W.W. Harmon’s Esoteric Manuscript – An Illustrated Presentation

W.W. Harmon’s Esoteric Manuscript – An Illustrated Presentation by Devon Deimler, PhD, Matt Marble, PhD and Michael Carter, MFA

“We cannot see things spiritual with the eyes of the flesh. The occultist in studying even the physical body must use the eyes of the spiritual intelligence.” – William W. Harmon

In 1891, an optometrist and scholar named William W. Harmon began work on what would become a truly monumental metaphysical manuscript which has been hidden from sight for over 130 years. 284 pages in length, hand illustrated with gorgeous watercolors – some abstract in the style of Swedish artist Hilma af Klint, others gloriously mystical in the style of William Blake – the “Esoteric Manuscript” as it’s currently labeled in the PRS Library Collections, is one of the great lost works of American esoteric art and writing.

Although he was known to Manly P. Hall and other members of esoteric circles in the early 20th century – Harmon contributed articles to Hall’s journal The All-Seeing Eye in the late 1920s – his work was, and continues to be, almost completely unknown outside of the metaphysical world.

In 1949, scholar A.J. Howie wrote this about Harmon in Horizon, the PRS journal: “He was one of the first students of Theosophy in the United States to receive a copy of The Secret Doctrine. … Apparently because of his profession, he seems to have speculated considerably on the principles of light and color, with frequent references to tonal equivalents. Remembering that Harmon started these notes in 1891, his frequent use of the word ‘atomic’ in an almost current sense is remarkable.”

At some point after Harmon completed this massive work of mystical illustration and writing, the manuscript entered the collection of Manly P. Hall and PRS, where it’s remained in the Library vault for decades.

The quality of Harmon’s watercolor illustrations in the “Esoteric Manuscript” is stunning: dazzling rays of spectral light emanate from golden orbs, wheels of color rotate around a Zodiac. Notes of music are bent around a Constructivist machine or the inner workings of some surreal pocket watch. A mystical figure emerges from an Orphic egg holding a glowing wand – only for the page to be opened to reveal yet another figure inside, and another inside that.

As a work of esoteric and metaphysical art and illustration, Harmon’s never-before-seen manuscript is absolutely breathtaking and astonishing. According to artist and esoteric scholar Michael Carter, “The manuscript is a seemingly singular historic document of the early New Age in America and it’s basically unknown outside of a small circle of people who have seen it in person at PRS.”

Please join us for a special illustrated presentation and discussion about this incredibly rare manuscript by writer and artist Devon Deimler, PhD, artist and director of the American Museum of Paramusicology Matt Marble, PhD, and artist and esoteric scholar Michael Carter, MFA.

Devon Deimler is a writer, artist, and researcher. She earned her PhD in Mythological Studies with an emphasis in Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute with a dissertation on Dionysian aesthetics. She holds a BA in Interdisciplinary Sculpture from the Maryland Institute College of Art. Her experience in the arts includes founding an independent record label, Wildfire Wildfire Productions, and working as Assistant to the Director at the Dennis Hopper Art Trust. She is Associate Core Faculty in Pacifica Graduate Institute’s Mythological Studies and Depth Psychology and Creativity programs; Curator at OPUS Archives and Research Center; and former Scholar-in-Residence and a Contributing Artist at the Philosophical Research Society.

Matt Marble is an artist, author, audio producer, and director of the American Museum of Paramusicology ("brilliant and humbling," The Paris Review). Both creatively and through historical research, his work explores the inspired intersections of art and metaphysics and the intuitive disciplines they mutually employ. Matt is the author of ("groundbreaking work," New York Times), and the producer/host of , a podcast exploring the metaphysical biographies of American musicians. His writing, research, media production, and personal archive constitute the American Museum of Paramusicology, through which he also publishes the monthly . Matt holds a BA in Speech & Hearing Science from Portland State University, a PhD in music composition from Princeton University, and a black rattlesnake from his dreams.

Michael Carter is an artist and educator working in installation, objects, and performance. He received his MFA from Claremont Graduate University. Carter's work addresses metaphysical theories of art and the cultural roots of science, philosophy, and religion in modernity to the contemporary. His artworks and performances investigate and integrate the traditions of new age spirituality with a criticality born of scientific practices. Carter's artwork has been exhibited nationally and internationally including Nicodim Gallery, Rusha & Co., JOAN, The Floating Gallery, Leband Gallery at Loyola Marymount University, Machine Project, and the Hansell Gallery. He has given talks and lectures at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Ojai Valley Theosophical Lodge, and the Philosophical Research Society. Carter is a lecturer at the Geffen Academy at UCLA. www.michaelcarter.studio // @michaelcarter.studio

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