What Magic Is This?

Monoliths exist. The Occult and Esotericism in the West has many, but there are only a handful that almost everyone who calls themselves a seeker knows and will cite by name. One of them was written by a quiet but imposing figure, who seemingly out of nowhere at the age of twenty-seven wrote a book that cut to the very heart of philosophical esotericism. His name was Manly Palmer Hall and his book The Secret Teachings of All Ages stands to this day as a book that is both daunting and dizzyingly vast. But what can we take from this work now, and what do we make of its enigmatic and mystical author? Welcome back to the Fools Gallery.

Through the ages, many branches of esoteric thought have spoken of a Perennial Philosophy; an original wisdom from which all wisdom comes. For many, Ancient Egypt was seen as the place where a certain current and way of being with the world manifested itself to accomplish great things. One early 20th century Alchemist, René Schwaller de Lubicz thought that he knew what this was. After having spent years in Egypt and looking at their ancient structures and symbols, felt that he understood that the Ancient Egyptians saw and thought with the world in a very different way; that they saw into the inside of everything- An Intelligence of the Heart. Joining WMiT? to talk about it is the scholar of esotericism, Aaron Cheak PhD!

The movement of people from the German speaking areas of Europe to the Americas brought many things. In Pennsylvania, many new customs and traditions formed, including a sort of Folk Magic. Taking its name from a specific American Grimoire, Powwow also known as Braucherei became hugely popular amongst the Pennsylvania Dutch. Taking us through all of the aspects of Powwow are two Powwowers, Jason David the Powwow Doctor, and Robert Matthew Phoenix the Powwow Guy!

Over the last 2 years, the one question I get asked more than any other single question from listeners is "How do I get started doing Magic?" To start the year off right, I would like to provide a few insights and perhaps some inspiration which hopefully should help one enter the temple of Magic with ease. Pull up a chair and lend an ear, I'm about to share a few things.

In the last 30 years, a shining example of the delicious mix of Magic and Creativity within comic books has been exemplified by the creature that is Grant Morrison. It seems like every superhero that you can bring to mind has been touched in some way by Morrison. And yet, besides bringing forward the modern mythology of the caped warriors that set off so many cash registers across the globe, Morrison has been a Magician for many years, and has shared their Magic in many ways not just through the combination of pictures and words. It's all things Grant Morrison in this episode!

For many, the most influential and austere Grimoire of Magic from the Islamicate world is the Shams al-Ma'arif or the Sun of Knowledge. Inside this notorious book are many Magic Squares which combine words and numbers which are believed to be the only true way to communicate with Angels and spiritual entities called Jinn. A book that has been held in high regard by many, up to this point it has not been translated into English- Until now. Joining WMiT? is the team that undertook the task- Scholar Amina Inloes and Artist J.M. Hamade.

Something which is often talked of in magical circles, but not greatly understood- is Gnosticism and those who were called Gnostics. These Gnostics were those that valued personal experience of God; a knowledge called "gnosis," over more orthodox traditions and institutions. For the last 2000 years, we knew very little about these Gnostics, but all of that changed with an amazing archeological find in 1945 in Egypt. Taking us through Gnosticism and all things Gnostic, is the host of the greatest gnostic podcast ever, Aeon Byte Gnostic Radio- Mr. Miguel Conner!

Something which touches every person on this planet is illness; at some point each and every one of us will get sick. How we heal and what medicines we use has changed drastically throughout the ages. Things which would have meant certain death a hundred years ago, are dealt with somewhat simply now. So what is one to do if they get sick and they also do not buy into a fully materialist paradigm? To discuss we are joined by someone who has recently endured a healing journey and is sharing how it went and how they utilized magic in their healing- Ivy Bromius!

It's hard not to bump up against the Great Beast at some point when doing magic in the 21st Century. So many aspects of Western Occultism owe Crowley a debt in some way or another. Yet as time goes on, many people are speaking out against Crowley or at least highlighting that perhaps he was not all he's cracked up to be. For about seven years, I called myself a Thelemite and would engage in whatever rituals of Crowley's I could find. So, to put a cap on the Month of Crowley, I'd like to share a few of my Beastly Thoughts.

The statement "Aleister Crowley was a complicated figure" is a vast understatement. Depending on who is delivering the message, he can be either a wise teacher pointing to enlightenment and truth, or a monster and a con-artist who thought only of himself always. Our second episode of The Month of the Beast has us talking with the author of several books about Crowley, Richard T. Cole. We dive into the writing of The Book of the Law, some skulduggery as well as the overall message of the New Aeon.