The Hermetic Hour

Latest Episodes:

Rosicrucian Yoga Feb 24, 2017

Show notes

On Thursday February 23rd, 2017 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present the the modern yoga ritual version of the Chemical Wedding of Christian Rosencreutz. This is the fully developed Rosicrucian version of Hermetic Yoga Beyond the Middle Pillar as presented in volume one of Hermetic Yoga, Beyond the Middle Pillar. This advanced version, draws upon The Naassene Document, the Gospel of Philip, the Gospel of Mary, the Chemical Wedding itself, and the works of Jacob Boehme and Johann Gichtel. This reveals that the Ninth Degree of the O.T.O. and the Great Rite of the Gardnerians are both derived from original Valentinian Gnostic Christian sources. So if you want to experience some R-rated Rosicrucian yoga, tune in and we'll take you into the mirrored chamber of the Sacred Marriage.

Our New Pathworking DVD (re-broadcast) Feb 17, 2017

Show notes

On Thursday, Hermetic Hour host Poke Runyon will announce the release (to Associate Members) of our latest DVD video production "Pathworkings of Magick." This project has been in the works for some time and required considerable technical audio and visual effort to accomplish. It is a completely unique and original approach to magical training. We are providing hypnotic, visionary journeys to the magical Inner Planes, just the way you would experience them in an O.T.A. temple, but on your t.v. or computer screen. We use traditional Tattwa symbols, the same narrative scripts we use in the lodge room, and the same hypnotic induction. The entry scenes were filmed in Montsalvat Temple using the Soul Door dark mirror. All four basic elemental pathworkings (Air, Earth, Fire, and Water) are included, with "Attention Points" and detailed instructions. Because these programs do require a proper attitude and discipline to be effective, they are not offered to the public. Associate Members may order the video as part of their instruction. So, if you want to find out how you can journey to magical realms through your own small screen, tune in and we will turn you on.

The Chemical Wedding Revisited, Part 2 of 2 Feb 10, 2017

Show notes

On Thursday February 9th, 2017 The Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present the second part of The Chemical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz by Valentin Andreae 1616, followed by an interpretation of the symbolism in relation to internal alchemy, the extended Middle Pillar chakra system and Valentinian Gnostic Christianity. We will describe the Sacred Marriage within the adept him/or/herself as an analog to the operations on the Sixth Day in the Tower of Olympus. We will refer to works by Jacob Boehme, The creation of the Magical Child, Johann Gichtel and the mysteries of the Spiral and the Lightning Flash. And the Homunculus of Paracelsus. This is the lost Key to Rosicrucian Sex Magick and the ultimate secret of the Hieros Gamos. Tune in and be enlightened.

The Chemical Wedding Revisited, Part 1 of 2 Feb 03, 2017

Show notes

On Thursday February 3rd, 2017 the Hermetic Hour, with host Poke Runyon, will present our interpreted and explained version of The Chemical Wedding of Christian Rosencreutz (1614). The Chemical Wedding is the third of the mysterious Rosicrucian documents that appeared in Central Europe in the early 17th century. It is an alchemical fantasy that might even be called "Science Fiction." Occultists have tried to unravel it's secrets for the last four hundred years and we will offer our interpretation tonight as we accompany old Christian Rosencreutz on his visit to the mysterious castle and his participation in the alchemical operation to resurrect the King and Queen. The solving of its riddles has been just as exciting an adventure as the story itself. So tune in and come with us to the Castle of the Rosicrucians.

Eliphas Levi and the Modern Occult Revival (re-broadcast) Jan 27, 2017

Show notes

On Thursday the Hermetic Hour, with host Poke Runyon, will present a discussion on the work and the influence of the 19th century French occultist Eliphas Levi (Alphonse Constant), a former Catholic priest who embraced and codefied a Rosicrucian version of Kabbalah and Hermetic philosophy. Eliphas Levi launched the modern occult revival in 1856 with his book now titled "Transcendental Magic." He developed the theory of "Astral Light," and assigned Kabbalistic letter correspondences to the Tarot trumps. He considered the Tarot more ancient than the kabbalah itself. Levi was a seminal influence on Blavatsky, Pike, Westcott, Mathers and Crowley. He was sometimes wrong in his historical assumptions, but this was almost intentional on his part. He was creating a grand, unified scheme out of divergent myth-themes which he synthesized into what we now call The Western Esoteric Tradition. Tune in and we will spend an hour remembering "The French Magus."

Creep Shadow, Creep by Abraham Merritt Jan 20, 2017

Show notes

On Thursday January 19th, 2017 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will review and discuss the 1934 horror classic "Creep Shadow, Creep" by Fantasy Grand Master Abraham Merritt. This forgotten tale has influenced such modern films and t.v. shows as Dark Shadows and recently "Outlander." It deals with a family feud that carries on for thousands of years between reincarnating ancestors of two ancient Breton Celtic clans. The lord of Carnac and the Royal family of the legendary sunken city of Ys. In their present (1930s) incarnations an anthropologist, specializing in the occult (like Indian Jones) and a psychiatrist specializing in hypnotic age-regression with a beautiful daughter who was and is a reincarnating evil soul-stealing witch. This story was the second in a series of such tales by Merritt, being the sequel to "Burn Witch, Burn" (1934) which was made into a film with Lionel Barrymore and influenced both Twilight Zone and the "Chucky" series. So if you want to discover the roots of ancient evil surviving in the deep mind, tune in and we will explore the dark world of the creeping shadows.

Underground Cities in Central Asia (re-broadcast) Jan 13, 2017

Show notes

On Thursday the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a discussion on the persistent legend and rumor of Secret Underground Cities ruled by occult masters in Central Asia, Tibet and Mongolia. We will approach this subject from three directions: first the actual Asian source material: Shambalah, Oolamorang and the cave temples of India, second the Theosophic ruse of hiding their Hindu and Sikh masters in Tibet, resulting in a wide-spread Western misconception of Tibetan Buddhism. Third we will look at the confabulated writings of Lobsang Rampa (Cyril Hodgkins) and the German traveler's tale "Darkness Over Tibet" by T. Illion -- which may have influenced Himmler to send Nazi expeditions to Tibet in search of "The Masters". We will consider the more factual and authentic work of Ferdinand Ossendowski, "Beasts, Men, and Gods" and the Mongolian version of Shambalah which he confused with a French author's astral journey to Agartha in India. Finally we will consider the ancient evidence that has recently come to light indicating that some of this speculative, and misrepresented material may have some basis in fact. Behind every myth there is an element of truth -- so tune in and we will set forth like Indiana Jones in search of the remote and the mysterious.

Alexandria and How the Western Esoteric Tradition Began (re-broadcast) Jan 06, 2017

Show notes

The Hermetic Hour will feature a discussion by host Poke Runyon on the 1st century " Alexandria Connection" where the elements that make up the Western Esoteric Tradition (Hermetic Tradition) came together and began the synthesis that was finally codified by Abbott Trithemius and Cornelius Agrippa in the 16th century. We will trace the Pythagorean, Ancient Egyptian, Gnostic, NeoPlatonic, Biblical (kabbalistic), Alchemical, Astrological, and even Christian influences that were shuffled together in a spiritual-intellectual ferment in what was perhaps the greatest university our Western world could boast of until the modern "Age of Enlightenment." We have dealt with this subject before, but this time we will focus on the particular people and their traditions: Alexander (Himself), Ptolemy the astrologer king, Hypatia the Pagan martyr, Hermes Trismegistus, and Marcus and Simon Magus. We will touch on the Greek Qabalah, the Osiris myth, and the influence of Zoroaster. So, if you have a burning desire to visit the Library of Alexandria, join us -- but no smoking inside, please...

Technocracy Rising by Patrick M. Wood 2015 - Plato's Nightmare Dec 30, 2016

Show notes

On Thursday December 29th, 2016 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a review and discussion on "Technocracy Rising" by Patrick M. Woods 2015. This book documents the 1930's origin and rise of an American totalitarian socio-political and economic system derived from Plato's Republic that flourished after the 1929 crash and during the pre-war years of the Great Depression. In Technocracy scientists and academics will manage the government of the country. Our Constitutional Republic and its Capitalistic economy would be replaced by a dictatorship. Technocracy's connection to the Eugenics movement and to Nazism put it into eclipse until the 1970s -- When Technocracy reemerged with David Rockefeller's Tri-Lateral Commission and began to inflitrate the U.S. government beginning with The Jimmy Carter administration in the 1970s. Technocracy subverted the United Nations which soon became its agent for a Technocratic World government. Like their cousins the communists, the Technocrats claim to be democratic. They seek to replace our currency based economic system with a cashless, energy credit system. They have hi-jacked General System Theory to justify environmental regulations to control energy. Of course the big problem for the people under this system is loss of Freedom, loss of property, loss of representation in government, and loss of what we consider basic human rights. Even the socialist philosopher Bertrand Russell, when examining Plato's Government of the philosopher kings, was forced to say that only true democracy could protect basic human rights. So if you want to know what the technocrats have in store for you when they get back in office, tune in and we'll have a look.

"Aleister Crowley: The Beast in Berlin" by Tobias Churtin Dec 23, 2016

Show notes

On Thursday December 22nd,2016 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon, will review the 2014 book by Tobias Churton "Aleister Crowley The Beast in Berlin". This is apparently an expansion and compilation of outcuts from the author's biography of Crowley and should perhaps be considered an appendix to that work. Unless you are an ardent Crowley afficianado it is a hard read. The book is primarily made up of excerpts from A.C.'s. diaries and his correspondence mostly during his 1930s Berlin sojurne as a struggling artist in the decadent twilight days of the Weimar Republic. Along with a running account of the Beast's metaphysical politics, sexual magick and artistic endevours, Churton manages to give us an in-depth look at the decadent sub-culture of the Weimar Berliners and an appreciation of Crowley's talents as an artist. So if you'd like to accompany the Beast to the Caberet. Tune in and enjoy the show.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected