ROPOCALYPSE NOW! With Special Guest/Secret Mentor Deborah Castellano!

So, I'm going to start doing the ROpocalypse Now! broadcasts more regularly now that my book is published. I have things to talk about, things to say, things to teach, things to promote...

And there are these people, people you need to know about. I'm not insane, or alone in this stuff. I have friends that are making this shit happen, this "what thou will" shit, on the regular. I'm in talks now with a couple of my favorite Magicians to do some interviews.

This weekend I scored an interview with Deb Castellano, author of the Arte of Glamour, and also mistress of the Charmed Finishing School.

Deb's been an inspiration and a key component in the development of the R.O. you know and love today. Her writings and insights led to the understanding and practices that let me enjoy an amazing relationship with an amazing lover. She's been such an integral part of the joyful unfolding of my life that I feel like it's super valuable for you to experience.

She also happens to provide me with the mojo hand feeding oils I use regularly in my own practice. I recently went to her Etsy Shop, La Sirène et le Corbeau (The Mermaid and the Crow) and ended up not only restocking Aurora and the High John oil, but also buying a shit ton of new stuff she's got available, including but not limited to the Tumnus the Fawn scent she made based on the Narnia stories.

She's also got a discontinued Jadis scent that we talk about in the interview. You probably couldn't handle it. She's big, she's powerful, and she knows what she wants, and I know how scary that can be to you. The way it was for me, before I stopped giving shits.

Deb's a walking talking example of how making this stuff a part of our lives changes our lives. Her nonchalant integration of magical practices is exactly the kind of thing you'd expect a Mistress of the Artes to manifest.

Anyway, look for the link to the interview as soon as possible, I'm working on it as we speak!

Hail hail hail!

In thanks to BUNÉ, who is the very best most awesome wealth spirit in the entire Lemegeton's Goetia!

You, sir, are awesome to work with, and may you be blessed, even as I am blessed working with you.

A Godly Reminder, and a Definition

Screw That Guy Encouraging
Abusing EA's Family

With the news that E.A. Koetting was busted on drug and gun charges, the occult community reacted with a weird mix of support from his fans and contemptuous self-righteous snerkery from his detractors. I was disgusted by the folks posting links to his girlfriend's father's facebook page, and especially the guy that posted the contact information of his daughter suggesting people write her about what a shame it is that her dad is a meth-head.

Screw that guy.

Aaron Leitch has posted a mixed response, calling out Koetting on some of the things he's done and how he's done them. I have been blissfully unaware of some of the more outrageous stuff he's done to make a name and a few dollars. I understand better where some of the "he brought it on himself" stuff is coming from.

The first I really started hearing about Koetting's writings was when I started expressing that the point of the Hermetic Great Work is to make you a living god. I thought that was awesome, and accurate, and totally in keeping with Iamblichus, Plotinus, and a lot of the Greek Magical Papyri and the art of Goetia. I thought it was just perfect, and then people started comparing me to Koetting. Because he already used the term, and made similar claims, but he was "a complete and total toolbox" about it, to quote a friend.

I don't know what he thought or taught the phrase "becoming a living God" meant, or how he feels about it today, but I'm pretty sure I meant something else. In the Corpus Hermeticum, it's taught that we are already the image of God, and that when we incarnated we forgot our divine nature. Through Hermetic pursuits, we remember who we are, where we came from, and what we incarnated for in the first place (hint: it's to have fun). That's what the Great Work is all about, remembering that you are, in fact, a living god.

Since Koetting's arrest, I've seen a few smug posts mocking his deity claims, or something to similar effect. "Not much of a god if he got caught, eh? Not much of a powerful magician if he can't avoid a simple traffic stop, eh?*"

Even Aaron's post is titled, "The Fall of a Living God," which is artful, entertaining, and a very good selection of a title for a blog post... But I would like to suggest that it is premature,** and perhaps inaccurate as well.

First off, the presupposition is that Gods are all-powerful and never have a shitty day with the law. That's some really seriously terribly wrong information, brothers and sisters. What makes you think gods don't have to put up with any bullshit ever? Let me share a gentle reminder about being gods:

• Jesus Christ had a pretty shitty Friday afternoon that you might have forgotten about when he was 33 (incidently, the same age as Koetting).
• Remember Osiris? He, ahem, did not have a great time of things. Even after his sister-wife got him all stitched up, he still ended up with an eternal strap-on.
• Inanna spent a lot more time hanging up as a sack of skin on a wall than Koetting spent in jail.
• Loki's immortal-snake-venom-dripping-on-him-while-he's-tied-in-his-son's-guts-torment is not an ongoing rave with flashing lights and limitless hookers and blow until Ragnarok comes.
• Prometheus*** getting his liver et daily for all eternity ain't all that grand either.

