Magic Monday

[ecosophia]

Midnight is almost here, 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 that point will not get an answer, and in fact will just be deleted.  If you're in a hurry, or suspect you may be the 341,928th person to ask a question, please check out the very rough version 1.2 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.  This was my fifty-righth published book, and the last contribution (so far) to the Cthulhu mythos to come from my keyboard. I hadn't planned on writing The Seal of Yueh Lao at all, but there were too many loose ends left hanging when I'd wrapped up The Weird of Hali, and this story took shape as I considered them. It's the shortest of my tentacle novels, a quiet little coming-of-age story with Asenath Merrill, the oldest daughter of the central character of The Weird of Hali, as its protagonist, and a tangled web of events borrowed from H.P. Lovecraft and Robert W. Chambers for its mainspring. All in all, it worked surprisingly well. If you're interested, you can get a copy here if you're in the US and here elsewhere.

Buy Me A Coffee

Ko-Fi

I've had several people ask about tipping me for answers here, and though I certainly don't require that I won't turn it down. You can use either of the links above to access my online tip jar; Buymeacoffee is good for small tips, Ko-Fi is better for larger ones. (I used to use PayPal but they developed an allergy to free speech, so I've developed an allergy to them.) If you're interested in political and economic astrology, or simply prefer to use a subscription service to support your favorite authors, you can find my Patreon page here and my SubscribeStar page here. 

 

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 more comments will be put through. See you next week!***

Comments

The mystery of the Cool S

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG, I was thinking about sigils and I remembered the strange S glyph that every kid in the 90s drew in school. If you haven't seen it, here it is:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/S-cool.svg

This symbol has been drawn countless millions of times on notebooks, binders, backpacks etc., and what's most interesting is that no one can figure out the origin. It's taught by children to other children, and it's appealing for the reason that you can easily draw it by starting with two sets of three parallel lines, made even easier if you have notebook or graph paper.

You've mentioned before how sigils are vulnerable to counterspells by people who know what the letters stand for creating another reading that mocks or denies the original. If someone could convince children around the world to draw this symbol without giving away its meaning to them, could it fuel a powerful sigil working? Particularly since the symbol is drawn by people around the world out of enjoyment, not mass-produced as a form of advertising or merchandise.

I also just found that in 2020 a guy trademarked the symbol to sell goods with it. Given the symbol's status in the public consciousness what do you think will become of an effort to control its use for profit? If it is indeed a sigil created for a specific purpose, can you foresee any particular backlash to the trademark?

Re: The mystery of the Cool S

[ecosophia]

Fascinating. Since I was out of school long before this became fashionable, I hadn't heard of it.

1) Yes, that could be very potent.

2) That sort of thing happens all the time. The results depend on how attached people are to the symbol in a noncommercial context. If collective consciousness rejects the commercial use, the company that uses it will probably go broke.

Divination Offering and Thanks

[jprussell]

Good Evening,

To any who marked it, I hope you had a happy and blessed Solstice, and for any for whom it applies, a very Merry Christmas!

To Share: I haven't done one of these in a while, so I'm offering free divination readings from now (Sunday, December 22nd) through the end of the year over at my dreamwidth: https://jprussell.dreamwidth.org/25825.html

In the spirit of the holiday season, nothing to ask this week, just deep thanks to JMG for providing this space and sharing his knowledge, and to everyone here for asking thought-provoking questions and sharing your own wisdom. These weekly discussions are truly my favorite thing on the internet, and one of the stronger reasons for my not going full luddite, so I'm very grateful.

My blessings to all who welcome them,
Jeff

Re: Divination Offering and Thanks

[ecosophia]

Thank you for this! I really do have the best commentariat on the internet, and yeah, it keeps me from going full-on Luddite, too.

$20 bill

[(Anonymous)]

Weird question: I was recommended to chant to Saturn in order to release past life-induced karma.

The next day, everything seemed to go reasonably well. It started with finding a $20bill on a floor in a cafe, turned out to be an extremely productive day, etc.

Anyway, when I found the $20, I decided to just return it to the cafe manager since it wasn't mine, but I had this nagging feeling that I shouldn't do that. For what it's worth, he told me that if he were in m place, he would've kept it, but he thanked me and put it in the tip jar.

Either way, the run of good luck ended after that day. The days since haven't really been bad, but just slightly unlucky in very mildly irritating ways.

Is this all in my mind/superstition, or did I really screw something up? If the latter, is there anything I can do to fix it?

As a aside, I realize that I may be asking something that is unanswerable by you, and that is fine--I guess I am only asking in case these events have an obvious explanation that is immediately clear to you.

Re: $20 bill

[ecosophia]

Yes, you did. You got some good luck, and instead of accepting it, you put it in the tip jar instead. Next time -- if there is a next time -- when you ask for something, and you get it, accept it!

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 David/Trubrujah's 5 year old nephew Jayce, who is back home after chemotherapy for his leukemia, be healed quickly and fully, and may he, and mother Amanda, and their family find be aided with physical, mental, and emotional strength while they deal with this new life altering situation.

