/r/Quareia
An unofficial space for people following the Quareia magic course, to learn from each other and share links and ideas.
More official info and FAQ at quareia.com. (See also the study guide for many commonly asked questions: https://www.quareia.com/s/studyguide-web-PDF.pdf)
The Quareia course is a self-directed magic course freely available online (ceremonial/western trad/high magic).
Studying solo + staying focused/motivated can be tough. Come here to ask questions of fellow students, find study buddies, challenge your knowledge, get cheered on for completing modules, get peer feedback on your assignments/ideas and so on.
Because we are a niche, of a niche, of a niche, this is a quiet subreddit. Please be bold in posting as often as you have thoughts; and patient when waiting for replies; and gracious with your fellow learners' ideas.
Longterm, it'd be nice to have Skype meetups, weekly discussion threads on particular modules, or even snail mail.
/r/Quareia
I just.. found an interesting correspondence (intelectual one) So I was reading the "secret book of John" (sethian nag hamadi gnostic text) And in the place where Yaldabaoth defiles Eve. It gave him two sons. Elohim (face of a bear) and Yahweh (face of a cat) - why those animals Idrk.. But! the interesting part is the continuation: "He placed yahweh over fire and wind", "He placed elohim over water and earth"
Now in the cleansing ritual, water is cleansed in the name of "elohim savaoth" and salt in the name of "adonai" which to me is a bit more uncertain whether yhvh or elohim or third party (as it simply means lord). Aaanyway, I dont really know if either would work in both cases. But according to this I guess elohim may also work for the earth/salt? (Hypothetically)
I found it very interesting for anyhow. To find the four elements corresponding to elohim and yhvh. As it indicates they probably have some deeper form of magical/spiritual understanding. That is not mere syncretism and possibly can be... "decrypted" at some point as to it's real meaning.
What this ultimately indicates on the nature of God and elementals and magick idrk. But just thought I'd share it.
I haven’t started practicing Quareia yet, but I plan to in the near future. I’ve been reading tarot with the Rider Waite deck for about 5 years. I’m thinking of investing in a deck called ‘Golden Art Nouveau Tarot,’ which consists of Rider Waite cards redesigned in the Art Nouveau style, with some different angles in certain cases. From what I’ve noticed, unlike other decks based on Rider Waite, this one doesn’t change or add any symbols to the cards; it just seems like the same illustrations in a different style. For this reason, I’d like to know if I can use it for studying Quareia if I buy it.”
A bit off topic but not too much since we are talking about the study of myth and ritual. What do you think of Marija Gimbutas' work? I find it to be of inestimable value and it really resonates with me in a very strong way. In the 80s it went through strong criticism that has however been decidedly scaled down over the years and her theory has instead found many supporters.
Wondering if anyone has made contact or knows of the different types of spirits in Australia. Do you have any tips or do you have any good reading material about it from an Indigenous point of view? Thanks!
Hello, just recently started Quareia. Felt really called to it, listening to the glitch bottle episodes with Josephine aswell. Then she started talking about parasites. I do relate a lot top the description of it, especially because I do believe I suffer from mental health issues as well, lots of anger and sadness in extreme amounts almost every day. I feel quite exhausted, I have developed within the last year ish a binge eating issue. I do see how a parasite coukld be at play here, because I do not really feel like I am fully myself anymore and have really really bad and unnormal for me brainfog. Most of these got triggered through a traumatic situation that I dont want to get into too much detail into here.
My magical practice and study used to be in ebbs and flows, I did usually just straight jump in, never mediated until now, used emotion to fuel my workings (which Q does recommend NOT to do lol) and never really cared too much for protection. I guess you can see what Im getting at.
Ive read in another post, that it is not really a bad idea to jump to the cleansing rituals even if youre still starting in case you suspect a parasite. So, I wanted to ask for your tips? Have you had similar experiences? Would a 6 week weekly bath be enough to see if it alleviates at least some of the symptoms? (and is storebought bathing salt also potent enough like regular salt?) Im really new to all of this, and as much as I like to read advanced magical texts, starting quareia I am yet again realizing how dumb and unexperienced I really am.
Hello friends!
The curriculum encourages cross studies into other esoteric schools of thought, including shamanism, as it seems fate would have it I have befriended one. And for a person originally from Indiana (the States) I feel quite fortunate.
She’s been generous with her time, resources and has been sharing and teaching me, both in group and individual setting, how the spirits taught her to do various rituals.
I’ve experienced her work a couple of times before we became friends and she’s one of the few people I know who can actually move energy (I’ve experienced her approach to smudging).
She was teaching about her cleansing ritual and she made mention that she touches the third eye with a special concoction while guiding the person to feel their intention, condensing it into an imagined form and to hold it in mind during her smudging. When she pulls that energy top to down every time I have experienced a rush of energy into the ground.
I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me before, but if that isn’t ritual magic I don’t know what is. Intention alongside a thought form, which creates the opportunity for something to be done. Thats without getting into the different tools and intentions she’s using in a collaborative process.
We shared dinner together this evening and I brought it up (she’s aware of my occult interests). She seemed to positively respond to my observations and went on to discuss co-creation themes. And then went on to mention some troubles with the work due to the dynamics intentions introduce.
Anywho.
There’s no real point to this post other than me sharing something I find remarkable. I think it’s cool that another school of thought affirming these studies in general as it’s refreshing versus the silos lone practice can feel like.
In M1L4, is stated that there are various kinds of altars, and a religious altar is different from a magical one. As someone already religious and deeply devoted to the Gods (I consider myself a pagan hellenic polytehist, with a platonic orientation in theology), I ask: can they supersed? I have a big altar, a shelf turned into one, with various images of Greek Deities, in an already separated room wich also functions as my library room. Should I manage to stand the altars in another place or can I integrate the directional altars and turn my main religious altar into a directional one?
Yeah my second post today but I need help!
I think I explained it before that I'm no longer a Muslim but I still practice some of it's prayers. I read Ibn Arabi's fususul hikem and like Sufism in general. But here's my problem, I can't show respect towards Islam. Sufism differentiates itself from traditional Islam in a sense. Sufism is more heart oriented.
I don't want to start a religious debate but the reason I can't show respect is due to Hadith, the sayings of prophet Muhammad, are pretty problematic. Some Qur'an verses are too problematic but much less.
Quareia and also I saw some answers from Josephine she express respecting religions. How this respect should be? For example is my attitude considered to be respectful? Islam has very good theological philosophies and very attractive mysticism in it, I love those aspects. But I do hate when I read a sexist and violent Hadiths and so much stupid stuff that written in Islamic literatüre I can't just show respect them. It's so contradicting ti Qur'an the way some Hadith depicting prophet Muhammad's behavior. I highly believe that the real Muhammad was different but the people and some authorities added to his character which is contradicting to Qur'an. Anyways it's an another topic to share maybe.
Any advice?
May the health shine upon you!
Would you give up on something that you fond of or you love very much? Are you ready to change or want to change? Ready or not, sometimes magick requires a different life style and the path itself changes your predicament.
The path puts grindstones to make us fit and strong. And in the path of magick, things get real fast real hard. It puts you in hard situations so that you may learn your strengths, weaknesses and inner powers. Within this journey, I recognized how I deny my shortcomings and be blind to the harmful habits in my life. I deny to see it, I deny to sacrifice them. It pushes you for a change but when you resist, it becomes more harder and harder.
Most of the time I ignore the sides of hardships and sacrifice in magick. I repeatedly say to myself "it's okay Magick isn't strick like other religions". It may be true, but it isn't all goody do whatever you want mish mush either. And this was my mistake. Whenever I practice Magick, it required some sort of sacrifice for the things I do. It wanted me to get up and get strong for the things I'll encounter in the future. I didn't see some of my habits were the problem thus the repeating patterns of hardships; I had to change certain things. And everytime I didn't I pushed back to the very beginning in Magick. It was necessary I see.
Most of the time we don't realize what we need isn't something what we want. Magick requires sacrifices, sacrifices of your time, your body and mind, of your life. But in return, it gives something few have; integrity, integrity of your true self. You become complete.
What is a Magician? 'One who is I', replies the Divine.
Weird thing happened.
A few months back in completing the M2 lesson where you give things away, I went all in. I was ending a relationship (or at least trying) and I was going to have to give up my home and was scrambling. I began a massive downsizing and starting sorting through all the things I loved and finding only the most critical I could keep. I took an entire truckload of beautiful things to goodwill. Many I had an emotional attachment to. As I began to unload, I simply made an intentioned request that these items brighten the life of others as they had brightened my life and that they bring happiness. I mourned them as being somewhat symbolic of me giving away a part of myself to try and survive piecemeal in my next steps forward. One item was this beautiful red vase. It wasn't perfect, damaged with scratches on the back, but with sunflowers it was quite beautiful.
Our goodwill is in a large metro area with 2.5 million people.
So the relationship limped along a bit further and finally the partner left. Out of loneliness and a long time without physical intimacy, i gave in to the flirting of a man I've known for several years. He was quite over the top amazing affectionate. As I sat on his couch, snuggled under a blanket, something was bugging me. I looked up and I realized he had a red vase that looked like mine. With sunflowers. I picked the vase up and it had the scratches on the back. I asked him about it.
He said "after my divorce I lived in a terrible apartment. I moved to this house and it was so empty so I went to goodwill and picked up beautiful things to make this place a home. It was just a beautiful vase with sunflowers and my favorite color is yellow". He had picked the vase up two days after I dropped it off.
We are both weird middle aged people, each with scars and clumsiness, so not certain of any solid future. However he is the best lover I've ever had, showers me with attention and for the first time I've experienced what "in love" is. Previously I've lived with extreme loyalty and commitment but never had a weird emo insane crazy ridiculous awful in love sort of thing. It's dreadfully wonderful.
Given we each have scars, we may part ways in the future, but I feel I've been given incredible lessons and life changing gifts in this weird loop of giving-receiving.
Just thought I'd share the weirdness.
Hey friends,
My intentions here are to open up and I hope to relate.
Over a year ago I sincerely and spontaneously had a mystical experience that changed my life. That experience also brought me into contact in what I have come to understand as the Sandalphon. In the year since it has taught me meditation techniques, inspired and shown me the way, and has led up to Quaeria. I had no prior interests in the occult and was, more or less, atheistic-agnostic before that mystical experience.
The daily practices I have been taught and inspired into have brought profound balance and healing to my life. I have gone as far as to follow this path to moving a cross the country to the Mojave desert.
I am actively clearing, cleansing and tuning a room I've dedicated for ritual work. However, despite an element of dedication I feel as if I am reaching a climax and I sincerely feel the need to pause and reflect. I feel as though as I engram and memorize the directional ritual that I am reaching a point of no return. As if "you think you've seen, but just you wait".
During this pause someone who I haven't heard from in over a decade, who knew a version of me very far removed from occult interests, tells me their inner contact mentioned me by name. The parallels in their story are so uncanny it is as if I am living the pages of some story.
Up this point it has all been very subjective and, if I am being honest, a keen, whimsical interest that made my life far more interesting than following the mundane interests of materialism. However, having someone's inner contact direct them to me on a matter I can precisely help them, in tandem with this sense of momentum coming to an important conclusion has me feeling a certain way.
I don't know if I should be joyously inspired or a bit spooked?
I trust the direction I've been given, but I think I found what I was meant to find. At the same time, I feel the contrast of where I've been versus where I may be going. The shift from whimsical interests to sacred work.
I don't know.
Can anyone else relate?
JMC did mention that once someone gets i to spirituality they will notice changes in the way they react to people and things, almost like an allergic reaction sometimes.
I've certainly been noticing something in the way I deal with people, specially crowded places. I'm always a bit nervous around people but I can deal with deal one on one, or even in group if I feel I have room to breathe, but sometimes when I am in really crowded places and places with bad energy sometimes it's just too much.
It's not all places because for example when I am walking outside around people generally I don't feel too bad and I've even worked at festivals (outdoors) and didn't feel too overwhelmed.
But as of lately (as in, starting a few years back I've felt this increasing feeling of suffocation around groups of people. Places that are particularly bad for me are malls and college (some areas of it at least, in particular some faculties with worse energy).
Even just living in a place where i cant regularly see wide spaces without people (like the country) makes me feel nervous and trapped.
While it's true I am anxious around crowds and jave struggled with anxiety, does anyone else feel this way?
My anxiety is mostly under control these days, i dont have panic attacks anymore and I am perfectly functional but conversely I feel more nervous these days around crowds. Like other people's energy (the larger crowd, not individuals or small groups, those dont make me as nervous) is getting increasingly more suffocating (dangerous, even?).
Through mindfulness I have trained myself to somewhat detach from other people's and place's negativity and just feel it but it's so draining to always have to keep focus.
I am in my hometown rn, a city which has always been ugly af and which I routinely pull the "Disease" card for in readings about the land, and i feel i have less and less capacity to deal with it. More and more people are moving in, it's chaos and cars and confusion everywhere. I've been trying to draw but it's like all creativity has been sapped as soon as i set foot here yesterday. Good thing Im leaving tomorrow.
Also where I am staying for college is a bit more suburban, almost in the country, the energy there is completely different. Not only is my mind clearer there but i naturally develop healthier habits, like a normal routine and regularly clean up my room. At home i just want to sleep all day, stay up all night, never feel like living the house and cant be bothered to tidy up my room regularly.
Anyone else?
Hello,
Nothing special, maybe a bit weird to ask someone. But I would like to know how's my favourite magical people are doing? I hope you're all healthy and in safety. Things are seem to be getting more rough and scary but we know what's happening 😉.
Okay maybe a simple question, what's your activity or habit that you go to when things get unpleasant? I like going out to nature and talk with myself for example.
Anyways see you soon, be safe, and take care y'all.
I would like to inquire others from their experience if it is even possible to encounter something this early.
For context, I live with my parents who are devout catholics, they have always believed in the 'gut feeling' when it came to buying homes. In our very home, we live in a separate floor of our apartment from our neighbors and it's a fairly shortly stacked building with a foundation of concrete and timber frame.
I have done tarot readings on the upper floor and have pulled the Devil Arcana repeatedly, I also notice our neighbors putting pictures of Jesus outside their doors on that particular floor. When ascending the staircase leading upstairs there is a feeling of heaviness and anxiety that gets stronger the more you ascend and less strong when you descend.
I have consulted my parents on the matter and they have also described this uneasy feeling despite being non esoteric practionners. When moving onto Visionary Magic 3 of Module 1, I wanted to practice walking on the upstairs corridor but felt an intimidating presence much like a riot officer pushing a protestor backwards. It basically shooed me off the third floor, back into my apartment and ensured I didn't "leave it again". After "stepping back" into the body, I attempted to step out again but was obedient to the terms of this territorial energy and wanted to simply walk on the lobby area of the apartment rather than "walking" where I was. But everytime I tried, I would get kicked out of stillness in a way that felt unnatural and uneasy.
Is it even possible to have encountered something so early, or was it a simple sickness?
I have a question with regard to M2L3 Full Pentagram Ritual.
I have been warned by a medium/psychic family member with regard to the way this ritual is done, allowing these unknown beings through the gates, accepting and offering these unknowns. This family member does not know the ins and outs of Quariea fully, as such may be mistaken with their judgements. However I have similar concerns.
I have heard that there is built in protections in Quareia and that early modules are safe. It seems from my perspective, and I hope to be corrected here, but it feels like there a lot of trust being given to whatever comes through, which is unknown. Is there risk of malevolent beings coming through. And making this exchange without fully knowing what it is, is also unsettling. Can anyone calm my apprehension. I am cautious as I have a family and although they are above the age mentioned in the study guide (as being safe age to have kids and practice) and I'm a father, I still am protective and cautious.
Is there something built into the pattern, or to do with the gates themselves that prevent malicious entities coming through them?
Today, after a car problem, and a huge pain in the ass, I had some thoughts about something that I think has a bit to do with the usual Grindstone and Unraveller and so I decided to make another messy post about what I call energetic "debts" and "credits": in a situation where you are in energetic debt, and you are starting to pay energetically with "difficult" events, adding further effort (i.e. more energetic currency), not directly required by the situation, can help you repay the debt faster, that is, make the difficult period end faster, and thus get a little closer to the state of energetic balance. Similarly, in general, holding back energy for fear of not having enough or for "greed", causes, in addition to not receiving more from external sources, the debt to grow. Furthermore, from what little I have been able to notice, it is a bit as if the energetic muscle atrophies: the more you put yourself in situations that require energy, the more you receive and the muscle grows bigger; the less you choose situations in which energy is used, the less you receive and the muscle atrophies. Engaging in the effort voluntarily and, when possible, more than what the situation requires means that you choose the "currency" with which to pay, choosing the one that is a little more congenial to you, or that an energetic credit is even created.
This is a general discussion that obviously I don't understand well and that is certainly not so linear, but I have the feeling that there is something to start from. Furthermore, I don't know if it is something that changes in relation to one's natal Saturn and Pluto or if it is a more general pattern, have you experienced something similar to this pattern?
Hi, I've been practicing the exercises in this course for a while now and am finding it interesting. I am interested in hearing others opinions on the content of this chapter (module 1 lesson 3). Twice in the chapter the author mentions that remote viewing is useful to check on your home when you are away and also to check on a family member from a distance.
Is she literally suggesting that because we can imagine being in a particular place that therefore we can check what is actually happening in that place?
The exercises are interesting and useful regardless but I have no idea what to make of this.
Thanks and best wishes to all.
V.
Hiya! I've just started practicing Quareia (experienced in other occult work) and I really resonate with the structure, the methods, the open source nature, but I'm concerned about the fact that literally in the first lesson she's talking about having to fight terrible magical entities as if we're about to go into war, which is a major red flag for me.
