ecosophia: (three quarters)
John Michael Greer ([personal profile] ecosophia) wrote2024-06-02 11:18 pm

Magic Monday

Green WizardryMidnight is just a few minutes away, and so it's time to launch a new Magic Monday. Ask me anything about occultism, and 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.  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 hereAlso: 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.  And further:  I'm going to draw a line, a hard one, under questions involving the evocation of spirits. Down the road a bit I'll be doing a post on the blog about why that's far less important than it's been made to look, and how the way of occult initiation takes a radically different path; in the meantime, I'm tired of fielding repetitive questions from people (or, quite possibly, one person using many sock puppets) that rotate gyroscopically around that one habit.

The
image? I field a lot of questions about my books these days, so I've decided to do little capsule summaries of them here, one per week. The book above on the left was my twenty-ninth published book, and remains far and away the most successful of my books from the peak oil era. Its genesis, like most of my other peak oil books, began on the blog I ran in those days, The Archdruid Report, with a series of posts on the appropriate technology movement -- one of the most promising of the movements of the 1970s ecological scene, which attempted to craft advanced technologies that could work within the limits of sustainability. Though it was erased from collective memory by mass media and corporate interests, it produced quite a few useful technologies, and this book was my attempt to bring those back to the attention of those who might use them. Given the steady sales of this book, I still have hope. If you're interested, you can get a copy here.

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. 
 
Bookshop logoI'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!***
jprussell: (Default)

The Reenchantment of the World and Question on the Protestant Church Model in America

[personal profile] jprussell 2024-06-03 04:00 am (UTC)(link)
Good Evening,

I hope everyone's June is off to a splendid and sunny, but not overly sunny, start!

To Share: Nothing from me this week, but a recent essay by John Carter of Mars on the (ahem) re-enchantment of the world might be of interest to some folks here: the pitfalls of designer religions, what makes for resonant myths, and where on the fringes today we might see proto-myths being born. Rather long, but I found it quite worth it: https://barsoom.substack.com/p/the-reenchantment-of-the-world

To Ask: You've mentioned before that during the height of the neopagan movement/fad, lots of its participants envisioned success as basically becoming standard protestant churches, only with more Gods and different songs (a building, paid clergy, regular service, associated community activities, and so forth). If this was only aping the conventions of wider culture, as seems like a reasonable first hypothesis, then it seems like a bad idea destined for failure, and the contraction of the alternative spirituality scene of the last decade plus might be evidence in support of it.

On the other hand, a while back, I had a conversation with another ecosophian that suggested an alternative, and I've been turning it over in my head for some time now, with no clear answer, and I wonder if you have any thoughts or pointers to books/people who might be worthwhile: might the pull toward that kind of model be something about the spiritual ground (whether literal or figurative) here in America?

Obviously we have a long history of weirdos having their own spiritual insights and schisming off to pursue them, as you've documented so well in your Occult America series, but it seems like the next-most-common American thing is for the weirdos (or some early followers) to rally as many folks as they can to their new, better truth, find somewhere to teach it, and put up a sign to attract new converts. This might be a topic for a post rather than an MM comment, but if you or the commentariat have any brief thoughts, I'd welcome them.

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

My blessings to all who welcome them,
Jeff

(Anonymous) 2024-06-03 04:08 am (UTC)(link)
Two weeks ago there was talking about the Amazon Prime show Hazbin Hotel. I had some ominous meditations on the show that I thought were worth sharing – divination said this was a good idea.

To repeat, the show is set in Hell and its cast consists of souls condemned to Hell and the demons that reside in Hell. Its creator, Vivienna Medrano, identifies as having been interested in the occult and demonology in her early years, although she appears to be an atheist and a complete disbeliever in the reality of those realms. Her show includes depictions of several of the well-known named demons listed in grimoires. I’m not naming them here. What’s troubling is Vivienne doesn’t depict these demons in their rather unsavory depictions as recorded in past grimoires and lore, but with relatively appealing character designs, notably designs that are inspired by “furry fandom” artwork that features voluptuous or otherwise attractively-designed anthropomorphic animals. Briefly, furries are a niche culture of people that usually have a sexual fetish for these anthropomorphic cartoon animal characters, and regularly masturbate to imagery of them. They’re not an insignificant culture – a furry convention last year in the Midwest had over 15,000 attendees, and the fandom is a largely online phenomenon as well, so even more people participate online in its culture than offline.

Now place an image of an attractive anthropomorphic cartoon fox-like or owl-like being in front of these furries and furry-adjacent people while they are in a lustful state on mind, but also give it the name and some qualities of a well-known demon, and given the strong spiritual and energetic qualities associated with ejaculating semen and directing it towards specific astral imagery… well, I think you can understand why I consider this show a very bad presence in pop culture. It’s very popular – tens of millions of views of the series and pilot and a sister show on YouTube, an active fanbase producing custom merchandise and fanfics and artwork for it, etc.

On an individual level there doesn't seem to be much that can be done to stop this dumpster truck driving through the culture and attracting viewers, but I’m curious if you, JMG, or any other Ecosophians have any thoughts on the matter. For my part, I’ve gotten pretty strong indications to stay away from imagery of the show.

(Anonymous) 2024-06-03 04:48 am (UTC)(link)
Do shoggoths like natto as much as they like tea? 😄

—Princess Cutekitten
tunesmyth: (Default)

Ecosophia Prayer List

[personal profile] tunesmyth 2024-06-03 04:57 am (UTC)(link)
At this link is the full list of 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. 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.

* * *

This week I would like to bring special attention to the following prayer requests.


May Jennifer’s father Robert, who passed away on May 29th, be blessed and soothed, and may his soul be helped to its ultimate destiny and greatest good.

Tyler A's wife Monika's pregnancy is high risk, and has now successfully entered the third trimester; may Monika and baby Isabelle both be blessed with good health and a smooth delivery.

May Jennifer's mother Nancy G. in SW Missouri is still recovering from various troubles including brain surgery for hydrocephaly; may she be healed, regain her mobility, and be encouraged with loving energy.

May Erika, who recently lost her partner James and has been dealing with major knee problems (and who senses a connection between the two), be healed in both broken heart and broken knee, and be able to dance in the sun once more.

May Doug Y of Geauga County, Ohio be supported and healed as he makes his way through the diagnosis and treatment process for prostate cancer.

May Ms. Krieger's hometown of Norwalk, Connecticut recover quickly and fully from the gasoline tanker fire that destroyed an overpass and shut down interstate 95 on May 2. May the anger and fire that has made driving in the area so fraught cool down in a way that benefits all beings. May all people, animals, and other beings around the highway, the adjacent river and the harbor be protected and blessed, and may the natural environment improve to the benefit of all. (update)

May Christina, who passed away on 5/8, experience a peaceful repose; may the minor child she leaves behind be cared for, and the needs of all affected me met; and may her family be comforted in this difficult time.

May Frank Rudolf Hartman of Altadena California (picture), who is receiving chemotherapy, be completely cured of the lymphoma that is afflicting him, and may he return to full health.

May new mother Molly M recover quickly and completely from her recent stroke and the lingering loss of vision and slurred speech that ensued, and may newborn Lela and husband Austin be comforted and strengthened through this difficult time.

May Just Another Green Rage Monster's father, who is dealing with Stage 4 Lymphoma, and mother, who is primary caregiver, be blessed, protected and healed.

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.

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 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.

Obtaining desired documents

(Anonymous) 2024-06-03 05:07 am (UTC)(link)
I wish to obtain certain travel-related documents for myself and family from a foreign consulate. As such things go, the available time window is relatively narrow. Is there anything I can do magically to help expedite matters?

My background is in Golden Dawn, Hellenic style, including the LBRP and planetary invocation by the hexagrams.

(Anonymous) 2024-06-03 05:25 am (UTC)(link)
Hello JMG

I was wondering if your druidry group books offer the same possibility of learning ceremonial magic (as defined by FQA) at the same level as celtic golden dawn group books?
ritaer: rare photo of me (Default)

5 Rites

[personal profile] ritaer 2024-06-03 05:59 am (UTC)(link)
Does anyone doing the 5 rites have comments on the usefulness of Carolinda Witt's methods?

