Upcoming RENSEP conference on Magic and Consciousness
We are thrilled to announce that the Research Network for the Study of Esoteric Practices (RENSEP) will host its first international online conference, which will explore the topic “Magic and Consciousness.”
The conference will take place from 25-27 November 2026 and will bring together scholars, scientists, and experienced practitioners to explore the relationship between magical practices and contemporary approaches to consciousness studies. All sessions will be held online, starting at 4:00 PM UK time (17:00 CET), thus making it possible for participants from different regions to attend.
Building on RENSEP’s praxeological approach, the conference aims to examine how practices traditionally described as “magical” intersect with current theoretical, empirical, and experiential perspectives on consciousness. Confirmed keynote speakers include Les Lancaster, whose work bridges esotericism and transpersonal psychology, and Mike Daw, known for his contributions to discussions of non-local consciousness. In addition, several panels will engage with themes central to contemporary scholarship on esotericism, featuring speakers such as Wouter J. Hanegraaff.
The programme will address a range of interconnected topics, including questions surrounding qualia and consciousness; the relationship between language, symbols, and consciousness (with particular attention to traditions such as Islamic lettrism and Kabbalah); predictive processing and magical cognition; psychedelics and psychonautic approaches; transpersonal psychology; and theories of non-local consciousness. In line with RENSEP’s practice-oriented mission, the program will also include a dedicated Practitioners Panel, designed to foster a structured dialogue between academic research and lived experience.
In this context, RENSEP invites experienced practitioners to apply to take part in the panel “Practitioners’ Perspectives”, which will be held on 26 November 2026. The panel is intended as a space for practitioners to present reflections on their lived experiences, practice-based models of consciousness, and experiential theories in dialogue with contemporary scholarship. Applications should include an abstract (max. 500 words) outlining the proposed contribution, as well as a link to a video demonstrating prior speaking experience or, alternatively, a short introductory video in which the applicant presents their abstract. Applications may be submitted to conference@rensep.org. Up to three practitioners will be selected for the panel, with contributions evaluated on the basis of clarity, reflexivity, and relevance to the conference theme.
We warmly invite scholars, practitioners, and all those interested in the study of magic and consciousness to join us for this event.
