Lunar Eclipse 2018 – It has always been – the endless day, and endless night. They happen at the same time. Now is the moment we can experience the eternity.
I have already mentioned
that Anaximenes considers Air to be the First
Principle (Arkhê) of the cosmos; it
is infinite, eternal, ever-moving and divine; he
calls Air the Father of the Gods (which recalls
Zeus’s common title: Father of Gods and Humans).
Anaximenes also says, “Just as our Breath-Soul
(Psukhê), being Air
(Aêr), governs us, so Spirit-Breath
(Pneuma) and Air (Aêr)
encompass the whole cosmos.” This suggests that
the governance of the cosmos is accomplished by the
Spirit-Breath of the World Soul. Indeed, Philemon
says that Air, who is called Zeus, knows everything
done by Gods or mortals, because He is everywhere
at once. So also Empedocles points to the God’s
subtle nature: "He is a Spirit-Mind
(Phrên), holy and ineffable, and
only Spirit-Mind, which darts through the whole
cosmos with its swift thoughts.“ (Note that the
term translated Spirit-Mind, Phrên,
is the singular of Phrenes, Breast.) Here
again we see Air as a medium of communication and
governance, but on the cosmic scale.
However, just as we all breathe the same Air,
and the Air in my breast is continuous with that in
yours, so also the World Soul is continuous with
individual souls (an idea we also find in the
Upanishads, where Brahman, the World Soul
identified with Prâna (Breath), is
identical to Âtman, the individual
Life-breath). As the nervous system integrates the
activities of individual organs to work for the
sake of the organism, so the Air binds our
individual souls into one World Soul. Microcosm
and macrocosm unite.
Philo of Biblos (64-140 CE) translated a
“Phoenician History,” which was supposed to have
been written by Sanchuniathon before the Trojan War
(which is not unlikely) and to be based on Egyptian
scriptures attributed to Thoth. According to this
myth, in the beginning there was a Primal Wind, a
breath of mist and darkness (i.e.
Aêr); also there was
Môt, the muddy chaos of Erebus
(khaos tholeron Erebôdes), that is,
the formless Primal Mud. The Primal Wind
fertilized itself and became Desire
(Pothos, perhaps corresponding to Semitic
Rûah, which means Breath but also
connotes Desire). Further, Môt became the
Cosmic Egg, and the cosmos was born when Desire
opened the Cosmic Egg (as also in the Orphic
cosmogonies), which led to a separation of the
Elements.
According to Eudemus (4th cent. BCE), the
Phoenicians who lived in Sidon also believed that
the universe was born of Air. In the beginning was
Time (Khronos), Desire (Pothos)
and Fog (Omikhlê). Desire and Fog
united, giving birth to Aêr and
Aura (Moving Air).
“There is a space, right between the conscious and the subconscious, between heaven and earth, between reality and imagination where all things are possible.
If you can see it, hear it, feel it then you can communicate with it. It may be a feeling, a thought, a belief, an action, a habit, an emotion, but it is simply energy. If is is causing discomfort, it is expanding into awareness for comprehension. If it is judged as a problem, then it is currently being experienced as a lower vibration and creating havoc in order for transformation.
We all have the ability to transform all energy of the self and all lower vibrational energy is simply waiting for an invitation for transformation into it’s highest potential. Out of dark into light, out of fear into Love, etc. etc.
If we can connect to the energy of a current issue and simply ask questions, then the answers will come and the transformation of anything that limits the self can be brought into balance.”
An Empath is a person who has the ability to feel and share other people’s feelings and pains. Empaths are very sensitive to their surroundings, what they eat, and who they are around. Naturally, Empaths are kind, good-hearted, spiritually attuned, and excellent listeners.
Are you an Empath?
You know stuff without being told
Public places, like malls or busy grocery shops, can be overwhelming
You feel others emotions and pains by taking them on as your own
Seeing violence, cruelty, bullying is unbearable.
You know when someone is lying to you
You pick up physical symptoms off of other people such as colds, body aches, headaches, pains, etc.
You have digestive disorders or lower back pains.
You are always looking out for the underdog. Anyone whose suffering, in emotional pain or being bullied draws your attention.
Others will always want to unload problems on you, even strangers.
You are a good listener.
You are constantly tired and drained of energy.
You are drawn to healing, holistic therapies, and all things metaphysical.
You have a creative streak and a vivid imagination.
You have a love for nature and animals. You find yourself constantly outside connecting with animals and seeking refuge in nature.
You need lots of alone time or you will go crazy.
You get bored or easily distracted if not stimulated.
You find it impossible participate in things you do not enjoy.
You strive for truth and honesty
You are always looking for answer and knowledge. You always are found with you nose in a book.
You like adventure, freedom, and traveling.
You have a messy room, desk, locker, etc.
You constantly and seem to be in your own little world.
You find rules, routine, and control imprisoning.
You find yourself prone to gaining weight without necessarily overeating
You are able to sense the energy of food and often do not eat meat from an animal that was mistreated.
You have been labeled as overly emotional or too sensitive.
Your feelings are hurt easily.
Animals and children take a natural liking to you.
You are fairly quiet especially in crowds.
If you answered yes to all or most of these you are definitely an empath.
Ways to cope with Empathy:
Allow yourself to have lots of quiet time without electronics. Curl up with a book and put on soothing music instead.
Take time out of your day to sit in nature
Pet a dog, cat, horse, rabbit, etc.
Meditate
If crowds are overwhelming, eat a high-protein meal beforehand (this grounds you) and sit in the far corner, not dead center.
Ground yourself
Cleanse your space, aura, and chakras of negative energy
Practise breathing exercises
Carry or wear protective crystals
Develop a energy shield for your body
Crystals for Empaths:
Rose quartz – Helps push away negativity, provides a bit of extra energy, excellent for grounding.
Black tourmaline – Protects from negative energy.
Amethyst – Helps to heighten and sharpen an empath’s intuition.
Lepidolite – Eases any anxieties empaths have when around other people. This crystal is well known for its power, peace, and its ability to promote luck, love, and sleep.
Malachite – Removes emotional blockages and helps calm when you are in a stressful situation. Absorbs any negative feeling you might hold inside of you.
Amazonite – Helps balance emotions.
Citrine – Repels negative energy. Relieves depression and mood swings. Opens the mind to new thoughts, helps with dream recall, and increases self esteem.
Obsidian – Repels negative energy, grounds you, and balances emotions.
Aqua Aura Quartz – Deflects and traps harmful energies.
Essential Oils for Empaths:
Basil – Lifts fatigue, anxiety, and depression.
Frankincense – Has an uplifting effect, prevents people from draining energy, helps your concentration, and clears mind clutter.
Geranium – Uplifting, decreases anxiety and nervous tension.
Jasmine – Mood enhancer, balances emotions, boosts self-esteem and lifts anxiety and depression.
Lavender – Balances emotions, relaxes body and mind, and clears negative energy.
Marjoram – Calms emotional trauma
Rose – Mood enhancer.
Sage – Uplifting, grounding, relaxing, prevents people from draining energy, and good for anxiety.
If you find yourself stressed or simply desire a different form of meditation, go ahead and pick one, or, better yet, have your tarot tell you which meditation you should do!
0. Fool – meditate to some calming music, find a nice track
and let it fill your mind and body
1. Magician – recite a mantra of some sort, word or
phrase, pick something meaningful to you, not just what the internet suggests
2. High Priestess – the practice of attending: look at and assess each thought you have as you meditate
3. Empress – focus on self-love, find things you
appreciate about yourself, let love fill you and your soul
4. Emperor – count your heartbeats or your breaths
5. Hierophant – take this time to recite a prayer to a higher being, speak a blessing of some sort, or your equivalent
6. Lovers – send love, good vibes, and blessings to
a loved one
7. Chariot – focus on each body part separately,
flexing and relaxing each part from your toes to your head
8. Strength – stand up and do the sun salutation or
a similar yoga exercise, or if you’d rather, go work out
9. Hermit – ask a deep, philosophical question and
ponder on it for awhile
10. Wheel – diaphragmatic breathing: breath deeply from the diaphragm, so your stomach moves but your chest does not
11. Justice – find five things or people you are
grateful for and meditate on them
12. Hanged Man – the practice of mindfulness: simply
let your thoughts pass by as you meditate, not focusing on anything in particular
13. Death – take a short nap! please wake up, though
14. Temperance – the practice of visualization: visualize
your dreams about the future
15. Devil – focus on each sense individually, what do you feel, hear, see, if you want you can eat a small treat and focus on what you taste
16. Tower – candle meditation: focus on a flame,
image of a flame, or some sort of object
17. Star – take a bath or shower and focus on the
water cleansing both your body and mind
18. Moon – acknowledge your worries, then give them
up or let them go to a higher being
19. Sun – sit in sunlight or other bright light and
focus on the brightness, draining all your negativity away to be replaced with positivity
20. Judgment – focus on the energy within, how it
interacts with the earth and others around you
21. World – stand up and take a walk, preferably walk outside through nature
The mantra is a “sigilized” version of “I am the dream. Awaken the dreamer”. They have precisely the same numeric signature, yet the mantra itself does not suggest its purpose to the conscious mind, making this an effective method of creating pronounceable and even rhythmic mantras by using The Key of Naming. An ideal means of enchanting for those more aurally inclined, and twice as effective when combined with a sigil. This particular mantra is useful in either form. Note that the value of each is 123 = ((1+2) = 3) + 3 = 6.
If reality is a post hoc mathematical construction of a set of impressions generated by limited sensory input, how can we state with certainty that anything we experience is, in fact, real?
And if all we have regarding comprehension is limited to our subjective experience and interpretation of data received and processed in this way, can we even begin to say what reality is?
Reality is inferred, but never clearly perceived through the warped window of our senses. Science supplements our senses and makes postulations, philosophy argues its meaning and meaninglessness, and religion shackles the mind to a raft of holy assertions, yet none of them comes any closer to the truth.
Some say there is no truth, that there is no fixed reality, and that paradox is proof that truth is unstable at best and non existent at worst. This is not to say that science doesn’t work or that philosophy is without value, or that religion, or constructs like it, are without practical import regarding social cohesion and indoctrination. But what we have learned is that our perceptions are predictive hallucinations that show us only what they think should be there.
It’s all a projection and time and space have little meaning outside of our experience of them.
The interface theory of perception tells us that spacetime, and everything that we see in it, including ourselves, is a projection of our brains, like the desktop interface of an unfathomable computer.
Are then our brains, as we can see and experience them, projections of something else? Is not then all that we can experience thus? Perception’s purpose, we know, is to drive behavior according to fitness based imperatives and truth has nothing to do with it.
These projections that we experience as reality do not show us truth, nor are they meant to. They are only purposeful hallucinations. Useful mirages meant to drive optimal fitness behaviors that were developed by evolutionary pressures in the ancestral environment.
Our perceptions do not show us truth. Nor are they meant to because, in biological terms, truth isn’t useful. And studies using powerful supercomputers have demonstrated that organisms that see truth vs. organisms that perceive according to fitness behaviors have stunningly short life spans. And so all of reality as we can know it is an illusion and some, like Elon Musk, think it may even be a simulation. An idea not far from gnostic cosomological conceptions if you consider this simulation a matrix-style prison of dreaming.
We know brains only show us a prediction of a moment that has already passed. And what we see is only a post hoc reconstruction of a 3D cross section of 4D matter enfolded in approximately 7 more dimensions.
What this tells us is that perception is identical to divination and that things like Runes, Tarot and I Ching augment our brains predictive capabilities. In fact many non standard methods can be devised that behaves in similar ways. They do so because ours brains have similar functions and are constantly seeking patterns in chaos.
Our brains create patterns where there are none and reality behaves as if they are there. It is the basis of all magic in a sense, and it is how quantum states of superposition collapse as if the subatomic particles involved somehow know that we are going to observe them before we actually do.
It would seem that consciousness predicts the Universe while the Universe predicts us. Mind and matter are the same stuff. Soul and substance are the same thing and reality is the divination of yourself.
When discussing alchemy, the first thing you must understand is that in relation to modern chemistry, alchemy is relevant only in terms of history. Moreover, the value of the alchemists philosophical system has nothing to do with the literal interpretation of alchemical operations; but rather the message is hidden behind allegories, symbols and formulas. So the essence of alchemy is not the transformation of metals, but rather the transformation of the self.
Alchemists tell us the story of the matter passing through four main states: nigredo, albedo, citrinitas, rubedo. In nigredo, the matter is full of impurities, “unpolished”, so that in the albedo to be “cleaned” divided into two opposing principles. Citrinitas represent the transmutation of silver into gold, or the stage of “wise old man” – according to Carl.G.Jung‘s analytical psychology. Finally, in the state of rubedo the two opposing principles come together (coniunctio), giving birth to the two-headed eagle (Atahnor logo ), which symbolizes the discovery of the authentic self, the last stage of consciousness.
A similar initiatic journey we can find in tarot, as Oswald Wirth notes, where the story begins with the fool, which in French is called Le Fou, resembling Le Feu (Fire), thus referring to the alchemical process of transforming lead into gold. Perhaps the word game may lead us to the principle always reminded by alchemist Theophrastus noted Ph. Paracelsus, who urges alchemists to pass their theories through the fire, i.e. to test, experiment. Fire also symbolizes the active principle, or libido – described by Jung as the [psychic] energy of the individual. Moreover, if we interpret fire as the potency or the will to transform of the individual, we conclude that the fire that burns in Athanor (the furnace of alchemists) is the necessary will that “burns impurities” – the fuel that turns lead into gold. Moreover, even Gaston Bachelard in “Psychoanalysis of Fire” talks about the Prometheus complex, wich is explained to be: “Oedipus complex in intellectual life“ – so fire is engine that makes us want to know more. Paracelsus said that no operation can be done without this fire.
It is reasonable to consider both alchemy and tarot philosophical systems expressed through allegory, which focuses on the hidden potential in every individual (i.e. nigredo, the fool), which with labor and continuous “polishing” is able to discover his authentic self:
„nigredo is the revelation of the incompleteness of substance, that needs processing to become gold. This is why the matter is crying for the help of a man, which, by knowing and understanding, will save its soul from the netherworld.”
Nigredo also symbolizes the shadow of self, or the self [unconsciously] confronting its shadow. In the state of albedo we become aware of the shadow of the self, and impurities (unnecessary, harmful concepts) are removed. Also, we become aware of the opposite concepts anima and animus, that will be joined togheter in an alchemical process in rubedo : the Sun (gold, male) and the Moon (silver, female) come together; thus this operation is also symbolizing the union of conscious and unconscious – the consciousness in its fullness. In this respect some Gnostics, and some psychoanalysts and historians of religions have concluded that The Great Art means combining masculine (Sulphur) and feminine (Mercury) – a process more or less sexual. Mircea Eliade, great historian of religions noticed:
„European alchemy defines the Great Art as the <secret> to combine the <Masculine> with the <feminine>.”
