Summary
This episode of Strange Dominions features an interview with J.R. Mascaro, author of 'Seal, Sigil, and Call.' Mascaro discusses his journey into magic, the creation of his spiritual system called 'pen idolism,' and the importance of personal paths in magical practice. He emphasizes kindness, compassion, and adapting magical traditions to individual needs. The conversation delves into concepts like eidolons, their classification (primals, other-world spirits, celestials), and the use of sigils and seals for communication. Mascaro also touches on developing personal paradigms, the role of meditation versus verbal magic, and practical applications of magic.
Key Insights
The value of creating a personal magical system derived from various traditions.
J.R. Mascaro highlights that while many magical traditions offer valuable tools, individuals should alchemize and synthesize these into a personal practice that resonates with them. This approach allows for a sense of ownership and ensures that the magic feels right, rather than being confined by external structures that might not align with one's unique way of thinking or being.
Eidolons as spiritual intelligences that can be interacted with through a structured personal practice.
Mascaro introduces his system, 'pen idolism,' which focuses on interacting with spiritual intelligences called eidolons. The foundation of this practice involves centeredness, present moment awareness, energy balancing, and safe connection to universal energy. He classifies eidolons into three groups: primals (lower frequency, denser), other-world spirits (vibrating on a similar wavelength, easier to communicate with linguistically), and celestials (higher vibrational frequency, aligned with highest good, conveying knowledge through thoughts and inspiration).
Sections
Introduction and Author's Journey
J.R. Mascaro, author of 'Seal, Sigil, and Call,' discusses his first book on magic.
Mascaro describes the writing process as surreal and a synchronicity storm, partly inspired by being out of work during COVID-19, which allowed for introspection and focused writing. He has been involved in magical practice since a young age.
His unique path involved creating his own system rather than adhering strictly to existing traditions.
Mascaro explains that he felt a need to forge his own path, taking valuable elements from various traditions but ultimately letting the universe and his own experiences be his teacher. This resonated with the host, who also found value in this approach.
Mascaro's early life showed signs of a predisposition to magic, drawing symbols before he could write.
He believes these early drawings, including universal hexagrams and seals, were echoes from past incarnations. His path involved an innate ability to perceive energy and listen for messages, leading him to explore the occult as soon as he could access relevant literature.
The Value of a Personal Magical System
Uniqueness of individuals necessitates personalized magical practices.
Mascaro emphasizes that what works for one person may not work for another. Finding what resonates personally and alchemizing it into one's own practice ensures that the magic feels right and authentic.
Freedom from rigid structures is crucial for some magicians.
Mascaro, who has ADHD, found imposed structures like long chains of rituals draining. He prefers a more fluid approach where magic is not like a tedious class, valuing creative freedom within his practice.
The universe adapts magic to individual needs and ways of thinking.
The inherent adaptability of magic and the universe allows practices to form in ways that suit individuals, reflecting their unique minds and hearts. This leads to an infinite uniqueness in magical exploration.
Incorporating Traditional Magic and Chaos Magic Principles
Influence of traditional ritual magic balanced with personal intention.
Mascaro acknowledges the influence of authors like Aleister Crowley and the LBRP (Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram) from Aleister Crowley's writings. However, his focus has always been on kindness, self-transcendence, and ego-issuance, prompting an 'Occam's Razor' approach to rituals.
Prioritizing intention and practical application over rigid formality.
He seeks to accomplish magical goals in ways that are not necessarily confined to formal settings, like performing rituals in a subway. This aligns with chaos magic's intention-based approach, valuing the desired outcome above strict adherence to tradition.
Chaos magic as a foundational toolbox rather than a rigid tradition.
Mascaro views chaos magic as a flexible foundation or toolbox, allowing practitioners to explore all forms of magic that come to them. It's a meta-tradition that emphasizes taking personal responsibility for one's chosen path.
Pen Idolism: The System in 'Seal, Sigil, and Call'
Pen Idolism focuses on interacting with spiritual intelligences called eidolons.
The foundation of Mascaro's system involves maintaining a centered state, present moment awareness, energy balancing, and connecting oneself to universal energy safely, respectfully, and powerfully. He views himself as magic, with magic being a conscious, all-permeating force of reality.
