The Hermetic Hour

On Thursday September 13th, 2012 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

On Thursday September 6th, 2012 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."  

On Thursday August 30th, 2012 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

The Hermetic Hour for Thursday August 23rd, 2012 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

On Thursday August 16th,2012 the Hermetic Hour, with host Poke Runyon, will present a discussion on The Fallen Angels in the Biblical, Islamic, and Hermetic Traditions. This naturally follows our discussion on Satan, Lucifer and The Devil -- which was and is a contrived derivation from the the original Fallen Angels (plural) concept. We will look at the lost Book of Enoch, The Sumerian, Greek and even Nordic versions of the story.(Mentioning Sitchen, Shaver, and Van Daniken) We will visit The Zohar for a version that goes back to Canaanite mythology,and connects with King Solomon -- who built the Great Temple with the help of "demons." We will connect with the Haranian Sabians and their planetary magick. Finally we will discuss Dee and Kelley's version of the Enochian Fallen Angel concept. So, if you want to learn how to work with the good bad guys, or maybe the bad good guys? tune in and we'll Enochiate you.

On Thursday, August 9th, 2012 The Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a discussion on Satanism and its relation to the Western Esoteric Tradition. We will trace its early historical precedents: Set, Tiamat, Nergal, Ahriman, and how these demonic elements were incorporated into the Biblical tradition as contenders in the service of "God." We'll discuss Gnostic ideas about the Cain and Abel Biblical perversity, the evil Demiurge, and the medieval Luciferians. Moving into the Hermetic Tradition in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, we will explain High Magick's sophisticated idea, based on ancient Egyptian concepts, of controlling and using dark forces with the Power of Light. Then we will trace the descent of magick, following the Reformation, into the "Faustian School" of the Baroque period with its "Demonic Pacts," finally evolving into full-blown Satanism in the decadent Fin d' Sec le era in late 19th century France. We'll mention several books by famous authors taking the Devil's side, and we

On Thursday, August 2nd, 2012, the Hermetic Hour, with host Poke Runyon, will re-broadcast a discussion on the revival of Magick as the supreme expression of a new Romantic movement in the second half of the 20th century. We will examine the original 18th century Romantic Movement in art and philosophy as a spiritual and intellectual rebellion against the dehumanizing aspects of the industrial revolution, carrying this on through the Victorian age of what we now reprise as "steam-punk" romanticism, to the death of all dreams and visions of beauty in the depressing horror of World War One. Then the cynical, jaded pseudo-romanticism of the "lost generation," typified by Aleister Crowleys visions of decadence. We will explain what romanticism is, and how Nazis, Bolsheviks, and devout Christians can all be equally "Romantic." We will look at the Faustian archetype, the Luciferian idea, Blakes Marriage of Heaven and Hell, and the little-understood philosophy of solipsism so important to the hermetic individuation

On Thursday July 26th, 2012 the Hermetic Hour, with host Poke Runyon, will present a discussion on the magical work and writings of the British adept Dion Fortune. She was an exponent of the Golden Dawn tradition, the founder of The Society of the Inner Light, a writer of outstanding occult fiction -- Moon Magic, The Sea Priestess, the Dr. Taverner stories, and many other titles. Non-fiction titles include: Psychic Self-Defense, The Mystical Qabalah, and The Cosmic Doctrine. Our featured guest for this topic will be the noted occult leader and author Paul Clark, Steward of the Fraternity of Hidden Light, and a long-time student of Dion Fortune's teachings and writings. So, if you want to look behind the veil on Dion Fortune's magical universe, tune in and be enlightened.

The Hermetic Hour for July 19th, 2012 will feature a discussion moderated by your host Poke Runyon on the just released avant-garde (that's low-budget stylish) black & white grainy, creepy and 1920ish film SHADOWS written and directed by Richard Becker, Produced by Ed Fitch and starring, among others, your kindly old wizard-host as the murderous patriarch of a vampire clan. Shadows began production on weekends back in 1997 at Ed's spacious and decrepit manse in Midway City. The plot was suggested by Ed and involved innocent girls invited to a role-playing vampire game that turns out to be the real thing. We were hosting these events at Ed's and at Rivendell in those days, so why not make a movie? Richard Becker spent most of the twelve years on this project trying to piece together this weekend footage and make it into something that is actually stylish and fun to watch -- if you like this sort of thing. The film is now available on DVD on the internet. So tune in and we'll have the producer, the writer-d

On Thursday July 12th, 2012 the Hermetic Hour will present a discussion led by host Poke Runyon on Enochian magick's Aethyr skrying system.This is probably the most often used and most popular of the Enochian subsystems. We will briefly cover its origin and original intent: as a magical engine to control the politics of the world! How Crowley and others transformed it into a mystical assent of the spheres as set forth in Crowley's "Vision and the Voice." We will look at its relation to ancient Valentinian Gnostic Aeons, and we will outline a Watchtower opening and even let you take a little journey into TEX (that's pronounced Tay-ets), so if you want to meet the Enochians, tune in and find out what "Zacar od Zamran!" means.

The Hermetic Hour for July 5th, 2012 will feature a discussion by host Poke Runyon on the "Magick of the Arabian Nights" or Alf Laya wa Laya as Crowley liked to call it, referring to Richard Burton's annotated translation. Actually the magick in Burton's version is mostly in the footnotes, but there is one specific tale which outlines the whole scheme of Muslim magical "Abjad," which is a Western term for Arab Qabalah. We will discuss that tale -- you'll have to listen to learn which story has the mystic juice -- and we will then move on to the King Solomon (Suliman) legends, the nature and hierarchy of the Jinn, the Turkish version of the Masonic third degree, the North Sabian (Harranian) contribution, Sufi methods and teachings, and the legacy of Picatrix -- so, if you want to get the gen on the Jinn, tune in and we'll open sesame for you.

The Hermetic Hour for Thursday June 28th, 2012 will feature a discussion by host Poke Runyon of the life and work of Dr. Wilhelm Reich, his psychology, methods of therapy, and his development of free energy technology for medical treatment. We will frankly discuss the incredible suppression of Reich's discoveries, and his persecution by the FDA, the American Medical Association and the U.S. Government, resulting in his imprisonment and untimely death. Dr. Francis Regardie employed Reich's methods in his chiropractic practice and had a full scale Orgone Accumulator in his home. We have constructed Orgone pads and found them quite effective. This technology and methodology is now "legal" to practice and employ, but "The Powers that Be," will never admit that it works -- so, if you're a-Freud Jung was Reich, tune in and we'll confirm it.

The Hermetic Hour for Thursday June 21st, 2012 will feature a discussion by host Poke Runyon on the controversial subject of Nazi Occultism, its origins and predecessors, and its present day revival in "The Cult of the Black Sun". We will explore the early influence from the Theosophy of H.P. Blavatsky, the development of the "Ariosophy" movement in Germany between the world wars, the Thule Society of Sebottendorff, Himmler and his Runemiester Wisethor, the fascination with Central Asia, and The Polar Myth. We will debunk the "Spear of Destiny" and other Nazi spook books that were more fiction than fact. We will also de-establish the connection an opportunistic European-American magician is trying to make between the G.D. and Nazism. This is a hot topic and an alarming subject. No matter what your views on it may be, if you are involved in occultism you need to know about it -- so, tune in and we will spend an hour on the dark side.

The Hermetic Hour for Thursday June 14th, 2012 will feature a discussion by host Poke Runyon on the influence of Helena Blavatsky and Theosophy on western occultism and magick. This a broad subject because Blavatsky's impact on all areas of western esoteric theory and practiced is vast and pervasive. We will begin with her Egyptian connection with The Brotherhood of Luxor, and French Masonry, her mid-19th century connection with American Spiritualism, her first opus "Isis Unveiled," which was essentially Hermetic. The meeting in England with her future Eastern Master "Mahatma Morya" (Ranbir Singh). Moving her Theosophical Society to India under the secret sponsorship of her "Mahatmas." Her professed Buddhist philosophy and the development of her universal religion featuring spiritual Darwinism and Aryan Solarism. "The Secret Doctrine" and "The Stanzas of Dyzan." Her anti-Biblical, anti-Christian bias. The German offshoots of Theosophy: Rudolph Steiner's Christian Anthroposophy, and the proto-Nazi Ariosophy. T

The Hermetic Hour for Thursday June 7th, 2012 will feature a discussion by host Poke Runyon on the life and work of Hermetic philosopher Manly Palmer Hall. We will trace his life through the early years on the east coast where he became interested with the esoteric at very early age, his remarkable capacity for learning and teaching, his 1920s-1930s Southern California success, his steadfast adherence to the principals of ancient and classical philosophy in contrast to the New Thought Movement so popular in esoteric circles at the time. His support of Theosophy and the esoteric Freemasonry of Albert Pike. We will look at some of his stranger adventures with friends such as Houdini, Bela Lugosi, and others. Like Houdini, Hall was a crusader against occult fraud and helped bring down a very powerful cult, even at the risk of his own life. And yet, in later years he was apparently the victim of a sinister plot by a trusted business manager. He died a horrible death which the LAPD investigated as a homicide. Our

