What is Theurgy? Ancient Pagan Salvation through Ritual, Philosophy and Unity with the Divine
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- Опубліковано 28 тра 2024
- Breaking with centuries of philosophical and spiritual tradition, the Syrian philosopher Iamblichus put forward a theory of salvation in which religious devotion and reverence, rather than an intellectual inward turn to 'know thyself,' was the sole means by which to achieve "henosis," or union with the divine. Break with Plato and Plotinus, Iamblichus argued that the soul could ascend to the One, the Good and the Beautiful by becoming co-creators with the demiurgic Gods of the Cosmos through the ancient rituals of the Egyptians, Chaldeans and Greeks and their sacred scriptures. By contrasting intellectual 'theory' and 'theology' for theurgy - 'God-Doing,' Iamblichus paves a radical new path in ancient pagan spirituality, ironically bringing it closer to early Christian Sacramentalism.
#occult #magic #theurgy #paganism #philosophy
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Recommending Readings:
Taylor - On the Egyptian Mysteries (many reprints)
Clarke - Iamblichus: On the Mysteries - 978-1589830585
Shaw - Theurgy and the Soul: The Neoplatonism of Iamblichus - 978-1621380634
Clarke - Iamblichus' De Mysteriis: A Manifesto of the Miraculous - 978-0754604082
Wallis - Neoplatonism - 978-0872202870
Dillon - Neoplatonic Philosophy: Introductory Readings - 978-0872207073
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This is a really good video. It's a difficult subject to describe, but as usual, you presented it well.
I am digging your channel. Very Groovy.
The more I learn, the more I get confused due to endless information.
Because now you know what you don't know, which makes you wise. Plato 😊
Because now you know what you don't know, which makes you wise. Plato 😊
Because now you know, what you dont know, which makes you wise. Plato 😁
Because now you know wh… oh three ppl already said this…. Hmmmm
Such is the path of the wise man
I bought the women’s cut black metal Esoterica shirt
I gotta say
It is pretty boss
You are a boundless book of knowledge, and you as a person are such a kind soul. An amazing and humble teacher.
I was trained in kabbalistic practice in orthodox Jewish yeshivas, and I am struck by the similarities between what I was taught and practiced and Iamblachus's philosophy, except utilizing Torah as the sacred text. I did not fully appreciate the connection between the rabbinic kabbalistic tradition and neoplatonism until your channel, thank you. The only separation between much of the Jewish and surrounding traditions is what is scripture and the intellectual lineages, although the rabbis do not often credit Greek philosophers. I appreciate learning about it now to know what I don't want to be. Sublimation is for posers.
I’m curious about the possibility that Jewish and Christian ideas of worship actually influenced the Platonists. I don’t agree that the theurgy of Iamblichus survives in Christian liturgy. Writings in the New Testament about the Eucharist and sacrifices and sacrifice in the Hebrew Scriptures suggest a tradition that a Hellenistic would describe as theurgy. It may be that Christian Eucharistic ideas were adopted by Platonists. It may be that these cultures shared a theurgic worldview. It’s worth a thought.
It's the other way around. At least one historian of Kabbalah, Moshe Idel, pretty clearly shows that Kabbalaists adopted the Neoplatonic framework, almost in toto. The theory of emanationism is obviously pertinent. The Christians wither stole or adapted many Neoplatonic ideas. Why do we think the major Neoplatonic texts are missing? They rooted them out and burned them.@@colum6
As a Hellenic pagan I've really wanted to learn more about theurgy, so thanks for this quality content!
Theurgy is a good framework regardless of the type of pagan you are. May the Gods and your ancestors bless you! 🙏👐
@@arielfelts9111 Well said
Why is Hellenistic Paganism growing so much lately?
I keep running into them on the internet all over the place lately..
@@mysteriousjungalist well attested. Especially in terms of actual prayers and hymns and usable stuff.
@@mysteriousjungalist really easy to just grab the orphic hymns and pick one to recite and offer the listed incense. Or pray a homeric hymn, Or one of the many other hymns and prayers and prayer formulas attested in Hellenic sources, and pour a libation. It's laid out for you in a way thats easy to grasp and had deap roots. Vs something like Norse Heathenry which will require more reconstruction borrowing and innovation to make s complete ritual.
I’ve been wanting a video like this about Iamblichus for a while and you definitely delivered!! I noticed a lot of parallels with certain schools of Vedanta, especially Vasistha Advaita. The Noetic Theurgy reminds me of jnana yoga and the ritual Theurgy reminds me of the teachings of Shankaracharya. The idea that the offerings become transformed into something more divine is also paralleled in the ideas of prasad in Hinduism. Awesome video!
Shankara would be the last person to teach ritual as a way to enlightenment; there is no action or karma you can perform that can give you permanent freedom since all effects are limited. I don't recall what text it is in but I know he says, verbatim ''he who worships another beyond himself becomes the plaything of the Gods''.
This was definitely high level stuff, but I found it very accessible. I’m not very knowledgeable with the technical side of all this, but this makes perfect sense to me on a spiritual level. I’d argue there is a unique value in learning from content like this from a scholar on the internet. It’s the closest thing I’ll experience to the ancient lectures. And that experience it invaluable for understanding the heart of the philosophy. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Fantastic, I knew this would be a banger. I don't think Julian required quotes around The Apostate, he's pretty stoked about his turn away from Christianity towards what he'd frame as a Iamblichan Platonism with emphasis on the Hellenic qualities of it, being quite the Hellenophile. I think what was going on in Julian's mind was a fair bit more complicated, and garbled (no offense to the man), than the institution of a rival entity to Christianity as it had congealed by the 4th Century, there's an excellent work called "Julian's Gods: Religion and Philosophy in the Thought and Action of Julian the Apostate", the author really tries to get into the context Julian was writing and thinking in, and also humanizes what he was up to as well, as we are people and not truly detached intellectual agents. It's fairly technical and the author will quote scholarship done in French verbatim so it can be a bit tedious if you're not a Francophone and it definitely expects you to have a vague idea at bare minimum of Neoplatonic thought and the philosophical climate of Late Antiquity. He's an absolutely fascinating character and worth the attention of any scholar.
I just find it curious how Dr. Sledge openly speaks of Sabbatai Zevi and Elisha ben Abuyah as heretics, apostates and such, but for Julian he uses quotes. Interesting.
I like the phrase "ontological registers."
Appreciations for this pithy overview! Even though Iamblichus' cosmology differs significantly from that of the nondual Shaivism to which I am accustomed, I readily sympathize with (1) the heartfelt aspirations towards the Divine Source Consciousness, (2) reliance on divine grace, which we would call "śaktipāta", (3) conscious participation in the divine work, (4) the value of devotional-contemplative ritual, (5) the recognition of esoteric "correspondences", and (6) the prospect of unitive spiritual experience.
Thanks for this! I’ve been learning a lot about Catholicism and am coming to see the deep esoteric undergirding of Christianity. Makes me feel like our culture has such an impotent concept of spirituality. I wonder to what extent the laymen understood these concepts in their day and what happened for it to get so watered down. I’d love to understand more of what you said
a video on medieval folk spirituality would be sick.
@@RackTomRememberance particularly on how it affected modern day stuff would be fascinating
You could put your efforts into longevity like the Daoist magicians and still have gone thru less that 1% of the material rituals from world traditions - everyday it feels like its always just over the next hill doesn't it?
Or you could stop playing with the pebbles on the beach (alchemist deathbed quote) and switch tack, let go of self, and accept answers when you need them from the H.S.
Very simply there is no need to understand it. We have moved beyond the need for it.
@@Haverlock Is that "the Royal we" your highness?
Or are you the planetary spokesperson now? Was there a show of hands? that not exactly fair on the internet 😢
This is wonderful. Thank you, sincerely, for the time you've invested into learning the material, learning to explain it well, and sharing it freely. I learned a tremendous amount from this lecture.
Such fascinating history renews my hope for a continuity of existence in which I have more time to read books. This life isn't going to be sufficient to satisfy all my curiosities.
It’s kind of interesting how this same sort of back and forth that you see with Poryphry and Iamblichus can be seen in a lot of different cultures. For example, you can notice a somewhat similar dichotomy between Shankara and Ramanuja in Vedantic Philosophy, the latter tries to defend the validity of traditional religious ritual within the philosophical context of the former
Thank you for this. This is another one that I need to watch a few times.
*Takes notes* This is terrifically useful for a book I'm writing (fantasy, as ever). Accessible, accurate, content concerning classic Hellenic religious practice is gold dust. Thanks for your help, Dr. Sledge!
Phenomenal. This one actually helped me to categorize and understand a lot of my own personal history, changes between different perspectives and uncommon personal experiences. I think that means I am a fan of both Iamblichus and of Esoterica, without which my understanding of Iamblichus would still be pretty hazy
your writing and pacing are amazing. the content is mindblowing. thank you, and peace.
Soooo...
Plotinus: "It's all about getting back into the unknowable Oneness in the One at the center of the cosmic jam, maaaaaan."
