Episodes

42 minutes ago
42 minutes ago
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 of the Assassins.
As the tale progresses we will air it chapter by chapter on the Hermetic Hour, so if you want to get in at the beginning, tune in tonight and get ready for High Adventure.

7 hours ago
7 hours ago
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 banners in the middle ages were actually Caucasian Christians descendants of the ancient Scythians, Armenians and Indo-Europeans. The real history of Central Asia has been suppressed and mistranslated. We will suggest who the real Prester John might have been. So put on your fedora, snap your bullwhip and lets follow the Silk Road to adventure.
Be captivated by the myths and suppressed histories that connect the Scythians, Armenians, and Indo-Europeans to a Euro-Caucasian presence in these ancient lands. Uncover the historical and archaeological discoveries that challenge traditional narratives, and embark on a journey to restore the lost truths about Prester John and the influence of Western civilization in Central Asia.

22 hours ago
22 hours ago
This is the Hermetic Hour for Thursday February 6th, 2025 -- featuring a dramatic reading of chapters Seven, Eight and Nine of "The Tomb of Prester John" a 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 Iskandar, 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 in eastern Turkey 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 Sabbah’s medieval cult of the Assassins. The first six chapters are already recorded in our archives and will be continuing this year on the Hermetic Hour

Thursday Jan 30, 2025
Thursday Jan 30, 2025
Hermetic Hour host Poke Runyon will launch a discussion on what is commonly called "Astral Projection." We will use what we still consider the best occult manual on the subject: "The Art of Astral Projection," by Ophiel, as our starting point. We'll mention path workings (Inner Plane projection) vs. the OOBE, comparing these methods with Tibetan practice (po-wah yoga and throng-jug yogas). Following on Jack London's "Star Rover", we'll examine self-hypnosis and sensory deprivation. We'll mention Monroe and Hemi-Sync, (binaural beats), discuss "Music of the Spheres," and Remote Viewing. Tune in, turn on, and get out!

Thursday Jan 23, 2025
Thursday Jan 23, 2025
On January 23rd the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present an essay "The Jesus Myth" - Christianity's only hope -- which will be a counter argument to the evangelical Christian position that the so-called Jesus Myth based on the Naassene Document, a 1st or 2nd century Gnostic Christian scripture, presenting Jesus as the last of a recurring cycle of dieing Pagan Gods resurrected by Pagan Goddesses such as: Tammuz and Ishtar, Osiris and Isis, Baal and Astarte, Venus and Adonis, etc., culminating in Jesus and Mary Magdalene. The fundamentalists contend that this idea undermines the historical Jesus (they reinforce this by mixing in other Gnostic Christian views that Jesus did not die on the cross, which was not a part of the original Naassene proposition.)
As Valentinian Gnostic Rosicrucians, we contend that the Jesus Myth as set forth in the Naassene Document is not only valid as scripture, but that it represents Christianity's only hope of survival against its awful record, both Orthodox and Protestant,of exploitation, prejudicial persecution, hypocrisy and patriarchalism. So tune and help us defend our tradition.
Music Credits:
Opening: Seian by Ali Kesanto
Closing: Sneaking Around the Mansion by John Abbot

Thursday Jan 09, 2025
Thursday Jan 09, 2025
On Thursday the 7th of October, 2010, the Hermetic Hour, hosted by Poke Runyon, will present a lively review of magical fiction and films. We will go from "The Saragossa Manuscript"(1841) through Dion Fortune's "Moon Magic", Somerset Maugham's "The Magician" (novel and film), Chambers "The King in Yellow", Lovecraft's dream cycle, Merritt's lost worlds (that influenced Shaver), Jack Williamson's "Darker than You Think" (Jack Parson's favorite), Clark Ashton Smith dream-maker extraordinary, his imitator Jack Vance (from which we got Dungeons & Dragons), "Valis" by Philip K. Dick -- just to name a few. Then the films: Orson Welles' "Black Magic" on Cagliostro, Jean Cocteau's "Orpheus", Merrian Cooper's "She", "Simon King of the Witches," "What Dreams May Come," "Crowley," and Jodorowsky's "The Holy Mountain." A smorgasbord of mind-benders. Tune in and feast on it!

Thursday Jan 02, 2025
Thursday Jan 02, 2025
On Thursday January 2nd 2025 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will review the new shows we presented in 2024 and discuss what is coming up in 2025. Our host for the past 15 years has been Blogtalkradio. They are shutting down on January 31st, 2025 and so we are moving to PodBean in 2025. Blogtalkradio was a pioneer in podcasting and we owe them thanks for giving us a wonderful outreach tool which has not only brought us many new associate members, but also inspired several other Hermetic podcasters. As our regular listeners know we have been re-broadcasting our shows from 2010 this year for new listeners who missed them. Blogtalkradio.com has archived everything, with abstracts, and those archives will no longer be available after January 31st, 2025. If you want to download a particular show, let's say the Enochian Magick lecture, get it before Blogtalkradio shuts down. Also we will discuss new shows we have in the works and upcoming publications and productions. So tune and stay with us. Happy New Year!

Thursday Dec 26, 2024
Thursday Dec 26, 2024
On September 23rd, 2010 at 8:p.m. the Hermetic Hour, with host Poke Runyon, will lead a discussion on Angel Magick (good spirits too) with an emphasis on crystal ball scrying techniques, training, equipment, and talisman construction and charging. We will discuss the recent books recounting Dr. Thomas Rudd's 17th century work in this field, and relate some experiences we've had in the circle doing this work. This will be call-in night, so have your questions ready on any topic we've covered. Tune in and get Theurgerated, or Thaumatergified.

Thursday Dec 19, 2024
Thursday Dec 19, 2024
On Thursday evening, September 16th, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. the Hermetic Hour, with host Poke Runyon, will present a discussion on magical astrology. We will begin with the prehistoric origin of the Zodiac in the Age of Taurus -- "Bull's Eye Astrology" -- and explain how this began the symbolism of the Zodiacal signs (the 12 Labors of Heracles). We will delve into Alexander's emphasis on Aries, and the establishment of horary astrological doctrine by Ptolemy. We will touch on the Orphic-Hermetic doctrine of the soul's descent and return, the geocentric model still used in Hermetic magick, the Mansions of the Moon, the Decans, and astrology's influence in geomancy, tarot, the Tree of Life, the kabbalah, and alchemy, and the concept of "Elective Astrology." Tune in and get proGnosticated!

Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Thursday Dec 12, 2024
The Hermetic Hour -- for December 12th, 2024with host Poke Runyon will review and discuss the video series "Forbidden Occult" on Amazon Prime Video and Tubi TV which features all four of the documentary Occult productions he wrote and produced for the Church of the Hermetic Sciences, "The Magick of Solomon, The Rites of Magick, Beyond Lemura, and Dark Mirror of Magick". Released as a series by Reality Entertainment. Although all titles are still available separately, the series offers a new generation the opportunity to view all four of these Occult Classics all in one format.

Thursday Dec 05, 2024
Thursday Dec 05, 2024
On Thursday evening September 9th, 2010, at 8:00 p.m. the Hermetic Hour, hosted by Poke Runyon, will present a discussion on the Hermetic art of alchemy, its history, its mystery and its philosophy. Poke does not claim to be an alchemist, and so his presentation will be based on his extensive notes from a seminar on the ancient art taught by the late Hans Nintzel, who was considered one of America's foremost alchemical masters. Our call-in guest will be Art Kunkin, author of "Alchemy Revealed" and the foremost alchemist in Southern California. Tune in and help us find the Philosopher's Stone.

