During the Renaissance, roughly 1350-1527 CE, the Neo-Platonic revival initiated by the Qabalists of Provence swept Christian society. Though suspicion of Witchcraft was punishable by death, a mixed classical/Christian style replete with occult imagery, astrology, classical deities, alchemical medicine, and Neo-Platonic cosmological speculation was the norm among the educated classes of Europe. Many esoteric writers of the day still influence modern esotericism, such as Agrippa, Dee, Bruno, Rabelais, Trithemius, and the various Qabalists. In addition, the Renaissance brought a revival to the study of classical writers and works on theurgy and related subjects, such as Plotinus, Iamblichus, the Sepher Yetzirah, Merkabah mysticism, the Chaldean Oracles, and the Corpus Hermeticum, which have continued to exert a strong influence to the present day.
More information