Access to Western Esotericism

Description

Access to Western Esotericism by Antoine Faivre is a foundational academic text that maps the key currents, symbols, and principles underlying Western esoteric traditions from antiquity through the modern era. This comprehensive volume outlines esotericism not as a set of beliefs but as a form of thought, identifying recurrent characteristics such as correspondences, living nature, imagination, and initiation. Faivre provides critical historical context for systems like Hermeticism, Kabbalah, alchemy, Christian theosophy, and Rosicrucianism, offering clarity and scholarly structure to what has often been a misunderstood field.

This book is ideal for readers seeking a rigorous, university-level introduction to esoteric studies, and it remains essential reading in academic programs focused on religious history, philosophy, and mysticism. Author Antoine Faivre Author Info Antoine Faivre (1934 ?2021) was a French scholar widely regarded as the founding academic voice in the modern study of Western esotericism. Serving as Professor at the École Pratique des Hautes Études (Sorbo e), Faivre developed a systematic approach to understanding esoteric traditions by identifying shared characteristics across diverse movements.

His work shaped the curriculum of esotericism studies in European universities and laid the foundation for the field s academic legitimacy. Through Access to Western Esotericism and other publications, Faivre distinguished esotericism as a vital component of Western intellectual history rather than a fringe or occult phenomenon.

ISBN-13 978-0791421789

Publisher State University of New York Press

Publication Date December 15, 1994

Edition 2nd

Binding Paperback

Condition Used – Very Good

Page Count 380 Pages