Magic Monday

[ecosophia]

It's a little past 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 further comments will be put through. See you next week!***

Comments

Earth pipes and magic detectives

[vitranc]

Dear JMG, and commentariat, a couple of questions:
1.) A question for the commentariat, since I believe JMG currently is not running a cosmic pipe in his apartment. Has any one tried earth pipes? And if so which ones? Have you used reagents with them? What kind and for what periods? Any words of wisdom and experience would be very appreciated.

2.) Do any of the gardening commentariat use any magic, elemental, spiritual means in your gardening? Inquiring druids, with a nascent garden would like to know?

3.) Now this one is finally mainly for you John. Quite simply, how would one spot, or determine, if someone has been using evil magic? Now I understand this could be difficult, the mention of evil magic in American politics abound on this forum and the demolatory accusations as to regards to foxxes have yet to be conformed. As said difficult; But that is why I would like to be careful in this regard.
A relative has been behaving strangely for some time now. And, not to say to many personal things, their personal relationships look like they are inside out, like they either 1.) get exactly what they were denouncing in a partner before. Or 2.) in regard to their birth family, exactly what they always wanted, but it is empty now.
It has occurred to me, that this looks like a sinister joke.
And even more so, since there seems to be a similar pattern with their best friend who is going through a nasty, currently going on two years and running, Divorce.
I would not like to jump to conclusions, but it would not surprise me to find out one of these days, that some spirits were called.
Otherwise, how much of such a thing could be unintentionally caused by projection?
Or could this be a simply manipulative and stubborn person being at fault for their own mess?
So yes, how does one play a magic detective?

Best regards,
V

Re: Earth pipes and magic detectives

[ecosophia]

1) I don't currently use an earth pipe but I had one in the garden Sara and I had in Cumberland. Somewhere in my files I've got a photo of me standing next to the 12-foot-tall corn that resulted.

2) Good heavens, yes. When I have a garden I communicate with the plant spirits, use Druid ceremonies at planting and harvest, and plant by the phases and signs of the Moon.

3) A combination of ordinary detective work and divination seems to do the trick.

Speaking Well and Middle/Neo-Platonism In Wizard Robes

[jprussell]

Good Evening,

To those who mark it, a Happy Easter, and for those who don't, may the rebirth of the world this spring bring you many good things anyhow!

To Share: If anyone is interested in getting better at public speaking, I've posted my thoughts in two parts here: https://rhetoricfortherenaissanceman.com/2026/03/04/speaking-well-part-1/

and here: https://rhetoricfortherenaissanceman.com/2026/03/20/speaking-well-part-2/

(By way of qualification, I had to do a lot of public speaking in my former career as a management consultant and have been teaching it at the undergraduate and MBA level for the last eight years. If all that business school stuff puts you off, please note that my point with my current blog project is precisely to address what I see as the shortcomings of the typical attitude in business education.)

To Ask: I enjoyed your recent appearance on Therapeutic Astrology, and one of your comments struck me as especially interesting, since I'm currently reading Dillon's The Middle Platonists: you said that "occultism is just Middle Platonism dressed up in wizard robes" (or something very like that). I had been under the impression that occultism was more Neo-Platonism in wizard robes, drawing heavily on folks like Plotinus and Proclus. So, my question is whether you think that's an especially meaningful distinction, and if so, what makes occultism more like Middle Platonism than Neoplatonism?

And a follow-up question: on the back of Dillon's book are some books I take to be similar surveys of other times/schools, Neoplatonism by R. Wallis and The Presocratics by E. Hussey - do you happen to know if these are comparably good as Dillon?

My blessings to all who welcome them,
Jeff

Re: Speaking Well and Middle/Neo-Platonism In Wizard Robes

[ecosophia]

Hermeticism, Gnosticism, and Cabala are all derived from Middle Platonism rather than Neoplatonism. Neoplatonism had a strong influence on mysticism by way of Pseudo-Dionysius, but Iamblichean theurgy didn't really start to have an effect on later occultism until the 19th century, after Thomas Taylor made the core texts available in translation. I read the book by Wallis a long time ago and don't recall how good it was; I haven't read Hussey's book.

