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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Feb 8, 2024 · 1 hr 20 min
328 - Stephen Blackwood - The Book that the West Needs
Visit https://thesymbolicworld.com/summit for more information about the Symbolic World Summit Stephen James Blackwood is a Canadian-American professor, academic, and social commentator. Blackwood is the founder and president of Ralston College, a liberal arts college awaiting accreditation in Savannah, Georgia. We met on the Daily Wire+ Exodus panel where he had a lot of amazing insights and we have become friends since. In this discussion, we talk about Stephen’s wonderful book, The Consolation of Boethius as Poetic Liturgy, an exploration of The Consolation of Philosophy, a book by Boethius. We discuss Boethius’ role and contribution to the Medieval Western world and the amazing treasury of wisdom and consolation he can still offer us today. His legacy beautifully bridges and synthesizes the ancient pagan world, and a secular space, with the foundations and hope of a Christian vision. The 2024 enrollments for Ralston College are not open: https://www.ralston.ac/humanities-ma The Exodus series, free on Jordan Peterson’s YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL22J3VaeABQAppIsV0MmKYhGeFGJsy-dS&si=77eG5hbodzWm0HW3 Stephen Blackwood: https://www.ralston.ac/people/stephen-blackwood Stephen’s book, The Consolation of Boethius as Poetic Liturgy: https://www.amazon.com/Consolation-Boethius-Liturgy-Christian-Studies/dp/0198718314 Ralston College is more than a university and an online portal. It is a movement dedicated to seeking the truth without censorship or shame. It is a call to build a free and flourishing culture for one and all. Read more about it: https://www.ralston.ac/ 💻 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 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson. --- Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 A small portion of the audio content in this video belongs to Dirt Poor Robins. We have received explicit permission from Dirt Poor Robins to use their music in this video to advertise an event where they will be present as performing artists. All video posted is merely for educational, commentarial, and informational purposes under Fair Use law. All rights and credit go directly to its owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Feb 2, 2024 · 1 hr 16 min
327 - Richard Rohlin - Universal History: Dragons!
In this episode of Universal History with Richard Rohlin, by popular demand, we finally explored the topic of dragons! We discussed the ubiquitous appearance of dragons across history and different cultures, a dragon’s essential characteristics and mythical nature, their connection to snakes, birds, and angels, and the dragon as a hybrid and guardian of paradise. We also discussed the treatment of dragons in Eastern traditions and various languages, as well as in Christianity and even in medical symbolism. Enjoy! Support the God’s’Dog: Warrior Kickstarter that was launched this week: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/symbolicworldpress/godsdog-warrior Sign up for the Symbolic World Summit on February 29th, 2024. Check our website for information on the schedule, FAQ, hotel discounts, speakers, and more: https://thesymbolicworld.com/summit Check out our Universal History: Beowulf course on the Symbolic World website, where we presented 6 classes covering the Beowulf epic, many hours of which included dragons: https://thesymbolicworld.com/news/the-beowulf-course-by-richard-rohlin-and-jonathan-pageau OTHER LINKS: The Dragons that Almost Exist, by Jonathan Pageau: https://orthodoxartsjournal.org/dragons-almost-exist/ Discussion with Fr. Joseph Lucas: https://youtu.be/0FuO88QVlN0?si=d66NKZ2JkyqWdNV7 ----- 💻 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 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson. ----- Music used with permission Item Title: Emotional Fantasy Epic Trailer LICENSE CERTIFICATE: Envato Elements Item For any queries related to this document or license please contact Envato Support via https://help.elements.envato.com/hc/en-us/requests/new
Jan 30, 2024 · 22 min
326 - The Symbolism of Titans, Giants, and Nephilim
In this video I discuss the symbolism of titans, giants, and Nephilim in anticipation of the God's'Dog: Warrior Kickstarter. Sign up for early bird specials: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/symbolicworldpress/godsdog-warrior 💻 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 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.
