What are the Chaldean Oracles ? The Lost Scripture of Pagan Neo-Platonism

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

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[@karsu]

Dr. Sledge mad kudos and much thanks. You damn near almost got a singular teardrop in my eye like that famous anti pollution commercial; when you showcased one mah boys Nicholas Roerich's works in this video. I always get a rise when I see his works in any media. "He fought for us, Dr. Sledge is "DA Real MVP" (proceeds to make Kevin Durant emotional damage noises). Hehehe. Lulz.

[@rhyspinot]

As someone who wrote his thesis drawing a through-line from the neoplatonists through the Chaldean Oracles to the Renaissance Platonism of Ficino and Mirandola, this warms my heart like you wouldn’t believe. As always, thanks Dr. Sledge for your incredible channel.

[@Wyattinous]

I would have never had the opportunities to learn any of this were it not for you Dr. Sledge. Your truly one of the most amazing and cherished educators we could ever have the honor to follow on this platform, there's honestly no other group of people that do what you and the other professional religion/esoteric/philosophy scholars have done here on KZbin. A true golden age of commonwealth knowledge.

[@nothing0227]

If I had to choose a single channel to keep on youtube it would be Esoterica ❤

[@Bildgesmythe]

Your humor deserves an award!

[@ChrisNoonetheFirst]

"That's a 1-star review" 😂

[@crancourt1789]

And here's Dr. Sledge posting listenable content right as I'm starting to clean. What a dang star.

[@nothing0227]

Cleaning rocks!

[@luisacarvalho8719]

Would love an episode on Hekate😊

[@GooberFace32]

Same here :).

[@interqward1]

I find you easily the most objective commentator on ancient texts, Dr Justin. You're just not so buried in some obsessive crevasse of your own making that SO MANY others online are CLEARLY indulging themselves burying themselves in!

[@KorvynSisu]

Still grateful that the theme song is present :)

[@nothing0227]

Right? 😊

[@jamieellohengee2667]

The Introductory theme for Esoterica is positively sublime, I agree!

[@leohorishny9561]

Same.👍🏻

[@Reignor99]

When Esoterica uploads I leave a comment, grab my dog, and crawl into bed with my headphones on. Best naps ever. Sweet dreams!

[@CapriSuntStulti]

Where do you grab your dog ?

[@evodevo420]

I cant put into words just how much I appreciate you and the work that you do. Really, thank you so so much.

[@youtubeaccount4901]

What a pile on of positive comments. Happy to be a member of this community

[@johnnikitakis876]

A simple thanks for not over injectiing yourself into your presentation. There are very few moments where one might consider you are rambling. This is a very welcome change from so many presenters. I believe it is because your resurch is detailed, and you practice your presentation before you tape it. So again, well done, and many thanks.

[@dawn670]

Hail HEKATE🕯🗝

[@nedavius]

i get so happy to get your notification. about to clean this room in 28 mins 41 secs

[@3_Trees]

Remember that time you referred to Iamblichus and Proclus as insufferable hipsters and scene kids? That was awesome. 🤘

[@leohorishny9561]

You got your background music back! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@HappyMutantSpeaks]

Wow, I can't believe I've never wished for the Chaldean Oracles to be discovered a la The Nag Hammadi. It's possible and would be an unimaginably beautiful moment in history. I prey along with you! Maybe we need to take a thorough look through those underground archives? 😋

[@thedeesus4249]

Thank you again Dr Sledge. I love what you do.

[@jbaquinones]

Thank you so much for this episode Dr Sledge. The Chaldean Oracles are my bible. I first became aware of them since my time in the GD. Happy holidays and happy new year.

[@leviashanken7281]

GD= golden dawn? If so, is the symbolism in their Tarot?

[@geneh460]

I had "heard the name" but thank you so much for a proper introduction. Most enlightening and entertaining.

[@magusthemage4411]

Another amazing informative video! Loved it!

[@Oubliettedweller]

Hellooooooo justinnn so happy to see you

[@genghisgalahad8465]

Dr Justin Sledge!! 🎉 📜 🌌 📖 📚!! So, I have had Gregory Shaw's Theurgy of the Soul down on my kindle wishlist! And I'm beyond words to convey my awe and gratitude on your featuring Chaldeans and heck, a new perspective tome on Hekate Soteira! All in the Neoplatonist lens! 🎉 🌌!! 🙏 my humble modest simply morale support kudos and verbal but heartfelt thanks for now!! 🎉 🙏

[@fannagirl1]

Thank you, love your work ❤

[@MiddlePath007]

Yo! You gotta come out to spin the golden ball next time. You should have seen Proclus and Julian making it rain last night

[@chantlive24]

Thanks

[@vicleomant8519]

love the beard consideration gap in the book lineups. TY

[@tias78]

Hekate mentioned!!!

[@catherinejones48]

This one is for the record books. I think I may find a this echo in a long visit in an MRI machine. The perfect cocoon. Why did “we” have to destroy the good stuff? Please Justin, this was beautiful. Awesome presentation of an unknown and un-understood theology.

[@avrevs]

I love that Greek high relief sculpture that shows mudras in esoteric practices. I think it's not something commonly ascribed to Greek mysticism. Would you say the soul vehicle can be equated or reverse related to the rainbow body of Buddhism or similar forms the Typhonian occult aspires to achieve? This was one of my favorite shows you've done. It's pretty marvelous! What a shame we've lost so much knowledge. But more to discern through challenges. ❤

[@leviashanken7281]

Where was that relief please? What did the Greeks call mudras?

[@edj8008]

Your vice are very calming.

[@MorpheusMoon]

excellent as always! thank you!

[@leviashanken7281]

"I said Alma, not Betulah." Isaiah, truly crying in the wilderness. Timely and LOL! 5:53

[@geraldmeehan8942]

Thank you Dr Sledge

[@FreemanPresson]

Thanks for the new study project, I guess 🤓

[@silentobserver888]

Love this subject!

[@davidmorton8332]

Superlative as ever.

[@theCommentDevil]

Thank you thank you thank you

[@ignazratski-ratski9760]

Thanks!

[@tedhand6237]

Looking forward to your episode on Numenius! And have you done much on the relationship of body hating Plotinus with the gnostics? Would be very interested to see your takes on the school of John D. Turner.

[@worthlessendeavors]

Hades Joke was f***ing Superb baba

[@davidmckayii752]

Great one.

[@worthlessendeavors]

Cheers Big Poppa Nice Work

[@Kate-hh8yi]

So esoterically gangster. Ty!

[@stothsam]

I'm so glad you could keep the Chopin!

[@Elochai_]

I've been waiting for this episode! I noticed you had Shaw's book up there at the end but didn't really say anything about it. It's a good monograph for understanding theurgy.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Yep I talk about it more in my theurgy woisodey

[@erpthompsonqueen9130]

Thank you. Watching from Alaska. 🤔 What a mess humanity has made.

[@AK907Paul]

It’s a small world. Alaska too 😊

[@uncleobscurenobody8861]

Dr. Sledge, I suggest an exploration of Martinism and the Treatise on the Reintegration of Beings

[@bryanvogt3371]

"perfectly circular motion of heavenly spheres"? Johannes Kepler has entered the chat.....

[@davidhanson8826]

Thank you.

[@c.michlschneider3928]

I’m very curious in the organizational structures pf groups like these, and even older would be nice. I wish we had more info about what quotidian effect groups like these had on their members. In what ways did it shape their lives in daily, weekly, etc. tidal flows? Maybe it’s just the fantasy-reader in me tired of religions sans meaningful strictures, instead full of spectacle and malmorals.

[@NevisYsbryd]

We will probably forever lack much in the way of details on this, given the prevalence of mystery cults and parts of the internal structure kept hidden, and consequently, much of it never recorded in writing.

[@jennifererixon2578]

i hope these oracles will be good for my solo into the odd ttrpg sessions!

[@Drcherylevansjoness]

hello Dear, I love your comments on this channel, complement of the season 🎄 🎁 How are you doing today?

[@leahclase5824]

Im glad to see your up and running again sad bout the song fr..

[@Drcherylevansjoness]

@@leahclase5824 hello Dear, I love your comments on this channel, complement of the season 🎄 🎁 How are you doing today?

[@leahclase5824]

@Drcherylevansjoness im good thank you sir i appreciate that.. well i got my christmas wish that peace would happen over the holidays for kyiv in ukraine... thats so heartbreaking everything going on there..

[@Drcherylevansjoness]

@@leahclase5824 That's such a thoughtful and heartfelt wish. It really is heartbreaking to see what people are going through there. I'm glad your Christmas wish was for something so meaningful - the world could use more of that kindness. How was the rest of your holiday season? Did you get to spend time with family or do anything special?

[@leahclase5824]

@Drcherylevansjoness no... no family and nothing special

[@GreyhawkGrognard]

I keep hearing references to "salvation" in a Pagan context (here, in Mithraism, etc.), but I've never really had a grasp on what, exactly, salvation means in Paganism. In Christianity, it's salvation from damnation to Hell/eternal separation from God. What does it mean in Paganism?

[@ManusDionysii]

Henosis and breaking the cycle of transmigration to ascend and be one with the Gods

[@pattimctier7647]

The Chaldean Oracles methodology for invoking a deity to come deliver a message…kind of reminds me of The Law of One.

[@-TheInfamousOne-]

Absolutely Beautiful. You should cover Balaam and his 7 alter ritual from Numbers 23. Maybe even throw in the few real world references to Balaam that have been found and a few of the rituals from the greek magical papyrus that share pieces of composition.

[@sirniilo6655]

Dr Sledge, regarding Faith, Hope and Love...Did St. Paul in his epistle to 1 Corinthians get this idea from Greek Platonism?

[@johto.region.710]

Care. Me and my dad are both named julian and we have connections to phoenicia in ancient times before the rise of Rome in Europe during ancient iberia

[@thePyiott]

Great thumbnail. Edvard Munch: Solen

[@catoelder4696]

FINALLY!

[@StephenLawson]

I suggested this video like 4 months ago. You either listened, which is rad, or youre psychic. Which is radder. Next time talk Cybele and phrygian mythology

[@jenathent4840]

You read my mind, actually all mother goddess cults would be amazing

[@matthewlobel2421]

Im early today!

[@GooberFace32]

Please make a Hekate episode :).

[@sashajedinac9391]

Theme music!

[@jonyspinoza3310]

🌞

[@ChrisPrestonemperorkursan]

I feel like this is just a remix gnosticism or is gnosticism a remix of this?

[@braetondavis143]

Platonism has its roots much earlier than gnosticism but always contained a couple of elements that were similar to it, but this particular period of platonism came about in very close proximity to gnosticism.

[@NevisYsbryd]

Neither, exactly. Gnosticism was contemporary to Neoplatonism and possibly preceded it, depending on where exactly you draw the line. It may be convergent evolution, divergent evolution from shared roots of thought, or something else. We cannot really precisely date or trace the exact origins of Gnosticism in the first place. It is more of a loose set of premises within which specific instance varies wildly.

[@ChrisPrestonemperorkursan]

Thank y'all for the clarification. I am a neophyte when learning about this stuff. I seem to keep running into a lot of these common threads of ideas and concepts. Just wonder if it's just a jumble of ideas around the same time or one of these concepts came first or if they just kinda evolved and flowed and were adopted by each other.

[@r3tri3ution_z3nith_point_z6]

14:56 This bit about hades had me rofl

[@Geordie-qz8bs]

Inhale the flowering flames? Or flaming flowers?

[@1-eye-willy]

i dont know about you guys but im "the middle man, struggling to find his way" 😂

[@julianlicon]

19:20 make it rain Dr. Sledge hahahahaha!!!!

[@aalhard]

22:19 I'll bite What did he say/not say?

[@sodadrinker89]

Soul Vehicle, so like a Soul Train?

[@ChristopherMcCloud-y4x]

Have you ever heard of someone having a demon in their right eyeball

[@Valdagast]

Do we know to what extent pharmacology was used to commune with the divine? "Breathing in the fire of the father" sounds to me like burning psychedelic substances and inhaling the smoke.

[@Tracysbrokenwing]

Cant wait to see ya with mythvision!!❤❤

[@leviashanken7281]

Soul vehicle = Markava ?

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Nope

[@organizedchaos7606]

🤘🤘

[@schess_9331]

Neoplatonism! Research mode.

[@enlightenedpreparingep4006]

That's a lot of isms!

[@kariannecrysler640]

15:03 The idea that stuff & spirit are not a part of the same seems odd. If we are working with the known universe, you could have a deity who is just the source of energy (literally the charge that defines atomic particles), then the materials themselves would be an “offspring” of the energy source and its effects on particles, a melding process to make new substances. This would make the body necessary for the energy to become a mind. Since energy is constantly moving around in physics, the mind would likely be subject to this in some measurable ways, if anyone thinks it’s worthy of further study. What happens to a mind after the body dies? Well since decay takes energy too, who knows enough to say confidently it dies or doesn’t, but it has to be a measurable effect, so eventually we might get there once everyone accepts that race is not scientifically supported & neither is segregation of the species by body parts (in other words when science can be serious again and not have to drag screaming children along into cooperation). 😁

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

They are from two fundamentally different realities in this philosophy

[@kariannecrysler640]

@ do they get into descriptions of those realities? Early metaphysics?

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Yep, from a dude named Plato

[@kariannecrysler640]

@ I have heard of him, so did Paul 😂

[@ASNS117Zero]

You mean they arent a group of time traveling mages that fight against the demons of the Ars Goetia? 😂

[@crcurran]

"...found Reddit 1656" LMAO

[@yoab]

😂 that thing looks like roulette s og version

[@lvxleather]

93rd Comment 😆 🖤☯🤍

[@geoffreycanie4609]

Our presenter expressed it politely, but I think the idea is we have Christians to thank for burning the mss. of the Oracles

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

No, we don't have any evidence of that. In fact the greatest act of preservation of the text was done by Michael Psellos, a Christian.

[@5jinncyn]

It wasn't the RCC's usual MO? 🤔@@TheEsotericaChannel