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Professor Jay Johnston

BA, MArtAdmin, MLitt (Dist), MEd (Conservation), MA (Hons), PhD, FAHA

Honorary Professor
Gender and Cultural Studies

Phone

+61 2 9351 6840

Email

jay.johnston@sydney.edu.au

Address

A14 - The Quadrangle

The University of Sydney

Details

Member of Sydney Environment Institute

Member of the Charles Perkins Centre

Websites

Multispecies Justice

Full contact details

Biographical details

Jay Johnston is trained in religious studies, wildlife conservation, cultural heritage of Scotland and Scandinavia, curatorial and museum studies, art history and theory and continental philosophy. A cross-disciplinary specialist her work demonstrates the importance of Religious Studies scholarship for the fields of heritage studies, wildlife conservation and environmental humanities, art history, Norse and Celtic studies. She works at the interface of religion/ arts/philosophy examining visual and material culture with a particular focus on the interrelationship between ethics and aesthetics, concepts of materiality, embodiment, and epistemology.

Research interests

Wildlife and Natural Heritage
Esoteric and Mystical Traditions esp. magic and divination
Archaeology of Religion/Religion and Material Culture
Religious and Philosophical Aesthetics
Embodiment and Intersubjectivity studies (incl. intermediary beings)
Ecocriticism and Animal Studies (incl. Shamanism)
Gaelic and Scandinavian cultures pre-1400
Theories of the Image/ Visual Arts
Feminist Philosophy of Religion
Museum and Curatorial Studies

Teaching and supervision

Aesthetics of Religion
Religion and Health
Religion and Animals
Religion and the Arts
Archaeology of Religion
Religion and Natural Heritage
Philosophy of Religion
Sexuality, Gender and Religion
Western Esotericism and Traditions of Magic
Consumerism, Popular Culture and Religion
Critical Theory of Religion and Research Methodology

Current projects

In addition to continued research on the body, health and religion and interdisciplinary research methodology, Jay Johnston is currently engaged in three areas of research:

Reviving the Wild: Conservation Cultures and Multispecies Aesthetics
This interdisciplinary project investigates the direct and indirect use of spiritual discourse in contemporary environment conservation programs and their foundation in aesthetic experience. The project aims to assess the role and effectiveness of the secular presentation of such beliefs about ‘sacred’ nature in the production of meaningful connection to local environment and perception of community

Affective Images: Insular, Late Antique and ‘Esoteric’ Art & Aesthetics
This research topic encompasses a number of collective and individual projects. Its concern is the perception and interpretation of images and design elements found in manuscripts and on a variety of material culture from Late Antique Mediterranean and Insular contexts (especially early Christian manuscripts and material culture of the Picts). Analysis is extended to consider the reuse of such motifs in early modern and contemporary esoteric sources.

This topic includes the collaborative project "The production and function of art and design elements in ancient texts and artefacts of ritual power from Late Antiquity in the Mediterranean region." ARC Discovery Project. Role: Primary Chief Investigator with Iain Gardner, Julia Kindt (Sydney); Erica Hunter (SOAS) and Helen Whitehouse (Oxford). 2012-2016. Publication forthcoming.

Fleece and Faith: Sheep as Cultural and Ecological Guides
As a ‘poster’ species for unintelligent group conformity (‘sheeple’), sheep are a common source of derision. Such popular scorn belies the significance of the species for the development of human societies. This interdisciplinary research aims to explicate how sheep continue to have their ‘hoof on the pulse’ of social, cultural and ecological debate and innovation.
Utilising multispecies ethnographic and critical animal studies methodologies it investigates two conservation agendas and the cultures which ensue from their practice (i) Rare Breed Conservation and their use in restoring biodiversity (ii) Organic and Small Flock Fibre Production. Both are embedded in sustainability, agricultural regeneration, health (personal and planetary) and spiritual discourses that advocate for a return to pre-industrial production methods as potential solutions to global resource limitations and biodiversity loss.

Associations

Advisory Board Member, Counterpoint: Navigating Knowledge
American Academy of Religion
AASR: Australian Association for the Study of Religion
HARN: Human-Animal Research Network
Runes, Monuments and Memorial Carvings: An International Research Network
Body, Health and Religion Research Group
Health Humanities Project Node, Charles Perkins Centre

PhD and master's project opportunities

Religion and Natural Heritage

Selected publications

Amulets in Magical Practice

(Cambridge University Press, 2024)

Drawing Spirit: The Role of Images and Design in the Magical Practice of Late Antiquity

(Walter de Gruyter GmbH, 2023)

Stag and Stone: Religion, Archaeology and Esoteric Aesthetics

(Equinox Publishing, 2021)

Discourse Research and Religion: Disciplinary Use and Interdisciplinary Dialogues

(Walter de Gruyter GmbH, 2020)

The Gnostic World

(Routledge, 2018)

Aesthetics of Religion: A Connective Concept

(Walter de Gruyter GmbH, 2017)

Animal death

(Sydney University Press, 2013)

Religion and the Subtle Body in Asia and the West: Between mind and body

(Routledge, 2013)

Angels of desire: esoteric bodies, aesthetics and ethics

(Equinox Publishing, 2008)

Publications

By Type

Expand all

Books

Johnston, J. (2024). Amulets in Magical Practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2021). Stag and Stone: Religion, Archaeology and Esoteric Aesthetics. Sheffield, United Kingdom: Equinox Publishing. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2008). Angels of desire: esoteric bodies, aesthetics and ethics. London: Equinox Publishing. [More Information]

Edited Books

Johnston, J., Gardner, I. (2023). Drawing Spirit: The Role of Images and Design in the Magical Practice of Late Antiquity. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH.
Johnston, J., Stuckrad, K. (2020). Discourse Research and Religion: Disciplinary Use and Interdisciplinary Dialogues. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH. [More Information]
Trompf, G., Mikkelsen, G., Johnston, J. (2018). The Gnostic World. Abingdon: Routledge. [More Information]
Grieser, A., Johnston, J. (2017). Aesthetics of Religion: A Connective Concept. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH. [More Information]
Johnston, J., Probyn-Rapsey, F. (2013). Animal death. Sydney: Sydney University Press. [More Information]
Samuel, G., Johnston, J. (2013). Religion and the Subtle Body in Asia and the West: Between mind and body. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. [More Information]

show 3 more

Book Chapters

Johnston, J. (2023). Disrupting Sanctified Deviance: The Benefits of Boredom. In M.H. White and T. Rudbog (Eds.), Esotericism and Deviance, (pp. 70-82). Leiden: Brill.
Johnston, J. (2023). Magical Images: An Esoteric Aesthetics of Engagement. In J. Johnston and I. Gardner (Eds.), Drawing Spirit: The Role of Images and Design in the Magical Practice of Late Antiquity, (pp. 7-28). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH.
Johnston, J. (2023). Subtle Bodies and Ecology: Intersubjectivity, Alterity and New Materialism. In Yudit Kornberg Greenberg and George Pati (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Religion and the Body. London and New York: Routledge. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2022). Image Play: On Angels and Insects. In J. Johnston and I. Gardner (Eds.), Drawing Spirit: The Role of Images and Design in the Magical Practice of Late Antiquity, (pp. 185-208). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2021). Beyond Language? Ecology, Ontology and Aesthetics. In J. Johnston and K. von Stuckrad (Eds.), Discourse Research and Religion: Disciplinary Use and Interdisciplinary Dialogues, (pp. 231-242). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2021). Painterly Desire: Ithell Colquhoun's Other-than-Human Art. In Amy Hale (Eds.), Essays on Women in Western Esotericism: Beyond Seeresses and Sea Priestesses, (pp. 151-170). Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2020). A Historiography of Aesthetics in a Western Context. In Anne Koch, Katharina Wilkens (Eds.), The Bloomsbury Handbook of the Cultural and Cognitive Aesthetics of Religion, (pp. 13-22). London: Bloomsbury. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2020). Art. In Anne Koch, Katharina Wilkens (Eds.), The Bloomsbury Handbook of the Cultural and Cognitive Aesthetics of Religion, (pp. 185-192). London: Bloomsbury. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2020). Frisky methods: subtle bodies, epistemological pluralism and creative scholarship. In George Pati, Katherine C. Zubko (Eds.), Transformational Embodiment in Asian Religions: Subtle Bodies, Spatial Bodies, (pp. 206-218). Abingdon: Routledge. [More Information]
Johnston, J., Stuckrad, K. (2020). Introduction. In J. Johnston and K. von Stuckrad (Eds.), Discourse Research and Religion: Disciplinary Use and Interdisciplinary Dialogues, (pp. 1-6). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2020). Rites, Runes and Maeshowe: Northern Landscapes and Lived Belief. In Oisin Plumb, Alexandra Sanmark and Donna Heddle (Eds.), What is North: Imagining the North from Ancient Times to the Present Day, (pp. 211-225). Turnhout: Brepols Publishers. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2019). Aesthetics and Visual Art. In Garry W. Trompf, Gunner B. Mikkelsen, Jay Johnston (Eds.), The Gnostic World, (pp. 693-697). Abingdon: Routledge. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2019). Binding Images: The Contemporary Use and Efficacy of Late Antique Ritual Sigils, Spirit-Beings, and Design Elements. In Dylan Michael Burns, Almut-Barbara Renger (Eds.), New Antiquities: Transformations of Ancient Religion in the New Age and Beyond, (pp. 254-274). London, United Kingdom: Equinox Publishing Ltd. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2019). Feminist Gnosis and Modern Gender Issues. In Garry W. Trompf, Gunner B. Mikkelsen, Jay Johnston (Eds.), The Gnostic World, (pp. 646-651). Abingdon: Routledge. [More Information]
Johnston, J., Gardner, I. (2018). Relations of Image, Text and Design Elements in Selected Amulets and Spells of the Heidelberg Papyri Collection. In Sarah Kiyanrad, Christoffer Theis, Laura Willer (Eds.), Bild und Schrift auf ,magischen' Artefakten, (pp. 139-148). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2017). Esoteric Aesthetics: The Spiritual Matter of Intersubjective Encounter. In Alexandra K. Grieser, Jay Johnston (Eds.), Aesthetics of Religion: A Connective Concept, (pp. 349-365). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH. [More Information]
Grieser, A., Johnston, J. (2017). What is an Aesthetics of Religion? From the Senses to Meaning - and Back Again. In Alexandra K. Grieser, Jay Johnston (Eds.), Aesthetics of Religion: A Connective Concept, (pp. 1-49). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2016). Enchanted Sight/Site: An Esoteric Aesthetics of Image and Experience. In Peik Ingman, Terhi Utriainen, Tuija Hovi, Mans Broo (Eds.), The Relational Dynamics of Enchantment and Sacralization: Changing the Terms of the Religion Versus Secularity Debate, (pp. 189-206). Sheffield: Equinox Publishing. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2016). Objects and Ancient Religions. In Julia Kostova, John Barton (Eds.), Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion, (pp. 1-22). New York: Oxford University Press. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2016). Slippery and Saucy Discourse: Grappling with the Intersection of 'Alternate Epistemologies' and Discourse Analysis. In Frans Wijsen, Kocku von Stuckrad (Eds.), Making Religion: Theory and Practice in the Discursive Study of Religion, (pp. 74-96). Leiden: Brill. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2016). The Elf in Self: The Influence of Northern Mythology and Fauna on Contemporary Spiritual Subcultures. In Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough, Marie Cudmore, Stefan Donecker (Eds.), Imagining the Supernatural North, (pp. 235-250). Edmonton: University of Alberta Press.
Johnston, J. (2015). Body/Embodiment. In Robert Segal, Kocku von Stuckrad (Eds.), Vocabulary for the Study of Religion, (pp. e1-e10). Leiden: Brill. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2015). Deviance. In Robert Segal, Kocku von Stuckrad (Eds.), Vocabulary for the Study of Religion, (pp. e1-e6). Leiden: Brill. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2015). Gender and the Occult. In Not known (Eds.), The Occult World, (pp. 681-691). TBC. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2015). The Body in Occult Thought. In Not known (Eds.), The Occult World, (pp. 659-671). TBC. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2015). Vampirism, Lycanthropy, and Otherkin. In Not known (Eds.), The Occult World, (pp. 412-423). TBC. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2013). A Deliciously Troubling Duo: Gender and Esotericism. In Egil Asprem, Kennet Granholm (Eds.), Contemporary Esotericism, (pp. 410-425). Sheffield, United Kingdom: Equinox Publishing.
Samuel, G., Johnston, J. (2013). General Introduction. In Geoffrey Samuel, Jay Johnston (Eds.), Religion and the Subtle Body in Asia and the West: Between mind and body, (pp. 1-9). Abingdon, UK: Routledge. [More Information]
Johnston, J., Probyn-Rapsey, F. (2013). Introduction. In Jay Johnston, Fiona Probyn-Rapsey (Eds.), Animal death, (pp. xiii-xx). Sydney: Sydney University Press.
Johnston, J. (2013). Introduction to Part Four. In Geoffrey Samuel, Jay Johnston (Eds.), Religion and the Subtle Body in Asia and the West: Between mind and body, (pp. 187-191). Abingdon, UK: Routledge. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2013). On having a furry soul: transpecies identity and ontological indeterminacy in Otherkin subcultures. In Jay Johnston, Fiona Probyn-Rapsey (Eds.), Animal death, (pp. 293-306). Sydney: Sydney University Press. [More Information]
Johnston, J., Samuel, G. (2013). Subtle Bodies in Europe and Islam: Introduction to Part Three. In Geoffrey Samuel, Jay Johnston (Eds.), Religion and the Subtle Body in Asia and the West: Between mind and body, (pp. 117-119). Abingdon, UK: Routledge. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2013). Subtle Subjects and Ethics: The Subtle Bodies of Post-Structuralist and Feminist Philosophy. In Geoffrey Samuel, Jay Johnston (Eds.), Religion and the Subtle Body in Asia and the West: Between mind and body, (pp. 239-248). Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
Johnston, J. (2012). Theosophical Bodies: Colour, Shape and Emotion from Modern Aesthetics to Healing Therapies. In Carole Cusack and Alex Norman (Eds.), Handbook of New Religions and Cultural Production, (pp. 153-170). Leiden: Brill. [More Information]
Barcan, R., Johnston, J. (2011). Fixing the Self: Alternative Therapies and Spiritual Logics. In Not known (Eds.), Mediating Faiths: Religion and Socio-Cultural Change in the Twenty-First Century, (pp. 75-87). TBC. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2011). Reading the Body Invisible: Subtle Bodies, Astrology, and Energetic Healing. In Nicholas Campion and Liz Greene (Eds.), Astrologies: Plurality and Diversity, (pp. 201-216). United Kingdon: Sophia Centre Press.
Johnston, J. (2010). Cyborgs and chakras: intersubjectivity in scientific and spiritual somatechnics. In Carole M. Cusack, Christopher Hartney (Eds.), Religion and Retributive Logic: Essays in Honour of Professor Garry W. Trompf, (pp. 313-322). Leiden: Brill.
Johnston, J. (2010). Hermetic embodiment: angels and intersubjectivity. In Marius Timmann Mjaaland, Ola Sigurdson and Sigridur Thorgeirsdottir (Eds.), The Body Unbound: Philosophical Perspectives on Politics, Embodiment and Religion, (pp. 183-195). Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Johnston, J. (2010). Physiognomy of the Invisible: Ritual, Subtle Anatomy and Ethics. In Axel Michaels (Eds.), Ritual Dynamics and the Science of Ritual, (pp. 351-359). Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag.
Johnston, J. (2010). Subtle anatomy: the bio-metaphysics of alternative therapies. In Elizabeth Burns Coleman, Kevin White (Eds.), Medicine, Religion, and the Body, (pp. 69-78). Leiden: Brill. [More Information]

show 37 more

Journals

Barcan, R., Johnston, J. (2023). Birds as buddies: the politics of sentimentality in the Birds in backyards (Australia) Facebook site. Continuum. [More Information]
Barcan, R., Johnston, J. (2022). A Sensory Ecology Approach to Birdwatching: Learning to Look Askance. Unlikely: Journal for Creative Arts, (8).
Mozeley, F., Judge, S., Long, D., McGregor, J., Wild, N., Johnston, J. (2022). Things That Tell: An Object-Centered Methodology for Restorying Women's Longing and Belonging. Qualitative Inquiry, , 1-12. [More Information]
Gardner, I., Johnston, J. (2019). 'I, Deacon Iohannes, Servant of Michael'. A New Look at P. Heid. Inv. Kopt. 682 and a Possible Context for the Heidelberg Magical Archive. Journal of Coptic Studies, 21, 29-61. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2018). Binding images: The Contemporary Use and Efficacy of Late Antique Ritual Sigils, Spirit-Beings and Design Elements. International Journal for the Study of New Religions, 9(1), 113-133. [More Information]
Barcan, R., Johnston, J. (2018). New Age artworks: portrait of a puzzle. Culture and Religion, 19(1), 20-39. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2017). Rewilding Religion: Affect and Animal Dance. Bulletin for the Study of Religion, 46(3-4), 11-16. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2017). Stone-agency: Sense, Sight and Magical Efficacy in Traditions of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Religion, 47(3), 445-458. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2015). Editor's introduction: Surprising stratigraphy: Religion, archaeology and folklore. Journal for the Academic Study of Religion, 28(2), 101-103. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2011). Prolegomena to Considering Drawings of Spirit-Beings in Mandaean, Gnostic and Ancient Magical Texts. ARAM Periodical, 22, 573-582. [More Information]
Gardner, I., Johnston, J. (2010). The Liber Bartholomaei on the Ascension: edition of Bibliotheque Nationale Copte 132 f. 37. Vigiliae Christianae, 64(1), 74-86. [More Information]
Gardner, I., Johnston, J. (2009). The passover litany of the ''Liber Bartholomaei'': edition of Bibliotheque nationale copte 1321 F.40. Journal of Coptic Studies, 11, 61-70. [More Information]
McPhillips, K., Mudge, P., Johnston, J. (2007). Shifting Selves: The Struggle for Identity and Spirituality in the Work of Three Young Women Artists. International Journal of Children's Spirituality, 12(3), 233-247. [More Information]
Johnston, J., Barcan, R. (2006). Subtle transformations: Imagining the body in alternative health practices. International Journal of Cultural Studies, 9(1), 25-44. [More Information]
Barcan, R., Johnston, J. (2006). The Haunting: Cultural Studies, Religion and Alternative Therapies. Iowa Journal of Cultural Studies, 7(Fall), 63-81.
Johnston, J. (2002). The Theosophical Glance: Fluid Ontologies, Subtle Bodies and Intuitive Vision. Australian Religion Studies Review, 15(2), 101-117.

show 13 more

Conferences

Johnston, J. (2011). The Body in Wellbeing Spirituality: Self, spirit beings and the politics of difference. Religion and the Body, Finland: Donner Institute.

Textual Creative Works

Johnston, J. (2019). Fly Catcher. Eat the Problem, (pp. 74 - 74). Hobart, Australia: MONA. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2019). Necropants. Eat the Problem, (pp. 430 - 431). Hobart, Australia: MONA. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2019). Tilberi. Eat the Problem, (pp. 430 - 431). Hobart, Australia: MONA. [More Information]

Report

Johnston, J., Bader, G. (2019). Wild Habits: The Effects of Wildlife Tourism on Everyday Life. Sydney: University of Sydney.

By Year

Expand all

2024

Johnston, J. (2024). Amulets in Magical Practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [More Information]

2023

Barcan, R., Johnston, J. (2023). Birds as buddies: the politics of sentimentality in the Birds in backyards (Australia) Facebook site. Continuum. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2023). Disrupting Sanctified Deviance: The Benefits of Boredom. In M.H. White and T. Rudbog (Eds.), Esotericism and Deviance, (pp. 70-82). Leiden: Brill.
Johnston, J., Gardner, I. (2023). Drawing Spirit: The Role of Images and Design in the Magical Practice of Late Antiquity. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH.
Johnston, J. (2023). Magical Images: An Esoteric Aesthetics of Engagement. In J. Johnston and I. Gardner (Eds.), Drawing Spirit: The Role of Images and Design in the Magical Practice of Late Antiquity, (pp. 7-28). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH.
Johnston, J. (2023). Subtle Bodies and Ecology: Intersubjectivity, Alterity and New Materialism. In Yudit Kornberg Greenberg and George Pati (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Religion and the Body. London and New York: Routledge. [More Information]

show 2 more

2022

Barcan, R., Johnston, J. (2022). A Sensory Ecology Approach to Birdwatching: Learning to Look Askance. Unlikely: Journal for Creative Arts, (8).
Johnston, J. (2022). Image Play: On Angels and Insects. In J. Johnston and I. Gardner (Eds.), Drawing Spirit: The Role of Images and Design in the Magical Practice of Late Antiquity, (pp. 185-208). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH. [More Information]
Mozeley, F., Judge, S., Long, D., McGregor, J., Wild, N., Johnston, J. (2022). Things That Tell: An Object-Centered Methodology for Restorying Women's Longing and Belonging. Qualitative Inquiry, , 1-12. [More Information]

2021

Johnston, J. (2021). Beyond Language? Ecology, Ontology and Aesthetics. In J. Johnston and K. von Stuckrad (Eds.), Discourse Research and Religion: Disciplinary Use and Interdisciplinary Dialogues, (pp. 231-242). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2021). Painterly Desire: Ithell Colquhoun's Other-than-Human Art. In Amy Hale (Eds.), Essays on Women in Western Esotericism: Beyond Seeresses and Sea Priestesses, (pp. 151-170). Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2021). Stag and Stone: Religion, Archaeology and Esoteric Aesthetics. Sheffield, United Kingdom: Equinox Publishing. [More Information]

2020

Johnston, J. (2020). A Historiography of Aesthetics in a Western Context. In Anne Koch, Katharina Wilkens (Eds.), The Bloomsbury Handbook of the Cultural and Cognitive Aesthetics of Religion, (pp. 13-22). London: Bloomsbury. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2020). Art. In Anne Koch, Katharina Wilkens (Eds.), The Bloomsbury Handbook of the Cultural and Cognitive Aesthetics of Religion, (pp. 185-192). London: Bloomsbury. [More Information]
Johnston, J., Stuckrad, K. (2020). Discourse Research and Religion: Disciplinary Use and Interdisciplinary Dialogues. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2020). Frisky methods: subtle bodies, epistemological pluralism and creative scholarship. In George Pati, Katherine C. Zubko (Eds.), Transformational Embodiment in Asian Religions: Subtle Bodies, Spatial Bodies, (pp. 206-218). Abingdon: Routledge. [More Information]
Johnston, J., Stuckrad, K. (2020). Introduction. In J. Johnston and K. von Stuckrad (Eds.), Discourse Research and Religion: Disciplinary Use and Interdisciplinary Dialogues, (pp. 1-6). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2020). Rites, Runes and Maeshowe: Northern Landscapes and Lived Belief. In Oisin Plumb, Alexandra Sanmark and Donna Heddle (Eds.), What is North: Imagining the North from Ancient Times to the Present Day, (pp. 211-225). Turnhout: Brepols Publishers. [More Information]

show 3 more

2019

Gardner, I., Johnston, J. (2019). 'I, Deacon Iohannes, Servant of Michael'. A New Look at P. Heid. Inv. Kopt. 682 and a Possible Context for the Heidelberg Magical Archive. Journal of Coptic Studies, 21, 29-61. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2019). Aesthetics and Visual Art. In Garry W. Trompf, Gunner B. Mikkelsen, Jay Johnston (Eds.), The Gnostic World, (pp. 693-697). Abingdon: Routledge. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2019). Binding Images: The Contemporary Use and Efficacy of Late Antique Ritual Sigils, Spirit-Beings, and Design Elements. In Dylan Michael Burns, Almut-Barbara Renger (Eds.), New Antiquities: Transformations of Ancient Religion in the New Age and Beyond, (pp. 254-274). London, United Kingdom: Equinox Publishing Ltd. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2019). Feminist Gnosis and Modern Gender Issues. In Garry W. Trompf, Gunner B. Mikkelsen, Jay Johnston (Eds.), The Gnostic World, (pp. 646-651). Abingdon: Routledge. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2019). Fly Catcher. Eat the Problem, (pp. 74 - 74). Hobart, Australia: MONA. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2019). Necropants. Eat the Problem, (pp. 430 - 431). Hobart, Australia: MONA. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2019). Tilberi. Eat the Problem, (pp. 430 - 431). Hobart, Australia: MONA. [More Information]
Johnston, J., Bader, G. (2019). Wild Habits: The Effects of Wildlife Tourism on Everyday Life. Sydney: University of Sydney.

show 5 more

2018

Johnston, J. (2018). Binding images: The Contemporary Use and Efficacy of Late Antique Ritual Sigils, Spirit-Beings and Design Elements. International Journal for the Study of New Religions, 9(1), 113-133. [More Information]
Barcan, R., Johnston, J. (2018). New Age artworks: portrait of a puzzle. Culture and Religion, 19(1), 20-39. [More Information]
Johnston, J., Gardner, I. (2018). Relations of Image, Text and Design Elements in Selected Amulets and Spells of the Heidelberg Papyri Collection. In Sarah Kiyanrad, Christoffer Theis, Laura Willer (Eds.), Bild und Schrift auf ,magischen' Artefakten, (pp. 139-148). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. [More Information]
Trompf, G., Mikkelsen, G., Johnston, J. (2018). The Gnostic World. Abingdon: Routledge. [More Information]

show 1 more

2017

Grieser, A., Johnston, J. (2017). Aesthetics of Religion: A Connective Concept. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2017). Esoteric Aesthetics: The Spiritual Matter of Intersubjective Encounter. In Alexandra K. Grieser, Jay Johnston (Eds.), Aesthetics of Religion: A Connective Concept, (pp. 349-365). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2017). Rewilding Religion: Affect and Animal Dance. Bulletin for the Study of Religion, 46(3-4), 11-16. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2017). Stone-agency: Sense, Sight and Magical Efficacy in Traditions of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Religion, 47(3), 445-458. [More Information]
Grieser, A., Johnston, J. (2017). What is an Aesthetics of Religion? From the Senses to Meaning - and Back Again. In Alexandra K. Grieser, Jay Johnston (Eds.), Aesthetics of Religion: A Connective Concept, (pp. 1-49). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH. [More Information]

