Before stepping on the occult path

People who are drawn to the occult path usually show a curious and enthusiastic nature. Beneath the surface through there is a feeling of uneasiness and uncertainty. Any eagerness to get started is counterbalanced by apprehension. The existence of both these states is more than understandable and people ought not to shy away from the latter (and anyone who laughs at them because of the latter, and there are those out there, ought to eat a bag of dicks).

More than once have I seen people who come into occult themed online groups, stating they are new and know not how to begin. They then ask for a book or someone to guide them along. This too is understandable, being more or less common sense. But whether they are pointed towards a book that tells them how to LBRP, or someone will offer them more or less solid guidance until their training wheels fall off (or not), isn't the first (proper) step in my opinion.

One can begin to prepare even before they start actual occult practice (and starting to gather tools). Depending on the curriculum they come across and end up working, they will find exercises and techniques fit for beginners, which will help them move further towards building a solid foundation. Such elements, alongside meditation and so on, complement the usual LBRP-ing and MP-ing one can find with a quick search. But any structure does not start with the foundation.

Complexity does not guarantee success

I've heard of people doing hour-long rituals full of all sorts of complicated stuff like Opening by Watchtower, multiple lengthy invocations, using a substantial arsenal of paraphernalia in dramatic fashion, even running around the altar like a madman screaming gibberish. While I have nothing against that if these things make sense in the working itself and are used properly, that doesn't guarantee such a ritual will have the desired effect. By desired effect I mean the forces set into motion manifesting the magician's intent to its fullest, whether for practical or mystical purposes.

I recently received a short and simple ritual from una ragazza molto speciale, specifically crafted by her for working towards what in Jungian terms are referred to as the Anima and Animus. The operant is to encounter an avatar of their Anima/Animus and ask for whatever it has to offer them, ending by recognizing him or herself as being one with their Anima/Animus.

Spirits don't give a damn about your earthly achievements

Some dumbass used to teach that spiritual authority is gained by enumerating your earthly achievements to spirits when conjuring them. More exactly, one ought to list such achievements in the occult field.

This, of course, is utter bs! Telling the spirits you authored such and such books and seemingly scholastic papers, working such and such system for whatever amount of time, even bragging you're in the R.R. et A.C. don't amount to crap from the spirits' perspective. At best you'd bore them with your long grocery list. It is the initiation one undergoes for entering the Inner Order that will allow them to increase their spiritual authority. That is why Golden Dawners are introduced to working with spirits at Adeptus Minor and not prior (unless it's some fake order run by some Impotentor).

Geomantic figures colors

The following details come from John Heydon's Theomagica: A Temple of Wisdom, Mr Farrell recently edited and published. I find them interesting to experiment with in magical workings involving geomantic figures, especially talismans, as well as in mystical ones, i.e. pathworking into their realm.

Puer: white mixed with red; Amissio and Caput Draconis: white mixed with citrine; Albus: lovely white mixed with red; Populus and Via: green, or russet black; Fortuna Major: green, yellow or gold; Conjunctio: purple or grayish white, sometimes black speckled with blue, green, white, or a dark crimson or whitish tawny; Rubeus: red mixed with brown; Aquisitio: red, yellow, or green and sanguine; Carcer: white, russet, or dun color; Tristitia: tawny, sky-colored with blue; Laetitia: a green, whitish, glistening color.

Puella, Fortuna Minor and Cauda Draconis remain unaddressed by the original author for some reaon. Even so, many of the color correspondences seem completely odd, such as in the case of Carcer or Tristitia, given their nature and planetary attribution. I have no idea where Heydon got them or even if he paid any attention to them. Mr Nixter adds his own remarks to this:

More on Guardian Angel

I talk about the Guardian Angel in this report, as well as in this article. 

I'm sharing what Rudolf Steiner had to say about how this being works both directly and indirectly. He goes off on a tangent only to come full circle with the ending conclusion, but what he addresses during that extrapolation should represent a bitch slap to those imposing the need to "see" and "hear" spirits. His explanation made me realize why it is that I can "hear" spirits better whenever I feel my energetic body is less tensed.

And now I'm going off on a tangent too since there are also those who impose certain non-European practices have to do with classic European grimoires and have a fetish of being mounted. Therefore, here's this article by una ragazza molto speciale, addressing being mounted by spirits, also on a tangent. The reason for sharing it should be obvious in the fact the Guardian Angel isn't mounting you and would not allow any spirit to do so either (unlike what some allegedly authorized claims have bragged about in the past).

Eucharist powers

Easter here has the longest preparatory fasting period in the entire religious calendar. It is also the most severe. The reasons behind this should be obvious, those who stick to the practice cleanse themselves more thoroughly, becoming more susceptible of sensing and experiencing the miracle of Easter. I talk about this kind of cleansing in the Angels of the Birth Chart report.

At any rate, the eucharistic is (usually) part of the experience of the the miracle of Easter. It should be the final step leading towards the ideal occurrence of taking part in the cosmic spiritual resurrection. There's a lot to talk about in regards to the mysteries of Easter, but that's not the subject of this article. Instead, I will talk about the eucharist and my experience with encountering its great power. For this a story is needed.

I'm not the kind to shy away from cursing whenever the situation calls for it. While I don't throw curses left and right just because I can and am generally better at it than your average occultist, I usually go out of my way to punish those who've wronged me and the few I care about, especially when the people doing the wronging feel entitled to do so (and I've come across more than a few of these so far).

Working with Guardian Angel

"Go on, dum-dum."

Now that I’ve announced the Angels of the Birth Chart thing and I already went into details regarding how one can benefit from interacting with their Guardian Angel, I will detail on my latest experiences. The first one began late last year while the second one about a couple of weeks go. Given I’ve had more of the former, I will address it and may speak of the latter at some future time after I’ve tested things in more detail.

Back in November last year I did my daily practice as a communion with my Crowley-HGA and my “good” and “bad” angels. I usually use this as daily practice, instead of regular practical rituals, during extended Voids of Course or at times the Moon is not reflecting light. The reasons for this should be obvious upon reading Asteria.

Upon asking them for help and guidance I was told to close my eyes and relax, as usual. Then I was instructed to focus on my heart.

Angels of the Birth Chart & Holy Guardian Angel

I'm happy to announce a new service, Angels of the Birth Chart & Holy Guardian Angel based on methods described by H.C. Agrippa.

This service is in the form of a 33 page report revolving around one's natal chart. Note that one page towards the end is blank due to a bug in the program used to render the document, so no need to worry about any missing information. The bug does not affect the calculations, solely the paging, so don't worry about that!

The report contains the native's personal divine names and the name of their guardian angel, as derived from their chart. One of good ol' Cornelius' methods is used for the calculations.

Pluto pathworking

In Cielos I spoke about working with the outer planets and presented means of doing so, including a couple of spirit names. I also said that unlike Uranus and Neptune, I had yet to work with Pluto by the time I was writing the book. But that has changed as of last month.

Shortly before the New Year I did a ritual to call on the planet's angel. For the past year I had been receiving signs in the form of news of the planet showing up in non-related online seaarches and memories of me thinking of working with Pluto years back suddenly popping into my awareness. I dismissed them at the time when instead instead I should've recognized them as such.

It arrived and I greeted it and presented it with a tea light as a welcoming gift. I got a name and even though it checks out as being that of an actual angel according to A Dictionary of Angels, I will refrain from making it public for a while until I experiment more.

More on the temple

Another concern I've encountered in online occult discussions concerns the lighting within the temple.

The very first book I read about magical practice is Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki's Ritual Magic Workbook. And yes, I do read at times, especially during my early years of practice, even though I hate doing it. Anyway, I was but a noob at the time and I found that book to be outstanding. Nowadays I only find it ok, but nonetheless a good source for general beginners work, especially for those who want to walk the path of self initiation. While I'm sure they will find and use more solid material for that purpose in time, I consider this book to be a great start.

The author does a good job detailing on temple requirements for various rites and rituals, including seasonal workings. If I remember correctly, since I haven't read it in almost ten ten years, it also speaks of temple lighting. I can't quite remember that part so I will refrain from presenting false information, but you're free to look it up for yourself if you so choose.

Churchy antics

"Bless me, father, for I have sinned."

I won't make a separate label for rants, let alone for specific rant subjects. Take this rant as it is because it may be informative to some.

Today is Palm Sunday based on the Orthodox calendar, meaning next Sunday is Easter. People around here seem cool with that. Many are contempt or even rejoice because they can hang out and have fun at bbqs with friends and family and whatnot.

None are aware why this particular timing is wrong based on a calendar constructed based on human dogma alone. Most are oblivious to anything anymore, anyway, besides their immediate needs, so who cares?

But anyway, the Orthodox Church has decreed who knows how long ago, because I won't bother researching, that Easter is to be celebrated on the first Sunday after the so called New Moon in Aries. This may mean nothing to laymen, but this has both an astronomical and an astrological cause behind it, at least in my view. But I think my view was proven correct upon my back and forth with an Orthodox priest on the subject a few years back.

Decans pathworking

This hit me a few days ago while I was under the influence of a certain mystical experience inducing herb and mind you I've only done it outside ritual space so far. By that I mean I hadn't tuned the space to the appropriate force, meaning the information I received was likely to be more diluted and mixed with interference from other forces. But so far I fancy the idea and I think I'll do it as often as possible.

Some years ago Scott presented a simple pathworking ritual, something I've been using to work my way up the Tree of Life. Right now I have only the paths of Venus, Moon, Mercury and Air left, but each new pathworking seems to take longer than the previous for the energies to settle down inside my sphere and for me to physically manifest and act according to what I've been taught during the actual pathworking.

Thoughts on pathworking

I recently had a conversation with a reader of this blog concerning pathworking. Among other things, he asked me if I'm aware of any literature on this subject. I admitted to being uncultured and pointed him to Scott for details on Crowley's recordings of his experiences with the Aires. By the way, I recommend you read Scott's articles on the subject if you're interested, this one and this one, since they've helped me get started in this field. 

The man also told me there's little out there in regards of actual experiences during these operations and I agree. Besides generalities on how to perform a pathworking, there's not much in regards to different minute details one can come across during a pathworking. But in my opinion that is to be expected since no author can cover the vast and diverse range of experiences. There's so much, even so little, one can come across and that renders every attempt to even try to paint several scenarios even in broad strokes, irrelevant.

Jupiter cazimi (warning)

Jupiter will be cazimi on Tuesday, April 11. Normally, this would be a very auspicious moment for Jupiter workings, especially with Jupiter's current dignity by triplicity. Unfortunately things are not that favourable in this case...

The waning Moon is in Sagittarius, but in many parts of the world it will be Void of Course during the aforementioned auspicious event. I think the Void will pass in some areas of the globe and people will get to benefit from Jupiter cazimi (separating), but the Moon will be in exile in Capricorn...

HGA "experts"

I've addressed the wannabe experts with respect to occult matters in more than one article so far. This time I will do it in regards to the subject of the Holy Guardian Angel. Anyone who knows even a bit on this subject is aware there is more than one such entity assigned to each person and we've discussed this briefly in Asteria.

This article focuses on the Holy Guardian Angel from the perspective of being the entity of the highest rank assigned to an individual. So far so good, except that in some cases people elevate that entity to a status that would make it equal to and even equivalent to the person's Higher Self. This is foolish since the former is a creation of the latter, the Higher Self being the divine spark inside each individual, practically "your personal piece of God". I discuss this in Words and I even throw in some Genesis verses.