Was ritual magic ever taken seriously by philosophers?
In this episode, I explore Neoplatonism and theurgy, the ancient ritual philosophy that challenged the idea that spiritual ascent happens through contemplation alone. From Plotinus and Porphyry to Iamblichus, Proclus, and the Chaldean Oracles, we will examine how late antique philosophers understood ritual, divine symbols, sacred matter, and the soulโs return to the divine.
Rather than treating theurgy as superstition or irrational magic, recent scholarship has shown that it was a sophisticated philosophical system in which ritual, embodiment, and material objects played a central role in spiritual transformation.
I also discuss why this matters for contemporary practitioners of magic, Paganism, polytheism, and Western esotericism today. Can ritual truly connect the human and divine? Is theurgy different from sorcery? And what happens when philosophy becomes a sacred practice?
Join me as we uncover the ancient philosophy behind ritual magic.
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