11 posts tagged “politics”

In podcast episode 71, our good friend Mitch Horowitz returns for the second part of our conversation about his excellent new book, “Occult America: The Secret History of How Mysticism Shaped Our Nation” published by Bantam (if you haven’t already, please listen to the first part of the interview – Mitch Horowitz and “Occult America” pt.1). Mitch is the editor-in-chief of Tarcher / Peguin in New York and has also been our guest previously in podcast 21, Podcast 42 – The Life and Work of Paul Foster Case, and Podcast 48 – The Life and Work of Col. Henry Steel Olcott.

Mitch begins this interview by recounting the story of Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism. Smith was raised in the Burned-over district in upstate New York and he and his family were steeped in supernatural ideas and practices, including astrology and magic. Knowledge of the occult and folklore traditions of the Burned-over District are integral to understanding Smith and his family. For example, as a young man, Smith earned money using “seer stones” to find buried treasure.

Mitch explains how the background knowledge about Joseph Smith may allow us to understand his later experiences that led to the founding of his church in a different way. Smith was also a Freemason and Masonic philosophy, rites, and symbols influenced his religious practices.

Next, Mitch reviews the origins and continued popularity of the Ouija Board. Although it is marketed as a toy or game, there are many examples of paranormal activity associated with its use.

Last, Mitch delves into the story of Edgar Cayce. An extremely popular medium, Cayce is notable for the tremendous number of accurate predictions and readings that he gave while in a trance state. Mitch also highlights the high moral character of Cayce and its importance in the growth of New Age ideas and philosophies.

Again, I highly recommend “Occult America: The Secret History of How Mysticism Shaped Our Nation” by Mitch Horowitz. It is a well-researched, well-written and a crucial record of the hidden history of the United States.

relevant links:

Mitch Horowitz

“Occult America: The Secret History of How Mysticism Shaped Our Nation” by Mitch Horowitz

Mitch Horowitz and “Occult America” pt.1

Podcast 42 – The Life and Work of Paul Foster Case

Podcast 48 – The Life and Work of Col. Henry Steel Olcott

“Burned-over District” Wikipedia entry

“Joseph Smith, Jr.” Wikipedia entry

“The Magus” by Francis Barrett

“Three Books of Occult Philosophy” by Henry Cornelius Agrippa of Nettesheim

“Book of Mormon” Wikipedia entry

“Mormonism” Wikipedia entry

“Latter Day Saint movement” Wikipedia entry

“William Morgan (anti-Mason)” Wikipedia entry

“Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial” Wikipedia entry

“Ouija” Wikipedia entry

“The Changing Light at Sandover” Wikipedia entry

“Edgar Cayce” Wikipedia entry

Association for Research and Enlightenment

intro music by HipGnosis

background music by Darkfold – “Nomads”

outro music by William Zeitler – “The Fixed Stars, the Frontier to the Beyond”

download .mp3 podcast file -- http://media.blubrry.com/occultofpersonality/www.occultofpersonality.net/wp-content/uploads/OoP_Podcast71_OccultAmerica_2.mp3

In podcast episode 70, our good friend Mitch Horowitz joins us again to discuss his excellent new book, “Occult America: The Secret History of How Mysticism Shaped Our Nation” published by Bantam Books. Mitch is the editor-in-chief of Tarcher / Peguin in New York and has been our guest previously in podcast 21, Podcast 42 – The Life and Work of Paul Foster Case, and Podcast 48 – The Life and Work of Col. Henry Steel Olcott.

Mitch begins our conversation by describing his observations of the esoteric history of the United States of America. American occultists evangelized esoteric ideas and planted the seeds for alternative New Age spirituality and self-help concepts, like positive thinking, that have spread around the world today. The intertwining of this occult history and the social development of the country is very often overlooked, glossed-over, or written out of mainstream history. Then Mitch tells us the intriguing story of the Publick Universal Friend, a spirit channeler that was the first public female religious figure in the country.

Next, Mitch talks about the speculation about America’s role as a laboratory for religious exploration. He describes the integral role that Freemasonry and its philosophy played in the formation of the United States of America and its influence towards greater religious tolerance and liberalism cannot be overstated. He discusses the origins of the Craft and the real requirement for secrecy in the past and employment of ancient symbolism.

Jason Augustus Newcomb returns to the show in this episode to discuss his book “Practical Enochian Magick” and other subjects.

We discuss the allure and power of the Enochian system and Jason’s practical approach and he talks about the inherent dangers of all Magickal practices.

Jason talks about solar cycles and astrological currents, the coming of Spring, and the current economic crisis. He notes that these situations can be an opportunity for change and self-actualization is the key to success.

clipped from www.occultofpersonality.com In a continuation from podcast 11, KDB elucidates on the American political landscape, the upcoming 2008 Presidential election, and the Iraq War. “Though the demonism of the Middle Ages seems to have disapppeared, there is abundant evidence that in many forms of modern thought - especially the so-called “prosperity” psychology, “will-power-building” metaphysics, and systems of “high-pressure” salesmaship - black magic has merely passed through a metamorphosis, and although its name be changed its nature remains the same.” - Manly P. Hall, “The Secret Teachings of All Ages” Readers Ed. 2003 Tarcher / Penguin, p. 318 In addition, Kent shares his thoughts, as a long-time research journalist, on eso-research, alternative media, and the nature of certain well-known reptilian concepts. Always informative and outspoken, Kent brings his years of experience and expertise to analyse the current situation.

clipped from www.occultofpersonality.com Kent returns for the first in a multi-part series examining the concept of talismans and mass media marketing. This can take a benign form such as a popular rock music album. Or it can take a more malevolent form as does some political marketing. Kent’s expertise in these areas is invaluable. Listen as he breaks down the characteristics of these marketing campaigns and explains the connections between their composition and success. The remainder of the series will be posted next week. Stay tuned.

Although the 18th century is often referred to as the “Age of Reason and Enlightenment” in the history books of western civilization, this is merely an interpretation to avoid the prevalence of mysticism and occult studies by the very same men credited with scientistic philosophies. The resurgence in the ideals of alchemy and Hermeticism were in full bloom in western Europe and their colonies as evidenced by the study of historically important personages from George Washington and Benjamin Franklin to Voltaire and Rosseau and so many more. It is actually a very interesting dichotomy in that some occult philosophies predominant in this time period did actually seek to improve and progress humanity, although their motivations and methods may seem so antiquated as to be incomprehensible to some and questionable, at best, to others. No doubt one of the most interesting, being the most mysterious, was the Comte de St.-Germain.

Read more...

On March 17, a date now celebrated everywhere as St. Patrick's Day - the day that St. Patrick drove the Serpents from the Blessed Isle, was the same date in 1244 that many of the perfecti of the gnostic Cathars were burned to death after the fall of their fortress of Montsegur to the siege of the Inquisition.

Hancock & Bauval's excellent book, Talisman, tells the story of the Albigensian Crusade, a battle not only for life and death, but for men's eternal souls. One of the reasons why the Cathars in Occitania had been able to hold out since the French occupation began in 1229 was the natural defenses of the mountaintop fortress of Montsegur. The perfecti would often flee to their safe haven from the Inquisition and it's murderous minions. This place stood as a symbol of their resistance and endurance in the face of violence and religious and spiritual persecution.

The event that supposedly began the downfall of Montsegur was when, in May of 1242, the lord of the castle, Peter Roger of Mirepoix, sent assassins to Avignonet to kill the Inquisitors. They claimed to have done it to extinguish the Inquisition altogether, but it had just the opposite effect. The siege of Montsegur began a year later and was over in 10 months. Hundreds of perfecti, the clergy of the Cathars - considered holy men and women, were dragged out of the castle and down the mountain to be burned alive. The French crusaders created a little Hell on Earth.

