CHS/OTA Publications Updates and New Material

Electional Astrology

Electional Astrology

by hermeticmagick August 3, 2021June 19, 2022

Doc Smith’s Lensmen — The Original Jedi

On Thursday April 30th, 2020 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a discussion and review of the 1934 to 1954 science-fiction Lensman series, by Edward Elmer Smith, PhD, a scientist in the food industry specializing in pastry, whose major accomplishment in food engineering was making powdered sugar adhere to doughnuts, and whose…

by hermeticmagick May 1, 2020May 1, 2020

The Magical Multiverse

On Thursday June 12th, 2014 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a discussion on ancient and modern Multiverse concepts in relation to Hermetic Magick, the Qabalah, astrology and Fortean phenomenon. We will examine philosophical. scientific, literary and cinematic models of the Multiverse, sometimes called the “Holographic Universe” or “Parallel Worlds.” We will…

by hermeticmagick June 13, 2014April 25, 2020

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Electional Astrology

Doc Smith’s Lensmen — The Original Jedi

On Thursday April 30th, 2020 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a discussion and review of the 1934 to 1954 science-fiction Lensman series, by Edward Elmer Smith, PhD, a scientist in the food industry specializing in pastry, whose major accomplishment in food engineering was making powdered sugar adhere to doughnuts, and whose major accomplishment in science fiction writing was the creation of a sub-genre called “Space Opera” His Lensman series and its concepts and themes influenced Frank Herbert’s Dune, Roddenberry’s Star Trek, and Lucas’ Star Wars. It even re-influenced the screen version of one of Smith’s inspirations The 1912 Burroughs’ John Carter, when Burroughs’s Therns were rewritten by Andrew Stanton as Smith’s evil “Eddorians” and their medallions given the powers of an Arisian Lens. Smith developed the concept of the Multiverse, laser and particle weapons and super computers years before they appeared. His concept of the Lensmen as an incorruptible Galactic police force, guided by secret masters from a hidden planet seems to have been inspired by Theosophy’s “Ascended Masters” from Tibet, and King Arthur’s knights of the Round Table and the Holy Grail. The Lensmen are obviously the origin of the Star War’s Jedi.  Another imitator of Doc Smith was Issac Asimov with his Foundation Series. Asimov was so successful with his Foundation series that he beat out Doc Smith for the 1966 Hugo award for “the best all time science-fiction series.” But at least they declared that Doc’s epic was runner up. So if you would like to look deeper into this and even review what happened when Doc ran one of his Lensmen for president and how Clarissa MacDoughil became the first Lenswoman, tune in and we’ll activate the lens. 

Doc Smith’s Lensmen — The Original Jedi

The Magical Multiverse

On Thursday June 12th, 2014 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will
present a discussion on ancient and modern Multiverse concepts in
relation to Hermetic Magick, the Qabalah, astrology and Fortean
phenomenon. We will examine philosophical. scientific, literary and
cinematic models of the Multiverse, sometimes called the “Holographic
Universe” or “Parallel Worlds.” We will trace the idea through the
“nesting spheres” of the geocentric age, to the heliocentric
Renaissance, the invention of the telescope and the discovery of other
galaxies and anti-matter, both in terms of science and the pages of
science fiction. Our references will be Mary-Jane Ruberstein’s “Worlds
Without End,” Michio Kaku’s “Parallel Worlds,” the science fiction of
Philip K. Dick, and Richard S. Shaver, and films such as “The Matrix,”
“Dark City,” and “Lost Highway.” Our challenge will be to reconcile
ancient Hermetic philosophy with the Multiverse concept — so, if you
want to go through the looking glass or down the rabbit hole, tune in a
we will tour the endless “nows” of the Simultane.

Negative vs. Positive Gnosis – from Gnostica no. 40, 1976

On Thursday, June 6th, 2014 The Hermetic Hour will present a reading by
Poke Runyon (Fra. Thabion) of his 1976 essay “Negative vs. Positive
Gnosis” from Gnostica magazine, no. 40. This is an important instructive
paper dealing with the ancient and modern spiritual differences between
Thelemic (libertine) Gnosticism, Hermetic neo-Platonism and ancient and
modern Paganism (wiccans, druids, etc.) These differences are so deep
and so misunderstood that many New-Agers involved in the Occult do not
know what they profess to believe in. They participate in various groups
simply because they are attracted to the style and glamor of the
organization and because it provides a rebellion against the religion of
the parents. The article explains the fundamental differences between
Gnosticism of the negative world view and Hermetic magick of the
positive world view, comparing them to the Pagan and neo-Pagan “natural”
world view. You will discover how similar Thelemic Gnosticism is to the
Fundamental Christianity it rebels against, and how similar Hermetic
magick is to Tantric Buddhism. This paper will be reprinted in text form
and posted as an instruction on our web site. So tune in and become
transcendentally demystified.