We would like to turn your attention to a new podcast called SHWEP: The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast. Created and run by ESSWE member Dr Earl Fontainelle, it is described as:

"a free, weekly podcast series exploring cutting-edge academic research in the study of Platonism, Gnosticism, Hermeticism, the Kabbalah, alchemy, occultism, magic, and related currents of thought. ... The approach is roughly chronological, beginning with the earliest civilisations and moving forward in time until the present day, with the aim of leaving out nothing essential along the way. It will be a long and fascinating trip through the history of ideas, and one which is bound to challenge what you think you know about philosophy, science, religion, and western identities."

You can access SHWEP from the website https://shwep.net/, or find it in iTunes.

The MOOC (massive open online course) introduces basic concepts of Kabbalah, and discusses some of the major trends and texts of Kabbalah, from the late middle ages to our days. It is most suitable for undergraduate students, or people interested in Kabbalah, with no background in Jewish studies, who do not have the possibility of taking such a course in their universities. It is free and it takes only a few seconds to enroll.

Click here to read more or join: https://www.edx.org/course/introduction-kabbalah-israelx-kab1010x

The Association for the Study of Esotericism (ASE) is seeking paper and panel proposals for its seventh International North American Conference on Esotericism to be held at Rice University, in Houston, Texas, May 24-27, 2018.

We are seeking proposals for papers exploring the theme “Eros, Sexuality, and Embodiment in Esoteric Traditions.” Esoteric writings offer a range of possibilities for investigating both literal and figurative erotic and sexual configurations, from the allegorical couplings of alchemy, to the practices of Valentinian Gnosticism, to descriptions of angelic sex in Ida Craddock. Connectedly, esoteric thinkers have described numerous unusual ways to embodiment, from phenomena of divine possession, to the making of magical children, to golems and animated statues.

We are also interested in papers on Western esoteric practices, including theories, representations and methods of practice viewed from cultural, practical, religious and aesthetic fields of inquiry. We encourage papers that address the conference theme in terms of diverse types of representation, including arts and literature, as well as methods that reflect specific theories of esotericism, either historically or in a contemporary context. We invite proposals on magic, alchemy, astrology, ritual practice, mysticism, spiritualism, occultism, hermeticism, neo-paganism, contemporary esoteric movements and teachers, Asian influences on Western traditions, and other relevant topics. We are interested in panels specifically on mysticism, contemplative practice, and other topics related to the conference theme. ASE regards esotericism as an interdisciplinary field of research and we invite scholars from all disciplines to share their research and writings in support of a cross-fertilization of perspectives.

Our deadline for panel or paper proposal submission is December 15th, 2017.

If you wish to submit a paper proposal or a thematically focused panel proposal (with three presenters and short descriptions included) for review and possible presentation at the conference, please send it by email to ASEconference@rice.edu

Association for the Study of Esotericism

www.aseweb.org

Annual Association for Art History Conference 2018. 5-7 April 2018 at Courtauld Institute of Art & King's College London.

Call for Papers: Seeing and Hearing the "Beyond'. Art Music, and Mysticism in the Long Nineteenth Century

Please send your abstract (250 words maximum) to Dr. Corrinne Chong corrinnecareens@gmail.com AND Dr. Michelle Foot mfoot@exseed.ed.ac.uk

Deadline: 6 November 2017

Cátedra Institucional 2017 ‒ Manuel Calvillo Programa de Estudios Literarios – COLSAN. A Cargo del DR. José Ricardo Chaves, Profesor Investigador Instituto de Investigaciones Filológicas (UNAM)

Curso: Esoterismo en la Literatura de México y América Latina (1890-1930)

Agosto-Octubre, 2017. 10-14 Hrs. Aula Magna (COLSAN)

PROGRAMA DE TRABAJO

• Primera parte: 21 24 de agosto
  
• Segunda parte: 18-21 de septiembre
  
• Tercera parte: 16-17 de octubre
  

El Dr. Chaves es Doctor en Literatura Comparada por la UNAM, profesor investigador en el Instituto de Investigaciones Filológicas de la misma institución y miembro del Sistema Nacional de Investigadores. Actualmente, prepara una antología comentada de textos de reconocidos autores hispanoamericanos de fines del siglo XIX y el primer cuarto del XX. Tiene cuatro libros publicados: México heterodoxo. Diversidad religiosa en las letras del siglo XIX y comienzos del XX (UNAM/Bonilla-Artigas/Vervuert Iberoamericana, 2013), Andróginos. Eros y ocultismo en la literatura romántica (UNAM, 2005 y reimpresión, 2013), Los hijos de Cibeles. Cultura y Sexualidad en la literatura de fin del siglo XIX (UNAM, 1997, reeditado en 2007) y El castillo de lo inconsciente. Antología de literatura fantástica de Amado Nervo (Conaculta, México, 2000). Entre sus últimos artículos están "Uqbar rosacruz. Del personaje rosacruciano en la ficción romántica" en Acta Poetica 38-1, enero-junio 2017, pp. 67-81; "Monstruos fantásticos en la literatura costarricense" en Revista de Filología y Lingüística de la Universidad de Costa Rica, diciembre de 2015 y "El estudio académico de lo esotérico" en Revista de Estudios Históricos sobre la Masonería Latinoamericana y Caribeña, Vol. 7, No.2, mayo-noviembre 2015, pp. 120-127. Ha publicado las novelas Los susurros de Perseo (1994), Paisaje con tumbas pintadas de rosa (1998), Los susurros de Perseo (2008), Faustófeles (2009) y Espectros de Nueva York (2015). Como parte de la Cátedra"Manuel Calvillo"están programados el Curso "Esoterismo en la literatura de México y América Latina (1890-1930)"(21-24 de agosto, 18-21 de septiembre y 16 y 17 de octubre, la conferencia"La conexión esotérica en la conformación de la literatura fantástica hispanoamericana. Los casos de Rubén Darío, Leopoldo Lugones y Amado Nervo" (18 de octubre) y la publicación en libro de un ensayo relativo a los tópicos del curso.

Coordinator de la Catedra: Dr. Israel Tamírez, Prof. Investigador COLSAN. Email: iramirez@colsan.edu.mx Web: www.colsan.edu.mx

El Colegio de San Luis

Parque de Macul 155. Fracc.Colinas del Parque. C.P. 78299, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P. Tel.: (444)811-0101

Association for the Study of Esotericism and Mysticism ‒ Center for the Study of Religion, Russian State University for the Humanities ‒ Art Deco Museum (Moscow):  

Second Call for Papers ‒ Ninth International Conference on Mystic and Esoteric Movements in Theory and Practice: Mysticism and Esotericism in Russia and Other Post-Soviet Countries. 9-11 November 2017, Moscow

For hundreds of years, a wide variety of mystic and esoteric movements has been active in the large region which is currently home to a plethora of countries that have over the course of their history been part of Rus, Russia, and the Soviet Union. Some of these movements were part of the wider tradition of Western esotericism, interpreted through a local lens, others had an indigenous character, and yet others were influenced by Eastern teachings. Moreover, Russia and other post-Soviet countries produced a number of charismatic personalities who became the founders of particular esoteric traditions, which deeply influenced the esoteric makeup of the region. Contemporary Russia and other post-Soviet countries are also home to a plethora of esoteric communities, schools, and influential persons. Even though this wide spectrum of mystic and esoteric movements has been under study for quite some time now, there are many blank areas remaining which await their scholar.

The conference invites scholars specializing in the study of esotericism, scholars of religion, philosophers, historians, scholars of culture, psychologists, sociologists, and all other interested scholars to discuss the following range of topics:

• methodological and terminological problems of the scholarly study of esotericism in the region;
  
• conceptual foundations of mystic and esoteric movements in the region;
  
• languages of self-description used by mystic and esoteric movements in Russia and other countries in the region;
  
• main periods of the history of esotericism in Russia and other post-Soviet countries;
  
• mysticism and esotericism in literature and art of the region;
  
• Soviet esotericism;
  
• characteristic aspects of esotericism in Russia and other contemporary post-Soviet countries;
  
• mystic aspects of philosophy in countries of the region;
  
• the Western context of Russian esotericism in countries of the region;
  
• Eastern influence on esotericism and mysticism in post-Soviet countries.
  

The organizational fee will be used to cover the costs of organizing the conference as well as the publication of conference papers, which is planned after the conference takes place. The conference fee is paid at the time of registration.

The organizational fee does not include transportation, lodging, food or possible additional services (tours, museums, and so on). The organizing committee does not provide lodging for conference participants; however, it will provide information on local options at the request of an accepted participant.

Attending the conference without giving a paper is free for ASEM members, as well as the professors and students of the host university. All others must pay an organizational fee, the size of which will be announced later.

The organizing committee is open to propositions of material and informational support from interested physical and legal persons.

Organizing committee chairs:

Sergey V. Pakhomov, Nikolai V. Shaburov

Organizing committee:

Evgeny L. Kuzmishin, Birgit Menzel, Stanislav A. Panin, Vladislav S. Razdyakonov, Yury F. Rodichenkov, Ludmila G. Zhukova.

Conference address:

Moscow, 6 Miusskaya Square (RSUH)

E-mail: esoterra.asem@gmail.com

The Summer 2017 issue of the ESSWE Newsletter is now available on our website. Please download the pdf from the newsletter page.

The 2017 Meeting of Members of ESSWE was held on June 3 in Erfurt, Germany. The Minutes of the Meeting are available under the Governance section. Click here to view the pdf document.

The deadline to apply for funding to travel to the ESSWE6 conference in Erfurt is April 1, 2017. Decisions will be announced on April 10, 2017. Please see the Bursaries page for application form and more information!

This is to announce the publication of a 5-volume primary source collection on British Freemasonry:

Róbert Péter (general editor), Cécile Révauger (volume editor). Jan A.M. Snoek (volume editor), British Freemasonry, 1717-1813, 5 vols. (New York: Routledge, 2016), 2606 pages, 5967 editorial notes, 71-page index (in double columns)

• volume 1: Institutions (C. Révauger)
  
• volume 2: Rituals I - English, Irish and Scottish Craft Rituals (J. A. M. Snoek)
  
• volume 3: Rituals II - Harodim Material and Higher Degrees (J. A. M. Snoek)
  
• volume 4: Debates (R. Péter)
  
• volume 5: Representations (R. Péter)
  

Contributors: Ric Berman, Martin Cherry, Robert Collis, Andrew Pink, Harriet Sandvall, Susan Snell, David Stevenson, Susan Mitchell Sommers, John Wade and Mark Wallace.

The purpose of this 5-volume edition is to collate diverse rare print and manuscript materials that provide a broad spectrum of insights into the history and culture of Freemasonry in the British Isles between 1717 and 1813. This collection is the result of extensive archival research and transcription and highlights the most significant themes associated with British and Irish Freemasonry during the period in question. The volumes draw on a wide range of documents, including an engraved list of lodges, rituals (some originally written in cipher), rules and regulations, by-laws, funeral services, lectures, charges, sermons, orations, certificates, theatrical prologues and epilogues, pamphlets, newspaper and magazine articles and letters. A special emphasis is placed on documents that enhance our present understanding of the role that British and Irish Freemasons played in the formation of eighteenth-century society and associational culture. Analysis of these documents will hopefully foster scholarly debate and offer new perspectives on wider historical, cultural, social and religious themes.

Many of the texts included in these volumes remain very difficult to consult outside masonic archives. Such institutions store many rare eighteenth-century items, which are not recorded in the English Short Title Catalogue and are thus excluded from digital collections. For example, the Library and Museum of Freemasonry in London has not previously given permission to fully reproduce rituals of the so-called higher degrees. Hence, the rituals included in this edition are published here for the first time in their entirety and with annotations. Furthermore, this edition reproduces texts that were overlooked by masonic historians in their publications.

You can find more information about the edition at the Routledge website:

https://www.routledge.com/British-Freemasonry-1717-1813/Peter-Revauger-Snoek/p/book/9781848933774

The edition will be soon available in e-book formats.

Routledge granted permission to share the general and volume introductions as well as the volume bibliographies (altogether 151 pages), which you can download from the following website

http://bit.ly/2eLme60

The shared folder also includes a flyer which contains a 20% discount offer (valid until the end of this year).