Magic Monday

[ecosophia]

It's a little after 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 picture?  I'm working my way through photos of my lineage, focusing on the teachers whose work has influenced me. Before Gladys Plummer, last week's honoree, became head of the Societas Rosicruciana in America, her husband George Winslow Plummer was the head of the order. For all practical purposes, he was also the founder; his teacher Sylvester Gould, whom we'll discuss next week, started the ball rolling, but Gould died suddenly in 1909 and Plummer picked up the pieces and went from there. Plummer was an enthusiastic Freemason and had received Rosicrucian initiation from Gould, but not a complete system of teaching or initiation; he created those by close but not uncritical study of the Rosicrucian and occult literature of his time, and tried to find common ground between occult teaching and science. He was also a devout if eccentric Christian, and ended up being consecrated as a bishop in an independent church with connections to the Orthodox churches. Though I don't share his religion, he's one of the role models from whom I've tried to learn.

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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 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

[sdi]

May I trouble you, and any willing commenters, for prayers for the health of my pregnant wife? She has been very badly sick with a flu and unable to eat for days. I believe a witch to be involved, so prayers for spiritual protection are also welcome.

Banishing, Meditation, and Divination with severe physical disability

[tunesmyth]

Apologies in advance for a slightly long explanation.

I have a friend from childhood who, truth be told, I didn’t know very well nor talk to very much, but nonetheless I had a huge crush on her from 3rd grade until around the end of middle school. A few months ago she got in touch with me out of the blue. She now has Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), aka Lou Gehrig’s disease, a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease where the average life expectancy is 2 to 5 years, though there are outliers who last longer. (Steven Hawking lasted decades, but apparently he might very well be the longest living ALS patient who has ever existed on the planet.) She is right in the 2-5 year zone now, and there is a distinct sense that she is running out of time.



Partly due to the fact that my daughter happens to also have a serious neurological disease, this woman and I have reconnected strongly and had a lot of conversation— sometimes a bit one-sided, as it takes a lot of effort for her, whether live or by mail. Given the strong feelings I had for her when I was a child despite hardly knowing her, on a hunch, I consulted with Geomancy as to whether we had some kind of karmic past life connection; I received one of the strongest “yes” answers I’ve ever had.



She knows she is nearing the end, and for a while it seemed like she was ready to give up the ghost. Lately though I’ve been arguing that there may be a chance that if she starts to return to some serious inner work like she had starting doing at one point a while before these physical issues began, that her Higher Self might give her a reprieve of sorts and slow down the degeneration enough to give her some more time. I don’t know this to be the case for sure, but it does seem plausible to me given the timing at which she reconnected with me.

She has gradually become receptive to these ideas, even while her condition continues to deteriorate. The doctors are recommending that she stop breathing by herself most of the time and hook up to a machine for breathing— apparently by actively engaging her diaphragm, the lower motor neurons deteriorate further, so the machine is supposed to extend how much time she has left.



It may be too late at this point, but still, in the hopes that embarking on a new spiritual journey might give her a sense of purpose and allow her to extend her life long enough to get some good work done in this body, I’d like to help her set up a feasible routine which fits within her physical limitations.



1. Banishing Ritual. She cannot walk or move around very much, so a traditional SOP is out of the question for her. The Judson Exercise will also not work. In her case, would you recommend the Modern Order of Essenes version of the SOP? Or would you recommend an SOP done purely astrally? Or something else?



2. Meditation. If she goes on machine-assisted breathing, should meditation line up with the pace of the machine’s breath?



3. As for journaling or taking notes of her meditations, both speaking and writing are difficult for her at the moment. I am not sure that a computerized voice system which picks up her sub-vocalizations is within her price range, though I haven’t talked to her about it yet. If nothing like that is a feasible option, is there any kind of mental note-taking method you might recommend for her to try? Would you say the Art of Memory (performed using astral locations instead of physical ones) might be something worth trying in this regard? (I fear it might be a bit much for someone to tackle in her state, but I don't have too many other ideas.) Or, do you have any other suggestions for how she could keep a record with a minimum of writing?

4. Divination. She already has a fair amount of experience with astrology. Would you count that as a form of divination for the "banishing-meditation-divination" triumvirate?

[(Anonymous)]

Is it possible to practice and get success with the Druid Magic in your Druid Magic Handbook without also performing regular Druid religious rituals? Or another way to phrase it, is it possible to develop a relationship with the Druid gods through invoking them in rituals such as the Elemental Cross?

Send-off

[temporaryreality]

In February 2020, several folks here kindly prayed for my cat who had suffered an iatrogenic and nearly fatal case of diabetes. (I fired the vet, recalibrated his meds, and he survived, unexpectedly).

We were blessed with nearly three more wonderful years together. Every day was a good day, frosting, really, and we let him know how much we enjoyed his company.

To make a long story short, after a rapid but lingering decline this last 9 days, Tibby will be euthanized Monday morning if he doesn’t make the leap on his own tonight.

If anyone feels so inclined, I would welcome prayers and good wishes for him as he leaves this incarnation, that he may be blessed in his next life with good health, and receive as much joy and companionship as he provided us.

Tissue salts and the placebo effect

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG,

I remember you mentioning somewhere that homeopathic medicines, such as tissue salts, work on the etheric body rather than the physical one. Am I remembering correctly?

If this is the case, how does the placebo effect work with homeopathic medicines? The same way as allopathic medicines - the mind tricking the body into experiencing something that has no traceability to the medicines taken?

Can you perhaps provide links or titles of publications that might help me understand the different bodies and how they interact with medicines?

Thanks
Tangerine Ludicrous Aardvark

Minerva again

[baconrolypoly]

Thank you to JMG and others who responded to my question about Minerva last week (https://ecosophia.dreamwidth.org/210855.html?thread=37422503#cmt37422503). I didn’t get to respond before the thread closed, but the replies were both interesting and heartening.

I took on JMG’s suggestion of finding a statue of Minerva, but found most of them either had Athena’s name on (does this matter? it doesn’t seem right) or they were quite horrible. Many showed her as willowy looking and distinctly underdressed, which felt cheap and disrespectful to such a strong goddess who is known for being chaste. Eventually, I came across the mosaic of Minerva designed by Elihu Vedder, who looks very interesting himself, which shows her looking strong and dignified, as well as fully clothed (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elihu_Vedder#/media/File:Minerva-Vedder-Highsmith.jpeg). I’ve printed it out, found a suitable frame and will keep it in the bedroom where I can commune quietly.

A couple of things this last week made me smile. I went for a rummage in a second hand shop and in one room there were figures of owls everywhere, clustered in groups or peeking out from shelves. Then, I’m reading Robert Harris’s ‘Pompeii’ and got to the part where the aquarius has asked Pliny for the loan of a ship. Guess what the ship’s name is – Minerva.

This is all a new experience for me and I’m enjoying it a lot. It’s also a real boon having somewhere to talk about it all, so thank you JMG.

Geomancy Question

[weilong]

I have a question about interpreting a House chart.
I had an 11th house question with the following result:
1st Rubeus
2nd Tristitia
3rd Cauda Draconis
4th Laetitia
5th Fortuna Major
6th Amissio
7th Albus
8th Rubeus
9th Aquisitio
10th Conjunctio
11th Carcer
12th Conjunctio

My question is about how to interpret the Conjunctio in the 12th and 10th houses. I could see it as a Translation, being adjacent to both houses of the querent and quesited. At the same time, there is Company Compound between Carcer in the 11th and Conjunctio in the 12th, which then passes to the 10th and forms a square with the 1st house.

So do I take it as a Translation, or a square, or both?

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG,

Genuine question (I'm not in any way trying to be facetious):

What are the half dozen or so as-close-as-dammit indefatigable truths about objective reality / human existence / the nature of the universe your magickal practice has taught you?

Solstice tidings,

Mark

Metals

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG,

I had a few questions about planetary metals?

1) I know many metals were not discovered in ancient times, but is there any way to find out what planet/god, for example titanium, would be associated with by its properties? Or would it be a trial-and-error test of a ritual/working with each metal with each planet and see which 'works'?

2) Does an alloy retain the properties of all metals in it, or just the most dominant one? I know most alloys like stainless steel are modern, but bronze for example existed in the ancient world - was it viewed as being only copper-associated, or was the the tin also accepted as being part of it?
It's actually quite hard to get hold of most 'pure' metals these days, they're often either alloys or coatings. (And on that subject, would tin-plated steel be tin or iron-related?)

3) What would be an acceptable substitute for the metal mercury as an association with the planet Mercury? The metal is, for obvious reasons, hard to obtain and difficult to store/work with. I do realise that these properties are, of course, relevant to Mercury though...

Also, an observation - I think you mentioned iron having a powerful Martial association the other week - I assume that extends to steel too? I know I've felt a surge of what I can only call 'stabbiness' when picking up a kitchen knife sometimes.
And there's that whole expression of "Give a boy a hammer and the whole world is a nail" - I'm sure I can't be the only one who's felt the thrill of holding a sledgehammer or 5 pound lump hammer (both of which have cast iron/steel heads) and thinking "I wonder what it would do to that object..."

Thanks,
Mr Crow

Synthetic gemstones

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG,

Another question from me:

If crystals have proto-souls and etheric bodies which can hold and retain properties such as healing, protection, etc, then do synthetically-grown crystals have these abilities too, or are they effectively 'soulless'?

It just seems like a diamond forged in the heat and pressure of the deep Earth over millenia would have a completely different character to one grown in a lab in a few weeks.

Or are synthetic gemstones more like empty vessels which can be charged with certain properties (and may 'take' them more easily dependent on the inherent properties of the gemstone), but do not have any properties of their own?

Thanks,
Mr. Crow

Black streams

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG,

Have you ever heard of "black streams"?

They were mentioned on a podcast I was listening to, and seemed to be an underground stream which carries energy that causes misfortune as a result of being etherically contaminated or polluted in some way. I couldn't find much else about them from searching, and wondered if you knew anything more?

Thanks.

[(Anonymous)]

Do demons have a divine spark? Does anyone know how many individual demons there are?

[(Anonymous)]

What's the most powerful cleansing and protective ritual you know, and under what circumstances would you need to use it?

[(Anonymous)]

How do you change the Sphere of Protection to protect a place?

Dogma of High Magic in ebook

[abrahamjpalma]

Hello, JMG.

When I downloaded Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magique, it was quite difficult to read it in some places due to the quality of the scanned images. So I started to write it in a written document, so I could print it and read in a better format, once I had the time for the study of this book. Rituel is missing in the document I downloaded.
So far, I've copied all the text in french, and I've accompanied it with the tarot card images you provided in your blog, regarding Levi's book. They are inserted at the end of the chapter, or next to the page where a description of the card is provided. As you may imagine, it is missing only two cards.
I've checked it twice, but I'm not native french, so a few typos may still exist. Anyways, I've tried to copy it fidele to the original.

I don't know if this document can be of interest to you. It's in opendocument format, A6 page size, but I can easily port it to pdf.
That would be a great way to tnak you for all your help if you were able to make use of the document.

Demonic contracts

[mr_nobody1967]

In the past, you have discussed how people who "sell their souls" to demons generally get a seven-year compact with said entity. What I'm wondering is, does the person who made the compact with a demon always necessarily die once the seven-year period has expired?

Essene Healing Hands

[(Anonymous)]

I'm trying the Healing Hands, and so far I never clearly "feel" anything no matter how long I leave my hands together or over an impaired body part. I'm not psychically perceptive in general. Should I fall back on imagining that I feel something, or just close it out on the assumption that something happened even if I can't feel it? Or assume that if I can't feel it, I can't do it? Thanks!

-Translucent Jejune Octopus

[(Anonymous)]

What are psychopomps and what do they do? I've only seen the fictional depictions in Gunnerkrigg Court and Spiritfarer.

[(Anonymous)]

You've discussed before - including last week - about how it's best to appeal (via planetary charity and other means) to those planets strongest in your natal chart and not try to shore up your weaknesses by trying to connect strongly to your weakest planets. I was curious if you could explain the reasoning behind this? (I've done no planetary charity or anything with the planetary deities myself.)

As for how you can use your strongest planets to overcome your weaknesses, you gave the example of a strong Saturn being used to counter debilitated Jupiter excess optimism with cold Saturnian wisdom. As another rough example, would a good example of mitigating the inverse - a weak Saturn and strong Jupiter - be engaging in benevolent acts to strengthen people's opinion of you, to make up for a tendency to make unwise impulse statements?

Middle pillar

[d_mekel]

I've been doing the middle pillar for almost 3 years. First was the LRM version and currently the COP lesser middle pillar version. I have also done the vibratory formula here and there but have been so bored with the lesser middle pillar that I would like to switch to the vibratory form for a little while. Is there any issue with that or is it best to suck it up and stick to what I've been doing. By March I will be ready for the greater MP once a week.

I have found the effects of the 2 versions differ. Lesser mp seems to always bring a euphoria and sometimes quite a high. While the vibratory formula seems to bring an energized or waking feeling.

I've only been using the Adni Hartz formula done 10x. That was quite a physical workout initially.

[gullindagan]

Two questions, firstly, in last week's MM (which I didn't have time to read until the next day) you responded to the first question by Andrew Skeen thusly: "If you've got the skills to do an astrological talisman, make and consecrate one when the sun and moon are both in good aspect to your friend's natal Jupiter, or to the ruler of his 10th house, and the ruler of his 5th house (the house of children) is well dignified. You can also look for a good aspect with any benefic planet to appropriate planets in his chart. If this is above your skill set, invoke Jupiter using prayer and planetary charity. Jupiter is the planet of benevolent justice and will help everything work out for the best."

Where did you get this strategy? Is it basically your innovation using regular electional rules or is there a traditional source for this type of astrological magic?

