Public Research Talk: Peter Skafish
Registration is required.
Please register to attend in person.
Please register to attend on Zoom.
Contemporary illiberalism in the United States finds support in the challenge to modern ontology posed by growing acceptance of dubious beings, from psychedelic visions to psi phenomena to unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), the U.S. government’s current term for UFOs. Unlike these other things, however, UAP are perceptible, tangible, and physical, as well as of serious concern to Congress and the U.S. intelligence community. In this talk, cultural anthropologist Peter Skafish draws on his work as co-founder of the Sol Foundation to examine the paradox raised by these existentially consequential yet ontologically ambiguous entities, particularly where they concern the study of religion. Engaging the turn to the “superhumanities” in the history of religions, Skafish develops the thesis that UAP are an aspect of religious experience while nevertheless being far less outside the world than is often imagined. To…
Contact: Laurie D. Sedgwick, CSWR Events Coordinator
ldsedgwick@hds.harvard.edu.
Monday, September 29, 2025, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM.
Common Room, CSWR, 42 Francis Ave.
For more info visit cswr.hds.harvard.edu. Reading Group: Transcendentalism—Mystics, Misfits, Rogues, and Dissidents
This group meets on Tuesdays, 12–2pm (9/16, 9/30, 10/14, 10/28, 11/11, 12/2)
American Transcendentalism emerged in the mid-1800s from New England Unitarianism and European Romanticism. It distinguished itself by rejecting convention, challenging traditional religious doctrines of authority and election, opposing dominant philosophies, discarding genteel literary styles, and defying political complacency regarding slavery, gender inequality, and disenfranchisement. At Harvard, Transcendentalists were seen as mystics, misfits, rogues, and dissidents. Their refusals, however, sparked a social movement based on friendship and collaboration, united by a radical spirituality promising personal renewal and social transformation. This reading group invites participants to explore both sides of that legacy. We'll focus on Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Margaret Fuller in the fall, and on figures including Bronson Alcott, Theodore Parker, Orestes Brownson, Elizabeth Palmer Peabody, and Caroline Dall in…
Programming Series: Transcendence and Transformation. Contact: Laurie D. Sedgwick, CSWR Events Coordinator
ldsedgwick@hds.harvard.edu.
Tuesday, September 30, 2025, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Conference Room, CSWR, 42 Francis Ave. Cambridge, MA 02138.
From the Heart to the Page and Back Again: HDS Alumnx Authors on the Spiritual Life
Lynn Cooper, MDiv ’07, Catholic Chaplain, Tufts University, Embracing Our Time: The Sacrament of Interfaith Friendship (2025).
Contact: rsl@hds.harvard.edu.
Tuesday, September 30, 2025, 5:00 PM – 6:15 PM.
Multifunction Space, Divinity Hall 114.
Ephemeral Field Journal: Book launch and introducing Skywater
Registration is required.
Please register to attend in person.
Ephemeral Field Journal: Book launch and Introducing Skywater
Please join us for an evening to celebrate the publication of the book, Ephemeral Field Journal: Climate + Love in Claude Monet’s Garden (Kehrer Verlag, September 2025) by Artist-in-Residence Sarah Schorr with an essay by CSWR Director Charles Stang.
When Claude Monet settled in Giverny in 1883, he designed a flower garden full of impressive color compositions for observing light and time. American artist Sarah Schorr understands Monet’s garden as a creative, living laboratory. From the tiny teardrops of rain to the steady stream feeding the water lily pond, the images in this book were inspired by the movement of water in Monet’s garden. In his essay, Stang meditates on water worlds, drawing on the ancient philosopher Thales and the contemporary Italian philosopher Emanuele Coccia to better appreciate Schorr’s images.
Stang and Schorr will also introduce their new project Skywater,…
Programming Series: Transcendence and Transformation. Contact: Laurie D. Sedgwick, CSWR Event Coordinator
ldsedgwick@hds.harvard.edu.
Tuesday, September 30, 2025, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM.
Common Room, CSWR, 42 Francis Ave. Cambridge, MA 02138.
