Magic Monday

[ecosophia]

It's just past 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'm still tracing my lineage in photographs. At some point after the death of Bishop Shaw, a question arose about the legitimacy of the apostolic succession of the Universal Gnostic Church. John Gilbert arranged to settle the matter in the traditional way by receiving sub conditione consecration from Archbishop Herman Adrian Spruit of the Church of Antioch; that's Archbishop Spruit in the photo. Sub conditione?  That's the technical term for a second consecration given to a bishop in case the original one didn't have valid lineage, and Spruit was the man to give it. 

He was born in 1911 and started out his religious career as a Methodist minister, but he became convinced that a more sacramental and less dogmatic approach to Christianity was needed, and so he joined the Independent Sacramental Movement and was consecrated as an independent bishop. At that time there were sixteen different lineages of apostolic succession outside the control of the established churches, and squabbles between independent bishops about the validity of the different lines were common. Spruit ended that in an exceptionally graceful way. He arranged to be consecrated sub conditione in all of the lineages, and then conferred the same consecration on any bishop or qualified candidate for the episcopacy who requested it. These days practically every bishop in the Independent Sacramental Movement has all sixteen lines -- yes, including me -- and the squabbles are over. Bishop Spruit's Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch remains an active independent church, and so do many of the other independent churches who received his blessing. 

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 link above to access my online tip jar:  PayPal for now, but that'll be replaced by a couple of other options shortly. 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 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)]

There are etheric and astral banishing rituals, is there a mental-plane banishing ritual?

H Spencer Lewis

[lukedodson]

Hi JMG,

An open question: I was recently gifted a copy of Self Mastery and Fate with the Cycles of Life by H Spencer Lewis. I have yet to perform my experiments with it, but I was curious to hear about other people's experiences with the system presented in the book.

Thanks,
LUke

Eros & Psyche, DA, Apollo & Hyacinth

[cs2]

I am reading Martin Lowenthal's Alchemy of the Soul: the Eros & Psyche Myth as a Guide to Transformation.

In it he recounts the myth beautifully and then explains how to think about it in terms of deciphering its symbolism and using it for a path of spiritual development.

I really appreciate a work like this because otherwise I would have been confused about why Psyche was being bullied so much and I wouldn't have gotten as much out of it.

This reminds me of the introductory notes to each branch in the Dolmen Arch course. For example in the third branch, I never would have thought to consider Cigfa, Rhiannon, Pryderi and Manawyddan as four elemental facets of the same person.

I think this is part of what is going on with literacy these days, that even among people like myself who read a lot of fiction (~50 books or more per year) it doesn't necessarily mean we are equipped to get the most out of myths.

I am wondering if there is a book form of the Dolmen Arch explanations of the Mabinogion, or if it's just the introductions to each reading passage in the DA book.

I am also wondering if you think the story of Apollo and Hyacinth has the makings of a similar Gwynfydd-style transformation like with Eros and Psyche. I am very drawn to Hyacinth's story because if I had known there was a god out there (Apollo) that might love me, as a queer kid growing up in a conservative area, that would have really helped me. Thank you.

[(Anonymous)]

Are there any spiritual consequences to spending your working life deep underground? At one time the Yorkshire Mining Museum had an underground hall you could rent out and get married 140m below the surface. What kind of imprint would that leave on the marriage?

Kitten

[temporaryreality]

I would appreciate prayers for the kitten who appeared in our backyard last week - that she may find a wonderful, loving home where she'll be appreciated. She's a delightfully sweet cat. In spite of having appeared half-feral, she was so relieved to have been caught and brought inside - this is a cat who WANTS human contact!

We have 3.5 cats already - the .5 is the truly feral guy who comes for breakfast every day, and none of the other 3 are impressed by another cat showing up. I think she's swell, but I'm the attentive cat servant around here and they already take a lot of my time; so it's best if she can live with someone who can lavish attention on her without such competition.

Right now we're asking people we personally know if they want a cat. Later, if that doesn't pan out, I may ask again for prayer-help if I have to send her along through a shelter/rescue organization. I'm not sending her in that direction quite yet because I know they tend to neuter extremely young, which causes health problems later in life for some cats, and I'm willing to drag my feet a little bit.

Thanks!

