Special Episode – Modern Alchemy – ARCANUM AND THOTH HERMES

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 5 with us here at Thoth-Hermes Podcast.  Today, Rudolf and Karin re-engage with friend Dean Radin.  An electrical engineer holding a PhD in experimental psychology, Dean has been involved at the forefront of psychical research in the United States.  Dean’s career has spanned Bell Labs, SRI International, and several major universities.  He has served as Chief Scientist at the Institute for Noetic Sciences and authored several critically acclaimed titles on consciousness, Quantum, and… dare we name it… Magic.  Dean dryly names that “all the really juicy stuff in science starts as the  unobservable”, which is where the FUN of research resides: the rational understanding of the wonderous.  Karin, Rudolf and Dean venture into questions of non-local consciousness, and the possibility of “the brain operating as a quantum object”.  Do certain aspects of our perceptual ability distribute through space and time? After succinctly outlining Edgar Mitchell’s famed metaphysical rebirth, Dean broadens the possibility of the “Overview Effect”.  He suggests that this is also found within personal anomalous experiences, psychedelic encounters, and other related transformative Wonder moments.  Dean notes that questions of “consciousness” has saturated all major fields of human endeavor at this time, forming a “second” psychedelic and consciousness revolution.  Mainline science’s reliance on the Reductive Materialism worldview is eclipsed by the new challenges of consciousness research.  Throughout this conversation, Artificial Intelligence- pro or con, but present- is a repeated waypoint for reflection: can it demonstrate the Observer Effect?  In what ways can our very human pioneers harness its capacities to bring us back to knowledge of our own extraordinary capacities? The flow of dialogue turns towards creativity as both necessity and antinomian, including in natural science.  The authentic occult and paranormal are named as necessarily non-performative to conventional knowledge and endeavors: the deeper truths are far from social media and popular publishing.  Dean suggests that the further knowledge of psychical processes develops, the more likely there may be a return to a true “occult” form of research and knowledge in response to its implications for upending current systems of large scale human control (government, religion, the marketplace). During the course of this conversation, Dean references the annual Linda G. O’Bryant noetic sciences research prize, and we are pleased to include that link: https://noetic.org/prize/ Dean’s first conversation on Thoth-Hermes occurred in the summer of 2020, Season 5 Episode 2, and is available here: https://thothermes.com/episodes/season-5-episode-2-science-meets-magic-dean-radin/      

Dear Listeners, welcome to Season 1 Episode 4 of Panosophers’ Podcast.  May we express our gratitude for your ongoing support and attention to this venture.    This week, we have the company of Mark Stavish.  Mark is the founder and director of The Institute for Hermetic Studies (IHS).  Mark holds degrees in Theology, Communications and Counseling.  He is a prolific author of depth titles on Mystery subjects, centered on Western Kabbalistic knowledge.  Mark is a longtime friend of our sibling podcast, Thoth-Hermes, and a trove of additional prior conversations may be found there.  The overarching theme of the next two hours centers on: “what can you handle?”  It is plainspoken and direct, while brotherly and benevolent.   We encourage you to listen with ears open to hear.  Mark and Rudolf dive in with the starting context for the IHS: 1990s, East-Coast America.  A time of in-person groups, Gnosis Magazine, and the grit of self-publishing material perhaps too deep for the balance sheets of popular booksellers.  Mark shares stark realities of rejection and adaptation for the sake of creating inheritance to future Seekers- rather than status or income streams.   With his characteristic energy, Mark challenges listeners throughout the dialogue.  He names the essential need for Initiates to handle stark reality, including worldviews not their own, beyond personal identity and ideology.  In doing so, he identifies the need to produce a life-giving vision of the future, least populations be drawn into that which appears to be but is not.  As Mark states, this has little to do with who one wants to see elected US President in “the next election”.  It is this call to Depth that sees Mark and Rudolf explore essential questions: What is ‘tradition’ and why is it a responsibility? What is ‘initiation’ and the mindset of a true Initiate? How does ‘virtue’ relate to potency? Mark issues the Saturnian challenge to grow past “Tik-Tok clutter” and “podcasting, publishing, and product” marketplace of Occultism.  He names the Aquarian postwar Esoteric awakening as a response to mass trauma, “most vibrant when truly counter-cultural” and small-group relational.  Along the way, even the esoteric Christ is alluded to warmly.  Turning to ethics around public divination of societal energies, Rudolf and Mark note the need for maturity in any Initiate claiming to do this.  The qualifications include a true education in all of politics, history and economics- imbuing a nuance which returns to Tradition.   May this bring a cornucopia of fruit for all of us.  Music played in this episode Find out everything about our musical guest today, KARL YOUNG, and about the Shakuhachi, the Japanese bamboo flute, on his own website. Click here All tracks are from his CD "Lost in the Wood" 1) FOREST FLOWER (Track starts at 5:52) 2) YAMAGOE (Track starts at 53:34) 3) MURASAKI MURAIKI (Track starts at 1:39:12) Intro and Outro Musicespecially written and recorded for the Pansophers Podcast by Chris Roberts

