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The Symbolic World

The Symbolic World

By: Jonathan Pageau
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About this listen

 Jonathan Pageau looks at symbolism in all its forms, from its source in sacred stories and images to contemporary culture and ultimately how it shapes the world we encounter.Copyright Jonathan Pageau Social Sciences Spirituality
Episodes
  • 426 - Andrew Gould - Monks and Pirates: Two Extremes that Explain the Rest of Us

    426 - Andrew Gould - Monks and Pirates: Two Extremes that Explain the Rest of Us
    Dec 11 2025
    In this conversation filmed (by Deacon Seraphim Rohlin) in the Florida Keys, I sit down with my friend Andrew Gould to finally revisit a surprising claim he made years ago—that pirates and Orthodox monks share deep symbolic parallels. We discuss ships and treasure, costumes, death imagery, life on the edge of empire, all converging on how these two seemingly opposite extremes strangely mirror each other. Let me know if you like the format of this video.

    Original YouTube version: https://youtu.be/WjMadP6DScM

    NEW COURSE: The Quest for the Holy Grail with Dr. Martin Shaw
    In the dark heart of January, when the nights are long and the world draws close, Dr. Martin Shaw returns to Symbolic World Courses for an intensive week-long journey to tell one of the greatest stories of the Medieval imagination: Parzival and the Holy Grail.
    Catch the early bird sale of 15% off if you register before midnight December 19: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/the-quest-for-the-holy-grail
    Cost: $160 USD
    Dates of live course: January 12-16, 2026
    Time: 12 PM-2 PM EST, except for Lecture 3 (January 14) which will be at 4PM-6PM EST

    💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com
    🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau
    🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe

    Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/
    My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/
    Show More Show Less
    39 mins
  • 425 - The Cosmic Dance of Decorating a Christmas Tree

    425 - The Cosmic Dance of Decorating a Christmas Tree
    Dec 8 2025
    This is a repost of a patron video I made several years ago about decorating the Christmas tree as a family. Support us for access to more video like this.

    Original YouTube version: https://youtu.be/9y32OFyvskg

    NEW COURSE: The Quest for the Holy Grail with Dr. Martin Shaw
    In the dark heart of January, when the nights are long and the world draws close, Dr. Martin Shaw returns to Symbolic World Courses for an intensive week-long journey to tell one of the greatest stories of the Medieval imagination: Parzival and the Holy Grail.
    Catch the early bird sale of 15% off if you register before midnight December 19: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/the-quest-for-the-holy-grail
    Cost: $160 USD
    Dates of live course: January 12-16, 2026
    Time: 12 PM-2 PM EST, except for Lecture 3 (January 14) which will be at 4PM-6PM EST

    🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe
    💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com
    🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau

    Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/
    My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/
    Show More Show Less
    11 mins
  • 424 - Universal History: The American Religion - with Dcn Seraphim Rohlin

    424 - Universal History: The American Religion - with Dcn Seraphim Rohlin
    Dec 4 2025
    "Americans who think they are Christians, truly are something else; intensely religious, but devout in the American Religion."
    In this episode of Universal History, I sit down again with Deacon Seraphim Rohlin to explore the roots and characteristics of the true "American religion". We trace how movements in American history shaped the spiritual landscape that eventually gave rise to Mormonism, Adventism, spiritualism, and perhaps even your own journey back to traditional Christianity.

    Original YouTube version: https://youtu.be/0_RKBPaQAyk
    Previous episode: https://youtu.be/o9rMy6lde0c?si=b8d-6tbkuIgAbl4K

    Paradiso live course details:
    The Symbolic World Enters Paradise
    Join me and Deacon Seraphim Rohlin in our course on Dante's Paradiso.
    -Course length: 5 weeks, 15 hours
    -Dates of live classes: Wednesdays, November 5th to December 10th, 2025
    -Time: 2-5 pm Eastern Time
    -Cost: 190 USD (Involved patrons get 10% off, apply discount code at checkout)
    -Register today: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/dantes-paradiso

    💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com
    🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau
    🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe
    Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/
    My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/
    Show More Show Less
    59 mins
All stars
Most relevant
genuinely essential listening. pageau and guests navigate the way back from the utter destruction of materialism. symbolism happens!

extraordinary

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