What are the Larvae? A History of the Occult Larva

In this episode, we dive deep into the fascinating origins and esoteric significance of the term larva. We begin by exploring its classical Latin meaning as a ghostly apparition or malevolent spirit, drawing from ancient Roman religious traditions. Discover how larvae were seen as dangerous spirits that disturbed the living, and how these concepts evolved over time. As we trace the term through history, you'll see how larva came to represent not just ghosts, but also astral parasites in modern occultism, feeding off negative emotions and unresolved psychic energy. Learn how figures like Blavatsky, Crowley, and Bardon interpreted larvae as psychic parasites, and how the term has even found its way into modern biological terminology. We'll also discuss the festival of Lemuria in Roman culture, where rituals were performed to exorcise these malevolent spirits, and the symbolic significance of masks in esoteric traditions. CONNECT & SUPPORT💖 MY COURSES 👩🏻‍🎓 https://drangelapuca.com/courses WEBSITE & NEWSLETTER 💌 https://www.drangelapuca.com/#newsletter BOOK A TUTORING OR A LECTURE 📖https://drangelapuca.com/services BECOME MY PATRON! 🎩 https://www.patreon.com/angelapuca SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI ☕️https://ko-fi.com/drangelapuca ONE-OFF DONATIONS 💰 https://paypal.me/angelasymposium JOIN MEMBERSHIPS 👥 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPSbip_LX2AxbGeAQfLp-Ig/join MY PODCAST 🎙 https://open.spotify.com/show/2TKoWTGe6OKRokHN2zUIxM?si=dd9f50a734b14f86 MY MERCH 👕 https://drangelapuca.creator-spring.com/ FOLLOW ME👣 - YouTube (@drangelapuca)🌟 - Instagram (@drangelapuca) 📸 - TikTok (@drangelapuca) 🎵 - Twitter (@angelapuca11) 🐦 - Facebook (Dr Angela Puca) 👥 REFERENCES 📚 (more on screen) MacCulloch, J.A. (1930) 'Larvae', in Hastings, J. (ed.) Encyclopaedia of religion and ethics. Vol. 8. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, pp. 765-766. Greenfield, R.P.H. (1988) Traditions of belief in late Byzantine demonology. Amsterdam: Adolf M. Hakkert. Russell, J.B. (1977) The devil: Perceptions of evil from antiquity to primitive Christianity. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. Flint, V. (1991) The rise of magic in early medieval Europe. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Tertullian (ca. 210 CE) De anima. Translated by P. Holmes, 1870, in Ante-Nicene Christian library: Translations of the writings of the Fathers down to A.D. 325. Vol. 15. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark. Dodds, E.R. (1947) 'Theurgy and its relationship to Neoplatonism', The Journal of Roman Studies, 37, pp. 55-69. Garland, R. (2001) The Greek way of death. 2nd edn. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. Scullard, H.H. (1981) Festivals and ceremonies of the Roman Republic. London: Thames and Hudson. MY SET-UP 🛠️ - Canon 90D camera 📸 https://amzn.to/3yQclh0 - Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 📷 https://amzn.to/3JjU1BS - Teleprompter 🗒️ https://amzn.to/3linWCB - Shure SM7B Microphone 🎙️ https://amzn.to/3Jm5IYK - Microphone stand 🎤 https://amzn.to/3FueJOn - Lights 💡 https://amzn.to/3Zdk8k1 - DJI Wireless microphones 📡 https://amzn.to/3NWAVVQ 00:00 Introduction: Astral Larvae
01:01 The Topic of Lavae came from a Patron
01:47 Support Angela’s Symposium
02:47 Etymology of Larva – Larvae
04:10 The Significance of Larva Meaning Mask
05:35 The Modern Use of Larva in Biology
07:10 The Concept of Larvae Over Time
08:18 Classical Conceptions of Larvae
09:34 The Roman Festival of Lemuria
10:10 Apuleius: The Metamorphoses, or The Golden Ass
11:21 Larvae in Christian Theology
12:51 Larvae in Early Esoteric Thought
13:11 Larvae in Gnosticism
13:56 Early Christian Demonology and the idea of the Larva
14:45 The Larvae in Neoplatonism
16:21 Renaissance and Early Modern Esoteric Interpretations of Larvae
16:51 Marsilio Ficino’s View of Astral Influences
17:29 Paracelsus and Ideas of Spiritual Entities
16:21 Esoteric Revival and Thought-Forms
22:01 Theosophy and Helena Blavatsky’s Concept of Larvae
22:56 The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
23:38 Aleister Crowley and Thelema and Psychological Aspects of Larvae
24:26 Spiritualism and Spirit Possession
26:08 Franz Bardon and Working with Larvae
28:16 Israel Regardie and Psychic Hygiene
29:49 Dion Fortune and Psychic Self-Defense
32:19 Modern Esoteric Practices and Chaos Magic and Psychic Parasites
35:52 Larvae in the Digital Age
37:47 Support Angela’s Symposium
⚠️ Copyright of Dr Angela Puca, in all of its parts ⚠️ Music by Erose MusicBand. Check them out!