May Peter Van Erp's friend Kate Bowden's husband Russ Hobson and his family be enveloped with love as he follows his path forward with the glioblastoma (brain cancer) which has afflicted him.
j
May Kyle's friend Amanda, who though in her early thirties just passed away from brain cancer, make her transition through the afterlife process with grace and peace.

May Daedalus/ARS receive guidance and finish his kundalini awakening, and overcome the neurological and qi and blood circulation problems that have kept him largely immobilised for several years; may the path toward achieving his life's work be cleared of obstacles.

May baby Gigi, continue to gain weight and strength, and continue to heal from a possible medication overdose which her mother Elena received during pregnancy, and may Elena be blessed and healed from the continuing random tremors which ensued; may Gigi's big brother Francis continue to be in excellent health and be blessed.

May Jennifer, whose pregnancy has entered its third trimester, have a safe and healthy pregnancy, may the delivery go smoothly, and may her baby be born healthy and blessed.

May Charlie the cat, who has been extremely sick and vomiting but whose owners can't afford an expensive vet visit, be blessed, protected, and healed.

May Scotlyn's friend Fiona, who has been in hospital since early October with what is a diagnosis of ovarian cancer, be blessed and healed, and encouraged in ways that help her to maintain a positive mental and spiritual outlook.

May Annette have a successful resolution for her kidney stones, and a safe and easy surgery to remove the big one blocking her left kidney.

May Peter Evans in California, who has been diagnosed with colon cancer, be completely healed with ease, and make a rapid and total recovery.

May Jennifer and Josiah, their daughter Joanna, and their unborn daughter be protected from all harmful and malicious influences, and may any connection to malign entities or hostile thought forms or projections be broken and their influence banished.

May Ram, who is facing major challenges both legal and emotional with a divorce and child custody dispute, be blessed with the clarity of thought, positive energy, and the inner strength to continue to improve the situation.

May FJay peacefully birth a healthy baby at home with her loved ones. May her postpartum period be restful and full of love and support. May her older child feel surrounded by her love as he adapts to life as a big brother and may her marriage be strengthened during this time.

May all living things who have suffered as a consequence of Hurricanes Helene and Milton be blessed, comforted, and healed.

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.

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.

On love, grief and life

[(Anonymous)]

Hi John,
A bit of a long one here. When I first met my now husband it was like a soul connection – indescribable, but something inside me recognised him and vice versa – like we were destined to meet in this life.
I live with a fear that he will die before me – stemming from one or more of three things: a fear of loneliness and spending many years/decades alone, lonely and impoverished just waiting for death (just as I had a miserable childhood where I was both emotionally, and at times physically, neglected and alone – a sort of unconscious fear of returning to this state I think); (2) we have the most incredible intimate bond and being in relationship with him has allowed me to heal many of my childhood wounds – losing him would be losing my heart and feeling myself rip in two, a grief I don’t want to experience – it just feels unsurvivable; (3) I once had a past life regressionist tell me that he was my husband in a former life and he died young in a horse accident while we had two young kids and this was our chance at a ‘do over’ (although I don’t know how true this is).
We’ve just had our second child, and so all of this is rising up for me now – despite my fear we’ve built a beautiful life together and I haven’t let it stop me. I’ve journalled about the fear, been to therapy, done all the things, but it remains. Kicker is, however, that since I’m a woman it actually is more likely that he will die before me and I’ll turn into a miserable lonely person just waiting for death. A part of me wishes we'd never met because I would never have built a life that is so beautiful that the grief of losing it would be so intense.
My questions are as follows:
(1) What occult means can be used to make new friends – I’d like to build a community of real and enduring friendships to support each other through deaths, griefs and into our old ages? I’m talking the type of friends who actually show up in real life, not just internet ones.
(2) I’m in desperate need of a spiritual teacher/mentor and have been for some time now – but it seems almost impossible to find a ‘legit’ one. Are there any occult means (prayer etc. – open to anything except the usual exclusions with small kids) to help me find one (hopefully in my localish area)?
(3) How does one find a broader meaning and purpose in life? A part of me feels like I’ve always been just waiting to die – I hate that I was born.

Re: On love, grief and life

[ecosophia]

1) These days, that's a tall order, and since you have an infant in the home there's not much magic you can practice. You might consider prayer; you might also reflect on what you have to offer potential friends.

2) Prayer again is a good choice. It's important, though, to remember that the only really valid source of spiritual guidance is your own connection to the Divine, which is within yourself. A mentor can at most encourage you to turn to that inner connection, and then get out of the way.

3) That part of you is probably a holdover from a previous life; I assume you've journaled on that theme and gotten a sense of the emotional issues involved. (If not, that's a very good place to start.) As for meaning and purpose in life, most of us don't get handed one of those -- we have to create it and choose it for ourselves. Choose something that matters to you, commit to it, and start taking practical steps to make it happen -- that's the one recipe that's always worked for me.