[(Anonymous)]

Mauna Loa is erupting for the first time in 40 years and the last eclipse was almost directly overhead, so you can add that to your election notes.

https://www.kitv.com/news/local/lava-flows-spotted-from-the-air-as-eruption-exits-summit-of-mauna-loa-update/article_8d3f213b-3c49-5d94-88a9-acded86df6f7.html

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG,

I have just come to the end of a short but extremely intense romance. I have commented here a couple of times over the past month about some of the weird spiritual occurrences that have plagued it. I am reeling and have some more questions.

My subconscious mind was trying to warn me a lot of the time. A couple of nights I felt the strong urge to flee her place and one time had the thought 'get out of here' very strongly. She was very much to my taste in many ways, had character traits I valued, was not in the least bit threatening or suspect and was a devoted parent. My heart and will were set on seeing how things went, and so I did, ignoring the warnings.

I understand that poltergeist activity can sometimes be related to a very disturbed subconscious mind, rather than a spirit. I am trying to disambiguate the range of phenomena.

1. I am a CGD bard, have awakened kundalini and have had some incontrovertible HGA/higher self experiences. Do you think it is plausible that a subconscious awakened and energized by all of that could do things like lock doors, shake objects right in front of me, move stuff around etc.?

2. The most parsimonious explanation suggests that the poltergeist stuff and some experiences of being touched and woken up are linked and perhaps have the same source, but if it is me causing it, why would it feel so much like a separate being? If it was me, why wouldn't I just wake up normally?

3. I used magic to meet this person. Surely if this relationship was not something I should have been doing, my HGA/higher self could/would have diverted me from doing either the magic or intervened in a myriad of ways to prevent it? I am fully aware that HGA/higher self does not equal the entirety of the unconscious mind, and it may have allowed or created the experience and dragged some unconscious parts of me kicking and screaming with it.

4. It turned out that we both have similar heavy trauma, and her disclosure of that deeply affected me. It has ripped old memories open and thoroughly disturbed me. I will be turning all this into a positive healing experience, however, do you think that my unconscious may have been trying to protect me/itself from having the trauma stirred up?

5. The whole experience suggests great disharmony in my being. Do you have any suggestions about how to go about resolving it?

I am sure I have most of the tools to work through this, and I will eventually, but I am very stirred up and would greatly appreciate your input.

Tarot card 5 of pentacles reversed in a 3 card reading

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG. I've had the 5 of pentacles reversed several times in the outcome position in recent days, including the last 2 days. Obviously it's telling me something. I've generally interpreted 5 of pentacles reversed as a hopeful card indicating troubles now behind me. But the repetition makes me think there's another message here. How would you generally consdier the card in that position?

[(Anonymous)]

When demons, elementals or other beasties end up in human bodies, are they aware of what they are and what's going on?

Complimenting Paths

[(Anonymous)]

Hello and Good afternoon JMG,

I have a question relating to choice of spiritual path. I have followed the warrior path most of my life and grew accustomed to this path. When I discovered Druidry I set aside my intention to stay on this warrior path and quite willingly left much of it behind. That said after 3 years the old path is pulling me again and encouraging me to fight. I am considering it, and found a recent meditation on Geburah to resonate very strongly. I think perhaps best outcome is to attempt to bring both archetypes together into one path.
Is this dangerous? Can a relatively mundane human being incorporate two powerful archetypes into their personality?
In your view must one archetype be subservient to the other to balance?

Thanks!

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG,

I am thinking of incorporating the Nine - the entities allegedly contacted by Andrija Puharich and others - into a fiction project. Do you see any potential danger in this?

Thanks in advance.

[daniellethepermaculturist]

I am not sure how to frame this. How does one frame the food chain in a spiritual sense? The fact that we must eat each other to survive. The starkness of it can undermine the life and soul affirming properties of all living things. Is it a corruption of good or the personification of it?

Cloaking One's Energy

[(Anonymous)]

Good evening JMG. I hope all is well with you.

I have been told several times now by different people that I project my energy (unconsciously) quite a distance from me and a sensitive person is able to pick it up long before I get close. Sometimes this has been an advantage because it has spooked bad people with ill-intent and allowed me time to deal with a situation. Normally, however, I think I would be better served to learn how to cloak it under most circumstances. What are some practices or techniques I could use to learn to do this more effectively?

As always, thank you for hosting this forum and providing us with such knowledge on a weekly basis.

Blessing Walk

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG,

A couple days into the Blessing Walk, I was in a busy grocery store. No way could I mentally say "May you be blessed." to every individual in such a crowd. What I noticed was that in glancing at people, some seemed to be "open", if you will, and some "closed" to the prospect of being recipients of this. Babies and children? Always open. Little magnets, in fact.

So I wonder, was this a function of my personality/subconscious choosing attractive vs. unattractive in this situation, or is there something broader at work?

Thanks as always!
OtterGirl

[(Anonymous)]

Good evening JMG and community, I have a few questions for today:

A few weeks ago I asked about working the land with iron tools, due to their etheric properties. Would galvanised steel (steel covered with a layer of zinc) have the same effects, or would they be less disruptive?

Is the DA work compatible with the mysteries of merlin?

And lastly, regarding the modern order of the essenes would it be alright if I translated the material to Portuguese? I want my mother to have access, and she doesn't speak English.

[(Anonymous)]

Hello
Two questions for you.

Are there questions that are either to complex or trivial for divination? So as “should I get a haircut” or maybe “is this the person I should marry”?

How safe would you consider dabbling into astrological magic is for a educated beginner? So as planetary charity. I was relieved to hear Warnock say that missing a word or two in an Orphic Hymn doesn’t cause a Zeus bolt to come down, although what about missing a charity day? What if I get abducted by aliens again and can’t keep my promise!

HGD Update

[gullindagan]

Well, I reckon it's time for an update on my work with the Heathen Golden Dawn system; I've now completed for myself the set of practices and finished my 9th Self Initiation Ceremony. I used the hexagram rituals instead of the pentagram rituals for the Self Initiation Ceremony, and it seemed to have worked well, a number of insights followed the initiation, and they're still coming. I see my version of the HGD as taking the planetary track more than the elemental track, though obviously there is elemental work too. The planets are very practical, tied to Germanic gods for over 1000 years, tied to herbalism, and the path of going through the planetary gates for initiation goes back to Hermetic, Mithraic, Neoplatonic traditions of the ancient world. I'm sure many Heathens won't like it, but they probably won't like a Heathen Golden Dawn system anyway!

How far can you take Self-Initiation btw? I will of course be divining and meditating on it, but now that I've done 9 sets of the Transformation, I have half a mind to try Conjuration and Consecration, and/or keep at the Transformation.

[(Anonymous)]

Hope everyone reading this has a great week ❤️

Question about divination

[(Anonymous)]

Dear Mr Greer,

Several weeks ago, I posted a message on Magic Monday in which I mentioned my intention to start exploring the Coelbren oracle. Next thing I did was design a set of Coelbren cards on my computer and go to my local copy shop to have them printed on solid paper.

I've used the Coelbren Oracle almost daily since then, often several times a day. And I must say that so far I'm not disappointed. Having procured an online copy of the Dosparth Edeyrn Dafod Aur, I'm still exploring different ways of understanding the Coelbren, and as you anticipated in your book on the Coelbren Alphabet I've started developing a personal sense of the Letters.

The reason for my writing this message is the following: even though I often get clear readings, i.e. readings in which the significance of the individual Letters selected is astonishingly obvious and unambiguous, just as often those readings turn out not to be borne out in the facts. To put it in more precise terms, I note that when selecting the cards my hand tends to be drawn to Letters that reflect my own "mental" world (i.e. my desires and my fears) rather than the situation as it really is. To be sure, it is always enlightening to take note of my own projections, but obviously the point of a Coelbren reading is not merely to serve as some kind of medium for a "projective test".

Is there a way to deal with this problem ?

Thank you in advance for your answer.

R.

Pepe

[stcathalexandria]

Is it significant that Pepe the Frog is still in use by political outcasts? In that movie you said the energy doesn’t disappear and hinted it transferred to Hong Kong. I saw Elon post a Pepe meme yesterday and it got me wondering.

[kimberlysteele]

Can you please add the Judson exercise to the Magic Monday FAQ?

[(Anonymous)]

Have you ever heard of the TAT foundation and Richard Rose, it’s founder? Just wondering what you think about it if you have heard of it.

[(Anonymous)]

If you discuss a magical working here but don’t leave your name, does it still vent the energy out of it?

[(Anonymous)]

What is your understanding of spirit guides? Are they 'real' or is it just new age thinking? What is their purpose/role?

Also any suggestions on a book for planetary charity?

[(Anonymous)]

Recently, I've felt as though I'd get further in life if I'd blow off dealing with day to day things in favor of studying the occult over blowing off studying the occult in favor of dealing with day to day things. Is this feeling correct?