Magic Monday

[ecosophia]

It's almost midnight, 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 not be put through.  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've finished the sequence of my published books; while I decide what I want to do next, I have some memes to share.)

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

Speaking of births and monsters

[vitranc]

Hi JMG,

This is a bit embarrassing, but might I ask about natural magic charms for a newborn. 🫢

And a lore question: While staying at a hospital I observed/overheard that a couple received a baby 6 weeks to early and en caul ( in the skin ). They think it is supposedly a sign the baby is a luck bringer. This might not be as simple as that. Might I ask about lore related to such children.

Best regards,
V

Re: Speaking of births and monsters

[ecosophia]

For a newborn, get a piece of red coral and hang it above the infant's bed, out of reach. That's an ancient charm that brings good fortune.

In American folklore, a baby born with a caul is destined to have clairvoyance and other psychic gifts.

The Apocalyptic Impulse

[(Anonymous)]

Hi JMG, do you have any thoughts on the impulses some people seem to have to fulfill prophecies of doom? A classic example is people who read science fiction stories about a horrifying possible future (blanket surveillance, killer robots, etc.) and then work to create that future even as they acknowledge it's not desirable. It's shown up in fields of politics and business along with technology. How could the percolation of these ideas in the collective unconscious have this siren-like effect on people? It reminds me a bit of the lure of the infernal, the interest that some people mention in contacting evil powers even as they know this is a terrible idea.

Re: The Apocalyptic Impulse

[ecosophia]

It's a tangled mess. Some people want to create such a future because they hate their lives and would rather have anything else; some people do it because they hate other people and want to punish them. Then there's the lure of the infernal, which is very much an issue here; especially in an era of mandatory niceness, some people long to break out of a stifling social framework, and evil is the only way they can imagine doing it.

Regardie Says: Loosen Up!

[(Anonymous)]

I’ve been reading Regardie’s The Art of True Healing. I think it’s pure gold. There’s much in it that I would like to discuss. But for now I’ll address just one critical point. Regardie says:

“Physical inflexibility as well as mental and emotional tension… actually prevent one from becoming aware of the ever-presence of the life force… When the mind’s petty barriers are eliminated, and life flows through its extensive organization, we become conscious of the dynamic principle pervading and permeating all things.” (p. 62)

Due to personal history I have chronic tension and stiffness in the lower back, in the area said to be associated with the sacral chakra. It takes me about twenty to forty-five minutes of self-persuasion - light self-hypnosis I suppose - to eliminate much of this tension. Within twenty-fours or sooner it returns.

I don’t want to be hampered in magic - or prayer, as Regardie evidently views it - by chronic stiffness. I can’t afford regular massages. I know some yoga, but am afraid to do much because of a hip injury. Do you happen to know of any relatively easy, relatively brief practices that could help to release tension in such an area?

Re: Regardie Says: Loosen Up!

[ecosophia]

For the time being, do some whole body relaxation every day -- work on releasing excess tension from all over your body. Even if you can only do five minutes a day, that will help considerably over time.

Druid Grove Formation

[(Anonymous)]

Dear Archdruid John,

I have been tasked to set up a druid grove in the Far East. Since most of the potential members are of the Christo-Druid variety, I would like to place the grove under the patronage of St Lazarus of Bethany (JN 11:1-44). However, we are open to non-Christian druids.

Some of the potential members are also Christo-Wiccans. A question has come up. Will the egregores of the Christo-Wiccans blend in with those of the Christo-Druids, or will both organizations have separate egregores? Will the non-Christian druids' egregore also blend in? We aim to be inclusive of all varieties of druids.

Do you have any practical advice for me? What practices from your books would you recommend? I am considering introducing MOE material to the members in stages, as healing will be part of the grove's mission. This is another reason for adopting the patronage of St Lazarus. What working do you recommend to reach out to St Lazarus? I am familiar with FHR and MOE materials, as well as some GD.

Re: Druid Grove Formation

[ecosophia]

I've never worked with "Christo-Wiccans" -- I take it that's some kind of fusion of Wicca and Christianity -- so there I can't help you. As for the others, if they're all willing to be tolerant of each other's faiths and patron deities, it should work out just fine. With regard to practices, focus on the grove opening and closing and the first grade of initiation to begin with -- that'll feed the egregor and make the rest go smoothly.

As for workings with saints, I don't do those, so you'll probably need to talk to a more experienced Christian to find that out.

myth, magic and civilisation decline...

[the_arcane_archivist]

I keep thinking on the effect of empire decline on the magic of charisma...

I think you are still right about the Emperor God myth, it will go on. But it looks like the man that started the myth maybe done... It looks like the teflon that protected him might be wearing down due to age. Seems to me that decline years of both the egregore and the person are very corrosive on the real person and maybe this is why people refuge in myth even more.

My take is that we are on the wave of empire where ancient Rome was in 226 AD just before the 3rd century kicked in. In that period of time there where no strong Emperors just a lot of trouble, the only strong Emperor that came was mayb Constantine 100 years after... and it was strong maybe because we lived in the religion that carried on his hagiography. I think what made Arthur was not only one emperor, or general or whatever but several people a compilation

The subject is very hard to grasp on but I'll try to put forward two questions:

Do you think the Teflon Don still has something to give to the God Emperor meme, or he is done, and the meme would be fueled revived by other persons in the future? I ask this because I get the feeling that seen as someone's puppet kind of tarnishes the myth...

We seem to live in panopticon, with all this tools to generate myth and magic, of lowest quality, and a lot of actors that want to steer the myth space, now we have also this artificial generated images text, video etc, what would be the risk of a lot of memetic noise to make it into the magical space and life? I mean it seems that these computer "generative" things produces a lot of sticky jam an throws it everywhere....

Re: myth, magic and civilisation decline...

[ecosophia]

1) To my mind, it's a mistake to count Trump out. People have been insisting that this or that or the other thing would doom him since long before he got into politics, and he reliably rolls with the punches and comes out on top. Wait until he dies; that's when industrious fans will polish his image, removing all his less admirable characteristics, and turn him into the Undying Golden Golem of Greatness (to borrow Jim Kunstler's fine phrase.)

2) People worried about that when cave paintings were the latest high-tech visual media. There have always been vast numbers of people dumping low-grade magic and pseudomyth into the collective conversation; the methods being used now seem unusually powerful because they're new. (I remember early science fiction stories that embodied similar fears about motion pictures.)

Jars (Jaws?!)

[emily07]

Dear JMG,
on the meme I have to meditate, e.g. why would an Orca talking to a child constitue a monster? What kind of monsters is it now time for? What kind of monstrous behaviour would/wouldn´t I find good and would that be what is called for and if not, would I be willing to "monsterize" myself in another way, and maybe by my choices if they be publicly know the public might think of me as monstrous, ....?! Darn and thank you.

Anyways: you mentioned earlier jars for night-protection and also for "keeping a child in a nice surrounding" (IIRC) and I wonder: the lid on or off? I think on, because otherwise other influences in the form of dust gets in?

Thank you for your work!
best wishes, Emily07

Re: Jars (Jaws?!)

[ecosophia]

1) Ha! As far as I know, the photo got scooped up by meme artists because the orca seems to be talking to the child, and all kinds of things got put into its mouth. The Antonio Gramsci quote just struck me as both funny and appropriate.

2) If you're in a dusty area, use a rubber band to fasten a piece of thin cloth over the top. A metal lid will make the jar less effective.

Potpourri, Political Astrology

[realmscryer]

Hi JMG,

I've recently read and enjoyed your first two Weird of Hali Books. Looking forward to the others!

Using the example from the Kingsport book I am evolving my prayer practice and alter. Potpourri though is not something I know anything about.

I didn't realize one might use drops of some kind which made sense though when I read it. Does one need to be particular about choice and sourcing of materials including the freshening drops?

Regarding The Dolmen Arch and related practices.

My going back over the course continues to be rewarding. Not just in reviewing the areas which I was not as strong the first time! Every area has had more to offer than I apparently was prepared to realize initially. More experience with meditation appears to be no small factor in this process. Though familiarity with the material is allowing a deeper dive, too.

For additional meditation themes I am picking up the OPW again. Meditation on the material in the sections on the astral body/aura have really shifted my experience of astrology. Sources of friction are resolved, new resistance is not popping up, and I even find the subject energizing.

