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Esoteric Orientalism Part II: The Greeks are Always Children?
The ancient Greeks tell us that they acquired their knowledge of disciplines like philosophy, geometry, and astronomy from their near-eastern neighbours. Were they right? This episode examines the ev…
Published on 7 years, 10 months ago
Esoteric Orientalism Part I: Ancient Barbarian Sages
In part one of a two-part discussion of the roots of 'esoteric orientalism', we look at what we mean by 'orientalism' and introduce some of our favorite barbarian sages, including Zoroaster, Hermes T…
Published on 7 years, 11 months ago
We’re Together In Dreams: Dreaming and Western Esotericism
Dreams are perhaps the most important point of access to the otherworlds, and everyone has them. But they are especially important for the history of western esotericism. In this episode we talk abo…
Published on 7 years, 11 months ago
Magicians, Ghosts, Amulets, and Spells: Daniel Ogden on Græco-Roman Magic
Before there was the high magic of the western esoteric tradition, there was good old pre-western magic. Daniel Ogden, a specialist in all things magical in antiquity, leads us through the labyrinth …
Published on 7 years, 11 months ago
Methodologies for the Study of Magic
So what is magic, anyway? If you think the way magic works is mysterious and occult, try defining what the word ‘magic’ means! This episode discusses some methodological problems with the term ‘magic…
Published on 7 years, 11 months ago
Richard Seaford on the Origins of the Soul
The idea of an inner self, a soul, arises more or less simultaneously in Greece and India in the sixth century BCE. Why? Richard Seaford has a theory.
Published on 8 years ago
Wouter Hanegraaff on Western Esotericism
Professor Wouter J. Hanegraaff, head of the Centre for the History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents at the University of Amsterdam, on researching western esotericism, the history of the f…
Published on 8 years ago
A Secret History of Secret History, Part II
We continue our survey of the history of western esotericism, from the medieval era to modern times. More esoteric cocktails are mixed and, in the process, we gain some insight into the contours of t…
Published on 8 years ago
A Secret History of Secret History, Part I
A lightning summary of key major elements of western esotericism from late antiquity up to the middle ages, featuring a foray into the esoteric art of imaginal cocktail-mixing.
Published on 8 years ago
So What is Western Esotericism, Anyway?
An introduction to the podcast, discussing briefly what we mean by ‘western esotericism’. This episode also answers the burning question, ‘What’s so “secret” about The Secret History of Western Esote…
Published on 8 years ago