Dark Star Rising

Dark Star Rising examines the occult and esoteric influences behind Donald Trump's rise to power and the alt-right movement. The book traces connections between Trump's worldview and the New Thought movement, particularly through figures like Norman Vincent Peale. Lachman explores how internet culture and chaos magick were utilized by alt-right groups to influence political outcomes. The analysis connects historical occult philosophies to modern political movements, highlighting figures like Julius Evola, Steve Bannon, and Aleksandr Dugin. The book documents how meme culture and online communities merged with occult practices to create new forms of political influence. A former Blondie bassist turned author, Lachman brings his background in both counterculture and esoteric studies to this investigation. The work raises questions about reality, truth, and the power of belief systems in shaping political outcomes. Through its examination of these hidden influences, the book reveals patterns between historical occult movements and contemporary power structures.

Readers describe this as an informative but sometimes unfocused exploration of occult and New Age influences in modern politics. Readers appreciated: - Clear explanations of complex esoteric concepts - Strong research and sourcing - Connections drawn between mysticism and current events - Neutral, academic tone rather than sensationalism Common criticisms: - Meandering structure that loses focus - Too much background information before getting to main points - Repetitive content in later chapters - Some readers felt conclusions were rushed Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (150+ ratings) Notable reader comments: "Excellent primer on chaos magic's influence on modern politics" - Goodreads "Gets lost in tangents but fascinating subject matter" - Amazon "Would benefit from tighter editing but worth reading" - LibraryThing "Strong start, weak finish" - Goodreads

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🌟 The author, Gary Lachman, was a founding member of the new wave band Blondie and played bass under the name Gary Valentine before becoming a full-time writer. 🔮 The book explores the "Meme Magic" phenomenon, including how the cartoon character Pepe the Frog became an unexpected symbol in political movements. 📚 Lachman has written over twenty books on consciousness, culture, and the Western esoteric tradition, establishing himself as a leading voice in occult studies. 🎭 The term "chaos magick," central to the book's analysis, was developed in the 1970s by occultist Peter Carroll and focuses on achieving results through belief-shifting and ritual. 🌐 The book draws parallels between Russian political strategist Aleksandr Dugin's theories of "chaos" and the occult practices that emerged in online communities during recent political campaigns.