Magic Monday

[ecosophia]

Midnight is just past, 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-ninth published book, and those of you who aren't Lovecraft fans can breathe a sigh of relief now, as we're out of tentacle territory at long last. The Dolmen Arch is a study course in Druidical occultism, and it came about in a very odd way. The Ancient Order of Druids in America (AODA), the order I more or less rescued from the dumpster in 2003, had been through political struggles a decade further back and a lot of people had bailed out. After I became Grand Archdruid, since I hadn't been involved in any of the fussing, some of these people contacted me or simply mailed me packages with notes amounting to, "Now that you're Grand Archdruid you ought to have this." What "this" amounted to was a very mixed bag, but in one package, tucked into a bunch of unrelated papers on French occult orders, were parts of a couple of lessons of an old American Druid correspondence course from between the two world wars.

I spent a while being annoyed that the rest of the course was nowhere to be found. Then it occurred to me that I could reverse engineer it without too much difficulty, since I'd been able to figure out some of the important influences on the course and I also had a wealth of other twentieth century Druid material. The result was a hefty seven-unit correspondence course. I taught it privately to students for a while, then arranged to publish it with Azoth Press in a very nice fine edition. When that sold out, Azoth decided to bring out a trade paper edition, which is still available and selling steadily. Apparently there's a demand for fussy, richly philosophical, old-fashioned Druid training. This is the first volume of two. If you're in the market for that, you can get copies here in the US and from your favorite online retailer 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 further comments will be put through. See you next week!***

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Hello and thank you for hosting.

In Circles of Power you go over the Greater Pentagram ritual and how it can be used to invoke or banish specific elemental forces.

What is the purpose of doing this, and what can be accomplished with it? For example, if I performed a greater invoking pentagram ritual of Fire on a regular basis, what kinds of effects would be likely? I’m intrigued by elemental work but I don’t have a good sense of what it is good for accomplishing, especially relative to things like astrological and sephiroth rituals. For whatever it’s worth I already do the lesser invoking and banishing rituals daily.

[ecosophia]

You don't do these rituals independently. You do them as part of a specific magical working for a chosen intention. For example, you would perform the greater invoking pentagram ritual of Fire as part of a ritual to consecrate a talisman of the Fire element for some purpose, such as strengthening your will. You might also use it as part of a working in which you traveled to the elemental plane of Fire for the purpose of communing with the spirits of Fire and learning from them.

Divination Offering Still Open and Yearly "Boast"

[jprussell]

Good Evening,

A happy early New Years to all here! (And may some of your bleakness lift, JMG).

On the book, I'll use this opportunity to once again thank you, JMG, for the Dolmen Arch course, and to encourage anyone interested to give it a look. It's a lot of work, but I have found it of great worth over the last two years or so and am happily plugging away at the fifth grade of seven.

To Share:

1) For those of you who missed it last week, I'm offering divination (Runes or Ogham) through Tuesday (the end of the year). For anyone who already posted a question, I've done most of y'all's readings, but am delayed in getting the interpretations written up due to family holiday stuff. I'll have them up in the next few days. If you'd like to have me give a shot on giving some insight on a question, head over to my dreamwidth here and post your question: https://jprussell.dreamwidth.org/25825.html

2) As some of y'all may recall, for the past few years, I have followed a modified version of the Heathen custom of symbel. Typically, this involves getting together with fellow believers and passing around a sacred drink. Before taking a drink, each participant raises the horn and makes a toast. Typically, at least one round will be to the Gods, one to the ancestors, and any subsequent rounds will include "boasts" - not empty bragging, but rather making an oath to accomplish something worthwhile, or sharing success in something done. The goal is to entwine these deeds, done or to-be-done, with the luck and Wyrd (very roughly "fate") of the community represented by those present, and so it is a holy and weighty thing not to be taken lightly. Lacking a local Heathen community, I've made toasts here and invited any who wish to join me to do so.

