ESOTERICA

Epizódy

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  Introduction to Merkavah Mysticism - 13 of 15 - The Sar Torah and Sh’iur Komah 27.09.2026 1h 5min

  Welcome to our seminar on Merkavah MysticismHundreds of years prior to the rise of the Kabbalah, shaman-like rabbinic mystics were described as having made the terrifying and awe-inspiring descent into the Divine Palaces. There they met with and bypassed fearsome angels with magical codes, gained control over angelic powers, became transformed into beings of fire, gained vast wisdom and mounted the very throne of G!d to carefully measure the vast dimensions of the divine body. These experiences and their praxes are recorded in about 50 manuscripts now known as the Hekhalot (lit. palaces) literature. Outside of specialists this late-classical form of (a)(de)scent mysticism is poorly understood and little appreciated. In this course, we will explore the foundations, social origins, myth-world, praxes and the afterlife of Merkavah Mysticism. Consider Supporting Esoterica!Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/esotericachannelOne Time Donation Support - Paypal Donation - https://www.paypal.me/esotericachannelMerch - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoydhtfFSk1fZXNRnkGnneQ/storeNew to Studying Esotericism? Check out my Reading Guide here - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1caKNlW7sogEF7lAeYNbOQF9pt5O5b70yAXa-icUJO3o/edit?usp=sharingRare Occult Books - https://www.esotericaoccultbooks.com/Course Syllabus: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1URUIb_AkZGM3hXzTnPFAwQYkZf_WgL0Q9wWWqSr2ug0/edit?usp=sharingCourse Materials: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-93Z0g92p4xMTFRjk5KznFvh65oRjFAo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Gnosticism - Thunder Perfect Mind - Divine Feminine - Gender, Paradox and Violence 27.09.2026 21min

  One of the most enigmatic and alluring text in the Nag Hammadi Library of Gnostic texts is the famed hymn-poem Thunder: Perfect Mind. This episode explores the origins, structure, parallels with an eye to Thunder's treatment of gender, language and colonialism. We also explore to what degree we can call Thunder 'gnostic' at all - why did this document survive in the Nag Hammadi library at all?Recommended Readings:Thunder: Perfect Mind - https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/maps/primary/thunder.htmlTaussig, etc. - The Thunder: Perfect Mind: A New Translation and Introduction - 978-0230105638Prada Ad - https://www.prada.com/us/en/pradasphere/films/2005/thunder-perfect-mind.html#gnosticism #gnostic #hermeticism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Who was Belial, the Demon? 27.09.2026 33min

  The demon Belial seems to have emerged from an obscure force of nature to then become the leader of the Apocalyptic forces of Evil in the Dead Sea Scrolls. And, while only mentioned only once in the New Testament, Belial has become an important evil spirit in both contemporary Goetic magic and Popular Culture alike. But, what are the origins of Belial, a demon that once sat at the apex of the diabolical hierarchy?Consider Supporting Esoterica!Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/esotericachannelMerch - https://www.youtube.com/@TheEsotericaChannel/storeNew to Studying Esotericism? Check out my Reading Guide here - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1caKNlW7sogEF7lAeYNbOQF9pt5O5b70yAXa-icUJO3o/edit?usp=sharingRare Occult Books - https://www.esotericaoccultbooks.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  John Dee - The Monas Hieroglyphica - Part II - Alchemy and Cabala 27.09.2026 36min

  This is the second episode exploring Dr. John Dee's famous 1564 Monas Hieroglyphica. In this episode we continue our discussion of Dee's Semiotic-Ontology (his link of Representation with Being) by exploring his early theories of alchemy and Cabala. Dee was a maverick in both fields. In alchemy, Dee sought to pursue the "Mercury Alone" theory while maintaining a relationship with traditional alchemy and introducing novel Paracelsian elements. In the field of Cabala, Dee employs traditional Jewish techniques for the manipulation of the Hebrew language to transform the Monad itself. When Dee combines the talismanic, alchemical, and cabalistic he will seek a "Cabala of Being" which will reform reality itself - the topic of the third episode.These episodes represent a more introductory version of my thesis on the Monas Hieroglyphica prepared at the University of Amsterdam.You can read the entire thesis here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9iShqG1gJavUXVKVnk2d1UzQVE/view?usp=sharingStandard text and translation of the Monas Hieroglyphica - C. H. Josten, Ambix, 12:2-3 (1964): 82-221I'll provide more recommended readings on the Monas Hieroglyphica in the third episode.#dee #enochian #monas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Magical Symbols - History of Sigils Angelic Alphabets and Symbols of Power 27.09.2026 23min

