THEURGY: THEORY AND PRACTICE

P. D. Newman’s study delves into theurgy, connecting its magical practice to the time before Homer. It explores theurgy’s origins in the Chaldean Oracles, revealing how these ancient rituals divinized the soul and connected practitioners with deities. Newman analyzes the presence of theurgic themes in the Odyssey and the Iliad, linking shamanic soul flights to Homeric tales and exploring the writings of Neoplatonists like Porphyry and Proclus. Detailing the technical aspects of theurgy and its ritual practices, including telestik? and soul divinization techniques, the book illuminates the ancient roots and philosophical theories behind theurgical arts, spanning beyond the second century.