Universal Gnostic Church

[pointwithinacircle]

In my reading over the last week I came across several interesting references to the Universal Gnostic Church. This seemed like an interesting avenue to explore for the magically minded. I did a web search but the most likely looking URL came back with “no page found”. There is a Facebook group with this name but it only has 82 members and that didn’t seem like what I am looking for. I tried several other URL’s with similar names but they seemed to be linked to specific schools of occultism. Do you know if this group is still active and where I can learn more about it? Thanks.

Re: Universal Gnostic Church

[ecosophia]

There are, that I know of, three groups using that name. One of them is French and usually calls itself l'Eglise Gnostique Universelle; the second appears to be a scam. The third? Well, I'm its presiding bishop these days, more or less by accident. You can find a basic summary here --

https://ecosophia.dreamwidth.org/238538.html

-- and this link will get you a series of posts on the subject:

https://ecosophia.dreamwidth.org/tag/universal+gnostic+church

Incarnation?

[daviex]

When I was a child I remember several times drifting awake in the middle of the night with the same peculiar feeling. Very peaceful...just floating. My body feels insubstantial. My head feels sort of puffy and amorphous. My lips feel very sensitive and important, like the very center of consciousness. And it felt more like a memory than a dream. Do you think a person can remember the time of incarnation in their mother's womb? Even as a child, I wondered if that was a echo of my first moments of personhood.

Re: Incarnation?

[ecosophia]

I know people who remember their first hours of life outside the womb; for that matter, I have a memory that's probably from that, though I can't be sure. (It's mostly lying on my back, feeling very cold and lonely, and seeing something pale and gray and far away that was probably a ceiling seen through eyes that didn't focus well yet.) So it's by no means impossible.

Significance of Trump's Epic Fail Coinciding with Easter?

[(Anonymous)]

"To escape finding [myself] in the ranks of the insane" I have to accept that the US appears to have started, and lost, WW3 in just over a month -- with the end coinciding almost perfectly with Easter Sunday.

I don't know if that is a controversial statement with you (Maybe I am hallucinating the Marcus Aurelius quote to pertain to the situation), but in Trump's speech to the world he pretty much said the strait was going to have to be opened by someone other than the US. And then his public meltdown yesterday seemed pretty insane to me.

Okay, so here I come to my question: Did the astrological charts indicate the US empire would commit suicide right about now?

Any appropriate spiritual ceremony you might recommend?

-gnat

Re: Significance of Trump's Epic Fail Coinciding with Easter?

[ecosophia]

1) No, and I have my doubts that the US empire is over. It's in retreat, but that's been central to the current administration's plans all along; the current mess may just give Trump the cover he needs to withdraw from the Persian Gulf so the empire can concentrate on Latin America and the Caribbean.

2) Depends on what you want to do, of course.

Inviting a patron (saint) for an organisation

[(Anonymous)]

How does an organisation invite/petition a (deceased) heroic figure to be our patron (saint)? How do we know if the person accepts? Through divination?

Thanks!

Re: Inviting a patron (saint) for an organisation

[ecosophia]

Start by doing a divination to see if the spirit is amenable. If you get a "yes," do a ceremony with an image of the person, describing the person's heroic deeds and formally making them the patron of the organization. Follow up with an annual event commemorating the person on their birthday, or the day of some particularly glorious deed. Go from there. The initial divination gives you permission; the rest is about building a relationship.

[(Anonymous)]

A bit of a question on a strange situation with a lot of grief.

My dog passed away twelve days ago. He was the last of a rescue batch shipped up from a shelter in California ten and a half years ago. He picked me out and was afraid of everyone else. It was only bit later I remembered a very strong dream from about twenty years previous and he was the dog in it. Definitely, he was very unique and I expect finding another dog like him is only slightly more likely than finding the Ring of Eibon in a Happy Meal. We were very close.

The night before he passed, (I found a vet able to make house calls) I had one of those vivid dreams. I was in the living room where we were both sleeping in real life. The details were out of body vivid, not dream like. There were two of him. His friendly and happy self greeting his older scared self. Another dog of mine who had passed years ago also showed up as if he was a guide.

Last night, twelve days after the last dream, I had another. It was brief. I saw my dog running and happy. Instead of lifelike and vivid like the last one, this one was ghostly. I think it was a reassurance he was okay. (I hope)

I had gotten another dog. Divinations (if I read them correctly) said it would be best to adopt from who was left after the free adoption day at the shelter. That was on Good Friday.

