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 about getting goodies from 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 fortieth published book, and the product of an investigation that's still ongoing. I happened to notice back in the early 1990s, as a result of voracious reading in odd books, that a surprising number of temple traditions around the world are connected to legends about increased agricultural fertility. I know, that's supposed to be mere superstition -- but it's funny how often "mere superstition" turns into evidence that the ancients knew more than it's fashionable for modern intellectuals to admit. That launched a quest that resulted in this book. I've come to theorize that woven into the design and use of certain specific kinds of temples is a lost folk technology that boosts agricultural productivity. I've collected physical evidence (including controlled double-blind studies) that there are energies known to science that could have been concentrated and put to use with resonating chambers of stone, designed according to specific geometries, filled with volatile organic compounds, and activated with sound waves. What's more, it's a technology that could be rediscovered and put to work to help plants thrive now.

This book was my first progress report on that investigation.  It's about to go out of print -- Llewellyn, the original publisher, still has a few copies left on sale, which you can get here -- but there'll be another edition in due time, and probably a further book not too long after that, as I'm continuing to find relevant data. Yes, there are also other people busy with this; the prospect of a working model, so that the details of the technology can be tested in real world conditions, may not be far off.

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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.

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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

Re: Heathen Golden Dawn

[jprussell]

a) Thanks very much for the kind words! And as for the SoP not working for you, I definitely understand. I started out with the Heathen LBRP+MP, and got some great results, but the Runes gently nudged me to the DMH, I think in part because I initially found the SoP less congenial than the GD stuff - my working theory is I need more of the Telluric current in my life and to teach the Solar to chill out a bit, so I'm spending at least a few years on this. After that? We'll see.

As for my associations, I came up with one set festival-by-festival in my first year, and then at some point decided to re-examine and rework it. My method was to look at the deity correspondence tables given in the Druidry Handbook and try to find the best "match" among Heathen deities, rather than trying to map the deities usually worshipped in wider Heathen holidays that are celebrated at roughly the same times. I suspect this might be more helpful for your purposes of trying to map one set of correspondences to another, rather than something more reconstructionist. For example, this preserves the alternation of Gods and Goddesses. Anyway, here they are (using the Druid names for the holidays since, as I said, I didn't go for a reconstructionist or hybrid approach, and the Old English names for the Gods that I use, with the (assumed) Norse cognate in parentheses):

- Samhuinn: Frigg (Frigg)
- Alban Arthuan: Woden (Odin)
- Imbolc: Erce (Jordh)
- Alban Eiler: Hana (Hoenir)
- Belteine: Eostre (Ostara)
- Alban Heruin: Baldaeg (Balder)
- Lughnasadh: Sonne (Sol)
- Alban Elued: Meomer (Mimir)

b) Interesting - you might get something interesting by comparing the nine worlds as presented in Nine Doors of Midgard with the HGD mapping.

c) Thanks again for the kind words! Considering how sparse-to-the-point-of-non-existent she was on what to actually do with treating those myths as initiation stories, any work you do on that would be very interesting.

Hope these help, and as I said, I'm learning a lot from the druid path for now, but we'll see what role it plays for me in the long run.

Cheers,
Jeff

Re: Brain Tingles

[(Anonymous)]

not the guy who replied - but practicing Buddhist here. Yes ! It can also be something tied to a place or action. I would recommend journaling with regards to it. A little bit of reflection can go a long way in sussing out a pattern

[(Anonymous)]

1. Not for JMG: Would anyone be able to offer a divination reading on a situation where a deity is reaching out to me? For reasons I may not be able to divinate on the topic myself, so a second party (or even third) that can divinate on my question is much appreciated. I can provide an email for anyone available.

2. You have previously mentioned that hatha yoga helps awaken one to awareness of the etheric body. Could you briefly explain how that practice achieves that?

- Psychedelic Aardvark

Re: mental plane & gwynfydd

[xcalibur_djs]

All I wanted to know and then some, thanks! Fascinating stuff, and reassuring tbh -- it's basically a rebirth and a new adventure, the next level up, not a sundering of ties or a wormhole into the unknowable. So it's really not as bad as I thought. Good to know there will be similar things up there, different and perhaps better -- maybe there's an internet equivalent without all the clunky annoyances you point out!

