Transfixed by concepts of the intermediary, Dr Jay Johnston is most often found considering the western esoteric philosophical tradition from a transdisciplinary perspective: religious studies; philosophy; art history, gender and cultural studies. Her previous work has focused on energetic concepts of the self — subtle bodies — and their aesthetic and ethical implications. This includes subjectivity (and intersubjectivity) studies and especially theories of embodiment and desire in Feminist, Post-Structural and Esoteric philosophy.

Considering subject—object relations has also been a feature of Dr Johnston's former work in the museum field. For fifteen years she has undertaken curatorial and research projects that explored viewer experience, the cultivation of perception and the aesthetics of engagement (especially with regard to temporal arts practices).

Dr Johnston's current projects include:

• Esoteric Aesthetics: ontological concepts of image agency from prehistoric images to contemporary art, esp. in magical traditions. Includes examination of museum and curatorial practice in relation to 'religious' material culture.
• Transpecies Identity and animal-human subcultures (especially Otherkin). Considered in relation to contemporary animal studies and the Continental philosophical tradition. Includes collaboration with Dr Fiona Probyn-Rapsey.
• Wellbeing Spirituality and Alternative Therapies. Examines concepts of body, health, agency and spirituality utilised in popular consumer practices. Undertaken in collaboration with Dr Ruth Barcan.

Membership:

• Body, Health and Religion Research Group, Cardiff University
• European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism
• International Society for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture
• Executive member: Australian Association for the Study of Religion
• American Academy of Religion
• Nordic Society for Aesthetics

• Subtle Bodies and Intermediary Beings (including Angelology)
• Philosophical Aesthetics (esp. Continental Philosophy)
• Ethics and Philosophy of Difference (alterity)
• Western Esotericism
• Divination systems and practices
• Feminist Philosophy of Religion
• Theoretical Archaeology
• Religion and Material Culture
• Contemporary Museology
• Theories of the image
• Mystical traditions

more...

• Book
• J. Johnston, Angels of Desire: Esoteric Bodies, Aesthetics and Ethics. Gnostica Series. London and Oakville: Equinox, 2008.
• J. Johnston and G. Samuel (Eds.) Between Mind and Body: Subtle Body Practices in Asia and the West. London: Routledge (forthcoming 2011).
• Book Chapters
• J. Johnston, "The Body in Wellbeing Spirituality: Self, Spirit and the Politics of Difference," Religion and the Body. Scripta Instituti Donneriani Aboensis. Ed. B. Dahla. Turku, Donner Institute, forthcoming 2011.
• J. Johnston, “Hermetic Embodiment: Angels and Intersubjectivity.” The Body Unbound: Philosophical Perspectives on Embodiment, Politics and Religion. Eds. M. T. Mjaaland, S. Fiorgeirsdóttir and O. Sigurdson. Newcastle-upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Press, 2010, 183-195.
• J. Johnston, “Subtle Anatomy: The Bio-metaphysics of Alternative Therapies.” Medicine, Religion and the Body. Eds. E. B. Coleman and K. White. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 2010, 69-78.
• J. Johnston, "Physiognomy of the Invisible: Ritual, Subtle Anatomy and Ethics." Eds. J. Weinhold, and G. Samuel, "The Varieties of Ritual Experience", section of Ritual Dynamics and the Science of Ritual. Volume II — Body, Performance, Agency and Experience." Ed. by Axel Michaels et al. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 2010.
• J. Johnston, “Cyborgs and Chakras: Intersubjectivity in Spiritual and Scientific Somatechnics.” Religion and Retributive Logic: Essays in Honour of Professor Garry W. Trompf. Eds. C. Cusack and C. Hartney. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 2010, 313-322.
• R. Barcan and J. Johnston. “Fixing the Self: Therapeutic Logic and Ideas of Wholeness.” Mediating Faiths: Religion and Socio-Cultural Change in the Twenty-First Century. Eds. Michael Bailey et al. Farnham, UK: Ashgate Publishing, 2010.
• Peer Review Journal Articles
• J. Johnston, "Prolegomena to Considering Drawings of Spirit-Beings in Mandaean, Gnostic and Ancient Magical Texts" ARAM 22 (2011): 573-582 (forthcoming).
• I. Gardner and J. Johnston, “The Liber Bartholomaei on the Ascension: Edition of Bibliothèque Nationale Copte 1321 f. 37,” Vigiliae Christianae 64.1 (2010): 1-13.
• I. Gardner and J. Johnston, “The Passover Litany of the Liber Bartholomaei: Edition of Bibliothèque Nationale Copte 1321 f. 40,” Journal of Coptic Studies. 11 (2009): 61-70.
• K. McPhillips, P. Mudge and J. Johnston, “Struggle, Self and ‘Other’: Images of Identity and Spirituality in the Work of Three Young Women Artists.” International Journal of Children’s Spirituality 12.3 Dec. (2007): 233-247.
• J. Johnston and R. Barcan, “Subtle Transformations: Imagining the Body in Alternative Health Practices.” International Journal of Cultural Studies 9.1 (2006): 25-44.
• R. Barcan and J. Johnston, “The Haunting: Cultural Studies, Religion and Alternative Therapies.” Iowa Journal of Cultural Studies. Special Issue The Religious and the Secular 7 (2005): 63-81.
• J. Johnston, “The ‘Theosophical Glance’: Fluid Ontologies, Subtle Bodies and Intuitive Vision.” Australian Religious Studies Review 15.2 (2002): 101-117.
• Edited Volumes
• 2010 continuing: Co-Editor (with Paul Hedges, Winchester University), Australian Religion Studies Review London, Equinox Publising.
• J. Johnston and K. McPhillips (eds). Proceedings from the AASR Conference 2008. On-line publication. Sydney: Australian Association for the Study of Religions Publications, 2009. http://escholarship.usyd.edu.au/journals/index.php/AASR/issue/archive
• Guest Editor: Australian Religious Studies Review. Volume 15.2, Spring 2002.
• Book Reviews
• — "Lynne Hume: Portals: Opening Doorways to Other Realities Through the Senses." The Asia-Pacific Journal of Anthropology 10.1 (2009): 60.
• — "Nora M. Heimann: Joan of Arc in French Art and Culture (1700-1855): Satire to Sanctity." Journal of Religious History 32.1 (2008): 128-129.
• — "Adam Possamai: In Search of New Age Spiritualities." Journal of Religious History 32.1 (2008): 139-40.
• Selected Exhibition Catalogue Essays, General Articles and Exhibition Reviews
• — “Hot Off the Press: Australia’s Best Raise the Stakes,” magazine article, COFA Magazine 13, winter (2005): 12-13.
• — “Landscrapping and Journeys Not [yet] Taken. Profile: Ian Howard,” magazine article, COFA Magazine 13, winter (2005): 14-15.
• — "Through a Glass: Vibrantly (A Delicate Disco)" catalogue essay Walters and Williams. Penrith Regional Gallery & The Lewers Bequest. 2002.
• — "Technologies of Protection: Sights of Healing. The Work of Lyndall Phelps." catalogue essay Fragile. Lyndall Phelps. Alsager Gallery, The Manchester Metropolitan University, 2001.
• — "Ultima - Sue Saxon" exhibition review Eyeline 27, Autumn/Winter: 34. 1995.
• — Localities of Desire catalogue biographies, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney 1994, 48-69.
• — "God’s Scribble, Abstract Photographs: Joe Filshie" exhibition review Photofile, 39 (1993): 48.
• — "Westies and Culture: The Great Divide is in Your Mind" essay WEST, 3.1 (1991): 19-21.