Seth Ananda Posted November 18, 2012 Me too. I know its not really 'hermetic', rather native to all cultures, but i would love to hear about your experiences and perspectives on Mediumship. I do find it funny that Crowley and the other Victorian mages of that time, looked down so much on Mediumship, when it is right there present in agrippa's 3 books, and in neo platonism, and everywhere further back... I think its that victorian distaste for anything with a 'native' feel... necromancy... oooh... shiver... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GrandmasterP Posted November 18, 2012 (edited) Oh boy big subject. We have a journal here in the UK. Psychic News. Will post a link. It's well worth subscribing online for what little it costs.. www.psychicnews.org.uk Edited November 18, 2012 by GrandmasterP Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GrandmasterP Posted November 18, 2012 (edited) http://www.psychicnews.org.uk/ Edited November 18, 2012 by GrandmasterP Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
宁 Posted November 19, 2012 Look up Initiantion into Hermetics by F Bardon, it has many common points with Qigong 5 element training and applications: here's a taste, maybe to incite Mo Pai lovers: ~ this is a level 4 (out of 10) accomplisment: "Magicians trained in this line can condense an element to such a degree that it becomes a material power. That is why you can light a fire with the help of the fire element at the greatest distance. At first, practice drawing a fiery ball down from the universe directly without having it pass through the body, and compress it to a small bead so as to grow a glowing spark. Put this spark in a cotton ball that has been soaked in easily inflammable liquid such as ether, alcohol, or petrol. A second spark is to be prepared in the same way with the air element, and the very moment both sparks touch the cotton ball, it will catch fire and begin to burn. Having succeeded in this little trick, the magician can make an attempt with the wick of an ordinary candle, and later on with a paraffin lamp. He can do this near and far." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GrandmasterP Posted November 19, 2012 Phosphor matches, slightly wetted; work well too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GrandmasterP Posted November 19, 2012 (edited) Tricks are an essential tool in the Shaman or Medium tool box. They serve an important purpose historically and practically. Historically in that when a medium pitched up in a new town usually on market day he would draw a crowd (called 'drumming' in the trade) by sleight of hand and a few 'miracles', then move into his spiel to either sell nostrums or book sittings with punters. There are still one or two doing that in England mainly in summer seaside resorts, they are a dying breed though. These days tricks are essential. Take table tilting. My workshop demonstration will always include a dem of how tilting is and was faked (special gimmick worn on the forearm) . I do the same with billet reading (one in front) , mind reading (code plus suggestion), shock hands (Newtonian mechanics plus auto suggestion) and finding previously hidden objects (that's a secret) . Unless folk understand how the scams work then they are easily gulled as per one or two western writers on their holidays over in Java some years ago. That John Chang trick of being shot or shooting someone with an air rifle using a pre marked slug is one of the oldest tricks in the book. Edited November 19, 2012 by GrandmasterP Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GrandmasterP Posted November 19, 2012 It's never ever done using crossbow for some reason although if the claims were correct then one presumes it could and should be. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Birch Posted November 19, 2012 Tricks are an essential tool in the Shaman or Medium tool box. They serve an important purpose historically and practically. Historically in that when a medium pitched up in a new town usually on market day he would draw a crowd (called 'drumming' in the trade) by sleight of hand and a few 'miracles', then move into his spiel to either sell nostrums or book sittings with punters. There are still one or two doing that in England mainly in summer seaside resorts, they are a dying breed though. These days tricks are essential. Take table tilting. My workshop demonstration will always include a dem of how tilting is and was faked (special gimmick worn on the forearm) . I do the same with billet reading (one in front) , mind reading (code plus suggestion), shock hands (Newtonian mechanics plus auto suggestion) and finding previously hidden objects (that's a secret) . Unless folk understand how the scams work then they are easily gulled as per one or two western writers on their holidays over in Java some years ago. That John Chang trick of being shot or shooting someone with an air rifle using a pre marked slug is one of the oldest tricks in the book. The table-tilting thing has an interesting explanation in that 'Paranormality' book I read. As does the 'hidden object' thing:-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GrandmasterP Posted November 19, 2012 It will work, we usually have results, last workshop we did was nine tables, four or five to a table and all flew eventually, there are piccys in one of the mags, local press was there too. It's perfectly natural with a perfectly natural explanation just that most folk don't believe that explanation (spirits are physically moving the table VIA the table tilters) nor the evidence of their own eyes sometimes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GrandmasterP Posted November 19, 2012 Hidden object finding is a secret that even if I told ya, you would not be able to replicate it right away as you could with all the other scams.. Not cos it's magic but cos it's one of the few tricks, only one I can think of at the mo, that need to be physically practiced a lot to have it work. That said for mind reading you need to memorise a code but that's pretty easy cos it's a sorta poem. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Birch Posted November 19, 2012 It will work, we usually have results, last workshop we did was nine tables, four or five to a table and all flew eventually, there are piccys in one of the mags, local press was there too. It's perfectly natural with a perfectly natural explanation just that most folk don't believe that explanation (spirits are physically moving the table VIA the table tilters) nor the evidence of their own eyes sometimes. That's not the explanation I read. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GrandmasterP Posted November 19, 2012 Don't have to be right just cos i believe it k. That's what I tells em and it works so hey ho. NE one's explanation is as good as another's with this stuff i reckon. Proof of the pudding and all that. If it works, goody. When it doesn't , they still don't get their money back cos we tells 'em... 