Hermeticism and Ancient Astrology: The Corpus Hermeticum

[@heyAnaPaula]

I approve of the pressuring Sam Block to write his book 😂 This was one of the best talks I’ve heard about Hermeticism in my 10+ years of mystic curiosity! Thank you!

[@alabaster2163]

As a huge fan of Socrates, Plato and Hypatia, thank you 10,000 times. My gemini moon is really enjoying this!!

[@Kilo.November]

Wow I'm really impressed with Sam's depth and precision of scholarly historical magical knowledge!

[@stefaniesabrina4069]

This is SUCH powerful stuff. I can't believe how you are treating THE most essential and profound questions of humankind in one single session. Absolutely incredible. Thanks a million ✨✨✨✨✨

[@youngmordek]

i've been a big fan of sam's blog for years but interviews are few & far between & after all this time, i finally get to put a face to the name! thanks so much for having him on the show, he really is a treasure & a wellspring of knowledge on hermeticism. he's one of the best read & researched people actually practicing magic today. his work has been hugely influential on me philosophically & magically. ready for that book!

[@shirleyshantel32]

oh this is super! this is so not an easy topic and this discussion went so well! Thank you Chris. Loved this!

[@benditabrujaastrologia]

On a Mercury day 🥰 (and I’m watching during Mercury’s hour) Thank you Chris! You are THE messenger. ✨ 👁 ✨

[@sandrawells2985]

Phenomenal !! Thank you both. Am saving this and taking notes like at a university lecture. Blessings unbounded for you both ! 🌞

[@tomori74]

Hello Chris !! Excellent work 🙏 I just wanted to say, the History of Astrology is very much older than the actual recorded history !! From where I come from it’s a list 7000 years old !! Documented in the ancient Pellazg era !! 👏Respect and love

[@erinmacro345]

What a pleasant guest. What an adorable... adoration he has for this stuff. 10/10

[@FreemanPresson]

I knew Sam was the go-to guy for this topic, and Chris did a great interview: I was elated to hear how well prepared he was. Splendid discussion!

[@ginadiamond2959]

You have out done yourself. I have referred back to this lecture twice since listening to it in its entirety. It just falls in beautifully with where I am on my journey of "the way of Hermes". I'm taking the level-1 astrology course with the National Council for Geocosmic Research and my teacher for the course is just now laying the groundwork with a history lesson. I have Chris' book and deeply appreciate the rich content provided here. Like 'E' commented below, I'll crack open that Corpus Hermeticum...the reading of The Greatest's Gnosis and prayers spoke directly to my Soul (my Sun is in the 9th House, Virgo). Indeed, I am a modern day sibyl and read the cards too, so when you hit on the divination and astrology that was a wrap! Love it!

[@ephjay6t87]

This reawakens my passion. Please bring more!

[@middleburyastrology]

Great topic! Been waiting for this episode. Wonderful thought structures for the curious astrologer to explore. Thank you.

[@francheskahenderson]

Incredible interview!!! Yes! He definitely needs to write a book. Thank you for such a fantastic show

[@Jeff-0621]

Awesome topic, might have to watch more than once.

[@amrit_]

Thank you both for covering this topic 🙏🏽🤍🧿

[@sunnysunday7341]

Thrice thanks for a really really really great discussion!

[@ryujikagami5575]

Thank so much for covering this topic!

[@eduardodadourian8866]

I LOVE this episode. Thank your for this. For a while know I´ve wanted to know more about Hermeticism, and this episode not only gave a good notion, but also showed where to look to study and read more. Thanks Astrology Podcast and Sam Block

[@johnnyb357]

Fantastic episode. Thank you Sam and PLEASE write a book! Consider this kind and gentle pressure.

[@spacee_girl]

♊️🌞, ♑️🌜, ♉️⬆️ seeing those 2 things in the title has me so excited to listen! i’m about to fall asleep to this🥺💕

[@rawr4444]

Thank You for all these wonderful discussions!

[@KathleenLarsonStargazer]

Yes billiant. Just brilliant. Both of you are stellar. Thank you so much for the work you do to bring this to us. And yes, a book would be very welcome.

[@alarex8204]

Well this was awesome. Loved the comparison between the cosmos and shuffling a deck. I'm not good enough to use astrology to predict the future, but when looking at my chart and the transits that have occurred already in my lifetime, I can't help but see the power behind this knowledge.

[@mercuryascending1900]

Really enjoyed this discussion gentlemen! Talk added greater insight and info in to my previous studies. 🙏🏼

[@lilstars5599]

Thank you so much for this!

[@lolaandthepoets]

Thank you both for this, what a show.

[@ewadsworth]

This was amazing!

[@shelliecrowastrology2923]

Thank you for this thought-provoking episode. I just wanted to support Chris in his gentle "peer pressure" for a book! 😉

[@jennyd_1111]

Thank you so much for this important discussion.

[@cutandstickrubyv4691]

Absolutely brilliant podcast 🙏👍 Thank you so much gents the whole thing was a pleasure to listen to

[@dovetailtrinity]

This was a very interesting episode. - saved parts of it to my phone as well. Thank you guys.

[@gildacao8717]

Chris B. is like the Tibetan Buddhist Deity Avalokiteshvara, he has a thousand eyes piercing clearly into what's what at the Source of his interviews! In Gratitude of your amazing pointed, all evolving Excalibur sword!

[@hughe140]

How strange! Through my research Hermeticism is actually much older. The Mycenaean era to be specific when it was situated between Sumeria and Egypt.

[@jenniferjennings8791]

I totally agree.

[@euphoriaxoxo6299]

god. this was an amazing episode…

[@gracelovesmakeupx]

Really enjoying this so far .

[@katiedicarlo799]

This was so cool! Would totally love a book! Curious about Block’s birth chart too!

[@ancientfutureastrology]

Loved this! Thank you both! Very insightful.

[@soulflow7059]

This discussion was very interesting 🧐 I liked hearing about how the soul is not subject to fate

[@erinmota1708]

One of my favorite episodes, thank you Chris for putting out very useful pieces of work. I would love to meet you some day, really... You have so much knowledge to offer & I'm eager to learn more🖤

[@sueanndayton3458]

At 1hr 27 to 1hr 29 you quoted something very profound. It reminded me of the premise of Human Design. Thank you for the work and you guest have done.

[@gildacao8717]

Yes, lets dive and go swimming with Sam and his expertise!

[@lynnroots7556]

Beautiful session ! Thank you Chris and Sam ! Just magnificent wisdom and insight too Lynn Rancho Mirage Ca 🌴 Sept 18th 2022

[@CatarinaAntunesYouTube]

my share of a social pressure for a monumental work! What an amazing podacast!

[@BrelynnHeart]

1:30:00 you guys are discussing the submission to fate vs engagement with fate through magic in relation to astrology, as well as, Sam pointing out that that there isn't exactly "one" hermetic philosophy but rather many people's experiences with hermeticism.... I just wanted to say that I think we can look back on the development of certain religions and kind of come to a logical conclusion that when we choose to give up our personal power to "fate", what often steps into that vacuum is other people's power in the name of "fate" and not fate itself. In my opinion, retaining our personal power through the knowledge and use of magic may give us better protection against manipulation in the name of religion or even politics. My personal philosophy stems a little more from a hind sight perspective. Humanity has tried the whole "not my, but Thy Will be done" thing and it's led to a lot of suffering.... let's retaining our sovereign power and personal responsibility and see where that takes us🤷‍♀️

[@Kate-hh8yi]

Hermès, the great translator 💜💜💜

[@melissamoore521]

This is perfection!

[@melissamoore521]

I just want to say that I listen to several podcasts which are intellectually and critically curated. THIS ONE is where I feel like I am getting a truly critical, scientifically 'bounded' and perhaps rounded conversation. I am astounded by the persistent, skeptical eye that Chris has maintained through his years creating this wondrous podcast. I don't feel like I am am being 'sold' a bill of goods, nor do I feel like I am being trained by a school marm, nor led by an agenda, Your scholarly approach has given reason and indeed, steadfast appreciation, for this topic, and all related sciences. Namaste, good Teacher.

[@TheJakeenan]

I would love to read a future book of his! I love the passion

[@gildacao8717]

Chris and Sam create a fabulous diverse and well targeted interview; 😇👁👀🐝 since they come from different camps yet still meet well in the middle. We came out with 2 or 3 outstanding stellar keys which were mentioned but not fully addressed; of these 3, 1 has been hugely veiled in favor of developing another; and it was mentioned and passed on; and may very well be the 'new' to unearth. Love your offerings. Curious and puzzled about why 'academic' books prove to be out of price range; when academics for the most part are backed by wealth, and the last Book 3 clearly favors 'multiplying.' Dig and thou shall find! Love it! Chris and Sam > 2 amazing power houses sharing. Thank you. ❤️💙💛🗝

[@jessicaesss32]

This was incredibly interesting thank you both 👍

[@annahollings5336]

Absolutely brilliant, thank you.

[@reese1337]

I am interested in learning about how the body each body part is related to each month in astrology. I wish we could learn more about the essenes from the dead sea scrolls astrology and more Egyptian astrology

[@kimgoesthere]

This was a very interesting discussion, thank you! Reminder that books and writing/reading in general were extremely extremely rare during the timeframe of the Hermeticum, so it wouldn’t quite be as “popular” as Deepak Chopra. These texts would’ve been written by highly trained priests and/or extraordinarily wealthy and educated people who would’ve even had time to dedicate to anything other than food.

[@BeataTarotTutorials]

Thank you for this episode! So much great info and more books for my reading list. (Editing to add:) And yes! We need this book Sam!

[@ReginaChouza]

I’m half way through. Love this episode. Wondering though when the discussion turns to hermeticism & stoicism, and how we are encouraged to accept events that we wouldn’t want - is it because they just are and we can’t get away from certain things?

[@enlightenupfrances4910]

YAHOO!! You rock, Chris 😍😍🙏🏻

[@Polaris333]

Wow this is wonderful. So if we can appeal to our Daimon and change some of our fate, would that be reflected in the birth chart, for example, through progressions?

[@johnnewton8017]

Back again :)

[@euphoriaxoxo6299]

lol i love this sam block dude. new fan.

[@IpsissimusPrime]

As far as I understand, after much personal research, the Corpus Hermetica is gnostic in nature, especially in the events of the Pymander/Poimandres/Chapter 1. Peter Kingsley has written some really great articles on this in his effort during the 90's to establish an Egyptian origin (probably by a former Egyptian priest line) and these are highly recommended. Professor Christian Bull also has a recent academic textbook on the evolution of the acknowledgement for an Egyptian contribution. The events of the Poimandres, including the constant change in the imagery, clearly seem like the result of a contemplative practice. And this is a strong component in Platonism and this evolved as the study of Platonism went on. You can think of that evolution as Middle and Late Platonism or as Neoplatonism (which is a term that's attributed specifically to Plotinus but stuck). The main issue which concerned Neoplatonists is that they utilized discursive methods to elucidate non-discursive experiences, basically mystical experiences, but discursive language (oral or written) is never able to describe it. This is why Plotinus' Enneads have been so heavily studied.

[@jenniferjennings8791]

What we are able to learn from the NDE pattern is nothing happens by chance and there is no time that’s not allotted.

[@johnnewton8017]

Great point.

[@therapythroughcards]

Interesting topic here!

[@talkalotakaka]

Hello From San Francisco ! 🌊🔥🔥🌊

[@cobabs]

Surviving texts, Egypt, awesome!

[@elendil7]

Very interesting. Thank you. 🌌

[@MM-zj4nm]

awesome Chris

[@Cmrntylr]

Hmm.. I’m hoping this episode gets more views. If not, I hope that doesn’t discourage more episodes on the subject(s). I’m just now getting into the hermetics, I’ve already read the Nag Hammadi. To me, the kybalion is a good starting point even though it’s probably as hermetic as modern Christianity is Christianity.. it at least lays out a base view while not saying much of anything while I do find some of it humorous where I wouldn’t take it too seriously. There are areas where it crosses into what it shouldn’t and even says it wouldn’t, these parts I didn’t pay much attention to. The parts I did like are brief explanations of basics and I view hermeticism as sort of being a collection of ideas searching for an answer while not exactly having one. The Nag Hammadi is inconsistent as in it has a lot of contradictions which were seemingly completely fine because (even Jung stated it with other gnostic codexes) they were not that concerned with a coherent cannon. One thing I may revisit is an issue I have with astrological systems where Mercury and moon are too similar. If it’s actually a distinction between Hermes and Thoth then it makes sense. With the kybalion, the parts I did agree with is astrology likely has a lot more encoded within it than that’s interpreted in modern astrology. There’s been a few things I’ve stumbled on recently where my view on houses are shifting. Reading that “book” (it’s so short I have a hard time viewing it as more than an essay) you can see potential influences with new age beliefs while I’m not sold it itself had influence. It sort of (if it’s the case) makes it’s unintentional point that the philosophy in the wrong hands can be malefic. The secret, which is often moral callousness. I went lightly into a similar subject recently with distinguishing between conspiracy theorists and actual ideas/critical philosophy is to look for what they’re selling or if there’s an agenda underneath it. Take the secret, you see many variations. Can a person practicing the secret manifest monetary wealth away from the secret itself. As in, selling books on the subject or paid speaking events? Most likely no. Every successful person who goes into motivational speaking/writing sets up failure. Others, like KZbin theorists will terrify you then try to sell their end of days apocalypse canned food supply. Or their books of dystopian sci fi fiction. Or they just like being gurus that then sell you T shirts. To me. The kybalion messes up when it starts listing off hierarchies of sentient beings and going slightly too far with mentalism. I can say, there’s a thirst for these subjects at least in understanding them. Manipulating matter is where skeptic caution comes in, but this may be more manipulation of causation which is what is thought of as synchronicity. An approach I may try/investigate is since I like using quadrant houses overlayed with whole sign that if a more abstract view on the whole sign houses could add a layer to it that’s more accurate that’s still in the definitions of the houses. The cardinal points being actual physical reality which then had succedant and cadent houses being more… abstract in meaning. The modern meanings staying in quadrants. The “thirst” relates to a lot of what people call “social constructs” which is correct in some cases while not in others. Understanding what actually is and has always been known of may help clear up apparent confusion. Some of it isn’t confusion, but testing how far the lines can be pushed which can actually take progress then cause an equally harsh backlash which is unnecessary, but you never know until you get caught going too far. This issue is apparently hitting San Fran pretty hard right now. Alan Watts gives the best explanation of that subject related to knowing what type of ego game you’re playing and what that desired upper hand is actually trying to do. More for fun because I’ve noticed the the subject has come up in other episodes. This episode reminded me of the band Ministry in part because of the song golden dawn, but they changed their names in terms of production to hypo Luxa and Hermes Pan. This actually reminded me that Al Jorgensen of Ministry is was actually Timothy Leary’s experiment in using hallucinogens to create the ultimate spiritual warrior. Jorgensen lived with Leary for a couple years getting injected with new chemical make ups of LSD plus testing how well they worked with other drugs like cocaine and heroine. That would be the Psalm 69 and Filth Pig era.. NWO, Just One Fix (with Burroughs) and scarecrow. Filth Pig is when he found himself in never ending cycles of rehab.. one of his many bands.. if you look up RevCo-Crackin Up Leary is in the video; they were very close. Jourgensen was isolated in one of his books on the lsd cyber Jesus movement. And.. a well known story, Tool became Tool (progressive psychedelic rock) after drinking one of Jourgensen’s bottles of wine at lollapalooza that had Leary’s LSD in it. Anyways. There was a brief point with ministry (just in case you didn’t feel like showing up era) where they tried to take industrial music and turn it into an almost Hermetic movement which is why the Process Church was revitalized in the 90’s. If you look up Skinny Puppy/ohGr- Scarecrow on youtube there’s a leaked demo of one of the songs intended to be part of that but Rick Rubin killed it and Jourgensen went into rehab. The Fall from Ministry is from that era.. a hint at that is from that mentioned Just in Case you didn’t feel like.. tour. Find the pledge of allegiance and you’ll get the tone. Breathe is actually what made me like Ministry, So What is their Gen X underground theme song. Figured it may be interesting since Leary comes up on the podcast semi frequently and his sort of protege is… 😳 plus.. revitalization of Hermetic like ideas often turn into a disaster for some reason. I enjoyed this episode, I hope there’s more sprinkled in in the future. PS: since Chris likes conspiracy theory’s, ministry-quick fix (Burroughs) is quite entertaining.

[@jessieadore]

Chris.. you are reeaallyy THAT guy. 💫

[@justinduplantier772]

LIT as always. thanks!

[@user123-f7y]

N'est tu pas francophone? Que fait tu dans cet espace anglophone?

[@justinduplantier772]

english in this lifetime.@@user123-f7y

[@user123-f7y]

@@justinduplantier772Your name "Justin Du Plantier" is a french word which means "Justin from/of the roof"... So i bet you're a french/swiss/belgium/quebec guy

[@justinduplantier772]

cajun french from louisiana. ;)@@user123-f7y

[@user123-f7y]

@@justinduplantier772 hahaha, bah voila!! C’est super de voir un francophone dans cette communauté majoritairement anglophone ! Namasté brother!

[@marjorievcohen5250]

So enjoyable. Thanky🍃🙏🙋‍♀️💜🕯😁🦋🧚‍♀️🌺🍃ou so much

[@brandoncallaway8835]

For anyone who cares to know my understanding on the subject of Hermes/thoth being the god of time. He may have been the one recording the calendar (a trait of mercury), as mercury does with things.... It categorizes them through conceptualization. Mercury is the intellect and the connection of concepts and archetypes and learning, the mind has communication too! Saturn is the lord of time and structure, which is the archetype which fixes physical existence to be experienced. Not going to go into true hermetics, but mercury is a lesser reflection, or emanation of saturn as it also structures through will and direction. So the archetypal god of Hermes/thoth is the one recording the information of time to store in conceptual understanding and saturn would be the archetype that is giving time it's structure. Saturn trumps mercury in the game of time. They both have thier respective great functions, but saturn is the glue that holds dualities and material structures in motion. Mercury is what helps you find the liberation from such things. So you could kinda say: Saturn is creating structure (as well as time) and Mercury is trying to figure it all out and give it objective and subjective substance. Hence marking down the calendar!

[@johnnewton8017]

Listening to this for the 3rd time :)

[@darbiestarot5338]

Watching this while Mercury is at 19° Virgo! As a Gemini sun virgo rising and Gemini Mercury at 18° this is really hit hard as it’s the way I already thought about the planets and had no idea it was already an ancient ideology that must come from my Gemini s.node conjuct Mercury or something cause wow! Very cool.

[@TheCrowMagnum1111]

I love this- and I also have a tattoo similar to Sam’s on the same arm ;D⚡️⚡️⚡️

[@leviviaene6285]

Had been looking around some 2,5months ago, buying the (carefully selected) basics of occult books. there wasn't much of a way getting to solidly buying 'the emerald tablet(s)' (all sorts of dilutions&misleadings, seeming not worth the while after all investigating'ment). I hope you will come to have written "the book on it" (with appropriate condensing - pure - elaborations) coming years, i'm relatively sure i would/will buy it. Thanks for mentioning the good/better resources, much valuable. but like i said, this is a subject i "just want to read a good book on", delving in in appropriate proportions and in the basic framework for further sutdy/work/practices in line with my astrology-ways, tarot also in the future, magic may definitely come across my path, ..)

[@leviviaene6285]

@@junemoonchild69 i agree with the higher perespective yes

[@reese1337]

If i remember correctly the dead sea scrolls mentions if a person is born with their Sun in the night time which I think is the lower houses that they will be evil

[@slmille4]

1:45:42 I'm not familiar with these lineages, if true do they challenge the Casaubon hypothesis that the Corpus Hermeticum was written in late Hellenistic, in favor of it being adapted from earlier writings?

[@amytaylor5139]

Brilliant!!!

[@lengthypisces6168]

Is this the TED Talks voice over guy? Also, thoroughly enjoyed this podcast

[@linneamooney3090]

Should the emerald tablet be considered a part of the corpus hermeticum or is it like you both said - more of a mystery or puzzle that came later. Would it really be considered hermetic wisdom/philosophy or just a recreation of certain ideas

[@Frogsickle42]

50:19 the designer of a world where lying and deceit are necessary is an amoral designer

[@kirage_maas]

🤯♥️ loving this

[@Christoth2012]

Yes a book pls :P

[@livinginparallel]

Fkng STELLAR 👏👏👏 thank you, wow🫶✨🫶

[@cvitkam]

Yes, Sam write a book.

[@megkelly8664]

Fantastic ⭐🌞🌛🌈

[@truthbearer3891]

Doing meditation brings an awareness of the levels of emotions within, anger, sorrow, love . Meditation is to still the emotions or calm , let go. and observe what happens thereafter . An altered state of awareness, being happens that we dont experience in every day life with all its distractions our minds flitter.and we dont know ourselves , our emotions run riot , our thoughts are in battle. Well not everyone but many and the only thing that keeps people in obedience is work , not the inner work to freedom, work to pay the bills , the money that keeps people in a slave mentality whether you have it or not its what people are after , desire, want and need . They dont even realise they have a soul .

[@maryanne1367]

Asking a God to release you of your fate kinda reminds me of confession, in a basic way. The Christians stole a lot from the Mystery Religions.

[@aquariosoul]

Son of God sounds very Christian language. Nothing against yet it makes me wonder if this wasn’t parallel to the early Christian church. Interesting as the Church condemns astrology.

[@chrissessions7702]

what software do you use to see birth charts? i really want to use it but can’t figure out what it’s called! pls help

[@TheAstrologyPodcast]

The program is called Solar Fire by Alabe.com. Use the promo code AP15 to get a discount

[@kerrietandle2549]

Love this episode. I’m Mercury 14° 13' Virgo, Sun 13° 33' Virgo, Rising 16° 2' Virgo.

[@Silvertestrun]

Ty

[@alexandraknox4726]

Do you do chart readings

[@scarletmarosa2602]

Maybe it wasn't so much an oath but a spell.... With vibrational attraction it seems to be protected

[@lodragan]

Randomness in planetary orbits: Yes and No. Given the lack of major impacts between large bodies inside the solar system in the last billion years, orbits are extremely ordered, unlike the randomness exhibited in shuffling the Tarot, throwing i-Ching bones etc. That being said, I don't personally believe in fate in the human realm, given free will. As we are intimately part of the universe, from the pre-atomic pre-big bang quantum state of the universe to today, it makes sense we are affected by the universe, yet I see the expression of that through proclivities which can be suppressed, rather than fate which can not.

[@soloricoo6617]

39:35 sorta like a hallway pass?

[@sivarajkrishna4277]

The American accent is not easy to follow. Give titles for the entire conversation. The stuff is. Valuable. But. Thank you. Sivaraj kumbakonam

[@SomosLaNuevaEra]

Música para Atraer el AMOR ❤️

[@pedropicaxxo7309]

ALL " Planet's are Part of thy Clay the perfect combination of the excess of ALL Life"