Phoenix Rising Academy would like to explore intersections of the esoteric and the urban, focusing on the city as a locus for power and knowledge, both hidden and revealed. Are cities oppressive entities that stifle creative and esoteric drives or do they hold in their structures the potential for powerful action? To this end, we invite scholars and practitioners to submit proposals for papers, presentations, rituals and performances that address these questions pertaining to the occult city. Though our focus is primarily on American cities, particularly Chicago, we welcome explorations in other prominent global metropolitan centers.

For this pre-conference, we plan on creating 2-3 panels of papers, presentations, performances, rituals, workshops, roundtables, or discussion groups. Possible topics may include (but are not limited to):
*The activities of certain groups, traditions, and communities, both historical and contemporary, in particular cities.
*The city life of prominent esoteric figures and how that city life shaped their ideas and practices.
*Particular events, meetings, lectures, performances, happenings, protests whose urban setting featured prominently in their execution and influence.
*The mythology of the occult city, based on legend, occult symbolism, and esoteric symbolism of architecture and urban planning.
*A practical approach to working magick and ritual in the city, perhaps based on Urban Shamanism or Chaos Magick.
*Interpretations of the city and its occult power by urban fantasy authors.
*The intersections of the occult and the political through the use of ritualized protest actions, focusing on setting and urban scene. *Though not focusing on hauntings per se, an investigation of spiritualism, mysticism and psychic practices prominent in urban settings.
*A study of how hereditary or hybridized indigenous practices survive, evolve and adapt in an urban setting.

With your submission, please include the following:
1. Presenter information (name, mailing and email addresses, phone number)
2. Type of presentation (paper, non-paper presentation, workshop, performance, roundtable). Note: if you are proposing a roundtable discussion, please submit info for all participants.
3. Title and affiliation (institution, organization, independent scholar, or practitioner).
4. Proposal or abstract (not to exceed 250 words). Should include title of presentation and a clear description of the presentation’s intent, plus any audio/visual needs.
5. Biographical data (not to exceed 200 words).

for more information, visit http://phoenixrising.org.gr/en/3932/