In this episode I am joined by Alan Chapman, British writer, occultist, and spiritual teacher.

Alan recalls his troubled childhood in the impoverished North of England, reflects on the British class system, and shares his first encounter with Aleister Crowley.

Alan recounts his occult adventures with long time collaborator Duncan Barford, shares his spiritual biography of awakenings and mystical experiences, and considers the power and pitfalls of spiritual transmission.

Alan also compares gurus Papaji, and Andrew Cohen, and Adi Da; reveals why he considers Stephen Batchelor and Sam Harris to be Black Brothers; and discusses the role of the Dark Goddess on the path of awakening.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep323-british-occultist-alan-chapman

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics Include:

00:00 - Intro

00:55 - Duncan Barford and Alex W

03:07 - Impoverished upbringing in the North of England

05:05 - Early reaction to Christ

05:56 - First encounter with Aleister Crowley

11:17 - Chaos magic and meeting Duncan Barford

12:00 - What kind of boy was Alan?

14:28 - Class consciousness

15:44 - Sensitive boy in a cruel environment

19:20 - Regret about violence

20:58 - One’s own nature

22:25 - Alan questions Steve’s questions

22:45 - British class system

27:21 - Liminal identity

29:50 - Working vs middle vs upper class

31:18 - Anti-aspiration

33:18 - Growing out of musical aspirations

37:36 - Shedding Feathers and fulfilment on the path

41:41 - Crowley book and facing challenges

47:37 - Path myth in The Book of the Law

54:56 - True path vs the New Age

58:08 - Following the Silent Knowing

01:05:10 - Facing darkness

01:10:36 - Black Brothers like Stephen Batchelor and Sam Harris

01:19:48 - Stephen Batchelor’s crisis of faith

01:22:49 - Warning about spiritual teachers

01:23:48 - Stereotypes of culture and awakening

01:27:54 - Papaji and the nondual car crash

01:31:33 - Adi Da and guru yoga

01:35:45 - Papaji vs Adi Da

01:41:24 - Invoking the Holy Guardian Angel

01:47:30 - Andrew Cohen

01:52:16 - Great White Brotherhood

01:54:34 - Enlightened in India

01:57:26 - Ancestors appear

01:59:11 - Practicing with Adi Da

02:01:01 - Transmission traps

02:05:02 - Confronted by Adi Da disciple

02:06:51 - Solid, vital, peculiar

02:09:12 - Cutting truth and Adyashanti

02:10:43 - Reflections on Adi Da’s trajectory

02:11:52 - Further awakening at 33

02:19:52 - Receiving the Magia teaching

02:33:58 - The Dark Goddess

02:36:15 - Accommodating yourself to the Damned

02:37:25 - Finding Sophia

02:40:28 - Crowley and Jung

02:42:14 - Myth of Sophia

02:47:42 - Sequel plans

02:48:58 - Alan’s perspective on near death experiences

03:00:31 - Purpose of life and awakening

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To find our more about Alan Chapman visit:

- https://barbarouswords.com/

For more interviews, videos, and more visit:

- https://www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James