The Hermetic Hour

Latest Episodes:

Son of Chicken Qabalah with Lon Milo DuQuette Nov 16, 2018

Show notes

On Thursday November 15th 2018, the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will review "Son of Chicken Qabalah" and interview its distinguished author Lon Milo DuQuette. This 2018 book is a sequel to Lon's popular "Chicken Qabalah of Rabbi Lamed Ben Clifford" (2001). Lamed Ben Clifford is Lon's fictional creation. Lon thought all of us Hermetic Qabalists needed our own Rabbi, who would not sneer at our Tarot cards and pagan corospondences on the Tree of Life. Ben Clifford's Qabalah was for all of us and it was presented in a humorous style that made the otherwise dry subject come alive. It became one of the best introductions to the subject at least from a Hermetic perspective. The fictional Ben Clifford has passed away but he has left a legacy: a three degree Qabalistic initiation system based on the Sepher Yetzirah's Cube of Space and the Golden Dawn's Hermetic Hebrew alphabet corospondences. Starting with the Three Mother Letters in the first degree (the original tetragrammaton) the candidate next internalizes the Seven Double Letters attributed to the planets, and finally, in the Third and last degree, he or she, installs the Twelve Simple letters internalizing the entire Hermetic Qabalistic universe. This is all accomplished with mudras, flashing colors a pitch pipe and geometric mandalas. What we did with a yoga system in "Hermetic Yoga, Beyond the Middle Pillar" (2015) Lon has done in a Temple initiation format. This little book of his is a treasure and will make Hermetic Magick come alive for everyone who conscientiously studies it.

The 21st Path from Netsach to Chesed - The Wheel of Fortune (re-broadcast) Nov 09, 2018

Show notes

On Thursday February 6th, 2014 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 and make the journey with us.

The 22nd Path from Tiphareth to Geburah - Justice (re-broadcast) Nov 02, 2018

Show notes

On Thursday, January 30th, 2014 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!

Cecco d'Ascoli and the Mirror of Floron Oct 26, 2018

Show notes

On Thursday October 25th, 2018 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a discussion on the late Medieval astrologer magician Cecco d' Ascoli who was burned at the stake by the Inquisition in 1327 a.d. for publishing books connecting astrology with magick, necromancy and demonology. In several ways he presaged the sad career of Giordano Bruno who went to the stake 273 years later in 1600 for a similar offense. Cecco expounded his magick on a geocentric universe model, whereas Bruno paganized (or demonized) a later Coperican universe. Cecco d' Ascoli may be considered the father of Solomonic ceremonial mirror magick. One of his most heretical revelations was a description of summoning (evoking) the demon "Floron", in a mirror of polished steel. Floron had fallen from the Order of Cherebum and served under the Goetic king Amaymon. Such a mirror was described in Picatrix and later depictions of it reveal that it was in fact a hand mirror. After Cecco's execution magicians no longer wrote of magick mirrors but their use continued until the present day. We will draw primarily from Lynn Thorndike's "History of Magic and Experimental Science", Volume 2 (1923) with current material from Christopher Warnock. So if you want to find out where this dark mirror magick got started, tune in and we'll pull another Italian magus out of the fire.

The 23rd Path from Hod to Geburah - The Hanged Man (re-broadcast) Oct 19, 2018

Show notes

On Thursday January 23rd, 2014 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.

Giordano Bruno and the Hermetic Tradition by Frances Yates Oct 12, 2018

Show notes

On Thursday October 11th, 2018 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will review the classic study on Renaissance Magick by Dame Frances Yates (1899 - 1981), "Giordano Bruno and the Hermetic Tradition." (1964) This is a book that should be the cornerstone of any Hermetic student's library. Although the Italian philosopher and magician Giordano Bruno (1548 - 1600) is the main figure on which Yates centers her work, the book is in fact a broad study of Renaissance Hermetic Magick evolving from its Italian origins in the late Middle Ages and on through to Bruno's exposition of its post Copernican version. Hermetic Humanists accepted Copericus but the Church refused to abandon the geo-centric universe. Bruno, a Dominican monk was burned at the stake. Many considered him a Scientific martyr, but Yates contends that his heresies were Hermetic as well as scientific. So if you would like to explore the life and beliefs of Giordano Bruno, join us for a Hermetic Renaissance Faire.

The Phoenicians and The Hermetic Tradition (re-broadcast) Oct 05, 2018

Show notes

On Thursday January 16th, 2014 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a discussion on the ancient Phoenicians and the Hermetic Tradition. This follows last week's review of "Jesus the Phoenician" by Karim el Koussa. The references for this evening's discussion will be the recent "Phoenician Secrets" by Sandford Holst and "The Phoenicians, the Purple Empire of the Ancient World" by Gerald Herm, Our focus will be on Phoenician contributions to, and influence on, Western occultism and magick. It has recently been established that the Phoenician culture is one of the oldest in the world. It's roots go back nine thousand years. The Phoenicians were building and sailing ocean-going ships long before the Pyramids were built. The first pyramid was built by European architects brought from Malta to Egypt by Phoenician contractors. The Phoenicians were very secretive about their business and their religion. We will discuss their astrological religion (the Labors of Hercules), their magical alphabet (the real origin of the Qabalah) and their possible connection with Atlantis. So, if you want to voyage with the Purple People on ancient seas, tune in and we'll hoist the mainsheet.

Kurt Seligmann's "The Mirror of Magic: A History of Magic in the Western World" Sep 28, 2018

Show notes

On Thursday September 27th, 2018 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will review the new Collector's edition of Kurt Seligmann's 1948 classic "The Mirror of Magic: A History of Magic in the Western World" and discuss Seligmann's career as a surrealist painter, a scholar of the occult and a practicing ceremonial magician. This handsome new edition, published by Inner Traditions, is a faithful reproduction of the original. Poke Runyon inherited a 1948 copy Seligmann's book from his late Master Frederick Adams (1928 - 2008) with Fred's annotations. It was Fred's first book on Magic and he treasured it. In his Introduction Seligmann wrote: "As an artist I was concerned with the aesthetic value of Magic and its influence on man's creative imagination." Fred Adams was also a very talented artist and was inspired by The Mirror of Magic, as we hope a new generation of readers will be when they discover this beautiful new edition of Kurt Seligmann's Masterpiece.

Jesus the Phoenician by Karim el Koussa (re-broadcast) Sep 21, 2018

Show notes

On Thursday January 9th, 2014 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will review and discuss the new book by the Lebanese Christian author Karim el Koussa "Jesus the Phoenician". This is a highly controversial subject. Karim's thesis is revolutionary but quite possibly true. He sets out to prove by the Bible itself - New and Old Testaments - that Jesus of Nazareth was not a Jew and that the God he called 'his Father" was the Canaanite "EL", not the Jewish YHVH. (Jehova). This should be a very provocative and enlightening discussion -- so tune in and get Salvation Phoenician style.

CHS Active and Associate Members Update Sep 14, 2018

Show notes

On Thursday September 13th, 2018 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will devote an hour to reviewing and updating the activities of our Active and Associate membership. We will discuss website participation and access. We will announce upcoming activities, events and programs for the remainder of the year. We are completing the Enochian Aethyrs and looking forward to the Seven Gates festival and Halloween Mot Mass. This show is primarily for members but it should be of of interest to all our listeners. So if you want to find out what the people in the back room are doing, tune in and check it out.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected