Éditions Robert Laffont
Esotericism - Secret Doctrines and Initiations in the West
28,00 €
/
In stock
Ships within 24 hours
How to divert one's attention from esotericism? The human being never reaches a completed state: they build themselves, move forward tentatively, follow paths where, at certain moments, signs appear that speak to them. This is where both their greatness and their limits lie. Then comes the ultimate question: is there a secret of the world? Who could know it? And how to pass it on?
"Charlatanism!" retort the rationalists, sometimes joined by religious people. Yet magicians, theosophists, shamans, kabbalists, or alchemists testify to another interpretation of reality.
In the first part of this work, the author focuses on defining what esotericism encompasses. The second gathers the major texts of Western esotericism: some widely known, others presented here for the first time in translation.
Everyone knows the name Paracelsus, but how many have actually read him? Who knows that Newton left an alchemical work? Or that modern writers such as Artaud, Pessoa — and even Hergé — pushed their writing to the gates of mystery?
These pages offer paths. The rest of the journey belongs to the reader.
This purchase will earn you
+280 Aeters
Get notified when it is back in stock
Couldn't load pickup availability
Information & features
- Author: Pierre A. Riffard
- Publication date: January 2019
- Size: 13.3cm x 20cm
- Weight: 551g
- ISBN: 978-2-221-22164-8
- Version:
Storage & preservation
Make sure to store it in a place protected from external energies.
A question?
We have created a Help Center for the most frequently asked questions. You can also contact us by email, or by phone & WhatsApp: 09 79 10 29 48 (Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
Secure payment
Fast delivery
Photo not generated by AI
This product was photographed by us without AI generation. You will receive the product you see.
Please note: stones and natural products may vary in appearance from one specimen to another.
Product information
Your satisfaction
Your order, prepared with care
Each item is packaged according to its fragility to ensure it arrives in the best possible condition.
Enhanced protection
Each product ordered is individually wrapped.
Responsible positioning
Recyclable packaging, tissue paper, and, when necessary, reused air cushions keep each product secure during transport.
Customer service available
Our team is available by email, chat, and phone from Monday to Saturday.
Ready to accompany you
Purified items.
Upon arrival at Aeternum, our products are cleansed of the energies accumulated during their journey.
Purification upon receipt
Each new delivery is purified according to our traditional method.
Suitable storage
The items remain in a clean, controlled environment before being shipped.
Before departure
We perform one final purification by fumigation while preparing your order.
A presence close to you
A French family business.
Our team and inventory are based in France, allowing us to serve you directly.
Team based in France
A family business that is easy to reach and close to its customers.
Products actually in stock
Every available item is physically present on our premises.
Fast dispatch
Your order generally arrives within 1 to 3 business days.
The Aeternum Circle
Make every purchase a reward.
Earn Aeters with every order, then redeem them for discounts on your next purchases.
This product
+280 Aeters
−€5
1,000 Aeters
−€20
4,000 Aeters
−€30
6,000 Aeters
−€50
10,000 Aeters
— Learn more.
Buy L'Ésotérisme - Secret Doctrines and Initiations in the West from our esoteric shop
This work explores the place of esotericism in the human journey and in the history of ideas. It starts from a simple observation: the human being moves forward without a final state, progresses through successive trials, and encounters, along the way, signs that challenge their perception of the world. These moments of questioning reveal both a capacity for elevation and a framework of limits. The book then raises a central question about the existence of a secret of the world, the possible ability to approach its knowledge, and the forms of transmission considered throughout the centuries.
A critical reflection in the face of opposing views
The text takes into account criticisms from rationalist currents and certain religious circles, which see esotericism as an illusion or an intellectual deviation. In response to these positions, the work makes room for other voices, carried by figures from magical, theosophical, shamanic, kabbalistic, or alchemical traditions. These testimonies outline a different reading of reality, based on experience, initiatory transmission, and a symbolic approach to the world. The discussion proceeds without controversy and establishes an open space for reflection, conducive to understanding divergences.
The foundations of Western esotericism
The structure of the book is based on two distinct parts. The first part focuses on defining the contours of Western esotericism, specifying its principles and forms of initiation. The second part gathers major texts from this tradition, including already recognized writings and others made accessible through translation. Together, they offer a structured journey through secret doctrines in the West, providing the reader with solid reference points to understand their origin, transmission, and place in European intellectual history.
Pierre A. Riffard is a French philosopher born in Toulouse on January 20, 1946. He is recognized for his work on esotericism, a discipline he studied through in-depth research and publications that have marked the field. He defended a philosophy thesis on the Greek formula ἓν καὶ πᾶν (“One and All”), then a State doctorate in letters on The Idea of Esotericism at the University Paris 1 Sorbonne in 1987 after research on occultism.
Here, we don’t judge.
No matter where you come from, what you believe in, or what you’re looking for: you belong here. You can be a beginner, curious, a casual practitioner, or a daily witch. What matters is sincere intention.
We believe in all forms of magic.
High magic and its rigorous rituals deserve as much respect as spells passed down in the countryside. We read grimoires, respect rites, listen to old stories. Everything practiced with faith deserves serious and curious attention.
We welcome all traditions.
We don’t put one path above another. We talk hoodoo, kabbalah, Christian prayers, elemental magic, folk rituals, Celtic symbols. What matters is respect. Not the label.
We work cleanly.
Each package is carefully prepared by us, here in France. Before shipping, it is purified so it arrives at your home cleansed and positively charged. We strive to use recyclable packaging and reduce our impact as much as possible.
We stay available.
Customer service is us. Not an AI, not a robot, not a call center. If you have a question, a doubt, a problem, you reach us—the same people who select the products, write the descriptions, and prepare the packages.
We stay human-sized.
We are a small passionate team with big ambitions, hands in the herbs, books, and boxes. And we want to keep it that way.
— You speak about it best.
A question?
We have the answers.
How are the products prepared?
All products listed as in stock are prepared within 24 hours from order confirmation (excluding weekends and holidays).
Our packages are prepared by our own team with care to ensure the protection of your products.
What are the delivery methods?
We currently offer delivery via Mondial Relay or Colissimo. Find more information here.
What is the delivery time?
The delivery time starts from the shipment of your package, and we indicate the average times observed by our carriers at the time of order. You can check our delivery methods and rates directly here.
What is the delivery time?
The delivery time starts from the shipment of your package, and we indicate the average times observed by our carriers at the time of order. You can check our delivery methods and rates directly here.
To which countries do you ship?
We ship orders to France, Belgium, Monaco, and Luxembourg.
Other destinations will be available soon.
I have other questions.
You can visit our Help Center here or contact us there.
— The Carnets d'Aeternum , practices and history of Magic.
A condensed collection of knowledge to feed your magical curiosity.
