Every year since 1933 many of the world's leading intellectuals have met on Lake Maggiore to discuss the latest developments in philosophy, history, art and science and, in particular, to explore the mystical and symbolic in religion. The Eranos Meetings - named after the Greek word for a banquet where the guests bring the food - constitute one of the most important gatherings of scholars in the twentieth century. The book presents a set of portraits of some of the century's most influential thinkers, all participants at Eranos: Carl Jung, Erich Neumann, Mircea Eliade, Martin Buber, Walter Otto, Paul Tillich, Gershom Scholem, Herbert Read, Joseph Campbell, Erwin Schrodinger, Karl Kereyni, D.T. Suzuki, and Adolph Portmann. The volume presents a critical appraisal of the views of these men, how the exchange of ideas encouraged by Eranos influenced each, and examines the attraction of these esotericists towards authoritarian politics.

Few people are aware that from 1933 and for a period of almost seventy years, many of the world's leading intellectuals met annually at Ascona on Lake Maggiore to give scholarly lectures about their latest insights in the fields of religion, philosophy, history, art and science, and in particular to explore religion with an emphasis on its mystical and symbolic aspects. Known as the Eranos meetings (Eranos in Ancient Greek meant banquet), participants over the years comprised a galaxy of illustrious names in many branches of the humanities and sciences: Carl Gustav Jung, Erich Neumann, Mircea Eliade, Martin Buber, Walter F. Otto, Paul Tillich, Gershom Scholem, Sir Herbert Read, Joseph Campbell, Erwin Schrodinger, Karl Kereyni, D.T. Suzuki, Adolph Portmann and many others. Based on archival material, printed sources, private letters and interviews with Eranos presenters and participants, Hakl presents the only complete study of what is arguably the single most important gathering of scholars in the twentieth century. With a masterful hand, Hakl skillfully weaves together portraits of the exceptional people involved, their significance in the world of learning, the way they interacted with each other as well as the manifold influences that the meetings exerted. While in general sympathetic to the Eranos spirit, the author does not try to hide the negative aspects of the concern with esotericism, such as the Islamicist Henry Corbin's sympathy for the reign of the Shah, nor the Eranos patron (and OSS member) Paul Mellons' massive holdings in Iranian Oil. The final chapter concerns itself with an exploration of the political implications of the Eranos phenomenon and the tendency amongesotericists towards authoritarian standpoints. The vignettes it offers of the lives and lively debates of leading twentieth century intellectuals will attract readers interested in the history of ideas, psychology, religious and cultural studies, Jewish and Islamic studies, the history of science, mysticism and the development of the new age religions.

* Explores Kremmerz's life, his teachings, his work as a hermetic physician, and the metaphysical and hermetic principles that guided his activities * Offers a detailed account of the distance healing practices, diagnostic methods, and rituals of the Fraternity of Myriam * Includes texts written by Kremmerz on the inner workings and magical operations of the fraternity, intended for its practicing members Giuliano Kremmerz (1861-1930), born Ciro Formisano, was one of the most influential Italian occultists, alchemists, and Hermetic masters of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, though he remains almost unknown to English readers. In 1896, Kremmerz began writing about natural and divine magic, healing, and alchemy through the journal Il Mondo Secreto (The Secret World). At the same time, he founded a school known as the Schola Philosophica Hermetica Classica Italica as well as a magical group, the Therapeutic and Magical Fraternity of Myriam. Within the Myriam, he sought to use Hermetic, magical, and Pythagorean principles to harness the power of the psyche and convey collective energies for therapeutic purposes and distance healing. His initiatic order would become the principal esoteric society in Italy--comparable to its British counterpart, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn--but forced to be a carefully guarded secret as Mussolini's government rose to power. In this unique compilation of essays, David Pantano presents an in-depth study of Kremmerz's life and work by his student and initiate, Italian esotericist Marco Daffi. Without holding back criticism, Daffi provides a detailed account of the history and practices of the Myriam as well as the metaphysical and Hermetic principles that guided their activities. Revealing Kremmerz's rediscovery of the occult healing of ancient mystery schools, Daffi also shows how Kremmerz laid the foundation for passing this initiatory tradition on to the new millennium. He explores the means by which Kremmerz said miracles can be performed and the way Hermetic forces affect both bodily health and mystical eroticism. Throughout this collection, David Pantano provides extensive annotations, offering the English reader essential historical and mystical context for Daffi's work. Connecting to untranslated Italian texts and elucidating Daffi's poetic style, Pantano's commentary reveals the particular tradition of Italian esoterism. Pantano also includes rare and unpublished texts written by Kremmerz and intended for the Myriam's practicing members. Combined, these papers offer a picture of the inner workings and magical operations of this fraternity, available for the first time in English.