Is it just a coincidence that the date this event occurred on is March 17 and that this date is commemorated the world over as a (semi) religious holiday named for a saint? Were the gnostic Cathar perfecti the Serpents, and Montsegur their Blessed Isle?

2007 Occult of Personality. Licensed under Creative Commons.

In a continuation of a theme from the other day regarding the influences on the "Founding Fathers" (see On the American Capital), we turn again to the wise words of Manly P. Hall, 33rd degree. His incredibly detailed research also reveals the same point - hermeticism was a major influence, to the exclusion of most any other.

From his masterpiece, The Secret Teachings of All Ages:

The Fraternity of R.C. is an august and sovereign body, arbitrarily manipulating the symbols of alchemy, Qabbalism, astrology, and magic to the attainment of its own peculiar purposes, but entirely independent of the cults whose terminology it employs.

[One of the major objectives of the Fraternity is:] The abolition all monarchical forms of government and the substitution therefor of the rulership of the philosophic elect. The present democracies are the direct outgrowth of Rosicrucian efforts to liberate the masses from the domination of despotism. In the early part of the eighteenth century the Rosicrucians turned their attention to the new American Colonies, then forming the nucleus of a great nation in the New World. The American War of Independence represents their first great political experiment and resulted in the establishment of a national government founded upon the fundamental principles of divine and natural law. As an imperishable reminder of their sub rosa activities, the Rosicrucians left the Great Seal of the United States. The Rosicrucians were also the instigators of the French Revolution, but in this instance were not wholly successful, owing to the fact that the fanaticism of the revolutionists could not be controlled and the Reign of Terror ensued.

This is reminiscent of the discussions of the Promethean faith - "Fire In the Minds of Men" - with both Terry Melanson and the Collins brothers.

With Rosicrucianism, it is certainly conceivable that those ignorant of the secret society might confuse their signature symbols for those of Christianity, which they most certainly are not. How much a factor is this confusion in the mistaken notion that "religious" beliefs influenced the founders?

You've heard of the Rose Garden?

The first part of this interview with authors Phillip and Paul Collins can be found here -- http://rochester92.vox.com/library/post/an-uprising-against-promethean-hubris-pt-1.html

In your opinion, is the continuation, even perpetuation of classical symbolic motifs due to a simple lack of originality or inability to create new motifs, or is it perhaps something more complex? Is it at all possible that our psyches have been somehow preprogrammed to respond to these motifs due to genetics, or might it be a projection of cosmic consciousness /  mind of God that we all access knowingly or not, or maybe a combination?

In some instances, the selection of particular logos and their iconic similarities to older motifs may actually be attributable to a lack of originality. Certainly, we are living in a time where there is nothing new under the sun. Just look at Hollywood. The entertainment industry is so creatively bankrupt that it has resorted to recycling the same films over and over again.

That being said, there is definitely some deliberate intent underpinning the selection of familiar motifs. As any semiotician will tell you, there is always a reason for a particular sign to be chosen. Signs communicate messages. So, the choice of a sign hinges on what message the selector wishes to convey to the percipient. Some signs have been invoked so much over the years that they have become virtually archetypal. So, invoking those same signs again or developing a new sign that iconically resembles an older one will typically relay the same denotative and connotative meanings.

For instance, in his second inaugural speech, George W. used the phrase, "fire in the minds of men." This is the very same phrase that Fyodor Dostoevsky used in The Possessed to describe the Promethean faith of the early socialist revolutionaries. George W. Bush's invocation of the phrase is what semioticians call an "index." It references something else. In this case, Bush was referencing the Promethean faith. Bush's invocation of the phrase also qualifies as an intertextual reference. It associates the text of neoconservativism with the text of Promethean radicalism of earlier sociopolitical Utopian movements.

