James Grant’s Mysteries of All Nations (1880) is a sweeping, encyclopedic excavation into the dark, sacred, and forbidden beliefs that have shaped every culture on Earth. In an age where rationalism had supposedly triumphed, Grant dives headfirst into the superstitions, hidden rituals, magical practices, and ancient conspiracies that continued to haunt the modern world. This is not just a study of outdated beliefs—it is a catalogue of the occult mind of humanity, a mirror to how deeply mystical thought has been encoded into the evolution of civilization.

Based on nearly forty years of antiquarian research and first-hand observation, Grant presents a cross-cultural journey through the forgotten, the forbidden, and the fantastic. His aim is to reveal how superstition is not a relic of the past, but a vital force still active beneath the surface of modern society.

The topics span across:

• Gods, goddesses, and demonic figures from ancient civilizations: Babylon, Egypt, Greece, Britain, Scandinavia, and more
  

• The roots of pagan worship, with deep dives into sun cults, druidic rites, astrology, and ancestor reverence
  

• Demonology, witchcraft, and necromancy, including detailed accounts of incantations, magical animals, and secret sacrifices
  

• The power of relics and saints, and how miracle tales perpetuated supernatural belief systems
  

• The rise of magical thinking in medicine, from sacred charms to deadly superstitions
  

• Divination systems—including oracles, crystal-gazing, dream interpretation, and astrology
  

• Trials by ordeal, ancient justice rituals, curses, omens, and apotropaic rites
  

• Cultural roots of modern traditions—why we fear black cats, revere certain days, or throw salt over our shoulders
  

One of the book's strengths lies in drawing parallel lines between nations—showing how the worship of Saturn in Rome echoes rituals from Babylon, or how British folklore about witches reflects Eastern tales of djinn and spirit familiars. Grant also explores how monarchs, poets, and philosophers were not immune to superstition; in fact, they were often its champions.

Rather than ridicule these traditions, Grant seeks to understand them—not as irrational, but as symbolic and existential, answering humanity’s deepest fears: death, the unknown, fate, and divine will.

Throughout the book, you’ll find chapters on:

• The Druids
  

• Demonology
  

• Astrology and Magic
  

• Curses and Evil Wishes
  

• Sacred Relics and Healing Shrines
  

• Ancient Pagan Myths
  

• Laws Against Witchcraft
  

• Superstition in the 19th Century
  

With its massive scope and stunning range of sources, Mysteries of All Nations serves as a forgotten grimoire of global belief systems—revealing how even today, buried beneath our modern identities, are ancient codes of protection, worship, and magical thinking. It is a must-read for seekers, historians, folklorists, occultists, and those drawn to the hidden undercurrents of human faith.