Who were the “black-bookers” mentioned in Lithuanian folklore? What do we know about the Lithuanian cabbalistic tradition? How do modern Lithuanian pagans use energy field studies and other unconventional scientific methods? These questions and more will be discussed at the 10th Biennial Conference of the European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism titled “Esotericism and Rationality”, taking place at Vilnius University, June 26-28, 2025.
Initiated by the Esotericism Studies Group of the Lithuanian Society for the Study of Religions, the international conference is organised by the Society in cooperation with Vilnius University, the Vytautas Kavolis Transdisciplinary Research Institute of Vytautas Magnus University and the Lithuanian Culture Research Institute. The conference will bring together over 200 speakers, including Lithuanian scholars and esotericism researchers from all over the world.
Esotericism in Lithuania and the world
Esotericism, which encompasses the occult, magic, alchemy, astrology, and other related ‘hidden’ or marginalised religious and cultural messages and practices, has existed throughout history and continues to be of interest to various groups in society today. Historically, these phenomena were often met with caution or even ignored by science, but it has recently been recognised that studying them is essential for a better understanding of culture, history, politics and society.
“Surrealism, symbolism and the suffragette movement, as well as many pioneers of scientific disciplines such as Isaac Newton, Robert Boyle and Marie Curie, were inspired by this little-known world. Esoteric ideas have also influenced notable Lithuanian figures such as Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, Mykolas Romeris, Gabriela Petkevičaitė-Bitė, Juozapas Albinas Herbačiauskas, Liudas Truikis and Algis Uždavinis. Adomas Mickevičius, who contributed to the worldwide occult revival of the 19th century, cannot be understood without an understanding of the esoteric context,” says the conference’s main organiser, Dr Adas Diržys, a philosopher and researcher at the Lithuanian Culture Research Institute and the Vytautas Kavolis Transdisciplinary Research Institute.
Is esotericism compatible with rational thinking?
Taking a closer look at esotericism can provide a fresh perspective on many concepts that are often taken for granted in our society. This year’s conference will explore the relationship between esotericism and rationality. Are esoteric ideas truly irrational? What can esoteric practices that have endured tell us about the processes of secularisation and rationalisation used to describe the development of Western societies?
This theme will also be reflected in the three plenary presentations. Jason Ānanda Josephson Storm of Harvard University will discuss occult research in the US Army. Manon Hedenborg White, from Malmö University, will discuss the relationship between esotericism and rationality in the context of gender. Finally, Fabrizio Pregadio, from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, will reveal how Taoist Chinese alchemy combines esoteric ideas with rational thinking, and explain why it is difficult to study using only Western scientific methods.
Insights for the public from researchers of religion: a public lecture
This is not the first event organised by the Lithuanian Society for the Study of Religions in cooperation with international associations. Founded in 2001 by Gintaras Beresnevičius and his associates, the Society has a long-standing history of collaboration with the international community. The conference is testament to the rapidly developing scientific field in post-Soviet Lithuania and the academic community’s integration into international scientific networks. It also highlights the Society’s efforts to raise awareness of non-denominational religious studies research among the public. On 23 June at 18:00, the Department of Philosophy at VMU invites all interested parties to attend the public lecture “Genealogy of Genealogy: Nietzsche, Foucault, and the Twists and Turns of Critical History”, delivered by the conference’s plenary speaker, Jason Ānanda Josephson Storm (Harvard University), at the Vilnius Philosophers’ Club (Sodas 2123).
