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 picture?  I'm working my way through photos of my lineage, focusing on the teachers whose work has influenced me. I'm going to jump back here a bit because I managed to trace down another significant figure from a lineage I've already discussed. Bishop Richard, Duc de Palatine was an Australian spiritual teacher and Gnostic bishop who played a crucial role in bringing the alternative sacramental movement to the United States, and strongly influenced both of the bishops who consecrated John Gilbert. Born Ronald Powell in 1916, he became a member of the Theosophical Society and then a bishop in the Liberal Catholic Church. After the Second World War he moved to Britain and founded the Pre-Nicene Christian Church, one of the major fountainheads of Gnostic Christian spirituality in the English-speaking world, and later traveled widely in the USA and elsewhere, teaching students, ordaining priests, and consecrating bishops, until his death in 1977. I've recently had the chance to study more of his writings and have discovered that he was much more influential a source for the Gnostic material I received than I'd realized -- so he's this week's honoree.

Buy Me A Coffee

Ko-Fi

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 either of the links above to access my online tip jar; Buymeacoffee is good for small tips, Ko-Fi is better for larger ones. (I used to use PayPal but they developed an allergy to free speech, so I've developed an allergy to them.) 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 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

[scotlyn]

Just to say thank you to JMG, for the words on atonement last week, and to Homeopathic Meditations for the story of your grandfather. I read both, but too late to formulate any replies.

There is a person here who expresses willingness to work towards redemption and atonement, and I will do my best to point out ways that that work can be accomplished. Many thanks.

It is interesting to me that my own small practices, such as they are, seem to be bringing more people to my clinic whose difficulties are not strictly physical in nature.

Once again, thank you.

[(Anonymous)]

Historically speaking only, what cell salts were used for persistent coughs?

Invoking and Banishing

[hearthculture]

In the SOP, I notice that I verbally invoke elements, and draw an elemental symbol of invoking.
Then I verbally banish harmful-influences/imbalances/etc with the help of the elemental powers, and draw an elemental symbol of banishing.

In my understanding, I am not intending to banish the element and it's powers along with the harmful-influences/imbalances/etc., but just using their help to banish while their energies and powers remain.
1. Is this correct?
2. If this is correct, what do the symbols drawn actually do?
3. Do the symbols follow the words used and only invoke or banish what is spoken, so that the banishing is limited to only what I speak and intend?
4. Do the symbols invoke and banish something on their own separate from the verbal formulation?
5. Is there a time when you would use the symbols separate from one another? I.e. would there be a time when you would only banish without first invoking or vice versa?


Thank you for this space, your time, and your experience.

Noology

[(Anonymous)]

After reading your other blog this week, I was wondering if Ken Wilber played any roll in forming your Noology department in the Hali universe?

[(Anonymous)]

Planetary rulerships and the body
Which planetary deity (and other deities if known) rule the Achilles tendon? Is it Jupiter because it's in the leg? It also seems like a very Hermes area, as he has the wings on his ankles.

I have noticed that in the material from William Lilly on the Renaissance Astrology website, there are some ailments and areas covered by more than one deity. Are there other sources which can help clarify or choose who to ask for support?

Overdoing it when avoiding Mercury retrograde?
As it was Mercury Retrograde at the start of this year, a lot of things started under Mercury retrograde. I was reluctant to sign up for courses that started then (in subjects Mercury rules) as I had already experienced other obstacles. Now I wonder if I was silly to miss or delay this kind of opportunity. These are short courses for adults lasting a few months, not part of a college education.

Baphomet

[(Anonymous)]

Hi, JMG:

It seems like you can't pick up a book on the history of occultism without seeing a picture of Eliphas Levi's Baphomet, with a variety of explanations of what it is and what it represents. I'm wondering your opinion on this entity, if it even is an entity. I know it's come to represent the Devil for some. For others, it represents occult wisdom. I know some witches associate it with Pan. (My local witch shop has a Baphomet statue for sale, and I know the owners are not Satanists). Is it an egregore? And what would be the result of invoking this being? I have no intention of doing so but have known people who have.

Thanks!

[(Anonymous)]

Hello Mr Greer,

My boyfriend has recently started learning to play guitar, and so we discovered that the current standard tuning of 440 Hz has replaced the 432 Hz tuning in 1955. New age websites say it was decided by the nazis for occult reasons, and then it was adopted as the new standard globally after that. Apparently 432 Hz is in resonance with our bodies and the universe, and so their idea was to cut us from spiritual realities. Do you think there is any truth behind this ? I’ve tried to listen to music tuned to 432 Hz and it seems to have a more powerful effect on my emotions, but then it could also just be a placebo effect.

And, not a question, but in a few weeks I will be finishing the 4th grade of the Dolmen Arch. I started the 1st grade, 2 years ago in February 2021. Maybe I’m really slow at this, but it took me a long time to understand what this is all about. There are so many things to learn in that book and so much to meditate upon, and I don’t think I’ve understood everything yet. Anyway, I just wanted to say a deep thank you for this and the other things you share. It really has completely transformed my life and made the path clearer, even if I know I still have a long way to go on that road.

— Littlegraou

[(Anonymous)]

I want to thank Tunesmyth for maintaining the prayer list. You rock, dude. (Grin.)

—Princess Cutekitten

[ataulfo]

I'd like to share a two things.

1) I was a vegan for about six years, including for most of my first year of occult practices, and during that year I got a job that is the epitome of sensory overload. I was constantly worried what others thought about me. I didn't really like meat and still don't, but finally tried including a serving of fish or other meat every day or every other day. The concern with other people's opinions and perceptions immediately diminished to insignificance. A close friend remarked that I had become a "very solid" physical presence, "but not dense."

2) Early in the pandemic I had sleep problems and was dating a stoner, and so I took up smoking weed before bed every night as it gave me control over when I fell asleep. Of course after a year straight of this it didn't work as well, and I didn't really like it. I made sure never to do rituals or meditation under the influence and made a point of avoiding divination while high as well. Nonetheless, I always had disconcerting problems with the banishing visualizations in the SOP, back when I practiced it, which disappeared in early 2022 when I was able to quit smoking for a few months. The sleep problems came back, however, and I had too much anxiety during the day, so I caved and took it up again. Eventually I standardized it to an exact dosage of edible every night; I still woke up and did my practices, and I still made progress despite it not being an ideal situation. I finally had the courage to not get stoned last night, instead taking a large dose of non-intoxicating CBD oil, which I didn't think would put me to sleep based on past experience. In fact, I was out like a light and woke up today pleasantly surprised and feeling more normal than I have in a long time. Doing practices this morning was a whole different ball game, in a good way. I am left wondering where I would be now if I had avoided weed in the first place. That is to say it seems to be a hindrance to deliberate imagination and abstract thinking even when kept separate from my practices, although it does not seem to prevent improvement even given the hindrance.

Thanks and hope this is helpful to someone with similar issues.

[(Anonymous)]

Hello JMG,
Thank you for your blogs, books, and Patreon articles.
I submitted myself to a cosmetic procedure that didn't go well. Consequently, I got a headache for many weeks following the procedure. Last Friday in the hour of Venus, I lit a green candle and asked her to relieve me from my headaches. This morning I woke up with no headache - for the first time in weeks. I would like to thank Venus for her help. My plan is for 7 consecutive Fridays in the hour of Venus to donate to a Venusian charity. Questions:
1. What would be an appropriate charity?
2. Anything else that is appropriate to do?
3. My Venus is exalted in Pieces in the 5th house and conjunct Saturn, also in Pieces in the 6th house, Sun in Taurus. Should I take it into account and do something differently because of that?
Thanks,
Kirsten

[zarbarzun]

Hi JMG

I hope I'm not off topic with this.

I have some questions about sex magic, I read about this and I am new in this topic.
I read aleister crowley but but I don't trust him.

What do you think about of Paschal Beverly Randolph and his book "magia sexualis"?

Are these practices in general dangerous?

I read "ecstasy through tantra" by jonn mumford but he did not convince me in some things, and in others it did hahaha


any recommended books?

Thanks :D

Mercury and Neptune Conjunction

[scottyc]

I was in Denmark recently (highly recommend to go) and noticed a couple of instances in which statues of Mercury and Neptune were placed side by side:

Copenhagen Borsen or stock exchange:
https://www.encirclephotos.com/image/neptune-statue-at-borsen-in-copenhagen-denmark/
Mercury statue is on the other side.

Kronborg Castle
https://nl.pinterest.com/pin/525654587729814904/

Same pairing again at an open air museum of art
https://samlingen.koes.dk/en/works-inpublic-sphere/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=c.c.+peters

Question for Ecosophians is if Mercury and Neptune together has anything to do with the occult sciences, relationship to the royal family at the time or more prosaic as in Mercury was the god of commerce and Neptune the god of the sea and related to Denmark's colonies and mercantile endeavors?

[francis_tucker]

What is the difference between "gnostic" as used to describe the independent sacramental churches you read about in occult contexts (such as the one John Gilbert brought you into) and first century Gnosticism? I'm guessing that not everyone who self-describes as gnostic or belongs to a tradition with "gnostic" in its name believes that a nasty rogue deity created the physical universe and that being trapped in a fleshly body is an inherently terrible thing; if I'm correct, what does "gnostic' mean when it doesn't mean that?

While I'm asking, what do the two have to do with each other? What do they have in common? Did these traditions at least have the original gnostics in mind when they chose the name, even if the actual beliefs differ?

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG. Are you planning to resume your series of blog posts on the history of American occultism in near future?

geomantic house for scholarships

[(Anonymous)]

Dear JMG,

I asked the geomagnetic oracle: “Is it worth applying for a scholarship for my two youngest children to attend school B?”

I assumed it was an 11th house question (sources of help), and the chart perfected with Amissio in both 1st and 11th, i.e. yes, but it’s still gonna cost us a bundle.

But afterwards I wondered if it should have been a 3rd house question instead, for elementary education?

Thank you in advance for any insight you can share,

-Ms. Krieger

[liamq]

JMG,

I’ve recently been doing a lot of reading on the perspective that the man behind the works of Shakespeare was in fact Edward de Vere, the Earl of Oxford.

If I were to do a geomantic house chart and ask whether Oxford was the Shakespearean author, which houses ought to be used for the respective significators? I would be casting this chart mostly for practice, since I obviously need it.
;-)

Uranus Return

[(Anonymous)]

I've been hearing a lot about the US's approaching Uranus return, and how in the past it coincided with the revolutionary war, the civil war and the second world war. Have you written something about what to expect on your paid astrological blogs?

[(Anonymous)]

I'm currently in early labour with my first child. If anybody wishes I'd appreciate prayers for a positive, safe, natural and timely birth.

[drakonus]

I’ve been running into more demons lately.

Anybody else seen an uptick?
Probably from September last year to current.

Any suggestions on banishing them?
When I banished recently my wife wanted to stop me because she felt a demon’s presence which I think I picked up from a guy at work who is a Satanist. The guy is late 20’s- early 30’s previous drug addict, ex homeless, ruined family looks 50. All of which is to say he seems about rung out.

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG,
Do the legends about Prester John encapsulate anything related to Western esoteric lore? What do you think was the real motive behind the spread of those legends in Medieval Europe?

[(Anonymous)]

Are there any concerns with wearing the red amulet bag described in the FAQ at all times while outside of the house?