For more info visit cswr.hds.harvard.edu. Book Talk: Underworld Work: Black Atlantic Religion Making in Jim Crow New Orleans
When Zora Neale Hurston traveled to New Orleans, she encountered a religious underworld, a beautiful anarchy of spiritual life. In Underworld Work, Ahmad Greene-Hayes follows Hurston on a journey through the rich tapestry of Black religious expression from emancipation through Jim Crow. He looks within and beyond the church to recover the diverse leadership of migrants, healers, dissidents, and queer people who transformed their marginalized homes, bars, and street corners into sacred space.
Greene-Hayes shows how, while enclosed within an antiblack world, these outcasts embraced Africana esotericisms—ancestral veneration, faith healing, spiritualized sex work, and more—to conjure a connection to freer worlds past and yet to come. In recovering these spiritual innovations, Underworld Work celebrates the resilience and creativity of Africana religions.”
Join HDS for a special evening dedicated to Professor Greene-Hayes' new book.
Contact: Kate Royce (kroyce@hds.harvard.edu.
Monday, October 6, 2025, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM.
CSWR Common Room.
From the Heart to the Page and Back Again: HDS Alumnx Authors on the Spiritual Life
Liz Walker, MDiv ‘05, Director of the Can We Talk Network, Pastor Emerita of Roxbury Presbyterian Church, No One Left Alone: A Story of How Community Helps Us Heal (2025).
Contact: rsl@hds.harvard.edu.
Tuesday, October 7, 2025, 5:00 PM – 6:15 PM.
Multifunction Space, Divinity Hall 114.
Reading Group: Psychedelics Beyond Psychedelics
Registration is required.
This group meets, Wednesdays 3-5, 9/10, 9/24, 10/8, 10/22, 11/5, and 11/19
The Psychedelics Beyond Psychedelics Reading Group invites participants to explore expansive understandings of transcendence, healing, consciousness, and connection that extend beyond the use of psychedelic substances. Through rigorous interdisciplinary inquiry engaging themes such as shamanism, ecological kinship, sound, and childbirth, we will interrogate and reimagine what constitutes the “psychedelic.” Rooted in queer, feminist, ecological, and decolonial efforts, this group offers a collaborative space for exploration and critical questioning. We aim to affirm multiple ways of knowing, deepen our ethical and relational practices, and collectively contribute to defining the evolving field of the Psychedelic Humanities.
Facilitators include:
LILA GLENN RIMALOVSKI is an MDiv candidate at Harvard Divinity School studying the relationship between eco-spiritual practice and movements for land justice. Her r…
Programming Series: Psychedelics and the Future of Religion. Transcendence and Transformation. Spirituality and Psychedelics. Psychedelics and Ethics. Contact: Laurie D. Sedgwick, CSWR Events Coordinator
ldsedgwick@hds.harvard.edu.
Wednesday, October 8, 2025, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
Conference Room, CSWR, 42 Francis Ave. Cambridge, MA 02138.
Reading Group: Transcendentalism—Mystics, Misfits, Rogues, and Dissidents
This group meets on Tuesdays, 12–2pm (9/16, 9/30, 10/14, 10/28, 11/11, 12/2)
American Transcendentalism emerged in the mid-1800s from New England Unitarianism and European Romanticism. It distinguished itself by rejecting convention, challenging traditional religious doctrines of authority and election, opposing dominant philosophies, discarding genteel literary styles, and defying political complacency regarding slavery, gender inequality, and disenfranchisement. At Harvard, Transcendentalists were seen as mystics, misfits, rogues, and dissidents. Their refusals, however, sparked a social movement based on friendship and collaboration, united by a radical spirituality promising personal renewal and social transformation. This reading group invites participants to explore both sides of that legacy. We'll focus on Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Margaret Fuller in the fall, and on figures including Bronson Alcott, Theodore Parker, Orestes Brownson, Elizabeth Palmer Peabody, and Caroline Dall in…
Programming Series: Transcendence and Transformation. Contact: Laurie D. Sedgwick, CSWR Events Coordinator
ldsedgwick@hds.harvard.edu.
