Spear of Destiny (Darkness (Paperback))

Rating:
Summary: The Things That Pass For History These Days.......
Review: As much as I enjoyed reading this book, I find it laughable that other reviewers here actually think this text is "historical". Any student of history should know that "astral" knowledge is hopelessly flawed. Let's not pollute the fountain of knowledge with this sort of trash, lest we lose all sense of fact. The NAZI "occult bureau" was not a magical club. You wouldn't see NAZI's engaging in the kind of magic rituals that you would find in say a Freemasonic, Mormon, or Golden Dawn Temple. This Bureau was designed to do honest research into the origins of the "Aryan" race, and its culture. This of course would include studies of a religious nature, as well as serious scholarship.

If you're bored, read this book. If you really want to understand Hitler, read Fest, Bullock or Toland's works.

Rating:
Summary: The Spear of Destiny
Review: First of all, this book is a must read.

This is a must-read for everyone who studies, or is interested in, nazi-Germany. It reveals many things about Adolf Hitler's and his followers "hidden" interests. One should read this with Goodrich-Clarkes, Levendas and others historic accounts about nazi involvement with occult. This involvement was for real, regardless of what people think about "occult" things. There are undisputable historical facts that occultism played a part in nazi-beliefs, and this book tells about much about those beliefs.

You can't say that you comply with all of Ravenscrofts conclusions. Many things he says in this book are very "esoteric" and full of "occultism"/mysticism. But whether you believe or not in everything this book has to offer, it still offers very vivid and also very probable account of the nazis and their relation to occultism. One doesn't need to believe into those powers this book mentions, to understand that there were much more in those things that 3rd reich did than the eye would see on facade. Certainly there were men that believed in these mystic things back then.

This book explains many mysteries that have left "unsolved" by more "secular" accounts of history. If one considers nazi-doings to be the utmost evil, this book tries to explain from where the dogmas of it's leaders came from. And for sure, many things in this "dark" part of 20th century can't be explained by scientific and "rational" terms. This book may give you creeps. Also it can make you laugh if you just can't believe in anything "supernatural" or metaphysical. It doesn't matter though what we believe. There were people who believed in it, and it changed the history. Maybe we should learn a lesson from it.

This is a welcome addition to every historian out there, a true classic. Unfortunately one cannot use it as legit reference, 'cause many things in it are too crazy for modern science. One has to read it and make own conclusions. I would certainly recommend reading this. This may give insight to the beliefs behind ss, ahnenerbe, racial-ideology and many other things. It also talks about lost atlantian-race, which presumably worked as prototype for superhuman-ideal, there a are things about Rudolf Steiner etc.

Most important thing in this book might be the account of the "spear of destiny". Which, presumably, has been the "talisman" for multiple great leaders in world history. Used also to pierce Jesus's side on cross, by Roman soldier who got name Longinus from this deed. The spear, it is said, gives powers to rule for the owner of it. Hitler used to visit Habsburg-museum to "drool" on this spear, and then he used his forces to gain the spear also. The history of the spear, true or not, certainly makes an interesting read. Why would so many remarkable men want to have it in their possession? And why it seems to have affected on their lives and places in world-history? This is what Ravenscroft is trying to explain.

All in all, a very controversial read. But still interesting indeed, and certainly may open new views about this subject. You have been warned. ;)

Rating:
Summary: Garbage
Review: I can't believe anyone would even consider the possibility that this trash is anything more than the National Enquirer, much less actual history. Yes, it's fascinating to read, but you'll notice that real books on real history bother with "facts", "references", and "objectivity", none of which are found here (with very few exceptions, like when someone's quote is twisted out of proportion and deliberately misinterpreted).

Instead, Ravenscroft whips up the most over-the-top sensationalist storytelling he possibly can, knowing that despite the outrageousness of trivializing such a sensitive subject as history's most notorious mass-murderer, this book will sell, sell, sell. Why? Because people will believe anything at all about Hitler. Any urban legend about someone so evil must be true, right? And when you combine that with the ever-mysterious and exciting subject of the occult, and then throw in a couple hundred pages of speculative fantasy about anything and everything, you've got a very solid recipe for making money.

It's for that reason that I can't believe that Ravenscroft even believes his own "research". The one and only thing that makes me think that he might actually buy this junk is the fact that the book makes no sense at all long before you reach the end of it. No one could ever seriously know or prove what any one person in the world is doing with the occult, and yet this guy knows precisely what went through Adolf Hitler's mind 50 years ago, and in this much detail?

If you want genuine history on this interesting subject, go and get Goodrick-Clarke's The Occult Roots of Nazism. If you want a controversial book with a big flashy story about nothing and everything, buy this. Just don't mistake it for history.

