Universalia
Encyclopedia
Universalia or Univerzalia is a Czech hermetic society.
Members of Universalia were the most significant Czech hermeticists, occultist and occult writers.
.
In years of the First republic
Universalia published many books about hermeticism
and the occult
, including the works of Eliphas Lévi
, Pietro d'Abano
and many others.
Universalia's greatest project was the Encyclopedia of Occult, Mythology and Philospoh', though it was never completed.
On the 9 June 1941 Jan Kefer was arrested by Gestapo
and Universalia was disestablished by German
police.
After the end of the communist era in Czechoslovakia, Universalia was reestablished with Milan Nakonečný
as a chairman. In 1998 the society was renamed to Univerzalia.
Members of Universalia were the most significant Czech hermeticists, occultist and occult writers.
History
It was established as the Free association of occult workers with Pierre de Lasenic as leader in the age between world wars one and two. Its next leader was Karel Mach. In the year 1927 it was it established as Universalia, with Jan Řebík as chairman. In later years the chairman was Jan KeferJan Kefer
Jan Kefer was a notable Czech astrologer, hermeticist and publicist in the age between the two World Wars. He was the chairman of Universalia, a society of Czech hermeticists.- Biography :...
.
In years of the First republic
Czechoslovak Republic (1918–1938)
The First Czechoslovak Republic , refers to the first Czechoslovak state that existed from 1918 to 1938. The state was commonly called Czechoslovakia . It was composed of Bohemia, Moravia, Czech Silesia, Slovakia and Subcarpathian Ruthenia...
Universalia published many books about hermeticism
Hermeticism
Hermeticism or the Western Hermetic Tradition is a set of philosophical and religious beliefs based primarily upon the pseudepigraphical writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus...
and the occult
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
, including the works of Eliphas Lévi
Eliphas Levi
Eliphas Lévi, born Alphonse Louis Constant , was a French occult author and purported magician."Eliphas Lévi," the name under which he published his books, was his attempt to translate or transliterate his given names "Alphonse Louis" into Hebrew although he was not Jewish.His second wife was...
, Pietro d'Abano
Pietro d'Abano
Pietro d'Abano also known as Petrus De Apono or Aponensis was an Italian philosopher, astrologer and professor of medicine in Padua. He was born in the Italian town from which he takes his name, now Abano Terme. He gained fame by writing Conciliator Differentiarum, quæ inter Philosophos et Medicos...
and many others.
Universalia's greatest project was the Encyclopedia of Occult, Mythology and Philospoh', though it was never completed.
On the 9 June 1941 Jan Kefer was arrested by Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
and Universalia was disestablished by German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
police.
After the end of the communist era in Czechoslovakia, Universalia was reestablished with Milan Nakonečný
Milan Nakonecný
Milan Nakonečný is Czech psychologist and historian. During the normalization, Nakonečný was banned from teaching and publishing...
as a chairman. In 1998 the society was renamed to Univerzalia.
Known members
- Jan KeferJan KeferJan Kefer was a notable Czech astrologer, hermeticist and publicist in the age between the two World Wars. He was the chairman of Universalia, a society of Czech hermeticists.- Biography :...
(theurgist, astrologist and occult writer) - Pierre de Lasenic (considered as the greatest Czech hermeticist)
- Franz BardonFranz BardonFranz Bardon , born in Opava, Austrian Silesia, was both a stage magician and student and teacher of Hermetics. He was a member of the Czech hermetic society Universalia. During World War II Bardon was at one point held in a concentration camp for refusing to participate in Nazi Mysticism. Bardon...
(world known occult writer) - Lída BaarováLída BaarováLída Baarová was a Czech actress and mistress of Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's propaganda minister.-Biography:...
(actress and spiritist) - Jiří Arvéd Smíchovský (theurgist and inconsistent nazi collaborator)
- Oldřich Eliáš (famous cabbalist and occult writer, that meet Aleister CrowleyAleister CrowleyAleister Crowley , born Edward Alexander Crowley, and also known as both Frater Perdurabo and The Great Beast, was an influential English occultist, astrologer, mystic and ceremonial magician, responsible for founding the religious philosophy of Thelema. He was also successful in various other...
) - František Kabelák (cabbalist, occult writer and cooperated with Fraternitas Saturni)
- Karel Weinfurter (world known occult writer and mystic)
- Josef Šimánek (decadent poem and dramatist)
- Jiří Karásek ze Lvovic (poem, writer and representative of Czech decadence)
- Emanuel Lešetický z Lešehradu (theosopher,hermeticist and friend of Gustav MeyrinkGustav MeyrinkGustav Meyrink was the pseudonym of Gustav Meyer, an Austrian author, storyteller, dramatist, translator, and banker, most famous for his novel The Golem.-Childhood:...
) - Otakar Zachar (alchemist)
- Felix De la Cámara (Spanish aristocrat, nacionalist, writer and producent)
- Theophanus Abba (alchemist and writer)
- Emanuel Hauner (writer, hermeticist and translator)
- Ladislav KlímaLadislav KlímaLadislav Klíma , was a Czech philosopher and novelist influenced by George Berkeley, Schopenhauer and Nietzsche. His philosophy is referred to varyingly as existentialism and subjective idealism.-Life:...
(philosopher) - Pavel LudikarPavel LudikarPavel Ludikar was a Czech operatic bass who had a highly successful international singing career from 1904 through 1944. He began his career in his native country and by 1911 had arisen at many of the major opera houses in Europe. From 1913 to 1935 his career was mainly centered in North and South...
(Czech operatic bass)