Esotericism in the Enlightenment - Seminar

Dr Sasha Chaitow's lecture-seminar explore esotericism in the "long eighteenth century"  the time when esoteric thought and allegorical mythography allegedly landed firmly in the "wastebasket of history". But were they really swept away in the dawning of the new scientific age? Maybe not. The Counter-Enlightenment, resisting relentless reductionism, was actually a powerful counterweight, with esoteric thought at its core. Bitter debates raged around theological and historiographical questions, taking on political and ideological dimensions.  The session looks at esotericism through the era of the Enlightenment, through Romanticism and Idealism, to the era when eventually it would absorb scientific language when undertaking to legitimise occult ideas.

How it works. Before the seminar date (12 July) you will listen to Dr Sasha Chaitow's pre-recorded lecture and read through some source texts, both of which will be emailed to you in the preceding week. When you join the online 2.5-hour seminar, you will be discussing in small groups in Zoom 'breakout rooms' and also sharing with the whole group. The discussions are based off the lecture and readings, so please allow time to look at these in the preceding week. Sasha hosts Q&A the start and end.

About the Instructor Dr Sasha Chaitow earned her PhD in Cultural History/Western Esotericism at the University of Essex. She holds an MA in the History of Western Esotericism (University of Exeter, 2008), and an MA in Literature (University of Indianapolis, 2004). She has published two books based on her research, is working on two more, and has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and magazines. She is a frequent guest lecturer at universities and has 20 years experience in adult education. She frequently presents her research at conferences and has organised numerous academic symposia. In her parallel career as a visual artist, she has produced 13 solo art exhibitions in the UK, Greece, and Sweden and  participates in curated group exhibitions. Current (2022) research interests include the history of science and its intersection with wider culture between the 18th-21st centuries, and interdisciplinary approaches in the health sciences. Full CV: www.sashachaitow.co.uk/about-2

Forthcoming Seminars in Western Esotericism

10 · 9th Aug Initiation and Esoteric Fraternities

11 · 13th Sep The Occult Revival and Modernism

12. · 11th Oct 21st Century Occulture