Magic Monday

[ecosophia]

It's 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 or comment 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 and the teachers who influenced them in turn. I'm currently tracing my Martinist lineage, and at this point we've reached a genuine man of mystery, Jacques de Livron Joachim de la Tour de la Casa Martinez de Pasqually. Nobody knows when Martinez de Pasqually was born or where he came from; what's known about him is that he showed up in southern France in 1754, taught an extraordinarily rich system of Gnostic esoteric philosophy and practice to a circle of pupils that included Louis-Claude de St.-Martin and Jean-Baptiste Willermoz, and then sailed away to the Caribbean in 1772 and reportedly died there two years later. The image I've posted is one of the very few portraits of the man.

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With that said, have at it!

***This Magic Monday is now closed. See you next week!***

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Just my two cents as a current "Endowed" member of the LDS church:

1) I can only speak in limited terms regarding temples built by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) which is the largest group related to the all-encompassing academic term "Mormonism".

Temples built by the LDS church are very different from one another structurally. There are a few that are the same or at least similar, but they are generally designed to "match" the environment they are built in aesthetically. Some blend in (sort of) and some are meant to stand out visually.

The rituals practiced in all of them are the same. The promised blessings from temple worship lean very heavily to the after-life, not so much on the "here and now" or promises of physical health/wealth. The only things that cannot be discussed are the "Signs, Tokens, & Names" received by initiates because they make an oath to not reveal them. The LDS church has recently become much more open about the rituals and clothing regarding temple worship.

Joseph Smith was a Master Mason (raised questionably fast) and it is pretty well documented that the ceremonies are based loosely on some of the Masonic ceremonies of the 19th century, but the meanings and promises made, especially currently, are very different. This may or may not be helpful to you JMG.

The main common features are:
1. Extreme attention to "perfection" in details in construction/symmetry and the adornments/decorations. A best attempt to simulate "Heaven" on earth.
2. A baptismal font that is below earth level and surrounded by 12 oxen(statues).
3. A main room or multiple larger rooms to perform the "Endowment" ceremony, and other smaller rooms to perform "Washing & Anointing", "Sealing", and other ritual ordinances. These all differ in size and adornment depending on the particular temple.
4. As mentioned earlier, the ceremonies and rituals are all identical no matter in which temple they are performed.

More in depth history/info on the rituals here: http://www.ldsendowment.org/why.html
Basic google searches can get most other info.

I will see if I can find anything on the actual temple architecture that might be significant in relation to the temple technology being discussed. I think that the Navoo, Salt Lake City, and Logan temples might be of the most interest. My initial thought is that no, there is nothing along those lines that might be helpful, but one never knows.

Regards,
Bert

[ecosophia]

This is very helpful. The rituals aren't something I have any business poking my nose into, of course -- as a Freemason (among other things), I recognize the importance of keeping certain things private! The temple tradition I explore in my book The Secret of the Temple focuses mostly on the architecture, though incense (or other sources of volatile oils in the air) and music also plays a role in it. I'd be very interested to hear a Mormon take on the temple tradition as I've outlined it -- if that amounts to "no, that's not like anything we're into," that's also a data point.

[arth_cerdded]

JMG,

I think based on what I remember of your book, it's been a hot minute since I've read it, that there is not much that is similar to that specific temple technology. I think the varied architecture used precludes any relevant insight. As far as I know our altars do not go any deeper than the floor, as an example.

We don't use any incense and it wouldn't be able to drift out of the temple into the surrounding area even if we did, at least not without being pushed out through the AC.

When oil is used it is a seriously minimal amount. A few drops at most and it is not fragrant.

While there is speaking/prayers/singing, they are short and not repetitive (chanting or extended singing) in the same way that other traditions might be.

I think if we (LDS) somehow had the ancient temple technology secrets, they are not currently employed in any significant way when taking your research into account. To me the main goals of each are pointed in different productive directions. But that is just one person's opinion.

Regards,
Bert

[ecosophia]

Thank you! All of that's valuable data.

[(Anonymous)]

The baptismal font surrounded by oxen reminds me of the "Sea" in Solomon's Temple in the Bible (Book of Kings).
I wonder how much else of LDS temple construction takes a lead from the OT.

- Cicada Grove

[scottyc]

Thank you for the information.

I was going to comment that in Salt Lake City, the Visitor's Center (?) just south of the Temple had a cut away model of the temple but when I went to the satellite image to double check, it seems that the whole area is under renovation and construction, to include the Temple. Seems the Visitor's Center has been torn down (I visited 2017, satellite image says 2023).

I don't have a picture of the model but even better:

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/scaled-model-provides-salt-lake-temple-open-house-experience

I was also going to recommend a visit but I'm not sure if the current construction would take away from a visit. When done, should be nice and worth the visit.

The grounds around the temple were beautiful, the Visitor's Center interesting and even more so the History of the Church museum on the opposite side of the temple/ tabernacle. Stop by the Joseph Smith Memorial building next door for a view and a feed at the Nauvoo.

[ecosophia]

Salt Lake City is a long way from Rhode Island! Still, thanks for the info.