Shows
THIRD EYE DROPSAncient Esoteric Wisdom, Soul Flight & Lost Consciousness Techniques | Earl Fontainelle | Mind Meld 413🥰 Support TED and join the community on Patreon Esoteric scholar and host of the Secret History of Western Esotericism podcast, Earl Fontainelle, PhD enters the mind meld! Video Version Here 👈 ** Head to lumen.me/THIRDEYEDROPS to get 15% off your Lumen ** Earl Fontainelle is a researcher specializing in the religious and philosophic thought of late antiquity. He's especially interested in platonism, hermeticism, and Greco-Roman spirituality and philosophy, in general. In this mind meld, we cover a lot of territory: Mysterious pre-socratic healer-seers who regularly partook in soul flight, ideas about the soul and subt...2024-10-251h 55
Good in Theory: A Political Philosophy Podcast34 - The Esoteric Plato feat. Earl FontainelleToday I speak with Earl Fontainelle of the Secret History of Western Esotericism podcast (SHWEP). I don’t understand Plato. Partly this is because he never writes in his own voice and partly it’s because I can’t even always tell when Socrates is joking or even what he’s talking about. The divided line? The Myth of Er? The tyrant being exactly 729 times less happy than the philosopher? These are all weird things in the Republic that are still mysterious to me. Earl suggests that perhaps the reason Plato is so difficult to understand...2021-09-131h 28
Aeon Byte Gnostic RadioDr. David Brakke & Earl Fontainelle on Understanding the Gnostic HeresyIt’s a late summer double feature picture show! We summarize as well as get the latest on Gnosticism. This discovery includes Gnostic history, rituals, philosophy, and impact. From The Gospel of Judas to Sethian magical practices, from the saga of Sophia to the disputes with orthodox Christians/Neoplatonists, get ready to absorb the entire ethos of ancient heretics.Astral Guests – Dr. David Brakke, author of The Gnostics: Myth, Ritual, and Diversity in Early Christianity and editor of the 2nd edition of The Gnostic Scriptures; Earl Fontainelle, host of The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast.This is...2021-07-152h 02
Podcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Total War: Polemical Esotericism in the Contra CelsumWe explore the polemics and counter-polemics of Origen's Contra Celsum, with a particular eye toward the use (and abuse) of the esoteric as a strategy of tradition-building, exclusion, and totalising interpretation.2020-09-0246 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)The True Account: Celsus, Origen, and Ideological Esotericism in Late AntiquityAn almost-unknown Middle Platonist philosopher named Celsus wrote the first-known anti-Christian polemical pamphlet some time in the later second century. This is The True Account. It is esoteric.2020-08-2038 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Aron Reppmann Introduces Origen of AlexandriaProfessor Aron Reppmann introduces the life, thought, and esotericism of Origen of Alexandria, one of the greatest church-fathers, Platonist theologian par excellence, and revolutionary scriptural exegete.2020-07-211h 08Podcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)From Word to Silence: The Rise of the Apophatic in Late AntiquityAs antiquity progressed, certain esoteric religious thinkers and philosophers came increasingly to doubt whether the nature of the highest reality could be expressed in words. They developed a new form of language to deal with the problem of talking about the ineffable: apophasis. We discuss speaking the silence in late antiquity.2020-06-2744 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)The Third Century and (the Long) Late AntiquityAs the podcast enters the third century, we discuss the parameters of ‘late antiquity’, and what makes something ‘late-antique’. Special bonus material: the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire!2020-06-2250 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Becoming Gods: Divinisation and Angelomorphic Transformation in ClementWe discuss Clement's endgame, where the Gnostic encounters god face-to-face after a lengthy transformative evolution into higher and higher spiritual forms. Things get seriously esoteric.2020-06-1254 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Henny Fiskå Hägg on Clement’s Apophatic WritingWe speak with Professor Henny Fiskå Hägg about the apophatic theory and writing-practice of Clement of Alexandria, one of antiquity's finest exponents of the art of writing about that-about-which-nothing-can-be-written.2020-06-0639 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Lifting the Veil: Esoteric Reading in Clement’s StromateisClement stays esoteric. We examine the esoteric wisdom-lineages constructed by Clement, how he reads them, in the context of how he hides his reading of them. Plus, there seems to have been some genuine, contemporary esotericism going on in early Christianity.2020-06-0655 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Mystagogic Patchwork: Esoteric Writing in Clement’s StromateisWe explore the esoteric writing methodologies of Clement's Stromateis – the innovative ‘public secrecy’, the reasons for Clement's esotericism, and the evocation of the mysteries and of the ineffable as aspects of esoteric rhetoric.2020-05-3044 