Marek Dluhoš

Charles University

The Czech Esoteric Nationalism and the Power of the National Egregor

The Czech state population in its battles for independence from foreign – whether German (Nazism) or Communist (the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) – influence felt under pressure from powers which appeared impossible to physically resist (this was also the reason for capitulating without fight surrendering national independence in 1938 as in 1968). During the First Czechoslovak Republic (1918-1938) which saw the largest growth of independent spirituality on Czech territory for thousands of years because of the great democracy of the establishment of the time, its largest organised and state registered group of Hermeticists Universalia worked under the leadership of Charles University’s Doctor Jan Kefer (1906-1941), a nationalist and patriot. He developed ideas of ancient theurgy and modern Kabbalah into the concept of so-called Kabbalistic theurgy which was meant to ensure the continued existence of the state even under unfavorable foreign policy conditions. Jan Kefer, the chair of the most important Hermetic association, Universalia found a link between Western Esotericism (Kabbalah and theurgy), nationalism and national Egregore and that his teachings as Kabbalah theurgy became an important part of modern Czech Hermeticism. From his teachings was developed the idea of strengthening and boosting Czech national identity through esoteric traditions, and especially Hermeticism. Egregors are also associated with the angels and other forces of the astral world at the metaphysical level.