MA in Western Esotericism

Following my visit to Exeter University (our holiday in Bath was not so much a holiday but rather an educational visit!) I've since applied for and gained a place on the MA in Western Esotericism. This is the first University in the UK (and only the third in the world, the other two being the Sorbonne in Paris, and Amsterdam) to offer this subject at Masters Degree level, so I'm very honoured and excited to be contributing and learning from the course!

Subjects include Gnosticism, Alexandrian Hermeticism, Kabbalah, Alchemy, Rosicrucianism, Theosophy, Sufism and Witchcraft!

I'm intending to go on from the MA to a full-time PhD in one of these subjects, so that's me sorted for the next nine years ...

Lares and Penates

... and to finish the story below ...

The following day there was a knock on the door, and a colleague from work (a rural college) was standing there. She said I looked rougher than she had thought, and then told me that she and the staff at the college had gone to the catering department and asked the students to prepare us some 'stuff' as I'd been off ill for almost a week. She then proceeded to unload *trays* and *trays* and *trays* of food and drink at my door!!! I even took a photograph! We certainly thanked the 'spirits of the larder' for looking after us, but I should get used to how definately a magickal life works.

These are Lares and Penates. These were household spirits of Roman times. We once used Lares and Penates in our family when we were going through severe bankruptcy. We had run out of money, even though I was in work (housing market crash, a bad tenant not paying, etc.) and I had fallen ill. I couldn't even leave the house to get medicine for my son who was also ill, as was my wife. We invoked these spirits to protect us. 

There were Gods and Goddesses everywhere on our visits! These three are the triple Goddess, a plaque found at Bath.

A rare picture of me - B. persuaded me to have it taken. I have very white trainers on - brand new! I was clasping my hands to stop me yanking the camera back of B. before she could take the photograph! 

Bath was a great city, architecture and history everywhere! I think I went as a child on a schooltrip, but I remembered nothing. This picture was taken on the balcony of the Roman Baths themselves looking across to the cathedral. 

Well, finally got to see Stonehenge - on our week break staying in Bath. We went out to Stonehenge & Avebury for the day. I think I preferred Stonehenge, as it looked like a 'working' meeting place of importance. I imagined warriors, druids and clan chiefs gathering in the mist for great councils between the brooding stones. It is not so good that you cannot stand anywhere close to the monument itself.