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. 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? I've decided to trace, as far as I can, my own occult lineages in photos. We're still tracing Juliet Ashley's end of the lineage: from her to Manly P. Hall, from Hall to Augusta Foss Heindel, from her to her husband Max Heindel, and from Heindel to one of his teachers, Rudolf Steiner. Steiner was the wunderkind of early twentieth century central European occultism, a brilliant Austrian philosopher who chucked an academic career to teach occultism. He was active in the Theosophical Society until Annie Besant's misbehavior got intolerable, and then quit with most of the other central European members to found a new organization, the Anthroposophical Society. Heindel studied with him before the split, when Steiner was exploring a more traditional occultism using rituals from the Masonic rite of Memphis and Misraim, and much of Heindel's work draws on Steiner's earlier teachings -- as well as the work of another man, a teacher they had in common, whom we'll discuss next week. 

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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 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

Completed First Grade of Dolmen Arch and Lack of Rituals for Grades in DA

[jprussell]

Good evening!

To Share: Thanks to our host for putting together the Dolmen Arch course, and thanks to the commenters here who have shared their experience, asked and answered questions, and provided good examples - I've completed the first grade (Gradd Y Nwyddian) of the Dolmen Arch and I'm moving onto the second grade tomorrow.

To Ask: Related to the above - is there a functional reason the grades in the Dolmen Arch course don't have a ritual of completion/advancement, or is it just that it's an approach that doesn't have that? Or perhaps something else?

As always, thanks very much to JMG for hosting this space and to the commentariat for filling it with interesting questions and discussion.

Cheers,
Jeff

Re: Completed First Grade of Dolmen Arch and Lack of Rituals for Grades in DA

[ecosophia]

1) Delighted to hear it.

2) Occult correspondence courses in the years between the two world wars rarely had any kind of ritual to mark the division between grades. The original Dolmen Arch course probably didn't have any rituals at all -- the material as I received it was too fragmentary to be sure, but most such courses didn't; I decided, after reflection, that the SoP and certain other ritual practices were worth adding to it, but that's one of the few places where I departed from standard early 20th century practice. I figured adding initiation rituals would be too big of a divergence.

[(Anonymous)]

Do you have any good sources on how to learn to read astrological synastry charts?

[ecosophia]

Not yet, no -- synastry isn't a branch of astrology I've studied yet, as it requires a much more advanced knowledge of natal astrology than I have.

[(Anonymous)]

Mr. Steiner reminds me of someone, but I can’t think who. Anyone else?

—Princess Cutekitten

[ecosophia]

I'll be interested to see what kind of responses you get. He doesn't remind me of anyone -- quite the contrary, he has a remarkable, rather unique face.

The Free Masons

[(Anonymous)]

So I have always wanted to join the free Mason's and recently I have gotten an opportunities to do so. However recently through conversations with a Mason, he didn't seem like he had any occult knowledge, he seemed like he was a materialistic beliefs . I always thought the Mason's had some very clear occult tradions so. Are the Mason's an occult order? Do they stay away from the occult now a days so modern masons people don't think deeper then standard faternaty ritual (not to knock fraternity rituals)? Will join the masons help me in m yoccult past?

Re: The Free Masons

[(Anonymous)]

That's suppose to say occult path* not past

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG,

I have been guilty of an unhealthy dependence on divination to aid decision-making, especially in interpersonal matters (although in my defense, as I have an avoidant personality, lumped in with Aspergers until recently, I have few other resources to work out what the frack is going on with people and what I should do). I had an otherwise very promising relationship blow up because I fell prey to weaknesses that I was blind to. I picked myself up, got over it and moved on without looking back.

Now 6 months later, having come to a very clear and complete picture of what I've been stumbling over all my life, I've felt I can both accept that about myself and manage it effectively so I don't blow things up inadvertently. A week ago I had a notion to try and get in touch with that old flame, which involved dropping them a note as I'd deleted their number. Divination suggested to not do this, as it would be a loss for me and go nowhere (as well as being not a little bit desperate, I thought). I let it go, then a few nights later I felt strongly that I should actually go ahead and do it. Rather than divining again, I decided to do what I wanted, even though it felt irrational, weird and possibly creepy. Long story short, the person got in touch and we are hanging out soon.

1. Is this plausibly the kind of thing a HGA/higher self/that being would do to bring people back together despite them making a mess of it the first time around?

2. Would it be below such a being to throw in a lesson about following your desires by screwing up divination to discourage you and then really pushing you to do the thing?

Thanks for Magic Mondays. They are a priceless resource.

[ecosophia]

Most likely what happened is that the divination was saying "don't do it now, this is a bad time," and your intuition let you know that now's a good time. This kind of thing happens all the time. Don't worry about anyone trying to teach you a lesson -- higher selves aren't jerks. (Even the higher selves of genuine jerks aren't jerks, and sigh and shake their nonphysical heads when their lower selves do yet another dumb stunt.)

Magic at Sea

[(Anonymous)]

I’m going to be on a ship (aircraft carrier actually) for some amount of time starting next year. What are the magical effects of being at sea vs. on land? I’m doing LBRP, kabbalic cross, some meditation and divination. Frankly I’m a rank beginner. I’m planning on doing ritual work “in the astral” to avoid alarming people (tight quarters, zero privacy). Anything else I should know about the sea and magic?

Re: Magic at Sea

[ecosophia]

I know several people who've kept up magical practices while on shipboard in the Navy. They haven't reported any particular difference, so you should be fine.

[pleiadesdreaming]

So much of philosophy agrees that all lower life forms on the chain of being cry out for the divine light, for divinity appropriate for its station in life. If we extend this specifically to our "lower" animal, instinctual selves, it seems that the unconscious, which often includes the animal part of us, gets angry when denied this when it is buried in the shadow? Is this a factor in self hate, self defeating/ sabotaging thinking or habits, and finally, is that part of us upset it isnt allowed a chance to seek anything higher, never to lift its eyes to the heavens? Like it's lashing out at the ego in retribution? I ask because I don't want my current OSA session to go too off the rails.

[ecosophia]

If that's what you're getting, acknowledge it and see where it leads you. Don't dismiss it, but don't assume it's absolutely correct -- just as your conscious mind can overstate things when angry, your subconscious can do the same thing.

A question on technic conflicts

[sebzefrog]

Dear John Michael,
I have been pondering the question of conflict between different magical methods you (and others) have been warning us about for a little time, and I would like to ask for some clarifications. I thought hard about the way to ask my questions and have decided to leave aside the lengthy exposition of my rambles on the topic and instead take an example and ask specific questions.

Let's take as protagonist someone who completed the Dolmen Arch course.
In that example, the hermetic Tree of Life (as in Path of Wisdoms, Dion Fortune, etc) constitutes a different symbolic system. Assuming that our protagonist feels strongly drawn to this material (leaving aside the possibility of exploring it via the COGD), what issues, and consequent warnings would you give him regarding:

1- The exploration in meditation of the Tree of Life
2- The exploration in screeing/pathworking of the Tree of Life
3- The use of the Rider's Waite Tarot in meditation and divination
4- The use of the Rider's Waite Tarot / Tree of Life names/symbols as magical sigils included in the Dolmen Arch magical techniques
5- The use of material unveiled by meditation/screeings above in Dolmen Arch/Druid magical workings

And as a wrap up question:
6- What if I replace the Tree of Life by the Yi King in the above questions ?


I realize that the answers to these questions are implicitly discussed at different levels in your works, but I'd thought I give a try to get a sliver of explicit answer.

With my best
Seb

PS: I have 10$ on "Try it and tell us" ;-)

Re: A question on technic conflicts

[ecosophia]

You win your bet.

[(Anonymous)]

Is there any distinction between ritual magic and ceremonial magic or are they interchangable?

[ecosophia]

One has more letters than the other. ;-)

Keep in mind that words rarely have a fixed meaning. Some people use these two phrases to mean the same thing, others use them to mean slightly different things. More often than not, they're used to mean the same thing, but you'll want to keep an eye out for variant meanings in usage.

[davidastrom]

1. You mentioned something last week (if I remember correctly) about asking for permission when praying for someone. Is this something you should do for all types of prayers, and roughly how could a correct question for permission look like? (how specific)

2. You mentioned Peale as one of your favourite new though-authors. I have started reading him and like him a lot. Who else do you like and do you have any particular books to recommend? (from the new thought "movement")

[neptunesdolphins]

I have a problem with people praying for me. I can't explain it except that people will tell me that they will send me good vibes or reiki healing. Because of my brain injury, this energy or vibes mess my brain up. I believe that for whatever reason my injured brain cannot handle foreign energy.

When is a tarot card reversed?

[thinking_turtle]

Since the start of this year I'm having great fun with 3 card tarot readings. I use these questions for each card: "What you think it is", "Why you don't see what it is", and "What it really is". I started with just aces, 2s and 3s and slowly including more cards. I'm now using up until the King (lesson 6 from Mastering the Tarot.) I've noted that each card has a separate explanation for "Reversed". For example, Swords VIII means "The seeker is fearful" and reversed "Relaxation from fear". So far I've ignored the reversed explanations.

When should one read a card in its reversed meaning?

Re: When is a tarot card reversed?

[ecosophia]

When it's upside down in the reading. People who use reversals shuffle in a way that makes some of the cards upside down at random -- the usual trick is to rotate half the deck right after you cut it, and before you shuffle it back together. In the reading below, the Emperor would be read reversed:

[(Anonymous)]

The eyes in that photograph have an intensity I haven't seen in that era of photography. Provides a hint as to what it might have been like to be around him.

My question this week is around an organization who treats people very poorly that I've been associated with in the past. They hold material of interest to history researchers but are hard to visit and rude to work with. During covid they thrilled in enacting a vaccine passport. The officers of the organization are gossipy and act entitled, and if asked a specific question in their wheelhouse, they'll just ignore it. My last phone call with them, they hung up on me. The basics of civility are beyond them. The officers are quick to display their politics on social media saying the most hateful things repeatedly. It's been many many years they've been like this. But they have an endowment, so they exist.

I started a small effort just before covid to actually help people with this research. I explain to people where they can get what they need and actually help help. Charge a small fee for it. And now it seems like the organization with its new director is trying to put me out of business with its latest efforts. I'm barely making any money as is, but I am helping people and feel like I add value.

I had a horary reading done which said I'd have success with my venture (I have books coming out) , but its a really struggle to say positive with these folks around. I do the LBRP daily and it does keep the space clear but man when I see an email from them I twitch.

Here's my question - I find myself wanting to crush them and put them out of existence as an organization. I want to make a list of everything that I could create that would eliminate the need for them. Its motivating to me to do that but working from that place is dooming me karmically isn't it? My previous stance has been to pretend as if they don't exist and just keep providing value to people.

Second question - Magic in this situation would be very tricky to do, I guessing. My focus should be all in building me up and ignoring them as much as possible? Only defensive to protect myself and things to keep me positive?

My horrid people certainly aren't unique and my sense is they will just get more horrid in the near future with the election. I would think that 4x covid jabs and saying terrible things about others all day long would do someone them in, but apparently not!

Heliotrope Exiguous Raccoon

[ecosophia]

1) That kind of attitude, understandable as it is, simply ties you more tightly to them karmically, and also makes it more likely that you will start acting the way they do: what you hate, you imitate. By all means make that list, but do it in a different spirit: nobody should have to deal with such unpleasant people, so I'm going to create these other options that will make dealing with them unnecessary for me and others.

2) Yes in both cases. Magic is strongest when you work on yourself -- building yourself up and protecting yourself are both very strong intentions, just because your target is right there in the circle with you! Positive intentions also bring you good karma, which makes your future magic stronger.

As for the unpleasant people, their karma is what it is, and it's not your job to administer the thrashing that they will inevitably receive. Distance yourself emotionally and, to the extent that you can, physically from them, and let the gods take care of them.

[athaia]

Hello JMG

1) When doing the SoP, I never feel any energy in my solar plexus during the visualization of the sphere at the end. I’ve also been practicing autogenic training for over a year now, and while I can evoke the bodily sensations of the other formulas (warmth and heaviness in the limbs, for example, or a cool forehead), I consistenly fail to get the abdominal warmth of the solar plexus formula.

Two years or so ago, I had a bout of unexplained vomiting out of nowhere, and ever since that day, I occasionally have stomach cramps that persist for days (no pain, just that feeling of contraction in the area). Ultrasound and blood work came back without anything out of the ordinary, so according to my doc, I’m perfectly healthy.

All this makes me think it’s an energetic problem, some kind of persistent blockage that refuses to dissolve. Do you have any advice what to do about it?

2) After months of dragging my feet, I finally resolved to tackle discursive meditation, and read that book by bishop Hall you recommended. I must say I have real problems making sense of his ten steps! Part of the problem may be that English isn’t my mother tongue, and the book is from the 17th century. But the other reason is that I find his descriptions of the steps vague, and his example meditation on the lives of the saints not exactly illustrative of those points. In fact, it seems that his example meditation is meant to get him into some kind of religious frenzy (and that provocation of intense emotions seems to be the point of this meditation for him, according to part two of his method), which is all fine by me, but doesn’t seem to be what you are aiming for with discursive meditation.

