The Higherside Chats Patrick Harpur | The Secret Tradition Of The Soul & The Philosopher’s Secret Fire
Mar 25, 2024
In this engaging discussion, Patrick Harpur, an esteemed author focused on imagination and esoteric traditions, delves into the significance of past ideas in contemporary life. He critiques modern literalism, advocating for the importance of imagination as a core aspect of the soul. Harpur explores concepts like soul contracts, archetypes as psychological forces, and the impact of fragmented spiritual guidance in Western culture. He also reflects on the loss of initiation rites for youth, emphasizing their importance for personal development.
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Imagination As Primary Human Faculty
- Patrick Harpur argues imagination, not reason, is the soul's chief faculty in traditional thought.
- He says modern literalism elevates reason and undermines the soul's metaphorical understanding of reality.
Cosmos Made Of Soul
- Harpur presents a Neoplatonic view that the cosmos is woven from soul and we are individuated portions of it.
- This leads to a macrocosm-microcosm correspondence where humans resonate with the wider world soul.
Animism Requires Respectful Relations
- Animist cultures treat all things as ensouled and require respectful relationships with animals and nature.
- Harpur highlights ritual language and euphemisms used to avoid offending the soul of hunted animals.
