Courants ésotériques et médecine

Esoteric Currents and Medicine (19th-early 20th century)

Call for Papers

Arcana Naturae 

Revue d'histoire des sciences secrètes 

The academic annual journal Arcana Naturae invites submissions for its 2022 edition devoted to the relations between esoteric currents and medicine (19th-early 20th century). 

Modern esoteric currents are here understood as groups and individuals whose discourses on humans, life and the universe are located at the crossroads of religion, science, and philosophy. Although little known, they have played a significant role in the history of medicine and health. While the theories and practices they developed may have inspired a certain number of physicians, these currents have also created their own medical and therapeutic systems. 

Indeed, whether as members of the Theosophical Society, or of occultist or modern Rosicrucian groups, or indeed of spiritualist circles, there were many individuals who combined such membership with a deep interest in health and well-being. Likewise, several important characters of esoteric currents were also physicians, and one can think of Gérard Encausse (1865-1916), Arnold Krumm-Heller (1876-1949), Franz Hartmann (1838-1912), Theodore Krauss (1884-1924), William Wynn Westcott (1848-1925), Anna Kingsford (1846-1888), Pascal Beverly Randolph (1825-1875), or Édouard Bertholet (1883-1965). 

The two first physicians listed above will each be the subject of an article devoted to their medical achievements in relation to their esoteric knowledge and beliefs, and the editors are looking for similar proposals regarding other esoteric actors. One objective of the issue is to adopt a bio-bibliographical perspective with a view to developing a comparative and trans-geographical analysis of the condition and outlook of “physician-occultist”. How were “esoteric” beliefs reconciled with medical knowledge? What was the medical and societal reception of such attempts at rapprochement? And did esoteric interests always translate into medical practices? These are examples of issues to which this collective work seeks to provide a response from an academic and historical perspective. 

Individual submissions must be submitted by 30 July 2021 and should be comprised of a 300-word abstract, and a short CV with contact information. Letters of acceptance will be sent by 30 August 2021 and complete articles must be submitted by 28 February 2022 for peer-review. French and English languages are welcome. 

For further information, please contact the editors: leobernard.histoire[at]gmail.com and arcana.revue[at]gmail.com