The Hermetic Hour for Thursday May 31st, 2012 will feature a discussion by host Poke Runyon on the current mystery behind the U.S. failure of the major film "John Carter." This film was a resounding success in Russia, Europe and Latin America. Why did it flop in the U.S.A.? To understand this we must also ask why the U.S. space program has been virtually shut down, and why the rest of the world knows more about the planet Mars than Americans do. We will review the work of Richard Hoagland, and Andrew Basiago, and the current article on "True Mars" in the latest Atlantis Rising. Mars has water, vegetation, atmosphere, life, and ancient ruins. Concepts of time travel and teleportation will be explored in relation to the John Carter screenplay. The John Carter DVD will be released June 5th. Keeping our speculations in mind, you can have another look and wonder why this excellent and provocative motion picture was poorly edited, ineffectively advertised, and badly reviewed. So, tune in and we'll voyage to the rea

The Hermetic Hour for Thursday, May 24th, 2012 will feature a discussion by host Poke Runyon on the life and works of Israel Regardie. We will focus on Regardie's contributions to the modern occult revival starting with his early book "The Tree of Life," his experiences acting as personal secretary to Aleister Crowley, his membership in the Stella Matutina (Golden Dawn) his subsequent publication of their material, his support for the revival of the O.T.O. in the 1970s, and the G.D. in the 1980s. Having known Regardie personally, and having a long association with Regardie's chosen successors, host Poke Runyon is able to resolve the question uppermost in minds of many who seek to fathom the enigma of Regardie's personal philosophy: was he a Thelemite, or was he a Rosicrucian? The answer is he was one or the other, depending on what he thought you needed -- but he never recommended mixing the two systems. So, if you want to meet the real Israel Regardie, tune in be enlightened.

This Thursday, May 17th, 2012, at 8:00 p.m. The Hermetic Hour will present a book review by host Poke Runyon of the newly released "Inside the Solar Lodge, Behind the Veil" by Frater Shiva. The Solar Lodge was the legendary psychedelic era magical group in the Los Angeles area that flourished from the mid-1960s until it was driven underground by a anti-occult witch hunt following a tragic fire at its desert commune near Blythe in 1969. Regardless of whatever criticisms could be made about The Solar Lodge -- and most were grossly exaggerated -- it was the most magically powerful, focused and cohesive magical organization since the early days of The Golden Dawn. The true story of its fascinating origin, development and eventual decline is finally told by the man who was the Solar Lodge's chief executive officer under the command of Thelemic Avatrix Jean Brayton. And who better to tell the story. Frater Shiva and his lady will call in during the second half of the show, and give us their personal views on the su

The Hermetic Hour for Thursday May 10th, 2012 will feature a discussion, moderated by host Poke Runyon, on the origins and the establishment of the "1734" Witchcraft tradition in the United States. This was an American version of Roy Bowers' (Robert Cochrane's) "Clan of Tubal Cain" that surfaced in England in the 1960s as a rival to the Gardnerian Craft. Bowers' claimed to belong to a hereditary tradition more indigenous and authentic than Gardner's popular version of "The Craft." While Gardner drew from Margeret Murray's "Witch Cult in Western Europe", Bowers drew from Robert Graves "The White Goddess." Bowers' American correspondent Joseph Wilson received numerous letters from Roy, forming an enigmatic, mystical corpus of material from which the talented Joe Wilson fashioned the American version called "1734" from a cypher included in the manuscripts. Like Johnny Appleseed, Joe Wilson seeded 1734 covens across the nation. Some of these groups still don't know where their Book of Shadows came from. As featur

On Thursday, May 3rd, 2012, The Hermetic Hour, with host Poke Runyon, will present a discussion on one of the books most influential on the revival of Paganism, Witchcraft, and Magick in the post World War Two era: "1948's "The White Goddess" by poet laureate Robert Graves. The book is difficult read even for those well versed in myth-lore, and classical literature. Graves takes a poet's magical, and even whimsical, approach to what at first appears to be anthropology -- even though he warns the reader that he is not dealing with history as it was, but rather as the ancient and medieval bards imagined it to have been -- which is just as important as how it really was. His argument is that behind all true poetry lies the inspiration of a haunting, primordial muse: the prehistoric Moon Goddess of birth, youth, death and the phases of nature. He is a cultural diffusionist, spinning off from Frazer on a wild ride from ancient Greece to the Druids, tying together the whole warp and woof of Western esoteric lore fr