This presentation will focus on extant primary source materials to examine the foundations of Hermetic thought from antiquity to the Renaissance, tracing the history, theory, and practices of the Hermetic traditions. We will also look at the close association between Hermeticism and alchemy and explore the philosophical underpinnings of the art of transmutation. Finally, we’ll explore how Hermetic traditions evolved in the 19th and 20th centuries, penetrating into psychological paradigms.

Ike Baker is a practitioner, independent scholar, historian, author, and host of the ARCANVM Podcast, featuring documentary-style presentations and conversations with scholars and practitioners in esoteric traditions. His book, A Formless Fire: Rediscovering the Magical Traditions of the West, examines western esotericism from antiquity to the modern day. He is also a co-founder of the Hermopolis Symposium with Mervat Nasser.