Magic Monday
Jul. 31st, 2022 11:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ecosophia
It's just on midnight, so we can proceed with a new Magic Monday. Ask me anything about occultism and I'll do my best to answer it. With certain exceptions, any question received by midnight Monday Eastern time will get an answer. Please note: Any question received after then will not get an answer, and in fact will just be deleted. I've been getting an increasing number of people trying to post after these are closed, so will have to draw a harder line than before.) 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. Also: I will not be putting through or answering any more questions about practicing magic around children. I've answered those in simple declarative sentences in the FAQ. If you read the FAQ and don't think your question has been answered, read it again. If that doesn't help, consider remedial reading classes; yes, it really is as simple and straightforward as the FAQ says. The image? That's the thirty-third and last card in The Sacred Geometry Oracle. Card 33, The Human Canon, when upright reminds you that you are the common factor in every situation you encounter; when reversed, it reminds you that no two people or situations are the same and that each has to be dealt with on its own terms. The sun in the upper left corner of the image tells you that this card belongs to the final third of the oracle, which corresponds to Nwyfre, the principle of spirit and meaning. We've completed our passage through all three of the basic root functions of sacred geometry -- √3, the principle of the vesica piscis and the equilateral triangle, and √2, the principle of the square and its diagonal, and √5, the seed from which the Golden Section unfolds and resolves all back into unity.
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***This Magic Monday is now closed. See you next week!***
BRH
Date: 2022-08-01 04:04 am (UTC)Blessings to you and to all!
My one year anniversary of doing GD magic is approaching. I remember it was around August last year when I began doing the LBRP with a sense of purpose after a difficult period in my life. This was then followed shortly by the MP. Eventually, I added the Four Solar Adorations and a daily tarot contemplation ritual. My practice has been very consistent for the most part and I’ve seen the improvements in visualizations, sense perception and divination skills. My question is about the next stage of magical training. Based on the books and videos I’ve been reading and watching, the next step would be to do the BRH. I know some people do it earlier but I really want at least a year to pass before attempting this ritual. If I add the BRH, so that my daily ritual looks like this: LBRP, BRH, MP (Advanced with Circulation); would this be a balanced and sustainable ritual to do for the foreseeable future? What are some effects that one can expect from this addition?
Many thanks again for hosting this forum.
Jean Luc
Lord (of Fallhall)'s Prayer and is Pluto Qlippothic?
Date: 2022-08-01 04:11 am (UTC)To those who celebrate Lughnasadh (or equivalent "cross-quarter day") by the calendar, I wish you a happy and blessed day. For those who prefer to celebrate by the halfway-point between the solstice and equinox, I'll have happy wishes for you next week. For me, this marks one year of celebrating the 8-point Wheel of the Year and one year of improved bread baking.
To Share: This started as mostly a joke, but as I worked on it, it became. . . less so. I wrote a prayer to Woden that mostly follows the cadence of the "Our Father"/"Lord's Prayer" in English. I'm new to this whole poetry thing, but I figure showing things in public is part of the process of getting better: https://jprussell.dreamwidth.org/691.html
To Ask: Forgive me if this is answered in Twilight of Pluto, but I haven't read that due to my pledge this year to read books by dead authors. I was listening to your recent appearance on the Hermetic Astrology podcast, and you mentioned how Pluto was likely just the closest large body in the Kuiper belt, made of comet-stuff. This put me in mind of Dion Fortune's description of comets in The Cosmic Doctrine as basically the tools for gathering those souls that have rejected the round of evolution represented by the current version of our solar system, and linking them with the Qlippoth, if I remember rightly. So, my question is: do you think Pluto is/was a part of this same outsider contingent?
Thanks very much for your time, thought, and making this space such a worthwhile forum.
Cheers,
Jeff
Re: BRH
Date: 2022-08-01 04:16 am (UTC)Once you can do it from memory, add in the invoking and banishing hexagram rituals as follows: opening ritual (includes LBRP and LBRH), invoking BRH of a planet, meditation on that planet, banishing BRH of that planet, closing ritual (includes LBRP and LBRH). Work with a different planetary energy each week, starting with the Moon and working up to Saturn, then repeat. This is a very effective way of self-initiation into magical energies and can take you very far indeed.
Re: Lord (of Fallhall)'s Prayer and is Pluto Qlippothic?