Thursday Nov 28, 2024
Thursday Nov 28, 2024
On The Hermetic Hour for September 2nd, 2010, at 8:00 p.m. host Poke Runyon will be joined by Jo Carson for a discussion about the life and work of surrealist painter, poet, Neo-Pagan philosopher and ceremonial magician Frederick Adams. Fred, with his consort Lady Svetlana, founded "Feraferia" in 1969. Feraferia was the first, and still the most elegant, expression of Goddess worshiping, Nature focused, Neo-Pagan religion in America. Jo Carson's recently released film "Dancing With Gaia" features Fred giving instruction in land-form yoga, and also displays his marvelous art work. Fred Adams was certainly a master magician. He and Svetlana recreated the ancient Greek Eleusinian Mysteries and perfected a joyous round of nine Seasonal Ceremonies. There would be no O.T.A. Seasonals without the original inspiration of Feraferia. Tune in on Thursday and connect with this beautiful and vital expression of modern magick.

Thursday Nov 21, 2024
Thursday Nov 21, 2024
On Thursday the 26th of August, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. the Hermetic Hour, hosted by Poke Runyon, will present a discussion on "The Dark Side" of Hermetic magick. We will explore the works of the 20th century's most erudite and accomplished diabolist, Kenneth Grant and his "Typhonian Gnosis", tracing his sources through Crowley, the occult artist Austin Osman Spare, and back to the fin d' secle decadents of the late 19th century. We will touch on Grant's adoption of the "Cthulhu Mythos" of fantasy writer H. P. Lovecraft and his fictional "Necronomicon." We will read deliciously evil snippets from Grant's books, and our own lovingly crafted satire "Beyond the Nostrils of Nuit" from the forthcoming Seventh Ray. This really ought to be our Halloween show. Tune in and we'll descend into the Tunnels of Set.

Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Thursday Nov 14, 2024
On this Friday the 13th, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. (Templar Memorial Day) The Hermetic Hour's host Poke Runyon will lead a discussion on Hermetic Philosophy, from ancient Alexandria through the Renaissance, and into the modern era. We will look at the early work of Empedocles and Pythagoras, the Pomander and the Asclepius, the Emerald Tablet, and the Chaldean Oracles. We will consider the Gnostic connection, and how the kabbalah arose from Greek, Assyrian, and Gnostic roots, and how it joined with Hermeticism in the Renaissance. We will establish why astrology is so important in the magical art. Most importantly we will look for The Great Secret of Hermetic-kabbalistic philosophy. This is the "Why" of Magick. This is the Holy Grail that we search for. This is the reason we dedicate our lives to an art that destroys the fools, and makes the wise immortal. I doubt that you have ever heard anything like this before. Tune in and we will open the pathway to enlightenment. Nosce te Ipsum -- Tu es Deus. Remember: this week we are on Friday evening, not Thursday. Please call in "on the topic."

Thursday Nov 07, 2024
Thursday Nov 07, 2024
This Thursday, August 5th, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. the Hermetic Hour will feature a talk by host Poke Runyon on Magical Pathworkings. These are hypnotic guided tours of the astral plane, "inner plane projections," intended to introduce the magical students to deeply significant symbolism from mythology and traditional occult correspondences. The kabbalistic Tree of Life is the road map. The central idea here is that the student confronts the symbol or archetype and receives personal knowledge he or she might not obtain by conscious study. They are astral initiations. We will look at the history of this type of working, the Eastern version that influenced the O.T.A.'s pathworking system, and we will even take you on a mini-pathworking, so you can experience some of the effect. This is an important part of traditional magical lodge instruction that is not well understood. Tune in and take the journey.

Thursday Oct 31, 2024
Thursday Oct 31, 2024
On the upcoming episode of The Hermetic Hour for July 29th, 2010, host Poke Runyon will discuss the background behind the 2007 cult film "Beyond Lemuria" which he wrote and produced for C.H.S. Productions. Beyond Lemuria is a feature length science fiction/occult drama that was filmed in the ancient ruins of Nan Madol in the Pacific, inside an O.T.A. temple in Pasadena, high on the slopes of Mt. Shasta, and deep in the lava caverns under America's holy mountain. The film features leading occult figures in the roles of the Mt. Shasta Avatars. Lon Milo DuQuette takes the role of Hermes Trismegistus, Paul Clark is the Master Jesus, Merrick Hamer is Phylos of Atlantis, and Frater Solomon is Samyaza, the Fallen Angel from "The Book of Enoch." The dark side of the drama involves "The Shaver Mystery," a 1940s revelation of a secret underground realm of Atlantean-Lemurian survivors who possess the super-scientific weapons of the ancients. These evil "Deros" offer their secrets to the black magicians in the film, while the white magicians (played by the same actors) seek the wisdom of the ancients up on the Holy Mountain. Beyond Lemuria is available on DVD from Amazon, and is occasionally shown to select audiences; most recently at Hop Louie's bar and restaurant in L.A.'s Chinatown for a group of college art students. Tune in and get a "behind the scenes" run down on a controversial cult classic.

Thursday Oct 24, 2024
Thursday Oct 24, 2024
At eight p.m this Thursday, July 22nd, 2010 the Hermetic Hour's host Poke Runyon will answer your call-in questions on our last show about European magus Franz Bardon. In between calls we will discuss the oldest, most famous (or infamous) of magical grimoires, "The Aim of the Sage", more popularly known as Picatrix" (Picatrix, not pick-up-sticks, and other books of dirty tricks!) This once forbidden tome ( at least in English ) is now available, translated from both the Arabic and the Latin medieval texts. We will discuss the Harranian Sabian contribution, and the Spanish connection--and if this sounds like Greek, it's that too. So tune in and find out how to get scorpions to sting themselves, and how to grow smart plants from human skulls, along with some profound Hermetic philosophy, and astrology that fights back.

Thursday Oct 17, 2024
Thursday Oct 17, 2024
At 8:00 p.m. on Thursday July 15th, 2010 Hermetic Hour host Poke Runyon will present a lecture on the magick of Franz Bardon, the 20th century European alchemist and magician. Bardon was the author of three books on magick, and one semi-autobiographical novel. His Eastern style methods of training, owing much to raja and tantric yoga, have had a considerable influence on modern Western practice. We will discuss each of his three books in sequence; where his information came from, and what his philosophy was. You will learn about "fluid condensers," "volts," "elementals," magnetic and electric fluids, and magick mirrors. His debt to P. B. Randolph will be mentioned. We will discuss the origins of his myriads of spirits, the way he derived his sigils, his unique concept of Kabbalah. Bardon's background as a professional hypnotist, alchemist and healer will be compared to his mundane life and problems. The Master was an over-weight chain-smoker who died after eating a bacon sandwich---but he was still "The Master," and we should appreciate him all the more for the faults that made him human. Tune in find out why Simon, King of the Witches kept saying "Magnetic-Electric," while having fun with the D.A.'s daughter.

Thursday Oct 10, 2024
Thursday Oct 10, 2024
On July 1st, 2010, Hermetic Hour host Poke Runyon will present a lecture on "The Hermetic Qabalah." First we will define what Qabalah, or Kabbalah, or Cabala, or "Q.B.L.," is, and then we will present a very simplified version of the basic principles -- sort of a "Qabalah for Dummies." Then we will move on into what we can do with it (that's the fun part). I once said that "hypnosis is the tactic of the magician, and qabalah is his strategy." We can define it as a software program, an operating system, or a schematic for the mind which enables the left brain (the rational part) to access and control the right brain (the intuitive part). We will get down to the magical nuts-and-bolts. We'll define the four dimensions, the Tree of Life, the Cube of Space, what the astrological connection is, where the angels and demons live, and how we use the qabalah to communicate with them. Tune in and let us gently bend your mind.

Thursday Oct 03, 2024
Thursday Oct 03, 2024
This Thursday, June 24th, 2010, on the Hermetic Hour, host Poke Runyon will present a lecture on Hermetic Yoga. Poke will discuss the chakras in the etheric-plane Hindu tantric system, and the variations in Tibetan tantra. The kundalini in Hindu, Tibetan and Taoist procedures will be discussed. We will then differentiate between the etheric Hindu system, and our astral arrangement that follows the "lightning Flash" on the Western Tree of Life. The philosophical importance of the Western arrangement will be compared to the Eastern system's alchemical correspondences. We will discuss the origin of our system, from the Golden Dawn's Middle Pillar exercise, to its full development now used by the O.T.A. in its magical operations. The mantras and affirmations will be demonstrated and explained. Tune in and we'll meditate our way from Omega up to Tau, and beyond.

Thursday Sep 26, 2024
Thursday Sep 26, 2024
On June 17th, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. the Hermetic Hour will present a lecture on the 1770 Crata Repoa system of magical initiation. I will briefly describe this 18th century German (and later French) recreation of an ancient Alexandrian mystery tradition on a Masonic initiatory model. The Crata Repoa was a structural outline for a magical order that precedes both the O.T.O. and the Golden Dawn's Cypher Manuscript by 100 years. We will discuss the original authors, what they were trying to accomplish, and the considerable influence their creation had on subsequent magical traditions. I will recount how I literally stumbled into a French version of the system in 1963, and adapted it to the fledgling O.T.A. in 1969 --- Carrying the story on into the 70s, 80s and 90s as we found out more about the system and expanded our program along the lines laid out in Crata Repoa. Tune in and we'll explore this baroque version of the secrets of the ancients.

Thursday Sep 19, 2024
Thursday Sep 19, 2024
On Thursday evening, June 10th, 2010, The Hermetic Hour will present an introductory lecture on Enochian magick. Your host, Poke Runyon, has been practicing this system for forty years and has some personal insights into its effectiveness, how it works, and what one can expect from it. We will begin with a brief history from John Dee and Edward Kelley in Elizabethan times, through the Golden Dawn's amplifications, Crowley's contributions, and the present day developments, including the work of Lon Milo DuQuette. We will discuss Terrestrial Victory, and how it became the modern system of the Thirty Aethyrs. We will recount some Enochian visions, and even deliver an Enochian Call --- You can close your eyes and see what kind of visions arise in your mind's eye. So, tune in on Thursday at 8:00 p.m. and we'll visit the Enochians.

Wednesday Sep 11, 2024
Wednesday Sep 11, 2024
On June 3rd, 2010 The Hermetic Hour will discuss the origin, history, and content of the Golden Dawn's Cypher Manuscript, that mysterious and controversial document that was the foundation of the Victorian era's Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. We will cover this subject in depth, explaining Wynn Westcott's creation of "Fraulein Sprengel," the fictitious Rosicrucian adept who was actually a pseudonym for two real women on the occult scene. We will examine the manuscript itself, and the secret knowledge it reveals about the qabalah, tarot and the Tree of Life. We will recount the notorious "Horos Affair" which nearly destroyed the Golden Dawn, and show how it was related to the Cypher Manuscript. We will briefly discuss Aleister Crowley's connection to the Order, and the difference between his Thelemic philosophy, and the Rosicrucian philosophy of the Golden Dawn. Tune in at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday and return with us to the thrilling days of yesteryear, when out of the inner sanctum comes the cry of the Kerux: "Hekas, hekas! este bebeloi!" The Golden Dawn rides again!

Thursday Sep 05, 2024
Thursday Sep 05, 2024
This week, May 27th, 2010, the Hermetic Hour will deal with the fascinating subject of Masonic-Occult conspiracy connections. We will discuss the actual and fanciful history of Freemasonry in relation to occultism, radical politics, and "The New World Order." We'll go from the Illuminati, the French Revolution, the Morgan Affair, the Palladian hoax, Fabian socialism, to Marxism. We'll reveal just what the "Great Secret" of Freemasonry really is and why the Masons are hated and feared by the fanatics and true-believers of the world's great religions---and the followers of radical political philosophies. We'll briefly review Dan Brown's "The Lost Symbol." If you have a friend who believes that Masons are the secret agents of some shadowy world government, or satanic conspiracy, ask them to tune in. We will take calls, but this is a highly charged subject, so make your questions brief and reasonable. Tune in at 8:00 p.m. and, at the sound of the gavel in the East, we will seek the Light.

Thursday Aug 29, 2024
Thursday Aug 29, 2024
This Thursday, May 20th, the Hermetic Hour will feature the conclusion of Prince Aqhat and the Magick Bow, preceded by a brief synopsis of the story thus far, and followed by a brief commentary. We will then take calls (if any) and answer questions about Prince Aqhat, or magick in general. In the last quarter of the hour Poke Runyon will read excerpts from various articles that will appear in the new Seventh Ray, number three, "The Green Ray." That will be published some time this summer --- So, tune in (at 8:00 p.m.Thursday), turn on, and get magick!

Thursday Aug 22, 2024
Thursday Aug 22, 2024
Tune in to hear Poke Runyon read the second of three installments of his historical novelette, "Prince Aqhat and the Magick Bow."

Thursday Aug 15, 2024
Thursday Aug 15, 2024
For our next show, Poke Runyon will read the first of three installments of his historical novelette, "Prince Aqhat and the Magick Bow." This is a modern rendition of an ancient Canaanite legend that dates from the time of Melchizedek (1500 B.C.) and is based on the scribe Elimelech's version written down on clay tablets before Moses brought the Hebrews out of Egypt. The O.T.A. performs four seasonal ceremonies each year based on these ancient Canaanite pre-Biblical myths. Prince Aqhat is a great way to become familiar with Canaanite-Phoenician mythology which has so much bearing on the magick of old King Solomon, and his Phoenician ally King Hiram of Tyre. This is an exciting story, full of magick, mystery and wonder---like a tale from the Arabian Nights, and Poke will give it a dramatic reading. Tune in and get Magick!

Thursday Aug 08, 2024
Thursday Aug 08, 2024
This Thursday the Hermetic Hour will present a lecture by Poke Runyon on Dark Mirror Evocation and Angelic Invocation that was first delivered at a symposium sponsored by Paul Clark's Fraternity of the Hidden Light in 2002. This talk will reveal the philosophy, the techniques, and the effects related to these "grand operations" of ceremonial magick: how to summon spirits, and call down angels. Poke will discuss this subject in depth, and give the psychological, spiritual and traditional background behind our most dynamic form of modern urban shamanism. This talk will be directed toward those sincerely interested in this subject. It will be dense with facts, techniques and practical instructions. It may be too heavy for parlor room 'fluffy bunnies,' but if you want to outgrow your fluff, tune in and find out how the boys and girls back in the dim-lit, blue-painted garages do it. Good Magick! Thabion

Thursday Aug 01, 2024
Thursday Aug 01, 2024
Introduction to Hermetic and Solomonic ceremonial magick, as taught and practiced by The Church of Hermetic Sciences and The Order of the Temple of Astarte (O.T.A.). We will outline Hermetic philosophy and its history, drawing a distinction between Hermetic magick and witchcraft and satanism. We will discuss the principles of invocation (calling down angels) and evocation (calling up spirits), and the aspects of astrology, kabbalah and alchemy that bear upon Hermetic magick. We will describe the inner workings of the magical visionary process, explaining the hypnotic and subjective nature of this phenomenon, while maintaining the inner spiritual reality of the human imagination.

Thursday Jul 25, 2024
Thursday Jul 25, 2024
On Thursday January 19th,2023 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will review and discuss the 2016 book "The Ba'al Theory of Christianity" by author Glenn Young. This book is subtitled: "Exploring the Impact of Human Sacrifice on Western Religion." This subtitle and Young's insistence on equating Carthaginian child sacrifices with Palestinian Phoenician ritual practices is our only real complaint about this otherwise well-researched and strongly presented book. The author touches all the bases in explaining the differences between Yahwehism and the original worship of El and the Elohim. He describes Ezra's rewrite of the Bible and even mentions Joseph and Moses as the possible leaders of the Hyksos. Although he is wrong in assuming that Sidon and Tyre practiced child sacrifice in Classical times he may be correct in assuming that Carthaginian practices might have influenced the Druids and the Nordics and later the witchcraft persecutions. It is unfortunate that he fails to consider that even though the Carthaginians were originally Phoenician they, like the ancient Egyptians, were also African. This will be a very thought provoking and controversial subject.

Thursday Jul 18, 2024
Thursday Jul 18, 2024
On Thursday January 12th, 2023 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will review "Letters on the Royal Art" by 19th century German author J. B. Kerning.
Kerning was a musician, a mystic and a Freemason. The book is composed of letters describing the spiritual absorption of the symbols, words and signs used in the three degrees of Blue Lodge Masonry in the form of an internal awareness which purifies and sanctifies the whole body. This is similar to a yoga chakra system and may have had an influence on the Golden Dawn's Middle Pillar ritual. The book and other works by Kerning may have influenced Bardon's "Key to the True Qabalah." Kerning was a singer and teaches a magical Masonic Alphabet in the manner of a musical voice teacher. He is perhaps the first modern Western mystic to emphasize internalization of spiritual ritual. His concepts enabled the development of "Bringing Down The Light" in 20th century magick.

Thursday Jul 11, 2024
Thursday Jul 11, 2024
On Thursday October 6th, 2022 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will chair a discussion on the recent discovery of the ancient Pagan origins of many Spirits in the Solomonic Goetia of the Lemegeton. This new research for the forthcoming Second Edition of our very popular 1997 The Book of Solomon's Magick has been undertaken by two of our senior O.T.A. magicians: Very Honored Frater Solomon, Michael Johnson, and Very Honored Frater SithMeth, Maximilian Paul. Both of whom will be calling in to discuss their findings. It is universally acknowledged that the Goetic spirits Bael and Asteroth are demonizations of the Canaanite God Baal, and his consort the Goddess Astarte. But assignment of the other deities of the Canaanite pantheon has proved difficult. Mike and Max will lift the veil and help us recover the lost companions of the Thunder God and the Queen of Heaven.

Thursday Jul 04, 2024
Thursday Jul 04, 2024
On Thursday September 29th, 2022 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will review and discuss our new book (magazine actually) titled Hermetic Yoga for the Golden Dawn. Which we have just published and is now available on Amazon. This document is a spin-off from our Hermetic Yoga books which are familiar to most members and regular listeners. But for newbies lets review: The O.T.A. and the Church of the Hermetic Sciences have developed (we like to say recovered) a straight-line, seven sphere Tantric Yoga chakra system similar to the Hindu version but laid out Western style with Saturn at the top and the Moon at the bottom in Solar system order. The last survival of this was the Golden Dawn's Middle Pillar exercise for drawing down the Light into the body. We started by bringing down The Flaming Sword from the Book of Revelation and activating Da'ath the phantom sphere in the Golden Dawn's secret Eleven Sphere Tree design. Using other secrets from the old Cypher Manuscript we created a unique full seven chakra system within the Golden Dawn universe, with ancient Egyptian Gods and Rosicrucian Angels. So stay with us and we'll walk you through it.

Thursday Jun 27, 2024
Thursday Jun 27, 2024
On Thursday August 17 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a review and discussion of Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 science fiction novel Starship Troopers and the 1997 film version. Poke will be joined by Max Paul (Frater SithMeth)in the discussion of this controversial cult classic. Set in a future interstellar time period where Earth is the center of a Federation (similar to Star Trek) With a government which appears to be based on Plato's Republic. The Earth is attacked by a race of intelligent insects who control meteors as weapons of mass destruction. The Federation must fight to survive. The story of the war is told from the viewpoints of young people who join the military, serving in all branches. They come together in the climax in a final battle which turns the tide in favor of the Federation.The Federation is presented as an authoritarian state that appears superficially fascist, more so in the film than in the novel. Actually its concepts of Citizenship are more socialist than fascist. Heinlein was a liberal democrat who had come to believe that liberal democracy had failed. Like J.F.Kennedy he seemed to be saying: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but rather what you can do for your country." As a former paratrooper, this is one of my favorite novels and films. I hope you enjoy our exploration of this Classic.

Thursday Jun 20, 2024
Thursday Jun 20, 2024
On Thursday June 20th, 2024 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a dramatic reading of Chapters Eight and Nine of the magical adventure novel: The Tomb of Prester John. We will pick up the story in Thyatria home of the Biblical Jezebel, modern Akhisar in Turkey where Doc Roland and beautiful Sophie Eskandar have just recovered and translated the mysterious letter from Prester John. They are rescued from ibn Iblis the Terrorist by Turkish Colonel Renda and make plans with him to find Prester John's legendary Tomb and treasure. They are being stalked from satellites by a Globalist master mind who seeks the treasure for his own evil ends. This is an up to the minute Indiana Jones, James Bond high-tech magical adventure. Don't miss it.

Thursday Jun 13, 2024
Thursday Jun 13, 2024
On Thursday June 23rd, 2022 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will reappraise and read from the Hermetic classic "Three Books of Occult Philosophy" by Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, first published in 1533 in Latin. This master work has been the foundation study of Hermetic science, Magick and mysticism for nearly 500 years. It is divided into three sections, or books:
The Natural World, The Celestial World, and The Divine World. The first, The Natural World dealt with The Hermetic Elements, the second The influence of The Heavens, Stars and Planets upon human affairs and events and the third the Divine World, dealt with the spiritual sciences of Magick and Qabalah. Unfortunately many students get these volumes as a reference work. Agrippa intended it to be read and studied from beginning to end as one continuous and contiguous work. The Hermetic Elements of the Natural World are reflected in the Celestial World, and spiritually empowered and directed from The Divine World. We will demonstrate this with selected readings from the first Volume. We will be reading from the newly translated 1533 Latin edition from Inner Traditions translated by Eric Purdue. So if you want an old fashioned introduction to wizardry, tune and we'll start you on the path.

Thursday Jun 06, 2024
Thursday Jun 06, 2024
On Thursday June 6th,2024 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will review and discuss the new expanded Second Edition of "Celebrate Wildness, Magic, Myth and Love on the Feraferian Path" with author Jo Carson, president of Feraferia, Inc. America's first and still foremost nature and goddess venerating Neo-Pagan tradition. Lady Jo will be our call-in guest. The beautifully illustrated book is now on sale at < pokerunyon.com > for $45.00 free-shipping in U.S. Lady Jo is an award-winning film maker and creator of the Feraferian documentary video: "Dancing with Gaia" which is also carried in our bookstore. The book and the video can be bought together for $55.00. The late Frederick Adams has been called the American William Blake. He was a wonderful artist and magician. Join us and celebrate the goddess. Evoe! Kore!

Thursday May 30, 2024
Thursday May 30, 2024
On February 27th, 2022 The Host of the Hermetic Hour was the call-in guest of Masonic brothers At the Fort Worth, Texas Masonic Lodge's weekly Pod cast. Poke was interviewed by the Master, Worshipful brother Gabriel, who was very knowledgeable on esoteric subjects and asked me some very provocative questions. We covered everything from my childhood, through, spearfishing, scuba diving, special forces, Novel and screen writing and the illness that got me into magick -- through self-hypnosis -- and on then into anthropology, while doing the Golden Dawn and witchcraft, writing my Master's Thesis on Magick -- after which I did The entire Masonic program. Master Gabriel asked me: "After all those other traditions how did Masonry affect You?" -- "I'll be honest with with you, I Told him, I thought these Muggels couldn't show me anything; but they totally blew me away! The Third degree was awesome." I realized that I had been hit with the full force of a Three Hundred year old Egregore (collective spirit) Master Gabriel came in at that point for a Fuller more philosophical explanation of the term. We continued discussing magick,the nature of spirits,the Golden Dawn, astrology, Kabbalah and even reincarnation -- all in all it was a very enjoyable hour and a half with a lot of very stimulating conversation. I'll be responsible for what I said and nothing I said reflects official Masonic teaching or doctrine. Thanks to Bro. Billy and Wor. Bro. Gabriel for letting us rebroadcast it.

Thursday May 23, 2024
Thursday May 23, 2024
On Thursday February 17th, 2022 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will discuss and review the current trend in Fantasy novels involving themes and characters from The Arabian Nights mainly the Jinn which King Solomon imprisoned in his sealed jars. A few weeks ago Poke had been putting together a show dealing with The CITY of BRASS from Burton's version of the Nights, citing it as an inspiration for many classic fantasy adventure stories. But then he discovered that an American Lady author, Shannon Chakraborty, had in fact published a magical novel called The City of Brass in 2017. So he decided to postpone the show until he had read her book. He then discovered another British author Jonathan Stroud who had a series of Jinn fantasies called The Bartimaeus Triology launched in 2003 which he needed to catch up on. And while we are at it we might as well throw in the old Victorian classic Vatheck by William Beckford (1893). So, if you would like to take a ride on a magic carpet, tune in and we'll be off.

Thursday May 16, 2024
Thursday May 16, 2024
On Thursday May 16th, 2024 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will review and discuss Russian Philosopher Aleksandr Dugin's relation to Traditional Hermeticism, Nazi Theosophy, and occult themes influencing his geopolitical "Eurasia" movement, which seems to have evolved into a chaos magick doomsday cult. We will also review his insightful critique of Western (Anglo-Saxon) individualistic Liberalism as presented in a recent interview with a controversial talk show host. Our other sources are: "The American Empire Should be Destroyed" (2014) by James D. Heiser and "Dugin against Dugin, a Traditonalist Critique of the Fourth Political Theory" (2018) by Charles Upton. We will also discuss the contemporary slandering of the Hermetic Tradition in America linking it to Marxism by James Lindsay; an assumption expertly refuted by Dr. Justin Sledge on Esoterica. So if you want meet the man they call Putin's Rasputin, join us Thursday night.

Thursday May 02, 2024
Thursday May 02, 2024
On Thursday May 2nd, 2024 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will review the 1930 classic historical novel "Salome: My First 2000 years of Love", by George Sylvester Viereck and Paul Eldridge. This is the second of a three-decker trilogy by Viereck and may be called a fictional feminist manifesto. Glamorous feminism, because its heroine the immortal Princess Salome used her charm and beauty in a constant battle against male domination symbolized by her immortal lover, and patriarchal nemisis, Cartaphilus, the Wandering Jew. These two sustain a love-hate relationship that spans the ages as each of the two immortals struggle with their self-determined missions: Salome wants female equality and even domination. Salome supported and condoned medieval witchcraft and was considered a witch. She infiltrated the Roman Catholic Church and installed a female Pope. Cartaphilus is determined to destroy Christianity because Jesus cursed him with immortality. The metaphor of the Jewish diaspora is obvious. Further disturbing symbolism is found in Cartaphilus' servant: Kotikokura, an African apeman who is described as "the missing link" between simians and humans. He becomes more and more human through the course of the three volume trilogy. However because he is "African" we will be surprised if the third volume is reprinted. The first two books are available in recent editions and original 1930 copies of Salome are still available. Even with the controversial aspects, these books are well worth reading.

Thursday Apr 25, 2024
Thursday Apr 25, 2024
On Thursday January 13th, 2022 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will review "Aleister Crowley in England" (2021) by Tobias Churton. This is the final part of Churton's serialized biography of The Great Beast, following on "The Beast in Berlin," "Crowley in America," and "Crowley in India." The compendium will be the most complete and best documented life of Crowley yet presented. This particular volume will present a side of A.C. his other biographers have not explored: Crowley the Gourmet Chef! Cook what Thou wilt shall be the Whole of the Menu! In the 1930s the Beast was considered the Sultan of exotic curry dishes and hosted the Lords and Ladies of London society at his festive board. We will give you a summary of his bill of fare, so tune in and bon appétit!

Thursday Apr 18, 2024
Thursday Apr 18, 2024
On Thursday April 18th, 2024 -- The Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will review the new publication of "My First Two Thousand Years" (1928) by George Sylvester Viereck and Paul Eldridge. This is a controversial but literary biography of the mythical "Wandering Jew". Sylvester Viereck was a German patriot who employed Aleister Crowley to write anti-British propaganda for his newspaper during the early days of World War One. The book, "My First Two Thousand Years," was written and published in the 1920s and must be judged in the climate of that era. That said, it is still a good read. Isaac Laquedem, the Wandering Jew, chases his immortal love Salome thru the centuries. He meets Nero, Marcus Aurelius, Appolonius of Tyana and on to hobnob with Gilles de Rais, the satanic child-murderer who was Joan of Arc's general, and on into modern times where he meets Baron de Rothschild and Vladimir Lenin. This book was actually the first of a three-decker novel, the second volume was Salome's story (My First Two Thousand Years of Love) and finally: "The Invincible Adam" who was their African servant Kotikokura that they were civilizing. Each of these books tells the same story, each from their separate viewpoint, a technique which influenced the best seller The Alexandria Quartet by Lawrence Durrell (1957-60) and the film series Highlander. Of course the book, or books, are very metaphoric. Isaac, or Cartiphilus to use his Roman name, is representative of the Jewish diaspora. Salome is a spokesperson for rising feminism. She is determined to conquer the curse of moon and liberate the feminine gender. Kotikokura is the third world enslaved and exploited, finally throwing off his chains but he is also based on Gilgamesh's wild man Enkidu. All considered, "My First Two Thousand Years" has a lot to offer the 21st century's thoughtful readers.

Thursday Apr 11, 2024
Thursday Apr 11, 2024
On Thursday April 11th, 2024 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will have as his call in guest America's foremost ceremonial magician, Maestro Lon Milo DuQuette. The primary subject Lon will discuss is his latest project: a color it yourself version of his and his wife Constance's 1998 Tarot of Ceremonial Magick. The new project, the color it yourself Tarot Deck is in line with his Chicken Qabalah "creation of magical toys" concept. By coloring your own Tarot deck you not only personalize it but you also internalize all the magical symbolism. This is not a new idea. It originated with the Golden Dawn in the 1870's and was perpetuated by Paul Case in his Builders of the Adytum in the 1920's. This is a fascinating subject and you have an opportunity to get a pre-publication preview of a Master's work. So tune in and let the Maestro get your creative juices flowing.

Thursday Apr 04, 2024
Thursday Apr 04, 2024
The Hermetic Hour for Thursday December 12th, 2019 -- will feature a discussion and review of the
new edition of The Tarot of Ceremonial Magick by Lon and Constance DuQuette which was first issued
in 1995 along with the book of the same title. Your host Poke Runyon will have as his guest the Maestro
himself, Lon Milo DuQuette, who will describe and explain his masterpiece. The new deck has improved color
separation and is more attractivly packaged and available at a lower price than previous editions. These
cards describe a 360 degree magick circle with symbolic connections to the three Great Pillars of Magick:
Astrology Enochian Magick and Goetia. They are a marvelous tool for the practicing magician and even the
armchair magician. The book is still in print and this new issue of the deck is a welcome manifestation
of the the wisdom of the Master and the symbolic art of his Lady. Although this deck is not intended for
fortune telling, we invite you to join us as we shuffle the deck of the Multiverse and let the Maestro
deal the cards.

Thursday Mar 28, 2024
Thursday Mar 28, 2024
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 Gardnerian 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.

Thursday Mar 14, 2024
Thursday Mar 14, 2024
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.

Thursday Mar 07, 2024
Thursday Mar 07, 2024
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.

Thursday Feb 29, 2024
Thursday Feb 29, 2024
On Thursday February 29th 2024, The Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will broadcast a memorial for Wiccan and Neo-Pagan elder Edward Sitch 1937 - 2024, with Pagan leaders and friends calling in sharing remembrances of Frater Ea and "Sitch the Witch" as Tom Snyder dubbed him. Ed was a VMI grad and a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force Reserve. He served in Viet Nam, Thailand, the U.S. and U.K. With Joseph Wilson and Raymond Buckland, Ed brought Witchcraft (Wicca) to America in the 1950s. He worked as a writer and editor on "The waxing Moon," and "The Crystal Well" both leading Neo-Pagan pblications. He was the author of several books, including "A Grimoire of Shadows" and "The Rites of Odin." He was a member of the original Brethen of the Coast Pirate Club; and as a sailor he crewed on Sydney Hatchl's schooner Escape, and was 2nd mate on my schooner Valkyrie. He was a witch and a magician, a wizard and a warrior, a sailer and a sage. He was a Gentleman of the Old School. He will be long remembered and he will be missed.

Thursday Feb 22, 2024
Thursday Feb 22, 2024
On Thursday August 5th, 2021 - the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a discussion on Magical (Electional) Astrology from Ficino to Campanella with Bishop Michael Beeson (V.H. Frater Suen). We will refer to D.P. Walker's book Demonic and Spiritual magic from Ficino to Campanella, recounting Campanella and Pope Urban's magical astrological operation. We will discuss Planetary Hours, Lunar Mansions, and other aspects of electional astrology. We will recommend the books of Christopher Warnock (Renaissance astrology) and Michael Beeson's own podcast, Hacking Fate. So if you want to know how the old wizards did it, tune in and find out.

Thursday Feb 15, 2024
Thursday Feb 15, 2024
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.

Thursday Feb 08, 2024
Thursday Feb 08, 2024
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.

Thursday Feb 01, 2024
Thursday Feb 01, 2024
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.

Thursday Jan 25, 2024
Thursday Jan 25, 2024
On Thursday January 25th,2024 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will continue its periodic presentation of Poke Runyon's magical adventure novel: "The Tomb of Prester John" with a dramatic reading of Chapter's Seven and Eight: "The Revelations of Jezebel, and "The Subterranean World." This is a tale of magick, adventure and intrigue with archaeologists Marion 'Doc' Roland and Sophie Iskandar searching for the lost Tomb of Crusader era warrior-priest-king Prester John whose vast treasure could tip the balance of world finance. Doc and Sophie battle terrorists and satanic cultists in the underground cities of Turkey as they solve the mystery of the mysterious "Lamp of Truth." Tune in and enjoy old fashioned high adventure.

Thursday Jan 18, 2024
Thursday Jan 18, 2024
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.

Thursday Jan 11, 2024
Thursday Jan 11, 2024
On Thursday January 11th the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will revisit the 1908 occult classic "The Kybalion" by Three Initiates and reveal just who those three initiates were. In 2008 Philip Deslippe issued the "Definitive Edition of the Kybalion" which he claimed was entirley the work of William Walter Atkinson (1862 - 1932)In the next few years Golden Dawn scholar Mary Greer did more research and discovered that Anna Kingsford and Edward Maitland had written a version of the Hermetic corpus that presented the same seven principles as the Kybalion. Both Kingsford and Maitland had passed away by 1908 and Richard Smoley edited yet another Kybalion in 2018 (the centenary edition) returning the byline to the Three Initiates, declaring the authors to have been: William Walter Atkinson, Anna Kingsford and Edward Maitland. We might also mention that Golden Dawn scholar Robert A. Gilbert discovered that Anna Kingsford was actually the mysterious Fraulein Sprengle who helped create the Golden Dawn. Her connection is revealed in our book: "Secrets of the Golden Dawn Cypher Manuscript" which is available from < pokerunyon.com > So let's take another closer look at the Kybalion and its recent editions.

Thursday Jan 04, 2024
Thursday Jan 04, 2024
On Thursday January 4th, 2024 Poke Runyon, host of the Hermetic Hour will review the eleven new live broadcasts we presented in 2023, starting with Letters on the Royal Art by J.B. Kerning on January 12th 2023 and ending with The Illustrated Goetia with guest author Arundell Overman on November 2nd 2023. We suggest that you regular listeners take notes so you can look up any new shows you may have missed and get them from the archives. at < http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ the-hermetic-hour > 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Thursday nights. Happy New Year

Thursday Dec 28, 2023
Thursday Dec 28, 2023
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 Sloane 2731 influenced us to realize the two Tetragrammatons years before we discovered them in the text of the First Conjuration.

Thursday Dec 21, 2023
Thursday Dec 21, 2023
In the Elizabethan period the Italian Renaissance came to England. Even though the English had broken with the Roman Church they were still following the Italians in astrology, philosophy, alchemy and Magick. During the reign of The Virgin Queen the British would exceed the Italians in that one aspect of the Hermetic Arts – Magick. The Angelic Revelation of Dr. John Dee is certainly the high water mark of Renaissance Theurgy. But we magicians sometimes forget that the English Elizabethan period was a Magical Age. It was the Time of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”, Milton’s “Paradise Lost” and Spencer’s “The Faerie Queene.” Magick was in the air. So let us look back on this golden age and recall some of its magical treasures.

Thursday Dec 14, 2023
Thursday Dec 14, 2023
On Thursday March 4th, 2021 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a discussion on recent reports of an alleged underground war being waged by American special forces soldiers against a coalition of traitors and demonic aliens in a subterranean network of DUMBs (deep underground military bases ) connected to a tunnel network excavated and still inhabited by ancient Satanic humanoids usually described as “demons.” This vast underground network is said to extend worldwide. It was first revealed to the public in 1886 by French writer Alexandre St. Yves d, Alvedre, who claimed it was a subterranean kingdom under Tibet with tunnels that reached everywhere in the world. It was forgotten until 1922 when Ferdinand Ossendowski exposed it again in his best-seller “Beasts, Men and Gods.” Although he may have gotten the story from the Mad Baron of Mongolia who probably got it from St. Yves book, or perhaps from the drunken High-Lama of Mongolia who probably got it from the Mad Baron. In any case a Science-fiction writer (who was also mad) Richard S. Shaver re-ran it as series of truth-based fictional adventures in Amazing Stories right after the end of W.W. II. Shaver gathered a fan base of true-believers, including this reporter at age 16. This evil underworld was peopled by satanic mutants armed with ancient ray machines which could be used for mind-control, sadistic torture or seduction. It made great pulp fiction. Even after I outgrew Shaver, I couldn’t resist making a movie based on his Mystery. In 2007 we released BEYOND LEMURIA which includes all of the elements the present Underground War Reports are featuring: Government and military involvement, Satanic depravity, child-trafficking, and UFO super-science. Tonight we will focus on these current reports and the actual evidence of these underground facilities. So if you want to know what’s really down there stay tuned and we’ll go down the rabbit hole.

Thursday Dec 07, 2023
Thursday Dec 07, 2023
On Thursday February 4th, 2021 - the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a discussion on the 9th century Arab treatise on Stellar Rays by the Baghdad sage Abu Yusuf Al-Kindi. This work had a considerable influence on Medieval astrology and magick. Its influence continues to this day in the New Age astrology of Alice Bailey and in the revival of Picatrix an astrological magick grimoire from the 9th century that al-Kindi's work influenced. So if you want to find out where the mysterious Seven Rays came from, tune in and we will return to Baghdad in the days of the Arabian Nights.

Thursday Nov 30, 2023
Thursday Nov 30, 2023
On Thursday January 21st, 2021 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon, Frater Thabion, will present a discussion on The Outer Planets in astrology and magick, joined by astrologer and occult author Ann Finnin, V.H. Soror Urania. As most of us known astrology, Hermetic Magick and Alchemy arose and flourished in the years before the modern trans Saturnian planets were discovered. In ancient times it was believed that Saturn was the outer limit of the Solar System and Astrology and its dependent sciences: magick and alchemy factored celestial influences based on what could be observed with the naked eye. According to Hermetic philosophy the Macrocosm of the heavens was reflected in the human Microcosm. We all behaved prospered or failed on the whim of the planets within and the surrounding signs of the zodiac. In magick we all had seven planets in our horoscopes to contend with and we created talismans and rituals to deal with them. In the middle ages and the Renaissance this astrological magick grew into an elaborate system. Which has continued into modern times but since 1791 when Herschel discovered Uranus beyond Saturn followed by the discovery of Neptune in 1846 and Pluto in 1030,the Hermetic Microcosm had to be extended. Astrologers managed to factor in the newly discovered heavenly bodies but magicians and alchemists were slow to adapt. These slow moving long term bodies have profound effects on individuals and societies. We will discuss the creation of talismans (kameas) and mythological applications to the outer planets. So if you would like to know what lies beyond the abyss, tune in and we'll take you to the Outer Limits.

Thursday Nov 23, 2023
Thursday Nov 23, 2023
On Thursday December 10th, 2020 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a report on Rivendell our Church and Order Headquarters in Silverado, California where we have our magical temple and outdoor Henge. Rivendell just survived its second near disaster in this century this last week. Thanks to the God and the Goddess, Archangels Raphael and Michael, Paralda and Zephyrus, the Sylphs and Salamanders and our local fire department, we at Rivendell and Rivendell itself survived without damage, while 17 other homes in our town were destroyed. So this week the Hermetic Hour will honor and appreciate its home and give a history of the place and its unique community. So if you want to find out about America's magical headquarters tune in and I'll be your tour guide.

Thursday Nov 16, 2023
Thursday Nov 16, 2023
On Thursday December 3rd, 2020 The Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will welcome V.H. Frater Suon, Michael Beeson, the host Wizard of YouTube and BitChute's "Hacking Fate" in a discussion of the 13th Century master astrologer Guido Bonatti and his significant contributions to Renaissance Astrology which is the practical philosophy behind Hermetic magick. So, if you want to want to make Picatrix work for you, tune in and take notes.

Thursday Nov 09, 2023
Thursday Nov 09, 2023
We are finally going to publish the Seventh Ray Omnibus issue which we have been heralding for 20 years, reprinting the old journals from 1972 through 1978.The Seventh Ray, Book IV Omnibus Issue, The Violet Ray is a time capsule. Buried to preserve a record of the formative years from 1970 to 1978 of America’s longest running Ceremonial Magick lodge, the Order of the Temple of Astarte. The Seventh Ray journal was ressurrected at the turn of the century in a new format running for three issues from Book I to Book III in 2011. Now we are unearthing the time capsule and bringing back the originals in facsimilie to be studied and enjoyed by a new generation of magicians. In the pages of the old Seventh Ray you will find articles by William G. Gray, Frederick Adams, Geoffrey James, Luis T. Culling. David G. Kennedy and Janine Renee, and the first publication of Jack Parson’s Freedom is a Two-Edged Sword. You’ll find A History of the O.T.A. along with The Return of the Grail in the Age of Aquarius and Trisecting an Angle with a pentagram and those ribtickling cartoons. So watch for it and prepare to return to those thrilling days of yesteryear -- When Simon King of the Witches chanted Magnetic-Electric! Magnetic-Electric!

Thursday Nov 02, 2023
Thursday Nov 02, 2023
On Thursday November 2nd, 2023 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will review and discuss "The Illustrated Goetia (2020)" by Arundell Overman. The author will be our call in guest and we can guarantee a fascinating discussion that fans of ceremonial magick will not want to miss. How do the spirits appear? As distorted faces in the magick mirror? or as free floating visions over the Triangle? You may be surprised at how much the two wizards agree on and how far down the rabbit hole this discussion will take you. So tune in and take notes.

Thursday Oct 26, 2023
Thursday Oct 26, 2023
On Thursday September 10th, 2020 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present an essay on Creative Freedom and Hermetic Philosophy. We will discuss the nature of God in the Hermetic Corpus and the concept that all humans are gifted with "Speech" (literacy) but only those who answer the call have "The Mind." This is a form of spiritual elitism more exclusive than Christian Salvation but more reflective of Human nature. We will trace the history of Hermetic study and practice in the Western World, its influence on Freemasonry and Western culture. We will examine its distortions which have given rise to the evils of the illuminati and communism. So, tune in and discover how to empower your dreams.

Thursday Oct 19, 2023
Thursday Oct 19, 2023
On Thursday August 27th, the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a newly discovered lost chapter from the Book of Shamgar which describes how the Purple Dragon and the Prophet Bezek found the Stone Pillar of Jacob upon which was inscribed Father Abraham’s Book of Creation (the Sepher Yetzirah). After fighting off bandits and the spells of a witch they brought the sacred stone back to the Tabernacle to take its rightful place beside the Ark of the Covenant and ensure Shamgar his election as Judge for the Tribe of Judah. This controversial document suggests that the Jewish tradition of Abraham’s authorship of the Sepher Yetzirah is correct and it also implies that he was the originator of the alphabet. So if you like ancient mysteries tune in and we’ll open the 32 gates wisdom.

Thursday Oct 12, 2023
Thursday Oct 12, 2023
On Thursday August 6th, 2020 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a review of William Leonard Pickard’s magisterial novelized biography “The Rose of Paracelsus”(2019). This 650 page masterwork is already considered literature by the academic community. Like Mallory’s “The Morte de Arthur” “The Rose” was entirely written in prison. It recounts Pickard’s academic, scientific, and extra-legal career from the early 1960s until his arrest and subsequent imprisonment in 2000. It is beautifully written, fast paced and well structured. It is subtitled “On Secrets and Sacraments” which aptly describes what it delivers. Pickard was not only a psychedelic alchemist, he was also an intelligence asset (say researcher) for the Ivy League think tanks and indirectly for government agents. So conspiracy theory and even UFO buffs will be pulling quotes from The Rose for the next decade. Pickard connected with an international network of psychedelic alchemists and visited each in a world tour that reads like a James Bond adventure. Returning to the U.S. he visited his mentor the venerable psychedelic sage, Sasha Shulgin, who warned him against a demonic cultist who inhabited an abandoned underground missile base used for an LSD laboratory and an orgiastic temple. But like a character in a Richard Shaver or Sax Rohmer story Leonard Pickard was lured into this hellish underworld where psychedelics were used to en-slave and abuse young women.And because this cult had better government connections than Pickard, he was set up to take the rap for their criminal activities. He was given two life sentences in Federal Prison. Fortunately he has just been released and we hope he will be listening to this broadcast. So. Turn on, Tune in, and learn what’s under the rose.

Thursday Oct 05, 2023
Thursday Oct 05, 2023
On Thursday July 2nd, 2020 - the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will reveal the lost Initiatory Scroll of the Soul Travel Boat written in the early days of the Order of the Temple of Astarte. This lost document was recently rediscovered while we were doing research for the second volume of Hermetic Yoga and we have decided to release it along with one of the advanced Pathworkings that uses The Soul Travel Boat. From Malkuth to Chesed via the 29th and 21st Paths. So if you want fly the skies of the Astral Plane with us tune in and climb aboard the Soul Travel Boat.

Thursday Sep 28, 2023
Thursday Sep 28, 2023
On Thursday June 11th, 2020 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a discussion on the Pagan Hermetic origins of the Sepher Yetzirah. This ancient book is the Philosophical and mystical foundation of the Medieval Hebrew Kabbalah. And eventually the Hermetic Qabalah which seems to recover its actual origins. It is traditionally attributed, by the Hebrews, to Father Abraham and was said to have been written by him in Harran where he is said to have “Made Souls” The Harranians were star-worshipers who preserved the star lore of ancient Babylon and eventually joined the Pythgorean - Hermetic magical tradition. The Sepher Yetzirah or Book of Creation describes how the Universe was created by the Word of God, using the proto-Hebrew Phoenician alphabet, the first alpha-numeric letter system. Which acquired twenty-four letters to accommodate the entire celestial sphere and the elements, and then became the origin of ancient Greek—which passed on its alpha-numeric heritage to Medieval Hebrew and Arabic. It has even been suggested that the second century Valentinian Magician Marcus wrote the earliest version of the Sepher Yetzirah. Even Gershom Scholem admits that the philosophy of the Sepher Yetzirah is Pythagorean. So, if you want to delve in to the depths of the mysteries join us for an hour of speculation on the origins of The Book of Creation.

