Lecture 14_Systems of Magic_The Chakras Yoga and Tantra

Page 1: Lecture Overview

• Course Title: Anth 206: Anthropology of the Supernatural: Witches, Zombies and Vampires

• Lecture 13: Focuses on Systems of Magic, including the Kabbalah, Tarot, and Masonry.

Page 2: Midterm Examination Overview

• Question Structure:

  • Question 1: Choose between Option A or B (20 points)

  • Question 2: Choose between Option C or D (20 points)

• Study Guidance:

  • Keywords indicate general topics for questions

  • Students should familiarize themselves with at least three out of four specified areas.

Page 3: Key Study Areas

• Topics to Study:

  • Witchcraft, Neo-Paganism, Wicca, diabolical witchcraft

  • Western Magical Revival

    • The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and its influences

    • Influences including Hermeticism, Neo-Platonism, etc.

  • Western Esotericism and Renaissance humanist philosophers

  • Rationality and participatory consciousness relating to the supernatural

    • Related to the cultural source hypothesis and experiential source hypothesis

  • Concepts of Disenchantment, Enchantment, and Re-enchantment

    • Influences of the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment

Page 4: Exam Preparation Tips

• General Direction: Questions may vary; focus on learning broadly about course material.

• Answering Questions:

  • Respond directly to the questions, integrate related concepts.

  • Use examples from the course and individual knowledge.

  • Feel free to critique or reframe the question as long as it's supported by evidence.

• Writing Strategy:

  • Be succinct, direct, and clear within time constraints (35-40 minutes).

  • If sentences feel vague, they probably are; aim for clarity and relevance.

Page 5: Meditative Journey

• Activity: Brief meditative journey focusing on the Tree of Life up to Netzach, sourced from Pagan author Kala Trobe.

Page 6: Influence of Yoga on Western Esotericism

• Forms of Yoga:

  • Hatha Yoga:

    • Focus on physical postures (asanas) and breathing techniques (pranayama)

  • Raja Yoga:

    • Also known as Royal Yoga, emphasizes mental/spiritual aspects, inner peace through meditation.

Page 7: Yoga Traditions

• Raja Yoga as Foundational: Includes philosophical/literary traditions of Yogic thought.

• Related Currents:

  • Bhakti Yoga: Devotion to the divine through practices like singing.

  • Karma Yoga: Selfless service and action.

  • Jnana Yoga: Pursuit of knowledge and wisdom through study and reflection.

• Bhagavad Gita Influence: Introduces these concepts in Hindu thought.

Page 8: Understanding the Bhagavad Gita

• Overview:

  • A key Hindu script encompassing influential Yogic ideas.

  • Part of the larger Mahabharata epic.

  • Texts originated from multiple authors over centuries (3rd Century BCE to 3rd Century CE).

Page 9: Yoga's Introduction to the West

• Historical Roots: Philosophical, religious, and magical practices of Yoga introduced to the West multiple times.

• Key Figures:

  • Swami Vivekananda: Founded Vedanta Societies in the U.S.

  • B.K.S. Iyengar: Influential in shaping modern Yoga.

Page 10: Western Learners of Yoga

• Notable Figures in the West:

  • Charles Henry Allan Bennett: Became Buddhist monk and associated with Aleister Crowley, who learned from him and others.

  • Aleister Crowley: Wrote about Yoga in "Book 4" and contributed to Western Esoteric thought integrated with Yoga.

Page 11: De Michelis on Modern Yoga

• Discussion Topics:

  • Spiritual vs. “natural” aspects of Yoga

  • Yoga and its relation to healing in New Age thought

  • Comparison of Yoga-influenced health concepts with biomedical approaches

  • Typology for classifying Modern Yoga types and their implications for religious/spiritual content.

Page 12: Typology of Modern Yoga

• Heuristic Device: A framework for understanding the diversity of Modern Yoga in the West (refer to de Michelis, page 188).

Page 13: Chakra System Overview

• The Seven Chakras and Their Meanings:

  • Crown Chakra (Sahasrara): Knowledge, consciousness, spirituality

  • Third Eye Chakra (Ajna): Intuition, meditation

  • Throat Chakra (Vishuddha): Communication, expression

  • Heart Chakra (Anahata): Love, compassion

  • Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura): Power, determination

  • Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana): Sensuality, pleasure

  • Root Chakra (Muladhara): Stability, safety

Page 14: Chakra and Kabbalah System Integration

• Chakra and Tree of Life Alignment:

  • Aligning chakras with the seven gates on the Kabbalah Tree of Life.

  • Illustrates connections between the two systems.

Page 15: Influential Thinkers on Chakra and Kabbalah

• Key Contributors:

  • P.D. Ouspensky: Connections in "The Symbolism of the Tarot" (1913)

  • Dion Fortune: Contributions in "The Mystical Qabalah" (1935)

  • Arthur Edward Waite: Influential figure in the exploration of connections between Chakras and Kabbalistic thought.