Urbex, a new form of esotericism?

You may be wondering: but what is an article about urbex doing on our esoteric shop? An increasingly popular practice, it brings together enthusiasts of hidden places as well as experiences and sensations that are difficult to explain. Esotericism, as a quest for knowledge hidden or reserved for a restricted circle, explores the invisible dimensions of the world: the energy of places, spirituality, and unexplained phenomena. Far from being merely a search for thrills, has urbex now become a new form of esotericism, in the sense that it encourages people to discover places charged with energy while respecting their history? Some reflections.

1. What is urbex?

Urbex, or urban exploration, consists of visiting abandoned or off-limits places, often forgotten by time and society. This practice, halfway between adventure and historical research, encourages enthusiasts to cross physical and mental barriers to discover spaces that have been forgotten over the years, or even centuries.

Although exploring ruins and abandoned sites has always attracted adventurers, urbex as a structured practice truly emerged in the 1980s and 1990s.

The term "urbex" is a contraction of the English expression urban exploration, popularized by Jeff Chapman, also known as Ninjalicious, in the early 1990s.

At first glance, one might think that urbex is limited to ruined buildings, but this is not always the case: it can also involve rooftops, streets, mines, or plots of land.

The motivations of urbex enthusiasts vary, but some are drawn to aesthetics and art, seeking to capture images in which time and nature seem frozen in strange poetry. Others explore these places to understand their history, their former role, and the lives they once housed. For some, the trespassing and adrenaline that accompany entering these inaccessible spaces add an exciting dimension to the practice. Finally, there is also a more introspective and spiritual dimension, in which explorers find these deserted places conducive to personal reflection or an esoteric quest.

Urbex is guided by a clear philosophy: respecting an ethical code that consists of taking nothing and damaging nothing, but simply capturing the essence of the place through photographs or visual memories. This strict respect for the integrity of the sites aims to preserve these places so that others can explore them in their original state. Moreover, locations are never disclosed.

However, this practice is not without risks. Physical dangers are common in ruined buildings, where collapses and the presence of hazardous materials such as asbestos or broken glass are frequent. From a legal standpoint, urbex can lead to complications, as these places often belong to private owners and exploring them therefore constitutes illegal trespassing. Finally, the solitude and oppressive atmosphere of certain places can cause psychological effects, provoking discomfort or intense emotions in explorers.

2. The stronger the kenopsia...

It would be completely wrong to say that all urbex enthusiasts are seeking occult experiences. But it must be admitted that the many testimonies that exist mention them, more or less directly and more or less intentionally.

Urban explorers thus report unusual sensations during their visits. The term "kenopsia" describes the strange impression felt in a place that was once lively but is now empty, evoking a certain melancholy and a fascination with the past.

Moreover, some testimonies describe intense energetic sensations in abandoned places perceived as "energy hotspots" in France, with their history, the myths and legends surrounding them, and their particular energies.

Far from being an active practice such as a ritual, this spontaneous sensation may be considered a connection with an energy that cannot be defined. A haunting? A subtle plane? It is impossible to say.

3. ...The more intense the visit

Urbex offers an opportunity to explore places that, because of their history and abandonment, seem to be imbued with particular energies. These places, especially those marked by powerful events, collective emotions, or tragedies, act as mnemonic and energetic "receptacles." The walls of an old factory, the corridors of a disused sanatorium, or the stones of a dilapidated manor retain a kind of vibrational imprint left by the lives and events they once housed.

Places that are particularly charged, whether because of human tragedies or simply their age, are perceived as catalysts for intense energies. Although invisible, these energies can be felt in an almost tangible way by those who are receptive to them. Some explorers report a feeling of oppression, cold, or even slight shivers when standing in spaces marked by a troubled past.

Explorers sensitive to these energies explain that these places offer a powerful immersive experience. They become fertile ground for contact with subtler dimensions, whether emotional, historical, or esoteric. In some cases, these energies are perceived as benevolent, bringing a sense of connection to the past or to nature reclaiming its rights. In others, they may seem oppressive or mysterious, reinforcing the idea that these spaces possess a life of their own, imbued with the history they embody.

4. Discovering the invisible

The very essence of esotericism is seeing what cannot be seen at first glance. And this is where, I believe, its main common point with urbex lies. Whether it is a historical discovery, to remember the life of a place; a physical one, to find a structure hidden by nature or underground; or a spiritual one, for those who visit manors, homes, and sometimes even occult installations, such as a residence in the Hautes-Pyrénées that housed a Masonic initiation temple.

