All Episodes

On Thursday July 21st the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will
review two new books in the Hermetic field:
"The Emerald Tablet" by Martin Faulks from Faulks Books and " Liber
Spirituum" compiled and edited by Adam Forrest from Azoth Press. The
Emerald Tablet is only 84 pages, and follows upon Martin's first
publication "The Universal Master Key" (2013) (reviewed by the Hermetic
Hour on March 26th, 2015). Martin Faulks is an ardent Bardonian and the
Emerald Tablet is a commentary on that ancient document from a Bardonian
perspective. Martin brilliantly analyses each paragraph or aphorism of
the Tablet in relation to the Four Hermetic Elements in a process of
internal alchemy and the ascent and descent of the Holy Spirit on the
Middle Pillar. The second new publication is "Liber Spirituum"
from Azoth Press, (251 pages hardbound) which is a compilation of
articles on traditional magical evocation, invocation, and talisman
making edited and introduced by Golden Dawn authority Adam Forrest. This
is a beautifully bound limited edition, featuring inclusions by John
Michael Greer, Chic and Tabetha Cicero, Aaron Leitch, Bryan Garner,
Jeffery Kupperman, Scott Stenwick and Isadora Forrest's account of her
forty day Raphael-Tiphareth retreat meditation which for me was the most
inspiring and memorable aspect of the book. I was also impressed with
John Michael Greer's article which reveals his own Lodge's interest in
the "Nassaene document" and "From Ritual to Romance" which we have been
writing and lecturing about for years. All considered Liber Spirituum is
a very impressive and useful work, so if you want to learn what's new in
the Hermetic universe, tune in and we'll have a look.

On Thursday July 7th, 2016 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a discussion on Ayn Rand's magnum opus Atlas Shrugged (1957) from a Hermetic Perspective. This book has been read by almost as many people as the Bible. It is particularly important today because it predicted the deterioration of American industry and infrastructure under socialist governmental regulation. Rand's principal characters are heroic industrialists struggling to keep their enterprises going under worsening conditions. Until a Genius inventor named John Galt convinces them all to quit and let the looters and the parasites of socialism try run the country without them. Hence the title: Atlas, he who holds up the world, Shrugged.. Whether you love it or hate it the novel is powerfully written and the characters are dynamic. They resonate with frustrated achievers in today's America. Atlas Shrugged is Hermetic in the same way that Freemasonry is Hermetic. It is an elitism of the creative mind. The builders, the doers, the engineers, and the artists. We will examine this principle in Hermetic philosophy and even compare Atlas Shrugged to Aleister Crowley's Diary of a Drug Fiend (1922). We will examine Ayn Rand's background in relation to the message of the novel – so if you find the world weighing down on you – and who doesn't these days, tune in and we'll try to shrug it off.

On Thursday July 8th, 2021, the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon and Very Honored Frater Suon will present a discussion on the Ars Notoria, a medieval Solomonic grimoire of prayers and meditations designed to assist in learning the Hermetic arts such as astrology, alchemy, philosophy and even theology. Although attributed to Solomon it is heavily Christian but filled with Hermetic and magickal lore. It was often included in the Lemegeton compendiums of Solomonic grimoires; along with the Goetia and the Almadel. It originated in the 13th century but we are most familiar with the Robert Turner 1656 translation available from Trident Books (1997) but we will also discuss Stephen Skinner & Daniel Clark’s (2019) compendium of earlier versions. So tune in and learn how the old wizards remembered their spells.

On Thursday June 23rd, 2016 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon and
guest Jo Carson will present a preview- review of her forthcoming book:
"The Green Pulse Oracle - A Tool for Eco-Psychic Insight." Lady Jo
Carson is the President of Feraferia, America's First Goddess-centered,
Ecology-oriented Neo-Pagan religion founded in 1967 by Artist and
philosopher Frederick Adams (1928-2008). Jo Carson is the leader of
Feraferia and dedicated to preserving
and continuing the work of Fred Adams and his consort Lady Svetlana
Butyrin. As a film maker Jo has produced and directed "Dancing with
Gaia" (2009) a documentary DVD on ancient and modern Paganism centered
on Fred Adams and Feraferian activities. She is the author of "Celebrate
Wilderness" (2014) a portfolio book of Feraferian art, text and photos.
She is presently readying "The Green Pulse Oracle" for publication. This
is a system of divination similar to Geomancy and I-Ching. It is based
on Fred Adams' further development of Robert Graves' Tree Alphabet from
his modern classic "The White Goddess." Adams delineated and extended
Graves' twenty Celtic Ogham glyphs into a twenty-four letter system that
he mounted on a series of Hermetic Enneasphere mandalas coordinating
them with the Trees, the Tarot Trumps, astrological and planetary signs,
and myth themes. Jo Carson reconstructed the system from Fred's
rudimentary publications, notes and graphics. We have experimented with
the Oracle and found it to be remarkably accurate and inspiring. So join
us as we explore the divinatory magick of an American master as revealed
by his worthy successor.

On Thursday June 16th, 2016 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a review of the 2010 book Babylon's Banksters, the Alchemy of Deep Physics, High Finance and Ancient Religion, by Joseph Farrell. Although this book is somewhat dated in light of current events, it is important in that it presents the background of world-wide financial manipulation from a Hermetic and Magical perspective. Farrell quotes authoritative sources to establish a relation between business cycles planetary alignments and Solar activities, lending credit to astrology, ancient aliens and even the Pythagorean music of the spheres. The book raises more questions than it answers but it is fascinating and filled with provocative information,such as the investment formula developed by a Chinese communist Triad Tong family that brought on the 2008 Great Recession (shades of Fu Manchu!) So if you want to know how evil magicians manipulate the stock market tune in and we'll give you an overview.

On June 9th, 2016 the Hermetic Hour with Host Poke Runyon will present a discussion on the secret meaning behind Abraham Merritt's classic Fantasy novel “The Moon Pool.” (1919). This Lost Race fantasy adventure story, similar to Rider Haggard's “She”was very influential on other fantasy writers, movie makers and comic book writers and artists. It was one of the major sources of the 1940s “Shaver Mystery”. Moon Pool is based on the idea that the Moon was pulled out of the Earth half a billion years ago when our young world was in a molten state, leaving a huge cavity in the area of the Central Pacific, which sealed itself over and eventually became a vast air filled cavern under the ocean. A subterranean world with its own flora, fauna and people. Its only connection to the surface world is the ancient ruined stone city of Nan Madol on Pohnpei island in the Central Pacific Ocean. In these haunted ruins is a mysterious doorway that only opens when the Moon is full, revealing The Moon Pool from which rises a fantastic alien being that resembles an animated and illuminated kabbalistic Tree of Life. It is called “The Dweller” or “The Shining One” – a beautiful, alluring vampiric creature that stalks human prey, harvesting and feeding on their souls. The Dweller or Shining One is worshiped as a god by a faction of the Murians, who are as evil as their deity and are plotting to conquer the surface world. Into this setting come a group of adventurers from our world – so we can have a hero and a heroine to save both worlds ( love conquers all) -- and someone to tell the story. That, as the Irish say, is the gist of it. But there is a lot more behind the scenes in Moon Pool than just a good story. So If you want to learn the horrible secret of the Shining One then tune in and listen as we open the door to The Moon Pool.

On Thursday May 19th, 2016 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will
air a discussion on the noted British 19th century occultist,
spiritualist and magician Frederick Hockley ( 1809 - 1885 ) mentor of
Francis "the Magus" Barrett and Kenneth "the Cypher manuscript
Mackenzie". Hockley was an ardent Freemason and Rosicrucian with genuine
Rosicrucian connections and documents. He was a collector and a
transcriber of occult manuscripts and several of his once rare treasures
are being reissued today. We will read Hockley's account of "Raising the
Devil" (a homunculus in a bottle) from "The Rosicrucian Seer" by John
Hamill, and then discuss our own attempt to replicate this operation. We
will discuss Hockley's influence on the Golden Dawn and the occult
revival. So if you'd like to "Raise the Devil" with old Fred Hockley
tune in and we'll get it on.

On Thursday June 3rd, 2021 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a reading off the newly drafted Corpus Christi ceremony which will represent the Rosicrucian climax of the ancient pagan seasonal ceremony round. It will be performed following the Spring Sacred Marriage Nuptiae rite. In keeping with the Sacred Marriage being the supreme sacrament and passion of early Gnostic Christianity. The ritual will follow the ancient Naassene document honoring Jesus as the last of the pagan dying Gods coming down to rescue and marry Mary Magdalene so that they may rule together as King and Queen of Israel. So if you want experience the Second Coming, Valentinian style, tune in and receive the Gnosis.

On May 27th, 2021 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will have as honored guest Lady Jo Carson Avatrix of Feraferia who will discuss her restoration and fulfillment of Master Fred Adams cosmos encompassing mandala, the Enneasphere which incorporates Qabalistic astrological and Tarot correspondences in one great design. This masterpiece can be seen on Feraferia's website: < feraferia.org > under "latest additions" and on < chsota.org > on the blogs as "Fun with Enneaspheres" if possible look at the graphics on these websites while listening to the show. And also check out Lady Jo's film DANCING WITH GAIA. We just released it on Amazon. So tune in and get introduced to the Celestial Key to the Hermetic mysteries.

On Thursday April 28th, 2016 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon
will present the concluding chapterof the first volume of my Inner Plane
fantasy novel Adamson's Quest, The Library of the Ages -- in which the
Hero Enoch Adamson in his role as the Fool of the Tarot finally reaches
his goal the Library of the Ages, which represents the Sphere of Hod at
the upward terminis of the 31st Path on the Tree of Life. Here Adamson
will meet his mentor and sponsor Hermes Trismegistus and receive the
answers to his questions from a council of sages including Jesus and
Mary Magdalene and even Nicolo Machievelli at a dinner party which is
modeled on Steve Allen's "Meeting of the Minds" format. This novel was
begun in 1973 when we first began to develop our Qabalistic Path Working
program. So if you want to sit in on an Inner Plane esoteric council
meeting join us and be enlightened.

On Thursday April 21st, 2016 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will discuss his Magical Inner Plane novel Adamson's Quest and offer a dramatic reading of Chapter Eleven. This fictional journey up the paths of the Tree of Life was begun back in 1979 in the old pamphlet style Seventh Ray and has been continued in the new journal version of T7R since 1999. The final installment Chapter Twelve is in the works and should be ready by next week. We did a show on Adamson four years ago that is still available in the archives for those who wish more background on the story. Adamson's experiences reflect the anxieties of the times (late 1970s) he tries to overcome psychosomatic illnesses, psychological neurosis, Freudian complexes, Jungian archetypes and Qabalistic paradoxes, while dressed as the Fool in the Tarot, more recently he deals with contemporary problems: reptilian illuminati, pollution, invasion of privacy, social engineering, virtual reality and military-industrial corruption. So, if you want to join the 2084 Army's virtual reality nano-tank corps and battle giant mole-crickets (Mike Charlies) in the non-white house lawn then tune in and let's roll!

On Thursday May 6th, 2021 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a revised chapter from the new edition of The Book of Solomon’s Magick, Chapter Five, the Qabalah of Wizardry. This revision is necessary because our version of Qabalah has undergone some evolvement since this chapter was published twenty-six years ago. We have discovered the Celestial Tetragrammaton, restored the Eleven Sphere Tree of Life before the Fall. Evolved the sacred marriage from Baal and Astarte to Jesus and Mary Magdalene in the Rosicrucian degrees and created new kameas for the outer planets. I suggest you have your Tree of Life diagrams handy as you listen so that you can follow along the paths.
 

On Thursday March 31st, 2016 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a review of John Michael Greer's new translation from the Latin version of "De Imaginibus of Thabit Ibn Qurra" titled "Astral High Magic". This book replaces an earlier publication translated by Christopher Warnock in the Renaissance Astrology list. De Imaginibus is the technical side of Sabian elective astrology. How to make talismans. Thabit Ibn Qurra was the most famous of the Harranian astrological magicians. We will also discuss the Sabian planetary magick and hermetic affiliations. The surviving Mandanean cult claims to be preserving their traditions along with works attributed to John the Baptist. We were first on the scene with Sabian lore in our 1999 Book One, of the Seventh Ray (the Blue Ray) with our translation, from the German version of the Arabic original, of the Sabian planetary rituals from Picatrix. So if you want to know how to keep scorpions out of your house, among other things, tune in and we'll see how the Magi do it.

On Thursday March 10th, 2016 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon and Guests Lady Jo Carson of Feraferia and Lady Ann Finnin of the Roebuck, will have a discussion on "Fairy Magick". We will recall the classics in this field such as "The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries," Evans-Wentz,(1911) "The Faerie Queen" by Edmund Spencer (1590) and more recently Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Sussana Clarke (2004) Lady Jo will mention other recent books in the field, including one she is working on involving Fred Adams extrapolations from Robert Graves' Celtic "Tree Alphabet" from "The White Goddess" (1946) which should be a veritable Qabalah of fairyland. Lady Ann will mention the Roebuck's connections to Celtic fairy lore. I will delve into "The Book of Oberon" (2015) a translation of an Elizabethan 16th century magical compendium mixing Solomonic and fairy lore in a compendium similar to the Lemegeton - and including Lemegeton material. So let's all spend an hour under the hill with the changelings and the little people -- and remember what the old cunning man said: "Aye! You can see them if they want you to." He also asked: "What is your name? What is your quest? What is your favorite color?"

We have had a photocopy of a 300 year old magical manuscript in our archives for fifty years and have used it or research, study, rituals, and publications but until we began a serious study of Valentinian Gnosticism we had no idea what secrets were hidden in this Elizabethan era manuscript that we had been using for years. The structure of the Celestial and Terrestrial versions of the Tetragrammaton was set forth in the First Conjuration of the Goetia. Elizabethan magicians were NeoPlatonists and Hermetics. They were partial to Christian Gnosticism and venerated the most high God, honoring Jehovah as the God of the Earth Sphere. I now wonder if Soane 2731 influanced us to realize the two Tetragrammatons years before we discovered them in the text of the First Conjuration.