20
Book Reviews
Santa Fe, Bill Tate, and me:
How an artist became a
cult interventionist
By Joe Szimhart
Joe Szimhart, 2020. ISBN-10: 1676003886 ISBN-13: 978-
1676003885 $16.00 paperback Kindle, $5.99 (Amazon.com).
341 pages.
Reviewed by Nori Muster
Joe Szimhart’s story begins in Santa Fe, where he became a
working artist after completing his education at the Pennsylvania
Academy of Fine Arts. One of the first people he met was Santa
Fe icon Bill Tate. Joe said, “Tate’s Santa Fe gallery felt genuine, a
place where a collector might find something special” (p. 37).
The first time Joe visited the gallery, Bill invited him to stay for
coffee, and that was the beginning of a 12-year friendship. Joe
saw Bill as a mentor and visited his gallery frequently. Joe’s art
career blossomed as he became a fixture, doing portraits on the
Plaza, selling the occasional canvas in Tate’s gallery, and receiving
several major commissions.
The book shows Joe’s frightening romp through the world of
theosophy-related cults. His journey began when he read the
theosophy books he found at Bill’s gallery. He got into the local
Santa Fe “I AM” group, which is an offshoot of theosophy. He
asked Bill about “I AM,” but Bill just scoffed. He knew he had
theosophy books around, but he didn’t realize Joe had already
become deeply immersed.
The only thing Bill could recall about “I AM” was the time the
group protested in front of the Santa Fe New Mexican offices in
the 1950s. The members were angry over an article about their
leaders’ legal problems. One of the protesters decreed for the
editors and publisher, “The flaming sword of St. Germain will be
stuck in your guts” (p. 73).1
Theosophy followers believe in the power of mind, and they
believe they harness metaphysical power when they decree.
Decrees are chants, invocations. For example, they may decree,
“I am I am I am rich and powerful today.” They decree in groups,
speaking loudly at a rapid pace. “I AM” and other related groups
have decrees for everything from manifesting money to
assassinating disliked politicians. They believe in ascended masters
they call The Great White Brotherhood (emphasis on white).
ICSA TODAY
The book shows Joe’s frightening
romp through the world of
theosophy-related cults.
Joe Szimhart (left) with Bill Tate (right) in Santa Fe circa 1977. (Photo reprinted with permission of Lisa Law Productions. ©Lisa Law, flashingonthesixties.com)
Book Reviews
Santa Fe, Bill Tate, and me:
How an artist became a
cult interventionist
By Joe Szimhart
Joe Szimhart, 2020. ISBN-10: 1676003886 ISBN-13: 978-
1676003885 $16.00 paperback Kindle, $5.99 (Amazon.com).
341 pages.
Reviewed by Nori Muster
Joe Szimhart’s story begins in Santa Fe, where he became a
working artist after completing his education at the Pennsylvania
Academy of Fine Arts. One of the first people he met was Santa
Fe icon Bill Tate. Joe said, “Tate’s Santa Fe gallery felt genuine, a
place where a collector might find something special” (p. 37).
The first time Joe visited the gallery, Bill invited him to stay for
coffee, and that was the beginning of a 12-year friendship. Joe
saw Bill as a mentor and visited his gallery frequently. Joe’s art
career blossomed as he became a fixture, doing portraits on the
Plaza, selling the occasional canvas in Tate’s gallery, and receiving
several major commissions.
The book shows Joe’s frightening romp through the world of
theosophy-related cults. His journey began when he read the
theosophy books he found at Bill’s gallery. He got into the local
Santa Fe “I AM” group, which is an offshoot of theosophy. He
asked Bill about “I AM,” but Bill just scoffed. He knew he had
theosophy books around, but he didn’t realize Joe had already
become deeply immersed.
The only thing Bill could recall about “I AM” was the time the
group protested in front of the Santa Fe New Mexican offices in
the 1950s. The members were angry over an article about their
leaders’ legal problems. One of the protesters decreed for the
editors and publisher, “The flaming sword of St. Germain will be
stuck in your guts” (p. 73).1
Theosophy followers believe in the power of mind, and they
believe they harness metaphysical power when they decree.
Decrees are chants, invocations. For example, they may decree,
“I am I am I am rich and powerful today.” They decree in groups,
speaking loudly at a rapid pace. “I AM” and other related groups
have decrees for everything from manifesting money to
assassinating disliked politicians. They believe in ascended masters
they call The Great White Brotherhood (emphasis on white).
ICSA TODAY
The book shows Joe’s frightening
romp through the world of
theosophy-related cults.
Joe Szimhart (left) with Bill Tate (right) in Santa Fe circa 1977. (Photo reprinted with permission of Lisa Law Productions. ©Lisa Law, flashingonthesixties.com)
