Magic Monday

[ecosophia]

It's right on 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 1.1 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 field a lot of questions about my books on magic these days, so I've decided to do little capsule summaries of them here, one per week. The book on the left is the current edition of my fourth published book, Earth Divination, Earth Magic. This was the first of two books I've written so far on geomancy, an intriguing form of divination using sixteen four-digit binary numbers -- okay, they're combinations of one and two dots, but the mathematics are binary. It was one of the most common methods of divination in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, but dropped almost entirely out of use thereafter, and important parts of the system got lost. I had to learn Latin and find a couple of rare texts --one of which is translated in this book -- to figure them out. This book originally came out from one of the big Neopagan publishers, and their marketing people apparently didn't bother to read it; they pushed it on Pagan bookstores claiming that it was some sort of Wiccan feng-shui, and of course most of the copies got returned to them. It was the first of my books to go out of print. Fortunately it (and my other book on geomancy -- that's a story all by itself, which we'll get to in due time) found their audience despite the misplaced efforts of its original publisher, and it's now selling steadily with a different press.  If you're interested, you can get a copy here if you live in the US and here if you're anywhere else.)

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, and no further comments will be put through. See you next week!***

Comments

Five Rites Review and Question

[jprussell]

Good Evening,

Well, despite my intuition that fall is obviously for the dead and spring for the living, it appears not everyone shares that, so if you mark it, I hope everyone had an appropriate Veterans' Day.

To Share: I've written a quick piece on my thoughts on our host's newest book on the Five Rites: https://jpowellrussell.com/#book_the_secret_of_the_five_rites

To Ask: This might be a project for down the road, but I figured I'd ask while it's on my mind. So far, I have found the Five Rites fully compatible with DMH/DA work, invigorating to the physical and subtle bodies, and convenient enough to practice regularly with a busy schedule, so I'm pretty happy with them. That being said, I also like to tinker, and given my current focus n work with the Three Cauldrons (plus the Solar Plexus) from DMH/DA work, I found myself wondering about physical exercises that might consciously seek to stimulate the belly, heart, and "third eye" energy centers, since only the last is discussed in the Five Rites system. I thought maybe some of the Hindu texts discussing lesser chakras you mentioned in The Secret of the Five Rites might be helpful to look into for pursuing this - any particular place you recommend I start?

As always, thanks very much to JMG and everyone else here for all that you do.

My blessings and best wishes to all who will have them,
Jeff

Re: Five Rites Review and Question

[ecosophia]

I spent much of the time I was doing research for The Secret of the Five Rites trying to find good sources in English or French on the minor chakras, and ended up with very, very little -- just enough information to identify which minor chakras the designers of the Five Rites used, and annoying references to detailed volumes in Sanskrit. If anyone else can recommend a good source I'd be delighted to hear it!

The Daily Dozen, interestingly enough, is also something I've worked with and had good results with; I included it in one of my most obscure works, The Spirit and the Sword, and may do something one of these days explaining how to use it as a system of esoteric exercise and training. These days, though, I'm working mostly with the Rites.

Ecosophia Prayer List

[tunesmyth]

At this link is the full list all of the requests for prayer that have recently appeared at ecosophia.net and ecosophia.dreamwidth.org, as well as in the comments of the prayer list posts. A printable version of the entire prayer list current as of 11/8 may be downloaded here. Please feel free to add any or all of the requests to your own prayers.

If I missed anybody, or if you would like to add a prayer request for yourself or anyone who has given you consent (or for whom a relevant person holds power of consent) to the list, please feel free to leave a comment below.

(Also, if you think you might be interested in having anyone pray in support of your own self-improvement, please have a look at the Ecosophia Prayer List Autumn Special.)* * *
This week I would like to bring special attention to the following prayer requests.

May the lawsuit for partition of the family land in which Jennifer, her husband Josiah, and her father Robert are involved be resolved justly and for the greatest good of all involved, including the land and its spirits.

