Title:  Red Thread: Occult to Science and Beyond

Author: Anne Kampf        

Genre: Non-Fiction / Occult Science

 

In Red Thread, Kampf investigates the connections that bind ancient occult sciences such as astrology, mythology, and alchemy to modern-day science with its foundations rooted in empirical data and factual evidence.

Kampf explores the related philosophies that have developed through the ages and, using this knowledge, encourages the reader to find meaning and application to their own life as well as potentially unlocking the mysteries of the wider world around them.

Kampf opens Red Thread with a softly intriguing foreword. She introduces herself, her background, and her motivations for writing the book. It begins a little haltingly but endearingly so. Kampf immediately impresses as deeply authentic, intelligent, and concerned that her readers engage with the concepts she will discuss.

In Chapter one, Kampf finds her flow and writes with light fluidity as she offers a “Beginner’s guide to esotericism, myth, astrology, alchemy, and science.” The chapter is concisely written and precisely laid out as Kampf traverses some profoundly fascinating ground.

Giving historical background on the various practices, Kampf takes the reader on an absorbing journey through these arcane disciplines. She moves from the general to the specific in a nicely accessible, condensed fashion that, while offering a comprehensive overview, also includes some exciting nuggets of lesser-known information.

Kampf does not fall into the trap of being overly subjective and jarringly enthusiastic, which is often present in books examining occult sciences. Although objective and brushed with a scholarly tone, her prose is also gently intimate, giving a sense of her insightful personality with lots of interesting observations and thoughtful interpretations.

Chapter two investigates, again in a neat, approachable, lightly conversational style, the solar system and how the planets’ names and facts have a strong, enduring basis in myth and legend. Kampf enjoys throwing a discursive question, often rhetorical, toward the reader encouraging mental participation and pause.

The third chapter is mainly devoted to astrology and it’s possibly the strongest. There is a lot of spine-tinglingly mythical information ranging from the significance of the number twelve right through to the star signs’ different ruling planets, houses, and associated legends together with surprising biblical references.

Chapter four journeys into the physiognomy and behavioral patterns associated with the zodiac signs. The cynical reader may find this a touch entertaining.

Kampf explains the more recognized, generic traits of individual star signs but also provides open-minded discourse on facial features, body type, and then onto the different energies projected by eye characteristics and color.

The remaining three chapters begin to draw all previous strands into one thread heading toward present-day scientific ideologies. However, Kampf still makes time to provide compact yet thorough synopsis on practices including tarot, palmistry, and face reading.

Kampf is never overly-didactic but supremely curious, with a restrained, but nonetheless infectious, sense of wonderment and awe as she delves deeper into the esoteric links running from past to present.

These later sections do draw quite heavily, in parts, on Kampf’s academic background in physics. Occasionally, it’s a touch abstruse to a lay reader; however, Kampf’s beautifully straightforward chapter framework with small, often bite-sized paragraphs ensures it never becomes impenetrable.

Further, Kampf includes thoughtfully considered and enchantingly drawn diagrams to illuminate the otherworldly nature of some of the topics together with succinct charts to consolidate and clarify the more pertinent information.

Red Thread: Occult to Science and Beyond is a gem of a book, suitable not only for readers with a burgeoning curiosity in this field but also, an immensely beneficial companion for those with a matured interest. The research is impressive, the writing lucid, with every carefully crafted page thought-provoking and enlightening.

 

 

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