Esoteric Practices: of Secrecy, Resilience and Politics

Abstract The author reflects on the proposal for ‘Alternative Rationalities and Esoteric Practices from a Global Perspective’ by rethinking three sites of her recent fieldwork. These involved a ritual involving zombies in Haiti, an American evangelical Christian spiritual warfare training camp, and a paranormal investigation presentation at a Connecticut library. All lend themselves to new questions in view of the proposal at hand. Each group attempts to control and change their environment through esoteric practices, remaining resilient in its tradition despite exposure to science and technology.