Esoteric Book Conference 2010

Mark — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 23:36:41 +0000

The Esoteric Book Conference is returning for a second year, and the dates are September 18 & 19th at the Seattle Center. Billed as an opportunity for authors, students, artists, publishers, bookmakers, and mystic raconteurs to spend a weekend exploring the field of esotericism, it’s two days of occult-themed presentations, a book fair filled with all manner of interesting and rare books, and an evening of special entertainment.

Presenters this year are: David Beth, Debra Chesnut, Orryelle Defenestrate-Bascule, Robert Fitzgerald, J. Daniel Gunther, Dale Pendell, Denny Sargent, and Caroline Wise. The website has further details about the actual presentations. Artists attending are Anima Nocturna, Orryelle Defenestrate-Bascule, Daniel Schulke, Joseph Uccello, and Bryan Ward. Entertainment will be provided by the Master Musicians of Bukkake and Noko.

Vendors include Ajna Bound, Ars Obscura, Concrescent Press, Fulgur Limited, J. D. Holmes, Immanion Press, Night of Pan Books, Nightshade Magick, Ouroboros Press, Dale Pendell, Thompson Rare Books, and Wonderella.

I went last year, and it was thoroughly enjoyable. I’m looking forward to handing out with all these people again this year, and a couple of those presses have a number of books I’m eager to check out.

Esoteric Book Conference home page

Giovanni Pico della Mirandola

Mark — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 06:03:58 +0000

Giovanni Pico della Mirandola was an Italian philosopher and scholar who lived from 1463 until 1494. During his short life, he studied theology and philosophy, dabbled in the Cabala, wrote an extensive series of treaties on all possible subjects (900 in all, collected as Conclusiones philosophicae, cabalasticae et theologicae in Rome). While some were vaguely heretical, they realistically just pointed out the lack of theological enlightenment of the era. He sought a synthesis of religion and philosophy, attempting to counter the spread of pure humanism with a bit of critical thinking. He saw Hebrew and Talmudic sources as viable texts and generally got into trouble over his eagerness and willingess to be a free thinker. His piece, “Oration on the Dignity of Man,” is one of the landmark pieces of the Italian Renaissance (some go so far as to call it a “manifesto”).

Parts of his Oration can be found here in Latin, Italian, and English. A complete translation can be found here.

Walter Pater’s history of Pico in context of the Renaissance can be found here.

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Esoteric Book Conference 2010

Giovanni Pico della Mirandola