10.04.2008
Music is Still Magic: Phonogram Returns
Way back in 2006 I reported on a band new comic mini-series that was debuting called "Phonogram". The book revolved around the lives of magicians (called "phonomancers") who use music as their medium.
Phonogram t-shirt design.
"Music is Magic. You know this already. You've known this from the first time a record sent a divine shiver down your spine or when a band changed the way you dressed forever. How does something that's just noises arranged in sequence do that? No-one knows. It's just...magic. Everyone knows that. It's just that some realise that it's more than metaphor."
That series, now collected in graphic novel form, was an exercise in excavating one's musical youth as a phonomancer races to stop a blasphemy against his Britpop past. Now writer Kieron Gillen and artist Jamie McKelvie are returning for a second Phonogram series that explores a club night from seven different perspectives.
"To explore how much subjective experiences of a shared social event can differ. There's a quote I'm probably going to lob at the front of the trade from Wellington: “The history of a battle, is not unlike the history of a ball…” His point being that you can't write a history of a battle because it's too confusing and the individual perspectives and understanding of events vary so much. You may as well try and write what happened at a party. “The Singles Club” flips that observation — and a party can be an awful lot like a battle. When a DJ plays a certain record, to one person it could be the best thing imaginable. To someone else, it may be the thing to totally destroy you."
Phonogram "B-Side" art by Daniel Heard
In addition to the main story, each story will feature back-up stories ("b-sides") from "guest DJ" artists like Daniel Heard, Marc Ellerby, and Emma Vieceli. Being something of a music fanatic, and a strong believer in the magical power of music, I really enjoyed the first series and I'm looking forward to these new "singles" (which debut on December 10th). Ask your local comic-shop to order you a copy, and be sure to check out the 11-page preview of the new series. If you happen to be a fan of the intersections between pop-culture, myth, and magic, I think you'll enjoy "Phonogram".
Labels: Comics, Jamie McKelvie, Kieron Gillen, Magic, Magick, music, Phonogram
8.14.2008
Empirical Evidence of Demons
Publishers Weekly interviews pop-occult superstar Grant Morrison, author of "The Invisibles", "Vimanarama", and "WE3", about his work, interest in Hinduism, and the practice of magic.
Grant Morrison
"Comics specifically seem to be quite magical to me—in the sense that they are directly drawn onto paper. They relate back to the very first drawings that people did on cave walls, and people believe now that those things were meant to be magical, that by drawing and creating a model of the bison, you could affect what happened to the real bison. Your hunt would be more successful the next day. So the idea of drawing and creating representations is the very first notion that we had of magic, that you could make an image of something and affect the image and, in turn, affect the reality of the thing. Like sympathetic magic, when you make, for instance, a little doll of someone and then stab it, they will experience something. So that idea of representation, I think, is the first magical idea, and comics is still very close to that."
Morrison also discusses his experience with summoning a demon, making sense of an alien abduction experience, and how we are all one giant organism.
"So if you take this whole thing back three million years, there’s only one entity on the planet, right? And we’re all part of it, like a hand has fingers. Except this hand is multifractal; it’s got deer over here and humans over here, and each one does a different thing. Dogs smell the world better, so they work as the sensory organ for smell. Humans think and think in patterns, so we’re that part of the organism that makes patterns. And it winks at itself and identifies itself, all this one thing on the planet..."
Currently, Grant Morrison is writing "Batman" and the DC Comics mega-crossover "Final Crisis", in addition to developing an animated web comic for Virgin Comics called "MBX" (based on the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata).
Labels: Comics, Grant Morrison, Magic, Magick, occult
7.27.2008
Preserving Our Heritage and History
We often take libraries and museums for granted, thinking them permanent fixtures, places for tourists to visit, or grad students to research. But as recent economic concerns stretch across the world, collections vital to understanding our place in history become jeopardized as funding is cut. Such is the case with the Harry Price Library of Magical Literature, based at the University of London.
"A remarkable collection of rare and ancient volumes on the arts of magic and summoning ghosts could be broken up and sold off due to a funding crisis. The Harry Price Library of Magical Literature, based at the University of London, is the UK's largest of its kind ... The collection is under threat after the university's grant for its specialist library was slashed by more than 60 per cent by the Higher Education Funding Council. The £1m cut means the library could cease to exist."
If this collection were to be broken up and sold, it would be a huge blow to scholarship concerning the roots and history of modern Pagan religion. The Harry Price library contains such works as the "Malleus maleficarum" (five different editions), correspondences with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini, Reginald Scot's "Discoverie of Witchcraft", and a work by the astrologer Arcandam.
"The collection has a very wide interest. Some of the material about witchcraft is now very relevant to areas such as gender studies and how women have been portrayed over time." - Christine Wise, head of special collections at Senate House Library
Students across England are now lobbying their colleges to donate funds towards keeping the collection together, but things aren't looking bright. A report is to be issued in November that will survey the extent of necessary cuts, and if the library will need to be sold off.
So what is the answer to this problem? It seems unlikely that the governments and universities funding these collections will suddenly rearrange their priorities concerning early esoteric texts and papers. Nor is England the only place where this problem is emerging. Is digitizing these artifacts the answer? That seems to be a growing consensus. Several works from the Victorian era in the Harry Price collection have been digitized, and the National Library of Ireland has recently digitized a rare book of occult correspondence between poet (and former Golden Dawn member) William Butler Yeats and Irish revolutionary Maud Gonne.
"Bound in white vellum, the notebook served as their metaphysical marital bed. Yeats used it to keep track of their shared fixation with the occult and each other ... Now, a century later, that book is on display at the National Library of Ireland, opened to a page that is just barely visible under the indirect lighting prescribed for aged ink treasures. Yet every syllable - every comma-deprived sentence, every curve in her script, every ampersand - is legible. Next to the display case the entire notebook has been digitally reincarnated..."
Of course digital media, if housed in a single place, can be destroyed too, which would make the next step of digitial preservation to disperse thousands of copies to servers at libraries and universities across the world. Something I don't see institutions like the National Library of Ireland doing any time soon. In the meantime, we shouldn't allow the existing hard copies of rare and unique works to disperse into the homes of rich collectors, denying scholars and students easy access, forcing them to accede to the wishes of private individuals (or private trusts). We need to preserve our heritage and history for future generations despite the fiscal inconveniences, lest those tests, letters, and objects become little more than matters of conjecture and we lose an important physical link to our past.
Labels: Ireland, Libraries, Magic, Magick, occult, Paganism, The Harry Price Library of Magical Literature, UK, W.B. Yeats
7.26.2008
Stage Magic and Litigation
The Law and Magic blog's coverage of a recent ruling concerning a defamation lawsuit against Magic Magazine, and an angry magician, caught my eye. What does the world of stage magic have to do with practitioners of Paganism? As it turns out, quite a bit, at least in my opinion. The case involved Magic Magazine's review of a card trick magician Bill Nagler was selling, in short, the review wasn't favorable.
"The Court noted that the plaintiff, Mr. Nagler, alleged two causes of action, defamation and product disparagement, against Mr. Henderson, and the publisher of Magic Magazine. Mr. Nagler apparently thought that Mr. Henderson "bought in" to the notion that Mr. Nagler was guilty of exposing the secrets behind other magicians' tricks and thus wrote a negative review. He accused Mr. Henderson of making false statements of fact concerning the magic trick under review. Mr. Henderson and Magic Magazine defended by saying that the statements were protected opinion, and also that they did not "concern" Mr. Nagler."
The court, in its wisdom, rejected the accusations of defamation and disparagement.
"The Court examined the statements to which Mr. Nagler objected and said that they were either 'rhetorical hyberbole' or unverifiable 'supported interpretation.'"
So why is this important to us? Aren't there loads of legal precedents protecting negative reviews? What is important is the circumstances and language used. While couched in the world of stage magic, this case reminded me of the many negative reviews I've read of "magickal" books by authors like Silver RavenWolf, Douglas Monroe, and Ed Fitch. In fact, I'm surprised we haven't seen some vengeful Pagan/occult author let fly with a lawsuit with charges almost identical to the ones seen here . Oath-bound material, wounded egos, and "massaged" facts are certainly found in both communities.
The court's decision that 'rhetorical hyberbole', even if it is insulting or unkind, is protected so long as the opinions are grounded by 'supported interpretation' of facts should be welcome news to any Pagan magazine or web site that regularly publishes reviews. In other words, you can say things like this...
"Personally, I believe one of the biggest problems we face today is Silver Ravenwolf. Particularly ironic is the fact that the "Craft Code of Honor" that she displays on her own website includes "Respect the religion of others." So she's a bigot and a hypocrite."
And you should be protected under the law so long as you support your interpretation with facts (as you see them) that led you to that opinion. That doesn't mean that the target of your negative review can't file a lawsuit, it just means he or she isn't likely to win.
7.05.2008
Satanic Panic Alive and Well in North Carolina
I was going to do an update on the Pagan fence controversy today, but another story I've read, the more I think about it, the more it bothers me (I'll get to the fence thing tomorrow). It involves five people, the local Democratic party, accusations of kidnapping and rape, and Satanism. The more you dig into it, the more it seems like the beginnings of a witch-hunt. At first it seems like a straightforward crime with a hint of Satanism thrown in for spice.
"Prosecutors have charged three people, including two ranking members of the Durham County Democratic Party, as part of an investigation into allegations of rape and kidnapping that prosecutors said involved satanic worship ... Authorities have said little about the case outside of the information included in arrest warrants, which allege that [Joseph Scott] Craig beat a man and a woman, raped the woman and that [Joy] Johnson watched as he did so. Durham County Assistant District Attorney Mark McCullough said earlier this week that charges stemmed from some sort of satanic ritual."
Joseph Scott and Joy Johnson
Now hold on, this is going to get a bit complicated. The three people arrested, Joy Johnson, Joseph Craig, and Diana Palmer are all New Agers. Joy and Joseph run/ran a web site (now down) called "Indigo Dawn", which provided spiritual healing services, past-life regressions and the like. Joseph Craig, on the site, claims to be a practitioner of magick. Meanwhile, Joy and Diana are both chairwomen of the Durham County Democratic Party. Joy and Joseph are the ones accused of rape and kidnapping, Diana is accused of helping to hide evidence after the fact. All have been accused of participating in a "Satanic ritual". Diana Palmer claims no involvement or knowledge of any illegal acts or cult activity.
"The warrant for Palmer's arrest states she put the evidence in her trunk and "drove her vehicle to another location in an effort to conceal those items from detection of the Durham Police Department." "She denies knowing about any crime, being connected with this crime or having anything at all to do with Satanism or any assault of any nature whatsoever," Thomas said, describing his client as a New Age Christian."
Still, this could have been a straightforward case of rape and kidnapping, with Palmer as an innocent dupe, or willing accomplice. However, it looks like the charges of "Satanism", along with the charges of rape and kidnapping might not be as it appears.
