European Society of Western Esoteric Researchers

The society was created in 2005 by employees of the Department of the History of Hermetic Philosophy and Associated Trends, which has been working at the University of Amsterdam since 1999. ^[2] The creation of the European Society of Western Esotericism Researchers took place shortly after the first international conference on the study of Western esotericism in 2004, organized by the American Association of Esotericism Researchers , which was founded in 2001 ^[3] . Speaking about the process of institutionalization of the academic study of esotericism , V. V. Zhdanov notes: “largely due to the activity of Dutch religious scholars, the study of esoterics in recent years has entered the international arena” ^[4] .

The main form of activity of the company is the publication of the peer-reviewed scientific journal Aries and the related book series, as well as the organization of international scientific conferences held once every two years. These conferences alternate with conferences of the American Association of Esoteric Researchers , also held once every two years. ^[5]

In addition, the European Society of Western Esoteric Researchers publishes various information related to the academic study of esotericism on its website on the Internet and issues a newsletter twice a year. The Society establishes prizes for achievements in the study of esotericism, in particular, for particularly outstanding dissertations in this field. ^[6] In addition, ESSWE supports the professional online community of esotericism researchers, ContERN. ^[7]

The following is a list of well-known scholars of esotericism who are members of or previously members of the European Society of Researchers of Western Esotericism:

• Nicholas Goodrick-Clark
• Birgit Menzel
• Mark Sedgwick
• Antoine Febvre ( French )
• Wouter Hanegraff ( English )

• Academic Study of Esotericism
• Esotericism
• Mysticism
• Occultism
• Magic
• Alchemy
• Astrology

in Russian

• Zhdanov V.V. Studying Esoterics in Western Europe: Institutions, Concepts, Methods // Mystic-esoteric movements in theory and practice. Story. Psychology. Philosophy / Resp. ed. S.V. Pakhomov. St. Petersburg: RCAA , 2009.S. 5 - 27.
• Nosachev P.G. Western esotericism as a sphere of religious studies (inaccessible link) // Bulletin of the Orthodox St. Tikhon Humanitarian University . Series 1: Theology. Philosophy. 2013. No. 3 (47). S. 127-135.
• Menzel, Birgit . Gnosis through the eyes of Western science: ESSWE and not only (review of studies) // Russia and Gnosis. Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference "The Fates of the Religious and Philosophical Searches of Nikolai Novikov and His Circle" in the All-Russian State Library for Science and Technology M.I. Rudomino October 15-17, 2012 / Ans. ed. A.L. Rychkov. T. 11. - St. Petersburg: Publishing House of the Russian Academy of Arts, 2015.S. 22 - 46.
• Nosachev P.G. Studies of Western Esotericism and Religious Studies: European Experience // Religious Studies . 2013. No. 1-2. S. 155-168.

in other languages

• Gregory D. Alles (Ed.). Religious studies: a global view. USA & Canada: Routledge , 2008. ISBN 978-0-415-39743-8 .
• Kripal JJ, Hanegraff WJ Introduction: things we don't talk about // Kripal JJ, Hanegraaff WJ (eds.) Hidden intercourse. Eros and sexuality in the history of Western Esotericism. Leiden & Brill, 2008. ISBN 978-90-04-16873-2 .
• Stausberg M. What is it all about? Some reflections on Wouter Hanegraaff's Esotericism and the Academy // Religion. Vol. 43, Iss. 2, 2013. pp. 219–230.
• Versluis A. Magic and mysticism. Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, 2007. ISBN 978-0-7425-5836-6 .

• ESSWE official website
• Aries: Journal for the Study of Western Esotericism
• Aries book series
• ContERN Website