[(Anonymous)]

Dear JMG,

A couple of months ago, I asked about academic sources on Iolo Morganwg, and you recommended “A Rattleskull Genius.” Thank you again for that! It proved most helpful.

I also picked up a copy of your fascinating book on the Coelbren. I wound up citing it quite a bit in my paper as well, particularly your defense of the distinction between authenticity and validity. In the paper, I noted the similarities between your argument and one that William James makes in “The Varieties of Religious Experience,” though he speaks of it in terms of origin and value.

I’m curious if you’d agree that the Pragmatism exemplified in your book is perhaps part of what’s giving Revivalist Druidry its staying power in our day? Whereas the Abrahamic faiths often can’t help but see questions of origin/authenticity as existential threats since they’ve argued themselves into that corner, it seems like you and others have left Druidry with the ability to say “yes, and..?” and go on about the business of centering a spiritual life on the green Earth.

Thanks again!

Ryan M.

[ecosophia]

Delighted to hear this!

Yes, especially here in the US, Pragmatism is an often unrecognized core in our alternative spiritual traditions. I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but The Varieties of Religious Experience was the textbook I had to study prior to ordination in the Universal Gnostic Church, the oddball fringe church in which (until a few days ago) I was the one remaining active bishop.

There have been periods in American occultism in which the usual dubious claims of ancient roots were brandished around much too freely, but these days it's quite common -- and not just in the Druid Revival -- for people to admit freely that what we're practicing is rooted in the 18th century, or the late Renaissance, or the magical revival kickstarted by Eliphas Lévi, or even some more recent period. What matters, after all, is not "how old is it?" but "does it work?"

A Simple Method

[ecosophian]

Dear JMG,

I keep thinking of that saintly old lady you mentioned several times on these Magic Mondays. She read and meditated on a passage in the Bible every day and tried her best to implement the spiritual lessons in her life. You said she was one of the most saint-like people you met.

Her method almost seems like a developed technique. Is there anyone else who practices that? Maybe there's a whole system of training to that effect? I'd like to learn more about it because, I guess, I'm fascinated by its simplicity.

Re: A Simple Method

[ecosophia]

If there's something more developed or more systematic it's not known to me. I was under the impression that a lot of Protestant Christians read the Bible, reflect on it, and then pray about it every day; if that's incorrect, I'm sorry to hear it.

Karma

[(Anonymous)]

My dog got sick recently and was diagnosed with kidney cancer. She nearly died in the animal hospital, but with our home based holistic treatment she got somewhat better over the course of 6 weeks. But then she got significantly worse, vomiting and retching and unable to eat or drink for days, and finally I felt horrible for how miserable she must be, thought her kidneys had just been overloaded beyond healing, and we euthanized her.

I felt at the time it was the compassionate choice as it was very hard to see her in such discomfort. But I also don’t know for sure that she was dying. Perhaps she would have gotten better, but I ended her life. I’ll never know for sure. And I will have to live with the pain of that choice and uncertainty.

Is there something you suggest I can do to work off the negative karma I’ve accrued from ending a life?

Tamar

Re: Karma

[ecosophia]

I think you're already working it off with your pain and uncertainty. For what it's worth, the last pet my late wife and I ever had -- a cat -- ended her life the same way, and I still think it was the compassionate thing to do.

[eyvindmartinsson]

Greetings!
New year, new affirmation. I want to dispose better of my free time; less procrastination, less frivolous use of mobile phone etc. Is "I am the master of my free time" a good one? Or do you (or the commentariat) have any better ideas?

[ecosophia]

I'd broaden it a little bit: "I am the master of my time." That allows you to determine what counts as free time and what doesn't!

Geomantic House Chart: continue training as karate instructor

[(Anonymous)]

Hello John Michael,

Please, can you help me check my interpretation of a geomantic house chart?
I asked (the Mercurials) "Should I continue training as a karate instructor?".

Here is the chart:
https://amissio.net/gen/tradhouse/6f/f9.svg

A 9th house 'adult education' question, the chart perfects by conjunction with the querent's Conjuntio passing to the 10th house and the quesited's Carcer passing to the 12th house.

Because Carcer is malevolent and also in the 4th house as result/part of fortune, I am interpreting the answer is, "Yes, I should continue training as a karate instructor so that I can achieve something that I do not want."

The index is Caput Draconis in the 8th house, which I am interpreting as a greater opportunity that is beyond my human understanding.

I appreciate any clarity you can bring me with this. Please let me know if I need to supply more information.

Live from Pelican Place,
Christine Clifford

Re: Geomantic House Chart: continue training as karate instructor

[ecosophia]

This is very clear. First of all, the answer is "Yes, you should certainly continue your training as a karate instructor." A chart with two modes of perfection is practically screaming "YES!!!" at you.

