Hidden intercourse : eros and sexuality in the history of Western esotericism / edited by Wouter J. Hanegraaff and Jeffrey J. Kripal.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Hanegraaff, Wouter J.

Kripal, Jeffrey J. (Jeffrey John), 1962-

Series:

Aries book series ; v. 7.

Aries book series, 1871-1405 ; v. 7

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Sex--Western countries--Miscellanea--History.

Sex.

Occultism--Western countries--History.

Occultism.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (566 p.)

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, c2008.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

From rumours about gnostic orgies in antiquity to the explicit erotic symbolism of alchemical texts, from the subtly coded eroticism of medieval kabbalah to the sexual magic practiced by contemporary occultists and countercultural translations of Asian Tantra, the history of Western esotericism is rich in references to the domains of eros and sexuality. This volume, which brings together an impressive array of top-level specialists, is the first to analyze the eroticism of the esoteric without sensationalism or cheap generalizations, but on the basis of expert scholarship and attention to textual and historical detail. While there are few other domains where the imagination may so easily run wild, the various contributions seek to distinguish fact from fiction--only to find that historical realities are sometimes even stranger than the fantasies. In doing so, they reveal the outlines of a largely unknown history spanning more than twenty centuries.

Contents:

Preliminary Material / W.J. Hanegraaff and J.J. Kripal

Introduction: Things we do not talk about / Jeffrey J. Kripal and Wouter J. Hanegraaff

Sexuality and sexual symbolism in hermetic and gnostic thought and practice(second–fourth centuries) / Roelof Van Den Broek

Conceiving spirits: The mystery of valentinian sex / April D. Deconick

Sexual intercourse between humans and demons in the islamic tradition / Pierre Lory

Murmuring secrets: Eroticism and esotericism in medieval Kabbalah / Elliot R. Wolfson

TaʿAnug: Erotic delights from Kabbalah to hasidism / Moshe Idel

Complications of Eros: The song of songs in John of Morigny’s Liber Florum Celestis doctrine / Claire Fanger

Under the mantle of love: The mystical eroticisms of Marsilio Ficino and Giordano Bruno / Wouter J. Hanegraaff

Revealing analogies: The descriptive and deceptive roles of sexuality and gender in latin alchemy / Lawrence M. Principe

Probing women and penetrating witchcraft in early modern Europe / Allison P. Coudert

Sensuous relation with Sophia In christian theosophy / Antoine Faivre

Deadly dates: Bodies and sex in spiritualist Heavens / Cathy Gutierrez

Sexual mysticisms in nineteenth century America: John Humphrey Noyes,Thomas Lake Harris, And Alice Bunker Stockham / Arthur Versluis

Paschal Beverly Randolph and sexual magic / John Patrick Deveney

The knight of spermatophagy: Penetrating the mysteries of Georges le Clément de Saint-Marcq / Marco Pasi

The yoga of sex: Tantra, orientalism, and sex magic in the Ordo Templi Orientis / Hugh Urban

The Theory and practice of sexual magic, exemplified by four magical groups in the early twentieth century / Hans Thomas Hakl

The roar of awakening: The eros of esalen and the western transmission of tantra / Jeffrey J. Kripal

List of contributors / W.J. Hanegraaff and J.J. Kripal

Index of persons / W.J. Hanegraaff and J.J. Kripal

Index of subjects / W.J. Hanegraaff and J.J. Kripal.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-282-39946-2

9786612399466

90-474-4358-6

OCLC:

606928952

Publisher Number:

10.1163/ej.9789004168732.i-544 DOI