Podcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)

Brian Alt on Sacred Materials, Divine Names, and Subtle Physiology in Iamblichean Theurgy

May 11, 2022

Learn about sacred materials, cosmic sympathy, soul descent through planetary spheres, metaphors in theurgy, 360-day year in Egyptian timekeeping, astrology in Greco-Roman culture, fate and ritual practices, and the concept of the personal diamond in esotericism.

52:55

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Quick takeaways

Sacred materials and divine names are utilized in theurgy to enhance the fitness of the soul and create receptivity to divine influence.

Yamblikus explores the concept of cosmic sympathy, which involves the interconnectedness and correspondence between different aspects of the cosmos, facilitating purification of the soul and divinatory practices.

Deep dives

Sacred materials and divine names

Yamblikus discusses the use of sacred materials, such as stones, plants, animals, and aromatic substances, in theurgic rituals. These materials are seen as divine traces of the gods and are used to create receptacles for divine influence. The use of divine names is also emphasized as a way to connect with and invoke specific divine powers. Yamblikus sees both sacred materials and divine names as reflective of the characteristics and influences of the gods, and they are used to enhance the fitness of the soul and create a receptivity to divine influence.

Introduction

5min

The Concept of Cosmic Sympathy and Sacred Materials

12min

Views on the Descent of the Soul through the Planetary Spheres

6min

Metaphors and the Soul in Theurgy

10min

The Significance of the 360 Day Year in Ancient Egyptian Timekeeping

5min

Astrology in Greco-Roman Culture: A Blend of Esoteric and Mainstream

2min

Fate, Ritual Practices, and the Personal Diamond

13min

We explore the nitty-gritty of the ritual acts lying behind the theoretical discussions in the De mysteriis. Brian Alt is our guide on a journey through Iamblichean theurgy, its many parallels in Hermetica and ‘magical’ papyri from Egypt, and its echoes in earlier and later Platonism.

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