"The foundation of Western rationalism? A series of mystical dreams."

Artist, philosopher, and occult scholar Dr. Justin Sledge joins Rupert Isaacson to illuminate a forgotten dimension of Western thought. With over 870,000 YouTube followers on his channel Esoterica, Dr. Sledge has built a global audience passionate about the academic study of magic, mysticism, and esotericism. In this fast-moving and rigorously researched conversation, Justin pulls back the curtain on the mystical roots of rationalism, the dream logic behind Descartes, and how occult traditions shaped the very sciences that claim to have left them behind.

Why should we care? Because the stories we’re told about history shape the world we live in now—and as it turns out, much of what we consider to be modern, empirical, or secular is deeply rooted in visions, divine languages, and hermetic transmissions.

🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why Descartes founded modern philosophy after a mystical dream ([00:14:58])
• How John Dee “downloaded” an angelic language and changed history ([00:11:15])
• What Judaism really says about the afterlife—and how it’s changed over time ([01:44:00])
• Why ancient aliens and Atlantis myths persist despite zero evidence ([01:02:29])
• The origins of Western esotericism and how they shaped Newton, Leibniz, and Spinoza ([00:13:00])
• Why witch trials targeted women, but occultist men survived with status ([00:50:00])
• How occult philosophies were hidden in plain sight in Enlightenment thinking ([01:10:00])
• What Gobekli Tepe, Egyptian afterlife myths, and Enochian grammar have in common ([01:22:00])
• The mystical tension between religious tradition and rational skepticism ([01:33:00])
• How Justin grew a massive global audience for deep esoteric study on YouTube ([02:00:10])

🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:

• "If you wake up in heaven, you should be angry. That’s hell." ([01:36:01])
• Justin describes reading 16th-century Latin texts as a teenager ([00:11:15])
• Rupert confronts academia’s discomfort with magic’s role in rationalism ([00:20:00])
• Justin explains why he believes religion creates meaning—not literal truths ([00:27:00])
• A conversation about Yahweh’s evolution from tribal god to sole deity ([00:40:00])
• Justin's take on Gobekli Tepe and why its burial is stranger than its building ([01:22:00])
• How Judaism splits the afterlife timeline: Sheol, Heaven, Reincarnation ([01:44:00])
• "The past isn’t dead. It’s not even past." – William Faulkner quoted ([02:14:00])

📚 Books, Films, Causes & Contact:

Dr. Justin Sledge: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEsotericaChannel
Website: https://www.justinsledge.com/
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/esotericachannel
Rare Bookstore: https://www.esotericaoccultbooks.com/
Study Guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1caKNlW7sogEF7lAeYNbOQF9pt5O5b70yAXa-icUJO3o/

Related Episodes: Craig Foster – My Octopus Teacher & Amphibious Soul: https://youtu.be/X1-tZ_XhvUo
Emelie Cajsdotter – Talking to Forest Spirits: https://youtu.be/YOUR-LINK-HERE
Warwick Schiller – Journey On Podcast: https://youtu.be/sTeXpmGc8Ls

🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows: Website: https://rupertisaacson.com

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