Well, I am trying to arrange for this working of the Goetia. The Goetia is a book of the Lesser Key of Solomon that contains lists of demons a magician can conjure.
I am fine all day at work. Once I get home I am exhausted, cranky and want to do nothing but sit on the couch and watch something mindless on Netflix. I am "out" of printer paper, which I know I have around here somewhere. My Goetic tools have vanished. My head is burning like I stuck it in a microwave. This guy may slow me down but he is NOT going to win this little battle. Frankly, the harder he fights the more I know I can take him on. If I couldn't raise him and set him on task for the betterment of all, he wouldn't fight me. He'd let me call him and have my ass for lunch.
Note: I received my first critique from Steve today. Damn, the whole page was red! Thanks for putting up with me so far. My writing will improve.
Edit: Now my printer will not print the seal. I was going to do this the easy way with technology. I suppose that will not be possible. The game is afoot.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
Preparation
Tonight, I am preparing some work from the Lesser Key (Goetia). My circle is laid out. The names of God surround it. This time, I have added the names of the five Greek Deities I have been working with. These names are placed outside the the names. This effectively creates three circles. The Greek names are one. The names of the Shemhamporesch form another. The thin black line is the innermost circle.
There is still much more to do. Stay tuned.
There is still much more to do. Stay tuned.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Hades, Bacchus and Persephone
My partners and I have begun working with Hades and Persephone within the larger scope of the Helpful Deity work. Last night I worked with the Witch. Not long ago, I worked with them and Flower.
I am finding Hades a bit difficult to fathom. He moves from what I perceive as a void state to an authoritarian king. The latter is easy for me to understand even if that personality (godality?) is a bit difficult. The void state is different. How can one internally describe such a thing and make sense of it? There is nothing to mentally hang onto in the void. Light does not exist there. Thoughts too seem not to exist, even though I could hear and understand my partner's/Persephone's words, I did not think about them nor respond.
The odd part was that with a strong manifestation of Hades, Bacchus arrived. I carried both of them as distinct personalities for most of the long ritual. I didn't think these too associated much. Considering the ritual chant appeared to take us down to Hel, Bacchus' appearance was more than odd. I was under the impression the only Greek Deity that could travel in and out of Hel besides Hades was Hermes. Perhaps by then we were on the common ground, shared by Zeus, Hades and Poseidon -- the earth.
After taking two large swigs from the wine bottle, Bacchus' message was of the joy of life but not really as a party god. It was more about expressing joy that comes from loving life.
Hades message focused on my sacrifice and future sacrifices along the twin paths of magick that I am following right now. I can undergo many smaller sacrifices or one large one but none so great as I have already made. The last one will be borne with laughter.
Both Hades and Persephone decried our black robes. She called them too somber. Both told us we should be wearing white.
One of the things I'm learning about Hades is the analogy between him and the Hiereus of the Golden Dawn. If you view creation as coming from the "top" downward as qabalists do, Hades is the last stop. Here you must drink from the river Lethe "forgetfulness". This makes one forget one's past life and allows for reincarnation. So too, is the job of the Hiereus but in a different fashion.
I am taking Bacchus more seriously now. I thought he was a party god akin to my experience with Dionysus. Bacchus had each of us drink wine in ritual. I drank two healthy swigs right from the bottle. This took away some silent part of me whose idea of myself prevented me from reaching that void. The wine the Witch drank removed one thought from her as well, at least for the length of the ritual.
Bacchus joy of life and living is something I would like to feel more often. This isn't the drunkenness of alcohol but on the spirit, animation and manifestation of life. The phrase, "It is great to be alive!" comes to mind as describing the attitude he shared with us.
That said the wine I drank in ritual kicked my ass. I am not a huge drinker. My partner says I had four glasses. I suppose that is enough to get me plastered but it was different. The alcohol removed the ideas that prevent connection and I stayed in connection with the void space for some time after ritual. This allowed me to understand both of my partner's needs more clearly. I value that.
I don't think I am conveying the intensity of this ritual. The Witch's experience with Persephone was "the most intense I have every experienced." She is very experienced. My contact with Hades and Bacchus was so intense that I could not move any part of my body most of the time. My eyes closed and remained that way for nearly two hours. My personality was nearly utterly gone. I was only aware it existed but no part of it came through in the ritual. Everything I said or did was Bacchus or Hades acting through me.
Five years ago, I would have killed to be able to do this intense work. Now, it seems so normal that I have to remind myself that everyone doesn't do this in their daily lives. I am grateful the gods allow me this.
The experiences I am having of late with the Greeks is nothing short of incredible. The differ from the qabalistic workings as the former are deeper personalities, fully formed and perfect. The qabalistic god names, angels and choirs and angels are more akin to forces than anything I can interact with on a human level.
I am finding Hades a bit difficult to fathom. He moves from what I perceive as a void state to an authoritarian king. The latter is easy for me to understand even if that personality (godality?) is a bit difficult. The void state is different. How can one internally describe such a thing and make sense of it? There is nothing to mentally hang onto in the void. Light does not exist there. Thoughts too seem not to exist, even though I could hear and understand my partner's/Persephone's words, I did not think about them nor respond.
The odd part was that with a strong manifestation of Hades, Bacchus arrived. I carried both of them as distinct personalities for most of the long ritual. I didn't think these too associated much. Considering the ritual chant appeared to take us down to Hel, Bacchus' appearance was more than odd. I was under the impression the only Greek Deity that could travel in and out of Hel besides Hades was Hermes. Perhaps by then we were on the common ground, shared by Zeus, Hades and Poseidon -- the earth.
After taking two large swigs from the wine bottle, Bacchus' message was of the joy of life but not really as a party god. It was more about expressing joy that comes from loving life.
Hades message focused on my sacrifice and future sacrifices along the twin paths of magick that I am following right now. I can undergo many smaller sacrifices or one large one but none so great as I have already made. The last one will be borne with laughter.
Both Hades and Persephone decried our black robes. She called them too somber. Both told us we should be wearing white.
One of the things I'm learning about Hades is the analogy between him and the Hiereus of the Golden Dawn. If you view creation as coming from the "top" downward as qabalists do, Hades is the last stop. Here you must drink from the river Lethe "forgetfulness". This makes one forget one's past life and allows for reincarnation. So too, is the job of the Hiereus but in a different fashion.
I am taking Bacchus more seriously now. I thought he was a party god akin to my experience with Dionysus. Bacchus had each of us drink wine in ritual. I drank two healthy swigs right from the bottle. This took away some silent part of me whose idea of myself prevented me from reaching that void. The wine the Witch drank removed one thought from her as well, at least for the length of the ritual.
Bacchus joy of life and living is something I would like to feel more often. This isn't the drunkenness of alcohol but on the spirit, animation and manifestation of life. The phrase, "It is great to be alive!" comes to mind as describing the attitude he shared with us.
That said the wine I drank in ritual kicked my ass. I am not a huge drinker. My partner says I had four glasses. I suppose that is enough to get me plastered but it was different. The alcohol removed the ideas that prevent connection and I stayed in connection with the void space for some time after ritual. This allowed me to understand both of my partner's needs more clearly. I value that.
I don't think I am conveying the intensity of this ritual. The Witch's experience with Persephone was "the most intense I have every experienced." She is very experienced. My contact with Hades and Bacchus was so intense that I could not move any part of my body most of the time. My eyes closed and remained that way for nearly two hours. My personality was nearly utterly gone. I was only aware it existed but no part of it came through in the ritual. Everything I said or did was Bacchus or Hades acting through me.
Five years ago, I would have killed to be able to do this intense work. Now, it seems so normal that I have to remind myself that everyone doesn't do this in their daily lives. I am grateful the gods allow me this.
The experiences I am having of late with the Greeks is nothing short of incredible. The differ from the qabalistic workings as the former are deeper personalities, fully formed and perfect. The qabalistic god names, angels and choirs and angels are more akin to forces than anything I can interact with on a human level.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Time to Get It in Gear
Today, I had my ass chewed because I've been listening but not doing.
I have always had a dream to be writer. At first, I thought I wanted to be a novelist. Novels are sexy. Yet, I read somewhere that 90% of the books submitted for publication are fiction and 90% of the books that are published are non-fiction. I have threatened to write books and articles but I have not done so. I've written a few chapters. I've done some research but produced nothing.
Spirits have dropped quite a few hints over the years that I need to write. I have even had a psychic that didn't know me tell me, "You know you are required to write at least two books right?" She followed with, "You better do it before the gods give you no choice." Today, I got my ass chewed by a spirit. Which one I won't say but I will say it was more than a tad intimidating. I was more startled by this spirit than I have by any other. I think the gods may be getting inpatient.
I have no idea where I will find the time. I have a hot new girlfriend. I am involved in a couple of magickal groups. My grade work is fast approaching the point where study and other activities are required. Yet, I must do something.
Part of my hesitation comes from the fact that I do not feel I am a good writer. Sure, when I make an effort I can turn a neat phrase and write a few paragraphs that have impact but that does not make me skilled. So, step one is learning to write better. To that end, I've hired this guy.
Steve is a local pagan with twenty-five years experience in the news business. He also has the only non-magickal blog that I have linked here. I love his work and more or less agree with what he writes. Steve will be reading some random posts and using them as teaching tools once a month. I will make an effort to incorporate what he teaches me as I write in this space. It is my hope as my writing improves, so will my publication efforts.
I have always had a dream to be writer. At first, I thought I wanted to be a novelist. Novels are sexy. Yet, I read somewhere that 90% of the books submitted for publication are fiction and 90% of the books that are published are non-fiction. I have threatened to write books and articles but I have not done so. I've written a few chapters. I've done some research but produced nothing.
Spirits have dropped quite a few hints over the years that I need to write. I have even had a psychic that didn't know me tell me, "You know you are required to write at least two books right?" She followed with, "You better do it before the gods give you no choice." Today, I got my ass chewed by a spirit. Which one I won't say but I will say it was more than a tad intimidating. I was more startled by this spirit than I have by any other. I think the gods may be getting inpatient.
I have no idea where I will find the time. I have a hot new girlfriend. I am involved in a couple of magickal groups. My grade work is fast approaching the point where study and other activities are required. Yet, I must do something.
Part of my hesitation comes from the fact that I do not feel I am a good writer. Sure, when I make an effort I can turn a neat phrase and write a few paragraphs that have impact but that does not make me skilled. So, step one is learning to write better. To that end, I've hired this guy.
Steve is a local pagan with twenty-five years experience in the news business. He also has the only non-magickal blog that I have linked here. I love his work and more or less agree with what he writes. Steve will be reading some random posts and using them as teaching tools once a month. I will make an effort to incorporate what he teaches me as I write in this space. It is my hope as my writing improves, so will my publication efforts.
Wealth by Two Definitions
I have suddenly realized that I am allowing myself to be human. In the past, I fought every single fault that I recognized. Some I have fought with success, others less so. I took every criticism to heart and very few compliments were accepted as factual. Both of those things are signs of distrust. The first was distrust of myself. The second distrust of others.
There is something that happens in the workings of spirit that solidifies the workings in the the elements. It was in working in air that I realized something along the lines of "It is what it is." There is an "isness" to things that is not to be judged, merely recognized. This was an exciting discovery for me. I worked on manifesting this knowledge to a deeper soul level. For a short time, I succeeded. Over the long term, I did not.
