The Hermetic Hour

The Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a discussion on the 20th Path of the Tree of Life. This is the Path that leads from Tiphareth to Chesed and is aptly attributed to the astrological sign Virgo, the Hebrew letter Yod and the Tarot Trump The Hermit. Again our texts will be Gareth Knight's Practical Guide to Qabalistic Symbolism and John Michael Greer's Paths of Wisdom. This particular path is concerned with the issues of personality and individuality in relation to the spiritual ideal of dissolving the ego. In this regard Chesed represents The Garden of Eden, and the Hermit travels the lonely road to recover his/her virgin state of selfless innocence. The alternative to this -- according to Gareth Knight -- is a return to Lemurian black magick, an option which we will also examine for it's symbolic significance. So, if you want to journey beyond the Sun then join us Thursday night.

It's Thursday May 22nd, 2025 - This is the Hermetic Hour, I'm your host Poke Runyon and tonight we present a dramatic reading from my magical adventure novel "The Tomb of Prester John" - chapters eight thru ten. We take up the story with Doc and Sophie in their Akisar Hotel room after escaping from Theatria's Catacombs. They dismantle the "Lamp of Truth" and use it to decipher the code in Prester John's letter. Their Turkish colleague Colonel Renda arrives and they all proceed on toward Cappadocia where they are captured by the evil genius Victor Paulesque and Khalil ibn Iblis and his terrorists. In the subterranean world of the Troglodytes they all travel together on an underground train and enjoy a dinner which the sinister Paulesque tries to win them over to his Satanic agenda.

The Hermetic Hour, with host Poke Runyon, will present a panel discussion on the 22nd Path of the Tree of Life, leading from Tiphareth to Geburah. The Path is attributed to the astrological sign Libra, the Scales of Balance, the Tarot Trump "Justice," and the Hebrew and Phoenician letters "Lamed," both representing the Ox Goad -- which has a remarkable symbolism relating to a Biblical-Canaanite mystery we will reveal for the first time. This Path also ends up at the narrow bridge leading to the Castle on the Edge of the Abyss (Geburah). Again we refer to John Michael Greer's "Paths of Wisdom" and Gareth Knight's "Practical Guide to Qabalistic Symbolism." Now, if you want to meet Osiris in the Great Hall of Judgement, remember, like Santa Claus, he has a list of who's been naughty and who's been nice -- so be good for goodness sake!  

The Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a discussion on the 21st Path of the Qabalistic Tree of Life, leading from Netsach to Chesed. This is the Path attributed to Jupiter, the Hebrew letter "Kaph", (the Hand), and the Tarot Trump "The Wheel of Fortune." The Sphere of Chesed is also attributed to the Planet Jupiter, making this a very powerful positive combination. We have a unique interpretation of The Wheel of Fortune which also appears in our Crata Repoa initiatory system. Chesed (Jupiter) is appropriately ruled by the Phoenician Father God El (AL) and we place the Phoenician God Dagon in residence. Chesed also relates to Atlantis as the ruling realm of the mythical world. So if you want to go back in time and meet an amphibious ancient astronaut, tune in make the journey with us.

On May Ist 2025 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a reading of his 1977-1999 landmark Magical essay: Magick and Hypnosis. Which first appeared in Llewellyn's magazine GNOSTICA volume 5, number 9, whole number 45 in 1977 and was updated in 1999. This important article has been translated into German and French and has had wide circulation in academic circles. It is a major position paper in modern Hermetics. It is included as a appendix in our recent THE BOOK OF SOLOMON'S MAGICK, SECOND EDITION (2023) So, if you are still not quite sure about  how Hermetic Magick really works then tune in, relax and just listen to my voice.

On Thursday April 10th, 2025 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present an essay on The Laws of Old, the channeled credo of ancient Atlantis inscribed on the pillars in the Temple of the Order of the Temple Astarte. These arcane precepts were channeled by Frater Thabion during his Holy Guardian Angle Retreat in 1984 and are in Enochian which is alleged to have been the language of Old Atlantis. These ancient moral principals are all positive assertions. Thou shalts, rather than Thou shalt nots as in the Ten Commandments. They were first revealed in our film BEYOND LEMURIA (2007, published in the booklet that accompanies the film, and delivered by our own V.H. Frater Memnonides as The Master Phylos in the movie; which is still available in a 2014 Second Edition @(PokeRunyon.com) Our essay goes on to discuss the relation of The Laws to the Holy Grail tradition and their origins in Plato's Philosophy. This is the first time we have made mention of The Laws on the the Hermetic Hour so students of our work and philosophy should give this episode special attention.

The Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a discussion on the 23rd Path of the Qabalistic Tree of Life, leading from the Sphere of Hod to the Sphere of Geburah on the Pillar of Severity. This Path is attributed to the Element of Water and the Tarot Trump "The Hanged Man." Once again our texts for reference will be Gareth Knight's "Practical Guide to Qabalistic Symbolism" and John Michael Greer's "Paths of Wisdom." We will delve into the history and the mystery of the strange "Hanged Man" and give you our own unique interpretation of its meaning from Greek Mythology. So, if you want to cross stormy seas to Anath's Castle on the Edge of Forever, be sure to join us for another exciting adventure in the Land of Otz Chiim.  

The Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a discussion on the 24th Path on the Hermetic Qabalah's Tree of Life. This is the Path attributed to Death, the right hand guardian or gate to Tiphareth, with the Devil on the left side as Path 26. These two gates are considered soul testing challenges to the central Sun, and realm of the Solar Logos represented by Tiphareth. Our texts will be Gareth Knight's Practical Guide to Qabalistic Symbolism and John Michael Greer's Paths of Wisdom. This Path will give us an opportunity to discuss the nature and meaning of Hermetic enlightenment, the concept of individual consciousness being eternal consciousness, and what Eliphas Levi really meant when he wrote: "Death is man's way of conquering immortality." --- So, if you want to live forever, tune in and get a head start on it.  

The Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a discussion on the Twenty-fifth Path of the Hermetic Qabalistic Tree of Life. This Path goes up the Middle Pillar from Yesod to Tiphareth and has the Tarot Trump "Temperance" attributed to it. Regardie considers it related to the Holy Guardian Angel as your guiding spirit. The astrological reference is Sagittarius and relates to an arrow shot directly upwards. The Hebrew letter is Samech and the traditional reference is "the Tentative Intelligence." Again our texts will be Gareth Knight's "Practical Guide to Qabalistic Symbolism," and John Michael Greer's "Paths of Wisdom." So if you want to keep going up the Tree with us, tune in, close your eyes, and we'll take a shot at the Sun.

The Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon, will present another of our on-going lecture series on the Paths of the Tree of Life. This time we deal with 'The Devil', the Tarot Trump and other relevant symbolic aspects of the Path that leads from Hod, the Mercurial Sphere of the intellect, to Tiphareth, the Solar Sphere of Mystical Transformation and beauty. Once again our primary texts for reference will be Gareth Knight's "Practical Guide to Qabalistic Symbolism" and Israel Regardie's "Garden of Pomegranates" (first edition), so if you want to journey from the laboratory to the temple, and meet the devil on the way, tune in and travel with us from Darkness to Light.