Our Mission

Eye of the Heart is a scholarly, peer-reviewed journal in the field of Traditional Philosophy and Religious Studies.  It addresses the inner meaning of philosophy and religion through elucidations of metaphysical, cosmological, and soteriological principles, and through a penetration of the forms preserved in each religious tradition.

Eye of the Heart publishes original scholarly articles. There are no thematic constraints; however, as part of the early development of the journal we are seeking articles that will clarify and defend key traditional methodologies, such as Hermeneia (Greek), Nirukta (Hinduism), Lectio Divina (Christian), and Kabbalistic practices such as gematria, notariqon, and temura. Our first issues will include a new article on the practice of Lectio Divina by Fr. Michael Casey, Ananda Coomaraswamy's seminal 'Nirukta=Hermeneia,' and Prof. Pierre Lory's excellent article on the Islamic science of letters (ilm al-huruf), 'The Symbolism of Letters and Language in the Work of Ibn ‘Arabi,' both of which are republished by kind permission.

Other areas of interest include:

Metaphysics, Theology, Philosophy, Cosmology, Mythology, Symbolism, Sacred Art, Religious forms, The Spiritual Life, Alchemy, Sacred architecture, the Sophia Perennis, and other esoteric currents.

The traditional study of philosophy and religion embraces both the intellectual and doctrinal exposition of metaphysical realities and the experiential understanding which the spiritual life entails. Plato, the Church Fathers, Lao Tzu, Shankara, Nagarjuna, the Talmudists, Mose de Leon, Ibn al-‘Arabi, Rabia, Meister Eckhart, St. Teresa of Avila: these were not theoretical academics.  But nor can they be accused of any lack of intellectual rigour. The traditional methodology that these thinkers exemplify has tended to fall outside the arena of the modern academic study of philosophy and religion; Eye of the Heart seeks to remedy this situation.

In short, we seek to learn from the traditions as well as about them.

Eye of the Heart welcomes articles from scholars, academics, post-graduates and students. Articles that satisfy the peer-review process will be acknowledged as such; articles that do not fit the academic criteria for peer-review but are deemed of value will be published under a non peer-reviewed category.