Augoeides, a term from ancient Greek philosophy, refers to the concept of the 'luminous body' or 'higher self'. It is often associated with practices aimed at achieving a higher state of consciousness.
The concept of the augoeides, or "luminous body," has its roots in ancient Greek philosophy, particularly in the works of Plato and the Neoplatonists. It refers to the idea of a subtle, radiant embodiment that serves as the vehicle for the soul or higher self. This luminous body was seen as a bridge between the material and spiritual realms, allowing for the attainment of higher states of consciousness and union with the divine.
How Divine Madness can Reveal Mystical Truths - Plato | Ficino | Bruno
In Plato's Phaedrus, he describes the soul as having once been able to behold the true forms of beauty and truth in a state of wholeness, before becoming encased in the physical body, which he likens to a tomb. The augoeides was seen as a means of reconnecting with this primordial state of being and regaining access to the realm of pure ideas and spiritual illumination.[1]
The Neoplatonists, such as Plotinus, Porphyry, and Iamblichus, further developed the concept of the augoeides, associating it with the practice of theurgy – rituals and contemplative exercises aimed at achieving henosis, or mystical union with the divine.[1][2] They believed that through purification and the cultivation of virtue, the soul could shed its material encumbrances and ascend to higher levels of reality, ultimately merging with the One or the Intellect.
Various spiritual traditions and esoteric schools have incorporated the idea of the augoeides, or a similar concept, into their practices and rituals. In the Western esoteric tradition, texts such as the Book of Abramelin and the works of Aleister Crowley outline rituals and techniques for attaining the "Body of Light" or "Higher Self."[3]
6 or 18 Months: How Long, O Abramelin, How Long?
The Bornless Ritual, also known as the Preliminary Invocation of the Goetia, is a powerful ritual attributed to Crowley that aims to invoke the "Holy Guardian Angel," which can be seen as a manifestation of the augoeides or higher self.[3] Similarly, the Headless Ritual of the Illuminates of Thanateros is a modern ritual designed to facilitate the attainment of the "Body of Light."
https://youtu.be/InIbA_csl6M?feature=shared
In Eastern traditions, concepts like the subtle body in Hinduism and Buddhism, and the Golden Embryo in Taoism, share similarities with the augoeides, representing the spiritual essence or luminous aspect of the individual that transcends the physical form.
Ultimately, the augoeides represents the highest potential of the human being – the attainment of self-realization, enlightenment, or union with the divine. It is the purified and radiant aspect of the self that is liberated from the limitations of the material world and able to perceive the true nature of reality.
Practices and rituals aimed at realizing the augoeides often involve techniques of purification, concentration, and contemplation, as well as the cultivation of virtues and the transcendence of ego and attachment. By aligning oneself with this luminous aspect of being, the individual is said to gain access to higher levels of consciousness, wisdom, and spiritual understanding.[1][2][3]
While the specific terminology and symbolism may vary across traditions, the underlying concept of the augoeides represents a universal human aspiration – the desire to transcend the limitations of the physical realm and attain a state of spiritual illumination and unity with the divine.
Citations: [1] https://ia802801.us.archive.org/24/items/doctrinesubtle00meaduoft/doctrinesubtle00meaduoft.pdf [2] https://www.themathesontrust.org/publications-files/MTexcerpt-PhilosophyRebirth.pdf [3] https://www.philaletheians.co.uk/study-notes/constitution-of-man/nous-augoeides-of-the-neoplatonists.pdf [4] https://www.scribd.com/document/291284954/The-Augoeides [5] https://www.laurency.com/MVe/wm8.pdf