Well, you're right, so I'll make this
pitch. Having gone to a variety of conferences (all to present
papers except for this one), in the fields of Literature, Native American,
and Medieval studies, and upcoming in Eighteenth Century Studies, I highly
recommend that scholars interested in Magic and other esoteric disciplines
join and attend the American Academy of Religion, especially perhaps for the
International Conference since so many on this listserv are
overseas.
The AAR, the largest academic religious
studies organization in the world, welcomes international members to
present. That means that we, as scholars of esotericism, have an opportunity to
stand up and be counted. It's all about presence--we're invited to take a seat
at the table, so perhaps we had better show up.
It was really refreshing to be in a large
conference room full of people who practice and study paganism of various sorts;
I found it delightful to look into the eyes of colleagues that I knew practiced
Wicca and other spiritualities; there was an acceptance of knowing. For
myself as a Native American, it was particularly powerful to sit in the presence
of other Natives as they spoke from a place of wisdom; so much
silence.
It was delightful to attend a
Platonism and Neo-Platonism session, where a very straight conservative
Mid-Westerner presented alongside a Johnny Depp look-alike pirate-type from
Yale. We drew the circle, and sat together.
With any financial success this year, I
may make it to the AAR's International Conference in New Zealand this
summer--see you there!
Kathryn
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 11:08
AM
Subject: Re: [ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC]
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Also very busy
right now editing a book (and getting paid), so will not have much to say for
a while.
Pity – It would be
great to hear more about the conference!
Kate