Three Books of Occult Philosophy: Recent Episodes
Erik L. Arneson
This series is a deep dive into Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa's massively influential masterpiece, Three Books of Occult Philosophy.
My friends and frequent guests T. Susan Chang and Andrew B. Watt join me for part two of our 2024 retrospective. Susie, as usual, handles the Tarot cards, while Andrew manages the astrology. Pour yourself a beverage and settle in, as we poke at spreadsheets and explore last year's news to peer curiously into the past.
Andrew B. Watt is an astrologer, magician, and cool wizard. T. Susan Chang is a Tarot expert, author, and cool wizard. Please enjoy our look back at the second, tumultuous half of 2024!
Links* The 2024 Forecast Series (including the look back) * T. Susan Chang's website and Tarotista Etsy shop * Andrew B. Watt's website
Support Arnemancy on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancy
Mentioned in this episode:
Visit Sword + Scythe
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com
Sword + Scythe
This special bonus episode is from a brand new podcast, The Reflective Soul, hosted by my friend and recurring Arnemancy guest, Dr. Nick Literski.
The Reflective Soul Podcast explores the intersection of psyche and spirit. Through engaging solo episodes and heartfelt interviews, discover how dreams, symbols, archetypes, and sacred stories can inspire transformation and growth.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to The Reflective Soul Podcast!
Support Arnemancy on Patreon: Support this Podcast
Mentioned in this episode:
Visit Sword + Scythe
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com
Sword + Scythe
For the podcast's fifth anniversary, Eric Purdue joined me at Dark Star Magick in Portland, Oregon, for a live podcast recording. We had a live audience, livestreamed the conversation to YouTube, and overall had a really excellent time. Our conversation focused on his translation of Henry Cornelius Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy, which was released in 2022. I wanted to find out more about the ongoing influence of his translation, and how it is reshaping the modern occult community.
Eric Purdue is a practitioner of medieval astrology, and a santero (olorisha) in Lucumí/Santeria. He has studied metaphysics for over thirty years, with a particular focus on practical folk and astrological magic. His work on traditional talismanic magic appeared in the inaugural edition of The Ascendant (2014).
Thanks to Dark Star Magick for hosting this event. While it may have been a crazy idea to host it on Halloween, Steve enthusiastically jumped on the idea and then trusted us to pull it off. I am very grateful that he sat in as the intermediary between our Internet audience and the live event. Dark Star Magick is an incredible occult bookstore, carrying new, used, and rare books. They ship all over the world, so be sure to check out their online shop.
Live podcasts are a lot of work, and I couldn't have done this without the help of my brother Nick Arneson, and his audio/visual engineering skills. Make sure to check out his music and video production agency, Sunshine Presents.
Links Eric Purdue's website * Dark Star Magick * Three Books of Occult Philosophy* by Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa (trans. Eric Purdue) * Dr. Justin Sledge's Agrippa course
Support Arnemancy on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancy
Mentioned in this episode:
Visit Sword + Scythe
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com
Sword + Scythe
Part 1 of the 2025 Forecast is here! The Confraternity of Prognosticators has convened once more, and I am joined by my friends Andrew B. Watt and T. Susan Chang to use astrology and Tarot to forecast the coming year. We are delighted to have you on this amusing journey! This episode covers the months January through June, along with a bonus forecast about TikTok.
Andrew B. Watt is an astrologer, magician, and cool wizard. T. Susan Chang is a Tarot expert, author, and cool wizard. You know who we are, now go listen to us prognosticate!
Links* Andrew B. Watt's website * T. Susan Chang's website
Support Arnemancy on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancy
Happy holidays! My friend and returning guest Michael Sanborn joins me for this extra-special Christmas episode to drink yerba mate and discuss his latest Remy Boyer translation. The Way Without Masters: A Collection of Nondualist Texts is a collection of manifestos, hymns, verse, and prose that span a selection of collected topics from surrealism to Sebastianism to incoherism.
We recorded this episode in the comfort of Michael's dining room while sipping yerba mate. Our conversation covers a broad array of topics from expressionism to the challenges of translating mystical verse. It was a delight to have Michael as a return guest.
Michael Sanborn is a book designer and translator specializing in contemporary European esoterica. He participates in several esoteric traditions, including Neoplatonism, and Templarism. He is also a gnostic bishop and a member of Azoth Temple in Portland, Oregon.
Rémi Boyer has explored at length the world of the avant-garde, initiatory traditions, and philosophies of enlightenment. He works within the setting of the House of Surrealists in Cordes-sur-Ciel, for a new alliance between traditions, philosophies of awakening, and the artistic avant-garde. He is the author of some twenty specialized works, particularly on Western initiatory movements.
Links* Get the new book at Ways of Awakening * Rose Circle Books * Michael's previous podcast appearances: * Friends of the Spirit with Michael Sanborn * Seeking the Imago Templi with Michael Sanborn
Support Arnemancy on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancy
Mentioned in this episode:
Visit Sword + Scythe
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com
Sword + Scythe
Sam Block joins me to explain why he possibly thought it was a good idea to start a weekly Kybalion discussion group on the Hermetic House of Life (HHoL). Sam is a moderator of HHoL and runs the Digital Ambler website, a blog about Hermeticism, magic, and the occult.
This episode is based off of my recent YouTube video, The Nightmare of Hermes Trismegistus, but it includes the full interview with Sam instead of just the bits that made it into the video. Listen and enjoy!
By the way, if you are interested in what to read instead of the Kybalion, I have an excellent reading list you should check out.
Links * The Digital Ambler * The Hermetic House of Life * The only good edition of the Kybalion
Support Arnemancy on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancy
This episode is repurposed from my first YouTube video. It is an exploration of the methods behind why divination works, featuring my friend Tres Henry. Note that this is not an episode that tries to convince skeptics that divination works—we just take that for granted!
Tres Henry is a magician, software engineer, and tinkerer who has worked in the tech industry for over twenty years. He is now bringing all of that nerd power to bear by creating digital tools for magicians. Two that you may have heard of are the astrology software Urania and online geomantic tool Georatio. He is currently working on building the best astrology software in the world.
