The Western Magical Tradition - Ronald Hutton

[@SophieHamilton-d3e]

When I was 17 years old and studying for History A Level at Long Road 6th form college in Cambridge (more than 30 years ago, lol) the history students took a trip to London to attend lectures on the English civil war. All of the lecturers at the event that day were good, but Ronald Hutton was exceptional. I’m glad to have seen and heard him live.

[@missbornlucky6676]

prof hutton is my favorite lecturer ever. i hope he lives for another 100 years

[@throughthewoods416]

Hear hear.

[@raginald7mars408]

He will Haunt you as your personal Ghost

[@RossArlenTieken]

Meeting with Ronald Hutton 14 years ago was personally transformative. He is one of the last gentleman scholars; his works are beautiful and full of both erudition and feeling.

[@shekhinah5985]

I don't think those scholars are dying out, they are just getting harder to find because they are getting drown out by all the noise.

[@MammaApa]

You know you've watched enough Philomena Cunk clips when the algorithm starts to recommend Ronald Hutton videos.

[@thinkingenglish1175]

The movie going public lost a great opportunity to witness genius when this guy wasn't cast as an Hogwarts professor. Great talk, I learned a lot.

[@susanp.collins7834]

Couldn't agree more.

[@wenharas1]

He’s a treasure. I have a massive crush. 😊

[@henry1050]

The look on Professor Hutton's face when that guy said that magic "patently does not work" was priceless.

[@louisebrookes2630]

Especially in a world where everyone is spellbound

[@blogobre]

Our greatest Dungeon Master explains magic to us.

[@earlducaine1085]

This is really a talk in itself. D&D, from the beginning, amassed and systematized a huge quantity of medieval magical lore, some taken directly from writings about the occult, some taken from fantasy literature which had filtered that information. That systematization has then fed the popular imagination through video games, fantasy literature, TV and cinema.

[@vindorin]

@@earlducaine1085 I love this concept.

[@NevisYsbryd]

@@earlducaine1085 Eh, superficially. The magical system is far more Vancian than any real world theories of magic, the gods, demons, fairies, etc are slightly better than superficial homages in the best cases to real world occult lore. They took a few things surface-level occult elements they thought looked cool and presented them in a very post-Spiritualism (and often post-Thelema) view in a pulp fantasy world with a lot of Protestant witch hunt tropes mixed in. It is closer to Conan the Barbarian with a few Platonism name-drops than anything approaching the actual occult.

[@pleasantvalley9898]

Religion- asking spirits for something positive to happen to you.... "Magic " asking spirits for something NEGATIVE , to happen to OTHER people . ^^ fantastic realization

[@torsion2]

@@pleasantvalley9898 thats black magic. There is also white magic

[@WickedFelina]

What a great honour to have been his student. His presence alone incites interest in any word he utters and more so, a deep peace. All which makes one's mind receptive to understanding, and retention of knowledge. This will always be the greatest regret I had not dared turn towards such a world earlier in my life when it might have been possible?

[@Metaphix]

One of the coolest things about the history of magic to me is that so many people really believed in it. Means that despite the world not being full of magic, people lived their lives and made their decisions as if it was. For all intents and purposes they WERE living in a magical world.

[@complaintregistar]

I’m doing this right now. You should do some research on Manly P Halls magick writings. This guy makes some good points but legality is irrelevant. Magick is a set of moral scales when the magician manipulates the elements.

[@kevinbissinger]

Oh sweety, don't speak in past tense. It's still extremely common

[@mintybadger6905]

I’m sorry to tell you, people still believe and will die and/or kill on that hill. Funny old world.

[@Jimmy-vn9hv]

Yes and ultimately magic is just manipulating the mind, it's as " real" as anything else. Is the Bank of America real? Isn't it merely an idea w signed pieces of paper? Reality boils down to language and language is only symbols

[@sacredbloomalchemy]

What was at first magic became science. It really depends on your definition of magic as to whether it exists or not, and personal perception/interpretation.

[@kittyodonoghue9896]

Ronald Hutton IS Magic, a national treasure, I would love to be at a live q and a he is wonderful.

[@pri22v11]

Professor Hutton is literally an authority on magic!!

[@JS33]

Feels like this is the first lesson of the history of magic, in an actual magic collage

[@authormichellefranklin]

Always a thrill to see Prof. Hutton's lectures. Please have him on again. Thank you!

[@chrisdougan8947]

Professor Hutton another fantastic professional lecture.The man is genuinely authentic 👋👋👋

[@jenniferlevine5406]

Wonderful presentation. I love listening to the professor speak! This is such fascinating history. Thank you so much!

[@a.h.5296]

I love that we have these available to us. Such a gift

[@williamfoote75]

I was high and this was so much fun.

[@JCRezonna-dl5qz]

My Ronald Hutton clip watching procedure: 1. Click on clip. 2. Click on 'like'. 3. Watch and enjoy.

[@worthlessendeavors]

Thank you Dr. Hutton for your endless inspirations!!!!

[@louisemay974]

Oh my goodness, thank you Gresham! Professor Hutton you are an absolute pleasure to listen to. 👏

[@SophyaAgain]

Wow another Prof. Hutton lecture! Love his "stories".

[@wighatsuperreggie]

The ill fitting tweed jacket, the strange shirt collar, strange tie thing under the lumpy cardigan engenders a great deal of trust in his academic rigor. This is high professor fashion.

[@Dawn.H]

Not a cardigan, that's a waistcoat

[@anayrre2062]

I am so excited for this, thank you Dr. Hutton!

[@gunkwretch3697]

Thank you Dr Hutton, and thank you Gresham, education should be free

[@frederickburke9944]

I agree. Nobody should get paid for this

[@StephanieSoressi]

Education IS free. Getting credit for it is what is costly.

[@frederickburke9944]

@@StephanieSoressi 😀

[@sestables]

No- it should better publicly-FUNDED, and not as an industry in itself, but as a basic civi right. This is the kind of uneducated thought pattern that undermines those who CREATE KNOWLEDGE and PROVIDE educational resources. Where do you think think this research comes from? The sky? It takes RESOURCES to support it. You undervalue the needs of educators because you all love this content, but you havent the foggiest notion of how much goes into the research/teaching process, at any level. 'If you cant see the product-it should be free' is the self-fulfilling omen of devaluing education. And in this stage of capitalism, people dont value what they cant see, what they dont directly pay for.

[@sestables]

​@@frederickburke9944and where does his house payment come from, I wonder? Are you high? It takes DECADES to create a body of knowledge like this. Grow up and *invest* in what you value.

[@ArteaLanora]

If anyone is curious, the QR code at 0:07 does work and you can see some of the questions.

[@gorbalsboy]

What a treasure this man is , fantastic talk😊

[@Brokout]

One of my favourite people of all time, so informative and entertaining, I recommend him to everyone!

[@guillemclapes5587]

Brilliant lecture, thank you!

[@TheDailyWitch]

Another great lecture by Dr. Hutton.

[@fleachamberlain1905]

Surely the most famous witches now-a-days must be Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg from the Discworld, by Terry Pratchett.

[@majonkie]

Om willing…

[@Dreamingupsafehavenhome]

And Ronald knows them both to be sure…

[@charlottesimonin2551]

Outstanding presentation!

[@KernowekTim]

Thank you very much indeed Professor Hutton. 'Magic', as always!

[@thishandleistacken]

It's fascinating seeing Gresham College take the history of magic and atheism just as seriously. Commendable! Makes sense too since the Rosicucian inspired Invisible College met there to organize the creation of The Royal Society (making it a focal point for the weaving of magic, politics and secular science)

[@RyanEdmondsMyLifeAsRyan]

Thank you, Prof Hutton. Such a gem in the crown of modern Paganism.

[@kellysouter4381]

Dr. Hutton actually has his own playlist I've saved him to

[@elizabethford7263]

I need to make one! I have playlists from the Rhind lectures from the Society of Scottish Antiquarians

[@sacredbloomalchemy]

Professor Ronald Hutton is my inspiration and makes me feel less of a weirdo for being interested in such occult topics.

[@Lemma01]

Nothing changes: the YT adverts that book-end this talk offer to believers instant free heat, Jazz piano in two weeks, even the body of a thirty-year old. Fools with money can be persuaded to hand it over to to scammers. Arguably, a Magician is the second oldest professional. Nice work, Ron. 🎉

[@kontrarien5721]

No coincidence that both the first *and* second oldest professions involve trading valued goods/money for little to no work!

[@fastenbulbous]

Yes, and all the courses promising easy passive income. It’s rather alchemical.

[@verhalenvrouwe]

Very interesting lecture. Thanks!

[@EricLevine-v2u]

I really wish I had the opportunity to sit in on some of your courses! Love the lecture series, just a great way to relax and learn a little as well... Look forward to the next!

[@jennifercarter1265]

Watching this just led me down a path of inquiry I had mentally categorized as ‘Idle Curiosity if I Can Ever Work Out the Sources’. I picked up a name 3 minutes in and now have a reading list 😊

[@DuanTorruellas]

Great job professor. I've always been a fan and follower of your work , as you are non bias and dare I say , partial to the craft.

[@GlassEyedDetectives]

A thoroughly enjoyable presentation from Dr Hutton, thank you. Magic as been going strong throughout our supposedly more rational, sophisticated modern society to this present day and will carry on doing so unless people get a truer understanding of their own nature, and to recognize the modern manifestations such as; Advertising and Politics to give just a couple of examples of how individuals and groups can easily be moved as if by 'remote control', to make choices not necessarily in their own best interests, but rather serve the agency executing the magical incantations.

[@MrZauberelefant]

This of course attributes to techniques of mass manipulation much more power than they deserve. The sorcerers apprentice of our time, Putin, is now coming to realize that his spells all failed, that the curses of propaganda and corruption all fizzled out. What moves people is not magic, but faith, ideology, and self interest, not sorcery and illusion.

[@twiglet2214]

I'll spell it out - that was MAGIC - thank you ! Professor Hutton has conjured up another deep and insightful lecture.

[@niiwin6595]

Again a wonderful listen ~ Much Gratitude Prof Hutton

[@jonweber.8.756]

Hooo boy a new Hutton lecture!

[@molochi]

Wonderful lecture. I'm glad that he mentioned clerical Underground though I've heard it referred to as the secret necromantic underground. Haha.

[@alneu4436]

Ronald: Any comments on these: The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, 1887-1903, in London. Aleister Crowley. Freemasonry. Rosicrucians. Sufis. Theosophy. Gurdjieff and Ouspensky. These are the major currents in the stream of the Western Mystery Tradition, Esoteric; and also the promoters of ancient Mesopotamian and AEGyptian Magick. What about subjects like Hermeticism, Alchemy, Astrology (which you have touched upon), Qabalah and Tarot? Teachings like the Doctrine of Correspondences? I am just saying that there is much, much more that you could have talked about.

[@leonardcsapo416]

Was hoping someone would mention these. I suppose it would require the lecture to be at least twice as long to fit these in while doing them justice.

[@BardzoPowaznyUzytkownik]

There's quite a lot of Hoopoes now around in mainland England. There's more and more accounters of them in birdwatchers groups.

[@aristotleinbottle8012]

beautiful

[@yarrowwitch]

Splendid, Ronald. Thank you. 😊

[@sophiaelizabethwolf]

Professor Binns!! But not the boring version. Very interesting! ❤

[@sharongillesp]

The MAGIC of waving a ball filled with incense to ward off evil spirits. The MAGIC of bowing on your knees to request a want. The MAGICAL incantation of repeating a verse until wishes or absolution has been granted. The MAGIC of bowing and kissing a ringed finger before going before god. The MAGIC of a book of spells considered powerful on its on. Etc. . . AKA Catholicism//Christianity

[@dominikkrasula5672]

He needs to have his podcast. Preferably with Diane Morgan

[@evolassunglasses4673]

Wonderful!

[@PRAR1966]

Excellent presentation, thank you

[@alanae3350]

I love professor Hutton!

[@KyleMaxwell]

Taking notes to incorporate into my Call of Cthulhu game!

[@deborahshirinthuja9107]

Brilliant! Thank you!

[@BangThatGong]

I see hutton in the thumbnail I hit play

[@johnmurray2995]

I'm so used to Prof. Hutton puncturing people's balloons that their "ancient pagan tradition" is actually not nearly as ancient, or even as pagan, as they'd like to believe, it is quite a nice surprise to see him arguing that Western magic actually does have roots in ancient history.

[@paulukjames7799]

Great talk

[@mintybadger6905]

I have this set of old books that covered Irish and Celtic fairy tales. Their idea was that people believed that magic was essentially leftover goo from the creation of the universe. Magic existed but only in pockets and random little places around the earth. Its the closest I’ve ever come to getting an idea of what exactly magic “is”.

[@morthim]

this take on magic as an inversion of reality is really novel. it brings up the psychological needs and indulges it with an alienable ritual. so it isn't that you are ugly but that you did the 'fall in love' ritual wrong.

[@nattyphysicist]

How is it that all of his research is about everything I've always wanted to know!?

[@lindasue8719]

Guy in the audience "it doesn't work". What a dear😁

[@ZackHeise]

Excellent lecturer

[@YellinUpAStorm]

I have only seen him in the BBC Farm series (I love those!) but what a pleasant surprise to find him in my feed on KZbin!

[@SkiiDreamr420]

Bravo! Bravo! 👏 Encore! Encore! This Lecture is as fine as the suit! Please, always, have more of our wonderful PROFESSOR of DIVINITY Ronald Hutton Lecture Us. Any lecture, any time, if it's him, I have time!

[@MichaelRoyBroughton]

Thank you. 🙏🏻

[@Woody-ov6xk]

🎉🎉🎉🎉 about time. Lots of hints but there is so much more to oneself its super natural.🙏

[@thekaxmax]

Evidence? Need to be unequivocal, of course.

[@kkay3784]

I checked this out because of the intriguing title and the snappy dresser.

[@frank327]

Fascinating as always

[@scottlette]

Roll up. Roll up for the Mystery Tour.

[@livrowland171]

I'm interested to know if any research has been done on whether any magical acts seem to have an effect on the world beyond changes in the mental state of the practitioner 🤔 Edit: I see how he partly answered this towards the end

[@Mai-Gninwod]

Magic does not have an effect on the material world, no. If it did, it would be classified as science in the modern day. Perhaps in the past there was overlap. Something that was thought to be magical may also have had real world effects. But not because of magic.

[@thekaxmax]

Yes. And no effect.

[@paulmagus2133]

DR Hutton is one of my top rockstars. From Monad too creation, all filters forth to return

[@geoffmelnick1472]

Absolutely fascinating lecture - one point though, I have always associated the magic circle with Honi HaMeagel חוני המעגל (c. 1st century ce) who makes a circle, sits in the center and commands the rain - See Mishna Taanit 3 8. True there are no compass points and no sign of a pentagram

[@thekaxmax]

Which magic circle? There's lots.

[@geoffmelnick1472]

@@thekaxmax I mean the idea of a magician making a circle around himself and working from within the circle

[@jeanettewaverly2590]

“Police arrested Magic And Magic went with them.” -Leonard Cohen

[@platannapipidae9621]

he sounds like an ominous owner of an antique shop where all items are cursed or haunted.

[@jape7588]

Professor Hutton is great

[@ΔημήτριοςΣκουρτέλης]

There are cases of witch trials in ancient Greece too. Theoris of Lemnos was executed for witchkraft along with her children -or her hole family or all of her kind (according to varius translations of the word "γένος") (Demosthenes "Against Aristogeiton") Socrates in his trial claims the power to curse everyone to their doom as a man who is about to die. Pythagoras, Empedocles and other philosophers seem to follow some kind of magical practice before the Egyptian influence.

[@danielgregg2530]

I always knew this guy was one of Harry Potter's instructors . . .

[@seanfaherty]

Not mentioning the traditions of India and the far east misses some really cool stuff.

[@thekaxmax]

They aren't European and so are outside this lecture

[@seanfaherty]

@@thekaxmax granted, just mentioning it but thanks

[@elwolf8536]

Same with rune magic and pre Christian northern Europe, mention at all

[@ghr578]

Listening to this History of Magic lecture is the closest thing to ever actually being a Hogwarts student

[@martinonroll]

Brilliant

[@emilbordon1329]

Paul Daniels was a popular magician that used to perform on television when I was a child but I never realised how many grimoires and rites he must have had to learn to saw Debbie McGhee in half.

[@thekaxmax]

Just the one, at base it's a pretty easy trick.

[@fayeworman9552]

Mr Norrell would approve.

[@psydiddley]

Sacro-magical systems are based more on attunement to the divine will and mediating that power into creation.

[@aariley2]

How do other magic traditions like Native American and Asian come to be then?

[@thekaxmax]

They aren't European and so outside this lecture.

[@giocaliguia8370]

Professor Hutton looks like the Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour in HP7 part 1 though.

[@ViaHarmonica]

I didn't hear anything about the grail moving from Aragon to Thuringia, Michael "the Wizard" Balwearie in Frederick II's court, Doctor Mirabalis etc. From Thuringia we get the Rosicrucian descendancy, and in Scotland the Witches of Atholl, the Ruthvens and the Philosopher's Stone, and the Jacobite Masons that carried the magickal traditions into early speculative Scottish Freemasonry circa 1640's....

[@dpelpal]

This guy was absolutely hilarious with Philomena Cunk😂😂😂😂

[@GraniteChief369]

Western Esotericism. Oxford press publishes many works under this socioreligious umbrella. Rice University and U of Amssterdam offer degrees.

[@Thepsychedelicverses]

I thought this was a Talking Heads concert at first.

[@TheManOnlyLegend]

So very interesting

[@edmundprice5276]

My only criticism is that he speaks slowly. Consequently, I watch him on 1.75 speed

[@zuzannakorpak2551]

He slayed

[@conjurelaboratories]

Hold on.. When did Ron Hutton become a Professor of Divinity? Is this like when he declared himself a third degree Alexandrian Wiccan High Priest? Is he still a Wiccan now he runs his Druid group in Bristol?

[@thekaxmax]

Gresham College did that, if you read with some attention.

[@conjurelaboratories]

@@thekaxmax A decision they may come to regret. Thank you for your condescension. I suspect there are many far more important matters that you have failed to take personal note of.

[@RyanEdmondsMyLifeAsRyan]

And how much have YOU contributed to the academic study of Paganism and magick? We all seem to know Prof Hutton's name, but I just for the life of me don't think any of us have ever heard your greatly esteemed name. How sad. Please, make yourself more public, and speak up in public spheres so we can all hear your wise and divinely inspired teachings.

[@conjurelaboratories]

@@RyanEdmondsMyLifeAsRyan Personally? I am the son of two leading Pagan figures, and used to lead a satrap of a very well known occult organisation, but have very little interest in the academic study. and would much rather you did not know my name What does concern me is when academics spread damaging false information, such as Ron Hutton's continued insistence that no proof has ever been found for any criminal 'conspiracy' concerning the ritualistic abuse of children. He said this to the jury at the trial of Peter Petrauske, who was found guilty and jailed for his role in exactly such a criminal conspiracy, and then STILL went on to tell the same lie in his last book, THE WITCH. Look it up. Do some actual research. Stop spouting personal insults when you don't actually have an argument. There is much more I could say but cannot at this time for legal reasons..

[@conjurelaboratories]

Academia is the last resort of ignoble ignorance, teaching to repeat the lines but never how to read between them.

[@Mrs.Entwife]

1:00:00 Was there a difference in how the Christian church viewed "learned magic" (sourced from Egypt) and "folk magic" (local charms and remedies)? Are both of these blamed in the European witch trials?

[@andymurray8620]

I want Ronald Hutton and Irving Finkel to have a wizard battle

[@HeatherWP]

Irving Finkel would have likely been upset about the image of the Mesopotamian figure used during the description of magic in ancient Mesopotamia. He definitely doesn’t like how the movie “The Exorcist” used it. He likely would not agree with the description of “magic” in ancient Mesopotamia either. Also, Irving Finkel wins the wizard battle immediately because of the excellent beard!

[@michellerenner6880]

Was just wishing there was something new from the great dr Hutton.