Connects the magical practice of theurgy to the time of Homer • Explores the many theurgic themes and events in the Odyssey and the Iliad • Analyzes the writings of Neoplatonists Porphyry and Proclus, showing how both describe the technical ritual praxis of theurgy in Homeric terms • Examines the methods of telestikē, a form of theurgic statue animation and technique to divinize the soul, and how theurgy is akin to shamanic soul flight First defined by the second century Chaldean Oracles, theurgy is an ancient magic practice whereby practitioners divinized the soul and achieved mystical union with a deity, the Demiurge, or the One. In this detailed study, P. D. Newman pushes the roots of theurgy all the way back before the time of Homer. He shows how the Chaldean Oracles were not only written in Homeric Greek but also in dactylic hexameter, the same meter as the epics of Homer. Linking the Greek shamanic practices of the late Archaic period with the theurgic rites of late antiquity, the author explains how both anabasis, soul ascent, and katabasis, soul descent, can be considered varieties of shamanic soul flight and how these practices existed in ancient Greek culture prior to the influx of shamanic influence from Thrace and the Hyperborean North. The author explores the many theurgic themes and symbolic events in the Odyssey and the Iliad, including the famous journey of Odysseus to Hades and the incident of the funeral pyre of Patroclus. He presents a close analysis of On the Cave of the Nymphs, Porphyry’s commentary on Homer’s Odyssey, as well as a detailed look at Proclus’s symbolic reading of Homer’s Iliad, showing how both of these Neoplatonists describe the philosophical theory and the technical ritual praxis of theurgy. Using the Chaldean Oracles as a case study, Newman examines in detail the methods of telestikē, a form of theurgic statue animation, linking this practice to ancient Egyptian and Greek traditions as well as theurgic techniques to divinize the soul. Revealing how the theurgic arts are far older than the second century, Newman’s study not only examines the philosophical theory of theurgy but also the actual ritual practices of the theurgists, as described in their own words.

Deification penetrates all spheres of human existence, and can be seen as an answer to most pending ultimate questions. It is essentially practical in its manifestation and uplifting in its content, but nevertheless, always evasive and arcane in itscomprehension. Aimed both at those who are already students of theosis and at those who are looking for an introductory text.

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The general scope of the present volume is to present a variety of approaches and topics within the growing field of research on Byzantine aesthetics. Theurgy in Neoplatonic and Christian contexts is represented by the contributions of W.-M. Stock and L. Bergemann; theories of beauty are at the centre of interest of the papers by S. Mariev and M. Marchetto. A. Pizzone approaches Byzantine aesthetics by looking for aesthetic experience in the literary texts, while the remaining contributions explore issues related to the iconoclast controversy: An important moment in the development of Byzantine philosophy on the eve of iconoclasm is the primary interest of A. del Campo Echevarría, who looks at the question of universals in John of Damaskos. The relationship between image and text in Byzantine illustrated manuscripts occupies the attention of B. Crostini. D. Afinogenov explores from a philological perspective the fate of important iconophile terminology in Old Bulgarian, while L. Lukhovitskij reconstructs from historical and philological perspectives the historical memory of the iconoclast controversy during the Late Byzantine Period.

This book examines the writings of an early sixth-century Christian mystical theologian who wrote under the name of a convert of the apostle Paul, Dionysius the Areopagite, and argues that the pseudonym and the corresponding influence of Paul are the crucial lens through which to read this influential corpus.

Since its emergence in the nineteenth century, the Theosophical Society has wielded enormous influence across diverse fields, none more so than the study of religion. This volume explores this legacy in North America, Europe, and India, demonstrating its impact on the conceptualization of “religion” and its influence on methods of comparison. Unveiling overlooked entanglements, the volume challenges standard narratives in the history of religious studies and interrogates the deliberate neglect of theosophy’s influence in the “secular” academy. In doing so, the work confronts lingering ghosts, urging a reappraisal that enriches the study of religion and offers prescriptions for its future.

A guide to realizing your highest magical and spiritual potential • Provides initiatory wisdom and practices structured around the Tree of Life to maximize spiritual powers and creativity • Presents strategies for self-actualization drawn from transpersonal psychology, spirituality, Gaia-based religions, the Western hermetic tradition, Kabbalah, and other mystical traditions, including the teachings of Franz Bardon • Offers practices for enhancing connection to one’s higher self, exploring dreamtime on the astral plane, dissolving negativity, and developing mental clarity In initiation, something happens to us. We change. Some aspect of ourselves is transformed. The result is that the various forces within us—desires, dreams, motivations, and inspirations—are amplified, deepened, and redirected. Ultimately, the goal is to become your own creation, your better self, the person you wish to be. In this accessible guide to realizing your highest magical and spiritual potential, William Mistele presents a wealth of practices and initiatory wisdom, structured around the Tree of Life, to help you develop the vast spiritual world within. Drawing on hermetic teachings, the Kabbalah, and the elemental magic of Franz Bardon, he provides psychological skills to master, dreams to explore, and initiations to experience. His methods enhance sensory perception and deepen feelings of peace and oneness with the universe. He shares practices for learning to talk to and gain the cooperation of your subconscious, techniques for dissolving negativity, ways to create bliss and ecstasy at will, and the means for enhancing a connection to one’s higher self. For each of the ten sephiroth of the Tree of Life, progressing from the sephirah connected to the physical world to those connected to the astral plane, enlightenment, and the higher self, Mistele explores each sephirah’s unique spiritual qualities and wisdom and offers challenges for the reader to accomplish and magical methods to unite oneself with the four elements of nature (earth, air, fire, and water) from within. He shares profound psychological and spiritual experiences that can occur once you know a sephirah deeply and explains exactly how you can reproduce these experiences for yourself. Offering initiatory practices to help you enact transformation at the core of your being, he guides you to bring each sephirah to life via visualization and dreams. Providing a roadmap to the spiritual world, Mistele empowers you to have more self-understanding, to be more successful and confident, and to have the imagination and spiritual freedom to transform into the person you wish to be.

Recaptures the magical vitality of the original Orphic Hymns • Presents literary translations of the teletai that restore important esoteric details and correspondences about the being or deity to which each hymn is addressed • Includes messages inscribed on golden leaves meant to be passports for the dead as well as a reinvention of a lost hymn to Number that preserves the original mystical intent of the teletai • Explores the obscure origins and the evolution of the Orpheus myth, revealing a profound influence on countercultures throughout Western history As famous Renaissance philosopher Marsilio Ficino wrote, “No magic is more powerful than that of the Orphic Hymns.” These legendary teletai of Orpheus were not simply “hymns”—they were initiatic poems for meditation and ritual, magical, and ceremonial use, each one addressed to a specific deity, such as Athena or Zeus, or a virtue, such as Love, Justice, and Equality. Yet despite the mystical concepts underlying them, the original hymns were formulaic, creating an obstacle for translators. Recapturing the magical vitality that inspired mystery cults through the ages, Tamra Lucid and Ronnie Pontiac present new versions of the teletai that include important esoteric details and correspondences about the being or deity to which each hymn is addressed. The authors also include a new version of a lost hymn called “Number” and messages that were inscribed on golden leaves meant to be passports for the dead, reinventions that preserve the original magical intent and mysticism of the teletai. Revealing the power of the individual hymns to attune the reader to the sacred presence of the Orphic Mysteries and the higher order of nature, the authors also show how, taken together, the Orphic Hymns are a book of hours or a calendar of life, addressing every event, from birth to death, and walking us through all the experiences of human existence as necessary and holy.

This book studies the hymns composed by the Neoplatonist Proclus in the context of his philosophy. Its main claim is that the hymns should be understood in the context of theurgy, the ritual art adopted by the Neoplatonists in order to obtain mystical experiences. The first part of the book consists of a series of essays which discuss the relation of the hymns to Proclus’ Neoplatonism, his theory of poetry, and especially to theurgy. The second part offers translations of the individual hymns together with a detailed commentary. This study will be of special interest to those working in the field of Neoplatonism and a helpful guide to scholars of Late Antique poetry and religion who wish to explore these intriguing, yet at times obscure poems.

This book puts the hymns by the Neoplatonist Proclus in the context of his philosophy and offers a detailed commentary together with a new translation of them.