Iamblichus on Theurgy - Embracing Material Existence

I am currently reading through Gregory Shaw's article The Geometry of Grace: A Pythagorean Approach to Theurgy.  The article appears in the hard-to-obtain anthology of articles on The Divine Iamblichus: Philosopher and Man of Gods edited by H. J. Blumenthal and E. G. Clark published in 1993.  The article contains similar ideas to Shaw's classic work Theurgy and the Soul: The Neoplatonism of Iamblichus, but with emphasis on Pythagorean aspects to theurgy.

The Divine Iamblichus

Iamblichus opposed Plotinus' doctrine of an undescended aspect of the soul that was totally separate from materiality.  Iamblichus recognized that there must have been a purpose to the soul descending into material existence, and theurgy was how the philosopher redeemed his bodily nature.  I think this is best described by Shaw in the following quotation:

Following the will of the Demiurge and its own essential nature, the individual soul had to descend into a body, so its perfection had to incorporate the generated world into which it had fallen.  The manner of this incorporation was the exclusive task of theurgy where, through activities empowered by the gods the soul regained its continuity with them.  Put simply, theurgy transformed the soul's self-alienating activity into divine action.

This is an important concept, because we too often find spiritual aspirants denigrating the physical body and neglecting its proper care.  It is very common to think that spirituality means leaving the physical world behind to play with the Gods in the world of the starry heavens.  The highest spirituality actually embraces the physical world and the body, because it is part of the full spectrum of development.  We know that this world is magical, it is the realm through which spirituality is expressed in its true fullness.

It is our highest fulfillment to give expression to our spirit through physical action.  We do not seek to develop clairvoyance and astral projection to leave this world behind, but they are tools to manifest our highest potential and service to humanity here in this world.  What good is it if you can travel through astral space and do amazing things there, if you can't do amazing things here as well?

Many spiritual aspirants feel that they would be freed from the bondage of this world if they could develop astral projection.  But the reality is they will have to come back to the body sooner or later, so why not aspire equally to become the master of the body as well?

The true magic is being able to express our spiritual fullness through jobs and friendships, develop skills through which we can get our message out to the world, be able to make social connections to people who we can mutually serve with our unique talents, and eventually gain worldwide recognition as a philanthropist serving humanity and the planet on a mass global scale.  In short, the highest fulfillment is mastering the outer world by being at one with who we are in the inside, and expressing that on the outside without shame, guilt, or concealment.  The world becomes our magical playground, while our playmates are the gods.  It is nice to see the Neoplatonists' views on theurgy in harmony with this understanding.

Books mentioned in this article: