Esoteric/occult thought and practices often rely on the use of signs and symbols to convey hidden meanings. As thought and practices evolve, however, so do the meanings behind the signs and symbols that are used. Items from the Merten J. Mandeville Collection in Parapsychology and the Occult Sciences in the University Library at Illinois explore the cultural history of Western esoteric thought and practices over the last 300 years, focusing on how the signs and symbols used in practices such as tarot, astrology, and witchcraft have changed over time.
