Defining Hermeticism is not easy. It is a little like trying to define religion, or art. One could say that Hermeticism is the Wisdom Tradition of the West, an esoteric tradition not necessarily limited to any one religion or mystical path, and that embraces both the theoretical and the practical. The following are two overlapping yet quite different approaches to and definitions of Hermeticism; the magickal/occult and the academic. Of course, Hermeticism is not necessarily limited to these definitions.The diagram above is modified from a diagram on a Hermetic Fellowship page -
The Opening of the Ways to the Hermetic Temple. The various circles represent the variety of spiritual Paths in the Western Esoteric Tradition. Clockwise from the top you have Theurgy, Qabalah, Rosicrucianism, Gnosticism, Grail Quest, Alchemy, Wiccan and NeoPaganism (pentagram), and the Ancient Mystery Religions (ankh).
