Up: [[Mystery]] Created: 2022-01-27 Antoine Faivre was a historian of esotericism. When he examined esoteric practices in the Western world, he said they had three defining characteristics, all of which were to achieve the goal of personal transformation. Esotericism in the West sees the natural universe as having its own life force. This is the [[Anima Mundi]] idea, and the one piece I still have some trouble really embracing. The other two characteristics are easier for me. Personal insight that goes to the level of spiritual revelation, so not dogma. See [[Spiritual But Not Religious Isn't Saying Much]] and [[Gnosis Defined and Contrasted]]. And using processes like [[Active Imagination]], [[Mandala]]s, mantras, [[Rituals]] to access reality beyond our material world.