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)The Orthodox Gnostic: Introducing Clement of AlexandriaWe introduce the life and thought of Orthodox Christianity's favourite in-house Gnostic, the great Clement of Alexandria. Come for the philosophical, esoteric Christianity, stay for the progressive postmortem deification.2020-05-0147 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)The Astrology of Vettius ValensWe examine the life, work, and legacy of Vettius Valens, second-century Roman astrologer and author of the Anthologies, the most hard-core practical handbook of astrological practice which survives from antiquity.2020-04-1529 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Claudius Ptolemy and the TetrabiblosWe discuss Claudius Ptolemy (no relation), synthesiser of Hellenistic astronomy/astrology to the mediæval world and beyond, and his two great works, the Almagest and the Tetrabiblos. Come for the naturalistic account of astral causation, stay for the planetary talismans.2020-03-2531 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Numerical Mysteries: Nichomachus of Gerasa, Arithmology, and Second-Century NeopythagoreanismSpeculations about the properties of number have been a major constituent of some western esoteric traditions. In this episode we examine the most important source of much of this tradition of arithmological thought, first- and second-century Neopythagoreanism, and the writings of one crucial thinker in particular: Nicomachus of Gerasa.2020-03-1835 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Matteo Martelli on the Pseudo-DemocritusIn the previous episode we surveyed alchemy from its beginnings to the present day; in this episode we go back to the roots. Matteo Martelli has produced the first critical edition of the fragments of the Pseudo-Democritus, our earliest-known work of alchemy. We discuss the secrets found within its pages.2020-03-0432 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Introducing Alchemy with Lawrence PrincipeHere it finally is: Alchemy! This interview is a superb introduction to the Hermetick Art from Lawrence Principe, a man who knows how to ‘read, read, read’, but also how to practice.2020-02-261h 07Podcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Other Gospels and Alien Gods: Marcion of SinopeWe look at Marcion of Sinope, the final arch-heretic in our ‘unholy trinity’. Marcion compiled the first Christian textual canon – he wrote the first Bible – but this was not your grandma's Bible. Demiurgy, transcendence, and some interesting questions of textual hermeneutics abound.2020-02-1635 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Geoffrey Smith on Valentinus and ValentinianismUnder the expert guidance of Geoffrey Smith, we explore the world-view of Valentinus – an elite intellectual Christian thinker of the second century – and his legacy – a reputation for the blackest heresy and a demiurgical Christian movement known nowadays as Valentinianism.2020-01-2950 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)I Got Soul, And I’m Super Bad: Basilides of AlexandriaBasilides of Alexandria, one of the first Christian philosophers and scriptural exegetes, is known as one of the great Gnostic heresiarchs of the second century. But what did he actually teach? It's mind-blowing and it's esoteric.2020-01-2245 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Warfaring Strangers: Prolegomena to Second-Century ChristianityWe take a deep breath before diving into detailed discussions of early esoteric Christianities to consider a few key terms and their historical development. What was orthodoxy? What was heresy? Who were the heresiologists, and what were they doing?2020-01-1738 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Michael Williams on the Trouble with ‘Gnosticism’Professor Michael Williams leads us on a tour of ‘Gnosticism’, both as a term (used and misused by ancient heresiologists, Reformation-era polemicists, modern scholars, and even modern ‘Gnostics’) and as a group of late-ancient religious texts which are very, very interesting, but which should probably not be called ‘Gnostic’.2020-01-011h 03Podcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Alone with the Alone: Numenius’ MetaphysicsWe explore the philosophy of Numenius, in which we see the stirrings of a new type of apophatic discourse of transcendence which will come to be definitive of late antique metaphysics and theology.2019-12-2442 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Inter philosophos occultorum curiosior: Numenius of ApameaWe investigate the esoteric practice of one of Middle Platonism's most enigmatic figures, the great Numenius of Apamea.2019-12-1133 min
Masonic Lite PodcastEpisode 087 - Earl Fontainelle of The SHWEPHello! On this episode of the podcast, we go a bit deeper than usual with our guest, Earl Fontainelle. Earl is a researcher and host of The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (The SHWEP). After listening to this episode, be sure to check out www.shwep.net for more from Earl. Symbologist Michelle Snyder presents a segment unlocking Beauty and the Beast, Jack reads the Masonic Lite News, and Bro. Jim Stephens provides the Lodge Business Brief. We wrap up with the upcoming Masonic schedule followed by chickens. Enjoy!