The new dog is a real sweetheart and she's trying to make it work out too. The grief is still there. There's been a few times walking past my dog's grave or along where we used to walk, I've broken down sobbing.

The strange thing is that this evening (Easter) a bit after sunset, I noticed there was a piece of snowflake obsidian centered on top of the pellet stove. It was off the shelf nearby and could not have fallen there. I am the only one who could have reached it, and I know I hadn't touched that shelf in a couple of weeks.

Handling the stone and keeping it nearby does help. Is the case where objects around the house are being moved more the work of household spirits than deities? If so, what is the best way to thank them? I am deeply grateful and doubt I would want to offend anyone who has helped like that anyways.

Hope that made sense.

[ecosophia]

It makes perfect sense. First of all, please accept my condolences on your loss. I know how difficult that sort of thing can be.

Second, the dreams are entirely typical, and all traditional lore indicates that they mean what you think they mean. The soul of your late dog is fine.

Third, apportation of small objects is another fairly common event in situations like this. No, it wasn't household spirits or gods; the soul of your late dog will have done it. (The souls of the recently dead can sometimes do such things, if they have the motivation.) Take it as a gift.

Naomi Wolf needs help

[(Anonymous)]

Hello John Micheal,

I remember you writing about Naomi Wolf a while back. Here's a recent post from her: https://substack.com/inbox/post/193216848

Can you help her out? What's real and what ain't?

Re: Naomi Wolf needs help

[ecosophia]

Yes, she does, but it's not help I can give.

I'm looking out the window right now at a bright springtime scene. Golden sunlight is splashing down over the rich greens of grass and new leaves, and glowing on the gray-brown of tree bark and the faded russet paint of the fence; the sky is intensely blue where white and gray clouds aren't drifting past. Even the beige cinder blocks of the garage of the big apartment complex next door are vividly colored by the sun. Birds of half a dozen kinds are all over the place, dandelions and violets splash intense colors in the grass, and a black squirrel just went bounding past.

That is to say, it's not the world that's at issue. It's Ms. Wolf. The kind of derealization experience she's described in that essay is a serious psychological problem. She needs to see a good psychotherapist, stat.

Past-life Practice Hints

[(Anonymous)]

Given that people are expected to take multiple lifetimes of spiritual practice before they're done with incarnation, are there any accepted signs that you did magic in previous lives? I was never drawn to conventional religious thinking but felt an instant affinity and familiarity once I discovered magical literature. I take naturally to most meditative and energetic practices and divination methods I've tried; I was getting useful tarot readings within a week of starting when apparently some people take years. Ever since I was little I would give myself "impromptu willpower tests" where I would randomly resolve to do things like not look at clocks for the rest of the school day. It was interesting to compare these activities to methods of occult training like your "Training the Will" post series. Why would I decide to do that on a whim?

Another thing, the event that really sent me down the road of magical practice was creative work that led me to what could probably be described as contact with the sphere of Harmony/Tiphareth. I only achieved this contact for a moment but it transformed my understanding of my artistic field and the unifying concepts behind it. Does this contact prior to any magical practice suggest that I did some kind of pathworking in a prior incarnation?

Lastly, do you feel that there are definite reasons you shouldn't use computer files for a magical journal? I recall someone saying something like that. That's what I've been doing and journaling has been one of the biggest turning points in my practice, helping me go from one missed day a week on average to less than one missed day of practice a month, with make-up work after any missed day. Because of that I'm reluctant to switch to a more laborious method of journaling. The electronic journal also makes it easy to search for past divinations by topic.

Thanks for these posts.

Re: Past-life Practice Hints

[ecosophia]

1) It's hard to say whether the sort of thing you've described are signs that you've done magical training in the past, or simply that you came into this life knowing that there were certain kinds of training you need to do. (In my case, for example, it was some of both.) You may well have done some magical training in a previous life -- many people have, you know. The thing to watch for is a cascade of "coincidences" that puts you into contact with some specific occult tradition. That normally happens if you were initiated into that tradition in one life, and are ready to return to it in this one.

2) That's entirely a matter of personal preference. If you'd rather use a computer, by all means.

