Thomas Karlsson

Thomas Karlsson (born 1972) is a Swedish occultist and esoteric author, with a PhD in the History of Religions from the University of Stockholm. In 2007 he held the first Swedish university course in Western Esotericism.
In 1989, he and six other magicians founded Dragon Rouge, a Left-Hand Path initiatory organization and a Draconian Tradition Order, led by Karlsson. As a book author he concentrates on occult, philosophy and paranormal topics. The Dragon Rouge website cites Carlos Castaneda, Julius Evola and Kenneth Grant as some of the magical writers whose work is read by the order, as are texts by classical philosophers such as Herakleitos, Plato and Plotinos, as well as modern philosophers like Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger and Henri Bergson. Karlsson is also associated with metal bands Therion and Shadowseeds. His personal influences include Sumerian mythology, Alchemy, Tantra, the Goetia, and the Qliphoth. In an interview dated in 2003, he claims he experienced astral projections as a child but did not think of them as supernatural experiences until he started formally exploring the occult.

Karlsson is also the lyricist of symphonic metal band Therion, and has written almost all the band's lyrics since 1996. He also provided the whispers on the Therion song Ljusalfheim on their Secret of the Runes album. Nevertheless, Karlsson was never regarded as an official band member.

Karlsson is the lead vocalist of the symphonic death metal band Shadowseeds along with fellow Dragon Rouge member Tommie Eriksson, who also was Therion's guitarist and drummer. The lyrics reflect the Order's teachings and rituals. The band is currently on hiatus.

• Uthark - Nightside of the Runes (ISBN 91-974102-1-7).
  • a.k.a. Uthark - Im Schattenreich der Runen (German title, ISBN 978-3-935581-29-5) — incl. Therion-CD Secret of the Runes
• Kabbala, Kliffot och den Goetiska Magin (ISBN 91-974102-2-5)
  • a.k.a. Qabalah, Qliphoth and Goetic Magic (English title, ISBN 978-0-9721820-1-0)
  • a.k.a. La Kabbala e la magia goetica (Italian title, ISBN 978-88-7169-213-5)
  • a.k.a. Kabbalah, Qliphoth und die Goetische Magie (German title, ISBN 978-3-939459-10-1)
• Astrala resor ut ur kroppen (ISBN 91-7894-005-2)
• Adulrunan och den Götiska Kabbalan (ISBN 91-974102-3-3)
  • a.k.a. Le rune e la kabbala (Italian title, ISBN 978-88-7169-207-4)
  • a.k.a. Adulruna und die gotische Kabbala (German title, ISBN 978-3-939459-04-0)
• Götisk kabbala och runisk alkemi. Johannes Bureus och den götiska esoterismen (ISBN 978-91-628-8030-9) — Doctoral thesis, Stockholm University, 2010
• Bland Mystiker och Magiker i Förorten (ISBN 978-91-974102-7-4)

• "Doctoral thesis, Thomas Karlsson". Su.diva-portal.org. Retrieved 2013-08-20.