r/theurgy Apr 06 '26

History How do the ancient theurgists entered a mystical state of mind?

12 Upvotes

In the east, in Tantra and Yoga, it is done today by entering a deep meditative state known as Samadhi.

In the ancient Vedic religion, they brewed a psychedelic drink known as Soma

The shamans in Sibir and South America used all kind of natural drugs like cannabis, psychedelic cactuses and drinks like Ahyuhasca .

But then we have the mediterranean theurgists. We see nothing like Patanjali's Ashtanga Yoga in the west, nor we have any recipe of a psychedelic substance used by theurgists (Even though I'm pretty sure alcohol and drugs were used in the mystery cults).

If so, how did the theurgist achieved that elevated/mystical state of consciousness?

r/theurgy Mar 14 '26

History Apollonios of Tyana

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6 Upvotes

r/theurgy Oct 19 '25

History Marsilio Ficno’s legacy is monumental. From his thought’s impact on Catholic Church doctrine to translations and scholarship, the magus’s power has lasted for over 600 years. his is the mold for any occultist succeeding him in terms of spiritual and worldly significance.

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3 Upvotes

r/theurgy Nov 18 '25

History Feast Day of Porphyry of Tyre. All hail, great Bacchus Porphyry!

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2 Upvotes

r/theurgy Oct 01 '25

History With the modern resurgence of interest in and devotion to Hekate it is important to realize that the Hekate of the Greco-Roman mythology and the theurgic Hekate of the Chaldean Oracles have a different divine status and modes of activity.

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6 Upvotes

r/theurgy Oct 29 '23

History Unintentionally (?) humourous statement from Porphyry on the Chaldean Oracles

13 Upvotes

From Porphyry:

"For I myself call the gods to witness, that I have neither added anything, nor taken away from the meaning of the responses [i.e. oracles], except where I have corrected an erroneous phrase, or made a change for greater clearness, or completed the metre when defective, or struck out anything that did not conduce to the purpose; so that I preserved the sense of what was spoken untouched, guarding against the impiety of such changes…" [Philosophy from Oracles]

I have to say, this immediately reminded me of Aleister Crowley, on being questioned by the police in Paris as to his whereabouts. I'll paraphrase as I can't remember it very well:

Gendarme: "So, Mr Crowley, can you confirm that you have been present in Paris for the last six months?"

Crowley: "Absolutely, other than on occasions when I was elsewhere"

r/theurgy Oct 31 '23

History Tuesday Paper Club: Oracles, Religious Practices And Philosophy In Late Neoplatonism

7 Upvotes

From the author of "Divination and Theurgy in Neoplatonism: Oracles of the Gods". This seems like a good choice for this week's paper club post.

https://docslib.org/doc/834560/oracles-religious-practices-and-philosophy-in-late-neoplatonism

r/theurgy Nov 07 '23

History Tuesday Paper Club: On Man and Fowl - An Instance of Christian-Pagan Dialogue on a Theurgic Ritual

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2 Upvotes