Rating:
Summary: Bizarre, but interesting
Review: I first read this book when I was in grade school. Nothing really sank in except that Hitler really was Satanic. Now, years later, with a broad background of scientific skepticism and studies into some Eastern philosophies and so-called New Age stuff, I came back to this book to take a second look.

What it is not is an "objective" (i.e. academic, scholarly) account of history. The author says outright that much of the material for the book came from astral travels or remote viewing or some other paranormal method, performed by a man named Walter Johannes Stein. Ravenscroft claims that Stein knew Hitler better than any other man. Moreover, the whole book is wrapped around a theme of the Spear of Destiny, and a legend that says that any person who possesses it will gain immeasurable power to rule and conquer. Linked with the Spear are such famous dictators as Constantine, Charlemagne, and Frederick Barbarossa.

Ravenscroft describes in great detail Hitler's descent into the occult and into nationalist, racist ideals, tutored by various other evil personalities. Hitler is depicted as a man who became obsessed with the Spear, convinced that he was the reincarnation of Frederick Barbarossa, and ultimately possessed by Lucifer.

Naturally, this is no mainstream history book. Its origins are so wrapped up in the Judeo-Christian mythology, and an occultic one in particular, that it's hard to say what sorts of distortions there might be. (I take it for granted that subjective means of gathering information, like remote viewing, are possible, but I also acknowledge that tremendous distortions can come about.) Ravenscroft asserts, for instance, that Tibetan lamas were recruited and set to work "to harness the powers of Lucifer to the Nazi cause." He talks about Lazarus, the man raised from the dead by Christ, as actually undergoing some kind of occultic initiation which failed.

At best, I can say that this is an extremely interesting story. Without knowing more about the official history of Nazi Germany and the official biography of Hitler, that's about as far as I'll go.

Rating:
Summary: Can an object possess supernatural powers?
Review: I purchased Spear of Destiny last summer from Amazon. The question one has to ask is whether or not material objects may possess supernatural powers. My opinion is to be skeptical, however, this does not detract from Spear of Destiny's readability. It is a fascinating read. Ravenscroft was an excellent and honest writer. For example he writes on page 151 "...it also gave moronic President Wilson the main say in the terms of the Versailles treaty..." Americans tend to be unrealistic and head in the sand so to speak about the immense damage done by that idiot of a President. Another "moron" taken to task by Ravenscroft is the German General Ludendorff who assisted Hitler. I enjoyed this book for the details on Rudolph Steiner - Chapter 24 is particularly interesting on the topic of potentising. Ravenscroft is accurate in that the Nazis were preoccupied with the occult and pre-Christian paganism. This is something that needs to be restated (and shouted out) in reply to neurotic numbskulls like Daniel Goldhagen and Cornwell who attempt to make Pope Pius XII the force behind Nazi-ism. Spear of Destiny leaves the reader asking more questions than satisfied with answers. If material objects possess supernatural powers, what objects did Stalin possess? After all, this reader firmly believes Stalin was Hitler's doppelganger. If you aren't sure what a doppelganger is, or if you want an alternate view of history, or you're interested in the occult, I highly recommend this book.

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Summary: A portrait of the dictator as a young man......
Review: In this fascinating account of Hitler's obsession with grail lore, the occult and and Wagnerian opera, we learn about his crucial but 'lost years' in Vienna, Austria. During this time he was a homeless artist who read extensively and subsisted by selling water color postcards of famous landmarks on the street. The book by Ravenscroft was made possible because of a friendship between the author and a professor of economics who befriended Hitler and was subjected to his visionary tirades on politics during this time around 1912-13. What we discover is a deep understanding on the part of Hitler of the powers associated with black magic and the occult. The legend of the spear of destiny used by the Roman soldier Longinus to pierce the side of Christ is the centerpiece of the story. How it inspired Hitler, provided psychic glimpses for him into the future and how it ultimately allowed him to carry out his twisted mission of genocide and world conquest (though he failed in the latter). Despite what you may feel about him and his actions, no one can deny that he was an incredibly interesting and ambitious man. Through shear will and determination he rose from abject poverty to undisputed leader of a great world power. Ironically, we learn that when the spear fell into American hands in April 1945 and Berlin was under siege, Hitler and his bride Eva Braun committed suicide on Walpurgis Night--- a satanic holiday. This book truly explains the WHO and the HOW behind the WHY of WWII and the background it provides is thorough, well-documented and frankly very entertaining and compelling. Given all the movies about Hitler and WWII, it amazes me that noone has tried to make a movie based around this book. The movie 'Max' was a very weak and thinly disguised attempt but fell short on many levels. Check this little known gem out today.

