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Dear Friends and Colleagues, Phoenix Rising Academy of Esoteric Studies and Creative Arts: www.phoenixrising.org.gr is a new, independent, distance-learning academic initiative based in Athens and London. It is preparing to launch in the autumn-winter of 2010, and is seeking academic faculty for specific subjects in its curriculum. Inspired by the Platonic Academy of antiquity, the Academy’s aim is to provide a flexible and holistic approach to the study of topics in Western Esotericism and the Liberal Arts, adhering to the highest standards of academic rigour together with sympathy for and acknowledgment of the experiential aspects of our field. Founding faculty members comprise scholars affiliated with the Universities of Kent, Exeter, Oxford and Indianapolis. The curriculum seeks to cover a wide range of topics within the Western Esoteric corpus, while it also extends into Philosophy and the Arts, seeking to create a truly cross-disciplinary curriculum which will ultimately allow for cross-disciplinary research projects within the Academy. The course structure is based on a flexible model which allows students to complete a full programme of study equivalent to a BA (accreditation will be sought from the ODLQC – the British distance-learning accreditation council which has also accredited institutions such as the prestigious Schumacher College), but which also offers the freedom to select only those courses or modules which appeal to students, contingent on completion of introductory courses which provide a solid grounding in the principles and methodology of the Academic Study of Western Esotericism. The academy will offer selected onsite courses in Athens, Greece, while the majority of courses will be offered online through its virtual learning platform. Current faculty is located across two continents and several countries, and the Academy’s structure and technical infrastructure allows faculty members to be situated anywhere in the world. The Academy will also hold annual “summer retreats” – essentially intensive learning and networking events to be held on the island of Corfu, Greece. It will hold several smaller events over the course of each year, and provides the opportunity for all faculty members to present seminars and workshops to supplement their courses. The academy currently has vacancies for the following topic areas: History & Principles of Magic (Antiquity – Early Modern, and Modern periods) History & Principles of Kabbalah (Antiquity – Early Modern, and Modern periods) Myth (selected topics only) Traditionalism (historical background, phenomenology, main figures and texts) Freemasonry & Rosicrucianism (History, phenomenology) “Schools of Magic” (Golden Dawn, Thelema, etc: History, principles, phenomenology) Romanticism, Illuminism, theosophy (History, principles, art and literature) Surrealism (History, principles, art and literature) Vacancy filled New Age movement (history, phenomenology) Esotericism in the 21st century (historical background, influences, phenomenology) Esotericism and Drama Esotericism and Art (selected topics only) We will be seeking to expand our curriculum in the near future, so if you wish to propose a course that does not fall into one of the preceding categories, please feel free to write to us. It may be possible to integrate it into the existing curriculum. Courses in these areas are to be designed according to a model comprising of 1or 2 introductory courses (general introduction & principles), 3-4 or 5 advanced courses (specialised topics), which taken together would make up 1 module. Interested parties should be aware that academic and/or scholarly excellence is our main criterion for proposal evaluation. Our other criteria include teaching experience, publications, and familiarity with technology. Please do not apply if you do not hold at least a Master’s degree in your proposed area of expertise, or if you do not have teaching or writing experience in your academic field. Language is not a barrier as we cater to an international audience, although a working knowledge of English (or Modern Greek, or French) is necessary to facilitate initial communication. To express interest, inquire for further details or propose a course, please first explore the Phoenix Rising Academy website to familiarise yourself with our structure and philosophy. Course Proposals If you wish to submit a course proposal to the Phoenix Rising Academy, please either fill in the form at http://www.phoenixrising.org.gr/en/contact/teach-with-us/ OR follow the following steps: Write to [log in to unmask] to inquire whether your proposed topic is already being covered. Apart from a potted CV or link to online CV, your inquiry should include: 1. Proposed Course title 2. Level for which you are proposing the course. If introductory, state whether you are prepared to design an advanced course to extend it. (See http://www.phoenixrising.org.gr/en/ourcourses/structure/ for course structure). 3. In note form, a week-by-week breakdown of course content. Headings will suffice at this stage. Template available at http://www.phoenixrising.org.gr/en/ourcourses/structure/introductorycourses/introduction-to-western-esotericism/ 4. State how frequently you are prepared to offer the course(s) and how many students you wish to accept for each course Initial inquiries/draft proposals deadline: July 15th Deadline for submission of full course descriptions: August 10th