The Western esoteric traditions: a historical introduction

Abstract

1. Ancient Hellenistic Sources of Western Esotericism 2. Italian Renaissance Magic and Kabbalah 3. Planetary and Angel Magic in the Renaissance 4. Alchemy, Paracelsus and German Naturphilosophie 5. Jacob Boehme and Theosophy 6. Rosicrucianism 7. High-Grade Freemasonry and Illuminism in the 18th Century 8. Emanuel Swedenborg 9. Mesmerism and Spiritualism 10. Ritual Magic from 1850 to the Present 11. Helena Blavatsky and the Theosophical Society 12. Modern Esotericism and New Paradigms