Institute for Hermetic Studies

Institute for Hermetic Studies (IHS) is an academic and esoteric research organization dedicated to the study, preservation, and dissemination of Hermeticism and related philosophical traditions.
Founded in 1998 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, by esoteric scholar, author, and speaker Mark Stavish, the Institute for Hermetic Studies (IHS) maintains a complete working curriculum for the instruction of its members in Hermetic Arts and Sciences, including Qabala, plant and mineral Alchemy, Rosicrucianism, Martinism, and the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. The Institute maintains a collection of rare occult documents it has collected over the years. It also conducts research in the occult field and regularly publishes and shares old teachings and research insights through its numerous media outlets (blogs, YouTube, Patreon, Teachable, etc.).
The Institute serves as a hub for both academic scholars and practitioners of Hermetic philosophy, mysticism, alchemy, and Western esotericism. The IHS aims to promote a deeper understanding of Hermetic teachings through research, publications, educational programs, and community engagement.
History
The Institute for Hermetic Studies was founded on March 1, 1998, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at a meeting held in the conference room of the Econo Lodge on Route 309 Wilkes-Barre Township. Then, working under the name, the Wyoming Valley Society for Esoteric Studies, the Society was formed as a local study group to act as a clearing house for information on esoteric activities and events in Northeastern Pennsylvania and surrounding areas. The main impetus to form the Society was a one-day workshop held in August 1996 on plant alchemy sponsored by the Philosophers of Nature (PON), with Russell House, the organization's president as the principal speaker.
In 2024, IHS secured an arrangement with the Weinberg Memorial Library on the campus of the University of Scranton to house its books on esotericism, occultism, philosophy, and religious history. The books will be available to scholars in perpetuity for as long as the library remains.
Efforts are underway to digitize selected papers and legacy recordings for future access. These include presentations on alchemy, qabala, and general esotericism from the French alchemist Jean Dubuis. Dubuis was the founder of the alchemical association The Philosophers of Nature.
Publications
Beginning in 2014, Mark Stavish with the assistance of Alfred DeStefano (III) began the process of writing, editing, and publishing the volumes that would become the IHS Study Guide Series and the Monograph Series. During this period the two worked closely on a near daily basis with the extremely demanding task of editing, layout, and typesetting being done by DeStefano. These works span a wide range of topics, including Pennsylvania Dutch folk magic, shamanism, ritual magic, Kabbalah, and psychic studies. The school's main topic is Hermeticism, and its Liturgy of Hermes is an original initiation into that tradition. Mark Stavish, who is the founder of the Institute has published over 30 books and monographs on Qabbalah, alchemy, hermeticism, and western esotericism in general. One or more of his publications have been translated into Bulgarian, Dutch, Estonian, French, Hungarian, German, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish.
Beginning in 2019 the Institute began publishing its semi-annual publication, The Fez. A collection of facts and fiction, humour and seriousness, along with the organization's Annual Report and membership profiles and updates. The Fez (along with various collectables and memorabilia) is mailed to members of the Institute for Hermetic Studies Men of Letters (IHS-MOL) the organizations "fun and fundraising" affiliate.
Teachings
The Institute offers a wide range of courses on its teachable platform. These courses cover hermeticism, Kabbalah, western esotericism, German folks magic. Students can register for courses by paying a fee, but some of the introductory courses are offered free of charge. A Practice Session with Questions and Answers is also offered every first and third Thursday of the month.
Educational programs
The IHS offers a range of educational programs, including:
* Online Courses: Introductory and advanced courses on Hermeticism, alchemy, astrology, folk and ritual magic, and related subjects, available to students worldwide.
* Workshops: In-person and virtual workshops focusing on practical Hermetic exercises, including meditation, magical practices, and ritual work.
* Annual Conference: In person and virtual attendance with presentations focusing on: classical hermeticism, Pennsylvania spirituality and folklore, psychic research, and occult themes in media and society ('occulture'). Recordings of previous conferences are made available through the Institute. Conference Presenters have included authors: Dale E. Graff] (The Psychic Wilderness), Patrice Maleze (Philosophers of Nature), Dr. Stevan Davies (Spirit Possession and the Origins of Christianity), Shannon Taggert (Seance), Hunter Yoder (The Hex Factory), Mark A. Keyes (Chasing Shadows: A Criminal Investigator's Look Into The Paranormal), Dr. Craig Williams (Entering the Desert: Pilgrimage into the Hinterlands of the Soul), Jamie Paul Lamb (Myth, Magic, and Masonry), Ike Baker (A Formless Fire: Rediscovering the Magical Traditions of the West), and Maxim Furek (Coal Region Hoodoo).
Structure
The Institute for Hermetic Studies is a registered 501 (c) 3, with a governing Board of Directors. A European branch of the Institute was initiated in 2022 and continues to plan, grow, and provide resources for those in Europe.

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