Date: 2022-08-01 04:20 am (UTC)As for Pluto, hmm! That's a supposition worth exploring. Certainly the Plutonian current seems to have led a lot of people to self-destructive extremes. The one difference between Pluto and the comets Fortune discusses is that Pluto never enters the inner solar system -- his orbit dips inside that of Neptune, though, and that may count.
Fixed Star Talismans
Date: 2022-08-01 04:22 am (UTC)Thanks for hosting these weekly forums. I have a few questions about fixed star talismans:
1) You've mentioned in previous answers that a planetary talisman's effects can differ based on that planet's condition in the owner's natal chart, and that if the planet is debilitated or harshly aspected, the effects tend to be negative. Does the same principle apply to fixed star talismans? For example, suppose a magician creates a Regulus talisman, but has Mars squaring Regulus in her natal chart. Would the effects of the talisman tend to be a negative manifestation of Regulus (grandiosity and overreaching instead of dignified, capable leadership)?
2) If the answer to 1) is yes, does it matter whether the planet in the natal chart is applying or separating from the aspect?
3) Finally, a question about protective talismans. What are the karmic consequences of a fixed star talisman that's purely defensive in nature (blocks or disposes of anything harmful coming your way, but doesn't seek any specific effect on whoever's sending it), versus one that actively reflects harmful energy back to the sender? I’ve seen some descriptions of Algol talismans that seem to be the latter - just wondering what kind of karmic load one would take on by using something like that.
Thanks again for answering these questions.
Re: Fixed Star Talismans
Date: 2022-08-01 04:42 am (UTC)2) An applying aspect would probably be worse but I'd be cautious either way.
3) The purely defensive talisman racks up good karma for you. You're removing malefic energy from the world, so there'll be less malefic energy in your present and future life. Reflecting back hostile magic on the sender has a very specific karmic effect: you get whatever karma you earn more quickly and more forcefully. If you go out of your way to generate lots of positive karma and none of the other kind, that's fine, but how many of us can manage that? Myself, I recommend the wholly defensive approach; if you get good at that, you'll find that it's possible to use hostile magical energy as a source of power for your own workings, and that can be really entertaining.
(no subject)
Date: 2022-08-01 05:05 am (UTC)I would like to start a daily practice of prayer using a traditional bead system but know only of the catholic rosary, which I find great but has a lot of difficult fammilial associations to me.
Would you or the other querants know or reccomand other traditional prayer bead systems that you have heard of or experimented with ?
Tarot cards
Date: 2022-08-01 05:09 am (UTC)I thought you mentioned in one of these threads that a book was coming up regarding your mentor's easy to follow introduction to tarot card usage. Is that correct? Is that coming soon?
And one question I meant to ask on the open post but never got around to it and besides, this seemed the better venue. Did you see this?
https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/internet-abuzz-after-mysterious-red-lights-spotted-ocean
What's your take? Anything occult come to mind?
(no subject)
Date: 2022-08-01 05:10 am (UTC)1. You have mentioned that raising your level of consciousness and improving your karma are key ways to help move oneself towards exiting the cycle of human incarnations and entering the next level of being. You give a brief description of karma in the FAQ, but do you recommend resources on better understanding karma and what might make “good” or “bad” karma? I would think that karma itself is a murky concept that work like meditation can unravel, but that much "good" and "bad" karma is also common sense - be generous, don't be spiteful, etc.
2. I started mulling over potential affirmations I could implement later this year (sticking to one general and one specific affirmation each for a year-and-a-day, per your past advice). I assume more specific affirmations would be better than general affirmations. As an example, one possibility I’ve written down is, “I am in control of my impulsive behaviors.” Would it be better to focus on a specific impulsive behavior of mine instead?
3. Speaking of affirmations, you mentioned your Druid affirmation in your post on affirmations: “I am one with the One Life of the Universe… it flows through me to accomplish my worthy desires.” With no access to the Druidry Handbook and my limited knowledge, it sounds like a very Hermetic/Neoplatonic affirmation. Would you be able to provide any more explanation what the first half of the affirmation means? It sounds very appealing to me, but I’d like to know what it means before I’d consider using or modifying it for my purposes at a later time.
And just out of curiosity: with the Sacred Geometry Oracle card series, what do you think you'll present next for your MM images?
