Esoteric Traditions

Western Esotericism can be defined historically by reference to three rivers; astrology, alchemy, and magic, and also by reference to four streams; Christian Kabbalah, neo-Alexandrian Hermeticism, Paracelsian style philosophy of Nature, and theosophy & Rosicrucianism(1). Examples of writers representative of these streams include Pico della Mirandola, Marsilio Ficino, Paracelsus, and Jacob Boehme respectively.

The three esoteric traditions on which I am focussed my original study were: Madame Blavatsky's Theosophy, MacGregor Mather's The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and G.I. Gurdjieff's Fourth Way. Click on the photos below for a brief summary of these traditions and the people that began them.

References 1. Faivre, Antoine. Introduction to Modern Esoteric Spirituality, ppxi-xxii, SCM Press, 1993.

H.P. Blavatsky & Theosophy

HP Blavatsky

G.I. Gurdjieff & Fourth Way

GI Gurdjieff

S.L.M. Mathers & The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn

SLM Mathers