Links* Hall of Doors (Tres's website) * Urania * Georatio * Cosmic Plumbing * This episode, but on YouTube
Support Arnemancy on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancy
Mentioned in this episode:
Visit Sword + Scythe
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com
Sword + Scythe
Sara Mastros is the author of Sorcery of Solomon, Orphic Hymns Grimoire, and The Big Book of Magical Incense. She teaches magic and witchcraft online and is currently working on even more incredible Solomonic pentacle material.
She joins me to discuss many topics, including the Solomonic pentacles and the nature of initiation. Sara helps put the Key of Solomon in its proper historic context, guiding us through the interpretation and explanation of these well-known but poorly-understood classics of the Western magical tradition.
Links The Sorcery of Solomon* by Sara Mastros * Witch Lessons * Changing Times Changing Worlds Conference
Support Arnemancy on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancy
Mentioned in this episode:
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Connect with fellow listeners and maybe chat with your favorite podcast guests.
Join the Arnemancy Discord!
Visit Sword + Scythe
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com
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Welcome to the 6th season of the Arnemancy Podcast! It has been a delightful ride. We are kicking off this season with another meeting of the Confraternity of Prognosticators. This time, we are reviewing our forecast for the first half of 2024, carefully combing through headlines for each month, to see where we were right, where we were wrong, and to discuss how forecasts can be more effective in the future.
My friends and frequent guests T. Susan Chang and Andrew B. Watt join me for this retrospective. Susie, as usual, handles the Tarot cards, while Andrew manages the astrology. Pour yourself a beverage and settle in, as we explore spreadsheets and newspapers to peer curiously into the recent past.
Links* T. Susan Chang's website and Tarotista Etsy shop * Andrew B. Watt's website
Support Arnemancy on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancy
Mentioned in this episode:
Visit Sword + Scythe
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com
Sword + Scythe
Check out the Arnemancy Discord server!
Connect with fellow listeners and maybe chat with your favorite podcast guests.
Join the Arnemancy Discord!
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Jacob Budenz returns for a discussion of poetry, music, art, and how all of them intersect with witchcraft and magic. Jake shares some of their process, and discusses influences from a wide array of mystics and artists, including the anchoress Julian of Norwitch and artist Marjorie Kemp. This episode was a blast---we laughed a lot, and I am sure you will, too!
Jacob Budenz is a queer author, multi-disciplinary performer, educator, and witch with an MFA from University of New Orleans and a BA from Johns Hopkins, whose work focuses broadly on the intersection of otherness and the otherworldly. In addition to writing, Jake is the front person for Baltimore-based psychedelic witchpop darlings Moth Broth. This episode features their new song, Willa!
Links* Listen to Mothbroth on Bandcamp! * Mothbroth on Instagram * Jacob Budenz on Instagram * Jake's website * Jake's previous appearance on the podcast
Support the Arnemancy podcast: https://arnemancy.com/support
Mentioned in this episode:
Check out the Arnemancy Discord server!
Connect with fellow listeners and maybe chat with your favorite podcast guests.
Join the Arnemancy Discord!
Visit Sword + Scythe
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com
Sword + Scythe
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Derek Hunter joins me in this episode to explore the rich and confusing world of literature in Elizabethan England! We talk about a number of very interesting characters, especially how they may relate to the question of the identity of William Shakespeare and the authorship of his plays.
Derek is theauthor of 15 books—11 works of fiction, 4 nonfiction—the creator of a philosophy called Love Chaos, an occult practitioner, and a general seeker after the variety and depths of existence.
Three of his most recent works are: Anonymous Agnostic Antichrists, Passionate Pilgrims, and The Human Drama Part Zero: The Fool, Frank Francine Fontaine. These were released in late 2023 and early 2024. AAA, a novel, and PP, a short nonfiction companion piece, were dedicated to the Shakespeare authorship question. The Human Drama series began this year with The Fool and will continue with The Magician on the Summer Solstice, a total of 78 short stories planned for the 78 tarot cards in the next 20 years.
Links* Find all of Derek's work at love-chaos.com!
Mentioned in this episode:
Visit Sword + Scythe
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com
Sword + Scythe
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Bishop Scott Rassbach joins me in this episode to discuss the Apostolic Johannite Church, the Friary Ordo Sacrae Flammae, and the AJC's annual Conclave, and all manner of mystical strangeness.
Bishop Rassach has a Bachelor's degree in English and History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he prepared on a thesis on Philip K. Dick and his works. He also holds a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from St. Raphael’s seminary, where he has delved into many topics in Modern Gnosticism.
He is an avid student of magical and mystic orders, modern ways of understanding ancient ideas, and the intersection of the traditional and the current. Scott likes to say that he is not a professional occult practitioner, but rather an advanced amateur. But he seems pretty advanced to me!
Links* Apostolic Johannite Church * Ordo Sacrae Flammae * The AJC Annual Conclave (May 31st through June 2nd!)
Mentioned in this episode:
Visit Sword + Scythe
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com
Sword + Scythe
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In this episode, Dr. Nick Literski joins me to explore the topic of spiritual guidance. What does a spiritual guide do? Who should seek one out? Along the way, we dive into the latest findings on religious affiliations and behaviors, which suggest that many identify with being spiritual seekers outside traditional settings. In such a diverse spiritual landscape, whom do these seekers turn to for guidance?
Dr. Nick Literski is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies, and a professional spiritual guide. Dr. Literski holds a doctorate in Depth Psychology with Emphasis in Jungian and Archetypal Studies from Pacifica Graduate Institute, as well as a master’s in Spiritual Guidance from Sofia University and a Juris Doctor from the Northern Illinois University College of Law. Their research interests include depth psychological reflections on spirituality, magic, Paleolithic cave art, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Nick’s work has been published in multiple professional journals. Their recent book, Method Infinite: Freemasonry and the Mormon Restoration, was published by Greg Kofford Books in 2022.
Links* Dancing Ancestors * Dancing Ancestors on Facebook
Support this podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancy
Mentioned in this episode:
Visit Sword + Scythe
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com
Sword + Scythe
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
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Rejoice, lovely listeners! In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Mat Dragonstone, astrologer, Tarot reader, astro-mage, all round nice guy. This is part two of our discussion on Agrippa, and you should definitely listen to part one on Mat's podcast before listening to this one.
