Antoine Faivre

An overview of Western esoteric currents since late antiquity, with an emphasis on the last six centuries. Widely received in France, this brief, comprehensive introduction to Western esotericism by the founder of the field is at last available in English. A historical and pedagogical guide, the book is written primarily for students and novices. In clear, precise language, author Antoine Faivre provides an overview of Western esoteric currents since late antiquity. The bulk of the book is laid out chronologically, from ancient and medieval sources (Alexandrian Hermetism, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism), through the Renaissance up to the present time. Its coverage includes spiritual alchemy, Jewish and Christian Kabbalah, Christian theosophy, Rosicrucianism, Illuminism, “mystical” Freemasonry, the “occultist” current, Theosophical and Anthroposophical Societies, the Traditionalist School, and “esotericism” in contemporary initiatic societies and in New Religious Movements. Faivre explores how these currents are connected, and refers to where they appear in art and literature. The book concludes with an annotated bibliography, which makes it an essential resource for beginners and scholars alike. “A characteristically erudite, sweeping brief survey of the field of Western esotericism, at once accessible and bristling with details. This is a valuable overview, from the inimitable perspective of the field’s founder, for those who wish to delve into this fascinating and thriving area of contemporary scholarship.” — Arthur Versluis, author of Restoring Paradise, Wisdom’s Children, and Magic and Mysticism “The classic survey of Western esotericism by the most knowledgeable and influential scholar of his generation is now finally accessible to English readers, in an updated edition that takes account of current developments. This small but precious volume will be indispensable for anybody who wishes to be well informed about the historical backgrounds and development of esoteric currents from antiquity to the present.” — Wouter J. Hanegraaff, University of Amsterdam

A Concise History

Western Esotericism

This is the first systematic treatment of esotericism to appear in English. 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. Common characteristics of these currents are the notion of universal interdependency and the experience of spiritual transformation. The author establishes a rigorous methodology; provides clarifying definitions of such key terms as gnosis, theosophy, occultism, and Hermeticism; and offers analysis of contemporary esotericism based on three distinct pathways. 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. The book is completed by a rich and selective Bibliography conceived as a means of orientation and a tool for research.

Access to Western Esotericism

Jacob Needleman

Karen Voss

"An excellent overview of spiritual movements throughout the last few centuries . . . a superb panorama" (The Book Reader), this book covers esoterica from its ancient beginnings through the alchemists to Gurdijeff and Jung.

Modern Esoteric Spirituality

A historical and interpretive study of three aspects of Western esotericism from the Renaissance to the twentieth century.

Studies in Western Esotericism

Theosophy, Imagination, Tradition

mythe et initiation

Les Contes de Grimm

A survey of Western esoteric currents since late antiquity, with an emphasis on the last six centuries. Widely received in France, this brief, comprehensive introduction to Western esotericism by the founder of the field is at last available in English. A historical and pedagogical guide, the book is written primarily for students and novices. In clear, precise language, author Antoine Faivre provides an overview of Western esoteric currents since late antiquity. The bulk of the book is laid out chronologically, from ancient and medieval sources (Alexandrian hermetism, gnosticism, neoplatonism), through the Renaissance up to the present time. Its coverage includes spiritual alchemy, Jewish and Christian Kabbalah, Christian theosophy, Rosicrucianism, Illuminism, ‘mystical’ Free-Masonry, the Occultist current, Theosophical and Anthroposophical Societies, the Traditionalist School, and ‘esotericism’ in contemporary initiatic societies and in New Religious Movements. Faivre explores how these currents are connected, and refers to where they appear in art and literature. The book concludes with an annotated bibliography, which makes it an essential resource for beginners and scholars alike. Antoine Faivre is Professor Emeritus at the École Pratique des Hautes Études (Religious Studies), Sorbonne. He has published extensively, including Access to Western Esotericism and The Golden Fleece and Alchemy, both also published by SUNY Press. Christine Rhone has translated numerous books, including Faivre’s Theosophy, Imagination, Tradition: Studies in Western Esotericism, also published by SUNY Press.