May the brain surgery that Erika's partner James underwent for his cancer on October 16th have gone successfully; and may he be blessed, healed and protected, and successfully treated for all of his cancer.

May Kyle's friend Amanda, who though in her early thirties is undergoing various difficult treatments for brain cancer, make a full recovery; and may her body and spirit heal with grace.

May Jeff Huggin's friends Dale and Tracy be blessed and healed; may Dale's blood and spinal fluid infection clear up sufficiently to receive a heart valve replacement; may his medical procedures go smoothly and with success; and may Dale and Tracy successfully surmount these difficulties.

In the case of Princess Cutekitten and the large bank who is suing her, may justice be done, with harm to none.

Lp9's hometown, East Palestine, Ohio, for the safety and welfare of their people, animals and all living beings in and around East Palestine, and to improve the natural environment there to the benefit of all.
 

* * *
Guidelines for how long prayer requests stay on the list, how to word requests, how to be added to the weekly email list, how to improve the chances of your prayer being answered, and several other common questions and issues, are now to be found at the Ecosophia Prayer List FAQ.

If there are any among you who might wish to join me in a bit of astrological timing, I pray each week for the health of all those with health problems on the list on the astrological hour of the Sun on Sundays, bearing in mind the Sun's rulerships of heart, brain, and vital energies. If this appeals to you, I invite you to join me.

Re: Ecosophia Prayer List

[ecosophia]

Thanks as always for this.

[open_space]

Making yourself lovable works. She is not crazy and actually quite smooth, smart and sexy --the curse is broken ^^

[ecosophia]

TSW!

Cosmic eclipse update

[(Anonymous)]

What is your current take on the 'cosmic eclipse' theory, as in the speculation that behind the madness of the last three years was a solar system on another plane blocking our access to the central sun. I think you said once that if it was blocking on the second or third cosmic plane it would have a more dramatic but less long lasting effect.

For what it's worth, I think the eclipse is fading now, as that horrible gnawing straining feeling of not knowing which way was "up" has passed. Well it has for me.

However it hasn't been replaced with a sense of joy either, and I wonder if that's the collective karma of how so many of us behaved during the 'eclipsed times'.

I would be keen to get your take.

Re: Cosmic eclipse update

[ecosophia]

It seems so far to be matching up rather nicely with the facts. I note that a lot of people who were shrill advocates of police-state tactics toward unvaccinated people are now not merely backing away from that stance, but insisting that they never actually said anything of the kind -- and I don't think it's just dishonesty or cognitive dissonance. At least some of them really do believe it, and get a deer-in-the-headlights look when you show them their previous tweets and emails.

But it's fair to say that the "eclipse" may be over but the karma remains. Now to see how that plays out...

Counting affirmations again

[(Anonymous)]

Estimated Archdruid,

Following up on my idea from two weeks ago of counting daily affirmations by groups of 10, one for each Sephirah, which you said I could try out:

My goal is to be in a good and stable relationship. Along with my affirmation, which I will not publish here, I imagine the path of this idea through the spheres as follows:

1 - I acknowledge my higher power or the potential of Space in the Buddhist sense as containing the possibility of a relationship for me

2 - I decide that I want a relationship

3 - I decide which kind of relationship

4 - I believe it is possible and I remember it has happened to me before

5 - I rule out those kinds of relationships that would do me no good

6 - I can imagine myself in a relationship and try to become a lovable person

7 - I become open to emotional connection and flirting

8 - I analyze and communicate as necessary

9 - I take care of my etheric well-being in terms of health, exercise and sexual energy

10 - I engage in a relationship

This feels good and seems to make sense when I practice it. Now, I kindly wanted to ask for your advice:

Did I interpret the Sephiroth correctly? Is it compatible with my Sphere of Protection work, or would you recommend to switching to a Hermetic method to match it? Are there other simple practices that could match this exercise, or resources I should study?

Thank you so much!