'You mustn't resist the spirits next time'... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Birch Posted November 19, 2012 It's to their credit they can resist the spirits Mr GranP:-) What's wrong with telling them the mechanics? I thought that was cooler than the spirit thing. You might get more paying students if you told them:-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GrandmasterP Posted November 19, 2012 Yep you could have a point there K. A lot of what we do is kinda traditional, almost Victorian. Seances have hardly changed at all since the early days. You look at those old photos from way back and change the frocks and fashions and it could be now. I just help them out with the mediuming when they are busy these days, the QiGong is my main focus. I tend to just do the monthly Tea with Spirit sittings plus a workshop or two during each year on the spiritualist side nowadays. Mediumship's been good to me for many a year as a paying hobby but you get to a point where you only want to do so much in your 'spare' time and, having a sedentary day job; the QiGong keeps me active. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Seth Ananda Posted November 19, 2012 i think Gp gets a bit over enthusiastic in his desire to explain everything and lump all situations into that explaination... Not all table tilting is by "spirits moving table tilters" That uk spiritualist group, who have the 1 million dollar challenge to 'proove' that they are cheating, are not using table tilters. Skeptics have put camereas on pretty much everything, covering every possible angle, every set of hands and knees, every table foot, the entire table rim from below and above, metal detectors, magnetic field detectors, table x rays, and they continue to get violent table bouncing, shaking and floating effects... Not to mention all the other phenomona, like spirits appearing in the room and so on... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GrandmasterP Posted November 19, 2012 (edited) Clarification. Spirits use what we call ectoplasmic rods to tilt tables. The ectoplasm is drawn from the mediums present or suitable sitters. Same thing happens in genuine physical seances. There are photos online and one or two YouTube clips around too. It's genuine phenomena when it is genuine, just that, as it is easily faked; it gets faked. Black swan scenario, all it takes is one black swan to prove that not all swans are white. This lad's a black swan... http://www.scottmilligan.net/seances.html Edited November 19, 2012 by GrandmasterP 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Birch Posted November 19, 2012 Well it's sort of why I suggested eliminating the belief in the table tipping, to let the other real stuff shine through. But it's not cool if your real stuff requires the fake table-tipping stuff to work, if you see what I mean. I reckon it's a disservice to all concerned -except the guy making the $ maybe? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Seth Ananda Posted November 19, 2012 The real stuff does not require fake table tipping stuff to work. It can happen at any table anywhere, as long as some at the table are capable of deeper trance, as that seems to be part of the bridge, for Phenomena to occur... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Seth Ananda Posted November 19, 2012 Oh and the more a place is used for the same thing the better... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Seth Ananda Posted November 19, 2012 In ritual, we have had furniture that was completely unattended start to move and shake... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GrandmasterP Posted November 19, 2012 The real stuff does not require fake table tipping stuff to work. It can happen at any table anywhere, as long as some at the table are capable of deeper trance, as that seems to be part of the bridge, for Phenomena to occur... ..................... It's not necessary to fake but faking happens so it's maybe better to show how that's done. Works for me anyway. Anyone can come to a workshop, fewer go away saying it was faked if you demonstrate how it could be faked prior to them having a go at tilting themselves. Spiritualism's always been an odd combination of phenomena plus a touch of vaudeville, cheapest live show in town is a spiritualist meeting and more come 'to the spooks' for entertainment than enlightenment and nothing wrong in that. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JustARandomPanda Posted November 19, 2012 Hey Serene Blue, I would love Love LOVE to read your articles on Astrology, Alchemy and Theurgy, and on any Hermetic subject. I Love your writing style, Its beautiful and rational, seductive and finely crafted, poetic and Informative... and a pleasure to read! Wow. I've never thought my writing was all that particularly pleasant or informative but thank you for the thumbs up. Hmm.... You really think people would even give a hoot to read something I write about Theurgy, Astrology or whatever? I personally think a Hermetic subforum would be great. I have many things I would like to post there, as Hermeticism is my long time Love affair. I don't usually bother in the general forum, as the occult naysayers usually like to shit on those discussions as soon as they start, But I believe that there is a great deal in common with Hermetic and Taoist thought, that can be mutually enriching... Seth. Hmmm.... A Hermetic forum. I like the idea but I do wonder if there are enough people at TTB who would be interested enough to participate in it? Also I wonder if it starts to get to a point where so many subforums proliferate it starts to become pointless having a "general forum". The only person able to actually create a Hermetics subforum is Sean. None of the mods have that admin power. I would recommend anyone who wants a Hermetic forum to send a PM to Sean directly. Then be ready to wait several weeks for a reply as that's approximately how often he pops onto TTB to check up on things here (ie. once every 1-2 months or so). I suppose alternately people could start a Hermetics Subforum Vote thread (maybe with a poll?) and post a yay or nay on the idea. That way I would have something to link to in a PM to Sean about to back up a request for such a subforum. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Seth Ananda Posted November 20, 2012 You really think people would even give a hoot to read something I write about Theurgy, Astrology or whatever? Yes! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GrandmasterP Posted November 20, 2012 This thread runs to 13 pages so far so there is some interest. On the other hand there are specialist forums already out there for magic and such. Spiritualist forums too but they tend to be folk wanting free readings and people daft enough to offer those. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