You can also see this episode as a video on YouTube at https://youtu.be/BoFy2Q_o6GIWelcome to Season 11 Episode 4 of Thoth-Hermes Podcast…. Though with our guest in this dialogue, who can be quite sure of linear time? Rudolf and Karin are in conversation with author Dr. Eric Wargo. Academically an anthropologist, Eric has extended his spirit of scientific enquiry through Hermeticism, Alchemy, and into the contemporary “paranormal” discourse at large. Most specifically, he has taken on depth exploration of time: time loops, retrocausation, and precognition. This branch of study began for Eric in 2009, after having a UFO/UAP Experience. This anomalous experience created his initiation into the branch of modern scientists fully versed in scientific method yet fully aware of the mountain of Spooky anecdotal evidence of More. Law of Large Numbers? Yes, acknowledged: and gently set aside. Materialist explanation? A precise language with descriptive validity and profound explanatory limitations. Experience and initiation- their distinction, and coexistence- are honored throughout this conversation. Eric encountered break-out success with his 2018t book “Time Loops” (which Karin is on record as “passing out almost like Gospel” and scribe Emily keeps in her inner temple box of books). He has also written on Precognitive Dreaming (2021). In his current release, “From Nowhere”, he applies these insights to creativity. Eric notes the role of skilled stress states, flow states, altered states, and creative states in the enhanced experience of precognition. He also invites a cultural shift towards the upfront naming of retrocausation; moving past Cartesian duality; and transcending the labyrinth closures found with all of free will, predestination, and Many Worlds theory. In the expanse of unknown, this interview spans a variety of lenses on time and anomaly. We hear a definition of “retrocausation” that includes both the science of the subatomic level and the co-existing validity of intuitive experience. The occult Higher Self as perhaps the Long Self which Eric articulates in relation to precognitive dreaming. The notion of “flipping Freud” and symbolic precognitive insight as the method the Long Self can use to address our agency. The challenges of True Will, Free Will, and dynamic interaction with choice. Eric suggests that our “intentions” may frequently be misrecognized precognitions. If this sounds like one wild moebius strip of a conversation: it is! And highly enjoyable. After you listen, carry receptivity for unfolding Wonder in your life events.

Greetings and welcome to Episode 3 of Panosopher’s Podcast. In this conversation, Rudolf meets with Australian Freemason Travis Trinca. This autumn, Travis released “The Temple and the Vault” (Lewis Masonic Publishing); a dedicated cross-tradition study of landscape and ritual in the search for Truth. Gentle yet candid, our author shares his personal initiatory journey- starting out in an a-religious family home, an extended journey with Rosicrucianism, and then entering into Freemasonry after the birth of his son. In non-Temple life, Travis holds an MBA and the accomplishments of adulthood. Within the Temple, he celebrates an ever-unfolding journey to spiritual maturity. Travis and Rudolf explore the landscape of mythic truth, Romanticism, and the interface of historic legend in our current time. They look at the implications of 20th Century “research” focused regard of historical figures, versus a past tolerance for thematic embellishment. Do mythic landscapes and ritual translate effectively over centuries? To what extent is it the responsibility of an Order to adapt and re-present the themes of the original analogies? To what extend is this the responsibility of the individual truth-seeking Initiate? What are our capacities? In their collective cornucopia of knowledge, Travis and Rudolf enthusiastically speak not only about Freemasonry, but also the Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis (AMORC); The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn; and the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia (SRIA). Unity is found in diversity, and the interface between text, tradition, and Truth-seeking. May this conversation prompt Meaning in all listeners.