Last year, I made an oath to write a book this year, and I've been working on writing up a book on the "Tally of the Bedes" (the "Heathen Rosary" I've posted about here before). While I wish I could say "it is done!" instead all I can say is "it will be done in the next two days." This first draft is shorter than it likely needs to be if I hope to get it published, but it is a whole book with everything needed to get started saying the "Tally of the Bedes" and to change it to better suit your own practice. I will wrap up this first draft before the end of the day Tuesday, and then likely edit heavily and expand in the first part of the year. So I'm calling this a success unless something major unforeseen comes up (in which case, I will be here next week to eat crow). I'll be putting up a more in-depth write-up on this and how my year went otherwise later this week.

To Ask: For anyone willing, kindly lend your luck and good wishes to my keeping my oath for 2025, and if you feel so moved, to add in an oath or boast of your own, with a toast:

Before the close || of the coming year,
A fee for my writing || will I fairly take,
Sharing my words, || sharply crafted,
And worthwhile to read, || that readily given
Are pennies hard-won, || Woden's gifts to gain.

(That is to say, by December 31st, 2025, I will have received payment for at least one piece of writing in some shape).

As always, thanks very much to JMG and those who read and comment.

My blessings to all who welcome them,
Jeff

Re: Divination Offering Still Open and Yearly "Boast"

[ecosophia]

Thank you for this. The bleakness is just one of those things; it was a year ago that Sara's health began its final collapse. I have a lot of processing and reflection to do this winter.

Sacred Geometry Oracle

[frittermywig]

To share: On Christmas morning I was doing my daily divination with the SGO, one card each to represent me, a situation I'd face, and the outcome. The reading:

The Pentagram - Power
Unity of the Primary Roots (Reversed) - Paradox
The Vesica Piscis - Union

I saw at once that this was a beautifully concise telling of the Christmas Story: The Son of God (Power) incarnate as an infant (Paradox) with the purpose of reconciling mankind to God (Union).

The more I reflect on this unexpected gift, the more astounding it seems to me. It fills me with gratitude and amazement.

Re: Sacred Geometry Oracle

[ecosophia]

Hmm! Good heavens. Yes, it does read that way very well.

Fellowship of the Hermetic Rose publisher / year

[(Anonymous)]

I would like to cite The Fellowship of the Hermetic Rose, vol. 1, The Candidate and Seeker Grades, and am unsure what to put for the publisher (the FOHR itself?) or publication year. Can you supply these? Thanks!

https://www.mimeographrevival.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Fellowship-of-the-Hermetic-Rose-1.pdf

Re: Fellowship of the Hermetic Rose publisher / year

[ecosophia]

The publisher is "By the author" and the year is 2023. Thanks for asking!

R. Swinburne Clymer bio details

[(Anonymous)]

I understand that you are involved with the Fraternitas Rosae Crucis. I am trying to work out some basic biographical details of R. Swinburne Clymer--specifically, the dates of his two (I think) marriages, and which children he had during each. Can you help? I realize that Rosicrucians probably don't have such things memorized, but perhaps you could point me to sources.

In 1898, Clymer married Laura Edith Bowers (1881-1954), whom he divorced at some point to marry Gertrude Lucy Cosgrove (1892-1951). Genealogical websites credit him with as many as nine children, but I am unable to reconcile the proposed dates and mothers.

Laura Bowers’ tombstone (photo at https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/79691532/laura_edith_clymer ) gives the names of five children born between 1898 and 1914, none of whom survived to adulthood. Their fathers are not indicated. FamilySearch ( https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/G4RG-YK5/delila-alverta-clymer-1898-1908 and https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/G6DN-Z51/edith-arlene-clymer-1913-1913 ) credits her and Clymer with four more children, whose dates overlap with those of the other five, but Ancestry.com names Gertrude Cosgrove as the mother of Beverly P. Clymer (1905-1959) and Emerson Myron Clymer (1909-1983), Clymer’s successor as leader of the Fraternitas Rosae Crucis. See https://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/beverly-p-clymer-24-6pp7pw, and https://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/gertrude-lucy-cosgrove-24-10js11 (The former gives her Laura Bowers’ dates, hinting at wider problems of data-blending.)

