Just a few thoughts.

I've been taking a bit of an hiatus from posting here because I feel like I've said just about everything there is to say at this time. A lot of times there is a subject or a news piece that I discuss but I rarely have anything to add to that particular item. In many ways when it comes to the paranormal and the occult, it really has all been said before. It seems to be the nature of the esoteric, however, that all things eventually come full circle again.

Many strange news items appear everyday all over the web that one might ostensibly label paranormal or just plain strange. The items that are genuinely interesting and unexplainable are typically the ones that we never hear about again. This seems to be the way of things with anything worth exploring in this particular field. We can muse and discuss all we like, but it doesn't get us any closer to why we've decided to take up this mantle.

In light of all of this I've recently decided to take some time to write privately, experiment, and just read and study. I think that eventually every occultist needs to take the time to go back to the drawing board and decide where they want to go from there. I've grown tired of reiterating what's been done before. I want to head to places that haven't seen the light of observation in a long time, or to places newly found. I always have to have something new to stimulate my mind so I keep searching. I suspect it's the same with all true seekers. It's the hunger for discovery.

There is no overall point to this post. I'm mostly thinking in text for all to read. Maybe it will inspire the reader to examine their own stance and perhaps go after something new. If you don't hear from me for a while take heart that I haven't forgotten about this blog. I'm just off working on other things with the eventual goal of reporting something here that might be truly interesting. My thanks to those of you that still check out this blog from time to time.

A lot of lessons.

Hungry Ghosts

There are a lot of lessons in that piece for occultists and paranormal enthusiasts, both green and seasoned.

On Hiatus

I'll be taking a break from this blog for a while to focus on other pursuits. Hopefully I'll be back with a lot more to discuss. Feel free to leave comments or send me an email in the interim.

Bugarach is still under siege by New Agers.

I posted about this over a year ago but it's making the rounds again with a few updates on the situation.

Doomsday 2012: Thousands queue for UFO rescue at Pic de Bugarach
Hippies head for Noah’s Ark: Queue here for rescue aboard alien spaceship

I can admire the conviction of these people. They believe something so much that they aren't content to just talk about it or preach it; they're actually out there doing what they believe they should be doing. Regardless of how I differ from them in my beliefs I can respect them for theirs.

I am a little concerned about what might happen if what they're expecting doesn't happen though. At the same time I don't understand the enmity toward these people that's expressed in the comments on these articles. Can the whole thing be seen as amusing? Sure. However, some of those comments go beyond expressing amusement and seem to express some kind of hatred towards these "hippies." Or maybe it's jealousy of how completely devoted they are to something greater than themselves.

Maybe we really do need a new spiritual age.

Astral Projection Project Update

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was undertaking a personal project to achieve astral projection. To update you on that endeavor I thought I would make a quick post. So far I have not been successful in consciously leaving my body.

The main issue, in my opinion, has been attaining the right level of relaxation without falling asleep. Maintaining mental awareness is just as necessary as bodily relaxation and I think I typically have too much of a sleep deficit to easily attain this delicate state. I do occasionally experience the vibrations that are characteristic of projection attempts but I have yet to make a successful conscious separation. In years past, even at the height of my practicing, I always had trouble actually getting out even when I reached the vibrational state. For now I'm just trying to get to and hold the vibrations. I'll work on separation when I come to it.

I hope that by practicing relaxation and getting a little more sleep I'll be able to up my chances of finally getting out on purpose. I'll keep you updated.

Update on the New Phoenix Lights and a New Devil's Hole

My last post was on a mysterious light over Phoenix in the background of a news report. Now it seems that a utility company is coming forward with an explanation.

Flash of light in Phoenix identified?

I think it's a convenient explanation but probably what actually happened.

On to something a little more interesting though, there may be a new Devil's Hole as made popular by Mel Waters. This one was discovered in Austria and despite the news story trying to downplay it or trivialize it I do find it interesting.

Buried UFO? Metallic Object Found In Hole By Franz Knoglinger In Austria

Only time will tell what's at the bottom of that hole.

The New Phoenix Lights

In 1997 there were strange lights over Phoenix, Arizona. Now there is another mystery lighting up the night sky.

Flashing Phoenix Lights A Mystery

This phenomenon, while different in appearance from the original Phoenix Lights, is no less mysterious or interesting. I cant wait to see if anyone figures this one out. Anyone have any ideas?

Here's more on the 1997 event above Phoenix: Phoenix Lights

Two Ways of Looking at the World

It occurred to me that there are essentially two fundamental ways of looking at the world around us. There is the perspective that everything is connected and there is the perspective that everything is separate and distinct. It's my feeling that this is the primary issue that science and occultism differ on that gives rise to so many other disagreements.

In all schools of occultism everything is predicated on a fundamental connection between all pieces of the universe. How can the stars and planets influence earthly events or gemstones and plants add their virtues to a spell? Everything is connected by virtue of being a part of the same creation. This same connection is what allows the magician to draw power from the Akasha or command a spirit in the name of a deity. This connection is necessary to everything considered to be magical. The whys tend to be more important than the hows in this way of thinking.

The scientific method is all about separating and isolating things to observe how they work on their own and then combining these observations to predict how things will work together. It focuses on the obvious causality of objects bumping into each other and an action causing an equal and opposite reaction. This way of gaining knowledge assumes no inherent connection between all existence in the way that the occult sciences do and focuses entirely on a "strings and pulleys" modality. It excels at finding the hows but does little to answer the whys.

So which is superior? Neither in my opinion. Each has it's positives and negatives. The connected view asserts a deep connection between all things but very rarely goes so far as to flesh out the specific rules of these connections or interactions. A "good enough" attitude carries far and as long as something works there's not a lot of reason to question or explain it. The separate view is pretty good at discerning the physical virtues of a given thing on its own but neglects that in Nature everything is constantly interacting with everything else. Nothing exists in a perfect vacuum. Because of this the scientific understanding is not necessarily true to life and the very nature of the scientific method excludes it from being able to observe things on a more holistic level, without isolation.

This being the case, I can see potential value in a synthesis of these two approaches. Applying occult philosophy to scientific exploration and applying the scientific method to metaphysical operations would only serve to broaden our horizons and expand our understanding. Isn't that what it's all really about anyway? I am not naive enough to expect this idea to be taken seriously by mainstream academia though. I offer it as inspiration to fellow occultists and magicians who are looking for a way to refine and develop their art. Take a cue from science and explore and record. Try something new and document it. Actually, I find it easy to take occult inspiration from scientific knowledge of a given process or substance.

Those of a scientific mind may still be able to appreciate the fact that everything is made of the same stuff (matter and energy) and did ultimately come from the same place (the beginning of the universe). It's truly profound regardless of one's paradigm and I think it captures the feeling of awe that drives both scientists and occultists.

Lake Music of Yellowstone Park

No explanation for mysterious ‘lake music’ reported by many Yellowstone visitors

This is the first I've ever heard of this phenomenon but I find it pretty interesting. It would seem to fall into the category of Forteana labeled brontides. Given the recent media buzz concerning mysterious trumpet sounds coming out of nowhere I'm wondering if anyone else will see similarities with this "lake music." Mysterious and unexplained sounds seem to be coming to the forefront as of late and I can't wait to see if more will be reported.

The Power of Stones

Recently I've been reading more into the esoteric or magical properties of gems, stones, and crystals. I had a cursory knowledge of this area of magic before but had never taken much interest in it as far as actual practice though. That has changed recently and I picked up a few specimens at a recent metaphysical fair to get me started.

My opinion on the power of stones is that they are a way to trigger things within us as well as ways for us to focus on particular energies. I'm not sure if stones have any intrinsic power unrelated to what we give to them but I don't doubt that they have power within the context of magic and mysticism. I've actually acquired a couple of stones specifically to help me out with my astral projection project.

Stones aren't anything new in magic but the New Age movement has brought the use of crystals and semi-precious stones more into the mainstream. As with just about anything New Age there seems to be quite a bit of conflicting information concerning individual stones. One source will attribute certain properties and another source will attribute different ones. Most of the time these properties are fairly similar or at least related and I've not come across too many outright contradictions between sources. That said, I use what sources tell me as guidelines. I realize that a particular stone may not behave the same for different people so I trust my gut. As cheesy as it may sound I think the best approach is to let the stone tell me what it can do rather than other people.

Even if one doesn't use stones in their own practice they may wish to look into the folklore associated with specific stones as it's rather fascinating. For anyone studying mysticism or esoterica the folklore surrounding stones can be informative of how a certain culture saw the world around them and the stones they pulled from the earth. It provides a window into our ancestors' minds in a way. For the student that actively engages in magic, folklore can provide ideas and inspiration.

Something worth mentioning for the person that may be interested in getting started with stones is that most stones are not very expensive. The most expensive piece I purchased recently was a tumbled celestite for $3.50. Prices can be much lower for raw stones such as the small amethyst point I bought for 75 cents a few months ago. Naturally, the higher the quality or value of the specimen the more it's going to cost, but getting started with a few basic stones with lots of ascribed attributes can be done for $10 or less depending on what specific stones you're looking for.

If anyone has any tips or tricks related to stone, gem, or crystal magic then feel free to share in the comments below. Here is a link to a site that I've found has some associations and correspondences for some stones I've found missing in the books I have that discuss the subject:

Psychic Revelation - Crystal Properties & Uses

UFOs, Aliens, and the Paranormal

I've blogged extensively about the connections between the UFO phenomenon and folkloric accounts of fairies and spirits. I've also written a little bit about some government conspiracy theories. Now, taking a turn toward unifying all of this strangeness, I present this article that I very much enjoyed reading:

Behind the Mask: Aliens or Cosmic Jokers?

Hopefully you'll all find it as intriguing and interesting as I did. All of this talk of the Nine is new to me which just goes to show that no matter how much you think you've heard of, there's always something else out there.

Contradiction and Duality in Esoterica

Anyone that has delved into the occult or other forms of esoterica has probably noticed that there is a lot of contradiction going on in. Not necessarily in the sense of saying one thing and then saying another but more along the lines of taking two sides of a duality and combining them. It recently occurred to me that this is done for a very good reason.

As humans we tend to see the world in pairs of opposites: hot and cold, wet and dry, light and dark, good and evil. The list goes on and on. In truth, reality is a continuum of these assorted extremes but that doesn't stop us from categorizing things by what they are opposed to. This is just how we make sense of our world. This said, how can we understand the true nature of the world, the continuum, without combining these opposites in some way?

At the boundary where opposites meet, or even in that gradient between them, we find beautiful contradiction and dynamic interplay. This brings us to phrases like "the Middle Way" and to concepts like the androgynous Mercury that is a mixture of male and female. As Terence said, "Moderation in all things." I think this applies to belief systems and ideas as well. Perhaps we can only understand the extremes by seeing how they interact with one another. To know cold one has to know warmth.

I think that there is another, more important reason for expressing esoteric ideas in contradictions and riddles though. I think this is because some ideas or concepts can only be expressed by contradiction. Contradiction forces us to think outside of our typical day-to-day categorization. It frees our minds of the chains of physicality for a moment to consider the impossible, the higher realms of mind and spirit. Contradictions such as "cold fire" force us into a non-linear state of mind which is conducive to spiritual exploration and allows us to gain an inkling of the infinite.

Contradictions aren't always used to obfuscate information in esoteric texts. Sometimes that's the only way to actually convey the teachings. Some things cannot be expressed in words and sometimes the best we can do is guide the mind to that truth with something that ostensibly doesn't make much sense. It's not necessarily about reserving information for the chosen ones that can decipher the text; it's also about using that language to guide seekers to the state of mind necessary to really grasp what's being conveyed. Keep this in mind the next time you're reading through an old grimoire or religious text. You may begin to see things in a new light.

Astral Projection - A Personal Project

Astral projection is a subject that seems like a no-brainer for someone like me to be interested in. For me, the interesting part is how hard it's been for me to get much experience at all with this phenomenon. Most other mystical or esoteric phenomena I've made an effort to accomplish came comparatively easy with a little focused intent and study, but astral projection is one of those things that is almost infuriating in how hard it is for me to do it.

I've read book after book, tried the standard techniques, tried to develop my own theory and methods, and yet I've had very limited success. Part of my problem is that I seem to only ever have time or desire to try it out after I lie down to go to sleep for the night which is a huge no-no for conscious astral projection. To date the best I've ever been able to accomplish are some lucid dreams and some false awakenings and even those were entirely by accident. Typically what happens is I lie in a trance, experience vibrations and sensations of motion, maybe feel my limbs floating about, but I just never seem to be able to make it completely out of my body.

Instead of giving up like some people might, I'm actually going to pick astral projection back up after many months of disinterest. This is actually the project I mentioned in my last post regarding getting back into doing stuff. My thinking is that if I continually study astral projection, make an effort to practice some standard techniques, and get my mind right as to how I think it works then maybe I'll get lucky one of these times and go zooming out amongst the cosmos.

So the first part of my project is a formal statement of intent here. Maybe with it written for all to see I'll have a little more motivation to get it right this time. This will also be a way for me to eventually give some kind of progress report or at least relay what I've learned. Anyone that has any advice or experiences is more than welcome to share them below in the comments. Wish me luck.

