Hexenkunde investigates science-based/academic research on European and Eurasian pre-Christian cultures and their inherent cosmological belief/healing-systems. 

Welcome to Hexenkunde, a multi-disciplinary research project created in order to investigate both European and Eurasian cosmological belief-systems and the cultures they are deeply embedded in. Hexenkunde is centered around research questions (see inquiry and research) and a strong commitment to conducting research that is dedicated to understanding Europe's own pre-Christian past as a means to raising awareness, understanding and appreciation for its cultural heritage.

Here you will find a blog with articles that discusses the many interesting angles these subjects can be examined from as well as updates on upcoming research publications. 

Hexenkunde's principal research interests are in many ways centered around the question how European pre-Christian healing-systems and cosmologies have culturally and cognitively evolved relative to its Eurasian neighbors. 

This specifically applies to the question if there was a European type of shamanism or shamanistic beliefs. As we know via ethnoarchaeological and ethnographic data, as well as studies in comparative religion and mythology, there are several core-features inherent to the cosmological belief-systems of indigenous shamanistic societies. 

Could we use the archaeological and ethnographic data at hand as a template to recover such belief-systems in Europe? Or must we consider other theoretical frameworks?

Hexenkunde investigates the practice of traditional shamanism (and how it evolved culturally from a set of pre-shamanistic rites and beliefs), animistic ontologies with the landscape itself and certain animals, bear-ceremonialism, animal-ceremonialism, evidence for hearth and spirit cults, ancestor worship, as well as rites and  beliefs that deal with hunting, crops and harvest and everything beyond in European/Eurasian ethnographies.

Hexenkunde sources information from the fields of (ethno)archaeology, (pre)history, social history/history of religion, ethnography, folklore studies and comparative mythology. This project is strongly committed to the scientific method and does not promote New-Age or Neo-pagan beliefs or practices.

Hi there!