Esotericism
Esoterism related to music was something I had shared some of my thoughts on in articles on Roel’s World on. Thus, it was time to add another section to Roel’s World on esotericism, in particular Western Esotericism, being ‘from the West’ myself.
What is Western Esotericism?
Western esotericism, or Western mystery tradition, is a term use to classify a wide range of ideas and movements that developed within Western society. These ideas differ both from the traditional (orthodox) Judeo-Christian religion and Age of Enlightenment rationalism.
According to Wikipedia academics have debated on the definition of Western esotericism.
- One view adopts a definition from certain esoteric ‘schools of thought’ themselves, seeing “esotericism” as a perennial hidden inner tradition. ‘Modern’ Mystery schools’, like Rosicrusianism and Freemasonry maintain this tradition.
- A second perspective sees esotericism as movements that embrace an “enchanted” worldview in the face of increasing disenchantment. Occult or ‘mystic’ movements, like ‘The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn‘ and ‘Ordo Templi Orientis‘ are listed under these ‘enchanted esoteric movements’.
- A third views Western esotericism as all of Western culture’s “rejected knowledge” that is not accepted or completely ignored by the modern scientific establishment and dogmatic, (orthodox) religious ‘authorities’.
Academic study of Western esotericism
The study of Western esotericism is an academic discipline of research, scholarship, and education that focuses on the history of Western esotericism.
Prior to the first academic interest in the topic of Western esotericism, Arthur Edward Waite (who was a Freemason and member of the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia) had written extensively on the topic from a traditionalist, religionist, and generalist perspective. Waite was the first to attempt a systematic study of the history of Western occultism – viewed as a spiritual tradition rather than as aspects of protoscience or as the pathology of religion – according to his biographer R. A. Gilbert.
Esoteric topics on Roel’s World:
Western Esoterism (and related topics):
Sources:
- Wikipedia (various pages)
