ESOTERICISM & THE SCIENCES
JUNIOR SCHOLAR CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION
MOZES & AARONKERK 29 | 4 | 2013
CONTACT: SYNTHESIS.AMSTERDAM@GMAIL.COM
SYNTHESIS
SYNTHESIS SPEAKERS, ARTISTS & MUSICIANS
WELCOME ADDRESS // PROF. DR. WOUTER J. HANEGRAAFF
THE CENTER FOR THE HISTORY OF HERMETIC PHILOSOPHY & RELATED CURRENTS, UNIVERSITY OF AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS
Wouter J. Hanegraaff (1961) studied classical guitar at the Municipal Conservatory at Zwolle (1982-1987) and Cultural History at the University of Utrecht (1986-1990), with a specialization in alternative religious movements in the 20th century. From 1992-1996 he was a research assistant at the department for Study of Religions of the University of Utrecht, where he defended his dissertation New Age Religion and Western Culture: Esotericism in the Mirror of Secular Thought on 30 November 1995 (cum laude).
From 1996 to 2000 he held a postdoctoral fellowship from the Dutch Assocation for Scientific Research (NWO), and spent a period working in Paris. On 1 september 1999 he was appointed full professor of History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents at the University of Amsterdam (see link). Since 2005 he is president of the European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism (ESSWE). In 2006 he was elected member of the Royal Dutch Academy of Arts and Sciences (Koninklijke Nederlandse Academie van Wetenschappen, KNAW). Wouter is also involved in many editorial activities.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER // DR. EGIL ASPREM
THE CENTER FOR THE HISTORY OF HERMETIC PHILOSOPHY & RELATED CURRENTS, UNIVERSITY OF AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS
“A Nihilist’s View of Scientific Meaning-Making: Analytical Approaches to Synthesizing Minds”
Egil Asprem received a double BA in Religious Studies and Philosophy at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in 2006, and completed the Research MA in Religious Studies at the University of Amsterdam in 2008. In his earlier research, Egil has specialized in modern occultism and ritual magic, especially their relation to facets of late modernity, the growth of modern science, and secular culture. In the fall of 2012, Egil completed his Ph.D. thesis: 'The Problem of Disenchantment: Scientific Naturalism and Esoteric Discourse, 1900-1936' cum laude at the University of Amsterdam.
Egil's lecture starts at a position of methodological nihilism. Confronted with a vast array of claims about what kind of worldview is “suggested by science”, our guiding assumption should be that nothing has any inherent meaning at all, but that meaningful associations are constructed by human actors. This kind of nihilism is typical of social constructionist approaches, but it leaves room for other analytical strategies as well. The present lecture draws on the history of esotericism, the sociology of science, and the cognitive science of religion in order to explore the complexity of the issue and suggest fruitful directions for research.
ARTISTIC INTERMEZZO // ARJAN VAN VEMBDE
STORYTELLER & ILLUSIONIST
In his work as an artist Arjan tries to share with the audience his sense of wonder. Wonder about all changes taking place in our world, our society and ourselves. He studies visible phenomena and tries to connect with the invisible and the ongoing flow of transformation. With a touch of art and subtle direction he illustrates his fascination and brings back the magic to his audience.
In daily life he works as a consultant for the Gemeente Amsterdam, where he assists managers and teams in organisational processes of change and transformation. Arjan has a passion for magic tricks, Ancient Philosophy, Gnosis and enjoyes riding his racing bike through the Dutch landscape. NB: the video on the left is in Dutch, Arjan will do a performance in English during the conference.
