Episodes

  • 397 - Nicholas Reeves - What Is Music?

    397 - Nicholas Reeves - What Is Music?
    May 31 2025
    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.com
    YouTube version: https://youtu.be/26ORdueGcIo

    NEW COURSE: Scripture: The Key to Reality, presented by Seraphim Hamilton
    This 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 up
    01:29 - Intro music
    01:55 - Introduction
    02:50 - Understanding ourselves through music
    10:22 - The human voice
    18:56 - Rhythm
    21:11 - Dance and what music is
    24:40 - Variety and sameness
    32:08 - Reinventing yourself
    35:21 - Church music
    43:57 - Continuity
    46:56 - Moments in liturgy
    49:30 - Music in America
    54:54 - The complete work of art
    59:14 - 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/
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • 396 - Seraphim Hamilton - Scripture: The Key to Reality

    396 - Seraphim Hamilton - Scripture: The Key to Reality
    May 23 2025
    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/PpGKURlGayA

    NEW COURSE: Scripture: The Key to Reality, presented by Seraphim Hamilton
    This 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/kabane

    Timestamps:
    00:00 - Coming up
    01:23 - Intro music
    01:49 - Introduction
    02:43 - Scripture is the key to reality
    09:17 - What's the difference between Christianity and Pantheism?
    13:14 - Why the need for the Tabernacle?
    16:56 - Dominion in the fall
    21:23 - Cain vs Noah
    25:27 - Universal History
    26:24 - No temple in the Heavenly Jerusalem
    29:57 - Converging on the same patterns
    31:38 - Critical analysis of the Bible
    37:27 - Second Temple literature
    42:32 - Fractal breathing
    47:36 - 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/
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    52 mins
  • 395 - Beauty First: Envisioning a Civilization Worth Restoring (ARC Roundtable)

    395 - Beauty First: Envisioning a Civilization Worth Restoring (ARC Roundtable)
    May 16 2025
    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/6oS5NYXut0c

    SYMBOLISM MASTERCLASS
    Join 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
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • 394 - The World War II Consensus is Breaking Down

    394 - The World War II Consensus is Breaking Down
    May 16 2025
    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/MfXxQW77cQA

    SYMBOLISM MASTERCLASS
    Join 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/
    Show more Show less
    37 mins
  • 393 - Wheels Within Wheels: The Universe as a Symbol

    393 - Wheels Within Wheels: The Universe as a Symbol
    May 13 2025
    In this excerpt from the second lecture of the Symbolism Masterclass, I take you deeper than ever into one of the most powerful and mysterious patterns that underlies the cosmos. We explore the strange vision of Ezekiel, the meaning of the cosmic wheel, and how seemingly distant symbols—from pyramids to Christmas trees—are revealing the same fundamental structure.

    YouTube version: https://youtu.be/6wYPgrniyWo

    Join us live for the rest of the Symbolism Masterclass. You will get access to all the lectures that have already taken place, including downloadable audio. https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/symbolism-masterclass

    SYMBOLISM MASTERCLASS
    Join 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)

    Chapters:
    00:00 Introduction to Symbolism Masterclass
    02:45 Fractal Symbolism and Hierarchies
    06:05 The Nebuchadnezzar Statue and False Hierarchies
    09:02 The Role of Gold in Symbolism
    11:51 Understanding Context in Symbolism
    15:10 The Tabernacle and Hierarchical Structures
    18:01 The Wheel as a Symbol of Unity
    20:58 Dante's Representation of Heaven and Earth
    23:50 The Spiral Structure of Reality
    26:56 The Cosmic Wheel and Its Implications
    29:54 The Interconnectedness of All Things
    33:08 Ezekiel's Vision and the Infinite Structure

    💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com
    🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau
    🗣 Join The Symbolic World Community for discussions about symbolism: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe
    🔒 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:
    symbolism, fractal, hierarchy, Nebuchadnezzar, gold, context, tabernacle, wheel, Dante, spiral, cosmic structure, interconnectedness, Ezekiel's vision, the Bible, idol, idolatry, religion, Orthodox Christianity
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    41 mins
  • 392 - Richard Rohlin - Universal History: Symbols From the Edge of the World

    392 - Richard Rohlin - Universal History: Symbols From the Edge of the World
    May 6 2025
    In this episode, Richard Rohlin and I continue our discussion of The Voyage of St. Brendan, focusing on some of the stranger episodes in the story. We look at encounters with sea creatures, a sea giantess, and the figure of a Hermit in paradise. Along the way, we reflect on what these images might reveal about death, resurrection, the role of the saints, and how the spiritual world connects to our own. It's a conversation that opens up layers of meaning in a text that’s easy to overlook.
    Original YouTube version: https://youtu.be/2vxMu-NU6Rw
    Part 1, The Voyage of St. Brendan: https://youtu.be/nlzEUV5sV2o?si=lsPwB1EmXLBIfs0w

    SYMBOLISM MASTERCLASS
    Join 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.
    Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/symbolism-masterclass
    🗓 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)

    While Richard's course on Tolkien and Universal History is over, you can still buy the course and get access to all the lecture recordings and resources here: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/tolkien-and-universal-history

    Timestamps:
    00:00 - Coming up
    01:06 - Intro music
    01:37 - Introduction
    03:41 - Pascha on the back of a monster
    06:29 - A whale
    14:06 - The giant mermaid
    22:10 - The sequence of events
    26:48 - Until the Last Judgement
    33:00 - Don't worry about it
    40:49 - Baptism
    43:42 - Garments of skin
    51:34 - Confronting demonic forces
    58:08 - Brendan in paradise
    01:09:00 - Brendan comes to Britain
    01:26:49 - The death of St Brendan

    💻 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/
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    1 hr and 36 mins
  • 391 - The Controversy over "Christ is King"

    391 - The Controversy over "Christ is King"
    Apr 29 2025
    A few weeks ago, a study came out criticizing the use of the phrase "Christ is King"—and it stirred up a lot of strong reactions, including my own. In this video, I take you through the symbolism, history, and deeper meaning behind this expression, and I share why I believe its resurgence today is both important and complicated. I’ll also reflect on how identity naturally includes and excludes—and why that's not something we should fear.

    YouTube version: https://youtu.be/_9_PWSOgK5w

    The study in question: https://networkcontagion.us/reports/3-13-25-thy-name-in-vain-how-online-extremists-hijacked-christ-is-king/

    SYMBOLISM MASTERCLASS
    Join 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.
    Register now: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/symbolism-masterclass
    🗓 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)

    Join us for the ORTHODOX ARTS FESTIVAL, learn more here: https://www.orthodoxartsfestivaldfw.com/

    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
    17 mins
  • 390 - Genesis: Symbolism in the Creation Story

    390 - Genesis: Symbolism in the Creation Story
    Apr 23 2025
    This is a talk I did a few years ago for the Jung Society of Montreal. In it I explore the creation story in Genesis not just as myth, but as a fractal map of how identity, being, and purpose function. In breaking down the symbolism I also make a case for why intelligence isn’t an accident, why rituals matter, and why participation of intelligent beings is foundational to reality. In the Q&A section we touch on group identity, exclusion, dreams, and the meaning of the Last Judgment among other topics. I hope this lecture gives you a sense of the tone and depth of our upcoming Symbolism Masterclass. If you want to learn more, register today.
    https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/courses/symbolism-masterclass

    SYMBOLISM MASTERCLASS
    Join 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)

    Join us for the ORTHODOX ARTS FESTIVAL, learn more here: https://www.orthodoxartsfestivaldfw.com/

    YouTube version: https://youtu.be/YArpxigY5xY?si=QrMqUuJixHQ3DnXy
    Original video published by Jordan Peterson: https://youtu.be/ZQ43i5nKuZk?si=XB-bgj9VMc0NxBdT

    Timestamps:
    00:00 - Introduction
    02:01 - Intro music
    02:26 - Observing the observer
    08:06 - Ritual and a return to ancient thinking
    13:58 - Ritual in groups
    21:34 - The argument
    27:49 - The start of Genesis
    36:39 - And God said
    42:06 - Vegetation
    44:30 - The sun, moon, and stars
    45:49 - Creatures of the sea
    49:32 - Animals
    51:57 - The creation of man
    56:28 - Genesis 2
    59:43 - The center of the world
    06:42 - Iconographic examples
    12:39 - Questions from JBP
    18:22 - Q: Elaborate on what you mean with "above" and "below"
    20:15 - Q: Are people who try to tame wild animals violating the pattern you pointed out?
    21:51 - Q: How sure are you of the heaven and earth distinction?
    25:36 - Q: What's the meaning of when God says man is very good and everything else good?
    30:03 - Comment about Jung
    31:24 - Q: How did Darwin bring Plato back?
    37:03 - Q: How would you work with exclusion / inclusion patterns in these times?
    48:51 - Q: What's the intelligence of dreams?
    51:45 - Q: If the teleological patterns of being constitute heaven, what is the abode of the human soul?

    💻 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
    1 hr and 57 mins
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