Magic Monday
May. 4th, 2025 10:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ecosophia
Midnight is upon us 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 1.3 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 is my seventy-sixth published book, the second workbook and fifth volume in the Golden Section Fellowship sequence of occult training textbooks. Earth mysteries, for those who aren't familiar with the term, is a catchall label for all the strange things associated with ancient ruins, folk traditions, places where paranormal things happen much more often than usual. The book on the right, John Michell's visionary masterpiece The View Over Atlantis, was my introduction to the field back in the day, as it was for so many other people -- it didn't hurt that the cover art was by Roger Dean, more famous for all that hallucinatory Yes album cover art -- and this book is partly my homage to Michell and a vanished era, partly a guide to integrating earth mysteries studies with occult training, and partly -- or mostly -- a hands-on guide to finding the weirdness in the place where you live. You can get a copy here if you're in the United States and here elsewhere; I recommend the hardback if you're doing the course, because you're going to put a year of hard use into the book. Buy Me A Coffee
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I've had several people ask about tipping me for answers here, and though I certainly don't require that I won't turn it down. You can use either of the links above to access my online tip jar; Buymeacoffee is good for small tips, Ko-Fi is better for larger ones. (I used to use PayPal but they developed an allergy to free speech, so I've developed an allergy to them.) If you're interested in political and economic astrology, or simply prefer to use a subscription service to support your favorite authors, you can find my Patreon page here and my SubscribeStar page here.
I've also had quite a few people over the years ask me where they should buy my books, and here's the answer. Bookshop.org is an alternative online bookstore that supports local bookstores and authors, which a certain gargantuan corporation doesn't, and I have a shop there, which you can check out here. Please consider patronizing it if you'd like to purchase any of my books online.And don't forget to look up your Pangalactic New Age Soul Signature at CosmicOom.com.
***This Magic Monday is now closed, and no further comments will be put through. See you next week!***
The Dolmen Arch
Date: 2025-05-05 04:27 am (UTC)On page 23 of Volume II, do I repeat step six of self-healing three times or just once? The instruction to repeat it three times appears on the other six steps, so… three times or just once?
Oh, I can report an uptick in elderly and energy poor people demanding my attention – usually unpleasantly, since I started the Gwyddon Y Fford chapter. I try to be gracious, but… I have limits. On the upside, dogs want my attention – which is much more fun.
Speaking of dogs – Some while ago, I wondered about the Hounds of Annwn while meditating on Air – I’d love a big, ferocious one for a best pal, of course. A sylph with a sense of humor popped up dressed as a Chinese crested dog in the usual white with red ears livery. As usual, I’m a curious child to be humored – it keeps my humility topped off, so… Anyway, I gave it some thought again when news of rebooted dire wolves crossed my desktop. I’m pretty sure it was the same sylph who popped up again dressed as a great big white wolf with red ears. I thought it would be fun to be able to do that, so the sylph looked at me and sort of dressed me up in the same costume in a layer of reality right over my material form. (I gave it back, btw. I think.) We had a good laugh, but I didn’t know what to do with the wolf suit (yeah, yeah, mischief of one kind and another), nor do I know what to make of the encounter. My staves told me I don’t get to know.
Umm…? Is there anything to see here? Or – Just declare it a wonder?
Many thanks.
Rhydlyd, aka Monochrome Nocturnal Crustacean
Ecosophia Prayer List
Date: 2025-05-05 04:34 am (UTC)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 Ron M’s friend Paul, who passed away on April 13, make his transition through the afterlife process with grace and peace.
May Corey Benton, whose throat tumor has grown around an artery and won't be treated surgically, and who is now able to be at home from the hospital, be healed of throat cancer. Healing work is also welcome. [Note: Healing Hands should be fine, but if offering energy work which could potentially conflict with another, please first leave a note in comments or write to randomactsofkarmasc to double check that it's safe]
May David Spangler (the esoteric teacher), who has been responding well to chemotherapy for his bladder cancer, be blessed, healed, and filled with positive energy such that he makes a full recovery.
May Giulia (Julia) in the Eastern suburbs of Cleveland Ohio be quickly 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 and drugs to treat it, if providence would have it, and if not, may her soul move on from this world and find peace with a minimum of further suffering for her and her family and friends.
May JRuss's friend David Carruthers quickly find a job of any kind at all that allows him to avoid homelessness, first and foremost; preferably a full time job that makes at least 16 dollars an hour.
May Princess Cutekitten, who is sick of being sick, be healed of her ailments.
May Pierre in Minnesota be filled with the health, vitality, and fertility he needs to father a healthy baby with his wife.
May Viktoria have a safe and healthy pregnancy, and may the baby be born safe, healthy and blessed. May Marko have the strength, wisdom and balance to face the challenges set before him. (picture)
May Liz and her baby be blessed and healthy during pregnancy, and may her husband Jay (sdi) have the grace and good humor to support his family even through times of stress and ill health.
May 1 Wanderer's partner Cathy, who has bravely fought against cancer to the stage of remission, now be relieved of the unpleasant and painful side-effects from the follow-up hormonal treatment, together with the stress that this imposes on both parties, and may she quickly be able to resume a normal life.
May Jennifer’s newborn daughter Eleanor be blessed with optimal growth and development; may her tongue tie revision surgery on Wednesday March 12th have been smooth and successful, and be followed by a full recovery.
May Mike Greco, who had a court date on the 14th of March, enjoy a prompt, just, and equitable settlement of the case.
May Cliff's friend Jessica be blessed and soothed; may she discover the path out of her postpartum depression, and be supported in any of her efforts to progress along it; may the love between her and her child grow ever more profound, and may each day take her closer to an outlook of glad participation in the world, that she may deeply enjoy parenthood.
May Other Dave's father Michael Orwig, who passed away on 2/24, make his transition to his soul's next destination with comfort and grace; may his wife Allyn and the rest of his family be blessed and supported in this difficult time.
May Peter Evans in California, whose colon cancer has been responding well to treatment, be completely healed with ease, and make a rapid and total recovery.
May Debra Roberts, who has just been diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer, be blessed and healed to the extent that providence allows. Healing work is also welcome.
May Jack H's father John, whose aortic dissection is considered inoperable and likely fatal by his current doctors, be healed, and make a physical recovery to the full extent that providence allows, and be able to enjoy more time together with his loved ones.
May Goats and Roses' son A, who had a serious concussion weeks ago and is still suffering from the effects, regain normal healthy brain function, and rebuild his physical strength back to normal, and regain his zest for life. And may Goats and Roses be granted strength and effectiveness in finding solutions to the medical and caregiving matters that need to be addressed, and the grief and strain of the situation.
May Kevin’s sister Cynthia be cured of the hallucinations and delusions that have afflicted her, and freed from emotional distress. May she be safely healed of the physical condition that has provoked her emotions; and may she be healed of the spiritual condition that brings her to be so unsettled by it. May she come to feel calm and secure in her physical body, regardless of its level of health.
May Linda from the Quest Bookshop of the Theosophical Society, who has developed a turbo cancer, be blessed and have a speedy and full recovery from cancer.
May Frank R. Hartman, who lost his house in the Altadena fire, and all who have been affected by the larger conflagration be blessed and healed.
May Open Space's friend's mother
Judith be blessed and healed for a complete recovery from cancer.
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 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 Jennifer and Josiah and their daughters Joanna and Eleanor 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.
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: The Dolmen Arch
Date: 2025-05-05 04:43 am (UTC);-)
As for the healing work, you just do step 6 once.
Re: Ecosophia Prayer List
Date: 2025-05-05 04:43 am (UTC)Re: The Dolmen Arch
Date: 2025-05-05 05:06 am (UTC)And - Thank you for the clarification.
R
(no subject)
Date: 2025-05-05 05:13 am (UTC)The other night, I had a very vivid dream. I'm wondering if anyone is willing to take a stab at its meaning.
In this dream, I was in Crimea on the Black Sea beach. I was young. In my dream, I "knew" that this was Crimea. I was in an empty hut, which was about the size of a 2-car garage. From the window, I saw men hauling boats using ropes. Suddenly, I saw a gigantic tidal wave. I experienced a moment of intense fear and tried to calculate if I could escape. Then I felt calm and thought, "Oh, that's how I'm gonna die," and then I woke up.
Thank you for MM, JMG.
(no subject)
Date: 2025-05-05 05:19 am (UTC)Your mileage may vary, of course, but this often works for me.
(no subject)
Date: 2025-05-05 05:38 am (UTC)-Would you happen to know any of the elemental correspondences for the carob tree?
-If I wanted to find out the correspondences for some plants that are not in the Natural Magic book, where do I begin?
-What are the properties that make beeswax so useful in magic? Bardon uses it for talismans and even figures for elementaries.
-Why is silk a good magic insulator? Do we know more or less how it works?
-And finally, I’ve heard a lot gem experts saying that nowadays it’s very hard to find rubies and sapphires that haven’t been heat treated to enhance their color, as it’s now the standard procedure at the source. Does this process affect their magic properties in any way?
I hope I’m not abusing your time by asking so many questions. I would appreciate any help I can get. Thank you!
Sacred Homemaking
Date: 2025-05-05 05:48 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2025-05-05 06:39 am (UTC)2. Given the emphasis on intentions behind magic, what is your thoughts behind this quote: “The smallest good deed is better than the grandest good intention.”
(no subject)
Date: 2025-05-05 08:04 am (UTC)Jasmine planetary correspondence clarification
Date: 2025-05-05 08:33 am (UTC)In your book on Geomancy you’ve listed jasmine as an incense of the Moon; in the Natural Magic Handbook it’s listed as Mercury in Cancer; most other sources I can find seem to list it as ruled by the Moon rather than Mercury (and it does feel more Lunar to me for what that’s worth). Can you say where the Mercury rulership derived from and/or which rulership you feel is more accurate? Thank you!
Occult significance?
Date: 2025-05-05 09:59 am (UTC)"In their attempts to inflict a "strategic defeat" on Russia, the Anglo-Saxons only inflicted a blow on themselves. Few things could be more shameful and humiliating than allowing inglorious neo-Nazi bastards to walk in the heart of London on the anniversary of Victory. Unfortunately, this is the biggest "strategic defeat" ever experienced by the ordinary British."
If true, I cannot help but feel that there is occult significance in the symbolism of such an act; what do you think?
(no subject)
Date: 2025-05-05 10:00 am (UTC)I would like to ask about egregores.
- What is the relationship between the egregore of the Golden Dawn and the egregore of the path laid out by your book, the Celtic Golden Dawn? (I based my recent practice on that book)
- If they are different, did you create an egregore for the Celtic GD yourself? Is there any literature on how to create such egregores for occult paths?
- Is the strength of an egregore organically linked to the number of people attached to it? Are there other factors to take into account? If so, are there strong egregores with few followers?
- What is the significance of the language used in terms of egregores? Say if I use latin language and god names with the same ritual, does it link me to a different egregore as if I used ancient greek?
Thank you in advance
PB
Three cauldrons
Date: 2025-05-05 10:23 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2025-05-05 10:43 am (UTC)If this is contemporary, it could be like the "flashes" I've gotten of others' lives, except that those are waking, not in dreams. Maybe the "tidal wave" represented naval drones or a missile strike? Or if this is historical (as the hut suggests), it could be a past life memory, although again, those tend to be waking, not in dreams. That's all I've got!
Geomancy Conondrum
Date: 2025-05-05 11:28 am (UTC)It is not often that I am stumped prior to casting a geomancy chart, but at present I am. The separatist sentiment is quickly rising in Western Canada, and I would like to cast a chart to see what the prospect is for Western provinces to remain in Canada (better, I think, than asking if the West will separate, i.e., Wexit, which makes it more challenging to interpret perfection as it would be a somewhat 'negative' question). My preliminary thought was to have the querent (Western provinces) in the 1st house and the Canadian government as the quesited in the 10th house; but I can also see an argument for the ‘land of Canada’ as the quesited, which could mean the 4th house. However, I do not live in the Western provinces. But maybe there is another approach that I have yet to consider. Any suggestions?
Ron M
Affirmations
Date: 2025-05-05 11:53 am (UTC)Is it effective to string a couple brief affirmations together, or is it preferable to do each one separately?
For example, "I am productive and kind" vs
"I am productive"
and
"I am kind"
each repeated on their own at different times of day?
Thank you.
Essene Woes
Date: 2025-05-05 12:08 pm (UTC)This is probably a situation I should have looked into more when it occurred a few years ago, but due to circumstances I'm thinking about it now.
When you posted the first of the Modern Order of Essenes teachings, I was finishing up the final grade of the Dolmen Arch course. I did the correspondence course version, so I was preparing my examination while the teachings were going up and would have just received the response from my mentor informing me that I had passed a few days before you offered the first Apprentice Grade attunement, which I received.
Previously, as part of the DA curriculum, I had made a talisman of air for general blessing using the "lesser" enchantment techniques, i.e., those calling on one specific element. This had very evident effects. After that I created a talisman of water for dream recall and was quite impressed at the results--I instantly had near perfect dream recall of multiple vivid dream each night and a couple of spontaneous lucid dreams (something I had attained some years prior after many months of disciplined dream recall work, but lost gradually when my life circumstances changed and I ceased to actually record the dreams I was remembering). This lasted for a month with no additional "work" (no other practices meant to increase dream recall), and then gradually tapered off over the next month. I also tried the "greater" enchantment method, the one calling on the two currents, but only for very broad blessing kinds of things where I can't really judge their effectiveness (though notably the air talisman was for "blessing" and still had very clear effects).
I made a new dream recall talisman using the same method right before receiving an Essene attunement. This time I was planning to resume the dream recall practices I had worked with years ago while the talisman was still having an effect to see if I could use it to boost that process. Unfortunately, due to the years that have passed, I do not recall which attunement--I received both the Apprentice and Healer attunements. This time the talisman worked as before and everything was going well for a few days, right up until the night after the attunement, where it seemed to suddenly lose all effect, abruptly "turning off," unlike the gradual fade out I had observed with the prior talisman.
I did not keep up the "manual" dream recall practices, intending to troubleshoot the talisman first.