Chances are that Bush was not aware of the semiotic significance of this phrase, but his speech writers definitely were. George W. was surrounded by neoconservative ideologues at the time. The neoconservatives owe their heritage to the Promethean faith. Claes G. Ryn has characterized the neoconservatives as "neo-Jacobins." The Jacobinism of revolutionary France could be considered a precursor to all modern socialist revolutionary movements. In the case of the neoconservatives, they are merely Trotskyites who have blended their leftist philosophy with Leo Straussian fascist additives and technocratic concepts. Irving Kristol, who is considered the godfather of neoconservativism, was a young Trotskyist. The neoconservative concept of a "global democratic revolution" is merely the latest incarnation of Trotsky's Fourth International for permanent revolution.

So, for those who were interpolated, Bush's invocation of Dostoevsky's famous phrase semiotically gesticulated towards these themes. Some segments of the Establishment, which is composed largely of adherents to old Enlightenment rationalism, probably understood the real message. No doubt, some of the Eastern elite did as well. Putin, who exhibits some Stalinist proclivities, probably recognized the Trotskyist pedigree of the neoconservatives and understood its implications for his hegemony. The Trotskyists have been engaged in an ideological feud with their Stalinist counterparts for a long time. The "liberalization" of the old Soviet Union, which ex-KGB officer Anatoliy Golitsyn called a hoax, allowed the tradtional communist hardliners to revitalize their waning hegemony. Now, they are becoming overtly defiant toward the Trotskyist neoconservative regime in the West. Putin is already aligning himself with communist China against the West. A Sino-Russian superstate would prove to be a formidable opponent for the neoconservatives' "global democratic revolution." We cover such a possible conflict in the new edition of The Ascendancy of the Scientific Dictatorship. At any rate, what is important to understand is the semiotic significance of the terminology invoked by George W.

We could go on and on about semiotics. The iconic similarities between the TIA's offical logo and the insignia of the Insinuating Brethren... Nancy Pelosi's recent reference to a "new order of the centuries"... the esoteric iconography that adorns public monuments... we could go on and on. What is important to take away from these examples is a continuity of thought. Ultimately, this is a conspiracy of ideas. Demonstrating organizational continuity is problematic in conspiracy research. However, demonstrating ideational continuity is a bit easier. In some instances, an ideational continuum is axiomatic and any educated individual won't need a decoder ring to identify it. Unfortunately, many people are not educated. Bread and circuses comprise their daily "education." In addition, many people have already unconsciously adopted virulent strains of thought. Authoritarian hierarchilization facilitates the transmission of memes from the higher echelons of power to the lower layers of socioeconomic strata. Thus, society tangibly enacts the occult dictum, "As above, so below."

“Once in a while you can get shown the light, in the strangest of places, if you look at it right.” – Robert Hunter

Red Rose

The troubadours traveled the land in the times of the golden age. They came to town, creating tremendous excitement. We’d all gather together in the sacred places to not only listen, but participate in the harmony of the crowd, enjoying the music and magick as they cast their spell. Mind expanding rituals took place before and during the performance, the participants all melding together in a cosmic consciousness… at least while the music played and the colours swirled.

“There's a band out on the highway
They're high-stepping into town
It's a rainbow full of sound
It's fireworks, calliopes and clowns
Everybody's dancing

Come on children, come on children
Come on clap your hands

Sun went down in honey
And the moon came up in wine
You know stars were spinning dizzy
Lord the band kept us so busy
We forgot about the time

They're a band beyond description
Like Jehovah's favourite choir
People joining hand in hand
While the music plays the band
Lord they're setting us on fire

Crazy rooster crowing midnight
Balls of lightning roll along
Old men sing about their dreams
Women laugh and children scream
And the band keeps playing on

Keep on dancing through to daylight
Greet the morning air with song
No one's noticed but the band's all packed and gone
Was it ever here at all?
But they kept on dancing”

- from “The Music Never Stopped”

Yes indeed, I was one of those in the crowd, partaking of the music and cosmic consciousness, to some degree. Speaking as a fan of the music and former fan of the band, the Grateful Dead were one of a kind.

