ANGELA'S SYMPOSIUM 📖 Academic Study on Witchcraft, Paganism, esotericism, magick and the Occult

• Why So Many LGBTQ+ People Are Drawn to Paganism

  Why does Paganism attract so many LGBTQ+ people—and how are queer practitioners reshaping Pagan traditions from within? In this in-depth episode, Dr Angela Puca draws on extensive academic research and ethnographic evidence to explore the powerful intersection of queerness and contemporary Paganism. We’ll examine why decentralised structures, ritual flexibility, and the sacralisation of the body make Paganism particularly resonant for queer seekers. From feminist Wicca to trans-inclusive magical circles, and from the mythic play of the Minoan Brotherhood to the controversies surrounding Dianic Witchcraft, this episode uncovers the theological innovations and spiritual practices that queer Pagans are creating. Drawing on scholarship by Sarah Pike, Melissa Wilcox, Robert Wallis, Martin Lepage, Kathryn Rountree, and many others, this lecture explores topics such as gender alchemy, ritual storytelling, queer reinterpretations of myth, and the embodied politics of magical practice. It also problematises the gender polarity model in traditional Wicca and explores how LGBTQ+ practitioners are queering divinity itself. Join us for a critical and compassionate conversation about how Paganism becomes not only a refuge for LGBTQ+ individuals but also a space of radical religious creativity.CONNECT & SUPPORT💖MY COURSES 👩🏻‍🎓 https://drangelapuca.com/coursesWEBSITE & NEWSLETTER 💌 https://www.drangelapuca.com/#newsletterBOOK A TUTORING OR A LECTURE 📖https://drangelapuca.com/servicesBECOME MY PATRON! 🎩 https://www.patreon.com/angelapucaSUPPORT ME ON KO-FI ☕️https://ko-fi.com/drangelapucaONE-OFF DONATIONS 💰 https://paypal.me/angelasymposiumJOIN MEMBERSHIPS 👥 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPSbip_LX2AxbGeAQfLp-Ig/joinMY PODCAST 🎙 https://open.spotify.com/show/2TKoWTGe6OKRokHN2zUIxM?si=dd9f50a734b14f86MY MERCH 👕 https://drangelapuca.creator-spring.com/FOLLOW ME👣- YouTube (@drangelapuca)🌟- Instagram (@drangelapuca) 📸- TikTok (@drangelapuca) 🎵- Twitter (@angelapuca11) 🐦- Facebook (Dr Angela Puca) 👥REFERENCES 📚Berger, H. A., Leach, E. A., & Shaffer, L. S. (2003). Voices from the Pagan Census: A National Survey of Witches and Neo-Pagans in the United States. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press.Clifton, C. S. (2006). Her Hidden Children: The Rise of Wicca and Paganism in America. Lanham, MD: AltaMira Press.Coyle, T. T. (2012). Snapshots: Musings on polarity and flow. In S. Thompson, G. Pond, P. Tanner, et al. (Eds.), Gender and Transgender in Modern Paganism (pp. 91–92). Circle of Cerridwen Press.Eller, C. (1993). Living in the Lap of the Goddess: The Feminist Spirituality Movement in America. Boston, MA: Beacon Press.Helix. (2012). Polarity without gender. In S. Thompson, G. Pond, P. Tanner, et al. (Eds.), Gender and Transgender in Modern Paganism (pp. 35–40). Circle of Cerridwen Press.Kaldera, R. (2012). The third voice. In S. Thompson, G. Pond, P. Tanner, et al. (Eds.), Gender and Transgender in Modern Paganism (pp. 75–86). Circle of Cerridwen Press.Lepage, M. (2013). A Lokian family: Queer and Pagan agency in Montreal. The Pomegranate: The International Journal of Pagan Studies, 15(1–2), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1558/pome.v15i1–2.1Mueller, M. (2017). The chalice and the rainbow: Conflicts between women’s spirituality and transgender rights in US Wicca in the 2010s. In I. B. (Eds.), Female Leaders in New Religious Movements (pp. 249–268). London: Palgrave Macmillan.(check the last slide on screen for the complete bibliography)⚠️ Copyright of Dr Angela Puca, in all of its parts ⚠️Music by Erose MusicBand. Check them out!

