Bohemian Grove: Occult Government of the World, or "Children's Camp" for the Elite?
There are many closed clubs in the world, where only the chosen few are members. This tradition originated in medieval England and then spread to the New World. The first American elite clubs, the South River Club and the Schuylkill Fishing Company, appeared in the early 18th century. But the Bohemian Club gained real popularity. It appeared towards the end of the 19th century, and its meetings are held in the famous Bohemian Grove, shrouded in legends and secrets.
In 1872, actor Henry Edwards founded the Bohemian Club in San Francisco. The name reflected its essence: people of art — artists, writers, musicians — gathered there. At first, meetings were held indoors, but in 1878, when Edwards moved to Washington, the participants decided to hold a gathering in the bosom of nature.
The meeting took place in one of the city parks, which was decorated with Japanese lanterns. As always, there was plenty of wine, classical music, and elegant clothes. Everyone liked the meeting in the park, and from then on, the club members decided to meet only in nature. In 1893, they found the perfect place - a secluded sequoia grove. After several successful meetings, the Bohemian Club bought it from the owner, and since 1899, meetings have been held there regularly.
Today, the Bohemian Grove still attracts prominent figures from the arts. But now the core of the club is made up of media moguls, major bankers and businessmen, politicians and lawyers. At various times, members of the club included Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, Henry Kissinger, Theodore Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, and George Bush Sr. Most of them are members of the Republican Party or sympathizers of the party.
Each member of the club has the right to invite guests. Usually, they are famous politicians and entrepreneurs from other countries. The official goal of the club is to provide members with a rest in the bosom of nature, where they can relax and not be afraid of prying eyes and paparazzi lenses. According to the charter of the Bohemian Club, all business, worries and intrigues are supposed to be left at the entrance to the grove.
Above the gate at the entrance to the grove is a picture of an owl and a warning sign: "No entry for spiders weaving webs." Perhaps this rule was once strictly observed, but today it is just a tribute to tradition. Nowadays, the Bohemian Grove is used to discuss not only art, but also pressing issues of politics and economics. The powers that be do so in an informal setting, under the cover of centuries-old trees.
The grove is where important connections are made and private meetings are held, closed even to other members of the club. For this purpose, the Bohemian Grove has created so-called "camps" - 118 small cottages with amenities. These are sleeping cabins designed for different numbers of people. Politicians, investors and military contractors stay in the camp called "Mandalay". Analysts, major players in the oil and gas market, media moguls and scientists gather in "Cave Men". And the military and those associated with the military-industrial complex live in "Hideaway".
The general events take place on four large stages and in two spacious restaurants. It was in one of them, the Clubhouse, that the fateful decision was made in 1942 to launch the Manhattan Project, which led to the creation of the first atomic bomb.
The essence of the club was well described by its member Nicholas Murray Butler, who headed Columbia University from 1901 to 1945. He once said:
The most mysterious place in the Bohemian Grove is the Owl Sanctuary, where, according to rumors, mysterious rituals and even sacrifices are held. From time to time, the press publishes blurry photographs: at night, by the light of torches, people in robes gather around a huge statue of an owl. Under the pictures there are often intriguing captions: "The Illuminati hold their satanic rituals" or "rich Satanists have gathered again for a demonic feast."
The members of the Bohemian Club themselves rarely react to such actions. But sometimes they do condescend to explain. According to them, everything is much simpler and more banal. The ritual does exist, and it includes a sacrifice. But it is purely symbolic: no one dies or even gets wounded.
The spectacular ceremony has been held since 1881 and is called the "Burning of Cares". It symbolizes the purification of the problems of the outside world. The victim is the "demon of cares" - a pure allegory. The main role in the ritual is played by a concrete statue of an owl, installed in the sanctuary in 1929. Inside, the hollow figure hides special equipment that is used during the ritual.
The ceremony looks rather gloomy, because it takes place at night, and its participants dress in robes. Every year during the ritual, protesters gather behind the fence of the grove with ironic posters: "Resurrection of worries." Activists try to shame the elite, reminding that you can't hide from the problems of the outside world either behind a high fence or behind the backs of guards.
Feminists are often seen at the pickets. They are outraged by the fact that the Bohemian Club is a men's community. In its entire history, only four women have ever been members. After the death of the last of them, poetess Ina Coolbrith, in 1928, it was decided to make the club exclusively male.
For a time, women were among the service personnel, but later they refused to do this either. In 1978, the club was sued, demanding an end to gender discrimination. The plaintiffs insisted that women be given the right to work in the club equally with men.
It was not easy to sue the elite, and the process dragged on until 1996. In the end, its initiators won, although not all of their demands were met. Today, women can work in the Bohemian Grove, but with one condition: they are required to leave the club's premises at night. In addition, there are separate closed events during which women are prohibited from attending.
The rules of the Bohemian Club have given rise to many rumors that homosexual orgies are allegedly held in the grove. A real sensation among supporters of this theory was caused by an article in The New York Post, published in 2004. Journalists found out that Chad Savage, a star of American gay porn, was listed as a member of the service staff.
Food for thought was also provided by a statement made by former President Richard Nixon at the club:
But rumors remain rumors. As for Savage, the Bohemian Club has officially told the press: a person's sexual preferences are his personal business. The main thing is that the technical staff, including Savage, copes with their duties perfectly. And many perceive Nixon's caustic remark as a joke, because he himself was a member of this club for many years.
There have been many cases in the history of the Bohemian Grove when curious people tried to penetrate the holy of holies and reveal its secrets. Usually, security guards stop such attempts, but sometimes they end in success. That is when the famous photos of mysterious figures in robes appear in the press. There are also more serious incidents. For example, in 2002, the police detained 37-year-old Richard McCaslin. He tried to get into the grove with the intention of setting it on fire.
Overall, McCaslin's attempt was more of a farce. He wore a skull mask and a blue jumpsuit with "Ghost Patriot" written in red. He carried an arsenal of weapons: a shotgun, a pistol, a crossbow, a sword, a knife, and a fireworks launcher.
Despite the absurdity of his actions, the situation was taken seriously - after all, the weapon turned out to be real. Richard received six years in prison. After his release, he continued to fight the reptilians and the Illuminati, but without weapons. Today, McCaslin gives speeches in which he denounces Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
In general, a lot is known about the Bohemian Grove and its regulars. But there are still many mysteries that have no answers. The main one is why do key figures in politics and business gather there? Is it really to discuss world governance?
British journalist Jon Ronson, who has spent many years studying the club and even made a documentary about it, believes that everything is very simple:
So maybe this is just a closed "kids' camp" for adults, where the powers that be can take off their masks for a while. What do you think? Is the fate of the world really being decided in the Bohemian Grove, or is it just a place for elite recreation? Share your opinion in the comments!