Mysticism and Western Esotericism

We are delighted to present this brand-new set of 2 self-study courses on Mysticism and Western Esotericism with Dr Karen Parham. The first unit, “Defining Esotericism and Mysticism”  will be made available as an introductory seminar in the next few weeks. Part I of this course will be available in early April, and part II by early summer 2012. 

 

 

A linked pair of two 4-unit courses

Full course description coming soon

For more information about self-study course types please click here.

 
 Course information:

  • Each course stands alone, and may be taken separately.
  • Courses are self-evaluated.
  • Detailed course notes are provided.These will be augmented by recommended and readily-available texts.
  • There are no prerequisite courses.
 
 Languages:The course and bibliography is in English. Our English proficiency requirements apply to this course. This prerequisite also continues to apply to students whose native language is neither English nor Greek. Please click here for details regarding language requirements.
 

Introductory Seminar: Defining Esotericism and Mysticism

This seminar, comprising a rich powerpoint presentation, audio lecture, and seminar notes, will be made available at a discount as a preview for the rest of the course.

Mysticism and Esotericism part I

Unit 2: Common Roots to Esotericism and Mysticism (powerpoint + audio commentary)

Unit 3: Literature review – Perennialists, Cross-culture Classifiers and Constructivists (podcast + notes)
 
Unit 4: Literature review – Neo-essentialists and Deconstructivists (podcast + notes)
Short ss course finalised with the successful completion of a multiple choice exam.

Mysticism and Esotericism part II

Unit 5: God Mysticism and Esotericism (to include works by Plotinus, Ruysbroeck, Boehme, some examples from the East)

Unit 6: Soul Mysticism and Esotericism (to include examples from Buddhism, Eckhart)

Unit 7: Nature Mysticism and Esotericism (to include Tennyson, Blake, Wordsworth and from Druidic bards)

Unit 8: Concluding thoughts.

Advanced self-study course finalised with the successful completion of a multiple choice exam.

 

Ever since I was young I have been interested in the Esoteric. I was particularly fascinated by the images in Hieronymus Bosch’s paintings and further investigation of these led me to alchemy. I also chose this topic, the alchemical symbolism in the works of Hieronymus Bosch, for my undergraduate dissertation when I studied Dutch Studies and Art History at the University of Hull.

 
During my undergraduate and postgraduate years, I worked, studied, and carried out research in both Belgium and The Netherlands. I focused on topics within the disciplines of Art History and Philosophy. It was not easy to find courses on Esotericism but I was fortunate enough, because I can speak Dutch, to be one of the first students to complete some of the postgraduate modules in Hermetic Philosophy at the University of Amsterdam offered by Prof. Hanegraaff when it was first set up.
 
My PhD in Philosophy and Dutch Studies was an investigation into the concepts of perfection in the works of the Medieval Flemish mystic, Jan van Ruusbroec. By conducting detailed research into mysticism, I gained a more complete picture of Western Esotericism by recognising the common thread running through mysticism, alchemy and hermetic philosophy. I also lectured to undergraduate and postgraduate students in the history of alchemy and alchemy in the Middle Ages.
 
After completing my PhD, I trained as a teacher of Philosophy. I have taught Philosophy and English in a Dutch Montessori school and now teach Religious Studies and Philosophy in a college of further education in Birmingham. I am also a freelance writer (one of my recent publication was a feature on the alchemical significance of metals in the August 2011 edition of Prediction), public speaker (on topics such as Herbalism and Veganism in Religions) and facilitator of workshops (I run my own workshop on spiritual alchemy with some practical experiments in spagyrics).
 

 
 

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