[00:00:00] Introductions.
[00:09:20] First break, brought to you by George J. Grove...2019-12-021h 11Podcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Korshi Dosoo on the Papyri Græcæ Magicæ and Western EsotericismWe speak with papyrologist Korshi Dosoo about the history, interpretation, and makeup of the body of documents known nowadays as the Greek Magical Papyri. It all starts in ancient Egypt, but it doesn't stop until Aleister Crowley and the Mormons have made an appearance.2019-11-281h 14Podcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)The Chaldæan Oracles and TheurgyWe have looked at what kind of world the Chaldæan Oracles set forth. We turn now to the ways in which the adept navigates that world – through ritual, epiphanic visions, cognitive disciplines, talismans, and by leaving the body through breathing. This is theurgy, and esoteric religion in antiquity would never be the same again.2019-11-2747 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)The Chaldæan OraclesWe introduce one of the most extraordinary and influential texts of antiquity for the history of western esotericism: the Chaldæan Oracles. We discuss questions of authorship (Julian the Theurge, the Gods, or the Soul of Plato?) and the mythic metaphysics found in the text.2019-11-2244 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)I’m Not Sorry: The Apology of ApuleiusIn this episode we discuss the defense-speech of Apuleius against charges of having used magic to make a wealthy widow fall in love with him. Roman law, sorcery, and philosophy collide in a rhetorical tour-de-force, and we discuss whether fish are magical or not.2019-11-0241 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Ineffable Initiations and Golden Asses: Apuleius of Madauros and the MetamorphosesApuleius was a great Latin-language Middle Platonist writer, whose works preserve some fascinating esoteric materials which had a major impact on the development of western esotericism in the Latin middle ages and beyond. We introduce the man and his famous occult novel, the Metamorphoses, or Golden Ass.2019-10-2849 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Hypochondria and Epiphany: The Strange Case of Ælius AristidesWe examine one of the strangest records of personal religious experience and divine epiphany from antiquity, the Hieroi Logoi of Ælius Aristides. Come for the incubation, dream-initiations, and miraculous powers, stay for the interminable descriptions of dyspepsia.2019-10-1435 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Daniel Harris-McCoy on the Oneirocritica of ArtemidorusWith an expert guide, we enter the labyrinth of second-century divinatory dream-interpretation. Artemidorus' Oneirocritica is the west's earliest surviving manual of dream-interpretation, and it's amazing.2019-09-2439 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Gil Renberg on IncubationIn antiquity the gods sometimes communicated with mortals through dreams. But sometimes the gods can be fickle; in cases like this, you need to head to the sanctuary and go see the god at home. You need ritualised dreaming, or incubation.2019-09-2454 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Plutarch’s Myths of Cosmic AscentIn this episode we look at three different homemade myths found in Plutarch's writings. All of them deal with the fate of the soul after death, all of them put the land of the dead in the sky, and all of them are exceedingly difficult to interpret. We have seen Plutarch interpret a myth esoterically; now we see him making his own esoteric myths.2019-09-1147 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Plutarch’s On Isis and OsirisWe look at Plutarch's tour de force of esoteric hermeneutics, the On Isis and Osiris. Egyptian myth meets Greek esoteric Platonism, and something new is born.2019-08-3038 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)An Erudite Esotericist: Introducing Plutarch of ChæroneaWe introduce Plutarch of Chæronea: first-century man-of-letters, pioneering biographer, and transmitter of ancient esoteric Platonism to the western tradition.2019-08-0938 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Astrology, Politics, and Platonism in the Early Empire: The Case of ThrasyllusWe look at the fascinating figure of Thrasyllus: astrologer, power-player in the imperial Roman court of Tiberius, philosopher … and editor of the works of Plato.2019-07-3141 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Graeme Miles on Apollonius of TyanaApollonius of Tyana was a first-century wandering philosopher-sage, famous in later tradition as a great Pythagorean and wonder-working holy man. We look at the man himself and at his powerful myth.2019-07-1739 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)The Enigma of Early ChristianityWe introduce Christianity. Just how did this movement get started in the first place? The crazy thing is, no one knows.2019-06-0932 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Dylan Burns on the ‘Underworld of Platonism’Building on our previous episode, where we introduced 'Middle Platonism', in this interview we investigate the middle Platonist 'Underworld', religio-philosophical texts of antiquity which became mainstays of later western esoteric traditions: the Chaldæan Oracles, the Hermetica, and the Gnostic tractates.2019-04-3038 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)John Dillon on Middle PlatonismUnder the expert guidance of Professor John Dillon, we begin our exploration of what may be antiquity’s single most crucial current for the development of western esotericism: Middle Platonism.2019-04-1836 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)The Esoteric and the State in Ancient Rome, Part 2: The State and the StarsWe trace the rise of the Hellenistic divinatory art of astrology through the Roman Republic into the first century of the Empire, and investigate how an esoteric science became a matter of highest concern to the Roman state. Expect uprisings, assassinations, and executions. Astrology used to be really exciting.2019-04-1434 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)The Esoteric and the State in Ancient Rome, Part 1: Late Republican EsotericismIn the first of a two-episode series exploring the relationship between state power and esoteric ideas in the late Roman Republic and early empire, we look at what it meant to be esoteric at Rome, and investigate some upper-class Roman esotericists.2019-04-0535 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Introducing RomeThe Eternal City, and the empire she built, cast a long shadow down the ages. This episode consists of some preliminary historical musings on Rome, and, more importantly, on the idea of Rome.2019-03-2939 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Justin Rogers on Philo in Early ChristianityJustin Rogers guides us on a tour of the afterlife of Philo's work. How did the great Hellenistic Jewish thinker become a father of the Christian faith (and of Christian esoteric scriptural hermeneutics in particular)? We find out.2019-03-2234 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)The Esoteric PhiloIn this episode we explore the deeply esoteric thought of Philo of Alexandria. Expect hidden ancient perennial traditions, divine revelation, esoteric philosophic truths hidden in plain sight, arithmological speculations, and much more.2019-03-2244 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)The First Western Esotericist: Philo of AlexandriaThe first true western esotericist: Philo of Alexandria. In this episode we come to grips with what makes him so western, what makes him so esoteric, and introduce his fascinating life and work.2019-03-1143 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Naomi Janowitz on Jewish Magic and ‘The Jewish Magi’ in AntiquityThe Jews in antiquity were busy doing rituals of all sorts, many of which scholars want to call magical. They were also seen by their neighbours as especially skilled at various ritual arts which the neighbours called magical. Naomi Janowitz discusses Jewish magic and the ‘Jewish Magi’ in antiquity.2019-02-2143 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Frances Flannery on Jewish Dreams in AntiquityIn an interview bringing together both the visionary narratives of apocalyptic and the practical side of the Hekhalot traditions, Professor Frances Flannery leads us through the corridors of dreaming and the esoteric in antique Judaism.2019-02-0640 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Palaces of Heavenly Wisdom: The Hekhalot and Merkavah TraditionsWe give an overview of the complex and fascinating Hekhalot and Merkavah texts, works not only describing the journey to God’s throne, but giving instructions on how to get there, and not merely enumerating the angelic hierarchies, but giving the tools to summon and command them.2019-01-1643 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Enoch, Apocalyptic, and Abrahamic FaithIn this episode we explore further the amazing work 1 Enoch, taking in along the way ruminations on the history of the west, debates about the identity of the Enochic authors, and some hints as to the development of the Enochic tradition as a western esoteric ‘scripture’.2019-01-0240 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Enoch and the Book of WatchersThe text known as 1 Enoch is perhaps the greatest work of apocalyptic literature, and a kind of esoteric scripture within Judaism, Christianity, and Gnosticism. We meet the text and look at the evil giants and celestial visions of its first part, the Book of Watchers.2018-12-2638 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)John J. Collins on ApocalypticIn this episode Professor John J. Collins introduces a