So my question is twofold:

2.1) are you following these steps, or do you have your own system of inquiry? Do you have a system at all, or do you sort of wait for what questions spontaneously pop up in your mind? This question also goes out to the commentariat — how do you poke at your meditation topic?

2.2.) can you help me understand his system? Here’s what I’ve come up with:

1. Definition of the topic
2. Its components? He talks of “an easy and voluntary division of the matter.”
3. and 4., causes and effects
5. “Consideration of the subject wherein or whereabout it is.” I have no idea what that means, and the example meditation isn’t helpful at all. I tentatively settled on ‘how it is applied’, since he mentions “whereabout that is employed” — am I totally off base here?
6. Its qualities; no idea what he means by “appendances.”
7. Comparison with contrasting or opposite things.
8. Comparison with similar things.
9. “The titles and names of the thing considered” — I’m not sure what he means, nor what it’s meant to accomplish. Something like etymology?
10. “Consideration of fit testimonies of Scripture concerning our theme” — not terribly relevant for me, but I guess one could adapt it to researching the topic to add relevant information.

Thank you so much for this space!

[ecosophia]

1) I'd recommend talking to an alternative health practitioner -- an acupuncturist, an Ayurveda practitioner, a homeopath, etc. -- if those are legally available in your area. Blockages of this sort are something they're good at treating. MDs generally don't have a clue about such things.

2) Bishop Hall's book isn't something I'd recommend for a beginner! My chapter on discursive meditation in The Druidry Handbook might be better suited to that. I don't follow his specific system, but I rarely have trouble finding trains of thought related to the theme. When I draw a blank, I use a system called the sevenfold wheel of thought which is covered in The Dolmen Arch.

His system, however, might be translated as follows:

1. What is the theme? Be exact.
2. What are its parts?
3. What causes it?
4. What does it cause?
5. What is it part of?
6. What are its qualities and what things are connected to it?
7. What things are most different from it?
8. What things are most similar to it?
9. What words describe it, and what do they literally mean?
10. What sacred or philosophical texts talk about it?

the Cailleach

[(Anonymous)]

Good morning and thank you as always for creating this space...I recently (well, yesterday...) decided after three years of working with the Rider Waite tarot to switch back to using John and Caitlin Matthews Arthurian tarot, and also to switch from the GD practices to the SOP. One of the cards I drew was the Washer at the Ford...my immediate response whenever I see her is 'oh thank god...' she's someone I have complete trust in, for whatever reason...I was wondering if anyone had experience with her they wouldn't mind sharing, or any advice as to having a relationship with her. Santa Muerte resonates in much the same way, although I don't believe they're the same person. Thoughts?

Re: the Cailleach

[ecosophia]

That's not an experience I've had. Anyone else?

Qs

[(Anonymous)]

Greetings dear JMG and everyone here,

1) I want to learn more about Atlantis and hyperborea. I am dimly aware that you've mentioned atleast Atlantis as a real place, but I am keen to learn more about its history, how advanced it was and its relationship to today. Could you point me to material or share your views here?

2) A question on what you think Kali yuga theory represents, and what the significances of being incarnated today rather than in the so called "golden ages" would be.

Even Buddhism calls it the latter day, and it does feel not the best time, but I am curious how it relates to what we know of deep history, the levels of technology, knowledge, spirit/magic etc, and their relation to spiritual evolution/incarnation.

Re: Qs

[ecosophia]

1) Nobody knows. Seriously, the civilization that's dimly recalled by the Atlantis legend was drowned beneath rising sea levels more than 10,000 years ago and very, very little in the way of information remains. Charles Hapgood's book Maps of the Ancient Sea Kings is worth reading, as it covers one of the few really solid sources of data; my own book on Atantis, now out of print, was badly flawed and I don't recommend it. (I'll be writing another book on the subject eventually.) As for Hyperborea, we know even less about that, since it was in the early part of the last ice age. I've come to think that all four of the ancient cycles of civilization discussed in occult literature -- the Polarian, Hyperboreean, Lemurian, and Atlantean cycles -- were very likely historical realities, but the sheer length of time that separates us from those cycles makes it very difficult for us to know much. (In the same way, once our cycle ends, our civilizations will be remembered as dim myths from before the beginning of the history of some future age.)