  This video traces the origin and development of magical symbols from late-classical Egypt through their development into Western European Magic. These characters likely began as debased hieroglyphics and would eventually develop into unique symbols of power, the seals and sigils in angelic and demonic mage, and form the basis for angelic script / alphabets. This video is a part of a series on magical and occult symbolism so make to subscribe if that interests you!Support Esoterica on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/esotericachannelRecommended Readings:Richard Gordon's article - https://www.academia.edu/13925134/Charakteres_between_Antiquity_and_Renaissance_Transmission_and_Re-inventionDon Skemer - Binding Words: Textual Amulets in the Middle Ages - 978-0271027234#magic #sigil #seal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Primer on Alchemy (FIA Lecture) 27.09.2026 1h 8min

  This is a lecture I gave last year at the Flint Institute of Art on the history, theory, and symbolism of alchemy. It's going to serve as an introduction to alchemy until I make a series for the channel.Support Esoterica: https://www.patreon.com/esotericachannelSupport Adam McLean's art and research: https://www.alchemywebsite.com/bookshop/index.htmlSupport the Flint Institute of Arts: https://flintarts.org/join-and-give/ways-to-giveRecommended Readings:Linden, Stanton J. (ed.) The Alchemy Reader: From Hermes Trismegistus to Isaac Newton. 978-0521796620. Nicely edited collection of alchemical primary texts.Principe, Lawrence. The Secrets of Alchemy. 978-0226103792. An up-to-date history of alchemy.Newman, William. Newton the Alchemist: Science, Enigma, and the Quest for Nature's "Secret Fire" 978-0691174877. Cutting edge research on alchemy in the 17th century. An amazing wok of scholarship.Roob, Alexander(ed.) Alchemy & Mysticism. 978-3836549363. A collection of alchemical imagery and symbolism, also a nice coffee table book!Spiritual / Psychology School of Interpretation Atwood, Mary Anne. A Suggestive Inquiry into the Hermetic Mystery….(many re-print editions). The first text to introduce the ‘spiritual interpretation” of alchemy.Eliade, Mircea. The Forge and the Crucible: The Origins and Structure of Alchemy. 978-0226203904. Religious-philosophical interpretation of alchemy.von Franz, Marie-Louise. Alchemy: An Introduction to the Symbolism and the Psychology. 978-0919123045. An introduction to the Jungian psychological interpretation of alchemy.#alchemy #transmutation #hermeticism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Sefer Yetzirah - Book of Formation - Introduction to a Core Early Text of Kabbalah Cabala Qabbalah 27.09.2026 32min

  The Sefer Yetzirah is perhaps the oldest text of what would become the Jewish Mysticism known as the Kabbalah. Though, virtually everything about this brief text is a mystery. When was it written, by whom and exactly what it means are all hotly debated topics by academics, kabbalists and occultists. Indeed, the text is so linked with magical power that commentaries on the text describe how one might construct artificial life itself in the form of the famed Golem. This episode explores the origin, development and contents of this elusive but profound mystical textGershom Scholem - Kabbalah - 978-0452010079 (dated but still useful)Tzahi Weiss - Sefer Yesirah and Its Contexts - 978-0812249903Peter Hayman - Sefer Yesira: Edition, Translation and Text-critical Commentary - 978-3161483813 (ILL this one)Don Karr - Notes on Editions of Sefer Yetzirah in English - https://www.academia.edu/22875900/Notes_on_Editions_of_Sefer_Yetzirah_in_EnglishAryeh Kaplan - Sefer Yetzirah: The Book of Creation - 978-0877286905 (Lurianic perspective)Sefer Yetzirah HaShalem - Harav Moshe Tzuriel - (check seforim stores)#kabbalah #yetzirah #golem Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Corpus Hermeticum II - Hermetic Fragments and Testimonies - From Nag Hammadi to the Kore Kosmou 27.09.2026 21min

  In this episode of Esoterica we are going to introduce and explore the Hermetic Writings that survive outside the classic Greek tractates and the Latin Asclepius. Here we discover a staggering diversity of texts and traditions all of which give us a better glimpse onto the the spiritual philosophy of Hermeticism. In this episode we explore the Three Hermetic tracts in the Nag Hammadi Library, the copious Stobaean Fragments, Armenian Hermetic Definitions, Oxford and Vienna Papyri and an overview of the General Fragments and Testimonies about Hermes Trismegistus and the "Way of Hermes."Recommended Reading:Hanegraaff - How Hermetic was Renaissance Hermetism? - https://brill.com/view/journals/arie/15/2/article-p179_1.xmlLitwa - Hermetica II - 978-1107182530Mahe, etc - The Way of Hermes - 978-0892811861Also see my reading list on the first Corpus Hermetcum episode for more readings on this topic!#hermetic #hermeticism #gnosticism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  What is the Dybbuk ? Spirit Possession and Exorcism in the Kabbalah 27.09.2026 1h 6min

  The Kabbalah changed a great deal in Judaism including the conception of possession and exorcism. This episode of Esoterica explores the development of these concepts in rabbinical Judaism and the rise of Kabbalah, especially Lurianic Kabbalah in the 16th century. Here we discuss the idea of the Dybbuk - the evil dead returned to possess the living - but also the idea of Ibbur or beneficent spiritual pregnancy in which the soul of the righteous dead actually comes to dwell in the body of the kabbalist! Recommended Reading:Ansky - The Dybbuk - 978-1494837532Chajes - Between Worlds: Dybbuks, Exorcists, and Early Modern Judaism - 978-0812221701Goldish - Spirit Possession in Judaism - 978-0814330036Elior - Dybbuks and Jewish Women in Social History, Mysticism and Folklore - 978-9655240078Winkler - Dybbuk - 978-0910818384Der Dybbuk Film - https://www.jewishfilm.org/Catalogue/films/dybbuk.htmlDimona Dybbuk Exorcism Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSWkfabZApU#kabbalah #dybbuk #exorcism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Introduction to Merkavah Mysticism - 5 of 15 - The Danger of Reading 27.09.2026 1h 9min

  Welcome to our seminar on Merkavah MysticismHundreds of years prior to the rise of the Kabbalah, shaman-like rabbinic mystics were described as having made the terrifying and awe-inspiring descent into the Divine Palaces. There they met with and bypassed fearsome angels with magical codes, gained control over angelic powers, became transformed into beings of fire, gained vast wisdom and mounted the very throne of G!d to carefully measure the vast dimensions of the divine body. These experiences and their praxes are recorded in about 50 manuscripts now known as the Hekhalot (lit. palaces) literature. Outside of specialists this late-classical form of (a)(de)scent mysticism is poorly understood and little appreciated. In this course, we will explore the foundations, social origins, myth-world, praxes and the afterlife of Merkavah Mysticism. Consider Supporting Esoterica!Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/esotericachannelOne Time Donation Support - Paypal Donation - https://www.paypal.me/esotericachannelMerch - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoydhtfFSk1fZXNRnkGnneQ/storeNew to Studying Esotericism? Check out my Reading Guide here - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1caKNlW7sogEF7lAeYNbOQF9pt5O5b70yAXa-icUJO3o/edit?usp=sharingRare Occult Books - https://www.esotericaoccultbooks.com/Course Syllabus: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1URUIb_AkZGM3hXzTnPFAwQYkZf_WgL0Q9wWWqSr2ug0/edit?usp=sharingCourse Materials: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-93Z0g92p4xMTFRjk5KznFvh65oRjFAo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Necromancy - How to Read a Historical Book of Magic / Necromancy - Reading a Real Necronomicon 27.09.2026 54min

  This episode celebrates 1000 Subscribers! This time we answers fans of the channel's request for an analysis of a historical book of magic. What if you were to stumble onto an actual copy of the something like the Necronomicon of HP Lovecraft / Evil Dead lore? How would you go about actually reading it? Here, we discuss at length, the various processes scholars perform to understand medieval books - from book binding, to writing media, to medieval Latin and the complex set of abbreviations that often encode the writing of the middle ages - by looking at a page from CLM 849 or the Munich Necromancer's Manual. As you will see, this specific spell is uses demonic magic to produce a magical cloak capable of rendering the magus invisible to all all manner of beings.Recommended Readings:Richard Kieckhefer - Forbidden Rites: A Necromancer’s Manual of the Fifteenth Century - ISBN-13: 978-0271017518 Bernhard Bischoff - Latin Palaeography: Antiquity and the Middle Ages - 978-0521367264You can also enter for the manuscript just contacting me via my website (https://www.justinsledge.com/contact) with favorite reflections on an episode - I don't this to be strictly based on patron support and that helps to meet legal guidelines so you don't need to pay anything at all to enter!#magic #necromancy #manuscript Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  What is the Hermetic God and Demiurge? 27.09.2026 43min

  The concept of the Demiurge is often associated with the demonic cosmos creator of the Gnostics. But, what do we know about the ancient Hermetic Demiurge? Emerging from the world of Greco-Egyptian religion and philosophy, Hermeticism was a powerfully optimistic means of reuniting one's high consciousness (Nous) with the Divine Parental Light after exorcising one's body of fatalistic daimonic infestation. But, the Hermetic Spiritual Philosophy is ambivalent about the place of any Demiurge in it's cosmology and means of salvation. Yet, some texts do speak of a magnificent Solar Demiurge as the conduit and cosmic artisan. Just what is the place of the Demiurge in Hermeticism?Demiurge 1 - https://youtu.be/mTnQ__VSQzcDemiurge 2 - https://youtu.be/GWHLuZgixHIDemiurge 3 - https://youtu.be/xfG0w4k6EA8Demiurge 4 - https://youtu.be/kq-CoIFf8l0Thumbnail art from Zdzisław Beksiński Consider Supporting Esoterica!Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/esotericachannelOne Time Donation Support - Paypal Donation - https://www.paypal.me/esotericachannelMerch - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoydhtfFSk1fZXNRnkGnneQ/storeNew to Studying Esotericism? Check out my Reading Guide here - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1caKNlW7sogEF7lAeYNbOQF9pt5O5b70yAXa-icUJO3o/edit?usp=sharingRare Occult Books - https://www.esotericaoccultbooks.com/Recommended Readings:Hermetic Spirituality and the Historical Imagination - https://amzn.to/4r7cRRBHermetica I: The Corpus Hermeticum, Asclepius, and Nag Hammadi Hermetica Ordered as a Path of Initiation - https://amzn.to/47P4kvfDr. David Litwa's YT channel - @m.davidlitwa The Demiurge in Ancient Thought: Secondary Gods and Divine Mediators - https://amzn.to/49tSc3Z Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Medieval Magic - Scholastic Analysis of Magic and Necromancy in the Middle Ages 27.09.2026 35min

  Scholasticism was the greatest intellectual movement of the Middle Ages. In this episode of Esoterica we explore the attitudes of medieval philosophers, theologians and scientists concerning magic. From Augustine where magic is a demonic deception to the rise of natural magic and medieval necromancy we will see that just beneath the surface there is a great deal of subtlety among these thinkers. Further, we will also notice that necromancy and black magic are always at the edges acceptable theory and practice.Recommended Readings:Kieckhefer - Magic in the Middle Ages - 978-1107431829Thorndike - History of Magic and Experimental Science vol. 2Magic in History Series - Penn State#magic #medieval #demons Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Mystical Language - Hildegard of Bingen's Lingua Ignota (Unknown Language) - Early Invented Tongue 27.09.2026 27min