Second, the two figures that perfect the chart each have a message to pass on. Conjunctio tells you that as you proceed in your training you will encounter people and experiences that will be important to you. Conjunctio passing to the 10th indicates that you will be able to make a career in this field.

Carcer is a negative figure but it needs to be read in terms of its core meaning, which is restriction. Continuing this training is going to require you to accept restrictions and quite possibly give up some things that aren't compatible with it. This choice is going to change your life, and there will be changes you don't like as well as changes that you do. Going on with the training will require you to accept the bitter with the sweet, and some of that won't be apparent until later in life.

Generally speaking, this is an intriguing chart, with the same few figures -- Conjunctio, Carcer, Via, Caput Draconis, Cauda Draconis -- all repeating. All of them point to changes in your life. Making this choice commits you to a pilgrimage into places and experiences you can't anticipate -- but the chart is also saying that this is far and away your best choice.

[booklover1973]

Is there anything known about the exact time of the proclamation of a new government by Hayat Tahrir ash-Sham in Syria? I didn't yet find anything. I assume it is relevant for mundane astrology.

[ecosophia]

I haven't seen any time yet either, and I'd like to know -- that would allow me to cast a foundation chart like the one I did for the new government of Afghanistan.

Another Dreamshare

[athaia]

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it!

I seem to have unusual dreams around the quarter- and cross-quarter nights! Last night, I dreamed I was running across the country - and I became aware that I was dreaming, because I ran at inhuman speed, with no strain or effort, for an incredibly long time, miles and miles, and I knew this would be impossible in my waking life. I finally ran on a path beside a small river when I encountered a peculiar group of children, boys and girls, who were startled by me noticing them. They all turned away from me and covered their face with their hands, the way little children do ("if I can't see you, you can't see me, either"), although here I got the feeling that it was a ritual/magical gesture. I wasn't supposed to be able to see them. The boys and the girls each seemed to have a leader.

As I watched them, a bit startled by their behavior, I suddenly realized that dwarves or gnomes were also part of the group (and they were also turning their backs to me, hiding their faces). They were only the size of a handspan or so, maybe 4 inches, and they were wearing brightly colored caps, like the Disney dwarfs! They looked so cute!!

Then someone (in the vague dream person way) appeared and ushered them inside a house. There was some discussion with the leader of the girls, though I only caught one sentence: "... you could help them buy stuff [= survive in a village environment, was how I understood it], what with the chaos in the woods!"

Then I was inside the house with them, watching as the queen of the elves was sort of interrogating the leader of the girls. She wanted to know if the girl had performed a certein ritual. In true dream fashion, I held the book (a regular paperback, lol) in my hand, cracked open at the first page, where the ritual was printed. It consisted of three parts, the first being about protection (similar to the SOP), the second part was about using energy to create life (so I guess manipulating etheric energy), and I have no recollection what the third part was about.

The queen wanted to know if the girl had performed the workings, or if she had only created the circle and then closed it again immediately, "the lazy way the Neimani do." 'Neimani' was their word for humans living in houses in villages or cities, not for the Travelling Folk. I was reminded of certain Wicca books I bought as a teenager, which described the opening and closing of the circle in great detail, and made it look as if that was the whole content of the sabbat (and hey, maybe it was. It had me wondering, back then).

When the girl admitted to having been lazy, the queen was furious - she turned into a hissing, spitting cat (a literal cat!), shouting, "then why are you expecting me to help you! Why should I HELP YOU?! If I didn't know you for so long, I'd be tearing your hair out right now!"

*

Unfortunately, the dream ended there, or I faded out and into waking. It was an unusually vivid dream, not the usual cloudy, vague dream imagery. I admit I wondered if that last part wasn't a message for me to start doing the SOP and etc. again, which I had intended to do as soon as I'd settled into my new place.

(I also can't get over the gnomes or dwarves, or whatever they were. They were so TINY omg, and the hats!!)

*

I only have one question in this context: since I've observed that I'm dumb as a bag of rocks in my dreams, would doing a regular SOP work as a sort of protective gear when I'm visiting the more colorful regions of the Astral Plane, like I did last night? Everyone was pretty much ignoring me, but I had encountered some other beings in the parts before that one (which I didn't write up because this is getting too long already), and upon waking, it occurred to me that things could've become nightmarish quite easily, mostly because I have no sense of danger or self-preservation there.

Re: Another Dreamshare

[ecosophia]

A fascinating dream! You might consider journaling about it, to see if you can tease out the message it has for you.

As for your question, you're no dumber than most people who are dreaming. You're not actually outside your own aura -- the scenes you're seeing are reflected on the outer surface of your aura, and you're watching them from within -- so you're in no real danger.

The Return of Saturn

[(Anonymous)]

Hello!
(1) I turned 59 this year and immediately I had to face all sorts of problems and challenges on many fronts. Health issues, car breakdowns, flooding of business premises, financial difficulties, major relocations of businesses (still ongoing) and a few more issues. It looked as if every day could potentially bring about significant problems. In my case, the Saturn return looks very real.

