Magic Monday

[ecosophia]

It's a little after midnight -- yes, I'm running slightly later than usual -- 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 more than 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.

(No, I haven't run out of occult diagrams to include here, but I decided it was time to shift themes a bit and show some Druids for a change. Yes, those are Druids celebrating the summer solstice at Stonehenge. I've done the same thing at the same place.)

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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

[jprussell]

Good evening!

I hope that your October is off to a good start.

1. This might very well be a fine theme for meditation, but I'm trying to better understand the link (or lack thereof) between the astral plane and physical space. My understanding is that astral phenomena can affect things over great distances, but also that at least some of them can be linked to physical locations. Is there a relatively brief explanation of this and/or a source that discusses it worth checking out? Or am I stuck working this one out for myself :)?

2. I just read Bishop Joseph Hall's The Art of Divine Meditation since you recommended it at some point as a place to go after the basic instructions for discursive meditation in most magic books. Some of his techniques seem rather Christian-specific (such as the phase of meditation where you complain about your lack of/inability to attain the desired spiritual quality). Any thoughts on what of his approach you have found broadly useful versus what must be altered for different spiritual traditions?

3. What are your thoughts on the modern American celebration of Halloween? Consumerist nonsense? Authentic cultural expression? Harmless fun? As close as some folks can get to having a spiritual relationship with death? Something else?

4. Asking for a friend, of course: there's been a lot of discussion here and on the main blog about why it's a bad idea to sexually fantasize about real-life people. I'm wondering at what point thoughts/imaginings become harmful - is there potential negative astral effect from an appreciative glance? A passing lewd thought? I doubt there's a bright line or anything, but if there's any principle besides "the more thought and energy you put into it, the stronger an effect", I'm curious what it might be.

5. Possibly a question for the commentariat: Presumably, Sun Salutations are good for welcoming and distributing solar energy through the (subtle) body. Are there any Hatha Yoga asanas or sequences of asanas that would be good to balance that out with some telluric energy?

As always, thanks very much,
Jeff

[ecosophia]

1) I don't know of a good discussion available of this. The astral plane is not in space and time as we know it; it has its own space and time, which are the ones you experience when you dream -- dreams, of course, are astral experiences. Connections between the astral plane and physical places happen by way of the etheric plane, which is intermediate between them.

2) That's a theme for a post, or even an entire book. The short form is that I've used his book as a source of inspirations rather than borrowing his specific techniques.

3) I have so little contact with modern media culture that I don't know enough to have an opinion.

4) That's the principle.

Philosophy, mythology, science

[brenainn]

I seem to recall that you recommend an aspiring mage study philosophy, mythology, and natural science. Assuming that is correct (apologies if I misremembered something):

1. I've recently taken up studying Stoicism and Aristotelianism for philosophy. I just couldn't find any decent intros to Neoplatonism, and kind of gave up. But I want to make sure I've taken up decent philosophical schools as part of my larger magical/occult education.

2. I'm not sure what natural science to tackle first. Do you recommend one that is particularly suitable for an aspiring mage?

3. I'm not sure where to start for mythology. I have considered comparative mythology, perhaps between Christianity and the predecessor Pagan religions. Would that be helpful or do you have any other recommendations?

Re: Philosophy, mythology, science

[ecosophia]

1) Instead of looking for an intro to Neoplatonism, look for an intro to the work of Plotinus. His Enneads are challenging, but there are quite a few good introductions to them.

2) Depends on what kind of magic you want to do. Natural magic? Botany is essential. Alchemy? A good background in laboratory chemistry can save your life. Any kind of healing work? You need to know anatomy and physiology. Druid magic? Ecology, first and foremost. The list goes on. What kind of magic do you have in mind?

3) Don't read about mythology, read mythology. Get a good book of myths from a tradition that appeals to you and dive in.

