In this special Live session dedicated to my teacher and former grad advisor Elaine Pagels, I shared the incredible lessons I learned from her about secret texts, esoteric interpretation, and the importance of careful, accurate scholarship conducted in soulful community with others.
Summary with Timestamps
(00:00:30) Introduction to ancient texts and esoteric reading, and a bit of my background studying with Elaine Pagels.
(00:05:19) Key principles of interpretation, including common stumbling blocks when engaging with ancient myth and religion, and tips for how to proceed.
(00:13:54) The most important rule I learned from Elaine’s approach to textual interpretation.
(00:17:35) The interconnected nature of the ancient Mediterranean world, and how it affects our understanding of ancient esoteric tradition.
(00:21:17) The various categories of secret knowledge in the ancient world — from temple-based teachings to trade secrets — and how they often overlapped in fascinating ways.
(00:35:53) The spectrum of secrecy strategies in ancient texts, ranging from physically hidden documents (like curse tablets buried in tombs) to more subtle forms of encoded language.
(00:42:05) Examples of what the ancient Mediterraneans called “sacred language,” including oracles and animal languages, with discussion of the Delphic Oracle and Egyptian baboons.
(00:56:36) Storytime! A brief account of my personal journey to translating the Orphic Hymns, including how I first stumbled upon the Hymns’ wordplay and multiple layers of meaning.
(01:13:54) Discussion of "the unspeakable" (ancient Greek: arrhētos) and how this concept informed the way ancient writers approached discussing mystery traditions.
(01:21:43) Reading of the Orphic Hymn to Hermes, showcasing my translation approach that attempts to captures the nuance, humor, and esoteric wordplay that has been missed in other translations.
(01:44:06) Resource recommendations for further exploration, ranging from a super-accessible (but scholarly!) podcast to a list of some of my favorite academic articles and books on secrecy and esoteric texts.
