The Hermetic Hour

On Thursday December 23rd,2021 the Hermetic Hour’s host Poke Runyon, will read his essay entitled The Pagan Myth of Christmas. As most of us know December 25th is a date selected to represent Winter Solstice, and thus correspond to the seasonal return of the Sun, making Jesus a Pagan Sun God. This is just one of the many Pagan myth themes adopted by Christianity in the formative years of the religion. The Cross of Crucifixion became the Cross of the Four Seasons, Churches were built on the sites of Pagan Temples. But what is not widely known is the connection between Paganism, Gnosticism, and Christianity. Jesus was a Pagan God modeled on Osiris and when we match him with the Canaanite Baal he becomes The Once and Future King of Israel the last of the Pagan Dying Gods. The Gnostic Christians believed there had been a succession of these redeemers represented by ancient Gods and Goddesses. So if you want to celebrate the mystery of Christmas, tune in and we’ll deck the halls.

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 surv

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 prewar 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 Trilateral Commission and began to infiltrate 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 clai

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 aficionado 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 sojourn 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 endeavors, 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 Cabaret, tune in and enjoy the show.

On Thursday December 1st, 2016, the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will review the recently published compendium of manuscript translations dealing with the Homunculus, compiled and edited by Joseph Uncello from Four Hands Press, Viatorium and Ouroboros Press. This is one of the most remarkable books on alchemy and magick to have appeared since the release of Picatrix. We now have Paracelsus's own detailed accounts of the Homunculus operation.The creation of a humanoid being, using male sperm in an artificial female womb. This is followed by other Renaissance period authors elaborating on the process and presenting eyewitness accounts of successful Homunculi experiments. We are treated to works that seem to be the source material for The Chemical Wedding of Christian Rosencrutz, the Tyrol experiment cited by W. Somerset Maugham in his 1908 novel "The Magician," and the little King and Queen created by Dr. Pretorious in the 1934 horror film "The Bride of Frankenstein." For comic relief we ha

On Thursday November 10th, 2016 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will review the career of Steve Ditko's Dr. Stephen Strange, "Master of the Mystic Arts" from his Marvel Comics' debut in 1963 to the 2016 Disney/Marvel film released this month. We will discuss Doc's ancestor the 1930's Radio sorcerer "Chandu the Magician" and give a synopsis of Strange's early comic book adventures and the live action films. Both the 1978 and 2016 films emphasize Hermetic symbolism and method drawing on Eastern yoga for power and technique; resulting in a system that is a sort of astral Kung-Fu. In both films the Master Teacher is European, whereas in the original comic book version he was a Tibetan Lama called "The Ancient One." In the recent film there have been some changes in the service of political correctness that are difficult to understand. Why change Baron Mordo the original European villain into Doc's black side-kick and then create a new villain to play Mordo's traditional role played by a Euro

On Thursday November 3rd, 2016 the Hermetic Hour with Host Poke Runyon will present an essay on how the Atheistic Marxists hijacked Christian idealism and used our two thousand years of devotion to Christian principles of Altruism and charity against us in order to enslave us. Also conceding the influence of Hermetic Elitism in this process, we will trace the development through the Roman Church, the Illuminati, and the Marxists to the modern New World Order. We will use "The Matrix" as a metaphor for our present political and economic state. So if you want to get unplugged tune in and take the red pill.

On Thursday November 4th, 2021 - The Hermetic Hour will present a reprise of the Channeling of Biblical King Ahab by V.H.Frater Solomon sitting on the "Bone Throne" in the Pavilion of the Gods at Rivendell following Mot Mass on October 30th. King Ahab was a King of ancient Israel, who along with his Phoenician wife Queen Jezebel, were demonized by Ezra and the prophet Isiah. This revelation presents them in a true and fair view, worthy to join the ranks of Melchizedek and Solomon as ancient avatars of our tradition. V.H. Frater Thabion will discuss Jezebel's first century a.d. namesake in the Book of Revelation, who was equally maligned and needs to be rehabilitated. So, if you want to look behind Biblical Fake News, tune in and find the truth.

On Thursday October 27th, 2016 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will recall and review Frank (Dune) Herbert's first published science fiction story "Nightmare Blues" (Operation Syndrome) 1954. This is an ominously prophetic and frightening tale of electronic mind control which seems to have been inspired by The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. A scientist (who ends up in a mad house) invents a machine that projects thoughts (a telepathy transceiver) which is stolen by a music industry producer promoter who uses it to enhance his star's vocal performances. However each city where they perform experiences catastrophic outbreaks of mass insanity. One of the mad scientist's former students, a psychologist, teams up with a ham radio operator to create an antidote machine. This story was published in 1954 and set in 1999. It deals with issues and theories that resonate today. So if you want to contemplate some high-tech horror, for Halloween tune in and we'll turn up the volume.