Kindness and compassion are paramount in magical practice.
Mascaro believes that the highest good involves being kind to others. This principle guides his magical work, making it potent and focused when performed for the right reasons, contributing to harmony and creating a better reality.
Personal transformation and glimpsing the 'mechanism' of existence.
Through years of practice, Mascaro has undergone self-transformation, looking inward to understand personal patterns. He has glimpsed the framework of existence, describing it using musical metaphors of tone, pulse, and mood conveyed through vibration.
The 'inner host of the Arc' and the role of eidolons.
The second half of the book details the 18 eidolons in his 'inner host of the Arc.' Mascaro gained consent from these intelligences before writing, aiming for accurate and useful descriptions, potentially in ways they had never been described before.
Sigils and seals as tools for communication with eidolons.
The book includes sigils and seals for eidolons, analogous to phone numbers for communication. Seals are unique symbols representing an eidolon, allowing contact. Sigils are smaller representations of core tenets associated with them, acting as shortcuts for interaction.
The evolution of interaction from formal ritual to spontaneous engagement.
Mascaro describes a progression from formal rituals to spontaneous interactions, even on the subway. The ultimate goal is to pull eidolons to oneself instantaneously, invite them into life, and establish agreements (emblems) for quick, free-form assistance.
Understanding Eidolons vs. Spirits
Eidolons are a classificational term with three primary groups.
Mascaro classifies eidolons into primals (lower frequency, denser, akin to chthonic or earthbound spirits), other-world spirits (vibrating similarly to humans, easier to communicate with linguistically, can be fey, deities, or elementals), and celestials (higher vibrational frequency, aligned with highest good, communicate via thought and inspiration).
The concept of 'Intellectus' for celestial beings' rapid knowledge transfer.
Drawing from potential medieval angelology, 'intellectus' describes how celestial beings instantly process and transfer data without human linguistic barriers. This aligns with Mascaro's description of celestials conveying knowledge effortlessly.
Physicality of eidolons and their manifestation.
Mascaro views the physical world as a 'puppet show,' not denying its practical needs but seeing it as less real than the spiritual. While not his primary focus, he has experienced some physical manifestation and sees physical interaction as the accomplishment of intended goals, not necessarily in dramatic physical displays during the act.
Two-way communication and mental temples for interaction.
Mascaro emphasizes the importance of two-way communication with eidolons, often facilitated through deep meditative practice, including forming a visualized 'temple of mind.' He hopes practitioners will achieve this conversational state.
Approaches to Magic and Practical Application
Three approaches to magic: self-improvement, practical change, and empowerment (the 'chord' of learning).
Mascaro outlines three primary motivations for practicing magic: self-improvement, effecting practical change in the material world, and the pursuit of knowledge and understanding for its own sake (the 'chord' of learning).
Eidolons as conduits for practical manifestation and information.
For practical magicians, eidolons can act as conduits to information and effect. They can be viewed as non-existent subconscious entities to be 'hacked' or as existing beings. The practice involves a group protocol to manifest goals, essentially a 'programming language' for reality.
The 'White Thread Meditation' as an accessible alternative to traditional methods.
Developed for those uncomfortable with LBRP or chakra systems, the White Thread Meditation focuses on drawing down or growing internal cosmic energy, translating it through one's planar situation into oneself without relying on pre-existing tradition or specific imagery.
Expanding the Kabbalistic Cross to include the axis of the horizon.
Mascaro proposes an expansion of the Kabbalistic Cross ritual to include not just vertical and horizontal axes but also the axis of the horizon (front and back) to represent three-dimensional existence.
Methods for developing visualization skills.
While visualization comes naturally to Mascaro, he suggests alternatives like sketching, journaling, or dream journaling for those who struggle. Spending time in nature (forest bathing) can also help develop sensory awareness that aids visualization. Keeping a magical journal ('tome') is also encouraged.
Finding the Author and Book
Mascaro is accessible online and his book is widely available.
J.R. Mascaro can be found at jrmascaro.com and on Instagram. His book, 'Seal, Sigil, and Call,' is available wherever esoteric books are sold, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and directly from Llewellyn.
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