  The first in a series here at Esoterica exploring esoteric languages and symbol systems! This video takes a look at the Lingua Ignota (Unknown Language) of the 12th century mystic and polymath Hildegard of Bingen.Support Esoterica on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/esotericachannelO Orzchis Ecclesia - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGCAOf9gjBMRecommended Readings:Sarah Higley - Hildegard of Bingen’s Unknown Language: An Edition, Translation, and Discussion - ISBN-13: 978-1403976734Hildegard's Music on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=hildegard+musicHildegard - Hildegard of Bingen: Scivias - ISBN-13: 978-0809131303Selected Writings: Hildegard of Bingen - ISBN-13: 978-0140436044Fiona Maddocks - Hildegard of Bingen - ISBN-13: 978-0571302437Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen - Matthew Fox - ISBN-13: 978-1879181977#hildegard #ignota #conlang Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Psychedelic Natural Magic - Potions from the 1558 Magiae Naturalis of Giambattista della Porta 27.09.2026 14min

  While psychoactive substances are a core component in many religious traditions, with the exception of alcohol, they are conspicuously missing from much of the western European context. Did and how did such substances play a role in religious, philosophy, mysticism, and magic? This episode explores what appears to be an early selection of mind-altering compounds found in the enormously popular 1558 Magiae Naturalis (On Natural Magic). of Giambattista della Porta. Here della Porta describes four such 'potions,' to use his language, which allegedly cause "pleasant madness for a day" and provide for a range of phenomenological effects from 'being silly' to 'thinking one an animal or fish." What role did "potions" like these play beyond recreation - such as the ubiquitous flying ointments of the middle ages? What does it mean for such "potions" to appear in a book on "natural magic"?Disclaimer and Plea: I've blurred out sections which contain specific ingredients, amounts, and processes for creating the 'potions' described by della Porta for reasons of safety. It is highly unadvised to attempt to recreate or ingest anything described in this text. I also know that early modern translations of this text exist and they are very easy to find. Please respect my wishes to not reproduce the description (in Latin, English, etc.) for how to make these 'potions' in the comments. I want encourage safety, responsible consumption of psychoactive substances, and harm reduction and without specialist vetting I can't reproduce these instructions in good conscious. Comments which violate this request will be deleted. Recommended Readings:Giambattista della Porta - 1558 - Magiae Naturalis (On Natural Magic) - https://books.google.com/books?id=R6vzpy4WQYMC&pg=PR5#v=onepage&q&f=false#magic #psychedelics #occultism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Gospel of Thomas, Gnostic Egypt and Pistis Sophia w/ Dr. M David Litwa 27.09.2026 1h 10min

  Conversation with Dr. M David Litwa on his recent work on the Gospel of Thomas, his upcoming trip to Egypt and why the Pistis Sophia doesn't get studied.Dr. Litwa's Youtube Channel - @m.davidlitwa Introduction to the Gospel of Thomas - https://amzn.to/41wMKZhEgypt Trip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlF3lW3M1fEItinerary - https://travefy.com/trip/6yw9rqqtdjzsqz2afmhbc7ckkb53msqSign-up - https://portal.argosdestinations.com/public/form/view/68839f3cff70b48bc2be2200 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Corpus Hermeticum - Introduction to Hermes Trismegistus and Hermetic Philosophy 27.09.2026 24min

  The Corpus Hermeticum are the texts and teachings ascribed to the legendary Egyptian sage, priest, and philosopher Hermes Trismegistus. When translated and published by Ficino in 1471 these texts were heralded as the very source of pure, perennial wisdom. In the subsequent years, these ideas went on to have a massive impact upon what is now called western esotericism. Just what are these teaching? What is the history of the text? How did this pagan wisdom survive into modernity? In this episode of Esoterica we introduce the Corpus Hermeticum, Hermes Trismegistus & Hermetic Philosophy.Reccomended Reading:Dillion - The Middle Platonists: 80 B.C. to A.D. 220 - 978-0801483165Copenhaver - Hermetica - 978-0521425438Litwa - Hermetica II - 978-1107182530Salaman, van Oyen, Wharto, Mahe - The Way of Hermes - 978-0892811861van Bladel - The Arabic Hermes - 978-0195376135Fowden - The Egyptian Hermes - 978-0691024981Festugière - La révélation d'Hermès Trismégiste - 978-2251326740 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Magic in Theory - The Stellar Ray Theory of Al-Kindi 27.09.2026 29min

