Magic Monday

[ecosophia]

Midnight 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 noted below, 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 forty-sixth published book and my first for Barnes & Noble's house publisher -- Sterling Press, as it was then called. (It's Union Square these days.) The project wasn't my idea, either -- one of their editors contacted me out of the blue to ask if I was interested in doing a book in their series of glossy coffee-table books givi9ng 100 chronologically arranged vignettes on some subject or other. The advance they offered was substantial, the work required on my end fairly easy, so I said yes. It turned out to be a fun project and the book that resulted -- a lively and gorgeously illustrated beginner's history of occultism -- sold very well. It's still in print and still selling well; you can get a copy here if you live in the US and at your favorite online or local bookstore if you're 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

Ritual Critics

[(Anonymous)]

Greeting JMG!
I am looking to conduct a blood-brother ritual with someone I am extremely close to and would like your input. I have concluded the ovate grade in the DOGD for reference. I would appreciate your input on this ritual I was thinking of doing.

Opening Temple
“I humbly beseech Lugh to oversee these oaths.” (I do not have a personal relationship with Lugh but he makes sense as a God associated with oaths in the greater Celtic pantheon to my knowledge. His name also has 4 letters which I know doesn't matter in this stage of the ritual but I thought was a nice synchronicity. If you believe there is a better god to invoke here please let me know)
We both draw blood and shake hands. Once we have grasped hands we will tie a linen cloth around our hands and make our blood brother oaths to each other. Before untying the linen.
Closing the temple.

I know this is rather simple but any way you think would strengthen this ritual would be greatly appreciated

Respectfully,
SC

Re: Ritual Critics

[ecosophia]

The essence of such a ceremony is in its core acts: invoking a deity to confirm the oath, and then making it in the traditional manner. This includes all that's necessary; anything additioal would just clutter it up.

Planetary attunement

[(Anonymous)]

Hi John Michael Greer,

Before anything else, I wanted to express how grateful I am for Magic Monday. I have been asking questions here for a few months and have been reading other's posts and benefiting a lot from the exchanges.

I have been starting to look into astrological magic by way of interest in Picatrix. I am not reading Picatrix yet, but first brushing up on basic astrology knowledge. Last week there was an opportune question by another poster that prompted me to figure out how to use Druid Magic for planetary attunement: https://ecosophia.dreamwidth.org/297434.html?thread=51215834#cmt51215834

I wrote what follows based on the information in the Druid Magic Handbook and the Dolmen Arch Gradd Y Newyddian lessons with the objective of having a Druid Magic tool for planetary attunement. I am hoping that you will be willing to have a look and see if it makes sense, and help me resolve two difficulties. I am having doubts about the color to use for colored breathing for each planet, either using the color for the Cantref, the Station of the Year or planetary colors from another tradition. Another issue is that since there are eight Stations, it seems necessary to attune to Planet Earth if using that approach. In the text I propose calling on the Welsh Gods and Goddesses, but maybe other names such as those of planetary spirits or intelligences would be more appropriate.

- Invoking the Planets by the Cantrefs


Use the seven Cantrefs to invoke each planet. A week-long process during which each planet is invoked on the appropriate day. Starting on a Monday, for seven consecutive days a planet is invoked.

On Monday, invoke the Moon. Open the grove in the usual way, and in the Sphere of Protection call upon the elements to bless and protect your grove and add their power to your working to attune yourself to the Moon planetary energy, and banish any influence that might hinder that intention.

Sit in the North and use white (or MOON_COLOR) color breathing to attune to the energies of the Moon. Meditate for a time on the theme of the Moon. When ready, stand facing South and trace the invoking symbol of Spirit WIthin over the Altar. Then trace the symbol of the Moon over the altar. Say "In the name of MABON, may I be attuned with the Moon". Feel yourself getting attuned to the energies of the Moon. When ready, give thanks and return to your seat and meditate again on the theme of the Moon.

When ready, close the grove in the usual way.

On Tuesday, perform the ritual with the intention of attuning to the Planetary energies of Mars, facing South during the meditation, using red color breathing. When ready, trace the symbol of Fire, then the symbol of Mars over the altar. Say "In the name of SUL, may I be attuned with Mars". Feel yourself attuning to the qualities of Mars.