For those devoted to the Rosicrucian tradition, Christopher McIntosh needs no introduction. In this conversation, Rudolf brings us closer to the man behind the foundational works that have shaped our understanding of Rosicrucianism. His books—The Rosicrucians, The Rose Cross and the Age of Reason, and his recent Rosicrucian Trilogy containing new translations of the original three Manifestos—stand as indispensable guides through the movement’s rich history and symbolic mysteries. McIntosh, a widely respected speaker on Rosicrucianism’s historical context, now opens a more personal window into the motivations and philosophies that drive his work, demonstrating how his passion for these mysteries can continue to inspire seekers today. In perfect timing with Pansopher’s recent relaunch, McIntosh unveils a deeply personal narrative that intertwines with the cultural and spiritual backdrop of Germany—expanding his focus to explore the often-overlooked roots of the German occult tradition. In his latest book, Occult Germany, he draws on three decades of personal experience living in Germany to reveal the subtle influences and hidden currents that have helped shaped modern occultism. In this conversation, McIntosh offers his perspective on how these forces have worked behind the scenes, nurturing the esoteric landscape in ways that are both illuminating and unexpected. Exploring Germany’s rich contributions to alchemy, theosophy, and Rosicrucianism, McIntosh brings us even deeper, turning to the often-overlooked realms of German folk and pagan traditions. This area, rarely discussed in esoteric circles—especially given the cultural aftermath of WWII—emerges here as a key influence on modern occultism. McIntosh unpacks the enduring legacy of German Romanticism, Wagner’s mythic visions, the Grail legends, and figures like Gustav Meyrink, all of whom contribute to the rich and largely untold story of Germany’s spiritual heritage.

You can also see this episode as a video on YouTube at https://youtu.be/aQDFyRibqkI “Science can explain everything except us”: a joke or a koan? This is the humor of our guest today. Welcome to Season 11, Episode 2 of Thoth-Hermes podcast.  Today, Rudolf and Karin interview author Jeffery Kripal.  In July, Kripal’s latest book “How to Think Impossibly: About Souls, UFOs, Time, Belief, and Everything Else” was released through University of Chicago Press.  In this conversation, Professor Kripal and our two hosts wrestle with the foundations of lexicon and concepts underlying contemporary dialogue around Flip-worthy alternative spiritual experiences, and the interaction with religion as an academic subject.  This is an excellent conversation to reflect on how we each personally describe our Magic, and why- regardless of alignment for or against the definitions ventured.  Jeffrey Kripal entered formal study of religion in the 1980s, after a Catholic upbringing; he centered on exploring comparative mystical literature.  Kripal ultimately gained a home as a historian of comparative religions, spending time at Esalen Institute in California while teaching at Rice University in Texas. Noticing the “flatland” quality of religious scholarship, Kripal moved towards authorship around transcendent and alternative expressions of human spirituality.   Soaked in the humanities, Kripal articulates a longstanding interest in cultivating engagement between the study of anomalous or transcendent experience and pure sciences, in this STEM-centered culture.  Kripal celebrates that “the human being overflows itself” as “embodied consciousness” and is completely clear: “I am pro-science”.  He asserts this while fearlessly naming the Shadow of science: global warming, nuclear armament, and other successful, perilous products of science.  And put him down as an “AI skeptic”.  Supernatural… superhuman… transhuman… posthuman… paranormal… occult… magic.  These are all English-language terms used in the attempt to describe the transcendent, mysterious, edgy aspects of our capacity as spiritual beings.  Along the way, Kripal challenges Science-centered academics to being to name their own anomalous experiences before the safety of retirement, and further for thinkers in general to move away from the habit of explaining away those events by returning to previously-disowned religious narratives. Do we speak of “angels” or “entities” when we encounter one?  And why?  Kripal is clear that he is at heart a “comparativist” and thereby intends to open people up to alternatives from default religious worldviews, while not necessarily advocating any given one as a “better” alternative.  This he includes as a larger part of his concepts of “thinking impossibly” and “thinking-with” other authentic seekers.  In exploring vocabulary, Kripal himself leans towards “superhumanism” terminology, offering the possibility that actual “humanist” worldview may be best found there.  He asserts that ideas come from superhuman encounter, where we contact a consciousness that exceeds (but gifts) our individual capacity.  Kripal explicitly acknowledges critical theory, specifically naming examples of his view of its validity, and then offers that religion’s suppression of authentic spiritual experience may be considered an additional vein.  In cocreation with Karin, our guest also challenge’s academic science’s constraint of repeatability: “you don’t go to the North Pole to look at zebras”.  Indeed.  Please enjoy this episode and familiarize yourself with Professor Kripal’s wide writings.

