ESOTERICA

What was Yom Kippur like in the ancient Temple of Jerusalem?

G'mar chatima tova and tzom kal!

1 day ago | [YT] | 242

ESOTERICA

Of the occult sciences, alchemy is perhaps one of the least directly accessible to modern readers. Texts of alchemy are especially difficult to follow for a host of reasons: they assume fundamentally different physical and metaphysical structures and processes about reality than those of modernity, their language is couched in codes and symbolism and the texts are often doing as much to intentionally obscure their message as convey it. Hence, alchemy - unlike astrology and even magic - remains among the most obscure elements of western esotericism.

But, not every alchemical text is marked by such extreme obscurity. Indeed, a work ascribed to none less than Albertus Magnus - the Libellus de Alchemia (the little book on alchemy) also known as the Semita Recta (the right path) - is one of the most complete and coherent volumes of both alchemical theory and practice from the Middle Ages. So, if you’ve ever wanted a truly comprehensive, yet brief and approachable, introduction to medieval alchemy this is the volume for you. Join me Friday and let’s work through one of the most popular alchemical handbooks of the middle ages. OR - check out the episode NOW by supporting ‪@TheEsotericaChannel‬ over at my Patreon, link below!

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5 days ago | [YT] | 2,924

ESOTERICA

What if the agony of purification was ecstacy? Catherine of Genoa (d. 1510), born to an aristocratic family and trapped in a loveless marriage, had a profound mysticism conversion at the age of 26. Following this, she took to serving the poor and sick but also detailing one of the most rich analysis of the phenomenology of mystical transformation. Here she details how God as annihilative Love eradicates the Ego leaving behind a purified soul which can then drown in the Divine Abyss. But, this process of purgation - including her visions of Purgatory itself - mean that the agony of purification is also pure ecstasy. Join me Friday and let's explore the mysticism of Purgatory in Catherine of Genoa - OR watch the episode now by supporting ‪@TheEsotericaChannel‬ over at my Patreon, link below and see you Friday!

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1 week ago | [YT] | 3,105

ESOTERICA

First of all, I'm fine!

But, woke up night before last with an unhappy bat flying around the room (undead, undead) and guess what? That counts as a high risk rabies exposure - fun! So, just back from the ER to start the rounds of the rabies vaccine.

But, while avoiding rabies, waiting in the ER gave me some time to work on my lecture notes on the upcoming Neo-Pythagoreans.

I was planning to do a livestream this week but I'm going to push that back slightly and we're back to Greek Magical Papyri next week in an exploration of the complex magical operation of the 8th Book of Moses.

So, here's to no hydrophobia and yes Neo-Pythagoreanism!

1 month ago | [YT] | 9,526

ESOTERICA

I don't know who needs to hear it but evil Brill's Summer sale is going on until August 11th with code DGBSUMMER26 - Yep, that's my breakdown for this year:

Total Before Tax: $1,390.00
Discount: $556.00
Tax: $0.00
Shipping: $6.49
Purchased Item Total: $840.49

$840.49 for 8 books and that's WITH the 40% discount. Brill doesn't pay its authors. It's print on demand. It's financial gatekeeping. Academic publishing is a scam. So, 🏴‍☠️

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 2,613

ESOTERICA

In 1317 Pope John XXII was only a year into his papacy, though elected when he was already in his early 70s. And, through 1317 to 1319, investigations and trials uncovered several plots to kill the pope through sorcery and poison. 1320 would realize yet another plot, Galeazzo Visconti of Milan was accused of attempting to use aconite - wolf’s bane - and image magic to kill the pope, even attempting to bring Dante Alighieri into the conspiracy to charm the image of the pope. From the beginning of his papacy sorcery and heresy were at the forefront of John XXII’s attention. And, it would be during this period that sorcery would be transformed from sin to heresy, thus forever transforming western attitudes toward magic. But, what was this process and how did John XII transform our understanding of magic and even set the stage for the nightmare of the witch trials? Join me tomorrow and let’s explore the early 14th century transformation of sorcery from mere sin to heretical depravity. Or - check out the episode now, Early Access, by supporting the channel over at Patreon, link below!

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1 month ago | [YT] | 2,117

ESOTERICA

How interested would you be in a weekend of in-depth, small group (20 people max) learning with ⁨‪@TheEsotericaChannel‬ at the historic Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado: the inspiration for the Overlook in Stephen King's The Shining? We'd cover topics chosen by the group, textual studies, lectures, break out study sessions, I'd bring some antiquarian volumes, tours of the grounds, hoping ghosts show up, etc...sometime around March of 2027 - Let me know!

1 month ago | [YT] | 574

ESOTERICA

Great Analysis Here:

1 month ago | [YT] | 129

ESOTERICA

Had a wonderful time dialoging with ‪@Andreduqum‬ over at the Know Thyself podcast - check out our over 3 hour conversation!

2 months ago | [YT] | 255

ESOTERICA

New Summer Catalog over at the Bookshop, featuring leaves of both the great alchemist Paracelsus and Del Rio's infamous Witch-hunting manual The Investigations into Magic - an affordable way to own an authentic piece of esoteric history - Link Below!

2 months ago | [YT] | 811