A living reference atlas

Atlas of Religious and Esoteric Lineages

Five thousand religious, mystical, Indigenous and esoteric lineages from around the world — what they are, where they came from, and where to read more.

Source-linked and transparently qualified. Editorial standards and correction criteria are public.

Created and maintained by Ayara and Kyle Jonathan B@KJB_and_AYARA

Entries: 5,000
Candidate geography relations: 7,326
Candidate country vocabulary: 162

Explore the index

Search five thousand distinct lineages

Entry data: effective Atlas view
Geography: candidate layer pending adjudication

5,000 lineages

Page 2 of 209

Atlas 0025Varies by lineage

Hesychasm

Christian Mysticism Lineage / school

Public geography: Broad regional context; no country assigned
Period / origin: late antiquity–present; systematized medieval period
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country-level context · no forced pinBroad regional context; no country assigned

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Atlas 0026Community-bound / restricted

Sufi ṭarīqas

Islamic Mysticism & Esotericism Order / organization

Public geography: Global, transnational, diaspora, textual, or doctrinal context; no single country
Period / origin: 12th century–present, with earlier roots
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country-level context · no forced pinGlobal, transnational, diaspora, textual, or doctrinal context; no single country

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Atlas 0027Community-bound / restricted

Daoist internal alchemy (neidan)

East Asian Traditions Practice / discipline

Public geography: China
Period / origin: medieval period–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesChina

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Atlas 0028Open / public

Qigong and medical qigong

East Asian Traditions Practice / discipline

Public geography: China
Period / origin: modern umbrella term, older antecedents
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesChina

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Atlas 0029Community-bound / restricted

Dzogchen

Bön & Himalayan Traditions Religious tradition

Public geography: Historical or contested polity; no modern country assigned
Period / origin: at least 8th–9th century–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country-level context · no forced pinHistorical or contested polity; no modern country assigned

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Atlas 0030Initiatory

Mahāmudrā

Buddhist Traditions Religious tradition

Public geography: Historical or contested polity; no modern country assigned
Period / origin: medieval India/Tibet–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country-level context · no forced pinHistorical or contested polity; no modern country assigned

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Atlas 0031Varies by lineage

Dorje Shugden protector practice

Buddhist Traditions Practice / discipline

Public geography: Historical or contested polity; no modern country assigned
Period / origin: Bön historical traditions; Shugden cult mainly 17th century–present
Evidence status: Classification contested

Country-level context · no forced pinHistorical or contested polity; no modern country assigned

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Atlas 0032Open / public

Kaula, Krama, and Śrīvidyā Tantric traditions

South Asian Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: Broad regional context; no country assigned
Period / origin: medieval period–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country-level context · no forced pinBroad regional context; no country assigned

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Atlas 0033Open / public

Kuṇḍalinī yoga (premodern and modern currents)

South Asian Traditions Practice / discipline

Public geography: Global, transnational, diaspora, textual, or doctrinal context; no single country
Period / origin: premodern antecedents; modern schools
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country-level context · no forced pinGlobal, transnational, diaspora, textual, or doctrinal context; no single country

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Atlas 0034Open / public

Nāth Siddha Yoga

South Asian Traditions Practice / discipline

Public geography: Broad regional context; no country assigned
Period / origin: medieval period–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country-level context · no forced pinBroad regional context; no country assigned

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Atlas 0035Open / public

Bāul traditions

South Asian Traditions Religious tradition

Public geography: Broad regional context; no country assigned
Period / origin: early modern–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country-level context · no forced pinBroad regional context; no country assigned

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Atlas 0036Community-bound / restricted

Haitian Vodou

African & Afro-Diasporic Religious tradition

Public geography: Haiti
Period / origin: colonial era–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesHaiti

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Atlas 0037Open / public

Louisiana Voodoo

African & Afro-Diasporic Lineage / school

Public geography: United States
Period / origin: 18th–19th century formations; modern revivals
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesUnited States

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Atlas 0038Community-bound / restricted

Lucumí religion (Regla de Ocha)

African & Afro-Diasporic Religious tradition

Public geography: Cuba
Period / origin: colonial era–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesCuba

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Atlas 0039Community-bound / restricted

Palo Monte

African & Afro-Diasporic Religious tradition

Public geography: Cuba
Period / origin: colonial era–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesCuba

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Atlas 0040Community-bound / restricted

Ifá divination within Yoruba and diasporic traditions

African & Afro-Diasporic Practice / discipline

Public geography: Broad regional context; no country assigned
Period / origin: precolonial–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country-level context · no forced pinBroad regional context; no country assigned

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Atlas 0041Community-bound / restricted

Umbanda and Quimbanda

African & Afro-Diasporic Lineage / school

Public geography: Brazil
Period / origin: 20th century–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesBrazil

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Atlas 0042Community-bound / restricted

Santo Daime

Indigenous Americas Religious tradition

Public geography: Brazil
Period / origin: 1930s–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesBrazil

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Atlas 0043Community-bound / restricted

Peruvian Amazonian vegetalismo

Indigenous Americas Practice / discipline

Public geography: Broad regional context; no country assigned
Period / origin: historical–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country-level context · no forced pinBroad regional context; no country assigned

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Atlas 0044Community-bound / restricted

Amazonian tobacco ritual and healing practices

Indigenous Americas Practice / discipline

Public geography: Broad regional context; no country assigned
Period / origin: precolonial–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country-level context · no forced pinBroad regional context; no country assigned

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Atlas 0045Community-bound / restricted

Andean karpay initiation rites (regional and revival uses)

Indigenous Americas Rite / ceremony

Public geography: Global, transnational, diaspora, textual, or doctrinal context; no single country
Period / origin: living regional practices; modern international adaptations
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country-level context · no forced pinGlobal, transnational, diaspora, textual, or doctrinal context; no single country

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Atlas 0046Open / public