372 - Christmas: The Anchor of Reality (Repost)

I was invited to give this talk on Robin Hood in Nottingham—just a stone’s throw from Sherwood Forest—on the feast of Pentecost. What began as a reflection on a beloved folk hero opened into something deeper: a meditation on rebellion, trickery, legitimacy, and the strange holiness that's possible for jesters and outlaws. In this talk, I explore how Robin Hood, the Green Man, King David, and even figures from Islamic tradition and Arthurian legend, all point toward a surprising truth—that the margins of society can conceal servants of the true King. I hope you enjoy it.Original YouTube version: https://youtu.be/7Q4LBLmeeMwCOURSE: Scripture: The Key to Reality, presented by Seraphim HamiltonThis course is designed to help students appreciate the unique role the Bible plays in helping us step into the world as it truly is: a symbolic revelation of the Infinite God. Scripture is symbolic because it is a revelation of Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ is the Archetype of the World. In a way, then, Scripture enfolds within itself the totality of the world, guiding its hearers to see an icon of Christ in each of God’s creatures: from trees to beasts to priests.- Live classes are on Tuesday at 2 - 4 pm Eastern Time, starting June 10th through July 22nd, 2025- Class Length: 5 sessions, 10 hours total- Cost: 120 USD (108 USD for Involved patrons)- Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/scripture-the-key-to-realityGet early access to Rapunzel and the Evil Witch: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/rapunzel-and-the-evil-witch💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau 🔒 BECOME A PATRON: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe Timestamps:00:00 - Coming up01:30 - Intro music01:56 - Introduction by Jonathan03:34 - Introduction: The virtuous rebel06:10 - Who does Robin Hood resemble?09:40 - Green14:25 - A trickster for God16:39 - David25:41 - He loses at the edge39:24 - The Green man: Merlin45:25 - Q&A starts: St. Christopher46:39 - Sir Gawain and the Green Knight48:55 - Maid Marian and the Virgin Mary49:53 - Difference between giants and monsters51:20 - Intention53:01 - Robin Hood in politics54:10 - Marksmanship55:54 - Does the end justify the means57:42 - Is Robin Hood religious?59:06 - Locations and history01:01:38 - Humor in Christianity01:03:20 - Trickery01:06:46 - What goes around comes around01:08:15 - Downstream from the Gospel01:11:44 - Christ vs Robin Hood in historyOur website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

8 Heinä 1h 15min

I had the pleasure of speaking with filmmaker Josh David Jordan about his new movie El Tonto Por Cristo. It’s a black-and-white art film set in a Texas monastery — poetic, strange, and deeply moving. What struck me most is how the film weaves together powerful Orthodox imagery, the mystery of the holy fool, all with a totally unique visual language. This isn’t just a message movie — it’s real cinema.Check out the Kickstarter and be part of bringing this movie to theaters. This is a rare and important project. El Tonto Por Cristo: A Cinematic Meditation. An Orthodox film set in a Texas monastery. Help bring this black-and-white story of beauty, holiness, & mystery to theaters worldwide.https://www.eltontoporcristo.com/https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/748841722/el-tonto-por-cristo-a-cinematic-meditationOriginal YouTube version: https://youtu.be/pbM5VN9YvCE💻 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/

30 Kesä 36min

What is spirit? This was one of my most meaningful conversations with John Vervaeke yet. As we prepare for the Midwestuary 2025 conference in Chicago, we explore how beings come into existence, the mystery of unity and multiplicity, and what’s really going on with AI, angels, and the spirit of community. John shares some powerful personal transformations as well. I hope you enjoy this deep dive into spirit, ontology, and meaning.YouTube version: https://youtu.be/hqmSW3SgzHsRegister for the 2025 Midwestuary Conference in Chicago, August 22-24: https://www.midwestuary.com/NEW COURSE: Scripture: The Key to Reality, presented by Seraphim HamiltonThis course is designed to help students appreciate the unique role the Bible plays in helping us step into the world as it truly is: a symbolic revelation of the Infinite God. Scripture is symbolic because it is a revelation of Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ is the Archetype of the World. In a way, then, Scripture enfolds within itself the totality of the world, guiding its hearers to see an icon of Christ in each of God’s creatures: from trees to beasts to priests.- Live classes are on Tuesday at 2 - 4 pm Eastern Time, starting June 10th through July 22nd, 2025- Class Length: 5 sessions, 10 hours total- Cost: 120 USD (108 USD for Involved patrons)- Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/scripture-the-key-to-reality- Get early access to Rapunzel and the Evil Witch: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/rapunzel-and-the-evil-witch- Symbolism Masterclass course by Jonathan Pageau: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/symbolism-masterclass- John Vervaeke's course on the Symbolic World, The Cognitive Science of Ritual: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/the-cognitive-science-of-ritual00:00 - Intro by Jonathan01:25 - Intro music01:50 - Midwestuary conference details03:42 - What is Spirit?05:21 - John's response08:22 - Fellowship11:00 - Jonathan's response13:34 - Why it's hard to think about unity and multiplicity16:35 - Dualism in spirit18:32 - Modern false dichotomies24:19 - Jonathan: Spirit outside of minds?30:57 - Are there non-psychological spirits?33:42 - Gathered in man35:55 - Reduction can go both ways37:35 - The seat of self-consciousness42:01 - A human centered view43:36 - John: The standard of realness49:30 - An embodied world for everyone56:17 - Porosity between science and myth01:00:39 - Breath01:02:05 - A post-Kantian vision01:05:52 - Exampting and group identity01:10:40 - Liturgy and team spirit01:17:48 - Are spirits just psychological?01:20:26 - Prophesy01:27:43 - How do we use technology?01:34:01 - AI🔗 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/

