Theurgy is a specialized branch of ritual practice and white magic defined literally as “god-work“, aimed at invoking deities, purifying the soul, and achieving union with the divine (henosis). [1, 2, 3, 4]
Key Concepts of Theurgy
Etymology: Derived from the Greek words theos (god) and ergon (work). [1]
Goal: Unlike standard petitionary prayer, theurgy seeks to elevate the human soul so it can commune with or be receptive to higher divine powers. [1, 2]
Historical Roots: Deeply tied to late antique Neoplatonism (promoted by philosophers like Iamblichus) as a method to bridge the gap between mortal finitude and divine infinity. [1, 2]
Practices: Included structured rituals, meditations, sacred chants, and the use of sympathetic ritual objects to invite divine presence. [1, 2]
If you’d like, I can provide more details on:
Neoplatonic philosophy behind the practice
How it differs from thaumaturgy (practical/wonder-working magic)
Historical figures like Iamblichus who shaped the concept
New Thinking • Jan 11, 2024 Danny Newman is author of Alchemically Stoned: The Psychedelic Secret of Freemasonry and also Angels in Vermilion: The Philosopher’s Stone from Dee to DMT. His newest book is Theurgy: Theory and Practrice – The Mysteries of the Ascent to the Divine. He is a 32nd degree master mason. Here he focuses on the practice of theurgy as it was practiced by the neoplatonic philosophers who suggested that their rituals were derived from Homer. 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:49 Early Greek practices 00:10:55 Mainstream scholarship 00:18:31 The neoplatonists 00:28:46 The rituals 00:49:03 Ancient controversies 01:02:47 Contempory theurgical practice 01:06:30 Theurgy in Orthodox Christianity 01:10:32 Conclusion New Thinking Allowed host, Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD, is author of The Roots of Consciousness, Psi Development Systems, and The PK Man. Between 1986 and 2002 he hosted and co-produced the original Thinking Allowed public television series. He is the recipient of the only doctoral diploma in “parapsychology” ever awarded by an accredited university (University of California, Berkeley, 1980). He is also the Grand Prize winner of the 2021 Bigelow Institute essay competition regarding the best evidence for survival of human consciousness after permanent bodily death. (Recorded on December 5, 2023)
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