On the web, I tried to find out how to mitigate the Saturnian impacts. But I did not get much info. It is the first time I call for help, but I think I really need it.
Any tips most welcomed!

(2) I would like for an astrologer to draw my natal chart. I live in the Southern Hemisphere. Should anyone know of a reliable astrologer, I would really appreciate the recommendations, of course at my own risks and perils.

Regards and many thanks!

Re: The Return of Saturn

[ecosophia]

1) Welcome to your second Saturn return. Your first one will have happened around the time you turned 28 or 29. It's a perfectly normal thing -- everyone who makes it to their 30th birthday gets to experience it -- and you'll come through it strengthened and focused. The best way to deal with a Saturn return, until you can get a good astrological delineation, is simply to assume for the next two years that yes, everything that can go wrong will go wrong, and deploy as much prudence, patience, forethought, and discipline as you can to deal with that. Those are all Saturnine qualities and are what this experience is meant to teach you.

2) I don't know of any but I'm sure there are plenty. Anyone else have a suggestion?

Which arm?

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG and all

Seasons greetings to all however you take them!

My question this week is about the Magician card in the tarot. I have noticed that the Magician in the Marseilles pack has his left arm up and his right arm down, but in the Ryder Waite pack, and those derived from it, he is round the other way, with his right arm up and left arm down.

Someone once said to me in healing you receive through your left side and give through your right, though I have no verification fo this. But it made me wonder if there is any significance to this reversal?

Thanks

Re: Which arm?

[ecosophia]

I've seen people arguing about that for a good many years, and I don't know of a definite answer. I've wondered myself if it's a cultural difference between French and English body language.

Q

[somethingsomethings]

Good morning Dear JMG,

Could use your input as I am trying to work through some old emotional and physical blocks as a part of my kundalini awakening, while being on a holiday where I have some time to meditate.

I realised looking at my birth chart that I have a weak jupiter (L11 and 8), and it's manifested most in my social and romantic relationships where I have often not been treated well by others. Part of this is probably karmic.

But what I realised is that well despite otherwise being very confident and good at getting things done (strong saturn, mars and venus), my emotional nuture from my mother was severely lacking, and I developed self-worth issues esp regarding being loved and treated well, and it manifested externally in all the negative events with my friends and lovers leading up to my awakening.

Similarly, my social and emotional anxiety in relationships with women is most felt below my belly at the sacral area. (though it seems to affect my root and my solar plexus expression too, such as when I feel shy when women flirt with me).

1) Does this mean this particular issue is with chesed (which is jupiter), and wanting but not receiving unconditional love?
2) what is the archetype or image linked to chesed? is it the mother archetype or something else? and the commensurate instinct would be the nurture instinct?

3) This issue sometimes affects my professional life too where I can sometimes be too nice to others who I am conducting a business transaction with instead of being aggressive in my negotiation, I let them have wins I shouldn't, and it sometimes comes to bit me. This seems linked to the inhibition I experience internally from the previous security or self worth issue.

Is this a type of problem where one archetype (mother) being suppressed is affecting the expression of another (whatever the mars archetype would here in terms of aggression/confidence etc)?
ie, the sacral is interfering with the solax plexus?

4) When an archetype is expressed properly or activated fully ,does it release the downstream psycho-emotional imprints / content that is causing that behavior or external event to manifest?

5) How exactly does this process work where internal imbalances result in external events (such as me continually getting treated badly partially because I had internally that as what I deserved)?

P.S. Interestingly this self worth issue in chinese medicine is related to the ren mai extraordinary vessel, the primordial yin and love of the mother which connects to nurture part of the psyche. There's an acupuncturist who is theorising about how the extraordinary vessels are linked to the jungian archetypes directly. I can share a link if you are interested.

I appreciate your guidance.

Re: Q

[ecosophia]

The first three of these aren't questions that I can answer. They're questions only you can answer, at the end of a long process of self-discovery. There are many ways you can pursue that process -- meditation and journaling are the ones I've used most and gotten the best results from, but your mileage may vary.

4) That depends on just how gummed up your conscious and personal unconscious minds are. The activation of an archetype can be a mental disaster if you're too frozen up to respond to its energies. On the other hand, if you've already taken some steps toward healing, the archetype can sweep away the remaining blockages, or simply give you the insight you need to let go of them.

5) Your unconscious mind constantly speaks to those of everyone else you encounter. That's one of the main routes by which magic works -- and that's basically what happens whenever your internal processes reflect outwards. This is why I say we all do magic all the time; most of us just do it unconsciously and clumsily, and it results in trouble rather than success and happiness.

Saint-Germain

[(Anonymous)]

What significance (if any) do you discern in the work of, as distinct from the legends about, the Count of St Germain? That he was a gifted linguist and musician, an energetic but largely unsuccessful diplomat, and a brilliant chemist with an entrepreneurial streak seem well-grounded historical facts. But in esoteric matters much that is written about him strikes me as fantasy.

