Stoic Physics and Esoteric Metaphysics
Stoic physical theory is a fascinating subject in its own right, but in this episode we try to do the right thing and concentrate on the key concepts of the Stoa’s thoughts about how the world works which have strong resonances in western esotericism.
Primary Sources
Life of Apollonius of Tyana, vol. 1
Philostratus writes to vindicate Apollonius, presenting him as a divine sage rather than a common sorcerer. He follows a man who rejects the comforts of luxury for a life of wandering, silence, and intellectual rigor. The text tracks his encounters with kings and his refusal to be silenced by the au
Life of Apollonius of Tyana, vol. 2
This volume moves beyond simple biography to capture the life of a man who claimed wisdom was a weapon against both charlatanism and political violence. Philostratus records the debates of an ancient world where Egyptian, Indian, and Greek thinkers vied for the definition of truth. Apollonius emerge