2) As for the Kali Yuga, there are plenty of traditions from around the world that suggest that we're in a relatively more materialistic and difficult period than was true many millennia ago, and that seems reasonable to me. Since this is where I am, I figure that there's good reason for that -- but any kind of detailed response to your questions would require an entire book, not a brief response in a journal post!

mirasso

[(Anonymous)]

My favourite souce of Rudolf Steiner writings: https://rsarchive.org/
Good day for all Ecosophians

Re: mirasso

[ecosophia]

Thanks for this. Myself, I prefer the Internet Archive -- here's a link to their free-for-the-download holdings -- because they have a lot of Steiner's early work without the later editing, and I prefer some of those to their later versions.

amulet

[(Anonymous)]

Hi.

I am going to make an amulet according to the suggestions you offered in the FAQ's. I was thinking of blessing it on a Tuesday and praying to the archangel of Mars to strengthen its effects.

I am wondering if it would be best to do this small rite on a waxing or waning moon. I figure waning because I'm trying to push negativity away, but on the other hand, I am trying to bring protection to myself. Wondering what your perspective on this would be.

Thanks.

Re: amulet

[ecosophia]

You can certainly do that, and I'd recommend doing it in a waning Moon.

Frame Drums and Marijuana

[lukedodson]

Hi JMG,

I have noticed that Central Asian-style framed 'shamanic' drums are becoming quite popular amongst Heathens and Druids. I'd be interested to hear if anyone here has experience of incorporating them into their ritual practice.

Also, I was intrigued to learn from this blog that marijuana is associated with Saturn, and as such can hinder one's contact with the non-material planes. I was curious to hear any thoughts on how this could relate to the sacramental use of the plant amongst Hindu devotees of Shiva, and other religious traditions - for those who do video, there is an interesting and entertaining documentary from the 'Survive the Jive' YouTube channel on the subject here: https://youtu.be/x26A57P5VFY

From my own experience, a couple of the times I have felt a strong sense of an emotional communication from my late brother (a sense of him being pleased about something, say, or wanting me to listen to his music more) have occurred while I've been fairly high, and this seems to be consistent with evidence of its use in funerary rites. Would this also be consistent with the Saturnian connection?

Thanks for hosting this space.

Luke

Re: Frame Drums and Marijuana

[ecosophia]

1) Never tried it. Anyone else?

2) The Shaivite practitioners have a long tradition of using cannabis and presumably know exactly how to do it so as not to interfere with spiritual experiences. If you want to know how they do it, I'd encourage you to consider seeking initiation from a Shaivite teacher. My experience with ordinary potheads is that yes, it interferes with spiritual experience -- and please keep in mind that emotional states and spiritual states are not necessarily the same thing.

[(Anonymous)]

This seems like the week to ask a general question of the commentariat on the state of your local Waldorf/Steiner school(s), if you have any links to ones as an educator, parent, community member, etc. Does the school still feel rooted in anthroposophy, or has it drifted? How is family and teacher turnover? Are the festivals being held? Did insanity around a certain pathogen take over, or has the school community resisted it?

I attended an information session for our closest one, and it seemed like a pleasant little school that is not as invested in Steiner’s ideas as it perhaps once was. The person leading the session announced she was not an anthroposophist herself. Teacher turnover appeared high. They call their movement class “movement” and don’t mention Eurythmy. More alarmingly many of the board members (all current or former parents) are affiliated with big pharma, including several at Pf—r. We didn’t pursue applying for our child so I don’t have further info on their policies around masks and shots.

[kimberlysteele]

The Waldorf schools in my area in the far Western suburbs of Chicago went nuts with MRNA-mania and masks. Unfortunately, much like the the elite suburbs that pushed the shots, they have been places of wealth signaling/segregating the haves from the have nots since the early 2010s or before.

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG, I bet you've answered this question before but I wasn't able to find an answer on any search engine limiting queries to this site (I wonder if that's intentional). So here it is (probably) again.

What do you think is the karmic impact of lying about one's vaccine status to open doors that would otherwise be closed? I suppose it may depend on the situation. Is lying so you can be by the side of a dying relative in the hospital less damaging than lying to smooth things over with people you expect to help with your career?

If the vaccine mania is a spiritual test I feel deception could be as much of a failure as submission.

Also, if you or others know of a search tool that's good at indexing this site, I'm all ears. Thanks.

