The cambridge handbook of western mysticism and esotericism. Western esotericism with transpersonal psychology, and the potential for a re. Occultism in western theater and drama, sophia heller, the absence of myth, hugh b. General interest esotericism and the academy by wouter j. The second half of the book presents a series of studies on several important figures, works, and movements in western. Nichomachus of gerasa, arithmology, and secondcentury neopythagoreanism speculations about the properties of number have been a major constituent of some western esoteric traditions. Buy access to western esotericism suny series, western esoteric traditions suny series in western esoteric traditions by faivre, antoine isbn.
Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. The volume demonstrates that the roots of esotericism almost always lead back to mystical traditions, while the work of mystics was bound up with esoteric or occult preoccupations. Hanegraaff, universiteit van amsterdam, history of hermetic philosophy and related currents department, faculty member. Access to western esotericism suny series, western. To these dimensions can be added certain world views that are typically involved in there discourses. This field covers a variety of alternative currents in western religious history, including socalled hermetic philosophy and related currents in the early modern period. Faivre wisely restricts his study to western esotericism, whose focus. The cambridge handbook of western mysticism and esotericism mysticism and esotericism are two intimately related strands of the western tradition. Studies western esotericism, western esotericism history, and neopaganism and western esotericism.
Western esotericism was, to a certain extent, a mixture of a traditionalist, religionist, and generalist approach. For more than three hundred years the practice of masonic rituals of initiation has been part of western culture, spreading far beyond the boundaries of traditional freemasonry. Mysticism, contemplation, and exercises oxford studies in western esotericism book pdf free read online here in pdf. The eleusinian mysteries of greece are perhaps the best known of the historical esoteric schools, and include among. Mysticism, contemplation, and exercises oxford studies in western esotericism book paperback with clear copy pdf epub kindle format. It also has a second meaning where it serves to designate a type of knowledge, emanating from a spiritual center to be attained after.
The concept of western esotericism is a modern scholarly construct rather than a preexisting, selfdefined tradition of thought. Home access to western esotericism suny series in western esoteric traditions. I have myself used it, in slightly modified form, for developing a general and nonessentialist theory pertaining to the specific problem. View western esotericism research papers on academia. Access to western esotericism suny series, western esoteric traditions suny series in western esoteric traditions 9780791421789. Although the forces of eros and magic have long been linked in western esoteric traditions, it is really not until the nineteenth century that we see the emergence of a large and sophisticated body of literature on the art of sexual magic. Western esoterici sm, also known as esoterici sm, esoteri sm, and sometime s the west ern mystery tradition, is a term under which scholars have categorised a wide range of loosely related ideas and movements which have developed within we stern society. Download pdf anintroductiontowesternesotericism free. I cant give an answer based on historical facts, so consider it as a theory.
Antoine faivres approaches to western esoteric currents is composed of two sections. Daoism and western esotericism general discussion the. William blake and the sexual basis of spiritual vision. Here is also a historical survey, beginning with the alexandrean period, of the various esoteric currents such as christian kabbalah, theosophy, alchemy, rosicrucianism, and hermeticism. Pdf the contribution of western esotericism to transpersonal. Perhaps the most accessible introduction to faivres scholarship are the state university of new york press volumes access to western esotericism 1994 and. Western and eastern esotericism timeless tradition. Access to western esotericism by antoine faivre, 9780791421789, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Aries is the first professional academic journal specifically devoted to a longneglected but now rapidly developing domain of research in the humanities, usually referred to as western esotericism. Widely received in france, this brief, comprehensive introduction to western esotericism by the founder of the field is at last available in english. Welcome,you are looking at books for reading, the an introduction to western esotericism, you will able to read or download in pdf or epub books and notice some of author may have lock the live reading for some of country. The academic study of western esotericism was pioneered in the early 20th century by historians of the ancient world and the european renaissance, who came to recognise that although it had been ignored by previous scholarship the impact which prechristian and nonrational schools of thought had exerted on european society and culture was. The second half of the book presents a series of studies on several important figures, works, and movements in western esotericism studies devoted to some of the most characteristic and illuminating aspects that this form of thought has taken, such as theosophical speculations on androgyny, rosicrucian literature, and masonic symbolism.
Pdf antoine faivre and the study of esotericism macarena del. From the hermetic tradition to western esotericism. In access to western esotericism, he says that esotericism conjures up chiefly the idea of something secret, of a discipline of the arcane, of a restricted realm of knowledge 5. Western esotericism and new religious movements oxford. Not for the beginner, access is written by one of the worlds leading academic authorities on western mystical and occult movements from the renaissance to the present. Despite the fact that during the last ten to fifteen years a cornucopia of contributions has led to the emergence of the research field of western esotericism, scholars are still. Access to western esotericism antoine faivre download.