Tuesday, October 14, 2025, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Conference Room, CSWR, 42 Francis Ave. Cambridge, MA 02138.
Reading Group: Esotericism and Alternative Spirituality
Registration is required.
This group meets on Tuesdays, Sept. 9 & 23, Oct. 14 & 21, Nov. 4 & 18, 1–3pm
Esotericism has long been associated with the ideas of mystery, secrecy, and conspiracy. This is connected to the very etymology of the word, which hints at the possibility of acquiring special, inner knowledge that is different from what ordinary people usually have access to. The elitism that goes with this assumption can take on a political dimension. Insofar as esotericism is identified with the practice of secrecy, fears of clandestine manipulation of society and history arise almost naturally, and questions about its compatibility with the principles of modern democracy are raised. However, strategies of secrecy have also been used to promote the values of progress and democracy, as has been the case during the Enlightenment with the emergence of modern Freemasonry. Despite the relevance of these aspects for the study of esotericism, scholars have been reluctant to include them in their theorizations…
Programming Series: Transcendence and Transformation. Contact: Laurie D. Sedgwick, CSWR Event Coordinator
ldsedgwick@hds.harvard.edu.
Tuesday, October 14, 2025, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM.
*Common Room, CSWR, 42 Francis Ave. Cambridge, MA 02138.
Psychedelic Christianity? A Conversation with Erik Davis and Charles Stang
This event is free and open to the public.
No registration is required.
As the dialogue between contemporary religion and the psychedelic world deepens, the possibilities of a new "psychedelic Christianity” are emerging. But what exactly does such a surprising conjunction name? How does the reframing of psychedelic experience allow for contemporary Christians to "turn on" and what sort of push-back is already emerging? What alternate histories does psychedelic Christianity require, whether its the reassessment of the hippie Jesus Movement, or the controversial but compelling possibility of psychedelic sacraments in the early Christian church? How might the Christian dimension of transcultural ayahuasca religions from Brazil inflect the question? Join Professor Charles Stang and Dr. Erik Davis for a dynamic discussion of the issues.
Programming Series: Spirituality and Psychedelics. Contact: Paul Gillis-Smith, pgillissmith@hds.harvard.edu.
Tuesday, October 14, 2025, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM.
Room 113, Sever Hall.
Book Talk: Shamanism: The Timeless Religion with Manvir Singh
Registration required.
Please register to attend on Zoom.
Join anthropologist Manvir Singh, PhD, and Professor Charles Stang for a conversation about Singh’s acclaimed book, Shamanism: The Timeless Religion (Knopf, 2025), which draws on immersive research with shamans in Indonesia and the Colombian Amazon.. Singh explores how shamans use trance, music, and plant medicine to heal, prophesy, and confront life’s uncertainties—and how these ancient practices reveal deep insights into belief, transformation, and the human mind.
MANVIR SINGH is an assistant professor of anthropology at the University of California, Davis. He holds a bachelor's degree from Brown University and a PhD in Human Evolutionary Biology from Harvard University. A regular contributor to The New Yorker, his work has also appeared in Wired, Vice, Aeon, The Guardian, and academic journals including Science and Nature Human Behaviour. He has studied Indigenous psychedelic use in Colombia and, since 2014, has researched shamanism and…
Programming Series: Psychedelics and the Future of Religion. Spirituality and Psychedelics. Transcendence and Transformation. Contact: Laurie D. Sedgwick, CSWR Events Coordinator
ldsedgwick@hds.harvard.edu.
Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM.
Zoom.
For more info visit cswr.hds.harvard.edu. Public Research Talk: The Psychedelic Jesus of the American Counterculture, with Erik Davis
Registration is required.
Please register to attend in person.
Please register to attend on Zoom.
Behind today’s growing conversation about psychedelic Christianity lies a largely overlooked figure: Jesus Christ as imagined within the psychedelic counterculture. From recurring appearances in acid visions and underground comics to reinterpretations within esoteric “freak" circles, Jesus was deeply entangled in the era’s spiritual experimentation. For some young people immersed in drug culture, however, Christ became more than a symbol of countercultural spirituality—he opened a path toward the emerging Jesus Movement, a form of Christianity that rejected much (though by no means all) of the psychedelic ethos of intense spiritual experience. Among them was Rick Griffin, one of the most influential illustrators of California psychedelia, whose conversion to Christianity produced a remarkable body of visual work that continues to shape the intersection of faith, art, and underground culture.
ERIK DAVIS is an…
Programming Series: Transcendence and Transformation. Contact: Laurie D. Sedgwick, CSWR Events Coordinator
ldsedgwick@hds.harvard.edu.
Monday, October 20, 2025, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM.
Common Room, CSWR, 42 Francis Ave. Cambridge, MA 02138.
For more info visit cswr.hds.harvard.edu. The Pearlsong: Celebrating the launch of the first book in the 4T series
Registration is required.
Please register to attend in person.
Please register to attend on Zoom.
Join us for the launch of The Pearlsong and the debut of the CSWR’s new book series, Texts and Translations of Transcendence and Transformation (4T). The 4T series brings together extraordinary works from across the ancient and medieval world, presenting them in their original languages with parallel English translations, introductions, glossaries, and commentary.
The Pearlsong tells the story of a Parthian prince who journeys to Egypt to reclaim a pearl guarded by a serpent. After falling into a deep sleep, he is awakened by a flying, speaking letter sent by his parents. With their help, he subdues the serpent, secures the pearl, and, before returning home, is reunited with his shining garment—a powerful image of self-recognition.
At this event, author Adam Bremer-McCollum will be joined by Charles Stang and Erin Walsh for a lively conversation about the book and its story. The evening will also feature…
Programming Series: Transcendence and Transformation. Contact: Laurie D. Sedgwick, CSWR Events Coordinator
ldsedgwick@hds.harvard.edu.
Monday, October 20, 2025, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM.
Williams Chapel, Swartz Hall, 45 Francis Ave. Cambridge, MA 02138.
For more info visit cswr.hds.harvard.edu. Reading Group: Esotericism and Alternative Spirituality
Registration is required.
This group meets on Tuesdays, Sept. 9 & 23, Oct. 14 & 21, Nov. 4 & 18, 1–3pm
Esotericism has long been associated with the ideas of mystery, secrecy, and conspiracy. This is connected to the very etymology of the word, which hints at the possibility of acquiring special, inner knowledge that is different from what ordinary people usually have access to. The elitism that goes with this assumption can take on a political dimension. Insofar as esotericism is identified with the practice of secrecy, fears of clandestine manipulation of society and history arise almost naturally, and questions about its compatibility with the principles of modern democracy are raised. However, strategies of secrecy have also been used to promote the values of progress and democracy, as has been the case during the Enlightenment with the emergence of modern Freemasonry. Despite the relevance of these aspects for the study of esotericism, scholars have been reluctant to include them in their theorizations…
Programming Series: Transcendence and Transformation. Contact: Laurie D. Sedgwick, CSWR Event Coordinator
ldsedgwick@hds.harvard.edu.
Tuesday, October 21, 2025, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Conference Room, CSWR, 42 Francis Ave. Cambridge, MA 02138.
Panel Discussion: How Social Values Inspire Climate Innovation
As climate change accelerates, innovative technologies offer hope for mitigation and adaptation. Panelists from Harvard Divinity School and industry leaders will share their own pathway to the work of addressing climate change and discuss the social, environmental, moral, and religious implications of their approaches. Join us in this conversation about equity, justice, and how we can ensure that climate technology fosters a more sustainable future for all. Please register to attend at the link below.
With welcoming remarks by Marla F. Frederick, Dean of Harvard Divinity School, John Lord O’Brian Professor of Divinity, Professor of Religion and Culture (HDS), and Professor of African and African American Studies (FAS), Panelists: Etosha Cave, Co-founder and Chief Science Officer, Twelve, Nikki Hoskins, MDiv ’12, Assistant Professor of Religion and Ecology, Kurt Keilhacker, MTS ’07, General Partner, Elementum Ventures, Moderated by Terrence L. Johnson, MDiv ’00, Charles G. Adams Professor of African and…
Tuesday, October 21, 2025, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM.
