Issues regarding Sherlock Holmes movie in the media

Due to the mention of black magic and voodooism, some people reacted srongly against the film. The plot revolves around murders that are apparently connected with occult rituals. This leads Sherlock into the mysterious world of secret societies and political conspiracies. Interestingly, Lord Blackwood and the New World Order in the film seemingly represented the Illuminati, which caused doubts amongst some audiences as people would fear a new power that would try to control the world.

However, it is suggested that Doyle’s works contained vague references to magic and sorcery. Though it can be seen that the film contains references towards Freemasonry. Sherlock Holmes tends to focuses around these themes and elements which are in debate in today's society. for example people fear over a New World Order lead by secret societie, that could be threatening to different governments.

Symbols in the Movie

Sherlock Holmes contains a great deal of themes and symbols taken from certain societies. They are very subtle and rarely explained in the movie, making them almost invisible to everyday viewers. However, to certain “educated” viewers , those symbols can easily be recognized . Although some of them are not historically accurate or have been modified to make them “fictional”, the presence of those themes create some kind of symbolism in the mass media today.

Black Magic Ritual

The movie starts off with Sherlock interrupting a Black Magic ritual. A hooded man (Lord Blackwood) is reciting magical recitations in front of a woman laid on a sacrificial altar. This particular scene raises some hidden themes from the beginning.

Blackwood’s Cell

When Sherlock visits Lord Blackwood at his prison cell, he notices strange engravings on the walls. One of them stands out:



This symbol of a crucified rose is considered to be the first symbol represents a Secret Order, which stems from a brotherhood dating from the Middle-Ages.

The Lab

When Sherlock and Watson inspect “The Dwarf’s” lab for clues, some interesting symbols are engraved on the wall.



The All Seeing Eye
This symbol is highly provocative in socity today, as it is inferred that the 'All Seeing Eye' refers to power, light and refers to knowledge and is commonly seen on the $1 bill, which raises questions over whether America was and is run by Freemasons.

The detectives discover that the lab seem to mix advanced science with subtle voodoo aspects, which suggests the film revolves around world domination and power. Another interesting symbol is found on a wall.


The Quabbalistic Tree of Life (Sephiroth)

Blackwood’s Spellbook

After being summoned by “The Order”, Sherlock is told that Blackwood’s spell book is the key to stop him.



The creature in the middle looks remarkably like a Baphomet, which is a mystical pagan figure which is worshipped by the Knights Templar ( Secret Western Chrisian Order) and represents knowledge .


Eliphas Levi’s depicition of Baphomet

Here’s the next page of Lord Blackwood’s spell book:




De Gaita founded in 1888 the Cabalistic Order of the Rosicrucians, which is consistent with earlier references to Rosicrucianism in the movie.

The Order

In Sherlock Holmes, The Order is a secret brotherhood which can easily compared to Freemasonry. It is said in the movie that their “secret system has stirred the world to greater good for centuries, but it can also be used for more nefarious purposes … the Dark Arts or practical magic”. The Order has many members in government and police and has member which are wealthy and successful . It is suggested that America was run by supposed Freemasons such as George Washington.

Blackwood, a practitioner of Black Magic, takes over The Order by force, claiming that he has a “magnificent purpose”: to create a new future, a future ruled by the Brotherhood. Later in the movie, Blackwood says “The new order … begins now”, which is a reference to the New World Order ushered in by the Illuminati that is said to be taking place today.


Blackwood taking seat at the Throne of The Order. The pyramid in the background has an illuminated capstone, which is considered to be the ultimate “Illuminati symbol”. See the Great Seal of the USA


Blackwood’s takeover of The Order probably refers to the take over of Freemasonry by Illuminism and Rosicrucianism during the 18th century, which changed some of its beliefs and ethics and lead to its worldwide spread.

All of the magic turned out to be trickery that Sherlock explained with logic and science. So, after the viewers are exposed to the symbols and the Brotherhood, they are told that these things are fiction, and even rather ridiculous. The occultism presented in the movie is rather dark, threatening and somewhat satanic, which can encourage viewers to associate everything magical with evil, which is not the case. This goes in hand with the Hollywood disinformation covered in this article.

Although the occult elements of the movie are presented as being fictional products of director Guy Richie’s imagination, many of the symbols used are taken from actual occult works.

There is no doubt that some research has been done in order to give the movie some “occult authenticity”, but it seems to go further than this. There is a certain cohesiveness in the symbols used, which makes them more than decorative additions, but rather a series of clues pointing towards actual Secret Societies.

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