This episode of the podcast explores the historical context of Agrippa's occult philosophy, including the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the impact of science and philosophy. It also provides an overview of Three Books of Occult Philosophy and outlines the plan for the series. The podcast dives into topics such as the meeting between Agrippa and Trithymius, conversations on magic and hidden sciences, the end of the Italian Renaissance and the impact of the Protestant Reformation, the historical context and influences of Agrippa's occult philosophy, and the disconnect and lessons in magic and occult philosophy.
The podcast provides a historical overview of the Holy Roman Empire during Agrippa's time, including weak imperial authority, governing institutions, and the Protestant Reformation.
Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy cover a wide range of topics, including magic, astrology, math, spirits, and the nature of the human soul, making it a cornerstone of Western esotericism.
Deep dives
The Meeting between Agrippa and Trithymius
Sometime between 1506 and 1509, a young Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa visited Johannes Trithymius, the abbot of St. James Abbey. Trithymius was known for his reputation as a magician and occultist, which had caused him some trouble in the past. During their meeting, they discussed topics like chemistry, magic, kabbalah, and the reasons why magic was reviled and condemned by theologians in the Catholic Church.
The Historical Background
The podcast provides a historical overview of the Holy Roman Empire during Agrippa's time. It talks about the weak imperial authority, the governing institutions, and the Protestant Reformation that challenged the Catholic Church. It also explores the influence of the Italian Renaissance and the birth of modern science during this period.
A Look into Occult Philosophy
The podcast delves into Agrippa's three books of occult philosophy. Book one discusses the natural world, including Agrippa's definition of magic, correspondences, and fantastic tales. Book two examines the celestial world, focusing on numbers, mathematics, astrology, and the hierarchy of spirits. Book three explores the divine world, covering the nature of the human soul, ritual purity, secrecy, and the kabbalah.
The Lasting Legacy of Occult Philosophy
The podcast discusses the ongoing influence and impact of occult philosophy, noting that it became a cornerstone of Western esotericism. It mentions how Agrippa's work influenced subsequent occult teachings, such as those of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. The podcast also emphasizes the importance of Agrippa's book and its continuing relevance in the study of magic and Western esoteric traditions.
Welcome to the first episode in a series that will be exploring the content, message, and ongoing influence of Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa's magnum opus, De occulta philosophia libri tres, better known in the modern world as Three Books of Occult Philosophy. In this series of episodes, I will talk to experts, translators, historians, and magicians to unravel the secret of this book of secrets, as we figure out not only where this important book came from, but why it has had such a lasting impact on the world.
If we want to understand Occult Philosophy, we first need to take a look at the world in which Agrippa lived. This episode will begin by looking at the Holy Roman Empire, where Agrippa was born and spent most of his life, and then examine a few key historical topics that are relevant to Agrippa and Occult Philosophy, including:
The Renaissance
The Reformation
Science and Philosophy
Finally, this episode will give a general overview of Three Books of Occult Philosophy and outline a general plan for this series of podcast episodes.
This series of episodes about Occult Philosophy will most likely last until Summer. My Patreon supporters will be receiving each episode a week before the rest of the world, along with bonus materials such as full interviews, a glimpse at works in progress, and the opportunity to suggest further topics for this Agrippa deep dive.
If you enjoy these episodes and want to help support their development, you can help out by sharing this podcast with a friend! Let your weird wizard buddies and witch pals know that we have embarked on this journey. And if you want to contribute monetarily, you can go to the Support page on this website and find a number of options.
"Freemasonry and the Occult" will be on January 26th, both online and in-person in Portland, Oregon.
"Unraveling the Arbatel" will be online on January 19th.
Click the link to sign up!
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com