Jan 18, 2024 · 44 min
325 - JP Marceau - Recovering the Metaphysics of Symbolism
In this discussion with Jean-Philippe Marceau, we introduce the latest Symbolic World Course, called Symbolic World Metaphysics, based on JP’s upcoming book. JP also talks a bit more about his journey in the symbolic world, his unique approach to these topics, and what the course will offer. Join other Symbolic World metaphysics enthusiasts to experience a detailed introduction to the metaphysics developed in the Symbolic World over the past few years. EARLY BIRD COUPON for 10% off for anyone who signs up for the course in the next 24 hours. Use the code EARLY10 at checkout. Learn more: https://thesymbolicworld.com/news/symbolic-world-metaphysics-course-with-jp-marceau Original YouTube version: https://youtu.be/JzRwHsrRAH8 ---------------------- This course will dive into content from Jean-Philippe Marceau's forthcoming book entitled Post-reductionist Christianity: A Way Out of the Meaning Crisis, which will be published by Symbolic World Press in Spring 2024. In the 5-week course, Marceau will provide a detailed introduction to the metaphysics developed in the Symbolic World over the last few years, particularly in discussions with John Vervaeke and Jonathan Pageau. Like in the book, Marceau will explain that nihilistic materialism, symbolized by the zombie, has died at its own hands, and that non-reductive naturalism is currently tracking toward a return to classical metaphysics. Then, he will explain how Christian metaphysics goes further than classical metaphysics and non-reductive naturalism, ultimately shedding more light on reality. Finally, Marceau will present advanced material not covered in the book, such as what distinguishes symbolic metaphysics from perennialist, universalist, or idealist metaphysics. COURSE: Symbolic World Metaphysics, with JP Marceau. (Jonathan Pageau will also cohost 3 of the 5 classes.) CLASS DATES: 5 classes, on Wednesdays, January 24, and 31, February 7, 14, and 21 TIME: 3:00pm to 5:00pm ET PRICE: US$125 for the entire course All course materials will be provided Class 1: Zombies, Nihilism, and the Death of Materialism (January 24) Class 2: Recovering Classical Metaphysics and Participation (January 31) Class 3: The Incarnation (February 7) Class 4: The Heart of Christian Metaphysics (February 14) Class 5: Advanced Topics (February 21) ---------------------- Join us at the Symbolic World Summit in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Date: Feb 29-Mar 2, 2024 Tickets start at $399 Learn more: https://thesymbolicworld.com/summit ---------------------- 💻 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 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.
Jan 18, 2024 · 1 hr 31 min
324 - Benjamin Boyce - The Inevitable Fall of the Enlightenment
This is a repost of a discussion with Benjamin Boyce on the topic of the Enlightenment, rationalism and science, the problem of identity on the levels of the individual and the group, value hierarchies, authoritarianism, subsidiarity, love, and sacrifice. This conversation happened after I had some disagreements with James Lindsay on Twitter (X) about the Enlightenment and authoritarianism. My and Jordan Peterson’s research paper published through ARC.Identity: Individual and the State versus the Subsidiary Hierarchy of Heaven: https://www.arc-research.org/research-papers/the-subsidiary-hierarchy YouTube version: https://youtu.be/Z3DH5i4G3q8 -- Join us for the Symbolic World Summit on Feb 29th, 2024. Learn more: https://thesymbolicworld.com/summit -- 💻 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 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.
Jan 5, 2024 · 18 min
323 - What It Means to Be Born Again
In celebration of Theophany (6 January) or Epiphany, as it’s called in the Western tradition, I discuss the meaning of baptism, starting with the baptism of Christ, what it means to be “born again” symbolically, and how Scripture, our sacraments, and the Theophany icon illustrate and explain this to us. Join us for the Symbolic World Summit on Feb 29th, 2024. Learn more: https://thesymbolicworld.com/summit 💻 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 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.
Dec 30, 2023 · 11 min
322 - Janus, the Two-Faced God of January
For my last video of 2023, I discuss the pagan god Janus, after whom the month of January is named; why he has two faces, how it’s related to this time of year, the winter solstice, Christmas, and the general ambiguity and uneasiness of places of transition. Happy New Year! Join us for the Symbolic World Summit on Feb 29th, 2024. Learn more: https://thesymbolicworld.com/summit 💻 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 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.
Dec 22, 2023 · 15 min
321 - Why Angels Appeared to Shepherds on Christmas
This video takes a close look at one sentence in the Christmas story. A great company of angels appeared to the shepherds in the field to announce the birth of Christ, and they sang, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom His favour rests”. To many people this statement seems meaningless or abstract, but in celebration of the nativity I took some time in this video to take it apart and explain how it applies to our daily experience. Christmas playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-4ZxpTTkqsa-7BSWVfiNM4YccYxhLc12&si=p_P8SNFQ7mIB_2-1 💻 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 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.
Dec 14, 2023 · 1 hr 33 min
320 - Richard Rohlin - The Universal History of Christmas
In this episode of the Universal History podcast, Richard Rohlin and I discuss Christmas, why it looks the way it does, how Christmas developed into what we have today, and why you absolutely should celebrate it if you’re a Christian. --- Buy the Beowulf Course (You have to have a profile on our Symbolic World community, you can create one for free): https://thesymbolicworld.com/news/the-beowulf-course-by-richard-rohlin-and-jonathan-pageau --- Join us at the Symbolic World Summit in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Date: Feb 29-Mar 2, 2024 Tickets start at $399: https://thesymbolicworld.com/summit --- Related discussions: Universal History: The Deep Symbolism of Groundhog Day | with Richard Rohlin: https://youtu.be/dX6PZBS1Q9Q?si=3m-oGjhKplytfAI4 Universal History: The Christian Continuation of Hanukkah | with Richard Rohlin: https://youtu.be/MKQc7AZvK2A?si=3LETrHV5Vj5Jm8h5 Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer as Modern Mythmaking: https://youtu.be/2z87XnoXrjo?si=csKtcE59MkSQIx6G --- 💻 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 Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/pageauvideos 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.
Dec 5, 2023 · 14 min
319 - The Symbolism of Aliens
This is a repost of an older video published on this channel in 2018. We are reposting it because the original video was blocked by YouTube in several countries. Now also seems like a good time to revisit the topics of aliens, encountering the strange, garments of skin, the consequences and dangers of technology, and all the tropes we have in our culture around the foreign, whether in the direction of vilification, or worship. 💻 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 Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/pageauvideos 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.
Nov 30, 2023 · 1 hr 26 min
318 - Seraphim Hamilton - Re-Enchantment Now: Fairies, Aliens, the Occult, Prayer, and Divination
This is a repost of my recent discussion with Seraphim Hamilton on his YouTube channel. He asked me many good questions about universal history, re-enchantment, fairy tales, the occult, divination, carnival, war, prayer, and ritual, thinking symbolically about your own life, AI, and more. Enjoy. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/wXwi8r00-XU Previous discussion: https://youtu.be/C9pNpJxY3kQ?si=RA6BckS-lvi3218r 💻 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 Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/pageauvideos 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson. Join us at the Symbolic World Summit in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Date: Feb 29-Mar 2, 2024 Tickets start at $399: https://thesymbolicworld.com/summit
Nov 24, 2023 · 48 min
317 - Fr. Joseph Lucas - Sacrifice: The Paradox of Salvation
Fr. Joseph Lucas published a thesis on the question of sacrifice, called Offerer and Offering: Cyril of Alexandria on Jewish and Christian Sacrifice. In this video, we discuss sacrifice in Scripture, how we should understand the crucifixion, and how the notion of sacrifice applies to the Christian life. Bio: Father Joseph Lucas is an Orthodox Christian priest, theological scholar, and practical philosopher. He received his PhD. in Theology from the St. Irenaeus Orthodox Theological Institute at Radboud Universiteit Nijmegan, and his MDiv. with Distinction in Patristics and Church History from St. Tikhon Orthodox Theological Seminary. Father Joseph is the author of Prayer of the Publican: Justification in the Desert Fathers. He is a Senior Editor of Rule of Faith Journal. Rule of Faith is an Orthodox Christian journal wherein scholars, clergy, and artists elucidate the culture of faith and engage the questions of our time. Rule of Faith journal: https://ruleoffaith.org Original YouTube version: https://youtu.be/0FuO88QVlN0 — Timestamps: 0:00 - Coming up 0:42 - Intro music 1:06 - Introduction 2:01 - St. Cyril on sacrifice 2:59 - What is sacrifice for? 5:02 - Biblical sacrifice is not propitiation 8:11 - The scope of Scripture 11:46 - Yom Kippur: Two aspects of the same sacrifice 15:45 - Is the crucifixion an offering? 17:00 - Never disconnected from the Father 19:17 - My God, my God, why have You Forsaken me? 20:51 - The Garden of Gethsemane 22:43 - The prophesy, "for our sake" 25:05 - Symbol + intention 33:56 - Connecting this to Christian life 35:09 - The limits of René Girard 38:33 - The central pattern 46:08 - Applying this to politics — 💻 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 Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/pageauvideos 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.
