Western esotericism information

Western esotericism, also known as esotericism, esoterism, and sometimes the Western mystery tradition,^[1] is a term scholars use to classify a wide range of loosely related ideas and movements that developed within Western society. These ideas and currents are united since they are largely distinct both from orthodox Judeo-Christian religion and Age of Enlightenment rationalism.^{[citation needed]} It has influenced various forms of Western philosophy, mysticism, religion, pseudoscience, art, literature, and music.

The idea of grouping a wide range of Western traditions and philosophies together under the term esotericism developed in 17th-century Europe. Various academics have debated numerous definitions of Western esotericism. One view adopts a definition from certain esotericist schools of thought themselves, treating "esotericism" as a perennial hidden inner tradition. A second perspective sees esotericism as a category of movements that embrace an "enchanted" worldview in the face of increasing disenchantment. A third views Western esotericism as encompassing all of Western culture's "rejected knowledge" that is accepted neither by the scientific establishment nor orthodox religious authorities.

The earliest traditions of Western esotericism emerged in the Eastern Mediterranean during Late Antiquity, where Hermeticism, Gnosticism and Neoplatonism developed as schools of thought distinct from what became mainstream Christianity.^[2] Renaissance Europe saw increasing interest in many of these older ideas, with various intellectuals combining pagan philosophies with the Kabbalah and Christian philosophy, resulting in the emergence of esoteric movements like Christian Kabbalah and Christian theosophy. The 17th century saw the development of initiatory societies professing esoteric knowledge such as Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry, while the Age of Enlightenment of the 18th century led to the development of new forms of esoteric thought. The 19th century saw the emergence of new trends of esoteric thought now known as occultism. Significant groups in this century included the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia, the Theosophical Society and the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Also important in this connection is Martinus Thomsen's "spiritual science". Modern paganism developed within occultism and includes religious movements such as Wicca. Esoteric ideas permeated the counterculture of the 1960s and later cultural tendencies, which led to the New Age phenomenon in the 1970s.

The idea that these disparate movements could be classified as "Western esotericism" developed in the late 18th century, but these esoteric currents were largely ignored as a subject of academic enquiry. The academic study of Western esotericism only emerged in the late 20th century, pioneered by scholars like Frances Yates and Antoine Faivre.

^ Morris, Brian. Religion and Anthropology: A Critical Introduction, Cambridge University Press, 2006, p. 298.
^ Eddy, Glenys (19 September 2008). "The Ritual Dimension of Western Esotericism: The Rebirth Motif and the Transformation of Human Consciousness". Sydney Studies in Religion. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2020.

[1] Morris, Brian. Religion and Anthropology: A Critical Introduction, Cambridge University Press, 2006, p. 298.

[GLENYS-2] Eddy, Glenys (19 September 2008). "The Ritual Dimension of Western Esotericism: The Rebirth Motif and the Transformation of Human Consciousness". Sydney Studies in Religion. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2020.

Western esotericism information

and 27 Related for: Western esotericism information

Western esotericism

Academic study of Western esotericism

Eastern esotericism

Evocation

Aleister Crowley

Helena Blavatsky

Occult

Egregore

Swami Vivekananda

Christian theosophy

Theurgy

Lilith

Coitus reservatus

Theosophy

Ritual purification

Esotericism in Germany and Austria

Pythagoras

Rudolf Steiner

Scrying

Satanism

Yesod

European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism

Temple of Set

Isis Unveiled

Alchemy

Western world

Rosicrucianism

Esotericism
Part of a series on

Key concepts Western esotericism Eastern esotericism Mysticism Gnosis Correspondences Magic Astrology Alchemy Meditation Theosophy Theurgy Spiritual Hierarchy Hermeticism Kabbalah Occult Transcendental Unity of Religions Metaphysics Mystical theology
Esoteric rites Initiation Transmission Rites of passage Purification Divination Astral projection Invocation Evocation Visualization Egregore Propitiation Sacrifice Exorcism
Esoteric societies Sufi tariqas Philadelphian Society Freemasonry S.R.I.A. Élus Coëns Rosicrucians OTO Golden Dawn Thelemic Order
Notable figures Pythagoras Plato Hermes Trismegistus Dionysius Ibn Arabi Paracelsus Dee Böhme Lévi Blavatsky Waite Mathers Hall Crowley Gurdjieff Guénon Evola Schuon Steiner Jung
v t e