Re: Counting affirmations again

[ecosophia]

This seems quite workable, and yes, it's entirely functional within the SoP; John Gilbert used the Tree of Life extensively in his teaching and personal practice, and in fact a book of his essays on the subject is now in print. That might be a resource worth your while, and of course the Fellowship of the Hermetic Rose papers also provide an extensive body of study and practice that works with the SoP and the Tree of Life.

3rd Person and Death in Scryings

[filthywaffle]

Happy Monday!

All of the scrying I've done was first person, with me interacting with the images I observe. In cases where I might want to scry a scene in myth which contains violence and death -- where I don't want to be the killer or the killed -- is there an issue with being a 3rd party viewer?

And then extending from that, if there were situations in a first person scrying where I (or my avatar or whatever) was killed, would that be a problem? Or is that just interpreted through the Druidic concept of rebirth and so forth? To simplify the question: should death be avoided in scryings where possible, or just treated as another symbol?


Thanks!

Re: 3rd Person and Death in Scryings

[ecosophia]

It's never been a problem for me, any more than it's a problem to be killed in a dream -- that's happened to me quite a few times. Just keep in mind that death is a transition and not an end, and see where it takes you.

[filthywaffle]

I've been perplexed lately by the concept of animism as it concerns technology.

Let's say (for the sake of argument) I have a PDF on my Windows desktop that I have copied and pasted. According to the traditions you follow, does that new PDF file also have some aspect of spirit? Or does its spirit need to be awakened, as we might do in Druid magic with the lunar current?

Thanks again!

[ecosophia]

Everything that exists is supported by spirit, but not everything has an individualized spirit of its own -- many things are simply infused with the background presence of spirit. Your PDF probably doesn't have its own individual spirit, unless you've charged it with enough of your own emotional energy to help it begin to develop one.

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG,

I've had an ugly dispute going on with a neighbor for the last half-year. A person who had been friendly to my family turned out to be aggressive and threatening after a bizarre incident.

Things may have come to a head near the end of last week, which had him turning up the threats. He may be close to eviction because of his actions, but I can't be sure of that.

I've been on edge from all this, as you would be, and I said a few prayers to Christ and requested the divine protection of Michael the archangel. I'm not especially Christian, though I did grow up in it, but I have no hostility to it and do find that its figures are comforting in troubling times.

I had an experience, less than a vision and more than a feeling, of Christ's presence and His accepting of my request, followed by the presence of Michael, who agreed to protect my family and home. I found this deeply calming, and much of my stress disappeared. So, oddly, did the neighbor's behavior.

Yesterday, an image came to me unprompted. I saw a great rushing wall of water, like a tsunami, rushing through the land which has my home and the neighbor's home (and others in between). The feeling was of a cleansing, flushing out dirt and grime centering on our neighbor's home, with no threat behind it. There was a vague association with a water deity, possibly Neptune or Poseidon, directing this force.

I have no idea how or if that image would connect with my request to Christ and Michael. I've got no special connection to the Greek pantheon, nor any watery gods that I'm aware of, and it seems out of place.

Any ideas what this could mean?

Many thanks.

[ecosophia]

It looks to me as though the spiritual forces you invoked followed through and cleansed the noxious energies from the region. I would encourage you to consider thanking Jesus in prayer.

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG,

I'd like to quote your axiom "What you contemplate you imitate" in an article that I'm writing, but despite using several different search engines I'm finding it difficult to find where you introduced it or explained it. Would you be able to point me towards a source I can cite?

Diolch yn fawr,

Bogatyr

[ecosophia]

Sure. I introduced it in an Archdruid Report post in 2011:

https://thearchdruidreport-archive.200605.xyz/2011/11/choice-of-contemplations.html

I'm not at all surprised that search engines don't bring it up. These days search engines are optimized to sell products and hide inconvenient ideas.

[(Anonymous)]

In yoga class the instructor (he's a good one) recommended that we take a vow of nonviolence. While not officially doing it I've been trying my best to stick as close as possible to the idea because I can see how violence against others does an incredible amount of damage to myself. I slipped up and had some violent thoughts today because people were being mean, but caught it and got back on track again. It made me wonder, though. The initiate is not supposed to take action against anyone and let karma sort it out, but what about those people who never learn without confrontation? I'd like to figure out a way to be non violent without letting people walk all over me. Thanks.

