Magic Monday

[ecosophia]

It's getting on for midnight, so we can proceed with a new Magic Monday. Ask me anything about occultism and I'll do my best to answer it. Any question received by midnight Monday Eastern time will get an answer. (Any question received after then will not get an answer, and will likely just be deleted.) If you're in a hurry, or suspect you may be the 143,916th person to ask a question, please check out the very rough version 1.0 of The Magic Monday FAQ here.

I've had several people ask about tipping me for answers here, and though I certainly don't require that I won't turn it down. You can use the button above to access my online tip jar. If you're interested in political and economic astrology, or simply prefer to use a subscription service to support your favorite authors, you can find my Patreon page here and my SubscribeStar page here. 

 

I've also had quite a few people over the years ask me where they should buy my books, and here's the answer. Bookshop.org is an alternative online bookstore that supports local bookstores and authors, which a certain other gargantuan corporation doesn't, and I now have a shop there, which you can check out here. Please consider patronizing it if you'd like to purchase any of my books online. 

And don't forget to look up your Pangalactic New Age Soul Signature at CosmicOom.com.

With that said, have at it!

***This Magic Monday is now closed. See you next week!***  

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Hi!
I’m still wolfing down The Cosmic Doctrine. (Still no idea why.) Your commentary led me to The Welsh Fairy Book by W. Jenkyn Thomas. I’m finding it more digestible than another Welsh symbolic text. Might you be persuaded to say a few words about Thomas and his work as it relates to Druidry?
And from the Office of Planting by the Signs… I looked up the best days to plough so my garden gets a good start this year. First try – rototiller needed repair. Second try – rain. Third try – snow. Fourth try opening on Monday and Tuesday. Will report. Seems like a good year to plant red, white, and blue popcorn.
Speaking of signs – what’s a favorable moon sign to send my membership petition to the AODA? Besides some time after I edit the essay back to a readable length, I mean.
Many thanks.
Rhydlyd

[(Anonymous)]

Any chance I could get a nickel tour of this week’s Robert Fludd plate?
Thank you.
Rhydlyd

[(Anonymous)]

I'm getting increasingly angry with the dicyanin story. For some reason, most people discussing the subject are treating the filters as something that can make you see auras instantly, without need to train the eyes. There is also a problem of many people trying to use other materials, without testing them with training.

This combined with the fake units on internet will make this whole affair into a joke like those X-ray googles in old magazines. And scientism wins again.

My experience with the Chenrezig mantra as a non Buddhist, aka Good Is Not Nice

[(Anonymous)]

I just thought I should report on my experiences as a non-Buddhist chanting the Om Mani Padme Hum mantra.

After having visited a Buddhist temple, I'd started chanting Om Mani Padme Hum, and eventually, as I have had experience with the Middle Pillar exercise I realised that each syllable belonged to an energy center. I placed Om at crown of head, Ma at center of forehead, Ni at throat, Pad at Heart, Me at groin, and Hum at feet.

As a result, I found that I could not digest my meal and was violently ill. Next day was a full day of fasting, and the rest of the week was forced vegetarianism. I also, on a whim, gave a beggar much more money than he asked, enough for the packet of cigarettes he clearly wanted.

So... TSW, but at a cost. I think I'd need to have a think and do some divinations as to whether continuing that is a good idea.

[(Anonymous)]

a) What steps would you recommend someone working in the Celtic Golden Dawn use to make himself more lovable? (Ovate grade)

b) I met a very odd figure at a mosque a few days ago. I don't remember how we got talking about your work, but after a while he asked me to relay a message: he's the atheist who sold his soul to a demon for wealth and power, and he thinks he is doing fine.

He's living a fairly strict life, with the imam having told him he's not to use any form of media (no TV, no internet, even newspapers are out); the rules are quite strict due to his earlier mistake, and so while he can't thank you directly, he's asked me to relay the message that he is doing well, and to relay his sincerest gratitude for your advice.

[(Anonymous)]

Your grand mutation prediction includes a distinct drop in the number of democracies in the world, and watching the fallout of the Covid debacle, it seems uncomfortable plausible right now. Is there a way to tell whether a particular country will be able to hold on to democracy in advance?

Current Mood: cheerful?

[(Anonymous)]

You likely explained this elsewhere, but what is the function and origin of the chinese (?) symbol of current mood which accompanies each entry on this blog? That's probably not a profound question, but I am curious.

