theurgy in iamblichus, agrippa, and the golden...
TRANSCRIPT
Theurgy in Iamblichus, Agrippa, and the Golden Dawn
Sam Webster, M.Div., PhD(e) University of Bristol
PantheaCon 2015
This Talk
1. What my thesis demonstrates
2. What I could not put in it (only 80k words)
3. The Practice of Iamblichan Theurgy
Part 1: Thesis
• The Problem: How old are we, Where do we come from?
• Ancient lineages debunked :-(
However:
• Ancient spiritual technology supported
Methodology
• Three key sources: Iamblichus, Agrippa, Golden Dawn
• Strategy: Focus on ‘what to do’ • Tool–Systems Analysis: Pattern matching • Validate: The trail of knowledge transfer • If we can show that the same set of activities
are in all three sources and a chain of custody established then we demonstrate that an ancient pre-Christian spiritual/religious practice was transmitted into modern times.
Methodology
Iamblichus Agrippa Golden Dawn
Line of Transmission: Books
What is Theurgy?
Julian the Theurgist (perhaps) but mostly Iamblichus of Chalcis, later Proclus of the Athenian Academy
Ordinary worship: Sacrifice & Prayer Informed by Philosophy
of the Athenian Academy
Iamblichan Paradigm 1. Cosmology & Psychology 2. Primary Method: Sacrifice 3. Advancement Path: Education, Purification, Empowerment
A. Taking the Shape of the Gods 1. Enspheration 2. Hieratic form
I. Oracles & Possession II. Joining Parts to Wholes
B. Ascent to the Creative Source I. Solar Worship II. Photogogia
C. Personal Daemon 4. Attainment:
A. Material Benefits B. General Spiritual Benefits C. Demiurgic Mimesis
Agrippan Synthesis: Transmission
• Extensive direct and explicit citations of Neoplatonists
• Implicit citations
• Extensive quotes from Ficino and others (unattributed)
Agrippan Synthesis: Pattern
1. Cosmology & Psychology Kabbalah 2. Primary Method: Sacrifice (mostly) Invocation 3. Advancement Path: Education, Purification, Empowerment
A. Taking the Shape of the Gods 1. Enspheration (Not much) 2. Hieratic form (Only an anthropomorphic Jahovah)
I. Oracles & Possession The 4 Frenzies II. Joining Parts to Wholes All the tools but no instruction
B. Ascent to the Creative Source (Regularly referenced) I. Solar Worship (Enjoined) II. Photogogia (Scant reference)
C. Personal Daemon (a whole chapter, but not Iamblichan in method) 4. Attainment:
A. Material Benefits (most of the book) B. General Spiritual Benefits (mentioned) C. Demiurgic Mimesis (wondrous effects)
Golden Dawn Implementation: Transmission
• Agrippa is key, but don’t forget The Magus • Iamblichus via Thomas Taylor
• Neoplatonism hidden under Qabalah
• Theurgy now called Magic
Golden Dawn Implementation: Pattern
1. Cosmology & Psychology Qabalah 2. Primary Method: No Sacrifice, lots of Invocation 3. Advancement Path: Education, Purification, Empowerment
A. Taking the Shape of the Gods 1. Enspheration (Sphere of Sensation) 2. Hieratic form (God-forms)
I. Oracles & Possession (Problematic) II. Joining Parts to Wholes (Never spelled out but all tools given, balance enjoined)
B. Ascent to the Creative Source (Ascend the Tree, in grades and for real) I. Solar Worship (Implied) II. Photogogia (post-Mesmer, The Magic of Light, magnetism, energy. . .)
C. Personal Daemon (Z2 docs: Spiritual Development, Abramelin) 4. Attainment:
A. Material Benefits (Occult Powers) B. General Spiritual Benefits (Occult Powers) C. Demiurgic Mimesis (Occult Powers)
3 Eras of Theurgic Sacrifice Catholic Liturgy
1530 ad Burnt Sacrifice
300 ad Masonic Ritual
1890 ad
Conclusion, but not the ending
The pattern holds in all three systems
Lines of transmission are demonstrable
Thus: The spiritual practice ‘Theurgy’ was transmitted
via books to the Renaissance, then via books and persons to the Victorian Age, then
via books, persons, and groups to Pagans today
Therefore: Paganism has an ancient origin, just not a lineal one, but one via knowledge transfer
So What?
• We are a revival of ancient spiritual practices, worshiping the ancient Divinities
• The Golden Dawn is one of the founts of contemporary Paganism: it delivered the tech of theurgy is a practicable manner
• We can (and do!) apply this today.
Problem: the scholars (and others) all say, “Iamblichus doesn't tell us what to do!”
Wrong! or Part 2: the things I could not fit
• De Mysteriis is a guide to theurgic practice
• It contains explicit instructions on how to turn ordinary worship into theurgy
Why don’t the scholars, etc., see this? • They are not ritualists
• They are looking for the WEIRD!• Or, they don’t have enough philosophy
The Engine of Theurgy
• De Mysteriis, Book 5, on sacrifice Tells how to approach ordinary sacrifice in a
theurgic manner, but doesn't describe it
• Needed: The Greek Rubric of Sacrifice • Walter Burkert’s model of Sacrifice,
Homo Necans, 1972:
Used generally throughout the Mediterranean basin, with cultural and local variations.