(no subject)
Date: 2022-08-01 05:13 am (UTC)Re: Tarot cards
Date: 2022-08-01 05:14 am (UTC)2) Nothing occult. It's probably another new technology being tested by the Navy.
(no subject)
Date: 2022-08-01 05:18 am (UTC)2) It really depends on circumstances and personal needs. If you have a lot of impulsive behaviors, a more general phrasing might be more useful.
3) I'm kind of baffled by this, as the first half of the affirmation isn't especially cryptic. It proposes that life is a continuum throughout the universe -- a very widely held concept, btw -- and affirms the identity of one's individual life with that continuum.
4) I haven't decided yet.
(no subject)
Date: 2022-08-01 05:21 am (UTC)1) I asked the commentariat here for recommendations on prayer resources in general, some of which were related to bead prayers, which I collected here: https://sanepolytheism.dreamwidth.org/4241.html
2) Raven Kaldera makes prayer-bead strings for a variety of polytheist backgrounds, either with prayers written for you, or custom for your own prayers. A couple of commenters here have said they have been very helpful for them, and I've been eyeballing them for a long time: https://www.pagan-prayerbeads.com/
3) Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains use "mala beads" as a prayer/meditation technique, if you're looking for something further separated from the rosary tradition: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japamala
Hope these help,
Jeff
Re: Lord (of Fallhall)'s Prayer and is Pluto Qlippothic?
Date: 2022-08-01 05:40 am (UTC)—Princess Cutekitten
Re: Lord (of Fallhall)'s Prayer and is Pluto Qlippothic?
Date: 2022-08-01 06:50 am (UTC)I would suggest that Pluto's role in guiding souls through the initiation of the nadir is an evolutionary purpose, and not associated with the Qlippoth. It's as if Pluto was an appointed edge lord for a time, but still of the solar system (albeit aware of what is beyond).
Magical Sword
Date: 2022-08-01 08:00 am (UTC)Since it is not mentioned at the end of the consecration ceremony like all the others, and you describe using it outside of ritual, I think that is right. I have an idea for why that would be so.
Re: BRH
Date: 2022-08-01 08:04 am (UTC)I'll make sure to get a copy of Circles of Power.
Jean Luc
Planetary Charity for elderly person
Date: 2022-08-01 08:25 am (UTC)And thank you very much for hosting this wonderful place and patiently answering all the questions!
I‘m considering a planetary charity for an elderly person with high-level dementia (including all the fun stuff like aggression, total confusion, not recognising their own children or their own home of x decades anymore, i.e. always feeling like they are among strangers in a strange place).
My intention would be to a. make the rest of their life as happy for them as possible, and b. to ease their transition out of this life, whenever they are ready for it.
1. What would be the best planet for this? Saturn for old age maybe? Or the moon for transitions?
2. Informed consent by said person is obviously difficult in this case. Do you have any recommendations, or is there anything I should/shouldn‘t do to avoid any side effects or raspberry jam for myself?
3. How would you phrase the intent?
Thanks, and may you and your wife have a blessed week!
Milkyway
Apollo
Date: 2022-08-01 08:40 am (UTC)I've got the impression from Brigid, who I had the closest relationship with until now, and Apollo that I should switch to him as my main patron.
1) Is there a particular planetary hour that it's best to give offerings to Apollo on? Any usual symbols or things to put on a very basic home shrine?
2) Are there any particularly good sources on the Greek myth's? Like Neil Gaiman's book "Norse Mythology" but greek?
3) A few times after praying to Apollo and going on an inner journey with him I've had a strobe light like effect when I close my eye's afterwards, though not during the inner journey. It fades after a little while but I was wondering if it was from stimulation of the inner sight by him. Have you heard of that symptom?
Thanks
Sea spray
(no subject)
Date: 2022-08-01 08:44 am (UTC)I'm on the third chapter of your book "Circles of Power". I’ve also been reading about GD on Wikipedia and a few other web pages. I'm trying to understand whether the system is pantheistic or panentheistic side of things, as it seems (so far) to straddle the definition of both. Apologies if I simply haven’t read far enough into your book, and I haven’t read the other two in the GD series. In searching Google, I came upon this old Reddit thread in which you were replying to someone concerned about a magical system with Judeo-Christian symbolism in it. In reply you wrote:
"Finally, if on reflection you decide that you really don't want to deal with the Judeo-Christian names and symbols, there are other options. Yes, I'm that John Michael Greer, and I've written several books on ceremonial magic using Celtic Druid traditions in place of Judeo-Christian ones; I'm also working now on a book that will adapt the Golden Dawn system so it can be used with any polytheist pantheon you prefer."