Prayers for Kiki

[kimberlysteele]

Hi JMG and Ecosophians,

Please pray for my cat Kiki, she is going through a bout of constipation again. I am doing all the physical plane things for her: getting her to play, feeding her raw meat, two kinds of anti-constipation meds, massage, etc. I need help on the higher planes. Thank you in advance!

Kimberly Steele

[(Anonymous)]

JMG,

1. Some occult writers on the GD system state that you don’t have to begin and end the Middle Pillar exercise with the Qabalistic Cross because the MP itself is a “super-charged” form of the QC. Do you agree with this claim?

2. Does the occult model of the universe imply that there are no ‘miracles’ as popularly imagined in the major religions? Manifestation follows the path of Creation, from the pure will of the divine, through the mental and astral realms, into the etheric and material planes. To the extent that the divine will manifests, it occurs through synchronicity: apparently meaningful coincidences following the laws of nature on the material plane, and not through a suspension of the natural order. The magician, in turn, influences the process of manifestation by formulating symbolic patterns on the astral plane and allowing them to descend into the etheric and material planes. What is your personal stance on miracles?

3. It seems that the occult view of spirits implies that they have no physical bodies, and that our interaction with them is limited to the astral and etheric planes, as phenomena in consciousness. Is the depiction of angels, demons, and other supernatural entities in the major world religions as embodied entities an example of telesmatic imagery? Is it possible to ever “see” such an entity in 3-dimensional space?

[(Anonymous)]

Question for both JMG and the readership: Could anyone recommend a place to buy a good set of magical working tools (wand, dagger, pentacle, cup, mirror, etc.) of adequate quality and constructed from the appropriate materials? I’ve been meaning to make my own, but the task feels too big for me and since I never get around to it, I figure it’s better to get a start with purchased tools and then craft my own set at a later point. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Journaling, Ogham, and Path

[(Anonymous)]

Three questions:

A) The other week, I decided to try the journaling mentioned in the FAQ and felt really good immediately afterwards. That night, I had horrifying nightmares (far outside of normal). The next day, I found the journal felt like it soaked up an enormous amount of negative energy. Have you ever heard of something like this? Is there some way to safely journal without accidentally cursing the book?

B) I like the look of the Druidry & Druid Magic Handbooks, but I don't have any sense of connection/attraction to the Ogham. Even the plain latin alphabet feels more meaningful to me. Is it acceptable to make the substitution, or use geomancy instead? Or do I just need to suck it up and embrace the Ogham if I go that route?

C) Do you have any other advice or techniques for deciding on a spiritual path? I was really disciplined in the past but started wandering a few years ago, and it has become hard to stop. I feel like I've reached the point where I have to focus on some particular path in order to progress any further. Unfortunately, every time I try to pick something, I feel like I'm trading too much for the promises of whatever system I'm looking at and would be better off working with something else.

[(Anonymous)]

I've seen some people try to draw connections between Nietzsche's philosophy and his mental collapse. You have said before that certain beliefs or worldviews can lead to madness. Do you think there is any connection?

[(Anonymous)]

Have you heard of the Inner Garden Foundation (innergarden.org)?
Their website looks nice, but I don't know enough about alchemy to judge the quality of it or the organization.

[tamanous2020]

Hi JMG,

Hope you're doing well!

1. Did you notice a big change in your magical/spiritual life when you moved over to the east coast?

2. A youtuber I follow recently had weird paranormal activity live on video while continuing his jungian discussion work with a depth psychologist (weird noises and books flying off shelves). In their discussion that followed, they talked how Jung himself had significant poltergeist activity when going through certain phases of his red book. Is there something about the emotional intensity of depth work, or its incorporation of imagination into its workings, that draws in spiritual activity?

3. You've discussed how the use of an iron knife can be used to clean parasites off the etheric body by the use of stabbing motions. Could this also be done with scraping motions as well?

4. One of the interesting meditations I've been thinking on is why for the Revival Druid tradition you face south while beginning and ending the SoP. That direction is associated with the element of fire, and in the dolmen arch its associated with Mars both of which don't immediately strike me as related to druidry (as compared to their abrahamic tradition facing east which is associated with wind and the sun).
My instinct would say it would make sense to face north, towards earth and venus, given the focus in druidry on the land and the natural world. The one potential answer I have was through the upward triangle symbol of fire. Given that the DA course is attempting to move along the development of strong etheric/astral bodies and to help with the development of the mental body, it would make some sense that druidry would be associated with a symbol of upward movement.

