Diary of the Demon Lover

2010-02-08T20:08:00.000-08:00

The New Dating Game is something I found via The Spearhead, reading something like Modern Game History 101. There's also some pretty handy speculations on the net results of feminism. 12 pages of breezy reading from The Weekly Standard.

2010-01-22T17:24:00.000-08:00

1 4 v i d e o p a i n t i n g s by b r i a n e n o
p a r t o n e
m u s i c : " t h u r s d a y a f t e r n o o n "
v i e w f u l l s c r e e n f o r f u l l e f f e c t

2010-01-06T20:04:00.000-08:00

Splitting and quartering wood is not something I'm accustomed to here, deep in Dixie where the weather rarely necessitates such activities. But the world is cold these days, even where I live. Of course, living in an old house without updated central heating doesn't help matters...but I don't usually mind the cold until we see the sort of temperatures we have lately. So, I split and sort the wood for a fireplace. I have to say that I enjoyed the work thoroughly, even on a cold night under electric lighting.

This evening I drank a good deal of beer, not the sort of thing one of good sense would do before handling an axe, but I swear on anything and with reliable witnesses I hit and split kindling better than before I drank.

I guess there's something to be said about a man who can handle his alcohol. Happy New Year to all who deserve it.

2010-01-01T13:56:00.000-08:00

Real wisdom, being critical and rooted in empiricism, is the antithesis of intellectualism. Intellectualism, more often than not, is mere sophistry.

I am sure the above has been expressed far more eloquently by many others, but I nonetheless felt the need to express something profound in my own words for the new year. Appearances are everything.

Happy new year.

2009-11-26T13:24:00.000-08:00

"The world is a hotel
where humanity is guest
They come and they go
They come and they go..."

Avedis Aharonian

An Armenian fellow I met recently referred to the above as his favorite poem, and to Aharonian as his favorite poet. If one does the research on Aheronian, his work, and, as importantly, his times, context is found wherein the words become a personal eulogy of sorts.

He said to me "I know you that you sit and study poetry, I love this. I only know by heart one poem, and maybe you will like it." He wrote the words on a napkin at the dinner table, his tanned and wrinkled hands still far younger than his age. He handed me the napkin and smiled.

As I looked at his large, sad eyes, I remembered the stories his niece heard of 1915. Her grandmother made the long walk, along with a husband and a few children who never made it. One died of starvation, another was taken by the Turks. Years after, word came to her that the daughter grew up to believe she was Turkish. "It was okay, at least she lived."

Some were not so lucky. Stories were told to her by others who walked, of bets made on pregnant women by soldiers. Money on boy, money on girl, open the stomach to find out and settle the bet. This man's mother saw an Armenian baby tossed into the air by one soldier and bayoneted by his companion, in a sort of random game.

"What would I tell my daughter? That the people she grew up to love murdered those she came from? It is better for her to be happy." Years later she gave birth to a daughter who lived. She told this daughter: "Don't have a girl when you grow up, they bring you only sorrow". My friend's mother, like her mother before her, cursed the Turks through her dying day, and I really can't blame her.

We come and we go, indeed.

2009-11-20T14:14:00.000-08:00

Pakistan and other countries are concerned over the defilement of Islam, and thus are pushing for a ban on religious blasphemy.

Go back to your history books and repeat after me...
Mohammed was a terrorist
Mohammed was a terrorist
Mohammed was a terrorist
Mohammed was a terrorist
Jesus was a terrorist
Mohammed was a terrorist...

2009-11-05T12:30:00.000-08:00

SWINE-FLU SOUP RECIPE

Chances are good that some asshole, or a million assholes have already put out a special recipe for “swine-flu soup”, quite frankly- I don't care. This is my particular recipe, and it's damn good. Simple, too.

James' swine-flu Soup

(Bearing certain occult healing properties)

Ingredients:

32 to 48oz. Chicken broth (any brand)

1 large chicken breast

2 cups saurkraut (I recommend Vlassic)

5 cloves garlic

1 teaspoon finely ground black pepper

1 teaspoon coarsely ground italian seasoning

2 cups cooked brown rice

In a medium sized obsidian cooking vessel (or steel pot, if no obsidian is avail.), add the crushed and chopped garlic, all seasoning, and saurkraut to chicken broth and bring to a slow boil, making sure to include some of the pickling liquid with the saurkraut for flavor.

While the pot is heating, cut chicken breast into approx. one to one-and-a-half inch cubes. Once the soup comes to a slow boil, add the chicken, and cook for about five minutes, or until chicken becomes slightly firm, but not tough. DO NOT OVERCOOK CHICKEN, or it will ruin the freaking soup. There is an art to properly cooking chicken, a fine line between salmonella-risk and rubber bird meat. Tread carefully.

Once soup is properly cooked, add the cooked rice and let soup sit for a few minutes to allow rice to absorb in. You can vary the flavor by substituting a half-teaspoon of Chinese five-spice powder for the Italian seasoning. Enjoy.

2009-11-03T16:05:00.000-08:00

BOHEMIAN GROVE (CALIFORNIA DREAMIN')

Nixon had conflicted feelings over it, Clinton derided it. Alex Jones viewed it as a haven for Satanists, in which the global elite reenact "sick, pagan rituals".

The atomic bomb was hatched there.

I do not state many of my goals here, but I plan on visiting this place. Seriously.
Hell, I even have an idea of some of the required steps to get there.

It's not that I wish to view world leaders pissing away gin on redwood trees, it's more or less that the place itself stands as a symbol for the keeping of absurd, colorful, and meaningful traditions. The place is an occult Disneyland. Before I stumbled on information about Bohemian Grove, one of my priorities was dinner at Club 33. Well, the Grove is far more magical than the Magic Kingdom.

If it happens in the future, I will certainly be sure to let some of you know all the gory details (pun intended). That is- if you're still alive!

Here's to owls and spiders...

2009-10-22T20:13:00.000-07:00

Normally I don't post here to explain an absence of posts...but I'm just posting here to explain why I haven't posted in a while.

There, I got it out in the open.

A tremendous surge of above and below-ground activity has left me little time to reflect, let alone breathe. Meditation is something I AM making time for, so something else has to make room...

Thank you to all the good folks whose blogs I follow when time permits, you are contributing a great deal to my sanity. Special shout-out to Mr. Obsidian, who is a cut above the rest in my book. His posts are always entertaining and thought-provoking.

Some of the material which I have posted here from other sources has suddenly become a very real possibility in my own life...should I accept it. An evolving path which I had sketched out some time ago, now becoming solid. The spells which I previously cast are now bearing fruit at an alarming rate and abundance, and I am prepared to accept the inherent responsibilities.

It's time to start kicking ass.

2009-09-17T15:53:00.000-07:00

SILENT SMIRK

Those who know me are familiar with the habit I have of trying to supress a smile during certain conversations. Not a genuine smile of delight, but a silent smirk. Mostly this happens because:

a) Religious or political opinions are being conveyed

or

b) Children are being discussed

Three subjects I have strong opinions on, but will not bother arguing over with people who I don't respect. The reason for my silence is:

a) I'm really not interested in gracing you with my opinion

and

b) It wouldn't alter your willful ignorance

2009-09-13T21:16:00.000-07:00

SEPTEMBER 13, 2009

Driving state road 54 west into the slowly descending sun of late summer. "I'm Burnin' For You" by BOC is playing on the car radio. Little known fact: James Harris is a fan of Blue Oyster Cult.

The road is open, and the wind is warm.

I am reflecting on my recent dreams. Troubling, violent dreams. Black snakes have always figured into bad omens, and lately there have been many black snakes in my dreams. Black snakes in rivers, always threatening by their presence alone. I awoke at 6 am on a Sunday morning from a dream of giant black snakes chasing me across a wooden bridge.

The wind in my face is comforting today, despite the humidity. Little River Band's "Lady" now.

I remember a dream wherein Rozz Williams sang this in concert, late in his career, and his voice and stage presence were captivating. I was so excited, and when I woke, it was to a feeling of melancholy and disappointment. That was 5 or 6 years after his rope trick.

Last night I dreamt a man held a gun to my face, and I didn't know whether I should put my hands up or fight him for control of the gun. His mother was outside and his brother was somewhere inside the building, both armed with large knives. I held a steak knife.

Never bring a knife to a gun fight.

2009-09-02T05:52:00.000-07:00

ABOUT A GIRL

There is a woman whom I will not mention by name, yet will speak of briefly, in order that I may illustrate the absolute surreality my life often detours into. We shall call her M.

A vacuum, intellectual and emotional; unable to provide anything in return for what she takes.

Clever enough in her work position, yet unable to prevent her horrible lack of social skills from interfering in her daily work routine. So, inevitably, when things break down, she does too. Since she cannot properly see herself, she cannot properly formulate others' responses to her actions from day to day, thus she is completely out of touch with almost everyone around her. When the people who she interacts with become frustrated with her obliviousness, she blames them, accusing them of being the problem; since she refuses to see herself in a critical way, she cannot see the reasons for others' distaste, so she makes frequent and open claims to the ineptness and illogical behavior of everyone else in her environment. "Everyone around me is completely crazy" she often says. I have heard her say this.

