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

Start with a topic guide Short reading paths with context and sources.

Entries: 5,000
Geographic connections: 7,326
Countries and territories: 162

Explore the index

Search five thousand distinct lineages

Geographic connections are still under review.
How to read the location information

5,000 lineages

Page 30 of 209

Atlas 0697Community-bound / restricted

Yali Movement of Papua New Guinea

Oceanian & Circumpolar New religious movement

Public geography: Papua New Guinea
Period / origin: 1940s–1970s chiefly; continuing historical influence
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewPapua New Guinea

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Atlas 0698Community-bound / restricted

Pomio Kivung

Oceanian & Circumpolar New religious movement

Public geography: Papua New Guinea
Period / origin: 1960s–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewPapua New Guinea

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Atlas 0699Scholarly / historical only

Mamaia Movement

Oceanian & Circumpolar New religious movement

Public geography: Broad regional context; no country assigned
Period / origin: 1826–1841 chiefly
Evidence status: Directly cited

Broader geographic contextBroad regional context; no country assigned

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Atlas 0700Scholarly / historical only

Siovili Movement

Oceanian & Circumpolar New religious movement

Public geography: Samoa
Period / origin: 1830s–mid nineteenth century chiefly
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewSamoa

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Atlas 0701Community-bound / restricted

Baining Kavat Night / Fire Dance

Oceanian & Circumpolar Rite / ceremony

Public geography: Papua New Guinea
Period / origin: Precolonial–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewPapua New Guinea

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Atlas 0702Community-bound / restricted

Ambrym Rom Grade-Taking Tradition

Oceanian & Circumpolar Rite / ceremony

Public geography: Vanuatu
Period / origin: Precolonial–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewVanuatu

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Atlas 0703Community-bound / restricted

Tolai Tubuan and Dukduk Societies

Oceanian & Circumpolar Rite / ceremony

Public geography: Papua New Guinea
Period / origin: Precolonial–present/changed
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewPapua New Guinea

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Atlas 0704Community-bound / restricted

New Ireland Malagan Ceremonial Complex

Oceanian & Circumpolar Rite / ceremony

Public geography: Papua New Guinea
Period / origin: Precolonial–present/changed
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewPapua New Guinea

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Atlas 0705Initiatory

Sepik Haus Tambaran Initiatory Complex

Oceanian & Circumpolar Rite / ceremony

Public geography: Papua New Guinea
Period / origin: Precolonial–present/changed
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewPapua New Guinea

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Atlas 0706Community-bound / restricted

Tiwi Kulama Ceremony

Oceanian & Circumpolar Rite / ceremony

Public geography: Australia
Period / origin: Ancient/ancestral–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewAustralia

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Atlas 0707Community-bound / restricted

Tiwi Pukumani Ceremony

Oceanian & Circumpolar Rite / ceremony

Public geography: Australia
Period / origin: Ancient/ancestral–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewAustralia

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Atlas 0708Community-bound / restricted

Warlpiri Kurdiji Initiation

Oceanian & Circumpolar Rite / ceremony

Public geography: Australia
Period / origin: Ancient/ancestral–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewAustralia

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Atlas 0709Community-bound / restricted

Beqa Sawau Vilavilairevo Firewalking

Oceanian & Circumpolar Rite / ceremony

Public geography: Fiji
Period / origin: Precolonial/oral-historical roots–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewFiji

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Atlas 0710Community-bound / restricted

Meriam Malo–Bomai Tradition

Oceanian & Circumpolar Lineage / school

Public geography: Australia
Period / origin: Precolonial–late nineteenth/early twentieth century as initiation; living cultural memory
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewAustralia

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Atlas 0711Open / public

Raëlian Movement

Modern Spiritual Movements New religious movement

Public geography: France
Period / origin: 1974–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewFrance

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Atlas 0712Varies by lineage

Church of Scientology

Modern Spiritual Movements New religious movement

Public geography: United States
Period / origin: 1950s–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewUnited States

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Atlas 0713Scholarly / historical only

Heaven’s Gate

Modern Spiritual Movements New religious movement

Public geography: United States
Period / origin: 1970s–1997
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewUnited States

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Atlas 0714Scholarly / historical only

Order of the Solar Temple

Modern Spiritual Movements Order / organization

Public geography: Canada, Switzerland, France
Period / origin: 1984–1997 chiefly
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewCanada, Switzerland, France

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Atlas 0715Open / public

Aum Shinrikyo / Aleph

Modern Spiritual Movements New religious movement

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: 1984–present through successor organizations
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewJapan

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Atlas 0716Varies by lineage

Sukyo Mahikari

Modern Spiritual Movements New religious movement

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: 1959/1978 institutional lineage–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewJapan

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Atlas 0717Open / public

Church of World Messianity and Johrei

Modern Spiritual Movements New religious movement

Public geography: Japan, Brazil
Period / origin: 1935–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewJapan, Brazil

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Atlas 0718Open / public

Happy Science

Modern Spiritual Movements New religious movement

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: 1986–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewJapan

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Atlas 0719Open / public

Transcendental Meditation Movement

Modern Spiritual Movements Practice / discipline

Public geography: India
Period / origin: 1955–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewIndia

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Atlas 0720Open / public

Share International

Modern Spiritual Movements Order / organization

Public geography: United Kingdom
Period / origin: 1970s–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Country links · under reviewUnited Kingdom

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