November 12–14, 2024

This year’s CAS-E conference was jointly organized by CAS-E, the Giorgio Cini Foundation (Centre for Comparative Studies of Civilisations and Spiritualities), the Center for the History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents at the University of Amsterdam, and the Research Network for the Study of Esoteric Practices (RENSEP). The conference took place in a very special location, the island of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice, Italy. The conference’s numerous contributions dealt with a topic that has long been on the research agenda of our center: the aesthetics of esoteric practices, i.e. their performative, sensory, and material dimensions. Over the course of three days, the topic was widely discussed in various global, social, cultural, and historical contexts, with each contribution highlighting a different aspect and thus contributing to the overall picture and discourse. The conference program is still available and provides a good overview. The conference proceedings will be published. Until then, we will take home many insights into new fields of practice as well as fruitful discussions that will contribute to the research activities at our center.

San Giorgio Maggiore (photocredit: Lina Aschenbrenner)