Introduction to Western Esotericism

Ευχαριστούμε!

Love this channel. 💛

Thanks

This is my new favorite channel. Thank you for sharing this wealth of information.

Not to be rude or anything. But, my ADHD and Dyslexia combined, had me look at the guy and hear: "One of a wizard's most rudimentary skills is levitation or the ability to make objects fly."

Awesome man!! Keep it up!! 😁👍

Hey Dr. Justin Sledge, I was wondering what video was it where you discussed permissable and non permissable magic use in Islam?

Dr. Sledge is always educational, responsible, comprehensive and clear in his thinking. His agnostic position and his own Emic traditional roots are consistent with the best source material I've seen in eclectic surveys such as Donald Tyson's annotation of Agrippa and Fraser's Golden Bough, or the Egyptology of E. Wallis Budge. To disconnect any of this from mathematics, anthropology or psychology on the basis of some "tradition" crafted by some bored British aristocratic nudist like Gerald Gardiner is to consign great portions of the population to mental illness, such as the self-mutilating, Thorazine-saturated bulimic teenager I just viewed, who has sexual encounters with ethereal "vampires."
As the "stainless abode" of "adepts" aspiring to publishing immortality, such as the soccer mom and weekend crafter of the "spell" using "kitty litter" expands exponentially, the value of Dr. Sledge's field will expand exponentially as well. And, as the suppressed historical facts reveal to the green haired, tackle-box-faced BDSM dropout sacrificing "their" house pet on the "horny star" to the corpse-painted Neo-Nazi cross-dresser of the week in exchange for fame and fortune, that the authors of the source material of the butchered grimoire from which "they" got "their" poorly-translated incantation actually thought themselves to be good Christians or Jews, then we might actually begin to see the benefit of religion again, beyond pissing off one's parents.
The reason I bring this up is that Dr. Sledge used a term in this video that no sane necromancer would want to deploy in conjunction with a name that will bring a well-organized inquisition upon the would-be Gnostic; that is to say that he uttered the name of Michael Foucault and invited "postmodernism" into Esoterica.
Thus the conjurer, though she carefully craft the Enochian sign of Edward Kelley on the floor with a rare correctly drawn pentacle, might see within her Tetragrammaton, the visage of a bewildered looking Dr. Jordan Peterson, holding Jung's Red Book, looking for a break in the chalk, and an opportunity to release a lecture on phenomenology into the aether.
If anyone feels "triggered" by this post, read Robert Anton Wilson's Illuminatus trillogy---and stop taking yourself so seriously. If G-d has no sense of humor, we're all in trouble!

The video that started it all:) I had to stop being a patreon this month after 2 or something years of patronage and didn’t have the time to send this through there. Anyways I wanted to come and wish you well on this project and thank you from the bottom of my heart for providing this content. Knowledge truly does set us free, thanks:)

Oh! Oh! I know the Great Truth: The only Constant is Change

I'm just beginning a shamanic path. The path will include hallucinagenics. I'm new to anything other than cannabis. I'll be experimenting with mushrooms, LSD, and ending with Auyasca.

what books would you suggest on Manichaeism?

Thanks!

I've watched a few of your videos and although I don't hold any explicitly supernatural beliefs, I love the study and I've found all the subjects and manner in which you discuss them to be very fascinating and enjoyable.
The small jokes also played a big part in the enjoyment.

So, like with most things, it's better to start from the beginning.

From 3 years in the future watching this - Mazeltov! You've honed your delivery and let your brilliant sense of humour shine through. I'm no scholar, and a lot goes way above my pay grade, but I love your work!

I am so glad I found this channel. I am going through each video in order. I will be checking out the books mentioned as well.

Thanks for your video!!

Very much interested in this. I’d love to study at the grad level. Short of that possibility, I’m watching! Wrote a book series that is very much on these lines. So excited!

