Godspace, between sleep and awake

 

Preparing new classes, I am rereading the 3rd century classic "On the Mysteries", by the Syrian Platonist and theurgist Iamblichus. He surveyed all major forms of divination known in his times and assigned highest importance to what the soul learns in dreams and in liminal states between sleep and awake. Writing about visionary experience in twilight states, he makes it sound like Godspace, prime time for divine encounters:

"Either when sleep departs, just as we are awakening, it is possible to hear a sudden voice guiding us about things to be done, or the voices are heard between waking and going to sleep, or even when wholly awake. And sometimes an intangible and incorporeal spirit encircles those lying down, so that there is no visual perception of it, but some other awareness and self-consciousness.

"When entering, it makes a whooshing sound, and diffuses itself in all directions without any contact, and it does wondrous works by way of freeing both soul and body from their sufferings. At other times, however, when a light shines brightly and peacefully, not only is the sight of the eye possessed, but closed up after previously being quite open. And the other senses are awake and consciously aware of how the gods shine forth in the light, and with a clear understanding they both hear what they say, and know what they do."

- Iamblichus, De mysteriis trans. Emma C. Clarke John M. Dillon and Jackson P. Hershbell (Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2003)

Graphic: First-century helmet from Emesa (modern Homs) in Syria. Iamblichus was descended from priest-kings of Emesa and kept the non-Hellenic form of his name. Iamblichus (Ἰάμβλιχος)  is the Greek transliteration of Syriac or Aramaic ya-mlku, meaning “He is king”),