Esoteric Neo-Nazism
This belief system emerged in the aftermath of World War II, as adherents sought to reinterpret and adapt the ideas of the Third Reich within the context of a new religious movement.
Esoteric Nazism is characterized by its emphasis on the mythical and spiritual dimensions of Aryan supremacy, drawing from a range of sources including Theosophy, Ariosophy, and Gnostic dualism.
The roots of Esoteric Nazism can be traced back to early 20th-century occult movements and figures who sought to combine racial theories with mysticism.
Savitri Devi, for example, integrated Nazi ideology with Hinduism, portraying Hitler as the ninth avatar of Vishnu and aligning Aryan supremacy with Hindu concepts of cosmic order.
The concept of a "Collective Aryan Unconscious", inspired by Carl Jung's theories, and the symbol of the Black Sun, representing hidden esoteric power, are central to these beliefs.
Despite its fringe status, Esoteric Nazism remains a potent force within certain extremist circles, offering a mystical justification for racial and ideological supremacy.
The society's anti-Semitic and nationalist ideas influenced many who would become Nazi leaders, blending occultism, mythology, and political ideology to form the foundation of Esoteric Nazism.
Savitri Devi, above all, was interested in the Indian caste system, which she regarded as the archetype of racial laws intended to govern the segregation of different races and to maintain the pure blood of the fair-complexioned Aryans.
She regarded the survival of the minority of Brahmins among an enormous population of many different Indian races after sixty centuries as a living tribute to the value of the Aryan caste system.
Author of numerous books including The Golden Ribbon: Esoteric Hitlerism (1978) and Adolf Hitler, the Last Avatar (1984), Serrano is one of a number of Nazi esotericists who regard the "Aryan blood" as originally extraterrestrial: Serrano finds mythological evidence for the extraterrestrial origins of man in the Nephilim [fallen angels] of the Book of Genesis... Serrano suggests that the sudden appearance of Cro-Magnon Man with his high artistic and cultural achievements in prehistoric Europe records the passage of one such divya-descended race alongside the abysmal inferiority of Neanderthal Man, an abomination and manifest creation of the demiurge... Of all the races on earth, the Aryans alone preserve the memory of their divine ancestors in their noble blood, which is still mingled with the light of the Black Sun.
Expanding on a story from the Book of Enoch, Serrano laments that a renegade group among the gods committed miscegenation with the terrestrial races, thus diluting the light-bearing blood of their benefactors and diminishing the level of divine awareness on the planet.
[citation needed] In the 1980s and 1990s, David Myatt developed an interpretation—or revisionist version[19]—of Nazism which, although based on Savitri Devi's three principles of "above", "against", and "in time" individuals,[20] did not involve either ancient mythology or extraterrestrial beings.
[26] In the book Black Sun, Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke reports how Carl Gustav Jung described "Hitler as possessed by the archetype of the collective Aryan unconscious and could not help obeying the commands of an inner voice".
The concept of Hyperborea is tied to the idea of a lost Golden Age, where Aryans lived in harmony with cosmic laws before their decline and corruption by external influences.
This dualistic belief system reinforces the racial and spiritual hierarchy central to Esoteric Nazism, with Aryans positioned as the rightful rulers of the world, destined to lead the final battle against the forces of darkness.
Figures like Miguel Serrano have popularized the idea that Aryans are descendants of an ancient extraterrestrial race, who once ruled Hyperborea and will return to lead humanity into a new Golden Age.
[26] The notion of racial purity in Esoteric Nazism is often linked to an idealized past, where Aryans supposedly lived in harmony with cosmic laws before being corrupted by external influences.
This belief in a cosmic order reinforces the hierarchical and authoritarian nature of Esoteric Nazi ideology, where only a select few are deemed worthy of accessing and wielding this knowledge.
[36] The content of this esoteric knowledge varies but often includes teachings on the origins of the Aryan race, the nature of the cosmos, and the laws governing spiritual and racial purity.
[32] This belief system promotes a form of "might makes right" ideology, where actions are judged not by conventional ethical standards but by their effectiveness in achieving the goals of Esoteric Nazism.
These groups use neopagan symbols and rituals to support their racial and political agendas, creating a hybrid ideology that merges occultism with white supremacist goals.
These scholars have explored the origins, development, and influence of Esoteric Nazism, offering critical analyses of its ideological foundations and the ways in which it has persisted and evolved in post-war contexts.
Goodrick-Clarke argues that these esoteric ideas played a crucial role in shaping the ideological underpinnings of the Nazi Party, particularly through the influence of the Thule Society.
He discusses how these groups have adapted the mystical and occult elements of Nazism to contemporary contexts, often blending them with other esoteric traditions, conspiracy theories, and pseudo-historical narratives.
Joscelyn Godwin, a scholar of Western esotericism, has also contributed significantly to the study of Esoteric Nazism, particularly through his book Arktos: The Polar Myth in Science, Symbolism, and Nazi Survival (1996).
These scholars highlight how these ideas have been integrated into a broader esoteric framework, often merging with conspiracy theories about Nazi survival in underground Antarctic bases and alliances with Hyperboreans from a subterranean world.
In Black Sun, he critically examines the so-called "Nazi UFO" myth and the various pseudoscientific theories that have emerged around it, arguing that these ideas are largely modern inventions with little basis in historical fact.
Kaplan's work provides a broader sociopolitical context for understanding the appeal of Esoteric Nazism, particularly in its ability to offer a sense of spiritual and racial superiority to its adherents.
These groups can be found in Britain, France, and New Zealand, under names such as "Black Order" or "Infernal Alliance", and draw their inspiration from the Esoteric Hitlerism of Miguel Serrano.
[38] Esoteric themes, including references to artifacts such as the Holy Lance, are also often alluded to in neo-Nazi music (e.g. Rock Against Communism) and above all in National Socialist black metal.