Dionysus, Hephaestus, arguably Hera, these gods are not having it great all the time either. They go to prison, they have unhealed limps, they are cheated on and degraded by their husbands, they are kicked out of cities. They travel grave paths, and suffer unspeakable things.

Who can look at the gods and think you're actually going to have it perfect all the time, that you are immune to machinations and manipulations, that the temporal authorities of the Earth are not going to be able to give you a bad day?

But a fallen god, as the stories show, is pretty hard to keep down.

Maybe Koetting talked a lot of shit before this, and I can relate. There was a time when I talked a lot of shit until things went sour and my magic worked all too well. I honestly expect him to bounce back and turn this to his advantage. It would be neat if he were to take another approach to magic that leads him to the same expression of "Deus est Homo" that he made prior to this, but with more meaning and understanding, a little less hubris and a little more pride. I might even have a suggestion or two from my own experiences that he might find useful, if he's interested (cough cough cough SEVEN SPHERES cough cough cough).

But maybe he won't bounce back. Maybe this is it for him, Maybe he's going to burn out and be a loser, and we'll never hear from him again.

Whatever, he can do what he wants, just like any other god can. I ain't gonna judge. I'm going to carry on being god-emperor of my own world, king of my kingdom, experiencing my experiences in style and joy, and I'm going to create and maintain it as I see fit. I'll work with him in the future if it's profitable to us both, or I won't if it's not interesting.

I'll go my way, and he will, I swear to all of you right now, go his, and what he does is his will, his joy, and also his problem, just like any other god.

Because the thing is, he is a god. Not because of any of the magic he did, but because we all are, intrinsically, and we just forgot. That's what Hermetics says, guys. Gods and humans are cousins, and the power of the Gods is not bestowed upon us by magic, it is simply revealed, remembered, and understood through the magic we do. Some approaches may be more effective than others, but the conclusion he reached that I heard, "Magic teaches you to become a living god" is still accurate, and not in the slightest disproven because he had a run in with Johnny Law.

Every one of us has the "divine" potential to change the world, if we want to badly enough, if we're willing to do what it takes, and we don't necessarily need anything supernatural to make it happen. Martin Luther King, Ghandi, Aleister Crowley, Jesus Christ, they all had terrible farts at some point in their lives, and they all had some shitty days in court over bullshit.

Human, god, whatever you want to call yourself in your time on Earth, you can do what you want, and deal with what happens as a result. Magic doesn't make you immune to stress, bullets, the police, snitches, or anything else that entities have to deal with in the manifest world, whether they are gods or humans. It can help you influence things, but it doesn't give you control over anything but yourself, the only thing that can change anything in your life.

So yeah, while I'm not surprised that a black magic occult rock star is doing drugs (the shock, the horror!) or that a "living god" is still subject to the laws and influences of the worldly powers, I don't think we've seen the "Fall" of anyone this week. Just some life happening.

We'll see how long it takes before he shuffles out of the tomb.

* By the way, he was pulled over and arrested by the Washington County Drug Task force as a result of a tip they got a week before. It wasn't some routine traffic stop, they were after his ass.

** Premature because there's no such thing as bad press. I have thought of a few different ways he can turn this event into a gold mine. If he's really just after cash, I hope he sees the value of the reverse Sam Kinnison, also known as the Mike Warnke schtick. He's set himself up to actually be the Satanic black magic magician Mike Warnke claimed to be, and if he concocts a convincing "Come to Jesus" moment in jail, he will have a lifetime of free money touring pentecostal gatherings, talking about how he was living in sin with a woman, addicted to drugs, worshipping satan and having the gall to call himself a living God, until that moment when the REAL living God struck him down in his pride, but had mercy and grace to save a sinner, halleluiah! and shit.

But he can also get off using magic, and court cases aren't that hard to influence. He can totally turn this around to his advantage Charlie Sheen style, even if he goes to prison. Tiger's blood will out.

*** Thanks to +Craig 'VI' Slee for the correction to my shitty memory.

SEVEN SPHERES PUBLISHED!

So for Real

Guys! Hey guys! Holy shit, I'm totally published for real! And it's Seven Spheres, and it's going to be available at Nephilim Press in a couple of days  AVAILABLE NOW and I'm like shitting myself with excitement!

Alright, not just because it's about me getting published, although, fuck yeah, that rocks. It's about fucking time, amiright?

But here's the thing, guys, I don't want you to buy it unless you're actually going to use it. The book is a much-expanded version of the Seven Gates rites I put together, and it takes you through each planetary sphere, and draws down a specific power. As these powers integrate and manifest in your life, things just sort of change.