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• Who Performs the Magic？ The Self in Esoteric Practice

  In this episode, we delve into one of the most profound and contested questions in both philosophy and esotericism: What is the self in magical practice?Drawing on thinkers such as René Descartes, David Hume, and Carl Jung, we examine how the self has been variously conceived as a rational substance, a bundle of perceptions, or an archetypal totality. We then explore how these models intersect with key esoteric frameworks, from Aleister Crowley’s doctrine of the True Will and the invocation of the Holy Guardian Angel, to the layered soul of Hermetic Qabalah, and the radically performative self of chaos magic.Is the magical self unified, fragmented, performative, or transcendent? And how do different traditions answer this question through their rituals, symbols, and spiritual technologies?Join me as we explore the shifting boundaries between self, soul, and sorcery.CONNECT & SUPPORT💖MY COURSES 👩🏻‍🎓 https://drangelapuca.com/coursesWEBSITE & NEWSLETTER 💌 https://www.drangelapuca.com/#newsletterBOOK A TUTORING OR A LECTURE 📖https://drangelapuca.com/servicesBECOME MY PATRON! 🎩 https://www.patreon.com/angelapucaSUPPORT ME ON KO-FI ☕️https://ko-fi.com/drangelapucaONE-OFF DONATIONS 💰 https://paypal.me/angelasymposiumJOIN MEMBERSHIPS 👥 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPSbip_LX2AxbGeAQfLp-Ig/joinMY PODCAST 🎙 https://open.spotify.com/show/2TKoWTGe6OKRokHN2zUIxM?si=dd9f50a734b14f86MY MERCH 👕 https://drangelapuca.creator-spring.com/FOLLOW ME👣- YouTube (@drangelapuca)🌟- Instagram (@drangelapuca) 📸- TikTok (@drangelapuca) 🎵- Twitter (@angelapuca11) 🐦- Facebook (Dr Angela Puca) 👥RECOMMENDED READINGS 📖https://amzn.to/3GUMI6bhttps://amzn.to/3YM6QgNhttps://amzn.to/43gS7Mrhttps://amzn.to/4dlR8iyhttps://amzn.to/3S2B4IEREFERENCES 📚Carroll, P. J. (1987). Liber Null & Psychonaut: An introduction to chaos magic. Samuel Weiser.Crowley, A. (1904/1997). The Book of the Law (Liber AL vel Legis). In H. B. Urban (Ed.), The Law is for All: The Authorized Popular Commentary of Liber AL vel Legis (pp. 3–41). New Falcon Publications.Crowley, A. (1929/1998). Magick in theory and practice. Castle Books.Crowley, A. (1998). The Vision and the Voice: With commentary and other papers. Weiser Books. (Original work published 1911)Crowley, A. (1999). Magick: Book four – Liber ABA. York Beach, ME: Weiser Books.Descartes, R. (1641/1996). Meditations on first philosophy (J. Cottingham, Trans.). Cambridge University Press.Hume, D. (1739/2000). A treatise of human nature (D. F. Norton & M. J. Norton, Eds.). Oxford University Press.Jung, C. G. (1953). Psychological aspects of the personality. In Two essays on analytical psychology (R. F. C. Hull, Trans.; Vol. 7 of The Collected Works of C. G. Jung, pp. 123–240). Princeton University Press.Jung, C. G. (1959). Aion: Researches into the phenomenology of the self (R. F. C. Hull, Trans.; Vol. 9, Part II of The Collected Works of C. G. Jung). Princeton University Press.Jung, C. G. (1963). Memories, dreams, reflections (A. Jaffé, Ed.; R. Winston & C. Winston, Trans.). Pantheon Books.Kraig, D. M. (2002). Modern magick: Eleven lessons in the high magickal arts (2nd ed.). Llewellyn Publications.00:00 Exploring the Role of the Self in Magical Traditions01:26 The Legacy of Descartes' Cogito and the Conception of Self02:54 David Hume's Challenge to the Concept of a Stable Self04:28 Jung's Model of the Self in Analytical Psychology06:03 The Multifaceted Nature of the Self in Western Philosophy06:54 Support Angela’s Symposium07:27 The Concept of True Will in Thelema10:02 The Soul in Hermetic Qabalah12:47 Magical Identity as Ritual Performance14:25 Esoteric Debates on the Nature of the Self15:27 The Self as Crucible of Magical Transformation16:14 Support Angela’s Symposium⚠️ Copyright of Dr Angela Puca, in all of its parts ⚠️Music by Erose MusicBand. Check them out!

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• Freemasons, Magic, and Mystery： Everything You Need to Know about Freemasonry

  What is Freemasonry?This episode presents an in-depth academic overview of Freemasonry, the world’s oldest initiatory society independent of religious institutions. Drawing on peer-reviewed scholarship and primary source analysis, it traces Freemasonry's historical evolution from its medieval operative roots to its speculative transformation in the eighteenth century and its global spread through colonial, imperial, and transnational networks.We explore the major Masonic traditions—Regular (Anglo-American), Liberal (Continental), mixed-gender, and female orders—highlighting their theological, political, and ritual distinctions. It examines the function and symbolism of Masonic initiation, the role of embodied ritual in shaping moral and esoteric knowledge, and the use of architectural space, tracing boards, and mythic narratives in the ritual construction of identity.CONNECT & SUPPORT💖MY COURSES 👩🏻‍🎓 https://drangelapuca.com/coursesWEBSITE & NEWSLETTER 💌 https://www.drangelapuca.com/#newsletterBOOK A TUTORING OR A LECTURE 📖https://drangelapuca.com/servicesBECOME MY PATRON! 🎩 https://www.patreon.com/angelapucaSUPPORT ME ON KO-FI ☕️https://ko-fi.com/drangelapucaONE-OFF DONATIONS 💰 https://paypal.me/angelasymposiumJOIN MEMBERSHIPS 👥 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPSbip_LX2AxbGeAQfLp-Ig/joinMY PODCAST 🎙 https://open.spotify.com/show/2TKoWTGe6OKRokHN2zUIxM?si=dd9f50a734b14f86MY MERCH 👕 https://drangelapuca.creator-spring.com/FOLLOW ME👣- YouTube (@drangelapuca)🌟- Instagram (@drangelapuca) 📸- TikTok (@drangelapuca) 🎵- Twitter (@angelapuca11) 🐦- Facebook (Dr Angela Puca) 👥RECOMMENDED READINGS 📖REFERENCES 📚Berman, R. (2013). Schism: The battle that forged Freemasonry. Lewis Masonic.Bogdan, H., & Snoek, J. A. M. (Eds.). (2014). Handbook of Freemasonry. Brill.Brown, L. A. (2013). Mystic ties of brotherhood: Freemasonry, ritual, and Hawaiian royalty in the nineteenth century. Journal of Social History, 47(1), 198–219.Dance traces surviving in the ritual of Freemasonry. (n.d.). Unpublished manuscript.de Hoyos, A. (n.d.). Is it true what they say about Freemasonry? The Masonic Information Center.Ferré Benimeli, J. A. (2014). Freemasonry and the Catholic Church. In H. Bogdan & J. A. M. Snoek (Eds.), Handbook of Freemasonry (pp. 139–154). Brill.Geographies of Freemasonry: Ritual, Lodge, and City in Spatial Context. (n.d.). Unpublished manuscript.Harland-Jacobs, J. (2014). Freemasonry and colonialism. In H. Bogdan & J. A. M. Snoek (Eds.), Handbook of Freemasonry (pp. 439–460). Brill.Jacob, M. C. (2014). Freemasonry and politics in Enlightenment Europe. In H. Bogdan & J. A. M. Snoek (Eds.), Handbook of Freemasonry (pp. 155–172). Brill.Mackey, A. G. (2010). The symbolism of Freemasonry: Illustrating and explaining its science and philosophy, its legends, myths and symbols. Andrews UK.Mollier, P. (2014). Freemasonry and Templarism. In H. Bogdan & J. A. M. Snoek (Eds.), Handbook of Freemasonry (pp. 82–99). Brill.Moore, W. D. (2006). Masonic temples: Freemasonry, ritual architecture, and masculine archetypes. University of Tennessee Press.Snoek, J. A. M. (2012). Initiating women in Freemasonry: The adoption rite. Brill.Stevenson, D. (2014). The origins of Freemasonry: Scotland. In H. Bogdan & J. A. M. Snoek (Eds.), Handbook of Freemasonry (pp. 50–62). Brill.Prescott, A. (2014). The Old Charges. In H. Bogdan & J. A. M. Snoek (Eds.), Handbook of Freemasonry (pp. 33–49). Brill.Porset, C. (2014). Masonic historiography. In H. Bogdan & J. A. M. Snoek (Eds.), Handbook of Freemasonry (pp. 117–138). Brill.⚠️ Copyright of Dr Angela Puca, in all of its parts ⚠️Music by Erose MusicBand. Check them out!