Our discussion begins with a conversation about two logical fallacies: the appeal to antiquity, and the appeal to novelty. We look at how these fallacies influenced Agrippa's work in Three Books of Occult Philosophy, but that's not all! We also discuss how these fallacies may be impacting today's magicians and practitioners, and then look at ways to mitigate the confusion and wrong-turns this appeal could take. This involves a discussion of post-modernism and Jaques Derrida, which Dr. Dragonstone is well-equipped to handle because his PhD is a real honest-to-gosh philosophy degree!
This is a fascinating episode, and we only had mild internet troubles that I managed to almost completely edit around. Grab a caffeinated beverage for this one!
Links* Dr. Dragonstone's website * Talismans * Instagram * Facebook * YouTube
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancy
Mentioned in this episode:
Visit Sword + Scythe
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com
Sword + Scythe
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
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Jacob Budenz joins me to discuss Greco-Roman witchcraft, and in particular the influences of a number of classical texts have had upon modern witchcraft practices. We discuss "Idyll II" by Theocritus, Euripides' Medea, and Metamorphoses by Apueleius (aka The Golden Ass).
Jacob is a queer author, multi-disciplinary performer, educator, and witch with an MFA from University of New Orleans and a BA from Johns Hopkins whose work focuses broadly on the intersection of otherness and the otherworldly. The author of magic realist short story collection Tea Leaves (Bywater Books 2023) and poetry chapbook Pastel Witcheries (Seven Kitchens Press 2018), Budenz has fiction and poetry in traditional print journals including Slipstream and Assaracus, zeitgeisty online journals including Taco Bell Quarterly and Wussy Mag, and lauded anthologies by Mason Jar Press and Unbound Edition. In addition to writing, Jake is the front person for Baltimore-based psychedelic witchpop darlings Moth Broth and has received awards and accolades for original theater work including a new adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita (Baltimore City Paper's Top Ten Staged Productions of 2016) and an original cabaret play about immortality and the cultural icon of the witch, Simaetha: a Dreambaby Cabaret (Baker Innovative Projects Grants, 2019).
Links* Jacob's website * Jacob on Instagram * Moth Broth on Bandcamp
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancy
Mentioned in this episode:
Visit Sword + Scythe
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com
Sword + Scythe
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
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I was recently a guest on Mat Dragonstone's podcast to talk about Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa and his theories on divine light. My internet connection was doing horribly, though, so Mat had to do a lot of creative editing to get the episode to come out okay. He did an AMAZING job. Give it a listen, and then head over to his website to check out what else he has going on!
- Here is a link to the original episode.
Mentioned in this episode:
Visit Sword + Scythe
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com
Sword + Scythe
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy
Would Mormonism even exist without magical treasure hunting? This is an amazing question and a strange topic, and I am really thrilled that I get to explore this topic with my guest in this episode, Dr. Nick Literski!
Dr. Nick Literski is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies, and a professional spiritual guide. Nick holds a doctorate in Depth Psychology with Emphasis in Jungian and Archetypal Studies from Pacifica Graduate Institute, as well as a master’s in Spiritual Guidance from Sofia University and a Juris Doctor from the Northern Illinois University College of Law. Their research interests include depth psychological reflections on spirituality, magic, Paleolithic cave art, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Nick’s work has been published in multiple professional journals. Their recent book, Method Infinite: Freemasonry and the Mormon Restoration, was published by Greg Kofford Books in 2022.
Links The Occult Influences on Mormonism with Nick Literski (What Magic is This?) * All You Need to Know About the Infamous Morgan Affair * Holiness to the Lord lamen and read more about it here. * Method Infinite: Freemasonry and the Mormon Restoration* * Dancing Ancestors * Dancing Ancestors on Facebook
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancy
Mentioned in this episode:
Visit Sword + Scythe
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com
Sword + Scythe
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
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Heather Freeman returns to the podcast to share her newest podcast project: Magic in the United States. Heather is a Professor of Digital Media at the University of North Charlotte at Charlotte. Her new podcast covers centuries of history of magical practice and folk traditions in North America. Join us as she leads us on the journey of what it's like to get such an amazing podcast funded through real grants on a major podcast network!
We discuss Heather's plans for future episodes, as well as the difficulty of using the term "magic" as a catch-all term for the various practices and traditions she covers. I really loved this conversation, and I am certain that you will, too!
Magic in the United States is part of the PRX network and is funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. This episode includes a short clip from one of its episodes.
Link* Magic in the United States * Charlotte Professor Explores 400 Years of American Magic With New Podcast * All of Heather's links
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancy
Mentioned in this episode:
Visit Sword + Scythe
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com
Sword + Scythe
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy
Here we are with the last episode of the year! This is part 2 of the 2024 forecast, featuring the Confraternity of Prognosticators, T. Susan Chang and Andrew B. Watt. You will definitely want to listen to part 1 before this, so go back and check that out.
In this episode, we cover 2024, July through December. We look at the presidential election! Susie draws some very strange cards. You don't want to miss this!
Links
- T. Susan Chang's website
- Andrew B. Watt's website
- Mel Priestly's 2024 astrological forecast for Canada
Mentioned in this episode:
Visit Sword + Scythe
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com
Sword + Scythe
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy
It is time for the 2024 Forecast! The Confraternity of Prognosticators has convened once more, and I am joined by my friends Andrew B. Watt and T. Susan Chang to use astrology and Tarot to forecast the coming year. This episode covers the months January through June.
Links* Andrew B. Watt's website * T. Susan Chang's website * Mel Priestly's 2024 astrological forecast for Canada
Mentioned in this episode:
Visit Sword + Scythe
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com
Sword + Scythe
Get my two-part course on Tarot and the Art of Memory!
Click the link below.
Tarot and the Art of Memory
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It's almost time for the 2024 Forecast, but to prepare, we decided to look back on how we did for our 2023 Forecast. My good friends and preferred prognosticators Andrew B. Watt and T. Susan Chang join me to review 2023. We look back over all of the crazy events of the past year to see which ones we came closest to predicting—and where our predictions completely fell down!
Get a Discount on Tarot and Astrology Readings!Susie, Andrew, and I are all offering a 24% discount on divination services until the end of January 2024! Just enter the code LEAPYEAR24 at checkout to receive your discount. Visit one of our websites to book now!
Links T. Susan Chang's website * Andrew B. Watt's website * Arnemancy website * Spoonful of Promises: Stories & Recipes From A Well-Tempered Table* by T. Susan Chang
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancy
Mentioned in this episode:
Visit Sword + Scythe
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com
Sword + Scythe
Get my two-part course on Tarot and the Art of Memory!
Click the link below.
Tarot and the Art of Memory
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
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Jeffrey Groves, sometimes known as Satyr Magos, is a magical jeweler, public ritualist, novelist, and photographer. Xie joins me in this episode to discuss making astrological talismans, but our conversation also encompasses everything from magical origin stories to technology to the trials of being an artist in the 21st century. We also discuss Jeffrey's experiences as a queer and genderqueer person in the highly heteronormative spaces of witchcraft and ceremonial magic.
Please enjoy Jeffrey's refreshing take on the life of a pagan and magician, and how our practices can be more fully integrated into our lives.
Links* Jeffrey's website * The Sorcerer's Workbench (magical jewelry!) * Journey Through the Obsidian Dream
Support Arnemancy on Patreon
Mentioned in this episode:
Visit Sword + Scythe
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com
Sword + Scythe
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
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Recently, I had the honor of joining my friends Dom and Janus on their podcast, The Magician and the Fool. We discussed dreams, dream magic, images, image magic, and the incredible power of the imagination. I didn't realize that we had talked for so long! I hope you enjoy this, and make sure to check out their podcast, where they feature tons of amazing occultists, magicians, and mystics.
- The Magician and the Fool
- E63: Erik Arneson on Image Magic
Support the Arnemancy podcast!
Mentioned in this episode:
Visit Sword + Scythe
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com
Sword + Scythe
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
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Joining me this episode to discuss artificial intelligence, theurgy, the art of memory, and the alphabet of human thought is my friend Jack Kausch.
Jack is a PhD student in Information Science at Western University of Ontario. His project is to create a characteristica universalis which uses hieroglyphs to translate information between different languages and domains of knowledge. He has also written esoteric fiction, including the novel Aretalogy, the story of how the historical figure of Imhotep lies at the origins of the Hermetic Tradition.
Our conversation explores linguistics and the ways in which language changes how we think. We discuss the idea of a natural semantic meta-language and whether or not such a thing is even possible! This is a crazy conversation, filled with ideas that are bound to give your personal ontology a bit of a shake-up. Buckle up and enjoy the ride!
Links* The Future of Text Vol 3 * AKHET, the play, on YouTube * Jack Kausch on Observable * Aretalogy: Lineage of a God by Jack Kausch * Latent space - Wikipedia * Characteristica universalis - Wikipedia * Horapollo - Wikipedia
Support this Podcast
Mentioned in this episode:
Visit Sword + Scythe
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com
Sword + Scythe
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
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Michael Sanborn joins me once more to discuss his new Rémi Boyer translation, The Rectified Scottish Rite: From the Doctrine of Reintegration to the Imago Templi. Michael is a book designer and translator specializing in contemporary European esoterica. He participates in several esoteric traditions, including Neoplatonism, and Templarism. He is also a gnostic bishop and a member of Azoth Temple in Portland, Oregon.
Rémi Boyer has explored at length the world of the avant-garde, initiatory traditions, and philosophies of enlightenment. He works within the setting of the House of Surrealists in Cordes-sur-Ciel, for a new alliance between traditions, philosophies of awakening, and the artistic avant-garde. He is the author of some twenty specialized works, particularly on Western initiatory movements.
In my conversation with Michael, we explore the Rectified Scottish Rite, the Doctrine of Reintegration, and the fascinating story of Martinez de Pasqually. This fascinating journey takes us from 18th century Freemasonry through the development of modern Illuminism. Along the way, Michael and I enjoy some kava!
Links Michael's lecture, "French Illuminism: A Modern Approach" * The Rectified Scottish Rite by Bro. Jose Anes and Bro. Michael Sanborn at Sapere Aude * Rémi Boyer's home page * Michael's previous appearance on this podcast * Find The Rectified Scottish Rite: From the Doctrine of Reintegration to the Imago Templi* on Bookshop.org or on Amazon.
Support Arnemancy on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancy
Mentioned in this episode:
Visit Sword + Scythe
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com
Sword + Scythe
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
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In this episode, I am joined by Marlene Seven Bremner. She is a self-taught oil painter, author, poet, and musician, exploring esoteric themes arising from her study and practice of Hermeticism, alchemy, magic, astrology, and mythology.
Seven developed her painting career in the Pacific Northwest, showing her work in both group and solo exhibitions along the West Coast and internationally, and now resides in the desert of New Mexico. She is the author of Hermetic Philosophy and Creative Alchemy: The Emerald Tablet, the Corpus Hermeticum, and the Journey Through the Seven Spheres, and The Hermetic Marriage of Art and Alchemy: Imagination, Creativity, and the Great Work.
Marlene and I discuss her art, her magical practice, and her approach to Hermeticism and alchemy. We talk about her personal work with the planets and the interaction between her dreams and creativity. I really enjoyed my chat with Marlene, and I think you will, too!
Links* Marlene Seven Bremner on Patreon * @MSevenBremner on Twitter * Marlene Seven Bremner on Facebook * @m7artist on Instagram * The Artwork of Marlene Seven Bremner * Hermetic Philosophy and Creative Alchemy by Marlene Seven Bremner * The Hermetic Marriage of Art and Alchemy by Marlene Seven Bremner
Support Arnemancy on Patreon
Mentioned in this episode:
Visit Sword + Scythe
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com
Sword + Scythe
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Melissa Madara joins me to discuss cooking and magic. This is not your typical kitchen witchcraft, either, but recipes and foods drawn from grimoires, Renaissance magic, the PGM, and other ancient traditions. Melissa is a witch, chef, storyteller, botanist, and co-owner at Catland Books. Their work deals with the healing power of myth, divination, and immersion in the natural world. They are a teacher at Catland Books and numerous other metaphysical spaces around the country, and the author of the magical cookbook, The Witch’s Feast: A Kitchen Grimoire. Links* @saint.jayne on Instagram * The Witch's Feast by Melissa Madara * Melissa's Linktree * Catland Books * Save the birds!
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancyMentioned in this episode:
Visit Sword + Scythe
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com
Sword + Scythe
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Denny Sargent returns to the podcast with more howling fun! Denny is a Seattle writer, artist, and university instructor whose extensive global travels and esoteric studies informed the backbone to numerous published books. He is the author of Werewolf Magick and Werewolf Pack Magick, and the upcoming Feral Magick. In this episode, we discuss his new and upcoming books, including topics like the difference between normal old werewolf magic, and werewolf pack magic. We explore topics like animal spirits, comparing rituals, chasing squirrels, and Denny's experience at The Starwood Festival. It's always a pleasure to talk to Denny, and I hope you enjoy listening to this one as much as I enjoyed recording it. Links* Denny Sargent's home page * Denny Sargent on Instagram * Denny Sargent on Facebook * Werewolf Pack Magick by Denny Sargent * Denny's author page on Amazon
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancyMentioned in this episode:
Visit Sword + Scythe
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com
Sword + Scythe
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
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Welcome to part two of the 2023 Forecast featuring T. Susan Chang and Andrew B. Watt. Did you miss part one? You can find it here! Remember to check out our 2023 special deals! In this episode, we will look at charts and cards for July through December of 2023. Andrew will be handling the astrology, Susie the Tarot, and I will be moderating to make sure things stay on track. If you would like to download a PDF with all of the astrological charts that Andrew used for this forecast, you can sign up to Andrew B. Watt's Patreon or to the Arnemancy Patreon. 2023 Forecast Specials The three of us are all offering a special discount. This year, you can use the code 23ANDYOU to get a 23% discount off of various services and classes from our respective websites. * Andrew B. Watt is offering 23% off all of his services until January 31st! * A new class: Names and Signs: From Election to Talisman with Reverend Erik * Your Own Private Tarot Lesson with T. Susan Chang (scroll down to "One-on-one tarot mentorship) through January 23rd
Remember, use the code 23ANDYOU for 23% off! Get the full details here. Links* T. Susan Chang's website and Tarotista Etsy shop * Andrew B. Watt's website
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancy
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Welcome to part one of the 2023 Forecast featuring Andrew B. Watt and T. Susan Chang. As in previous years, we will look at charts and cards for each month of the coming year. Andrew will be handling the astrology, Susie the Tarot, and I will be moderating to make sure things stay on track. Part one covers the year chart, and the months January through June. In this episode, we learn that Venus is the Queen of the Year, and the card of the year is the Queen of Swords. What does that mean? You will have to listen to learn more! If you would like to download a PDF with all of the astrological charts that Andrew used for this forecast, you can sign up to Andrew B. Watt's Patreon or to the Arnemancy Patreon. Note that because I'm going to be traveling and away from both the log cabin basement and my normal recording setup, part 2 of this forecast won't be available until the end of the first week of January, 2023. 2023 Forecast Specials The three of us are all offering a special discount. This year, you can use the code 23ANDYOU to get a 23% discount off of various services and classes from our respective websites. * Your Own Private Tarot Lesson with T. Susan Chang (scroll down to "One-on-one tarot mentorship) through January 23rd * Andrew B. Watt is offering 23% off all of his services until January 31st! * A new class: Names and Signs: From Election to Talisman with Reverend Erik
Remember, use the code 23ANDYOU for 23% off! Get the full details here. Links* T. Susan Chang's website and Tarotista Etsy shop * Andrew B. Watt's website
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancy
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Chaos magic! What is it? Well, in this episode, I am joined by Luxa Strata. Luxa is an artist and magician and is host of the Lux Occult Podcast as well as the organizer for The Green Mushroom Project, an ongoing large-scale group magical working. We not only discuss chaos magic, but Luxa's musical endeavors, her work creating the Green Mushroom project and its associated hyphosigil, and also what the heck a hyphosigil is. Hint: it is not a hypersigil! Please enjoy a little holiday chaos with Luxa Strata and the Arnemancy Podcast! By the way, this episode includes both colorful language and some sexual content, so keep that in mind before letting your youngsters and impressionable family members listen. Bonus: Make sure to check out my appearance on the Lux Occult Podcast, which is going to be available about the same time that this episode is released! Links* Luxa Strata's Linktree * Gratus Animus: a Sound and Identity Magick Experiment by Luxa Strata * Magic, Power, Language, Symbol by Patrick Dunn * Wiz Biz with Alexx and Erik (not really part of the episode but we sure talked about it a lot)
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancyMentioned in this episode:
Visit Sword + Scythe
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com
Sword + Scythe
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Earlier this year, I started working on a new podcast project with Alexx Bollen. You will remember Alexx from his many appearances on this podcast and even back on My Alchemical Bromance. Our new podcast is called Wiz Biz with Alexx and Erik, and in each episode we look at a couple episodes of the award winning podcast Adventure Time!Please be assured that this project doesn't mean that the Arnemancy Podcast is ending; though it is true that I've been a bit slow getting season 5 off the ground, things are moving along! But in the meantime, please enjoy this episode of Wiz Biz as a holiday treat. In it, we look at Adventure Time season 1, episodes 11 and 12, in which one of my all time favorite characters is introduced.Subscribe to Wiz Biz with Alexx and Erik here!
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Among the many different paths for reading and interpretive Tarot, you'll frequently hear mention of intuitive interpretation. While this might sound as if the reader ignores established symbolism and meaning for the cards, this is not really the case. In this episode, I am joined by SaturnVox's McCalla Ann to discuss her approach to intuitive Tarot. McCalla Ann is a podcaster, student of Bridal Mysticism, and professional diviner. She runs SaturnVox, a multimedia occult education and divination platform based out of New Orleans. I think you will find that what McCalla means by "intuitive" is more complex and nuanced than you might expect. This episode is also the first part of a collaboration that this podcast is having with the SaturnVox podcast. On November 12th—my birthday!—McCalla will be releasing her interview with me on the SaturnVox podcast, where I will go into my model of Tarot divination using the art of memory. Be sure to check it out! Links* Learn more about McCalla's method at Cauldron Black * @saturnvox on Twitter and Instagram * Book a Tarot reading with McCalla Ann * Listen to the SaturnVox podcast * Support SaturnVox and join the bookclub
Credits The episode art features a photo from Wikimedia titled simply "Best Butterfly picture of the day". I think I agree. Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancyMentioned in this episode:
Visit Sword + Scythe
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com
Sword + Scythe
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
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It has been over 400 years since the first Rosicrucian pamphlets were published, on the eve of the Thirty Years' War. Now, in the 21st century, Rosicrucianism continues to thrive and remain relevant. Frater Robert Gordon joins me in the first episode of season five to discuss his new book, 21st Century Rosicrucianism. Frater Robert received a B.A. (Hons) in Anthropology from the University of Melbourne and an M.A. in Museum Studies from University College London. His vast experience includes professionally managing the St Paul's Institute (an ethics think tank run by St Paul's Cathedral in London), working for the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace, and working for the Garden Museum (an independent museum devoted to the legacy of John Tradescant and the final resting place of Elias Ashmole). He has been practicing Rosicrucianism for over 20 years and is an active member of the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia, the Order of the Rose and Cross, and A.E. Waite's Fellowship of the Rosy Cross. 21st Century Rosicrucianism is now available from Lewis Masonic in the UK and Macoy Publishing in the USA. Links* Frater Robert's website * Connect with Frater Robert on Twitter * 21st Century Rosicrucianism on Lewis Masonic * 21st Century Rosicrucianism on Macoy Publishing
Credits The episode art uses an 1886 photograph of St. Paul's Cathedral in London, downloaded from PICRYL. Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancyMentioned in this episode:
Visit Sword + Scythe
Sword + Scythe creates handmade materia magica, amulets, astrological talismans, and provides divinatory services under the auspices of Mars and Saturn. Visit at swordandscythe.com
Sword + Scythe
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Welcome to the final episode of our in-depth exploration of Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy. Since this is the final episode of the series, don't start listening here. Catch up on all of the episodes in this series on the podcast's website.
We have been all over Occult Philosophy, and explored everything from its historical context to its complex cosmology and fascinating theories on divine light. We will look at the influences that Occult Philosophy has had in the nearly 500 years since its original publication.
In all of the previous episodes, I have suggested chapters in Occult Philosophy that could be read to accompany your listening experience. But not this time! My guests and I will be mentioning quite a few books that have resulted from Agrippa's influence, however, and I will make sure to list them in the show notes. They will make excellent additions to your winter reading list!
Links
- Agrippa's Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy with Douglas Batchelor (on this podcast!)
- Priddle's Rare Books and Antiques (R.A. Priddle's website)
- The Magus with R.A. Priddle (on this podcast!)
- The Great Book of Magical Art, Hindoo Magic and East Indian Occultism by L.W. de Laurence
- The Theosophical Enlightenment by Joscelyn Godwin
- Grimoires: A History of Magic Books by Owen Davies
- "The Conjuror's Toolkit 1400-1800: Ciphers, Images, and Magical Cultures of Power Within the Solomonic Grimoires" by Travis W. Shores
- Windcastle Press
- bottlerocketscience (Scott Gosnell's blog and podcast)
- Emergence Benefactors
- My review of the modern translations of Occult Philosophy
- J.F.'s translation, online for free!
Credits
Many thanks to R.A. Priddle and Scott Gosnell for their insights into the influence of Three Books of Occult Philosophy.
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancy
Finally, after a short hiatus, here is part eight of our exploration of Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy. The previous episodes of this podcast dealt primarily with material from books 1 and 2, but now it's time to dive into book 3, The Divine World. Joining me for this discussion is Dr. Justin Sledge of the Esoterica YouTube channel! We will specifically be discussing the Cabala of Occult Philosophy and Agrippa's place in the birth and propagation of Christian Cabala.
If you would like to do some reading before listening to this episode, I think you can get a pretty good overview of Agrippa's take on this topic by reading book 3, chapters 10 through 25. However, note that references to Cabala, the Hebrew language and alphabet, and Jewish mysticism crop up throughout book 3.
You can't really deny that Kabbalah is one of the cornerstones of Western occultism. It crops up everywhere from Solomonic magic to Tarot to the Golden Dawn. If you've looked into it at all, you've probably come across the concept that Kabbalah is usually split into three main branches, differentiated in the way they are transliterated into English.
- Christian Cabala, spelled with a C, is our main topic in this episode.
- Hermetic Qabalah, spelled with a Q, is the variety used by modern ceremonial magicians.
- Jewish Kabbalah, spelled with a K, is the original strain of Jewish mysticism that the others pull from.
And always remember, if you want to catch up with the rest of the Agrippa series, you can visit the home page for the series.
Links
- Esoterica on YouTube
- About Dr. Justin Sledge
- Dr. Sledge's list of Kabbalah sources
- Dr. Sledge's Introduction to Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism
- Dan Attrell's video on the Reuchlin-Pfefferkorn Affair (The Modern Hermeticist)
- On the Art of the Kabbalah by Johann Reuchlin (De arte cabalistica trans. by Sarah and Martin Goodman)
- The Occult Philosophy in the Elizabethan Age by Frances Yates
- Matt and Erik discuss Kabbalah on My Alchemical Bromance (Be kind, it was the second podcast episode I'd ever made!)
- My review of the modern translations of Occult Philosophy
- J.F.'s translation, online for free!
Credits
Many thanks to Dr. Justin Sledge for giving us so much incredible information on the history, philosophy, and influence of Christian Cabala.
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancy Listen on Podcrypt
It's finally time for part seven of our exploration of Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy. In previous episodes, we have examined both the structure of Occult Philosophy and the worldview it attempts to explain. We are finally ready to take a closer look at one of the topics that this massive work is best known for: planetary and astrological magic!
This episode will cover a lot of material from across book 2 of Occult Philosophy. If you are looking for sections to read before listening to this episode, I would suggest starting with book 2, chapter 29, and reading through chapter 50. You'll also want to read chapters 58 and 59, as I reference them specifically. However, after this episode, I believe you will want to spend some serious time studying all of book 2, especially going back over the parts about planets and spirits from earlier on.
As we will discover, both planetary and astrological magic cover a wide range of practices that occultists of all varieties are likely familiar with. You will find sigils, prayers, petitions, spirits, and hymns. In fact, this type of magic also leans heavily on occult correspondences, which can include metals, stones, crystals, herbs, foods, and animals.
And always remember, if you want to catch up with the rest of the Agrippa series, you can visit the home page for the series.
Links
- Astral Magic by ɔ. Martiana at SARTRIX
- 36 Secrets with T. Susan Chang (more on Decans)
- Astrological Magic with Josh Proto
- J Swofford's Picatrix Decans
- Andrew B. Watt's Decan articles
- The Moon and Stars with Ryhan Butler (more on Lunar Mansions)
- My review of the modern translations of Occult Philosophy
- J.F.'s translation, online for free!
- Ted Hand and I discuss Atalanta Fugiens in this podcast episode.
Credits
- Thanks to Tuomo Sipola for his translation of the First Emblem from Michael Maier's Atalanta Fugiens. Tuomo and others in the #languages-and-linguistics channel in the Hermetic House of Life Discord server all helped to figure out the mystery of this poem.
- Thanks also to Josh Proto and J Swofford for their help in explaining and untangling the numerous mysteries of astrological magic and electional astrology.
- Thanks also to Eric Purdue, who helped quite a bit with this episode behind the scenes.
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancy Listen on Podcrypt
Here we are, at part six of our deep dive into Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy. We're over halfway done! I know it's been a weird ride, but hold on, because we haven't gotten to the strangest stuff yet.
At this point in our exploration, we have developed a strong idea of Agrippa's world and some of the basic premises of Occult Philosophy. We have looked at history, the nature of light and the cosmos, and the mathematical underpinnings of Renaissance magic. Now it is time to finally explore one of the strangest and most exciting elements in Occult Philosophy: spirits!
Discussion of spirits occurs throughout this enormous work, but if you want some reading to get into before listening to this episode, first re-read book 2, chapter 22, and then read book 2, chapters 55 through 57.
Daemons, daimones, angels, demons, and intelligences—these are all words that describe spirits. Sometimes they are various categories of spirits, other times they are words for "spirit" in another language. From time to time, even the gods are referred to as spirits. In this episode, we explore why that is, and maybe we even look at some ideas surrounding how you can communicate with them. I warned you that we hadn't gotten to the strangest stuff yet!
Links
- The Difference Between Thaumaturgy and Theurgy
- The Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy
- Conjuring the Planetary Intelligences: Explorations in Practical Rosicrucianism, a lecture by Rob Gordon
- Seven Spheres by Rufus Opus
- Drawing Spirits Into Crystals (DSIC) by Pseudo-Trithemius. Check out Sam Block's exhaustive exploration of this technique or get the whole thing as a free ebook!
- Conjuring the Planetary Intelligences by David Rankine (this is Sloane MS 3821)
- My review of the modern translations of Occult Philosophy
- J.F.'s translation, online for free!
Credits
- Prospero was played by the incomparable Coleman Stevenson, the author of many books of poetry and Tarot lore, and the creator of multiple decks, including The Dark Exact Tarot.
- Joshua Proto has created over 100 astrological talismans according to traditional sources like the Picatrix, Three Books of Occult Philosophy, and the oral teachings of select Buddhist Texts. Josh frequently helps clients find talismanic and ritual solutions to a variety of astrological and magical problems through his website.
- Epic storm recording by Placidplace from Pixabay.
- The episode art is based on detail from The Annunciation by El Greco, c. 1590–1603.
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancy Listen on Podcrypt
Let me congratulate you on having both the courage and curiosity to listen to this episode! This is part five of our deep dive into Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy. If you feel lost and would like to catch up with earlier episodes in the series, you can find them on the series page.
Why are courage and curiosity so important for this episode? Because we're going to be talking about math. Math and magic. I have been looking forward to this episode for a long time, but I know that for a lot of people, the idea of reading about and learning about math is pretty miserable. When occultists discover how much Agrippa loved math, and how central math is to Agrippa's Occult Philosophy, they sometimes seem pretty disappointed.
Much of book two of Occult Philosophy deals with numbers and mathematics. If you would like to really get an amazing head start on this episode, read books 2, chapters 1 through 23. However, if that is too much, I think you can be pretty well prepared for this episode by just reading book 2, chapters 1, 2, 21, 22, and 23.
Some of the math topics we will be talking about in this episode are the philosophical concept of number, the relationship between math and occult correspondences, magic squares, and sacred geometry. There is a lot of great material, and I hope you give it a listen even though math might seem like it's a bummer!
Links
- Do Numbers Exist?
- The Theology of Arithmetic by Pseudo-Iamblichus
- Martianus Capella
- Magic squares on Wikipedia
- Melencholia I by Albrecht Dürer
- A previous discussion involving math and magic in Agrippa
- My review of the modern translations of Occult Philosophy
- J.F.'s translation, online for free!
Credits
- Eric Purdue has studied metaphysics and the occult and has practiced magic and astrology for more than thirty years, with a particular focus on practical folk and astrological magic.
- Andrew B. Watt is known to long-time listeners of the Arnemancy show. He's an astrologer and textile artist living in western Massachusetts, and an enthusiast of geometry and number theory.
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancy Listen on Podcrypt
Finally, here is part four of our deep dive into Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy! If you feel lost and would like to catch up with the first two episodes, you can find them on the page for this series.
In this episode, we will be taking a look at some pretty big topics: divine light and the senses. These form a pretty important core for the vision of magic outlined in this book, and I did as best I could trying to cover these topics and make sense of them. However, they are tricky, so I encourage feedback and questions if you feel like the topic hasn't been covered in enough depth.
To understand how Agrippa believed that the senses work, we have to begin by examining his ideas on light. For this, we take a trip through the Ptolemaic worldview, explore the imagination, and look at some really bizarre and outdated scientific concepts. But all is not lost! Come with me on a strange trip—no need to bring your own flashlight!
If you want to get a jump start on these topics, I would advise reading book one, chapters 49, 60, and 61.
Links
- The Six Enneads by Plotinus
- Eros and Magic in the Renaissance by Ioan P. Culianu
- The Practical Art of Divine Magic: Contemporary & Ancient Techniques of Theurgy by Patrick Dunn
- My classes and lectures on the Art of Memory
- Art of Memory articles and episodes on this website
- My review of the modern translations of Occult Philosophy
- J.F.'s translation, online for free!
Credits
- Victor Frankenstein was played by Charlie Claire Burgess, the infamous Word Witch!
- The background piano music is Sonata Number 48 in D minor by Domenico Scarlatti, performed by Andrew Fort. Go check out HOCUS!