Thank you for whatever clarity you can bring!

Re: R. Swinburne Clymer bio details

[ecosophia]

I'm sorry to say I can't help you as I have no connection with that organization -- the FRC to which I have a connection is the Fellowship of the Rosy Cross, AE Waite's offshoot of the Golden Dawn tradition. Have you contacted the other FRC at Soul.org? They ought to be able to help.

[(Anonymous)]

Oh, I beg your pardon.

I did write Soul.org but didn't hear back yet.

Thank you for holding the Magic Monday!

My Birth Number

[(Anonymous)]

Last week, I read some of your posts on numerology, and I calculated that my birth number is 5 and my name number is 11.

The description of my birth number fits me pretty well, but my name number doesn't for the most part.

How would my birth number influence my later life? Your description in the post mentioned "restless seeking," so does that mean I'll be unable to achieve lasting fulfillment in this life?

And am I right in suspecting that the reason my name number description doesn't seem to describe me is that it conflicts with my destiny, which cannot be altered?

Re: My Birth Number

[ecosophia]

One of the classic ways to misunderstand any divination is to pull one detail out of an interpretation, take it out of context, and fixate on that. Here's the whole passage:

"If your birth number is 5, the challenge you face in this incarnation is learning the lessons of freedom, for you will spend this life in restless seeking and you will always choose your own path. You are equipped for this challenge with abundant energy and overflowing interest in the unfamiliar; you are impatient with routine and prefer change and excitement. You tend toward the eccentric and the extreme, and you tend to have sudden intense enthusiasms which do not always last long. You are quick to accept new ideas and are genuinely interested in people, you do unexpected things and are constantly heading for new places, and when you get into trouble – which happens fairly often! – you are good at finding a way out. Your great weakness is that you often have your eyes fixed so intently on the distant horizon that you fail to notice what’s right in front of your face. You tend to suffer from health problems caused by your own unhealthy habits; your fortunate colors are light blue, light green, and pink. Mars rules this number."

Did you notice anything saying you can't have lasting fulfillment in this life? Neither did I. You'll just have to work at not getting bored and restless with what you achieve.

As for your name number, remember that all the double-digit numbers represent states that have to be achieved -- they don't happen by themselves. If you harness that abundant 5 energy you can achieve the great success that an 11 name number promises; otherwise you'll be a 2, at risk of frittering away your energy and time due to mood swings and unstable enthusiasms.

New Orphic Hymn to Bacchus

[kimberlysteele]

I just released a new Orphic hymn, please enjoy. https://queeniemusic.bandcamp.com/track/orphic-hymn-to-bacchus

Re: New Orphic Hymn to Bacchus

[ecosophia]

That seems very timely, with New Year's Eve breathing down our necks. ;-) Thank you for this!

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 Linda from the Quest Bookshop of the Theosophical Society, who has developed a turbo cancer, be blessed with a successful surgery under a steady hand when she goes into the operating room in mid January, and with well-being and a speedy recovery.

May Bill Rice (Will1000) in southern California, who suffered a painful back injury, be blessed and healed, and may he quickly recover full health and movement.

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.

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.
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 Linda from the Quest Bookshop of the Theosophical Society, who has developed a turbo cancer, be blessed with a successful surgery under a steady hand when she goes into the operating room in mid January, and with well-being and a speedy recovery.

May Bill Rice (Will1000) in southern California, who suffered a painful back injury, be blessed and healed, and may he quickly recover full health and movement.

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.

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

[tunesmyth]

By the way, to all who have listings on the prayer list: after a short grace period, any prayers older than 3 months which haven’t had an update in that time are for the most part coming off the list when the New Year rolls in. Please update old entries by then if you’d like to be sure to stay on the list into January.

[(Anonymous)]

Could you discuss the differences between discursive meditation and the style of meditation in the essene healing work:

What is the purpose of each?
What are the differences in terms of their long-term effects?
Does the essene healing meditation also help to build the mental body?

[ecosophia]

1) Both forms of meditation have the same general benefits that all forms of meditation do, and the Essene healing breath meditation is in its own way fairly generic. Discursive meditation adds systematic mind training to that mix.

2) The difference in their long-term effects is that discursive meditation develops control and clarity of thought to a much greater degree.

3) All forms of meditation build the mental body.

Magic and Lust

[(Anonymous)]

John Micheal Greer,

Could you tell me some ways to combat the influence of lust? I was also wondering where I might read about the magical nature of lust.

Thankyou as always,

Eamonn

Re: Magic and Lust

[ecosophia]

First of all, "what you resist, persists." The more effort you put into combating lust, the more lust you'll have to combat. Do you recall the Litany against Fear from Dune? It's a more productive approach:

"I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."

Replace "fear" with "lust" and you have a workable approach.

More generally, Catholic writers talk very sensibly about avoiding "the near occasion of sin" -- that is, recognizing those situations that tend to rouse inappropriate desires, and avoiding them. Some of those situations are external, some are internal. With practice, the attitude of the Litany allows you to ignore such things -- you can learn to let a desire pass over you and through you without affecting you -- but until you get there, take steps to avoid things that might stir it up. For example, put one of those parental add-ons on your web browser that won't let it show you explicit content, make the password a long string of random characters, and don't write it down...

numerology

[(Anonymous)]

I had never played around with the relationship numerology information, as I wasnt in one when the post came out. But just for curiosity, I went and calculated the numbers for my major ones. Ok, my husband and I, outer number of 4. My relationship after, an outer number of 5 (yes, it was a mess). I was looking at inner numbers for my marriage, but we had name changes. We started out dating with an inner number of 8, I changed last names when we married and it became an 11, he changed what first name he used and it became a 7, although family and I was still using the original, all new introductions were with the new. I would say though that the failure would be for the reasons laid out in the outer number, as soon as we had a home and family, his attention went elsewhere.

I am a birthdate number 11, name number 3, time number 5. (I was looking up the numerology tag here for what 2025 would be when I ran the ancient relationship numbers post). So, time number 5, which I believe means it is a year 5 for me. Ruled by Mars, change,instability and sudden shifts but fine for devisive action. I guess it is comforting to be reminded that last year was a year to lie low, as I felt rather stuck all year. SO I am well rested and recharged and ready for change ( HA!remind me later that the cusp of the new year had me anxious for it ! )

AtmosphericRiver

Re: numerology

[ecosophia]

Interesting. Thank you for the data points!

[thinking_turtle]

To share, for those who wonder what RF, LMP or DOGD mean, a list of abbreviations used on Ecosophia.

To ask, according to Goodreads you published The Sacred Geometry Oracle in 2002. That would make it your 6th or 7th book, but you didn't devote a Magic Monday book entry to it. How do you see this?

To offer, my wishes for a blessed new year for our host and every reader!

[ecosophia]

Thanks for this as always.

[(Anonymous)]

In last astrological open post on patreon you said:


was the most relentlessly malefic mundane chart I had ever studied, and my interpretation turned out to be relatively accurate

does this imply that whoever takes on 2025 has a better take, or is not ready yet, can it be worse. Which is strange because it seems to me that Trump is set for a fall as it inherits a lot of dangerous traps:

- energy trap, the fracking bubble is about to burst, and as decline rates go it can take anywhere around 7-9Mbarrels/day off the market in less than the 4 year mandate, leaving US below the 2005 levels, the gas and grid could go with it too.

- two very dangerous and extended wars more dangerous and difficult than the Afghan and Iraqi wars.

- the worst bubbly economy in probably a century.
- the health situation we keep discussing in the open thread.

Is it possible that Trump has a better mundane chart on inauguration and still unable to solve what appears to be these predicaments.