show 2 more

2016

Johnston, J. (2016). Enchanted Sight/Site: An Esoteric Aesthetics of Image and Experience. In Peik Ingman, Terhi Utriainen, Tuija Hovi, Mans Broo (Eds.), The Relational Dynamics of Enchantment and Sacralization: Changing the Terms of the Religion Versus Secularity Debate, (pp. 189-206). Sheffield: Equinox Publishing. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2016). Objects and Ancient Religions. In Julia Kostova, John Barton (Eds.), Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion, (pp. 1-22). New York: Oxford University Press. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2016). Slippery and Saucy Discourse: Grappling with the Intersection of 'Alternate Epistemologies' and Discourse Analysis. In Frans Wijsen, Kocku von Stuckrad (Eds.), Making Religion: Theory and Practice in the Discursive Study of Religion, (pp. 74-96). Leiden: Brill. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2016). The Elf in Self: The Influence of Northern Mythology and Fauna on Contemporary Spiritual Subcultures. In Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough, Marie Cudmore, Stefan Donecker (Eds.), Imagining the Supernatural North, (pp. 235-250). Edmonton: University of Alberta Press.

show 1 more

2015

Johnston, J. (2015). Body/Embodiment. In Robert Segal, Kocku von Stuckrad (Eds.), Vocabulary for the Study of Religion, (pp. e1-e10). Leiden: Brill. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2015). Deviance. In Robert Segal, Kocku von Stuckrad (Eds.), Vocabulary for the Study of Religion, (pp. e1-e6). Leiden: Brill. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2015). Editor's introduction: Surprising stratigraphy: Religion, archaeology and folklore. Journal for the Academic Study of Religion, 28(2), 101-103. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2015). Gender and the Occult. In Not known (Eds.), The Occult World, (pp. 681-691). TBC. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2015). The Body in Occult Thought. In Not known (Eds.), The Occult World, (pp. 659-671). TBC. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2015). Vampirism, Lycanthropy, and Otherkin. In Not known (Eds.), The Occult World, (pp. 412-423). TBC. [More Information]

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2013

Johnston, J. (2013). A Deliciously Troubling Duo: Gender and Esotericism. In Egil Asprem, Kennet Granholm (Eds.), Contemporary Esotericism, (pp. 410-425). Sheffield, United Kingdom: Equinox Publishing.
Johnston, J., Probyn-Rapsey, F. (2013). Animal death. Sydney: Sydney University Press. [More Information]
Samuel, G., Johnston, J. (2013). General Introduction. In Geoffrey Samuel, Jay Johnston (Eds.), Religion and the Subtle Body in Asia and the West: Between mind and body, (pp. 1-9). Abingdon, UK: Routledge. [More Information]
Johnston, J., Probyn-Rapsey, F. (2013). Introduction. In Jay Johnston, Fiona Probyn-Rapsey (Eds.), Animal death, (pp. xiii-xx). Sydney: Sydney University Press.
Johnston, J. (2013). Introduction to Part Four. In Geoffrey Samuel, Jay Johnston (Eds.), Religion and the Subtle Body in Asia and the West: Between mind and body, (pp. 187-191). Abingdon, UK: Routledge. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2013). On having a furry soul: transpecies identity and ontological indeterminacy in Otherkin subcultures. In Jay Johnston, Fiona Probyn-Rapsey (Eds.), Animal death, (pp. 293-306). Sydney: Sydney University Press. [More Information]
Samuel, G., Johnston, J. (2013). Religion and the Subtle Body in Asia and the West: Between mind and body. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. [More Information]
Johnston, J., Samuel, G. (2013). Subtle Bodies in Europe and Islam: Introduction to Part Three. In Geoffrey Samuel, Jay Johnston (Eds.), Religion and the Subtle Body in Asia and the West: Between mind and body, (pp. 117-119). Abingdon, UK: Routledge. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2013). Subtle Subjects and Ethics: The Subtle Bodies of Post-Structuralist and Feminist Philosophy. In Geoffrey Samuel, Jay Johnston (Eds.), Religion and the Subtle Body in Asia and the West: Between mind and body, (pp. 239-248). Abingdon, UK: Routledge.