[ecosophia]

That's the problem with vows of nonviolence, or any other attempt to manifest utopian ideals in the real world: lovely as they seem in theory, they don't work in practice. It's certainly possible to decide to be as nonviolent as you possibly can in each situation and then act on it, but unfortunately there are times when some degree of confrontation -- up to and including physical violence -- is necessary to prevent other people, who are eager and willing to use violence, to trash your life in one way or another. If your nonviolence encourages people to be violent, you're partly responsible for their violence! This is why mature spiritual traditions (of which we have a shortage here in America) come to terms with the unwelcome realities of existence and make room for the necessity of violence.

[corrnata]

Happy Monday john

So I gone and bought your books the way of the Golden circle and the occult philosophy work book.

So I have a few questions mainly regarding mediation techniques.

1. In the book you said for the western meditation I should have my eyes half shut can I not just shut my eyes? If not why?
2.For the 2 meditations a day does the first have to be in the morning? Am I able to do the first one once I'm home for work and the second before I head to bed.
3. Can I pair these books up with daoism? A been talking to a fellow occultist and he says they speak to similar things so it's a good idea you agree with the sentiment? Plus I just really like daoism.

[ecosophia]

1) Um, no, I said you can have your eyes open, or half shut, or shut. It doesn't matter which one you do.

2) Two meditations a day? I recommend doing one meditation a day. Your best bet is to work your way through The Way of the Golden Section and then, once you're finished, take up the meditations in The Occult Philosophy Workbook.

3) You can read about Daoism all you want. It's a bad idea to mix spiritual practices from different traditions, though.

You're either for the binary or against it!

[(Anonymous)]

This is just a gratitude post.

I know this isn't much of a revelation but I recently realized that most of what passes for discourse these days is just an undisguised attempt to force me into taking one position or another: one acceptable and the other not.

The "current thing" binary is usually just a nuisance thanks to the guidance of our generous host. But I think being able to tease out the ternary may be the dividing line between the sane and everyone else these days.

So thanks for so consistently presenting the need to, in all things, find the third option.

It has quite literally saved my health and much more.

Re: You're either for the binary or against it!

[ecosophia]

You're most welcome and thank you!

Astral gender

[(Anonymous)]

My ex-partner wants to produce me as a magician. He is a sound engineer, and a musician himself, although neither of us have been produced before. He seems very admiring of female artists in general. Does this count as a sign that his astral body could be female?

Re: Astral gender

[ecosophia]

Um, what? Most heterosexual men admire women, you know, whether or not they play music...

Planetary correspondence question

[(Anonymous)]

Is Moon the right planet to ask for help when trust has been broken and lost? To help to find trustworthy people and calm of mind? Thank you

Re: Planetary correspondence question

[ecosophia]

No, quite the contrary. The Moon is the planet of inconstancy and change. You want Jupiter for peace of mind, trustworthy companions, and good fortune.

[athaia]

How do your two books on geomancy differ? Do you need both, is the second one building on the first, or can you use either one? I've wanted to learn geomancy for some time, but was unsure about which book to buy.

[ecosophia]

You can use either one; they cover the same ground.

What happened is that my first book on the subject (ED,EM) was badly marketed by its original publisher and went out of print. I approached another publisher with an inquiry about reprinting it, and they weren't interested in that but said they'd be happy to publish a brand new book on the subject -- so I wrote them one. Then, some years later, I was able to place my out of print books with Aeon Books, and so ED,EM came out in a new edition -- so I ended up with two books on geomancy competing with each other. ;-)

For what it's worth, I'm currently working on a third book on geomancy, but this one's going to be on advanced techniques of geomantic divination and magic. Stay tuned!

Cats and Baby Hermit Thruses

[(Anonymous)]

I live in the forest in some small cabins in Maine and my partner wants to get some indoor/outdoor kittens for our daughter. My fear is that they will sneak around the underbrush killing the Hermit Thrushes that make such beautiful music... in particular their young. Might there be any workings that could protect the birds from the cats?

Thank you,

108

Re: Cats and Baby Hermit Thruses

[ecosophia]

Well, what kind of magic do you know how to do?

Iron Vs. Aluminium energy

[(Anonymous)]

Dear JMG,

I am going to buy my first handgun soon, and one of the decisions I have to make is if I want an aluminum or iron (steel) gun. I am not looking for advice for the material side of this question as there are plenty of gun-related spaces for that, rather my question is if there is a spiritual side to this.

My intuition tells me iron may be a better material for a weapon from a spiritual point of view, as the surface of mars is covered with oxidized iron, and of course humans have been making weapons out of iron for ages while I have never heard of traditional pre-gun weapons made out of aluminum.

How much of an energetic difference would this choice have? Would my gun get charged with better energies if I go with iron? What energies if any can I expect from aluminum?

I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on the subject, have a nice day.

Re: Iron Vs. Aluminium energy

[ecosophia]

Aluminum is a metal of Uranus, iron a metal of Mars. Both are well suited to firearm energies. The reason you don't hear of older weapons being made of aluminum is that unless you have electricity, aluminum is nightmarishly difficult to refine; other than a few Chinese alchemists, nobody seems to have done the trick until the nineteenth century. In your case, you might look at your astrological birth chart (or have an astrologically literate friend do so if you don't know astrology) and figure out whether Mars or Uranus is better placed; that would be a good guide to which of the planetary energies (and therefore metals) would work best for you.

The Secret of the Five Rites

[arth_cerdded]

JMG,

A bit of synchronicity I suppose. I started reading "The Spirit and the Sword" last week, and then the "The Secret of the Five Rites" arrived this week. There were some concepts that were difficult for me to understand concerning some of the Work I’ve been doing and these books somehow unlocked the door to better understanding of their purposes. These are very enlightening.

Thank you for writing them. I highly recommend both books.

Regards,
Bert

Re: The Secret of the Five Rites

[ecosophia]

Glad to hear this! I really do need to do a new edition of The Spirit and the Sword one of these days.

[(Anonymous)]

Dear JMG,

1. Is there a way to tell if you are doing discursive meditation badly? Just wondering what one should watch out for, both during meditating and as an effect of doing it wrongly.

2. Last week, you suggested that occultists, after the beginning stages of learning, could do up to an hour and a half per day on their practices. Besides an increase in the amount of meditation time, what else could be added to fill this time?

Thank you!

[ecosophia]

1) That's a very odd question, you know. Most people want to know how to tell if they're doing it right. The answer is the same in both cases -- don't worry about that. Review the instructions now and then, and let the practice teach you. (And be a little gentler on yourself, btw.)

2) An hour and a half a day is for serious practitioners with several years of experience behind them. The best test for whether you're ready for that is that you know enough about occultism that you have a list of things you want to do to fill the time!

On Silence

[(Anonymous)]

Hello Mr. Greer,

I have come across an interesting challenge. Both occultism and stoicism prize silence, or at least not talking about your future plans with others. I have some trouble with this. I always found that talking about my plans helped me reign in my ADD and focus on them. I have recently turned to meditation to help with this but have you ever encountered other people with ADD who struggled to not talk about future plans? Is this just a discipline thing? Do I just need to shut up and move on? Do you at least spend a lot of time talking to your wife about your future plans? Any thoughts would be helpful.

Re: On Silence

[ecosophia]

I don't talk about my future plans with anyone, because I've found that doing so fritters away the energy that would otherwise go into the plans themselves. This is a known thing among authors -- the more you talk about a book project, the less likely you are to finish it! The discipline of silence is one of the best ways to strengthen the will, and it also teaches you just how much of your world is manufactured by conversations with other people. Try not talking about your plans, and see where that takes you.

