Introducing Lectures IV.: Eleusinian Mysteries, an Initiation Cult in Ancient Greece
Lecture Abstract:
Eleusinian Mysteries were a religious cult that lasted from the dawn of Greek history until 5th century C.E., using the Magical Theatre as a way of initiation, attracting people from all over the then-known world. Through all this time, its secrets remained unbroken. In this talk, I will summarize what we know about it from written and archaeological sources.
(In the photo, Marion with her husband)
Exhibition "The World of Tarot"
Dear friends, the next part of our accompanying program is a tarot exhibition prepared for you by Pavel Langer. At the exhibition, you will see the development of tarot from the 18th century to the present day. The exhibition starts with Minchiate tarot, continues through Marseille tarot, and ends with Besançon tarot. There will also be special tarot decks featuring contemporary themes.
Publishing Houses at Our Conference + Astrologia Gallica
Dear Friends, We are pleased to announce that our International Conference, "Tea with Mephisto 2," is being supported by the publishing houses Vodnář and Sol Noctis. Selected titles from these publishers will be available to conference participants at a special discount of 30% to 60%.
Additionally, the book Astrologia Gallica - a rare publication that has been fully published only in Latin, its original language, and in Czech - will also be available. This is a world rarity sure to spark admiration globally.
Introducing Lectures III.: Mephistophilis and Faustus
Lecture Abstract:
In this presentation I will concentrate on the origins of the Faust story as it emerged in Germany, soon followed by Christopher Marlowe in England who made it a huge theatrical success. In this context it is worth remembering that Queen Elizabeth's famous mathematician and magus John Dee has been considered as a historical model for both the white magician (Shakespeare's Prospero) and the black one (Marlowe's Faustus).
Time limits will allow just a glimpse at the later literary and artistic reception of the Faust story by Johann W. Goethe, Charles Gounod, Thomas Mann, István Szabó, Jan Švankmajer and others.
Introducing Lectures II.: History of women in astrology
Lecture Abstract:
Astrology is nowadays often considered primarily a woman's domain by the public, despite the fact that there is also a lot of men among astrologers and their clients. In my presentation, I will focus on the 20th and 21st centuries that brought this change into astrology, but also on the centuries prior to them. I will briefly describe the history of astrology and the women who practiced astrology in that time - for example, Heliodora, Hypatia, Queen Buran, Christine de Pizan, and, from relatively recent history, Evangeline Adams, Elsbeth Ebertin, Joan Quigley, and Linda Goodman. While describing the history of astrology, I will also mention the women who supported astrologers. Finally, I will also explain the changes that have resulted in the present predominance of women among people open to astrology.
Introducing Lectures I.: Prince of Darkness and Son of the Goddess Typhon: Antinomian Interpretations of Set in the Works of Temple of Set and Kenneth Grant
Lecturer: Mgr. Matouš Mokrý
Lecture Abstract:
In
the 1970s, the emerging Left-Hand Path esoteric current witnessed an
important rehabilitation of the Egyptian god Set as the patron of the
Left-Hand Path and antinomian mediator of personal liberation from
the restrictive norms of Christianity and other dominant spiritual
traditions. Surprisingly, this rehabilitation was led at the same
time independently by two ideologically very different actors –
Temple of Set in the USA and Kenneth Grant in Great Britain. Via
textual analysis of selected passages of Kenneth Grant's Typhonian
trilogies and the works of Michael Aquino and Stephen Flowers from
the Temple of Set, the paper searches for similarities and
differences between the individual antinomian formulations of Set.
These similarities and differences will then be interpreted in light
of the particular projects of liberation and the literary sources
used for the conceptualisation of this Egyptian deity.
We have opened registration for attendees! And the conference program has been published!
We have also published the preliminary conference program, which we will continue to update and enhance. More details are available on the “Program” page.
The registration for presentations for our conference is closing!
Speaker registration now open!
On 10th June, speaker registrations were opened. There are 17 slots available for your lectures, introductions of your discoveries, or presentations of your research. More information can be found on the registration page.
This year's conference is already being prepared!
Dear friends, we are pleased to inform you that we have started preparations for this year's edition of our conference!
This year, the conference will take place from October 25 to 28, 2024, once again at the Mahen Memorial and in the same format. It will be an international and public conference; there will be a live internet broadcast. We are also preparing a rich accompanying program for you again.
The novelty is the full transition to the new name of the conference. Thus, the conference will be held under the name Tea at Mephisto's 2.
This name refers to the theatrical drama Mephistopheles (1910) by Jiří Mahen (*1882-†1939), whose memorial repeatedly hosts our conference.
We will keep you informed about the progress of the preparations.
Your organizing team
In this year, the conference is behind us...
In this year, the conference is behind us. We thank everyone who attended, presented at it, and supported it. See you next year!
City Tour Program for Sunday
14:00 Tour of the Ossuary at St. James's (with a guide)
14:30 Stroll through the city and St. Peter and Paul Cathedral
16:00 Exploration of the mummies in the Brno Capuchin Crypt (with a guide)
17:00 Tour of the underground labyrinth beneath Zelný Market (with a guide)
18:00 Visit to Špilberk Castle walls
Total costs for the three guided tours:
Adults: 460 CZK
Seniors: 240 CZK
Entrance fees to specific sites are to be covered by each individual participant. If you wish to only attend a only part of the city tour, it is, of course, possible to detach during the tour.
Conference live stream ready!
You can already find a special page on our website with the live stream of the conference prepared. You will be able to watch the conference opening and individual presentations from the comfort of your home or wherever you happen to be.
6 available attendees seats!
Due to illnesses and, in some cases, non-payment of the conference fee, 6 listener seats have become available. Registration is therefore extended until Monday, October 23rd (incl.)
New in the program: Within Saturday's program you’ll see two dance performances by Friday Dancers group!
This dance group connects many influences in their performances - from belly dance and oriental ethnic dances to modern elements and trends. “Dance is like a language, through which we communicate during the songs. No performance is therefore the same as another, our viewer sees an absolutely unique dance each time. For fast songs we accompany our dance with finger cymbals, when the music and event allows, we dance with requisites like skirts and swords.” The group is dedicated to improvisational FCBD dance style, which was created in the 80’s in the USA. Moves are inspired by folkloric dances of the Middle East, North Africa, Spain and India. We love to fuse this colourful mix with other styles, occasionally we deliberately enrich our costumes for example with Slavic influences.
Excerpts from the upcoming exhibition
As promised, we bring you excerpts from the upcoming exhibition "Contemporary Czech Hermetics in Photographs and Artefacts" which will take place as part of our conference.
Rosicrucian InsigniasProduction of antimony glass
Consecration of Elemental Elixirs
Bratislava magician at work
Extraction
News overview for August 24th
- On August 15th, The registration for non-speaker participants of the conference has been launched.
- The preparation of the exhibition "Contemporary Czech Hermetics in Photographs and Artefacts" is in full swing. As previews, we will gradually publish samples of the planned exhibits, photographs, and documents.
- Due to the international interest in our conference, it has been decided to enhance its bilingual nature. Lectures in English will have their own dedicated block within the program. English will be the conference language for this block. You can find more information on the "Program" subpage.
Registration for non-speaker participants has just been launched
Dear colleagues,
The registration for non-speaker participants of the conference has just been launched. Due to a limited number of spots, we recommend registering as soon as possible.
You can find the registration form and further information on our website under the "Registration" subsection!
Lectures for our conference have been selected!
On Thursday, August 10th, we have finished selecting lecture topics from propositions we have received. Those selected will constitute the lecture section of our conference. A preliminary conference schedule with selected lectures can be found on our website under the "program" subsection!"