This presentation explores the profound transformation from ancient mythological consciousness to magical consciousness through the lens of the Egyptian and Greek papyri, tracing a pivotal shift in human awareness around the time of Jesus. Drawing on sources like the Egyptian Book of the Dead, the Greek Magical Papyri, and the writings of Josephus. Roger examines how early myth—rooted in nature and the afterlife—evolved into magic as a conscious human attempt to confront the demonic in the present world. Through comparative readings of Gospel exorcisms and interpretations influenced by scholars such as Gershom Scholem, the lecture argues that this shift represents an alchemical turning point in collective consciousness, culminating in the emergence of Christianity and later Gnostic insight. Ultimately, it sets the stage for understanding Plotinus as the thinker who transcends this divide, pointing toward a deeper resolution beyond both myth and magic.
Episode transcript – https://sharedpresencefoundation.org/transcripts/527
More about this series: https://sharedpresencefoundation.org/presentations/hermetic-tradition-osiris-to-franklin
More presentations by Roger Weir: https://sharedpresencefoundation.org/presentations/
More about Roger Weir: https://sharedpresencefoundation.org/resonance/person-roger-weir
More about the Shared Presence Foundation: https://sharedpresencefoundation.org/
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