SPEAKER 1 // ANTONIA BECHMANN
JOHN F. KENNEDY INSTITUTE FOR NORTH AMERICAN STUDIES
FREE UNIVERSITY BERLIN, GERMANY
“The Body of Proof: The Spirit Photography of Frederick Hudson”
Antonia Bechmann is currently enrolled in the MA program at the John F. Kennedy Institute for North American Studies at the Free University in Berlin, focusing on Culture and History. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Cultural Studies and Literature at Humboldt University in Berlin. Her thesis project was titled "Spirit Photography as a Pseudo-Necromantic Practice of the 19th Century". Her interests mainly lie in religious and visual culture, focusing on the history of occult practices – especially nineteenth century ceremonial magic – as well as the history of photography and contemporary art. She is currently managing the publication of a monograph by Turner Prize winning artist Susan Philipsz.
Antonia's paper will focus on Frederick Hudson, the first European spirit photographer, and how his story provides us with an interesting case study on the relation between spirit photography and Victorian rationalism. The utilization of empiric methods in Hudson's practice and the almost fetishising encounter with the camera and the medium of photography will be addressed, as well as the role of mediumship in relation to the process of photography.
SPEAKER 2 // NIKO POMAKIS
FRIEDRICH - ALEXANDER -UNIVERSITY OF ERLANGEN -NUREMBERG, GERMANY
“Synthesizing Victorian science and Hermetic cosmology: The 'Mathematical Catechism' of James Joyce's Ulysses”
Niko Pomakis earned an MA in Philosophy and English Modernist Literature from the Friedrich-Alexander-University at Erlangen-Nuremberg. His thesis discussed James Joyce's Ulysses in the context of the alchemical and hermetic tradition. Niko has written papers and articles on the comparative study of Joycean Aesthetics and the Hermetic “Pimander”, a poststructuralist re-contextualization of the esoteric doctrine of Metempsychosis and the following interpretation of the semantic signification process in Ulysses.
Niko's paper will consider the novel Ulysses and in particular the penultimate episode 'Ithaca', its synthesis of the dictum of Victorian science on the one hand and the Hermetic cosmology as narrative strategy on the other hand. Joyce's labeling of the narrative style as “mathematical catechism” paradigmatically expresses the continuous coincidence of the scientific and sacred. Cast in the form of a catechetical interrogation allied to the rationalistic scrutiny of a late nineteenth-century scientism, the dynamism of the episode is fueled by a permanent re-appropriation of the rational norm to construct a Hermetic cosmos traversed by a network of universal correspondences.
SPEAKER 3 // ANNET VAN DER MEER
UNIVERSITY OF GRONINGEN, THE NETHERLANDS
“Esotericism in the Art of Phoebe Anna Traquair”
Annet van der Meer is currently enrolled in the Research Master Religion and Culture at the University of Groningen. She received a BA in Culture and Media from the same university and a BA of Education from the Stenden 'University' in Groningen. Annet wrote her thesis on the representation of witchcraft in the iconography of the early modern period with a focus on the witches of Jacob de Gheyn II (1565-1629).
Annet's paper will investigate how the female artist Phoebe Anna Traquair (1852-1936) combined Christian iconography and the Celtic culture with more pagan or esoteric images that are based on the artworks and writings of among others Dante, Wagner, Dante Gabriel Rosetti and William Blake. Traquair was an important figure of the Arts and Crafts movement in Scotland, noticeable in the reoccuring theme of a spiritual journey in her oeuvre. She was furthermore familiar with Darwinism, Freemasonry, Jacob Boehme and Thomas Browne's Religio Medici, what might have influenced her artworks as well.
MUSICAL INTERMEZZO I // JYOTI VERHOEFF & MAYA FRIDMAN
THE PHOENIX EP (PIANO & CELLO)
With their instruments, voices and beautiful compositions Jyoti and Maya lure you into the depth and welcome you in the marvelous land of imagination, where nothing is predictable anymore and yet everything is recognizable. Born with disabled vision, Jyoti taught herself to play the piano. Her remarkably expressive and intimate playing is endowed with beautiful taste of authenticity. Her pure and soul stirring voice adds an intensity and depth that will not leave many people untouched.
