The Symbolic World

A rich tour of decapitation as a recurring symbol in Scripture and tradition. Short scenes from Genesis, martyr narratives, and Eucharistic images are traced to show a pattern of being lifted up through loss. Stories include John the Baptist and the astonishing tale of Saint Denis preaching while carrying his head. Themes of sacrifice, revelation, and the unity of glory and death recur throughout.

I sat down with Fr. Josiah Trenham to talk about something that’s becoming harder to ignore: how to properly order your loyalties.We discussed the tension between faith, nation, family, and personal identity, and what happens when those come into conflict. Join us at the Symbolic World Summit, where Fr. Josiah will be one of the keynote speakers. May 14-16 | Ohio | Keynote speakers: Jonathan Pageau, Fr. Josiah Trenham, Mary Harrington, Dcn. Seraphim Rohlin, Kale Zelden, Annie Crawford, and Heather PollingtonBuy your tickets: https://symbolicworldsummit.com/ YouTube version of this episode: https://youtu.be/Ugt7XnbH0tQ🔓 Become a patron to support us and unlock exclusive monthly symbolism content: https://thesymbolicworld.com/subscribe💻 Website and blog: http://www.thesymbolicworld.com🔗 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jonathanpageau  🎧 Listen to and review The Symbolic World podcast:-Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gI8bUwPtT3gkduHqNh6M5-Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-symbolic-world/id1386867488 Our website designers: https://www.resonancehq.io/ My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

Annie Crawford, a medievalist and C.S. Lewis scholar, explores alchemical symbolism in That Hideous Strength. She contrasts two kinds of transformation: controlling, disembodied power versus sacrificial, participatory change. Short takes cover tech as modern alchemy, story structure mapped to alchemical stages, and how everyday transitions mirror symbolic purification.

Decon. Seraphim Rohlin, Orthodox deacon and theological commentator, guides a tour through Kabbalah's imprint on early American religious thought. Short takes cover Jefferson and Puritan mysticism. They trace Adam Kadmon, Quaker debates, Sabbatean currents, and visions of America as a new Israel or apocalyptic terminus.

A guided tour through the icons of Holy Week, tracing Palm Sunday’s kingly entry to the paradox of a crown of thorns. Short segments explore parables like the wise and foolish virgins, feet-washing and the mystical supper. The crucifixion, Adam’s skull, the descent into Hades, and the empty tomb are shown as interconnected symbolic moments.

A symbolic reading of a surreal, AI-made music video packed with ritual and visual puzzles. Scene-by-scene meanings are teased out from church imagery, masked figures, and a twisted wedding. Competing authorities and rival claims to legitimacy take center stage. The analysis tracks how performance, fakery, and revelation play across striking, uncanny images.

Kale Zelden, a literature teacher and writer who revives the Great Books for modern classrooms. He discusses how to encounter Homer, Dante, and Shakespeare on their own terms. Conversations touch on rebuilding a practical canon, balancing ancient epics with modern novels, and how reading traditions shape communal meaning.

A critique of historical literalism and why chasing mechanical details can miss symbolic meaning. A close look at the nail-through-the-wrist detail and why hands carry unique personhood. Discussion of how art and scripture compress events toward meaning rather than physical accuracy. A call to prioritize symbolic purpose over technical explanations like those for miracles or the Red Sea.

Mary Harrington, writer and cultural commentator probing technology, memory, and digital life. She traces her path into public writing and maps the internet to literary history. Conversations cover AI as an electric nervous system, platform life cycles, cancel culture as a tech phenomenon, and reviving monastic memory practices to preserve human imagination.

Dr. Zachary Porcu, Orthodox theologian and author of Journey to Reality, explains why sacraments, participation, and re-enchantment matter today. He talks about reframing basic categories, how modern assumptions block sacramental thinking, and practical habits to de-secularize everyday life. Short, vivid examples and teaching stories keep the conversation lively.