The western esoteric traditions: a historical introduction

"Western esotericism has now emerged as an academic study in its own right, combining spirituality with an empirical observation of the natural world while also relating humanity to the universe through a harmonious celestial order. This introduction to the Western esoteric traditions offers a concise overview of their historical development." "Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke explores these traditions, from their roots in Hermeticism, Neo-Platonism, and Gnosticism in the early Christian era up to their reverberations in today's scientific paradigms. While the study of Western esotericism is usually confined to the history of ideas, Goodrick-Clarke examines the phenomenon much more broadly. He demonstrates that, far from being a strictly intellectual movement, the spread of esotericism owes a great deal to geopolitics and globalization." "Goodrick-Clarke further examines modern esoteric thought in the light of new scientific and medical paradigms along with the analytical psychology of Carl Gustav Jung. This book traces the complete history of these movements and is the definitive account of Western esotericism."--Jacket.

Ancient hellenistic sources of western esotericism -- Italian Renaissance magic and Cabala -- Planetary and angel magic in the Renaissance -- Alchemy, Paracelsus and German naturphilosophie -- Jacob Boehme and theosophy -- Rosicrucianism -- High-grade freemasonry and illuminism in the eighteenth century -- Emanuel Swedenborg -- Mesmerism and spiritualism -- Ritual magic from 1850 to the present -- Helena Blavatsky and the theosophical society -- Modern esotericism and new paradigms.