Anyways thanks for letting me ramble. I'm sure this is one of those digressions that will get your patented "that's interesting, you should meditate on that" :p.

5. And one of the things I couldn't help but notice was that you seem to follow in the same track as the ole american William James, what with both your emphasis on accepting the wide expanse of spiritually on its face, without collapsing it all to be slightly tweeked versions of the same thing like perrenialist or new agers do. Were you influenced by his works at all?

Tamanous

Astrology question

[jruss]

Greetings JMG and all you wonderful people.

I have an Astrology Question, was looking over my chart and trying to figure out what it would mean for my financial, love life, and my going into art and writing.



Having trouble with the image so here is the link https://imgur.com/a/5tE02Fu

If this is asking too much can you point me to someone who could help?

[(Anonymous)]

Would you say that during eclipses these are generally times to avoid doing anything major or unusual (for you)?

For instance, my wife is getting her second Pfizer shot during the coming lunar eclipse. Would she be wise to change the appointment? After all, there will be thousands getting a shot at the same time and they can’t all be unlucky.

On Buying and Selling Souls

[(Anonymous)]

On the subject of soul-selling, you may or may not have heard about how, some weeks ago, Liminal Warmth bought some atheists' souls (https://liminalwarmth.com/the-questionable-ethics-of-buying-and-selling-souls/). And it wasn't just a joke: there was a contract and exchange of money and everything.

My guess is that nothing terribly dramatic will come of it: Lim strikes me as too good-natured to abuse any power the deed to the souls might grant her over their previous owners. That said, I imagine there will be some karmic blowback all around. If nothing else, some raspberry jam: Lim has now defined herself as a dealer in souls, and her sellers have defined themselves as people willing to sell over their souls.

If I understood your response to the other guy right, they've all now tied themselves into an Abrahamic worldview, since that's the only one in which the selling of souls is a thing. And my guess is that the sellers will become just a bit more avaricious and amoral -- if you'd sell your own soul for money, what isn't for sale?

[(Anonymous)]

You've repeated that when doing political magic you should always build up your own side and not target the opposition. However in The Magical Battle of Britain, Fortune not only has angels patrolling the British Isles but also throwing lightning bolts to break up storm clouds over Germany. That seems to be something of a loophole. By branding something your enemy is doing as a malign outside influence you can say you're doing them a favour by removing it. Even if it's true, it feels like getting as close as possible to directly affecting the enemy without getting the blowback.

Ghosts, Slime, and Schizophrenia

[goatgodschild]

Mr. Greer --

This is going to be a long one, unfortunately.

In Fall 2019, I moved into my college dorm. This college is built on the grounds (and using the buildings) of an asylum that began in 1933. Most of the old buildings have been updated and renovated into classrooms and offices, except for four. One is next to the bus stop, and I thought it was still in use for offices.

When I came up towards the entrance, black tendrils appeared from the door in my secondary vision. It was as though there was this black slime coming out of it, and I finally got close enough to read the sign on the door, CHILDREN'S PSYCHIATRIC WARD. I backed up, bowing and apologizing, because I could feel so much energy coming off of it, angry and hungry, and I ran off. I thought I could cut through a courtyard, but it was a dead end, and the children's ward was on all sides. It felt like there were hundreds of eyes watching me from the windows. I could feel what they wanted, for me to come into the building with them, and just as surely, I knew that if I went in, I would never come out.

I already had my statuette of Pan in my pocket and my silver amulet around my neck, but there was a piece of rebar at my feet, and I grabbed that too. I said I didn't want any trouble, I would never come back, or bring anybody, that I just wanted to get out of there. I backed out of the courtyard, and left the rebar at the entrance in case it was needed by anyone else.

I started carrying a chain of additional amulets around as the semester wore on. There were other incidents like this, and eventually it was decided my medication should be increased. I wasn't scared so much after that. I've been on antipsychotics and other medications for years, but I've often wondered whether the incident in the courtyard could be classified as something occult in nature. If so, what happened? Is there a better way to handle this sort of thing in the future? Besides remembering where the courtyard entrances are, of course.

Tarot Book Opinions

[(Anonymous)]

JMG and others,

With the upcoming book club study of The Doctrine and Ritual of High Magic and the recommendation to gets Tarot deck such as the Wirth Deck, I started looking for works that provide detailed descriptions of the Tarot cards and the associated symbolism. I first found Wirth’s book, but while searching I saw recommendations for a few others. I’m looking for opinions on any of these 3 books regarding if they are recommended:

1. Tarot of the Magicians: The Occult Symbols of the Major Arcana that Inspired Modern Tarot by: Oswald Wirth
2. Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom: A Tarot Journey to Self-Awareness by: Rachel Pollack
3. Meditations on the Tarot: A Journey into Christian Hermeticism by: Valentin Tomberg (trans. Robert Powell)

For book number 3: It seems to be more of a book of the author’s philosophy and worldview using the Major Arcana as an organizational framework rather than a book about Tarot. I’m still curious to know if it is recommended?

[(Anonymous)]

Hello, and thank you again for these Q&As.

1. Venus charities: what are suitable ones, other than for the performing arts?
Are women's domestic violence shelters Moon charities, Venus charities, or both?

2. Mars charities: do sports charities count as well as veterans' organizations? What others?
I was reading Christopher Warnock's pages on William Lilly, and of course the subjects are all very 16th century and don't take account of what exists now.
I've read plenty of times on here about literacy charities for Mercury, but less so about some of the other planets.

3. I would like to learn about runes as an alphabet and in their basic occult meanings. I am not planning to use them for divination myself, but, for example, when I see sets of runes on jewelry in a pagan store, or on someone's t-shirt, I would like to have a reasonable idea when they are a meaningful arrangement and when they are a pattern of random letters - or if I see a divination spread to have a rough idea about it as I would about tarot. I would like to learn about both Elder and Younger Futhark, and other common variations. Maybe also to recognize the most famous historical inscriptions? I have known a few of the letters for a long time, but really not the whole set(s).

What books or online documents would you, or other community members, recommend for this?

[autpaxautbellum]

I’ve started doing the Judson exercise a couple times a day. So far it seems to agree with me, so many thanks for sharing. I was just curious about your reasoning in eliminating the grasping element in the first and fourth stages. Were you looking to alter the effect of the exercise? Or did it just seem to work better for you without the grasping?

Mundane Astrology/Lunar Eclipse

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG, you have been speculating about some possible blowback with the covid mess. Are you at all familiar with the work of Geert Vanden Bossche?
He is an independent Vaccine Research Consultant. He has a website, twitter, you tube for those who would like to investigate.
To try and summarise very briefly, his hypothesis is, that vaccinating during a pandemic is part of the reason why we are seeing all these variants crop up. Basically we are making evolution happen at warp speed and as he says making the variants fitter and stronger and therefore more dangerous, including to age groups that up to now have had enough natural immunity. He's very worried and believes mass vaccination should be stopped.
There's more to it than my brief summary, but the gist is it's got me thinking about what you have mentioned in your astrology reports.
as well as this, for the longest time something else has been at the back of my mind. Before you went on your break, somebody mentioned Martin Armstrong. For many years I have perused his website and so much of what he has calculated has come to pass, often to the day. I don't necessarily agree with his politics, but that is bye the bye. He gets stuff right. Anyway he has been predicting for many years that 2022 is the big pandemic year.
Putting together what you have shown in the charts, the info from Dr Bossche and Mr Armstrong, I'm kind of getting a bit worried myself.
I would encourage any readers who have read JMG's astrology reports, to perhaps look into the websites of these other two men. In the case of Armstrong, maybe do a search for his pandemic cycle.
Anyway, I must go as one of my dogs is getting restless. Molly, the one with Congestive Heart Failure - all prayers for her gratefully accepted!

Regards, Helen in Oz

Human Limitations

[laflamme]

Greetings Archdruid,

In your discussion on the Hermitix Podcast titled ‘Religion, Progress, and the Future with John Michael Greer’ you state that the range of human possibility is not unlimited.

Yet in the conceptual framework of the Three Circles of Manifestation described in your book The Druidry Handbook, the outer limit of the circle of Abred, where a soul achieves humanity, is not a final limit: there is the possibility that the human soul might continue its journey into the second circle, that of Gwynfydd. This framework suggests that there is no final limit.

My question is: is the human range of spiritual possibility limited?

From under the acacias,

Gunnar

[(Anonymous)]

How do I help my toddler with the monsters that have recently started terrifying her, without participating in the mainstream culture of stamping out the child's subtle senses?