Thursday Sep 21, 2023
Thursday Sep 21, 2023
On Thursday May 21st 2020 the Hermetic Hour, with host Poke Runyon will present a discussion on the Twisted History of Christianity. The general theme of this presentation is how the distortion of its original principles perverted its mission for the following two thousand years of world history. We will examine how the Christian religion, which was supposed to bring peace, love and comfort to the people who accepted it, brought instead War, hatred, persecution and despair. We will begin by recalling what Christianity was supposed to be and who Jesus’s Father in Heaven really was. We will remember how his wife, Mary Magdalene and later the bishop Valentinian and his follower Marcus tried to carry on the original teachings. We will recall how the Roman Church created its Inquisition to stamp out the resurgence of original Gnostic Christianity in Southern France where Mary Magdalene and Marcus had preached, and how the Roman Church launched a genocidal crusade against these innocent Cathars killing millions. The Inquisition went on to murder thousand of heretics and witches while the Church bishops exploited the poor and offered salvation for money. Finally Northern European Christians revolted in a movement called the Reformation, but the Protestants failed to correct the original mistake the Roman Church had made in accepting Yahweh as the father of Jesus and incorporating the corrupted Old Testament as part of the Christian Bible. By the 18th century all forms of Christianity were challenged by the rise of a new atheistic religion that offered the same promise: peace, love and comfort. It emerged from the horror of the French Revolution. You can call it socialism, humanism, or communism – but what ever name it goes under, it is actually a Christian Heresy. It is Christian altruism without salvation. So, If you want to want to know how the early Christians got it wrong and how we can fix it, tune in and we’ll reveal a real New Testament.

Thursday Sep 14, 2023
Thursday Sep 14, 2023
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.

Thursday Sep 07, 2023
Thursday Sep 07, 2023
On Thursday March 12th, 2020 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will review and discuss "The Grand Key of Solomon the King" (2009) and other works translated by Mamdouh Al Daye otherwise known as Nineveh Shadrach. Nineveh is a Golden Dawn adept whom we have known since 1998 when he sent us a copy of his first book "The Magical Tome of a Divine King;" this was also a Solomonic grimoire in Arabic called "The Medicine of Solomon" which was eventually pirated and became "The Book of Smokeless Fire." "The Grand Key of Solomon the King" is commonly referred to as "Al Ajnas" and is attributed to Asaph Ben Berechiam in the Ishtar Publishing edition, probably to help Solomonize the work. Arabic editions would be attributed to Asif ibn Barkhiya, an Arab version of the same legendary Jewish sage of Solomon's court who supposedly wrote the book. It dates back to the 12th century of the common era. Not quite as old as Picatrix but old enough to make it venerable on the magician's book shelf. I'll be joined by V.H.Frater SithMeth who has some thoughts on "The Book of Smokeless Fire." So if you would like to spend an hour in the study of forbidden and forgotten lore, sit on your magick carpet, rub your magick lamp and join us.

Thursday Aug 31, 2023
Thursday Aug 31, 2023
On Thursday August 31st the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon and his guest Lady Jo Carson of Feraferia will recall our adventures in our favorite Lemurian Jungle shrouded Lost City: Nan Madol -- way out in Pacific Micronesia. Lady Jo having done her 2009 film Dancing with Gaia featuring equally ancient ruins on Malta visited Nan Modal a few years after us. Our broadcast tonight is prompted by the recent Netflix and History Channel episodes featuring Graham Hancock and Hatcher Childress, respectively and respectfully, both of whom confirm and reprise the physical evidence for a pre-iceage lost continent in the Pacific which we presented on video sixteen years earlier. Of course since then Gobekli Tepe 12,000 B.C.and Gunung Padang 20,000 B.C. have been unearthed; which we will add to our Lenurian mix tonight. But even these revelations did not satisfy mainstream archeology. They have been persecuting Hancock while ignoring Hatcher Childress and our Beyond Lemuria which Childress used to carry in his catalog. Now you can get 'Beyond Lemuria' and Lady Jo's 'Dancing with Gaia' from < pokerunyon.com > So drop in and check us out.

Thursday Aug 24, 2023
Thursday Aug 24, 2023
The Hermetic Hour for Thursday August 24th, 2023 will feature a reading of the original introduction to the auto-biography of your host, Poke Runyon. This was a fictionalized version in which I, the fiction writer Poke Runyon interviews Thabion the Wizard. In other words I am interviewing myself. I decided on this literary device so that I could use fictitious names for people in the book who might not like what I had to say about them. But at this date most of those who might have been offended have passed away, so the fictionalizing device is no longer necessary. And yet the original is interesting and entertaining in its own right. A good exercise in getting to know yourself.

Thursday Aug 17, 2023
Thursday Aug 17, 2023
On Thursday August 17th, 2023 we will announce and launch Enoch Adamson's candidacy for President in 2024 on the Hermetic Party ticket. His platform will be the same as it was when he ran in 2020 because the issues are largely the same. Gun control, immigration, race relations, student loan debt, health care, credit card debt, foreign entanglements, U.F.O. disclosure etc., etc. But in reviewing our 2020 platform it was pointed out that Enoch had not addressed the Homeless problem and now we have the Ukraine problem. Both of which Enoch now address in Orwellian and historical analogy. We should be reminded the Enoch Adamson is Hermetic in his political philosophy. He believes that the American Eagle should have both a right wing and a left wing. If he only had one wing he would fly in circles and get nowhere. So tune in and let's help make humanity Great Again.

Thursday Aug 10, 2023
Thursday Aug 10, 2023
On Thursday February 27th, 2020 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a discussion of the mysterious Ideomotor effect which motivates such divinatory devices as the Ouiji Board, the Pendulum and the Golden Dawn Ring and Disc. It is also related to dowsing rods and our Zero Lite. Although the effect is considered a scientific rationale for the phenomenon, it in itself is miraculous and may be more complex and supernatural than the de-bunkers imagine.So if you want to learn how to contact your deep mind, tune in and hang out with the pendulum swingers.

Thursday Aug 03, 2023
Thursday Aug 03, 2023
On Thursday February 20th, 2020 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a lecture on the Lightning Flash or Flaming Sword on the Tree of Life and its relation to the Blasted Tower of the Tarot on the 27th Path. This is a remarkable synchronicity between Tarot symbolism and Qabalah. In this case it marks the dividing point of the united soul in its descent down the the Paths of the Tree Before the Fall. When the House of God is struck by Lightning Eve falls toward Netsach and Adam falls toward Hod. From then on the human soul is divided. The Goddess rules the Sphere of Nature on the pillar of Mercy and the Fool rules the Sphere of Knowledge on the pillar of Severity. From there on down to Malkuth they remain divided, united only in dreams. So if you want to know why you can’t find your Soul-Mate, tune in and we will tell you where to look.

Thursday Jul 27, 2023
Thursday Jul 27, 2023
On Thursday January 30th, 2020 the Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a discussion on the beginning of magical training which we sometimes call "Franz Bardon for Dummies". We will certainly concede our debt to Bardon, and to Crowley but we will point out our improvements in their programs and explain the psychological and physical factors involved in conjuration to visible appearance, creative visualization, trance states, scrying and channeling and other skills and techniques the magician needs to master. So if you really want to know how to DO IT, remember the wisdom of the Sphinx who said: "In order for you to learn our teachings, we must first teach you how to learn." He also said:"He who doubts his powers, only lends power to his doubts."