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• From Ficino to Crowley： Hermeticism Explained

  Let's explore the complex tradition of Hermeticism—an esoteric philosophy rooted in Hellenistic Egypt and attributed to the legendary Hermes Trismegistus. Exploring its metaphysical teachings, spiritual practices such as alchemy, astrology, and ritual magic, and its profound influence on Renaissance thinkers, Freemasonry, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and modern occultism, this video offers an accessible yet academically grounded journey through one of the most enduring currents in Western esoteric thought. Perfect for those curious about the deeper layers of magic, mysticism, and spiritual transformation.CONNECT & SUPPORT💖MY COURSES 👩🏻‍🎓 https://drangelapuca.com/coursesWEBSITE & NEWSLETTER 💌 https://www.drangelapuca.com/#newsletterBOOK A TUTORING OR A LECTURE 📖https://drangelapuca.com/servicesBECOME MY PATRON! 🎩 https://www.patreon.com/angelapucaSUPPORT ME ON KO-FI ☕️https://ko-fi.com/drangelapucaONE-OFF DONATIONS 💰 https://paypal.me/angelasymposiumJOIN MEMBERSHIPS 👥 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPSbip_LX2AxbGeAQfLp-Ig/joinMY PODCAST 🎙 https://open.spotify.com/show/2TKoWTGe6OKRokHN2zUIxM?si=dd9f50a734b14f86MY MERCH 👕 https://drangelapuca.creator-spring.com/FOLLOW ME👣- YouTube (@drangelapuca)🌟- Instagram (@drangelapuca) 📸- TikTok (@drangelapuca) 🎵- Twitter (@angelapuca11) 🐦- Facebook (Dr Angela Puca) 👥RECOMMENDED READINGS 📖https://amzn.to/3GLb95Ohttps://amzn.to/4k5H4fMhttps://amzn.to/4iTmD4zREFERENCES 📚(full bibliography on screen by the end)Copenhaver, B. P. (1992). Hermetica: The Greek Corpus Hermeticum and the Latin Asclepius in a New English Translation with Notes and Introduction. Cambridge University Press.Faivre, A. (1994). Access to Western Esotericism. SUNY Press.Fowden, G. (1993). The Egyptian Hermes: A Historical Approach to the Late Pagan Mind. Princeton University Press.Hanegraaff, Wouter J. (2021). Hermetic Spirituality and the Historical Imagination: Altered States of Knowledge in Late Antiquity. Cambridge University Press.Hanegraaff, W. J. (2013). Western Esotericism: A Guide for the Perplexed. Bloomsbury Academic.Moreschini, C. (2022). Hermetica and Gnosticism. In S. Page & C. Rider (Eds.), The Routledge History of Medieval Magic. Routledge.Principe, L. M. (2013). The Secrets of Alchemy. University of Chicago Press.Shaw, G. (1995). Theurgy and the Soul: The Neoplatonism of Iamblichus. Pennsylvania State University Press.Stroumsa, G. G. (2005). Hidden Wisdom: Esoteric Traditions and the Roots of Christian Mysticism (2nd ed.). Brill.van Bladel, K. (2009). The Arabic Hermes: From Pagan Sage to Prophet of Science. Oxford University Press.Yates, F. A. (1964). Giordano Bruno and the Hermetic Tradition. University of Chicago Press.MY SET-UP 🛠️- Canon 90D camera 📸 https://amzn.to/3yQclh0- Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 📷 https://amzn.to/3JjU1BS- Teleprompter 🗒️ https://amzn.to/3linWCB- Shure SM7B Microphone 🎙️ https://amzn.to/3Jm5IYK- Microphone stand 🎤 https://amzn.to/3FueJOn- Lights 💡 https://amzn.to/3Zdk8k1- DJI Wireless microphones 📡 https://amzn.to/3NWAVVQ⚠️ Copyright of Dr Angela Puca, in all of its parts ⚠️Music by Erose MusicBand. Check them out!

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• From Atlantis to Devachan： Where Your Soul Goes (According to Blavatsky)

  In this episode, we dive deep into the esoteric teachings of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, co-founder of the Theosophical Society and one of the most influential occult thinkers of the nineteenth century. Focusing on her mature doctrine of reincarnation as outlined in The Secret Doctrine (1888), we explore how Blavatsky moved away from earlier notions of metempsychosis to formulate a complex cosmology in which the soul—or monad—undergoes countless rebirths across vast spans of cosmic time.Drawing on Theosophical anthropology, planetary evolution, and the doctrine of karma, this episode unpacks Blavatsky’s concept of the saptaparna, the sevenfold human constitution, and the soul’s gradual progression through root races, planetary rounds, and astral realms. We examine how Blavatsky’s vision was both impersonal and democratic, placing individual suffering within a broader metaphysical narrative of spiritual evolution and cosmic justice.CONNECT & SUPPORT💖MY COURSES 👩🏻‍🎓 https://drangelapuca.com/coursesWEBSITE & NEWSLETTER 💌 https://www.drangelapuca.com/#newsletterBOOK A TUTORING OR A LECTURE 📖https://drangelapuca.com/servicesBECOME MY PATRON! 🎩 https://www.patreon.com/angelapucaSUPPORT ME ON KO-FI ☕️https://ko-fi.com/drangelapucaONE-OFF DONATIONS 💰 https://paypal.me/angelasymposiumJOIN MEMBERSHIPS 👥 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPSbip_LX2AxbGeAQfLp-Ig/joinMY PODCAST 🎙 https://open.spotify.com/show/2TKoWTGe6OKRokHN2zUIxM?si=dd9f50a734b14f86MY MERCH 👕 https://drangelapuca.creator-spring.com/FOLLOW ME👣- YouTube (@drangelapuca)🌟- Instagram (@drangelapuca) 📸- TikTok (@drangelapuca) 🎵- Twitter (@angelapuca11) 🐦- Facebook (Dr Angela Puca) RECOMMENDED READINGS 📖REFERENCES 📚Blavatsky, H. P. (1881). The Theosophist. Theosophical Publishing House. Blavatsky, H. P. (1886). The Theosophical Path. New Century Corporation. Blavatsky, H. P. (1888). The secret doctrine: The synthesis of science, religion, and philosophy. Theosophical Publishing House. Blavatsky, H. P. (1889). The key to Theosophy: Being a clear exposition, in the form of question and answer, of the ethics, science, and philosophy for the study of which the Theosophical Society has been founded. Theosophical Publishing Company. Chajes, J. (2017). Reincarnation in H. P. Blavatsky’s The Secret Doctrine. Correspondences: Journal for the Study of Esotericism, 5, 65–93.Ellwood, R. S. (1996). Obligatory pilgrimage: Reincarnation in the Theosophical tradition. In S. J. Kaplan (Ed.), Concepts of transmigration: Perspectives on reincarnation (pp. 189–202). Edwin Mellen Press.Hammer, O. (2001). Claiming Knowledge: Strategies of Epistemology from Theosophy to the New Age. Brill.Hanegraaff, W. J. (1996). New Age Religion and Western Culture: Esotericism in the Mirror of Secular Thought. Brill.Neufeldt, R. W. (1986). In search of utopia: Karma and rebirth in the Theosophical movement. In R. W. Neufeldt (Ed.), Karma and rebirth: Post classical developments (pp. 233–255). State University of New York Press.Zander, H. (1999). Geschichte der Seelenwanderung in Europa*. Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft. 00:00 Introduction: Helena Blavatsky's Evolving Views on Rebirth00:29 Metempsychosis and Reincarnation04:34 Support Angela’s Symposium05:58 Theosophical Reincarnation: A Reassessment12:58 The Macrocosmic Cycle of Spirit and Matter15:42 Unveiling the Cosmic: The Metaphysical Fountain of Creation19:22 Planetary Cycles and Human Evolution27:43 Reincarnation and Karma in Blavatsky’s Anthropology29:27 The Dual Nature of Human Consciousness34:00 Understanding the Theosophical Concept of Karma36:10 Reincarnation, Evolution, & the Human in the Cosmic Drama40:12 Karmic Reincarnation: The Dual Path to Cosmic Justice and Evolution41:13 Support Angela’s Symposium⚠️ Copyright of Dr Angela Puca, in all of its parts ⚠️Music by Erose MusicBand. Check them out!

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