John Michael Greer

John Michael Greer
Born	1962 Bremerton, Washington
Occupation	independent scholar, author, religious leader, historian, activist, cultural critic, esotericist, futurologist, environmentalist, blogger, etc.

John Michael Greer (b. 1962 in Bremerton, Washington) is an American author, independent scholar, historian of ideas, cultural critic, Neo-druid leader, Hermeticist, environmentalist/conservationist, blogger, novelist, and occultist/esotericist who currently (2010) resides in Cumberland, Maryland after living in Ashland, Oregon for a number of years. He was raised in a nonreligious family. Greer graduated from Western Washington University in 1983, and from the University of Washington with an B.A. in the Comparative History of Ideas in 1993. He currently serves as the Grand Archdruid of the Ancient Order of Druids in America, a position he has held since 2002.

His first book, Paths of Wisdom, a study of the Golden Dawn system of Qabalah, was published in 1996. Greer has since written, edited, and/or translated many other books on numerous subjects and topics, including multiple encyclopedias.

Greer also studies and practices various forms of Asian mysticism (T'ai chi ch'uan, Neigong, etc.), Tarot, sacred geometry, and similarly esoteric practices; he is one of 21st Century America's most noted occultists. He is also an organic gardener.

Some of Greer's more recent books include an exploration of UFO phenomena, multiple titles on Druidism and Western esoterica, along with the predicted overall effects of the post-industrial age and associated resource depletion on human culture in the future. Greer has also written extensively about "peak oil" and other forms of expected resource shortages which he believes will eventually bring about fundamental changes in many societies around the world for generations to come. In addition Mr. Greer maintains an interest in historical hermetic philosophical teachings. This historical interest led him to translate the Historic rapier treatise of Girard Thibault. Mr. Greer has taught several classes on the philosophical and practical teachings of Girard Thibault in partnership with the fencing school Academia Duellatoria.

Bibliography

• Paths of Wisdom: Cabala in the Western Tradition (Llewellyn, 1996)
• Circles of Power: Ritual Magic in the Western Tradition (Llewellyn, 1997)
• Inside A Magical Lodge (Llewellyn, 1998)
• Earth Divination, Earth Magic: A Practical Guide to Geomancy (Llewellyn, 1999)
• Monsters (Llewellyn, 2001)
• The New Encyclopedia of the Occult (Llewellyn, 2003)
• Learning High Magic with Carl Hood Jr. and Clare Vaughn (Weiser, 2004)
• A World Full of Gods: An Inquiry into Polytheism (ADF Press, 2005)
• Natural Magic (Llewellyn, 2000; reprinted as The Encyclopedia of Natural Magic, 2005)
• The Druidry Handbook (Weiser, 2006)
• The Geomancer's Handbook (Renaissance Astrology, 2006)
• The Element Encyclopedia of Secret Societies (Element, 2006)
• The Academy of the Sword by Gérard Thibault d'Anvers, 1628 (translation; Chivalry Bookshelf, 2006) (Original: Academie de l'espée, ou se demonstrent par reigles mathematiques sur le fondement d'un cercle mysterieux la theorie et pratique des vrais et iusqu'a present incognus secrets du maniement des armes a pied et a cheval.)
• Atlantis: Ancient Legacy, Hidden Prophecy (Llewellyn, 2007)
• The Druid Magic Handbook (Weiser, 2007)
• The Long Descent: A User's Guide to the End of the Industrial Age (New Society Publishers, September 2008) [1] ISBN 978-0865716094
• The Fires of Shalsha (Starseed Press, January 2009)
• UFO Phenomenon: Fact, Fantasy and Disinformation (Llewellyn Publications, March 2009) [2]
• The Ecotechnic Future: Envisioning a Post-Peak World (New Society Publishers, October 2009) [3]
• Secrets of the Lost Symbol: The Unauthorized Guide to Secret Societies, Hidden Symbols & Mysticism (Llewellyn Publications, January 2010) [4]
• The Wealth of Nature: Economics As If Survival Mattered (New Society Publishers, 2011) ISBN 978-0865716735

External links

• Greer's blog -- "The Archdruid Report"
• Author's page on Red Room site
• Greer's eNovel -- "Star's Reach: A Novel of the Deindustrial Future"
• The Ancient Order of Druids in America
• An interview with Greer in "The Wiccan-Pagan Times"
• Book review of Academy of The Sword
• The Temenos of John Michael Greer, a site index of his articles and book reviews