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2012

Johnston, J. (2012). Theosophical Bodies: Colour, Shape and Emotion from Modern Aesthetics to Healing Therapies. In Carole Cusack and Alex Norman (Eds.), Handbook of New Religions and Cultural Production, (pp. 153-170). Leiden: Brill. [More Information]

2011

Barcan, R., Johnston, J. (2011). Fixing the Self: Alternative Therapies and Spiritual Logics. In Not known (Eds.), Mediating Faiths: Religion and Socio-Cultural Change in the Twenty-First Century, (pp. 75-87). TBC. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2011). Prolegomena to Considering Drawings of Spirit-Beings in Mandaean, Gnostic and Ancient Magical Texts. ARAM Periodical, 22, 573-582. [More Information]
Johnston, J. (2011). Reading the Body Invisible: Subtle Bodies, Astrology, and Energetic Healing. In Nicholas Campion and Liz Greene (Eds.), Astrologies: Plurality and Diversity, (pp. 201-216). United Kingdon: Sophia Centre Press.
Johnston, J. (2011). The Body in Wellbeing Spirituality: Self, spirit beings and the politics of difference. Religion and the Body, Finland: Donner Institute.

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2010

Johnston, J. (2010). Cyborgs and chakras: intersubjectivity in scientific and spiritual somatechnics. In Carole M. Cusack, Christopher Hartney (Eds.), Religion and Retributive Logic: Essays in Honour of Professor Garry W. Trompf, (pp. 313-322). Leiden: Brill.
Johnston, J. (2010). Hermetic embodiment: angels and intersubjectivity. In Marius Timmann Mjaaland, Ola Sigurdson and Sigridur Thorgeirsdottir (Eds.), The Body Unbound: Philosophical Perspectives on Politics, Embodiment and Religion, (pp. 183-195). Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Johnston, J. (2010). Physiognomy of the Invisible: Ritual, Subtle Anatomy and Ethics. In Axel Michaels (Eds.), Ritual Dynamics and the Science of Ritual, (pp. 351-359). Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag.
Johnston, J. (2010). Subtle anatomy: the bio-metaphysics of alternative therapies. In Elizabeth Burns Coleman, Kevin White (Eds.), Medicine, Religion, and the Body, (pp. 69-78). Leiden: Brill. [More Information]
Gardner, I., Johnston, J. (2010). The Liber Bartholomaei on the Ascension: edition of Bibliotheque Nationale Copte 132 f. 37. Vigiliae Christianae, 64(1), 74-86. [More Information]

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2009

Gardner, I., Johnston, J. (2009). The passover litany of the ''Liber Bartholomaei'': edition of Bibliotheque nationale copte 1321 F.40. Journal of Coptic Studies, 11, 61-70. [More Information]

2008

Johnston, J. (2008). Angels of desire: esoteric bodies, aesthetics and ethics. London: Equinox Publishing. [More Information]

2007

McPhillips, K., Mudge, P., Johnston, J. (2007). Shifting Selves: The Struggle for Identity and Spirituality in the Work of Three Young Women Artists. International Journal of Children's Spirituality, 12(3), 233-247. [More Information]

2006

Johnston, J., Barcan, R. (2006). Subtle transformations: Imagining the body in alternative health practices. International Journal of Cultural Studies, 9(1), 25-44. [More Information]
Barcan, R., Johnston, J. (2006). The Haunting: Cultural Studies, Religion and Alternative Therapies. Iowa Journal of Cultural Studies, 7(Fall), 63-81.

2002

Johnston, J. (2002). The Theosophical Glance: Fluid Ontologies, Subtle Bodies and Intuitive Vision. Australian Religion Studies Review, 15(2), 101-117.

Selected Grants

2022

Wild and Woolly: St. Blaise's Zoomorphic Iconography from Armenia to Cornwall, Johnston J, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences/The Kerkyasharian and Kayikian Fund for Armenian Studies

2013

Human Animal Research Network, Probyn-Rapsey F, Belov K, Black C, Degeling C, Quain A, Irvine R, Johnston J, Lea T, Kindt J, Michael M, McGreevy P, McManus P, Raubenheimer D, Schlosberg D, Spurr B, Shine R, Wadiwel D, DVC Research/Research Network Scheme (SyReNS)

2011

The function of images in magical papyri and artefacts of ritual power from Late Antiquity., Johnston J, Gardner I, Kindt J, Whitehouse H, Hunter E, Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP)

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Professor Jay Johnston

Selected publications

Publications

By Type

By Year

Selected Grants

2022

2013

2011