Rejected Religion Podcast

Interview Highlights: 
Thomas begins by giving some background on Violet Mary Firth, later known as Dion Fortune. He describes her somewhat rebellious nature, and how Fortune did not always agree with the notion that certain things should be kept "secret". However, she did stress the need to be careful and skeptical of those who purport to have the "truth". Thomas then moves to the topic of initiation and how this was viewed by Fortune. To her, initiation was becoming involved in a cosmic process of the 'right-hand' path, or a path of service. The goal of the initiate is to completely surrender individual consciousness and achieve a cosmic union with the Divine Mind. How does one do this? 

You can contact Thomas at [email protected] should you have any specific questions.

Theme music by Stephanie Shea

To view Tommy's presentation, please follow this link to the YouTube Channel Lynchland (Tommy's presentation is in Part IV, near the beginning of the video):  Twin Peaks | The Return Online Conference - YouTube

Interview Highlights: Tommy begins by talking about his own motivations to create a presentation for the Twin Peaks online conference. We then move the discussion to talk about several concepts that were important in the work and life of William Burroughs that have a connection to Twin Peaks: possession, the number 23, and the atomic bomb. I then ask Tommy's opinion about the character of Sarah Palmer, and whether or not she also might have known that she was also possessed. A little history of Twin Peaks and its occult connections is also added to the mix! 

Tommy P. Cowan at Academia.edu: Tommy P Cowan | University of Amsterdam - Academia.edu

 Correspondences Journal (Tommy is an associate editor): Correspondences – Journal for the Study of Esotericism (correspondencesjournal.com)

 Theme music: Stephanie Shea

Video uploaded on YouTube on August 18, 2021

Interview Highlights: 
Joel begins by sharing how he came to write about Grant Morrison's Batman RIP, and then we dive into many Buddhist concepts that Morrison uses in their story. As Joel explains these concepts, he also points out how Morrison uses them differently than a Buddhist practicioner would - this due to the great influence of Western occult ideas (such as initiation, the Abyss, and ego-death) taken from Aleister Crowley, among others. Our discussion points out that in fact, Morrison draws on many different sources in the creation of their Batman story, and this leads to some interesting thoughts about the notion of occulture, and creativity. 

You can find the pre-publication draft of Dr. Joel Bordeaux's chapter here: (PDF) “The Dark Knight of the Soul: Death as Initiatory Ordeal in Grant Morrison’s Batman R.I.P.” | Joel Bordeaux - Academia.edu

Full Title: 'The Dark Knight of the Soul: Death as Initiatory Ordeal in Grant Morrison's Batman RIP. From The Assimilation of Yogic Religions Through Pop Culture, edited by Paul Hackett. Lanham: Lexington Books, 2017. 

AND Joel's lecture for the HHP Centre here: Taking the Left Hand Path to Tibet, by Dr. Joel Bordeaux || HHP Student Association - YouTube

Links: Academia.edu page: Joel Bordeaux | International Institute of Asian Studies, Leiden - Academia.edu
IIAS profile page: Joel Bordeaux | IIAS
Humanities Commons profile page: Joel Bordeaux – Humanities Commons (hcommons.org)
YouTube Channel: Joel Bordeaux - YouTube
Twitter: Joel Bordeaux🌹জোয়েল বোর্দো (@JoelBordeaux) / Twitter

OTHER RESOURCES OF INTEREST: 
'The Occult and Comics' by Kennet Granholm: (PDF) The Occult and Comics | Kennet Granholm - Academia.edu
'Occulture is Ordinary' Keynote speech from Christopher Partridge: Christopher Partridge, “Occulture Is Ordinary” | Contemporary Esotericism Research Network (contern.org)

Music: Stephanie Shea

Interview Highlights: 
Ninian begins by talking about the recently published Black Books and Red Book by Jung, and how the Black Books acted as journals to explore Jung's own consciousness. She then discusses the fantasy Jung had about a 'madhouse', who Jung 'met' in the fantasy, and what Jung was trying to 'sort out' in all of this. This leads to a discussion about pathological madness and divine madness, what distinguishes the two, and how Jung perceived religious experience. Ninian also touches on Jung's struggle to balance his professional life and his spiritual/religious life, his emphasis on an "attitude of openness" and his ideas of how a person can have a "self-regulating consciousness." 

REFERENCES 

Ninian's Adademia.edu page: Ninian L Nijhuis | University of Amsterdam - Academia.edu
Selected Articles: (PDF) Carl G. Jung and His (Not So) Fantastical Madhouse | Ninian L Nijhuis - Academia.edu
(PDF) Psychological Healing as Religious Experience: In The Works of Carl Jung (1875-1961) | Ninian L Nijhuis - Academia.edu
(PDF) Western Sidereal Astrology: From Ancient Babylonia to the Modern West | Ninian L Nijhuis - Academia.edu

Instagram: NINIAN | Sidereal Astrologer (@niniannijhuis) • Instagram-foto's en -video's

History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents website: HHP | History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents (amsterdamhermetica.nl)
HHP YouTube Channel: History of Hermetic Philosophy Amsterdam - YouTube
HHP Instagram: Western Esotericism (@amsterdamhermetica) • Instagram-foto's en -video's
HHP Facebook: History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents | Facebook

Carl Jung's The Black Books: Amazon.com: The Black Books: 9780393088649: Jung, C. G., Shamdasani, Sonu, Liebscher, Martin, Peck, John: Books
-The Red Book: Amazon.com: The Red Book (Philemon): 8580001055930: C. G. Jung, Sonu Shamdasani, Mark Kyburz, John Peck, Sonu Shamdasani: Books
- Answer to Job:  Answer to Job: (From Vol. 11 of the Collected Works of C. G. Jung) (Jung Extracts, 27): Jung, C. G., Hull, R. F.C., Shamdasani, Sonu, Shamdasani, Sonu: 9780691150475: Amazon.com: Books
Thomas A Kempis, The Imitation of Christ: The Imitation of Christ: Thomas A. Kempis : Kempis, Thomas A.: Amazon.nl: Boeken
Frederich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra: Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for Everyone and Nobody : Nietzsche, Friedrich: Amazon.nl: Boeken

Theme Music: Stephanie Shea

 

In Part 2, we move the conversation to discuss some points brought up in few academic articles, such as how rituals create a liminal space for connection with the invisible realm; the importance of exhibitions for providing spaces of encounter; the importance of religion or spirituality in the art space; what automatism is; and how art can respond to, or cope with, radical changes in the world.

PROGRAM NOTES

Pádraic E. Moore - 

Website: Padraic Moore
Academia.edu page: Pádraic E. Moore | UCD Ireland - Academia.edu
Article "A Mystic Milieu: Johannes Itten and Mazdaznan at Bauhaus Weimar": A Mystic Milieu - Articles – bauhaus imaginista (bauhaus-imaginista.org)
Twitter: Páḋraic E. Moore (@M0REM00REM0RE) / Twitter

Ewoud van Rijn -

Website: ewoud van rijn
Academia.edu page: Ewoud van Rijn | KABK Royal Academy of Art The Hague - Academia.edu
Article "Playing with the Other in the Beyond": (PDF) Playing with the Other in the Beyond | Ewoud van Rijn - Academia.edu
Instagram: Ewoud van Rijn (@ewoudvanrijn) • Instagram-foto's en -video's

Garage Rotterdam, The Netherlands; "The Great Invocation" Exhibition: Catalogue | The Great Invocation (garagerotterdam.nl)

Kurt Seligmann -

The Mirror of Magic (innertraditions.com)
Kurt Seligmann 1900-1962 : Leben und Werk. by Hauser, Stephan E.: Very Good Hardcover (1997) First edition. | Roe and Moore (abebooks.com)
Paintings of Kurt Seligmann (surrealism.website)

Essays by Grazina Subelyte in collected works - 
"Kurt Seligmann, Surrealism, and the Occult" in- EBOOK: Surrealism Occultism And Politics Book PDF EPUB TUEBL MOBI (findfullebook.com)
"Spectrality and the Dance of Death in the Art of Kurt Seligmann" in - Black Mirror 2 – elsewhere – Fulgur Press
Info Grazina Subelyte: Grazina Subelyte - The Courtauld

Selected Articles and Books

"The Other Side" by Lars Bang Larsen: The Other Side by Lars Bang Larsen — fine print (fineprintmagazine.com)
"Coming Forth by Night: Contemporary Art and the Occult" by Dr. Marco Pasi: (PDF) Coming Forth by Night. Contemporary art and the occult | Marco Pasi - Academia.edu