Cader Room, Swartz Hall
45 Francis Avenue, Cambridge, MA.
For more info visit harvard.az1.qualtrics.com. Reading Group: Psychedelics Beyond Psychedelics
Registration is required.
This group meets, Wednesdays 3-5, 9/10, 9/24, 10/8, 10/22, 11/5, and 11/19
The Psychedelics Beyond Psychedelics Reading Group invites participants to explore expansive understandings of transcendence, healing, consciousness, and connection that extend beyond the use of psychedelic substances. Through rigorous interdisciplinary inquiry engaging themes such as shamanism, ecological kinship, sound, and childbirth, we will interrogate and reimagine what constitutes the “psychedelic.” Rooted in queer, feminist, ecological, and decolonial efforts, this group offers a collaborative space for exploration and critical questioning. We aim to affirm multiple ways of knowing, deepen our ethical and relational practices, and collectively contribute to defining the evolving field of the Psychedelic Humanities.
Facilitators include:
LILA GLENN RIMALOVSKI is an MDiv candidate at Harvard Divinity School studying the relationship between eco-spiritual practice and movements for land justice. Her r…
Programming Series: Psychedelics and the Future of Religion. Transcendence and Transformation. Spirituality and Psychedelics. Psychedelics and Ethics. Contact: Laurie D. Sedgwick, CSWR Events Coordinator
ldsedgwick@hds.harvard.edu.
Wednesday, October 22, 2025, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
Conference Room, CSWR, 42 Francis Ave. Cambridge, MA 02138.
Reading Group: Transcendentalism—Mystics, Misfits, Rogues, and Dissidents
This group meets on Tuesdays, 12–2pm (9/16, 9/30, 10/14, 10/28, 11/11, 12/2)
American Transcendentalism emerged in the mid-1800s from New England Unitarianism and European Romanticism. It distinguished itself by rejecting convention, challenging traditional religious doctrines of authority and election, opposing dominant philosophies, discarding genteel literary styles, and defying political complacency regarding slavery, gender inequality, and disenfranchisement. At Harvard, Transcendentalists were seen as mystics, misfits, rogues, and dissidents. Their refusals, however, sparked a social movement based on friendship and collaboration, united by a radical spirituality promising personal renewal and social transformation. This reading group invites participants to explore both sides of that legacy. We'll focus on Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Margaret Fuller in the fall, and on figures including Bronson Alcott, Theodore Parker, Orestes Brownson, Elizabeth Palmer Peabody, and Caroline Dall in…
Programming Series: Transcendence and Transformation. Contact: Laurie D. Sedgwick, CSWR Events Coordinator
ldsedgwick@hds.harvard.edu.
Tuesday, October 28, 2025, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Conference Room, CSWR, 42 Francis Ave. Cambridge, MA 02138.
Who Made American Judaism? A History of Ordinary Leaders by Professor Hasia Diner
Contact: Kevin Chimo (kchimo@hds.harvard.edu).
Thursday, October 30, 2025, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM.
Cader Room, Swartz Hall 117, Harvard Divinity School.
Reading Group: Esotericism and Alternative Spirituality
Registration is required.
This group meets on Tuesdays, Sept. 9 & 23, Oct. 14 & 21, Nov. 4 & 18, 1–3pm
Esotericism has long been associated with the ideas of mystery, secrecy, and conspiracy. This is connected to the very etymology of the word, which hints at the possibility of acquiring special, inner knowledge that is different from what ordinary people usually have access to. The elitism that goes with this assumption can take on a political dimension. Insofar as esotericism is identified with the practice of secrecy, fears of clandestine manipulation of society and history arise almost naturally, and questions about its compatibility with the principles of modern democracy are raised. However, strategies of secrecy have also been used to promote the values of progress and democracy, as has been the case during the Enlightenment with the emergence of modern Freemasonry. Despite the relevance of these aspects for the study of esotericism, scholars have been reluctant to include them in their theorizations…
Programming Series: Transcendence and Transformation. Contact: Laurie D. Sedgwick, CSWR Event Coordinator
ldsedgwick@hds.harvard.edu.
Tuesday, November 4, 2025, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Conference Room, CSWR, 42 Francis Ave. Cambridge, MA 02138.
From the Heart to the Page and Back Again: HDS Alumnx Authors on the Spiritual Life
Mark Longhurst, MDiv ‘07, Writer and Publications Manager of the Center for Action and Contemplation, The Holy Ordinary: A Way to God (2024).
Contact: rsl@hds.harvard.edu.
Tuesday, November 4, 2025, 5:00 PM – 6:15 PM.
Multifunction Space, Divinity Hall 114.
Reading Group: Psychedelics Beyond Psychedelics
Registration is required.
This group meets, Wednesdays 3-5, 9/10, 9/24, 10/8, 10/22, 11/5, and 11/19
The Psychedelics Beyond Psychedelics Reading Group invites participants to explore expansive understandings of transcendence, healing, consciousness, and connection that extend beyond the use of psychedelic substances. Through rigorous interdisciplinary inquiry engaging themes such as shamanism, ecological kinship, sound, and childbirth, we will interrogate and reimagine what constitutes the “psychedelic.” Rooted in queer, feminist, ecological, and decolonial efforts, this group offers a collaborative space for exploration and critical questioning. We aim to affirm multiple ways of knowing, deepen our ethical and relational practices, and collectively contribute to defining the evolving field of the Psychedelic Humanities.
Facilitators include:
LILA GLENN RIMALOVSKI is an MDiv candidate at Harvard Divinity School studying the relationship between eco-spiritual practice and movements for land justice. Her r…
Programming Series: Psychedelics and the Future of Religion. Transcendence and Transformation. Spirituality and Psychedelics. Psychedelics and Ethics. Contact: Laurie D. Sedgwick, CSWR Events Coordinator
ldsedgwick@hds.harvard.edu.
Wednesday, November 5, 2025, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
Conference Room, CSWR, 42 Francis Ave. Cambridge, MA 02138.
Reading Group: Transcendentalism—Mystics, Misfits, Rogues, and Dissidents
This group meets on Tuesdays, 12–2pm (9/16, 9/30, 10/14, 10/28, 11/11, 12/2)
American Transcendentalism emerged in the mid-1800s from New England Unitarianism and European Romanticism. It distinguished itself by rejecting convention, challenging traditional religious doctrines of authority and election, opposing dominant philosophies, discarding genteel literary styles, and defying political complacency regarding slavery, gender inequality, and disenfranchisement. At Harvard, Transcendentalists were seen as mystics, misfits, rogues, and dissidents. Their refusals, however, sparked a social movement based on friendship and collaboration, united by a radical spirituality promising personal renewal and social transformation. This reading group invites participants to explore both sides of that legacy. We'll focus on Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Margaret Fuller in the fall, and on figures including Bronson Alcott, Theodore Parker, Orestes Brownson, Elizabeth Palmer Peabody, and Caroline Dall in…
Programming Series: Transcendence and Transformation. Contact: Laurie D. Sedgwick, CSWR Events Coordinator
ldsedgwick@hds.harvard.edu.
Tuesday, November 11, 2025, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Conference Room, CSWR, 42 Francis Ave. Cambridge, MA 02138.
Reading Group: Esotericism and Alternative Spirituality
Registration is required.
This group meets on Tuesdays, Sept. 9 & 23, Oct. 14 & 21, Nov. 4 & 18, 1–3pm
Esotericism has long been associated with the ideas of mystery, secrecy, and conspiracy. This is connected to the very etymology of the word, which hints at the possibility of acquiring special, inner knowledge that is different from what ordinary people usually have access to. The elitism that goes with this assumption can take on a political dimension. Insofar as esotericism is identified with the practice of secrecy, fears of clandestine manipulation of society and history arise almost naturally, and questions about its compatibility with the principles of modern democracy are raised. However, strategies of secrecy have also been used to promote the values of progress and democracy, as has been the case during the Enlightenment with the emergence of modern Freemasonry. Despite the relevance of these aspects for the study of esotericism, scholars have been reluctant to include them in their theorizations…
Programming Series: Transcendence and Transformation. Contact: Laurie D. Sedgwick, CSWR Event Coordinator
ldsedgwick@hds.harvard.edu.
