The Symbolic World

Jonathan Pageau
  • 4.8 (877)
  • Education
  • Semiweekly

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.

  1. 9h ago

    496 - The Art of Righteous Deception

    In an upside down world, sometimes only trickery can restore proper order. In this talk at the Circe Institute's 2026 Fall Conference, I explore how cunning and deception can serve the good, drawing on Robin Hood, Odysseus, King David, and the fairy tale of The Valiant Tailor. https://circeinstitute.org/ YouTube version: https://youtu.be/avLNlNtIv7c==================Buy Valiant Little Tailor now and get the audiobook with for free: https://talesforonceandever.com/==================🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe💻 Website, blog, courses: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com📚 Store: https://store.thesymbolicworld.com/Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

  2. 5d ago

    495 - The Last Documentary: You Can See Everything

    I finally got around to watching You Can See Everything, a documentary about Elizabeth Holmes, made by Nathan Fielder. The film is a brilliant exploration of the limits of representation. Through its many layers of documentary filmmaking, acting, and manipulation, the film raises some important questions about our ability to discern representation and relity, why we tell stories, and how symbolism can reveal truths that factual accuracy alone cannot capture. **Warning: Full spoilers ahead.** YouTube version: https://youtu.be/Emp6q4PjKbEBuy Valiant Little Tailor now and get the audiobook with for free: https://talesforonceandever.com/🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe💻 Website, blog, courses: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com📚 Store: https://store.thesymbolicworld.com/Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

  3. Nov 7

    494 - Star Wars Was Always a Boomer Myth

    The recent rise of Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader memes reveals something interesting about the breakdown of the World War II consensus and the mythology of Star Wars. I look at why people are increasingly sympathetic to the Empire, what this reversal tells us about our changing understanding of authority and power, and the dangers of simply embracing the opposite side of a story that is falling apart.Getting Sith- YouTube version: https://youtu.be/JMsAbf_FlL8 Pilled on the Boomers, by Upper Canadian Cavalier: https://uppercanadiancavalier.substack.com/p/getting-sith-pilled-on-the-boomers Get Valiant Little Tailor now: https://talesforonceandever.com Join me and others on a cruise / pilgrimage to Alaska in 2027: https://www.inspirationtravel.com/event/orthodox-christian-conference-alaska-cruise-2027 🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe💻 Website, blog, courses: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com📚 Store: https://store.thesymbolicworld.com/Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

  4. Nov 4

    493 - The Sacrifice of Isaac (Universal History: The Cave of Treasures)

