Esotericism
Esotericism is about secret knowledge for a small group of people. [1] Esotericism also describes mystical, spiritual or occult points of view.[2] Esotericism studies Gnosticism, Yoga, Alchemy, Magic, Spiritualism, Hypnosis, Astrology, Meditation, Mysticism, and Occultism. Many followers of Abrahamic faiths, particularly Christianity and Islam, have criticized Esotericism as black magic. Esotericism in religion is called "obscurantism".
Esotericism can also be about understanding symbolism and hidden meanings of many different books. They include religious books, philosophy books and books about history. They use these books as their texts.[3]
Esoteric groups
Esotericism Media
The tree of life as represented in the Kabbalah, containing the sefirot
A colored version of the 1888 Flammarion engraving
The Magician, a tarot card displaying the Hermetic concept of "as above, so below". Faivre connected this concept to 'correspondences', his first defining characteristic of esotericism.
A later illustration of Hermes Trismegistus
The Masonic Square and Compasses
Hypnotic séance. Painting by Swedish artist Richard Bergh, 1887
Pentagram of Éliphas Lévi
Sculpture of the Horned God of Wicca found in the Museum of Witchcraft in Boscastle, Cornwall
London's Warburg Institute was one of the first centres to encourage the academic study of Western esotericism.
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References
- ↑ "Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary : esoteric". Archived from the original on 2008-09-07. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
- ↑ Chambers 20thC dictionary, 1972
- ↑ Bland, Professor Kalman (1996). Jewish Mysticism (Audiobook). The Teaching Company. OCLC 34842563.