Tuesday, November 18, 2025, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Conference Room, CSWR, 42 Francis Ave. Cambridge, MA 02138.
Reading Group: Psychedelics Beyond Psychedelics
Registration is required.
This group meets, Wednesdays 3-5, 9/10, 9/24, 10/8, 10/22, 11/5, and 11/19
The Psychedelics Beyond Psychedelics Reading Group invites participants to explore expansive understandings of transcendence, healing, consciousness, and connection that extend beyond the use of psychedelic substances. Through rigorous interdisciplinary inquiry engaging themes such as shamanism, ecological kinship, sound, and childbirth, we will interrogate and reimagine what constitutes the “psychedelic.” Rooted in queer, feminist, ecological, and decolonial efforts, this group offers a collaborative space for exploration and critical questioning. We aim to affirm multiple ways of knowing, deepen our ethical and relational practices, and collectively contribute to defining the evolving field of the Psychedelic Humanities.
Facilitators include:
LILA GLENN RIMALOVSKI is an MDiv candidate at Harvard Divinity School studying the relationship between eco-spiritual practice and movements for land justice. Her r…
Programming Series: Psychedelics and the Future of Religion. Transcendence and Transformation. Spirituality and Psychedelics. Psychedelics and Ethics. Contact: Laurie D. Sedgwick, CSWR Events Coordinator
ldsedgwick@hds.harvard.edu.
Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
Conference Room, CSWR, 42 Francis Ave. Cambridge, MA 02138.
Public Research Talk: A Magic Still Dwells: Occulture in Contemporary Art
Registration is required.
Please register to attend in person.
Please register to attend on Zoom.
Fifteen years ago, I began to notice the conspicuous presence of esoteric motifs in contemporary art. At first, I was intrigued but also surprised, assuming this was only a passing trend. Over time, however, I came to realize that the phenomenon was more significant and deserving of attention than I had initially thought.
The influence of esotericism on modern art—roughly up to the end of the Second World War—has been the subject of serious scholarly research since at least the 1960s. Yet it soon became clear to me that scholars of esotericism and art historians alike were paying insufficient attention to its role in contemporary art.
In this lecture, I will share my findings and reflections on this phenomenon, which I believe is essential to understanding the place of esotericism in our societies today. Contemporary art holds considerable cultural and social influence, and examining its relationship with…
Programming Series: Transcendence and Transformation. Contact: Laurie D. Sedgwick, CSWR, Events Coordinator
ldsedgwick@hds.harvard.edu.
Monday, December 1, 2025, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM.
Common Room, CSWR, 42 Francis Ave. Cambridge, MA.
For more info visit cswr.hds.harvard.edu. 100 Years of Rudolf Steiner
Harvard’s Program for the Evolution of Spirituality is delighted to announce that we will be hosting a special conference marking the centennial of the death of spiritual teacher Rudolf Steiner. This conference will take place at Harvard Divinity School on December 15 and 16. It will feature panels on many aspects of Steiner’s legacy, as well as keynotes by Boaz Huss, Martina Maria Sam, Aaron French, and Henry Holland. National and local anthroposophical organizations will hold related events nearby on December 14 and December 17. Conference registration will open soon at https://pes.hds.harvard.edu/steinerconference. For more information, please contact pes@hds.harvard.edu.
December 15, 9 am-8:45 pm, December 16, 9 am-6:45 pm.
Contact: Kate Royce (kroyce@hds.harvard.edu.
Monday, December 15, 2025, 9:00 AM – Tuesday, December 16, 2025, 6:45 PM.
Swartz Hall.