The Call of the Old Gods

Reviews / Votes

"The Call of the Old Gods recounts a personal odyssey through decades of spiritual exploration en route to the author finding his home in Norse paganism. Along the way, we are treated to many lively encounters with some of the most important figures in modern esoteric studies and the insights of a passionate soul devoted to living the ancient ways." * Gary Lachman, author of The Return of Holy Russia and Maurice Nicoll: Forgotten Teacher of the Fourt * "Throughout his multiple careers in diplomacy, academia, and publishing, Christopher has never lost sight of higher realities. His many books celebrate the companions of this vision: Rosicrucians, astrologers, monarchs and magi, occultists and creators-like himself-of symbolic gardens honoring the old gods of Europe. They now culminate in one of the great spiritual autobiographies and a paragon of the soul's navigation through the troubled waters of modernity." * Joscelyn Godwin, Professor Emeritus at Colgate University and author of The Pagan Dream of the Renai * "Part spiritual autobiography, part exploration of ancient and contemporary pagan spirituality, this vivid and intensely personal memoir by one of the most respected esotericists of our time is required reading for anyone interested in today's lively renewal of polytheistic faiths." * John Michael Greer, author of The Twilight of Pluto and The King in Orange * "Christopher McIntosh is the Forrest Gump of the esoteric world. With Taoist, almost magical abilities, he has been everywhere and met everyone in the 60+ years he has traversed the field of arcane studies. His fascinating autobiography is not only a documentation of his personal path and studies but also a riveting account of how he and a handful of others have transformed and rehabilitated the esoteric field. Endlessly fascinating!" * Hilmar OErn Hilmarsson, composer, musician, and high priest of the Asatru Association * "Written by a highly respected member of the occult and heathen community, The Call of the Old Gods is an inspiring narrative showing how paganism is not a relic of a bygone era but has a meaningful place in our modern world. It also has a much broader social message, for the encounters, spiritual conflicts, revelations, and practices the author describes are those that all free-spirited seekers of deeper truth must engage with on their own individual paths." * Richard Rudgley, author of The Return of Odin * "The path of Christopher McIntosh's rich and varied life meandered over and under the threads of Wyrd. His journeys through numerous countries and countless terrains created a tapestry of varied textures and hues, some gentle, some intense. In this deeply personal memoir Christopher connects the dots. He has been truly called by the old gods." * Ingrid Kincaid, author of Lost Teachings of the Runes * "Christopher McIntosh's eighty-year journey on the pagan path offers enthralling insights by a master storyteller. To read this book is to take that journey, to share his magical moments and beautiful rituals, and to experience the profoundly re-enchanting powers of the pagan revival. This book will change the way you see and feel our world. Io Pan!" * Lionel Snell (alias Ramsey Dukes), author of S.S.O.T.B.M.E.: An Essay on Magic * "In an age when science now recognizes the widespread role of intelligence and intention in many living species, McIntosh's gentle, humorous, yet respectful pagan path makes perfect sense. The old gods are renamed and rediscovered, and this very personal and original book is a start to taking a look at those millennia of practical communication with natural spirits." * Frederick Turner, Founders Professor Emeritus, the Bass School of Arts, Humanities and Technology at * "In The Call of the Old Gods, renowned author Christopher McIntosh invites us on a unique journey through the occult of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, featuring many remarkable people and places, as he shares his distinctive path rediscovering the gods and ways of ancient Europe." * Arthur Versluis, author of The Secret History of Western Sexual Mysticism * "The Call of the Old Gods is a well-written memoir from one of my favorite Pagan and Occult authors, Christopher McIntosh. Instead of telling you what to do, he relays the experience to you, as well as the academic background, to inspire the reader to form their own practices, etc. I have no critiques, and I thoroughly enjoyed this break from the usual style of books I read to review; as such, I give it 5/5 Pentagrams!" * The Modern Merlin, PaganPages.org *