How to find a healing spirit/god/deity?

[(Anonymous)]

Dear Mr. Greer!

I got myself an education as a massage therapist and started to work in that field a while ago.
I was looking for a spirit/deity/god for healing to work throuth me, but nothing really resonated with me when I looked up names on the www.
How can I call/find a deity/god that wants to work through me to heal without getting tricked or etherically drained by some malevolent trickster spirit and is that a good idea in the first place?

Re: How to find a healing spirit/god/deity?

[ecosophia]

It's important to remember that you have neither the right nor the power to make a deity or spirit show up to help you. The initiative has to come from their side, and it will come when the deity or spirit decides the time is right.

What you can do is let them know that you're open to working with them. For example, before you begin a massage treatment, silently pray: "If there are beings of positive intent who wish to help heal this person, I invite their presence and participation." You'll know the offer has been taken up when you feel healing energies flowing through you, or when intuitive guidance starts directing your work, or both.

[(Anonymous)]

Good Morning JMG,
Your advice on planetary charity, if you would be so kind.
I am current making planetary charity to the Moon, to help someone I know fight and hopefully recover from, breast cancer. I should be making the last of nine payments of multiples of nine today.
My question is what to do next: the treatment will go on for months at least. Should I continue to make payments? Start a new set of nine, wait for a bit or what? I could sign up to regular weekly payments to the charity concerned but then I can't control the time of the payment.
What would you advise?

[ecosophia]

I recommend letting it rest for now. You've invoked the Moon in the traditional manner; now wait and let the Moon do her side of the work.

[davidp]

Hey JMG,

1) I've been wondering about agalmata. The theory seems simple enough—take a hollow statue, put stuff associated with the deity in question into it, and just start using it as an image for altar prayer, if I got that right.

But beyond that, the process isn't clear to me. Is every material fine? Burnt clay would be naturally hollow but you mentioned using wood statues—so are those just regular wood carvings hollowed out? Where does the hole go? I'd assume on the bottom for aesthetics but then you'd have to plug it with something.

2) On that note, and I'm both asking you and the commentariat, where do you get your altar statues? Do you make them yourself? Commission an artist? Etsy?

3) You said that the LBRP will deconsecrate agalmata. I don't particularly like the idea of putting them into a bag, nor shrouding them every time. I was instead thinking about giving each statue an open box lined with silk or linen, with drapes at the front. Does that sound sensible?

4) On an unrelated note, I've skimmed parts of Franz Bardon's Initiation into Hermetics. If I understand you correctly, you think that Bardon's system works well, it's just not the one you've chosen.

I was a bit surprised that Bardon includes neither divination nor banishing (discursive meditation, to complete the trifecta, is clearly there, even if the focus is on the mind-emptying kind of meditation). But then I started wondering about the following passage:

Hand in hand with the inner development of spirit and soul has to go that of the outer, the body also. No part of your Ego must lag behind or be neglected. Right in the morning, after getting up, you will brush your body with a soft brush until your skin turns faintly reddish. By doing so, your pores will open and be able to breathe more freely. Besides, the kidneys are exonerated for the most part. Then wash your whole body or the upper part of it, at least, with cold water and rub it with a rough towel until you feel quite warm. Sensitive people may use lukewarm water, especially in the cold season. This procedure ought to become a day's routine and be kept for a lifetime. It is so refreshing and removes tiredness.

As cold water is a good etheric conductor, would this fulfil the purpose of a daily banishing, i.e. removing etheric crud?

—David P.

[ecosophia]

1) Since the art of making and using agalmata is still being rediscovered, there's a lot that isn't yet known about it. I have no idea, for example, what effect different materials will have. The ancients used stone, bronze, and wood, and maybe other materials; ceramics such as fired clay would likely work well, but you'd have to experiment. Mine are wooden; they have 1 inch diameter holes drilled in the bottom, extending up much of the way through the image, and wooden plugs glued in place to seal the holes.

2) I got mine made by friends who are good at woodcarving. Since mine are Druid deities, the carvings are very simple -- they look as though they were made in a tribal setting a couple of thousand years ago!

3) You could do that, or simply drape a piece of silk or linen over them when you do your LBRP.

4) Yes, the water practice has a banishing effect, and so does his method of breathing energies into and out of the body -- that purifies the etheric and astral bodies.

Painting Icons and Appropriate Herbs for Druid Revival Gods

[scottyc]

Good Day JMG and all readers,

First, thank you, as always, for this opportunity to ask questions.

I have decided to build upon my relationship with the Druid Revival gods by creating icons / talismans for my altar. Last week JMG mentioned mixing appropriate herbs in with the paint to help fortify the talisman and also a gold tincture.

Question is what is happening with the herbs and gold? I know part of the process is building correspondence by means of materials (herbs, metals), colors, symbols and appropriate astrological timing but is the herbal mixture attracting etheric energy and the gold astral energy?

For the Druid Revival gods as recommended to use in the Way of the Golden Section's SOP (Hu, Sul, Hesus, Ellen) my intention is to use the herbs appropriate to the planet associated with each cardinal direction (e.g. South = Mars). The Way of the Golden Section lists appropriate trees for the gates associated with the cardinal directions but I'll probably use William Lilly's guides for the herbs unless there are specific herbs that could be associated with those gods?

Re: Painting Icons and Appropriate Herbs for Druid Revival Gods

[ecosophia]

1) The herbs are simply part of the correspondences. Mixing them into the paint helps make the talisman stronger. The gold, however, attracts etheric energy from the heavens and empowers the talisman generally.

2) That should be fine.

The Cunning Farmer

[(Anonymous)]

Hello!

Two months ago, you mentioned a new book called "The Cunning Farmer". The introduction to the book mentions "He also explores working with Earth and Moon energies"

(1) Presumably Earth energies are telluric currents, but how about Moon energies? What are those?
(2) Are they the union of solar and telluric currents, known as the lunar current? Or is it something else?
(3) Does the book cross over with your "secret of the temple" book?
(4) Are the techniques taught in this book relevant to both the northern and southern hemispheres?
Many thanks and regards.

Re: The Cunning Farmer

[ecosophia]

Okay, first of all, I didn't write that book. Todd Elliott did, and the magical theories he uses as his basic structure aren't the same as the ones I use.

1) The astrological influences and etheric tides governed by the Moon.

2) They're something else -- see above.

3) Not to any significant extent.

4) As far as I know, yes.

Dodecagram

[(Anonymous)]

Good morning, JMG.

Thank you for creating the SGO. It has been good fuel for the meditative fire.

I've been dedicating 3 days of meditation to each card so far. The work of sussing out the nuance of meanings (both symbolic and divinatory) from similar cards has been rewarding (though at times frustrating), though one pair still eludes me.

I struggle to differentiate between the square's aspect of manifestation and the dodecagram's aspect of completion. My meditations on either card has revealed some interesting (to me) insights, though none of these would aid me in a divinatory setting I suspect. The description of these aspects in the SGO book also seem quite similar (again, to me at least).

If it isn't too much to ask, could you please compare and contrast the divinatory meaning of both cards?

I apologize if I'm missing something that should be obvious here.

JR

Re: Dodecagram

[ecosophia]

Sure thing. A manifestation need not be completed, and something can be complete and remain unmanifest. You're right that the way I phrased the two divinatory meanings makes them sound more similar than they should be. To me, the Square focuses on something becoming solid and apparent to otherrs, while the Dodecagram focuses on something being finished.

[brenainn]

Recently, the spirits showed me a silent vision of myself residing very near, or even within, the cemetery where my spirit guide is buried. The image was vivid and clear, yet it came without any spoken instruction or further commentary, leaving me to interpret it on my own. Divination on the matter has also remained unclear.

This vision has greatly intensified an already strong sense of calling to live in extremely close proximity to that specific place. While I recognize that actually residing on cemetery grounds long-term isn't feasible in any straightforward way, the pull feels like genuine spiritual direction, even if the guidance at the moment is limited and indirect.

Interestingly, as I've visited the cemetery more frequently (I used to go only about once a month), I've received clearer guidance on different offerings to make upon arrival, things to do while there, and offerings to leave when departing. These experiences have deepened my connection and sense of purpose there.

I don't have much of a question, but I'm wondering: Has anyone here ever heard of anything like this happening to a modern Western person? Does it connect to practices from more distant historical or cultural traditions? I assume this is related to my recent spiritual calling, of course, but the spirits haven't revealed much more, and the topic is very emotionally charged for me right now.

Any insights, similar experiences, or suggestions for things to ponder or meditate on while I await clearer guidance would be most welcome. Thank you.

EDIT: One thing that does seem clear is that it does not feel like it must be done immediately. In the vision, I am somewhat older in appearance than now.

[ecosophia]

It used to be quite standard for hermits and monks devoted to a given saint or sage to live right next to, or in, the shrine where that holy person was buried. I don't recall reading about that happening in modern times, but "modern times" are slipping back in the rear view mirror these days. I'd say that your best bet is to remain open and let the spirits take the initiative. If they want something like this to happen, the opportunity will be provided to you.

[gnosticlombe]

Good morning an happy Monday,

Thank you for offering this place for questions and discussion.

While reading through and studying “The sanctified life”, I’ve noted a lot of spiritual links and ties with the MOE, (both directly from their shared origin in the UGC, and the historical Essenes being a pseudo monastic order with its own way of life document.)

Would it be within the scope of the UGC and Universal order of Monk to create an Essene focused monastic practice, combining the teachings and practices of the MOE and the personal spiritual development and ethos of a personal monasticism?

[ecosophia]

Not only is it within the bounds of the UGC and its monastic tradition, I met people back in the day who did it. I'm delighted to hear you're studying The Sanctified Life, btw!

A Question about the subtle bodies

[(Anonymous)]

Happy begining of spring JMG, I have a question about the concept of a sheath.

Is a sheath functioning a little like a radio reciever? Crystals have an etheric sheath, and I believe we are using crystals to literaly build radio recievers.

I recently tried during meditation to imagine I am tuning myself to the theme, and felt like an antena that's picking up something, which followed by some connections being made.

This got me thinking, A crystal that resonates with radio waves, is actually picking up the energies of a higher region in the material rather than etheric plane.

By analogy, the "connections" I made seem to take place in the high astral rather than mental plane, but if I am correct the part of me that felt like an antena was my mental sheath.

So, if a sheath is like a radio reciever, I am wondering if after a soul with a sheath gets reborn with a body in that plane, the soul is no longer using its capacity to recieve "signals" only to precieve the higher regions of the plane below the plane where the sheath is, but instead uses its new body to percieve the plane it is made of in its own terms?

Re: A Question about the subtle bodies

[ecosophia]

That's an intriguing metaphor, and yes, it works. Imagine the difference between an antenna and an eye. The antenna passively receives what's flowing through the level of being to which it's attuned. The eye actively seeks out things to look at, and gets much more precise information than the antenna can. In the same way, since a sheath has not yet developed organs of sensation and action, it can only give a vague general sense of what's going on at that level, while a body has such organs and can perceive and act on the plane to which it's attuned.

Zodiac Garden Guide

[isaac_hill]

I'm very happy to announce that I've published 'The Zodiac Garden Guide: A Manual of Astrological Gardening' wherein I lay out the complete process for designing, planting, and electing a Zodiac Garden. I draw on astrological classics from the last 2,000 years from multiple traditions, get to the root of astrological-botanical correspondences, and share some neglected electional astrology techniques related to gardening. JMG has graciously endorsed the book, and I hope this post is considered appropriate.

I have decided to self-publish on Amazon, which I know has its issues, but it was the best option for me for self-publishing. Since I know some may want to get the book, but not through Amazon, I'll send you a PDF with which you can print a personal copy for yourself if you desire. You can email me at askisaachill@gmail.com

I have already begun work on book on magical gardening for Aeon, which should be out in 2027.

Here's the link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GW7F2KRP

Re: Zodiac Garden Guide

[ecosophia]

Congratulations on both counts!

[(Anonymous)]

Hello JMG,
Could you tell me which planet governs the heart? I want to do planetary charity for persistent heart problems.
Many thanks.

[ecosophia]

The heart is traditionally governed by the Sun, as the brain is by the Moon.

[(Anonymous)]

From a druidic perspective, what is a proper burial?

[ecosophia]

Anything that returns the body to the cycles of nature. Embalming and those airtight caskets that try to preserve the body indefinitely are out. Many Druids prefer cremation followed by the scattering of ashes in a natural setting; that's what my late wife chose, for example, and it's what I intend for my remains when the time comes.