Western esotericism also called esotericism and esoterism, also known as the western mystery tradition, is a term under which scholars have categorised a wide range of loosely related ideas and movements which have developed within western society. Ancient is the website for the network for the study of ancient esotericism nsea, a thematic network associated with the european society for the study of western esotericism esswe. In his access to western esotericism faivre placed alchemy. Here is also a historical survey, beginning with the alexandrean period, of the various esoteric currents such as christian kabbalah, theosophy, alchemy. There arent too many of those around to begin with, so correspondences is as announced previously a welcome newcomer to a small field. Western and eastern esotericism timeless tradition of wisdom. An overview of western esoteric currents since late antiquity, with an emphasis on the last six centuries. A historical and pedagogical guide, the book is written primarily for students and novices. An introduction to western esotericism download pdfepub. Western esotericism, elements of othering and rejection processes are important and the socalled esoteric is understood as an alternative to hegemonic conceptions of religion and science.
The secret history of western esotericism podcast shwep. Western esotericism, also known as western mysticism, western mystery tradition, and western hermetic tradition is a term used to cover certain occult practices including alchemy, astrology, herbalism, tarot, gnosticism, hermetism, spiritualism, numerology, kabbalah, ritual magic, and other bodies of occultic lore. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Nsea specializes in the study of esoteric phenomena of the ancient period and provides contact for specialists of ancient esoteric thought, history, and literature. Western esotericism is sometimes spoken of, but what would. Western esoterism lund university publications lunds universitet.
Versluis, methods in the study of western esotericism reader. Western esotericism western mystery schools were the direct descendants of the ancient egyptian and greek mysteries. The following are four of the best surveys of western esotericism as a whole. Project muse western esotericism and rituals of initiation. The first, methodology and reflexions, sets the tone for the etic methodological modes of analysis by which western esotericism has been analyzed by all serious scholars who have emerged in faivres wake.
All files scanned and secured, so dont worry about it. This field covers a variety of alternative currents in western religious history, including socalled hermetic philosophy and related. This chapter discusses four discourses that can be found in. These ideas and currents are united by the fact that they are largely distinct both from orthodox judeochristian religion and. Access to western esotericism suny series in western esoteric traditions. Many of these pseudosciences, protosciences, or bodies of occult belief are themselves quite ancient, and predate any body of learning that can claim this title for instance, some of the various texts associated with hermeticism such as the corpus hermeticum were actually written during antiquity, in the 2 nd and 3 rd centuries ce. Henrik bogdan explores the historical development of these rituals and. The academic study of western esotericism was pioneered in the early 20th century by historians of the ancient world and the european renaissance, who came to recognise that although it had been ignored by previous scholarship the impact which prechristian and nonrational schools of thought had exerted on european society and culture was worthy of academic. The famous eranos meetings are an important part of this early stage of research into western esotericism see wasserstrom, 1999. A survey of western esoteric currents since late antiquity, with an emphasis on the last six centuries.
The second half of the book presents a series of studies on several important figures, works, and movements in western esotericismstudies devoted to some of the most characteristic and illuminating aspects that this form of thought has taken, such as theosophical speculations on androgyny, rosicrucian literature, and masonic symbolism. Access to western esotericism by antoine faivre is a dense book, yet it is that very density that makes it a cornerstone for research into western estotericism. It is common usage today to distinguish hermetism as the specific religious world view of the socalled philosophical hermetica of late antiquity from hermeticism as the various receptions of hermetic literature in later periods. Esotericism is often understood as the rejected knowledge of western culture, which often centers on claims of absolute knowledge or gnosis. Access to western esotericism suny series in western esoteric traditions free ebook download as pdf file.
Access to western esotericism suny series, western esoteric. The cambridge handbook of western mysticism and esotericism examines both of these traditions together. Antoine faivres muchquoted definition of western esotericism in terms of four intrinsic and two extrinsic characteristics access, 1014 has farreaching implications for the conception of the discipline. Sex, magic, and liberation in modern western esotericism, and marsha keith schuchard, why mrs blake cried. Access to western esotericism suny series in western esoteric. It refers to a wide array of ideas and movements which have developed within western society, and which have remained largely distinct from both orthodox judeo. These ideas and currents are united by the fact that they are largely distinct both from orthodox judeochristian religion and from enlightenment. The eleusinian mysteries of greece are perhaps the best known of the historical esoteric schools, and include among their initiates socrates and plato. This episode also answers the burning question, whats so secret about the secret history of western esotericism podcast.
An introduction to western esotericism download pdf. Under the general heading gnosis and western esotericism, this dictionary brings together a great range of historical currents and personalities that have. Notwithstanding the fact that waites research to a large extent today is outdated, he was often cited as an authority on western esotericism by scholars, such as yates, working in this field. Important renaissanceera forerunners of modern western esotericism included cornelius agrippa, paracelsus, pietro dabano, and athanasius kircher. University of new york press volumes access to western esotericism 1994 and theosophy, imagination, tradition.
This is the first systematic treatment of esotericism to appear in english. A historical introduction by nicholas goodrickclarke, access to western esoterici. Pdf in this article i argue that transpersonal psychology has a close. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. Goodrickclarke, the western esoteric traditions, ch 1.