What Magic Is This?

There is no other Magical Order that has done as much to shape people's perceptions of Magic than The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. From the practical use of Tarot, to the emphasis of Kabbalah, to the idea of initiation into Magic- all of this was a consequence of this short-lived magical group. In the first of a two-part episode, Douglas puts forward some notion of what magical ideas were around before the Golden Dawn and what was the story of their history, with a spotlight on a few key figures. Gather 'round Fraters and Sorors. It's Storytime.   Support my Flourishing on Patreon or if you Enjoyed the Episode, Toss Me a Coin or Two.

Ask anyone what they think the 4th Dimension is and most likely they will say that it is Time. Which is true, in some sense. But the 4th Dimension is more; so much more. It could be the lattice around which everything that has, is, and will happen- happens. The obsession with looking at higher dimensions and other worlds began in earnest in fin-de-siecle Victorian England. With figures such as Edwin Abbott and Charles Howard Hinton, people started to look closer at a dimension that we couldn't see, but perhaps we could very well experience. On this Episode on WMiT? Doug and guest Amber tackle a topic that might have ramifications as to how you see your life, and perhaps how you orchestrate it as well. Very Special thanks to Dr. Eric Wargo for his help and materials assisting in the creation of this Loopy Episode.   Support my Flourishing on Patreon or if you Enjoyed the Episode, Toss Me a Coin or Two.

What if I told you that you could have certain desires manifest in your life with a few seemingly simple steps? What if things in your life could change to meet with your aspirations both physical and mental? A somewhat recent weapon in the Magicians arsenal, Sigils are pictographic representation of an outcome that you desire. Their possibilities are seemingly endless, from creation to activation to disposing of them. Sigils go to the core of magic in many ways and are great evidence that symbolic thinking is indeed Magical. In this Episode of What Magic is This? Douglas is joined by fellow Magician and host of Pragmagick Podcast Keats Ross to talk about those weirdly wonderful squiggly lines.   Support my Flourishing on Patreon or if you Enjoyed the Episode, Toss Me a Coin or Two.

Residing in the heart of England lives one of the most notorious Wizards of the last 100 years. A Wizard who has not only seen the future, but some say has had a hand in crafting it. Conjuring characters that are as timeless as his ideas, there does not seem much that is beyond this Sorcerer's Magic. We are talking about Northampton's own Mr. Alan Moore. Widely considered the greatest writer of comic books in the history of the medium, Alan is beloved and feared in equal measures. Besides acknowledging that he is a Magician, not too many are aware of what Alan's Magical world looks like. In this Episode of WMiT? Douglas and Eric delve into the Marvellous Magical World of Alan Moore.   Support my Flourishing on Patreon or if you Enjoyed the Episode, Toss Me a Coin or Two.

In the Prologue to my Podcast, I talked about experiences; occurrences that happened to us all but were extraordinary in a way, something 'other' than normal. Aliens, Ghosts and Spirits are all somewhat common when these things happen. But what exactly is going on during these events? Is there some way that we can think about them that is useful to us? Perhaps there is a metaphor that could give us some kind of perspective? There is. For this, we will need to look through both sides of the Two-Way Mirror.   Support my Flourishing on Patreon or if you Enjoyed the Episode, Toss Me a Coin or Two.

Another soul lurking around the Fools Gallery. This time, we introduce The Witch of Kings Cross- Rosaleen Norton. Kicked out of school for having a 'Depraved Nature which could corrupt the others' Rosaleen always did things her own way. Influenced by Aleister Crowley and other occultists, Ms. Norton crafted some amazing art from her Magic. She was devoted to the Greek God Pan, the earth's true god- her residence completely adorned with altars to such deities. To many she was a kind, intellectual eccentric, to many others a corrupter of decency. On this Episode of WMiT, we take a peek at an often neglected Occult figure, and a wonderful artist as well.   Support my Flourishing on Patreon or if you Enjoyed the Episode, Toss Me a Coin or Two.

Colin Wilson, a prolific author known for over a hundred books, considered himself a philosopher of New Existentialism. He discusses the quest for meaning in life, challenging common misconceptions about consciousness. Colin emphasizes the importance of intentional living to break free from robotic behaviors, exploring how mindfulness can transform everyday experiences. He also shares insights into his complex legacy, including his paradoxical views on drug use and the ethical dilemmas faced by writers in amplifying dark narratives.

Ever met a Neoplatonist before the 19th Century? Me neither. The term was cast on a load of figures from the 3rd Century onwards. Using the philosophy of Plato, Neoplatonists came up with a sort of Unified Field Theory for how existence works. Without a doubt one of the most influential philosophies to the world of the esoteric and the occult. But how does it work? What view of the world does it propose? In this Episode, Doug and Dominique get their hands quite dirty going through a philosophy that needs to be looked at a little bit closer.   Support my Flourishing on Patreon or if you Enjoyed the Episode, Toss Me a Coin or Two.

After Astrology, the second most popular form of divination is Cartomancy. For over 500 years, we have turned to cards to show us how things were, are and what might be. Cards used include the Tarot, Oracle Cards, Lenormand Cards, and good ol' fashioned Playing Cards. But how did this come about? More importantly, how do you do it? In this episode of WMiT? Doug breaks it down with the assistance of a good friend, Brad. The cards tell stories to those willing to see them and one hopes by the end of this episode, that's everyone.   Support my Flourishing on Patreon or if you Enjoyed the Episode, Toss Me a Coin or Two.

Scattered across many museums, there are scrolls of Papyrus from the Early Common Era. Strange documents filled with spells of all kinds, formulae, prayers, hymns, rituals and rites. Their influences are all over the place- Egyptian, Greek, Jewish, Babylonian, Coptic even Gnostic and Christian. They are called the Greek Magical Papyri. Amazing documents that give us a glimpse into how magic was performed for a period of time, even though many of the spells date from much further back. Their existence is Miraculous. In this episode of WMiT, Doug is joined by Matthew to discuss a kind of magic that the host uses on a near weekly basis- Graeco-Egyptian Magic!   Support my Flourishing on Patreon or if you Enjoyed the Episode, Toss Me a Coin or Two.