Hi Dr. Sledge, did you ever end up doing videos on the specific approaches to Western esotericism you mention in this video? or any other videos on theory and method in the field? I've browsed your videos but can't seem to find anything.

BURN THE WITCH! BURN THE HERETIC!....There I got it out of my system. I feel like it should be illegal to get such a broad and fascinating education online for free. You sir are a gift and this topic is inherently captivating. Help us all learn more together.

Thank you gazillion times, the topic of esotericism and the occult is truly fascinating, the academic approach to this is especially interesting to understand so you're doing a great job for online community!

Two questions: 1. Are you familiar with the University of Philosophical Research founded by Manly P. Hall, and if so, is it a legit academica approach to western esotericism? And, is his book The Secret Teaching of All Ages also a legit introduction to the subject?

I dig your introduction,, and the tune, opening the videos,, lol . Ty much

Yo... thank you Jonathan!

time to become schizo

Esoterica seems spoooooooky!

Huh, Exeter actually offering courses in Western Esotericism just increased my respect for Dan Brown by 1%.

feels weird watching these first few videos, the tone of your voice has changed so much lol

I found this absolute gem of a channel today. I love learning about ancient cultures, philosophy, and belief systems. It's a FASCINATING field and I am so glad to see it here. God Speed.

Doing a presentation on esotericism tomorrow lmao

Thanks so much for this. I sent you an email a while ago because I somehow missed this - it answers all of my questions.

I stopped by to get a cool shirt, and I stayed for the awesomely scholarly conversation!!!

What an interesting channel. Thank you for all the recommended books.

Glad i found ya doc..havent a clue what your on about but il be glued to it

Man, I've been searching for a channel that delves into religion from a scientific/secular/unbiased angel and I think I finally found it! If I'm right then you've got a new student, Dr. Sledge!

Perennialism is extremely frustrating to me.
I have infinitely more respect for people, who actually believe they have magical powers or in Christianity or whatever, than for perennialists.
At least the former are to some degree honest about history and the actual contents of historical doctrines and the beliefs of people.
Perennialists just bulldoze all of history and superimpose their dumbass modern trivialities.

As an agnostic, rationalist, I think I've finally found a channel where I can enter this subject!

👌🏿

Hey Dr. Sledge,

I've only just found your channel, and from the brief introduction, plus the Gnosticism - The Gospel of Mary Magdelena video, i can confidently say my mind is overwhelmingly blown 🤯

I've grown up within a small Imperial Russian Orthodox community and have battled with the religious teachings I've been given growing up. Myself, along with my Mom & Sisters, have ALWAYS felt there was MORE to all the customs and Religious teachings impressed on us our whole lives.

I have many family members and ancestors who lived and practice a combination of Orthodoxy and Witch craft, we call them "Gypsies", and a lot of them were excommunicated from our community's churches, so they lived and prayed in isolation along with their immediate families.

They all lived and breathed their faith, and practiced certain rituals the "Church" deems as "Sinful Witchcraft", yet for them it was natural, a way of life. Being intuned to the Earth around them and the heavens above they found a balance in the world, and their teachings of spirituality, medicine, superstition and tradition resonates with myself, my Mom and sisters.

Your knowledge and understanding confirms, within myself, that the feeling of 'there must be more to this' isn't just a feeling! It's now fact, and your channel is another important contributor on my journey towards Spiritual Freedom and Enlightenment 🙏

Thank you for creating this channel and sharing its priceless information with all those who will listen 🥰☦️❤️

😊😊😊

From Dr Justin Sledge's website:
"What is the value in studying Esotericism?

Philosophy and religion all have esoteric currents that have proved to be influential in world history.  Further, the study of esotericism, occult and mysticism is, for me, often awe-inspiring and such experiences of daily awe have been shown to be psychologically beneficial."

Well said !

Wow, thanks!! Explicitly to Jonathan! ;) The silent hero

Thanks!

Thx jonathan . Gonna watch all of your video . Professional . Interesting . Fun . Well explained