Innovation in Esotericism from the Renaissance to the Present (Palgrave Studies in New Religions and Alternative Spiritualities)

This collection explores the role of innovation in understanding the history of esotericism. It illustrates how innovation is a mechanism of negotiation whereby an idea is either produced against, or adapted from, an older set of concepts in order to respond to a present context. Featuring contributions from distinguished scholars of esotericism, it covers many different fields and themes including magic, alchemy, Rosicrucianism, Theosophy, Tarot, apocalypticism and eschatology, Mesmerism, occultism, prophecy, and mysticism. Foreword Preface Contents Notes on Contributors List of Figures Chapter 1: Introduction: Reconceptualizing Innovation and Its Role in Esotericism Innovation and Ideas Individual and Collective Choice in Innovation Innovation and Tradition Esotericism and Other Frameworks (Religion and Science) Innovation and Cross-Cultural Exchanges Innovation in Esotericism References Chapter 2: Diligentia et divina sorte: Oracular Intelligence in Marsilio Ficino’s Astral Magic Introduction Diligentia et divina sorte Natural or Spiritual Magic? Diligentia Divina sors Astrology as Divination Avicenna on Prophecy Theologia Platonica Conclusion References Chapter 3: The Transformation of the Notion of “Adept”: From Medieval Arabic Philosophy to Early Modern Alchemy Defining “Adept” Intellectus Adeptus in Medieval Arabic and Latin Philosophy Mentions of “Adept” in Paracelsus’s Works The Philosophia Adepta in the Work of Petrus Severinus (1540-1602) The “Adept” in Oswald Croll’s Basilica Chymica (1609) Conclusions References Chapter 4: A Necessary Conjunction: Cabala, Magic, and Alchemy in the Theosophy of Heinrich Khunrath (1560–1605) Khunrath: A Brief Introduction Khunrath’s Fields of Knowledge Christian Cabala Physical and Hyperphysical Magic Alchemy Interdisciplinary Combinations Khunrath’s Youthful Support of Paracelsian Alchemy, Cabala, and Magic Binary Conjunctions and Underlying Symmetries Kabala, Magia, Alchymia Coniungendae An Instance of Commonality: Greenness Hybrid Sciences: Existing Models for Conjunction Triune Conjunction in Consilium de Physico-Magica (1597) The “Necessary” Triune Conjunction: The Philosophers’ Stone Conclusion References Chapter 5: The Rosicrucian Diaspora in the Seventeenth Century The Swedish Connection The Diaspora in Britain The Rosicrucian Furore in France The Dutch Connection The Rosy Cross in Italy Conclusion References Chapter 6: John Henderson (1757–1788) and Changing Attitudes to the Occult in Enlightenment England Henderson’s Contacts Henderson’s Involvement in the Occult Wesleyan Perspectives on Henderson’s Occult Interests The Testimonies of Joseph Priestley (1733–1804) and Thomas Cooper (1759–1839) The Opinions of John Watkins (1765–1831) Controversy in the Periodical Press Conclusions References Chapter 7: Psychic Disciplines: The Magnetizer as Magician in the Writings of Jules Dupotet de Sennevoy (1796–1881) A Magnetic Context The Magic of the Soul? Magnetic Magic? Conclusions: Occult Mesmerism References Chapter 8: H. P. Blavatsky’s “Wisdom-Religion” and the Quest for Ancient Wisdom in Western Culture Ancient Wisdom in Intellectual Culture and Esotericism The Continued Quest for the Ancient Wisdom (Seventeenth to Nineteenth Centuries) Blavatsky’s Innovations in the Continued Quest for Ancient Wisdom Blavatsky’s “Wisdom-Religion” Conclusion References Chapter 9: Orientalist Aggregates: Theosophical Buddhism Between Innovation and Tradition Theosophy and Orientalism Olcott and Blavatsky in Ceylon Theosophy as Buddhist Modernism The Ceylonese Protagonists The Buddhist Catechism of Henry Steel Olcott Tradition Versus Innovation? The Self in Chinese Buddhism The Theravada Self Conclusions References Chapter 10: Theosophical Chronology in the Writings of Guido von List (1848–1919): A Link Between H.P. Blavatsky’s Philosophy and the Nazi Movement The Life and Writings of Guido Karl Anton List (1848–1919) Die Religion der Ario-Germanen (The Religion of the Aryo-Germans), 1909/1910 Die Ursprache der Ario-Germanen (The Original Language of the Ario-Germans), 1914 List’s Soteriology in Light of Blavatsky’s Philosophy List’s Anti-Semitism and Blavatsky’s Racial Views The Question of the Link Between Guido Von List and Adolf Hitler: A New Connection Conclusion References Chapter 11: The Esoteric Roots of the Iranian Revolution: The “Wardenship of the Jurist” Through the Metanomian Shi’a of Ayatollah Khomeini (1902–1989) The Context of Khomeini’s Thought Occult Knowledge and Esoteric Gnosis Apocalyptic Eschatology and the Qiyamat Conspiracism and Gharbzadegi (“Enwestation”) Ayatollah Khomeini: A Great Sign Revealed Tabataba’i: Esotericism, ‘Irfan and wilayat-i faqih Khomeini’s Metanomian Interpretation of Shi’a Mahdist Expectation Conclusion References Chapter 12: Reflections on the Various Uses of Tarot Use 1: Tarot and Divination Use 2: Tarot and Psychology, Tarot and Meditation Use 3: “Occult” Tarot Branch 1: Tarot and Kabbalah Branch 2: Tarot and Alchemy Branch 3: Tarot and Astrology Branch 4: Tarot and Arithmology Tarot, Key of Occultizing Reading Applied to Non-Occult Subjects Use 4: Masonic Tarot Use 5: Cards Used to Open Book Chapters Use 6: Uses of Tarot in Initiatory Communities and Societies Use 7: Place for Convivial Exchanges Use 8: Receptacle of Images of Other Cultures Use 9: Support to the Pagan-Feminist Cause Use 10: Source of Artistic and Literary Inspiration Use 11: Object of Collection and Interior Design Motif Use 12: Reservoir of Subjects for Scholars Conclusion Appendix 1 Appendix 2 Appendix 3 Appendix 4 References Index