Yoga and Magic in the Work of Henri Clemens Birven

Presenter:

· Karl Baier Institute of Religious Studies (University of Vienna, Austria)

Panel:

25 | Occult South Asia: Rethinking the History of Modern South Asian Religions and Spiritualities Through the Lens of Esotericism Research and Vice Versa

Timeslot:

07/27 | 16:10-16:30 UTC+2/CEST

Abstract

Henri Clemens Birven (1883-1969) was one of the most interesting proponents of German occultism in the pre- and postwar period. His doctoral thesis from 1913 deals with the “transcendental deduction”, a central topic of Kant’s philosophy. Later Birven became a secondary school teacher. He was a friend of Gustav Meyrink and an acquaintance and translator of Aleister Crowley. He also knew Julius Evola and appreciated the works of the Italian right-wing esotericist. The well-educated Birven wrote books on the role of magic within Goethe’s Faust and the works of the magic idealism of the romantic poet-philosopher Novalis. Between 1927 and 1932 he was the editor-in-chief of the important occult periodical Hain der Isis. This paper focuses on two books that Birven published after World War II: Lebenskunst in Yoga und Magie (“The Art of Life in Yoga and Magic“, 1953) and Pforte der Unsterblichkeit. Yoga als Weg zur geistigen Erneuerung (“The Gateway to Immortality. Yoga as a path towards Spiritual Renewal“, 1961). These publications can be interpreted as an attempt to connect Birven’s occultism (and with it the alternative religious culture of the inter-war period including its reception of yoga) with the revival of popular yoga in post-war Germany.