Societas Magica
The Societas Magica is an organization dedicated to
furthering communication and exchange among scholars interested in the
study of magic, both in the positive contexts of its expression as an
area of necessary knowledge or religious practice (as in early modern
occultism and contemporary paganism), and in its negative contexts as the
substance of an accusation or condemnation (as in sorcery trials, and
many philosophical and theological accounts, both early and late). The
interests of our membership include, but are not limited to, the history
and sociology of magic; theological, and intellectual apprehensions of
magic; practices and theories of magic; and objects, artifacts and texts
either qualified as magical by their creators, or forming the substance
of an accusation of magic by others.
The Societas Magica was originally established in 1994 by
Richard Kieckhefer, Claire Fanger and Robert Mathiesen for the purpose of
sponsoring sessions on the history of magic in the middle ages at the
annual International Congress on Medieval Studies at Kalamazoo, Michigan.
However the activities of the Societas have expanded with its
increasingly diverse membership, and our interests are not limited to the
medieval period. We continue to sponsor sessions
both at the Medieval Congress at Kalamazoo and also at other academic
conferences as proposed and organized by members. We also publish a newsletter twice yearly, and have other affiliated
publications. An email list is available to
those who meet the membership criteria and wish to join.
Updated: July 2 2008