In this episode, we delve into one of the most profound and contested questions in both philosophy and esotericism: What is the self in magical practice?
Drawing on thinkers such as René Descartes, David Hume, and Carl Jung, we examine how the self has been variously conceived as a rational substance, a bundle of perceptions, or an archetypal totality. We then explore how these models intersect with key esoteric frameworks, from Aleister Crowley’s doctrine of the True Will and the invocation of the Holy Guardian Angel, to the layered soul of Hermetic Qabalah, and the radically performative self of chaos magic.
Is the magical self unified, fragmented, performative, or transcendent? And how do different traditions answer this question through their rituals, symbols, and spiritual technologies?
Join me as we explore the shifting boundaries between self, soul, and sorcery.
CONNECT & SUPPORT
MY COURSES https://drangelapuca.com/courses
WEBSITE & NEWSLETTER https://www.drangelapuca.com/#newsletter
BOOK A TUTORING OR A LECTURE https://drangelapuca.com/services
BECOME MY PATRON! https://www.patreon.com/angelapuca
SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI ️https://ko-fi.com/drangelapuca
ONE-OFF DONATIONS https://paypal.me/angelasymposium
JOIN MEMBERSHIPS https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPSbip_LX2AxbGeAQfLp-Ig/join
MY PODCAST https://open.spotify.com/show/2TKoWTGe6OKRokHN2zUIxM?si=dd9f50a734b14f86
MY MERCH https://drangelapuca.creator-spring.com/
FOLLOW ME
– YouTube (@drangelapuca)
– Instagram (@drangelapuca)
– TikTok (@drangelapuca)
– Twitter (@angelapuca11)
– Facebook (Dr Angela Puca)
RECOMMENDED READINGS
REFERENCES
Carroll, P. J. (1987). Liber Null & Psychonaut: An introduction to chaos magic. Samuel Weiser.
Crowley, A. (1904/1997). The Book of the Law (Liber AL vel Legis). In H. B. Urban (Ed.), The Law is for All: The Authorized Popular Commentary of Liber AL vel Legis (pp. 3–41). New Falcon Publications.
Crowley, A. (1929/1998). Magick in theory and practice. Castle Books.
Crowley, A. (1998). The Vision and the Voice: With commentary and other papers. Weiser Books. (Original work published 1911)
Crowley, A. (1999). Magick: Book four – Liber ABA. York Beach, ME: Weiser Books.
Descartes, R. (1641/1996). Meditations on first philosophy (J. Cottingham, Trans.). Cambridge University Press.
Hume, D. (1739/2000). A treatise of human nature (D. F. Norton & M. J. Norton, Eds.). Oxford University Press.
Jung, C. G. (1953). Psychological aspects of the personality. In Two essays on analytical psychology (R. F. C. Hull, Trans.; Vol. 7 of The Collected Works of C. G. Jung, pp. 123–240). Princeton University Press.
Jung, C. G. (1959). Aion: Researches into the phenomenology of the self (R. F. C. Hull, Trans.; Vol. 9, Part II of The Collected Works of C. G. Jung). Princeton University Press.
Jung, C. G. (1963). Memories, dreams, reflections (A. Jaffé, Ed.; R. Winston & C. Winston, Trans.). Pantheon Books.
Kraig, D. M. (2002). Modern magick: Eleven lessons in the high magickal arts (2nd ed.). Llewellyn Publications.
Regardie, I. (2000). The Tree of Life: An illustrated study in magic. Weiser Books. (Original work published 1932)
Scholem, G. (1965). On the Kabbalah and its symbolism (R. Manheim, Trans.). Schocken Books.
MY SET-UP ️
– Canon 90D camera https://amzn.to/3yQclh0
– Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 https://amzn.to/3JjU1BS
– Teleprompter ️ https://amzn.to/3linWCB
– Shure SM7B Microphone ️ https://amzn.to/3Jm5IYK
– Microphone stand https://amzn.to/3FueJOn
– Lights https://amzn.to/3Zdk8k1
– DJI Wireless microphones https://amzn.to/3NWAVVQ
00:00 Exploring the Role of the Self in Magical Traditions
01:26 The Legacy of Descartes’ Cogito and the Conception of Self
02:54 David Hume’s Challenge to the Concept of a Stable Self
04:28 Jung’s Model of the Self in Analytical Psychology
06:03 The Multifaceted Nature of the Self in Western Philosophy
06:54 Support Angela’s Symposium
07:27 The Concept of True Will in Thelema
10:02 The Soul in Hermetic Qabalah
12:47 Magical Identity as Ritual Performance
14:25 Esoteric Debates on the Nature of the Self
15:27 The Self as Crucible of Magical Transformation
16:14 Support Angela’s Symposium
️ Copyright of Dr Angela Puca, in all of its parts ️
Music by Erose MusicBand. Check them out!
Published on June 8, 2025