Another thing that Paracelsus and other alchemists repeated was that to fulfill the alchemic operation, each step needs to be done perfectly, in perfect order. This reminds us that we must be diligent, not to deviate from the path, otherwise we will not obtain the rubedo state. The alchemist is somebody that makes order out of chaos (ordo ab chao), and in a sense, I believe that two-headed eagle symbol is representative of the whole process of acceptance, integration and transformation of the shadow in the entire being. The two-headed eagle is anima and animus fusioned, it’s the man aware of its shadow – unconscious becoming conscious.
Oswald Wirth notes that these ancient mystical symbols and allegories used to be a bridge between the conscious mind, and the collective unconscious. As I mentioned above, nigredo can also symbolize shadow or [collective] unconscious – the source of archetypes and symbols. So the moment we get out of the darkness (nigredo) – that miserable state of ignorance and unawarness -, is the moment we become aware of our shadow, when we distinguish subject from the object in the process of shadow projection.
Anyway, the alchemists have used different formulas to write their “alchemical recipes” to keep the knowledge away from the profane. A thing that was pretty common between alchemists was to associate different metals and different stages of processing (e.g. rotting) with various mythological names, thereby converting an alchemical recipe into a story or a myth – or vice versa. For example, Apollo (Sun) corresponded to gold. Jean Marie Ragon goes further and states that in the Greek myth of Apollo killing the snake Python hides an alchemical process, a meeting between coarse material and the philosophical fire. Moreover, many psychoanalysts (e.g. Jung) were concerned with the interpretation of myths in a rather metaphorical way, believing there are hidden meanings behind metaphors, myths and alchemical works (see C.Jung’s interpretation of the text “Consurgens Aurora“) . I
wanted to mention this because most people are skeptical about alchemy
(I am one of them), but I think that in many cases, the skepticism is
due the literally interpretation of alchemical texts/ myths. And it seems clear that D’Espagnets alchemical recipe that included a red dragon and seven or nine clean eagles that turns into a swan, doesn’t ask us to get a red dragon itself (nor claimed it will turn into a swan). And regarding Count Saint-Germain’s The Most Holy Trinosophia, it would be really foolish to think that that fantastic trip really took place (in the physical world).
A conclusion, and also a review could be that alchemy is a complex philosophical system, well-built, revealed in stages. Behind the seemingly chemical formulas or mythological character, there are beautiful teachings hiding, and the ultimate knowledge is reserved to the one with a sharp mind, escaping from the labyrinths built by alchemists. I think that Mircea Eliade concluded very nice his work “Cosmogony and babylonian alchemy“, reminding us that everyone has the potential to become gold, to transform his flaws and troublesome self (lead) into gold:
„Transmutation of metals, which at one point becomes the basic idea of alchemy, has its justification in the belief that any metal can perfect itself to the ultimate stage of matter, turning into Gold.”
Most people use the term ‘astral’ and don’t really know what it means. Worse still they read one book on the subject (usually written after 1970) and assume they are an expert when in truth the usage of the term spans centuries and sadly knowledge about the term, it’s meaning, and the experiences it’s related to has filtered down as time goes on. Many people think the astral plane is a separate reality existing above and beyond ours, an alternative world which pervades our own. This is only partially true, and sadly those who think it is wholly true normally end up being deluded or stroking their own ego.
So what is the Astral plane?
This is actually a hard question to deal with. Within the qabalistic tradition, anything astral relates to the plane above ours represented by Yesod on the tree of life and pertains to another plane of existence which the qabalists term Yetzirah, or the plane of formation.
Essentially people like to think of the world we perceive and ourselves as separate when this is simply not the case at all. Even in physical reality, the world we perceive is actually made by ourselves via visual stimuli being transformed in the brain from a 2-d stimulus on the back of your retina to a 3-dimensional world. If one is also familiar with the research in the area of quantum physics which states our observation does, in fact, influence the universe around us (sadly my tired brain forgets the specific details), why would the same not be true for astral worlds? Why would we not influence in any way what we see and what occurs on the astral, and with it being subtler why would our influence not cause greater change pertaining to that realm?
