“Occult: The Hidden History of the Western Esoteric Tradition”

(Speaking Saturday 11:05 – 12:00)

Mary MacGregor-Reid is a contemporary artist with a lifelong interest in the occult. She is part of a network of similarly interested artists and academics who are delving into the fascinating area of esoteric study. Western esotericism informs her art work and has been an area of both research and practice for many years. She is currently writing a fictionalised account of a historical figure from the early 20th Century British occult revival and working on a series of video artworks inspired by the alchemical purification process. Despite all of this she remains surprisingly sceptical.

Occult: The Hidden History of the Western Esoteric Tradition

From Ancient Egypt through to the present day, esotericism is inextricably woven into the history of Europe and the Near East. From the Hermetic philosophy of the Hellenistic Period, to its rediscovery in the Renaissance, from John Dee and Enochian magic of the Elizabethan era, to the esoteric revival of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this fascinating occult tradition has laid hidden just under the surface of traditional religion and scientific discovery.