Or does this conundrum means that they are not compatible. How to put it if they mundane chart is too good and the 4 years following cannot possibly follow it does that means that the inauguration could not happen. Sort of a meta prediction is this possible in divination terms.

I mean this is not impossible as some of the people are citing the Romanian precedent to make Congress act to prevent Trump to get in office using the Constitution:

https://thehill.com/opinion/congress-blog/5055171-constitution-insurrection-trump-disqualification/

https://www.foxnews.com/media/hill-criticized-op-ed-urging-congress-block-trump-from-taking-office-you-people-sick


Nonetheless, looking forward to the inauguration chart of 2025, and thank you very much for making it free and open to the general public.

[ecosophia]

Er, no, it implies nothing of the kind. I happen to have studied some older mundane charts that were horribly malefic -- for example, the grand mutation chart that announced the coming of the Black Death in medieval Europe -- and that's what I was referring to.

I'll have the new inauguration chart up in a week or two. I haven't delineated it in detail yet but my first glance suggests it's not too bad.

Pluto and economics

[(Anonymous)]

Hello JMG,

Your book on Pluto continues to be ever more relevant as timr goes by. I have recently listened to a few podcasts with astrological "predictions" for 2025. They all make a huge deal about Pluto in Aquarius and how it will change the world as we know it. Everything from flying, self-driving, electrical cabs going mainstream to godlike super computers and humanoid robots is predicted. They also dont seem to know what donkey to pin this tail on, Pluto in Aquarius or Uranus in Gemini.
It all seems like complete deluded hype to me, which brings me to my question. The fiat debt based predatorial economic system of the 20th century seems completely Plutonian with its continual booms and busts, going from one area to the next, like a snake eating its own tail or a swarm of locusts eating everything in its way.
The Federal Reserve was created in 1913, 17 years before Pluto's discovery. Literally being out of sight and not under direct control of the state (The Sun), something couvert and under the influence of the Plutocracy. So once Pluto's influence wanes, perhaps this system of venture capitalists and money out thin air is going the same way as all the techno gimmicks mentioned before?
Judging by their "predictions", it doesnt seem like the astrological community at large has grasped the fact that Pluto isnt a planet. I am friends with a woman who is part of the "in crowd" of astrologers and sent her your book as a gift, hopingthat she reads it and spread the word.

/Fredrik

Re: Pluto and economics

[ecosophia]

Hmm! That's an interesting suggestion -- and yes, I can see fiat economics as a Plutonian system. If it works out that way, it'll trickle away gradually in the years ahead in a series of embarrassing mishaps and awkward revelations.

More generally, yeah, I'm far too familiar with the Plutonian hype. If we take the last Pluto transit in Aquarius as a model, we can expect Pluto's production of overblown hype to be expended on political manifestos, failed revolutions, and technological innovations that won't work until long afterwards, if they work at all.

Your friend probably knows all about The Twilight of Pluto, by the way. It's been roundly denounced at astrological conventions. I don't expect it to find an audience until 2036, by which time everyone will treat it as obvious common sense.

Human Design

[(Anonymous)]

Hello Sir!

What do you think about Human Design for character analysis compared to Astrology?

Re: Human Design

[ecosophia]

I've never heard of it. Can you point me to a source?

[brenainn]

If I may, I’d like to respond to a comment made last week (https://tinyurl.com/5zaz3b6v), and which I did not see before the midnight deadline: I learned about Joseph Smith’s less than morally-exemplary side (con artistry, questionable marital liaisons, etc.) some years ago. I was once, for a fairly brief period, a member of the Salt Lake-based LDS church. That was some years ago, but during that time, I learned pretty much all one needed to know in order to seriously question and reject the canonical LDS narrative. In many ways, I think Joseph Smith is comparable to other Abrahamic figures with morally questionable histories (e.g. Abraham, King David, Mohammad, etc.). And the Book of Mormon to something like the Book of Deuteronomy.

I was not aware of similar issues in Tibetan Buddhism, so thanks for bringing that to my attention. It seems like a good way to approach the issue. I do not think the Book of Mormon records factual history, or that it is even a translation of some ancient text. JMG probably sums up rather nicely what I think of the BOM, that is, it possesses a very strong emotional and psychological power, despite its flawed origin, and so I interpret it in a symbolic, allegorical manner. It’ll be interesting to see how that approach, guided by Carl Jung’s work, turns out.

For anyone interested, here is something that I wrote on my experiences with Carl Jung: https://brenainn.dreamwidth.org/2845.html

[(Anonymous)]

To be clear, the more direct similar issues were with Edward Kelley. Tibetan Buddhist tradition is unusual in that it includes teachings that are specifically about the question of whether the morally questionable character of a revelation-purporter is a sign against the inspired status of their revelation. The only thing I know of that's similar is the Catholic teaching that even priests in a state of grave sin can still perform valid transubstantiations.

I mean... he did become Caesar

[(Anonymous)]

I had an odd thought this morning and as this seems to be the place for odd thoughts, I decided to throw it out.

As a kid I would have nightmares where I was being forced down an ever-narrowing hallway or found that I could only escape a room through a door far smaller than myself. As a kid these were definitely nightmares though as an adult I can wave them away easily when they rarely occur. I know these are common dream tropes, but I wondered to what degree these dreams overlap with c-section babies? Since we escaped the squeeze do we get subjected to it indirectly through dreams?

Undoubtedly I am overthinking this. So let’s overthink some more!

As an older millennial my generation is anywhere from 1/5 to 1/4 cesarean and that is closer to 1/3 for later zoomers. Do you think there are any metaphysical consequences to not participating in this quite literal rite of passage?

I am a c-section baby myself as is my wife and all my siblings so there is no criticism of anyone’s birthing choices here. This is just a question of the reality through which we are currently living and all its quite entertaining ripples.

I am perfectly willing to humbly accept that the answer might be that I am superhuman!

Re: I mean... he did become Caesar

[ecosophia]

Hmm! Well, have you overthrown any governments lately? ;-)

A thank you and an offer

[(Anonymous)]

No questions this week, I just wanted to thank JMG and Homeopatic Meditations for their helpful advice at the last MM.

And, for guillem66: if you're researching European folk healing traditions, an equivalent to the Spanish "saludadores", might be the "cunning men/women" (UK) and the "benandanti" (Northern Italy). These are the two traditions I can name off the top of my head as they're local to me, but I'm sure there's many others - pretty much every region must have had its local folk healers, at some point. Feel free to contact me at startstonetree gmail dotcom to carry on with the convo, in case.

Also also, since we're at it: I speak Italian, so if there's something you'd like to see translated in English, jmc or anyone else, let me know! :)

A blessed Yule (for those who celebrate according to the old calendar) and a very happy new year to everyone else!

Huske

Re: A thank you and an offer

[ecosophia]

Thank you for this. If you ever decide to get into translating occult literature, there's a huge amount of Italian occultism that's never found its way into English, and several publishers (Aeon Books and Inner Traditions among them) are publishing translations of occult works these days. Might be something to consider!

SOP and LBRP

[(Anonymous)]

JMG,

Apologies if these questions have been asked previously.

I have been working through Learning Ritual Magic and C of Power for some years. I have done daily LBRP and MP for years (every morning) and have followed your instructions to the letter.

I have some concerns about banishing earth energy so much (because I love the earth) and for other reasons as well am curious about also learning the SOP as an optional practice

1) Do you think it would be ok to also learn the SOP, in addition to my basic golden dawn practices? I would do the SOP at a different time of day.

2) I saw that the symbol for AIR in the SOP is different than the one I have been using (the upward triangle with horizontal line through it). I understand your frequent injunction to do practices as written and have done so with LBRP and MP. That said, you have also talked about the importance of not being fundamentalist about all this. I am wondering if you think it would be ok for me to do the SOP with the air symbol I already am familiar with, or if it would be best to do it as written (the circle with a line extending vertically)?

