In episode 339, Sam Block joins the show to talk about the ancient philosophy of Hermeticism and its connection to Hellenistic astrology.
Hermeticism is a religious, philosophical, and mystical movement that originated in Hellenistic Egypt around the first century AD and is associated with the teachings and practices of Hermes Trismegistus.
It represents a popular synthesis of a number of philosophical and religious movements popular in the Hellenistic period, including Stoicism, Platonism, native Egyptian religion, and astrology.
Much of what is known about this philosophical or religious school survives from that period. Hermetic body and several other records of the period.
During the episode, we discuss what is known about the Hermetic philosophical tradition and how it relates to the technical tradition of astrology that emerged at the time.
Sam has authored a series on Hermeticism on his website that I recommend checking out for more information on the subject:
https://digitalambler.com/about/hermeticism-posts/
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This episode is available in audio and video versions below.
Time signs
Timestamps for different topics and parts of the discussion:
00:00:00 Login
00:01:07 A survival of ancient Hermeticism
00:06:12 Religions and philosophies that influenced Hermeticism
00:15:00 Corpus Hermeticum
00:24:44 Excerpts from Hermetics
00:34:00 Hermeticism and Gnosticism
00:37:00 Excerpts about planets, soul and destiny
00:50:40 Diagram of space spheres
00:52:26 Meaning of Gnosis
00:55:25 A passage about the salvation of the soul
01:02:19 Excerpt from Introduction to Gnosticism
01:03:18 Why astrology recurs as a motif in Hermeticism
01:07:00 Stoic prayer and destiny
01:12:05 Philosophical Hermetics and practical Hermetics
01:19:37 Hermetic effect on Vettius Valens
01:24:52 Alchemist Zosimos about fate
01:29:46 Hermetica had several authors
01:50:04 Thoth and Hermes
01:52:36 Hermes and Mercury
01:54:08 The scheme of planetary joys comes from the Hermetic text
02:01:27 House signs and Hermetics
02:16:40 Eclecticism and convenience of Hermetic
02:27:56 Birth charts in Egyptian temples
02:31:06 Divination in the Mediterranean world
02:35:17 Astrology as prediction
02:38:44 Why is Hermes called thrice great?
02:40:30 What is the path of Hermes?
02:44:51 What to do with birth chart data?
02:49:49 Hermeticism and Christianity
02:52:41 How much can we change our destiny?
02:55:57 Resources on Hermeticism
03:02:59 Book 3 of Hermetics and Astrology
03:09:25 Sponsors and Sponsors
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Transcription
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