fascinating product of Second Temple Judaism, and a fertile vehicle for esoteric speculation beyond the bounds of Jewry – apocalyptic literature. All will be revealed!2018-12-0331 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)The Long Secret History of the Jews Part II: Second-Temple JudaismJudaism starts to get seriously esoteric in the time known as the Second Temple period. This episode gives some basic historical points of reference for this era of Jewish antiquity, setting the stage for the visionary journeys, apocalyptic revelations, and magic to come.2018-11-1529 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Pythagoras Revived: An Anatomy of NeopythagoreanismAfter the final Pythagorean died, all was quiet. And then, suddenly, people started going around calling themselves Pythagoreans. Growing long beards. Hailing Pythagoras as an ancient magus-sage. Positing a monad as the ultimate source of reality. Welcome to Neopythagoreanism.2018-11-0535 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)The Numbers Don’t Lie: Joel Kalvesmaki on ‘Pythagorean’ NumberWhenever anyone does something other than arithmetic with numbers, the name Pythagoras tends to crop up. Exactly how this strange situation came about is a fascinating story, and Dr Kalvesmaki has done groundbreaking work on the subject. This episode is a superb introduction to the origins of ‘gematria’ and arithmology.2018-10-2245 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)After PythagorasWhen we last visited the Pythagoreans, they were going through some difficult times. In this episode we discuss what happened next. Pythagoreanism is dead, long live Pythagoreanism!2018-09-2842 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Stoic Physics and Esoteric MetaphysicsThe Stoics had a naturalistic physical theory which, strangely, had a huge influence both on esoteric spirituality and on occult sciences. In this, our final episode on Stoicism, we discuss three key terms from Stoic physics and their surprising afterlives in western esotericism.2018-09-1535 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Esoteric Hermeneutics in StoicismThe contribution of Stoicism to the art of esoteric reading, both of texts and of the secret correspondences within the universe, is little studied. This episode sifts the evidence to set the record straight.2018-08-3140 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Christopher Gill on StoicismStrangely enough, one of the least 'esoteric' schools of antique philosophy, the Stoics, had a profound influence on a number of aspects of western esotericism. In this episode we learn the basics of what they were about from an expert.2018-08-2444 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Chris Brennan on Hellenistic AstrologyHistorical discussions often fail to help us 'get inside' the subject we are looking at. In this episode we talk to Chris Brennan, Hellenistic astrologer and historian, for some theoretical and practical light on the realities of ancient astrology.2018-08-1957 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Fate and Foreknowledge: Toward Hellenistic AstrologyThe synthesis of Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and Greek sciences of the stars gave rise to the art of astrology in Hellenistic Egypt. Astrology went on to become a defining aspect of western culture, and the master-discipline of western esotericism. We look at how it happened.2018-08-1338 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Wheels Within Wheels: Toward Western Esoteric CosmologyWe are moving with astral ineluctability toward the birth of true astrology in the Hellenistic period. But first we need to get from Mesopotamian astronomy to the Greek world. This episode bridges the gap between middle-eastern astral science and the Hellenistic flourishing of Greek astronomy.2018-08-0241 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)The Esoteric Aristotle, Part 2In this episode we survey the philosophical and occult Pseudo-Aristotles of late antiquity and the middle ages, dipping into a couple of wonderful manuscripts along the way.2018-07-1832 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)The Esoteric Aristotle, Part IAristotle might not spring to mind when contemplating the names of esoteric heroes of the past. But the figure of Plato's greatest student in fact had an esoteric afterlife to rival that of Plato himself!2018-07-1228 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Peter Adamson on PlatoWe discuss Plato with Peter Adamson, Professor of Philosophy at the LMU in Munich and presenter of the History of Philosophy Podcast, asking the question: how can the Plato of analytic philosophy be the same man as the esoteric Plato?2018-07-0446 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Plato’s Parmenides and MetaphysicsAt the heart of western esotericism lies a