- The artwork for this episode is a detail from the Aurora Borealis from the Trouvelot astronomical drawings (1881-1882) by E. L. Trouvelot.
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancy Listen on Podcrypt
This episode is part three of our deep dive into Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy. If you feel lost and would like to catch up with the first two episodes, you can find them on the page for this series.
In this episode, we will explore Agrippa's definition of magic, both through his words and by examining it through a modern lens. Beginning with this episode, I will make a point to let you know precise chapters we will be discussing. This should give you the opportunity to read specific chapters in Occult Philosophy so you can be more informed of the topics we discuss in this episode.
Agrippa's definition of magic can be found in book 1, chapter 2. In the 2021 Inner Traditions edition of Occult Philosophy, translated by Eric Purdue, this chapter begins on page 18. I would like to point out that we will almost never spend an entire episode discussing just one chapter, but since magic is at the core of our exploration of this book, we need to spend some time understanding exactly what we are talking about!
This series of episodes about Occult Philosophy will most likely last until Summer. My Patreon supporters will be receiving each episode a week before the rest of the world, along with bonus materials such as full interviews, a glimpse at works in progress, and the opportunity to suggest further topics for this Agrippa deep dive.
If you enjoy these episodes and want to help support their development, you can help out by sharing this podcast with a friend! Let your weird wizard buddies and witch pals know that we have embarked on this journey. And if you want to contribute monetarily, you can go to the Support page on this website and find a number of options.
Links
- The Difference Between Thaumaturgy and Theurgy
- The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe
- On Magic by Giordano Bruno
- A Greased Pig: Defining Magic (Part One) and Part Two by Nicholas Chapel
- My review of the modern translations of Occult Philosophy
- J.F.'s translation, online for free!
Credits
- Eric Purdue has studied metaphysics and the occult and has practiced magic and astrology for more than thirty years, with a particular focus on practical folk and astrological magic.
- Andrew B. Watt is known to long-time listeners of the Arnemancy show. He's an astrologer and textile artist living in western Massachusetts, and an enthusiast of geometry and number theory.
- Doctor Faustus was played by Tres Henry.
- "Tavern rainy night sleeping" by ilTerrible on Ambient-Mixer.com used under the Creative Commons Sampling Plus 1.0 license.
- "Footsteps, Stones, A.wav" by InspectorJ of Freesound.org
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancy Listen on Podcrypt
Welcome to the second part of our deep-dive into Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa's hugely influential giant book, Three Books of Occult Philosophy. In this episode, we will be searching for the answer to a pressing question: how did Agrippa manage to write such an enormous book before he even turned 25?
Thanks to Eric Purdue's long work on his translation of this book, we have a pretty good answer: plagiarism! Agrippa used material from over 200 sources to compile and assemble Occult Philosophy. In many cases, he simply lifted complete passages from some of these sources. However, in spite of the rampant plagiarism in the text, Agrippa was able to assemble quotes and passages from these sources—some of them quite mundane—to put forth an argument for his own definition of an occult philosophy that proved to be both remarkable and influential.
We will look at three of Agrippa's sources:
- Johannes Trithemius
- Pliny the Elder
- Johann Reuchlin
This series of episodes about Occult Philosophy will most likely last until Summer. My Patreon supporters will be receiving each episode a week before the rest of the world, along with bonus materials such as full interviews, a glimpse at works in progress, and the opportunity to suggest further topics for this Agrippa deep dive.
If you enjoy these episodes and want to help support their development, you can help out by sharing this podcast with a friend! Let your weird wizard buddies and witch pals know that we have embarked on this journey. And if you want to contribute monetarily, you can go to the Support page on this website and find a number of options.
Links
- My review of the modern translations of Occult Philosophy
- J.F.'s translation, online for free!
- A Short History of Academic Plagiarism
- The Magus with R.A. Priddle
- The Aggripean Circle
- The Natural History of Pliny on Project Gutenberg
- The A.D. 79 Eruption at Mt. Vesuvius
- Pliny the Elder from Russian River
- On the Art of the Kabbalah by Johann Reuchlin, trans. Martin and Sarah Goodman
- Albert Pike's Morals and Dogma: Annotated Edition edited and annotated by Arturo de Hoyos
Credits
Pliny the Elder was played by Andrew B. Watt. The lyre music was performed by me, Reverend Erik! Pretty good stuff, huh? I used an Aklot 7-stringed lyre that I attempted to tune to something representing a Pythagorean scheme.
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancy Listen on Podcrypt
Welcome to the first episode in a series that will be exploring the content, message, and ongoing influence of Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa's magnum opus, De occulta philosophia libri tres, better known in the modern world as Three Books of Occult Philosophy. In this series of episodes, I will talk to experts, translators, historians, and magicians to unravel the secret of this book of secrets, as we figure out not only where this important book came from, but why it has had such a lasting impact on the world.
If we want to understand Occult Philosophy, we first need to take a look at the world in which Agrippa lived. This episode will begin by looking at the Holy Roman Empire, where Agrippa was born and spent most of his life, and then examine a few key historical topics that are relevant to Agrippa and Occult Philosophy, including:
- The Renaissance
- The Reformation
- Science and Philosophy
Finally, this episode will give a general overview of Three Books of Occult Philosophy and outline a general plan for this series of podcast episodes.
This series of episodes about Occult Philosophy will most likely last until Summer. My Patreon supporters will be receiving each episode a week before the rest of the world, along with bonus materials such as full interviews, a glimpse at works in progress, and the opportunity to suggest further topics for this Agrippa deep dive.
If you enjoy these episodes and want to help support their development, you can help out by sharing this podcast with a friend! Let your weird wizard buddies and witch pals know that we have embarked on this journey. And if you want to contribute monetarily, you can go to the Support page on this website and find a number of options.
Links
- My review of the modern translations of Occult Philosophy
- J.F.'s translation, online for free!
- Marsilio Ficino with Dan Attrell
- Giovanni Pico della Mirandola with Ted Hand
- Giordano Bruno and the Future with Scott Gosnell
Credits
This episode includes quotes from Douglas Batchelor, host of the What Magic Is This? Podcast, and Eric Purdue, whose translation of De occulta philosophia libri tres was published by Inner Traditions in 2021.
This episode included music by JuliusH from Pixabay, along with Celebration by Alexander Nakarada. All music was licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arnemancy Listen on Podcrypt