Gregory Shaw on the Phenomenology of Iamblichean Theurgy

The Enneads

The Enneads

The Enneads is a towering achievement of late antiquity that reshaped the trajectory of Western and Near-Eastern thought, influencing everything from Christian theology to Islamic mysticism. Plotinus presents a bold metaphysical hierarchy—the One, the Intellect, and the Soul—arguing that true happin

Plotinus . Plotinos . Scilicet Plotini Enneades VI et Maximi Tyrii Dissertationes XI

Plotinus strips away the distractions of the physical world to reveal the singular, transcendent source of all being. The text documents the final philosophical ascent of a man who viewed his own body as a temporary, secondary image. You will encounter arguments that collapse the boundaries between

Problemata (Problems)

In this extraordinary synthesis of Neoplatonic philosophy and ancient medical praxis, Iamblichus presents the human body as a microcosm governed by the same harmonic principles as the stars. Moving beyond simple biography, the text offers a 'regimen according to reason,' tackling everything from the

The Enneads

The Enneads is a monumental achievement in Western philosophy, serving as the bridge between classical Hellenic thought and the burgeoning spiritual traditions of Late Antiquity. Plotinus offers a unique perspective on reality, viewing the physical world as a mere 'image of an image' while positing

The Enneads of Plotinus

The 'Plotini Enneades' is the foundational pillar of Neoplatonism, presented here in a historic 1460 copy transcribed by the renowned scribe John Skutariotes. Plotinus offers a transformative perspective on reality, arguing that the material world is but a shadow of the 'Intelligible Realm' and that

Plotinus, Enneads I-VI; Porphyry, Vita Plotini

This collection, organized by Porphyry, serves as a direct guide for anyone seeking to understand the soul's origin and ultimate return to the One. Plotinus treats philosophy not as an academic exercise, but as a practical path toward enlightenment. He argues that the physical world is merely a shad

Neoplatonic Translations

In this foundational Neoplatonic collection, Marsilio Ficino provides a transformative vision of human potential, arguing that true connection is a sacred triad between two people and God. Through his translations of Speusippus, Alcinous, and Pythagoras, he builds a systematic hierarchy of existence

The Divine Pymander

The Divine Pymander is a foundational pillar of Hermeticism, offering a visionary exploration of how humanity can transcend the shackles of Fate through Gnosis. Translated by the legendary Marsilio Ficino for the Medici court, this text presents the 'Prisca Theologia'—a primordial wisdom that prefig

On the Mysteries

In this masterwork of Neoplatonic synthesis, Marsilio Ficino navigates the treacherous waters between Epicurean indulgence and Stoic austerity. He argues that the human soul is not merely a passenger in the body, but an indivisible spark capable of transforming physical sensation into intellectual '

On the Mysteries of the Egyptians

This work defends traditional religious practice against the skepticism of philosophers like Porphyry. Iamblichus asserts that the gods are not swayed by human emotions, but rather that rituals align the human soul with a pre-existing divine order. He defines the universe as a singular, living organ

On the Mysteries of the Egyptians, Chaldeans, and Assyrians

Edited and translated by the Renaissance visionary Marsilio Ficino, 'Mysteries of Egypt' brings together the most influential voices of late antiquity—Iamblichus, Porphyry, and Proclus—alongside the mystical revelations of Hermes Trismegistus. The text argues that divine knowledge is not a product o

The Complete Works of Plato Translated by Marsilio Ficino

This collection serves as a portal to the mind of Plato as seen through the eyes of one of the 15th century's most influential thinkers. Ficino treats philosophy not as a sterile academic exercise but as a medicine for the soul. He constructs an argument for the harmony between pagan wisdom and Chri

The Divine Pymander, Asclepius, and On the Mysteries

This monumental synthesis of Hermetic and Neoplatonic thought offers a radical roadmap for the soul’s ascent from the sensory 'multitude' to the intellectual 'One.' By weaving together the revelations of Hermes Trismegistus with the rigorous defenses of Iamblichus and the metaphysical depth of Procl

Pymander. Asclepius. On the Mysteries of the Egyptians. On Plato's Alcibiades, on the Soul and the Daemon. On Sacrifice.

