Hey, y'all! I'm finally back to writing after a two-month break from the online world. I'm not even gonna try to catch up on the f-list, so if I missed something major, bring me up to speed.

Yesterday was a good one for me. I sang along to Dead Can Dance and danced a bit to Sing! Sing! Sing! The weather's been gorgeous here, cool and crisp. I'm glad to be able to enjoy it. I've been sorting and clearing out bookshelves, the craft closet(s) and what seems like endless reams of paperwork, trying to achieve that functional order out of chaos.

I need to cull my books even further, or at least invest in better, enclosed bookshelves. I'm not able to vacuum them regularly enough, and we have enough problems with dust mites and midges. I'm sure I can find a way to select the best from each subject area, but I'm not going to sacrifice one subject area for another. I couldn't chuck my science books to spare religious books or literature to spare history, for example. However, collectively, the nonfiction books require more space, and these are the books used most often.

If I could build my house with books, still having them somehow accessible and usable, I would. I'd build furniture from them, too. Although, I am aware entire libraries can be stored and accessed using these newfangled inventions like the DVD.

Aleister Crowley, British Intelligence and the Occult

Want a summer read that doesn't involve bodice-ripping romance or gum-popping fluff? (OK, maybe it does, after a fashion.) Check out this book written by Richard B. Spence. I do not suggest the contents would make the best evidence for a debate about the subject. However, if you want to wax along the theorhetical (misspelling intended) with a generous helping of speculation, you might just dig it!

*Was Crowley officially an agent of the British crown?
*Were Crowley's anti-Semitic rants and seemingly pro-Nazi sympathies an effort at counter-propaganda?
*Did Crowley have anything to do with the sinking of the Lusitania?
*Were his occult enclaves and activities merely cover for intelligence-gathering activities?

These are just a few of the questions discussed in Spence's book, published by Feral House. I was disappointed the book didn't delve more deeply into his activities related to Parsons and Cameron. (Although, there is an ad for Sex and Rockets in the back.) The coverage of Crowley's later years seems sparse in comparison to the rest, but the book purports to focus on his role as an agent, a role not actually proven. ( Curious? Click here to read more. )

I've tried lots of different techniques to deal with chronic PTSD, pain, etc., etc. for more years than I can recall. I've developed a tool-kit of my very own, part art, part science. And, slowly, surely, I am getting better day by day. With experience, I've come to understand that what works for one individual may well be quite toxic to another. This goes for medicine, therapeutic techniques, religion/philosophy, gender roles, gender preference and even food.

I know many people who've tried acupuncture. Some felt improvement in their symptoms; others did not. One veterinarian I knew said she thought it was useful in releasing the fascia when constricted, resulting in less pressure on the tissues beneath. Others offer only spiritual explanations for the effects.

Three family members of mine have tried it, four if you count myself. One found it successful for treating "frozen shoulder," which was actually related to constrictions in the fascia and muscle tissue. That family member only required two treatments and never had another problem with that shoulder. However, no one else who tried it found it helpful, myself included. Instead, it was simply a rather expensive experiment. Of course, we all came for different reasons with different conditions. I have other friends who swear by it as their main source for wellness.

Science-Based Medicine's blog is generally critical of most complementary techniques, mainly due to their marketing claims and their understating of risk. Of course, the same criticisms have been leveled at FDA-approved pharmaceuticals by proponents of complementary medicine. The debates are far from over, but they are interesting!

This particular post, Astrology with Needles: http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=583, is very intriguing for it's scope regarding the topic of acupuncture, broadening the discussion to include how occultism and healing practices are intimately intertwined and how they are rooted in worldwide Neolithic healing arts, including tattoo magic and blood ritual. The post is an excerpt from an article to be published later this year, positing that,

if the effects of “real” and “sham” acupuncture do not significantly differ in well-conducted trials, it is because traditional theories for selecting points and means of stimulation are not based on an empirical rationale, but on ancient cosmology, astrology and mythology. These theories significantly resemble those that underlined European and Islamic astrological medicine and bloodletting in the Middle-Ages.

The author, Ben Kavoussi, wants readers to see these techniques not so much as hidden knowledge, but as techniques which mirrored the ancients' understanding of the universe and themselves based on the observations they could make at the time. Basically, Kavoussi describes them as ancient arts based on primitive science which were discarded as science progressed.

Kavoussi notes the as above, so below thinking prevalent during the dawn of healing and takes us back to the legends of Hermes Trismegistus and the Emerald tablet. What I found very worthy of examination, from an occult studies perspective, is the variation of that episteme found in an Arabic version of the tablet:

An Arabic version of the Tablet by the Muslim polymath and alchemist Abu Musa Jābir ibn Hayyān (أبو موسى جابر بن حيان , c. 721-c. 815 AD) states “That which is above is from that which is below, and that which is below is from that which is above, working the miracles of One.”21 Given the prevalence of this set of fundamental beliefs throughout the ancient world, it seems that the natural philosophy that has given rise to the underlying theories of acupuncture in China stems from the same set of beliefs in that were also prevalent along the Silk Road in Persia, Mesopotamia, Egypt and in Greece and that have influenced the health and safety beliefs of pre-Christian Europe, such as the Eastern Mediterranean mystery cults22, or the early Gnostic Christianity.23

That version changes the emphasis of hierarchy a bit, implying more initiatory action on the part of the below. This would not be so distant from the thinking of many agnostics and atheists that those below may well have created those above, but I'm taking liberties with ancient intentions for the sake of discussion here. And I've digressed.

Kavoussi takes pains in his post to compare occult/healing systems, touching on many topics of occult history rarely seen in any mainstream publication. The comments are also lively. There's a description of ancient acupuncture in the comments that I'm very happy to report is not the variety I tried.

The major issue I have regards the comment where Kavoussi labels all alternative/complementary practices as nonsense. Some are certainly damaging, some are probably pointless, but that doesn't mean there is zero value in any associated practice. While I have deep appreciation for those making scientific claims to be able to prove them, some of these techniques are arts which may appeal to an individual's or a culture's emotions, helping them to process and release them.

Some of the greatest art has been inspired by or is a by-product of very irrational processes. On the other hand, given his position as a Captain in the Army Medical Service Corps, I appreciate Kavoussi's need to separate out those techniques that have actually been validated and verified through independent, unbiased study from those whose claims are many and grand but whose evidence is little.

I finally posted a new series of icons to the iconophiles community. Hope you enjoy!





Click here for more Flash Gordon icons!

When I'm feeling defensive, see a point with which I simply can't agree or am triggered by a sense of urgency relating to more serious, and perhaps, sometimes, even unrelated matters, I can be a bit catty when it comes to making my point. Imagine Bast transforming into Sekhmet, but turn down the consequences to suburban, lukewarm heat.

I do need to slow down and consider the source. I have a hard time not constantly analyzing and debating information. It has been to my peril in the past when I have tried to suspend this process, but I don't need to be so on guard 24/7. Not everyone wants to hear how I disagree with something. Most people just want support. There's a time and place for everything, and I do need to learn to distinguish between those times when opinions are being solicited and those times when it is better to keep my words to myself.

I do not want to be afraid to speak my mind despite learning quite early there could be serious consequences for doing so. However, it is a challenge to speak my mind without offending people sometimes. Others really couldn't care less about that. And there is much I admire about truly free speech, when the stream of consciousness flows freely, until it turns hateful and deliberately cruel. That happens often enough.

On the other hand, when it comes to actual injustice, especially injustice others cannot or will not acknowledge, sometimes there's no way to avoid poking that hornets' nest with a stick in order to get the conversation started, to get people to wake up. Couched in pleasant language, the impact of hard truth gets softened so much there's little impetus for change or for individuals to rethink their views. Then, the only way to communicate is to poke that hive and risk the sting.

Health Department Warning for Chesapeake Bay

Virginia Beach has instituted a ban on swimming or wading in sections of the Chesapeake Bay until further notice. Other cities bordering the Bay have made similar warnings this summer. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has reported frustration with EPA funding cuts, which may well have contributed to the growing problem. Furthermore, health departments surrounding the Bay, facing their own cutbacks, are hard pressed to provide the monitoring necessary to ensure public safety.

A range of illnesses, from gastroenteritis to septicemia, are suspected to be related to contamination in the Bay. The contaminants include a mixture of urban and suburban run-off pollution, agricultural and industrial pollutants, fecal material and a variety of pathogens. Infection can occur by direct exposure to polluted waters, especially if the skin is broken with cuts, scrapes, blemishes or other sores. Infection can also occur through consumption of undercooked seafood fished from local waters.

For many years, individuals reported a variety of illness they contracted after swimming in the Bay or local tributaries; however, this anecdotal evidence wasn't enough to be considered actionable. Health and environmental researchers have been working for years to gather enough evidence to reveal patterns in the infection rates and Bay exposures.

One problem is that many health departments do not test the levels of contaminants on weekends, when swimmers are most likely to be exposed. More activity along the shore stirs up contaminants from the bottom, increasing the risk for infection.

If you must swim, and must swim in saltwater, the local health department suggests swimming in the ocean rather than the Bay. Check out the reference links below; the video in the second link is especially eyebrow-raising.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/green/bal-beach-ban-0722,0,2018958.story

http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/green/bal-md.bayhealth07jul07,0,4664827.story

And, in other news, if you sun lovers wear sunscreen, please read the following story about modern sunscreens bleaching coral reefs: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jul/26/sunblock-environment-uc-coral. Some beaches located near reefs are banning sunscreen completely. Bill Nye reported about this problem in his new show Stuff Happens, the Beach episode: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tv/stuff-happens/episode-beach.html.

Even if you don't swim in the ocean, the chemicals still go down the drain when you bathe, eventually making their way back into the water supply. Fortunately there are alternatives. Sunscreens made with zinc oxide may be a pain to rub in, but they don't harm the oceans. And there are other natural alternatives available, but the statistics vary about their effectiveness. Of course, there are the basic barrier methods, too, including floppy hats, long-sleeved, loose clothing and big umbrellas.

Here's an article reporting on a study showing that for people with low self esteem, positive thinking methods can actually make them feel and perform worse for a variety of reasons. For one, in natural pessimists, these techniques can cause the mind to instantly create background chatter arguing why the positive thinking method or affirmation won't work. Left to their own devices, these individuals actually do better attending to their worst-case-scenario anxieties before engaging in action than they do by employing the happy-happpy joy-joy strategies which encourage them to purge such negative notions rather than to engage them.

The reverse also seems to be true. Go figure--people who think highly of themselves do very well thinking highly of themselves, which from a worry wart perspective, is the main point of most of the positive thinking strategies overtaking the mindspace at present. While this certainly doesn't characterize all optimists or positive thinking strategies, there is a pernicious brand of optimism that can suffocate the suffering with kindness and good intentions.

Of course, none of this is as cut and dry as the studies or the reporting might suggest. There are many people who employ both optimistic and pessimistic strategies, depending on their situations at any given moment. ( Read more about the tyranny of positive thinking. )

There's a stimulating post by Jeff Wagg: In Defense of Karma, on the James Randi Educational Foundation site. That's right--the haven of atheism, agnosticism and logic is debating karma. Wagg has basically taken a utilitarian attitude towards the topic in the post. I was a bit bemused thinking how many of those who practice what might be called practical magick have similar attitudes. Although I'm not expecting to see any discussions on the JREF soon about that taken very seriously. Maybe they'll surprise me. The comments on this particular post are certainly lively.