Rita

Rosicruician Fundamentals

(Anonymous) 2024-06-03 06:30 am (UTC)(link)
Morning John
I’ve been studying the Rosicruician Fundamentals you gave the link to recently. It’s fascinating. I note the similarities to the Cosmic Doctrine, and I’m glad I’ve made my way through that first before reading this as it makes a lot more sense as a result. In fact, it adds a degree of clarity to the messages that Dion Fortune was making in my view. I found this metaphor particularly appealing, “The ego is related to God as a drop of water to the ocean.” I also see synchronicities with the material produced by Manly P Hall, particularly his references to “realisation of the transcendental being”. Thanks for the web link.
Kind regards Averagejoe

The Western Magical Tradition

(Anonymous) 2024-06-03 06:42 am (UTC)(link)
A professor of divinity speaking sympathetically of European magical traditions? Not exactly what I expected, but there it is. His definition of magic veers a bit from yours, JMG -- he is a little too materialistic -- but I suspect he understands better than most.

The Western Magical Tradition (https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/western-magic)

What a site! Not only video, but separate audio and transcripts are also available for everything. And the topics! Here are a few other titles also from Professor Hutton:
Were There Pagan Goddesses in Christian Europe? (https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/pagan-goddesses)
Viking Pagan Gods in Britain (https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/viking-gods)
and the eminently enjoyable Dragons: A History (https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/dragons)

That doesn't even begin to cover the range of topics from a collection of lecturers. I know what I'll be watching for a long while to come! Who needs a TV? So glad I don't pay the ghastly TV licence!

I must also give a shout out to Aeon (https://aeon.co/videos/why-be-dragons-how-massive-reptilian-beasts-entered-our-collective-imagination) for leading me to this treasure trove.

thanks,
bfp



(Anonymous) 2024-06-03 07:22 am (UTC)(link)
I am trying to plan a certification exam this month, what would be a good timing for the exam to have, I mean the big planets are pretty much set but the fast planets, mercury, moon, what houses signs or angles should be well to help with the exam?
kallianeira: (fiery sky)

a British New Thought modality?

[personal profile] kallianeira 2024-06-03 09:22 am (UTC)(link)
Hello JMG and readers.

I came across an advertisement in a 1943 booklet:

"TAKE UP PELMANISM NOW
"Kill Fear, Depression and Worry
"Be confident, optimistic, and think clearly"...
with a London postal address for enquiries.

Today's internet search merely gives results describing Pelmanism as a memory training method. It sounds like much more.

Perhaps a British cousin of New Thought.

My sincere and continued thanks for these fora.

- iridescent scintillating elver

Paulo Coelho

(Anonymous) 2024-06-03 09:29 am (UTC)(link)
Hey JMG

Not exactly a occult question, but a spirituality question, but have you by any chance heard of Paulo Coelho?

Basically, he is a Brazilian writer famous for his many books on what I guess you could call pop-spirituality, his most famous being "The Alchemist". I have recently read a book by him for the first time called "Manuscript found in Accra", which despite very clearly being modelled on Gibran's "The Prophet" in structure and content is not too bad as pop-spiritual books go, quite pleasant really. Also since he is Brazillian I am certain you could read his works in the original Portugese.

J.L.Mc12

The Ether

(Anonymous) 2024-06-03 10:00 am (UTC)(link)
Hello!
From what I have understood, the solar current is a form of etheric energy, while the telluric current is another.
(1) Does natural magic use the solar current more than the telluric or is it vice versa?
(2) Presumably Earth energies are telluric currents then?
(3) Could Ley lines also be conductors of telluric currents?
(4) Mesmerism apparently uses etheric energies for healing purposes. Could it be solar or telluric currents?
(5) Presumably solar currents come from the sun whilst telluric currents from the depths of the earth. In both cases we have intense heat and radioactivity there. Could the production of etheric energies be linked to intense heat or radioactivity or is it the otherway round or even unrelated?
(6) From what I have read, pyramid shapes do have noticeable physical effects, could it be the case that pyramid concentrate etheric energies which then have certain physical effects?
(7) Combinations of the solar current and the telluric current give rise to the lunar current, I gather. Of what use would the lunar current be?
(8) How is that combination carried out?

I thank you in advance for bearing with me and my questions!
Regards

The Planes

(Anonymous) 2024-06-03 10:02 am (UTC)(link)
Hi!

A feature of occult philosophy is that the planes are discrete and not continuous. Given that, how are influences of one plane mediated to lower or upper ones?

Regards and Thanks!

Ecosophian Convention

(Anonymous) 2024-06-03 10:04 am (UTC)(link)
Hi!

Any updates concerning the June 2025 convention?
I sent an email to the gmail account dedicated to the convention but I have not received any replies yet.
Regards

Blessings; SOP

[personal profile] milkyway1 2024-06-03 10:12 am (UTC)(link)
Good morning,

I hope everybody had a great weekend! :-)

1. Thanks to everybody who participated in last week's blessings - again, that was very helpful for me.

I offer blessings again this Wednesday, and again, anybody who signs up for them offers me a (much-appreciated!) chance to practice:

https://thehiddenthings.com/weekly-blessings-22

2. In the elemental part of the SOP, is there a reason why we banish first, invoke second? Why do we not clear the space first (banish), then fill it up with the good stuff afterwards (invoke), as e.g. in the Judson exercise?

(Or is this simply a matter of "somebody should experiment with it someday, and so far, nobody has"? :D )

JMG, thanks a lot for hosting MM again! :-) I hope you have a good week, and my blessings to you, if you will have them,

Milkyway

(Anonymous) 2024-06-03 10:24 am (UTC)(link)
Hi JMG,

thanks as always for this wonderful space. I'm travelling overseas for a few weeks and it's not feasible for me to set up a CGD temple where I'm staying with family, which puts pathworkings out. If I keep up a daily central ray rite, wands and meditation, is there anything extra I should do on return to get back in the saddle?

With thanks and blessings to you, if you will have them.

(Anonymous) 2024-06-03 10:32 am (UTC)(link)
I am an archeology student and mandatory internship i'm going this summer will be an early medieval graveyard. This will be the first time i will be digging in a graveyard, so here's my questions
1) the buried people are dead for about millenium now so they should reincarnate several times and shouldn't be bothered about well intentioned graverobbing, no?
2) if they, or something else, would be bothered, would regular SOP protect me or are there other pratices i should perform(they were early christianised people so some sort of short prayer like Requiem aeternam?)

Occult & astrological history, part II

[personal profile] xcalibur_djs 2024-06-03 11:01 am (UTC)(link)
Last week, I asked about astrological and civilizational ages. You mentioned that the seventh and final age of civilization would be ruled by Saturn, which led me to wonder about how the rest of the cycles/planets line up (I didn't get a chance to ask this at the time). It took a fair amount of digging, especially since there's alot of absurdity regarding the root races (gaseous bodies? hermaphrodites? lol). But then I came across the Seven Rays, which seems to fill in all the rest.
Can you confirm if the following is accurate?

Sun -- Polarians
Venus -- Hyperboreans
Mercury -- Lemurians (the messenger, how ironic...)
the Moon -- Atlanteans
Mars -- current 5th cycle/Aryans (some might object, but by any name, we're an unruly lot. Mars fits our love of warfare)
Jupiter -- the 6th cycle, yet to come
Saturn -- the 7th and final cycle, yet to come

also, I noticed that some of the clairvoyant descriptions of past ages seem to be jumbled up with imagery from much more distant epochs of Earth's history -- some of it matched the Hadean/Archean periods of Earth's formation billions of years ago, other descriptions seemed to fit the Cambrian/Devonian/Carboniferous/etc periods hundreds of millions of years ago. For example, there was indeed a time when ferns dominated the Earth's surface, but that was well before humans showed up. And the "fire-mist atmosphere" might be describing periods with high oxygenation, also well before the rise of mammals.

Another question, if I may ask. I hope this doesn't offend you, but is there a larger occult reason for why the Druids were nearly destroyed by the Romans during the time of Aries? Did it have to happen like that to make way for Piscean religion, or was it something else? It's a terrible irony that one of the best religious paths I've come across, which intuitively makes sense, was also so thoroughly submerged.

(Anonymous) 2024-06-03 11:39 am (UTC)(link)
"Q from comment a week ago:
How does suffering further develop one's soul?

A from JMG:
"By forcing you to confront everything about yourself you don't want to admit, including the ways you contribute to your own suffering."

I'm framing this and putting it up on my wall. I'm getting constant opportunities to meditate on that.

-Myriam

Rising action, astrology, thanks to planetary deities?

[personal profile] aliceem 2024-06-03 12:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, my cosmic oom is carnelian vitriolic durian so that seems auspicious in a way for the day I am projecting. Tomorrow the Jupiter-Venus conjunction falls on my north node. I’m Aquarius (1.30.84 around 6pm in central Ky) and very cuspy, born within a couple of days of the Chinese zodiac’s sixty year cycle marking point (so I thought I was a rat all growing up reading the Chinese menu pictures but found later I’m a water boar). The company where I work was born from my mom in her second business iteration. After staying well away for many years I came around during covid, having prayed to the planetary deities for new employment and finding the next day that a manager had quit in said business and taking it as a sign. Now I have got a big contract, and it needed the base that was there to happen, but I am the direct causer of it to be there. And people who I brought on as a result are chafing hard at bad management from said mother, even as she sees the need and want to retire, she is clinging on and bringing an unhelpful negativity. Today there is a meeting at which I believe this will come to a head. A lot of other areas of my life have rising action. This is a big week. Been reading Robert Fritz on building creative structural tension into lives and organizations. Any tips on how to best use the astrological energy of this week? Will you say a prayer for me? If I was to make the best prayer myself, what’s something you might do to thank the best of Jupiter, Venus, mercury and new moons square to Pluto in Aquarius. Any help making the most of this week to successfully resolve these tensions very appreciated!!!

The Five Rites

(Anonymous) 2024-06-03 12:56 pm (UTC)(link)
A couple of questions regarding the Five Rites:
?
1. How long does one hold each pose?

2. If you miss a day occasionally does that affect the benefits?

I've just started this practice (about a week in). As I also practice yoga much of this is familiar and not too difficult even at age 72.

Flag Question

(Anonymous) 2024-06-03 01:48 pm (UTC)(link)
JMG, in the past you have talked about symbols on flags from an occult perspective. I’d like to know your view regarding a flag that is becoming increasingly prominent in nationalist protests in Europe: it is the white nationalist flag (black background, white circle, white equal-armed cross that penetrate the circle). When I first saw it, I was immediately reminded of the Celtic cross. From what little I know the symbolism appears to be strong and based on European cultural symbolism: the stability of the cross and the eternity of the circle. It first drew my attention about a month ago (protest in France) but I have heard that in Europe it is not ‘new’. At a time when nationalism seems to be quickly resurging, at least in some parts of Europe (including the phenomenal popularity of the [now illegal – good luck with that!] song “Ausländer Raus” among German youth), attention to such things may be warranted.

Regarding Green Wizardry, you had just started that series of posts when I stumbled onto your blog. Talk about serendipity! Little did I know what a 'compost heap of worms' I was getting myself into! :) Still one of my favourite books authored by you, BTW.

Thanks as always for your insights.

Ron M

Spiritual Places in the UK Worth A Visit?

(Anonymous) 2024-06-03 02:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Hi JMG and all,

Would you happen to have recommendations of places in the UK that you thought really had a spiritual energy and would be worth a pilgrimage visit for this purpose?

I would love to feel more deeply into the energy currents of the land, as despite not really knowing much about its previous spiritual traditions in conscious knowledge, I have always felt so deeply connected to it. I'd love to visit such places on the recommendations of those who know a little more than I or the internet at large!

Thank you so very much!

(Anonymous) 2024-06-03 02:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Hi JMG,

I hope you are doing well. I have a few questions, if I may.

1. I'm currently working on and enjoying the GSF curriculum. I've already done the complete DA and DMH, and I'm wondering if it's OK to continue doing the full SoP I learned in those curriculums while I'm working on the GSF, or whether it would be better to learn and follow the instructions for the SoP given in the WGS.

2. I've just finished reading Fortune's _Mystical Qabalah_ (as well as a few other of her writings), and it was very helpful for an understanding of the Tree of Life and how to work with it for spiritual advancement (it also helped clarify _The Cosmic Doctrine_ a bit more). I was wondering if the GSF has something comparable to the kind of workings and meditations on the inner planes that Fortune's describes with the Tree for attaining self-knowledge, self-mastery, and enlightenment. I guess I'm asking whether the GSF curriculum goes as far and as deep as the study of the Qabalah does, or if its ultimate objectives and goals are different.

3. My last question is a much simpler one. Can you recommend a good incense and where to get it? I've run out of most of what I had, and I didn't really like it anyway.

Thank you,
KT

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