Watkins Books is London's oldest esoteric bookshop. It specialises inesotericism,mysticism,occultism,oriental religion andcontemporary spirituality. The bookshop was saved by entrepreneur Etan Ilfeld who bought it out of bankruptcy in March of 2010.[1] It is affiliated with Watkins Publishing, which publishes books relating to self-development and spirituality.
The book store was established by John M. Watkins, a friend ofMadame Blavatsky, in 1897 at 26Charing Cross. John Watkins had already been selling books via a catalogue which he began publishing in March 1893.[2] The first biography ofAleister Crowley recounts a story of Crowley making all of the books in Watkins magically disappear.[3]
Geoffrey Watkins (1896–1981) owned and managed the store after his father.[4] He was also an author[5] and publisher
The company first publishingCarl Gustav Jung's 1925 edition ofSeptem Sermones ad Mortuos.[6]
In 1901, Watkins Books moved to 21Cecil Court where it has been continuously trading ever since. It publishes a magazine called theWatkins' Mind Body Spirit magazine, which has featured leading authors frommind-body-spirit and esoteric fields. Watkins Books has been owned byEtan Ilfeld since March 2010.[7][8] Since then, a new website has been launched, and the store regularly hosts book launches and signings.
Watkins publishes an annual list of "the 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People," which is usually featured in the spring issue ofWatkins' Mind Body Spirit magazine.[9] The main factors used to compile the list are that the person has to be alive and has to have made a unique and spiritual contribution on a global scale.
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