White stag

[(Anonymous)]

Happy Monday JMG, In the open Covid thread number eight there was a post about a white stag shot and killed in Liverpool. The symbolism seemed appropriate for Magic Monday but obviously still very pertinent to the Covid saga. What are your thoughts on the matter, in a magical / mystical context?

JeffBKLYN

Re: White stag

[ecosophia]

In myth and legend the white stag announces the beginning of a quest. It's routine for it to be hunted and killed, but its appearance warns that the mundane world and the Otherworld are overlapping more than usual, and strange events will follow. Keep your eyes wide for other omens, and those will tell you what's afoot.

How to use magic to help oneself

[vitranc]

Hi John,

I would like to ask an magic perspective and advice on weathering personal difficult times. I am on the DMH course up to scrying of the elements.
1. How could one improve the outer world for oneself
2. How could one improve oneself to better deal with merciless circumstances?
Best regards,
V

Re: How to use magic to help oneself

[ecosophia]

If you're scrying the elements you can and should use the active and passive elemental workings to give yourself strength to deal with troubled circumstances, and if divination is favorable, to begin trying to shape your surroundings as well. As you proceed further in the work you'll learn other methods that can be used the same way. Put them to work!

[(Anonymous)]

I’m still working on the AODA’s study course for The Dolmen Arch. Definitely the most fun I’ve had stretching my brain since grad school. I recommend it to anyone willing to put in the work.

[ecosophia]

I'm very glad to hear this!

The Future of the Abrahamic Faiths Based on Religious Cycles

[(Anonymous)]

You mentioned in one of your recent podcasts that religions generally have a little more than a 2,000 year cycle, and then they become overly bureaucratic and start to wind down. That got me wondering, do you expect the Abrahamic faiths to wind down as a unit or will Islam most likely last a lot longer since it is significantly younger?

Re: The Future of the Abrahamic Faiths Based on Religious Cycles

[ecosophia]

Islam's got another five centuries or so to run before it sinks into terminal bureaucracy. Mind you, Christianity and Judaism can still reinvent themselves -- Judaism has done that once already, making the transition from the temple Judaism of the Arian age to the rabbinic Judaism of the Piscean age -- but if that happens they'll have to go through a long period of fragmentation, reassessment, and reorientation, as Judaism did after the destruction of Herod's temple.

[(Anonymous)]

Dear JMG,

Thank you, again, for another MM and all that you give to the commentariate. Three questions from highest to lowest priority :)

1. Just about 2 months ago, I broke up with my long-term partner. Based on the messages they have sent me in the intervening time, they are NOT over it. Not beginning to get over it. Not considering getting over it. I've repeatedly asked for space/time/rest/break and not been given it. The spookiest thing happened in the last week. My ex wrote that they dreamed I told them I was hooking up with Mary. The evening prior to this, I had, in fact, been thinking of Mary. So I pulled up Metaphysics on Sex (https://www.ecosophia.net/on-the-metaphysics-of-sex/) as one does, but I see now it's very solo focused. B/c they saw me in their dream, and the distance involved, it would seem there's an astral connection remaining. Can you recommend some remedies? I am definitely gathering some of the things from my partner and preparing to donate them. I'm still new at tarot - can I use it to confirm if a particular thing needs to go?

2. My partner also owes me a moderate financial sum. They have been completely reasonable and practical in these matters thus far. Is there an optimal day/time to ask for it?

3. The comments section of Metaphysics of Sex alludes to a book on the subject. Is that still on your radar? :)

Teal Woozy Blobfish

[ecosophia]

1) Well, what kind of magic do you know how to do?

2) Friday, during one of the hours of Venus.

3) Eventually, but there are others ahead of it in line.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm missing the conex to covid.
Explanation?

[ecosophia]

Er, what was this referring to? If you mean the white stag, are you sure it's connected to that? There's a lot more happening in the world than one not very dangerous respiratory virus...

Populus as Judge

[weilong]

This is a bunny-slope question about geomancy. I have just started doing some charts in the last couple of weeks.

My question is how to interpret Populus as the Judge in a shield chart. I cast a chart to ask whether staying on at my job beyond next spring would be a viable option (I had been planning to quit, but am reconsidering options). LW and RW are the same, of course - Fortuna Minor - with Populus as the Judge.

I take that to mean that I can maintain the current situation (Fortuna Minor is a good fit for that) by just going along as is and not actively changing anything. Another related question also turned up Populus for Judge, so I am getting the picture that the situation will be stable for the time being if I don't mess with it. Is that how you would take it?

Re: Populus as Judge

[ecosophia]

That's a common question, so thank you for asking it -- other people will benefit from reading the answer. When Populus is the judge, the situation is subject to collective forces and your best bet is to move along with events, rather than trying to do something for yourself. In this case I think it's saying that you won't have to quit because conditions will change.

Practical psychic defence

[huskynut]

Hi JMG
Reposting my question from the other blog as requested:

My ex partner is a practitioner of Wicca and other magic, also highly vindictive and resentful.
Recently I’ve been experiencing intense dream pattern, which “feel” to me like some form of psychic attack.
Could you direct me to practices around self protection in this sphere pls?

Thanks,
Andrew

Re: Practical psychic defence

[ecosophia]

Sure. You'll find, in the Magic Monday FAQ, instructions for making a good protective amulet and for taking protective baths to clear away hostile energy. If you need more than that, you may need to learn a banishing ritual -- here's one you might find useful. (Start with the first post at the bottom of the stack.)

Stargazing

[goatgodschild]

Hello, Mr. Greer --

I hope that your week has been generally positive. This week, I have had another peculiar experience, albeit a bit more cosmic.

Myself and two friends (neither of whom practice magic) went up to a local hill on 10/2/21 to look at the stars. It was a good clear night, so we lay back and settled in. At first, I was enjoying watching the sky, but steadily, it felt as though I was floating out of my body, climbing along the sky with the stars as handholds, then riding horseback through the sky. Eventually, I turned my face towards Jupiter, and I found myself easily communing with...it? Him? I'm not sure how you'd address the planet Jupiter. When I was younger (6-11 years), I would commune frequently with a star I believed to be a Bodhisattva, and this was much the same.

Eventually, I began to feel tired, as though I'd been thrown around or swimming in heavy chop, so I tried to drag my soul back into my body and crawled over towards my friends. Since pain often gets my soul back all the way into my body, I pressed my knuckles into the ground. That did not help -- instead, tendrils of energy pressed up into my hand, about to my elbow. I removed my hand from the ground and sat still, staring at the faraway houses. Less than ten minutes later, my soul returned to my body entirely.

So, that was an intriguing experience, and I would like your opinion on it, if any. The input of the commentariat is also appreciated.

Re: Stargazing

[ecosophia]

This is a perfectly normal experience, one that more people would have if our cultures didn't browbeat children into ignoring their natural psychic perceptions. You went out of your material body and communed with the planetary intelligence of Jupiter. You may well find that you're unusually lucky for the next little while.

magicial help

[(Anonymous)]

Hello JMG,

In the hope that this question isn't off topic, I'd like to know if there are any magical helpers to have children.

My wife and I arent the youngest anymore and already had a miscarriage.

Thanks for your time.

Re: magicial help

[ecosophia]

Okay, first, I'd recommend that the two of you have your horoscopes cast and interpreted by a good astrologer to see if there are indications of fertility or sterility -- if the latter, there may not be much you can do. If the former, planetary charity directed toward the Moon is a traditional approach, as the Moon rules fertility.

Effects of the Sphere of Protection

[abrahamjpalma]

Good day, Mr. Greer.

I'm on my way to completing the customization of the Sphere of Protection. After several tries, I'm now comfortable with calling the elements in the name of reknown people that excelled at controlling them, then banishing them adding a visualization of a current of the element and a gesture. It just feels natural.