In my experience any teaching regime based on this kind of edgy fantastical magical war idea tends to be quite egoic and not focused on the work. Although that's not the general vibe I get from looking at an overview of Quareia. Like you don't encounter terrifying evil spirits in day to day occult work, the thing that requires the most skill to deal with is usually the stuff you're scared of in your own mind.
Please could you let me know what this pulling out your magical sword thing is referring to and hopefully settle my mind about it ☺️
Link with more information: https://aphantasia.com/what-is-aphantasia/?srsltid=AfmBOopC-eq7CG2rj_RVnGzbUddu9Zop3E72DLQzRYgYki3ehWG4dmLF
I have no ability to actually produce an image in my head. I can think about an object, but there is no picture so I have to populate all of the details consciously.
After a few months, I'm finishing up module 1, but have felt really limited due to this.
One example is in describing the gates. If I picture a gate, I have a general sense of protection, and a door like shape, but no other features. If I try to assign one and cycle though, stone/wood/etc, sometimes I feel a pull towards a certain description. But even so, there is no actual image, so I'm not sure how I would ever 'see' anthing that I didn't assign to be there.
I have been doing the daily meditations, just mentally talking myself through the actual smoke/colors/flame, and it does feel to be working. I feel off if I miss a day, and it always seems to align my energy and headspace.
Interestingly, after a few months of daily practice I've had two spontaneous visualizations immediately after waking up. So maybe with years of practice it will develop further?
Has anyone started in a similar place? Feeling limited and looking for advice on which elements of my practice to lean into for the least hindrance.
Hi all.
I am currently reading Josephine's book on magical health and healing and have come across a bit in the beginning that states if you are bipolar or have long term depression you will be unable to partake in visionary magic as it will lead to psychosis etc.
This brings up a red flag for me and gives me pause to wonder if I should even pursue magic at all? I am bipolar (type 2) and medicated by identifying heavily with symptoms / identity at the moment while I come to grips with how to deal with this for the rest of my life.
Just wondering if there are any fellow deeply depressed magical practitioners out there and how you deal with it!
Hello,
The instructions say "Do the hexagram ritual first (to tune in Divinity into the space to govern your actions), then do the pentagram ritual to root yourself into who you are and what you are."
Do we do both the 1st and 2nd part of the hexagram ritual or just the 1st part here? I think it's just the first part because when reading the rest of the instructions, it says "Once you have finished, place the glass of water on the west altar and remove the central altar from the room (you may have already taken it out for your pentagram ritual)."
Edit: it makes sense to do both parts 1+2 so that’s what I’ll be doing.
I know JM has mentioned being careful with painting and drawing of entities. Is there any issue with drawing or painting the directional gates that anyone can think of? Any issue of who sees them or displaying them as art?
To begin, I'm trying to approach things with a mindset of experimentation and not outright rejecting things when I feel like I might be doing something wrong; however, while in vision when I look at myself in a mirror or reflective object I don't see anything like I'd expect. Instead of any kind of human-like appearance or something similar to my likeness in physical form I keep seeing my reflection as a human-like figure in blue flame, only vaguely outlined with slightly brighter areas where I would expect eyes to be. I'm just curious of others' experiences, as at first I felt like I must be doing something wrong or it was my mind trying to get creative for entertainment, but it seems to be consistent for me.
It's interesting to me because I've had sessions in meditation where the inner flame visualization presents a blue flame as well, not always, but some of my more "deep" sessions where the external world seems to completely fall away tend to have this trend. I do my best to simply perform the exercises as prescribed and nothing more so as to avoid indulging in fantasy versus engaging in actual work.
As another example, long before I came into Quareia I meditated fairly frequently but not with any kind of magical intent. I found myself consistently engaging in a vision where I was walking down into a cave containing a pool of dark silvery water, I would submerge myself in the pool and slowly sink into an inky shimmering void where all light sound and thought would be swallowed up. When I try to clear my mind and think of nothing during the meditation I often find myself once again floating in that water. My question is, are these anomalies (I consider them fairly anomalous) a result of consistent past visualization and I need to work on not indulging them? Or are experiences like this to be expected and different for everyone? My only worry is that being so early on in Quareia that I may be hindering my progress unknowingly.
I'm working on doing better at not seeking consensus for everything I do, but I am just curious if everyone has had vastly different experiences or similar. If I don't try to control what it is I'm seeing, this is just what happens for me.