Happy Saturnalia To All!
A celebration dear to the hearts of the Disinformation team at this time of year is Saturnalia, one of the most popular Roman festivals. It was marked by tomfoolery and reversal of social roles, in which slaves and masters ostensibly switched places, with expectantly humorous results. Saturnalia was introduced around 217 BC to raise citizen morale after a crushing military defeat. Originally celebrated for a day, on December 17th, its popularity saw it grow until it became a week-long extravaganza, ending on the 23rd.
Our favorite exposition of Saturnalia has long been the Electric Sheep comic strip, no longer easily available on the web, but we dug in the crates and are pleased to bring it to you. We did find it here and in a video created from the original website posted to Funny or Die:
The Secret History of Rock ‘n’ Roll: Building a Mystery
Site editor’s note: The following is excerpted from The Secret History of Rock ’N’ Roll: The Mysterious Roots of Modern Music by Christopher Knowles (Viva Editions, October 2010). Used with permission.
I like to think of the history of rock & roll like the origin of Greek drama. That started out on the threshing floors during the crucial seasons, and was originally a band of acolytes dancing and singing. Then, one day, a possessed person jumped out of the crowd and started imitating a god.
—Jim Morrison
Most historians believe that the Mysteries began at the end of the Neolithic Age (also known as the New Stone Age, roughly 9000 to 4500 BCE), making them one of the earliest cultural developments known to humanity. Coinciding with the development of agriculture, the rituals were designed to appeal to the grain gods of the Underworld by acting out their myths, which celebrated the cycles of planting, growth and…
Ghosts and Loyd Auerbach
The Infinite and the Beyond — Podcast: Episode #017 — Ghosts and Loyd Auerbach
Website • iTunes • Direct Download • RSS
In the latest episode of The Infinite and the Beyond, we speak to Parapsychologist Loyd Auerbach about his experiences as a paranormal investigator. Loyd runs the Office of Paranormal Investigations out in California and has been consulted and featured on many shows dealing with hauntings and the paranormal. Loyd talks to us about being a parapsychologist and ghosts, educational opportunities, investigating, and we even discuss some of the current television shows that depict paranormal investigation.
I share some of my own personal ghost stories, one of which occurred when I was very young and the other when I was much older. My interest in the paranormal started from this very early experience as a child; while the other experience taught me that you never know when you’re being watched and by whom.
We learn about famous escape artist and medium debunker Harry Houdini in A Corner in the Occult. Can you untie knots with your toes? Houdini could! Learn about this famous magician, his battle with the spiritualist movement during the early 20th century and why he is spotlighted in this episode’s edition of A Corner in the Occult…
Air Force Academy Finally Accepting Spell-Casters
Noah Shachtman writes on the always interesting WIRED’s Danger Room:
Just a few years ago, the Air Force Academy was considered such an evangelical hothouse that the place got sued for its alleged discrimination against non-Christians. Today, the Academy is boasting of its thriving pagan community — and its friendliness towards spell-casters.
In a press release issued [on Oct. 21st], the Academy features Tech. Sgt. Brandon Longcrier, “the lay leader for the Academy’s Earth-Centered Spirituality community, which includes Wiccans and Pagans from various traditions.” (It’s part of a larger effort by the school to promote an image of tolerance.)
During an inter-faith discussion group, the release notes, one cadet asked Longcrier “whether Wiccans or Pagans practiced ‘black magic.’”
Sergeant Longcrier responded by citing the Wiccan credo, or Rede: “An it harm none, do what ye will.” That would seem to preclude harmful spellcraft.
A Crisis of Faith
The Infinite and the Beyond — Podcast: Episode #016 — A Crisis of Faith
Website • iTunes • Direct Download • RSS
In the latest episode of The Infinite and the Beyond, we talk with fellow podcaster and author Jeva Singh-Anand about his new book Bedtime Stories for the Faint of Heart. Jeva is the host of the Lance and Graal podcast and Professor Zarnoff’s Channel on YouTube. We also discuss his background as a former Christian Fundamentalist and what happened to cause him to move away from his life as a fundamentalist.
I go back to Lodge after a year of staying away from it and I share my experiences with that return. We learn about 16th century heresy in this episode’s edition of A Corner in the Occult as we learn about Father Giordano Bruno. I read a single listener message to a nostalgic pagan podcaster music track. I also announce a contest for this episode.
Ergo, the Ego
The Infinite and the Beyond — Podcast: Episode #015 — Ergo, the Ego
Website • iTunes • Direct Download • RSS
In the latest episode we discuss the Ego, ergo the name of this episode, and we explore some of the issues surrounding it with prominent occult author and musician Lon Milo DuQuette as well as talk about his new book titled Low Magick: It’s All In Your Head … You Just Have No Idea How Big Your Head Is.
Not only is Lon Milo DuQuette the author of over a dozen books on western esotericisim, but he is also the United States Deputy Grand Master of the O:.T:.O:., an expert on the life of and work of Aleister Crowley, and a Brother Freemason as well. In my interview with Lon he shares some his personal insights and tales in regards to the ego and we even address the role that the ego plays in groups and fraternal…
A Little Bit of Bohemia
The Infinite and the Beyond — Podcast: Episode 13 — A Little Bit of Bohemia
Website • iTunes • Direct Download • RSS
In the latest episode of The Infinite and the Beyond, we look into bohemianism and its similarities to modern paganism. The history of bohemianism reveals a lot about modern paganism and even indicates much of where modern pagan ideals and sense of community have come from.
People typically often compare modern pagans to the hippies of the 1960s, but as we find out, the roots of the all of those counter culture movements from the last one hundred years run so much deeper!
Join us as we journey into the world of Green Fairy as we discuss absinthe the famous mythic bohemian drink of writers, artists, composers, and actors from the late 19th century. We look into absinthe’s brief history and learn how to prepare it, enjoy it, and how to buy it.
Headless Human Sacrifice Victim Found In Indian Temple
Cutting off people’s heads as a gesture to the gods may have fallen out of favor, but it still happens sometimes, BBC News reports:
The severed head and torso of a man has been found in a temple in the Indian state of West Bengal in what the police say is a case of “human sacrifice.” The head and the body were found at the local temple to the goddess Kali near Chotomakdampur village in the western district of Birbhum.
“This man has been sacrificed to propitiate the gods,” said local official Kalyan Mukherjee. “This is a shame for Bengal where the ruling Left coalition claim they have eradicated social evils and combated superstition,” an opposition leader Samir Kumar Ray said.
The Goddess and the Grail
The Infinite and the Beyond — Podcast: Episode #012 — The Goddess and the Grail
Website • iTunes • Direct Download • RSS
In the latest episode of The Infinite and the Beyond, we bring South Jersey Pagan Pride Day into the studio as we look into bloodlines, genetics, grail lore, the divine feminine, and what we can learn from it with Foundation Capstone teacher Ken Neuhauser. In many stories, seeking the grail implied a great quest across the landscape to far and distant lands; a seeming impossible goal of immense proportions. In the modern day we learn this is often not the case and is more often an aspect of mythology which has its own lessons to reveal to the seeker of the ancient mysteries.
In A Corner in the Occult we learn all about medium and psychic Madame Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and her organization the Theosophical Society. To this day the influence and legacy of Madame Blavatsky continues to affect the occult, esoteric, and new age communities. Her books, teachings, and experiences still strike at the hearts and lives of many devoted followers over a hundred years later.
Along with all this, I’m finally able to play a song that I’ve been waiting to play since the beginning of this podcast and I play more music by South Jersey singer songwriter Stacey Fitzpatrick whom we met in back in Episode #011 — Coincidence and Synchronicity. Later in the show we find out which two lucky listeners won the first two copies of Stacey’s album Forever More. All this and more in this informative and fun episode!
To message the show please go here.
The Question of Questions
By Robert Singer
Can Jared Diamond’s “Geographic Determinism” answer “Yali’s ‘Cargo’ Question”: Why “they” are so rich and “we” are so poor?
Geographic Determinism: The shape and location of continents, flora, fauna, microbes, water, climate, topography determine history: Civilizations benefit because human populations with an east-west orientation (east-west) have a more consistent climate than those with a north-south orientation (Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies, Jared M. Diamond).
No, it cannot.
Civilizations benefit because God and the House of Rothschild so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son to the human populations with an east-west orientation, that whosoever believeth in him shall not have to obey the laws of nature.
Original sin entered the world when man went from trying to survive, to trying to justify his existence. “Cogito, ergo sum“, less ambiguously translated: “I am thinking, therefore I exist”, which is the foundation of Western philosophy.
Societies of civilized savages began when hunters and gatherers started farming and discovered toilet paper…
Earth Religions Get Worship Area at AF Academy
From The Washington Post:
The Air Force Academy has set aside an outdoor worship area for Pagans, Wiccans, Druids and other Earth-centered believers, school officials said Monday.A double circle of stones atop a hill on the campus near Colorado Springs has been designated for the group, which previously met indoors.
“Being with nature and connecting with it is kind of the whole point,” said Tech. Sgt. Brandon Longcrier, who sponsors the group and describes himself as a Pagan. “It will dramatically improve that atmosphere, the mindset and the actual connection.”
The stones were moved to the hilltop last year because erosion threatened to make them unstable in their previous location near the visitors center. Crews arranged them in two concentric circles because they thought it would be a pleasant place for cadets to relax, Longcrier said.
When Longcrier and academy chaplains were looking for an outdoor worship space,when they discovered one already existed in…
Witch Side is Right? Woman: Bath & Body Works Fired Me Over Pagan Holiday.
From The Boston Herald:
A Connecticut Bath & Body Works staffer who practices witchcraft claims her boss put a hex on her career for using vacation time to attend Salem’s annual Halloween celebration.
Gina Uberti charges in a federal lawsuit that Bath & Body Works fired her after she took a week off around Halloween 2008 to mark the Wiccan holiday of Samhain.
“Any and all excuses offered by (Bath & Body Works) for the plaintiff’s termination are a pretext for the true reason – religious discrimination,” the East Haven, Conn., woman’s lawyer wrote in court papers.
Neither Uberti, her attorney or Bath & Body Works returned calls seeking comment on the case.
But in court filings, Uberti alleged that the chain canned her after eight years because she took time off for the holiday, also called “Witches’ New Year.”
Uberti, a Bath & Body Works district sales manager, claims she’d taken vacation around Samhain for years,…
Pagan Pride Day
The Infinite and the Beyond — Podcast: Episode #009 — Pagan Pride Day
Website • iTunes • Direct Download • RSS
In the latest episode of The Infinite and the Beyond, we show our south Jersey pride by revisiting South Jersey Pagan Pride Day, which occurred back on October 11th, 2009. Despite what you’ve heard, we learn that Pagan Pride has nothing to do with joining a biker gang! As here on the east coast some people may not be so sure of that fact and we become exposed to the Pagan Pride Project which is an international organization and phenomena.
We speak with Henry Buchy about the Feri Tradition. Henry is a Feri Initiate, teacher and member of The Covenant of Rhiannon, which is a coven based down in the historic town of Cape May New Jersey and is proclaimed as being the oldest etsablished coven in South Jersey Area. He was also one of the presenters at Pagan Pride Day this year!
In A Corner in the Occult, we learn about Gerald Gardner, the Father of Wicca, who was a British civil servant in Malayasia during the early years of the 20th century. He had a great appreciation for native cultures and ritual and was an amatuer anthropologist, author, and world traveler. Strangely enough, he didn’t get involved with the British witchcraft tradition until he retired to the New Forest area of England in the 1930s.
We speak with South Jersey Pagan Pride secretary Janet Mays. I read listener letters. And to close I sit back down to recap the day with Amie Tolomeo who we spoke with in Episode #007 – Paganism and Being Pagan. All this and more!
To message the show please go here.
Paganism and Being Pagan
The Infinite and the Beyond — Podcast: Episode #007 — Paganism and Being Pagan
Website • iTunes • Direct Download • RSS
In this episode of The Infinite and the Beyond, we have a discussion of the meaning of the word Paganism and explore the idea of being Pagan with Amie Tolomeo co-owner of Sun and Moon a south Jersey Metaphysical Shoppe and co-coordinator of the South Jersey Pagan Pride Day. Amie offers us some wonderful feedback from her own path, life and her experience as a metaphysical store owner and organizer of major local yearly south Jersey event.
I respond to listener email and getting into a personal reveal about paranormal investigation. Like how to spot poor investigative practices, recognize misinformed and disfunctional ghost hunter groups before you even get involved with them, as well as how to debunk paranormal reality television as if that needed to be addressed! If you have a favorite ghost TV show you could be in for a surprise. Check it out!
We learn about Hermes Trismegistus and Hermeticism in A Corner of the Occult. Hermes and his alleged legacy is the foundation for western esotericism, occultism, and modern paganism. The thrice greatest man himself is not to go unrecognized by anyone from the western mystery tradition come and find out why!
We see who won the copy of Arthur Hinds’ album Poetry of Wonder, whom we met in episode six. And as we continue with our journey through The Kybalion we discuss the Principle of Vibration. It’s a big episode! Enjoy!
To message the show please go here.
The Modern Spirit of Paganism
The Infinite and the Beyond — Podcast: Episode #006 — The Modern Spirit of Paganism
Website • iTunes • Direct Download • RSS
In this episode of The Infinite and the Beyond, we learn about the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in A Corner in the Occult. The order itself remains as one of the most influential hermetic mystery orders of its kind. Uniting Hermeticism, Qabalah, ceremonial magick, Rosicrucian teachings and more, into a colorful, elaborate grade based initiatory tradition which continues to inspire and entice many walkers of the western mystery tradition to this day.
We talk with musician Arthur Hinds about his new solo album, Poetry of Wonder and I play "Cast Away" and "Pantheon" from it. Not only is Arthur a solo artist, but he also one of the members of Emerald Rose and very prominent pagan musical group, who has over five albums and has been featured on the documentary Ringers, Lord of the Fans. Arthur was happy to sit with us and discuss his new album, the stories behind some of the music, and his inspiration for them as well.
We see who won the contest from Episode #005 – The Nature of Nature and announce a contest for the next episode. We explore the value of change in honor of International Pagan Values Blogging Month started by PAX over at the Chrysalis Blog. Many religious and spiritual traditions have difficulty adapting to the ever evolving world often due to their theology and cosmology; an issue which seems to be nonexistent in most current forms of paganism.
In our third installment of The Kybalion we go over the Principle of Correspondence. Occultism is often rooted in relationships and the effects and causes of those relationships and the Principle of Correspondence goes over why these connections exist.
Do we have to observe the sabbats as explained in the books we read or are their other ways for us to express our faith? To answer this question, I discuss The Modern Spirit of Paganism, which is a seminar I did for South Jersey’s Pagan Pride Day back in 2006. Come and found this out and more in this episode!
To message the show please go here.
The Nature of Nature
The Infinite and the Beyond — Podcast: Episode #005 — The Nature of Nature
Website • iTunes • Direct Download • RSS
In the latest episode of The Infinite and the Beyond, we have a talk about the nature of magick. What does it take to do magick? What is magick primarily about? How does it relate to our view of existence and how does our perception of existence affect our ability to perform magick? Found out!
We listen to the song "Fade" from the album Normalize by the NYC area band The Evolutionaries. We reflect on the Eliphas Levi segment from Episode #003 – The Secrets of My Success. Was Levi possibly set up by someone? I share a personal tale of Will and relearn an old lesson about heeding one’s inner voice.
The first show contest is opened for entries. Upon moving in with my girlfriend I came across some resin wall pentacles that I made several years ago and offer one of them as a prize to a lucky listener! Go here to enter the contest, good luck!
We learn about Samuel Liddell Macgregor Mathers in A Corner in Occult. A major figure in 19th century occultism and magick who was not only the translator of many important magickal texts and documents, he was also an author and one of the founders of The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Mathers was also a boxer, enjoyed studying the art of war, and was an early mentor of the famous occultist and magickian Aleister Crowley.
We continue with our journey through The Kybalion as we discuss the Principle of Mentalism. In it we discuss the ideas of thought, manifestation, the world around us, and all that which we create in life. All is mental and we learn about the nature of the universe in this second installment of The Kybalion.
Inspired by a discussion from school and the Keep America Beautiful Commercial from1970 we close this episode with a looking into the nature of nature. What does it mean to live in harmony with nature? What does it mean to honor nature? Are we doing this already or do we need to change our lives to fulfill this aspiration in our paths as pagans?
To message the show please go here.
The Secrets of My Success!
The Infinite and the Beyond — Podcast: Episode #003 — The Secrets of My Success!
Website • iTunes • Direct Download • RSS
In this episode of The Infinite and the Beyond, we acknowledge the use of glitter in a Midsummer Sabbat and discuss anomalous pets and what to do if you think you have one. As recent experiences have led my to wonder if I truly have a ghost cat in my apartment because up until now I’ve been the only one who has thought to have witnessed the mysterious feline wandering the hall.
We also discuss the benefits of backgrounds and the freedom to wander through your path as paganism is not a set-in-stone faith tradition, but is one which develops through exploration and personal introspection.
We hear what composer Kristian Stout has evolved into as I play the song "Simple Pleasure" performed by his band The Evolutionaries who have previously been featured on such podcasts as Thelema Coast to Coast and the ever popular deo’s Shadow.
I say thank you to Kia Dragon from the podcast Pagan Chaos Magic who had some wonderful things to say about me and the beginning episodes of this podcast. I respond to listener email and have some laughs doing it.
In A Corner in the Occult we learn about famous 19th century French occultist and magickian Eliphas Levi who authored many influential texts on occultism and magick and has inspired such notable individuals in occult history such as Aleister Crowley, Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers, Arthur Edward Waite and even organizations such as The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and the Ordo Templi Orientis.
We begin a new show segment with an introduction to my other favorite text which should occupy nine future episodes as we make our way through the book. And later in the show, we continue with our discussion on community, that we began in Episode #002 – Beyond 93!, by addressing covens.
To message the show please go here.
Beyond 93!
The Infinite and the Beyond — Podcast: Episode #002 — Beyond 93!
Website • iTunes • Direct Download • RSS
In this episode of The Infinite and the Beyond, we talk about seeking community as this seems to be a hot issues right now throughout the Pagan Podcasting community.
We meet a common friend of heavy metal album covers and anti-mason propagandists as we learn about Baphomet in the regular show segment A Corner in the Occult. The most well known image of Baphomet was drawn by 19th century French occultist and magickian Eliphas Levi for his text Transcendental Magic and it is an often misinterpreted image often misconstrued as being a depiction of Pan or the Christian Devil, but in truth the image, symbolism, origins, and history of Baphomet offers so much more to the aspiring student than one can ever realize.
We learn just what I mean when I refer to occultism and the occult as many individuals often misunderstand these terms and in their ignorance over look the greater complexities and contributions that occultism has done for human history and continued human development in this day and age.
And to close I offer some friendly discourse by elaborating on Thelema, its Laws, and how I personally apply them in my daily life as we go beyond 93; all this and more in this thrilling second episode!
To message the show please go here.
The Curse of Being Weird
The Infinite and the Beyond — Podcast: Episode #001 — The Curse of Being Weird
Website • iTunes • Direct Download • RSS
In the introductory episode of The Infinite and the Beyond, we introduce the listener to the show by discussing the show title and direction. As you may be wondering if this is a pagan podcast why does it have such an unusual and generic title and why does the show seem to focus on such a broad scope of issues? Good Point! I address these issues right in the beginning of this episode.
We learn about Aleister Crowley in the regular show segment A Corner in the Occult. Love him or hate him, he is one of the more well known figures from the last one hundred years of occult history. One of the members of the original Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and primary figurehead behind the Ordo Templi Orientis, Aleister Crowley has influenced multiple spiritual, religious, and political movements; inspired a list of characters and films; and has even been the focus of famous song writers, singers, and musicians.
Later we address the issues with being an individual and what to avoid if you happen to be one of the cursed because being vastly different within any community is an extremely difficult thing to handle. Too many people fall in line with the norm and are oblivious to their situation, because to them they’re like everyone else, and if this is the case then what can be wrong with that?
Are you a Pantheist? After all, many pagans consider themselves to be Pantheists. To finish the show we take a look into Pantheism by addressing the tenants of Pantheism as laid down by The World Pantheism Movement and other Pantheist organizations.
To message the show please go here.
