The International Society for Neoplatonic Studies (ISNS) is the principal academic organization devoted to studying Neoplatonism from its origins to our time. ISNS held its twelfth annual meeting in Lisbon last June with sessions focusing on all aspects of the Platonic tradition, including several sessions on theurgy. These included papers on astrological magic, contacting one’s personal daimon, divination and oracles, parallels to theurgy in Jungian psychology, and the relevance of contemporary theurgical practice to understanding ancient theurgy and its effects. In addition to theurgy, there were many papers exploring the meaning of both obscure and well-known texts by Iamblichus, Proclus, Porphyry, Ficino, and others. This discussion will explore the connections between the academic study of theurgy and contemporary practitioners of it.
Dr. Bruce MacLennan is a professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and author of The Wisdom of Hypatia: Ancient Spiritual Practices for a More Meaningful Life. He is the author of numerous academic and popular articles on Neoplatonism, the practice of theurgy, and its psychological effects. He has also written numerous works under the name John Opsopaus.