Now when I said the qabalists designate this realm of yetzirah or formative world as being above us, what I should also mention is that it is within us too. Imagining anything is in effect creating a form on the plane of yetzirah, those who can vividly visualise, create, and breathe life into the realm of yetzirah utilising their own mind are influencing the astral plane. This is something which is greatly misunderstood, most people regard imagination as a useless tool, when in fact to the occultists it is one of the most important tools in our arsenal. So, this is why on the astral plane anything is possible, it is a subtle plane which responds to the imagination, which is also why not all astral visions are valid. Eliphas Levi would call imagining something manipulating the astral light. That is, if you are on the astral you can imagine an obkect, impregnate it with your will, and use it for that purpose. Those that say things such as “It is merely imagination” don’t truly understand what imagnation is- it is the creative faculty of the mind, not some passive endeavour.
So, whilst the astral plane is the plane of imagination, it can also be the plane in which spiritual contact is given. The astral plane is a subtle level of existence which is more easily influenced by all, why would the imagination, or if we are to give the correct term, creative power of formation not be accessed by exterior spiritual beings? The answer is it can, or rather, it is believed it can be. Like I said earlier though, the astral plane is responsive to our own imagination, if we do not have control over ourselves and mental faculties they may get in the way and cloud our experiences, create things for us which really stem from the subconscious and not from an exterior source, or higher source, and therefore serve to be a hindrance, or lead us into delusion. How does one tell? Honestly, with practice. If you have experience with lucid dreaming and the characters therein one knows how subconscious characters act, they often seem lifeless or autonomic, they respond as expected, wanted, or like clockwork. Astral beings, true astral beings, retain their individuality, but that still does not stop our perception being clouded. How does one get past this? Practice!
This is why meditation is essential to magical practice, I don’t care if anyone has ever told you otherwise, it simply is. There is no other skill which I know of which can give you the tool set to control your mental faculties, it is the reason why Crowley recommended dharana for magical practice. The reasoning for this is simple; when read as instructions, it is simply imagining (i.e. creating on the astral) an image which you are to hold for the duration of the mediation period, completely still, without concentration wavering or the image changing in any way. Sadly most people read this and assume they can do it, having practised magic for years. Try it. You will find it to be one of the hardest tasks in the world at first. Crowley had plenty of time during his mountain expeditions to sit and try this practice in his early 20s BEFORE truly getting into magic. People don’t realise that a good portion of his success in magic is due to the preparatory work he put in in these formative years.
I wish I could tell you I was great at Dharana, the truth is I am awful at it. But I can control my creative imagination just enough to 1) Not create anything on the astral by accident most of the time i.e. without my will backed behind it and therefore rarely give rise to subconscious images, and 2) I have enough experience to know what comes from me and what comes from another place (could I be deluding myself still? Of course, however, it is simply less likely the case now!)
If you disagree with what I have said thus far I quote the Great Beast himself from a work which is derived from a lecture he gave a student about astral projection:
“Each and every man therefore that will be a Magician must explore the Universe for himself. This is pre-eminently the case in the matter of the Astral Plane, because the symbols are so sensitive. Nothing is easier than to suggest visions, or to fashion phantasms to suit one’s ideas. It is obviously impossible to communicate with an independent intelligence — the one real object of astral research — if one allows one’s imagination to surround one with courtiers of one’s own creation.”
This preliminary step of controlling one’s own inner creative faculty is an essential first step to obtaining actual, objective astral visions and as I have tried to emphasise before, this requires practice! Practice will be the subject of the next post.
Reissue on vinyl of the known recordings from occultist Aleister Crowley. Recorded on wax cylinder in the early 1910s, and later transferred to 78 RPM discs. The tracks include Crowley’s recitation of the first two Enochian keys, original poetry, incantations, and songs. Now shipping!!! #aleistercrowley #occult #avantgarde #vinyl
Occult Aspects 