[ecosophia]

There's a certain Sunday-school morality that has to be set aside to deal with the real world, and the notion that deception is always bad and wrong and will get you spanked is a good example. If your elderly aunt asks you what you think of her new hat, telling her the truth is a needless cruelty; if you've got Jews hidden in the attic and a Nazi officer comes knocking at your door, telling him the truth is an evil act; if you live in a time when practicing magic will get you burned at the stake, telling the truth is suicide, and assists the inquisitors in their quest to erase the tradition you're trying to preserve.

All speech is to some extent deceptive, and so is refusing to speak! That being the case, the issue that matters is why you are practicing deception. Are you doing it to harm others? Then it's evil. Are you doing it to keep yourself safe from an abusive and unjust system? Then it's not.

Temple Openings

[(Anonymous)]

Good morning JMG et al.
I was wondering if the Fellowship of the Hermetic Rose Temple Openings and Closings can be combined with or substituted with the AODA solitary grove ritual, or if the openings and closings should just be done as written?

Re: Temple Openings

[ecosophia]

Um, what? If you're practicing AODA workings, use the AODA opening and closing; if you're practicing FHR workings, use the FHR opening and closing. That's what they're there for.

[(Anonymous)]

Hello GMG,
Thank you for this forum.
Question: what happens to the soul when the corpse of a dead person is not being buried for a long time? Also, if a person comes from a culture where they traditionally bury the whole body is being cremated, what does it do to his soul?
The unraveling of globalization is happening very unevenly. It has happened to me. Here I am, an American citizen, with no chance of getting a visa to Russia where the body of my father, a Russian citizen, is lying in a morgue while distant relatives go slowly through the labyrinth of Russian bureaucracy in order to cremate him.
Kirsten

[ecosophia]

The soul leaves the body behind within three days or so of death, and afterwards there's no significant connection between the two. Your father's soul is fine, and will not be affected by whatever absurd bureaucratic mess is involved with his body.

Please accept my condolences, by the way. That's got to be a very difficult experience to go through.

Converting tables

[(Anonymous)]

So Table 3 of the Ckicken Qabalah is entitled The Higharchy of Spirits. If I were to attempt to convert the table to some other pantheon, say the celtic one I think converting the divine names would be as simple as inserting the gods in who have domain over the corresponding spheres on the tree of life (ie. Byw spheres divine name would be Elen) but how would I go about finding good substatutes of the Archangels the angels the intelligences and the spirits?

Re: Converting tables

[ecosophia]

This is known in some magical circles as the Plug-and-Play Fallacy. No, you can't just swap out one set of names with another. Some pantheons fit the Tree of Life more or less, but others don't, and even if the gods fit, there are generally major differences in worldview that affect the other levels. This is a good example -- the Jewish Cabala has linear hierarchies of spiritual beings, divine name to archangel to angel to intelligence to spirit, but Celtic culture doesn't work that way; it's much less linear, and so instead of a nice neat line you've got a tangled gallimaufry of entities who can't be assigned clear connections to one another. Sorry!

Nathaniel Bacon 'mistique interests'

[(Anonymous)]

Does anyone here know anything about the 'mistique interests' of Nathaniel Bacon, of Bacon's Rebellion in 1676? He had studied with John Ray, the naturalist who more or less invented the concept of 'species'.

His army was following by constant rain and the rest of the colony was struck by drought, due to the 'Pawawingss, the sorceries of the Indians'. Anyone know anything about the pawawings?

Alabstro Seedy Gerbil

Re: Nathaniel Bacon 'mistique interests'

[ecosophia]

I've never heard of Nathaniel Bacon, and clearly I need to fix that. Can you recommend some sources?

[(Anonymous)]

Hello Mr Greer,

I’ve been doing the 2 dragons exercise from the DMH for about one month. So far it seems like it’s a very potent exercise and really beneficial to me, I already see physical, etheric and mental changes in my bodies, and it started to correct an etheric imbalance I’ve had since I was a kid.
Could you share the origins or inspiration for this ritual ? I recognised the Daoist dantien in the 3 cauldrons, since I’ve studied a bit of daoism in the past, but I don’t know of similar exercises. It also made me think about yoga and the way Ida and pingala, the left and right channel, cross around the chakras, but it’s not exactly the same. So I’m curious about the origins of this ritual.

— Littlegraou

[ecosophia]

The short form? I created it.