What is Hermeticism?

[@ReligionForBreakfast]

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[@TheMrcassina]

i didnt know that you were also funny

[@TheVeganVicar]

"Deities" is pronounced "DAY-i-ties", from the Latin/Greek "Deus/Theos".

[@reginaldbauer5243]

Could you do a video regarding Egyptian influence on Plato's philosophy?

[@marktoth4379]

Where are those sources? You know, the one's that you, yourself demanded from, uhhhh... you-yourself...? Doooh!🤦‍♂️ Where are the sources!? 😆

[@cristinahutchins1902]

@@marktoth4379 If you are watching this on your desktop, there is a pale grey box directly under the video and all those "buttons" you can click. In the pale grey box, there is some partial information revealed and a three dots just before the word "more" in a bold text! If you click the word …more, the box will expand downward and reveal the "sources" he mentioned. There are three sources or citations listed in the pale grey box. If you are watching this on a phone, you may have to look around under the video. Look for this: …more and click on it. On my phone when I click …more the box to expanded partially, then I have to look around again for …more, and click it again to get the box to open completely and reveal the "sources." I come across so many KZbin users who complain to video creators that they can't find the links, references, or sources that are promised "directly below the video."

[@ghafford750]

The debut of Andrew's acting chops we've all been waiting for with that dialogue section and I'm here for it

[@TheMrcassina]

I had a good laugh

[@obsidianjane4413]

I also saw what he did there.

[@Ofallthings089]

He’s found his Cal Chuchesta.

[@m.streicher8286]

​@@Ofallthings089man I miss cal

[@sergioflor3154]

The beginnings of the Andrewverse. We were here to witness it!

[@colin-alexarobinson3542]

the conversational format when discussing socratic vs hermetic dialogue was fun!

[@nyguesswho]

I hate to admit it, but I didn’t “get it” in full until I read this comment.

[@jasonchahal5262]

Cameraman Andrew is my favourite character in the ReligionForBreakfast canon

[@Falsifrey]

This is the Breakfast-verse that we all have been waiting for.

[@oceanusprocellarum6853]

red vs blue pfp spotted

[@mariane3146]

It’s funny af i loved it 😆😆

[@JeffreyOller]

I'm going to name him Enoch.

[@jukkaahonen6557]

The Demiurge, because he crafts the videos 📹

[@pumpkin2477]

It's crazy how consistently religion for breakfast can put out videos while still having incredible quality in production and research!

[@scinerd11]

It's truly insane. This one was amazing

[@AlMuqaddimahYT]

Great video as always! I'd like to add that for all the things Christians and Muslims fought over, Greek thoughts and ideas were shared and revered by both. Hermes Trimegitus makes an appearance in Islamic philosophy as well as I talked about in my video on how Medieval Muslims saw Ancient Egypt (shameless plug, lol). It's interesting how this pagan figure made its way into the philosophy of these monotheistic religions and how their existence was justified by each.

[@babyruthless9670]

Please link to your video

[@johnoparinde2682]

I hope religion for breakfast collabs with you one day

[@ColasTeam]

Oh, you're still alive! And you've been making videos? KZbin has literally not shown me any of them in months...

[@AlMuqaddimahYT]

@@ColasTeam I am! The rumors of my death are greatly exaggerated. I made a video just a month ago!

[@michaelwright2986]

Good to see you. I was wondering, as I watched this video, whether in fact Hermetism is symptomatic of a prevailing way of seeing the world, and that Christianity, Islam, and indeed some kinds of Judaism, articulated their particular religious insights in the terms of the prevailing way of imagining the world. So, not exactly influence of Hermetism, or any specific philosophy, but development in a common seed-bed. The way science provides a background sense of the world today, which both shapes the way serious religious thinkers do their work (religion and evolution, creation and cosmogony), and provides a language for the purveyors of woo (quantum vibrations and cosmic energy--the Wellness Centre next door is erecting a huge crystal in its back yard, and I swear it's interfering with our WiFi).

[@yuro-h7m]

Hermes the Thrice-GOATed

[@FernandoMendoza-dw8nz]

Nah cuz why that sound fire tho 😂

[@BANANA42k]

​@@FernandoMendoza-dw8nz fr on skibidi

[@communications23]

My mind is set firmly from the skibidiment of the world.

[@babynautilus]

jesus trismechristmas

[@UsefulCharts]

3:10 Useful chart 😊

[@yiannicart]

Matt Baker spotted in the wild!

[@Caseyuptobat]

>video titled "what is hermeticism?" >it's about hermetism

[@RamessesXXIX]

it's particularly admirable you know the difference

[@fort809]

@@RamessesXXIXit was explained in the first few minutes

[@Ofallthings089]

>looking for a video on hermeticism >ask the comments if the video is about hermeticism or hermetism >they don’t understand >pull out illustrated diagram explaining what is hermeticism and what is hermetism >they laugh and say “it’s a good video sir” >look inside >it’s hermetism

[@luizantonio1050]

and it explains what it is, interestingly enough

[@slmille4]

Hermetism is such a specialized term that it’s hardly ever going to be searched for

[@kovaxim]

I love this back-and-forth between professor Andrew and regular Andrew

[@scienceface8884]

While discussing the difference between Socratic and Hermetic dialog, very illustrative!

[@TheModernHermeticist]

Aw yeh this is my jam.

[@uncledubpowermetal]

🙄

[@johnnewton8017]

🙋🏻

[@dannyglands4565]

We breaking out of the mental manacles with this one boys

[@birkett83]

I see what you did there. Turning the video into a dialogue when discussing the differences between Socratic and Hermetic dialogues. Very clever. Very meta.

[@ceejozz]

i was so obsessed with hermeticism when i was going through religious psychosis in 2021 😭 really good succinct video

[@dontchewglass]

That was me in 2020 during my first manic episode, high five

[@ceejozz]

@@dontchewglass yayy

[@ARsuffix]

"Was"? Why did you stop?

[@ceejozz]

@@ARsuffix sorry i’ll get back to the grind boss

[@ishmaelmcgoo2945]

What is religious psychosis? What was your experience like?

[@babyruthless9670]

Omg I was literally just talking about Hermes with my husband 🤩

[@ReligionForBreakfast]

It was fated

[@TheOdieD3]

@@ReligionForBreakfast😂

[@MaviBabliu]

for everyone scrolling and listening to the video, go read forbidden manifestation by zara blackthorn. then come back to thank me

[@kirandevi8199]

thanks

[@benrokh]

An amazing summary of such a complex topic! Researching the worldview of the hermetics must have been a herculean task, and you clearly succeeded in it! Funnily enough, this summary is also applicable to kabbalistic thought and more surprisingly, to Hinduism in most of it's forms: The supreme deity is the same as the Parabrahman, the demiurge is Tvastr, and the ogdoad is parallel to the ashtavasus. The concept of fate governed by the stars is parallel to karma as seen through jyotisha. The elevation of the higher self to unite with the divine is a parallel of moksha, or nirvana in Buddhism. And the greatest obstacle to that elevation is the desires of the flesh or the indriyas.

[@ekmalsukarno2302]

Hi there ReligionForBreakfast, can you please make a video on Hinduism in Bali and how it differs from how it's practised in India. Thank you very much.

[@Carlos-ln8fd]

I always say this but your scripwriting skills are just incredible

[@apollonius153]

Ikr there so good in fact tht I take notes and write in a notebook especially the quotes from various Texts but with his videos I end up writing 70%-75% of the transcript 😂so a 30min video usually takes me 3 hours to complete s2G

[@michaelwhite9513]

I was in Catholic Schools in the late 50's and early 60's. When we found a practice, such as Christmas Eve, the Sisters would say the early church "baptized" many Jewish and pagan (it was over 50 years ago) traditions and made them Christian. I have had a fascination with how often this happened over the years. The above really triggered that feeling as so many other concepts were absorbed or blended. As things spiritual change over time, they really remain the same. Humanity is amazing.

[@CalloohCalley]

Andrew, I really like that quick bit you did. It was fun and really breaks up your monologue. I like your lectures no matter what, but that little bit was good. :) Good on you for breaking away from your older style and incorporating humour! Accademia needs more light-heartedness.

[@Pooneil1984]

Nice overview. I got quite lost in Esoterica's deep dive. This helps a lot.

[@liquidpaper1349]

This seems surprisingly Dharmic, and specifically Buddhist. Escaping the cycle of rebirth by transcending, which is done by rejecting the material world and fate. I feel like I've heard this song before . . .

[@Roln-hi7cp]

Rejecting Fate is an interesting subject. Because replacing it is ideology and difficult and is it better 🎉

[@canisronis2753]

worth a cup of coffee, thank you!

[@anthonyp3113]

we are so back baby I am looking forward to this!

[@aguspuig6615]

She Hermes on my Trismagistus until i obtain the hidden knowledge

[@b3nzayizkoolyo]

Now this is gnosis

[@JeffMonsoon]

@@b3nzayizkoolyohe’s gnooning

[@thirteenthdemon1204]

@@JeffMonsoon the goonosis

[@fort809]

@@thirteenthdemon1204the demiurge gave me a dry hand job in an Arby’s bathroom in 2006

[@floot1919]

Religion for breakfast always has the nicest comments

[@monodragoon]

New Andrew lore just dropped: there's two Andrews. Werdna sweep!

[@brianmckee2267]

Andtwo*

[@boxbox0000]

the duality of andrew

[@joshuakruebbe3762]

Cathar duality of Andrew revealed

[@wiel5908]

just like jesus and thomas as twins, andrew also got one

[@SeporiBowi]

A lot of the story of Elden Ring uses elements from Platonic Cosmology and Hermeticism. It's pretty interesting learning that here. As Noah Caldwell-Gervais pointed the Buddhist part of the cosmology, this is a great complement. And it helps to create a better image of the author intent coming from both George R.R. Martin and the writing team at From Software.

[@wanderingsoulenterprises5564]

Omg I swear I must have searched for this topic on your channel last week. Thanks for producing this! 🙏🏻

[@joshuasims5421]

Fascinating! I hope we get to see more videos about hermeticism and other developments of hermetism, I’d love a follow-up!

[@SimonPrefontaineGames]

I'd like to thank you for another fascinating, entertaining, educational and respectful video.

[@billbaggins1688]

Had an interest in Hermeticism after encountering it in the tv series 'Dark'. It is refreshing to see a scholarly discussion on this subject pop up on my recommendations. Thank you.

[@QuentaAccords]

Thank you @ReligionForBreakfast. You helped connect Socrates and in turn (S)Aristotle to (S)Hermes and Tolkien's Saruman in the realm of 'Fantasy.' I haven't explored Hermeticism to the degree I've desired quite yet, but from what I've gathered so far, Philosophy is attributed to Saruman's 'Persuasive Voice' in the Lord of the Rings. But Philosophy is the love of knowledge and not the source of knowledge. Such is the difference between Philosophy and Science. Where in our past, Saruman the White (Love of Knowledge) was replaced by Gandalf the White (Knowledge of Knowledge).

[@Odo_Fraggins]

Forgive me if this is already part of the Hermetic conversation, but is it possible that Hermetic philosophy was influenced at all by Greco-Buddhism? There seems to be some overlap in ideas, such as: rebirth according to karma-like conditions, or eschewing worldly desires and shedding ignorance in order to transcend dualism. Of course, these aren't mind-blowing "Wtf? Hermetism and Buddhism are literally the same 🤯" kinds of things. There are plenty of differences and both Hermetism and Buddhism have huge and diverse bodies of literature associated with them. Just thinking out loud, I suppose. Again, forgive me if this is something people have already hashed out in the discussion of Hermetic philosophy haha

[@ARsuffix]

That is a good relevant question! As I understand, ancient Alexandria had the presents of religious communities from as far out as Southeast Asia (including Buddhist communities) so, this seems very possible! I'm curious too!

[@buckfred1]

Taoism may have been an influence as well

[@lucyferos205]

Alchemy comes from Daoism, and the classical elements come from Daoism/Hinduism. These were incorporated into Hermeticism through Platonism and Pythagoreanism. Kemetic (Egyptian) paleopaganism, Hellenic (Greco-Roman) paleopaganism, and Vedic (Dharmic, Hindu and Buddhist) paleopaganism all share roots in Proto-Indo-European religion. They also blended together a lot.

[@EndingSimple]

Thank you. I've been trying to get an explanation of what exactly hermeticism is for a number of years, but I kept running into mysto-babble , obscurantism, and indirection. There are people who like obscurantism for the sake of obscurantism. "Those who know, don't tell. Those who tell, don't know." etc. Now it appears clearer to me.

[@genghisgalahad8465]

The debut of Andrew's double! The true brains behind the operation! Love it!

[@185MDE]

Getting my coffee... ok lets do this!!!

[@Mitchfork]

hermit time

[@TheModernHermeticist]

Hate to be that guy but alas, there's no relation between the words Hermes and Hermit

[@Mitchfork]

@@TheModernHermeticist incorrect. they sound the same

[@guaporeturns9472]

Hermes not hermits

[@thomaswillard6267]

​@@MitchforkAnd Hermetics were fans of Phonetics, it works. Half-Life 3 Confirmed

[@Punaparta]

​@@Mitchfork Only in English.

[@mravalik]

I had always been interested in Hermeticism since I saw the film "As Above, So Below" though of course apart from the cinematic aspect of it, the depth of the philosophy and its tenets are deeply interesting, thank you for this video!

[@babynautilus]

same lol

[@tymstewart]

Jorge Ben Jor has an album (A Tabua De Esmeralda) on Hermes Trimegitus, worth a listen!

[@asteroxfoundation]

This presentation on Hermeticism provides some great summary information for the curious, the seeker and the practitioner.

[@ganjjabarsmedium2347]

That moment when Andrew started talking to himself the camera man was the ultimate plot twist. Mind blown. Super Easy, Barely an Inconvenience!

[@francislafaecreates4914]

Tight, even

[@slmille4]

To what extent do classical Hermetic texts assume a working familiarity with Egyptian religious texts in the way that Christian mysticism assumes a working familiarity with the Bible?

[@Dreoilin]

I've studied this subject for many years. You did a great job on this video.

[@ColonelMidi]

dude what is this channel this is so well made n interesting!

[@Falsifrey]

Wow, great video and loved the tongue-in-cheek of the dialogue section! I would really love to dig a bit deeper into the comparative studies aspect of having a "god in three persons" religious concept compared to any historical writings from the early church. Did the council of Nicaea explicitly declare any influence from Hermes Trismegistus? Makes one wonder. The way all the early 1st century cults interplayed from each other is absolutely fascinating. If you've got the time to do a broad spectrum comparison of shared religious traits across all the active ones of 1st century AD, it would be completely epic. For example, I remember listening to the History of Rome and hearing how Valentinian's legions had scared his competitor (forget the name) because they had learned an eastern religious custom of rising to the dawn and raising a cheer to the sun. In this story, the enemy legions thought Valentinian was greeting reinforcements but really it was just a daily sunrise ceremony. I had always interpreted this as being a reference to Elagabal which later turned into Sol Invictus. If the song from this episode to Hermes Trismegistus was sung by a whole cohort, I could see it really rattling their enemy. So incredibly sly of all those ancient cults to low-key nab the most fun parts of each other's religious practices!

[@Eriugena8]

Congrats on 10 years. it's funny, i don't usually binge your past videos, because every short video gets my tiny brain gears cranking, and they arrive like clockwork... but here i go...🐭

[@stanleygagner]

The term "hermetically sealed" comes from hermeticism. Alchemists believed that the hermetic texts contained the secrets to creating a perfect seal, and the term also related the secretive aspects of the philosophy.

[@Parasfarmer]

This is a very good introduction and discussion! It's nice to see the bits and peices I've been trying to understand for years get summarized succinctly all together in one place.

[@michaelshelton5488]

Would love to see a conversation between you and Dr. Justin Sledge

[@Roln-hi7cp]

Sister Sledge - We are Family - 1979

[@someguynamedelan]

14:21 This sounds like Reincarnation in the Eastern Tradition. Are there theories that East may have influenced West or vice versa? Or did they just independently came to that conclusion?

[@serphystus]

I thought of the vedas as soon as they said the essence and of god is mind. Classic western philosophers were very much influenced by eastern traditions imo… I even dare to say Jesus was too

[@kurthill9070]

​@@serphystusAlain Danielou gave his commentary on the influences of Dionysus and Síva in his book "Gods of Love and Ecstasy" to Christianity. The Holy Communion alone is an incomplete christ-washed knockoff of bhakti yoga and greek libation/procession.

[@user-nc6td8ox1t]

@@serphystus it's the other way around.

[@TheCsel]

The Greeks did come into contact with Buddhists and Hindu groups. It was not uncommon that even Ancient Greek philosophers had orientalist views of Egypt and Persia as ancient and mystical places and often traveled there to attain wisdom from them. So it’s not out of question that they picked up eastern philosophy. Inversely India picked up sculpting techniques from the Greeks and you can find carvings of Heracles with Buddha.

[@clamy728]

I did a paper on Hermeticism in a philosophy research class and it is quite refreshing to see you do a video on it. There is surprisingly little scholarship on Hermeticism. Glad you could shed some light on it

[@ferreiraklen96]

You should check out Jorge Ben's song "Hermes Trismegisto". It talks about these mystical concepts in 70s samba-funk.

[@abdelfattahtarek838]

actually, Poimandres is suggested to be a corrupt greek pronunciation of Paamenre (i.e. Amunra, the head of egyptian pantheon). another suggestion is Pa-ime-nte-re (i.e. the knowledge of Re)

[@while_coyote]

it sounds like Gnosticism was just reworked Hermeticism.

[@Pikkiwoki]

This is your best video IMHO. This is the religion that makes the most sense to me, and I think it's also tied to Eleusis.

[@RemnantCult]

A good channel for further watching on this topic can be found on Esoterica which covers Western Esoteric traditions and texts.

[@jforozco12]

such a beautiful philosophy, this video has help me understand what made it such an attractive mindset/religion/philosophy for people in late antiquity

[@jcourtmail9261]

First I missed your recent lecture/"Office hours" (during work hours) is this recorded and available? Second (more related to the presentation) I found it interesting how you presented questions the average user might ask. Might be useful in future presentations. Always looking for different ways to present ideas to my students. I've used a Jeopardy style of questions as a way to engage my students rewarding them with candy. Mixed results with the approach.

[@kae5717]

I've been hoping for a video like this one for a while. Thank you!

[@aaronschannel639]

The best video I have seen on Hermeticism. Thank you for sharing.

[@MultiWeb23]

It's amazing how you keep reading my mind. :') You have one of the best channels on KZbin, thank you so much for that ❤

[@vereyafrequency]

hermeticism to me means buying the best modular synths out there, locking myself in a cabin, say goodbye to friends imaginary or otherwise, and just exploring sounds. happy man

[@phillipwhitford4064]

4:14 dialogue is brilliant

[@blindcat97]

The similarities in this cosmology to Hinduism are very interesting

[@cristinahutchins1902]

Thank you for this excellent summarization and clarification on Hermeticism.

[@bright-noise]

Ah yes CE, the common era. The era that is common. The era after the… event

[@pedroaugustofernandesolive4776]

I'd love if you guys make a video about Orphism 🥺

[@lukehorsfall3944]

I loved the dialogue portion, quite funny and informative

[@betos-08]

Good that there's a distinction between classical Hermeticism and new age writings using the name Hermeticism. It's hard to find real info, all you see in everyone copying the Kybalion as if it's an ancient work.

[@anthony7960]

Oh man this is my Super Bowl

[@tghodosko7259]

Top notch explanation. This sounds a lot like Gnostic Christianity.

[@michaelturner2806]

Fascinating stuff. For whatever reason I never actually looked at the spelling, and thought Hermeticism had to do with taking up becoming a hermit. Totally different words with totally different roots!

[@mr.e8226]

There's probably a good social connection between Hermeticism and Zorastrianism cosmology maybe even modern Sufism "secrets" and some of the semetic universalist religions

[@mexicanstatue172]

I really like these dialogue parts. It makes the video feel a bit more familiar as a student.

[@noone3216]

Nicely timed video Andrew, i just recently picked up a copy of the Kybalion (but yet to start it) 👌

[@mexicanstatue172]

Great video as always! Keep up all the amazing work and projects!

[@BenjicotRivers]

Been waiting for this one Andrew!!!🩵🩵🩵✨

[@TerribleShmeltingAccident]

man ty so much for making this episode. Not sure if you debated w/urself on whether to make/publish this episode but you made the choice! i have an insatiable thirst for spiritual knowledge, no matter how diverse. That said, i thought i had done my due diligence regarding Mr Herpes…i was wrong. Long have i struggled w/ the juxtaposition of free will and pre determinism….a you have blown my mind wide open tonight and for that i am grateful!❤ PS: Can you name the tree from which Eve ate the infamous 🍎 (from the Bible?)

[@commieRob]

Illustrating the distinction between Socratic and Hermetic dialogue is super easy, barely an inconvenience.

[@lh384]

I really would love to see an analysis of how the Hermetic texts square with what is known of Ancient Egyptian Mythology. I see a lot of the creator got Ptah in the Hermetic conception of God and the creation of the universe.

[@rrrosecarbinela]

Happy Anniversary!

[@verdatum]

I'd love to hear more about the 2nd wave with Hermeticism that you mention.

[@PtolemyJones]

Which explains why the Great Karnak used hermetically sealed envelops.

[@SobekLOTFC]

Keep up the exceptional work, Dr Henry 👍

[@xenocrates2559]

Very informative. Thanks for posting this.

[@ahotfajita]

I LOVE THIS CHANNEL !!!! THANK YOU FOR MAKING SUCH INTERESTING AND EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS!!!

[@danielreed4050]

Loving these longer videos

[@valhadar1137]

Esoterica also has amazing videos on hermeticism

[@christophernash8166]

I was just thinking about this earlier today because I had a supervisor from years ago who believed in this. I haven't thought about it in years until this morning.

[@EuphoricPentagram]

It’s fun how Hermes “3 great” has works related to them dated 0+&-300yrs and I just love that

[@leticiamaranhao412]

18:52 Gotta love the image of Thoth being like "daaad, you promised me I could ascend to a higher plane of existence!"

[@elfarlaur]

I love the glimpse at casual behind-the-scenes Andrew. I like to think that's how you look all the time

[@amanwhowalks]

Lol, love the conversation segments - reminds me a bit of Crashcourse with John’s bits

[@TheGnewb]

Had a book called Hermenuetics, it was a decent read. It was an oldish book, beautifully bound and printed.

[@jackgurney6961]

I like that you're adding some humour to the vids!

[@antonnurwald5700]

Thank you, this answers a lot of questions i had.

[@artawhirler]

Excellent video as always! Thanks!

[@KaptainTorres]

Hell yeah, a Religion for Breakfast episode on my boy the Thrice-Crowned? Gonna be a good day.

[@budderk1305]

I see what you did there, clever, a sensible chuckle was had

[@GodlessCommie]

Imma need that Abraxas t shirt rn