Forms and currents of Western Esotericism

This first unique conference of its kind in Italy is dedicated to the history, prominent people, texts and doctrines of Western esotericism. The conference, curated by Alessandro Grossato, will be attended by leading experts on this relatively new subject which has been becoming increasingly popular in many European and other universities. The experts’ papers will update the current state of studies and research concerning the main forms and currents of Western esotericism, starting from the last centuries of the ancient world and going up through the Middle Ages and Renaissance to the contemporary age. The participants will analyse migrations, derivations, breaks and transformations in this complex and still little-known aspect of European culture in the light of the most recent research. The subjects examined will thus include neo-Alexandrine Hermeticism, giving rise to the so-called “Hermetic Philosophy”, of which Giordano Bruno was the leading exponent, the art of memory, spiritual alchemy, the Christian Kabbalah, Paracelsism, Rosicrucian literature and Theosophy. There will also be a special emphasis on the historically crucial phenomenon of the complex interaction between Western esoteric religiosity and the processes of modernisation, originating in the Renaissance. Lastly, contemporary currents, which since the 18th century have more or less followed in the wake of previous movements, will also be considered.

Venice, Island of San Giorgio Maggiore
29 – 30 October 2007

Free entrance

Information
International Study Conference ‘Forms and currents of Western Esotericism’
tel. +39 041 2710435
e-mail: convegno.esoterismo@cini.it