On Thursday October 13th, 2016 Poke Runyon host of the Hermetic hour will present a reading of the mystical magical poem "The Hashish Eater" by the late Poet and Fantasy writer Clark Ashton Smith. Smith was a friend and colleague of H. P. Lovecraft whose magical fantasies were also featured in Weird Tales in the 1930s and 1940s, and in "Dark of the Moon" from Arkham House and in "New World's for Old" edited by Lin Carter. This poem is a fantastic magical experience and invokes dreamlike visions. Tune in and discover a magical psychedelic masterpiece.

On Thursday September 15th, 2016 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a discussion on the Alchemical Classic "Splendor Solis" by Solomon Trismosin 1582. This magnificently illustrated work is considered to be the most beautiful illuminated manuscript of all the Medieval and Renaissance occult books. It draws on all of the earlier Alchemical classics such as the Turba Philosophorum. Solomon Trismosin was said to have been the mentor of the most famous of all alchemists Paracelsus. The twenty-two beautiful allegorical paintings that illustrate the book are the work of the Renaissance master Lucas van Leiden. The symbolic paintings have been likened to the twenty-two greater arcana of the Tarot.This book has been a great influence on Rosicrucianism and deserves a place in any study of that tradition, so if you want to peek at the Splendor of the Sun, put on your dark glasses and tune in.

The Hermetic Hour for Thursday October 7th, 2021 -- will feature a dramatic reading of the first chapter of "The Tomb of Prester John" a new magical adventure novel by Hermetic Hour host Poke Runyon. The protagonist of the story is the same Indiana Jonesish anthropologist Poke created and portrayed in his film "Beyond Lemuria" where we saw Doc Roland exploring the ruined city of Nan Modal. In this new adventure Roland and his beautiful belly-dancing lady archaeologist Sophie Nasrani, go in search of the fabulous tomb of the legendary medieval priest-king Prester John. They have a 12th century letter written by Prester John to emperor Frederick Barbarossa and an antique magic lantern to decode the script. They know the tomb is located somewhere east of Samarkand but Sophie must evoke the prophetess Jezebel in a full moon ritual dance. Throughout their adventure they are stalked by Sophie's former lover Khalil ibn Iblis, a terrorist who believes he is the reincarnation of Hassan Sabbah and has revived the cult

On Thursday September first, 2016 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will discuss James Branch Cabell's romantic fantasy novel JURGEN (1919).This delightfully satirical and deeply esoteric work is considered Cabell's masterpiece and a classic of American literature. It might best be quickly described as an Oz book for adults. Modern readers will liken Cabell's tale to a Monty Python script. Chapter XXII was inspired by Aleister Crowley's Gnostic Mass which prompted Crowley to praise Cabell as America's greatest novelist. We will read the infamous 22nd chapter along with some of the symbolically described erotic passages that got the original book banned in New York. This backfired and made JURGEN a national bestseller in the 1920s. And it is still a great read -- so if you want to spend an hour with Messers Cabell and Crowley, tune in and we will follow Jurgen chasing his first love all the way from puberty to Hell, which is a liberal democracy and up to Heaven which is a Southern Baptist d

On Thursday September 23rd, 2021, the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will review Journey to the Castle (2021) by Ann Finnin who will join us on the show to guide us recalling her journey to find the roots of Traditional British Witchcraft. As most of us know modern British witchcraft is divided between Gardnarian and Robert Gravesian branches. The Gravesian branch springing mostly from Bill Gray and Robert Cochcrane (Roy Bowers) and imported to America by Joe Wilson as the Order of 1734. Dave and Ann Finnin’s Coven of the Roebuck grew out of 1734 but they wanted to get to the real roots of their inspiration. Go to England, meet the elders, walk the lay lines, visit the castles. Learn the truth first hand. This book recalls that quest, documents their discoveries and presents Ann’s insights on the meanings and significance of this most shamanic form of modern witchcraft. If you want to know how to cross the moat tune in and take notes.