There seems to be a scholarly consensus that the Trinosophie attributed to him was not actually by him and probably did not reflect his thinking.

Cooper-Oakley credits him with a leadership role in 18th century Masonry and suggests that much could be learned from the archives of European lodges. Has anyone explored this or any other pertinent material?

Or will the mystery which he seems to have cultivated in his lifetime envelop him forever?

Gray Hat

Re: Saint-Germain

[ecosophia]

There's been a fantastic amount of mythmaking and make-believe around the Comte. As far as I know, his supposed leadership role in European Masonry has no documentary evidence behind it, nor is there any connection between him and the Trinosophia -- internal evidence suggests the latter was originally credited to Cagliostro, and only later got reassigned to the more colorful Comte.

Europe in the late 18th century was full of colorful gentlemen who made their fortune with clever conversation, an air of mystery, and various other lures to attract the interest of the aristocracy. The Comte de St.-Germain was one of them, Cagliostro was another, the gender-bending Chevalier d'Eon -- well, the list goes on and on. (There were also plenty of ladies who did the same thing, usually as professional mistresses.) They were colorful, interesting people, and I've sometimes thought of creating a tabletop roleplaying game in which each player has to invent such a personality and deal with the giddy possibilities and risks of pre-French Revolution Europe in that context. As heroes of occultism, though, they fall relatively short.

[katylina]

I started way of the four elements, is there aby particular order in which exercises should be done, or should they just be done before the next equinox?

[ecosophia]

Do them in whatever order works for you. Some of them are best done regularly all through the quarter of the year, of course.

Noragami: Stray God

[(Anonymous)]

John... I thought this was interesting...

"Yato is a homeless god. He doesn't even have a shrine, not to mention worshippers! So to achieve his ambitious goals, he's set up a service to help those in need (for a small fee), hoping he'll eventually raise enough money to build himself the lavish temple of his dreams. Of course, he can't afford to be picky, so Yato accepts all kinds of jobs, from finding lost kittens to helping a student overcome bullies at school."

This was the description to the manga by Adachitoka called Noragami that runs through 27 volumes.

I don't read manga really, though I always enjoy some of the titles like "I Was Reincarnated as a Polar Bear" and other wild titles and ideas.

Anyway, I thought of your recent deindustrial novel.

Wishing you peace & blessings in 2025

Justin Patrick Moore

Re: Noragami: Stray God

[ecosophia]

Hmm! Thank you for this. Clearly I got wind of something moving through the ethers -- and not for the first time; I recall learning about the manga Ane Naru Mono aka The Elder Sister-Like One, with its very sympathetic portrayal of the Black Goat of the Woods, after Shub-Ne'hurrath had become a central and sympathetic figure in my tentacle novels!

Banishing rituals and homeopathic remedies

[lukedodson]

Hi JMG,

First of all, wishing a blessed Christmas, Yuletide, and Alban Arthuan to all who are marking the season.

A few weeks you mentioned that it was wise to avoid doing banishing rituals in the same room that medicinal herbs are kept, as it would diminish their potency. I would imagine this also applies to homeopathic remedies? I am a bit concerned now, as for several months I was doing my daily SoP in a room in which several boxes of remedies were kept.

Thanks,
Luke

Re: Banishing rituals and homeopathic remedies

[ecosophia]

Ahem. As I also mentioned at that time, this only applies to pentagram rituals and other broad-spectrum banishings, and does not apply to the Sphere of Protection, which is much more focused in what it banishes. Perhaps the Bellman's Rule will help:

The SoP is safe to do in a space with consecrated items.
The SoP is safe to do in a space with consecrated items.
THE SOP IS SAFE TO DO IN A SPACE WITH CONSECRATED ITEMS.

[(Anonymous)]

Good morning JMG and to all others reading.

1) While reading your book, Way of the Golden Section, I noticed that you attributed the seven classical planets to the seven gates used in the SoP (eg Venus/North and Saturn/Below). As someone who practices daily planetary devotions, this made me curious about the possibility of invoking the planets in each direction of the ritual.

My intention was to ask each god/goddess during their respective day for their consent to be invoked in ritual and then to experiment, but then I recalled the pantheon examples you provided for use during the SoP in the same book (specifically the Hellenic and Roman examples). You suggested Mars in the East (Roman example) and Aphrodite in the West (Hellenic example). I believe these attributions are symbolically appropriate on their own level though they seem to run counter to the ones you provided when explaining the seven gates, so while my intent was to experiment I now wonder whether my initial plan of invoking the planets was too simple-minded or potentially unbalanced. Any warnings/advice to impart before I set off to experiment?

2) Several years ago, I believe it was mentioned here that FIAT was a Word of Power. I also recall (perhaps incorrectly) that each letter stood for one of the elements. If so, I can only assume that I, A, & T stand for Ignis, Aqua, and Terra respectively. However, I can't think of a Latin word for air/wind that starts with the letter F. Or perhaps the ordering is something different. Any help?

As always, thank you for hosting Magic Monday.

[ecosophia]

1) If you want to work with the planetary deities in this way, why, arrange your SoP so that you invoke the relevant deity in the relevant quarter. Remember the deity assignments given there are suggestions, not dogmas handed down from On High!

2) There is indeed such a word: flatus, which means "wind," though it's come to have a ruder and more restricted meaning in more recent usage.

What now for the Magical Resistance? Political magic

[neptunesdolphins]

I was pondering political magic and read this by Johanthan Turley, who did testify for Trump in his Impeachment trials as a Constitutional Lawyer, who said the charges were unconstitutional. I was struck by a quote he cited: “May Trump supporters and Trump voters and Trump himself never know peace.”

From Jonathan Turley,
https://jonathanturley.org/2024/12/23/the-joy-is-gone-a-liberal-hate-fest-for-the-holidays/

In my recent book, I discussed how addictive rage is. People do not like to admit it, but they like being angry. Sometimes, people can choose madness as a release from reality. It offers a righteous license to slip from the bounds of civility and decency. It allows people to harass Republicans in restaurants or to scream profanities outside of their homes.
-----
How effective is rage in doing political magic? Does it open a person up to demons? Does the curse I cited from the Turley quote come back to the curser as the same in "spades?"

Besides black depression, what are the other signs of political magic gone awry?

How does someone do effective political magic? Or is it dicey since it involves changing the will of various people?

Re: What now for the Magical Resistance? Political magic

[ecosophia]

1) Rage is like cocaine. It makes you feel powerful but it actually makes you weak and dependent. Once somebody becomes a rage junkie, furthermore, they will reliably do whatever they have to do to make sure that the target of their rage stays present and powerful, since they can't bear the thought of doing without their rage hit. Half the reason that Trump shrugged off four years of constant pressure and retook the presidency is that all the rage junkies on the left are so dependent on the high they get from hating him that they couldn't bear the thought of having him go away.

2) The classic sign is that the people who do it become what they hate. "What you contemplate, you imitate" is the keynote here; when people who insist they're fighting fascism act like fascists, you know they've been caught by their own incompetent magic.

3) Dion Fortune's rule is essential: build up what you support, don't try to tear down what you hate.

Dolmen arch

[autpaxautbellum]

A word of appreciation and a question:

I recently completed the first book of the Dolmen Arch and have been reviewing about two years of journal notes (yes I’m that slow). It was an interesting retrospective to see how my thinking and experiences shifted over time. The Essenes course had previously taught me that I can intentionally change facets of myself that I don’t like (even ones that once felt fundamental) and this course seems to be taking that process of change to a new level. For example after twenty years of mediocrity, my tai chi chuan practice been taking new and sometimes spooky directions, with progress moving faster than I would have thought plausible. Even though the process has not always been comfortable (and I’ve often struggled with the material and exercises of the course), I prefer the sometimes rapid change to stagnation. All this to say a wholehearted thank you for creating this course. It really is a beautiful piece of work that I’ve benefited greatly from.

I’ve begun studying with interest the first lecture in the fifth grade. I.e. the material about the SOP teaching one to interact with the astral, with the effects that manifest in the material. That had me thinking about a material problem I have been dealing with periodically over time, mice in the attic. We have an old house and despite multiple efforts on my part to block all egress, they somehow find ways to get in. I don’t have real animosity towards them, but am concerned regarding damage to wiring and insulation. I had the idea of including an intention for them to relocate when I perform banishing during the SOP (during the north banishing as they are creatures of Earth). In your opinion, would this be an appropriate and effective course of action?

Re: Dolmen arch

[ecosophia]

1) Thank you for taking it seriously!

2) Given your intention, I'd consider it appropriate. Effective? You'll have to try it and see.

The Witch of Criswell Questions

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG,

I just finished reading your book, The Witch of Criswell, and I really enjoyed it! I thought it was great fun to read an engaging story that features real-world occultism instead of the fanciful “Bertie Scrubb” styles of magic. I’m looking forward to reading future releases in the series. I have two questions inspired by the book that I’d like to ask:

First, it occurred to me how useful it would be to be able to visit someone like Aunt Clarice. I’ve never had any kind of psychic reading done for me before, and it seems that there are probably a lot of fakes and unhelpful people in that sphere. Judging from online reviews alone, it seems like a palmist in my area might be legitimate (https://www.ryantaylormedium.com), but I don’t have a good sense of what to look for. Can you please provide guidance on how to find a good psychic?

Second, when Dr. Moravec reveals how he discovered the identity of the witch, he mentions looking for indications that would be expected in the birth chart of a witch. I’m curious to know what kinds of indications in someone’s birth chart might suggest a proclivity toward occultism. I’m also curious if there are certain factors that would point toward more specific inclinations, such as alchemy, magic, divination, etc. I ask this knowing full well that many factors must be considered when interpreting a birth chart, but I’m curious about broad, general patterns and clues.

