Magic Monday

[ecosophia]

Midnight is  here, 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 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.  And further:  I've decided that questions involving the evocation of spirits are also permanently off topic here. The point of occultism is to develop your own capacities, not to try to bully or wheedle other beings into doing things for you. I've discussed this in a post on my blog.

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 was my thirty-ninth published book and my fifth published novel, and this one -- unlike the one we discussed last week -- I intended to write. Retrotopia began life as a series of posts on the blog I ran then, The Archdruid Report. I wanted to take the themes I was developing for two nonfiction books, After Progress and The Retro Future, and use fiction as a way of making them vivid and understandable. So I sent Peter Carr, a high-ranking political adviser to the newly elected president of one of several post-US republics, across the border into a neighboring republic and a confrontation with a nation that had leapt ahead of everyone else by going back to the past.

Writing it was an interesting experience; as with my earlier venture along the same lines, Star's Reach, some of my readers literally couldn't think the thoughts the story was trying to get them to think, and kept defaulting to the approved notions of the modern cult of progress. Nonetheless the book, once published, turned out to be my most popular work of fiction. It's currently out of print but will be back in print this coming November; you can preorder a copy here if you live in the US and here if you live elsewhere.

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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

Cardinals, fig tree and Thor

[(Anonymous)]

Happy Magic Monday, JMG,
I have been reading The Occult Philosophy Workbook since shortly after the new year and am throughly enjoying it, but It’s been turtle speed all the way. I’ve reached The Plant Kingdom this past week and wanted to share some random thoughts.

Last Monday I was holding my dog outside the vet’s office, in the distance, a cardinal was signing. They are my favorite birds and as I listened to its distinctive call, I thought how, for me, it was like heaven on earth. Later that day, I saw your comment about birds being angels to the trees they visit, and squirrels being little cupids. It made me laugh and has settled into my subconscious.

On July 13th, the fig tree in my backyard fell over after heavy rains. Not knowing what we were doing when we planted it some ten years ago, it lacked a full diameter to grow strong roots all around. It was suggested that we let it go. To say I was crestfallen would be an understatement. With a heavy heart, I accepted its fate. The day before the arborist came, I put both hands on its trunk and prayed a deeply felt thanks and told the tree spirit it was time to go. Last week, my beloved fig tree returned to me in a dream. It was ten times its previous size, I sat perched in one of its branches. Despite the dizzying height, I felt no fear, in fact, more than anything, I felt comfort. On a nearby branch, I noticed a green chameleon with no eyes. We communicated in a way that’s hard to describe. I poked and played with it, its movements were slow at first but then it leaped into the sky as if it was made of liquid, transforming from within with a radiant light, it turned into a flying squirrel. Once its transformation was complete, it glided to the distant world below. I woke up shortly thereafter, with an incredibly warm feeling. Dreams with large trees have consistently been the best and most memorable dreams I have ever had.

Despite some protests, I kept a small piece of the fig tree trunk. When I saw your post about wooden statues of Celtic deities and the responses posted, I was glad that I did and have been thinking about what I could carve ever since. But beyond that inspiration, I also made an impulse buy over at Ancient Gods.

Thor is on his way.

Not sure what I’m going to do with him other than put him in a prominent place where I work every day so when I looks away from my computer, we can see each other eye to eye.

Any additional thoughts or suggestions are welcome.

Re: Cardinals, fig tree and Thor

[ecosophia]

Thank you for this! Good to know my random comments have been useful -- and that sounds like a truly wonderful dream.

Ecosophia Prayer List

[tunesmyth]

(To those who pray along, please notice that the top "featured prayer" is for a surgery that is set to occur today, Monday 8/12)

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 and/or in the comments at the current prayer list post.

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

May Mindwind's dad Clem's 8/12 surgery to remove blood clots from his recent severe head injury go completely smoothly, and may he be blessed and healed quickly and completely.

May Corey Benton, whose throat tumor has grown around an artery and won't be treated surgically, be healed of throat cancer.

May Heather's brother in law, Patrick, who is dying of cancer and has dementia, go gentle into that good light. And may his wife Maggie, who is ill herself, find the strength and peace she needs for her situation. (Update on Patrick's condition here)

May Falling Tree Woman's son's girlfriend's mother Bridget in Devon UK, who has recently regained consciousness after a week of sedation following a life-threatening fall from a horse, be blessed and healed and returned to full health.

May Neptune's Dolphins' husband David, who lost one toe to a staph infection last year and now faces further toe amputations due to diabetic ulcers in his left foot, be blessed and healed, and may the infection leave his body for good.

May Rebecca, who has just been laid off from her job and is the sole provider for her family, quickly discover a viable means to continue to support her family; may she and her family be blessed and sustained in their journey forward.

May Jennifer have a safe and healthy pregnancy, may the delivery go smoothly, and may her baby be born healthy and blessed.

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.

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.

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.

Re: Ecosophia Prayer List

[ecosophia]

Thanks for this as always.

A Review (Not Mine) of Craeft and Question on Implications of Animal Affinities

[jprussell]

Good Evening,

For the mothers and fathers who have little ones heading off to school soon, may everything go smoothly for you and them!

To Share: Not quite occult, directly, but I just read and enjoyed this review of Craeft by Alexander Langlands, and it struck me that much of what the book seems to be about jives very well with spiritual practice. I know I look forward to reading my copy one of these days: https://theworthyhouse.com/2019/05/17/book-review-craeft-an-inquiry-into-the-origins-and-true-meaning-of-traditional-crafts-alexander-langlands/

To Ask: The discussion of the role of birds and squirrels in the spiritual development of trees, and humans for that of pets, last week got me wondering: do folks' affinities for different sorts of animals tell you anything of occult or spiritual significance about them? For example, I have always appreciated birds, but I've had to cultivate more warmth for them than comes naturally for most mammals, and keeping fish has always struck me as closer to living decoration than companions, but I know there are folks who are quite attached to their fish. On the other hand, I've always loved amphibians and lizards, so in my case, at least, it doesn't seem to be as simple as "mammals good, others meh."

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

My blessings to all who welcome them,
Jeff

Re: A Review (Not Mine) of Craeft and Question on Implications of Animal Affinities

[ecosophia]

Oh, quite probably, but I'm probably not the right person to ask! In case you were wondering, I don't have pets -- and don't expect to do so for the foreseeable future -- but when I was a kid I loved keeping snakes. No doubt that says something about me. ;-)

[(Anonymous)]

This is not a medical question, but as a matter of historical/cultural interest, does any of the occult lore you know of have any suggestions for how people used to address chronic insomnia?

[ecosophia]

I'm sorry to say I don't know of anything along those lines. Anyone else?

[liamq]

JMG,

Regarding the Druid Wand, Cauldron, and Crane Bag enchantments in the DMH:

(1) The white, blue, and green colour-breathing assigned to each of these workings: are they an essential component of the structure of each of those three rituals, or is that a variable that changes based on intention? For example, if I’m using the Druid Wand / Nwyfre ritual to enchant something other than a wand, will the colour breathing portion of the ritual always include white light no matter what I’m enchanting or why?

(2) It seems to me that each of those rituals falls under one of three categories of enchantment: active, passive, and both active and passive.

I can think of things to enchant with the active category, such as talismans.

But I can’t think of a way to use the other two enchantments outside of the Cauldron and Crane Bag tools.

Could you point my creativity in the right direction?

(3) If pathworking a few that ends at the Central Grove, do we trace any sort pentagram after arriving? And is there a Druid Revival god we should invoke there?

[ecosophia]

1) They're a variable that changes depending on intention and symbolism. Those three colors correspond to the three Druid elements, which are used to charge the three working tools. You can use any color -- for example, the Ogham colors, if you want to enchant something with the energies of an Ogham few.

2) It's quite simple. Magic is not always active; sometimes it is receptive. For example, if you meant to consecrate a scrying mirror, the cauldron working is suitable. Similarly, you can use the crane bag working for anything that needs to be enchanted but has neither an active nor a receptive function -- for example, certain working tools, such as a knife for harvesting herbs, are well consecrated that way.

3) You can trace the three rays of light instead, and the deity is Ced the Earth Mother.

A working…

[adastra1111]

Hi JMG,

What are your thoughts on this potential operation?

I consulted divination and received the answer to proceed with the working, and when I asked from there about details of the operation, I got seemingly unclear information. Then I asked if I should ask you and got a favorable turn there, so here it goes…

Every Wednesday for eight Wednesdays, set up an orange candle for Mercury.

LBRP

LBRH

Greater Invoking Hexagram Ritual of Mercury

Say, “I invoke thee, Mercury, and ask that you empower my ritual to clear away any blockages I’m facing that prevent me from moving to [location redacted], and that this be done without harming myself or anyone else in any way. I light the candle of Mercury to bring this power into me and out through me.”

