Media
Universal History: Beyond the Horizon: The Symbolism of the Far East | pt.1 | with Richard Rohlin
This is part one of a series of discussions on the symbolism of the far east with Richard Rohlin, as part of our Universal History series. Today’s discussion will set a foundation for the upcoming episodes about the mongols, Prester John and other medieval legends....
Digital ID and Control | with Dr. Paula Boddington
This is my third conversation with Dr. Paula Boddington. This time we talk about agency, consciousness, digital ID, security, power and the mythology of technology, and how artificial intelligence plays into our desires and our notions of what a human being is....
Why Humans Sacrifice
In this video I discuss the symbolic meaning of sacrifice in general, why it’s a human universal and how we still engage with ritualistic sacrifice today. There are many different examples of sacrifice, not only killings, but offering and dedication for initiation...
Encountering the Risen Christ | with Fr. Bogdan Bucur
Fr. Bogdan teaches patristics at St. Vladimir’s Seminary and in this video we discuss the story of the Road to Emmaus where the disciples encountered the resurrected Christ. We explore what this story means for how we can understand the resurrection and how the church...
April 2022 Q&A
This is the monthly YouTube Q&A livestream, where I answer questions that patrons of $10/month or more submit on my website, Subscribestar and Patreon. - The Symbolic World website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com Support — Patreon • PayPal •...
Universal History: The Bridegroom and the Scapegoat | with Richard Rohlin
In this Universal History episode Richard Rohlin and I talk about holy week and the idea of marriage as the basis of civilization alongside René Girard's idea of the sacrifice and the scapegoat. Support — Patreon • PayPal • SubscribeStar • BitChute Follow —...
Articles
Faith Stripped Bare: The Transfiguration of Doubt in an Age of Exile
Imprinted upon the architecture of our Being is the desire for meaning, purpose, community and ritual. We seek to transcend and become more than the sum of our parts…
Phenomenology, Empiricism, and Creation in Man
Phenomenology vs. empiricism In a recent Symbolic World conversation, Jonathan Pageau and JP Marceau explored certain practical considerations...
The Logos, Dragons, and Revelation in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was released by Bethesda Game Studios in 2011, and by 2016, Skyrim sold more than 30 million copies, according to...
On Lot’s Life after Sodom and the Dangers of Symbolic Thinking
The Lord begins His commandments to Moses with “I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of...
The Transformative Power of the Mother’s Embrace
A Reflection on The Divine Feminine, Hugs, and The Lion King Reflecting on my relationship with my mom during some conversations with others from...
Nassim Taleb’s Empirical Symbolism
In his book The Black Swan, Nassim Taleb makes a powerful argument for symbolism, along with a powerful critique. He doesn’t quite use that...
Jonathan & St Maximus vs JP & St Thomas: Is Symbolism Dangerous?
Jonathan and JP have a cordial debate about how to approach symbolism and whether symbolism is dangerous.
The Inverted World and Saint Christopher in The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
(For my narrative analysis of Majora’s Mask, read here.) The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask was released in April 2000, to both commercial and...
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About
Jonathan Pageau
Professional Icon Carver
Jonathan Pageau is a professional artist, writer and public speaker, giving workshops and conferences all around North America. He teaches carving, speaks on art, but mostly explores symbolic structures that underlie our experience of the world.
Through his YouTube channel and podcast, The Symbolic World, he also furthers the conversation on symbolism, meaning and patterns in everything from movies, to icons, to social trends.
Articles on the The Symbolic World are contributed by several writers engaged with Jonathan in the exploration of Symbolism across all fields.
To see the Jonathan’s art, please visit his carving website, his Patreon Art page or follow him on social media.