"But the attorney for Joseph Scott Craig, 25, has questioned whether authorities misunderstood what was taking place inside his client's home. "It sure seems to look like sadomasochism or some kind of consensual activity that maybe went too far," defense attorney Woody Vann told The News & Observer of Raleigh. "While it may not be normal activity for our everyday population, that doesn't mean it's criminal." ... Authorities allege that Craig beat a man and a woman, raped the woman and that Johnson watched as he did so. Court documents filed this week accuse Johnson of "instigating and encouraging" her husband as he handcuffed the man and forced him "into a dog cage, leaving him there for hours, terrorizing him." The documents said the incidents occurred in December 2007 and in January and May."
Let's deconstruct this for a moment. One couple meets another couple, allegedly through "a shared interest in Satan worship". They then engage in, on three occasions, what sounds very much like cuckold play, a very, very common kink. The basic scenario, in short, is that a man (or woman) is restrained (mentally or physically) and "forced" to watch his (or her) partner sexually gratified by a stranger. While I'm not ruling out mental coercion, or that the final instance may have been done without consent, we may also be dealing with what sex columnist Dan Savage calls "drastic, disgusted, after-the-fact denial" (NSFW language at link).
"I'm familiar with drastic, disgusted, after-the-fact denial ... the moment a closet case gets what he came for ... his tone changes dramatically. Not only does he stop begging to be ******, he will deny he ever wanted to be ****** in the first place. The truly messed up ones would even deny that they had been ****** at all..."
So far the police have been tight-lipped about details of the case. As I have said before, this could very well be what they say it is. A kidnapping and rape. If so, the accused should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. However, if this is a case of guilt/shame after the fact, or self-protection from being labeled as perverts, two (or three) innocent people could be facing jail time and a lifetime on the sexual offender lists. Worse, by spinning tales of Satanism, and by the police releasing those details, we face a new wave of "Satanic Panic" in the region.
Will people start looking out for more "cultists" in the New Age or Pagan communities? Will there be more arrests? Will vigilante justice ensue if the accused are cleared of wrongdoing? We can't be sure, but one thing we do know is that justice has been marred by the Durham police engaging in sensationalism. We can only hope that justice prevails here (whatever that may be), and that this doesn't spark any further witch-hunts. What do you think? Real crime with a touch of sensationalist Satanism thrown in, or a smear of innocent people who believed they were engaging in a consensual act?
Labels: Democratic Party, Magick, New Age, North Carolina, Satanic Panic, Satanism
6.19.2008
Splinter OTO Groups Can No Longer Call Themselves "OTO"
The Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.), an esoteric fraternal order which is perhaps best known for its associations with former leader and primary ritualist/liturgist Aleister Crowley, has recently achieved two major legal victories. The more important of the two regards trademark control over the terms "OTO" and "O.T.O." in the UK.
"I am happy to report that OTO has prevailed against Starfire Publishing Ltd.'s opposition to our trademarks for "OTO" and "O.T.O." in the United Kingdom. In her decision of June 8, Anna Carbone, the Appointed Person hearing OTO's appeal, found in favor of OTO, overturning a previous decision in favor of Starfire. OTO's registrations of the marks "OTO" and "O.T.O." are now proceeding normally in the UK, joining our previous registrations of "Ordo Templi Orientis" and the OTO Lamen. Under UK law, there can be no further appeal of a decision by an Appointed Person, in either the Trademark Registry or High Court."
What does this decision mean? Joined with the international order's trademark control in the United States (and the rest of the world), it means that a variety of splinter groups using the term "OTO" (or variations thereof) must now cease or risk legal action. The OTO's official press release specifically names British occultist Kenneth Grant's "Typhonian" Ordo Templi Orientis in its warning to groups started by expelled or resigned members.
"This litigation was not one we initiated -- these were proceedings brought against us by Starfire acting on behalf of Kenneth Grant's spurious OTO organization, with support from organizations led or founded by other expelled or resigned OTO members, such as Albion OTO and OTO Foundation. These groups would be well advised to find another name. We were merely filing a routine maintenance trademark. Now, having provoked us, they can reasonably expect enforcement proceedings from us if they do not stop appropriating our name, initials and lamen."
Since judges have ruled that "OTO" is the name of a private organization, and not a descriptive term for a religion, these groups will have to follow in the footsteps of other fraternal organizations and pick news names.
The second decision (actually a settlement), this time in America, also reinforced the main OTO body's control over its assets and intellectual property. Specifically, the images of Crowley's Thoth tarot deck.
"OTO filed suit in US Federal Court in Southern California against Focus Features, NBC Universal and Vivendi for copyright infringement in connection with the appropriation of images from the Thoth Tarot cards to promote the Woody Allen film "Scoop," where they were used on the poster, DVD packaging and in the press kits. The case has been resolved to the satisfaction of all parties. Under the terms of the agreement, the details of the settlement are confidential. This was a significant legal case, since OTO took on the world's largest media conglomerate, represented by the best law firm in Hollywood. We have long taken on corporations many times our size before, e.g. Simon and Schuster, Doubleday and Harper and Row, but NBC Universal Vivendi is many, many times larger and more powerful than all these combined."
These cases reinforce the fact that O.T.O. Worldwide is not only in complete control of its name and image, but it has also proved that it has the muscle and will to defend its claims. It would be virtually impossible at this point for another organization to legally claim rights to the "OTO" name or legacy. So would-be "true" OTO orders beware, a lawyer might soon be giving you a visit.
Labels: Aleister Crowley, Magick, occult, OTO, Paganism, Religion, Thelema, UK
5.19.2008
Crowley at Cannes
While a large amount of press coverage for the Cannes Film Festival has focused on the screening of a new Indiana Jones film, it isn't the only occult-laced thriller to debut at this star-studded event. The Bruce Dickinson-penned film "Chemical Wedding", a movie starring Simon Callow as a Cambridge scholar who becomes possessed by infamous occultist Aleister Crowley, also premiered.
"Metal god, actor, novelist, swordsman, pilot, DJ - and now screenwriter. Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson is a man of many parts, and this weekend he showed up in Cannes to show off a new film called Chemical Wedding. Dickinson, a registered commercial airline pilot, flew himself to the south of France, along with a bunch of journalists, fans, and suitably attired hangers-on (they carried tote bags bearing the legend "Bruce Air Flight 666")."
So how was the film? Early critical response is mixed. Andrew Pulver, who covered the Cannes screening, admires Dickinson's drive to see the film made, but finds the final product somewhat lacking.
"Without Dickinson, Chemical Wedding would have remained one of the submerged nine-tenths of gunk films clogging up the Cannes film market. Hampered by ropey performances, it never reaches the levels of weirdness and humour it is aiming at."
Meanwhile, the website Den of Geek calls "Chemical Wedding" formulaic, and quite dull outside the electric performance of Simon Callow as the Crowley-possessed Haddo.
"...the film isn't entirely without merit. Callow, as I said, is phenomenal, some of the photography is pretty, it's evidently well-researched and there are one or two very funny scenes. In fact, the film is at its strongest when playing up the comedy angle (a sick gallows humour that the Mega Therion himself would have guffawed at) but weak when it tries - and fails - to be scary or thrilling. A shame because the ideas are sound - it just feels like it was shot from an unpolished first draft. Do what thou wilt probably shouldn't be the whole of the law when it comes to writing coherently..."
The most damning review comes from Ivor Davies, who decries the treatment of Crowley (or at least his spirit) as uncontrollably evil and amoral.
"Numerous examples of exactly "just how evil could a person possessed by Aleister Crowley be" continue in a procession of visual and conceptual shocks ranging from relatively innocuous excrement deposited on an office desk to the crucifixion of a prostitute. Now, controversial a character as Crowley was, I really must ask what Bruce Dickinson is up to here. I listened to Callow emphasise that his portrayal of Haddo was "Playing the part of someone possessed by Crowley... and not actually Crowley Himself" but I see this as a pre-emptive excuse on his part for what we saw on screen and some of the issues that we might have with it."
So, taken together, not a very flattering portrait of the film. You might want to wait for the DVD, if you see it at all. It's too bad. A drama, even a horror film, involving Aleister Crowley could have loads of potential. A shame that "Chemical Wedding" seems to make Crowley just another murderous rampaging spirit, instead of a nuanced and complex figure.
Labels: Aleister Crowley, Chemical Wedding, film, Magick, movies, occult, Thelema
4.17.2008
Crowley the Supernatural Villian
The official trailer for the movie "Chemical Wedding" has been released. Directed by Julian Doyle, and written by Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson, the film stars Simon Callow as a Cambridge scholar who becomes a reincarnated Aleister Crowley.
From the trailer it seems fairly obvious that Crowley's spirit will be portrayed as downright diabolical, with hints that there may be a bit of human sacrifice, if not some violent magical mayhem, involved. It also looks like he is being played as ardently heterosexual, despite Crowley's intense love-affairs with men in his lifetime. The other major themes of the movie seems to be Crowley's relationship with Jack Parsons and L. Ron Hubbard, and a sci-fi "interactive suit" that transforms meek Haddo into Crowley.
"But did the issue [over producing a Moonchild] end with these three deaths [Crowley, Hubbard, and Parsons]? Would Crowley, as he claimed, ever return from death to rule the world? Why did US astronauts name a crater on the moon after Jack Parsons? Is L. Ron Hubbard really dead? What had been generated by the ceremony in California that seemed to signal Crowley's demise? And what happened to the missing pocket-watch? Unanswered questions till, late in the twentieth century, when Dr. Joshua Mathers brought a 'state of the art' interactive suit from Cal Tech California to Cambridge in England to be hitched up to the Z93, the biggest super-cooled, super-conductive computer in the world."
Bizarre rituals! Young naked people! Conspiracy theories! Looks like it might be the occult popcorn flick of the year. Plus, with Crowley being a spirit, you can bring him back for innumerable sequels should "Chemical Wedding" prove successful. The film is being released in the UK on May 30th. No word yet on a US screenings.
Labels: Aleister Crowley, Chemical Wedding, film, Magick, movies, occult, Thelema
3.18.2008
Llewellyn and Advanced Pagan Books
If there is a 500 lb gorilla of the Pagan/metaphysical publishing world it has to be Llewellyn Worldwide. Formed in 1901 as a publisher of books and annuals of astrology, the company now boasts yearly gross sales of over 16 million, and has recently moved to an 80,000 square foot complex in Woodbury, Minnesota. A quick look at the selections of most book-sellers (mainstream or occult) will show shelves dominated by the Llewellyn moon logo on the spines.
Despite this success (or perhaps because of it) there has been an increasingly loud groundswell of criticism towards the company. One common complaint is that the company constantly re-hashes basic introductory (or "101") material and rarely provides "advanced" literature for the more experienced practitioners. Now Carl Llewellyn Weschcke, president and owner of Llewellyn Worldwide, has come forward to say he agrees with those dissatisfied by the company's output.
"Where are the Advanced Books? We hear this question as a complaint. People say there are mostly 101 books available and too few 202 and 303 books. And as a publisher I agree with the question and the complaint. I want to see more advanced books. I want to read and study more advanced books. I want to sell more advanced books. I want our community to have more advanced books."
He then asks people to e-mail him directly and suggest what sorts of "advanced" books they would like to read. For some critics of the publisher, this may seem too good to be true. The owner asking for direct input on advanced titles? Is there a catch? The answer is, yes, there is a catch.
"...please, don't confuse things. 'Advanced' books are not to be confused with history books, or memoirs ... 'Advanced' books, in my personal opinion, are 'specialty' books dealing with what I call 'Esoteric Technology,' and others have called 'technology of the sacred,' 'techniques of ecstasy,' 'ascension,' etc. All deal with 'becoming more than you are' through an acceleration of a natural evolutionary process."
So the recently published biography of celebrated Craft author and teacher Stewart Farrar, or the recent memoir by Alexandrian 'Witch Queen' Maxine Sanders, while most likely illuminating to any advanced student, wouldn't count as "advanced". Likewise, scholarly books on Wiccan or Druidic history by authors like Ronald Hutton or Chas Clifton, shouldn't be confused with the "advanced" label either. Finally, groundbreaking books exploring Pagan theology don't meet the very specific requirements of "advanced" proposed here.
What Weschcke wants are books exploring "Esoteric Technology", or to put it another way, books on magic and magical techniques
For me, and I suspect for others, modern Paganism is primarily a religious movement. It is about reverence, fellowship, respect, joy, and connection. Magic (and related "technologies") can, and have, been a part of that for me to differing degrees over the years. That said, the longer I journey this path, the more I value works that deepen and challenge my spiritual understanding. This isn't to say I can't learn more in the area of "sacred technologies", or that many Pagans wouldn't welcome such works, only that "advanced" isn't something that should be isolated to the "how", and should also explore the "why" and the "where" (not to mention the "what" and the "who").
* If Weschcke is serious about exploring all "eight paths to the center", then I look forward to books on the use of mind-altering substances and entheogens in the coming years.
Labels: books, Carl Llewellyn Weschcke, Llewellyn, Magic, Magick, Paganism
11.25.2007
(Pagan) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
If you have ever read any of Alan Moore's occult-tinged comics and wondered if he would ever come through on his promise to write a grimoire of his own, wonder no longer! Top Shelf Publishers have posted promotional information concerning Moore's forthcoming book on magickal theory.
"Splendid news for boys and girls, and guaranteed salvation for humanity! Messrs. Steve and Alan Moore, current proprietors of the celebrated Moon & Serpent Grand Egyptian Theatre of Marvels (sorcery by appointment since circa 150 AD) are presently engaged in producing a clear and practical grimoire of the occult sciences that offers endless necromantic fun for all the family. Exquisitely illuminated by a host of adepts including Kevin O'Neill, Melinda Gebbie, John Coulthart, Jose Villarrubia and other stellar talents (to be named shortly), this marvelous and unprecedented tome promises to provide all that the reader could conceivably need in order to commence a fulfilling new career as a diabolist."
The bad news? It isn't scheduled for release until 2010. In the meantime you'll have to content yourself with the recently released "The Black Dossier", which features all sorts of occult tidbits for the careful reader.
The Tropaion blog has dug up a well-regarded History Channel documentary about the ancient Greek gods and goddesses on Google Video.
"History Channel once again had produced a remarkable documentary presenting the ancient Greek gods and heroes. The narrator will guide you with an extreme sense of respect towards the Hellenic religion's believes and practices giving you just the recorded facts and letting eminent Classicists from US' Universities to add their opinion. It is, thus, this combination that makes this documentary a classic work on the ancient Greek gods and their most eminent rites and rituals in the Hellenic world."
You can find a direct link to the video, here.
The Religion Clause blog is documenting "War on Christmas" skirmishes so you don't have to. Of particular interest is a legal showdown brewing in Menominee, Michigan, where an atheist group is unhappy about the erection of a nativity scene in a public park.
"The co-president of Freedom From Religion Foundation, based in Madison, Wis., said in a Nov. 15 letter that the display would violate the separation of church and state. "It is unlawful for the city of Menominee to maintain, erect or host a display that consists solely of a Nativity scene, thus singling out, showing preference for and endorsing one religion, and commemorating its most holy day," Annie Laurie Gaylor wrote to Menominee city manager Eric Strahl."
The city of Menominee is trying to legally protect itself by having a provision stating that "non-Christians be allowed to add their symbols". I can only hope that this means an enterprising Pagan group or two are getting public displays ready to sit next to the nativity scene. What about a baby Mithras? A mini-temple to Saturn? How about a Yule Goat? Lets get creative here!
It isn't the holiday season without a visit from the ghost of Satanic Panic's past. A strange case involving a mayor in a small Arkansas town who claimed he was kidnapped by Satanists and brainwashed into his current identity made the national news recently. To make sense of it all, Bartholomew unravels all the "Satanic Panic" connections.
"LaRose claims that he only regained his original identity after being brainwashed when he was given a truth serum by Dr. Marvin DeHaan, brother of the radio evangelist Richard DeHaan. Richard W. DeHaan is the author of Satan, Satanism, and Witchcraft, published in 1972 by Zondervan. The book came out at a time when popular Christian paperbacks on Satanism were in their heyday: a year later, Mike Warnke (with the help of David Balsiger) produced The Satan Seller, a now thoroughly-debunked memoir of life as a Satanist. The momentum from books like these eventually led to the "Satanic panic" of the 1980s."
Looks like Satanists aren't just good for selling pulpy Christian books, they can also help you start a new life when things get rough. Is there anything imaginary Satanists can't do?
In a final note, check out esoteric author Erik Davis' write-up of "hard-core, shamanic, eco-metal" band Wolves in the Throne Room for Slate.com.
"The contours of this myth echo what my chat with the band after the Santa Cruz show confirmed: Wolves in the Throne Room are hard-core tree-huggers, with a Manichaean view of the environmental crisis and a pagan faith in the transformative powers of nature."
You can also read a (somewhat) longer commentary by me on this story at my music blog "A Sweeping Curve of Sound".
That is all I have for now, have a great day!
Labels: Alan Moore, Comics, Erik Davis, Greece, Magick, music, Pagan News of Note, Paganism, Satanic Panic, War on Christmas
9.01.2007
My Chemical Wedding
There is a new film coming out about the life of legendary occultist Aleister Crowley entitled "Chemical Wedding". The film, which is scheduled for release in Fall of 2008, is written by Iron Maiden lead singer Bruce Dickinson and will star veteran British actor John Shrapnel as Crowley.
John Shrapnel
"It was back in 1904 that colorful Brit Aleister Crowley had what he describes as a mystical experience in Cairo, Egypt. Figuring that his wife's sudden strange behavior on holiday was due to contact with some mysterious entity, Crowley summoned up the Egyptian god Heron, who further took hold of his spouse and through her told him a new magical era had begun and that he was destined to be its prophet. For our money, that should be the opening scene of Chemical Wedding, a film about Crowley currently shooting that was written by Iron Maiden lead singer Bruce Dickinson. Dickinson tells DigitalSpy.com that he came up with the idea for a film about an individual he has long been a personal fan of after working with director Julian Doyle on the music video for "Can I Play with Madness." Doyle is also directing Chemical Wedding. Crowley, who passed away in 1947, led a spectacular life."
Also starring in the film is Kal Weber as MacGregor Mathers, and Geoff Breton as John Symonds. No word on what period of Crowley's life the film will cover, or if it will deal with Crowley receiving "The Book of the Law" as the FilmStew article hopes. Metal news-site Blabbermouth claims that the film will deal with a professor (Simon Callow) that thinks he is the reincarnation of Crowley.
"Produced by London-based Focus Films, the movie, entitled "Chemical Wedding", stars Simon Callow as a Cambridge professor who becomes a reincarnation of Aleister Crowley."
Whatever the outcome, this may be the "biggest" (in terms of budget and distribution) film
* For some smaller-budget thrills, you may want to check out this trailer for "The Abbey of Thelema" or perhaps the films of Kenneth Anger for some Crowley-influenced cinema.
Labels: Aleister Crowley, film, Magick, occult, Thelema
7.06.2007
John Zorn's Occult Genius
John Zorn, an experimental jazz composer and recent winner of a MacArthur "genius grant", has his most recent release "From Silence to Sorcery" reviewed by All About Jazz. The magazine notes that Zorn has focused quite a bit on the occult in his recent works.
"Zorn's recent interest in the occult has been apparent in his chamber music scores. Magick (Tzadik, 2004), Rituals (Tzadik, 2005) and Mysterium (Tzadik, 2005) have all been directly inspired by various occult rituals and traditions. This album is no exception ... The opening piece, "Goetia," is named after a type of black magic used to conjure evil spirits ... The second composition, "Gris-Gris" is inspired by Haitian Voodoo rituals and Korean Shamanism."
Also of note in Zorn's recent discography is "Moonchild: Songs Without Words" (featuring vocal contributions by Mike Patton), which deals heavily with Aleister Crowley and Thelema. This recent focus makes one wonder if Zorn's interest in the occult is merely academic or if he has embraced magick as a practitioner. It isn't so far-fetched considering the fact that Zorn himself denies being some sort of postmodern ironist.
"I see myself and many artists like me as the torchbearers through these dark ages ... People for the most part see me as a pastiche artist, as an ironist, as this sort of postmodern poster boy. This is not at all what I'm about, and it never has been. I have wit in my work and a sense of humor, but I do not use irony in any way. I'm not interested in pastiche. I put together the influences of my life in as clear a way as I possibly can..."
In another recent interview Zorn admits to "reading a lot of Aleister Crowley", raising the possibility that Zorn is the first MacArthur fellow to publicly admit being an occult practitioner. No doubt the spirit of Graham Bond (and perhaps Crowley himself) is smiling down on this turn of events.
Labels: Aleister Crowley, Jazz, John Zorn, Magick, music, Thelema
6.05.2007
Thaumaturgic Border Protection!
I don't usually go for parody, but this was so well-crafted that I had to make an exception. Entropic Memes points to a faux Department of Homeland Security presentation on the benefits of enlisting Pagans in the war on terror.
If the language seems pretty authentic, that's because it is!
"It's copied from a real DHS briefing on critical infrastructure protection, and I'm amazed how little I had to change or remove to make it applicable to the topic at hand ... Kids! Count the pagan in-jokes..."
The Danger Room blog, which covers national security news, approves of the plan.
"America's borders are under assault -- not just from the usual coterie of coyotes, illegal aliens, and would-be terrorists. But from "disaffected voudon priestesses, state-sponsored Venezuelan witch-doctors" and other practitioners of "bad juju," as well."
Remember, its only satire, any resemblance to actual government policy is purely coincidental.
Labels: Department of Homeland Security, Entropic Memes, Magick, Paganism, Satire
1.06.2007
A Review of Three Perspectives (part three)
This is part three of a three-part series reviewing recent books on magic(k)al theory and practice. In part one I took a brief look at Taylor Ellwood's "Space/Time Magic" and "Pop Culture Magick". You can read Taylor's rebuttal to my review (and my subsequent comments) in the comments of that entry. In part two I reviewed Lupa's book "Fang and Fur Blood and Bone: A Primal Guide to Animal Magic", today I will focus on Ross G.H. Shott's book "The Dark Arts of Immortality: Transformation Through War, Sex, & Magic".
If Ellwood's magic is concerned with expanding your perceptions in hopes of discovering your "true potential", and Lupa's magic is concerned with connecting with the primal forces on this earth, then Shott's is dedicated to glorification of the self (with the ultimate goal of self-deification). "The Dark Arts of Immortality" is a manual of Left-Handed or "black" magic given a Pagan (Germanic Heathen to be precise) slant. This is not to insult Shott, he proudly claims his philosophical and spiritual heritage throughout the book. Prominent Satanists/Setians Anton LaVey, Stephen Flowers (aka Edred Thorsson), and Don Webb are quoted in addition to favored thinkers of Left-Hand path philosophy like Friedrich Nietzsche and Aleister Crowley.
Shott's book claims to give you the tools to achieve Godhood. To him the "Left-Handed" path is the only logical path an "awakened" person who wants to evolve could take. He attributes "Right-Handed" paths as leading into the worst aspects of Christian dualism (or at best muddled sublimation of the self), though he doesn't seem to notice the false dichotomy he creates in setting up his definitions of these two paths. As someone who adheres to a polytheist outlook on the world, I get nervous when anyone boils everything down to one of two choices.
The main tools within the book involve harnessing the powers of "fury" (war), "ecstasy" (sex) and "exaltation" (magic) with the ultimate goal of ascension (with an intact ego or "self"). To become in Shott's terminology a "Lord of the Left Hand Path". If such a goal is your cup of tea, then you may enjoy this book. It certainly has some glowing reviews on Amazon.com. For me personally, I don't much see the point in creating a "super-Jason" to roam the heavens, but to each their own. However, If you are looking for a primer in such things, Shott's book is an quick read with practical advice from his perspective.
So after reviewing three books on the subject, what is magic? Simply it is the directing of your will towards a goal. That goal can be self-discovery or self-exaltation. It can be earth-bound or lofty. It can be as complex as creating a new reality or (in the words of Crowley) as simple as blowing your nose. Where it goes, and how it is used all depends on your preferences and temperament.
Labels: Lupa, Magic, Magick, Paganism, Ross G.H. Shott, Taylor Ellwood
1.05.2007
A Review of Three Perspectives (part two)
This is part two of a three-part series of reviews of recent books on magic(k)al theory and practice. In part one I took a brief look at Taylor Ellwood's "Space/Time Magic" and "Pop Culture Magick". You can read Taylor's rebuttal to my review (and my subsequent comments) in the comments of that entry. Today I will focus on Lupa's book "Fang and Fur Blood and Bone: A Primal Guide to Animal Magic", but before I begin I would like to point out that all three authors being reviewed in this series have written thought-provoking books. If I didn't think so I wouldn't be reviewing them in the first place. Critical comments that I convey shouldn't be seen as any sort of judgment on their talent as writers (or magicians).
Let me begin this second review by saying that I liked Lupa's book the best of all three I will be reviewing. "Fang and Fur" is a very bare-bones (no pun intended) and sensible look at animal magic. She has a clear writing style and conveys her ideas well. She tackles some thorny issues with care and wit, and I think it may be one of the better books on this subject written for a modern Pagan audience. While not every idea there was my personal cup of tea, all in all I think it is a very successful first book. So instead of simply listing off its good points I would like to discuss two particularly controversial issues within the book: animal sacrifice and Otherkin.
First off, Otherkin. For those who don't know what I'm talking about, Otherkin (as defined by Wikipedia) are people who "consider themselves non-human or having a connection to a mythical archetype in some way, usually believing to be mythological or legendary creatures." I wrote an in-depth post on the subject of Otherkin within modern Paganism last year. I wondered at the time if the Otherkin being "stranger" than your average Pagan or Heathen would eventually draw the press in the same manner that the plastic-caped Witches of Salem do.
"...as our faith(s) grow and gain the spotlight we know that it is "interesting" cases that get attention by the media. Journalists have a hard time writing stories about "normal religion". So we get a lot of coverage of the black-clad flamboyant Salem Witches, and not so much of the average practitioner living in the Midwest raising a family. Which would a reporter on a deadline prefer? A story concentrating on a local Heathen group throwing a charity event or a profile of someone who thinks they are a dragon?"
Some Otherkin felt I was being judgmental towards them, but I do think that the growing number of 'Kin in our ranks will eventually be noticed by outsiders and have to be explained in a clear sensible manner as part of a spectrum of belief within our faiths. Which brings me to Lupa's book. I felt that she tackled the issue of Otherkinism in a very diplomatic and reasoned manner that should be emulated. She makes it quite clear that there is a distinct possibility that these "inhuman" feelings could merely be constructed within her mind. She talks of totemic imprinting, the use of imagination, and even that she might be crazy (though no more crazy than the rest of the world) in addition to the theory that her soul is non-human (in her case lupine).
This is a refreshing thing to read. It is this kind of attitude that will succeed in explaining this phenomena to the general public. The fact that she is also writing a "field guide" to this subculture seems to show a growing maturity among Otherkin (a maturity I have had trouble finding when I went looking at online communities).
The second controversial topic is animal sacrifice. Again she writes a clear chapter on the merits of animal sacrifice without shying away from issues of animal abuse and factory farming. I have some pretty strong feelings on the subject, I have been a Vegan for several years (and perfectly healthy if you must know), and have a strong spiritual commitment to that choice. So it may surprise some people to know that I have no problem with compassionate sacrifice for holy rights, or slaughtering your own meat for sustenance (though neither of those paths are mine). I think that our culture has lost all perspective involving the eating of meat, and I share the horror and dread of the factory farm industry (and government's blind eye to the abuses committed) that any sensible small farmer already holds. Any action that can shock people into reawakening to where that burger comes from can only be a good thing. We have to move beyond being "thankful" for the animals we eat and move towards truly honoring the animals before they wind up processed in the grocery.
Lupa has managed to write a book that includes animal sacrifice and Otherkin that even a Pagan who has no affinity for either can enjoy. In the process she shows a way forward from contrived appropriations from Native cultures, and silly impractical ideas about animals and magic. I dare say this book comes closest to my personal practice (such as it is).
Tomorrow I will write about the third book in this series, Ross G.H. Shott's "The Dark Arts of Immortality: Transformation Through War, Sex, & Magic".
Labels: Lupa, Magic, Magick, Paganism, Ross G.H. Shott, Taylor Ellwood
1.04.2007
A Review of Three Perspectives (part one)
"Using words to describe magic is like using a screwdriver to cut roast beef" - Tom Robbins
"What is a Magical Operation? It may be defined as any event in nature which is brought to pass by Will. We must not exclude potato-growing or banking from our definition. Let us take a very simple example of a Magical Act: that of a man blowing his nose." - Aleister Crowley, Magick in Theory and Practice, Chapter XIV
I'm not much of a "magick" guy. This may be a shocking admission for someone who has been involved with religious traditions that incorporate ritual magic into their rites. I was always more interested in how faith and culture intersected, the power of story and community, and how traditions can influence people to serve something beyond their immediate interests. But like I said, my family of faiths include many for whom the practice of magic(k) is of great importance, and a mini-industry of books published on the subject have emerged in an effort to guide (or influence) these practitioners.
Recently, I have been sent books on magic(k)al practice and theory from three different authors. Each approach the subject from different angles, and I thought it would be interesting to discuss each author in a three-part series of inter-connected posts. The authors are Taylor Ellwood, author of "Space/Time Magic" and "Pop Culture Magick", Lupa, author of "Fang and Fur Blood and Bone: A Primal Guide to Animal Magic", and Ross G.H. Shott, author of "The Dark Arts of Immortality: Transformation Through War, Sex, & Magic". Each author presents a system of magical practice, and each are attempting (by their own admissions) to bring forth something new or innovative to the subject.
Taylor Ellwood is a practitioner of "Chaos Magic", a system that places great importance on paradigm shifting (or reality warping if you prefer). This school of thought tends to be individualistic and focused on personal "results". In the truest sense nothing is "sacred" (nothing is true, and everything is permitted) here except what you happen to believe is sacred at the time. Thus Ellwood in "Pop Culture Magick" has no qualms with declaring pre-Christian gods as mostly obsolete "the ancient gods are outmoded in this day and age", and instead prescribing the use of celebrities, cartoons, and other pop-culture icons as focus-points for performing magic (Though if "popularity" is an issue, shouldn't he simply use Christian iconography?).
His entire "Pop Culture Magick" book is essentially a primer on how to use these "entities" to focus your will towards attaining results (a primary theme of Chaos Magic). You enjoyment of such ideas will hinge very much on how you approach pop-culture, if the idea of using Pokemon or Miss Cleo as a focus for your will gives you hives, then this book will no doubt leave you cold (or make you laugh). Personally (as someone who is well-informed of pop-culture), I think there are some serious flaws in using these figures and themes as a basis of practice. It seems a bit too self-inflating and ignores some of the very noxious memes that are perpetrated in our patriarchal culture (even in seemingly innocent ways). But that is my personal hang-up and probably a subject for a different essay.
His other book "Space/Time Magic" deals more with shifting your view away from linear ideas of time, and instead seeing time and space and fluid concepts that can be manipulated to your benefit. This includes working magic on your past to improve your present (or future), exploring the possibilities of parallel universes, and the use of art (writing, drawing, music) as a focus towards these goals. Ellwood's ultimate goal? In his own words it is to "constantly remanifest oneself by expanding one's perception of reality and ourselves" in hopes of eventually finding out one's "true potential". Which all sounds very fascinating though the border between "remanifesting" yourself and self-delusion can be pretty thin (a point the author acknowledges).
My biggest complaint with these books as a critic is that both would have made better long essays (a point made by a reviewer on Amazon). In several cases I felt I was getting "filler" to stretch the book to the 150+ page mark. A result, no doubt, of trying crank out a new book every year. Ellwood seems to have a keen mind and some interesting ideas, but I don't feel that these books have broken too much new ground. If anything, Ellwood seems to be writing a sort of "Chaos Magic For Dummies" series, which is a shame since I think the author has a lot more to give.
Tomorrow I will discuss Lupa's book, and the issues of animal sacrifice, Otherkin, and cultural appropriation in magic.
Labels: Lupa, Magic, Magick, Paganism, Ross G.H. Shott, Taylor Ellwood