This seminal volume brings together the core texts of the Hermetic and Neoplatonic traditions, asserting a unified lineage of 'ancient theology' (Prisca Theologia) that flows from Hermes Trismegistus to Plato. Readers will encounter bold claims about the human condition: that we are 'twofold' beings

On the Mysteries of the Egyptians - Pimander - Asclepius

This volume serves as a primary manual for understanding the mechanics of theurgy and the nature of the soul. It moves beyond simple philosophy to outline how ritual acts as a bridge between the mortal realm and the intelligible world. The authors argue that the soul is not a prisoner of the body bu

Corpus Hermeticum and Plotinus' Enneads (Cambridge, Trinity College, MS B.9.9)

This rare collection documents the struggle of the human soul to recognize its divine origin while trapped in the sensible world. It presents the Hermetic tradition as an intuitive, performative realization of truth, contrasted against the systematic, dialectical path of Plotinus. The text argues th

The Complete Works of Plato

This monumental edition of Plato’s *Opera Omnia* is more than a translation; it is a sacred bridge between Greek antiquity and Renaissance humanism, curated by Marsilio Ficino to harmonize philosophy with divine religion. Within these pages, readers will find the 'divine' Plato—a thinker who argues

On the Mysteries (De Mysteriis)

This volume presents the definitive Neoplatonic defense of ritual as a tool for spiritual transformation. It shifts the focus from mere intellectual debate to the practical application of sacred symbols. Iamblichus posits that man exists as a unique bridge between the material and the eternal. The t

Enneads (1580 Greek-Latin, Ficino trans.)

The Enneads

The Enneads represents the pinnacle of Neoplatonic thought, a monumental synthesis where logic meets mysticism. Through the lens of Marsilio Ficino’s Renaissance commentary, Plotinus’s work is presented as a 'philosophical bait' designed to lead the intellectual mind toward religious faith through p

The Enneads

The Complete Works of the Divine Plato

This 1590 edition of Plato’s 'Complete Works' serves as a spiritual and intellectual map of the human condition, viewed through the transformative Neoplatonic lens of Marsilio Ficino. Synthesizing classical dialectic with religious piety, the text argues that the ultimate end of man is to achieve a

On the Pythagorean Life (De Vita Pythagorica)

This work presents Pythagoras not merely as a mathematician, but as a semi-divine reformer who sought to align human life with the order of the cosmos. It details a rigorous path of purification through music, diet, and strict communal ethics. Readers will encounter a tradition that treats education

On the Pythagorean Life

This expansive 1815 collection serves as the definitive gateway to the Pythagorean tradition, weaving together the biographies of Iamblichus and Porphyry with profound scholarly commentary. Readers will encounter a Pythagoras who is part scientist and part shaman—a man who disciplined his soul throu

Life of Pythagoras (Iamblichus)

In this classic translation by Thomas Taylor, Iamblichus presents Pythagoras as a semi-divine figure whose 'Pythagoric Life' serves as a blueprint for human excellence. The text moves beyond simple biography to synthesize ancient mysteries from Egypt and Babylon with a rigorous ethical framework tha

On the Mysteries (Thomas Taylor trans.)

In this foundational work of Neoplatonic thought, Iamblichus (writing as the Egyptian priest Abammon) offers a powerful rebuttal to the idea that religion is merely a human invention or a series of emotional delusions. By framing divine knowledge as an innate, eternal part of the soul's essence that

Plotini Opera Omnia cum Ficini commentariis

Plotini Opera Omnia represents the pinnacle of Neoplatonic thought, blending the original 3rd-century mystical insights of Plotinus with the intellectual fire of the Renaissance philosopher Marsilio Ficino. This text serves as a rigorous bridge between the classical logic of Plato and the burgeoning

Sextus Empiricus: Outlines of Pyrrhonism

Sextus Empiricus provides the most complete surviving record of ancient Pyrrhonism. He argues that by suspending judgment, we escape the anxiety of chasing absolute truths that remain forever out of reach. His work forces readers to confront the relativity of their own perceptions and the fragility

The Enneads of Plotinus Vol. I

The Enneads of Plotinus, translated with poetic intensity by Stephen McKenna, stands as the foundation of Neoplatonism and a bridge between classical Greek logic and Western mysticism. Plotinus offers a bold metaphysical hierarchy—The One, the Intellectual-Principle, and the Soul—arguing that our tr

The Eighth Book of Moses

The Eighth Book of Moses is a masterpiece of Greco-Egyptian syncretism, blending Hebrew tradition with Hermetic ritual to present a unique vision of divine creation and human empowerment. At its heart lies a startling cosmogony: a deity whose laughter creates light, water, and the soul itself. The t