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The Earth, the Gods and the Soul: A History of Pagan Philosophy, from the Iron Age to the 21st Century — Witchcraft Wicca

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The Earth, the Gods and the Soul: A History of Pagan Philosophy, from the Iron Age to the 21st Century

Name: The Earth, the Gods and the Soul: A History of Pagan Philosophy, from the Iron Age to the 21st Century
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ISBN: 9781780993171

✍️ Myers, Brendan

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4.6

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Conventional intellectual histories frequently neglect the profound contributions of pagan thinkers, but this comprehensive volume finally gives them their due. Tracing a vibrant philosophical thread from the Iron Age to the present, Myers unveils a rich tapestry woven by figures as varied as emperors, hermits, mystics, and radicals. The book meticulously explores three foundational currents—Pantheism, Neoplatonism, and Humanism—linking them directly to the Earth, the Gods, and the Soul. It reveals how these traditions employed both critical reason and poetic vision to explore fundamental truths, featuring insights from leading contemporary pagan voices.

Myers, Brendan

📚 all books by this author (4) →

🌙

Witchcraft & Wicca

🏛 Moon Books 📅 2013 📖 326 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781780993171

Fun Fact

Brendan Myers delivers an essential work, meticulously filling a glaring void in intellectual history. This book excels in its breadth, connecting disparate traditions with compelling analysis. While it beautifully illuminates paganism's philosophical depth, those seeking a purely devotional text might find its rigorous academic approach challenging. It stands as a foundational text, redefining philosophy's origins and enduring pagan legacy.

📝 Description: The Earth, the Gods and the Soul: A History of Pagan Philosophy, from the Iron Age to the 21st Century

Philosophy was invented by pagans. Yet this fact is almost always ignored by those who write the history of ideas. This book tells the history of the pagan philosophers, and the various places where their ideas appeared, from ancient times to the 21st century. The Pagan philosophers are a surprisingly diverse group: from kings of great empires to exiled lonely wanderers, from devout religious teachers to con artists, drug addicts, and social radicals. Three traditions of thought emerge from their work: Pantheism, NeoPlatonism, and Humanism, corresponding to the immensities of the Earth, the Gods, and the Soul. From ancient schools like the Stoics and the Druids, to modern feminists and deep ecologists, the pagan philosophers examined these three immensities with systematic critical reason, and sometimes with poetry and mystical vision. This book tells their story for the first time in one volume, and invites you to examine the immensities with them. And as a special feature, the book includes summaries of the ideas of leading modern pagan intellectuals, in their own words: Emma Restall Orr, Michael York, John Michael Greer, Vivianne Crowley, and more ,

📑 What's inside

Acknowledgments, Dedication, and a Preparatory Note
Overture
1. Philosophy
2. Pagan Philosophy?
First Movement: Brainy Barbarians
3. The Wanderer
4. The Havamal, or, The Lay of the High One
5. The Druids
6. The Irish Wisdom-Texts
7. The Pelagian Heresy
Second Movement: Philosophy and the City
8. The Pre-Socratics
9. Pythagoras of Samos (-570 to -495 BCE)
10. Heraclitus of Ephesus (-535 to -475 BCE)
11. Plato (428 BCE to 328 BCE)
12. Diotima of Mantinea (4th century BCE)
13. Aristotle (384 BCE-322 BCE)
14. Three Branches of Pagan Philosophy after Aristotle
15. The Stoics
16. The Epicureans
17. The Neo-Platonists
18. Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BCE)
19. Plotinus (205-270 CE)
20. Hypatia of Alexandria (370-415 CE)
21. Philosophical Riddles in the Dark
22. John Scottus Eriugena (815-877)
23. AI Ghazali (1058-1111)
24. The Renaissance, Or, The Pagans Strike Back
Third Movement: Pantheism in the Age of Reason
25. Robert Boyle Versus the Pantheists
26. Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677)
27. John Toland (1670-1722)
28. Edward Williams, a.k.a. Iolo Morganwyg (1747-1826)
29. Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)
30. Thomas Taylor (1758-1835)
31. Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)
32. Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)
33. John Muir (1838-1914)
34. Walt Whitman (1819-1892)
35. Pantheism and Science, Again
36. Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)
37. Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)
Fourth Movement: Resurgence, Reinvention, Rebirth
38. Helena Blavatsky (1831-1891)
39. James George Frazer (1854-1941)
40. Robert Graves (1895-1985)
41. The Book of Shadows
42. The Ceremonial Magicians
43. Aleister Crowley (1875-1947)
44. George William 'A.E.' Russell (1867-1935)
45. The Birth of American Feminist Witchcraft (circa 1970)
46. The Rise of Eco-Spirituality
47. The Gaia Hypothesis
48. Arne Naess (1912-2009) and Deep Ecology
49. Stewart Farrar (1916-2000)
50. Isaac Bonewits (1949-2010)
Fifth Movement: Living Voices
51. Some Recent Trends in Pagan Ethics
52. Starhawk (Miriam Simos)
53. Emma Restall-Orr

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💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Myers delivers a significant corrective to the neglect of pagan thinkers in standard intellectual histories, weaving a rich tapestry from the Iron Age to the twenty-first century. By explicitly linking pantheism, neoplatonism, and humanism to the Earth, gods, and soul, the author provides a coherent framework for understanding pagan philosophy as a serious discipline. However, this is not a casual introduction or a practical ritual guide; it demands attention from readers willing to engage with dense historical and philosophical analysis. Those seeking quick tips on spellwork or superficial overviews of paganism will find little utility here. The book is best suited for scholars and committed practitioners ready to delve into the rigorous intersection of critical reason and poetic vision that defines this enduring tradition.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers deeply invested in the intellectual foundations of modern Wicca and eclectic paganism will find this text indispensable for understanding the philosophical bedrock beneath their spiritual practices. Myers provides a crucial corrective to historical narratives that ignore pagan contributions, offering a structured exploration of how emperors, hermits, and radicals utilized reason and poetic vision. Those seeking to connect contemporary consciousness with ancient wisdom will appreciate the clear delineation of pantheism, neoplatonism, and humanism as enduring currents. This book serves those who wish to ground their spiritual identity in a robust, documented heritage rather than fragmented myths, providing both validation and scholarly depth for practitioners eager to engage with the 'forgotten lineage' of pagan thought.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

For those seeking to fill gaps in conventional intellectual histories or curious about paganism's philosophical foundations, this book is essential. It offers a vital new perspective, inviting engagement with a vibrant, often radical tradition, revealing deep roots of thought beyond typical…

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Myers delivers a significant corrective to the neglect of pagan thinkers in standard intellectual histories, weaving a rich tapestry from the Iron Age to the twenty-first century. By explicitly linking pantheism, neoplatonism, and humanism to the Earth, gods, and soul, the author provides a coherent framework for understanding pagan philosophy as a serious discipline. However, this is not a casual introduction or a practical ritual guide; it demands attention from readers willing to engage with dense historical and philosophical analysis. Those seeking quick tips on spellwork or superficial overviews of paganism will find little utility here. The book is best suited for scholars and committed practitioners ready to delve into the rigorous intersection of critical reason and poetic vision that defines this enduring tradition.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Absolutely not. This volume celebrates the immense diversity within pagan thought, showcasing a wide spectrum of philosophies from ancient Stoics and Druids to modern feminists and deep ecologists, demonstrating its rich, multifaceted nature.

While it begins in the Iron Age, the book comprehensively spans to the 21st century. It includes dedicated sections with summaries from leading contemporary pagan intellectuals, offering a vital link to modern thought and practice.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Pantheism: The Earth's Divinity

This section delves into the understanding of the divine immanent in all of nature. It explores how pagan philosophers perceived the Earth itself as sacred, a living entity infused with divinity, and how this belief shaped their ethics, cosmology, and relationship with the natural world, fostering a deep ecological awareness.

Neoplatonism: Connecting with the Gods

Discover the intricate philosophical systems that sought to bridge the human realm with the divine. This theme examines how thinkers developed sophisticated metaphysical frameworks to understand the nature of the Gods, the cosmos, and the human soul's journey towards spiritual ascent and union with higher principles, offering pathways to transcendent experience.

Humanism: The Soul's Journey

Explore the pagan tradition's focus on human potential, self-discovery, and ethical living. This theme investigates how philosophers grappled with questions of personal meaning, moral conduct, and the cultivation of wisdom, often through introspection and practical philosophy, emphasizing the individual's capacity for growth and connection within the broader cosmos.

📜 Historical context

Mainstream academia often marginalizes philosophy's pagan origins. Myers's work boldly reclaims this intellectual heritage, positioning pagan thought not as isolated beliefs but as a continuous, evolving tradition spanning millennia. It offers a crucial counter-narrative to Eurocentric and Abrahamic-dominated histories, enriching our understanding of philosophy's true breadth.

📚 Glossary

Pantheism
Neoplatonism
Humanism

📔 Questions to reflect on

How might understanding philosophy's pagan roots change your perception of its modern forms and the broader intellectual tradition?
Which of the three core traditions explored (Earth, Gods, or Soul) resonates most deeply with your own worldview, and what does that reveal about your own philosophical inclinations?
Reflect on the idea of 'pagan philosophers' as a diverse group, including 'con artists, drug addicts, and social radicals.' How does this challenge or expand your understanding of who can be a philosopher?