The official story of Alianza Islamic

A few years ago I wrote an article about Alianza Islamica, one of the first US Latino Muslim organizations. I based my information almost entirely off of a 5 hour interview with Ibrahim Gonzalez, who has since that time passed away. Unfortunately, at that time I was unable to get interviews with any of the other founders of the AI. But just a few months ago, I was finally able to get in touch with Ramon Ocasio and Yahya Figueroa, and they informed me that several of the "facts" I had published about the AI were incorrect--and they felt a need to correct them. Yesterday, Mr. Ocasio published online a great essay that serves as that corrective.

See it here or here

Update 1/1/17. See also this recently posted video:

Letters to the Sage now available

Purchase on Amazon 

After nearly three years of research and preparation, "Letters to the Sage" is finally available for purchase. Here's the official book blurb:

Thomas Moore Johnson, the Sage of the Osage, was a small town lawyer in western Missouri whose international correspondence was largely a result of The Platonist, a short-lived but influential journal he published intermittently from 1881 until 1888. Johnson rarely traveled far from Osceola, his birthplace, where he served as mayor for several terms, but through correspondence he became a key figure in the late 19th century American awakening of interest in Western esoteric traditions.

During the 1880s Johnson was instrumental in the nationwide expansion of two esoteric organizations, the Theosophical Society (TS) and the Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor. Although Theosophy had developed a primary interest in Indian spiritual traditions, Johnson’s Platonist attracted the attention of TS leaders and members around the world. Johnson was a member of the American Board of Control of the TS as the Society began to establish branches throughout the United States. But within a short time he became more seriously committed to a secret society with a focus on Western rather than Eastern wisdom traditions, the Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor.

Letters to the Sage, Volume One offers readers and scholars a rare glimpse into the relationships, organizational struggles, and intellectual and spiritual explorations of several of the key figures and locations in the early years of America’s occult revival. Containing over 200 letters from dozens of American and international cities, as well as what is perhaps the earliest known evidence of the organized study of the Tarot, Yoga, and Sufism in the United States, this is an essential book for those interested in the history of the American Midwest, esotericism, religion, and philosophy.

Some highlights of the book's contents: 

• Details about the organizational development of the TS and HB of L in the U.S.
• The 1887 'ordinance' Johnson sent out to establish the 'Sufic Circle' as a branch of the Hermetic Brotherhood.
• Evidence for the earliest known organized practice of Yoga in the United States.
• Information about previously unknown Rosicrucian groups and teachers in 19th c. America.
• A full list of the HB of L's teaching materials and details of the process of the distribution of the materials.
• Letters from H.S. Olcott and Thomas Burgoyne.
• 1880s discussions of the Tarot and Eliphas Levi.
• Previously unknown HB of L practical occult teachings.
• The names of dozens of HB of L members and their 'pledge' dates.

For excerpts from the book, click here

Joscelyn Godwin's comments (click to enlarge):