Around this time, I was deciding what studies I would pursue post-Dolmen Arch, and decided to work on a couple of things unrelated to practical enchantment that I had previously put off to focus on the Dolmen Arch studies. So I kind of didn't give this as much attention as you might expect from the story so far. My focus was shifting after fulfilling my DA commitment.
I was starting to feel like the Essene work might not be for me. I had not done divination prior to beginning it, but did so now and was strongly warned against continuing the Essene work, so I did not continue to become a Master Healer.
I tried a few other DA type enchantments, and was never again able to see notable results from the lesser enchantment methods, in dream recall or otherwise. I never had any results I could positively identify from the greater enchantment method, before or after the Essene attunement.
I pursued other things for a while, and stopped experimenting with DA methods as I dropped the DA daily practices in favor of other things I wanted to try.
A while after that, I picked up Polytheistic Golden Dawn practice following the guidelines you've posted here. Without intending any disrespect to the DA practices, I have to say that the Golden Dawn work seems to suit me much better. I've been doing those practices consistently and have been very happy with the results. Now I'm at the point where I'd like to experiment with practical enchantment of the elemental talisman variety in that system, which is why I started thinking about the weirdness during that overlap between the tail end of my DA practice and my short Essene career.
1) Do you have any diagnosis for what happened then?
2) Is there anything I should be worried about in trying Golden Dawn style practical enchantment?
3) Should I have ended my connection to the Modern Order of the Essenes more formally, rather than just dropping the practices? Is there anything I should do now, although it's been a few years? (I've considered restarting the MOE work a few times, but have been firmly told no by divination each time, though I've gotten positive indications regarding receiving MOE healing from others.)
(no subject)
Date: 2025-05-05 12:25 pm (UTC)AI """spirituality""" ?!?
Date: 2025-05-05 01:22 pm (UTC)Hello JMG,
at the risk of violating the ban of your discussion about 'AI', here's a Rolling Stone article that might be relevant to your interests (about what is going on in the society at least) :
"People Are Losing Loved Ones to AI-Fueled Spiritual Fantasies Self-styled prophets are claiming they have 'awakened' chatbots and accessed the secrets of the universe through ChatGPT"
https://archive.is/26aHF
Which seems even more relevant now that I have (re-) read in your FAQ :
*"How should I deal with my [insert emotional or psychological issue here]?
One way that many people have found very effective is journaling, which involves doing written dialogues with yourself."* (While the above practice sounds very much like journaling turned very wrong ?)
Feel free of course to not publish this comment (not like I need to tell you that), I just thought that you should know about it (if you did not already).
(I would of course appreciate a lot if you do eventually write about this issue.)
Stay well, peak.singularity
Where to Begin with the Red Book
Date: 2025-05-05 01:41 pm (UTC)I am interested in Jung's Red Book, but I am not sure where to begin. I cannot read Greek, Germain, or Latin. Is there a particular commentary, set of lectures, or what have you, that you reccomend?
Also, what is the difference between his digging into the earth method vs your walking through a door with a symbol on it method?
Thank you!
(no subject)
Date: 2025-05-05 02:06 pm (UTC)JPM
(no subject)
Date: 2025-05-05 02:12 pm (UTC)Zodiacal Releasing
Date: 2025-05-05 02:13 pm (UTC)Here’s how Grant Feldman describes it:
“Zodiacal Releasing is a technique in astrology that provides a detailed analysis of a person's life and the potential events and experiences they may encounter. It is based on the concept that each planet has a specific cycle of influence as it moves through the zodiac signs, and this cycle can be used to track the major themes and events in a person's life.
The technique of Zodiacal Releasing involves dividing a person's life into different time periods, each of which is associated with a particular planet and zodiac sign. These periods can be further divided into sub-periods, creating a complex and detailed analysis of a person's life journey.
Each period and sub-period is associated with specific themes and experiences that are related to the planet and sign. By examining these cycles and the planetary energies present during each period, an astrologer can gain insight into a person's life path, potential challenges, and opportunities for growth and development.
Zodiacal Releasing can be used to gain a deeper understanding of a person's life purpose, relationships, career, and personal development. It can also help individuals make informed decisions about important life choices and navigate challenges and obstacles with greater awareness and insight.”
Chris Brennan did a four hour podcast about ZR: https://theastrologypodcast.com/transcripts/ep-192-transcript-zodiacal-releasing-an-ancient-timing-technique/
Here are a couple of free ZR calculators:
Grant Feldman’s: Zodiacalreleasing.net
Astroseek (Includes Chris Brennan’s approach to calculating the Lot of Eros): https://horoscopes.astro-seek.com/zodiacal-releasing-astrology-calculator
Is anyone here familiar with this approach? Can anyone here recommend someone who offers Zodiacal Releasing readings?