Suzi Gablik -
The Reenchantment of Art: Gablik, Suzi: 9780500276891: Amazon.com: Books
Has Modernism Failed?: Suzi Gablik: 9780500284841: Amazon.com: Books
 

Artists Mentioned in the Podcast -
Redfern Barrett, AA Bronson and Angus Cameron - Witches: Hunted, Appropriated, Empowered, Queered [Second Edition] - Printed Matter
Les Complices - Witches: hunted, appropriated, empowered, queered
Linda Stupart
chiara fumai

Other Reference Material -
The Rosicrucian Enlightenment (archive.org)
The Theosophical Enlightenment (S U N Y Series in Western Esoteric Traditions): Godwin, Joscelyn: 9780791421529: Amazon.com: Books

Theme Music: Daniel P. Shea

Other Music: Stephanie Shea
 

In Part 1, Pádraic and Ewoud both talk about their backgrounds and their own interests in the esoteric/occult, and then we move on to talk more about the inspiration for 'The Great Invocation' (Garage Rotterdam), plus Ewoud's inspiration for his own installation there. We talk more about the Theosophical Society as a movement and how it relates to contemporary art; we talk about Kurt Seligmann and the surrealists' viewpoints on art, magic, and the potential of the human mind; and Ewoud discusses an experience he had in the search for a new form of art practice. 

PROGRAM NOTES

Pádraic E. Moore - 

Website: Padraic Moore
Academia.edu page: Pádraic E. Moore | UCD Ireland - Academia.edu
Article "A Mystic Milieu: Johannes Itten and Mazdaznan at Bauhaus Weimar": A Mystic Milieu - Articles – bauhaus imaginista (bauhaus-imaginista.org)
Twitter: Páḋraic E. Moore (@M0REM00REM0RE) / Twitter

Ewoud van Rijn -

Website: ewoud van rijn
Academia.edu page: Ewoud van Rijn | KABK Royal Academy of Art The Hague - Academia.edu
Article "Playing with the Other in the Beyond": (PDF) Playing with the Other in the Beyond | Ewoud van Rijn - Academia.edu
Instagram: Ewoud van Rijn (@ewoudvanrijn) • Instagram-foto's en -video's

Garage Rotterdam, The Netherlands; "The Great Invocation" Exhibition: Catalogue | The Great Invocation (garagerotterdam.nl)

Kurt Seligmann -

The Mirror of Magic (innertraditions.com)
Kurt Seligmann 1900-1962 : Leben und Werk. by Hauser, Stephan E.: Very Good Hardcover (1997) First edition. | Roe and Moore (abebooks.com)
Paintings of Kurt Seligmann (surrealism.website)

Essays by Grazina Subelyte in collected works - 
"Kurt Seligmann, Surrealism, and the Occult" in- EBOOK: Surrealism Occultism And Politics Book PDF EPUB TUEBL MOBI (findfullebook.com)
"Spectrality and the Dance of Death in the Art of Kurt Seligmann" in - Black Mirror 2 – elsewhere – Fulgur Press
Info Grazina Subelyte: Grazina Subelyte - The Courtauld

Selected Articles and Books

"The Other Side" by Lars Bang Larsen: The Other Side by Lars Bang Larsen — fine print (fineprintmagazine.com)
"Coming Forth by Night: Contemporary Art and the Occult" by Dr. Marco Pasi: (PDF) Coming Forth by Night. Contemporary art and the occult | Marco Pasi - Academia.edu

Suzi Gablik -
The Reenchantment of Art: Gablik, Suzi: 9780500276891: Amazon.com: Books
Has Modernism Failed?: Suzi Gablik: 9780500284841: Amazon.com: Books
 

Artists Mentioned in the Podcast -
Redfern Barrett, AA Bronson and Angus Cameron - Witches: Hunted, Appropriated, Empowered, Queered [Second Edition] - Printed Matter
Les Complices - Witches: hunted, appropriated, empowered, queered
Linda Stupart
chiara fumai

Other Reference Material -
The Rosicrucian Enlightenment (archive.org)
The Theosophical Enlightenment (S U N Y Series in Western Esoteric Traditions): Godwin, Joscelyn: 9780791421529: Amazon.com: Books

Theme Music: Daniel P. Shea

Other Music: Stephanie Shea





 

Interview Highlights: 
As Elena discusses, 'real vampyres' are those who feel a physical need to consume energy, whether it be blood or 'psychic' energy. As her research takes an inclusive, sexuological perspective, Elena suggests that this might be a sexual orientation for some. Her research into fetish identity explores the possible connections between this identity and vampyrism, as her data indicates that fetish identity is not a mental pathology, not a choice, and is not necessarily paired with sexual activity. She further notes that some religious and/or spiritual practices can sometimes assist in forming a framework for a person's identity - providing in some cases a safe place to explore this identity. While this is a very complex topic with no easy answers, Elena stresses that 'sexual diversity awareness' can help educate others, create realistic representations regarding the diversity of identity, and help to foster a sense of inclusiveness.

RESOURCES 

Elena Sperner on Academia.edu: Elena Sperner | Linköping University - Academia.edu
MA Thesis: (PDF) Fetish Identity: A Collaborative Auto-phenomenographic Approach to Reframe Sexual Fetishism | Elena Sperner - Academia.edu

Instagram: Elena (@shatteringglassceiling) • Instagram-foto's en -video's

Dr. John Edgar Browning on Academia.edu: John Edgar Browning | Savannah College of Art and Design - Academia.edu
Selected articles: "The real vampires of New Orleans and Buffalo: a research note towards comparative ethnography" | John Edgar Browning - Academia.edu
(PDF) "Looking Inside the Coffin: An Overview of Contemporary Human Vampirism and Its Relevance for Forensics Professionals" | John Edgar Browning and DJ Williams - Academia.edu
"What they do in the shadows: my encounters with the real vampires of New Orleans" | John Edgar Browning - Academia.edu

Merticus X is an active researcher and participant in the real vampire community since 1997. Academia. edu page: Merticus X - Academia.edu
Selected articles: (PDF) Demystifying Real Vampirism For The Rest Of Us | Merticus X - Academia.edu
(PDF) Definition Of Real Vampirism | Merticus X - Academia.edu

Dr. Joseph Laycock: Vampires Today: The Truth about Modern Vampirism (English Edition) eBook : Laycock, Joseph P.: Amazon.nl: Kindle Store
Real Vampires as an Identity Group: Analyzing Causes and Effects of an Introspective Survey by the Vampire Community on JSTOR

Theme music: Stephanie Shea

Interview Highlights: 

Richard begins by giving a short background and biography of Waite and the people who had a great influence on his life. We discuss Waite's famous tarot deck and the inspiration for it, noting that illustrator Pamela Coleman Smith is often omitted from being mentioned. Richard then talks in more detail about how Waite's 'outsider status' has led to his work being neglected, and how his notion of a 'secret tradition' is deserving of more study. 

REFERENCES 

Email Richard Mason: [email protected] 

Online Book List by Arthur Edward Waite: Arthur Edward Waite (Waite, Arthur Edward, 1857-1942) | The Online Books Page (upenn.edu)

The Secret Tradition in Freemasonry, Vol. 1&2: (PDF) A. E Waite - The Secret Tradition in Freemasonry | Athanassios Nick. Christopoulos - Academia.edu

The Pictoral Key to the Tarot: The Pictorial Key to the Tarot

Translations of Eliphas Levi's: 

- Transcendental Magic: Its Doctrine and Ritual: Transcendental magic, its doctrine and ritual : Lévi, Eliphas, 1810-1875 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

- The History of Magic: The history of magic : including a clear and precise exposition of its procedure, its rites and its mysteries : Lévi, Eliphas, 1810-1875 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Robert Gilbert, A.E. Waite: A Magician of Many Parts (biography): Waite - A Magician of Many Parts.pdf (preterhuman.net)

Stewart Südekum (regarding tarot): Arthur Edward Waite | Stuart Südekum (wordpress.com)

In 1987, Adam McLean organized the 'Golden Dawn Conference,' wherein Roger Parisous presented about Waite, and puts forth some interesting alternate explanations about the Rider-Waite tarot. You can access his presentation here (located at Adam McClean's YouTube Channel): GD Conference 1987 Lecture 2 Roger Parisious - YouTube

The full conference is available on a playlist provided by Adam McLean, for those who are interested. 

Website ESSWE (European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism): ESSWE | European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism - About

Theme music: Stephanie Shea

SHOW LESS

Part 2 Highlights:

My conversation with Jenny goes in a direction that I had not really anticipated, but was happy to let organically unfold. Jenny begins by talking about the contemporary pagan practices and traditional Irish views about Samhain or Halloween, but from there we talk rather in-depth about the complex relationship between the dead and 'the good people', otherwise known as fairies- whether they like humans or not - and how the ideas about 'the good people' are tied up in Irish culture (that has had a difficult past, especially due to Catholicism), and how new narratives are emerging due to contemporary pagan efforts.

PROGRAM NOTES:

Bio Dr. Jenny Butler (website and UCC page): About - Dr Jenny Butler

UCC Research Profiles: Jenny Butler, Study of Religions

Academia.edu page: Jenny Butler | University College Cork - Academia.edu

Selected works:

(PDF) Symbolic and Social Roles of Women in Death Ritual in Traditional Irish Society | Jenny Butler - Academia.edu

(PDF) Neo-Pagan Celebrations of Samhain | Jenny Butler - Academia.edu

(PDF) The Neo-Pagan Ritual Year and Historical Reinterpretations | Jenny Butler - Academia.edu

(PDF) The Neo-Pagan Ritual Year | Jenny Butler - Academia.edu

(PDF) Irish Neo-Paganism: Worldview and Identity | Jenny Butler - Academia.edu

(PDF) Remembrance of the Ancestors in Contemporary Paganism - Lineage, Identity, and Cultural Belonging in the Irish Context | Jenny Butler - Academia.edu

Other Reference Works: 

The Banshee: The Irish Death Messenger  by Patricia Lysaght: The Banshee: The Irish Death Messenger by Patricia Lysaght (goodreads.com)

The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles by Ronald Hutton: The pagan religions of the ancient British Isles : their nature and legacy : Hutton, Ronald : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

The Book of the Cailleach: Stories of the Wise Woman Healer by Gearoid O'Crualaoich: The Book of the Cailleach: Stories of the Wise Woman Healer: Amazon.co.uk: Gearóid Ó Crualaoich: 9781859184127: Books

Theme music: Daniel P. Shea

Other music: Stephanie Shea

Part One Highlights:

Jenny begins by explaining the meanings of the terms 'neo-pagan' and 'pagan,' and why she has stopped using the first term and opts instead for 'contemporary pagan.' We then delve into the topic of death and how death and the dead are viewed in Irish traditions, as well as in some contemporary pagan views. The conversation extends to the roles of women, and traditions such as keening, that are associated with Irish wakes; as well as female otherworldy characters such as the banshee, that are associated with the dead, the Otherworld, and the divine feminine. 

PROGRAM NOTES:

Bio Dr. Jenny Butler (website and UCC page): About - Dr Jenny Butler

UCC Research Profiles: Jenny Butler, Study of Religions

Academia.edu page: Jenny Butler | University College Cork - Academia.edu

Selected works:

(PDF) Symbolic and Social Roles of Women in Death Ritual in Traditional Irish Society | Jenny Butler - Academia.edu

(PDF) Neo-Pagan Celebrations of Samhain | Jenny Butler - Academia.edu

(PDF) The Neo-Pagan Ritual Year and Historical Reinterpretations | Jenny Butler - Academia.edu

(PDF) The Neo-Pagan Ritual Year | Jenny Butler - Academia.edu

(PDF) Irish Neo-Paganism: Worldview and Identity | Jenny Butler - Academia.edu

(PDF) Remembrance of the Ancestors in Contemporary Paganism - Lineage, Identity, and Cultural Belonging in the Irish Context | Jenny Butler - Academia.edu

Other Reference Works: 

The Banshee: The Irish Death Messenger  by Patricia Lysaght: The Banshee: The Irish Death Messenger by Patricia Lysaght (goodreads.com)

The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles by Ronald Hutton: The pagan religions of the ancient British Isles : their nature and legacy : Hutton, Ronald : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

The Book of the Cailleach: Stories of the Wise Woman Healer by Gearoid O'Crualaoich: The Book of the Cailleach: Stories of the Wise Woman Healer: Amazon.co.uk: Gearóid Ó Crualaoich: 9781859184127: Books

Theme music: Daniel P. Shea

Other music: Stephanie Shea