Nov 16, 2023 · 1 hr 3 min
316 - DC Schindler - The Duality of Art (Climbing Mt Sophia)
This is a repost of a great discussion I had on the Climbing Mt. Sophia channel alongside DC Schindler. We discuss beauty, art, freedom, techne and technology, primarily exploring the question: what is beauty? Original: Climbing Mt. Sophia - Beauty, Art and Freedom with Jonathan Pageau and DC Schindler: https://youtu.be/pIikYtFS4Q8?si=SlFG5MR0ZtbmcL9I Jonathan’s video on contemporary art: The Search for Participation in Contemporary Art: https://youtu.be/EWc7TKm9jho?si=WuwCjk3Tb3Zdkpmg David and Ken’s series on Freedom from Reality: Part 1; Good, Functionality and Unease with DC Schindler: https://youtu.be/kSoCVbcmXfg?si=qkmNLSc2J7DLcDQA — Join us for the Symbolic World Summit in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Date: Feb 29-Mar 2, 2024 Tickets start at $399: https://thesymbolicworld.com/summit — 💻 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 Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/pageauvideos 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson. ---------------------- Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 A small portion of the audio content in this video belongs to Dirt Poor Robins. We have received explicit permission from Dirt Poor Robins to use their music in this video to advertise an event where they will be present as performing artists. All video posted is merely for educational, commentarial, and informational purposes under Fair Use law. All rights and credit go directly to its owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Nov 9, 2023 · 1 hr 24 min
315 - Fr. Turbo Qualls and David Patrick Harry - Beauty and the Ascetic
For this week’s podcast, I sat down with Fr. Turbo Qualls and David Patrick Harry to discuss beauty and iconography in the Orthodox Christian tradition, why beauty is a part of the Church despite Christ leading a simple life, giving back to God, the meaning and purpose of icons in worship, balancing beauty and charity, the question of idolatry, the duality of externals, and more. Fr. Turbo Qualls is the rector at St. Mary of Egypt, Serbian Orthodox Church in Kanses City Missouti, where he lives with his wife Juliana and their children. He has lectured in various parts of the United States in regard to the work of evangelization and cultural outreach. David Patrick Harry is a religious studies scholar and has a YouTube channel called Church of the Eternal Logos that’s devoted to Orthodox Christian apologetics, his academic work, as well as addressing topics such as comparative mysticism, Gnosticism, world religions, esoteric traditions, the spirituality of technology, and much more. Check out David’s channel: Church of the Eternal Logos: https://www.youtube.com/@ChurchoftheEternalLogos Original YouTube version: https://youtu.be/awabHcHOY_k — Timestamps: 0:00 - Coming up 0:50 - Intro music 1:16 - Introduction 1:46 - Aesthetics in the Orthodox Church 3:22 - Symbols and beauty in the Church 8:14 - Why the Church prioritizes beauty 13:12 - Give the best back to God 18:04 - An expansive view 20:47 - The beauty and the ascetic 25:39 - Synthesis vs confusion 33:33 - Reaching mankind through beauty 40:49 - Balancing beauty with charity 48:58 - The duality of externals 57:40 - A commodity 1:05:00 - A relationship 1:18:31 - The plateau 1:22:03 - A new context for beauty — Join us for the Symbolic World Summit on Feb 29th, 2024, in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Learn more here: https://thesymbolicworld.com/summit 💻 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 Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.
Nov 3, 2023 · 50 min
314 - Dr Martin Shaw - The New Odyssey
Dr. Martin Shaw will be a speaker at the Symbolic World Summit next year in Tarpon Springs, Florida. In this conversation we discuss pagan stories, including The Odyssey and The Iliad, our current moment in the West, the return of paganism and a desire for Kleos (imperishable glory) in modern life. We also talk about how much paganism differs from Christianity, wrestling with Scripture as a mythographer, and Martin’s journey to Orthodox Christianity. Dr Martin Shaw is a writer, storyteller, and mythologist. Award-winning author of seventeen books, his most recent, Bardskull, was Guardian Book of the Day and described by the Sunday Times as “rich and transgressive.” He is a wilderness rites of passage guide and spent four years living in a tent. Shaw founded the Oral Tradition and Living Myth courses at Stanford University and is described by the Irish Times as an “interloper from the medieval.” An Eastern Orthodox Christian, over the last twenty-five years Shaw has introduced thousands of people to myth and how it speaks to our age. He is widely published: Orion, The Sun, Mississippi Review, Poetry International and many others. Original YouTube version: https://youtu.be/U4BVKOBrnTY Dr. Martin Shaw’s website: https://drmartinshaw.com/ Substack: https://martinshaw.substack.com/ Join me and Dr. Martin Shaw and others at the Symbolic World Summit in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Date: Feb 29-Mar 2, 2024 Tickets start at $399: https://thesymbolicworld.com/summit —-------------------- Timestamps: 0:00 - Coming up next 1:00 - Intro music 1:24 - Introduction 1:44 - The Symbolic World Summit 5:12 - What stood out rereading The Odyssey 10:13 - What paganism looks like 13:58 - The Iliad 14:57 - Christ in The Odyssey 20:28 - Struggling with Scripture 24:29 - Relating to Biblical stories 26:56 - Samson 31:16 - Pandemonium and understanding the West 33:07 - Tell me about the Summit 38:00 - Martin's transformation 42:01 - I'm not a classicist —-------------------- 💻 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 Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/pageauvideos 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.
Oct 26, 2023 · 1 hr 12 min
313 - Fr. Andrew Damick - Redeeming Pagan Symbolism
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick is Chief Content Officer of Ancient Faith Ministries. He has been podcasting since 2007 and is the host of Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy, Orthodox Engagement, and Roads from Emmaus, as well as co-host of The Lord of Spirits, The Areopagus, and Amon Sûl. I had a wonderful conversation with Fr. Andrew about his latest project, The Wolf and the Cross. This podcast series documents his Orthodox pilgrimage to Lithuania, the last pagan nation in Europe. We discuss how Eastern Orthodoxy deals with the traditions and symbols from paganism and how it adapts elements of non-orthodox branches of Christianity. Listen to The Wolf and the Cross: https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/wolfandcross ----------------------- JOIN US FOR THE SYMBOLIC WORLD SUMMIT: https://thesymbolicworld.com/summit Feb 29th - Mar 2nd, 2024 Tarpon Springs, Florida, US Tickets start at $399 ----------------------- PAST INTERVIEWS WITH FR. ANDREW • Arise O God: A Cosmic Vision of the Gospel | https://youtu.be/6U7c_89FeWM • The Areopagus Podcast: Storytelling by Subverting Subversion | https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/areopagus/storytelling_by_subverting_subversion_with_jonathan_pageau • JRR Tolkien and The Applicability of Stories | https://youtu.be/QcQShPpbEgc • Gods, Angels and Demons | https://youtu.be/NW_WlIurGtA ----------------------- ⏯️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Preview 00:28 - Intro music 00:52 - Introduction 02:59 - Second visit to Lithuania 03:00 - Lithuania on the border between Catholicism and Orthodoxy 04:05 - The last pagan nation in Europe (late 14th century) 05:42 - The backstory of Christianity and other religions 09:55 - God redeems or untwists pagan symbolism 13:22 - Transformation and creative engagement 19:14 - Germanic Paganism and Christianity 29:46 - Orthodox and non-orthodox Christians 37:47 - The Sun Cross 39:44 - Dievdirbys and Pensive Christ (Rūpintojėlis) 44:05 - The Hill of Crosses (Kryžių Kalnas) 48:45 - St. Peter Mohyla and Latinization 50:24 - All Souls Day in Lithuanian Orthodoxy (Vėlinės) 55:19 - Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn, Theotokos 57:16 - Our Lady of Pažaislis 1:03:04 - The porous nature of religious traditions 1:09:20 - Humility vs. the demonic spirit of polarization 1:11:32 - Conclusion ----------------------- LINKS 💻 Website & Blog: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com 🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🗣 Join The Symbolic World Community for discussions about symbolism: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 🔒 BECOME A PATRON Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Patreon: www.patreon.com/pageauvideos 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau/ Our website designers: www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson. ---------------------- Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 A small portion of the audio content in this episode belongs to Dirt Poor Robins. We have received explicit permission from Dirt Poor Robins to use their music in this video to advertise an event where they will be present as performing artists. All content posted is merely for educational, commentarial, and informational purposes under Fair Use law. All rights and credit go directly to its owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Oct 20, 2023 · 53 min
312 - Kendelle Hoyer - Behind the Big Screen
Kendelle Hoyer is passionate about storytelling and art, which has been a life-long pursuit since childhood when she decided she wanted to work in animation. Since then, Kendelle has developed her craft of bringing fantastical stories to life. She has been privileged to work on feature films at major animation studios since 2008, and is currently working in Los Angeles as storyboard artist. In this podcast episode, we discuss her work as an artist to put together movies for the big screen. We also discuss what makes a story precious, and how to approach creative storytelling. ---------------- Timestamps: 0:00 - Preview 0:50 - Intro music 1:14 - Introduction 2:01 - Being a storyboard artist 3:17 - What's the difference between the head-of-story and the director? 4:43 - How symbolic thinking helps 5:12 - Story reels 7:05 - Planning 9:45 - A bad story 12:39 - Working on a project 14:35 - The early Pixar and Disney movies 16:31 - Protecting the creative environment 20:02 - The next wave of storytelling 22:20 - Finding the right character 22:57 - Story problem solving 25:54 - What did you study? 26:36 - Storytellers are important 27:44 - Stop complaining and start creating 29:39 - How has symbolic thinking influenced your work? 33:33 - Putting the story first 37:50 - The flow and dialogos 44:38 - The early Disney films 46:17 - AI 49:48 - AI images ---------------- 💻 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 Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/pageauvideos 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.
Oct 13, 2023 · 19 min
311 - Ritualized Behavior From Animals to Church
There is a tendency to isolate religious behavior from other human behavior, which can make religious behavior seem arbitrary or ridiculous. In this week's video, I argue that the best way to understand religion, even from a purely materialist perspective, is to understand it as an extension of other types of ritualized behavior, even those we can find among animals. 💻 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 Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/pageauvideos 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.
Oct 9, 2023 · 1 hr 7 min
310 - Annie Crawford - C.S. Lewis on Progress, AI, and Gender
I had a great discussion with Annie Crawford. She’s written two wonderful articles for the Symbolic World Blog and is offering a course on C.S. Lewis’ Ransom Trilogy on the Symbolic World website. Check out our discussion about C.S. Lewis, AI, progress, gender, laughter, science, and the mystical. Sign up for Annie’s course on the C.S. Lewis Ransom Trilogy. If you sign up now you will get the recordings of the first 10 lessons. The remaining 5 lessons on That Hideous Strength will be every Friday at 3pm CST / 4pm EST: https://the-symbolic-world.circle.so/checkout/cs-lewis-trilogy Email us at inquiries@symbolicworldpress.com if you have any questions or reach out to Annie in our website community: https://the-symbolic-world.circle.so/home Annie’s articles on the Symbolic World Blog: - ‘Cosmos’: A Poetic Reflection on the Medieval Model: https://thesymbolicworld.com/content/cosmos-a-poetic-reflection-on-the-medieval-model - Gender and the Cosmos: The Restoration of Worlds in C.S. Lewis’s Ransom Trilogy: https://thesymbolicworld.com/content/gender-and-the-cosmos-the-restoration-of-worlds-in-c-s-lewis-s-ransom-trilogy Timestamps: 0:00 Coming up 0:27 - Intro music 0:51 - Introduction 3:21 - The Symbolic World community 4:22 - C.S. Lewis' Ransom Trilogy 6:14 - The disembodied head 7:20 - Gender and C.S. Lewis 13:31 - C.S. Lewis' approach to the topic 17:41 - The "third gender" 24:04 - The ending of "That Hideous Strength" 31:46 - Waters above and below 33:39 - Lewis and Dante 39:44 - Theology and "science" 46:31 - Barfield and Lewis: an original unity 53:30 - Merlin's Last Laugh 💻 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 Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/pageauvideos 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.
Oct 3, 2023 · 1 hr 13 min
309 - Jacob Howland - Technological Cannibalism
I had an amazing discussion with Jacob Howland about the fundamental question of technology. We investigate from both the Biblical and ancient Greek perspectives what technology is and its effects on the human spirit. We discuss the notion of memory and recollection, Plato’s Phaedrus, the Biblical notion of garments of skin, ChatGPT and AI, work and leisure, technology’s effects on human capabilities, paganism and idolatry, intelligence, and “the matrix”, the internet, intuition, and much more. Jacob Howland is the Provost and Director of the Intellectual Foundations Program at UATX, commonly known as the University of Austin. His latest book is Glaucon's Fate: History, Myth, and Character in Plato's Republic (Paul Dry Books, 2018): https://www.amazon.com/Glaucons-Fate-History-Character-Republic/dp/1589881346 Jacob Howland’s website: https://www.jacobhowland.com/ His articles on Unherd: https://unherd.com/author/jacob-howlandunherd-com/ YouTube version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/o468OtytbVQ Timestamps: 00:00 - Coming up 01:02 - Intro music 01:28 - Introduction 01:59 - Different narratives about technology 04:09 - Technology from the Greek perspective 05:01 - Plato's Phaedra - and fixing words 08:16 - Egypt 09:29 - Suppressing recollection 11:13 - The garments of skin 15:02 - Work - sorting chaos 18:17 - Human capabilities diminishing 19:53 - ChatGPT cannibalizes itself 22:06 - A pagan god that feeds on humans 23:52 - Human batteries 26:03 - Intuition - direct access to reality 28:49 - What do we mean by intelligence? 30:47 - Understand AI as idolatry 32:19 - The gold of the golden calf 34:53 - The tabernacle 35:33 - A body of power 37:39 - card: Beasts in Revelation 39:16 - Work and leisure 47:45 - Monastic life and leisure 49:18 - Not anti-technology 50:54 - The Henry Adams curve 56:56 - The Beast kills the whore 1:00:17 - Plato's cave 1:01:19 - There is no "solution" 1:03:24 - Prometheus’ cycle of desire 1:05:58 - The flip side of all of this 1:10:15 - Paradise Lost 1:11:09 - The need for transcendence 1:12:26 - Re-engage at the human scale 💻 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 Website: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/pageauvideos 📱 SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolicWorld Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pageaujonathan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.pageau Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson.