Ep372: Hermitix - James Ellis
James Ellis is an independent researcher; writer; host of the Hermitix podcast; and founder of the online magick school, the Hermitage.
Available on Youtube, iTunes, SoundCloud & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
James traces his spiritual journey including new atheism, explorations in the occult, Gurdjieff work, conversion to and deconversion from Catholicism, and the founding of his online magick school, the Hermitage.
James offers his critique of magickal protection practices, recounts his experiences of summoning demons of the Goetia, and explains his approach to spiritual teaching.
James also describes his years of alcoholism, the complexities of British class culture, the awakening of his intellectual potential, his graduate studies in Continental Philosophy, why he did not enjoy reading Homer’s Odyssey, and the pros and cons of talking in stories.
00:00 - Intro
01:33 - James on Homer’s Odyssey and favourite fiction
07:02 - Church of England upbringing
09:26 - A class mutt
12:22 - Working class lessons
15:10 - Winnie the Pooh vs the Moomins
16:13 - Chronic underachieving at school
22:36 - Functional alcoholism from 14-22 years old
26:53 - Discovering a passion for reading
30:50 - James’ reading regime
32:36 - Finding time for reading
35:41 - School is an engine of trauma
39:45 - University degrees in Fine Art and Continental Philosophy
40:44 - A profound experience at 22 years old
45:08 - Why Continental Philosophy?
48:19 - Awakening intellectual potential
50:52 - Writing from the age of 16
53:53 - Beginnings of spiritual seeking & Alan Watts
56:04 - New Atheism, Chaos Magick, & the Occult
59:18 - Franz Bardon & Gurdjieff
01:03:34 - Franz Bardon and solo practice
01:07:43 - Discipline and building mind power
01:09:45 - Motives for occult involvement
01:12:30 - Crowley and HGA
01:15:47 - Becoming a Catholic
01:18:12 - Seeking falls away
01:23:40 - James draws a line in the interview
01:26:17 - Talking properly vs telling stories
01:28:26 - How to talk properly
01:30:04 - Energetic changes in the chest
01:34:46 - Free flowing being
01:36:56 - James asks for Steve’s reaction
01:40:37 - De-converting from Catholicism
01:46:17 - Catholic formation
01:48:28 - Trying to share doubts with Catholics
01:50:09 - A small wave of de-converts
01:51:44 - Why the recent vogue of conversion to traditional Christianity
01:52:55 - Can the modern man return to religion?
01:57:04 - Being a child of Winter
02:00:04 - Magick without seeking
02:00:57 - James’ magickal school, the Hermitage
02:09:15 - James on the experience of evil
02:14:27 - Summoning a demon of the Goetia
02:16:32 - Critique of magickal protection
02:20:17 - Why James still teaches banishing and protection magick
02:22:43 - Why James decided not to pursue a PhD
02:25:39 - Alan Chapman, John Michael Greer, and mentors
02:32:04 - Spiritual teaching and so what?
To find our more about James Ellis, visit:
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James.