Angelo Cerchi
H.P. Lovecraft - Il culto segreto

The figure of H.P. Lovecraft continues, over time, to fascinate and spark interest in legions of enthusiasts. A convinced materialist, Lovecraft always declared his little interest in religions, considering them akin to children's tales, and in all forms of superstition. However, in his impressive narrative corpus, there are several references to the "magical" and occult world. Just think of the infamous cursed tome of the Necronomicon of the mad Arab Abdul Alhazred, a book that in reality does not exist (as HPL himself declared) but that many of his followers have considered real enough to scrupulously seek it out. The subject is so fascinating, with its substrate rich in myths and legends, that it continues to arouse interest as you can see by reading the recent H.P. Lovecraft – The Secret Cult by scholar Angelo Cerchi published by Aradia. In reality, it's no secret that the recluse of Providence was knowledgeable about the subject as can be inferred by reading his vast correspondence where his keen interest in the work of scholar Margareth Murray clearly emerges, as well as her important treatise The Witch-Cult in Western Europe. Murray's theory was that witchcraft was an ancient pagan religion based on the "forces of nature." Cerchi argues that there could be connections also with the work of Gerald Gardner (1884-1964), the founder of modern Wicca, and finds surprising links between Wiccan rituals and the elements present in HPL's work. However, Gardner published his notable Witchcraft Today only in 1954, after Lovecraft's death, even though he claimed to have been "initiated" into the Secret Cult of a Coven (a congregation of witches) in 1939.

Cerchi's theory, also based on what the occult scholar Kenneth Grant wrote, is therefore that Lovecraft, during his numerous peregrinations in Massachusetts, might have come into contact with some active Coven at the time that would have initiated him into the secrets of ritual magic. It is certainly an audacious thesis, although not without charm. Cerchi supports his arguments with much attention and meticulously, even if he's not always convincing. He also cites a fragment of a posthumous Lovecraft story completed by Derleth, who misinterpreted the sense of his work. It's also worth noting, however, that the American writer used magical formulas and the entire esoteric substrate for purely aesthetic purposes and to create the right atmosphere for a horror story. To achieve this aim, he was always in search of new sources of inspiration, and it is more likely, in my view, that he found them in some dusty tome of magic discovered in old bookstores. Nothing prevents him from having heard some second-hand tale as well. I find it more challenging, however, to imagine Lovecraft affiliated with esoteric sects or in direct contact with them. That said, Cerchi's book is interesting and deserves a read. The enthusiast and admirer of Lovecraft will not be disappointed.

Angelo Cerchi “H.P. Lovecraft – The Secret Cult” – Aradia Edizioni – 120 pages