    Part 6. In this episode of Universal History, Deacon Seraphim and I continue our reading of The Cave of Treasures, following the biblical patriarchs from Abraham to Moses. We explore ancient traditions surrounding the sacrifice of Isaac, the mysterious priesthood of Melchizedek, the founding of Jerusalem, and the strange genealogies that ultimately converge in Christ. We also look at the remarkable tradition that Moses' staff originated in Paradise and eventually became part of Christ's Cross. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/j2RBAhnjRvI Watch the full series here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLegM2eIGv3-I&si=uD375Yi9HcXAt4_j Buy GodsDog, Monk: https://godsdog.com/ Buy Valiant Little Tailor: https://store.thesymbolicworld.com/products/the-tale-of-the-valiant-little-tailor Timestamps: 0:00 Intro – The Crucifixion as an eternal event 1:49 Introduction to Universal History: The Cave of Treasures 3:38 The priestly and royal lineage from Adam to Christ 5:43 Abraham destroys his father's idols 8:31 The miraculous birth of Abraham 9:38 Abraham's circumcision by angels 11:11 Melchizedek blesses Abraham with bread and wine 14:02 Hagar, Ishmael, and the symbolism of Egypt 16:43 Abraham and Sarah's family lineage 17:12 Isaac's sacrifice and its connection to Golgotha 18:55 Did Melchizedek tell Abraham to sacrifice Isaac? 20:01 Abraham sees the Crucifixion of Christ 22:34 Is the Crucifixion an eternal event? 24:20 The incomplete revelation of the Old Testament 26:30 Abraham's vision of Christ's redemption 27:14 The twelve kings who founded Jerusalem 31:43 Who was Melchizedek? 33:28 Jonathan questions the interpretation of Hebrews 35:19 Nimrod and the founding of ancient cities 36:31 Melchizedek's prophecy to Rebekah 37:35 The seven walls of Jericho and Ishmael's legacy 38:41 Isaac's blessing of Jacob over Esau 39:47 Jacob's ladder as an image of the Cross 41:27 The angels of the Nativity on Jacob's ladder 43:03 The Cross as the centre of the Incarnation 44:49 Jacob's altar and the consecration of churches 47:01 Jacob's well as an image of baptism 48:30 Leah and Rachel as the two covenants 48:52 How far can symbolic interpretation go? 52:06 Interpreting the larger symbolic patterns 54:26 Leah and Rachel: The active and contemplative lives 56:27 Jacob's descendants and the twelve tribes 58:09 Judah's Canaanite wife and the promised lineage 58:54 The mysterious story of Judah and Tamar 1:02:29 Why The Cave of Treasures leaves out certain biblical stories 1:04:52 The priestly and royal genealogies of Israel 1:07:51 Ruth, Lot, and the preservation of the royal line 1:08:55 Why Christ's genealogy includes so many scandals 1:10:54 The scattered lineages reunited in Christ 1:11:49 Solomon's many wives and his descendants 1:14:39 Moses' life in The Cave of Treasures 1:17:15 The origin of Moses' rod in the Garden of Eden 1:18:07 How Moses' rod passed down to Christ 1:19:59 Moses' rod and the wood of the Crucifixion 🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe 💻 Website, blog, courses: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com 📚 Store: https://store.thesymbolicworld.com/ Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

  5. Oct 30

    492 - Nathan Betz - Cosmic Paradise in the Early Church

    Nathan Betz is a research fellow at the University of Regensburg. In this conversation, we talk about how the early fathers saw the heavenly Jerusalem not as a mansion in the sky, but as the point of everything. We discuss why the earliest apse mosaics in Rome stack paradise beneath the heavenly city, how churches came to be built after Revelation instead of just the old temple, and why the texts we have today are only small window into a much richer life. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/xTitW-sKcnw https://www.nathanbetz.com/📖 Get 35% off Nathan's book:Title: City of Gods: The New Jerusalem of John’s Revelation in Early Christianity by Nathan BetzDiscount Code (35%): DGBCONF4 (discount will be applied after clicking “checkout")Purchase Website: https://brill.com/display/title/65150 Timestamps:0:00 Intro1:55 Introducing Nathan Betz3:32 How a library visit became a career5:59 Paradise and the city: the bookends of Scripture7:32 "You will be gods in the city of God"8:22 Not a mansion in the sky9:43 Not just eschatology, but teleology10:12 Apophatic theology and the language of symbol12:33 The heavenly Jerusalem in early church art13:53 Paradise and the city in Roman apse mosaics15:56 The liturgy as the heavenly Jerusalem16:25 Is the church an image of the heavenly Jerusalem?17:14 Origen's Russian nesting dolls18:46 The jeweled cross20:27 The missing creative briefs22:25 How the garden is nested in the city24:03 Methodius's Symposium: from paradise to Zion25:34 Monasteries as little New Jerusalems26:30 Sinai, Ezekiel, and the heavenly pattern29:29 Are churches modeled on the heavenly Jerusalem?31:18 The earliest evidence: Zeno of Verona and Eusebius34:48 Hymns of the heavenly city37:36 Revelation in the East39:18 How the imagery survived without Revelation41:32 Texts are traces, not sources43:56 The life of the church as an eternal instant44:57 How this research shaped Nathan's faith48:18 Why everyone is talking about theosis now52:08 Closing🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe💻 Website, blog, courses: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com📚 Store: https://store.thesymbolicworld.com/Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

  6. Oct 28

    491 - Over The Garden Wall’s Cosmic Symbolism

    ~ Full spoilers throughout! ~ Last year, several of you pointed me to Over the Garden Wall, Patrick McHale's 2014 Cartoon Network series. It's ten short episodes about two brothers lost in a dark wood on Halloween. It turns out to be one of the most complete explorations of the in-between I've seen in pop culture, closer to the first canto of Dante than you'd expect from a cartoon. In this video I discuss the symbolism in the show. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/VDYYV9xizZs ------------------------------- GodsDog: Monk is now officially in stock! You can also get volumes 1 and 2 on sale during October! Visit: https://godsdog.com/ -------------------------------🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe💻 Website, blog, courses: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com📚 Store: https://store.thesymbolicworld.com/Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

  7. Oct 23

    490 - How Idolatry Began (Universal History)

    Part 5. In this episode, Deacon Seraphim Rohlin and I continue the Syriac text of the Cave of Treasures into the fourth age of the world. The text traces the origins of idolatry back to a lack of hope in the resurrection. It tells of a “flood of wind” that buried the idols in mounds, and it puts the origin of sorcery in a child sacrifice to a golden image. We also look at how the text explains Persian fire worship and why it makes Nimrod the same person as Zoroaster. Along the way we talk about the difference between an icon and an idol. Watch the YouTube version: https://youtu.be/JLLlb-QqLBk Watch the full series here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLegM2eIGv3-I&si=uD375Yi9HcXAt4_j-------------------------------GodsDog: Monk is now officially in stock! You can also get volumes 1 and 2 on sale during October! Visit: https://godsdog.com/-------------------------------The Book of the Cave of Treasures: https://www.amazon.com/Book-Cave-Treasures-Patriarchs-Crucifixion/dp/1911405659Timestamps: 0:00 Coming up1:26 Intro1:40 Preamble3:42 The Cave of Treasures & the Seven Ages of the World5:30 Tolkien's Middle-earth as Universal History6:11 The Oxford Summit & Tolkien's Grave8:41 King Arthur, Dragon Hill & the Blood Spot12:09 The Fourth Age: Egypt, Sheba, Ophir & India14:43 How Idolatry Began15:17 No Hope of Resurrection: Images on the Grave17:02 The Flood of Wind & the Burial Mounds18:55 Satan Enters the Golden Image21:01 Child Sacrifice, Moloch & Carthage22:41 What's the Difference Between an Icon and an Idol?25:58 Opening the Mouth of the Idol27:25 Idols As a Tool28:38 Same Rituals, Different Direction29:38 Idolatry vs. the Hope of Resurrection30:31 A Mound Full of Devils32:57 Nimrod Worships the Fire from the Earth33:43 Nimrod & the Wisdom of Noah's Son34:47 Abraham the True Astrologer35:10 Divination in the Old Testament: Urim, Thummim & the Ephod37:37 The Fire Priest's Dark Initiation40:34 How Paganism Emerges41:17 The Origins of Astrology42:56 Nimrod Is Zoroaster?44:11 Zoroaster, the Magi & the Star of Christ45:05 Nimrod, Zoroaster & Balaam: The Same Person?48:21 The Legend of Balaam's Talking Donkey49:06 Hidden Monotheism in the Ancient World51:21 Universal History as a Lens on the Present52:12 Why Zoroastrians Don't Bury Their Dead53:29 Armenia's Hayk & the Death of Nimrod🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe💻 Website, blog, courses: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com📚 Store: https://store.thesymbolicworld.com/Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

  8. Oct 21

    489 - Dear Catholics: Let’s Put Renaissance Art Behind Us

    This is a patron video we decided to make public. I look at the difference between Renaissance art and the symbolic language of early Christianity, especially through the mosaics of Saint John Lateran. Saint John Lateran is the cathedral of Rome and the pope’s actual seat as Bishop of Rome. This episode will be easier to understand on YouTube since it's based on visual art: https://youtu.be/TvsDGsKlIiQ-------------------------------GodsDog: Monk is now officially in stock! You can also get volumes 1 and 2 on sale during October! Visit: https://godsdog.com/-------------------------------🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe💻 Website, blog, courses: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com📚 Store: https://store.thesymbolicworld.com/Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

See All (494)

Hosts & Guests

4.8
out of 5
877 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Jonathan Pageau
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    494
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Jonathan Pageau
  • Show Website
    The Symbolic World

You Might Also Like