polyphanes

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Reading the Hermetica: the Sacred Book of Hermēs Trismegistos to Asklēpios

For this week’s Reading the Hermetica discussion, we’re continuing our look at some technical Hermetic texts, focusing this time on the Sacred Book of Hermēs Trismegistos to Asklēpios. One of the reasons why I like turning to the PGM so often is because it’s such a rich resource of Greco-Egyptian spiritual tech.  It’s got everything: talismans, amulets, phylacteries, exorcisms, divination,…

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Reading the Hermetica: Initiatic Rituals in the Greek Magical Papyri

For this week’s Reading the Hermetica discussion, we’re continuing our look at technical Hermetic texts such as we might find in the Greek Magical Papyri (PGM) and focusing on several that tackle initiation rituals: I.1—42, I.42—195, IV.154—285, XIII (as a whole), and IV.475—829.  For this, you should get yourself a copy of Betz’ The Greek Magical Papyri in Translation.  As an alternative to…

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Reading the Hermetica: Various Entries in the Greek Magical Papyri

For this week’s Reading the Hermetica discussion, we’re shifting tracks a bit and taking a look at a healthy selection of miscellaneous and various texts from the Greek Magical Papyri (PGM): I.197—222, IV.1115—1166, IV.1167—1226, IV.1596—1715, XII.201—269, VII.756—794, VII.862—918, VII.317—318, and V.96—172.  For this, you should get yourself a copy of Betz’ The Greek Magical Papyri in…

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Reading the Hermetica: Various Other Hermetic Fragments and References (DH 11, VH, TH, FH)

For this week’s Reading the Hermetica discussion, we’re taking a look at a wide variety of miscellaneous and various texts not otherwise easily categorizable so far, including some of the even lesser-known abbreviations of texts (e.g. VH or TH), but with a focus on what we might call “Miscellaneous Hermetic Fragments” (FH).  As ever, if you don’t have a copy of Litwa’s Hermetica II or…

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Reading the Hermetica: Oxford Hermetic Fragments (OH 1—5)

For this week’s Reading the Hermetica discussion, we’re taking a look at the Oxford Hermetic Fragments (OH), a set of five short texts (OH 1—5).  As ever, if you don’t have a copy of Litwa’s Hermetica II (and I strongly urge you get it, as it’s currently the among the best English translations of the OH and other texts available today!), then here are some online resources to help as well: Mahé…

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Vathy's Commentary on DH 10

As mentioned in the “Reading the Hermetica” post introducing the Armenian Definitions of Hermēs Trismegistos to Asklēpios (DH), I referred to the excellent commentary by fvathynevgl (aka Vathy, website here).  They went through the DH texts in a series of old Twitter threads spanning from August 2021 through September 2022, and for the sake of archiving and sharing their public commentary from a…

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Reading the Hermetica: DH 10

For this week’s discussion, we’re continuing our reading and discussion of the classical Hermetic texts, wrapping up our trek through the Armenian Definitions of Hermes Trismegistus to Asclepius (DH), focusing on the tenth set of seven aphorisms (DH 10.1—7). Let’s wrap up our reading and discussion with DH 10, a set of seven aphorisms that I’ve summarized before as dealing with the natures and…

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Vathy's Commentary on DH 9

As mentioned in the “Reading the Hermetica” post introducing the Armenian Definitions of Hermēs Trismegistos to Asklēpios (DH), I referred to the excellent commentary by fvathynevgl (aka Vathy, website here).  They went through the DH texts in a series of old Twitter threads spanning from August 2021 through September 2022, and for the sake of archiving and sharing their public commentary from a…

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Reading the Hermetica: DH 9

For this week’s discussion, we’re continuing our reading and discussion of the classical Hermetic texts, continuing the Armenian Definitions of Hermes Trismegistus to Asclepius (DH), focusing on the ninth set of seven aphorisms (DH 9.1—7). Let’s continue our reading and discussion with DH 9, a set of seven aphorisms that I’ve summarized before as dealing with the place of humanity in the cosmos,…

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Vathy's Commentary on DH 8

As mentioned in the “Reading the Hermetica” post introducing the Armenian Definitions of Hermēs Trismegistos to Asklēpios (DH), I referred to the excellent commentary by fvathynevgl (aka Vathy, website here).  They went through the DH texts in a series of old Twitter threads spanning from August 2021 through September 2022, and for the sake of archiving and sharing their public commentary from a…

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Reading the Hermetica: DH 8

For this week’s discussion, we’re continuing our reading and discussion of the classical Hermetic texts, continuing the Armenian Definitions of Hermes Trismegistus to Asclepius (DH), focusing on the eighth set of seven aphorisms (DH 8.1—7). Let’s continue our reading and discussion with DH 8, a set of seven aphorisms that I’ve summarized before as dealing with the knowledge or ignorance of…

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Vathy's Commentary on DH 7

As mentioned in the “Reading the Hermetica” post introducing the Armenian Definitions of Hermēs Trismegistos to Asklēpios (DH), I referred to the excellent commentary by fvathynevgl (aka Vathy, website here).  They went through the DH texts in a series of old Twitter threads spanning from August 2021 through September 2022, and for the sake of archiving and sharing their public commentary from a…

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Reading the Hermetica: DH 7

For this week’s discussion, we’re continuing our reading and discussion of the classical Hermetic texts, continuing the Armenian Definitions of Hermes Trismegistus to Asclepius (DH), focusing on the seventh set of five aphorisms (DH 7.1—5). Let’s continue our reading and discussion with DH 7, a set of just three aphorisms that I’ve summarized before as dealing with the immortality of humanity…

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Vathy's Commentary on DH 6

As mentioned in the “Reading the Hermetica” post introducing the Armenian Definitions of Hermēs Trismegistos to Asklēpios (DH), I referred to the excellent commentary by fvathynevgl (aka Vathy, website here).  They went through the DH texts in a series of old Twitter threads spanning from August 2021 through September 2022, and for the sake of archiving and sharing their public commentary from a…

[polyphanes]

Reading the Hermetica: DH 6

For this week’s discussion, we’re continuing our reading and discussion of the classical Hermetic texts, continuing the Armenian Definitions of Hermes Trismegistus to Asclepius (DH), focusing on the sixth set of three aphorisms (DH 6.1—3). Let’s continue our reading and discussion with DH 6, a set of just three aphorisms that I’ve summarized before as dealing with the development towards…

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Vathy's Commentary on DH 5

As mentioned in the “Reading the Hermetica” post introducing the Armenian Definitions of Hermēs Trismegistos to Asklēpios (DH), I referred to the excellent commentary by fvathynevgl (aka Vathy, website here).  They went through the DH texts in a series of old Twitter threads spanning from August 2021 through September 2022, and for the sake of archiving and sharing their public commentary from a…

[polyphanes]

Reading the Hermetica: DH 5

For this week’s discussion, we’re continuing our reading and discussion of the classical Hermetic texts, continuing the Armenian Definitions of Hermes Trismegistus to Asclepius (DH), focusing on the fifth set of three aphorisms (DH 5.1—3). Let’s continue our reading and discussion with DH 5, a set of just three aphorisms that I’ve summarized before as dealing with nous and logos, and God and…