What is Sacrifice? Burkert’s Model: A. Worshipers Gather,
Clean, Wreathed B. Procession C. Preparation (circle,
purify, incense) 1. Preliminary Libations
& Prayers 2. Main Sacrifice:
Slaughter & Butcher 3. Post-Sacrifice
Libations & Prayers
• Feast (Barbeque!)
The Engine of Theurgy
• Burkert’s Model + DM5 = Theurgic Sacrifice
• DM5 = (today’s language) use the correspondences of the Deity (etc.) to be invoked in choosing what offerings, invocations, incense, dress…
• Determined by: – Traditional Hiereun Teknen, Priestcraft
– The inhering Sunthemata
Neo-Platonic Cosmology
The God(Helios)
Emanated Logos(Taurus)
Word Given Flesh(Bull)
Prohodos & Genesis
Epistrophy & Anagogy
In Sacrifice… • Released from matter, the logos or
Sunthemata ‘returns’ to the Deity from which it emanated
• Now you have the Deity’s attention • But only if duly addressed:
Prayer (invocation)
A Libation without Invocation is just a Spilled Drink
How Invocation Works
How Sacrifice Works 1. Concentrates objects and actions possessing
the God’s Sunthemata 2. Ritual drama focuses worshipers’ attention on
objects and actions bearing Sunthemata 3. Sunthemata in objects and actions activates
the Logoi of the God in the worshipers 4. All this produces the experience of the God in
the worshiper (to the limits of their fitness)
Theurgy: does it with attention & intention
Theurgic Sacrifice • Same as “Common” Sacrifice but more
‘hardware’ (maybe). . . – Sacred (secret?) Prayers – Correct Libations – Correct Animal to Sacrifice – Correct (secret?) Symbols: characters, ornament,
music, incense, statues, &c. • All bear the Sunthemata of the God:
“Immaterial beings are present in material natures immaterially” –Iamblichus
But do you need the Bull?
• If you don’t have the experience or the philosophy to know that what you are really offering is the Sunthemata…
• All you can do is offer the Bull (who is made of the Sunthemata) and ‘address’ it
• But if you have the training…
3 Parts of Sacrifice
Wholly Material (Regular Worship)
The 3 Grades of Theurgy
Wholly Immaterial (Plotinian Worship)
Hybrid Worship (Material as media
for Immaterial)
Material Sacrifice: Animals, Libations, Cakes and other Objects
Symbol Sacrifice: Words/Sounds, Gestures/Actions, Characters/Graphics
Thought Sacrifice: Geometric Forms, Numbers, ???. . . the Ineffable
A moment for Plotinus
How to do sacrifice
• Pick a Deity or other Divine Being • ‘Heap-up’ objects, symbols & thoughts
bearing the Sunthemata of the Deity • Burn the objects, Throw them away, Dedicate
them, Say them, See them, Think them. . . but most of all, Behold them and Invoke! • In Touching the Sunthemata of the Deity,
you Touch the Deity
Epitediotes: The direction of Theurgic Advancement • Fitness • Qualifies the ex opere operato nature of
the Sunthemata
• Enspheration • Sensitivity
Part 3: Iamblichan Theurgy
1. Cosmology & Psychology 2. Primary Method: Sacrifice 3. Advancement: Education, Purification, Empowerment
A. Taking the Shape of the Gods 1. Enspheration 2. Hieratic form
I. Oracles & Possession II. Joining Parts to Wholes
B. Ascent to the Creative Source I. Solar Worship II. Photogogia
C. Personal Daemon 4. Attainment:
A. Material Benefits B. General Spiritual Benefits C. Demiurgic Mimesis
Neo-Platonic Cosmology
A 4-Leveled World: 1. The One & the Gods as Henads (Aspects) 2. The Noetic & the Gods as Forms 3. The Psychic & 1st Emanations of the Gods 4. The Cosmos & the (en-)Cosmic Gods – The Celestial – The Terrestrial
Neo-Platonic Psychology
A 4-Leveled Person: 1. The One in You: makes you one 2. The Noetic: non-discursive mind 3. The Psychic: immortal Soul • Augoeides: Pneumatic-Ætheric Soul Vehicle
4. The Cosmos: mortal Body
3 Fold Sacrifice
Iamblichan Theurgy
3. Advancement: Education, Purification, Empowerment A. Taking the Shape of the Gods
1. Enspheration 2. Hieratic form
I. Oracles & Possession II. Joining Parts to Wholes
B. Ascent to the Creative Source I. Solar Worship II. Photogogia
C. Personal Daemon
Iamblichan Theurgy
4. Attainment: A. Material Benefits
B. General Spiritual Benefits
C. Demiurgic Mimesis
Where did Theurgy Come From?
• Do this at home, Kids…
• The Privatization of Cult – How do we Learn Ritual?
Want to learn more? • Open Source Order of the Golden Dawn:
OSOGD.org • Suite 1060 Also— • I will be teaching this on-line and in person:
Education & Coaching • Get on the contact sheet (name & email) • Contact me:
Buy my Book
Thank you!
Theurgy in Iamblichus, Agrippa, & the Golden Dawn
Sam Webster, m.div, phd(e)
University of Bristol
3 Eras Iamblichus 300
AD Agrippa 1530 AD Golden Dawn
1890 AD
Noetic Noetic Noetic
Hymns to the Gods, Characters
(Graphics) & Symbolic acts
Planetary talismans and Orphic Hymns
Pentagrams, Hexagrams,
Qabalistic Names & Incantations
Sacrifice Catholic Mass (etc.) Masonic Grammar