#15: Magic in Ancient Greece [43:14]
Episode 15: Magic in Ancient GreeceWhat is more righteous - to accept your fate, or to choose your own destiny? The clash between sorcery and mainstream religion can be followed through the ages back to Ancient Greece. An upright member of Greek society should not meddle with magical forces, or else they might dishonor the gods and bring misfortune upon all of society. Furthermore, sorcerers were unruly, unpredictable and unstable.
In this episode of Chasing Hermes we talk about what status the magical arts had in Ancient Egypt and what parallels we can draw with modern society.
Click to listen to this episode:
Download | Duration: 00:43:15
Posted by Chasing Hermes at January 25, 2010 
Categories: podcast episodes
Tags: egypt magos ancient Magic magi philosophy greece magician
Categories: podcast episodes
Tags: egypt magos ancient Magic magi philosophy greece magician
Oh, you lovely boys. I have been waiting on tenterhooks. Thank you for continuing to produce these; they are absolutely wonderful. I truly hope this podcast stays around for a long time.
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"Oh, you lovely boys" has now knocked down "ahoy, hoy! " from the #1 spot on my list of favorite greeting phrases of all time. Well done!
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On the topic of the legitimacy or morality of magic, I find two works (or sections of works) exceptionally helpful: The first is Letter III The Empress from Meditations on the Tarot by an anonymous author, published in 1985. The second is the Discernment of Spirits from the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius Loyola.
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Thank you John, those are excellent reading suggestions.
I'll put a few links to those works here:
And again for all the kids out there who prefer reading books for free on their fancy tablets and iPads and what not:
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Thanks John,
I am starting my first professional Tarot readings next month and am nervous about Christians objecting. I wish I could reassure them that divination was traditional practice at least until the Inquisition or maybe Luther. These texts look nice and pious. I do not believe the Tarot is heretical. Altho partly pagan, partly Christian it is not evil or forbidden by scripture.
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Very interesting podcast. While I like the history, I hope you will cover some magic modern age topics in between. Thanks!
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Hi Eric,
we'll cover some more history in episodes to come but we'll do our best to keep it anchored in contemporary thought as well. Thanks for listening!
/Jason
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Hello fellow Philosopher Kings. Thank you for your work in doing this podcast. I am a recent university graduate, receiving a BA in Medieval History and Philosophy. Your podcasts echo many lectures on mysticism, Greek notions of natural science and hermeticism in general. Listening to your podcasts has become a new favoured hobby
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Hi Bryan,
thanks! Neither of us has much formal training in history or philosophy so it's reassuring to hear we are not too far off the mark.
Jason
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Ppl like you get all the brains. I just get to say tanhks for he answer.
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