On Wednesday, perform the ritual with the intention of attuning to the Planetary energies of Mercury. Sitting in the East and facing West during the meditation, use blue (or MERCURY_COLOR) color breathing. When ready, trace the symbol of Water, then of Mercury over the altar. Say "In the name of ESUS, may I be attuned with Mercury". Feel yourself attuning to the qualities of Mercury.

Continue through the week, invoking each planet on the associated day.

- Invoking the Planets by the Stations of the Year


Use the stations of the year to invoke each planet. A week-long process during which each planet is invoked on the appropriate day, with an additional ritual to attune with Planet Earth. Starting on a Monday, for seven consecutive days a planet is invoked.

On Monday, invoke the Moon. Open the grove in the usual way, and in the Sphere of Protection call upon the elements to bless and protect your grove and add their power to your working to attune yourself to the Moon planetary influence, and banish any influence that might hinder that intention.

The Moon is invoked through the station of Samhuinn. Sit in the South-East and use violet (or MOON_COLOR) color breathing to attune yourself to the energies of the Moon. Meditate for a time on the theme of the Moon. When ready, stand facing North-West and trace the invoking Pentagram for the station Samhuinn over the altar, then trace the symbol of the Moon over the altar. Say "In the name of CERIDWEN, may I be attuned with the Moon". Feel yourself getting attuned to the energies of the Moon. Return to your seat and meditate again on the theme of the Moon.

On Tuesday, invoke Mars. Proceed the same way as the previous day, but sit in the North. Mars is invoked through the station of Alban Heruin, facing South. Use yellow (or MARS_COLOR) color breathing to attune yourself to the energies of Mars. Meditate on the theme of Mars. When ready, stand and trace the invoking Pentagram for the station Alban Heruin over the altar, then trace the symbol of Mars over the altar. Say "In the name of BELI, may I be attuned with Mars". Feel yourself getting attuned to the energies of Mars. Return to your seat and meditate again on the theme of Mars.

On Wednesday, Mercury is invoked through the Station of Alban Elued, facing West and using royal blue (or MERCURY_COLOR) breathing to attune to the energies of Mercury, in the name of ESUS.

Proceed over the following days to attune with each of the planets, until the Sun is invoked on Sunday.

After the seventh day (or before beginning this work), invoke Planet Earth through the station of Imbolc, using brown color breathing, facing North-East, and say "In the name of ANA may I be attuned with Planet Earth".

JML

Re: Planetary attunement

[ecosophia]

Interesting. Yes, in theory that has everything that's necessary. I say "in theory" because the only way to find out if it will work is to do it -- and I'd encourage you to go ahead with it and then report back on the results.

Ecosophia Prayer List

[tunesmyth]

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 Rebecca's new job position scheduled to start on October 1 indeed be hers, and fill her and her family's needs; may the situation (including coworkers and dodgy commute) be pleasant and free of strife.

May the lump in the breast of newlywed Merlin, TemporaryReality's youngest daughter, prove to be of no consequence, and resolve rapidly with no issues.

May Tyler's partner Monika and newborn baby Isabella both be blessed with good health.

May Erika be blessed with good luck and radiant health.

May Mariette (Miow)'s recent surgery have been a success. May she make a full recovery and regain full use of her body. May she heal in body, soul and mind.

May The Dilettante Polymath's eye heal and vision return quickly and permanantly, and may both his retinas stay attached.

May Giulia (Julia) in the Eastern suburbs of Cleveland Ohio be healed of recurring seizures and paralysis of her left side and other neurological problems associated with a cyst on the right side of her brain and with surgery to treat it.

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

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]

Thank you for this as always.

History as Mind and Question on Folk of the Path of Descent

[jprussell]

Good Evening,

May the coming New Moon bring lessening of what you'd have less of this week, clearing the way for whatever you'd like to build up after.

