In "The Hidden Thread," author Joscelyn Godwin provides a brief history of the various facets that comprise the so-called Western Mystery Tradition. Godwin traces the tradition back to its origins in Egypt, the Platonists, and the ancient mystery schools, then on through the rise of Christianity, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and into modern times.

There are chapters on Pythagorus, the Gothic cathedrals, the "negative" mystics of Christianity, the alchemists, the Romantics, the theosophists, the influence of Eastern religions in the West, and the New Age movement, among other topics. (The Kabbalists and the Sufis are not given quite enough attention, in my opinion.)

Godwin has given us a book that is wide-ranging, yet somewhat skimpy. Godwin thus makes a number of interesting observations, yet typically fails to explore their implications in any depth. She points out a number of intellectual dilemmas, e.g., the perceived conflict between science and mysticism, and suggests that the Western Mystery Tradition might be the solution to those dilemmas, but does not spell out exactly how or why.

As a general introduction to the Western Mystery Tradition, I think "The Golden Thread" falls short of efforts such as "Hidden Wisdom," by Richard Smoley and Jay Kinney.

Godwin does not explore some key questions with sufficient depth. What is alive and what is dead in the Western Mystery Tradition (WMT)? Is it possible that the WMT can ever revivify Christianity in any of its forms? What would such a Christianity look like? Is the WMT to be forever the province of the solitary practitioner? (Godwin seems to answer "yes" to that question.) Is it possible that a future Western civilization will be based on the esoteric principles of the WMT? What is the future of Islam and Buddhism in the West? Has Christianity ALREADY been altered by contact with the East? Is the New Age the religion of the future? These and other questions are hinted at, but not adequately explored. Godwin points out conflicts and dilemmas, but offers no clear way out, no road map, no inspiring vision of what might be.

This is a good book, but not a great one. The topics interest me, Godwin makes some interesting observations, but I came away thinking there could and should have been more.

I would be a happier person if there were more books like The Golden Thread in bookstores. The topic is fascinating; the book itself is a pleasure to read and is often breathtakingly insightful.