Rating:
Summary: Not a bad read, but historically unreliable
Review: The Spear Of Destiny - Trevor Ravenscroft

Review written by Hugh Dennett.

When I first picked this book up in the bookstore, I couldn't believe my luck in finding such an interesting work on The Spear Of Longinus, written by what at first appeared to be an author with at least some credibility. The subject matter of 'The Spear Of Destiny' is fascinating and the style is compelling. For the first couple of chapters, I thought that - despite the sensationalistic nature of the writing - there possibly may have been some truth to Trevor Ravenscroft's assertions.

In short, the author uses this book to present the beliefs and opinions of Dr. Walter Johannes Stein - who during WWII provided information to Winston Churchill about the supposedly occultic personalities of Hitler and other Nazi leaders - although it is difficult to discern what portion of the book is based on Dr. Stein's somewhat dubious recollections, and what is subjective speculation on the part of Ravenscroft.

One problem came for me, when I noticed that many of the more grandiose statements in the book are not referenced at all, and thus the reader has no way of verifying the authenticity of the author's claims. There are footnotes, albeit rather minimalistic, but these are mostly relating to quotes that can be easily verified or found readily in other common publications. It is also true to say that these (referenced) quotes do not for the most part help to further the cause of the book to anywhere near the degree that the unsubstantiated quotes might do, would in fact they be traceable to a reliable source. In addition to this, much of the evidence given in the book is drawn from the psychic visons of Rudolf Steiner and General Helmuth von Moltke.

Up until chapter five, the story seems almost plausible and is without a doubt a most compelling read for anyone who has an interest in the Spear Of Longinus, Nazi Germany, or the occult in general. However, by the end of chapter five, the book is becoming clearly predictable and filled with clichés; not to mention the fact that there are some obvious historical errors, such as Ravenscroft's claim that Hitler celebrated his thirty-third birthday in 1921 (page 113). The author also takes many unsubstantiated myths - such as Hitler having only one testicle (pages 172, 173) - to be proven fact. 'The Spear Of Destiny' also contains several quotes taken from Hermann Rauschning's 'Hitler Speaks', which according to acclaimed Hitler biographer Ian Kershaw, is "a work now regarded to have so little authenticity that it is best to disregard it altogether." (Taken from Hitler 1889-1936: Hubris)

Whilst Ravenscroft does not proclaim himself to be a christian, the reader gets the feeling that he certainly sympathises strongly with christian morals, and although the non-xian belief of reincarnation is central to the story, he always manages to tie this facet back into christianity or christian politics. One of the most frustrating aspects of this book is the author's tendency to portray all the supposed 'good guys' in the story as being the reincarnations of other 'good guys', and all the allegedly 'bad' characters as having been 'bad guys' in a former life. The fact that the plot of the story hinges around this detail certainly doesn't help to add to the credibility of the book.

For what it's worth, 'The Spear Of Destiny' is a good yarn and definetely quite provocatively written, but in my opinion, this is the extent of it's value. Historically speaking, the book is poorly researched and there are no where near enough references to substantiate the author's extravagant claims.

Rating:
Summary: Heavy man...
Review: This was a good read, but a heavy one laced with nordic history and is best read by someone with at least rudimentary knowledge of the occult, and German history. It can get tedious. Some of the things said in this book have a definite truth to them and some things were just hypothesis, but it is a good place to start for occult research of The Spear of Destiny, and some of the cults that have formed around the theories mentioned here.

Rating:
Summary: One of the most vital books ever written about Hitler
Review: Was Hitler involved in the occult? How did he get into power? What's really behind the spear which the Roman soldier used to pierce the side of the Lord Jesus? Trevor Ravenscroft has done a tremendous job in documenting who Hitler really was....END

Rating:
Summary: The Trouble With Reality
Review: We don't like to deal with reality for what it is because that requires too much of us.Illusions are more comfortable and easier to swallow,especially when supported by the mediocrity of the pseudointelligentsia.

Ravenscroft knows what he is talking about.The modern tendency to reduce explanations of events in scientific and psychological terms which deny the actual reality of what has occurred is challenged by Ravenscroft.

Clinical psychology and science has failed to account for and explain adequately reality and the realities that we are all confronted with, and we know it.We just haven't given those who know better the kind of credit and place in our society that they deserve. If we did, much of what troubles us wouldn't, because we wouldn't be in such self-destructive denial so much.

Hitler's involvement in the occult is undeniable.The coincidence of the symbol of the Spear of Destiny becoming pivotal at significant turning points in history is also undeniable. I have my own reasons derived from personal experience for having absolutely no doubt about that fact.I won't be going into that in this review, but I could easily do so should anyone request that imformation by email.