To Share: Another week without anything from me, but this post on the intersection of philosophy and history might be of interest to folks here, particularly for what it has to say on idealism vs realism (including some thoughts on Schopenhauer, who's been a focus over on JMG's main blog the last couple weeks): https://luctalks.substack.com/p/history-as-mind

To Ask: I'm once again coming with a question where I suspect the answer might well be the famous "what a fine theme for meditation!" but here goes anyway. I'm currently meditating on the Dolmen Arch material regarding Non-Human Beings, and I'm trying to fit it in with other things you've said about such beings here and in other books. Specifically, the Folk of the Path of Descent (elementals, elementaries/fae, and the like) are said not to "evolve" in the sense that we on the Path of Ascent do, moving from one life and shape to the next, with our souls learning and growing along the way. Instead, they become "more richly themselves," a shape in the flow of nwyfre that varies, but keeps its character, despite the changing nwyfre passing through (to use a metaphor from the DA material, like a particular eddy or pool in a stream). So, from this, I find myself wondering two distinct, but perhaps related, questions:

1. Do the Folk of the Path of Descent have a divine spark/soul as we do, and if so, will they (according to occult teachings) one day find their way onto the Path of Ascent and undergo the sort of evolution we do? And if so, does that mean our souls once underwent the same process?
2. Much of occult tradition (including the DA material) recommends at least caution about, if not outright avoidance of, too much interaction with many of these beings. Is one of the reasons for this that our souls are made to "go with the flow" of nwyfre, moving and changing along with it, but the downward current is contrary to what is healthy? It struck me that if this is right, some exposure to the downward current might be strengthening, like undergoing physical hardship, but too much could be damaging, and I was wondering if that was a fruitful line of pondering.

Thank you again, JMG and everyone here!

My blessings to all who welcome them,
Jeff

Re: History as Mind and Question on Folk of the Path of Descent

[ecosophia]

The Dolmen Arch teachings on that subject are different from the occult teachings I consider most valid, but I wasn't going to change the material to fit my preferences! I'll answer this from within the DA system.

1) No, the Folk of the Path of Descent are entirely distinct from us. They have their own mode of evolution, which can be thought of as evolving in place: the One Life flows through them on its way from Ceugant to Annwn, where it breaks up into individual souls that take the Path of Ascent. They remain, while we proceed.

2) Er, the triads given in that lesson point out that it is well to deal with the dwellers in the Halls of Splendor -- that is, the higher grades of the Folk of the Path of Descent. Furthermore, initiates can lawfully work with the other grades of the Path of Descent. It's not the folk of the Path of Descent who are harmful to human souls, it's the demonic spirits in Annwn, the dead in Abred, and the dwellers in the Halls of Hollow Forms.

Too Much Karma

[(Anonymous)]

I’m experiencing a guano hurricane of karma coming so fast and furious that it’s more than I can handle.

I and my family have been fruitlessly searching for a home for many months. We need to find housing NOW lest we become destitute as well as homeless.

But all the relevant parties that I have encountered are the opposite of helpful. Our income is low. The “property management” racket has been screwing us royally. The public housing sector have offered us nothing but six-year waiting lists and never return your phone calls.

I am freaking out. This is more than I can cope with.

I want to end the karma storm. I want the gods to slow it down to a level I can handle without getting suicidal ideations. Is a there a good way to request them to do this?

My magic background is Golden Dawn, Hellenic style. I am also fond of angels, including those of the four quarters. I’ll pray to anyone who isn’t Beelzebub or his boss, or otherwise hostile human beings.

Re: Too Much Karma

[ecosophia]

First of all, it's not just karma, and it's not just you. The economy is broken and housing costs have soared completely out of reach of many Americans. Many, many people are in the same sort of ugly situation you are.

In terms of practical methods, housing and karma are both ruled by Saturn. He's the one you need to contact in order to resolve this. You also need to do something that tens of thousands of other people aren't doing! I have no practical suggestions to make in this case, but my readers may be able to come up with something.

Praying for Hellene victims

[kimberlysteele]

It has not been covered much on the news, but several states were devastated by a terrible hurricane. People in Asheville, North Carolina are stranded with no food, there is a Facebook group with 13,000 members posting missing relatives. I hope all of you will join me in praying for these people over the next few weeks.

Re: Praying for Hellene victims

[ecosophia]

Positive energy already en route! The media's trying not to talk about it, and the federal government is doing precisely nothing, but the situation is pretty dreadful.

Fiction that inspired occult tradition

[(Anonymous)]

Greetings John Michael,

In the posting https://www.ecosophia.net/the-secret-of-the-alchemists/ you wrote that Mary Ann Atwood's interpretation of alchemy was possibly inspired by Edward Bulwer-Lytton's occult novel Zanoni, first published in 1842, and it would be far from the first time that a significant theme in occult tradition drew a good deal of its inspiration from a work of fiction.

What are a few other cases? I would be particularly be interested in fiction outside the fantasy and science-fiction genres.

Moserian

Re: Fiction that inspired occult tradition

[ecosophia]

For one, fictional accounts of Faust's devil-summoning exploits led to the production of an entire genre of Faustbücher, literally "Faust-books" -- grimoires that pretended to be Faust's occult manual. These had a huge impact on the central European occult scene in the early modern period.

For another, Bulwer-Lytton wrote another novel, Vril: The Secret of the Coming Race, about a mysterious underground civilization that used the life force, which they called Vril. For the next century or so occultists all over Europe and America were talking about vril. Here's an example from the indefatigable William Walker Atkinson:

https://archive.org/details/VrilOrVitalMagnetism/mode/2up

Blessing offer

[milkyway1]

JMG,

Thanks a lot for hosting MM again, and for letting me post this offer here. I hope you had a good weekend, and my blessings to you, too, if you‘ll have them. :-)

To everybody: I‘m still practicing my blessing skills, and would very much appreciate it if you‘d consider signing up for a blessing, now or in the future:

https://thehiddenthings.com/weekly-blessings-39

Thanks,

Milkyway

Harry J Gardner

[(Anonymous)]

Hey JMG

Recently, after a long time of curiosity, I have been following some of the exercises described by Harry J Gardner in his book "Streamline minds". In particular, The rising call, the complex former and the writing out exercise. So far it has been going well, though I have only begun doing them this month and so it is too early to see huge results, but the writing out exercise has been the most immediately effective.

I have some questions, but the most important is this. In reading through his book, was there any recommendation of his that you thought, or discovered, was faulty in some way?

J.L.Mc12

Re: Harry J Gardner

[ecosophia]

His practices are excellent -- I'm pretty sure he got them out of one of the minor American Rosicrucian traditions, where they must have had plenty of testing. Where Gardener fell flat on his nose was prophecy. He was convinced, after systematic study of the geometries and measurements of the Great Pyramid, that Armageddon would take place in 1957 and the Second Coming would occur before 2000.

Shoplifting Karma

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG,

What are the karmic consequences of shoplifting? My girlfriend does it sometimes and I've been trying to talk her out of it.

Thanks,
Crimson Lemony-fresh Piglet

Re: Shoplifting Karma

[(Anonymous)]

I’m not JMG, but shoplifting is a red flag for other risky behavior and bad morals. Most people who shoplift talk themselves into it, insisting it’s a victimless crime or even a “just” thing to do (because of “corporate greed” or “capitalism” or whatever). Without exception, all the women I knew as a young adult who shoplifted got involved with other bad stuff (drugs, heavy drinking) and when I think back, the majority of them also cheated on their boyfriends.

My suggestion would be to get out now before you get more deeply involved with her.

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG and forumistas.

My best friend for many years had recently been diagnosed with cancer and has now killed himself.

He was a fairly young man of only 36 and he leaves behind an already widowed mother. My heart is broken; I can do little but cry.

Can I please request that anyone willing pray for the peace of the departed and the
comfort of the bereaved. His name was Frederick Johnstone.

Thank you in advance to those that pray.

Mr James

[ecosophia]

I am so very sorry to hear this; please accept my condolences. Positive energy en route.

(Quin, I think this counts as a valid request for the prayer list.)

What is love?

[(Anonymous)]

I'm a man in my early thirties and have recently begun a romance with a woman of about the same age. I waited a long time to meet someone like her- someone who I am pretty sure I could talk with about almost every topic on this blog (although it is early yet and we are not at the 'talk Ecosophia to me baby' stage of the relationship, if there is such a thing!) When we first met she was with another guy, but a year and a half later that ended and I seized my chance. So far we are having a great time just starting to get to know each other.

One factor in our relationship that has been on my mind is a bit hard to talk about. You see, anyone seeing us together would remark that I am rather handsome and she is rather plain. (I know how that sounds, but bear with me). I don't want this to matter, but there it is, this thought that keeps popping up for me ('But will you really be satisfied with her?') and I have an unusually keen awareness of gorgeous women in my vicinity who I know from experience would probably say yes if I asked them out, but with whom I would probably not have much to talk about.

