Jay Kinney is the founder and publisher of the well respected Western esoteric magazine Gnosis. It was published from 1985 to 1999, to critical acclaim, and back issues are still in demand.

In The Inner West Kinney brings together a superb selection of authors to offer us a journey through the history of the esotericism of the West.

In more than 20 essays by 17 leading authors we gain insight into some of the most important traditions and individuals within the Western Tradition. Each essay is erudite, succinct and intelligently written. This is not a general pulp occult text, but a credible and well researched guide to the deeper truths at the heart of Western spirituality.

The Inner West is nicely presented, being organised into distinct sections. We begin with the esoteric origins of Western Spirituality in alchemy, Hermeticism and neo-Platonism, and then explore the Christian, Jewish and Muslim mystic traditions. We also examine the Tarot, astrology, Wicca and secret orders such as the Knights Templar, Rosicrucians, and the Masons.

The last section is especially impressive as it covers some of the seminal figures within Western esotericism. Today, with the flood of New Age books, there is a tendency to forget where so many so-called modern occult concepts originated.

In The Inner West we have superb introductions to such great mystics, occultists and teachers as Swedenborg, Blavatsky, Steiner and Gurdjieff. We not only get to find out about the more well known figures such as Rudolf Steiner and Madame Blavatsky, but get to appreciate the vision of lesser known luminaries such as Rene Guenon and Schwaller De Lubicz.

This is a well rounded volume with essays carefully chosen and brought together in a coherent overview of the Western Mystery Tradition. This is the very best introduction, academically credible, interesting, well documented, but not too dry.

The Inner West is a great place to start for those seeking an introduction to the secrets of the inner life. For those whose appetite was stimulated by The Da Vinci Code, here is the real thing!

– Reviewed by Robert Burns in New Dawn No. 92