  This episode is the first in a series focusing on theories of magic. We begin with one of the most popular medieval theories: the stellar rays of Al-Kindi. Al-Kindi, a 9th century Islamicate philosopher, who argued that the stars emits rays which trickle down to the sub-lunar world where they qualify matter. Further, all entities emit rays. Certain occult or hidden rays can be manipulated by the sage to induce apparently supernatural or magical effects though speech, powerful symbols and animal sacrifice. This idea provided a route to natural, as opposed to ritual/demonic, magic in the middle ages and underwrote much of astrological theory. The stellar ray theory would also be built into the famous book of the magic the Picatrix which would be one of the earliest books learned magic to enter Western Europe. Indeed, the argument in defense of occult forces in the universe is essential for modern physics.Recommended readings:Pormann and Peterson - The Philosophical Works of al-Kindi - 978-0199062805 Liana Saif - The Arabic Influences on Early Modern Occult Philosophy - 978-1137399465Al-Kindi - De Radiis (pp. 139-260) - Marie-Thérèse d'Alverny and Françoise HudryArchives d'histoire doctrinale et littéraire du Moyen Age, Vol. 41, 1974 - https://www.jstor.org/stable/i40184716Al-Kindi: On the Stellar Rays - trans. Zoller and Hand - http://www.projecthindsight.com/archives/medieval%20contents/al-kindi.htmlEsmé L K Partridge - Al-Kindi's Theory of The Magical Arts: A Commentary on Al-Kindi's Treatise 'On Rays' - https://www.academia.edu/36457042/Al-Kindis_Theory_of_The_Magical_Arts_A_Commentary_on_Al-Kindis_Treatise_On_Rays#magic #astrology #alkindi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  The Occult in Colonial America - Magic Divination Astrology and Alchemy 27.09.2026 29min

  While Puritan spirituality and the Witch Hunts dominate our view of the colonial period of North America, history reveals that a range of occult practices flourished. From magic, astrology, alchemy and various forms of divination - there is plenty of evidence for early American occultism. In this episode of Esoterica, we explore this dimension of early American history.Recommended Readings:Godbeer - The Devil's Dominion - 978-0521466707Butler - Awash in a Sea of Faith - 978-0674056015Newman - Gehennical Fire - 978-0226577142Woodward - Prospero's America - 978-1469600871Works by George Starkey / Eirenaeus Philalethes - https://archive.org/details/collectaneachymi00phil#magic #alchemy #america #salem Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  The Mystical Dreams of Descartes - Exploring the Origins of Rationalism and Modernity 27.09.2026 40min

  In this episode we explore the non-rational origins of rationalism by investigating a series of dreams had by Rene Descartes - thought to have founded rationalism and modern philosophy - on the night of November 10/11, 1619. Early in his career Descartes, like many intellectuals of his day, was searching for new intellectual and scientific foundations as the worldview provided by Aristotle had become moribund. In this search, Descartes explores many avenues for the truth from strict logic to mystical Rosicrucianism. In this context, he experiences a profound fit of 'enthusiasm' and has a series of three dreams which ground and propel his own foundationalist project. This episode explores how the origins of rationalism and modernity are simply more esoteric, even mystical, than we typically learn in intellectual history or philosophy classes.Recommended Readings:Adrien Baillet - La vie de Monsieur Descartes - https://archive.org/download/bub_gb_RhNEAAAAcAAJ/bub_gb_RhNEAAAAcAAJ.pdfJohn Cottingham - The Philosophical Writings of Descartes in 3 vols.Alice Browne - Descartes's Dreams - https://www.jstor.org/stable/750999Michael Keevak - Descartes's Dreams and Their Address for Philosophy - https://www.jstor.org/stable/2709883William Shea - Descartes and the Rosicrucian Enlightenment - Metaphysics and Philosophy of Science in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries, Pages 73-99Frances A. Yates - The Rosicrucian Enlightenment, pgs 113 et passim#descartes #philosophy #rationalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices