The Problem with Modern Contemporary Esoterica

Looking back through the contemporary history of the so-called “civilized” world, one thing becomes generally apparent. Between the Holy Roman and Byzantine Empires and all the crusades that paved the course of Evangelism, there was always a secret tendency to its esoteric opposite. The irony is, this had little to do with any revival of pre-Christian tradition, as most of it had already been syncretically absorbed by Catholicism at this time. Instead there came hermetic mysticism, no less steeped in Middle Eastern lore as it was always assumed to be the birthplace of higher civilization. In fact this has been the general school of thought for both evangelists and esoterics well into the 20th century. Yet, despite all advancements in archeoforensics, still persists in the theosophical following of such seeming intellectuals as Helena Blavatsky, Aleister Crowley and Dion Fortune.

The fallacy is that assumption that no writings could be found elsewhere, for whatever they had hoped to find it all written on. I still hear this argument today from their adherents; so oblivious to the fact of ongoing oral traditions, let alone why the Celto-Germanic peoples chose not to write them down. Well, I was raised on oral tradition, especially because of how the esoteric movement tried to rewrite our history. Yes, I'm talking Fahrenheit 451 here, and they are just as much to blame as the evangelists. Little do they realize how Blavatsky's “Secret Doctrine” inspired the curse of Nazi Ariosophy. Yet, you would have thought it ended with the Nuremberg trials, but not all things utopian necessarily come in the German language, nor did it really have anything to do with paganism either- especially that assumption that any special human ability came from the allegedly angelic Annunaki. Nonetheless, the buggers are still at it, trying to make it all sound so politically correct through alternate wording, when it actually boils down to much the same exploit of wanton illusion.

Two wrongs don't make it right, so think again.

Good Yule!

Fröhliche Raunächten

Pseudoscience and Other New Age Myths

With the year 2012 just around the corner, I only dread to imagine the great volley of bullshit about to descend on us from the "vortex" of the so-called Indigo/Starseed newage movement. Heaven forbid all those ascended narcissists of the Pleiadean masterrace. Man, what sort of megalomania inspires the need to be some god-sent messenger of inhospitable stellar objects? Don't even talk to me about cosmic consciousness if you can't get your science or history right. All this goobledegook about chakra stimulation of the hypothalamus to "switch on" redundant DNA codes is a load of cryptic nonsense that does no justice to the scientific terms it abuses. Those glands not only regulate our involuntary functions, but affect the balance of our emotional and sexual behaviour. In essence, messing with it can induce a whole variety of bizarre psychosomatic disorders. Just the same, transcendental meditation, like mind altering drugs, should carry a warning about prolonged use. No surprise end of time cults have such a tendency to nihilism. No, it's not "negativity" or "bad karma" that accounts for the ills of this world, but the grand expectation that others should have to burden the brunt so "we can be saved". It's just another cop-out from taking any real personal responsibility.

All Holies and Remembrance Day

While these days All Holies begins on the eve of October 31st, and Remembrance on November 11, both were originally part of a festive period connected with the Blood Moon. This marked the final closure of the harvest with the slaughter of cattle for smoked meats to endure the winter months. Mythically, this was seen as a time of nature's gradual withdrawal into underworld, often represented by the old stooped crone gathering a bundle of kindling in the forest. It was believed that with this transition, the spirits of the underworld had rule of the roost. Thus the All Holies feast was held to honour the dead; particularly the ancestors, family and kindred. Their graves were decorated with offerings of grains, apples, nuts and other things the season had at it's avail. Torches were lit for the spirits to find their way to these offerings. It is a time of family reunions and kindred gatherings to recount the stories of old. Council elders, chiefs and priests were usually elected at this time for the ancestors to be present. These spirits were formally invited to attend the sitting with a special place set for them at the head of the table. The ceremony was usually concluded with a special solemn eulogy for those who had fallen in battle. Although these holidays have long since been Christianized, the customs haven't really changed much. Tables are still set with place at the head of the table for those past and honoured with a raising of one's glasses in a toast to their memory.

A beautiful example of a powerful old Germanic warrior's eulogy was the one spoken in the film "The Thirteenth Warrior":

Lo, there do I see my father.
Lo, there do I see my mother and my sisters and my brothers.
Lo, there do I see the line of my people back to the beginning.
Lo, they do call to me. They bid me take my place among them
in the halls of Valhalla where the brave may live forever.