The Starry Cave

Dear Friend, Parts of your letter read as follows: “I have a question regarding spirits, initiation, and systems of magic.  I have always felt strong connections to these realms of the other, but I have had a hard time with these systems.  Sometimes in my mind I have become connected or imbedded with these principles or forces, but when I attempt a system, it feels so unnatural to me that I feel inside of myself a kind of urge to leave it be and to just shatter it and to directly connect somehow through my own methods developed very intuitively and organically with hints here and there from readings and sources.  I like to think I do not have trouble with the philosophies and the concepts, but when I attempt to use a system it feels completely wrong. ...  I know many people would deem this to be dangerous... Also, I have another question regarding spells.  For instance, if someone wishes to create a work and it involves killing.  I do not wish...

Without doubt the most frequent question I receive concerns ‘fusing of pantheons’ and questions like, “can I incorporate spirit/god/demon X in the eclectic system I created”? In other words it is about eclecticism and it is about treading one’s path and making one’s life unique. While a pragmatic outlook often serves the seeker well – I have great reservations with eclecticism due to its power to mix the planes and invite confusion in all possible directions.  In the process of discovering ones uniqueness many engage in the pursuit of ‘making one’s own system’ and we see odd eclectic hybrids take shape, what I call ‘jigsaw faiths’.   There is nothing wrong in eclecticism per se, if we are mindful about how and why we elect our choices. The problem with eclecticism surfaces when we elect on basis of self-reference and engage in mindless syncretism with the only goal being to give a religious or magical support to our self-construct. I would say that modern theosop...

Dear Friend, You wrote; I am writing this letter because I am a follower of your blog, and I saw that some people have been writing to you, so I thought "why not" and decided to write myself. I prefer to remain anonymous, but my name is Jxx. I don’t have a list of questions, but questions will come spontaneously as I write the letter. I have been a seeker my whole life, I've always had the intuition so to speak that there is a hidden reality, where things happen that the mainstream of society does not know (or remains silent) about. I have always sought to penetrate that world, to be a part of it, and yet I have always felt blocked, denied. I have no explanation for this, just a longing, and sometimes a rage, about it. I have joined some of the more available, mail order, occult/esoteric societies, but they have not filled this void, and I have always had the sensation that there is "something missing" about their teachings. So I turned to self e...

Dear Friend, You wrote: I have really been enjoying The Starry Cave and have your book on Palo and and Exu.  I learned about you and your work from the Occult of Personality podcast which I listen to on a regular basis.  My question for you is what is the best way you have found to stimulate your creativity and imagination.  I've been trying to do this through meditation and dream work and have recently started singing petitions and prayers during my meditations.  I'm interested in calling up some images from my psyche that can show me how I can live my life better or enhance my life.  I have four years sobriety with a 12-step program so I can't use any substances.  Any suggestions?  Also I wanted to tell you that from what I've learned from you I've started working with my ancestors and parents who have passed over.  I feel their power in my life and our relationship is healing.  It is very powerful magic and I thank you ...

Amongst the received correspondence I have selected two that speak of a common situation, it is about choice and discernment, about Self knowledge and the path unique. A subject worthy a book, but I will tie to noose and limit myself... The letters in question reads as follows: Parts of Letter I How can I know the difference between the messages and/or intuition coming from my daemon and social conditioning? I ask this because many of our ideals and aspirations are influenced by modern thinking, society, etc. I find it difficult to maintain balance. Also, when thinking about a magickal path, it seems there are many options, many of them look good to me, but I'm not sure if I found the right one. What would be your advices concerning this situation? Parts of Letter II I am fighting with bitterness, anger of my choices, we have free will, but yet currently it all feels like destiny. I know that I should accept and walk on, and something within me tells me tha...