Jow, Gordon, Deb, Me.
When experienced magicians meet, there is always transmission. This can happen formally at times, but after a certain level tends to happen informally. Spiritual presence mingles with spiritual presence, the channels of one magus dance with the channels of another, and of course the sharing of ideas through simple conversation. These are occassions to celebrate, so it is convenient when they happen at a party.
This past Friday, when my sleepy shore town was be awakened for the summer by the roar engines, the booms from backseat sub-woofers, and the fumes from the heads of Snookie-wanna-be’s and Gel haired muscle men named Joey, I was lucky enough to head north to a party hosted by Jow from “A Mages Blog“and Deb from “Charmed Finishing School” and attended by none other than Gordon from Rune Soup.
Since lately I have not been able to get out much, I REALLY needed to hang out in meat space with some magicians and talk shop. Topics discussed? Among other things:
- The need for Witchcraft to get a little infusion of Jack Parsons, and that fact that it is actually happening.
- The need for western occultism to escape the gravity of the Holy Guardian Angel, and the fact that it is sadly not happening.
- Ex-Nazis with wealth, alien tech, and designs on world domination.
- The importance of Chaos Magic and how Pete Carrolls new books rock.
- What magic you turn to when the shit totally hits the fan and what that says about you.
- Why the hell there are two Hyatt hotels within five miles of each other, but in the middle of fucking no-where.
- Why the Necronomicon rocks the house and the atavistic component to the gate walking that makes it a different show than the hermetic/Grimoire experience of the same spaces.
I am one of those old fashioned guys who has a hard time calling someone a friend if I have never met them in real life, so it was good to finally get Gordon’s Darshan. Thanks to all for a good night, and for getting me headed against the flow of traffic 
In the meantime, Gordon and I have a transmission for those of you reading this.
So what is wrong with the HGA?
Also transmission received consider yourselves replied to in kind.
I think it’s an excellent question. “Why avoid the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel?”
I wonder, reading accounts of HGA K&C, if it’s not akin to the experience that Pentecostal Christians call being “born again.” If that’s the case, then having the K&CoHGA is ultimately trading one particularly focused world-view for another particularly focused world-view. It’s not to say that these world-views are bad. Ultimately, though, I find that my strength in magical work ultimately derives from being able to see differing points of view, and hold differing points of view. I don’t think I have K&CoHGA, but I do feel that a lot of the literature of the last century and a half does emphasize its importance as a source of transmission of power and capacity. Hmm.
Nothing is wrong with the HGA. It is a great practice and a wonderful experience. It has however been made into such an overarching institution that people act like no magic is safe without it, which is simply poppycock.
It is not the end all, be all of magic.
Witches should not feel the need to be doing Abramelin. Shaman, Tantrikas, Chaos Mages, and yes even grimoire mages should not feel bound by the experience like it is your passport to success.
I very highly doubt that the people who wrote the Grimoires had done anything like it, and certainly not as a pre-requisite to other work.
It is a good step. It is a useful step. But it is not a necessary step, and people pretend or think that it is.
That’s good to know. I think part of the reason I’ve been reluctant to seek HGA is that every time I read an account of it, it sounds so much like St. Augustine of Hippo’s conversion experience, or someone testifying at a tent meeting, that I’m a little more than non-plussed.
Thanks Jason! Sorry I didn’t respond sooner.
I admit I have trouble with the spells as I am a HARD polytheist, I have found your Greek invocation and thinking of Jupiter as the Bornless one helps however.
Still wont stop me from doing other spells.
I do agree with your take on this, Jason. I feel the constant conversations on this topic are a bit overblown; just my personal opinion, of course.
On another note, it looks, and sounds, as though you all had a terrific time.
Hey! I know those guys! Hey!! I know that kitchen!
It was great having you and Gordon over, man.
I live here, and I don’t know why there are two Hyatts in less than a mile. It is one of the many mysteries of the Garden State.
Dear gods, Jow, do you ever smile?
When four magickians get together they all wear black. And yellow. You guys look adorable.
This second photo made more sense at the time, I think. Were we actually talking about Maori stuff or was that in another time zone?
(Also Ye Gods PLEASE mention it was a theme party!
)
Good times. Catch ya in a few months, Jersey.
glamorous, it’s so fun to see all these people whose blogs I check up on from time to time.
so, I am curious about this point:
The need for Witchcraft to get a little infusion of Jack Parsons, and that fact that it is actually happening.
Since I live in LA metro, my HP actually lives in Pasadena, not too far from Jack Parson’s used to work, and a club I used to go to is across the stress from the “L. Ron Hubbard Museum”, who was also connected to Parsons, it makes me wonder what it is you mean.
Read this and it will explain…
http://home.earthlink.net/~xristos/GoldenDawn/witchcraft210.htm
thanks and OMGds, I love it.
We had agreed on Srs Goth Faces!
I am so bummed I missed this! I had to go visit family I hadn’t seen in a decade this past weekend, and it was totally awesome, but still… I REALLY wish I could be in two places at once!
The ENTIRE purpose of this post was actually to make you jealous
Well, at least YOU GUYS got to have fun, and that rocks.
Hmmm. If I could coax Asterion Mage out of Romania to Budapest, and Frater Acher to come from Germany, maybe I could get Gordon to come down to Budapest. Who else in our blogosphere is on the continent?
I am, but on the wrong side of it. Let me know if you’re ever in San Francisco, though.
Glad you guys had so much fun.
Bah, why did I have to be in Florida for this? Still, at least there’s Crucible later this year(hint hint, the lot of you should buy your tickets now); I need facetime with mages like you wouldn’t believe.
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