Now, it is different. People can say unflattering things to me and I can honor them as their perspective. I can agree or disagree internally but they cause no wounds. People can compliment me and I can accept those as their honest perspective but they cause little ego inflation. I can see disfunction and not need to validate myself by trying to fix it. I can see joy and not insert myself until asked but share in the happiness nonetheless.
There is a freedom in seeing one's faults clearly but not viewing them as a basic corruption of the soul and sharing the joy of others. Instead, I see these things as markers on the journey. I see the compliments the same way.
The other day, I posted that I saw myself for the first time as healthy mentally, emotionally and physically. I think that feeling was the result of living within the ideas presented above, even though I did not fully realize this had happened.
For me, this is a long term success of theurgy. I'd rather have this than a million dollars. Not that I would eschew the opportunity to be more financially rich.
Speaking of which, I have Jason Miller's wealth talisman. Someone that I respect that has done much better financially than I, with basically the same opportunity, presented a financial idea. The idea, coming from someone so successful, has great appeal. I am seriously considering acting on it. While it isn't some wild scheme, it does present a significant risk. SIGNIFICANT. There is also a good upside. Like all things magickal, I will try to prepare to take advantage of it while waiting for something to confirm.
There is something that happens in the workings of spirit that solidifies the workings in the the elements. It was in working in air that I realized something along the lines of "It is what it is." There is an "isness" to things that is not to be judged, merely recognized. This was an exciting discovery for me. I worked on manifesting this knowledge to a deeper soul level. For a short time, I succeeded. Over the long term, I did not.
Now, it is different. People can say unflattering things to me and I can honor them as their perspective. I can agree or disagree internally but they cause no wounds. People can compliment me and I can accept those as their honest perspective but they cause little ego inflation. I can see disfunction and not need to validate myself by trying to fix it. I can see joy and not insert myself until asked but share in the happiness nonetheless.
There is a freedom in seeing one's faults clearly but not viewing them as a basic corruption of the soul and sharing the joy of others. Instead, I see these things as markers on the journey. I see the compliments the same way.
The other day, I posted that I saw myself for the first time as healthy mentally, emotionally and physically. I think that feeling was the result of living within the ideas presented above, even though I did not fully realize this had happened.
For me, this is a long term success of theurgy. I'd rather have this than a million dollars. Not that I would eschew the opportunity to be more financially rich.
Speaking of which, I have Jason Miller's wealth talisman. Someone that I respect that has done much better financially than I, with basically the same opportunity, presented a financial idea. The idea, coming from someone so successful, has great appeal. I am seriously considering acting on it. While it isn't some wild scheme, it does present a significant risk. SIGNIFICANT. There is also a good upside. Like all things magickal, I will try to prepare to take advantage of it while waiting for something to confirm.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Life Traffic
This is one of those posts I hate making. It is just comprised of the little things I'm going through at the moment that I can't imagine is of interest to any of my readers. I record these things as reminders to myself as I reread old posts.
- My mentor's advice is becoming so subtle that I am amazed that I even recognize it as advice. You may have noticed subtle is not my forte'.
- I have noticed how even though an issue has been resolved the habit of dealing with said issue takes longer. For instance, my back is utterly and completely healed. If you drink aspartame, STOP! That said, I will move on occasion as if I am still in pain. I have to remind myself that I am not. I have noticed this on a few emotional issues as well. My obsession still rears its head through more of a habit of thought than anything else but there is no animosity behind it anymore. These thoughts are easy to dismiss.
- I have been working on private classes of late.
- There was a moment at a wedding I attended the weekend before last when I realized I was perfectly healthy of mind and spirit. I was/am the person I've always wanted to be.
- Plans for the goetic working continue. I will be buying some metal soon and fashioning a seal.
I plan on posting more interesting things in the near future.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Stretched
My partner and I worked with new gods last night. Well, they are old gods but new to us. There wasn't a great deal of information exchanged. It was more of an experience. I feel like I've been stretched out and worked some magickal muscles I didn't know I had. I would write more but time is short.
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