Unfortunately, like any popular practice that is particularly suited to video format, several YouTubers have visited these places with very little respect, exaggerating the staging and sensations, thereby creating a kind of emerging but unfortunately unfounded (or poorly founded) egregore based on the true nature of the place.

Because urbex is not The Blair Witch Project. It is, in fact, a warm intention, a message to places that once housed life, reminding them that they have not been forgotten by everyone. 

5. Urbex and allegedly haunted places

The idea of "haunting" in urbex raises interesting questions, not only about the perception of abandoned places but also about the ethical issues it can create. While the notion of haunting undeniably attracts some practitioners, it often acts as a mirror of our collective fears and fascination with the invisible. However, it can also pose ethical challenges, particularly in how these places are explored, portrayed, and publicized.

The idea of a haunting, whether authentic or constructed, obviously fuels the narrative surrounding abandoned places. Sites such as disused hospitals, dilapidated manors, or deserted churches are particularly associated with this imagery, reinforced by accounts of unexplained phenomena, urban legends, and sometimes embellished testimonies. This fascination with the paranormal can serve as an entry point for some explorers, but it can also simplify or even distort the historical and symbolic complexity of the places being explored. An urbex ethic means recognizing these stories as facets of a broader whole, without reducing these spaces to mere thrill-seeking locations.

The media portrayal of hauntings, particularly through videos or stories shared on social media, introduces another ethical dimension. Explorers who play on the idea of haunted places to attract attention or monetize their content risk turning places into mere objects of spectacle. This treatment can harm the perception of urbex by reducing it to a sensationalist quest, far removed from its original values of respect, curiosity, and documentation. It can also influence how the public interacts with these places, attracting unprepared or disrespectful visitors who damage the space or disturb its peace.

The ethical question also extends to how stories about hauntings affect local communities. Some abandoned places carry painful memories for local residents. Reducing these spaces to settings for thrills obscures their true history and shows a lack of (especially) respect for the people affected by their past. 

6. Urbex and esotericism: a parallel quest for the hidden

Urbex and esotericism, although distinct at first glance, converge in a shared quest for the invisible and the forbidden. Both practices question what escapes immediate perception, whether it is an abandoned place bearing the marks of the past or spiritual dimensions inaccessible to the uninitiated gaze. By exploring neglected spaces, urbex enthusiasts bring forgotten fragments of human history to light, just as esotericism seeks to reveal hidden truths within the visible structures of the world.

This shared search is based on the same stance: that of an explorer confronted with a mystery. In urbex, the mystery lies in abandonment, ruin, and silence; each element is a piece of a puzzle to be reconstructed. In esotericism, the mystery takes the form of invisible forces, symbols, or occult knowledge to be deciphered. These two worlds intersect in their ability to transform space into an inner experience: a dilapidated building can become an introspective sanctuary, just as an esoteric ritual opens a sacred space where the visible engages in dialogue with the invisible.

The link between urbex and esotericism also lies in the way they question time. Abandoned places, frozen in their decay, become time capsules in which the explorer perceives not only what was but also what might have been. Esotericism, for its part, challenges the linearity of time through practices intended to connect past, present, and future, whether through divination, contact with spiritual memories, or other transcendental approaches. In both cases, the aim is to access realities that everyday life does not allow us to reach.

Another meeting point lies in the notion of passage. Urban exploration involves crossing physical thresholds - a rusty gate, a sealed door - but also symbolic ones, such as a garden, a dining room, or a bedroom. Esotericism is based on passages of another kind: opening toward altered states of consciousness, traversing spiritual or energetic planes, and discovering concealed knowledge. These passages, whether physical or spiritual, require a form of courage and curiosity that connects the two practices.

Finally, what deeply brings urbex and esotericism together, and this will be the final word, is the way these two approaches transform the explorer's perception. In an abandoned place, what seemed inert and dead suddenly reveals itself as bearing stories, traces, and sometimes perceived energies. Similarly, esotericism invites us to look beyond the obvious, to sense what remains beneath appearances. In these shared spaces of wonder and revelation, urbex and esotericism become parallel practices, where every step - whether physical or spiritual - allows us to redefine our relationship with the world and ourselves.