24 Kesä 1h 46min

In this talk at the Orthodox Arts Festival of 2025, I share my vision for a renewal of Orthodox Christian art rooted in meaningful participation and true celebration. We are living through the collapse of modern aesthetics—art has become propaganda, entertainment, and distraction. But this cultural decomposition presents an opportunity for something truly transformative.Orthodox art offers a profound alternative: not art as consumption or rebellion, but as participation, celebration, and enlightenment. Drawing on my work in children's literature, icon carving, and popular storytelling, I explore how we can reintegrate beauty, memory, and the sacred into every level of artistic creation—from liturgy to fairy tales.If you're an artist, a parent, or simply someone longing for a more meaningful creative world, I invite you to join me in rediscovering what art is really for—and how it can lead us back to God.YouTube version: https://youtu.be/WkQ1PP421nM🕯️ Discover our books, courses, and more at http://www.thesymbolicworld.com📖 Get early access to Rapunzel and the Evil Witch: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/rapunzel-and-the-evil-witchNEW COURSE: Scripture: The Key to Reality, presented by Seraphim HamiltonThis course is designed to help students appreciate the unique role the Bible plays in helping us step into the world as it truly is: a symbolic revelation of the Infinite God. Scripture is symbolic because it is a revelation of Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ is the Archetype of the World. In a way, then, Scripture enfolds within itself the totality of the world, guiding its hearers to see an icon of Christ in each of God’s creatures: from trees to beasts to priests.- Live classes are on Tuesday at 2 - 4 pm Eastern Time, starting June 10th through July 15th, 2025- Class Length: 5 sessions, 10 hours total- Cost: 120 USD (108 USD for Involved patrons)- Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/scripture-the-key-to-reality🔗 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/

11 Kesä 1h 12min

In this conversation, I sit down with composer and church musician Nicholas Reeves to explore one of the great mysteries: music. Why does music move us so deeply? How does it reflect symbolic patterns in reality? We discuss the ancient and modern roles of music—from sacred liturgies to EDM dance floors—and ask whether the liturgy might be the ultimate artwork. We also dive into the contrasts between order and chaos in sound, the compression of human experience, and the sacred role of communal participation in worship. This discussion really opened new paths for me—I hope it does the same for you.Nicholas’s work can be found at: https://www.nicholasreevesmusic.comYouTube version: https://youtu.be/26ORdueGcIoNEW COURSE: Scripture: The Key to Reality, presented by Seraphim HamiltonThis course is designed to help students appreciate the unique role the Bible plays in helping us step into the world as it truly is: a symbolic revelation of the Infinite God. Scripture is symbolic because it is a revelation of Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ is the Archetype of the World. In a way, then, Scripture enfolds within itself the totality of the world, guiding its hearers to see an icon of Christ in each of God’s creatures: from trees to beasts to priests.🗓 Live classes are on Tuesday at 2 - 4 pm Eastern Time, starting June 10th through July 15th, 2025⏰ Class Length: 5 sessions, 10 hours total💰 Register for Seraphim Hamilton's course before the end of May to get 15% off when you use the code EARLYSCRIP1 at checkout. 💰 Cost: 120 USD (102 USD with the discount)👉 Register Today: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/scripture-the-key-to-reality Timestamps:00:00 - Coming up01:29 - Intro music01:55 - Introduction02:50 - Understanding ourselves through music10:22 - The human voice18:56 - Rhythm21:11 - Dance and what music is24:40 - Variety and sameness32:08 - Reinventing yourself35:21 - Church music43:57 - Continuity46:56 - Moments in liturgy49:30 - Music in America54:54 - The complete work of art59:14 - Making pop culture more participative💻 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/

31 Touko 1h 4min

In this conversation, I talk with Seraphim Hamilton about how scripture does more than tell a story—it reveals a symbolic pattern that runs through all of creation. We dig into how the Bible presents the world as a kind of cosmic temple, and how that vision unfolds through the Tabernacle, the life of Christ, and the Church.Seraphim brings a deep knowledge of scripture and tradition to the table, and we touch on some of the key themes he'll be exploring in his upcoming course, Scripture: The Key to Reality. If you’ve been following my work on symbolism and biblical patterns, I think you’ll find this conversation both grounded and illuminating.YouTube version: https://youtu.be/PpGKURlGayANEW COURSE: Scripture: The Key to Reality, presented by Seraphim HamiltonThis course is designed to help students appreciate the unique role the Bible plays in helping us step into the world as it truly is: a symbolic revelation of the Infinite God. Scripture is symbolic because it is a revelation of Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ is the Archetype of the World. In a way, then, Scripture enfolds within itself the totality of the world, guiding its hearers to see an icon of Christ in each of God’s creatures: from trees to beasts to priests.🗓 Live classes are on Tuesday at 2 - 4 pm Eastern Time, starting June 10th through July 15th, 2025⏰ Class Length: 5 sessions, 10 hours total💰 Register for Seraphim Hamilton's course before the end of May to get 15% off when you use the code EARLYSCRIP1 at checkout. 💰 Cost: 120 USD (102 USD with the discount)👉 Register Today: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/scripture-the-key-to-reality Seraphim Hamilton is an Orthodox Christian biblical commentator who explores the richness of Christ as He is unveiled in the Old and New Testaments. He has a Master of Arts in Early Christian Studies and a Master of Theology from Duke University. His thesis addressed the relationship between the theology of the Divine Name in Exodus and the writings of St. Dionysius the Areopagite. He is recently married with one daughter and produces regular reflections on Scripture on both Substack and YouTube.Writings: https://seraphimhamilton.substack.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/kabane Patreon: https://patreon.com/c/kabaneTimestamps:00:00 - Coming up01:23 - Intro music01:49 - Introduction02:43 - Scripture is the key to reality09:17 - What's the difference between Christianity and Pantheism?13:14 - Why the need for the Tabernacle?16:56 - Dominion in the fall21:23 - Cain vs Noah25:27 - Universal History26:24 - No temple in the Heavenly Jerusalem29:57 - Converging on the same patterns31:38 - Critical analysis of the Bible37:27 - Second Temple literature42:32 - Fractal breathing47:36 - Transfigured clothing-----------------------------------💻 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/

23 Touko 51min

This is an informal roundtable discussion among friends and artists at the 2025 London ARC Conference that includes myself, Andrew Gould, Aidan Hart, Heather Pollington, Neil and Kate DeGraide from Dirt Poor Robins, Ben and Vesper Stamper, Martin Shaw, and John Heers. Amidst thousands of voices focused on policy and economics, we stepped aside to ask a deeper question: what does it mean to renew civilization through beauty?Together, we explore how architecture, music, and the arts shape our perception of the world—and how the recovery of beauty might be essential for healing both culture and soul. There are no scripts here, just a shared sense of wonder, frustration, and conviction. We speak of cities and forests, temples and toasts, tradition and imagination… and what it truly means to see rightly again.YouTube version: https://youtu.be/6oS5NYXut0cSYMBOLISM MASTERCLASSJoin me this April for the Symbolism Masterclass, a 6-week deep dive into the essentials of symbolic thinking. Over 18 immersive hours, I'll guide you through the framework behind everything I've explored in 500+ videos—from heaven and earth to dragons, fairies, kings, conspiracies, Darwin, the Bible, and beyond. 🗓 Dates: Live classes every Wednesday at 1-4 PM Central /  2-5 PM Eastern time: 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14, 5/21, 5/28⏰ Class Length: 3 hours each session💰 Cost: $175 (Patrons at the Involved tier or higher qualify for 10% off)Register now:  https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/symbolism-masterclass💻 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/keywords:ARC Conference, art, architecture, civilization, beauty, human experience, Christian culture, symbolism, design, architecture, music, art, beauty, creativity, orthodoxy, healing, abstraction, civic engagement, human experience

16 Touko 1h 6min

Several years ago, I coined the phrase “watch the fool,” because in a world turned upside down, the fool can strangely point to what’s coming and in some ways play a role in restoring order —for good or for ill. For April 2025’s patron video, now opened up to the public, I reflect on how Kanye West has continued to play this role. He is not a prophet in the traditional sense, but a kind of tuning fork, embodying the contradictions and transformations unfolding in our culture before they happen. This becomes increasingly disturbing as the post–World War II consensus buckles beneath our feet…Original YouTube version: https://youtu.be/MfXxQW77cQASYMBOLISM MASTERCLASSJoin me this April for the Symbolism Masterclass, a 6-week deep dive into the essentials of symbolic thinking. Over 18 immersive hours, I'll guide you through the framework behind everything I've explored in 500+ videos—from heaven and earth to dragons, fairies, kings, conspiracies, Darwin, the Bible, and beyond. 🗓 Dates: Live classes every Wednesday at 1-4 PM Central /  2-5 PM Eastern time: 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14, 5/21, 5/28⏰ Class Length: 3 hours each session💰 Cost: $175 (Patrons at the Involved tier or higher qualify for 10% off)Register now:  https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/symbolism-masterclass💻 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/

16 Touko 37min