For a first project in political astrology I am following the campaign of a friend of mine running for a seat in the US House of Representatives. In support of the project my friend provided his birth info. Date, time, and location.

With that in hand I have started going over his natal chart. I am also looking out for what else I might need to be aware of to follow his campaign. While I have your astrology book I have not digested it yet. Suggestions?

Thanks,
Eric

Re: Potpourri, Political Astrology

[ecosophia]

1) Delighted to hear it! The drops Jenny used were an essential oil blend -- I'm not sure of everything that's in it, but attar of roses, essential oil of frankincense, and a little cinnamon leaf oil are included. If you're interested in creating a blend for your own altar, I recommend picking up a few books on aromatherapy -- your local public library will have some -- and choosing the oils on the basis of what you find there.

2) That's something that happens with any good study course. After you finish this pass through the books, put them away for a few years and then read through them again; you'll be astonished by what you find.

3) You need the time, date, and place when he officially registered as a candidate, and the time and date of the election -- use the candidate's own residence as the place. See how those charts relate to his birth chart. Also, if you know how to progress a natal chart, progress his chart to the year in which the election takes place, and check the progressed chart against the natal chart and the chart for the election itself.

Ecosophia Prayer List

[tunesmyth]

At this page 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 (printable version here, 7/14). 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.



* * *
This week I would like to bring special attention to the following prayer requests, selected from the fuller list.

May Marko's newborn son Noah be blessed with good health, and may his partner Viktoria swiftly make a full recovery from childbirth and c-section.



May Brother Kornhoer's son Travis's fistula heal, may his body have the strength to fight off infections, may his kidneys strengthen, and may his empty nose syndrome abate, so that he may have a full and healthy life ahead of him.



May Princess Cutekitten, who is sick of being sick, be healed of her ailments.



May Jack H.'s father John continue to heal from his ailments, including alcohol dependency and breathing difficulties, as much as Providence allows, to be able to enjoy more time together with his loved ones.



May Audrey's friend's daughter Katie, who died in a tragic accident June 2nd, orphaning her two children, be blessed and aided in her soul's onward journey; and may her family be comforted.



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 Pierre and Julie conceive a healthy baby together. May the conception, pregnancy, birth, and recovery all be healthy and smooth for baby and for Julie.



May Viktoria have a safe and healthy pregnancy, and may the baby be born safe, healthy and blessed.



May SLClaire's honorary daughter Beth, who is undergoing dialysis for kidney disease, be blessed, and may her kidneys be restored to full functioning.



May 1Wanderer'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; may she quickly be able to resume a normal life, and the cancer not return.



May Kallianeira's partner Patrick, who passed away on May 7th, be blessed and aided in his soul's onward journey. And may Kallianeira be soothed and strengthened to successfully cope in the face of this sudden loss.



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 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 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 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 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.

* * *
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.

The Book of Haatan

[(Anonymous)]

I've started re-reading the Ariel Moravec novels, which raised a question. For those who haven't read it yet, spoilers for The Book of Haatan follow.

Recovering Captain Curdie's treasure sure sounds like "getting goodies from spirits," even if Ariel and Dr. Moravec don't keep it for themselves. Until that point, however, I was rather under the impression that you'd agree with Dr. Moravec on most matters magical or occult. So would you yourself disagree with what they've done?

I apologise if this is too close to a question about spirit-bothering to be on-topic.

—David P.

Re: The Book of Haatan

[ecosophia]

Not at all. If he'd kept it, there could have been tangled karma and problems as a result, but because he let it go freely he and Ariel were both fine.

To Jeff Russel Re: Falling Asleep

[(Anonymous)]

I don't think it's possible to send private messages on dreamwidth without having an account, so I'd like to respond to Jeff Russel, whose reply I only saw after last week's comments were closed:

I experimented a little bit, so I only have a couple of nights of (positive) data points, but your advice seems to have helped me fall asleep a lot quicker. Thank you!

—David P.

Re: To Jeff Russel Re: Falling Asleep

[(Anonymous)]

Jeff has his own website and I believe his email address is there.

https://jpowellrussell.com/#about

Cup of Life

[earthworm_uk]

If one takes the image from DAv2 p16 and hold it in mind while considering p205 onwards, it strikes me that each individuality is symbolically its own Grail and is representative of 'flow'.

What do you think about the idea that the lunar current in the cup could act as a focus for shifting perception to the higher self in terms of quietening the personality and 'turning within'?

Essentially, I suppose I am asking, have you used the grail working for looking within as opposed to some healing, enchantment or initiation purpose?

The 'feeling' I got from playing with this was that neither tree nor grail are 'facts' per se, but there was a quite strong feeling of 'potential'

The imagery came to mind as I combined the imagery of the tree of light with the arm positions of cosmos breathing which [sort of] places the body into a goblet shape... with life flowing through it.

Or put another way - making the grail working a tuning towards the divine?

Thank you.

PS - No need to read but to clarify or mudify! ;)

And I wonder if the image of the grail is like a snapshot of flow (fountain of light / thrusting channels)...where what we see (goblet) is not what it actually is, just a pattern the mind collapses into a form we can comprehend
The positioning of the arms is like creating a human reflector dish and the thing I'm experimenting with is trying to work simultaneously with three areas:
1. external (solar and telluric currents)
2. Internal (blend solar and telluric and activation of lunar currents).
3. 4th space (bridge to the perception intuition of higher self)

Where 3. is setting the stage for the 'grail' to experience 'grace'. It cannot be forced by the small self, but the small self is responsible for creating the inner temple space and then waits quietly. That is, the small self is a vehicle too, certain things it can do, but to develop it needs to be in its correct state where the 'I' of the personality prepares to dissolve into and become the 'I' that is the higher self.

Interestingly, the centre of the 'dish corresponds with the heart centre (not chakra as such, think more inner spark that is 'hidden' within and without) and at the correct moment, the circling of the arms up above the head where palms touch and are drawn down the centreline to in front of heart centre helps focus the 'turning' to stillness/peace within.
Even more interestingly, letting the hands separate from the 'prayer' position back to dish (supplicant) can be used to repeat and enhance the process - like adding extra ooomph to a spinning top.

Re: Cup of Life

[ecosophia]

A fine meditation on the Grail Working! Yes, this is valid, and yes, I've done work of that kind. Have fun.

[(Anonymous)]

Good morning JMG

I have two questions today.

1) What is the difference between the seal of a planet and the associated sigils of the intelligence and spirit? Does the seal represent the totality of the planetary entity (ie the sum of all its bodies)?

2) I've started using Japanese temple incense sticks, and while they are pleasant they are also somewhat shortlived. Shortlived enough that one stick cannot last from my opening GD ceremony through to my closing. I've since taken to using two sticks, lighting up the second before doing the closing consecration by fire. I do not see an issue with doing this, however, I wanted to check in with a more experienced practitioner in case doing this could symbolically disrupt the (shall we say) continuity of the ritual.

Thanks again for hosting MM!

-JR

[ecosophia]

1) The intelligence and spirit are the representatives of the planetary being in the magical atmosphere of Earth. The planetary seal represents the planet itself, rather than its local representatives.

2) I've done exactly the same thing, with good results. You should be fine.

Planetary energies

[geoffg]

Good morning JMG and everyone,

I have a question regarding a thread from last week's MM. You had mentioned that invoking a planet that doesn't have at least neutral dignity in one's natal chart was asking for trouble, and it made me wonder if this only applies to invoking the planet directly, or whether it also applies to invocations tangentially related to that planet?

The chart I cast for the planetary rulership of my guardian genius came up with Bendith Fawr in the 11th, so Sun, but I am an Aquarian in my natal chart, and while I've ordered a copy of Parker's Astrology to reference(so much contradicting info online!), from what I've gleaned on the net, my accidental dignities are of no help to the Sun either.

As of now I just do a daily prayer to GG for guidance, but am I playing with fire by trying to interact with a solar GG? Or maybe the GG being ruled by the Sun is a way to balance what seems like very weak Sun placement in my natal chart?

I was ecstatic when I cast that divination because I really want to try and alleviate the self-doubt that has been my unpleasant life-companion, but if I understand correctly, maybe it is tilting against windmills to even try with such a weak Sun.

Thanks as always for this place.

Geoff

Re: Planetary energies

[ecosophia]

Ahem. When I say "don't make a talisman under X conditions," that only applies to talismans. It doesn't even apply to other forms of planetary magic, much less to workings that are tangentially related to something that might, in a roundabout way, be considered to have something to do with the planet. ;-)

That is to say, relax. It's not a problem. If your guardian genius is solar, then it can provide you with some of what your natal horoscope lacks.

[anonymoose_canadian]

I'm starting to wonder if the entire internet was doomed from the start for a magical reason, and am curious if you think this analysis makes sense. The internet traces its roots back to ARPAnet, which was created to solve a single and simple problem: the problem of unused computing. At the time, computers were massive machines, cost insane amounts of money, and at any given moment some of them were idle while others had backlogs of people trying to use them. The entire idea of computer networking was invented to solve this problem, by allowing people to use other computers than the one located where they are.

It took years of work and experiments by a very large number of phenomenally bright minds, who also spent quite a long time trying to figure out how to ensure it could be scaled up beyond the initial very small network. I'm unaware of any formal magical workings, but given there was quite a bit of overlap between the computer science and occult spheres, it seems plausible one happened quietly. Even if no formal workings happened having a large number of very focused minds obsess over this topic for years as they tried to make it work would probably have given the nascent internet an egregor pushing it in the direction of trying to keep computers being used as much as possible.

The core problem here is that it almost always makes sense to try to have more computing capacity than you expect to use at the time of lowest demand; otherwise, it is impossible to meet the highest demands. This means there will almost always be at least some spare capacity, and so a drive for finding a use for all computers at all times would end up driving a lot of useless things.

Once it expanded far enough, the next logical step would be to link every computer in the world and shift things which were long done without them online; then to create a legion of spambots; and so on, until you reach the point where much of the internet's traffic is robots trying to trick other robots into thinking they are humans, another large fraction is robots scouring the internet to build these robots, and another large piece of it is composes of robots trying to scam people, and other robots trying to waste these robot's time.

From any kind of sane perspective, none of this makes sense, and a lot of very bad ideas had to come together in just the right way for us to get here. However, if the goal is to avoid unused computing power, then it is hard to think of a better system than the one we currently have.

Do you think this sort of analysis makes sense?

[ecosophia]

It makes quite a bit of sense. Do you recall the story of the sorcerer's apprentice, and the mops and brooms that get out of control and keep on doing their job in ever-increasing and ever more destructive fashion? It's not impossible that, whether explicit magic was involved or not, that's what we have now.

Way of the secret temple

[(Anonymous)]

I am a student of the golden section fellowship, and also am deeply interested in your temple technology research and its practical application. Does the material in the Way of the Secret Temple have a direct connection to putting the temple technology into practice in some way?

Re: Way of the secret temple

[ecosophia]

Not directly, no, but it's wholly compatible with that -- and there are certain indirect but important connections.

Thanks and Graditude for the Golden Scetion Fellowship

[(Anonymous)]

JMG,

I just wanted to thank you for making the Golden Section Fellowship available, I am having fun working through the material.

Finally may I share something that came up in today's meditation?

The octagram represents a two way relationship between two equals, where each needs to respect the freedom of the other. At its center is an octagon, which is the shape of many road signs meant to get drivers to be more mindful of each other, notably the stop sign, which is there to make sure the freedom of two drivers to cross an intersection will not lead to an accident. I was wondering if you think this is intentional on the part of the sign designers?

Re: Thanks and Graditude for the Golden Scetion Fellowship

[ecosophia]

Hmm! That's a fascinating question and one I can't answer. Does anyone else know how octagons got assigned to stop signs here in the US?

[(Anonymous)]

I recently retrained myself away from the dying laptop job, and became licenced as an excavator/skid steer operator instead. The catch is that now I have to not only convince someone to let me use their eye-wateringly expensive machinery, but pay me to do so too. Truly daunting for an autist like myself. Any thoughts on how I could tip the odds in my favour?

[ecosophia]

Burn a green candle on Fridays and ask the universe to help you find a job where you can earn a living. That's an old hoodoo spell, and I know people who've gotten good results from it.

Energies as Spirits

[(Anonymous)]

Hello JMG,

I've gotten to the point about 18 months into my magical practice where I can sense various energies relatively well - the elements, and to a lesser extent, planetary energies. You said in Circles of Power that "in magical terms, each energy is also an entity." This makes sense to me, but I wouldn't say I am easily able to experience the energies as persons or entities. Do you have any tips for doing so? Thank you as always. - Tony C.

Re: Energies as Spirits

[ecosophia]

Just keep on doing your practices. Sensitivity to different aspects of magical force takes time to ripen.

[(Anonymous)]

Greetings JMG!

How does Eliphas Levi's explanation of the primary and secondary relate to Platos notion of the cave of shadows? Are they both a similar idea of the primary or 'ideal' creating an reflected secondary or have I got this completely wrong?

[ecosophia]

Plato's cave is considerably more complex. Remember that the shadows in the cave aren't being projected by the primary light -- they're artificial shadows, manufactured by the demiurge. (The Republic is to my mind the most important inspiration for early Gnosticism.) So in Plato you have four levels: the primary light; its reflections, which can only be seen once you're outside the cave and your eyes get used to the light; the fire of the demiurge; and the artificial shadows cast by that fire, which people treat as realities.

Heaven/Devachan

[(Anonymous)]

Dear JMG,

My question is about after-death states as described in your works and those of others. H. P. Blavatsky describes Devachan as a heavenly realm wherein one experiences the fulfilment of wholesome desires that were unfulfilled in the previous life. Dion Fortune describes a similar concept and calls it the "Heaven-World". You talk about heaven and hell in The Occult Philosophy Workbook as being experiences on the astral plane. Do you think Devachan/Heaven-World is an experience on the astral plane or does it correspond to the vision of the ideal on the mental plane?

Re: Heaven/Devachan

[ecosophia]

No doubt it's a result of growing up with a Japanese stepfamily, but I always have to catch myself to avoid parsing Devachan as Deva-chan, a cute little anime figure dressed like a Hindu deity...

The Theosophical Devachan, like Fortune's Heaven-world and the Spiritualist Summerland, is the upper astral plane. The vision of the idea on the mental plane is very brief for most souls -- only those who are within a few lives of passing out of material incarnation can glimpse the mental plane for more than a moment -- where the period of astral existence between lives can go on for quite a long time.

[rhydlyd]

Prob overthinking but...
When I reset my altar for Lughnasadh, I dumped the salt in the Earth cauldron into a bag and then refilled the cauldron from a new box of salt… leaving me with some salt that’s been on my altar. What can I do with the extra salt?
Many thanks!

[ecosophia]

Scatter it in a space you want to bless, or dissolve it a small pinch at a time in water to make holy water.

New Monsters

[rhydlyd]

Since you mention monsters in the hang time between the old world and the new… I think it bears mention the formerly terrifying HPL is now the subject of a comedy troupe on YouTube. Their muppet metal track, “Cthulhu's ABCs,” is pretty good as metal and an enjoyable satire. On the downside, I now want a plush zoog or twelve.
Since the anxieties HPL preyed upon, race and the vastness of the cosmos in particular, don’t have the bite they used to, the old monsters seem more like the de-masked villains of Scooby Doo.
So – have any of the new monsters revealed themselves? Might you have any suggestions on where to look for them?

Re: New Monsters

[ecosophia]

"Muppet metal" is a new one for me. As for plush zoogs, that would be fine, so long as you don't have cats. ;-)

As for your question, that's simple enough. In the space between the death of one world and the birth of another, since the underlying logic of the old world has vanished and no new logic has taken its place, everything goes to extremes. Take any political, religious, economic, or cultural trend, run it out to the point where it becomes monstrous -- assuming it hasn't gotten there already! -- and there are your monsters.

Vibration in Ritual

[(Anonymous)]

Good morning, Mr Greer.

I've been performing the LBRP+MP for 3 months now, and in that time I've been practicing my vocal vibration skill.

At this time, I can get the vibrations felt in the top of my scalp, my head, my face, my throat, or my chest with good control. Consequently, vibrating the Divine Names when activating the three topmost centers of the MP feels electrifying! However, getting the vibrations felt below my diaphragm or in my limbs still eludes me, and as such, vibrating the Yesod and Malkuth centers as well as the center of my drawn pentagrams feels less potent than it could be.

Experimentation has not yet yielded fruit and in the meantime I am also praying to my gods before my rituals for aid in transmitting the power of my vibrated invocations.

Do you have any advice to impart?

Thank you.

Re: Vibration in Ritual

[ecosophia]

If you've gotten that far in three months, you're doing very well. Relax, keep practicing, and let your capacity for vibration ripen in due time, as it will.

Family Conflict / Hatred Shield

[(Anonymous)]

Good Morning Archdruid,

I’ll go straight to the point. My mother passed away a month ago. We are three daughters, but honestly, I was the only one by her side – not just in her final weeks, but caring for her for years from 4800 miles away- as if I were an only child. When she passed, I did wonder: “Where were they?” Not for me, but for her. I gave her my 110%, but one child can’t replace the other two.

Just to give you some context: we’re from Argentina, a very family-oriented Latin culture.

After her passing, my sisters completely lost it. They turned into greedy people I don’t even recognize. My sense is they’re trying to fill, with “stuff” (there isn’t much anyway), the hole they feel with Mom gone. "You can have it all, I have something you will never have" are some of the maybe "unfortunate" phrases that I told them during arguments. Not ideal, but I deeply feel that. I think they carry deep guilt – especially my sister who is a doctor. During Mom’s 6-7 weeks of hospitalization, she took a 3-week vacation with her friends. They only showed up for the last five days when morphine was already running through Mom’s veins.

Whatever is going on with them is their issue to address with their therapists or souls. But they’ve made me the target of their unresolved feelings and regrets, and I feel bombarded by their hatred and horrible energy. Even though I am at peace with my choices – being by my mother’s side and ensuring her peaceful passing – their behavior is affecting my sleep. I’m having terrible nightmares. So while I tell myself it’s “their problem,” it’s clearly impacting me more than I admit.

I immediately distanced myself, moving to my aunt’s house before returning to the US, and since then have had no contact except when they “need” something, as I stepped down from handling Mom’s affairs.

This comes from a former nine-year Catholic nun, so you know the tool belt I count on.

I hope you can give me some guidance of how to shield and protect myself from so much hatred.

Apologies for such a lengthy post and thank you for your time,

Maria

Re: Family Conflict / Hatred Shield

[ecosophia]

It's really sad that people so often lose it so completely when dealing with the loss of someone close to them. I would encourage you to take up the St. Michael prayer daily to protect yourself against the noxious energies your sisters are letting loose; I would also encourage you to pray the rosary daily, if you don't do so already, asking the Virgin to bring peace to your family.

A long dream

[(Anonymous)]

Happy Monday JMG & all,

A handful of years ago was a time in my life in which I kept a serious dream journal and was experiencing many vivid, at times lucid dreams.

One of these dreams involved me living in an island shack with someone who I have never (to my memory) met in waking life.

This was a very vivid dream in which I was in control of my actions and thoughts but was not aware that I was dreaming.

What sets this dream apart from others and brings me to my question today is the length of the dream. To my dreaming-self, the dream last for over a week of full days and full activities, continuously.

The woman who I was living with, Earnie (spelled that way in the dream) and I were long term romantic partners within the dream’s context. I went to a barbecue with her family, looked through scrapbooks, and lived a normal day to day life on this island with her.

At one point I remember having the thought of “how can I tell Earnie I’ll be leaving soon?”

The dream ended by falling apart. I remember rising water, chaos, and someone who seemed to be Kanye West painted completely blue aggressively asking me for advice.

Such a real-feeling dream, and I woke up feeling completely unreal, a feeling like “whoa” — like having to actively settle back into this waking life.

I still think about Earnie sometimes, and miss her in the way you would miss an old friend whose address you’ve lost.

In sharing all of this, I suppose my question is: what are other peoples’ experience with such lengthy dreams?

Re: A long dream

[ecosophia]

That's fascinating. I've never had a dream like that. Anybody else?