Theurgy in Iamblichus, Agrippa, and the Golden Dawn

41 Pages·2015·1.97 MB·English

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
Line of Transmission: Books
Iamblichus Agrippa Golden Dawn
What is Theurgy?
Julian the Theurgist (perhaps)
but mostly
Iamblichus of Chalcis, later
Proclus ooff tthhee AAtthheenniiaann AAccaaddeemmyy
Ordinary worship:
Sacrifice & Prayer
Informed by Philosophy
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
K
1.  Cosmology & Psychology  abbalah
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