Blog

As a follow-up to The 5th Colloquium of the Central and Eastern European Network for the Academic Study of Western Esotericism (CEENASWE) I organised a meeting of the CEENASWE steering committee at the Study of Religions department in Vienna on December 3. We had a productive morning and afternoon discussion, focused on discussing further edited… Continue reading CEENASWE board meeting in Vienna

It was a pleasure to attend a meeting of the Czech scientists working or conducting research in Austria, organised by the Czexpats in Science at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Vienna on 8 November 2024. After inspiring lectures, we were immersed in networking and informal talks. Thank you, Czexpats for organising this event… Continue reading Meeting of the Czech Scientists working in Austria

I Last month I presented a public lecture “Mysterious Forces of the Nation: Occultism and Nationalism in Central Europe” as part of the Czech Academy of Sciences Week. The talk took place on November 5th at the Institute of Ethnology in Prague, drawing such interest that the seminar room was filled to capacity. [English translation… Continue reading Mysterious Forces of the Nation: Talk at the Czech Academy of Sciences Week

Last month I had the opportunity to present my research on comparative Slavic and German occultism at the 23rd European Association for the Study of Religions annual congress in Gothenburg. My paper examined how early 20th century occult groups in Czechoslovakia and German-speaking countries approached questions of race, ethnicity, and nationalism. While there has been… Continue reading Presenting “Occult Dimensions of Race and Ethnicity” at #23 EASR 2023

I had a fantastic time at UT, Austin and at the 23rd Annual Czech and Slovak Studies Workshop, 23–24 February, where I presented a paper, Understanding Czechoslovak Nationalism through the Occult Lenses. Colleagues attending the workshop who had mostly background in history were both surprised by the occult topic. They suggested plenty of thought-provoking comments… Continue reading Occultism and Nationalism debate at the 23rd Annual Czech and Slovak Studies Workshop

I have been invited to the University of Texas, Austin, in February to the Department of History and Department of Slavic and Eurasian Studies. While in Texas, I will also attend the Twenty-third Annual Czech and Slovak Studies Workshop at the University of Texas, Austin, 23–24 February and will deliver a paper on the occult society Universalia and… Continue reading University of Texas visit and Czech and Slovak Workshop presentation, 15–26 February, 2024