Alberto Brandi

Alberto Brandi (born 1976) is an Italian scholar of Hermeticism and the Left hand path.
He first got an in History of Renaissance Philosophy at Naples' University , with a thesis on Magic and Science in the Renaissance in the studies of F. A. Yates. He later got his Ph.d. with a dissertation on the esoteric and philosophical sources of the Rosicrucian Manifestos. In 2004 he became assistant at the Chair of History of Philosophy at Naples' University and is currently studying the evolution of Rosicrucian ideas in 17th century Europe. His other field of study is the Left hand path, which he investigates both as a metahistorical phenomenon than in its diverse regional expressions.
Brandi's academical theories on the Left hand path
In his 2008 book La Via Oscura. Introduzione al Sentiero di Mano Sinistra (Italian: "The Dark Way. Introduction to the Left Hand Path") Brandi suggests that the Left hand path is an heterogeneous corpus of philosphical beliefs and magical-mystical practises which is evident in most of the world's religions and spiritual systems and not a modernistic invention. He makes a difference in between those traditions that belong to the "left hand" in terms of methodology - namely those which use concepts and magical practises related to the dark side, like necromancy, workings with demons, "impure" practises like sexual magic etc - and those which are such in terms of methodology and goals. The goal of the sinister Path, Brandi argues, are those that regard the final step of spiritual evolution with a kind of metaphysical indipendence and/or choice, retaining one's individual consciousness even after death. He then lists a number of traditions which endorse such methodologies and/or goals, providing a wide array of original sources, from Qabalah to some Eastern Tantric sects.
Involvement into Esotericism
Alberto Brandi is associated with Dragon Rouge, an esoteric Order based in Sweden and with Lodges and working groups in different parts of the world.
Books
*Le Radici Storiche e Filosofiche dei Manifesti Rosacrociani Ph.D. dissertation, University of Naples' "L'Orientale", Naples 2007.
*La Via Oscura. Introduzione al Sentiero di Mano Sinistra (ISBN 9788871692371), Atanòr Publishing, Rome 2008.

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