In podcast episode 89, we’re joined by author and podcaster Douglas Lain for an insightful and honest discussion about a wide-range of subjects from synchromysticism to overturning the symbolic order.

Douglas produces and hosts the Diet Soap Podcast which is “a podcast dedicated to applying imagination and intellect to the multi-dimensional crisis that surrounds us.” He’s also “the author of dozens of short stories and two novels. His work has regularly appeared in nationally distributed literary magazines and journals since 1999, and his first book “Last Week’s Apocalypse” was a collection of these stories published by Night Shade Books. His first novel, entitled “Billy Moon: 1968,” tells the story of Christopher Robin Milne’s fictional involvement with the French general strike in May of 1968, and is due out from Tor Books in 2011. His second novel, entitled “the Brainwash Brand,” is currently under option at Tor.”

We begin this unique interview by discussing the concept of synchromysticism and our interpretations of its meaning. This served as a launching point for two veteran podcasters to explore each others and our own minds, with a strong focus on inner vs. outer work and the value of each.

Douglas also talks about his upcoming writing project, “Pick Your Battle” – what it’s about, why it’s important, and his effort to obtain funding for it through Kickstarter.org. His ideas and unconventional thinking are refreshing and thought-provoking. Although not specifically about esoteric subjects, this conversation was a pleasure and a real gem.

The Writings of Douglas Lain

Diet Soap Podcast

“Douglas Lain” Wikipedia entry

Pick Your Battle – (foraging as revolutionary self-help) on Kickstarter.org

intro music by HipGnosis and Sundowner

outro music – “Afterlife” by Mountain Mirrors

Technorati Tags: community organization, consciousness, deepwater horizon, economic crisis, economics, economy, environment, esoteric, grass roots, mysticism, nature, New Age, non-dualism, occult, oil spill, peak oil, philosophy, politics, pop culture, psychology, self-help, self-improvement, social activism, social consciousness, sociology, spirituality, sustainability, symbolism, synchromysticism, synchronicity

In podcast episode 88, we’re joined by teacher Rubaphilos Salfluěre, author of “The Hermes Paradigm, Book One: First Principles,” published by Salamander and Sons.

“… this first volume in The Hermes Paradigm series offers a detailed consideration of the core concepts that afford a glimpse at the nature of the philosophy, and its first principles, that lie at the heart of Hermetic science – the source and backbone, yet least understood aspect, of the Western mystery tradition. Beginning with an examination of the history of Hermetism over the past two millenia, a clear historical and conceptual distinction is made between the body of pure Hermetic knowledge – the secret tradition – and the popular outer tradition, the latter of which is so often mistaken for the former. The much-neglected and misunderstood heart of Hermetic philosophy and its practical expression – the science of Hermetic initiation – is the subject of a detailed discussion, as is the central role that alchemy plays in the theory and practical dynamic of Hermetism. The Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus is dissected in order to provide the reader with an introduction to how natural law provides the blueprint for both the alchemical laboratory tradition and the inner alchemical journey of initiation.”

In this interview, Rubaphilos talks about his personal experience in the Western Mystery Tradition in New Zealand, including his interest and training in laboratory Alchemy, hypnosis, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, B.O.T.A., A.M.O.R.C., and Freemasonry. We then compare and contrast the alchemical laboratory tradition and spiritual Alchemy, discussing the Philosophers’ Stone and the Elixir of Life. Rubaphilos endeavors to dispel the confusion surrounding the subject of Alchemy, both laboratory and inner work. He also explains how esoteric spiritual Alchemy is synonymous with Qabalah.

I highly recommend Rubaphilos Salfluěre’s “The Hermes Paradigm, Book One: First Principles.” With this book, he takes a hard and modern look at Hermetism and Alchemy and forces readers to think by questioning assumptions and the popular tradition. If you are a student of Hermetics and Alchemy, Rubaphilos’ book is essential reading. Perhaps controversial to some, his insights and experience are invaluable in my opinion.

Rubaphilos and I more deeply explore the division between the popular level of the Western esoteric tradition and the hidden tradition, or underground stream, in the Occult of Personality Membership Section. Join us for that fascinating interview.

Rubaphilos Salfluěre (although another URL is specified in the recording, Rubaphilos’ web site can now be found at http://www.rubaphilos.com/)

“The Hermes Paradigm, Book One: First Principles” by Rubaphilos Salfluěre

Salamander and Sons

Alchemy Journal

“Kundalini: The Evolutionary Energy in Man” by Gopi Krishna

intro music by HipGnosis and Darkfold

outro music by Chris Pusey

Thanks again to episode sponsors John, Curt, Seth, Theresa, and Jaesun! Check out Jaesun’s artwork at Darkson Studios.

The next Tarot symbolism workshop, Three Keys to Insight, is scheduled for Friday, June 25th at Eternal Balance in Beverly, Massachusetts. See you there!

Technorati Tags: Alchemy, Cabala, chemistry, consciousness, enlightenment, esoteric, esoteric orders, evolution, Hermetics, Hermetism, history, illumination, Kabbalah, kundalini, Magic, Magick, mysticism, occult, philosophy, psychology, Qabalah, Rosicrucianism, spirituality, symbolism, Western Mystery Tradition

In podcast episode 87, we’re joined by Kephra from Occult Digital Mobilization to discuss the free dissemination of esoteric texts on the web.

Kephra explains that Occult Digital Mobilization,or DigiMob, is a collective of individuals virtually gathered together to compile and facilitate the distribution of occult and esoteric texts. He tells how it works, including the intention and mission of the group, the submission process for the quarterly digests, the volume of content, and the technology which allows decentralized distribution, specifically BitTorrent.

Whether you agree with their methods or not, Occult Digital Mobilization is worth examining in terms of esoteric study in modern times.

Occult Digital Mobilization

occultmobilization on The Pirate Bay

“BitTorrent (protocol)” Wikipedia entry

music by HipGnosis, Darkfold, and Dan-O

Thanks again to episode sponsors Jaesun and Theresa! Check out Jaesun’s artwork at Darkson Studios.

The next Tarot symbolism workshop, Three Keys to Insight, is scheduled for Friday, June 25th at Eternal Balance in Beverly, Massachusetts. See you there!

Technorati Tags: anthropology, BitTorrent, books, consciousness, esoteric, esoteric orders, history, information technology, Magick, mysticism, occult, philosophy, psychology, sociology, spirituality, technology

In podcast episode 86, we’re joined by Etta D. Jackson. Etta has written several interesting and important works, including the subject of our conversation which is her first book entitled “Understanding Your Choice,” (also available as an eBook PDF download and an audio book).

Etta tells us about her background and mission to assist humanity in becoming liberated. She then delves into the fascinating story of how she was guided in writing “Understanding Your Choice,” which explains the journey of humanity from the descent into matter to the path of return. We explore the synchronistic events surrounding the creation of the book, which she tells us is not simply an esoteric exposition, but a vibrational force and transformational tool.

“Understanding Your Choice” is “… a comprehensive presentation of the Occult and Arcane Mysteries.  In this Age of Aquarius, which is that of the Water Bearer and the Path of Return, chapter zero introduces mankind to himself the architect of the idea to take the journey into matter to experience being clothed in Form.  It acquaints the aspirant on this return journey, of the Divine intent, that took him on his descent into matter.  The relationship of Great Bear, Sirius and the Pleiades to these cosmic influences in humanity’s involution and now evolution, are explained.”

Etta’s work delves deeply into the most profound questions to which ageless wisdom provides answers. Her explanations of Tarot, Astrological, and Qabalistic correspondences are elegant and easy to understand. Her analysis of astrological ages and humanity’s purpose is uplifting and inspiring. She has a gift for conveying the wisdom of the Western Mystery Tradition in clear, concise language. “Understanding Your Choice” is well-written, interesting, accessible, and revealing. I recommend it.

Please join Etta and I in the Occult of Personality Membership Section for the second half of the interview where Etta discusses Freemasonry, the New World Order, the role of the Jewish people throughout history, the Age of Aquarius, the inner teacher, and more.

Arvesta Communications

“Understanding Your Choice” by Etta D. Jackson (also available as an eBook PDF download and audio book)

“Unveiling the Secrets of the Feminine Principle” by Etta D. Jackson (also available as an eBook PDF download)

“The Role of Consciousness in Governance” by Etta D. Jackson (also available as an eBook PDF download)

“The Idea That Is the United States of America: Its Occult Foundation” eBook by Etta D. Jackson

intro music by HipGnosis and Darkfold

outro music – “A New Light” by The Quiet Earth Orchestra A.K.A. John Ludi

Join me for “Atlantis – Myth and Reality of the Lost Civilization” on Wednesday May 19th at Eternal Balance in Beverly, Massachusetts.

Technorati Tags: Ascended Masters, astrology, consciousness, esoteric, evolution, Hermetics, history, metaphysics, mysticism, New Age, occult, philosophy, psychology, Qabalah, religion, spirituality, symbolism, synchronicity, Tarot, Western Mystery Tradition

In podcast episode 85, we’re joined by Jeremy Vaeni. Jeremy is a writer, director, podcaster, and experiencer of high-strangeness. He hosts and produces the successful and popular Culture of Contact and Paratopia podcasts.

Jeremy’s unique perspective on UFOlogy and the paranormal have earned him fans as well as critics, but he speaks his mind with frankness and a sense of humor that’s refreshing. We begin the interview hearing about his early experiences with UFOs and alien abduction. Based on these contacts, he’s led to understand that UFOs and aliens are not necessarily what many may believe, in that they serve to try to rouse humanity from its waking dream.

From there, we delve into what Jeremy calls his I AM experience. I think you’ll agree that his story is quite compelling, rather extreme, absolutely fascinating, brutally honest, and undoubtedly controversial.

Don’t miss the second half of this fascinating interview with Jeremy Vaeni in the Occult of Personality Membership Section.

Culture of Contact

Paratopia

“No One’s Watching: An Alien Abductee’s Story” DVD

“I Know Why the Aliens Don’t Land” by Jeremy Vaeni

outro music by Dan-O

Technorati Tags: alien abduction, aliens, chakras, consciousness, contact, energy work, entheogens, esoteric, exopolitics, extraterrestrial, kundalini, meditation, metaphysics, mysticism, New Age, occult, psychedelics, psychism, religion, sex, shamanism, spirituality, UFOlogy, UFOs, ultraterrestrial, yoga

In podcast episode 84, Dr. Paul Clark, Steward of the Fraternity of the Hidden Light, returns to the show. He joined us previously in podcasts 46 and 66.

Dr. Clark begins the interview by explaining thaumaturgy, or “miracle-making,” and theurgy, or “divine-working.” From there we explore the Qabalistic concept of the four worlds. Last, Dr. Clark shares his thoughts about the work of the Fraternity of the Hidden Light, including the Declaratio Lucis.

Be sure to check out Dr. Clark’s excellent new book, “Personal Fulfillment and the Laws of Consciousness.”

In the Occult of Personality Membership Section, Dr. Clark explains the Rosicrucian grades of Adeptus Minor, Adeptus Major, and Exempt Adept.

Fraternity of the Hidden Light

“Podcast 46 – Fraternity of the Hidden Light’s Steward, Dr. Paul Clark”

“Podcast 66 – Dr. Paul Clark”

About F.L.O.

F.L.O. Publications

Declaratio Lucis

F.L.O. Document Archive

“Personal Fulfillment and the Laws of Consciousness” by Paul A. Clark

“The Book of the Rose” by Paul A. Clark

“The Broken Seal and Other Cases” by Paul A. Clark

“Magic, Mysticism, and Initiation” video lecture by Dr. Paul Clark

Technorati Tags: Cabala, consciousness, esoteric, Hermetics, Kabbalah, Magic, metaphysics, mysticism, occult, philosophy, psychology, Qabalah, religion, spirituality, Thaumaturgy, Theurgy

In podcast episode 83, we’re joined by David Chaim Smith. A Kabbalist, mystic, and extraordinary artist, Smith’s drawings are vibrant, esoteric, beautiful, and inspired diagrams that hearken back to the tradition of alchemical art of the seventeenth century. While invoking memories of such amazing drawings, his work also goes beyond and extends this tradition.

The exhibition entitled “Blood of Space: Drawings by David Chaim Smith” will be at the Cavin-Morris Gallery in New York City through May 15, 2010. The opening reception occurs on Thursday, April 1st at 5:30 PM and features a musical performance by John Zorn.

“David Chaim Smith is unstuck in time. David Chaim Smith makes drawings… They are incandescent utterances from the nexus point of unutterable ecstasy. They are inchoate maps of the un-mappable places of Original Creation. Is it dangerous to document these things? Yes it is. Throughout the history of Man it has been dangerous for the Mediators between Tangible and Intangible to absorb and expose Esoteric Teachings… There is nothing New Age about this mysticism. It isn’t at all user-friendly. These intricate beautifully rendered chart-like drawings compel you to give up your own time frames and become absorbed and changed. The images settle into your psyche as well as your aesthetic reference zone. But for some reason these involved mad dances through words and sacred geometries, biomorphic and astral thought forms, incantations and exhortations are not in the least solipsistic… He is a Keeper of Mysteries but his desire is for you to enter them as well so there is a tremendous amount of generosity in his Vision… The Blood of Space is integral. It is the Matrix. It is “the basic space of phenomena.””

Join us for a fascinating interview that goes from David’s history of esoteric studies to the inspiration for his artwork to the very nature of creation and time and space. He is sometimes contemplative, sometimes controversial, but always interesting.

Please join us in the Occult of Personality Membership Section for the second portion of our conversation.

David Chaim Smith

Cavin-Morris Gallery

“Blood of Space: Drawings of David Chaim Smith”

intro music by HipGnosis and Darkfold

outro music by Chris Pusey

Technorati Tags: Alchemy, Art, Cabala, consciousness, esoteric, Gnosis, Hebrew, Hermetics, Kabbalah, Magic, mysticism, occult, philosophy, Qabalah, religion, sacred geometry, sacred texts, spirituality, Tantra