Skip to main content

Traditionalist Esoterism

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Psychology and Religion
  • 12 Accesses

Introduction

Traditionalist esoterism, though containing similarities to popular esoterism, distinguishes itself from the latter in many ways. Traditionalist esoterism claims that esoteric knowledge can only be obtained through recognized and proper chains of transmission, regularly found in revealed religions and organizations, through the administration and management of authorities and true sources, by means of an initiation. This contrasts to popular esoterism, with its syncretic mix of many traditions from different sources and lack regular affiliation.

In this entry, we will overview Traditionalism and its esoterism. Firstly, we will sketch its historical context and epistemology before proceeding to the study of the esoteric working and its relations, mainly critical, with modern psychology.

Traditionalism in Perspective

Traditionalism was formed in early twentieth century against a very peculiar background. As it has been noted by researchers of this movement, the European...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Institutional subscriptions

Bibliography

  • A Monk of the West. (2004). Christianity and the doctrine of non dualism. (trans: Moore, A. Jr., & Hansen, M. M.). Hillsdale: Sophia Perennis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burckhardt, T. (1986). Psychologie moderne et sagesse traditionnelle. In Science moderne et sagesse traditionnelle (trans: Girard, S.). Milan: Archè.

    Google Scholar 

  • Butler, A. (2014). Victorian occultism and the making of modern magic: Invoking tradition. Houndmills: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coomaraswamy, A. K. (1949). Paths that lead to the same summit. In The bugbear of literacy. London: Dennis Dobson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillespie, M. A. (2008). The theological origins of modernity. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Godwin, J., Chanel, C., & Deveney, J. P. (1995). The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor. York Beach: Samuel Weiser.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodrick-Clarke, N. (2008). The Western esoteric traditions: A historical introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Guénon, R. (1938). L’erreur du « psychologisme », pt. 1. Études Traditionnelles, 43(217), 5–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guénon, R. (1996). The esoterism of Dante. (trans: Bethell, C. B). Ghent: Sophia Perennis et Universalis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guénon, R. (2001a). Insights into Christian esoterism. Ghent: Sophia Perennis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guénon, R. (2001b). The crisis of the modern world (trans: Pallis, M., Osborne, A., & Nicholson, R. C), (3rd ed.). Hillsdale: Sophia Perennis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guénon, R. (2004). Studies in Freemasonry & the Compagnonnage (trans: Fohr, H. D., Bethell, C., & Allan, M.). Hillsdale: Sophia Perennis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindbom, T. (2005). Virtue and morality. In M. Lings & C. Minnaar (Eds.), The underlying religion: An introduction to the perennial philosophy. Bloomington: World Wisdom.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perry, W. (2005). Gurdjieff in the light of tradition. Hillsdale: Sophia Perennis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schuon, F. (2005a). The perennial philosophy. In M. Lings & C. Minnaar (Eds.), The underlying religion: An introduction to the perennial philosophy. Bloomington: World Wisdom.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schuon, F. (2005b). The transcendent unity of religions (2nd ed.). Wheaton: Quest Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schuon, F. (2013). The psychological imposture. In S. Bendeck Sotillos (Ed.), Psychology & the perennial philosophy: Studies in comparative religion. Bloomington: World Wisdom.

    Google Scholar 

  • Surette, L. (1993). The birth of modernism: Ezra Pound, T. S. Eliot, W. B. Yeats, and the occult. Monteal/Kingston: McGill-Queen’s University Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Victor Bruno .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Bruno, V. (2020). Traditionalist Esoterism. In: Leeming, D.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Psychology and Religion. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-24348-7_200215

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics