Western esotericism

E19180

Western esotericism is a broad, historically rooted set of mystical, occult, and philosophical traditions in the Western world that explores hidden spiritual knowledge, symbolism, and alternative approaches to religion and science.


Statements (56)
Predicate Object
instanceOf esoteric tradition
occult tradition
religious-philosophical current
contrastedWith exoteric religion
mainstream scientific rationalism
developedIn early modern Europe
modern Western societies
hasCharacteristic alternative approaches to religion
alternative approaches to science
doctrine of correspondences
experience of transmutation
focus on hidden spiritual knowledge
initiatory structures
living nature
mediation through symbols and rituals
mystical orientation
occult orientation
syncretism
use of symbolism
hasDomain Western culture
hasField Gnosticism (modern receptions)
Hermeticism
Kabbalah (Christian Kabbalah and occult Kabbalah)
New Age
Rosicrucianism
Tarot
Theosophy
Western mystery traditions
alchemy
astrology
ceremonial magic
esoteric Christianity
occultism
ritual magic
spiritualism
hasHistoricalRoot Hellenistic period
Late Antiquity
Renaissance Europe
hasKeyConcept esoteric knowledge reserved for initiates
gnosis
occult forces
hasKeyScholar Antoine Faivre GENERATED
Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke
Wouter J. Hanegraaff
influenced New Age spirituality
contemporary alternative spiritualities
modern occult movements
influencedBy Christian theology
Gnosticism
Hermetic texts
Jewish Kabbalah
Neoplatonism
Platonism
Renaissance humanism
studiedBy cultural historians
historians of religion

Referenced by (7)

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