Magic Geometry

The classics department was not a democracy.

The head of the department who offered the classes I needed in my studies had a unique preference for early AM classes.

As a commuter, to be there in time, and with reliability I had to arrive on campus by 7 AM.

Arriving at that time all my friends were still asleep, all the buildings were still closed, and there was nowhere really to go.

I first found the Blue Chapel by accident when I was looking for an open space to read before class.

It was the only door open in Keating Hall and out of curiosity once I stepped inside the room shifted.

Stone walls, thick stained glass lead windows, ornate curves, once you are inside the bust New York City outside noise fades.

Sitting in the back pews there is an architecture of silence which seems to expand the room.

There is a presence there.

Spending many mornings just reflecting there, it later the foundation for what I later noticed in the temple, something that I might not have come to realize if I had not sat and experienced it first hand in the presence of that Chapel.

That certain things come together to create a geometry, and that physical geometry creates a resonance and a field that can be felt all in its own.

Getting Started In Magic

I remember exactly where I was when I made the decision.

It was at the top floor of Duane Library, near the stacks that overlook campus out a large window across Edwards Parade.

I’m going to do it.

But how?

Each student was assigned a Jesuit academic advisor whom they would meet with each week to go over any course work, review papers, and talk about current studies. My advisor was part of the Philosophy Department so I figured I would ask them.

It just kind of slipped out during one of meetings and he shifted gears without missing a beat.

If that was something I wanted to study I would have to start with alchemy since that is the last and furthest expression of it in Europe and by extension the West. Start with alchemy and Europe and work my way back to Rome, Greece, and eventually Egypt.

In true Jesuit fashion my first assignment was to write a twenty page paper on alchemy with my first draft due at our next meeting.

My advisor arranged access to the University archives under Keating Hall and it was there that I discovered such books do exist- stacks of books on alchemy, astronomy and mythology.

Over the next three years the library archives became my second home.

It took three re-writes to bring my paper to an acceptable first draft, with expectations that I would complete it by the end of the semester, but in the mean time I was advised to start planning out my course load.

It would not be enough to read the books, and certainly not enough to interpret them or put modern feelings on them. What would be required, if I had any hope of one day using such a thing, was to understand how those who wrote those books thought at the time and perception from when they lived.

A change in studies would assist with alignment, as would further papers each semester.

But for now, classes in mythology, ancient history, philosophy, Latin, and Classical Greek to get started.