Light candle

“So mote it be.”

LBRH

LBRP

Every Thursday for four Thursdays, set up a blue candle for Jupiter.

LBRP

LBRH

Greater Invoking Hexagram Ritual of Jupiter

Say, “I invoke thee, Jupiter, and ask that you empower my ritual to attract willing clients to my services so that I can earn more money, and that this be done without harming myself or anyone else in any way. I light the candle of Jupiter to bring this power into me and out through me.”

Light candle

“So mote it be.”

LBRH

LBRP

Thanks in advance JMG.

Re: A working…

[ecosophia]

They seem pretty generic. Have you done meditation and/or journaling to figure out where the blockages are coming from, though? My experience is that many workings like this fail because the person who does them has a divided will, and both wants and does not want the goal of the working.

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG,

I have 3 questions I would like to ask:

1.
IIRC (I was unsuccessful in finding the post where you mentioned this), you mentioned before that in one of your past lives, you were a man living in Roman Syria who converted to Christianity in order to marry a woman from the local elite, and your conversion caused some “karmic blowback” (I’m sorry, I don’t know the proper term for this), because you had previously sworn oaths that you had to renounce in order to convert.

Although I believe (and I hope) my case isn’t equivalent to your past experience, what is the “karmic blowback” that results from agreeing to become a “brother in Christ” to someone with whom I eventually had a severe falling out?

(I was baptized Roman Catholic, but I have lapsed in the past (varying from agnosticism to Protestant leanings), and I am also very ignorant on religious matters. If anything, I tend to (re-)learn a lot from reading your blogs)

2.
I have a question about cursing (e.g. “I wish x would happen to y”) as done by common individuals untrained in magic. It is my understanding that, in general, many (or most?) individuals these days (try to) curse other individuals or groups often; however, they tend to lack the focus and magical training to make the cursing effective.

My question is, What are the karmic implications for these inadequately-focused and untrained individuals who tend to curse wantonly? Even if the cursing is ineffective, is the raspberry jam principle still in effect? Do they attract demons or other malign entities?

3.
Additionally, can solely harboring ill-will upon others (without actually uttering it) qualify as cursing someone?

I have anger issues, and I tend to “blow off steam” by watching action scenes from TV shows/movies/video games where bad guys are mercilessly beaten and met with “justice.” I assume I am contributing to the astral pollution by mentally indulging in these fantasies where I dream that I am the protagonist and substitute the actors in the scene with those I wish ill-will upon, even though I have thankfully not acted them out on the material plane. But I wonder what the full occult consequences of my thoughts are.

Thank you,
-E

[ecosophia]

1) It's not equivalent, but it's still an issue; if you made a promise, you need to keep it, and you will keep it -- in this life or another. That doesn't mean you have to get back in touch with the person, but I recommend journaling on the problem between you until you can wholeheartedly forgive him, and ask the Christian god to bless him.

2) Incompetent cursing has two karmic dimensions -- the karma of cursing, and the karma of incompetence. The more space you give in your life to hatred, anger, and malice, whether you express it outwardly or not, the more hateful, angry, and malicious you become, and the more people treat you the way they treat hateful, angry, and malicious people -- i.e., not well. Equally, the more tolerant you are of your own incompetence, the more incompetent you become, and that spreads from one area (such as magic) to everything else in life. So these people are setting themselves up for a really miserable future, in which they get to stew in their own nastiness while sinking further and further into failure. The good news is that eventually they'll be miserable enough to do something else.

3) I don't recommend doing that. You're increasing the possibility that you or the people you care about will become the victims of violence.

[(Anonymous)]

Happy Magic Monday JMG!

I have a new upstairs neighbour who's been pretty noisy the first few days (clomp clomp). In my attempts to improve my divining, I asked the CGD wands if the noise would improve, results LW Colled RW Llosgwrn y draig, J Elw - which seems to be a yes? I asked if I should contact her, results LW Cyswllt RW Pobl J Cyswllt which seems a strong yes? I even cast a 'will I have to move' LW Llawenydd RW Merch J Bendith fawr which I think is no?

My blessings to you if you will have them.

[ecosophia]

That's correct. You should certainly talk to her; she may have no idea that you can hear her footsteps.

[(Anonymous)]

Jmg and others.

What planet or power is recommended for quick learning and performing?

Are the sefirors really free from the effects of astrological conditions of the planets? If so, why is there not a single mention of sephirotic magick outside of the Golden Dawn?

[ecosophia]

1) Mercury, of course.

2) I take it that you haven't read much magical literature. Most of the earlier works on the subject focus on invoking the angels or archangels of the sephiroth rather than the sephiroth themselves, but the principle is the same.

Hermetics, Deities, Meditation

[realmscryer]

Hi JMG,

Hope all is well! There is actually a question below. I got to writing though and kept on going!


Been doing the SOP (am & pm), divination, while letting the meditations in Bardon's IIH practices be my daily (am & pm) meditation. One session of which is rather discursive in nature. So far so good.

Though I have found a pattern of distraction I am working on resolving. My off-topic thoughts nearly always consist of me anticipating what I might say or write to someone in the future regarding a topic related, and even at times unrelated, to my meditation theme. During the Vacancy of Mind session (IIH) the distraction is of the same nature but could be any topic.

So far I am practicing ignoring, non-verbal focuses, and simple observation of my mind. I do wonder if writing in a journal about it might help. Or, maybe even blogging again? Maybe I am trying to tell myself to put my thoughts into the public discourse?

I do find this rather interesting to observe in myself.

Q. Maybe you have some suggestions for dealing with this thought habit?



Also, as I am paying attention to the taps on my shoulders by different deities I am feeling like I am being guided somewhere. The latest are Odin & Thor. Before them, Athena, Hecate, and Brigid. For a while I was even changing up my SOP pantheon to go with the latest deities pantheon. Which was interesting. The Heathen pantheon was great. So is the Greek.

Somehow in all this I think they have been helping me with divination. Divination feels more natural, now. Tarot after many, many years finally feels kind of intuitive. Partly due to John Gilbert's excellent learning techniques. Also, I suspect I have been getting help somehow from some of the deities in developing my capabilities. Including with runes which I really enjoy.

Taking this evolving path a step further. I am experimenting with theming my practice.

There's the morning SOP with the Greek pantheon, Bardon's IIH, and my reigniting interest in both spagyrics and natural magic. Alchemy is also providing some motivation for pursuing astrology studies again. Of which Hellenistic Astrology appears to fit with the theme concept. Oh and I really enjoy reading the Orphic Hymns! I am not really motivated by a desire for authenticity in my theming experiment. Just feels like it could be fun and interesting.

Finally, I gotta say the Edda and various northern myths have caught my interest like no other. The SOP with the Heathen pantheon is amazing. And prayers to those gods with which I have connected do continue regardless of theme. Not sure how all this will blend or end.

Having an adventure!

Thanks,
Eric

Re: Hermetics, Deities, Meditation

[ecosophia]

The only thing that's ever worked for me is sustained effort, which builds the habit of continuous conscious attention to mental states that meditation is meant to produce. It's not a fast process.

That said, if you've got things to say boiling up in you, yes, writing them down -- preferably for publication -- is often a useful habit.

LBRP compared with RC

[(Anonymous)]

Hey JMG

I have been continuing with my meditations upon the LBRP, and R.C., and M.P., and I have been discovering a lot more correlations of symbolism, as well as discrepancies.

Lately, I have been wondering about why it is that the Cabalistic cross, and also the rituals that depend on it, does not summon energy from the earth, symbolised by the green light coming from the green sphere deep in the Earth, as in the Greater M.P. ritual, but only summons down the white light from the white sphere high up that symbolises Kether? Was this some king of oversight on the part of the original G.D. organisation or is there a specific reason that it was not done except in the context of the Greater M.P.?

J.L.Mc12

Re: LBRP compared with RC

[ecosophia]

Keep in mind that I invented the Greater MP ritual. The classic Golden Dawn system is purely down-from-above -- in my taxonomy, it works exclusively with the solar current. I hoped to help correct that -- and then, a few years after I wrote that book, I met John Gilbert and found that someone else had gotten there first. ;-)

[eyvindmartinsson]

To JMG and the commentariat: what is your opinion of The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind?

[ecosophia]

To my mind, it's a very, very mixed bag. What I found most useful about it is Jaynes' willingness to consider the possibility that people in past ages had states of consciousness radically different from our own, and his refreshing openness to testimony about divine voices and the like. On the other hand, his brain science is far too simplistic, as there are something like five semi-separate brain/nervous system elements -- the right cerebral hemisphere, the left cerebral hemispheres, the limbic system, the R-complex (brain stem and "reptilian" brain), and the solar plexus (the "abdominal brain," as it was once called) and the rest of the sympathetic nervous system. A neuropsychology, to be valid, would have to include all those.

[(Anonymous)]

Are you familiar with Pierre Derlon’s work about the magic of Gypsies/Roma people? I loved his books when growing up but now I’m not sure if they are credible at all…

[ecosophia]

No, I'm not familiar with Derlon at all. Anyone else?

[thinking_turtle]

To share, for those who wonder what MTLE, LARP or AP mean, a list of abbreviations used on Ecosophia.

Thanks to our host for Magic Monday!

[ecosophia]

Thank you for this as always.

Jason Miller

[(Anonymous)]

Dear JMG,

What do you think of Jason Miller and his writings?

I'm not asking for a detailed breakdown and analysis - more just an indication of where he is on the spectrum between "total charlatan - stay away" on one end and "solid, respected practitioner whose opinions happen to be different from JMG" on the other.

I have no ritual magic experience (only meditation) but have read MM here for years and read several of your books and stuff you've recommended (Dion Fortune etc).

I picked up one of Miller's books about summoning spirits (and then another one about protection magic) and am just kind of blown away by the different vibe and attitude to what I see around here.

NOTE: I am not asking a question about how to do evocation of spirits - more just a vibe check on the author (that just happens to be the first Miller book I picked up and developed an impression of him, and I have since got his Protection Magic book too, where the attitude is very similar).

The vibe here at Ecosophia seems to be more "study, learn the basics and do basics and eventually build up to rituals and advanced stuff" but his seems to be "just jump in and start doing rituals and calling spirits and handle things as you go along".

I know everyone has a different risk tolerance and different style but the way he's so casual about summoning demons and really powerful spirits just makes me feel nervous - he does say "don't do this if you're uncomfortable" but there's literally summonings praising Lucifer and summoning him to aid you in the book with essentially no guardrails (he says to check out his other book on protection magic) and no building up from the basics (other than a brief reference saying you should meditate).

Plus the reference to having a long term friendly relationship over decades with the demon Astaroth and how it's very unfriendly and aggressive to summon demons in the name of the Divine and force them to do so stuff, and it's much better to issue a friendly invitation and work with them as a team etc. Plus I don't understand how one can be familiar enough with so many different traditions of magic to be able to competently summon Tibetan Buddhist spirits, Loa spirits, traditional Western magic spirits and the like.

Like I said - everyone has a different style and there's nothing wrong with that and I'm enjoying his books - heis a very engaging writer and clearly has had a lot of experience and success with his approach but as someone whose background is in reading your stuff about magic, this whole approach strikes me as playing really fast and loose with some very dangerous entities and situations with a very high potential for blowback.

Re: Jason Miller

[ecosophia]

I'm not a fan of his work at all, largely for the reasons you've mentioned. I don't think he's a charlatan -- he clearly believes in what he's doing, and practices it -- but I would only recommend his work to the kind of people who would benefit from a good swift karmic kick in the pants.

Mixing practices

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG,

Firstly, thank you for providing this space.

I've recently finished reading The Spirit and the Sword and had a couple of questions regarding working with it alongside other practices.

I imagine that it would be compatible with the GSF as similar breathing and relaxation exercises are practised in both.

I'm curious as to whether you forsee an issue practicing the 5 rites alongside the spirit and the sword's foundational exercises as they work with the points of the middle pillar?

Would this be a case of just doing stage one of the 5 rites, or would it be compatible as visualisation and meditation isn't used to work with the middle pillar?

Thanks again, and my blessings if you will have them.

Regards,

Rob

Re: Mixing practices

[ecosophia]

1) Yes, the material in The Spirit and the Sword is entirely compatible with the GSF material -- in fact, I considered including the fundamental exercises as the physical dimension of the GSF practices, but decided to make it more open-ended instead.

2) I'd do the exercises at least half an hour apart, since they have energetic as well as physical dimensions, but they should be entirely compatible. The connection between the fundamental exercises and the centers of the Tree of Life isn't that strict.

BTW, the images of the exercises in the book are not very good. You can find good photos from a closely related system here:

https://www.artofmanliness.com/health-fitness/fitness/famous-daily-dozen-exercises/

Evolutionary Astrology

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG,

I recently came across the concept of evolutionary psychology and I don't think I've seen it mentioned on your sites.

What do you think of it? Would it be more useful that a natal astrology reading?

Mint Officious Wolverine

Re: Evolutionary Astrology

[ecosophia]

What I've seen of it has not impressed me. It's rather reminiscent of Herbert Spencer's Social Darwinism -- basically an attempt to shore up current cultural prejudices using the borrowed prestige of half-understood science.

Blessing offer

[milkyway1]

Good morning,

I hope everybody had a good weekend. Once again, I offer blessings this week and would appreciate people signing up, as that gives me a chance to practice:

https://thehiddenthings.com/weekly-blessings-32

JMG, thanks for letting me post this here, and I hope you‘re blah status is just due to having to return to work on the computer after a nice and well-spent weekend… :-)

Milkyway

Re: Blessing offer

[ecosophia]

Nah, I had a minor illness I was still getting over when I posted last night. I'm feeling fine now.

[(Anonymous)]

Dear JMG,

1) John Gilbert's intuition exercises have been very helpful for identifying the types of active minds that I experience and I'm getting much better at it. However, I've been having some trouble actually hearing my intuition. Sometimes I get the sense that I am, other times there's silence or unexpected results. For example, the other day I followed Gilbert's suggestion to ask the active minds to help contact the intuition, and almost right away I started to see images in my mind's eye that seemed symbolic but also nonsensical. Divination suggested this wasn't my intuition, so maybe it was astral static.

I'm pretty sure I can sense the pull of intuition when I am engaged in daily life, but I'm running into these problems when sitting in meditation trying to hear it.

I'm going to keep working at it on the assumption that if I continue to recognize my active minds eventually I will be able to tell apart the intuition from these, but in the meantime, do you have any other guidance for learning to recognize the intuition? Putting aside Gilbert's exercises for a moment, if you were explaining how to get in touch with the intuition, what would you suggest?

2) I'm pretty sure I saw you answer someone previously this type of question about connecting mundane astrology to a natal chart, but unfortunately I can't find your answer. I'd like to learn how my natal chart will be affected by upcoming conjunctions. For example, you wrote in the thema mundi return post that there will be a Saturn-Neptune conjunction in the 2025-2026 chart, and I have a Saturn-Neptune trine in my natal chart. Does that mean the conjunction will have more of an affect on me in those houses where Saturn and Neptune fall in my natal chart and given existing aspects they have with other planets, or instead do I just need to see where the conjunction actually sits (house and degree) as compared to my natal chart and see what it aspects in that way?

Just using that conjunction as an example because I'd like to learn to look at the mundane forecasts you do to see if they affect my own chart.

Many thanks!

[ecosophia]

1) It's not a fast or an easy process! Keep working at it, and always check your intuition against the facts when you can -- that's how you calibrate your inner perceptions. The fact that you have less problem using intuition in everyday life suggests that you may be trying too hard. Relax, pay attention, and keep going.

2) Any relation between Saturn and Neptune is going to be more or less harmonious for you because of the trine, but the intensity of any placement depends on whether it affects your natal chart. The upcoming Saturn-Neptune conjunction will be at 0° Aries; if you have anything in aspect to that point, it'll be affected, and so will the house in which it's placed in your natal chart and any house in your natal chart that it rules. If there's no such connection, it'll slide right on by.

Dream Journal Check In

[(Anonymous)]

Hi John. 1. How is the dream work and dream journaling going? I love dreams and dreamwork and was curious to see how you were getting on?

2. I don't know if it is related to the same issue you raised in your post asking about changes in divination, but my own dreams have seemed to be in overdrive / shift mode the past month I'd say. It could be changes in my sleep. I typically sleep in later during the summer when my wife doesn't have to go to work (and hence the alarm clock isn't going off at 5AM.) But there seems to be another quality to it as well. Visitations from deceased relatives, old friends stopping by.

3. Observation: It seems that things in my environment will mirror the lesson I am currently working on in the OPW. I am on the lesson about personality and the soul, and some things about masks keep turning up over and over again, for instance.

Justin Patrick Moore

Re: Dream Journal Check In

[ecosophia]

1) It's going steadily; I've recorded eighty-something dreams over the last five months. They're just as weird as ever -- in one recent dream of mine, for example, I was with a group of people fighting a dragon, but the fight was being done via an election; the dragon had forgotten to nominate enough electors for his side, so a court appointed a set of extra electors for the dragon's side, but once our side got 103 votes the appointed electors panicked and ran away, and then the whole thing turned into a merry chase as we took off after the fleeing electors. If you can make any sense of that, you're welcome to it!

2) Interesting. It's certainly grist for the mill!

3) Good. That kind of synchronicity is a good sign.

Wierd dreams

[vitranc]

Hi John,

1. Recently I have been house sitting for a friend. In the tree nights that I have slept there I never got a good nights rest and have been waking up 5-6 times a night. And on the second night towards the morning I got semi conscious, but could not move. I was laying on the side, was unable to move and felt pressed down. A large dark figure seemed to loom over me. I could not move, so after a while I started a SoP in my imagination. Immediately it felt like I was being bent upright (I was still lying motionless) and a cool feeling came over me and I started to come out of a haze, going into the elements I started to feel like I could move again. And by the time I finished The room was its normal self in early morning with the far off window drapes in place of the dark legs.
I subtly questioned other people that have slept in the house in the last weeks/simultaneously, and they all report bad sleep (though they all blame the mattresses), but no nightmares.
Question: Does this sound like anything significant?
Thinking about applying SoP for on the fly protection; Would It suffice to, in addition to daily practice of the full SoP, to just do the Opening + Circulation as needed on the fly?

2. Taking your advice from a couple of weeks ago regarding electing an auspicious time to move to a new place. Could I ask your second opinion on this Chart for a place and time of the move for a couple
(Person 1 ASC Taurus; IV house Cancer)
(Person 2 ASC Cancer; IV house Virgo)

Best regards,
V

Re: Wierd dreams

[ecosophia]

1) Certainly it's something to protect yourself against. You might consider a little saucer of vinegar in the bedroom, to keep whatever it is from being able to manifest.

2) The chart as given doesn't include the time or show houses, so I can't judge based on house cusps. If you can choose a time when Venus rules the 4th house, it would be favorable.

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG and commentariat,

Looking ahead, I have a Saturn conjunct Ascendant coming up in a couple years. On a solar return day, no less. Would anybody here like to share how a Saturn conjunct Ascendant went for them? Thank you

[ecosophia]

I assume you mean transiting Saturn conjunct natal Ascendant. I last had that happen in the summer of 2006, and it went quite well -- it was applying, for example, when I started my career as a blogger. Mind you, I've got Saturn well placed in my natal horoscope and trine my Sun and Mercury, so Saturn's always been my friend!

[(Anonymous)]

Hello John sir. What spell can I do to kill my debt?

[ecosophia]

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

Drawing Celtic Knots

[kylec]

I've stumbled across another method for drawing Celtic knots and wanted to call it to the attention of the cord and knot crowd. Here is a post I made on my dreamwidth account on the method: https://kylec.dreamwidth.org/50000.html

The short version is that you can use geometrical figures as the basis for designing the knots instead of a grid. I also show how to use the method in reverse to take a cool knot picture and figure out what geometrical figures are the basis for it.

This makes it possible to interface between sacred geometry and Celtic knot drawing, designing knot patterns with certain energies, or making sure the knots you use for a purpose have the right energy by deconstructing them.

On another note, I had been very excited about cord and knot work and was going ham after it, so I decided to slow down and cast a divination as to whether cord magic was something I should pursue. With mab as right witness, pen y ddraig as left, and colled as the judge, it sounds like I need to give it up and find a new outlet for my energy. This is very sad to me, because I was having a blast and making huge lists of ways this work can be taken. But I guess mab showed my excessive interest and naivety, and it isn't what I should be doing.

I will still work on my knot-tying for practical purposes, and maybe draw a thing or two, but beyond that I think I have to turn it over to other interested parties. Good luck to yall!

Re: Drawing Celtic Knots

[jprussell]

Thanks very much for this! The intersection (pun intended) with sacred geometry seems like it might be quite fruitful. My knotwork is also mostly on the backburner these days (as is sacred geometry, for that matter), but I suspect it will be fruitful down the line. Maybe you'll find yourself at the right time somewhere down the line.

Cheers,
Jeff

MOE Healing Hands

[kylec]

I am once again offering healing hands in the Modern Order of Essenes tradition to anyone who needs a physical or emotional boost. Please reply to this thread or PM me with your request. If you requested help last week, your sessions have been completed and you can get back on the list now or any time in the future. Thanks to this community for giving me opportunities to practice.

Re: MOE Healing Hands

[(Anonymous)]

I'd like to request general healing energy for my unborn baby and I. Thanks 😊