I am not feeling infatuation like I have in the past with other women, but maybe that's a good thing? I do find my girlfriend attractive... when we are alone together I have a hard time keeping my hands off her! It's when I'm not with her that this thought crops up. I don't want it to get in the way of what I see as real prospects for a real long-term relationship- we share a very similar vision of what we want for the future and we have very similar hopes, dreams, moral standards, housekeeping standards, sense of humour and fun... you know, all the important things!

I don't know if this worry is significant or if it's something all guys have to deal with in relationships. But it occurred to me after reading your essay on Chapter 14 (Transmutations) that this is exactly the sort of thing magic can address. And if there's a straightforward way to help me relax, let go of this worry, and give my lady the attention she deserves, then I'm willing to give it a try. Any advice?

Re: What is love?

[ecosophia]

You have been programmed by the media to fixate on certain fashionable kinds of female appearance and to think that this matters more than, say, compatibility or character. That programming isn't there for your benefit, of course. Your task now is to break through it and learn to appreciate a real woman in place of a media stereotype. Yes, most men have to deal with this -- or they fail to deal with it, and lurch from one failed relationship to another.

I'm going to suggest that you do some serious journaling, and explore the way that you've been set up to sabotage real relationships with women and chase a mirage of appearance. In the meantime, go out of your way to give your lady the attention she deserves -- that's your choice, you know. Do it. Make her happy and build the relationship of your dreams with her.

[(Anonymous)]

Would you suggest combining greater or lesser middle pillar ritual with vibration of the name ritual?

[ecosophia]

No. They're different kinds of workings and it doesn't work well to combine them.

Dreams and practices different recently

[earthworm_uk]

Anyone else getting or feeling unexpected shifts in their practices/dreams?

Dreams:

I have noticed a shift over the last few weeks. Around the time you posted about your dream, I woke from a dream and wondered 'what on earth was that about' before drifting back to sleep. Funny thing happened then; had a dream about the meaning of the previous dream, where someone[s] or something[s] were explaining to me what was going on.
As often happens, I awoke just as the 'reveal' was about to show.

I've experienced dropping back into a dream, sometimes several times, but a dream that explains another dream is something new.

Last night's dream was also something new - I was talking to someone in great distress [tearful] (male and someone 'bigger' than me) when the 'right' thing to do was to stand-up, arms raised and palms up, the tearful 'bulky' figure stood and I put arms around him in a hug and whispered 'you can breathe the sadness out of your feet'.
A look of 'hope' entered his eyes and immediately I was wide awake.

Not looking for an interpretation, it just struck me as a new track in dreams - often I am searching for 'something', not interacting in this way.

Practices:

A while back I mentioned experimenting with Platonic solids - this sort of took on a life of its own and set off in an unexpected direction. Don't need to go into details but alongside this I somehow acquired an increasingly strong conviction that things are at a crucial juncture - a time of great danger and great possibility.

Of course there is nothing unusual there given even a cursory glance at what passes for 'news' shows that pretty much anywhere and anything is in a state of disharmony and increasing degradation and that is likely to be reflected in meditation/contemplation; but, here is the interesting thing, my practices are currently getting 'simpler' but at the same time more 'complex'... maybe profound is a better word than complex.

Don't know what to make of it as yet but it seems like all the dysfunction are just symptoms of things manifesting and I am not sure if it is my personality running off in imagination or whether it is a 'knowing', but the voice inside is reverberating 'Do stuff, it doesn't matter what stuff you choose but you need to make a choice and 'do', which way will you choose to go?"
Like it is the principle[s] underlying practice/work that are important rather than the particular flavours of activity.

Anyone else noticing anything?

Re: Dreams and practices different recently

[ecosophia]

Good heavens. No, but that trick of breathing sadness out through the foot centers sounds worth trying.

Vinegar Spagyrics

[(Anonymous)]

Would it be possible to use the method of vinegar tincturing to make vinegar spagyrics? I would like to add some plant alchemy to my occult skills, following the methods of Mark Stavish, but don't want to use alcohol. My thought would be to use some highproof alcohol only for the calcination process to burn the plant materials that have otherwise steeped in vinegar instead of alcohol. Or calcinate them through some other means.

Re: Vinegar Spagyrics

[ecosophia]

Yes. In order to calcine the plant material, you have to dry it thoroughly -- putting it into an oven at 200°F for a couple of hours will do the job, though your kitchen will smell like you've been canning pickles! Once they're thoroughly dry, put a little alcohol on them, burn them, and then calcine them in a crucible in the usual way, and proceed from there.

Rituals or practices for after a natural disaster

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG and community,

I'm curious about any rituals or practices y'all could recommend for after a natural disaster. Books, chapters, or articles y'all could point me to would also be lovely. (Very beginner druid here, working on my AODA application year.) I evacuated from a hard hit area in North Carolina to a family home in Georgia, and don't have an altar or any typical tools per se, but do have access to a fire pit and some undisturbed parks.

I'm keeping up regular prayer and meditation but felt pulled to try some outdoor doings. Thanks to you all.

Re: Rituals or practices for after a natural disaster

[(Anonymous)]

It occurs to me that the message I wrote here in response to the person who is worried about becoming homeless would also be relevant to being forced to relocate after a natural disaster, though I realize there are many other considerations relating to natural disasters as well. But in response to the "Too Much Karma" message, I recommended devotions to Hestia, the Goddess of hearth and home, the protector of the sanctity of the home and all that home means to us. With the epidemic of homelessness and the brutality of natural and man-made disasters unhoming people all around the world, devotions to Deities of hearth and home are of ever-increasing importance for us all, whether homed or unhomed.

Hestia is present in all hearth-fires, so if you lighted your fire-pit and made it clear that it is a hearth-fire, not a wild-fire, it would be a suitable place to pray for safe homes / habitats for humans and other beings of this world. Note that the word 'focus' comes from the Roman word for 'domestic hearth,' and consider the importance that 'focusing' holds for all magical, occult, religious, and mundane work and practice. Our home, whatever form it takes, is a focus point of our lives, and its loss is damaging on so many levels: we become unfocused, in truth.

Best wishes to you,
Winifred

[(Anonymous)]

Hello JMG,


1) Have you ever studied Bill Plotkin's work?



2) I'm interested in using Irish Myths for meditation themes and for possibly constructing rituals around these themes as well.


Is there a danger of bringing negative aspects of myths into our lives by following certain myths closely? For example, if a hero dies in a myth, are we at risk of bringing harm on ourselves if we embody a myth very deeply?


3) Do you know of any resources for developing one's own rituals and spells? I want to use myths as my guide in this endeavour.


Many thanks for your help. 

[ecosophia]

1) No, I haven't.

2) Of course. Choose your myths well, because you will inevitably act out the unwelcome as well as the welcome parts of the myth.

3) You need to learn some established system of magic first. Once you've done that, and have a good practical grasp of how magic works, you'll know enough to come up with your own workings. It's very fashionable for people to insist that they can just come up with their own magical systems from scratch, with no previous experience; this is one of the most common causes of failure in magical training these days, since (a) magic is not whatever you want it to be, and (b) occultists really have learned a few things over the last five thousand years of magical practice.

More Trump Buddha adventures.

[neptunesdolphins]

Well, I have been having a series of dreams of Karmla Harris being stuck at the top of the down escalator. With people flying Trump flags passing her on the up escalator. At first, I thought either the TV news polls were seeping in my brain or something like that. Then I had a series of dreams where the Trump Buddha showed up to indicate that He was the source.

Sometimes, I wonder about all this. Is the Trump Buddha that potent? I have been making daily offerings to the Genus of Trump. So are these offerings effective? I am never sure about any of this.

Signs of magic for Harris - only one person has started using knot magic praying to the Goddess Karmla. I haven't encounter anyone else doing any magic. They all seem to be panicked and furiously writing blogs and arguing with people on-line.
---
I had the book featured. I read, and it is everything advertised. I gave it to a local free library stand, where it is popular. I hope that people buy copies after looking at it.

Re: More Trump Buddha adventures.

[ecosophia]

All those hundreds of thousands of people in Asia who are burning incense to the Trumpisattva, hoping to make their businesses great again, are doubtless having an effect. It intrigues me that the Magic Resistance isn't yelling at the top of their lungs this time around. Is it too much to hope that they've learned a basic lesson or two about operative magic? I hope that they've also grasped that it's always more effective to build up what you want than it is to try to tear down what you hate, but of course that would require them to give up the addictive habit of throwing rage fits, not to mention projecting their own shadows on anything that will stand still long enough...

MOE Healing Hands

[kylec]

If anyone is looking for a boost in physical or emotional health, I am offering healing hands in the Modern Order of Essenes tradition. This practice is remote, and requires nothing from you except that you reply to this thread or PM me to sign up. Thanks to all who signed up last week, the practice is much appreciated!

