The Symbolic World

Jonathan Pageau

Jonathan Pageau looks at symbolism in all its forms, from its source in sacred stories and images to contemporary culture and ultimately how it shapes the world we encounter.

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467 episodes
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Sep 5, 2025 · 26 min
409 - The Strange Symbolism of K-Pop Demon Hunters: Shame, Attention, LGBT, Jung
I finally watched K-Pop Demon Hunters after so many of you kept asking about it. In this episode, I explore the strange mix of symbolism: demons, idols, and the way the film deals with shame, music, and attention. There are fascinating elements in the story, but also some deep problems from a symbolic and Christian perspective. Let’s dive in together. WARNING: This episode contains spoilers. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/Rh89J2eAf7o 📖 Let's take our stories back. Check out the latest book in the Tales for Now and Ever series, Rapunzel and the Evil Witch: https://rapunzelbook.com/ Latest course: Join Fr. Stephen De Young in his Jubilees and the Nephilim course, now streaming live on The Symbolic World: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/jubilees-and-the-nephilim 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Do you want to know more about symbolism and learn how to do your own analysis? Join the Symbolism Masterclass, the culmination of my life’s work on this topic. It’s both for beginners and long-time followers. Over 6 classes and more than 18 hours of content, that you can follow at your own pace, you’ll uncover the hidden structures of reality—from sacred time to the dance of opposites—and learn to live with intention in an age of distraction, confusion, and the crisis of meaning. Register here: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/symbolism-masterclass Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/
Aug 30, 2025 · 1 hr 12 min
408 - Andrew Gould & Michael Diamant - Architecture: The Most Important Art
In this conversation I’m joined by Andrew Gould and Michael Diamant to explore the importance of traditional architecture and city planning. We discuss why so much of our built environment feels alienating, how modernism abandoned human proportion and beauty, and why recovering classical forms matters for culture, community, and even our spiritual lives. Michael shares the story of the Architecture Uprising movement across Europe, and Andrew explains how he approaches designing buildings that are rooted in tradition yet alive for today. Together we reflect on how beauty is not just a luxury—it’s essential for human flourishing. Youtube version: https://youtu.be/uS_3FB7foVc?si=5zMFNf8ALUUAov9d Architects, go to https://newtrad.org/ Follow Michael on X / Twitter: https://x.com/michael_diamant Andrew Gould's website: https://newworldbyzantine.com/ Follow Andrew on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrew.gould.1401 Buy Rapunzel and the Evil Witch: https://rapunzelbook.com/ Timestamps: 00:00 - Coming up 00:48 - Intro music 01:13 - Introduction 06:14 - What's great about ugly architecture? 09:27 - Politics 10:51 - The Brutalist 13:03 - City planning 15:28 - Density 20:28 - What is driving the madness? 27:03 - The options for architects 30:17 - What architecture is today 34:26 - Classical beauty 40:10 - Bad classical architecture 45:52 - Defending your culture 51:05 - Andrew Gould's work 01:01:02 - Architectural fashion 01:04:58 - The film industry 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/
Aug 29, 2025 · 1 hr 1 min
407 - Heather Pollington - Rapunzel and the Evil Witch
📖 RAPUNZEL AND THE EVIL WITCH IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR SALE: https://rapunzelbook.com/ Heather Pollington and I are thrilled to share our brand-new storybook with you, 'Rapunzel and the Evil Witch'! Following 'Snow White and the Widow Queen' and 'Jack and the Fallen Giants', this third fairy tale feels like the culmination of our work so far. With this book you’ll begin to notice the different threads connecting across the series. Heather has created stunning illustrations that weave medieval and Byzantine influences into a style perfectly suited to the fairy tale world. In this episode, we walk through the process behind the book, the symbolism of Rapunzel’s story, and what's unique about our version of the story. We show many of the book's illustrations. I can't wait to hear what you think! YouTube version: https://youtu.be/aEWgHif0NS8 Timestamps: 00:00 - Announcement and opening 01:36 - Intro music 02:02 - Introduction 03:41 - Heather's journey to Rapunzel 06:40 - Critiques of fairy tales 07:46 - Tangled 10:12 - Exploring Rapunzel imagery 10:24 - Early sketches 12:14 - Iconography and Palekh fairy tale tradition 15:54 - Frontispiece 17:51 - Green flowers 20:12 - The witch's garden 22:59 - The dark exchange 25:48 - The circle of protection 28:55 - A sense of freedom 30:43 - The moon tower 35:04 - The haunting melody 37:40 - Love in the tower 41:47 - The dream 43:27 - Flax into gold 46:02 - Rain from heaven 53:43 - The wooden throne 56:28 - Order 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe NEW COURSE: Jubilees and the Nephilim, by Fr. Stephen De Young - Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/jubilees-and-the-nephilim - Course Length: 6 Weeks, 12 Hours - Dates: Live classes are on Tuesday at 7 - 9 pm Central Time, starting August 19th through September 23rd, 2025 - Participants will be given access to lesson recordings. - The course is hosted on the Symbolic World Circle Community platform. Sign up as a free member before making your purchase. - Price: 180 USD, Involved patrons qualify for 10% discount. Step into the strange and revelatory world of the Book of Jubilees, an ancient retelling of Genesis that shaped ancient Jewish thought and still echoes through Christian tradition. In this course, Fr. Stephen De Young guides students through the book’s expansion of biblical history, unveiling the significance of the fall of the angels, the rise of the Nephilim, and the heavenly origins of the feasts of the Old and New Testaments. Along the way, he'll explore how Jubilees reinterprets creation, demonology, and the prophetic structure of time, and why these themes mattered not only to Second Temple Judaism, but to later Christian understandings of the unseen world. Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/
Aug 19, 2025 · 21 min
406 - Symbolism Explained: The Fundamental WWII Duality That Still Haunts Us Today
In this episode, I explore the symbolism of World War II through the imagery of the Axis and the Allies. Beyond politics, these symbols reveal a deeper story about unity and multiplicity—the tension between the “one” and the “many.” I look at how the propaganda and narratives of that time shaped the post-war consensus we still live in today, and why those stories are now reaching their limits. My hope is to help you see how these patterns influence our culture and why finding balance is so important. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/vLpEDlgEleg Visit https://www.rapunzelbook.com to pre-order our new fairy tale story, Rapunzel and the Evil Witch. NEW COURSE: Jubilees and the Nephilim, by Fr. Stephen De Young - Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/jubilees-and-the-nephilim - Course Length: 6 Weeks, 12 Hours - Dates: Live classes are on Tuesday at 7 - 9 pm Central Time, starting August 19th through September 23rd, 2025 - Participants will be given access to lesson recordings. - The course is hosted on the Symbolic World Circle Community platform. Sign up as a free member before making your purchase. - Price: 180 USD, Involved patrons qualify for 10% discount. Step into the strange and revelatory world of the Book of Jubilees, an ancient retelling of Genesis that shaped ancient Jewish thought and still echoes through Christian tradition. In this course, Fr. Stephen De Young guides students through the book’s expansion of biblical history, unveiling the significance of the fall of the angels, the rise of the Nephilim, and the heavenly origins of the feasts of the Old and New Testaments. Along the way, he'll explore how Jubilees reinterprets creation, demonology, and the prophetic structure of time, and why these themes mattered not only to Second Temple Judaism, but to later Christian understandings of the unseen world. 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/
Aug 5, 2025 · 1 hr 7 min
405 - Fr. Josiah Trenham - Marriage: The Bedrock of Civilization
In this episode, Father Josiah Trenham returns to the podcast for us to talk about the profound meaning and cosmic significance of marriage. We explore why marriage is a crucial civilizational cornerstone rooted in divine order, not only from a Christian perspective, but universally in all flourishing societies. We discuss how it compares to and co-exists with monasticism and the meaning of marriage and the wedding ceremony not just as a gate to self-fulfillment and a joyful experience, but also as self-sacrifice. We also discuss how rediscovering the beauty of marriage can help restore sanity in our fragmented secular world. This conversation is also a preview of the upcoming Marriage Conference in Riverside, CA (Oct. 10–12), where I’ll be speaking alongside Father Josiah, Archbishop Cordileone, Dr. Brad Wilcox, and others. Learn more at https://www.themarriageconference.com/ Subscribe to Fr. Josiah's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PatristicNectarFilms — NEW COURSE: Jubilees and the Nephilim, by Fr. Stephen De Young - Catch the early bird special of 15% off with code: EARLYJUBILEES, valid until 11:59 pm EST (midnight) of August 8th. - Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/jubilees-and-the-nephilim - Course Length: 6 Weeks, 12 Hours - Dates: Live classes are on Tuesday at 7 - 9 pm Central Time, starting August 19th through September 23rd, 2025 - Participants will be given access to lesson recordings. - The course is hosted on the Symbolic World Circle Community platform. Sign up as a free member before making your purchase. - Price: 180 USD Step into the strange and revelatory world of the Book of Jubilees, an ancient retelling of Genesis that shaped ancient Jewish thought and still echoes through Christian tradition. In this course, Fr. Stephen De Young guides students through the book’s expansion of biblical history, unveiling the significance of the fall of the angels, the rise of the Nephilim, and the heavenly origins of the feasts of the Old and New Testaments. Along the way, he'll explore how Jubilees reinterprets creation, demonology, and the prophetic structure of time, and why these themes mattered not only to Second Temple Judaism, but to later Christian understandings of the unseen world. — Timestamps: 00:00 - Coming up 01:00 - Intro music 01:24 - Introduction 04:01 - Marriage, monasticism, and St. John the Baptist 09:16 - The symbiosis between monasticism and marriage 12:32 - Why marriage fails 16:14 - The fruits of abandoning marriage 21:37 - Contract 24:15 - Acknowledge the ideal 27:53 - The nuclear and extended family 29:40 - The crowns 34:23 - A new independent union 38:03 - Aspects of marriage 43:19 - Refined love 45:42 - Pagan monogamy 50:39 - Marrying young 55:18 - 50s Housewife vs boss babe 57:01 - Having children 01:00:39 - Hopes
Jul 31, 2025 · 52 min
404 - Fr. Stephen De Young - How to Read Extra-Biblical Texts Like Jubilees (and Why It Matters)
Fr. Stephen De Young returns to the channel to explore how we should approach extra-Biblical literature—looking especially at the Book of Jubilees in anticipation of his upcoming Symbolic World course: Jubilees and the Nephilim. We discuss a different, more ancient way of doing theology—through story, ritual, poetry, and image rather than flat modern academic argument. If you’ve ever wondered how texts like Jubilees, Enoch, or the Lives of Adam and Eve connect to Christian theology, this conversation is for you. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/poAELqTQTo0 NEW COURSE: Jubilees and the Nephilim, by Fr. Stephen De Young - Catch the early bird special of 15% off with code: EARLYJUBILEES, valid until 11:59 pm EST (midnight) of August 8th. - Price: 180 USD (Discounted to 158 USD) - Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/jubilees-and-the-nephilim - Course Length: 6 Weeks, 12 Hours - Dates: Live classes are on Tuesday at 7 - 9 pm Central Time, starting August 19th through September 23rd, 2025 - Participants will be given access to lesson recordings. - The course is hosted on the Symbolic World Circle Community platform. Sign up as a free member before making your purchase. Step into the strange and revelatory world of the Book of Jubilees, an ancient retelling of Genesis that shaped ancient Jewish thought and still echoes through Christian tradition. In this course, Fr. Stephen De Young guides students through the book’s expansion of biblical history, unveiling the significance of the fall of the angels, the rise of the Nephilim, and the heavenly origins of the feasts of the Old and New Testaments. Along the way, he'll explore how Jubilees reinterprets creation, demonology, and the prophetic structure of time, and why these themes mattered not only to Second Temple Judaism, but to later Christian understandings of the unseen world. Timestamps 00:00 - Coming up 00:55 - Intro music 01:20 - Introduction 02:11 - Jubilees 05:08 - A different way of doing theology 15:23 - Why do we have peripheral stories? 22:34 - The twelfth apostle 24:16 - Blood libel 27:09 - Adam's skull 31:19 - Sacred geography 34:09 - The sacramental reality 39:01 - The modern trade 41:52 - UFOs, psychedelics, and materialism 44:43 - Reading extra-biblical texts and Jubilees 47:53 - What can extra-biblical traditions offer us? 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/
Jul 25, 2025 · 24 min
403 - Why you might want to watch the new Superman movie
In this episode I reflect on the symbolism behind Superman as a figure rooted in American mythology and post-WWII identity. I also discuss the new Superman movie by James Gunn, which actually has an interesting twist that can help us understand not just the superhero archetype, but also the crucial and relevant question of the immigrant or convert. https://youtu.be/RByli5eMoP8 Rapunzel and the Evil Witch is coming in August—and you can pre-order it now. If you missed the first 1,000 copies (which sold out in 26 hours!), here’s your chance next to get it. Pre-orders come with the audiobook I recorded and a companion worksheet to explore the story with your family. Go to https://www.rapunzelbook.com/ and get ready—this is where the fairy tales start to weave together. 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/
Jul 19, 2025 · 1 hr 36 min
402 - Universal History - Dcn. Seraphim Rohlin - The Spirits Beneath America: Fairies and Founding Fathers
In this episode of Universal History, I sit down with Deacon Seraphim (Richard Rohlin) on the 4th of July to explore the topic of fairies and titular spirits, especially as it relates to the US. We discuss America’s founding, the myth of Oedipus, heroes and monsters, boundaries of identity, stories of water spirits and crossing into territories, all to ask the question of whether fairies can be saved. As always, we’re weaving together myth, symbolism, and cultural insight to help reveal the patterns behind the stories that shape our world. Original YouTube version: https://youtu.be/htXHJ1WRSAg Pre-order our new fairy tale story book, Rapunzel and the Evil Witch: https://store.thesymbolicworld.com/products/rapunzel-and-the-evil-witch COURSE: Scripture: The Key to Reality, presented by Seraphim Hamilton This course is designed to help students appreciate the unique role the Bible plays in helping us step into the world as it truly is: a symbolic revelation of the Infinite God. Scripture is symbolic because it is a revelation of Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ is the Archetype of the World. In a way, then, Scripture enfolds within itself the totality of the world, guiding its hearers to see an icon of Christ in each of God’s creatures: from trees to beasts to priests. - Live classes are on Tuesday at 2 - 4 pm Eastern Time, starting June 10th through July 22nd, 2025 - Class Length: 5 sessions, 10 hours total - Cost: 120 USD (108 USD for Involved patrons) - Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/scripture-the-key-to-reality 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Timestamps: 00:00 - Coming up 01:45 - Intro music 02:12 - Introduction 04:22 - Titular spirits 10:03 - Oedipus: From the Bronze age 16:47 - A daemon / titular spirit 18:40 - Heroes becoming spirits 19:54 - The encounter with the Sphinx 21:46 - Killing a monsters 26:41 - Purification and the furies 31:43 - Understanding: Christ the Key 39:37 - America 46:23 - What are fairies 53:15 - Artifacts 58:08 - Magic 01:00:38 - 3 Stories about faeries 01:01:31 - Story 1 01:06:30 - Tying it in with St. Christopher 01:07:25 - Story 2 01:11:32 - Commentary 01:18:02 - Story 3 01:27:08 - American aboriginals Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/
Jul 8, 2025 · 1 hr 15 min
401 - Robin Hood: The Original Green Man (Nottingham talk)
I was invited to give this talk on Robin Hood in Nottingham—just a stone’s throw from Sherwood Forest—on the feast of Pentecost. What began as a reflection on a beloved folk hero opened into something deeper: a meditation on rebellion, trickery, legitimacy, and the strange holiness that's possible for jesters and outlaws. In this talk, I explore how Robin Hood, the Green Man, King David, and even figures from Islamic tradition and Arthurian legend, all point toward a surprising truth—that the margins of society can conceal servants of the true King. I hope you enjoy it. Original YouTube version: https://youtu.be/7Q4LBLmeeMw COURSE: Scripture: The Key to Reality, presented by Seraphim Hamilton This course is designed to help students appreciate the unique role the Bible plays in helping us step into the world as it truly is: a symbolic revelation of the Infinite God. Scripture is symbolic because it is a revelation of Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ is the Archetype of the World. In a way, then, Scripture enfolds within itself the totality of the world, guiding its hearers to see an icon of Christ in each of God’s creatures: from trees to beasts to priests. - Live classes are on Tuesday at 2 - 4 pm Eastern Time, starting June 10th through July 22nd, 2025 - Class Length: 5 sessions, 10 hours total - Cost: 120 USD (108 USD for Involved patrons) - Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/scripture-the-key-to-reality Get early access to Rapunzel and the Evil Witch: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/rapunzel-and-the-evil-witch 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Timestamps: 00:00 - Coming up 01:30 - Intro music 01:56 - Introduction by Jonathan 03:34 - Introduction: The virtuous rebel 06:10 - Who does Robin Hood resemble? 09:40 - Green 14:25 - A trickster for God 16:39 - David 25:41 - He loses at the edge 39:24 - The Green man: Merlin 45:25 - Q&A starts: St. Christopher 46:39 - Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 48:55 - Maid Marian and the Virgin Mary 49:53 - Difference between giants and monsters 51:20 - Intention 53:01 - Robin Hood in politics 54:10 - Marksmanship 55:54 - Does the end justify the means 57:42 - Is Robin Hood religious? 59:06 - Locations and history 01:01:38 - Humor in Christianity 01:03:20 - Trickery 01:06:46 - What goes around comes around 01:08:15 - Downstream from the Gospel 01:11:44 - Christ vs Robin Hood in history Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/
Jun 30, 2025 · 36 min
400 - A Dangerous Movie in the Best Way Possible
I had the pleasure of speaking with filmmaker Josh David Jordan about his new movie El Tonto Por Cristo. It’s a black-and-white art film set in a Texas monastery — poetic, strange, and deeply moving. What struck me most is how the film weaves together powerful Orthodox imagery, the mystery of the holy fool, all with a totally unique visual language. This isn’t just a message movie — it’s real cinema. Check out the Kickstarter and be part of bringing this movie to theaters. This is a rare and important project. El Tonto Por Cristo: A Cinematic Meditation. An Orthodox film set in a Texas monastery. Help bring this black-and-white story of beauty, holiness, & mystery to theaters worldwide. https://www.eltontoporcristo.com/ https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/748841722/el-tonto-por-cristo-a-cinematic-meditation Original YouTube version: https://youtu.be/pbM5VN9YvCE 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/
Jun 24, 2025 · 1 hr 46 min
399 - John Vervaeke - What Is Spirit?
What is spirit? This was one of my most meaningful conversations with John Vervaeke yet. As we prepare for the Midwestuary 2025 conference in Chicago, we explore how beings come into existence, the mystery of unity and multiplicity, and what’s really going on with AI, angels, and the spirit of community. John shares some powerful personal transformations as well. I hope you enjoy this deep dive into spirit, ontology, and meaning. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/hqmSW3SgzHs Register for the 2025 Midwestuary Conference in Chicago, August 22-24: https://www.midwestuary.com/ NEW COURSE: Scripture: The Key to Reality, presented by Seraphim Hamilton This course is designed to help students appreciate the unique role the Bible plays in helping us step into the world as it truly is: a symbolic revelation of the Infinite God. Scripture is symbolic because it is a revelation of Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ is the Archetype of the World. In a way, then, Scripture enfolds within itself the totality of the world, guiding its hearers to see an icon of Christ in each of God’s creatures: from trees to beasts to priests. - Live classes are on Tuesday at 2 - 4 pm Eastern Time, starting June 10th through July 22nd, 2025 - Class Length: 5 sessions, 10 hours total - Cost: 120 USD (108 USD for Involved patrons) - Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/scripture-the-key-to-reality - Get early access to Rapunzel and the Evil Witch: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/rapunzel-and-the-evil-witch - Symbolism Masterclass course by Jonathan Pageau: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/symbolism-masterclass - John Vervaeke's course on the Symbolic World, The Cognitive Science of Ritual: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/the-cognitive-science-of-ritual 00:00 - Intro by Jonathan 01:25 - Intro music 01:50 - Midwestuary conference details 03:42 - What is Spirit? 05:21 - John's response 08:22 - Fellowship 11:00 - Jonathan's response 13:34 - Why it's hard to think about unity and multiplicity 16:35 - Dualism in spirit 18:32 - Modern false dichotomies 24:19 - Jonathan: Spirit outside of minds? 30:57 - Are there non-psychological spirits? 33:42 - Gathered in man 35:55 - Reduction can go both ways 37:35 - The seat of self-consciousness 42:01 - A human centered view 43:36 - John: The standard of realness 49:30 - An embodied world for everyone 56:17 - Porosity between science and myth 01:00:39 - Breath 01:02:05 - A post-Kantian vision 01:05:52 - Exampting and group identity 01:10:40 - Liturgy and team spirit 01:17:48 - Are spirits just psychological? 01:20:26 - Prophesy 01:27:43 - How do we use technology? 01:34:01 - AI 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/
Jun 11, 2025 · 1 hr 12 min
398 - The Time for Orthodox Art is NOW
In this talk at the Orthodox Arts Festival of 2025, I share my vision for a renewal of Orthodox Christian art rooted in meaningful participation and true celebration. We are living through the collapse of modern aesthetics—art has become propaganda, entertainment, and distraction. But this cultural decomposition presents an opportunity for something truly transformative. Orthodox art offers a profound alternative: not art as consumption or rebellion, but as participation, celebration, and enlightenment. Drawing on my work in children's literature, icon carving, and popular storytelling, I explore how we can reintegrate beauty, memory, and the sacred into every level of artistic creation—from liturgy to fairy tales. If you're an artist, a parent, or simply someone longing for a more meaningful creative world, I invite you to join me in rediscovering what art is really for—and how it can lead us back to God. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/WkQ1PP421nM 🕯️ Discover our books, courses, and more at http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 📖 Get early access to Rapunzel and the Evil Witch: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/rapunzel-and-the-evil-witch NEW COURSE: Scripture: The Key to Reality, presented by Seraphim Hamilton This course is designed to help students appreciate the unique role the Bible plays in helping us step into the world as it truly is: a symbolic revelation of the Infinite God. Scripture is symbolic because it is a revelation of Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ is the Archetype of the World. In a way, then, Scripture enfolds within itself the totality of the world, guiding its hearers to see an icon of Christ in each of God’s creatures: from trees to beasts to priests. - Live classes are on Tuesday at 2 - 4 pm Eastern Time, starting June 10th through July 15th, 2025 - Class Length: 5 sessions, 10 hours total - Cost: 120 USD (108 USD for Involved patrons) - Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/scripture-the-key-to-reality 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/
May 31, 2025 · 1 hr 4 min
397 - Nicholas Reeves - What Is Music?
In this conversation, I sit down with composer and church musician Nicholas Reeves to explore one of the great mysteries: music. Why does music move us so deeply? How does it reflect symbolic patterns in reality? We discuss the ancient and modern roles of music—from sacred liturgies to EDM dance floors—and ask whether the liturgy might be the ultimate artwork. We also dive into the contrasts between order and chaos in sound, the compression of human experience, and the sacred role of communal participation in worship. This discussion really opened new paths for me—I hope it does the same for you. Nicholas’s work can be found at: https://www.nicholasreevesmusic.com YouTube version: https://youtu.be/26ORdueGcIo NEW COURSE: Scripture: The Key to Reality, presented by Seraphim Hamilton This course is designed to help students appreciate the unique role the Bible plays in helping us step into the world as it truly is: a symbolic revelation of the Infinite God. Scripture is symbolic because it is a revelation of Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ is the Archetype of the World. In a way, then, Scripture enfolds within itself the totality of the world, guiding its hearers to see an icon of Christ in each of God’s creatures: from trees to beasts to priests. 🗓 Live classes are on Tuesday at 2 - 4 pm Eastern Time, starting June 10th through July 15th, 2025 ⏰ Class Length: 5 sessions, 10 hours total 💰 Register for Seraphim Hamilton's course before the end of May to get 15% off when you use the code EARLYSCRIP1 at checkout. 💰 Cost: 120 USD (102 USD with the discount) 👉 Register Today: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/scripture-the-key-to-reality Timestamps: 00:00 - Coming up 01:29 - Intro music 01:55 - Introduction 02:50 - Understanding ourselves through music 10:22 - The human voice 18:56 - Rhythm 21:11 - Dance and what music is 24:40 - Variety and sameness 32:08 - Reinventing yourself 35:21 - Church music 43:57 - Continuity 46:56 - Moments in liturgy 49:30 - Music in America 54:54 - The complete work of art 59:14 - Making pop culture more participative 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/
May 23, 2025 · 51 min
396 - Seraphim Hamilton - Scripture: The Key to Reality
In this conversation, I talk with Seraphim Hamilton about how scripture does more than tell a story—it reveals a symbolic pattern that runs through all of creation. We dig into how the Bible presents the world as a kind of cosmic temple, and how that vision unfolds through the Tabernacle, the life of Christ, and the Church. Seraphim brings a deep knowledge of scripture and tradition to the table, and we touch on some of the key themes he'll be exploring in his upcoming course, Scripture: The Key to Reality. If you’ve been following my work on symbolism and biblical patterns, I think you’ll find this conversation both grounded and illuminating. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/PpGKURlGayA NEW COURSE: Scripture: The Key to Reality, presented by Seraphim Hamilton This course is designed to help students appreciate the unique role the Bible plays in helping us step into the world as it truly is: a symbolic revelation of the Infinite God. Scripture is symbolic because it is a revelation of Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ is the Archetype of the World. In a way, then, Scripture enfolds within itself the totality of the world, guiding its hearers to see an icon of Christ in each of God’s creatures: from trees to beasts to priests. 🗓 Live classes are on Tuesday at 2 - 4 pm Eastern Time, starting June 10th through July 15th, 2025 ⏰ Class Length: 5 sessions, 10 hours total 💰 Register for Seraphim Hamilton's course before the end of May to get 15% off when you use the code EARLYSCRIP1 at checkout. 💰 Cost: 120 USD (102 USD with the discount) 👉 Register Today: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/scripture-the-key-to-reality Seraphim Hamilton is an Orthodox Christian biblical commentator who explores the richness of Christ as He is unveiled in the Old and New Testaments. He has a Master of Arts in Early Christian Studies and a Master of Theology from Duke University. His thesis addressed the relationship between the theology of the Divine Name in Exodus and the writings of St. Dionysius the Areopagite. He is recently married with one daughter and produces regular reflections on Scripture on both Substack and YouTube. Writings: https://seraphimhamilton.substack.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/kabane Patreon: https://patreon.com/c/kabane Timestamps: 00:00 - Coming up 01:23 - Intro music 01:49 - Introduction 02:43 - Scripture is the key to reality 09:17 - What's the difference between Christianity and Pantheism? 13:14 - Why the need for the Tabernacle? 16:56 - Dominion in the fall 21:23 - Cain vs Noah 25:27 - Universal History 26:24 - No temple in the Heavenly Jerusalem 29:57 - Converging on the same patterns 31:38 - Critical analysis of the Bible 37:27 - Second Temple literature 42:32 - Fractal breathing 47:36 - Transfigured clothing ----------------------------------- 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/
May 16, 2025 · 1 hr 6 min
395 - Beauty First: Envisioning a Civilization Worth Restoring (ARC Roundtable)
This is an informal roundtable discussion among friends and artists at the 2025 London ARC Conference that includes myself, Andrew Gould, Aidan Hart, Heather Pollington, Neil and Kate DeGraide from Dirt Poor Robins, Ben and Vesper Stamper, Martin Shaw, and John Heers. Amidst thousands of voices focused on policy and economics, we stepped aside to ask a deeper question: what does it mean to renew civilization through beauty? Together, we explore how architecture, music, and the arts shape our perception of the world—and how the recovery of beauty might be essential for healing both culture and soul. There are no scripts here, just a shared sense of wonder, frustration, and conviction. We speak of cities and forests, temples and toasts, tradition and imagination… and what it truly means to see rightly again. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/6oS5NYXut0c SYMBOLISM MASTERCLASS Join me this April for the Symbolism Masterclass, a 6-week deep dive into the essentials of symbolic thinking. Over 18 immersive hours, I'll guide you through the framework behind everything I've explored in 500+ videos—from heaven and earth to dragons, fairies, kings, conspiracies, Darwin, the Bible, and beyond. 🗓 Dates: Live classes every Wednesday at 1-4 PM Central / 2-5 PM Eastern time: 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14, 5/21, 5/28 ⏰ Class Length: 3 hours each session 💰 Cost: $175 (Patrons at the Involved tier or higher qualify for 10% off) Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/symbolism-masterclass 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/ keywords: ARC Conference, art, architecture, civilization, beauty, human experience, Christian culture, symbolism, design, architecture, music, art, beauty, creativity, orthodoxy, healing, abstraction, civic engagement, human experience
May 16, 2025 · 37 min
394 - The World War II Consensus is Breaking Down
Several years ago, I coined the phrase “watch the fool,” because in a world turned upside down, the fool can strangely point to what’s coming and in some ways play a role in restoring order —for good or for ill. For April 2025’s patron video, now opened up to the public, I reflect on how Kanye West has continued to play this role. He is not a prophet in the traditional sense, but a kind of tuning fork, embodying the contradictions and transformations unfolding in our culture before they happen. This becomes increasingly disturbing as the post–World War II consensus buckles beneath our feet… Original YouTube version: https://youtu.be/MfXxQW77cQA SYMBOLISM MASTERCLASS Join me this April for the Symbolism Masterclass, a 6-week deep dive into the essentials of symbolic thinking. Over 18 immersive hours, I'll guide you through the framework behind everything I've explored in 500+ videos—from heaven and earth to dragons, fairies, kings, conspiracies, Darwin, the Bible, and beyond. 🗓 Dates: Live classes every Wednesday at 1-4 PM Central / 2-5 PM Eastern time: 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14, 5/21, 5/28 ⏰ Class Length: 3 hours each session 💰 Cost: $175 (Patrons at the Involved tier or higher qualify for 10% off) Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/symbolism-masterclass 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/
May 13, 2025 · 41 min
393 - Wheels Within Wheels: The Universe as a Symbol
In this excerpt from the second lecture of the Symbolism Masterclass, I take you deeper than ever into one of the most powerful and mysterious patterns that underlies the cosmos. We explore the strange vision of Ezekiel, the meaning of the cosmic wheel, and how seemingly distant symbols—from pyramids to Christmas trees—are revealing the same fundamental structure. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/6wYPgrniyWo Join us live for the rest of the Symbolism Masterclass. You will get access to all the lectures that have already taken place, including downloadable audio. https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/symbolism-masterclass SYMBOLISM MASTERCLASS Join me this April for the Symbolism Masterclass, a 6-week deep dive into the essentials of symbolic thinking. Over 18 immersive hours, I'll guide you through the framework behind everything I've explored in 500+ videos—from heaven and earth to dragons, fairies, kings, conspiracies, Darwin, the Bible, and beyond. 🗓 Dates: Live classes every Wednesday at 1-4 PM Central / 2-5 PM Eastern time: 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14, 5/21, 5/28 ⏰ Class Length: 3 hours each session 💰 Cost: $175 (Patrons at the Involved tier or higher qualify for 10% off) Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Symbolism Masterclass 02:45 Fractal Symbolism and Hierarchies 06:05 The Nebuchadnezzar Statue and False Hierarchies 09:02 The Role of Gold in Symbolism 11:51 Understanding Context in Symbolism 15:10 The Tabernacle and Hierarchical Structures 18:01 The Wheel as a Symbol of Unity 20:58 Dante's Representation of Heaven and Earth 23:50 The Spiral Structure of Reality 26:56 The Cosmic Wheel and Its Implications 29:54 The Interconnectedness of All Things 33:08 Ezekiel's Vision and the Infinite Structure 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🗣 Join The Symbolic World Community for discussions about symbolism: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/ Keywords: symbolism, fractal, hierarchy, Nebuchadnezzar, gold, context, tabernacle, wheel, Dante, spiral, cosmic structure, interconnectedness, Ezekiel's vision, the Bible, idol, idolatry, religion, Orthodox Christianity
May 6, 2025 · 1 hr 35 min
392 - Richard Rohlin - Universal History: Symbols From the Edge of the World
In this episode, Richard Rohlin and I continue our discussion of The Voyage of St. Brendan, focusing on some of the stranger episodes in the story. We look at encounters with sea creatures, a sea giantess, and the figure of a Hermit in paradise. Along the way, we reflect on what these images might reveal about death, resurrection, the role of the saints, and how the spiritual world connects to our own. It's a conversation that opens up layers of meaning in a text that’s easy to overlook. Original YouTube version: https://youtu.be/2vxMu-NU6Rw Part 1, The Voyage of St. Brendan: https://youtu.be/nlzEUV5sV2o?si=lsPwB1EmXLBIfs0w SYMBOLISM MASTERCLASS Join me this April for the Symbolism Masterclass, a 6-week deep dive into the essentials of symbolic thinking. Over 18 immersive hours, I'll guide you through the framework behind everything I've explored in 500+ videos—from heaven and earth to dragons, fairies, kings, conspiracies, Darwin, the Bible, and beyond. Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/symbolism-masterclass 🗓 Dates: Live classes every Wednesday at 1-4 PM Central / 2-5 PM Eastern time: 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14, 5/21, 5/28 ⏰ Class Length: 3 hours each session 💰 Cost: $175 (Patrons at the Involved tier or higher qualify for 10% off) While Richard's course on Tolkien and Universal History is over, you can still buy the course and get access to all the lecture recordings and resources here: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/tolkien-and-universal-history Timestamps: 00:00 - Coming up 01:06 - Intro music 01:37 - Introduction 03:41 - Pascha on the back of a monster 06:29 - A whale 14:06 - The giant mermaid 22:10 - The sequence of events 26:48 - Until the Last Judgement 33:00 - Don't worry about it 40:49 - Baptism 43:42 - Garments of skin 51:34 - Confronting demonic forces 58:08 - Brendan in paradise 01:09:00 - Brendan comes to Britain 01:26:49 - The death of St Brendan 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/
Apr 29, 2025 · 16 min
391 - The Controversy over "Christ is King"
A few weeks ago, a study came out criticizing the use of the phrase "Christ is King"—and it stirred up a lot of strong reactions, including my own. In this video, I take you through the symbolism, history, and deeper meaning behind this expression, and I share why I believe its resurgence today is both important and complicated. I’ll also reflect on how identity naturally includes and excludes—and why that's not something we should fear. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/_9_PWSOgK5w The study in question: https://networkcontagion.us/reports/3-13-25-thy-name-in-vain-how-online-extremists-hijacked-christ-is-king/ SYMBOLISM MASTERCLASS Join me this April for the Symbolism Masterclass, a 6-week deep dive into the essentials of symbolic thinking. Over 18 immersive hours, I'll guide you through the framework behind everything I've explored in 500+ videos—from heaven and earth to dragons, fairies, kings, conspiracies, Darwin, the Bible, and beyond. Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/symbolism-masterclass 🗓 Dates: Live classes every Wednesday at 1-4 PM Central / 2-5 PM Eastern time: 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14, 5/21, 5/28 ⏰ Class Length: 3 hours each session 💰 Cost: $175 (Patrons at the Involved tier or higher qualify for 10% off) Join us for the ORTHODOX ARTS FESTIVAL, learn more here: https://www.orthodoxartsfestivaldfw.com/ Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/
Apr 23, 2025 · 1 hr 56 min
390 - Genesis: Symbolism in the Creation Story
This is a talk I did a few years ago for the Jung Society of Montreal. In it I explore the creation story in Genesis not just as myth, but as a fractal map of how identity, being, and purpose function. In breaking down the symbolism I also make a case for why intelligence isn’t an accident, why rituals matter, and why participation of intelligent beings is foundational to reality. In the Q&A section we touch on group identity, exclusion, dreams, and the meaning of the Last Judgment among other topics. I hope this lecture gives you a sense of the tone and depth of our upcoming Symbolism Masterclass. If you want to learn more, register today. https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/symbolism-masterclass SYMBOLISM MASTERCLASS Join me this April for the Symbolism Masterclass, a 6-week deep dive into the essentials of symbolic thinking. Over 18 immersive hours, I'll guide you through the framework behind everything I've explored in 500+ videos—from heaven and earth to dragons, fairies, kings, conspiracies, Darwin, the Bible, and beyond. 🗓 Dates: Live classes every Wednesday at 1-4 PM Central / 2-5 PM Eastern time: 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14, 5/21, 5/28 ⏰ Class Length: 3 hours each session 💰 Cost: $175 (Patrons at the Involved tier or higher qualify for 10% off) Join us for the ORTHODOX ARTS FESTIVAL, learn more here: https://www.orthodoxartsfestivaldfw.com/ YouTube version: https://youtu.be/YArpxigY5xY?si=QrMqUuJixHQ3DnXy Original video published by Jordan Peterson: https://youtu.be/ZQ43i5nKuZk?si=XB-bgj9VMc0NxBdT Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 02:01 - Intro music 02:26 - Observing the observer 08:06 - Ritual and a return to ancient thinking 13:58 - Ritual in groups 21:34 - The argument 27:49 - The start of Genesis 36:39 - And God said 42:06 - Vegetation 44:30 - The sun, moon, and stars 45:49 - Creatures of the sea 49:32 - Animals 51:57 - The creation of man 56:28 - Genesis 2 59:43 - The center of the world 06:42 - Iconographic examples 12:39 - Questions from JBP 18:22 - Q: Elaborate on what you mean with "above" and "below" 20:15 - Q: Are people who try to tame wild animals violating the pattern you pointed out? 21:51 - Q: How sure are you of the heaven and earth distinction? 25:36 - Q: What's the meaning of when God says man is very good and everything else good? 30:03 - Comment about Jung 31:24 - Q: How did Darwin bring Plato back? 37:03 - Q: How would you work with exclusion / inclusion patterns in these times? 48:51 - Q: What's the intelligence of dreams? 51:45 - Q: If the teleological patterns of being constitute heaven, what is the abode of the human soul? 💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe \ Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/