Thanks!
-Colter

Re: The Witch of Criswell Questions

[ecosophia]

Thank you -- I'm delighted to hear this!

1) It can be very advantageous if you can find a competent, legitimate diviner, but those are not exactly common. I'd say, if you can afford it, go ahead and check out your local palmist, but don't leave your common sense at home.

2) Dr. Moravec is a much better astrologer than I am, so I'm not at all sure what he saw in her chart.

Reading to those who have passed

[yogaandthetarot]

Seasons Greetings All!
Dear JMG
Thank you for being such a great teacher.

This season is poignant with loss for me: my elderly father passed (expectedly) then my brother (unexpectedly) this year. I share with you sympathy on your losses and sending you (if you’ll have it), much warmth and love and cheer. Personally, through the sadness, I am looking forward to my next chapter.

I remember reading years ago that Rudolph Steiner recommended reading to the dead. Any tips on how-to technique? Perhaps calling on their memory then begin silently reading? Or is reading out loud required? Thank you always.
Jill C

Re: Reading to those who have passed

[ecosophia]

Thank you very much for this; please accept my sympathy for your losses.

As far as reading to the dead, I don't recall seeing that passage in his works, but on first principles the crucial thing is to keep in mind that you're reading for them, not for you. That's much easier to do when you're reading aloud.

Geomantic Fox

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG,

Thank you very much for the Magic Mondays...and Happy Solstice.

I’ve been meaning to tell you about this, but as always, we tend to normalise things after a while and it’s only now in hindsight that I thought I should definitely tell you about this

A few months back we installed cameras in the front, mainly due to security concerns and also to figure out which one(s) of the neighbourhood cats was pooping on our front lawn…so I could tell him (the cat) off whenever I saw him walking around.

Looking at the recordings from the camera we started to notice a couple of foxes visiting at night, a particularly beautiful one with a big bushy tail and light brown fur (we now call her Honey and we assume it’s a girl), the other seemed more like a younger one…It took me a while to pick up on the clues that they were showing up only on Wednesday – Thursday…and it seemed to coincide with the geomantic hours of Acquisitio or Conjunctio.

I finally figured this out just before we went on a long weekend break in October starting on a Wednesday (it was the 30th!). I said to my husband the weekend before our trip that it was a strange coincidence they were showing up only on Wednesdays/Thursdays at the correct hours, so that if they showed up that Wednesday -even if we had left the house- we should feed them. I left out a small tin of food Tuesday night and Honey showed up Wednesday very early morning during Acquisitio. For the first time she came early morning as if responding to my challenge!

After coming back from our holiday, we started to feed them (as promised) and decided to do four days: Wednesday – Friday – Saturday & Sunday…so as not to make them too dependent on us…I have forgotten exactly, but I’m sure that during the first few weeks they were coming either during Conjunctio or Acquisitio only. After 2 or 3 weeks they just started to come everyday and at random times. I noticed that Fridays are a bit too busy with cars where we live, so changed to feeding them Wednesday – Thursday – Saturday – Sunday.

Once they started coming all the time and at random times we discovered from the recordings that the younger one has visited together with Honey, hence we think they might be related…anyway, everything was back to normal…them showing up for food everyday even if we only feed them a little on the specific days.

This Saturday we did the thank you offering to the Gods for the Winter Solstice with red wine, as per your book ‘The Occult Philosophy Workbook’. I have only used the four gates of the year so far and got my husband to start doing them with me this year. I personally pray regularly to Apollo, but during the four gates of the year I still thank the Greek Gods I had in my SoP when I was doing it 2 years ago and ask for their help saying I will restart doing the SoP again. I also thank the planetary forces/talismans I have and my husband says thank you to his talismans as well as Apollo.

Acquisitio this Saturday (Solstice day) started at 19:57. I told my husband to put the food out earlier because they might come during Acquisitio…he said no way, they never come this early on a Saturday, but he did it anyway… and he said that if they came during Acquisitio he would put the effort into reading that book about Mercury I gave him a few months ago.

The camera started recording at 19:57…Honey showed up, seemed to just appear out of nowhere right below the front camera, moving her ears…as if saying, well, here I am at the correct time …let that camera roll ha! Outfoxed!

My husband couldn’t believe it when we checked out the time…me neither, I was distracted doing something else and didn’t think she would be that punctual

After all these coincidences and my husband saying that he’s definitely not freaked out, here is the story for you…whether you could enlighten us or even if it only makes you smile…or if we need to freak out, then please tell us what to do!

Thank you!

J

Re: Geomantic Fox

[ecosophia]

Thank you for this! I'm slightly flabbergasted, but there are at least two explanations. The first is that the geomantic hours really do track changes in energies in the cosmos, and foxes are attuned to those. The second is that foxes practice geomancy; I imagine them learning it from one of those odd old hermits who kept the magical traditions going through the 18th and early 19th century, and then passing it down the generations from vixen to kits... ;-)