MPhil/PhD Western Esotericism

The purpose of the Exeter Centre for the Study of Esotericism (EXESESO) is to foster advanced research into historical and comparative aspects of the esoteric traditions from the Hellenistic period in late antiquity through the Renaissance and early modern period to the present, drawing on expertise in the departments of History (faculty with interests in religion, culture, science and medicine), Sociology and Philosophy, Theology, Classics and Ancient History, the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, English and Modern Languages.

Current MPhil and PhD students are researching such topics as ritualism in Anglican orders, magical societies and neo-Theosophy; Masters as intermediaries in the Western Esoteric Tradition; the Continuity of Iranian Dualism in Modern Western Esotericism, the Concept of Reincarnation in Theosophy; Esotericism and Quantum Theories of Consciousness, 1960-2010; the educational curriculum of Western esoteric societies; Theosophy’s relation to science and psychical research in the late nineteenth century in Britain.

Postgraduate researchers can pursue research projects with the support of the Centre's panel of distinguished scholars across a number of departments and disciplines. For areas of supervision see EXESESO staff.

Areas of supervision by EXESESO faculty include patterns of globalization in modern esotericism; theosophy and esoteric theories of spiritual evolution in the twentieth century; Hermeticism, pietism and alchemy in the Enlightenment era; Theology of Electricity; Emanuel Swedenborg; Theosophy and Modern Art; Rudolf Steiner and Anthroposophy; contemporary Gnostic and millenarian movements; esotericism and political thought; Renaissance music, magic and astrology; the function of the symbolic imagination in spiritual perception; musical performance practice and the visual arts as vehicles for spiritual knowledge; magical and divinatory thought in relation to contemporary culture; the history, symbolism and practice of alchemy, especially in Paracelsian medical alchemy (Spagyrics); typology of alchemical and magical practice, Paracelsian philosophy, and the interweaving of Hermetic, Neo-Platonic and kabbalistic strands in the works of influential figures like Ficino, Pico, Reuchlin, Agrippa and Dee; Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry; the history of magic and esoteric currents in Central and Eastern Europe; modern esoteric fiction; the interface between spirituality and nature from 18th century to the present.

PhD students collaborate in the regular triennial EXESESO conferences held each term as well as in research seminars.

Research fields comprise:

documentation and analysis of figures, groups and movements in the history of esotericism
examination of the social, religious and philosophical changes, which are conducive to esotericism and to assess its influence on culture, politics and society.
enquiry into forms of esoteric spirituality, which often manifests as a form of religious experience, while offering a perspective upon the individual soul in the context of nature and the universe.