Porphery: "And everything outward about it is too many notes."
Iamblicas: "Guys, the One keeps saying its gotta have more cowbell"
This is one of my favorite videos because it taught me so much about a subject I was ignorant of. I’m used to only theurgy being named dropped. The contranatural perception of Sorcery makes sense as well as not being flashy with over use of Theurgy. Fantastic again Doc Sledge. Again the further reading section is indispensable for us layman who are curious!
Thanks!
Sledge, you are a wonder. many thanks.
I had to rewatch the first 10 minutes of your video after deciding which T-Shirt to get. But this is fine, rewatching your videos is one of my favourite things to do. Thanks again!
wonderful!
This Lamblichus vs Neoplatonism debate also echoes in Jewish circles. Consider Maimonides vs. Kuzri & and the Kaballists, on if commandments are just educational and nominal or also have an effect in higher plains.
Yeeessssss! I've been waiting for something on Iamblichus since RfB mentioned this channel.
Iamblichus is fascinating; he seemed to have been going for a "Grand Unified Theory of Paganism"
❤ thank you!
Hi, Doctor Sledge. Totally fascinated with this last video. I already had noticed that iamblichean perspective on theurgy was totally in line with the traditional catholic perspective on the sacraments. Though authors like Hadot and Uzdavinys would argue that philosophy, more than an intellectual effort is more of a practice and a way of life. Even our St. Bonaventure, following the exemplar of St. Francis of Assisi said that theology was the practical way for the sanctification (read deificatio) of the theologian, and that the basis of theology is prayer and devotion, not so much a systematic intellectual effort. Will you be doing a video on the theology of Saint (or pseudo, whatever) Dionysius the Areopagite? That would be awesome.
Ps. I have no problen with saying we outpaganed the pagans and that we beat them at the theurgy olympics. Maybe protestant-sola fide christians may feel unconfortable but... well, it is what it is, man.
I second the interest in Dionysus the Areopagite
Wonderful, just yesterday was looking for more information about theurgy :) thank you!
Really enjoy these spiritual examinations and multiple philosophies about a possible afterlife. Now if I can find guidance on my finances and relationships I'll have heaven on earth
I can see Iamblichas influence on Eastern Orthodox theology.
Thank you, so much; it is such a privilege to ride the coattails of your life's pursuit :)
A longtime listener, I only recently actually watched and there is no going back to audio only because you are HILARIOUS.
Finding a repeatable and consistent feasible method for achieving Gnosis and/or Henosis would be idyllic. Those fleeting epiphanies do seem dependent on the willingness and/or grace of God's particular emanations....will they make an influential appearance or not?
Any episode on the Epiphanes? Probably not soon, but they are worth reading, for sure.
@@mouwersor Psychedelics will do that whether you want them to or not, I think what people are hoping for is a route that isn't perceived as a shortcut and beyond the realm of alternative explanation.
Aren't you an intermediate? Remember the warning about not showing off or you lose the access. It implies a certain incompatibility that also contains a message. They might be meant to have an influence on YOU, and the influence is implied in their occurence, so if your controlling mind gets attached to them, it is you who is shutting them out again.
They are an indication that what you are doing is working, so if they vanish again it means what you are doing then is not working. This is such a damn simple feedback mechanism, but so hard to accept as such. Hard by design. It shows the barriers that are to be eroded. Remember: Fear divides, love unites. If you chase epiphanies away, it means you fear being without them. (It might even mean you love being with them. - With serene indifference being the teaching.)
It is a basic spiritual teaching to not get attached to phenomena, because you'd be missing all that heavenly glory. The salvation is in YOU.
There is value in solpisism as an experience to meditate on. Are you ready for divinity if you have never experienced being the only thing in existence?
@@mouwersorI enthusiastically co-sign this advice as an individual currently receiving wisdom of the golden teacher 😂
Best channel of its type on UA-cam
Ah, so glad you did a video on this! I'll have to listen twice, probably. A couple of ideas:
I wonder if you'd consider making a video on Kenneth Grant and the Typhonian Tradition?
And, I wonder if you'd consider a video (or series?) on the "Simon Necronomicon?" I daresay you could do justice to such a complex issue as the "Schlangekraft Rescension."
A while ago I started reading the Shaw book and it was fascinating but I had to take a break... Thanks for this.
Thank you again, Dr. Sledge. You condense a great deal of knowledge to its key points both effectively and entertainingly. I'd love to hear more from you on this topic in subsequent releases.
The infinite spiral of spiritual knowledge is vast. Big hello from MidTown Memphis. Go Tigers
Thank you for your insightful explanation Justin. Love Esoterica, keep up the good work!
This channel has truly opened a world of wonder for me.
Great episode. Thanks for the intro to the topic. I'm adding these recommended books onto my list!
One of my favorite videos. I think you did a really good job of explaining this to someone like myself who doesn't already know a ton about it.
Shaws book is wonderful. I wonderrd if wed get a recommendation of him when we started talking about immaterial theurgy possibly being more arithmological in a Pythagorean sense. Loved the video! Keep up the good work!
Hears "Greater" and "Lesser" Harmonies, points in DiCaprio gif meme! Plato and Aristotle!! I know of Iamblichus to do with historical magic practice! How cool!
I am so blessed that you spend your time holding good posture and giving this content
How serendipitous that *this* happened to be your most recent video as I'm finishing my reading of Wallis' Neoplatonism. Excellent video, as always!
I think my mind was blown in a way that had clarity and to borrow your term, continuity, as well as resonance, so I was able to once again briefly point in DiCaprio meme gif at some points! Thank you greatly, Dr Justin Sledge! I felt my comprehension today at least had some kind of through-line to reach back and relate to independently even as all your content have excellent springboards for further reading, playlist, and review!
Love this channel!!
Wow teaching is all I can say Dr. You cleared much opacity in Plato/Neo-Platonism for me in short time. And now I'm left wanting more Theurgy. Again, gratitude for the nuance, pace and great reading list. You took us as close to the doorway to the Divine as words can go. Now to turn inward through that doorway, and let theurgy be. Thank you for being the vehicle, Dr. Sledge. In light and truth
Thanks for the book recommendations at the end.
Quite possibly one of my favorite videos of yours, coming from a long time subscriber btw, been waiting for something like this.
Amazing content as always thank you
Yooooo thanks for this one bro
Valentin Tomberg, a convert to Catholicism from Anthrosophy through Orthodoxy, explicitly describes Christianity as theurgy and the Christian as magus in Meditations on the Tarot.
I love this channel so very much. I mean honestly, the quality of it all is rather astounding. I've honestly been inspired to finally pursue this as a career and started school back up again.
This was SOLIDLY one of my favorite talks of yours. I love the way you showed multiple connections and denials giving themselves their own head-spin. Many giggles, thank you!
I remembered this episode and went back to it while reading "The Pagan Holy Man in Late Antique Society" by Garth Fowden. Goes very well together. Thanks!
A fascinating tour-de-force: thank you!
Love this channel!!!!❤❤❤❤❤
I'm so glad you've a great sense of humour.
I feel blessed that I've found Esoterica. From my limited experience of study, Dr. Sledge, expresses opinions that ring true to what my net has caught. And it's so encouraging, to feel like what I've caught, has me on a path of enlightenment. Thank you❣️
I have a technical question regarding the attribution of elements to the four Archangels of the quarters. Agrippa in Occult Philosophy book II, Chap. VII has the attributions as follows: Michael (Fire), Gabriel (Water), Raphael (Air), and Uriel (Earth). The Zohar in various sections states exactly the opposite; Michael (Water), Gabriel (Fire), Uriel (Air), Raphael (Earth). Where did Agrippa get those particular correspondences from?
I love your channel and have been bingeing your videos. You mentioning the black metal esoterica shirt got me thinking. I’m super curious about the relationship between metal music and the occult. As a black kid in the 90s, I was always just told it was devil worshipping music. Ironically, it was rap music that turned out to be the real satanic tune. It would be cool to hear your thoughts on the history.
It was a marketing ploy to make it edgy, rebellious, and exciting. Especially if it was otherwise very corporate.
Absolutely excellent, as always. Thank you.
Banger episode, Justin. I can feel my XP going up. Speaking of which - the theology of the THAC0 war would be a fun 4/1 episode.
Just received my order with the coolest shirt ever Wooooooo Thank You !!
Triangle players must love you for acknowledging their great musical contribution. 🥹
This reminds me...I need new jeans. No, but this is seriously the episode I have been waiting for since I discovered your channel. These Neoplatonism collaborations have been a dream. Excellent video.
The tiny jokes sprinkled throughout all of these videos are some of the best parts, and really help add some comic relief breaks from the heady and heady stuff being discussed -- bravo!
I’m down with this spiritual practice Dr. sledge. I’m going to get started tonight.
Thank you Doctor Justin Sledge,
You have made theurgy more understandable for me. Personally this information dense video required a bit of effort to take in this understanding of Iamblichus.
I am definitely going to have to rewatch this one and follow up on some of the references, fascinating but definitely had some prereqs that I did not have!
You seem to have your finger on all sorts Of vocabulary I search...well done and thank you - I hope one day you are able to say exactly what is in your heart when the mood strikes you...fearlessly here on youtube
One of my teachers used to say about Neo-platonists & Plato . ' It's as if we would call someone like Einstein a Neo- Newtonian, because Einstein's work wouldn't exist without Newton ground work ' . I always liked the tension within that comparison.
I can't imagine a greater joy or more worthy project than learning how to fulfill the requirements of Henosis. This seems to me to be telos inlaid in the laws of nature, and the sacred function of the individual.
Great video! It would be so cool if you did a video on the likely use of psychedelic plants and fungi in esoteric religions. Or just do a review on the Immortality Key book. Anyways, thanks again for this video and keep up the great work.
Thank you!
Thanks 😊
Another great video!
I've gotta say, not only EVEN as, but maybe ESPECIALLY as, a Catholic, I love the hot-takes on possible origins and relationships to other rituals of Catholic practice. Spiritual and religious practice is such a massive and integral part of human culture and history, and deserve careful scholarship, which your videos most substantively discuss, but the hot-takes are as effective a prophylaxis against unrestrained dogmatism as anything, and quicker to boot.
Thank you.
Fantastic video
Thank you
“Welcome to nominalism” I actually laughed out loud at that joke. Joke I couldn’t even begin to explain to anyone I know IRL.
super informative, Doc! thanks again for another great video!
Thank you for educating us. I'm not at all interested in esoterica, in the sense that I will do nothing to learn more. But these videos show me the worlds of ideas that our modern thought come from.
What a phenomenal episode :D
LADS NEW ESOTERICA VID JUST DROPPED
Brilliant Scholar and Teacher - Thanks
Totally outstanding.
Wonderful!
Hi seth. Nice info. X
TL;DR Summary:
Yamblicus's philosophy emphasizes the importance of traditional cult practices and co-creative expression with the demiurgic gods in achieving gnosis and returning to the Divine world.
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Theorgy is a solution to the paradox of the gulf between our finitude and the Divine infinitude, achieved through complex rituals resulting in identity with the Divine itself.
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Yamblicus believed in returning to ancient sources of wisdom to correct innovations in Pythagorean, Platonic, and Aristotelian philosophy, while rejecting the idea of categories and breaking with his own Platonic inheritance.
02:51
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The soul can return to the Divine world by turning inward through philosophy, despite the limitations of matter and the somatic pessimism of Platonus and Porphyry, as Yamblicus emphasizes the religious dimension of devotional acts and co-creative expression with the demiurgic gods.
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Plato and his followers prioritized intellectualism and math over traditional cult practices, while Porphyry's arguments for vegetarianism were seen as an outrage to Helene ritual life.
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Recognizing the goodness and beauty of the cosmos through philosophy and ritual actions is necessary to become co-demiological with the gods, according to Yamlicus.
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Certain natural substances and intentional acts of devotion can activate spiritual purification and ascent back to the one, but sorcery is rejected due to its selfish nature.
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Noetic theory combines spirituality and intellect, exploring the emergence of being through the dialectic of opposites.
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Theory is necessary for achieving hinosis, with theology playing a crucial role, but Yamblicus's de mysterious requires advanced philosophy knowledge to fully understand.
There's a theological school called _radical orthodoxy_ originating from the Anglican Church that uses the concept of theurgy in this very sacramental sense. I like that.
This channel is just sweet for my esoteric appetite❤.
This episode is a heavy hitter. Careful, Dr. Sledge! If you continue to show us all of your deep intellectual insights, the daemones may steal your gifts!
YOU, SIR, ARE A BLESSING TO YOU TUBE!!! Thank you fellow wise man. 🤍✨
I love this stuff.
Awesome episode! Iamblichus has always fascinated me but De Mysteriis is actually very difficult to understand and I found most books about him to be similarly difficult. I do have a copy of Theurgy and the Soul by Gregory Shaw and I think that is a more accessible entry point.
Agree - it's very, very difficult reading
Its from old esoteric drawings like those depicted in your thumbnail that ooened up my brain to neural networks and their resemblances to other networks in society and nature.
Thanks very much for your time and energy, sir. I found myself disagreeing with some of the elements earlier in the session about the the Hermetic/Phaedric/Gnostic pessimism of the body, but I did agree with the notion about the Eucharist as being a good example of theurgy in both thought, action, and embodiment. Thanks!