[jenniferkobernik]

Not too long ago someone I know was lying in bed and saw (with their inner eye, not their physical senses) a being, which they described as being like a neon butterfly, but the wings were eyes, and it had a tail. They said it’s vibe was malicious, but petty, like an annoying fly, and they sensed that it was not powerful enough to hurt them. I am curious if this description rings any bells? Demon, fay, something else? They were inclined to think demon, but unsure.

I am also wondering if inner eye impressions of the same being are usually consistent from person to person, or if each person sort of interprets what they receive into a different visual impression.

Thank you!

[ecosophia]

1) No, it doesn't ring any bells, but it's worth noting that the spiritual worlds are even more complex and crowded than the material world! Just as there aren't too many people who know every plant that grows in their region and every insect that lives there, you'll have a hard time finding anyone who knows more than a small fraction of the spiritual flora and fauna of any part of the world.

2) That really varies, both from person to person and from entity to entity.

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG,

I think someone is testing whether I have learned a lesson in life.

About ten years and three jobs ago, I got into a problematic relationship with a colleague (A) that more or less turned into an affair and threw me into a medium sized crisis and ended my relationship with my girlfriend at the time. I think I learned my lesson and moved on without staying with the girlfriend or the affair.

In the last few months, I've started a new job at a new company, and lo and behold, a few weeks into my employment, a new coworker shows up who could be the spitting image of (A) in looks and personality. It's uncanny.

We immediately hit it off. When I saw the possibility of the same constellation developing again, I took steps to separate myself from her immediately and not hang out with her, of course.

It's just really creepy that the girl is so similar to my old work colleague. Is this an effect of my psyche over-interpreting things, or could it be the universe checking to see if I've learned my lesson? Or could I cause this somehow?

Thank you.

[ecosophia]

This is what happens when you've got some karma and have mostly worked it off; you'll get a chance to make exactly the same mistake over again. If you don't, then you've passed the test and can go on to other things.

spagyrics and mushrooms

[(Anonymous)]

Hello,

could something go wrong when I do a spagyric tincture of reishi mushrooms?

Thanks!

Re: spagyrics and mushrooms

[ecosophia]

It's a standard teaching in alchemy never, ever to do spagyrics with fungi. The reason is quite simple. Fungi are decay organisms, and their energy is a death energy. That's not a problem when you're using carefully chosen fungi for food or healing -- though you have to be careful! -- but when you're using spagyric methods, that concentrates the energy, and the results are never good. They may not be physically fatal but they do nasty things to your energy bodies.

Candle working: opportunities within limits?

[(Anonymous)]

This question references two themes I have seen repeated here. I'm referencing them as they appeared, even though my question is a general one rather than specific.

The first theme: if you do a candle working (or planetary charity) for earning money, it is important to take any opportunity to earn money that presents itself.

The second theme: the key to getting wealthy is to look at everything as an opportunity to make money.

I worked for someone who had done the second, with great success: he'd grown up very poor, and was wealthy. He was not someone I would want to become - his willingness to scam others to earn money was legendary.

So the overall question: is is possible to do a candle working for some sort of opportunity, but specify limits on it, without offending the planetary intelligences? "I'd like an opportunity to earn money by honest work", for example.

SamChevre

Re: Candle working: opportunities within limits?

[ecosophia]

This is a very important point. Of course you should put limits on any such working -- everyone does, at least implicitly. "Opportunities to get money" could be taken to include robbing at gunpoint every person you meet! The intention you've defined is a good way to do things -- you're phrasing it positively, not negatively, and so asking the intelligence to work in a specific direction. They can handle that very well.

Cats

[(Anonymous)]

Hello JMG,

What do you make of cats "choosing" certain people? Could there be a spiritual element?

Recently, two friends, who live in different parts of the country, have had a cat show up at their door, meowing, and being very affectionate when they're given attention. The cats had collars and appeared in decent condition.

Thanks

Re: Cats

[ecosophia]

I have no idea! You'd have to ask the cats -- and of course, you know as well as I do that cats never give a straight answer to anything. ;-)