The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)

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Members only: An Apollonian Man: Plato at the End of Antiquity in the Anonymous Prolegomena

As a coda to our discussion of the final Platonists of Alexandria, we look at the Anonymous Prolegomena to the Philosophy of Plato. This fascinating work, originating in or around the circle of Olympiodorus, has much to tell us about the esoteric hermeneutics of the whole philosophical tradition of Platonism. It also tells us about the henadic virgin birth of the great esoteric sage of antiquity, Plato himself.

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Episode 206: Seventh-Century History for Students of Western Esotericism

We return to the history of late antiquity in the eastern Mediterranean and central Asia. Momentous events occur, empires rise and fall, and Jews, Christians, and Muslims all suddenly develop new apocalyptic notions. Come for the dry historical exposition, stay for the esoteric divine kingship.

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Oddcast episode

James Russell on the Hypnerotomachia in Esoteric Tradition

We penetrate further into the dream-labyrinth of the Hypnerotomachia with James Russell, exploring the book's many early readers. These include a pope, a playwright, and an alchemist. Codes, rebuses, polyvalent images, esoteric architecture, and more meet in the melting-pot of Humanism.

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Episode 205: Introducing the Qur’an Part III: Qur’ānic Texts vs. the Qur’ān

We discuss some of the history of how the Qur'ān came to be ‘the Book’: it started in the oral milieu of the high-octane early Believers' movement, and ended up in written form as something called the ‘Uthmanic recension. Many esoteric things happen along the way.

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Oddcast episode

The Strife of Love in a Dream: James O’Neill Introduces the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili

We introduce one of the strangest and most nigglingly-intriguing esoteric books of the Italian Renaissance, the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili. James O'Neill is our guide through nested dream-landscapes, erotic initiations, and weirdly-specific garden design.

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Episode 204: Introducing the Qur’ān, Part II: Ambiguity and Esoteric Themes

We begin to explore the esoteric side of the Qur'ān, examining several case-studies in terms of ambiguity and esoteric themes. It turns out that every letter of the Qur'ān is an esoteric text.

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Listen to the Introduction

An introduction to the podcast, discussing briefly what we mean by ‘western esotericism’. This episode also answers the burning question, ‘What’s so “secret” about The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast?’ and features a short quiz to test your knowledge of western esoteric history.

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Recently posted

Members only: An Apollonian Man: Plato at the End of Antiquity in the Anonymous Prolegomena

Episode 206: Seventh-Century History for Students of Western Esotericism

James Russell on the Hypnerotomachia in Esoteric Tradition

Episode 205: Introducing the Qur’an Part III: Qur’ānic Texts vs. the Qur’ān

The Strife of Love in a Dream: James O’Neill Introduces the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili

Episode 204: Introducing the Qur’ān, Part II: Ambiguity and Esoteric Themes

Listen to the Introduction

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