However, I'm still not confortable with spirit below and spirit above. For the moment, I am invoking in the name of GAIA the spirit below, and in the name of EHEH the spirit above. In principle, it looked like a good idea to use both tetragrammatons. But as an atheist I found it very uncomfortable to use the name of the Abrahamic god.

After reading quite a bit of Lévi's book, I've come to think of the jewish god as the guiding force of creation, in other words, our genetic instincts. So calling EHEH should be just like awakening that part that is printed in our genes that leads to creation of any sort. Also, it's a way of saying that I am as much a creator as the god who claims to be the creator of everything (in our universe). But being a long time atheist, when I try to use the NAME, it just feels forced. It's as if this part of the ritual does not shine as much as the others. I don't know how to explain it better. GAIA works well for spirit below, but EHEH does not. I think I am still wary of anything related to christianity. What else could I try?

Also, I'd like to comment on the effects of the (almost) daily practice. It's as if I was wearing an spiritual noise reductor. I am still feeling my usual feelings: anger, joy, worry, but I am not carried away by them. What's more, I was drinking beers in our last week party (following your advice, it was just songs and beers), and I remained amazingly sober.

I still have dogs scolding me the day I don't perform the SoP, but some days I'm left no privacy for the whole day, courtesy of my ever watching and exceedingly caring wife.

Re: Effects of the Sphere of Protection

[ecosophia]

First, you don't need to use four-lettered names in the SoP -- that's strictly an issue in the LBRP. That being the case, well, what word expresses your concept of spirit, or of the highest ideals you can envision?

[solarfed]

Good Morning,

First off; thank you for sharing the Sphere of Protection rituals. This will be two months now since I began practicing. Currently on the fourth post. I will start on the fifth posting today. With each passing week I am feeling more at-ease and connected with the world. As I move through the material, I continue noticing parts that I can improve upon or may have missed.

I began doing Geomantic readings at about the same time, as well. I am focusing on doing shield charts.

I have been meaning to post on here for a few Mondays. I asked a question on 9/22 about whether it would be favourable for me to develop a close relationship with the land without owning any and got a reading I am not sure how to interpret and curious if I might be missing something big.

I have triple checked to make sure I did the math correctly and it seems like I did.

It seemed to suggest that, yes; it would be favourable for me to do so. Anyhow, this was my result:

1M: Fortuna Major
2M: Acquisitio
3M: Acquisitio
4M: Fortuna Major
1D: Populous
2D: Conjunctio
3D: Carcer
4D: Via
1N: Conjunctio
2N: Conjunctio
3N: Conjunctio
4N: Conjunctio
RW: Populous
J: Populous
LW: Populous




-Sol

[ecosophia]

I'm glad your work is going well. As for the reading, this is a classic! What it's saying is "don't sweat it, you're already doing what you need to do."

Just Art, or Occult Folly?

[(Anonymous)]

Just art, or occult folly?

The Rollright Trust describes the installation as follows:

"The Totem 'Latamat' (meaning 'The Life) was carved by the indigenous Totonac artist Jun Tiburcio and is a message to the world from the Totonac people to draw attention to the damage being done to the world and environment.
The message conveys how our existence is tightly interwoven with nature, and how we cannot go on ignoring the damage and destruction that is being inflicted on the world."

Not knowing anything about much I looked up Totonac gods for clues on symbolism...
One wonders if the Rollright Trust have read anything about the Gods and Goddesses of the Americas:

"Chief among the gods of the Totonacs was the sun god. They dedicated the main temple at Cempoala to this god. The sun god was married the corn goddess. While the sun god demanded human sacrifice, the corn goddess demanded animal sacrifice in her rituals accompanied by flowers and herbs. Other important Totonac gods include the Old God of Fire, represented as an old man wearing a rather weighty headpiece, and another god referred to as Old Thunder. Old Thunder was god of all the waters except for the rain.
He wanted to flood the world because drowning victims became his minions in the afterlife.
The Totonac rain god is very similar to Tlaloc, the old god of the Aztecs associated with rain. Many other gods were tied to places or the elements and are represented in the many figurines unearthed at Totonac sites."
https://mexicounexplained.com/the-totonacs-a-forgotten-civilization/