space where logic becomes something that transcends logic; Plato's dialogue the Parmenides is perhaps the first work to occupy that space. Join us for a look at Plato's most baffling work.2018-06-2632 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Mystery and Immortality: Plato’s PhædoThe Phædo depicts Socrates' final hours, spent in philosophical discussion with his circle of friends. Socrates argues that the soul is immortal, and that the philosopher should rejoice to die. But his reasons for believing this are ... mysterious.2018-06-0335 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Mystery and Initiation in PlatoThe idea of initiation is central to western esotericism, but its origins lie in the mystery-cults of the Græco-Roman world. How do we get from ancient ritual practices to a special kind of transcendent knowledge or wisdom? Via Plato, of course.2018-05-2132 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Nowhere to Go But Up: Philosophic Ascent in PlatoPlato looked up with his intellect; the world of eternal truths he fixed his inner gaze on was located above the earthly realm. In this episode we examine the accounts which he gives us of the journey there.2018-05-0841 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Maya Alapin on Mathematical Structures in Plato’s RepublicWe return to the mathematical structures within the text of Plato’s masterwork, guided by a scholar who has looked deeply into the question. Maya Alapin discusses how harmonic theory, music, ratios and proportions intertwine with textual meaning in the Republic.2018-04-1841 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Sun, Line, Cave: Plato’s Inner RepublicIn this episode we explore three beautiful, linked passages in Plato’s masterwork, among the most influential Platonic texts for the history of western esotericism, which describe a world of transcendent truth accessed through the human mind.2018-04-0833 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Introducing Plato’s RepublicPlato’s Republic is widely regarded as his masterwork. It is complex and sly. We introduce the dialogue and try to come to grips with it in a general way, noting the intricate structure of the text itself.2018-04-0246 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Otherworlds, Inner Worlds, and UtopiasPlato’s Republic is the world’s first utopia. But what is a utopia, exactly, and how does it differ from the other invisible worlds we encounter in western esoteric traditions, the otherworlds and inner worlds? We survey types of esoteric space.2018-03-1831 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Christopher Gill on Plato’s AtlantisChristopher Gill, Emeritus Professor of Ancient Thought at the University of Exeter, takes us deep into the territory of Atlantis, one of Plato’s most puzzling creations.2018-03-0838 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Plato’s TimæusIn this episode we introduce Plato’s Timæus, the father of western esotericism’s single most influential dialogue. With this work Plato set the scene for pretty much all subsequent esoteric thought. Dig infinity!2018-03-0835 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)The Birth of the Symbol: Peter Struck on Ancient Greek Esoteric HermeneuticsWhen looking for esoteric wisdom in a text, you need esoteric hermeneutics to find it. We discuss ancient techniques of esoteric reading with Professor Peter Struck, and along the way we learn some fundamental things about esoteric hermeneutics more generally.2018-03-0151 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)The Esoteric PlatoPlato was long considered an esoteric author who hid his true doctrines within his dialogues. We look at some of the reasons for his reputation as the esoteric author par excellence, and discuss modern academic debates around the ‘esoteric question’.2018-02-2535 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Introducing the Father of Western Esotericism: PlatoThe greatest philosopher of the western world was a trickster. In this episode we introduce Plato, the father of western esotericism, and discuss his importance to the esoteric traditions.2018-02-1932 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Miguel Herrero de Jauregui on Ancient ‘Orphism’The elusive 'Orphics' of antiquity continue to present a puzzle to scholars after several centuries of debate and the discovery of amazing new evidence. Dr Miguel Herrero helps us to navigate the fascinating question of ancient 'Orphism'.2018-02-0542 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Severed Heads and Cosmic Eggs: Orpheus and EsotericismThe greatest musician of antiquity was also the founder of mystery-rites, the author of curious theological poetry, and the most famous man to make the journey to the underworld while still alive. In this episode we examine the myth of Orpheus and the Orphic myths.2018-02-0527 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Elementary: Empedocles and the Secret History of the ElementsEmpedocles: the last great poetic philosopher of antiquity, and a cosmic thinker of mind-blowing ambition. This episode looks at his influential theory of the four elements – earth, air, fire, and water – but magic, reincarnation, exiled gods, and cosmic catastrophe come into the discussion as well.2018-01-2330 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)All for One, and One for All: Parmenides of EleaParmenides is the original philosopher of pure Being. And he learned all about Being from a goddess on a trip through the underworld. Philosophy used to be really interesting.2018-01-1732 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Riddle Me This: Heraclitus of EphesusHeraclitus was a combative, obscure, grumpy philosopher who thought everyone was stupid. He was also a pioneer in esoteric modes of discourse, being the earliest philosopher to write in
'riddles', and made several crucial contributions to western esotericism.2018-01-0626 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Don’t Spill the Beans: Pythagorean SilenceOne of the key legacies of ancient Pythagoreanism is its mystique of esoteric silence. We examine the figure of the late-antique 'Pythagorean' philosopher, whose silence is a higher form of speech, and the dynamics of esoteric discourse which cannot, by definition, be revealed.2017-12-2732 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)The Enigma of PythagoreanismThe historical journey from a holy man specialising in soul-manipulation to a fertile philosophic movement innovating in advanced mathematics, astronomy, and harmonic theory is one of the stranger stories of western intellectual history. In this episode we tell it.2017-12-2039 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)The Enigma of PythagorasPythagoras of Samos is revered in the western esoteric traditions as the founder of mathematical mysteries, the discoverer of musical harmony, and the esoteric philosopher par excellence. We survey the earliest evidence and examine the ancient mystagogue and psychagogue who may have founded philosophy.2017-12-1127 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)For the Love of Wisdom: The Birth of PhilosophyWhen we look at the origins of Greek philosophy, we rightly emphasise man's desire to understand the world and his place in it. But there was much more to it than that. Western philosophy begins with revelation, myth, and poetry.2017-12-0225 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Methodologies for the Study of MysticismHow can we even talk about mysticism, if we define mysticism as a phenomenon involving ineffable experiences? This episode negotiates the mind-bending terrain of the study of mystical texts with the aim of getting our terminology straight.2017-11-2334 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)From Mystery to ‘Mysticism’What is the relationship between the ancient initiatory rituals known as mystery-cults and the modern concept of 'mysticism'? In this episode we survey the strange story of the conceptual development of the terms ‘mystic’, ‘mystical’, and ‘mystery’ down the ages.2017-11-1627 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Richard Seaford on the MysteriesWith the inimitable Prof. Seaford as our mystagogue, we explore the world of the ancient Greek mystery-cults, the crucial source for western esoteric tropes of secrecy, silence, initiation, and much more.2017-11-1033 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)The Long Secret History of Judaism, Part IThe Jews and Judaism are at the very core of western cuture and of western esotericism. This episode touches on the history of the early Jewish peoples, introduces biblical criticism, and discusses some of the key contributions of Judaism to western esotericism.2017-11-0131 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Prayer to the Gods of Night: The Near-Eastern Roots of AstrologyThe earliest known science of astrology developed in Mesopotamia as one and the same science as the first known astronomy. We chart the earliest known texts and their development.2017-10-2527 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)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 evidence and some of the modern debates about the evidence.2017-10-1832 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)Esoteric Orientalism Part I: Ancient Barbarian SagesIn 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 Trismegistus, and ... Moses.2017-10-1128 minPodcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)We’re Together In Dreams: Dreaming and Western EsotericismDreams 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 about dreams, their relation to myths, and ancient theories about dreaming.2017-10-0531 min