The Tepaphone - Black Magic Meets Technology

I learned of the tepaphone while reading a novel that mentioned it in passing but it was one of those things that I forgot about for years until I reread the book a few months ago. Curious about the word, I decided to look it up online and what do you know? The tepaphone is a real (and perhaps very dangerous) piece of occult lore.

The tepaphone is essentially a black magic psychotronic death ray. Using magic to hurt people is probably as old as magic but leave it to the Germans to build a machine to optimize the whole ordeal. Conceived of by a secret German occult order, the tepaphone is supposedly a combination of wire coils and lenses used to project some kind of energy onto a target that would harm them greatly. Now, when I hear about this my mind goes spinning, dreaming up explanations for how this type of device works from an occult perspective (and I do have a few ideas) but without actually seeing one I'm not sure I can know for sure.

Having taken a professional interest in optics as of late I find it fascinating that lenses are at work in this device. I wonder what effect they produce while also considering the symbolic power of something that can bend the path of light or even split it into its constituent parts. I guess I'm mostly interested in the possibility of combining something from my mundane life with something from my magical life to get a powerful effect at the end. I wouldn't think this type of device would be limited solely to hurting people either, if it were modified.

I don't know if I'll ever build a tepaphone of my own but it has definitely sparked my imagination to maybe try some new things when it comes to magic (or even psychotronics/radionics). If my surmising of the principles behind the tepaphone is correct then I'd think one wouldn't need to salvage an old magic lantern to build a rough replica to experiment with. It could be as simple as a consecrated flame and a way to creatively direct some intention.

The articles below will more than whet the appetite of any interested occultist. Credit to the respective authors for inspiring this post and my explorations into this area of the mystical.

Tepaphone – The Magickal Death Ray
STRANGE MACHINES
Oh Tepaphone, Oh Tepaphone

Doing Stuff

A problem that I encounter a lot in paranormal or occult groups is a that there is a lot of discussing and philosophizing but not a lot of practice. Granted, it's difficult to do any sort of group practice when the group is hosted on a message board or chat server. However, I feel it's important to guard against armchair occultism which is too easy to fall into. Day-to-day life tends to get in the way of metaphysical efforts but recognizing this is the first step in doing something about it.

Lately I've found myself invested in mundane concerns with not a lot of time to devote to occultism. When I do find time I usually spend it on the computer or in front of the television. Recognizing this, I'm going to make more of an effort to actually do something in the realm of the paranormal and occult. This may start as just reading another book for inspiration but I have a project in mind and a goal I want to work toward. I'm sure that I'm not the only occultist that has had this happen to them. I think that taking a break from occult or spiritual projects is sometimes necessary in order to rest and gain some perspective.

Now I'm ready to pick it back up again. Ready to do more rather than just talk about doing more. Hopefully this can serve as some inspiration to my fellow occultists out there that are tired of just learning stuff and now want to do stuff. Thanks to the people that have stressed doing stuff in the past and tried to get all of us lazy occultists motivated again. You know who you are. So what are you waiting for? Go do something.

2012 Scenarios Debunked

2012 Pictures: 6 Maya Apocalypse Myths Debunked

This is something to think about for anyone feeling on edge this year. This debunking says nothing of unforeseen supernatural influences but it does give a little more insight into the date and the theories that are getting passed around. There are, of course, many more individual theories of apocalypse as well as theories of transformation.

I don't worry about it too much. Whatever is coming, if anything, is totally beyond my control. An event of this magnitude is on a scale so large that my worry and fear will do absolutely nothing to thwart it. As such I don't worry about it. I just go on with my life. If this really is the last year then I'm going to live it how I want, not cowering in fear of something I have no control over. Live life to the fullest whether the world ends tonight, tomorrow, in December, or never.

A New Year of Weird Stuff

The New Year is upon us and it should be an interesting one. The culmination of this 2012 business along with the usual paranormal news should keep seekers of the strange busy. Stephen Wagner over at the Paranormal Phenomena section of About.com has compiled a recap of 2011's paranormal news stories and events, some of which I shared here over the course of the year.

Top Paranormal Events of 2011

Reading through the list made me realize how many strange things actually occur that see some kind of news exposure. Speaking of strange things and news exposure, there's already been a strange event similar to one that happened a year ago: another New Years bird die-off in Arkansas.

What a way to start off the year.