And:

"At the winter solstice an important festival was celebrated during which eighteen people, men and women, were sacrificed. Eighteen is also the number of veintenas (Span., "set of twenty," i.e., "months" composed of twenty days each) into which the Mesoamerican year was divided. The human sacrifice took place at midnight; the hearts of the victims were ground into the mouths of the principal idols. Blood was the food of the Sun."
https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/totonac-religion


Since much of the damage being done to the world is driven by dysfunctional activities of humans, it strikes me that this could have unexpected consequences and blowback!

I don't know - I'll have to consider this more, but when I first read about it my initial reaction was "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

The fluffy description:
"The message conveys how our existence is tightly interwoven with nature, and how we cannot go on ignoring the damage and destruction that is being inflicted on the world."

...brought initial questions to mind:
1. What is the actual message to which they refer?
2. What kind of relationship might humans have with such deities?
3. Didn't the Roman Catholic Church do an installation with a Meso-American deity/symbol?

There is more basic detail here:
https://originsfestival.bordercrossings.org.uk/programme/totem-latamat

When I read about the Totonacs, and started to think about the subject, a strong impression came to mind (and I really, really hope this is just imagination working overtime on a pulp fantasy fiction story) but the imagery that came to mind re:

>> The human sacrifice took place at midnight; the hearts of the victims were ground into the mouths of the principal idols. Blood was the food of the Sun."

...was to wonder about myocarditis and spike proteins protruding from endothelium.

Too many crappy science fiction and fantasy stories as a kid would be a nice comfortable head in the sand conclusion - but the seemingly insane rush to inject as many people as possible alongwith Meso-American deities with a penchant for blood sacrifice turning up in this interesting manner, well, that's just added a level of weirdness to an already extraordinarily weird world!

One other thing - when I started to think on this matter, I had a strong feeling not to focus on the totem/Totonacs but to concentrate on how I am using the central practice from the Dolmen Arch and to build on that instead.
An old teacher always used to say to us - "energy follows focus" - and my gut says it's time to be very careful what I focus on.

Any thoughts appreciated.

Re: Just Art, or Occult Folly?

[ecosophia]

This whole thing struck me as a very, very bad idea. I have no objection whatsoever to Native American art works being displayed elsewhere, so long as it's with the permission of the maker and the relevant tribal elders, but bringing sacred items from one tradition into a setting that's sacred to a very different tradition -- as Pope Francis did, of course, and as the Rollright Trust is doing -- can have very messy results.

As for the broader issue, you'd need to find out about Totonac (and native Mesoamerican) religion now, rather than what it was five centuries ago. Five centuries ago, after all, many Christian churches were as enthusiastic about human sacrifice as the Totonacs -- yes, they called it punishing witches, heretics, and Jews, but it amounted to the same thing in practice.

[(Anonymous)]

Hi,

Sikhs don't cut their hair or shave their beards, but some Christian and Buddhist monks shave their heads. So, what does hair do magically?

Thank you.

[ecosophia]

It has complex effects on the pineal gland, which is at the center of the skull and is light-sensitive. Different levels of light reaching the pineal gland foster different kinds of spiritual states. It's not just Sikhs who grow their hair long and keep their heads covered, btw -- orthodox Jews and Taoists have the same custom.

The importance of a newbie practitioner sticking to the script

[queenofcups621]

Greetings!

This is my First Magic Monday question and I'm excited to be here.

I am 6 chapters into "Learning Ritual Magic" and have been doing the Rites. One of the books I chose was Ladder Of Lights by William Gray and I really liked the details he shared about the 4 Arch Angels; Raphael healing mental wounds, Gabrielle presiding over and balancing the emotions, Micheal a protector and link to spiritual fire, and Auriel aiding us in seeing the Divinity in all things "even the dirt beneath our fingernails".
My question is that at the end of the LBRP, after the Qabalistic Cross I feel drawn to saying a short little prayer of my own creation to the Arch Angels for support in these 4 areas. I am I too young in my training to be throwing in this sort of thing? I understand that there is a discipline in sticking to the practice as shown in the lesson especially since I'm so young in my training and have to build up a strong foundation. However I feel a strong emotional reaction when I say this 'prayer' and so I'm wondering if that's an important thread to follow.
What would you advise?

My Pangalactic New Age Soul Signature is ...Smaragdine Somnolent Dung-Beetle haha
Seems appropriate because I just finished the chapter in Ladder of Lights on Daath which is described basically as a cosmic sewage system. Very appropriate.

Thanks so much for your insight!
Be well

Re: The importance of a newbie practitioner sticking to the script

[ecosophia]

You can certainly say a prayer, but pause a little first, and keep in mind that the prayer is distinct from the ritual.

Hexafoils

[randomactsofkarmasc]

In previous posts (here and on Ecosophia), there has been conversation about a voice encouraging people to get vaccinated. Someone had suggested using a hexafoil as protection; someone else commented that a metal hexafoil would probably last longer than a drawing on paper.

I found a chainmail pattern that seemed very similar to a hexafoil, but the only instructions I could find online were videos which, for me, are very difficult to use when learning a new pattern. I much prefer still pictures with written explanations that I can look at while I try to replicate. Since I couldn't find those kinds of instructions, I made some and posted them here: https://randomactsofkarmasc.dreamwidth.org/314.html.

I am still on the bunny slope of magic, so as I made the hexafoils, I concentrated on protection. When they were complete, I explained to Apollo what I hoped they would do. I let them soak up noon-time sunshine and then put them on my altar overnight (explaining to my other deities what they were for, so they could add whatever they thought was appropriate). I distributed them to my loved ones and kept one for me. I've been using it for several weeks now and not had the slightest hint of the weird voice/thought returning.

So not really a question (so if you'd rather I save this for an Open Post, I can), just wanted to share another TSW story and instructions so others could create their own hexafoil.

Re: Hexafoils

[ecosophia]

Thank you for this! A good solid protective amulet is always worth having, and worth knowing how to make.

Energy Blockage

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG,

I appear to have an energetic blockage in my throat (right where Daath is) and have been dealing with it for some time now. It feels like a ball that sits in my throat ands keeps the energy stuck in my head (resulting in physical pain). Do you have any suggestions on how to get the energy moving? I've tried visualisation with breath (visualising the breath moving through and unblocking the area) and journalling on it - all to no avail. I can't see anyone as I live down under and have been locked in my home for over 100 days now, plus have no money (as I've been locked in my home).

Thanks.

Re: Energy Blockage

[ecosophia]

There's no fast and easy way to deal with something like this. Make sure to stretch and exercise your neck and shoulders, to begin the process of releasing the muscular tension -- another slow process! -- and just keep on using visualization and journaling. Once your government gets bored with armbands and goose steps, see if you can find a massage therapist, but until then, the slow and awkward way is the only option I know of.

[daniellethepermaculturist]

I've been reading Glorian which contains the works of Samael Aun Weor. I don't know how familiar you are with his work however he is involved with Christian tantric sex magic. I enjoy reading his work and I am getting a lot out of what he writes about the Bible and about Tantra however I'm concerned that it might be too heavy on the emphasis of Tantra as a way to reach heaven. As in you can be a good person with good works but if you spill semen ever you are bringing your spirit slowly down into hell. Even if one is trying to procreate one should use the semen before the orgasm. It makes it seem like people who are trying to get pregnant are inviting demons into their lives. Internally when I read such literature it doesn't feel right but I don't want to be negating something that I can learn from.

Have you heard of such a philosophy? Are those who don't practice tantra destined for hell?

