Elisabeth.Carnell.Com

Association for the Study of Esotericism

Third International Conference

Call for Papers: Esotericism, Religion, and Nature 

May 29 - June 1, 2008

The Association for the Study of Esotericism (ASE) is seeking paper and panel proposals for its third International North American Conference on Esotericism to be held at the College of Charleston, in Charleston, SC. 

We are seeking proposals on topics in Western Esotericism, particularly related to themes exploring the relationship between esotericism, religion, and nature. Papers may focus on any one of these topics or on a specific conjunction of topics especially as it relates to esotericism. We are also interested in other topics in the study of esotericism and invite proposals on magic, alchemy, astrology, ritual practice, esotericism and mysticism, spiritualism, occultism, hermetic thought, neo-paganism, contemporary esoteric movements and teachers, Asian influences on Western traditions, and other related topics. 

We welcome scholars from a wide range of perspectives, including anthropology, American studies, art history, history, religious studies, literature, philosophy, psychology, medieval studies, sociology—the full range of academic disciplines and fields that bear upon the study of esotericism. ASE regards esotericism as an interdisciplinary field of research and we invite scholars from all disciplines to share their research and writings in support of a cross-fertilization of perspectives. In order to encourage graduate study in the field, we will offer a modest prize for the best graduate student paper presented. 

**Authors are welcome to suggest new or very recent published books, their own or others, for possible display at our ASE book sale for conference attendees. Book suggestions should be current and related to the field of esoteric studies. 

If you wish to submit a paper proposal for review and possible presentation at the conference, please send it by regular email to ASEconf2008@yahoo.com.   

The deadline for panel or paper proposal submission is 15 December, 2007. 

No attachments, please: simply copy and paste your abstract into plain text email. Abstracts should be limited to a paragraph, or at most to one single-spaced page, and indicate academic affiliation and/or other academic qualifications. Independent scholars are welcome to submit proposals. Please note that our previous conference was at maximum capacity, so it is best to submit your proposal sooner rather than later to avoid being disappointed. We hope to post a preliminary list of accepted proposals early in 2008. Possible venues for the publication of conference papers include the ASE Conference Book Series, Esoterica (the ASE on-line journal), and the Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture. 

For more information on the ASE, see our website at www.aseweb.org. An additional announcement will be forthcoming on the 2008 ASE conference, with information on location, hotels, and conference registration for speakers and ASE members. This event is co-sponsored with the Department of Religious Studies, the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Provost Office of the College of Charleston, and the International Society for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture (ISSRNC), administered at the University of Florida, http://religionandnature.com/society.

Magic: Frontiers and Boundaries
At the University of Waterloo
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
12-15 June, 2008

Call for Papers

In the history of western culture, magic tends to be a term by which accusations are made or intellectual territories defended; like the terms ‘heresy’ or ‘perversion,’ it does not have a stable or secure content. Any accusation that an act, ritual, or mode of practice is magical will have a formula that is peculiar to the time, place, institution, race, class, or gender of the accuser. Conversely, arguments that magic is a good thing, in a spiritual or material
sense, also vary according to context, particularly because pro- and anti-magical arguments develop in relation to each other, and cause changes in one another’s rhetorical and conceptual strategies. Assertions that magic exists or does not exist, has ceased to exist, is marginal, is flowering, has just declined or just erupted, is religious or non-religious, scientific or non-scientific, or develops into religion or science are part of an ongoing argument.

This conference will explore the locations, in texts, bodies of texts, or historical contexts, where magic becomes a problem, a disputandum, or a frontier of knowing, from the ancient to the modern period, including modern ritual magic and contemporary magical religions. To put it another way, it will examine specific examples of the relation of magic to convention, to authority, to ‘religion’ and ’science’ from a sociological or historical perspective.

We invite papers for sessions on topics including but not limited to: magical theologies; magical epistemologies; magical sciences; magic and the law; magic and the universities; magic in art and literature; magic, sanctity and inquisition; magic and Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Paganism and new religious movements. If you are interested in presenting a paper, please send title and abstract along with a CV, to the organizers at societas.magica@gmail.com.
Proposals must be received by September 1, 2007.

Look at the back cover of your Call for Papers. Just do it.

Note our return address and the graphic next to it that we’ve been using for decades. Recognize it? One turn widdershins and you’ll see it….

Yes, Deathly Hallows.

Bwahaha. Hahahaa. Damn, we’re good.
ROFL

Shana and I did get one session:

Weblogs and the Academy: Professional and Community Outreach through Internet Presence
[my contact info)

I haven’t started stalking people yet — volunteers for stalking are always welcome!