Ever since Sir Arthur Evans publicized the bare-breasted women in Minoan art in the early 20th century, academics and the public alike have assumed that women figured much more prominently in Minoan art and society than men did. This assumption has formed the basis of theories suggesting that ancient Minoan women held an authoritarian position similar to that which men now hold throughout much of the world. However, the few items that Evans focused on are not representative of the whole of Minoan art and give an inaccurate view both of the art and of women's place in Minoan society. A careful investigation shows that there is, in fact, an almost exactly equal representation of male and female figures overall. Using this more accurate data suggests that, rather than a female-dominated society, the Minoans were most likely a gender-egalitarian culture.
The fifteenth century philosopher George Gemistos Plethon led a small, secret group worshiping the Greek gods. He hoped to establish a universal Pagan religion based on Ancient Greek Paganism and Neoplatonic theology. His ideas inspired Renaissance mages such as Marsilio Ficino, thus reviving ancient Pagan thought in Western Europe and awakening Hermetic and Neoplatonic spirituality and magic. In this talk I will present an introduction to Plethon's religious rituals and spiritual ideas, as presented in my recent book, "The Secret Texts of Hellenic Polytheism: A Practical Guide to the Restored Pagan Religion of George Gemistos Plethon" (Llewellyn, 2022), which explains and includes the first complete English translations of the parts of his work that survived destruction by his Christian enemies.
Modern botanical science has finally reached a point where the hidden lives of plants are not so hidden. Plant ecologists have been studying their behavior, strategies, and cultures for hundreds of years. But recent academic research on plant intelligence has allowed us to understand them as a unique group of species with agency. Add a dash of animism and what you discover is a rich accounting of their incredible lives and their full potential as partners. This presentation will shed light on the hidden lives of plants by focusing on their ecology and discoveries in the new field of plant intelligence. It will end with a discussion of recently published books by botanists, and their reporter fans, who may or may not know that their work is infused with animism. Works that provide valuable insights and offer an animism grounded in both the spiritual and scientific realms.
Many people grew up reciting nursery rhymes about the collapse of famous bridges, children with their thumbs buried in baked goods, or the market practices of talking pigs. What they may not know, however, is that a great many nursery rhymes also have their roots in occult charms designed to predict the future, ward off bad weather, grant wishes, or work other magics. This session explores how many rhymes have their origins in magical charms and predictive rituals of bygone ages. We will also spend some time with old Mother Goose herself, who has some particularly spooky and supernatural origins as a witch-figure from European folklore (and possibly even a belly-slitting goddess named Perchta from German mythology).