[ecosophia]

Yes, I've heard of that frankly goofy claim. Whenever somebody insists that their way is the only way to heaven, you're seeing a display of overinflated ego, not of anything you have to listen to. (And I'd be cautious about anything from a book that makes that kind of claim...)

A Data Point on Demons

[(Anonymous)]

Just an anecdote about the Neopagan scene; no specific question here.

The recent Magic Monday discussions about demonolatry becoming fashionable reminded me of an incident half a decade ago or so. I couldn't find it in my journals, so I'm relying on memory here. This concerns a certain druid organization that I know you're aware of but, shall we say, aren't a fan of. (In other words, for readers who aren't sure which one I'm talking about, you can rest easy since the ones JMG points people to aren't the one I'm talking about.) At a summer festival, one of the workshops involved a small group of folks, including the then archdruid and vice-archdruid, invoking Paimon to give them the tools to quell discord within the organization, or something to that effect.

I suppose in a sense it even worked, since in the years that followed I and a number of folks I know who were dissatisfied with the organization for various reasons ended up just walking away.

- Azure Truculent Barnacle

Re: A Data Point on Demons

[ecosophia]

That explains a thing or two. Those poor fools...

Golden Dawn, an "incomplete system?"

[(Anonymous)]

Hello mr. Greer,

I caught a discussion on magical systems on reddit where several folks advised a person to pick some other course instead of anything Golden Dawn related because, in their own words, the GD system was largerly "incomplete;" The true GD system would be lost and what we have, they say, are very poorly "glued together" rituals and parts with a lot of guess work by Regardie. What do you say of such claims? Thank you!

Re: Golden Dawn, an "incomplete system?"

[ecosophia]

The people who said that don't know what they're talking about. There are quite a few extensive surviving collections of GD documents, including a set in the papers of W.B. Yeats, which are in the Irish national library these days. Regardie's volume, as later publications demonstrated, is a good general guide to the system, and you can fill in the few details he didn't have via other authors who've worked from original documents. The GD work has its limitations and its problems, but plenty of constructive work has gone into fixing those over the last century or so, and people who insist that it's "incomplete" or what have you are either ignorant or trying to market their own products.

[(Anonymous)]

If information counts instead of quantity in Homeopathy, why isn't one tablet of cell salt enough?

[ecosophia]

Ah, I see you've been listening to the people who are trying to find some way to wedge homeopathy into the scientific materialist worldview. (That's a sucker's game -- what defines something as "scientifically reputable medicine" these days, after all, is purely that it makes money for big pharmaceutical corporations.) As I discuss here, what's transferred to homeopathic pills by dilution and succussion is not information but etheric substance. That's why scientists tend to get shrill and hysterical over homeopathy -- it's one of the things that most clearly shows that nonphysical realities exist, and their dogma won't let them deal with that.

Dolmen Arch

[(Anonymous)]

Good morning!

I've heard a lot of commenters talk about the Dolmen Arch course you produced, and it seemed quite interesting! Am I right in thinking that the only way to access it is the currently sold out hardbacks, or is there a paperback/ebook version that I've just been unable to find?

Re: Dolmen Arch

[ecosophia]

It's currently only available in the limited edition hardback. There'll be a paperback edition down the road a bit, but that's still in preparation.

Inverted Pentagram Earrings

[lukedodson]

Hi JMG,

A friend of mine recently bought some earrings in the shape of a Baphomet inverted pentagram. Being as honest as I can be, I expressed my reservations about wearing a symbol so closely connected with Satanism and the darker occult schools, but she countered by saying that she liked the symbol as she is a Capricorn, and feels an affinity with goats.

What is your take on wearing such a symbol?

Re: Inverted Pentagram Earrings

[ecosophia]

I wouldn't do it, but that's purely because of the way people would react. Symbols are much more ambivalent and complex than most people realize. Did you know, for example, that in Japan the Christian cross is considered a spooky, macabre symbol, the kind of thing you put in fantasy films to show that something creepy is going on? To them it's an instrument of torture and execution...