This is the practice manual for Hermetic Planetary Magic. It invokes a specific current that turns you into the King of your world. It gets you out of bad relationships and into good ones. It gets you out of bad jobs and into good ones. It gets you out of bad lives and on the path toward creating something better for yourself, using the powers and skills that are yours by birthright because you're an amazing magician.

There are limited numbers though, and I want them to go to people who will do the magic. I hope everyone who buys the book will also sign up for the accompanying class, but that's not entirely necessary. The book is $50, and the class is going to be $75, so a total of $125. You'll have to buy them separately though.

You can buy the book without buying the class, but you can't buy the class without buying the book, so if you're going to take the class, buy the book now.

Buy the book AT THIS LINK from Nephilim Press. I'll put up a link to the course later this week.

I'm not going to just make bold ass claims about how awesome my magical practice is in people's lives though, that's bullshit. I've got something better, the actual experience of folks who've done this already.

A group of us did these rites a couple years ago, when I thought getting published would be a matter of a few weeks, tops, in preparation for the launch. We went through and did a ton of high intensity magic in a very short period of time. You can see the kinds of transforamtion it had in people's lives, and also, note that it's not perfect perfection and everything they ever wanted all at once. Like all real magical transformations, it takes time to integrate and release the forces we're dealing with.

Some of the reports are from people who participate in my Red Work series of courses. That's great, it gives a stronger understanding of the forces and stuff we work with, but it's not necessary. I'd rather you jumped into this and joined the upcoming Seven Spheres course.

But anyway, on with the testimonies! We went through the Seven Spheres, and here's some of what happened over the next year in people's lives:

I got married, moved into a bigger apartment with lower rent, replaced my old car, and my bosses are trying to get me a two level promotion with a nice raise. Oh, that all happened in the last 7 days. My life is definitely exploding, but in good ways. This week is the first week calm enough that I can get my 5 week planetary cycle going. - T. R.

(Note, he's now in the UK pursuing the dream life.)

I've been able to institute some major changes in what I teach at school, how I teach, and how students learn: a lot more constructivism (i.e., getting kids to learn for themselves, more akin to learning alchemy than sitting in a lecture), training colleagues at my school and other schools. My life has been thrown into a tizzy by all of this. Great love, great power. My tai chi practice has taken off, too. I have a working studio as an artist-designer in the front room of my house, and a working studio at school that I share with 175 kids and another 40 adults. And thanks to the spirits of your grimoire, I know how to make use of these spaces, and an increasing number of my colleagues are learning. Solar power — drawing others into the orbits of self transformation!

All happy? No. I'm one creator-god among a small group of 200-odd creator-gods, and I'm pushing rope uphill against a lot of things — a sedentary egregore, a culture of "do the minimum", a high-stress working environment for kids and adults, a bad education market, and...

No matter. The spirits are clear that none of this can be fixed overnight; and some of it can't BE fixed. Sometimes what magicians have to do is keep hammering on doors that must be opened, even if we're not the ones who are going to open them. - Andrew Watt

I was very active in the last month, so I dont know how much of it happened because of the planetary spheres, But anyway here it is: had some crazy love, got a new interesting job & 2 months of non-stop initiations in my chosen spiritual path in india.......... - Spiros Sonnu

It most certainly made a difference in my life. I did magic instead of just reading about it. I was ecstatic to be wrapped in the power to bring happiness to myself and others. At the same time, I was trying to hold up some things that I should have let go of. Being honest to yourself and understanding what will make you happy/fulfilled is hard. - Mr. L

There´s a lot of things. I improved my ritual skills, I moved to a bigger house with a room exclusive for magic, solved some mother problems to sell an apartment then I received some money too and payd some old bills. A new computer at least, but still no internet connection. Appears my writings are receiving more visibility.By other side, Mr Grim helped too: My girlfriend become into depression and have gone. Two persons who attack me right now are responding in various criminal justice.(Thanks Michael!) They tried to kill me. So I had to move house fast because I become chased by the gang from that two ones.That is, only to remember that the energies bring results, but sometimes something has to change dramatically. - Gilberto Strapazon

Immediate results: I noticed significant changes in my behaviors and personality. I became much more social. I started thinking a lot more about where my life was, where I want it go, and what I need to make that happen. For the first time in my life I'm pushing for a raise, which I am getting (just how much will be determined this week). The main thing that got me thinking about this was the fact that I've been dealing with depression for over 20 years, and I realized that I haven't had a significant low since this group was started and I performed 2 cycles of rituals. That meant more to me than all the other factors, though I'm quite happy with all changes I've noticed. - Seraph Bonobo

Honestly, it's been mixed. I feel like a lot of stuff is still boiling off of my sphere and it's all still in process. I've been regularly conjuring Raphael, Hermes, and Tzadkiel every week, and occasional the other planets. Lot of internal shifts and some good advice. But mundanely, I can't say things have gotten better or worse. Then again, most of the time I just ask FOR advice and blessings, not direct intervention. I still feel very weird about calling up the angels, etc, and demanding things. - H.C.

I did it, and had very positive results (but please note the distinction between 'positive' and 'pleasant'). From a macro perspective, I basically positioned myself to have a good career; I was in a bad place professionally, gone to seed, though I didn't realize it at the time. The catalyst was a relationship that started soon after, with a woman much better established than I was; I had the sense that an ordeal was coming and I think it was kind of an ordeal for both of us, and while we're still sorting that out, there's no question that huge internal changes happened, and I'm better off now than before. - J. M.

I'm a Red Work course member. Finished the black work, currently re-doing the white work, and I do 7 spheres gate rituals on and off. I haven't really given much feedback to you RO, but I'd like to think I've been successful with it. I'm in a MUCH better place than I was a year ago. Twice the income, arguably twice the happiness. Home life going well. Honestly, life is good. *Really* good. - R. D.

I came into this with severe doubts about where I was headed both magickally and professionally. As I stand now, I have no doubt about the path that I'm on. I've found what works, and I'm going in the right directions, and it's all just going to get better from now (not without bumps!) I have a lover who I adore and who makes me feel like a Queen - it's not a relationship that I think is destined to last for the long-term, but in the short term I am blissfully happy, -and- it's a relationship that teaches me a great many specific lessons I have needed to learn. I have grown in my relationships with the spirits. I am working toward meeting and knowing my HGA (of whatever title). I resolved my career uncertainties and took the path that was right for me instead of the one I felt pressured to take. (Now I just have to work on ensuring that the NIH sequestration doesn't mess that up..) There are probably things I've forgotten to list here, because I sprained my ankle on the way in to work and am in way more pain than promotes good cognition. Hey, they can't all be banner days, right? - Sierra Adams

Planetary Gates of the Seven Spheres

I've recently received a number of requests for the Planetary Gates series of rites I put together a couple years ago. People are wondering where they are at, and why they can't buy the ebooks anymore.

Well, there's a reason they aren't for sale any more. They are being released, in a much-expanded fromat as a published book by Nephilim press.

In a week or two. Bwahahahaha!

Yes, that's right, I  went full bore on this and turned it into an actual book. It takes you through each of the spheres in a series of rituals that result in the release of a current that transforms everything in your life, like magic.

And it's great on its own. Many people will buy it and enjoy it, and experience some neat stuff as a result.

But like many things in the occult, this book exists as the same thing, but on multiple levels. While the book itself is sufficient to tap into the current, it will also serve as the textbook to the series of courses that will be replacing the Green Work courses I used to offer. I will be putting together an introductory presentation that recaps the Black Work course, training people in the fundamentals of the system of magic that I use (to great success). After that will be a presentation that covers the basic intentions of the class. Then there will be seven consecutive presentations, one for each sphere. Then there will be a conclusion, that covers the practical application of the cycle of rites that are covered in each of the previous presentations.

It's going to be pretty fucking intense.

The point is to empower you to be the king and queen of your world. You are the center of your existence, and it is through your decisions and actions that you influence the experience of your manifest lfie. From money, to sex, to happiness, to fulfillment, all of your life expereinces are the result of decisions you make based on your awareness of what's going on at the time.

The Seven Spheres book and course will take you through each of the planetary spheres and expose you to the intelligences of each sphere. You will receive the blessings and teachings of these spirits, and you will understand how those spirits and forces manifest through you in an intimate way to create or influence every expereince you have in your entire life. You will have the opportunity to integrate and project these forces as you see fit, expanding your potential by expanding your understanding.

The goal of this Work* is to create a world with more royals working together to express their fiat as they see fit. All are not called, all are not chosen to receive this Word, or to perform the Work of being themselves fully. And that's alright. I'm not going to change the world for everyone, I'm just here to help some folks understand a bit more about what they could be doing with their lives, if they tried.

But things are still in development. The page isn't ready at Nephilim to start taking orders, and I haven't finished the courses. It's coming though, and apparently I've got to get my ass in gear. I've got some magic to help with that.

Oh, and look for me and Harper in a city near you. We're putting together some presentations to present the system at a high level, and the message of my book at a specific level in as many places as we can reach over the next little while. We've got something booked already in March for Kentucky, at a place called Seven Spheres Oasis, of course.

More stuff to come as things develop.

* and you better believe the publication of every book I publish is a magical act

Live on SOMA now...

Right now. Immediately.

For an hour and a half, 3:30 to 5:00 pm Central right now. For FREE.

With Jason Miller and Aaron Leitch and others who wrote some stuff about offerings. In Magic. :)

clicketh this link.