2: This is less a magic question and more a writing question, but I'm working on the Heathen Golden Dawn and trying to decide how much source text to add. IE whether to put in out-of-copyright translations of Voluspa, etc, whether to put in sections on the runes and rune poems, or just tell the student to buy copies of both of the Eddas, a couple good books on runes, etc. What is your opinion? (also to everybody else, would you rather a slimmed down, just to the point book or a monstrous tome, or something in between?)

Thanks!

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you for hosting these, and for all you do.

Last week I think I TMI'd my question, so I will try a shorter form.

I was doing Essene Healing Hands as described in the Fellowship of the Hermetic Rose posts for several weeks, and then I stopped.
But since then, my hands, especially my right hand, seem energetically "noisy", especially when I am lying down. I don't like to bring them up near my head because it feels like some sort of energy is blasting out of them, and it feels 'not right' for that to be going into my head.

Is this a sign of something bad? Is there something(s) I should do about it?

Thanks,

Cicada Grove

Salt, tips, advice

[(Anonymous)]

Peace thank you for offering this. I saw your info on making a red amulet bag. I have Himalayan pink salt with me now, need to buy kosher, why do you prefer kosher salt / what is the difference? Can I use Himalayan pink?
I also want to ask for healing energy and protection. Trying to start a new chapter with the solstice and new moon. See if after my description below, what might come up for you, any kind of advice:
I had an unbelievable few years and cannot explain what I attracted / what has been following me. I hate to say the “matrix,” but I lack any other vocabulary—everything reached a climax when I was viciously stalked, raped, tricked, and definitely something/someone/both(!) invaded all my personal boundaries and space, it was like watching reality splinter before my eyes, like seeing thru the matrix and the strange, obscurity of what is possible. Why? I have no resources that make sense of what I’ve been through. Truly like a demon in many forms, which I’ve never believed in or experienced before. Precognitive dreams that happened exactly. People saying and doing things like they are on a timer, like it’s controlled. Absurd “coincidences” that are not at all coincidences, and I originally thought, “well, synchronicity / signs are good, right? I’ve been doing this for years, it must be a new development in my spiritual growth.” Nope. An insidious web of lies, deceit, illusion and no one telling the truth, when I deeply know something is wrong; people telling me I’m crazy and I’m not. I feel like my spiritual training and practice has been wiped clean because I cannot fathom how I have experienced these outrageous situations, how I believed I was safe and protected, but became very vulnerable and trapped, and super manipulated before I knew it.
Do you have any advice for further protection, solstice / new moon rituals I can do. I have done vinegar soaks many times. I don’t understand how these people, and why, they went to such extremes to hurt me, and on a deeper level if it’s a kind of entity against me. I suppose it’s a game. I don’t want to play. I’m moving and starting over on NYE and am praying for a new chapter. Even wondering if you have advice for how to pray. Very grateful for the help.

Esoteric Baptism Link and Seven Laws Question

[jprussell]

Good Morning,

A happy Hannukah to our Jewish friends, and a merry solstice to those who observe it. May you find light and warmth in the cold and darkness.

To Share: After last week's question about "Sign of the Cross" equivalents, I've been doing some more research. I found this page, which seems to be a chapter from a larger ebook, about baptism, that includes a bit of discussion about the Sign of the Cross's interaction with the subtle body/chakras: https://ocoy.org/original-christianity/the-yoga-of-the-sacraments/baptism-the-yoga-of-life/

It comes from "Original Christianity, Original Yoga", which is presented by the Light of the Spirit Monastery, which appears to be a religious community of esoteric Christians that are heavily influenced by Indian religious teaching and believe that much of Jesus's teachings/practices originated in India. I haven't read very deeply yet, so I have no idea how useful or plausible their overall site is, but the linked article/chapter at least seemed like a reasonable, if highly idiosyncratic and esoteric, approach to the rite of baptism.

To Ask: The "Seven Laws" found in the Dolmen Arch and those in Mystery Teachings of the Living Earth/The Occult Philosophy Workbook seem pretty clearly based on those in the Kybalion - is that the case, or do they share some other common source? In either case, do these laws have a pre-history before early 20th century occultism?

As always, thanks very much to JMG and everyone here for good conversation and good fellowship.

To any who will have them, I put forth my blessings and best wishes,
Jeff

[(Anonymous)]

I'm embarking on the first steps of my magical journey this coming year and have chosen to start with your recent Druid Path book which seems very accessible, but know there are infinite options. My hope is that sticking with and expanding from your recommendations in this resource will help set the foundation for any other avenue that speaks to me in the future.

With that, I do have small question, currently my environment is extremely frigid (-30C). As I'm working to bolster my imagination I've found it very challenging just to be outside for extended periods of time. Are there modifications you could point me in the direction of for those who may be in environments that are temporarily inhospitable? For now I am just focusing on the areas I can, but feel a bit more cut off than when I first started when it was possible to really immerse myself in my environment.