Western Esotericism and Rituals of Initiation

Henrik Bogdan teaches in the Department of Religious Studies and Theology at Göteborg University in Sweden.

• List of TablesAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. Western EsotericismIntroductionThe Delimitation of a Field of ResearchThe Research Paradigms of Western EsotericismWestern Esotericism in Theory and PracticeWestern Esoteric CurrentsWestern Esoteric Rituals of InitiationConcluding Remarks 2. Rituals of Initiation, Secret Societies, and Masonic Initiatory SocietiesRitual as a Field of ResearchRites de PassageRites of InitiationSecret SocietiesSecrecy and Masonic Initiatory SocietiesMasonic Initiatory SocietiesMasonic Rituals of InitiationEighteenth-Century Masonic TerminologyConcluding Remarks 3. Historical BackgroundAncient and Medieval SourcesThe "New Platonic Academy" of FlorenceThe Spread of Western Esotericism Across EuropeThe Esoteric Missions of Giordano Bruno and John DeeChristian Rosencreutz and the Rosicrucian ManifestosConcluding Remarks4. The Craft Degrees of FreemasonryThe Emergence of FreemasonryEarly Freemasonry and Western EsotericismThe Pre-1730 Ritual EvidenceThe Master Mason Degree and the Ritual Enactment of the Hiramic LegendConcluding Remarks 5. High or Additional Degrees of FreemasonryIntroductionTemplar and Ecossais RitesEgyptian Rites"Esoteric" FreemasonryTrue Mason, or Académie des Vrais MaçonsConcluding Remarks 6. The Hermetic Order of the Golden DawnIntroductionHistoryA Note on SourcesDescription of the Neophyte RitualAnalysis of the Neophyte RitualConcluding Remarks7. Modern Pagan Witchcraft or WiccaGerald Gardner and the Birth of WiccaThe Crowley ConnectionGardner and the Witchcraft Rituals of InitiationFirst Degree: Witch and Priest/PriestessThe First Degree InitiationSecond Degree: High Priest/PriestessThird Degree: High Priest/PriestessConcluding Remarks8. ConclusionsAppendixNotesReferencesIndex

"…Bogdan's book is a valuable contribution to the developing academic discipline of Western Esotericism and new religions … this book will provide an important linguistic and historical step forward in a previously unrecognized field that appears to be—finally—coming into its own." — Alternative Spirituality and Religion Review"Bogdan's book offers a useful brief primer on the history of Freemasonry and scholarship on Western esotericism, presenting considerable bibliographic information for interested scholars new to the fields. For that alone its value is assured. But Bodgan's work also illustrates important tensions within the study of Western esotericism and the connected field of Pagan Studies." — The Pomegranate"…offers a very promising new take on the question of esotericism and its historical continuity." — Journal of Religion"This is truly an original work on an important subject. The most significant thing is probably the definition of 'ritual.' The field of Western esotericism is a young one, and while some of its terminology is now a matter of common consent, ritual has never been subjected to scrutiny in this context. Bogdan also shows how different rituals convey different elements of the Western esoteric tradition: some Freemasonic ritual teaches alchemy; the Golden Dawn teaches Kabbalah; and witchcraft teaches principles of sexual magic. The entire book has an earnestness about it that makes the reader take these rituals seriously." — Joscelyn Godwin, author of The Real Rule of Four