Podcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)

Latest Episodes:

Warfaring Strangers: Prolegomena to Second-Century Christianity Jan 17, 2020

Show notes

We take a deep breath before diving into detailed discussions of early esoteric Christianities to consider a few key terms and their historical development. What was orthodoxy? What was heresy? Who were the heresiologists, and what were they doing?

Michael Williams on the Trouble with ‘Gnosticism’ Jan 01, 2020

Show notes

Professor Michael Williams leads us on a tour of ‘Gnosticism’, both as a term (used and misused by ancient heresiologists, Reformation-era polemicists, modern scholars, and even modern ‘Gnostics’) and as a group of late-ancient religious texts which are very, very interesting, but which should probably not be called ‘Gnostic’.

Alone with the Alone: Numenius’ Metaphysics Dec 24, 2019

Show notes

We explore the philosophy of Numenius, in which we see the stirrings of a new type of apophatic discourse of transcendence which will come to be definitive of late antique metaphysics and theology.

Inter philosophos occultorum curiosior: Numenius of Apamea Dec 11, 2019

Show notes

We investigate the esoteric practice of one of Middle Platonism's most enigmatic figures, the great Numenius of Apamea.

Korshi Dosoo on the Papyri Græcæ Magicæ and Western Esotericism Nov 28, 2019

Show notes

We speak with papyrologist Korshi Dosoo about the history, interpretation, and makeup of the body of documents known nowadays as the Greek Magical Papyri. It all starts in ancient Egypt, but it doesn't stop until Aleister Crowley and the Mormons have made an appearance.

The Chaldæan Oracles and Theurgy Nov 27, 2019

Show notes

We have looked at what kind of world the Chaldæan Oracles set forth. We turn now to the ways in which the adept navigates that world – through ritual, epiphanic visions, cognitive disciplines, talismans, and by leaving the body through breathing. This is theurgy, and esoteric religion in antiquity would never be the same again.

The Chaldæan Oracles Nov 22, 2019

Show notes

We introduce one of the most extraordinary and influential texts of antiquity for the history of western esotericism: the Chaldæan Oracles. We discuss questions of authorship (Julian the Theurge, the Gods, or the Soul of Plato?) and the mythic metaphysics found in the text.

I’m Not Sorry: The Apology of Apuleius Nov 02, 2019

Show notes

In this episode we discuss the defense-speech of Apuleius against charges of having used magic to make a wealthy widow fall in love with him. Roman law, sorcery, and philosophy collide in a rhetorical tour-de-force, and we discuss whether fish are magical or not.

Ineffable Initiations and Golden Asses: Apuleius of Madauros and the Metamorphoses Oct 28, 2019

Show notes

Apuleius was a great Latin-language Middle Platonist writer, whose works preserve some fascinating esoteric materials which had a major impact on the development of western esotericism in the Latin middle ages and beyond. We introduce the man and his famous occult novel, the Metamorphoses, or Golden Ass.

Hypochondria and Epiphany: The Strange Case of Ælius Aristides Oct 13, 2019

Show notes

We examine one of the strangest records of personal religious experience and divine epiphany from antiquity, the Hieroi Logoi of Ælius Aristides. Come for the incubation, dream-initiations, and miraculous powers, stay for the interminable descriptions of dyspepsia.