So now I'm a little more confused. Is GD, pantheist, panentheist, polytheist, all three, or whatever is preferred? Is the book you were working on published? If so what’s its title?
Happy Lughnasadh!
Re: BRH
Date: 2022-08-01 09:02 am (UTC)Thank you.
(no subject)
Date: 2022-08-01 09:27 am (UTC)1. I am doing the MP circulation from LRM/CoP (Tiphareth in heart centre to Malkuth). The Middle Pillar in The Art of True Healing is slightly different and circulates from Kether to Malkuth. Can the latter be added to the first, at least occasionally, or is there some potential problems? (To clarify: first doing the LRM MP and tacking on the circulation from TAoTH at the end).
2. I am gearing up to do the meditating on the paths and the pathworking from PoW. Is it ok to occasionally take a break and pick a different theme for meditation for a day or week? Or should one stick to it beginning to end?
(no subject)
Date: 2022-08-01 09:56 am (UTC)A question about affirmations if you'd be so kind.
I've suffered from an irregular heartbeat for many years now, for which I have to take medicines. I have tried, and am trying, all sorts of approaches, both medical and non-medical: it's clear the irregularity has become chronic, but is also exacerbated by moments of stress and tension, even quite mild ones.
I have generally had poor results with affirmations in the past, because my slippery unconscious mind finds ways round them. If I start affirming "my heart beats regularly" for example, it will reply "no it doesn't" and manufacture some trivial episode of stress which will send the heart into arrhythmia.
So my question is whether a more subtle form of affirmation might help. I wondered about "every day my heartbeat becomes a little more regular," or alternatively "I create the conditions for an increasingly regular heartbeat." I don't think a frontal assault is going to work, in other words.
What would your advice be?
Thanks
mirasso
Date: 2022-08-01 10:24 am (UTC)I am a fan of the s-f series, having been released for many years, even decades, for me they are a reflection of the zeitgeist of their time. Two franchises have changed dramatically this year.
Orville: the previous 2 seasons had an arch enemy, the AI (Kylons). This year it turned out, that you can prove to the AI that humans are pretty good and ally with the Kylons against another, biological enemy.
Star Trek: in previous series and spin-offs AI archenemy was Borg collective (in Star Trek Discovery it was not Borg, but still another evil AI). But not anymore. In season 2 of Star Trak Picard, you can change the Borg by voluntarily submitting to assimilation, changing it from the inside (Colonel Dr. Irina Spalko bows) and together save humanity from a huge cosmic catastrophe.
Something whispers in the dark ...
(no subject)
Date: 2022-08-01 10:26 am (UTC)I'm on the 2nd law of the Probationer level of the OSA work and it hit me that the focus very much applied to the 2's in the tarot. A whole new level of understanding of the law and the cards! Went back and did the Aces for the first law too. Journaling about my conflicting intentions seems endless, but I'm keeping at it. I'm finding the layers of currents beneath everything now. There's still an anger that shows up, especially over the covid/vaccine fiasco and my family all getting vaccinated. Everyday I worry about the future. Each time I work through it, it shows me another pain point from childhood. It's no wonder most people just bury and tune out the covid/vaccine fiasco. It continues to be the painful thing with seemingly no bottom to it. Beginning to wonder if the lack of bottom is a racket.
Gilbert's approach really clicks for me. Reading Dion Fortune and trying to memorize all the names between her and LRM had me drowning. I hope I'm not missing too much in not having memorized everything in Hebrew and the angels names. I'm trying to move on and finish LRM.I find the visualizations easy and can sit and do those with minimum issue. I started mediating on the tarot cards too as if they are 3D and I'm in the card walking around the scene. It provides a different perspective and has me feel it deeper.
Finished The Weird of Hali Chorazin and love that Jenny and Owen are back together. I enjoyed all the characters and meeting them makes me not assume anything when I'm in a new place. That seemingly run-down motel or abandoned house might be something else indeed. I love the intentionality of decrepitude to keep people away!
Thanks for all you do!
Pink Undulating Hippogriff