Does anyone here practice Platonism as a genuine religious practice? I have begun to treat it as my religion, with Platonism forming my worldview and Julian Hellenism as my ritual practice.The Platonic tradition, the heir of Orphism and the successor to the wisdoms of Pythagoras, already has played such a huge role in Western mysticism and cosmology, from Plato himself to Christianity to Hermetic occultism, the legacy cannot be stated enough.But something about the Julian rituals changed my relationship with it. Before, it was just a kind of metaphysics. But when I do Julian rituals, when I wake up as the sun rises and meditate on the monad, on the divine mind of the cosmos and how by focusing on Sol Invictus I synchronize with the divine reason and open my noetic eye, it just made it all more real. Instead of it being a metaphysics I understood abstractly, it became a practice I embodied in my daily life. Julian Neoplatonism reorientated my life. Has anyone else gone down this route? How do you guys practice Platonism?
>>41236545maybe not what youre interested in but I tried to get into neoplatonism and neopythagoreanism by trying to read algis uzdavinys and gregory shaw and iamblichus but I guess im just to dense to follow any of itwell anyways im interested to hear a practical aproach from you and the rituals you do that were infli#uenced by platonism
Read alawiteanon's threads for a deeper explanation.
>>41236603Here is a very quick ritual you can do when the sun rises and the sun sets based on Julian Neoplatonism1. Preparation>Candle or small lamp: divine light, illumination>Mirror: reflection of divine within>Incense (frankincense, myrrh): soul’s ascent, purification>Libation (water, wine, milk, olive oil): offering to the gods>Grain / cakes (bread, honey cake, rice): consecrated matter>Fruit / flowers: joyful natural offering>Knife: symbolic discernment, cutting chaos into order>Bowl / plate: containment and focus2. Purification (Katharsis)>Wash hands and face to wash away distractions>Optional short fast or abstain from stimulants>Sprinkle water around altar for consecration>Light candle/lamp in front of mirror and focus on flame, visualize tension melting away>Focus on breath: inhale divine energy, exhale clutter3. Contemplation (Epopteia)>Sit or stand comfortably facing altar>Gaze into mirror and see yourself as reflection of divine intellect, nous>Visualize golden light descending, filling body and mind>Internal affirmation: “I am aligned with the divine order. I am open to wisdom and presence.”4. Invocation (Anagoge)>Choose deity or principle (e.g., Helios for illumination)>Recite names, epithets, or short hymns 3 times>Use knife symbolically to “cut away” confusion (trace sigil, cut cake)>Hold libation and silently offer intentions, imagining essence flowing to deity5. Communion (Theourgia)>Sit quietly, gazing at flame or mirror>Visualize deity’s light filling offerings and filling your body>Allow sensations, thoughts, inspirations to arise freely6. Dismissal (Apopompe)>Thank deity internally or aloud, “I honor you, Helios. May your wisdom remain with me.”>Extinguish candle gently>Collect or respectfully dispose of offerings>Sprinkle water to close sacred circle>Sit briefly and breathe, integrate ritual into daily awareness
>>41236927wow thanks man, will read it later when i have more time!
>>41236927Julian wrote many hymns and prayers to accompany this, on top of the traditional Hellenic hymns already available. This with books like Timaeus and The Enneads and the traditional Greco-Roman Canon like Theogony makes for a very strong foundation
