Spiritism – Not Just a Silesian Phenomenon
Faculty of Arts, University of Ostrava invites you to a scholarly conference
Spiritism – Not Just a Silesian Phenomenon
We cordially invite you to a one-day interdisciplinary meeting of researchers and those interested in the phenomenon of Spiritism, both in its Silesian context and within the broader European context. The conference is held in honour of the Augustinian monk Dom Augustin Calmet, who, 270 years ago in 1746, was the first to popularize the supernatural phenomena that occurred, among other places, in Silesia and Moravia.
The conference will take place in the former Spiritists Community House in Ostrava-Radvanice (Hvězdná 298/4, Ostrava-Radvanice) on Thursday, 5 November 2026.
Applications for active participation in the conference are to be submitted spiritismus.ostrava2026@gmail.com by 30 June 2026.
Papers presented at the conference may be published in written form in a special issue of a scholarly journal.
Conference topics:
- Spiritism in Central Europe and its Silesian Specifics, with a Focus on Historical Silesia.
- Historical Séances, Mediums, and Archival Sources.
- The Boundaries of Rationality and Faith in the 19th and 20th Centuries.
- Folklore, folk magic, and modern reinterpretations.
- Spiritism in literature, art, theatre, film, and photography.
- Ethical questions regarding contact with the “invisible”.
- Palmistry, clairvoyance, vegetarianism, the “new man”.
Contributions from the fields of history, literary history, art history, film and photography, theology and philosophy, anthropology and ethnology, the history of mentalities, etc. are welcome.
Supporting programme:
- Demonstrations of historical spiritualist practices (reenactments).
- Evening discussion group: “Between Worlds”.
- Exhibition of archival documents and photographs.
- Literary evening inspired by the mysticism of Silesia and a guided tour of the area surrounding the Spiritists Community House complex.
Updated: 11. 06. 2026
