in Esoterica which may interest some. let me know if you want some links.

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ModeratorPermalink Reply by John on November 3, 2013 at 5:03pm

The next part will be the Physics coming in the 60's and 70's. At that point - we have the makings leading up to the current state of theosophy. The fully reciprocal Emerald Table (tablet): As above, so Below; As Below, so Above.

The link people wanted is

William Blake and the Radical Swedenborgians, byRobert Rix

it is from the peer reviewed Esotrica - Michigan State University

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Permalink Reply by Alfred V. on January 4, 2014 at 10:57am

A baby boomer, I graduated high school in 72, so I missed the Beats and was aware of the hippies while not being one. I prefer the beat generation. I have read Kerouac. Love him. He brings the Zen conenction to the Beats. But don't you think the New Age movement existed long before the Beats, in Alice Bailey, Leadbeater, even Blavatsky herself, perhaps even going back to Ernest Holmes (Science of Mind.) When I was a Christian I remember a saying we had "there is nothing new about the New Age." Honestly, the New Age catalogues beliefs that go back two thousand years, just in different forms, when paganism was saddled with Christianity and morphed their own beliefs into the Christian paradigm. What do you think.

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Permalink Reply by PuzzleSolver on January 4, 2014 at 11:12am

Interesting, and you're right.. I think the New Age stuff started way back too... I wonder when this "New Age" thing was coined, and why it was given a new name when it's been around for such a long time... it was just repackaged and then re-titled. Is it because they threw in new ideas?

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Permalink Reply by Alfred V. on January 4, 2014 at 12:38pm

Thanks for the reply Puzzle Solver. Now you have me wondering who coined the term in the first place. I do not know if you were around in the 60s, but then the word "New" was the biggest marketing mantra around. Everything was "new." If it was "new" it was better. I am try to find out when, where, and by whom and why this term was coined. If I succeed, will post it.