Thank you,

Luminous Leaping Lark

Re: SOP and LBRP

[ecosophia]

1) In my experience and that of others, the SoP doesn't play well with Golden Dawn magic. It's best to do one or the other, not both.

2) If you do decide to take up the SoP, I recommend using the existing practices. Those symbols were changed for good reasons -- and yes, it's standard to have students meditate on the symbols to explore those reasons.

color breathing and healing

[(Anonymous)]

JMG,

Good morning.

You probably have already linked to this many a time, but I forgot to note the link in times past.

I am interesting in the healing power of breathing and visualizing energies as colors and light. I seem remember you making a suggestion for an online work that elucidates such practices. Could you please remind me of that work?

Thanks much,

Reticular Rollicking Rhinoceros

Re: color breathing and healing

[ecosophia]

Hmm. I don't recall this being online. Color breathing is discussed in my books The Druid Magic Handbook and The Dolmen Arch, however.

Druidical sights in the Kent region

[bendithfawr]

Hi JMG and everyone,

I'm currently working through the Earth Mysteries Workbook and by chance visiting the English countryside for the first time (coming from Germany). I would love to see some old druidical sights, sacred places or anything in that vein. I'm in the Kent area, between Canterbury and Dover.

Do you or does anyone else here have any recommendations? Thank you in advance for any pointers!

Re: Druidical sights in the Kent region

[ecosophia]

There I can't help you -- I've never spent any time in Kent. Anyone else?

Planetary alignments in 2026

[baconrolypoly]

Hi JMG,

This is a question asked by my twin brother who saw this video about upcoming planetary alignments. There's an interesting one on January 11th 2026, which is our birthday, though the time is out by just under three hours.

Is this significant and is there anything we should watch out for here?


The video with time stamp - https://www.youtube.com/live/6JD61N45hHM?feature=shared&t=3434

Or an image if that's preferable: https://flic.kr/p/2qCDyS5

Re: Planetary alignments in 2026

[ecosophia]

You'll want to cast a chart for the moment of the alignment and compare it to your natal charts. Then look up the aspects the alignment forms with your natal planets in any book of natal astrology, and act accordingly.

Signs of tentacles

[neptunesdolphins]

I was reading a mash-up of Santa Claus, Christmas, the occult, and time travel. In the three-book series, the last book is "Should Eldritch Horrors Be Forgot?" or "do you fear what I fear.' (by Ben Wolf) Santa with Putin (as Krampus) and the Time Raptor (an Utahraptor who replaced Father Time) defeat the tentacled horror one.

Then I was pursuing parts of social media and the tentacled horror one is featured in several advertisements. Suddenly, it is beginning to look like tentacles everywhere.

I haven't a clue as to what to think? I seem to be a magnet for beings who bring drastic change. Is this another change being? The tentacled horror one showed up just as Jimmy Carter died.

Re: Signs of tentacles

[ecosophia]

Interesting. I'll keep my eyes open for eldritch horrors.

[jdecandia]

I recently read Dion Fortune's Through the Gates of Death. While I found it quite comforting and it pulls together a more sweeping narrative of disparate data points I have both read about (NDEs, sudden cognition in long term dementia patients right before death) and experienced as an oncology nurse committing end of life care; I can't seem to intellectually understand how the ecosystems of persons/spirits that we interact with on earth can meet us in the Afterlife. Everything that I have read speaks mainly to the working out of fears/desires/complexes in the after death state. I'm thinking very specifically of what is talked about in The Tibetan Book of the Dead - the Bardo state - and it appears to me it is a pointedly personal state of being.

Can you point me in the direction of any texts that specifically talk to the spiritual ecosystem in the after death state if there is any? Thank you for all your assistance in my journey thus far.

[ecosophia]

Buddhist accounts of everything tend to be pointedly personal. I don't know of a good discussion of the ecology of the afterlife; I'll keep that in mind when I get around to writing my book on the occult side of death and rebirth.