On Thursday August 25th, 2016 The Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a discussion on two modern classics that hold up mirrors to modern society and recent history: George Orwell's 1984 (1949) and Ortega de Gassett's Revolt of the Masses (1929).Both authors were socialists and both were involved in the Spanish Civil War. 1984 is called a "dystopia"and describes British post World War II socialism evolving into a nightmarish double-plus-ungood (Stalinistic) tyranny where everyone is brainwashed into believing that: "War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery and Ignorance is Strength." In "Revolt of the Masses" Ortega de Gassett disputes the liberal dictum that universal literacy and education can ennoble and uplift "the common people" into a body politic capable of rational and reasonable self government, Hence democracy must be controlled by an intellectual elite (sound familiar). Both these books are classics and more important today than when they were written. We will try to put them in a

On Thursday September 9th, 2021 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a discussion on the vast Central Asian kingdom of Tartaria and the medieval legend of Prester John, the mysterious Christian monarch who was said to have ruled a huge empire West of China and to have written letters to the Pope and kings in Europe. Mentioned by Marco Polo and other European travelers to the Orient Prester John  was a political Holy Grail quest for Crusaders seeking allies against the Muslims. But John and his kingdom was never found -- and yet there may have been a Christian king and warlord in Central Asia in medieval times as new historical research and archeology are discovering. In Medieval times the boundaries of Tartaria stretched from China to Eastern Europe; an area defined by the conquests of Genghis Khan and his sons. Only recently have we come to realize that Europeans have been living in Central Asia for thousands of years. Many of the Central Asian tribes and even nations riding under Mongol bann

On Thursday August 18th, 2016 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will review new issues of old Hermetic Magick books. Starting with Zoroaster's Telescope (1796-2013) and on to Urania's Mirror (1822-2004) and finally The Harmonia Macrocosmica of Cellarius (1660 - 2013). The first item on our list is more of a board-game than a book; a very elaborate and frankly confusing French divinatory system that uses hexagonal "tiles" with magical and astrological data drawn from an urn or box and applied to a board called a mirror. which has hexagonal compartments. Divination follows from the numbers in the mirror's cells and the pattern various tiles make on the mirror. Urania's Mirror is a small book describing the astrological constellations and their mythology accompanied by a set of thirty-two cards on which the mythical figures of the zodiac are depicted in very romantic style. This style is influenced by our last selection: The Harmonia Macrocosmica of Andreus Cellarius, a magnificently illustra

On Thursday August 26th, 2021, the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon, will explore the place of Hermetics and Hermetic Magicians in the coming Futurist society influenced and augmented by genetic engineering, nanotech, computer technology, artificial intelligence, and Clio-dynamics We will refer to our broadcasts over the past few years dealing with these super-humanizing or DE-humanizing techs and tech-systems predicted by science fiction authors such as A.E. Van Vogt, L. Ron Hubbard, Issac Asimov, and Frank Herbert. We will consult current works on the subject by Michio Kaku and Marc Zimmer. We will suggest that much of this futurism derives from Hermetic philosophy and therefore we magicians should embrace it providing we can become more than human rather than a swarm of sub-human drones in a hive. So if you wanna be Slans. (Fans of the Slans are today’s futurists) tune in and we’ll open the gate for you.

On Thursday August 19th the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present two Prophetic essays by American rocket scientist, magician and philosopher John Whiteside Parsons. Chapters Two and Three of "Freedom is a Two-Edged Sword taken from The Seventh Ray, Book IV, Omnibus, The Violet Ray" a reprint of the original publication in the Seventh Ray, issue 19, 1977 (Chapter 3) and a previously unpublished chapter 2, "The Sword and the State." These essays from the 1950s are particularly important in the present political, spiritual, and socio-economic situation. They should be of particular interest to our Thelemic listeners and Hermetic students generally. I do not always agree with Jack but I do agree that his work should be revived and reviewed at this critical time. So if you want to know what Maestro Belarion predicted tune in and find out.

On Thursday August 11th, 2016 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will discuss two prophetic science fiction stories from the 1950s: C.M. Kornbluth's "The Marching Morons" and A.E. Van Vogt's "The Weapon Shops of Isher." Both are considered classics of the genre and deal with controversial social issues. Kornbluth's "Morons" predict a future where the average I.Q. is 45 and a tiny intelligent elite struggle to preserve the self-destructive swarming mass of sub-human humanity. In Van Vogt's "Weapon Shops" a group of gun manufacturers and dealers struggle to arm the citizens of a tyrannical and corrupt world government headed by a psychopathic empress (she sleeps with snakes) who is determined to disarm and enslave them. Both of these stories deserve to be looked at again in light of present and pending events. So if you want a glimpse of today and tomorrow as seen by the prophets of yesterday, tune in and we'll roll back the clock to the 1950s.