Western Esotericism: A Concise History

139 Pages·2010·8.441 MB·English

by  Antoine Faivre, Christine Rhone

Western Esotericism
SUNY series in Western Esoteric Traditions
—————
David Appelbaum, editor
Western Esotericism
A Concise History
Antoine Faivre
translated by
Christine Rhone
Originally published in French as L’Ésotérisme. © Presses Universitaires de
France, 1992. 6. avenue Reille. 75014 Paris
Cover art: A picture by Dionysius Andreas Freher, in The Works of Jacob
Behmen, The Teutonic Philosopher, edited by William Law, vol. 3, 1764.
Private collection of the author.
Published by State University of New York Press, Albany
© 2010 State University of New York
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Faivre, Antoine, 1934–
[Accès de l’ésotérisme occidental. English]
Western esotericism : a concise history / Antoine Faivre ; Christine
Rhone, translator.
p. cm. — (Suny series in Western esoteric traditions)
Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
ISBN 978-1-4384-3377-6 (hardcover : alk. paper)
ISBN 978-1-4384-3378-3 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Occultism--History. I. Rhone, Christine. II. Title.
BF1412.F313 2010
135'.4—dc22 2010015998
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Chapter 2
Esotericism in the Heart of the Renaissance and the
Flames of the Baroque 35
I. A Discovery of Humanism: Philosophia perennis 35
1. Re-emergence and Success of the Corpus
Hermeticum 35
2. Christian Kabbalah 37
3. Homo Universalis: Activity, Dignity, and Synthesis 38
II. The Germanic contribution: Nature Philosophy
and Theosophy 39
1. Paracelsism 39
2. Jacob Boehme and the Theosophical Current 41
3. The First Rosy-Cross 43
III. Readings of the World and of Myths 46
1. Philosophia Occulta 46
2. Alchemy: Science of Humanity, Nature,
and Myths 49
3. A Hermetico-Emblematic Art 50
Chapter 3
Esotericism in the Shadow of the Enlightenment 53
I. Sunburst of Theosophy 53
1. At the Dawn of Illuminism 53
2. The Great Theosophers 54
3. Faces of Illuminism 57
II. From the Arts of Reading to the Art of Subtle Fluids 58
1. Continuity of the Occult Sciences 58
2. Alchemy, Shadow Side of the Enlightenment,
and Light of Mythology 60
3. Animal Magnetism 61
III. A Century of Initiations 63
1. Strict Observance and Rectifi ed
Scottish Rite 63
2. Other Masonic and Paramasonic Systems 65
3. Initiation in Art 66
vi (cid:2) CONTENTS

III. Arts and Humanities 104
1. Arts and Literature 104
2. Psychology and the Humanities 106
3. Historiography of Western Esotericism 108
Bibliography 111
Index of Names 119
viii (cid:2) CONTENTS