The only source

Poul Fersling's Danish book "Mystikkens verden" is probably well nigh unknown outside Scandinavia, but in Sweden it's a virtual classic, naturally in a Swedish translation titled "Naturligt Övernaturligt". Several different editions exist. The original edition must be extremely old, perhaps from 1975 or thereabouts.

When I grew up, Fersling's book was more or less the only source available in Sweden on obscure topics such as Theosophy, Rudolf Steiner, Mesmerism, Satanism, etc. Or at least the only widely available source, sold in regular bookshops and carried by many libraries. The book is a mini-encyclopaedia covering all things occult, from "respectable" research into parapsychology to less respectable characters such as Aleister Crowley or L. Ron Hubbard. There are also chapters on ritual magick, dream interpretation, Tarot, the Loch Ness monster and the inevitable UFOs. And yes, the home-grown Danish Theosophist Martinus Thomsen! While Fersling is a non-believer, his style of writing is neutral, except when he writes about UFOs, a phenomenon he apparently scorns.

As a teenager, I was fascinated by this book, and in a sense, I still am. For all I know, Fersling's book is more or less factually correct. Not bad for a Danish work of the 1970's. The Swedish translation of "Mystikkens verden" has probably inspired many young seekers to become full-blown occultists. Thus, the founder of the Hermetic Order of the Dragon Rouge admits becoming interested in occultism after reading Fersling's work. Writing in a neutral vain about these matters, can have its unintended consequences, it seems...

Personally, I found the book extremely entertaining, but I suppose I was an early GenXer!