Welcome to Episode 1 of The Pansophers’ Podcast! Today, Rudolf talks with esteemed UK author and academic, Tobias Churton. In a wide-ranging conversation, the men discuss the Search for Self as well as Wisdom in the context of history. Particular focus is brought to aspects of Freemasonic and Rosicrucian history. Tobias defines his experience of “Pansophia”- the mind of God, Wisdom, and the interrelatedness of knowledge. This conversation unfolds through the knowledge that “this life is only a beginning”, the distractions of political ideology and institutional religion; and the Rosicrucian paradox of being not of this World yet engaged and seed-bearing within it. We explore a move towards freedom of “Science” as a democratic access to “Knowledge,” and “Art” as “Magic”. Tobias outlines a vision that sees dialogues and colloquium find energy over our monologue-culture, and a move from over-specialization of knowledge into a more dynamic, holistic approach to study. In passing, he notes the “cosmic” view most experts attribute to their knowledge, yet without the benefit of cross-disciplinary application.

Greetings and welcome to the Pansophers Podcast! We are excited to announce the launch of our new podcast, expanding on the content found on the popular pansophers.com website and blog. Our goal is to explore the Universal in the Underlying and apply it to modern Mystery traditions. From now on, on this website you will not only find an extended blog, but also many other options: teaching, possibility of publishing and many more, and of course, this podcast. All areas Rosicrucian, Hermetic, Neoplatonic ... and above all magical are open to investigation. Sam Robinson as the initial creator of pansophers.com, Ian Gladwin, Ike Baker and podcast host Rudolf Berger will be the main leaders of that new venture, all four well versed in the matter and not unknown to anyone interested in the field of the Western Tradition. In this episode, we introduce ourselves and our new venture and invite you to join us for Episode 1 on October 13th! Special thanks to Chris Roberts for our Intro and Outro Music, and to Joshua Kirch for the music titles played during the show.

You can also see this episode as a video on YouTube at https://youtu.be/y8xE8bT-Oog Access Karin Valis' Blog https://mercurialminutes.github.io/ And this is her Substack https://mercurialminutes.substack.com/ Glitched Encounters with the visual examples https://mercurialminutes.substack.com/p/glitched-encounters Tarot of The Latent Spaces https://mercurialminutes.substack.com/p/tarot-of-the-latent-spaces-by-hermetechnics Divine Embeddings: The Large Language Models and Sacred Alphabets Talk from the Occulture https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1inYnG8gNVo And finally, the very exciting Palinode Productions - Deep Learning Philosophy! https://www.palinode.productions/ Welcome to Season 11 of the Thoth-Hermes Podcast.  On this first episode, Rudolf meets with guest Karin Valis to expand the growing conversation around Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Occultism.  Karin is Slovakian, a Machine Learning Engineer and former teenage atheist “GO” game fanatic turned occultist  This is to say that Karin is both a brilliant analytical mind and committed spiritual explorer.  Karin is a blogger, conference speaker, musician,  magazine editor and AI-integrated tarot deck creator.  Most recently, she has been engaged in creating a philosophical learning platform designed to counterbalance the funnelling manipulation effect of Social Media on societal viewpoint dialogue.  A core question in the conversation today centers on how AI development can offer us insight into our very human development of occultism.  Distinguishing the windows of learning available to us, Karin describes the mapping of semantic space in the meaning-making processes of AI model development.  Karin highlights the parallels between Sacred Alphabet and Sacred Language concepts.  Karin comments on theories of AI as a “super positioned simulacrum” of language model AI functioning as a multiverse generator.   Karin and Rudolf, as both musicians and polyglots, describe the variance of spoken and written human language, embodied and disembodied: and the challenges that this presents to AI as a human tool.   Far from idealizing AI technology, several times Karin acknowledges the problems of AI: human workforce impact, and the “soulless” nature of AI prose.  Her emphasis is AI as a tool to greater human creativity, as opposed to a replacement.  Resourcing the knowledge of AI development as an opportunity- not replacement- for occult epistemology is an on-going theme in the episode.  Along the way, we hear about Karin’s experiences creating a recent tarot deck, a shocking synchronicity encountered during AI-enhanced editing of a shamanic ritual recording, and her recent exploration of AI in the context of Vanessa Sinclair and Carl Abrahamsson’s Cut-Up classes.   Karin shares regarding her magazine, Gnostic Technology and her involvement with the European Foundation for Shamanic Studies. We hear about her expriences with technological, academic and occult conference audiences.  Karin shares her intent to “soften the gaze” of the “tech bros” -which in response to Rudolf’s question- she describes as “complicated” in reception.

You can also see this episode as a video on YouTube at https://youtu.be/7WuPr5X_1EI Enjoy a great talk Ike Baker from the wonderful ARCANVM podcast and I had with Phoenix Aurelius and Daniel Wiseman.