The Mysteries of Merlin

[ecosophia]

While we're discussing books and tracks in space...

A while ago, after I finished reverse-engineering the system of Druidical ceremonial magic I published in my book The Celtic Golden Dawn and had practiced it for a couple of years, I started exploring ways that I could apply that system to magical tasks other than the basic work of magical training -- the focus of the book just named. I didn't expect that to interface with another research project then (and still) under way -- the exploration of the origins of Masonic ritual begun in my book The Secret of the Temple: Earth Energies, Sacred Geometry, and the Lost Keys of Freemasonry -- but yeah, that's what happened. 

The results can be summed up very briefly under three heads. First, some evidence suggests that in late Roman Britain there was a local mystery cult, in at least two places, which worked with the myths and energies of a Celtic deity whose traditions come down to us in fragmentary and distorted form in the medieval legends of Merlin. Second, some evidence suggests that one form of that mystery cult, preserved in garbled form in the Scottish lowlands, ended up being reworked into the Master Mason degree of Freemasonry -- a degree which wasn't yet part of the Craft when Freemasonry went public in 1717, and which no one has been able to trace to a known origin. Third, it's possible to pick up the contacts of another form of that mystery tradition using the tools of Druidical ceremonial magic, and work them for their original purpose -- as a means of initiation. 

Of course that turned into a book. The Mysteries of Merlin is mostly about the third point just made -- it's a manual of self-initiation using the Merlin legends as a basis for eight seasonal ceremonies; yes, I've performed them, and yes, they work very well indeed.  I also discuss the other two points, and -- well, let's just say that brother Masons may be startled to discover the origins of the substitute Word each Master Mason gets on being raised to that degree. 

I'm far from finished plunging down that tangled warren of rabbit holes -- right now, for example, I'm exploring the possibility that a survival or revival of a medieval Grail cult may have played a significant role in the origins of modern fantasy fiction -- and the book that will lay all this out in more detail, The Ceremony of the Grail: Ancient Mysteries, Gnostic Heresies, and the Lost Rituals of Freemasonry, is still a heap of jumbled notes. The Mysteries of Merlin offers a progress report, though, and it's also a very solid system of magical self-initiation that anyone interested in Druidry or Celtic spirituality generally can use. If you're interested, copies can be preordered here. 

Comments

Plague and pestilence

[(Anonymous)]

Completely off-topic but, since a couple of OT questions have already snuck in: any recommendations for defence against plague, pestilence, and disease? I have the mundane aspects covered (face masks & alcohol-based hand sanitisers), but these are running low, and the shops are all bare, so any extra occult ammunition would be appreciated!

Greetings from Beijing,

Bogatyr

Re: Plague and pestilence

[ecosophia]

Plenty of rest and some relaxation exercises will help -- stress weakens the immune system -- and your daily banishings will also help by minimizing astral and etheric contagion. Beyond that? Once each day pour a glass of water, use a banishing pentagram (or elemental symbol from the SoP) to purify it astrally, and then place your right hand over it. Visualize a beam of golden energy descending into the water and charging it, and feel the energy and the water as full of health and vitality. Maintain this visualization for as long as you can without losing focus, and then drink the water, being aware of the healing energy spreading through your body. That's a good basic healing working that most people can do.

Re: Plague and pestilence

[booklover1973]

The symbol out of the Sphere of Protection is used in its banishing mode, right? Does it matter if it if Air, Water, Fire or Earth?

Re: Plague and pestilence

[ecosophia]

Use the Water symbol to banish unwelcome things from water.

Re: Plague and pestilence

[(Anonymous)]

Not the OP

Many thanks for this... do we need to use divination beforehand?

Re: Plague and pestilence

[ecosophia]

Always a good idea before doing a magical working.

Re: Plague and pestilence

[(Anonymous)]

For some reason I thought banishing rituals only worked on the astral plane. Good to know they work on the etheric as well!

Re: Plague and pestilence

[(Anonymous)]

If I may ask - what is the source of the beam of golden energy? My hand or does it descend from somewhere else? If I loop my own energy back through the glass of water, how does it work that an improvement is possible for both the water and myself after I drink it?

Greetings,
Nachtgurke

Re: Plague and pestilence

[ecosophia]

The source of the beam is your imagination. By all means experiment!