Re: MOE Healing Hands

[open_space]

I would appreciate another round, thanks! Whatever I need the most right now seems to have worked out better for me in case that matters

[(Anonymous)]

John--

Growing up "down South" as I did, where tea is properly sweetened and the second-person plural personal pronoun is pronounced "y'all", I often heard about imprecatory prayer--that is, praying for God to smite one's enemies and otherwise harm them. To my mind, this runs afoul of the same issues that malevolent magic does (as indeed it essentially *is* a form of malevolent magic). From an occult perspective, is that how you would see it?

[ecosophia]

It's malevolent magic, and a particularly nasty form of it, since you're not even taking responsibility for your own nastiness -- you're trying to get God to cast your evil spells for you. That seems disrespectful, to use no stronger word, to the god who told his followers to love their enemies and turn the other cheek...

The Sphere of Art

[(Anonymous)]

Jeff Russell's interesting question here about "The Folk on the Path of Descent" reminded me of a question I wanted to ask you, JMG. First I need to explain the context; I'm sorry if it's a bit long, but it's interesting!

Among RJ Stewart's more recent books on magic is his trilogy called "The Sphere of Art." This describes his approach to spiritual alchemy that relies and builds upon the basic exercise of creating this Sphere of Art. This approach is based on the alchemical belief that metals *evolve* from base metals into gold while they are deep in the earth, subject to chthonic and stellar forces, but that once they are excavated and exposed to the light of Sun and Moon they cease evolving. Old alchemists developed their equipment and processes to try to duplicate the chthonic processes and sequester base metals from 'Sun and Moon light,' allowing this evolution into gold to take place.

Stewart translates this into the idea of creating a metaphysical 'container' that excludes the influences of the Mundane and Sublunary domains while allowing in the Stellar and Telluric forces as one pursues a path of spiritual alchemy. Hence the 'Sphere of Art,' which is created by requesting the four classical Archangels to gather around one and use their wings to form the Sphere. Stewart offers an old image of these archangels as faces with three pairs of wings each. The upper wings meet and close the sphere from the top, the lower wings enclose the bottom, and faces and the middle wings form the body of the sphere. Where the wings of the 4 archangels meet at top and bottom they form irises which can open and close, allowing into the Sphere the Stellar and Telluric forces. The middle wings enclose the sphere completely and exclude the influences of the mundane Earth and Sublunary domains.

While inside this Sphere one's spiritual evolution advances, without the influences and distractions of mundane life and the sublunary domain of earthly spirits--perhaps these are the Folk of the Path of Descent that Jeff mentions? The second and third books of Stewart's trilogy deal with advanced practices that one undertakes while enclosed within this Sphere of Art, including the use of homeopathic potencies of alchemical metals / substances to promote the evolutionary process.

Unlike in Stewart's previous work, he deliberately excludes from the Sphere beings and influences such as the Faery races, Titans, Giants etc, and also the Gods and Goddesses associated with Earth life, including 'tribal' Deities such as the Heathen and Celtic Deities and all the others. There is very significant work with them happening at the surface of the Sphere, which depends upon the work within the Sphere, but they are all excluded from the sphere itself. The angels are from a different, non-earthly spiritual line, which is why Stewart recommends requesting their help to create this sphere which excludes Earthly powers.

I'm intrigued by the ideas here, which are a continuation of Stewart's decades of work with Telluric and Stellar forces. But here's my question for you and the commentariat, JMG. I simply don't feel any connection with angels; I can't throw myself into this kind of relationship with them. Though it took me awhile, I came to understand Stewart's reasons for excluding the Deities whom I normally work with, so I can't ask them to take the place of the archangels in this particular exercise.

I'm wondering whether there is some other way to form this Sphere of Art, other than with archangelic assistance? Some way to enwrap oneself in a membrane that opens at will for Stellar and Telluric forces but temporarily excludes mundane and sublunary influences? I don't think it works just using willpower or generic creation of sacred space and the like; it needs something that is more un-earthly, un-customary. Or is there some other, non-traditional way to understand 'angels' that might work for me in this context? Any ideas?

The Rune Wunjo / Wynn (joy) keeps coming to mind here for me, a rune that I believe describes the pursuit of a spiritual life. The Old English Rune Poem says "Wynn is useful to those who want for little, who have few sorrows and cares, and have enough of a 'burg' (a safe enclosure and place to feel at home)." I'm exploring whether this rune can help me find a different path to the 'burg,' the sphere of art, but I'm not there yet.

Anyway, sorry for this long post, but if you or anyone here have any thoughts to share I'd be interested in reading them!

Blessings to those who want them,
Winifred Hodge Rose

Re: The Sphere of Art

[ecosophia]

I have the book and its sequels, and they're impressive stuff. You're right that something other than one's own magic is needed for this purpose, but I'd point out that not all of the old Pagan deities are tribal or earthly gods. It's also important to this sort of work that the beings who guard the sphere are secondary powers -- angels, not primary manifestations of the Divine. In a Heathen context, it seems to me the comparable beings are the valkyries, semi-divine messengers of the Heathen god who most transcends the tribal and terrestrial context.

Me, I'd use angels, but then I've done a lot of Golden Dawn magic and I have a good relationship with them.

[thinking_turtle]

To share, for those who wonder what LRM, AMORC or WH2 mean, a list of abbreviations used on Ecosophia.

In response to Milkyway's comment on this months' open post, the book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration by Weston Price seems relevant. It turns out skeletons of primitive people have perfect teeth, as did the few remnants of primitive people who still stuck to their original lifestyle in the early 1900s. Those people did not brush at all. Weston Price suggests this may be thanks to their food choices. I've had good experience raw milk.

[ecosophia]

Thanks for this as always.

[(Anonymous)]

i have 2 articles that i have saved over the years.
i thought they would be good for a magic monday.

I Died, Met God, and Came Back as a Roots Healer

https://www.vice.com/en/article/i-died-met-god-and-came-back-as-a-roots-healer/

and this one:

What a Shaman Sees in A Mental Hospital

https://beyondmeds.com/2012/09/03/what-a-shaman-sees/

very interesting!

[ecosophia]

Thanks for this. I've filed them to read when I have the chance.

Paying Attention To Symbols

[wildheartcaliguy]

Good morning John,

As I continue the lessons within The Occult Philosophy Workbook, I find myself paying much more careful attention to typical logos/symbols people use on their vehicles, businesses, etc. Also, observing more abstract things, not just profane marketing as it may sound. Same for colors and even watching the days of the week or timing of when some event happens.

I've been using mostly intuition and some objective analysis to discern how much is fluff and how much is truly intentionally spiritual in nature. But suffice to say, "living between two worlds" and perhaps finding the connections between planes seems be taking on a more real lived experience for me.

Any thoughts or guidance to keep me from charging down a delusion or false path?

Thank you

Re: Paying Attention To Symbols

[ecosophia]

Just remember that what you perceive is always subjective, and always subject to error, just like your five ordinary senses. It's the people who come to believe that their insights are infallible truth that end up in padded cells.

Dolmen Arch

[cs2]

Last week I passed the final exam for the Dolmen Arch curriculum. For the next year I'm going to do the maximum practices I've been doing for Grade 7, holding steady while pivoting careers. Then I'll do a full review and stick to the two years since this first pass took me five.

Out of sheer cussedness I stuck with the daily practices while my life underwent a phoenix process, like Pryderi into Lleu. I'd been running from my problems for years; they finally caught up with me, full-body tackle, hit rock bottom and stayed there for six months, and now for 1.5 years I've been clawing my way out of this pit.

My transformation this time wasn't Abred to Gwynfydd or lower soul to unity with the higher soul, but rather coming into my own for the first time and taking ownership over my own life. From a stressful childhood I developed a high tolerance for suffering and disempowerment. Things had to get really bad for a long time with no end in sight in order for the pain of not changing to outweigh the pain of changing and finally force me to crater and phoenix.

I'm very grateful to AODA for their mentorship program, to you JMG for compiling this curriculum, and to WWA for the original pamphlets. I now consider myself a fledgling druidic mage and initiate to the Mysteries. In three years I plan to take my mentor up on her offer to consider me as an instructor through AODA's DA so I can be of service to something that has proven so transformative. For now I'll get back to work and thanks again.

Re: Dolmen Arch

[ecosophia]

Congratulations! Thank you for taking the work seriously and struggling through it all the way to the end. That makes my day.