I suspect her mental or social illness is not contagious, since I have been exposed to her for some time now, and have not shown any similar symptoms; rather it seems the opposite is true: I am convinced that I have become more adept at gauging people's pending reactions to any given action I take, I cannot give the exact reason for this phenomenon, but nonetheless I am certain this has happened. I would thank her for this, but the thanks would be lost on her. And besides, I despise her in so many ways that outnumber that small unintentonal favor.

In case you are wondering, I am not linked with this woman in any sort of meaningful way, and the only reason I am in such frequent contact with her is for temporary financial gain. Once I am through with her I hope to never see her ever again.

In the meantime, I shall weave into her life the beginnings of her undoing. Truth has it that the best way to know the future is by creating it, and knowing someone as closely as I have come to know her affords many insights into both the physical and mental frailties she posseses. I have many clear images of her in my mind's eye, many possible future Ms. I shall reflect carefully on the most rewarding one.

2009-07-29T22:19:00.000-07:00

JAPANESE PROVERB

"Sit by the river long enough, and you will see your enemy float by."

This one fails to clarify something: is the enemy which will supposedly float by alive or dead? What if said enemy is floating by motionless pretending to be dead? This proverb is of little if any real value to the wronged party, assumedly the one which the proverb is addressing.

More importantly: if you sit by the river long enough, wouldn't you also die?

I prefer the Russian view of revenge, as " a dish best served cold". Emotional control implies success here.

2009-07-29T20:42:00.000-07:00

ROBERT M. PLACE

Robert Place is easily the only English-speaking person who has significantly contributed to the art of the Tarot within the last hundred years or more. That may sound like an exaggeration, and may be one, but when you're used to wading through the mass of wasted print, as I've done over the last several years, you come to appreciate the volume and quality of his work. His The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination stands miles above almost every other book written on the subject, and The Alchemical Tarot Renewed is easily the most beautiful and economical deck ever produced, combining his love of Hermeticism and Renaissance art.

The Alchemical Egg is Robert's website, which features his stunning tarot products. Even if angels, saints, and Buddhas aren't your cup of tea, I highly recommend a look at his stunning work.

2009-07-11T17:09:00.000-07:00

A PLEASANT SIX-MONTH CONVERSATION WITH HIS DIVINE GRACE, IN WHICH THE INTERVIEWED BECOMES INTERVIEWER

Last December I emailed His Divine Grace with a brief proposal for an interview, half expecting that I would not be answered.

Two weeks later they responded with death threats.

Actually, they agreed to do the interview with a polite enthusiasm that prompted suspicion on my part. My suspicion would prove to be well founded.

In my introductory email, I made sure to mention my identity as a Satanist. My instincts told me this would open a door, and it did. They admitted to being intrigued, and told me they were eager to hear what I had to say, but warned me they had moved away from referring to themselves as Satanists and moved on to Traditionalism, something I know little about.

For those of you who know nothing of His Divine Grace, don't feel alone. I searched dilligently for interviews, and found nothing. At least nothing in English, save concert photos from a few years back which showed two men wearing three-piece suits and goat masks, casually fiddling with a few samplers and sipping coffee before a small audience. To say they are elusive is something of an understatement.

So, why bother mining for information through an interview? Simple-the music is great when you can find it. Their two most easily obtained albums are still available on Albin Julius's Hau Ruck! label, those being Reverse Aleph and Die Schlangenkoenigen, the latter which is based upon the writings of Ernst Junger, a German literary figure largely unknown here in America who served in WWII and helped pioneer magical realism-someone worth researching.

It was mostly the music, but something else...perhaps the lack of documentation, aside from those photos. Yes, that's it-I can't explain it properly, but there was something going on behind those masks that matched the enigmatic sound of His Divine Grace. It was as though they'd already invited me to contact them and were just waiting for the call...

JH: What is His Divine Grace doing these days? Any recording going on, or planned?

HDG: There are a lot of plans, but inspiration is missing at the moment and since inspiration is very much important for His Divine Grace, it wouldn’t do any good to try to record anything not considering this crucial element. Inspiration was the driving force to albums like Reverse Aleph and Eurydice, in which our part as musicians and individuals was extremely small. Reverse Aleph for instance was done without listening and completed in about 45 minutes, which is even less than its final duration (66 minutes).

A lot of people don’t appreciate this kind of working method, because they believe that only excessive laborious work leads to accomplishment, which is quite a modern way of thinking actually.

JH: Interesting, I've only heard "Miroirs" from Eurydice, but Reverse Aleph I am very familiar with, which is essentially a single slowly-mutating, deeply hypnotic track, difficult to describe. Would you care to elaborate on the method you used in those two recordings- Reverse Aleph and Eurydice, especially the former? Also, speaking of inspiration- what was the driving inspiration behind Reverse Aleph, or, any recording, for that matter? I'd really like to hear about that.

HDG: Reverse Aleph was made extracting a random bit from a specific sound source, pitching it down and adding reverb on it, and then looping it for about 5 minutes, mixing it with another looped bit etc. etc., all this being made on screen, without hearing. The recipe seems quite simple and actually there is no much point in divulging it, unless maybe for those people who are only interested in the pure technical side of making music. But the point is, that we’ve never managed to do it again.

Originally we intended to make a series with all the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, but we abandoned the project after several failed attempts to do Reverse Bet. This is when we realized that, as individuals, we were not responsible for the final Reverse Aleph recording, and that it had been kind of “dictated” to us. Somewhat like the Book of the Law was dictated to Crowley... a matter which you are familiar with, I suppose, being a member of the Church of Satan. This is why we do not want our music to be associated with any individual image. It is not about stardom or any other material or psychic advantages!

JH: Are you familiar with Coil? They produced an LP of material under the moniker "Elph" which was composed of strange anomalies that occurred during the recording of Coil tracks, regarded by them as possible interferences from non-human sources. They built tracks around those anomalies and made a pretty interesting album. They were inspired by A. O. Spare, whom I believe was a student of Crowley, right? Spare's techniques became source for the motivation behind many interesting musical projects, Coil notwithstanding.

HDG: We do appreciate the “high spirited” moments in Coil’s music, like Time Machines or Stolen and Contaminated. It is disappointing though that most of their inspiration is really “down to earth” by times. “Cold Cell” for example is a very beautiful track, but the humanist motivation behind it just spoils the music.
JH: I feel Crowley was a rather eccentric and imaginative artist and (reportedly) great mountain-climber. Other Satanists whom I've conversed with on the subject tend to view Crowley's “Book” as very likely the result of his drug addiction, or his propensity for outrageous publicity stunts.

HDG: We would like to point out that we are not interested in the works of Crowley or Spare. The views they express are profoundly modern and decadent.

JH: I should've suspected that, if you identify yourselves as "traditionalists", then naturally you would view them that way. I tend to not shy completely away from those labels, or indentify myself as a traditionalist, as I find enjoyment in various cultures, past and present. "The world is my oyster."

I've always wondered- what does "His Divine Grace" refer to? I'm assuming you're not paying tribute to the Dalai Llama?

HDG: It has nothing to do with the Dalai Lama and we do not like to be associated with him or Buddhism in general. We accept Buddhism as a partially regular tradition, but being occidental we do not have the necessary knowledge or the means to fully understand the oriental doctrines. Until now we can only use them to understand our own Religion.

His Divine Grace will actually cease to exist under this moniker. From October 2009 on the pseudonym will be changed to De GRÂCE and we will also undergo a change of musical style.

JH: What sort of musical style will you be adopting?I recall Der Blutharsch's Fire Danger Season, which included a track from you, a cover of a Der Butharsch song, which was remade into a techno piece. Very danceable, I suppose. Will you be going that route?

HDG: The track you mention was not from us. The band who contributed that song is called Salmiak Overload, and was mistaken by Albin Julius as being His Divine Grace.

De GRÂCE’s style might be qualified as ambient-post-black-metal...

JH: Tell me, if you aren't motivated by a desire for recognition or profit of any sort, what is the primary motivation for your recording? I'm not saying that profit or publicity are the primary reasons for producing art, just trying to dig into this a little.

HDG: “The work is ours, be the profit for the listener and only for God the glory.

”What about you? What is your motivation for you being a Satanist?

JH: Well, being a Satanist is something one really has no conscious decision in. I believe people are born either suckers or Barnums, each in varying degrees. The former are the sort to buy into cons and follow religions which dictates their path through life, often at the profit of Barnums. The latter are true Satanists among other less important tags. Masters and slaves.

You may be referring to my decision to identify myself as a Satanist, something I only do with certain people. To be a Satanist, one doesn't need to tell a single person. They need only recognize themselves as such, according to The Satanic Bible. There are many who operate in complete secrecy, something I admire.

HDG: First of all we’d like to apologize for the long delay between your questions and our answers. In the beginning we weren’t quite sure if we should do this interview at all and this might have been the reason for us taking so long.

According to Traditionalism we thought that it would make no sense to have an exchange with a member of the Church of Satan, since we believe in the biblical definition of Satan, as being the “adversary” of traditional values. We believe in the fall of Lucifer, as being the first disruption of the primordial order. We also believe that the Antichrist is the ruler of this final age and that he pulls the strings of those psychologically confused career hunting marionettes striving for material comfort and individual acknowledgement. Those people void of transcendence, deprived of metaphysical knowledge and never missing the occasion of flaunting their humanism and their insignificant ego.But as far as we can judge, you do not seem to be what we have expected.

We do understand that Satanism appeals to people as a reaction to the growing decadence of religion, but we do also understand that therefore Satanism seems even more religious than most of the contemporary forms of religion. We once considered us “Satanists” as well, but merely to oppose to the “Pharisean ways” of the official Church. We never had any hatred towards the Church of the heart though... As far as we are concerned, we could not have had this discussion with a regular Catholic for instance, but with you it seems we can. And this is why this interview turns out to be very important to us, because it sheds a light on the nature of both our positions.

JH: Well, the interview has been important for me, as well. I hope I have been able to clear up a few misconceptions about my particular religion, which it really is. We worship a deity: our own greatest individual potential; we have a priest class composed of people who have demonstrated their ability to understand and apply Satanism in their lives; we have a ruling hierarchy, and we have an ethos which distinguishes true Satanists from imposters. However, if you read the Satanic Bible closely you will see a great number of things which distinguishes Satanism from any other established religion.

I must admit to being very doubtful when I sent you guys my initial interview offer. I found scant information on His Divine Grace anywhere online, and nobody who previously had dealings with you would answer my emails. I wanted to do this interview simply out of curiosity, having heard only some of your material, though enjoying what I did hear. But I'm very glad you accepted the offer- it's been a pleasurable exchange.

Now, your perception of Satanism opposing "traditional values" IS partially true, in as much as the Satanist eschews slavish adherence to any tradition, instead adhering to his own chosen code, usually one which fits his natural inclinations, and always with a mind toward local laws, long-term benefit, and the workings of nature. If one works in harmony WITH nature, instead of AGAINST it, he will probably maximize the length and quality of his days.

If and when certain traditions offer to help the Satanist through his chosen path, he will make appropriate use of them. But we strictly reject many of the maxims of the past- be they Monotheist or otherwise, Christian or pre-Christian, which are contrary to the essence of Satanism. And while we may incorporate deities and symbols into our practices and rituals, these are only ever seen as man-made constructs, suitable tools for a specific purpose.

I make it a point to educate myself in the ways and traditions of various cultures, particularly here in the west, as I do agree that Occidentalism is far easier for me to understand, though a number of Satanists here in the west have explored the Orient's traditions and adopted Satanic elements from those mythologies. The essence of Satanism is found across the globe, wherever humans live and think, and that essence is present in most traditions as well, often as a "hidden" or "dark" element which presents challenges to the established order and actively questions the status quo.

When institutionalized ideologies become intolerably repressive and stagnant, choking out both creativity and common-sense, the elements of human society which reflect and work with Nature must actively work toward self-preservation, often in a secretive manner, sometimes openly, but always appropriately.

Thus Satan has always been the accuser of the righteous, those useless beings who perpetuate false ideals contrary to Life. If a tradition has value and purpose in a real and tangible way, the Satanist has no need to oppose it.

Also understand that Satanists are people, with differing tastes and values, so one might be drawn to the image of Wotan, or some other deity, while another will have absolutely no use for the image of Wotan, or any deity for that matter. But they will both value the ideals of strength, beauty, and success.

Tell me, was this the Satanism you expected to hear about?

HDG: Not really! We thought that maybe, being a self proclaimed Satanist, you’d take a stand against the modern world... But it seems to us that your point of view turns out to be a typical modern one, which is humanist and rational... And reconsidering our afore mentioned theory: a profoundly anti-traditional and anti-religious point of view!

You say you believe in individuality, but so do most of our contemporaries, who cannot look further than their very limited egos. Now your individual psyche is something you have no difficulty in understanding. We guess that you do understand your body as well (since it is very important in Satanism we believe) but yet you do not seem to rise above those two profoundly human aspects. Everything that goes beyond the flesh and the soul you do not accept... Why is that?

You also say that you are not slaves, but you put yourself in a cage you call “individuality” and can’t accept the endlessness of the Spirit. This is another thing, which is common among modern people, that they do not know the difference between the soul and the Spirit, and even worse use one thing for the other. Maybe you do not consider this knowledge to be important being a Satanist, but if you do not understand this knowledge, you are in no condition to criticize any of the three regular religions or the eastern doctrines.

Further we’d like to point out that Satanism is not a religion per se. A religion is not any form of organized faith, but a faith of transcendental (meaning non-human) origin, passed on from times immemorial (this is by the way what is to be understood when talking of Tradition). What qualifies a regular religion is the dogma, the ritual and the moral. If any of those three ingredients is missing or is not regular, you cannot call it a religion. The Protestant Church, for instance, reduces all to the moral aspect, and thus cannot, as far as we are concerned, be called a regular religion anymore.

“Satan”, for the Traditionalist, means all the opposing forces which are at work trying to undermine the Tradition of metaphysical truths originating in the Golden Age of this cosmic cycle. Calling Satanism a religion is therefore a contradiction in terms.

We wonder why Satanists use religious images at all, if they do not seem to accept them. Why Satan? Why Lucifer? Why the Tetragrammaton? Why Baal and Pazuzu? How come Satanists are so dependent on Christianity and Judaism, if they are against it?

JH: Actually, Satanism stands on its own, independent of Christianity and other religions. While the term "Satan" figures prominently in the Christian scriptures, our usage is that of a potent and convenient symbol which best relates our role in society as the "accuser" and "challenger", mirroring at times the undefined forces which move the universe.

"Baal", "Pazuzu", etc. are traditional names for "devils" or "demons" which world history provides us for our own exploitation. "Lucifer" is used in the Satanic Bible as a representation of enlightenment, and represents the element air for traditional ritual purposes, and is NOT seen as a tangible being, to be worshipped or venerated in an actual sense. I would suggest reading The Satanic Bible for a much better explanation than I can provide.

As for the tetragrammaton, or "name of god", YHWH, Jehovah, or any other such variations, I don't personally know of any Satanists who use such imagery, as it would be rather odd for a Satanist to use something which symbolizes all that Satanism opposes in a western context, unless those names were employed to represent something altogether distasteful, as in a destruction ritual, for example.

Satanists generally prefer to keep rituals goal-oriented, avoiding pageantry for its own sake. Our aim is making the most of this life, the only life we know.

Which leads me to your statement concerning Satanism as not being a religion in the regularly use of the term. It is very different from every other religion, but it does incorporate ritual, dogma, and moral definitions.

LaVey's take on ritual was the same as Jung and many others who regarded it as essential to the human animal, and so avoiding it in favor of some misguided rationalism would be a disservice to mankind. Instead he focused on utilizing ritual for creative personal use, not as a tool by which to tie ourselves to irrelevant and bygone traditions under the auspice of serving some particular god. Because we Satanists see ourselves as gods, we custom-tailor our own services! In the same manner we develop our own dogma, and define our own morals. And so our religion is not only unique, but complete in the "traditional" definition.

As far as the terms "psyche", "soul", and "spirit" are concerned, I try to avoid discussions in these areas purely out of disinterest. I have a number of my own beliefs concerning those words, but these change from time to time, and really have no bearing on this discussion.

Well, I thank you very much for obliging me this interview. You've been gracious in suffering my long-winded explanations and rants, and so I'll leave you with one last question: Who is your favorite Beatle?

HDG: Let me answer this by asking you a last one: What in your opinion would a regular Traditionalist think of a person, a Beatle for instance, who wrote the following lyrics?

“God is a concept (...)

I don’t believe in Bible (...)

I don’t believe in Jesus (...)

I don’t believe in Buddha (...)

I don’t believe in Yoga (...)

I just believe in me”

Wouldn’t a Traditionalist think that this particular Beatle is a Satanist?

JH: Well, you're getting close. But not quite there.

Perfect ending, and thank you. It's been a pleasure.

I have mixed feelings about this interview. I didn't get many of the answers I was looking for, at least I left with the feeling that much had gone unsaid. At some point in the interview they turned the conversation around for their own amusement, and I suspected this would happen before the conversation even began. It seems they were more interested in ideological exchanges than the dynamics of His Divine Grace as a musical project, and I certainly share the blame. I hope to communicate with them again in the future, perhaps learning more about their work "off camera".

Until then, His Divine Grace will be replaced by De Grace, and will remain something of a mystery.

2009-06-25T19:51:00.000-07:00

POINTINESS

(Stan) and (Sally) are neighbors of mine whom I prefer to describe as "pointy". They have pointy noses which are not altogether small, pointy little stares which are given from behind slender, rectangular, unisex eyeglasses, and pointy little fingers which raise thoughtfully in gestures.

(Sally) smiles sparingly from pointy cheekbones, her thin lips perhaps concealing pointed teeth. She is spare also in her compliments, preferring a very small smile, forced, effortful, when a praise seems called for, or when to do so would at least be appropriate for the occasion.

(Stan) smiles frequently. In fact, (Stan) is rarely seen without a wide smile on his face, which would lead me to suspect him of either idiocy or alcoholism, if he weren't exceptionally composed at all times, ever dragging out his sentences with Keanu Reeves-like pauses, as though the perfect response is just around the corner!

(Stan) wears his van dyke closely cropped, symetrical, and the perfect shade of brown, with which to compliment his artificially colored hair. I would imagine his dye bottle is "nutmeg".

There is nothing really "wrong" with (Stan) and (Sally), most people in middle America would consider them ideal neighbors- they are quiet, unobtrusive, clean, and proper in manner.

They drive fuel-efficient vehicles, eat little meat, exercise regularly, shop locally, and wear as little synthetics as possible. They prefer indie rock from the eighties, drink only vodka or white wine, barbecue chicken and veggies, and smoke marijuana only with their closest friends.

They pride themselves on having lots of "gay friends", no tattoos, knowing several local hairdressers who cut hair downtown (who are themselves tattooed, though not "gay"), and they pride themselves also on the fact that most of their friends live either within a ten block radius, or "down in Sand Key". This is mostly due to (Stan) teaching at the local marine institute and (Sally) growing up in Sand Key.

I don't believe I have ever seen anyone claiming to be a relative at the parties. Perhaps they were grown in laboratories, the two of them. Perhaps they were grown in the same laboratory, a Soviet experiment now forgotten, destined to live together, forever lost in our debauched and imperialistic western world.

Why do I describe my neighbors in such a manner? Why do I speak of them in such a patronizing tone? They've never gone out of their way to injure me, let alone inconvenience me. Like I said before, they could be considered the "perfect neighbors".

Maybe I'm simply an asshole.

I bring this up here because my other blog would be read by friends of friends of my neighbors, undoubtedly banning me from future picnics.

Yes, you heard right- I am actually in the little circle of friends which I described above. Why? Why would I subject myself to such pointy little people? The answer is so simple: contacts.

Pointy people love to surround themselves with "eccentrics" and "artists". Lacking any real imagination, these class-paranoid types clamour to entertain the entertainers, hoping to one-up the other pointies present. I can be pretty entertaining when in possession of white wine and/or vodka, and in the presence of other entertainers, which are the sort of people who keep me showing up at the picnics and parties.

It becomes something of a feedback loop: I am invited to (Stan) and (Sally)'s for a party/picnic, partly because I am a neighbor (to not invite would seem improper, unless they read this), and partly because I seem like the quirky "artistic type". (I've had people tell me I look "artsy", so I roll with the look and dress the part. I can also do "bad-boy"and "jock" when the occasion calls.). I drink the alcohol provided, I eat the overcooked food. I sit back with the other entertainers and take jabs at sacred cows. I enjoy myself at the expense of others, yet pay them in entertainment. I also get to meet those of like mind, the real payback.

Obama, Jesus, feminism, racism, you name it, I can turn it into a joke. I save the good ones for when my face gets a little red, so anyone can just say to themselves: "he must be a little drunk". I laugh a great deal, encouraging the pointies to laugh. I am reasonably handsome, which covers a multitude of sins when dealing with the herd in general. If you are young, white, good-looking, and easygoing, you have a foot in the door. If you are also intelligent and witty, you have the thing bagged. The pointies will invite you regularly, so long as you don't get caught oggling the wrong wife, or doing something else blatantly stupid.

When I get tired of the whole thing, I shuffle off home, across the street, with a few new business cards.

The next day (Stan) and (Sally) will honk and wave as they drive by, smiling in their pointy way, glad I could stop by to entertain. I'll return the wave and think about how funny it must be to be so pointy.

2009-06-21T20:39:00.000-07:00

REMEMBERING THE FORGOTTEN FATHER

"They dress in camoflage to honour him, and to be like unto him. Hidden, unseen, invisible."

Boyd Rice, "The Forgotten Father"
Wolfpact

2009-06-21T20:22:00.000-07:00

SO BEGINS SUMMER

A thickened air, a thunderstorm
A body bloated, white
A careless word, defeathered bird
A clenched fist, a fight
a vagrant gaze, a heavy malaise
a feeling nothing's right
a crackle, a spark
a smile in the dark
a circle drawn tonight

2009-06-12T21:40:00.000-07:00

ROBERT GREENE AND 50 CENT: THE 50th LAW

After several months of silence, the man who brought you POWER, SEDUCTION, and WAR has an announcement concerning THE 50th LAW.
It seems like Satanists kind of dig this guy, though they may not know his co-author.
And who, you may ask, is 50 Cent?
Ask the last ho' you slapped on the lip...

2009-06-08T08:05:00.000-07:00

THE ONLY CONSTANT

I am currently in the process of revising and editing many of my posts, in the hope of making parts of it publication-worthy at a future date. For those of you masochistic enough to wind your way back through my opinions, I encourage you check the archives in the near future.

2009-05-23T20:04:00.000-07:00

I-CHING INTERLUDE: REDUCTION

I typically refer to The Taoist I Ching (Thomas Cleary trans.) when using the oracle, though this is because most of my questions are of a more inward-looking nature. However, this time around I am focused on how I should respond to someone, thus I felt the translations, which have a decidedly alchemical slant, would be inappropriate by themselves. I decided to consult the Willhelm-Baynes translation, and compare the two.

Hexagram 41 is entitled "Reduction" in the Taoist I Ching (TIC) and "Decrease" in the Willhelm-Baynes (WB), and I believe the former is a more fitting title.

The image of the mountain above and the lake below are described in the WB as follows:

"At the foot of the mountain, the lake:
the image of DECREASE.
Thus the superior man controls his anger
and restrains his instincts.

The lake at the foot of the mountain evaporates. In this way it decreases to the benefit of the mountain, which is enriched by its moisture. The mountain stands as the symbol of a stubborn strength that can harden into anger. The lake is the symbol of unchecked gaiety that can develop into passionate drives at the expense of the life forces. Therefore decrease is necessary; anger must be decreased by keeping still, the instincts must be curbed by restriction. By this decrease of the lower powers of the psyche, the higher aspects of the soul are enriched."

The TIC titles this hexagram "Reduction", and its analysis focuses on sincerity motivating the process. But it doesn't stop there. The commentaries on the text also bring forth the need for one to be correct in the sincerity behind the process.
To use an example: a burglar may be very sincere in his desire to become more prudent in his trade, i.e. taking fewer risks, but the probability of eventually getting caught, regardless of how careful he is, only means he is delaying the inevitable, so long as he continues to steal. A sincere desire to use his skills in a non-criminal way would be far more beneficial in the long run.
My particular hexagram contains a moving third line, which transforms the hexagram into number 26, "Great Accumulation". Typically the moving line is noted and provides additional information, which it did, but I will omit this for the sake of brevity. "Great Accumutation" in the TIC councels one to "look to the sages" instead of assuming on one's own talents and knowledge. The WB titles this hexagram "The Taming Power of Great", which implies the tempering of one's initiative with the tried deeds and writings of superior men of the past. Both commentaries are identical for all intents and purposes, and the information seems to make perfect sense when viewed in the light of my question.
I will put to use the council of a certain group of sages when I meet with this person, and I will certainly temper my passions, anger in particular.

2009-05-22T16:43:00.000-07:00

CARROTS AND STICKS

There are two methods of dealing with asses: the carrot and the stick.
Lesser Magic mantra no.2.

2009-04-26T19:14:00.000-07:00

CARROT ON THE STICK

They take the bait from their masters, strung along, following graven images like a carrot on a stick, asses that they are. They preferred narratives, stretched myths as foundation for societies, understandable and allowable until the myth threatens to swallow the best of 'em.

A reflection of the whole, it took the bait and started on a wider, more appropriate path. Mistaking the symbol for what it represents. Always mistaking symbols for what they represent, in literal-minded fashion. Ass that it is.

2009-04-17T15:17:00.000-07:00

CULTURAL RELATIVISM, ANYONE?

In case a few of you haven't heard about this, I point it to your attention as a good example of the importance of separation between church and state.

2009-04-10T20:54:00.000-07:00

WHERE'S THE BEEF?

"During the early Middle Ages, meat, eggs and dairy products were generally proscribed. Thomas Aquinas argued that "they afford greater pleasure as food [than fish], and greater nourishment to the human body, so that from their consumption there results a greater surplus available for seminal matter, which when abundant becomes a great incentive to lust."

That from Wikipedia's entry for "Lent", though Catholics should be discouraged from partaking of such substances year-round. Perhaps there would not be so goddamn many of them. Come to think of it, the prohibition could be snuck into other Christian factions, and Jews, and Muslims, etc.... I actually overheard a woman at work talking about another woman who has sixteen children!

"What, is the woman some fucking Mormon?" I asked.

"Nope, she's a Catholic."

Someone please start feeding that woman fish.

Incidentally, I learned from my curiosity-driven wikipedia searches that the forty days of fasting is meant to reflect the Nazarene's forty days in the wilderness resisting Satan's temptations.

Pussy. If he was really the "son of God" as every good fool tells it, forty days would've been no sacrifice whatsoever. And where did it supposedly get him? Nailed to a wooden stake for the sins of future slobs who think eating some fish in place of heavier fare is going to somehow make their lives more meaningful. It seems the son of god was none too bright.

The best they can do is die off quietly with their fish, their pope, and their tired-ass myth in all of its shades of gray.

Give me the Devil and a good Friday night cookout! Yee-haw!

2009-04-06T18:36:00.000-07:00

THE PHOENICIAN CONNECTION

And we shall see later that the Sumerians and Hitto-Phoenicians symbolized their sun-cult by the crossed sticks or twigs by which, with friction, they produced their sacred fire-offerings to the Sun, just as the ancient and medieval Britons produced their sacred or "Need" fire offering.

p.37 The Phoenician Origin of Britons Scots and Anglo-Saxons, L. E. Waddell

Though this book has been in my collection for more than a few years, I've only recently begun reading it; with the intervening years of study in related subjects I can appreciate much more than I would've when I first acquired it.

The point I noticed almost immediately, which may have been largely unknown to Waddell in 1924, was that the crossing of sticks is implied in the tenth rune naudiz, or "need". The runes are believed to derive from the Phoenician alphabet, and though theories abound, their passage from the Mediterranean to Northern Europe over centuries is largely shrouded in the mist of time.

I have a feeling more connections to Scandinavian origins wil surface as I delve deeper into this book, which I highly recommend for anyone interested in pagan Europe.

2009-02-11T04:43:00.000-08:00

CAYLEE MARIE ANTHONY AND THE GOD OF ASSHOLES

I watched most of the highly-publicized memorial service for murdered 2 year old Caylee Anthony yesterday, and I can only sum up my reaction to what I saw with the word "disgusting".

"It breaks my heart today that Casey isn't here today to honor her child who she loved so much," Cindy Anthony said during the eulogy. "Casey, I hope you're able to hear me today. I love you and I wish I could comfort you right now. I wish I could take away all of your pain and wipe away your tears."

I'm sure she wishes she could spring her murderous bitch of a miscreant from jail, as well.

Part of what gets me, and MANY others, is the fact that the family lambasted the media for probing into their personal lives during a supposed time of grieving, yet ARRANGES a VERY public memorial. Which the jailed Casey Anthony decided NOT to view, despite her opportunity.

Casey Anthony has consistently appeared emotionless in hearings and other publicized appearances. Yet her father, George Anthony, urged everyone watching to "pray" for his daughter.

This is where I reach my boiling point.

A little girl is murdered- all evidence points to the mother, physical and circumstantial. Everyone knows the mother did it. Yet we are supposed to pray for her in this darkest of hours.

Fuck her. Only the demented and unjust god of inbred, backwards southern baptist scumbags would listen to such prayers. Only a Christian god known for allowing the torture and murder of his own son would TOLERATE let alone ENCOURAGE such reprehensible and morbid principles among his followers.

Only the God of Assholes.

Fuck her. I hope that disgusting wretch named Casey Anthony meets a very bloody and violent end in her new home. I hope enough imprisoned women see her as a very juicy and well-deserving target, women who have ruined their own lives, yet would gladly accept the opportunity to raise their children. Women who see nothing worse than a mother who would sacrifice her own offspring for a little partying. You can read into that however you wish.

Caylee Anthony cannot hear any prayers, cannot accept any apologies, and cannot forgive her mother. She cannot do anything. Remember that.

2009-01-24T08:42:00.000-08:00

THE NEW DEMON LOVER

I've decided to trim some excess fat from this blog, and send the "above-ground" posts to a more appropriate location. Henceforth, this blog will concentrate on writings of a strictly underground nature, focusing on the things I wish not to discuss with most people I know.

2009-01-24T07:55:00.000-08:00

US VS. THEM

"For the glory of God" is a tagline common to every religious pundit, showing how little he or she really cares for their own concerns. Since the ultimate goal of those strange and unnatural beings is a dubious eternal existence in favor of truly living in the present, wordly concerns are seen as a necessary burden, and credit for material success is owed to the creator.

The Satanist lives an inversion of these values, recognizing no being worthy of ultimate adoration outside of his- or herself, and placing responsibility for success or failure in life squarely upon one's own shoulders. To the Satanist, a concept such as "living for God" simply means living to the fullest and enjoying the only existence we recognize, as beings truly worthy of self-worship.

The spiritualist is hard-pressed to truly enjoy life, since earthly existence is seen merely as a preparation for the hereafter, in which great rewards will be reaped from the harvest of human denial.

2009-01-04T21:49:00.000-08:00

INTERVIEW WITH HIS DIVINE GRACE

I will be conducting an interview with the enigmatic musical ensemble His Divine Grace in the coming week, a return to my old days of rock 'n roll fandom, but without the rock 'n roll.

Who, you may ask, are His Divine Grace? Wait and see...

2008-12-27T06:14:00.000-08:00

THE ANNIVERSARY RITUAL

Burn a red cord this evening and celebrate freedom!
Many thanks to all supporters...
A clean house is a strong house!

Shemhamforesh!

2008-12-26T15:34:00.000-08:00

I-CHING INTERLUDE:
THE HEART AND HOW TO USE IT

I am always pleased when advice from the Book of Changes compliments my plans, it is auspicious in the truest sense; and while I sometimes cringe at terms such as "in harmony with the universe", because it sounds a tad naive to my ears, "Nature to be commanded must be obeyed" to quote Mr. Gilmore. I believe this applies both externally and internally.

The situation in discussion is not entirely pressing, and has to do with how I should handle a particular upcoming meeting. I have plenty of experience in dealing with this person and have a very good idea of what they are capable of. Still, I felt an objective angle couldn't hurt, so long as the angle made reasonable sense, which it did.

The 17th hexagram is titled: "Following", and in its formation the fifth yang line is moving. The hexagram can be summarized as following the call of one's essence, being true to oneself. However, the caution is to be sure that we both know our self, and know when and when not to act. The balance between action and stillness, coupled with our understanding of what is correct for us is what sets us on the right path. We "follow" our own best instruction.

The fifth moving line is explained thus: "Happiness is herein: concealing the bad, extolling the good, following strength, following flexibility, mastering both and using balance, every act is right, every affair is proper; following the heart's desire, one does not step over the line. This is following trusting in goodness." "Concealing the bad", as quoted above, could be better translated "banishing", as "hiding" holds a connotation of deception, which is pointedly not the case. The pairing of strength and flexibility reminds me of laws 22 and 48 of The 48 Laws of Power, and the image of a sapling untouched by hurricane winds, while giant oaks stood broken and mangled some fifty feet away. With strength, flexibility, and balance, we can trust our heart to guide us.

The transformed hexagram is number 51, "Thunder". Travelling thunder reverberates. Thus superior people cautiously practice introspection. The reference to thunder is an allusion to errant thoughts which, uncontrolled, may lead us into self-destructive actions. A superior person is introspective, understanding his inclinations, able to question himself and his motives. The heart is only deceitful when we allow our weaknesses to rule us without question.

The two hexagrams fit together with my question; the advice is sound and necessary. Now it's time to kick some ass.

2008-12-25T11:22:00.000-08:00

CHRISTMAS FROM THE THIRD-SIDE PERSPECTIVE

Glad tidings from Magister Matt G. Paradise here .

2008-12-22T17:13:00.000-08:00

CARTHAGO DELENDA EST

It started, or, resumed, with an email from the heel.
"Call ---- at 555-5555"
I knew what this was in reference to, but why three months earlier than the last notice? On the day of the winter solstice.
So I called and left a message the following evening. It returns my call the next morning, and I can tell, I can tell it is up to something! Not that this is surprising, I fairly predicted it would be so from the cards. It is not giving up, it may never give up until something very drastic happens. What seems to puzzle me, though, is why it is so relentless. Is it inhuman, or all too human?

The last time was absolute hell, punctuated by enjoyable distractions. Or were it vice-versa? I remember driving home feeling like a train wreck, wracked and exhausted. I swore I wouldnt do it again, but I am. Simply for this reason: Pride. I won't let it feel it's stronger than me, even if it were. And it isn't.

Carthage must be destroyed. A red cord will be thrown in the fire, to ritualize a victory. This will be repeated annually, but an even greater victory may be somewhere on the horizon.
Carthage must be destroyed, all of it, completely.

2008-12-18T17:11:00.000-08:00

BROTHERHOOD OF MAN

Reproduced from The Masonic Service Association of the United States Vol. 2 Feb.1924 No. 2

I present it here, because I feel it captures something very true about the concept of "fraternity", the very human striving to identify with those of like. This fraternal stiving, embodied in Freemasonry, holds validity as a both a human construct and counterpoint to man's other need- which I will speak of in my next post.

Masonic Lodge is a symbol of the world as it was thought to be in the olden times. Our ancient Brethren had a profound insight when they saw that the world is a Temple, over-hung by a starry canopy by night, lighted by the journeying sun by day, wherein man goes forth to his labor on a checker-board of lights and shadows, joys and sorrows, seeking to reproduce on earth the law and order of heaven. The visible world was but a picture or reflection of the invisible, and at its center stood the ALTAR of sacrifices, obligation, and adoration.

While we hold a view of the world very unlike that held by our ancient Brethren - knowing it to be round, not flat and square - yet their insight is still true. The whole idea was that man, if he is to build either a House of Faith or an order of Society that is to endure, must imitate the laws and principles of the world in which he lives. That is also our dream and design; the love of it ennobles our lives; it is our labor and our worship. To fulfill it we, too, need wisdom and help from above; and at the center of our Lodge stands the same Altar - older than all temples, as old as life itself - a focus of faith and fellowship, at once a symbol and shrine of that unseen element of thought and yearning that all men are aware of and which no one can define.

Upon this earth there is nothing more impressive than the silence of a company of human beings bowed together at an Altar. No thoughtful man but at some time has mused over the meaning of this great adoring habit of our humanity, and the wonder of it deepens the longer he ponders it. The instinct which thus draws men together in prayer is the strange power which has drawn together the stones of great cathedrals, where the mystery of God is embodied. So far as we know, man is the only being on our planet that pauses to pray, and the wonder of his worship tells us more about him than any other fact. By some deep necessity of his nature he is a seeker after God, and in moments of sadness or longing, in hours of tragedy or terror, he lays aside his tools and looks out over the far horizon.

The history of the Altar in the life of man is a story more fascinating than any fiction. Whatever else man may have been - cruel, tyrannous, or vindictive - the record of his long search for God is enough to prove that he is not wholly base, not altogether an animal. Rites horrible, and often bloody, may have been a part of his early ritual, but if the history of past ages had left us nothing but the memory of a race at prayer, it would have left us rich, And so, following the good custom of the men which were of old, we set up an Altar in the Lodge, lifting up hands in prayer, moved thereto by the ancient need and aspiration of our humanity. Like the men who walked in the grey years gone, our need is for the living God to hallow these our days and years, even to the last ineffable homeward sigh which men call death.

The earliest Altar was a rough, unhewn stone set up, like the stone which Jacob set up at Bethel when his dream of a ladder, on which angels were ascending and descending, turned his lonely bed into a house of god and a gate of heaven. Later, as faith became more refined, and the idea of sacrifice grew in meaning, the Altar was built of hewn stone - cubical in form - cut, carved, and often beautifully wrought, on which men lavished jewels and priceless gifts, deeming nothing too costly to adorn the place of prayer. Later still, when men erected a Temple dedicated and adorned as the House of God among men, there were two altars, one of sacrifice, and one of incense. the altar of sacrifice, where slain beasts were offered, stood in front of the Temple; the altar of incense, on which burned the fragrance of worship, stood within. Behind all was the far withdrawn Holy place into which only the high priest might enter.

As far back as we can go the Altar was the center of human Society, and an object of peculiar sanctity by virtue of that law of association by which places and things are consecrated. It was a place of refuge for the hunted or the tormented - criminals or slaves - and to drag them away from it by violence was held to be an act of sacrilege, since they were under the protection of God. At the Altar marriage rites were solemnized, and treaties made or vows taken in its presence were more holy and binding than if made elsewhere, because there man invoked God as witness. In all the religions of antiquity, and especially among the peoples who worshipped the Light, it was the usage of both priests and people to pass around the Altar, following the course of the sun - from the East, by way of the South, to the West - singing hymns of praise as a part of their worship. Their ritual was thus an allegorical picture of the truth which under lies all religion - that man must live on earth in harmony with the rhythm and movement of heaven.

From facts and hints such as these we begin to see the meaning of the Altar in Masonry, and the reason for its position in the Lodge. In English Lodges, as in the French and Scottish Rites, it stands in front of the Master in the East. In the York Rite, so called, it is placed in the center of the Lodge - more properly a little to the east of the center--about which all Masonic activities revolve. It is not simply a necessary piece of furniture, a kind of table intended to support the Holy Bible, the Square and Compasses. Alike by its existence and its situation it identifies Masonry as a religious institution, and yet its uses are not exactly the same as the offices of an Altar in a cathedral or a shrine. Here is a fact often overlooked, and we ought to get it clearly in our minds.

The position of the Altar in the Lodge is not accidental, but profoundly significant. For, while Masonry is not a religion, it is religious in its faith and basic principles, no less than in its spirit and purpose. And yet it is not a Church. Nor does it attempt to do what the Church is trying to do. If it were a Church its Altar would be in the East and its ritual would be altered accordingly. That is to say, Masonry is not a Religion, much less a sect, but a Worship in which all men can unite, because it does not undertake to explain, or dogmatically to settle in detain, those issues by which men are divided. Beyond the Primary, fundamental facts of faith it does not go. With the philosophy of those facts, and the differences and disputes growing out of them, it has not to do. In short, the position of the Altar in the Lodge is a symbol of what Masonry believes the Altar should be in actual life, a center of union and fellowship, and not a cause of division, as is now so often the case. It does not seek uniformity of opinion, but it does seek fraternity of spirit, leaving each one free to fashion his own philosophy of ultimate truth. as we may read in the constitutions of 1723:
" A Mason is obliged, by his Tenure, to obey the moral Law; and if he rightly understands the Art, he will never be a stupid Atheist, nor an irreligious Libertine. but though in ancient times Masons were charged in every Country to be of the religion of that country or Nation, Whatever it was, yet 'tis now thought more expedient only to oblige them to that Religion in which all men agree, leaving their particular Opinions to themselves; that is, to be good Men and true, or Men of Honor and Honesty, by whatever Denomination or Persuasions they may be distinguished; whereby Masonry becomes the Center of Union, and the Means of conciliating true Friendship among Persons that must have remained at a perpetual Distance."

Surely those are memorable words, a Magna Charta of Friendship and fraternity. Masonry goes hand in hand with religion until religion enters the field of sectarian feud, and there it stops; because Masonry seeks to unite men, not to divide them. Here, then, is the meaning of the Masonic Altar and its position in the Lodge. It is, first of all, an Altar of Faith-- the deep, eternal faith which underlies all creeds and over arches all sects; faith in God, in the moral law, and in the life everlasting. Faith in God is the cornerstone and the key-stone of freemasonry. It is the first truth and the last, the truth that makes all other truths true, without which life is a riddle and fraternity a futility. For, apart from God the Father, our dream of the Brotherhood of Man is as vain as all the vain things proclaimed of Solomon--fiction having no basis or hope in fact.

At the same time, the Altar of Masonry is an Altar of Freedom--not freedom from faith, but freedom of faith. Beyond the fact of the reality of God it does not go, allowing every man to think of God according to his experience of life and his vision of truth. It does not define God, much less dogmatically determine how and what men shall think or believe about God. There dispute and division begin. as a matter of fact, Masonry is not speculative at all, but operative, or rather co-operative. While all its teaching implies the Fatherhood of god, yet its ritual does not actually affirm that truth, still less make it a test of fellowship. Behind this silence lies a deep and wise reason. Only by the practice of Brotherhood do men realize the Divine Fatherhood, as a true-hearted poet has written:

"No man could tell me what my soul might be;I sought for God, and He eluded me;I sought my Brother out, and found all three."

Hear one fact more, and the meaning of the Masonic Altar will be plain. Often one enters a great Church, like Westminster Abbey, and finds it empty, or only a few people in the pews here and there, praying or in deep thought. They are sitting quietly, each without reference to others, seeking an opportunity for the soul to be alone, to communicate with mysteries greater then itself, and find healing for the burisings of life. but no one ever goes to a Masonic Altar alone. No one bows before it at all except when the Lodge is open and in the presence of his Brethren. It is an Altar of fellowship, as if to teach us that no man can learn the truth for another, and no man can learn it alone. Masonry brings men together in mutual respect, sympathy, and good will, that we may learn in love the truth that is hidden by apathy and lost by hate.

for the rest, let us never forget--what has been so often and so sadly forgotten--that the most sacred Altar on earth is the soul of man--your soul and mine; and that the Temple and its ritual are not ends in themselves, but beautiful means to the end that every human heart may be a sanctuary of faith, a shrine of love, an altar of purity, pity, and unconquerable hope.

2008-11-15T06:53:00.000-08:00

I-CHING INTERLUDE: GRADUAL PROGRESS

Hexagram no. 53 is titled: Gradual Progress. I drew it in response to a question regarding my path forward, and while I don't replace self-awareness and common sense with mantic methods, they often serve as useful tools when direct prescience is difficult. I see the various methods as gathering clues to sort through for relevant bits of information, and in this particular instance the method was the ancient I-Ching.

I won't bother going into the history of the I-Ching, you can Google it and find a wealth of information and advertisement as with anything else. If you really want good information, go to the book directly and pay attention to the texts and commentaries. In my mind, it is an excellent alchemical treatise unparalleled by anything from the west. However, like Occidental teachings of value, it was bastardized relentlessly by religious egos and heaped on with vagaries.

It has enormous value if you can translate it into something useful, which can be done.

There are two common methods of divining answers from the I-ching: by passing a number of thin sticks from hand to hand in a certain manner (traditionally yarrow, but you can substitute bamboo skewers) which is tedious, and the far simpler method of tossing three coins. The combinations of heads and tails give you four possible lines for each line of the hexagram, which is composed of two trigrams. A solid line is a yang line, a broken line is a yin line, and both represent the male and female principles respectively. The eight combinations of three lines form a trigram, which individually represent an element of nature, and the combinations of the trigrams form the sixty-four hexagrams. The hexagrams and their corresponding commentary form the I-Ching, or "Book of Change", a term which refers to the notion of the universe and everything within being in a constant state of flux.

In my particular reading, I tossed the coins with my question in mind, and arrived at no.53: Gradual Progress, which reads thus:
"Gradual progress means going slowly, not rushing. As for the qualities of the hexagram, above is wind, entering, below is mountain, still: Staying in the proper place and slowly entering, therefore it is called gradual progress.
This hexagram represents gradual practice following the appropriate order; it follows on the previous hexagram thunder. Thunder involves practicing introspection in action, not acting arbitrarily. Not acting arbitrarily, one is cautious and wary; strong energy resides within, the mind is firm and the will is far-reaching--one can thereby practice the path of striving for the gold elixir...
...the process involved is subtle, the course of work is long--it is necessary to progress gradually, following the appropriate order, before one can reach deep attainment of self-realization."

The above quote is only a fraction of the complete commentary, and the four moving lines in the hexagram necessitated four additional considerations (added info. which may be pertinent), all of which I won't bother discussing here at length. Suffice it to say the information I divined was very useful and probably very accurate in relation to the particular situation(s) in consideration.

Lastly, the presence of the moving lines offer a second hexagram for consideration, as each moving line transforms into its opposite, thereby creating a new hexagram. The new hexagram's individual lines are not considered, only an abbreviated commentary. In my case, the second hexagram offered nothing of discernible value.

This interlude may followed by others in the future, we'll see.

2008-11-14T19:53:00.000-08:00

WHAT MAN HAS BUILT...

MOSCOW – Wanted: One missing Russian church. Last seen in July. Reward for its return. Orthodox officials in a central Russian region say an abandoned church building that was to be put back into use has been stolen by local villagers.
Orthodox priest Vitaly of the Ivanovo-Voskresenskaya diocese said officials last saw the two-story Church of Resurrection intact in late July. Sometime in early October, however, people from the nearby village of Komarovo, northeast of Moscow, dismantled the building, he said.
Villagers apparently sold it to a local businessman, one ruble (about 4 cents) per brick, Vitaly said. Orthodox priests use only one name.
"Of course, this is blasphemy," he told The Associated Press. "These people have to realize they committed a grave sin."
Vitaly said police were investigating the theft.
The 200-year-old building, which no longer had its icons and other religious valuables, was a school for disabled children during the Soviet era before it was closed down in 1998 and turned over to the church.
Vitaly said the diocese was thinking of reopening it for services.
The Orthodox church has experienced a major resurgence in Russia and has restored or built thousands of churches.
In poorer, rural regions, vandals or petty thieves regularly steal gilded icons or donations from churches and sell them for alcohol or drugs.

Maybe the bricks can be used to build something useful...like a brothel.

2008-11-05T16:43:00.000-08:00

NEVER TRUST A COIN

Yes, folks, it's official...America has it's very own black president. Oddly enough I didn't see very many jubilant Afrimerican faces today, I'm wondering if either the celebrations involved too much libations and they're suffering a pan-racial hangover, or they're waiting for the rug to be pulled out from under them. Or maybe they're trying not to get too attached for fear he'll go the way of JFK.
Or maybe some of them really don't give a rat's ass.
That's a novel thought.

I heard two very funny things this morning on the television, which I don't actually watch, but occasionally listen to in the background, and the car radio. Two things: A soundbite from NPR on the drive to run errands, someone who was commenting on the Democratic victory actually said "America has closed the door on race." Ho-ly shit, I thought. This guy is serious. This guy is serious and this guy obviously doesn't get out of his ivory tower very often.
Listen closely, Mr. Saab-driving Kashi fanatic-- America has not closed the door on race. Period. Not only has America not closed the door on race, America will never close the door on race. The world will not close the door on race, because as long as we recognize differences between races, between Blacks, Whites, Hispanics, Asians, and between sub-groups contained within those races, Koreans, Haitians, Irish, etc., etc., etc., there will be race. To think that mankind in general will not care about the differences between race is like expecting mankind to suddenly ignore the difference between male and female. It is stupid. Not only is it stupid, it is rather naive, maybe even dangerously so.

Early in the race (presidential, that is), polls indicated that there were still many Americans who thought that this country just wasn't ready for a black president. Well, obviously enough Americans felt differently, BUT that doesn't suddenly negate the ones who didn't.

Here's an example of how not seeing race can be dangerously naive...a few years ago I was driving late at night, and I pulled into the parking lot of a convenience store which had already closed. I knew I was in a pretty bad section of town, but the area was reasonably well lit, and I planned to quickly use my cell phone and leave. Within seconds a police cruiser pulls into the lot and turns its floods on me, a cop walks up to my car and asks for my I.D. A few minutes pass as he confirms I have no warrants, the vehicle is registered and not reported stolen, etc. The cop comes back and asks me the question I've been expecting: What are doing? I politely reply that I was simply using my cell phone, and I can tell that he actually believes me from the look on his face. So he tells me that I should probably hurry up and finish the call so that I can leave. He says: "Most white guys in this neighborhood are here for one thing, and whether you're here for that or not, there's a good probability that someone's going to take an interest in you, the kind of interest you don't want. So I would get out of here and get somewhere safer." I thanked him and left.

Now, if I'd been black, he probably would've assumed I belonged in the neighborhood (incidentally, the cop was white), and he would've been more likely to call backup and search my vehicle. That aside, the simple fact that he saw a white person in a "black neighborhood" at night raised suspicion and caused him to warn me about the danger of being parked there.

And I'm not implying there aren't shitty neighborhoods predominantly peopled by caucasians, I grew up in one. However, I never was questioned by the police for simply being parked in my own neighborhood.

Race will always be noticed by most folks, and as far as I'm concerned that's fine. It doesn't make someone a bigot simply because they recognize the differences, and even if they are a bigot I don't care. The cop wasn't necessarily racist, just realistic. He had a job to do.

The people who stumble over racial pseudo-apologetics and pretend to "not see color", who make a point of saying "I have good friends who are African-American", those are the ones who create the "race issue".

2008-11-03T20:32:00.000-08:00

HONOR YOUR ENEMIES

Do you know who your enemies are?
Thieves? Terrorist organizations? Liberal Democrats? You can surmise by most people's bumper stickers who their enemies are. A rebel flag, a rainbow, a community radio station. The herd loves common enemies; a face, an abstract ideal, an ethnic group, for whatever little support group they belong in to rally against. Something to help alleviate the collective feeling of inadequacy.
And we, of course, laugh at this silly behavior. We mock the people who wave flags and pound their fists and march like so many insects, because we fancy ourselves individuals with no need to succumb to mob mentalities.
Who, then, is your enemy?
More importantly--does your enemy honor you?
The phrase "Molti nemici, molto onore" has become well worn in certain circles, and perhaps too much so. The problem I see with this phrase is the connotation of "quantity over quality", not exactly an elitist idea, much less one appropriate for Satanists. Just as I would rather have a few intelligent and interesting people around to call "friends", so would I prefer a sprinkling of enemies who are worth my efforts, as both are truly necessary for a man (or woman) to feel honored. Law 1 in POWER.
However...if you happen to be what some folks call "high profile", and can no more help being despised by millions you would never personally meet any more than you could avoid the adoration of many more, then you are bound to be hated by someone intelligent. But you would still require that special intimate enemy to really feel complete.
Batman has his Joker, Superman has his Lex Luthor (far more interesting), and both have many other enemies which make them well needed and honor them in their strange and unique way. It's life, as life is struggle, is conflict.
It's my personal theory that strong enemies propel us toward our greatest potential.
I love the people who help and nourish me, my friends and family. Without them I would feel empty. But my enemies get my blood pumping. They snap me out of my complacency and remind me that nature devours the unfit. They keep me sharp, give me the edge I need to stay ten steps ahead of the drones. In a sick kind of way, I love my enemies.
But I also understand that there will always be other enemies, should the ones I have now get tiresome or too dangerous. There will always be a fresh face to hate should the need arise.
So I raise a toast to my enemies now, and to my future enemies...may they elevate me to higher paths of greatness. Cheers.

2008-11-01T17:25:00.000-07:00

FLIES

The saying "You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar" may be true, but you can catch a lot more with bullshit. Lesser Magic Mantra no. 1

2008-10-23T19:29:00.000-07:00

LANGUAGE ECONOMY

"If you have nothing to say, say nothing."

"A wise man speaks because he has something to say, the fool because he has to say something."

Tseu-Lou asked: If the prince of Mei appointed you head of the government, to what would you first set your mind?
Kung: To call people and things by their names, that is, by the correct denominations, to see that the terminology was exact.
"You mean that is the first?" said Tseu-Lou. "Aren't you dodging the question? What's the use of that?"
Kung: You are a blank. An intelligent man hesitates to talk of what he don't understand (sic), he feels embarrassment.
If the terminology be not exact, if it fit not the thing, the governmental instructions will not be explicit, if the instructions aren't clear and the names don't fit, you can not conduct business properly.
If business is not properly run the rites and music will not be honoured, if the rites and music be not honoured, penalties and punishments will not achieve their intended effects, if penalties and punishments do not produce equity and justice, the people won't know where to put their feet or what to lay hold of or to whom they should stretch out their hands.
That is why an intelligent man takes care for his terminology and gives instructions that fit. When his orders are clear and explicit they can be put into effect. An intelligent man is neither inconsiderate of others nor futile in his commanding.

The above quoted from Pound's translation of The Analects, I think. The preceding two lines are paraphrased and unremembered. This is as much my way of reminding myself of the value of these principles as they apply to daily life, as well as communication via the written word.
Above all else, to strive for better understanding through fewer words.
Robert Greene focuses on saying less in Law 4 of The 48 Laws of Power, but mostly for the purpose of appearing enigmatic and collected, or to avoid foot-swallowing, all good enough reasons to close one's mouth.
Pound, Confucius, are promoting economy. Saying the right thing for everyone's sake.

2008-10-13T12:44:00.000-07:00

PATTERNS

In a rare turn toward a point, someone I was engaged in conversation with asked me if I thought groups of people were harder to predict than individuals. As is common, I gave an answer that was not very well thought-out, and said "Yes, I believe groups are fairly easy to predict..." then rambled on and proceeded to trap myself into some very flawed logic which I won't embarrass myself by further.

Sufficient that I was able to retract my answer later and explain the real point of this post: It seems (to me, at least) that all animals, including humans, are reasonably easy to "predict" in the sense that everyone naturally falls into patterned behavior. EVEN when a human makes a conscious change in their daily routine, since one habit is typically replaced by another, and modified overall behavior quickly becomes the new routine. We are creatures of habit, as all creatures are.

Groups of people, however, are varied and complicated by their individual dynamics, i.e. the actual hierarchy within the group which would dictate who is setting the goals and providing the momentum. This is probably a terrible oversimplification, but consider, for the sake of example, two common types of "group" which are very different yet subject to the same basic criteria: a popular mainstream religion which is enjoying a degree of legitimacy and public recognition, and a mob of a dozen or so rioters.

Let's start with the rioters. Depending on WHERE and WHY the rioting is occurring, one can make a prediction early on as to the sort of places or people the mob will attack. If the riot is in an area of civil political unrest, the mob will likely attack the businesses of rival ethnic or political groups and anyone associated. They may attack a government building which they have targeted long before the actual riot occurred. The few people leading the mob are probably the ones most strongly attached to a particular ideology. Common sense tells us the mob probably won't be attacking someone clearly identified as sympathetic with their cause, but will probably coerce the person to join them. These sort of mobs are usually considered the most difficult to quell, as their goal is usually satisfied only when a very drastic change in government has occurred, and often preferably through bloodshed.

In contrast, a rioting mob which is motivated by something like the victory of a local sports team is fairly easy to quell. Alcohol has inhibited the already tenuous cords of restraint in several people, shouting starts, and someone throws a rock through a car window. Several onlookers who are also impaired think this is funny, so they jump on the car and start to kick the already damaged window in, and before you know it, another rock is thrown through a store window. Opportunistic thieves see this as a good way to make off with some unearned and pawnable merchandise. The police arrive a short time later, the perps scatter, maybe a few are caught on surveillance camera and arrested, but nothing else happens. The dynamic in this case was practically nonexistent, as there was no real organization to the group. It was a mob, but motivated only by mischief. This type of group is far more difficult to predict, yet relatively easy to suppress. It can strike anywhere, anyone, yet is unlikely to offer much resistance to a display of counter-force.

A religion, something which, in my opinion, is simply a cult grown up, is a very different sort of group in the fact of organization. It IS common, however, for violent mobs to be utilized on behalf of a religion's objectives, often covertly. Where a religion runs similar to an organized mob of ideologues, is in the unwavering devotion of its participants to "the cause", and their consequent inability to be reasoned with by anyone who stands in opposition, even if the opposing person is well-grounded and reasonable. Such groups usually have a very well-defined and visible hierarchy, an organization within the organization, although its outward apparentness isn't always the rule.

There are other groups I could include: executive boards, political parties, organized crime families, etc., all having more or less one thing in common: people working together toward a more or less common goal.

So...which are easier to "predict", the groups or the individuals?

Well, my revised answer was...both- SOME of the time.

Individuals, as mentioned before, typically follow patterns. In fact, we crave patterns, often at the sacrifice of objectivity. We see patterns in the stars, in the financial markets, in world events, in everything around us except, too often, our own flawed tendencies. Some of us learn to recognize our own individual and collective shortcomings, to "bite our own teeth" as it were, but most people really don't.

These are the ones who are probably the most predictable, and they do NOT typically "run the show" in a particular group. But groups, if you know who is sitting at the top, basically function as extensions of those people. They call the shots, and those below carry out orders, and hopefully all move toward the common goal, be that the toppling of an oppressive regime or the inclusion of creationism in public schools.

What makes groups and individuals difficult for us to predict? Ourselves.

Because we see patterns too easily, we can miss the changes in behavior, or the outright randomness of life which change circumstances and force both people and groups to confront an entirely new situation, one they have no comfortable preset response to.

In short, we fail to see what we ought to, because we're seeing those infamous patterns.

I would definitely welcome any responses that could clarify errors in this, it would be very appreciated.

2008-10-09T19:03:00.000-07:00

ON A LIGHTER NOTE...

Pardon my atypical vulgarity, but this is one fucked-up bitch. I really have a hard time believing she didn't do some serious drugs apart from antipsychotics.

(DISCLAIMER: The information printed in the linked website below is intended for entertainment purposes only and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the author. Reading the following material may cause nausea, dizziness, vomiting, or diarrhea. Discontinue immediately if religious visions persist.)

http://www.carm.org/testimonies/catt.htm

2008-09-14T19:18:00.000-07:00

TOLERATE THIS

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/01/20/magazine/20080120_CIRCUMCISION_SLIDESHOW_index.html

Thank you Trevor Blake
http://ovo127.com/blog/index.html

2008-09-09T13:10:00.000-07:00

"Ab eo, quod nigram caudam habet abstine, terrestrium enim deorum est"

"Stay your hand from that which has a black tail, for it belongs to the gods of the earth."

Marcilio Ficino, as quoted by Jung.

Many people know the name "Cthulhu" from H.P. Lovecraft's stories which center around a mythical race of gigantic, powerful, and misanthropic beings which lay sleeping deep below earth's waters. I'd wager far fewer know where the name derives from.

"Chthonic", derived from the Greek "khthonios", is a word which parallels "subterranean", yet strongly implies both fertility and the grave. It was often used to refer to deities or spirits which were primarily connected to terrestrial concerns, and such deities often were worshipped at night, in caves, or otherwise in darkness. That which is below belonged to the cthonic.

In a psychological/alchemical context, chthonic may refer to hidden or undesired, yet essential elements of the self which our consciousness naturally rejects. We may also project these unrecognized aspects of our psyche onto others, consequently experiencing an unfounded or irrational revulsion of them; often people project these shadowy chthonic elements onto those who are already somewhat alienated and deemed outsiders. Projection is hardly a modern concept, and has become quite well assimilated into our modern vocabulary, along with such terms as "archetype" and "collective unconscious". Jung himself, however, warned repeatedly of painting these terms and concepts, along with many others he coined or advanced, with overly broad strokes. One thing I value very greatly in Jung's writings is his mixture of candor with caution. Religion has its place, dreams have their context, and shadows may often be useful to a person, even crucial.

2008-08-23T21:55:00.000-07:00

"O what a bright, bright hill is yon,
That shines so clear to see?"
"O it is the hill of heaven," he said,
"Where you shall never be."

"O what a black, dark hill is yon,
"That looks so dark to me?"
"O it is the hill of hell," he said,
"Where you and I shall be."

At the behest of good Bartholomew, I put these things down in writing, for my own value and as a sort of exercise. To what end? Only time will rightly tell.
At present I shall speak of what I know and what is of interest to me, my experiences- tragedies and fortunes all, as though spoken fire-side in my cozy little corner of Hell.