124 - Gregory Shaw: The Ancient Art of Theurgy, Hellenic Tantra
In this episode of The Sacred Speaks, I sit down with Dr. Gregory Shaw—renowned scholar of Neoplatonism and author of Hellenic Tantra and Theurgy and the Soul—to explore a forgotten path of spiritual transformation: theurgy.
Together, we investigate:
What theurgy actually is—not as abstract philosophy, but as a living practice. How modern culture’s loss of a mythic worldview creates both psychological pathology and spiritual hunger. Why Iamblichus taught that the divine does not live “elsewhere” but is present within matter itself. How ancient rites and rituals can restore a sense of sacred participation in our lives today. Gregory Shaw’s work bridges ancient philosophy and contemporary spirituality, showing how ritual, sacred embodiment, and symbolic consciousness can help us recover the animistic worldview our culture has lost. This conversation moves beyond ideas—it’s a call to remember.
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Learn more about Gregory Shaw:]
• Interview on The SHWEP Podcast
Connect with me:
(00:00) Introduction and Announcements
(01:59) Introducing Dr. Gregory Shaw
(03:08) Exploring Theurgy and Neo-Platonism
(09:58) Therapeutic Practices and Modern Culture
(12:52) The Role of Rituals and Different Types of Souls
(15:28) The Spell of Our Times
(18:43) The Hunger for Connection and the Role of Psychedelics
(25:45) The Search for Lineage and Tradition
(29:23) The Importance of Imagination and Story
(38:30) The Critique of Modern Spirituality
(43:00) Dualism and the Escape from Matter
(45:15) Exploring Emotional Habits and Divine Energy
(46:58) Honoring Material and Spiritual Gods
(48:23) Sexuality and Repression in Yogic Practices
(48:44) The Surfer Analogy and Dualism
(51:07) Chanting and Theoric Experiences
(55:55) The Intersection of Tantra and Theurgy
(01:13:29) The Role of Mythology and Pathology
(01:19:43) Dreams, Visions, and Active Imagination
(01:25:42) Concluding Thoughts on Connection and Reality