Maya is a classical trained cellist who started to play cello when she was 6 years old and seems melted with her instrument. Her passionate and warm sound goes straight into the heart. Last year they opened the International Dream Conference in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and they recently launched their debute Phoenix EP in the Melkweg of which they will perform a few tracks during the conference.
SPEAKER 4 // THOMAS MEIJER
FREE UNIVERSITY (VU), THE NETHERLANDS
“Magic and Philosophy: The Enchanting Virtues of the Mind”
Thomas Meijer earned a BA in Philosophy at the VU University of Amsterdam and is currently enrolled in the MA Philosophy at the same university. He has given lectures at multiple academic conferences and other events, both in the Netherlands as in the United Kingdom. Thomas is the co-founder of the OPEN foundation which tries to stimulate academic research into psychedelics.
Thomas's presentation attempts to show that there is reason to reconsider a concept of magic in order to better understand the intersection between the nature of the mind and the forms of social reality. Both commercials and the perception of a product, and religion and the perception of the nature of the cosmos, are shaped by a comparable process that will be linked to the hermeneutical power of symbols: signs or 'spells' that have the power to alter the mode through which something is perceived therby changing the way things are acted upon.
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SPEAKER 5 // CHRISTIAN GIUDICE
UNIVERSITY OF GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN
“Three is the Magic Number: Arturo Reghini, neo-Pythagoreanism and the Sacred Use of Numbers in Roman Traditionalism”
Christian Giudice's previous academic credentials consist of an Honours BA Degree in Literae Humaniores (Classics) at Oxford University and a BA in Western esotericism at the EXESESO centre at Exeter University. Since September 2012 Christian holds a PhD position in Religious Studies at the University of Gothenburg. His doctoral thesis seeks to investigate the complex relationship between Modernity and Occultism in early twentieth-century Italy, focusing on the figure of mathematician and occultist Arturo Reghini (1878-1946). Christian is also one of the two organisers of the ESSWE Conference taking place in Gothenburg from June 26 - 29 2013.
Christian's paper will analyse Reghini's use of numbers and Pythagorean doctrines, in order to better elucidate his occult theories. Reghini's writings on numbers and their symbology are revealing and his most relevant works will be scrutinized in order to best exemplify the strict connection between Reghini's occult ideas and the revival of neo-Pythagorean ideas witnessed in early twentieth-century Italy traditionalist circles.
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SPEAKER 6 // JELLE VAN BAARDEWIJK
FREE UNIVERSITY (VU), THE NETHERLANDS
“Character is Fate: Astrology as a Virtue Ethics”
Jelle van Baardewijk is a lecturer and PhD candidate at the VU University of Amsterdam in the field of practical philosophy and the philosophy of economics. In his PhD research he analyses the history of economic education in the course of the twentieth century from a cultural-historical perspective, while using the works of George W.F. Hegel, Oswald Spengler and Alisdair McIntyre.
Jelle's presentation will articulate and interpret the psychological worldview in mainstream astrology. He will argue that astrology offers interesting insights in the concepts of 'character' and 'personal development', concepts that are central in the tradition of philosophical thinking on virtue ethics. Jelle will present astrology as a paradigm that encompasses concepts that help to understand the motivational structure of human beings.
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SPEAKER 7 // DAVE VLIEGENTHART
UNIVERSITY OF GRONINGEN, THE NETHERLANDS
“I Think I am a Lamp: A Critical Perspective on Neurotheological Interpretations of 'Transcendental' Experiences”
Dave Vliegenthart is a PhD Candidate at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands, with a degree in Business Communication (MA) and Philosophy (MA) from the Radboud University Nijmegen and in Religious Studies (ReMA) from the University of Amsterdam. Before his pursuit of an academic career, he worked in management for some years within a business environment. His current research revolves around the religious discourse in late modern western cultures, with a particular emphasis on interreligious and interdisciplinary ideologies of new religious movements.
Dave's paper will argue that the neurobiological correlates of “transcendental” experiences do not make a strong case that there is more to human existence than sheer material existence. His presentation will focus on the “Absolute Unitary Being” of neuroscientists D'Aquili and Newberg, after he provides us with a brief description of “consciousness” and “religious experience”
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SPEAKER 8 // MARO PANTAZI
UNIVERSITY OF UTRECHT, THE NETHERLANDS
“The 'stage' of the psychedelic trance gatherings as the 'stage of intermediality'”
Maro Pantazi graduated from the School of Film Studies at the Aristole University of Thessaloniki and is currently studying Media and Performance Studies at Utrecht University. She enrolled in elective courses of the “Mysticism and Western Esotericism” program at the University of Amsterdam and she is writing her thesis on media and performance in psychedelic trance gatherings.
Maro's conference paper will analyse the human consciousness in relation to the multimodal conception of a medium exemplified in the performative situation of the “stage” in the psychedelic trance gatherings. The aim is to demonstrate that the media realities in a psytrance context corresponds to expressions of information attained while in different states of consciousness, which are further articulated through art and technological media.
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OPEN DIALOGUE SESSIONS // LIE VAN SCHELVEN
HORIZON PIONEER, 'ELDER' & OUTSOURCER
Exploring the spot where different worlds meet, that's the domain of Lie. That's where Life is vital. 'Look beyond your Horizon', is one of her mottos.
Among several projects Lie is currently working on the Exploratium, a dwelling place for Explorers between disciplines. The Exploratium developed InterSource, a methodology using left and right brain properties.
Lie has been recognised by three native traditions and became an Elder on her 52nd birthday. Being an Elder implicates an assignment. Lie's mission is to explore the emerging new worlds, outsourcing and working with peolple: 'Expose your Talent'.
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ARTIST // DIEDERIK VAN DER LAAG
SHOWCASING DURING THE ESOTERICISM & THE ARTS EXHIBITION
"Turn the world upside down, and all will make sense."
On a morning in September the sun appeared above the trees. I prayed and God taught me this:
"Give attention to what doesn't get any.
Listen to what's not being listened to.
Have faith in what seems insecure.
Turn the world upside down, and all will make sense."
Still I'm finding out what this actually means and how to live it.
While moving, I wonder which path will lead me there. And on my way...
I express what I come across.
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ARTIST // ACHILEAS IOANNIDIS
SHOWCASING DURING THE ESOTERICISM & THE ARTS EXHIBITION
Achileas Ioannidis was born in Thessaloniki, in 1966. He was taught drawing and sketching at Thanasis Papiotis' school in Thessaloniki and other techniques at Dimosthenis Haralambidis' workshop in Hania, Crete. He lives and works in Thessaloniki and abroad. At the moment Achileas is living in Utrecht, the Netherlands. He works with many different mediums, such as mosaique, sculpture, film and mixed media. His styles range from classic designs to esoterically-inspired pieces.
ARTIST // MAIA LION DAW
SHOWCASING DURING THE ESOTERICISM & THE ARTS EXHIBITION
Maia Lyon Daw is an artist and researcher from central Scotland currently based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Though employing a diverse range of media, the main focus in her work is the marriage of performance, ritual, music and writing with a special interest in exploring esoteric concepts. A core element throughout much of her practice is the transposing of ideas through various marinades, to present them in a new light thus providing new insights and questions. She completed her MA in Western Esotericism at the department of the History of Hermetic Philosophy at the University of Amsterdam in 2011.
In February 2010 she travelled to India to work on projects for an artist residency exhibition on (Annie) Besant Nagar Beach, Chennai. She is the founder of Cottage Industry Records, a small event platform and record label that acts as an umbrella for local art, experimental performances and lo-fi musical acts, organising events and releases. This has metamorphosed into Sapphire Dice Project Space, an exhibition space that had its launch in February 2012..
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ARTIST // SYLÉ VAN OLST
SHOWCASING DURING THE ESOTERICISM & THE ARTS EXHIBITION
In my work I try to bring to the surface those things which we prefer to keep hidden. I try to peel off the human mind layer by layer, to go past the edge of reason and lay bare what is to be found there. The varieties of human consciousness fascinate me. States of madness, dissociation or dreaming I find particularly interesting. The animal aspects of humans versus their ability to transcend is what I try to investigate. For what I try to express in my work I like to use the word "Ecstasy". Ecstasy literally means "to stand out to". A complete and total surrender of the ego into the flow of the moment. An ecstatic moment can be defined as horribly terrifying, religious, sexual or euphoric.
I do many different things. I work both large and small, on canvas, paper or in the form of sculptures. When I work on canvas or paper I use both paint and markers. When I sculpt I use plastic, bubblegum, rubber, metal and other materials I find in garbage, toys, kitchen equipment and human hair. My animations I make with coloured inks. My work has succeeded when it transcends language. When it is able to go where words can just barely reach.
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ARTIST // JADELIEF VAN DER WAL
SHOWCASING DURING THE ESOTERICISM & THE ARTS EXHIBITION
Besides painting, dancing and being a mother my focus is on putting all what I experience in what I call a certain 'bizzinezz' frequency. It makes me able to reach out to the universe and serve. All that comes back, the abundance it brings, I hope the bees will receive and with them the flowers, plants and trees, the birds in the sky, the earth and its lands and us, human beings.
Together we live on the earth, together we share a connection. In my work I try to express this sense of connection in a variety of colors and shapes creating a universe with them all living in it. Side by side, beloved flowers, trees, animals, stars, planets, dreams...
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ARTIST // ELINE MANDORLA REVOL
SHOWCASING DURING THE ESOTERICISM & THE ARTS EXHIBITION
"'Sophia's Reminiscence"
Deep in the soil, She moves through her hole.
Slowly, hidden for the two. Seen by the third.
She was there all the time,
surviving all the ages,
recognized by sages.
One of two, before the two,
viz motrix, the spiraling force.
Womb of the universe,
giving life by receiving life.
Birthing, reviving, regenerating,
receptacle of becoming,
remembered, recognized, restored to Light.
Crystallized, embodied, 'Mater'ialized.
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MUSICAL INTERMEZZO II // JOY CATSBURG
SOUND MEDITATION WITH GONG BATH & SINGING BOWLS
Joy was born in Amsterdam in 1959 and raised in two cultures with an Indonesian mother and a Dutch father. Playing the guitar along my way, he became part of a band for the first time when he was 14. Thereafter many more followed in which he relaunched covers as also wrote and performed personal songs. Since 2006 Joy has directed his energy completely to solo performances and his own artistic expression. This has resulted in singing bowl and gong bath meditations, healing massages and making music and musicals with kids.
Tuning in on the creative music flow makes him happy, feeling alive, therefore he am often working in my studio on the design and recording of his songs. A continual shaping process, a learning journey that never ends.. Joy sings and produces his own songs. They are personal and most touch the deeper dimensions of human existence. Often you can hear him play on a variety of stages, on the streets or in somebody's living room. Making music with other people opens his heart and fills his life with bliss, grace and wonder.
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ARTIST // ARICIA RITMAN
SHOWCASING DURING THE ESOTERICISM & THE ARTS EXHIBITION
Aricia Ritman (2001) was born in Amsterdam in a creative environment and has been drawing from her earliest childhood. Drawing and painting began as soon as she could handle a pencil. Her passion for painting is deeply rooted in her veins. Her grandfather from her mother's side, Jos Frissen, belonged to the South Limburg art circle of Henri Jonas. Her father's grandfather, Ton Ritman, a painter of 'light', and her grandfather, Joost Ritman, founder of the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica, art collector and painter himself are her biggest inspirations.
Aricia is currently trained at the Hermitage Museum in a workshop specifically designed for a selected group of young artists. Here, she learns to express her passion in form, color and shapes. Aricia is mainly inspirated by nature. She would like, as she calls it herself - to put energy into form. Just 11 years old, she is already setting her goal clearly. The four works for Synthesis are entitled:
1) Hands full of energy: Connect the Universe.
2) Dream
3) Energy
4) Future
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YOGA PRACTICE // ANDREJA PISNIK & ISABELLA MARCIS
VOLUNTARY MORNING PRACTICE FROM 08:15 (SHARP!) - +/- 09:00
’Yoga is NAVA SARIRA SAMSKARA - establishing new body patterns , yoga is a practice of replacing old patterns with new ones. Yoga has to be SARVA ANGA SADHANA - it has to involve the whole being : body, mind and spirit. Yoga is preventive and currative ASASTRA SASTRA CIKITSA - yoga is like a surgery without a scalpel.'
Andreja was born in Slovenia where she attained a classical high school education beside practicing the art of dance ( classical and modern ballet techniques) and theatre performance. Her next step in dance carrier lead her to Netherlands, where she further developed performing techniques in new dance trends and choreography. Collaborating with many great young artists,choreographers and teachers.
After a few years of touring the world stages with a dance company, she moved from Arnhem to Amsterdam where a deeper commitment to yoga began. She learned many ways of holistic healing and the use of those in daily life from Golden Hummingbird Co. Practiced and learned yoga techniques from Svaha Yoga Shala. And finally found her 'roots' in the tradition of Yogacharya Krishnamacharya. She is teaching regular yoga lessons in Amsterdam.
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CHAIRLADY // DR. ELKE MULLER
DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY, FREE UNIVERSITY (VU), THE NETHERLANDS
Dr. Elke Müller received her master degree in Philosophical Anthropology from the University of Amsterdam in 1998 (cum laude). She has been a Ph.D. researcher (AIO) at the Faculty of Philosophy of Erasmus University from 1999-2005. From 2005-2006 she was post-doc researcher at the Center for Public Innovation of the Department of Government, Erasmus University Rotterdam. In 2009, she successfully defended her doctoral dissertation at the Faculty of Philosophy of Erasmus University. The title of her thesis was: "Tijdreizen in de grot. Virtualiteit en lichamelijkheid van panorama tot CAVE" ["Time travelling in the cave. Virtuality and embodiment from panaroma to CAVE"]. A commercial version of her thesis was published in 2009 by Klement.
Since January 2010 Elke Müller is postdoc researcher in the Interactive metal fatigue research project at the Faculty of Philosophy of the Erasmus University Rotterdam. Her research focuses on the relation between Enlightenment, embodiment, 'fashionable diseases', and interpassivity. At the moment she is working at the Vrije Universiteit (VU) / Free University in Amsterdam.
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CHAIRLADY // SASKIA BEUGEL
FOUNDER & DIRECTORY RISHIS - CLUB FOR FREE SOULS
Above all Saskia Beugel could be considered a people's person and visionair with sharp and deep insights, educated in brandstrategy, marketing & economics, psychology, yoga, coaching and energywork. She has worked over 10 years in publishing & internet markets as marketing manager, business and concept development at Randstad & VNU. Thereafter she traveled to India and studied at a variety of spiritual teachers. When she returned to the Neherlands she started her own company 'Rishis Club for Free Souls®' (coaching, training and events) and 'Isis Brand Consultancy' (brand, PR and marketing projects).
PROJECTS:
Rishis Club for Free Souls®, CSA Training, The Soul of Leadership, Yoga Magazine, The Changery Consultancy, Philharmonisch Orkest, Dagblad de Pers, USG People, Planet Fem, Talent First, VNU, Randstad, Sprout, SNS, Ebbinge, Intermediair Online, Management Team, Intermediair, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, newmonday.com
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