I assume there are interactions and links between the higher and lower levels, and that much of this is magical? Although, this is probably too complex/muddled for a brief explanation.

Not to be greedy, but one more query, regarding this rather interesting quote from the other blog:

"One way of putting it is to say that in Abred, the spirit is wrapped up in matter, while in Gwynfydd, matter is caught up into spirit. Physical incarnation, in the sense of landing in another freshly born body, ends when Gwynfydd begins; material manifestation is still available, but it’s in other-than-human forms."
Does this mean that those in Gwynfydd can appear on the material plane as ghosts or other supernatural beings? If so, that would explain a fair amount of visions and other fantastic lore I've read about in history.

[(Anonymous)]

Sir and Druid, two and a half questions:
1) In mundane astrology, how is the question of a country having multiple capitals addressed? Is it necessary to draw up charts for each of the capitals, and delineate the specific houses by the way the government is split between capitals?

2) Has there been any study comparing the effectiveness of CPR breaths made by human breath vs mechanical breath? I suspect that human breaths are more effective, due to etheric effects of breathing some measure of life force into the person being resuscitated. And for those trained in CPR, what can be done to enhance their breaths to aid in their efforts?

Re: Brain Tingles

[(Anonymous)]

Hmm interesting, I shall look into this more and yes I think journalling will be beneficial, thanks for this.

My blessings to you and all who welcome them.

Kind regards,

Rob

Re: Brain Tingles

[(Anonymous)]

Hello, original helper here. Not much to add to the other commentator, but that seems possible to me. Also, in the name of transparency, I'm an occultist now (last 5 years) not a Buddhist. I'm still knowledgeable, to some extent, about Buddhism because I obsessively studied and practiced for 2 years. The whole "no-self" thing isn't for me.

Oh, and I get "brain tingles/zsps" too. They take a variety of forms and energetic qualities. 99% of mine aren't triggered by anything in particular that I can tell.

Re: Heathen Golden Dawn

[(Anonymous)]

Interesting to hear your experiences with SoP vs GD too, and sounds like you found a good, workable path. Again, hope it serves you well, and I have a lot of respect for the rigorous Dolmen Arch teachings too.

As for Solar vs Telluric, if I were to speculate, I think it might be the opposite in my case: I need to be a little "tougher" and more Solar, plus the fact that I find the more austere GD ritual forms very appealing in their own right. Maybe that's what's drawing me back to Heathenry too, or at least one factor: while the whole super-macho Viking warrior thing is obviously a caricature, following a path that forces me to become more active, outward-oriented and aspiring towards a sane version of those "harder" values is probably what I need, even if it's not necessarily what I'd prefer.

Also appreciate the notes. Will give these some thought, and also see about getting a copy of Nine Doors.

Re: Carl Jung Devotion?

[jprussell]

Jung, patron saint of "wow, what a shockingly appropriate coincidence!" :)

Re: mental plane & gwynfydd

[ecosophia]

I know I kind of went on there -- in my defense, it's an interesting question. ;-)

1) Since incarnate human beings exist and perceive things on the etheric and astral levels, and beings in Gwynfydd exist on those two levels as well, there's definitely room for contact.

2) Normally when a being from Gwynfydd wants to appear to incarnate human beings, they do it in an etheric or astral form -- it's just more convenient for everyone. It's possible, though, for a soul of sufficient power to create a temporary material body. That sometimes looks human, but it's never actually a human body in the full material sense. The resurrection body or Body of Light in which Jesus is said to have appeared to his followers is supposed to be this sort of thing.

Re: Carl Jung Devotion?

[ecosophia]

Funny. Yes, among other things.

[ecosophia]

2) The human body contains 360 etheric centers. Putting the body into certain specific postures and maintaining those postures while breathing deeply and steadily (since breath has a lot to do with the etheric body) will activate those centers. There are other ways to do it, but hatha yoga is quite effective.

[jprussell]

If you like, I'll be happy to do either a Rune or Ogham reading for you, though my intuition suggests the Ogham might work better. My email's jeff DOT powell DOT russell AT great googly-moogly's mail service. If you decide yes, you can email me an we can work out the exact wording of the question and what kind of spread to use.

Cheers,
Jeff

[(Anonymous)]

No, I didn't know that. I may need to have a look at one of those books at some point!

[ecosophia]

1) That would require experimentation! The old books assume there's just one capital. Generally, at least in the traditional lore, the capital is wherever the head of government is.

2) No, and you'd have a heck of a time getting funding for such a study. I'm sure you're right, but the medical industry is deeply invested in the materialist way of thinking about the world.

2.5) Practice some set of etheric exercises -- the Five Rites, hatha yoga, qigong, or whatever you prefer -- so your etheric body is strong and vital, and your breath will be well charged with the life force.

[ecosophia]

You're in for a treat. Ancient Egyptian is a lovely, supple language.

[(Anonymous)]

Jeff--Yes, "Honoring the Ancestors" does include an advanced ritual called an Ancestor Elevation, which heals the souls of troubled or damaged dead family members. According to Krasskova, the ritual began in 19th century Spiritualism, then was adapted by Afro-Caribbean traditions.

--Sister Crow

Re: mental plane & gwynfydd

[xcalibur_djs]

I wasn't complaining, more like expressing gratitude for the extra helpings of info. You've probably noticed my thirst for knowledge, which is something I've always had since I was a kid.

Once again, thanks, and that definitely helps clarify what I suspected. It also explains why these contacts tend to primarily take the form of dreams or visions, with supernatural incarnations as the exception (and of course, Jesus was an exceptionally advanced spirit).

Re: Slavic Deities on Wikipedia

[xcalibur_djs]

Friendly reminder that Wikipedia is a monument to mediocrity, and you should take its content with a grain of salt. That's not to say it can't be useful, but it's not a serious reference work and never will be.

[xcalibur_djs]

I think a useful rule for magic is: "Do not be a dark lord". Expecting spirits to do your bidding, instead of developing your own capacities, would definitely violate that rule.

[(Anonymous)]

Do curses have to be intentional? As I'm rereading that post, I'm struck by the thought that "State the reality of the situation, and it's inevitable consequences, then allow the flailing as people do everything except the things that actually matter" describes the climate change movement. It's almost as if the climate activists placed an unwitting curse on themselves....

Re: A Strange, Yet Welcome Change

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you for the insight! This is good news. I've said a prayer of gratitude to the beings in question, whomever they may be. I suppose if they want me to know anything else about them, that is for them to decide.
I can think of a few things that happened when I was 12, mostly starting at a new school that I hated, and developing some really serious anxiety (this mostly went away by the time I was 14 or so, though.) in any case, I'll think it over.
It wouldn't surprise me if I'd cleared away some nasty karma. The changes I see in myself really are startling to me.

Thank you again.

Duncan

[jdecandia]

I have been sporadically documenting my journey here on Magic Monday and elsewhere.

I have been working my way through the Kabbalah based guidebook Paths of Wisdom written by our host and how made it to the Yesod sphere meditative practice. During my meditation, I have felt an immense pressure below my heart and in the middle of my forehead.Has anyone had this experience when meditating?

[(Anonymous)]

Hello John Micheal Greer,

In the Druidry Handbook there are directives in Spiral Five that suggests one should learn to summon, direct and banish the energies of the three Druid elements. These three elements don't come up much in the Druid Magic Handbook.

Is such a practice described anywhere else, and if not is this something you would be willing to talk about a bit here?

Thank you,
JML

[(Anonymous)]

My older daughter is about to turn seven. I mentioned it was a sacred number, and started by reminding her of the seven traditional planets. I was surprised when she immediately replied “yes, and the seven archangels.” She’s probably previously been told, in passing, that there are seven traditional archangels, and she may have read about them on her own too (we have many Orthodox and Catholic children’s books). But it still seemed like another hint of her past, which seems from other hints to have been deeply Catholic and esoteric.

For example, we have a picture book on the life of Mary, and at age 5, after our first read of it, she started flipping the pages and asking if we had skipped anything because she felt something was “missing.” She checked several times, looking for missing pages. I was at that time unfamiliar with the structure of the rosary (my background and our current church is Orthodox) but realized a short time later that the book was structured like the rosary, with episodes of Mary’s life in rosary-order, but as it was under 40 pages it did not include all the mysteries in the rosary; some were indeed “missing,” as my daughter put it.

I’m mostly surprised these things continue to bubble up now as she turns 7, and I was wondering at what age do these hints tend to stop being so present?

Thanks!