The themes present throughout their lyrics, symbols, and mythology, combined with their initial role as the house band of the Acid (LSD) Tests and cult following make the Grateful Dead one of the most interesting bands around in terms of the hidden, or occult, connections.

Anyone who’s listened to “Dark Star -> St. Stephen” from Live Dead can attest to its magickal qualities. Go on, turn down the lights, spark up the candles and whatever else you’ve got and listen to it. This is a powerful piece of music, made to affect the listener on a mystical level.

“Dark star crashes, pouring its light into ashes.
Reason tatters, the forces tear loose from the axis.
Searchlight casting for faults in the clouds of delusion.
Shall we go, you and I while we can
Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds?

Mirror shatters in formless reflections of matter.
Glass hand dissolving to ice petal flowers revolving.
Lady in velvet recedes in the nights of good-bye.
Shall we go, you and I while we can
Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds?”

And what of the Dark Star that is mentioned? What does its symbolism imply? The seemingly nonsensical lyrics are akin to reading an obscure alchemical or occult text. The album cover doesn’t disappoint either, invoking the same ideas.

Not only will we look at the rather well-known LSD distribution role and how that fits in with larger political conspiracy, but also the symbolism in the band's artistry and song lyrics. A pivotal figure in both areas is the main lyricist, Robert Hunter.

Hunter was one of those involved in the MK-ULTRA LSD experiments along with Ken Kesey, author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and leader of the Merry Pranksters, and poet Allen Ginsberg in 1964 at Stanford University.

To truly comprehend these experiments and their purpose, it is also necessary to understand Aldous Huxley and the plan for pharmaceutical control. Huxley spearheaded the Tavistock LSD program.

“There will be in the next generation or so, a pharmacological method of making people love their servitude, and producing... a kind of painless concentration camp for entire societies,” Huxley stated. [1]

“Huxley collaborator Keith Ditman provided author Ken Kesey with an unlimited supply of LSD, and it was from this small group that arose Kesey's guerrilla theatrical Merry Pranksters and the Grateful Dead, a rock band that still commands a large cultic following after the demise of its leader. According to a 1968 FBI memorandum, Jerry Garcia, the leader of the Grateful Dead, was employed “to channel youth dissent and rebellion into more benign and non-threatening directions.”” [2][3]

Jerry Garcia also went by the moniker of “Captain Trips,” mimicking the work of Capt. Hubbard, a former high-level OSS officer known as the “Johnny Appleseed of LSD.”

As anyone who has tried it can tell you, LSD is just no good for any kind of control of those under its influence. However, it can very well distract or disengage those who use it from what could be termed ‘practical reality of the everyday world’.

Author of Mind Control, World Control, Jim Keith states it plainly:

“I believe that dumping LSD on the populace of the planet was seen as one of those high-leverage activities. It was a way of turning the masses away from a political activism that might net them a share of the world pie, and toward the life of ecstatic mystic peasantry.” [4]

So when Robert Hunter penned the lyrics to what would become known as “U.S. Blues”, I wonder what he was really thinking? Is it just a bit of fun or something more sinister?

"I'm Uncle Sam,
that's who I am,
been hidin' out,
in a rock 'n' roll band."

Now it should be noted that a large percentage of those who experienced LSD, me included, would still have done it knowing this in advance. The benefits in terms of consciousness expansion may outweigh its dangers, but that certainly cannot be said for all who indulged… just like anything else.

From this point, it is clear that the Grateful Dead’s involvement with LSD and its distribution and dissemination is legendary. For anyone wanting to read more about this topic (although without the Huxley and Tavistock conspiratorial bent), check out Tom Wolfe’s highly entertaining The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.

With regard to the occult concepts connected with the Grateful Dead, it is notable that the original name of the band was The Warlocks. Before that, Jerry played in a band called The Zodiacs. Starting to see a pattern? The story of the name Grateful Dead is an interesting one as well. It involves a traveler who happens upon a funeral, but the deceased was too poor to pay for burial. The traveler is generous enough to foot the bill and the deceased aids the traveler in the future as the “grateful dead.” The concepts involved here are certainly noteworthy too: life after death / reincarnation and communication with the spirit world.

Robert Hunter was one of many figures in and around the band interested to some degree with the occult, theosophy, Rosicrucianism, alchemy, and similar ideas. [5]

In fact, the Acid Tests reminded some involved of an alchemical reaction:

“The whole point of the acid test, it seemed to Bear (Owsley, renowned LSD chemist), was to “expose you right down to your infinite detail, exposing you to forces of the universe that [Kesey and the Pranksters] didn’t thoroughly understand.” All the demons and spirits that are part of mythology and part of alchemical lore were “part of that real other reality which you fall right into with things like the acid test … They had discovered on their own the secret rituals of the ancient witchcraft rites and alchemical rites of human history that had been lost, suppressed by the Christian church among other things.” [6]

Now, let’s take a look at some of the symbolism of the band’s artistry and lyrics. First, the symbols of the band are very closely identified with them, probably more so than any other artist. The Steal Your Face logo with its death head and lightening bolt with red, white, and blue signifies the not only the U.S. but also invokes the concept of the red and blue degrees of freemasonry.

Another highly used symbol is the red rose.

Throughout time, it has been a symbol associated with secrecy (a la Rosicrucians). The other imagery tends toward animated figures of death. Many other occult secret societies use similar imagery whose stated purpose is reminding initiates "that the spiritual nature attains liberation only after the philosophical death of man's sensuous personality."[7]

In terms of song lyrics, there are probably too many to choose from, but check out tunes like “Fire on the Mountain”, a nod to shamanism, “Franklin’s Tower,” referring to founding father and secret society grand master Benjamin Franklin and the Liberty Bell, or “St. Stephen” with its rose imagery and wishing well, golden bell, and ladyfingers dipped in moonlight. Robert Hunter is a semiotician, or one who specializes in the theory and study of signs and symbols. Reading his lyrics makes this obvious.

Another notable quality of Hunter’s lyrics is the way they continually reveal different aspects of meaning over time. This is difficult to describe to someone totally unfamiliar, but I believe most fans would agree with this statement and most hermeticists would as well.

At this point, the obligatory mention of the fact that the Grateful Dead played at the Giza pyramids in Egypt is due. The performance at Giza must have been quite a spectacle, but quite literally overshadowed by the pyramids themselves.

Of course, no investigation of this type would be complete without mentioning the fact that three consecutive keyboard players all died prematurely (a curse?). Ron ‘Pigpen’ McKernan died from alcoholism and related problems, Keith Godchaux in an auto accident, and Brent Mydland overdosed on heroin and cocaine. In addition, Jerry Garcia himself passed while in rehab to quit his addiction to heroin in 1995.

Not too long ago, it was publicized that two band members, Bob Weir and Mickey Hart, are also both members of the Bohemian Club. That’s right, the same one featured in the Bohemian Grove taped ritual. In light of the above information, does this seem at all out of character?

1. Cited in Smith, Caulfield, Crook, and Gershman, The Big Brother Book of Lists. (Los Angeles: Price/Stern, Sloan, 1984)

2. White, Carol, The New Dark Ages Conspiracy. (New York: New Benjamin Franklin House, 1984)

3. Keith, Jim. Mind Control, World Control. (Kempton, IL: Adventures Unlimited Press, 1997) p. 96-97.

4. ibid.

5. McNally, Dennis, A Long Strange Trip: The Inside History of the Grateful Dead. (Broadway Books, 2002)

6. ibid.

7. Hall, Manly P. The Secret Teachings of All Ages, readers' ed. (New York: Tarcher/Penguin, 2003). p. 235.

Additional source:

Lesh, Phil, Searching for the Sound: My Life With the Grateful Dead. 

2007 Occult of Personality. Licensed under Creative Commons.