johedesan

johedesan last signed in Mar 28 2009 and has been on Bukisa since Dec 12, 2008.

About Me: Jo Hedesan is currently studying a MA in Western Esotericism at University of Exeter. She is a member of the European Society for the Study of Esotericism (ESSWE) and American Association for Study of Esotericism (ASE). She has published several journal articles and has presented papers at scholarly conferences on the topic of esotericism and history. She is writing a blog on esoteric topics and research at http://www.esotericoffeehouse.com

Thoughts on the Meaning of the April Fools Day

Published March 28, 2009 /

0 comments /

It’s almost April Fools Day, and you should be either thinking of a prank or considering how to avoid being ‘fooled’. That’s because, on 1st of April, there are only two types of people out there: the pranksters and those being played a prank. Nobody has been able to decipher the

The Health Benefits of Tea: White Tea Might Be the Best

by johedesan | in Health & Nutrition > General

The article reviews the scientific studies on the benefits of tea. It also attempts to discern which tea might be the healthiest.
The Birth of the Modern Tarot Deck: Eliphas Levi and His Kabbalistic Tarot

by johedesan | in Religion & Spirituality > General

This article traces the history of the modern Tarot from Court de Gebelin (treated in a separate article) to Eliphas Levi and onwards to the modern Rider-Waite tarot.
The Idea of the West: From Avalon to the Cold War

by johedesan | in Culture & Society > General

The article investigates the origins of the idea of the West as a mixture of mythology, religion and ideology.
The Ugly Recession and the Beautiful TV Ads

by johedesan | in Culture & Society > General

The more deeply we sink into recession, the happier the TV world is becoming. More on http://selfalchemy.blogspot.com
The End of the West

by johedesan | in Culture & Society > General

This article investigates Oswald Spenger's doomsday prediction about the decline of the West. The article observes that the West was not destroyed, but it is slowly dying and changing into a multiculturalist society. Obama's ascendence to Presidency is a good example of this process of change.
The Reality of Witchcraft Practices in Early Modern Europe

by johedesan | in Religion & Spirituality > General

This article analyzes the change of perspective in regards to the witch hunts in early modern Europe. Scholars are drawing the conclusion now that witchcraft was a real thing, if not 'demonic' as the Inquisitors believed.
Valentine’s Day Origins – Lupercalia, the God Pan, and the Werewolves

by johedesan | in Events & Holidays > General

This article investigates the origins of the popular celebration of Valentine's Day. It traces its roots back to the Roman festival of Lupercalia, which was probably dedicated to the god Pan in his form of Master of the Wolves - or Werewolf.
The Chinese Year of the Ox and the Religious Symbol of the Bull

by johedesan | in Events & Holidays > General

It is Chinese New Year and I set myself to analyze what the symbol of the ox and bull represent. After a brief overview of bull cults, I draw the conclusion as to what a 'year of the ox' might bring.
Alchemy, Science and the Quest for Immortality

by johedesan | in Religion & Spirituality > Religion

The article analyzes the quest for immortality as expressed in alchemy and science. Alchemy maintained that life extension or even immortality can be achieved through the 'elixir vitae'. While criticizing its beliefs in transformation of matter, science inherited alchemy's desire to extend life, seeking 'immortality' until this very day.