Review: Splendor singularis. Studii despre esotericism [Unique Brilliance: Studies on Esotericism], by Constantina Raveca Buleu

Abstract

The aim of this collection of essays is twofold: introducing esotericism to a general Romanian readership and presenting some personalities in Romanian esotericism to the general public worldwide.The first purpose is fully justified by the specific history of Romanian culture discussed.From 1938 until 1989, Romania experienced a series of dictatorial regimes of right, far right, or leftist orientation.None of these regimes appreciated esotericism.The brutal ideological imposition of Marxist ideology from 1947 until 1990 brought a serious blow to esotericism in Romania.Esoteric doctrine and its offshoots, such as Theosophy and Anthroposophy, survived only "in the caves," that is to say, a select group of aficionados remained who continued to meet in very small groups, read esoteric literature, or wrote about esotericism in hiding.Taking into account this historical background, the appearance of Constantina Raveca Buleu's book is very welcome.For the first time in many years, the fascinating spiritual phenomenon of esotericism is freely introduced in the Romanian language to a new generation of Romanian readers and to the general reading public.Buleu's essays are dedicated to Romanian personalities who studied esotericism as scholars (Mircea Eliade, Radu Cernatescu) or who practiced esoterism and also wrote (on) esoteric literature (Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu, Marcel Avramescu, Bucura Dumbrava, or Vasile Lovinescu).Out of this group, probably only Mircea Eliade is known worldwide.Splendor singularis is the result of Buleu's research into the contacts between western esotericism and Romanian esoteric thinkers.We can say that there is a kind of cultural synchronicity between Romanian culture and world culture from this point of view.Buleu constantly contextualizes Romanian esotericism through references to translations, Romanian contributors to international esoteric journals, and visits of specialists in esotericism to Romania.Proofs include the 1898 visit to Bucharest of Papus (aka Gérard Anaclet Vincent Encausse, 1865-1916); René Guénon's contacts with Vasile Lovinescu; the essays by Marcel Avramescu, the editor-in-chief of the esoteric journal, Memra; and Mihail Va ˆlsan, who translated Guénon into Romanian.Other essays are dedicated to the journal Le Voile d'Isis [The Veil of Isis] edited by Papus, and the book with the same title published by William Winwood Reade in 1861.In addition, Buleu discusses the Romanian contributors to the journal Le Lotus, revue de hautes études théosophiques [The Nenuphar: Journal of High Theosophic Studies] and explores the myth of the hidden king and its interpretation by Vasile Lovinescu.She examines esotericism in Romanian cultural journals published from 1918 to 1938, and the reception of the Maglavit phenomenon by Romanian