Rejected Religion Podcast

This month's special episode concerning inner, personal experiences in Celtic Spirituality is an interview with my aunt, Dr. Patricia Shea. She is Professor Emeritus of Education, and holds an MA in Religious Studies. Currently, she is a life coach, faciliator, and spiritual director. Patricia was also a Catholic nun in the Order of the School Sisters of Notre Dame for many years. At this stage of her life, however, she considers herself a Celtic Crone. What Patricia will be sharing in this interview is an integration of what she has learned from others within the area of Celtic Spirituality, combined with her own personal perspectives based upon her life experiences. This is not an academic discussion, but more a space for Patricia to share her own insights about her spiritual path, including her views about religion, and mysticism as well. We discuss what Celtic Spirituality is, the Celtic Wheel and how this is attuned to the Earth, the Winter Solstice, and even some opportunities a worldwide pandemic can offer to help us all explore deeper questions about life. Wishing you all a Happy Solstice!

EPISODE REFERENCES - SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cahill, Thomas. How the Irish Saved Civilization. 1995  

Conway, D.J. & Lisa Hung. A Guide to the Celtic Dragon Tarot.  2011

Freedman, Mara.  Kindling the Celtic Spirit, Ancient Traditions to Illumine Your Life throughout the Seasons. 2001. Kindling the Celtic Spirit: Ancient Traditions to Illumine Your Life Through the Seasons: Freeman, Mara: 9780062516855: Amazon.com: Books

~www.chalicecentre.net

~Grail Alchemy, Initiation in the Celtic Mystery Tradition. 2014

Greer, John Michael. The Druidry Handbook: Spiritual Practice Rooted in the Living Earth. 2006 The Druidry Handbook: Spiritual Practice Rooted in the Living Earth: Greer, John Michael, Carr-Gomm, Philip: 9781578633548: Amazon.com: Books

Hamilton, Claire. The Celtic Book of Seasonal Mediations. 2003  

~Maiden, Mother, Crone; Voices of the Goddess. 2005

MacEown, Frank. The Celtic Way of Seeing: Mediations on the Irish Spirit Wheel. 2007  

~The Spiral of Memory and Belonging, A Celtic Path of Soul and Kinship. 2004                                      

Matthews, Caitlin. The Celtic Tradition. 1995  The Way of - The Celtic Tradition: Matthews, Caitlin: 9780007154333: Amazon.com: Books

~The Celtic Spirit, Daily Meditations for the Turning Year. 1999

~The Celtic Wisdom Tarot. 1999

~Celtic Visions. 2013

~Psychic Shield, The Personal Handbook of Psychic Protection. 2006

~Singing the Soul Back Home, Shamanic Wisdom for Every Day. 2018

Matthews, John. The Sidhe: Wisdom from the Celtic Otherworld.  2004.  

~Celtic Totem Animals: Meet your animal helpers on your own shamanic journey.  2002

Matthews, John and Caitlin Matthews. Walkers Between the Worlds,  2003. Walkers Between the Worlds: The Western Mysteries from Shaman to Magus: Matthews, Caitlín, Matthews, John: 9780892810918: Amazon.com: Books

Momma White Cougar. The Sacred Wheel.  Published by publishmybookonkindle.com

Monaghan, Patricia. The Goddess Path.  1999

Newell, Phillip. Listening to the Heartbeat of God.: A Celtic Spirituality. 1997

~A New Harmony: The Spirit, the Earth, and the Human Soul . 2012 A New Harmony: The Spirit, the Earth, and the Human Soul: Newell, J. Philip: 8589901111111: Amazon.com: Books

~Celtic Prayers from Iona. 1997

~Celtic Benediction: Morning and Night Prayer. 2000

O’Donohue, John. Anam Cara, Spiritual Wisdom from the Celtic World. 1997 Anam Cara: A Book Of Celtic Wisdom: John O'Donohue: 9780060929435: Amazon.com: Books

~Beauty, the Invisible Embrace. 2004

~Eternal Echoes, Exploring Our Yearning to Belong. 1999

~To Bless the Space Between Us, A Book of Blessings. 2008  

~Wisdom from the Celtic World. 9 CD’s from Sounds True

Taylor, Joules. The Book of Celtic Symbols, Symbols, Stories & Blessings for Everyday Living.  2007  The Book of Celtic Symbols: Symbols, stories, and blessings for everyday living: Taylor, Joules: 9781782498247: Amazon.com: Books

~Celtic Messages, Book and 52 cards for affirmation and divination.  2007

In Part 2, Marco and I switch gears and talk about why Satan plays such a large role in heavy metal music by using Dr. Kennet Granholm's essay, "Why all that Satanist stuff in heavy metal?" We then shift the discussion to why some people think that occultism leads to fascist and Nazi ideologies with the help of Dr. Julian Strube's essay, "Doesn't occultism lead straight to fascism?" Lastly, we talk about Marco's own essay, "But what does esotericism have to do with sex?" that discusses how sex is actually a very important aspect for some esoteric practitioners. 

EPISODE NOTES

Dr. Kennet Granholm's Academia.edu page: https://independent.academia.edu/KennetGranholm

Wiki page about backmasking: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backmasking

Judas Priest articles: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/judas-priests-subliminal-message-trial-rob-halford-looks-back-57552/

https://www.nytimes.com/1990/07/17/arts/2-families-sue-heavy-metal-band-as-having-driven-sons-to-suicide.html

Led Zeppelin articles/information: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/the-10-wildest-led-zeppelin-legends-fact-checked-153103/if-you-play-stairway-to-heaven-in-reverse-you-hear-satanic-messages-154807/

https://jeffmilner.com/backmasking/stairway-to-heaven-backwards.html

Dr. Julian Strube's Academia.edu page: https://uni-hamburg.academia.edu/JulianStrube

Dr. Julian Strube, "Nazism and the Occult", in The Occult World: https://www.academia.edu/20054488/Nazism_and_the_Occult

Dr. Nicolas Goodrick-Clarke, The Occult Roots of Nazism: Secret Aryan Cults and Their Influence on Nazi Ideology: https://www.amazon.com/Occult-Roots-Nazism-Influence-Ideology/dp/0814730604 

Dr. Marco Pasi's Academia.edu page: https://uva.academia.edu/MarcoPasi

Dr. Marco Pasi, "The Modernity of Occultism: Reflections on Some Crucial Aspects" (in Hermes in the Academy): https://www.academia.edu/470659/The_Modernity_of_Occultism_Reflections_on_Some_Crucial_Aspects

Dr. Hugh Urban, " Magia Sexualis": https://www.academia.edu/8979724/Magia_Sexualis 

Wiki page about Morning of the Magicians: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Morning_of_the_Magicians

Hermes Explains book: https://www.amazon.com/Hermes-Explains-Questions-Western-Esotericism/dp/9463720200/ref=sr_1_13?dchild=1&keywords=marco+pasi&qid=1593693803&sr=8-13

Dr. Marco Pasi and I discuss the book, Hermes Explains: Thirty Questions About Western Esotericism. This episode is a mini-history lesson that covers several different subjects. Marco begins by giving some background about Hermes, why esotericism is confusing to try to explain to people, and also why it's an important area of study. We then go on to talk about one of the essays by Dr. Henrik Bodgan, titled "Is it true that secret societies are trying to control the world?" that discusses secret societies, and the Illuminati, in particular. 

EPISODE NOTES:

Website HHP Centre: https://www.amsterdamhermetica.nl/ 

Website ESSWE: https://www.esswe.org/

The Corpus Hermeticum: https://hermetic.com/texts/hermetica/index

Hermes in the Academy (pdf): https://www.academia.edu/43196454/Hermes_in_the_Academy

Zanoni by Edward  Bulwer Lytton: http://www.moup.org/Files/Edward_Bulwer_Lytton-Zanoni.pdf

Wiki page about Abbot Barruel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustin_Barruel

Wiki page about Adam Weishaupt/ Bavarian Illuminati: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Weishaupt

Wiki page about the Dreyfus Affair: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreyfus_affair

Marco Pasi on Academia.edu: https://uva.academia.edu/MarcoPasi

Henrik Bodgan on Academia.edu: https://gu-se.academia.edu/HenrikBogdan/Papers

We start the episode with a short re-cap of the important concepts from Part 1. In this second part, Robert and I discuss how feedback loops work with the help of the film, The Sixth Sense. We also talk more about the difference between virtual reality and actual reality with the discussion of the concepts of re-enchantment and dis-enchantment. We also discuss how and why the Pepe the Frog meme was used by chaos magicians and others  to attempt to influence the 2016 US election. Robert brings up the topic of Bob Lazar (to my pleasant surprise), and conspiracy theories are discussed in relation to hyperstition.

EPISODE NOTES

Lemurian Time War  http://www.ccru.net/archive/burroughs.htm?LMCL=Mce24a&LMCL=q2_Nlu&LMCL=mttdXf&LMCL=ntDctj&LMCL=pVW4ZS&LMCL=c1yUJ5&LMCL=dFDG23&LMCL=wdLYre

The Ghost Lemurs of Madagascar  http://www.williamflew.com/omni103a.html

CCRU Archive Material http://ccru.net/archive.htm

Robert Cabrales's "The Hyperstitional Philosophy of Time-Travel Cybernetics: Theosophy, the CCRU, and Black-Box Poiesis" https://www.academia.edu/40394659/The_Hyperstitional_Philosophy_of_Time_Travel_Cybernetics_Theosophy_the_CCRU_and_Black_Box_Poiesis

Articles about Chaos Magic by Colin Duggan [see first two papers on the list]  https://ucc-ie.academia.edu/ColinDuggan

Mutants and Mystics : Science Fiction, Superhero Comics, and the Paranormal by Jeffrey J. Kripal   https://www.amazon.com/Mutants-Mystics-Science-Superhero-Paranormal/dp/022627148X 

"The Magical Theory of Politics: Memes, Magic, and the Enchantment of Social Forces in the American Magic War" by Egil Asprem https://online.ucpress.edu/nr/article/23/4/15/107331/The-Magical-Theory-of-PoliticsMemes-Magic-and-the

"Accelerationism, Hyperstition and Myth-Science" by Simon O' Sullivan  https://www.academia.edu/19888801/Accelerationism_Hyperstition_and_Myth_Science

Thee Psychick Bible: A New Testament  by Genesis P-Orridge  https://www.amazon.com/Thee-Psychick-Bible-Testameant-Book/dp/1932595392

"The Poememenon: Form as Occult Technology" by Amy Ireland  https://www.urbanomic.com/document/poememenon/

"Charles Fort" by Jeffrey J. Kripal in The Occult World, edited by Christopher Partridge  https://www.amazon.com/Occult-World-Christopher-Partridge/dp/1138219258

In Part 1, Robert discusses the origins of Hyperstition, and our old friend William Burroughs from Episode 3 joins us again, as Burroughs's ideas about Time and Control play an important role in this story. And, as with Burroughs, the use of magick to try to change reality is also important here, especially with regard to semiotics. Theosophy's theory about root races, Aleister Crowley, and Lovecraft also get a mention.

EPISODE NOTES

Lemurian Time War  http://www.ccru.net/archive/burroughs.htm?LMCL=Mce24a&LMCL=q2_Nlu&LMCL=mttdXf&LMCL=ntDctj&LMCL=pVW4ZS&LMCL=c1yUJ5&LMCL=dFDG23&LMCL=wdLYre

The Ghost Lemurs of Madagascar  http://www.williamflew.com/omni103a.html

CCRU Archive Material http://ccru.net/archive.htm

Robert Cabrales's "The Hyperstitional Philosophy of Time-Travel Cybernetics: Theosophy, the CCRU, and Black-Box Poiesis" https://www.academia.edu/40394659/The_Hyperstitional_Philosophy_of_Time_Travel_Cybernetics_Theosophy_the_CCRU_and_Black_Box_Poiesis

Articles about Chaos Magic by Colin Duggan [see first two papers on the list]  https://ucc-ie.academia.edu/ColinDuggan

Mutants and Mystics : Science Fiction, Superhero Comics, and the Paranormal by Jeffrey J. Kripal   https://www.amazon.com/Mutants-Mystics-Science-Superhero-Paranormal/dp/022627148X 

"The Magical Theory of Politics: Memes, Magic, and the Enchantment of Social Forces in the American Magic War" by Egil Asprem https://online.ucpress.edu/nr/article/23/4/15/107331/The-Magical-Theory-of-PoliticsMemes-Magic-and-the

"Accelerationism, Hyperstition and Myth-Science" by Simon O' Sullivan  https://www.academia.edu/19888801/Accelerationism_Hyperstition_and_Myth_Science

Thee Psychick Bible: A New Testament  by Genesis P-Orridge  https://www.amazon.com/Thee-Psychick-Bible-Testameant-Book/dp/1932595392

"The Poememenon: Form as Occult Technology" by Amy Ireland  https://www.urbanomic.com/document/poememenon/

"Charles Fort" by Jeffrey J. Kripal in The Occult World, edited by Christopher Partridge  https://www.amazon.com/Occult-World-Christopher-Partridge/dp/1138219258

Part 2 of Tommy's interview continues with an in-depth look at the cut-up method, and why it's relevant to Burroughs's beliefs about the archons (and what these beings are). We also discuss Gnosticism and the links to Burroughs's ideas, how he viewed magic(k) and why Tommy personally finds Burroughs so interesting.

Episode Notes:

Tommy P. Cowan's academia.edu page: https://amsterdam.academia.edu/TommyPCowan/

Correspondences Journal: https://correspondencesjournal.com/

The Exterminator : https://www.sea-urchin.net/books/moloko-print/william-burroughs-brion-gysin-the-exterminator-redux/

The Yage Letters + Junky ( & other works): https://all-med.net/pdf/the-yage-letters/

And The Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks, with Jack Kerouac (& other works): https://newbooksinpolitics.com/political/and-the-hippos-were-boiled-in-their-tanks/

The Soft Machine: http://miltonthed.weebly.com/uploads/1/4/1/6/14162844/burroughs_william_seward-the_soft_machine.pdf

Naked Lunch: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7437.Naked_Lunch

Other authors/ persons of interest mentioned in this episode:

Brion Gysin, The Dreamachine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreamachine

Jeffrey Kripal, author of The Super Natural : https://www.amazon.com/Super-Natural-New-Vision-Unexplained/dp/1101982322

Barry Miles, author of Call Me Burroughs: A Life: https://www.amazon.nl/Call-Me-Burroughs-Barry-Miles/dp/1455511935

Ted Morgan, author of Literary Outlaw: The Life and Times of William S. Burroughs: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23949.Literary_Outlaw

Robert A. Heinlein, sci-fi author: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/robert-heinlein/

Terrance & Dennis McKenna: https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Landscape-Mind-Hallucinogens-Ching/dp/0062506358

Kill Your Darlings (film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1311071/

Naked  Lunch (film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102511/

Episode art credit: photo by Richard Avedon

In Part 1, Tommy will be delving into Burroughs's background in order to explain how Burroughs's experiences influenced his worldview and his writing. We also discuss some important research findings of Tommy's concerning the Mayan 2012 prophecy and the link to Burroughs, the importance of the alien insect overlords found in Burroughs's writings, and expand further on Burroughs's interest in the occult, including why most literary critics ignore this aspect of Burroughs entirely.

Episode Notes:

Tommy P. Cowan's academia.edu page: https://amsterdam.academia.edu/TommyPCowan/

Correspondences Journal: https://correspondencesjournal.com/

The Exterminator : https://www.sea-urchin.net/books/moloko-print/william-burroughs-brion-gysin-the-exterminator-redux/

The Yage Letters + Junky ( & other works): https://all-med.net/pdf/the-yage-letters/

And The Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks, with Jack Kerouac (& other works): https://newbooksinpolitics.com/political/and-the-hippos-were-boiled-in-their-tanks/

The Soft Machine: http://miltonthed.weebly.com/uploads/1/4/1/6/14162844/burroughs_william_seward-the_soft_machine.pdf

Naked Lunch: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7437.Naked_Lunch

Other authors/ persons of interest mentioned in this episode:

Brion Gysin, The Dreamachine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreamachine

Jeffrey Kripal, author of The Super Natural : https://www.amazon.com/Super-Natural-New-Vision-Unexplained/dp/1101982322

Barry Miles, author of Call Me Burroughs: A Life: https://www.amazon.nl/Call-Me-Burroughs-Barry-Miles/dp/1455511935

Ted Morgan, author of Literary Outlaw: The Life and Times of William S. Burroughs: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23949.Literary_Outlaw

Robert A. Heinlein, sci-fi author: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/robert-heinlein/

Terrance & Dennis McKenna: https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Landscape-Mind-Hallucinogens-Ching/dp/0062506358

Kill Your Darlings (film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1311071/

Naked  Lunch (film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102511/

Episode art credit: photo by Richard Avedon

In Part 2, we discuss in depth Thomas's own interesting findings regarding an important concept and stage of development in Crowley's system called 'the crossing of the Abyss.' We also talk about the various misunderstandings about Crowley, how he has influenced popular culture, and also why Thomas finds Crowley so appealing.

References:

Sources mentioned in the podcast by Aleister Crowley:

The Book of the Law - http://lib.oto-usa.org/libri/liber0220.html

Magick (Book 4) -  https://hermetic.com/crowley/book-4/index

Magick Without Tears - https://hermetic.com/crowley/magick-without-tears/index

The Confessions of Aleister Crowley - https://hermetic.com/crowley/confessions/index

The Equinox - http://www.the-equinox.org/  

https://keepsilence.org/the-equinox/

In Part 1, Thomas and I will be discussing Crowley's background, his start in the magical group known as The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, the concept of intiation, and Crowley's own magical system called Thelema. 

References:

Sources mentioned in the podcast by Aleister Crowley:

The Book of the Law - http://lib.oto-usa.org/libri/liber0220.html

Magick (Book 4) -  https://hermetic.com/crowley/book-4/index

Magick Without Tears - https://hermetic.com/crowley/magick-without-tears/index

The Confessions of Aleister Crowley - https://hermetic.com/crowley/confessions/index

The Equinox - http://www.the-equinox.org/  

https://keepsilence.org/the-equinox/

This episode discusses what I mean by 'rejected', plus some important terms and concepts that will act as a foundation for the interviews to come.

Reference material used in this episode:

Wouter Hanegraaff, Western Estotericism: A Guide for the Perplexed

Olav Hammer's chapter, "Esotericism in New Religious Movements," found in The Oxford Handbook of New Religious Movements

Christopher Partridge's "Introduction," found in The Occult World

Two more books that might be of interest are -

Contemporary Esotericism, edited by Egil Asprem and Kennet Granholm

New Age Religion and Western Culture: Esotericism in the Mirror of Secular Thought, by Wouter Hanegraaff (with special attention on Chapter One about "Channeling" and Chapter Seven about "Meta-Empirical and Human Beings"