Magic Monday

[ecosophia]

I'm going to be shocking and launch this week's Magic Monday a few minutes early, since I'm here on Dreamwidth,. (The picture is Thomas Taylor, the great Regency-era Platonist and worshiper of the Greek Gods, godfather of the modern Neopagan revival)

Ask me anything about occultism and I'll do my best to answer it. Any question received by midnight Monday Eastern time will get an answer, though it may be Tuesday sometime before I get to them all.

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 the button below to access my online tip jar. 

With that said, have at it! 

***This post is now closed to new questions. See you next week!***

Comments

How to ask divination questions

[(Anonymous)]

JMG, I've read that when doing divination via I Ching that it is important to ask your question in a proper fashion. I've read that good questions are ones with open-ended answers (E.G., "What will happen if I do X?").

Also, specifically, I've read that you shouldn't ask questions which have a yes-no answer (e.g., "Should I do X?") nor in an "or" form ("Should I do X or should I do Y?").

In the Kek4 Q&A someone brought up asking the same question repeatedly - and why that, also isn't a good idea.

On the other hand, in an earlier entry on this Mon night you said: "Is this ritual intention something I should do?" and let the answer guide you." But that is a yes/no question...although maybe I am reading too much into your answer?

Anyway, I'd like elucidation on how to best ask good divination questions and, if you find it fitting, your thoughts on how to interpret the results (some of my I Ching answers could be taken two ways).

I suspect this is a fairly important topic and fits alongside doing goal setting and discursive meditation in a well-formed manner. In an earlier post on this week's blog you - or perhaps someone else - brought up the difference between focusing on "wanting" to be wealthy and "being" wealthy; how "wanting" can back-fire.

Anyway, if the topic goes too deep, would you consider making a whole blog entry on the question of how to ask things of Universe/magic?

Re: How to ask divination questions

[ecosophia]

Different oracles require different approaches. The I Ching thrives on open-ended questions and doesn't like yes-or-no questions; by contrast, geomancy doesn't handle open-ended questions at all well, but gives crisp, intelligent, accurate answers to yes-or-no questions.

Oracles are like people. I'm sure you know people who just like to sit and chat, and other people who want to know what you want from them so they can provide you with a straight-up response.

As for asking things of the universe, I'll consider that; a post on magical intentionality could be interesting to write.