[(Anonymous)]

Does anyone have advice on mitigating the energetic poison of having to live amidst large amounts of plastic?

I read a description somewhere of plastic as a material with an etheric signature of an energy vampire, and it fits.

My garden is surrounded by white vinyl fencing on two sides. For various reasons, including that one section is a reclusive neighbor’s, I can’t currently replace it.

Does anyone have suggestions on natural magic or other practices to mitigate the effects of the plastic? It feels very energetically dead/stagnant in the areas along side it, and the trees and shrubs seem to lack vitality in areas close by it.

I’m especially interested if anyone has suggestions of trees, shrubs, and plants that counteract the plastic or are etherically potent and vital enough on their own to thrive beside it.

Thank you!

[ecosophia]

I don't happen to know anything about this, but I'll be interested to hear if anyone else has suggestions.

Will

[(Anonymous)]

Good day JMG and commentariat.

Some occult traditions talk about developing and using Will to overcome our animal desires and nature.

I’d like to think I’ve developed my Will to some extent but there are some aspects of my animal nature that seem to overpower my Will at times.

Taking the advice of Levi, the Will is applied with persistence over time, and not a violent charge ahead. So the effort continues…

My question is about surrender and where it comes in. I’m reminded of the AA step of admitting we are powerless over some things. How is the binary of surrender and personal agency/willpower balanced in a middle road?

Re: Will

[ecosophia]

Your animal nature is also part of your will. The reason that struggling against the animal nature can be so difficult is that when you try to control it, your will is divided against itself. That being the case, slow and easy does it.

[(Anonymous)]

Hello JMG, hope you're doing well!

My question regards the work with spirits/gods from cultures not your own. You see, I'm brazilian, with Spanish and Portuguese great-grandparents. However I feel no connection at all to anything from the spiritual landscape of my own country; Exus, Pombagiras, Orixás and native indigenous spirits and deities mean nothing to me, speak not a word. As a cloistered youth I got my world view mostly from books, and as a self-taught english speaker I soon found myself enthralled by King Arthur tales, Celtic legends, Faery lore and everything British, Welsh and Irish. I love my country's art, culture and literature, don't get me wrong; I don't have a disconnect to my own people and history. However when it comes to the spiritual and the magical, what truly enchants me and gets me to aspire to magic and spiritualy is the british stuff.

As I came to understand, as long as I'm working with a solar system of magic and dealing with GODS, it doesn't matter where they came from, as they exist way above our world; But if I intend to work with earthly entitites, than I have to resort to the local and landbound lore. Is that correct? Do you see any problems at all with connecting and working with celtic deities when not being from the respective cultures? Do you believe we are born where we must to seek our path, in terms of the local "spiritual landscape?"

Thank you!

[ecosophia]

No, the place you were born doesn't determine the traditions you should follow, any more than your ethnic background does. Your soul has lived in many places, in bodies from many ethnic groups, and what it resonates with depends on spiritual factors far more than geographical ones! I began practicing Druidry when I lived on the west coast of North America, almost five thousand miles from Britain and in a wholly different ecological and spiritual environment, and it worked just fine.

There's another factor at work here. There's some reason to think that the historic cultures of the British Isles, and of Western Europe generally, are in terminal decline and will not exist for much longer. That being the case, it wouldn't surprise me at all if the traditions and the energies linked to them might be relocating -- and you may be part of the process that finds a new home for them in Brazil.

[(Anonymous)]

Dear JMG:

Last week, you advised another person to maintain a magical practice every day, about 30 minutes.
https://ecosophia.dreamwidth.org/364211.html?thread=59778739#cmt59778739

I pray first thing every morning, when I get out of bed, to the Almighty Creator and Jehoshua the Masiach. Do I assume correctly that this "counts" in a similar way?

Thank you for these Magic Mondays, and for all you do.

- Cicada Grove

[ecosophia]

It's certainly a valid spiritual practice, and one I would recommend to anyone who belongs to the religion you do. The effects won't be the same as if you were practicing meditation and ritual, let's say, but you'll still get the effects -- and yes, sheer pigheaded perseverance in that practice will get you very, very far.