International Association for the History of Religions. Congress

International Association for the History of Religions

This volume is based upon papers read during the innovative section "Western Esotericism and the Science of Religion" organized at the 17th International Congress of the International Association for the History of Religions (IAHR) in Mexico City, August 5-12, 1995. The section was created in order to fill a long-standing hiatus in the academic study of religions: whereas phenomena such as gnosticism and hermetism in antiquity, and even the occult sciences of that period, have long been recognized as subjects worthy of serious investigation, the history of similar and related phenomena in more recent periods has hardly received the same measure of scholarly attention and recognition. The present volume is devoted to the academic emancipation of these areas as constituting a legitimate domain of research, which may be referred to by the generic label "western esotericism". Preceded by an introductory essay on the birth of this new discipline in the study of religion, the volume provides a sample of current research in the field and devotes special attention to some central methodological questions.

Selected Papers Presented at the 17th Congress of the International Association for the History of Religions, Mexico City 1995

Western Esotericism and the Science of Religion

This book traces the Golden Fleece myth from late paganism through medieval and Renaissance alchemical and masonic interpretations. We follow the changing fashions in the history of initiation as well as in mythology. Faivre connects politics, chivalry, the age of exploration, Renaissance architecture and iconography, the hermeneutics of eighteenth century Germany and France, and modern practitioners of alchemy. This book will be welcomed by modern practitioners of alchemy and the occult as well as by scholars of esotericism.

The Golden Fleece and Alchemy

Silvia Mancini

Des Médiums

Jean-Jacques Pollet

colloque de Cerisy

La Littérature fantastique

Wouter J. Hanegraaff

R. van den Broek

Jean-Pierre Brach

Now available in one volume, this is the first comprehensive reference work to cover the entire domain of Gnosis and Western Esotericism from the period of Late Antiquity to the present. Containing around 400 articles by over 180 international specialists, it provides critical overviews discussing the nature and historical development of all its important currents and manifestations, from Gnosticism and Hermetism to Astrology, Alchemy and Magic, from the Hermetic Tradition of the Renaissance to Rosicrucianism and Christian Theosophy, and from Freemasonry and Illuminism to 19th-century Occultism and the contemporary New Age movement. Furthermore it contains articles about the life and work of all the major personalities in the history of Gnosis and Western Esotericism, discussing their ideas, significance, and historical influence. This one volume edition is an unabridged version of the two volume edition, published in 2005.

Dictionary of Gnosis & Western Esotericism: I

Ne en 1934, diplome de l'Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes (1965), Docteur es-Lettres (1969), Antoine Faivre a ete Professeur de Langue et Litterature allemandes a l'Universite de Bordeaux III (de 1972 a 1985), puis a l'Universite de Rouen (de 1985 a 1991). Depuis 1969, A. Faivre dirige un seminaire a l'Ecole Pratiques des Hautes Etudes (Section des Sciences Religieuses, Sorbonne), d'abord en tant que Charge de conferences (1967-1979), puis en tant que Directeur d'Etudes (il est titulaire de la Chaire Histoire des Courants esoteriques et mystiques dans l'Europe moderne et contemporaine, depuis 1979). Le present recueil vient tout naturellement rendre hommage au chercheur, qui a tant apporte a l'histoire critique de cette nouvelle specialite, mais aussi temoigner de la vitalite de celle-ci. Nombre de ses eleves, collegues et amis ont ainsi souhaite etre associes a cet hommage en lui offrant les quelque soixante et un articles (rediges en trois langues: francais, anglais et allemand) qui composent ce volume. Cinq parties principales regroupent les themes suivants: histoire de l'alchimie. Hermetisme. Kabbale (Partie I) ; Romantisme allemand. Naturphilosophie. Theosophie chretienne (Partie II); Franc-maconnerie, et societes initiatiques a caractere esoterique, comme le rosicrucisme (Partie III); Imagination, litterature et esoterisme, Imaginaire (Partie IV). Une cinquieme partie rassemble, d'une part, des etudes a caractere biographique (sur des auteurs comme Henry Corbin ou Gershom Scholem), et d'autre part, des reflexions d'ordre methodologique. Une Bibliographie des travaux publies par l'auteur (1960 a 2000), ainsi qu'un indispensable Index, completent utilement cet important ouvrage.

Antoine Faivre

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