We have a mountain of books in our home, despite several rounds of donations. It's time once again for a culling.

Inspired by myth and legend, we have collected myths and commentaries about their cultures from around the world. Working backwards through works in sociology and anthropology, the assumptions and resulting speculations regarding the meaning of these stories to their cultures of origin and the translation of these myths becomes increasingly shaky.

However, the very mistakes can also be seen as an illustration of the times these works were produced. How individuals felt about the cultures they were describing and how they felt about their own times blends together in a very subjective fashion. Of course this happens in other disciplines, too, but when writers take on another culture, attempting to know that culture better than it can know itself, and then bend their interpretations to serve a contemporary social agenda, tolerance is limited and tempers flare easily and understandably.

This reinterpretation of myth and repurposing of culture has been common practice since the dawn of history, and is, itself, an important element in social growth. When done consciously, with the understanding of the participants, this process can provide wonderful inspiration for creative and inventive work. When misapplied, cultural nightmares can occur.

So how to deal with these old works? Which do I preserve as a testament to an important cultural movement or philosophy, if not for the accuracy of their research?

I have an old stack of Egyptology books by Budge, for example. Other works by Richard Francis Burton, while not discredited to the same extent as Budge, also take up a chunk of space. On the other hand, these works, when studied with corroborated history, etc. reveal much about how cultures come to think of themselves and the "other."

Graves and Murray belong to this group, too, and, since she relied on them for much of her research, so does Barbara Walker. [I've referenced her, too, so you could add me to the list if I professed to be an expert in world mythology or sociology.] These writers have been faulted for their biases and errors by more modern researchers with more cultural cooperation and information to shape their viewpoints.

This doesn't necessarily mean the prior works are now worthless, far from it. They may still serve to inspire, at the very least, to provoke one to inquire.

***Updates:

Would these works be considered appropriate sources for a course on anthropology or sociology? I suppose that would depend upon the professor and the nature of the assignment. If one were trying to write a modern history of ancient myth, belief and behavior, one would, presumably use the best resources to date. On the other hand, these writers are far from being 100% wrong, and there is much to be gained in examining their material.

Modern spiritual movements have been inspired by these works, making them culturally relevant and historically important. Individuals have used these stories in creating personal myth and ritual, balancing aspects of lives and selves. This behavior, of course, in no way depends on the veracity of the story in terms of shared reality. A temporary suspension of disbelief is all that is needed here.

So back to the question of what to do with these books? I still haven't decided. :I

I was much busier than I expected to be these past few weeks. I've had little time left for journaling, but I couldn't let the day pass without wishing those celebrating a very lovely Litha!

Updates to follow--hopefully before July!

Just a couple of links to share tonight. The first is a spicy little southern dish and cautionary tale from the talented Colleen Doran:


The Corner Store is where everyone gets their gas, their Twinkies, and their homemade potato salad, as there is a tiny little diner therein. Right there next to the diner counter is the door to the Loo of Love.

While a couple of old fogies (who never actually seem to leave the diner bench no matter what time of day it is) watched in amazement, Lil dragged a dazzled Bubba out of her limo and took him for a swirl around the basin; in the men’s room.

My mother was shocked:”But the lady’s room is so much cleaner!”

And if you need a little oxygen after that, check out this trippy vid, and let's hear it for lung power!

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1827871101?bctid=19507941001

Courtesy of goodbrains:Cat got your tongue? What happened to a male lion when he angered his jealous mate | Mail Online

Not much time to catch up on posts/comments today. I just wanted to wish all celebrating a very Happy Easter!

The Birkat Hachamah, the Blessing of the Sun, which occurs only once every 28 years, was celebrated this year on the eve of Passover, marking the fourth day of the creation story when the sun was placed in the heavens. Of course, not wanting their tradition to be confused with the practices of polytheists, this article from Google AP notes the celebration is not the same thing sun worship. Because that would just be wrong--I guess.

Devout Jews emphasize that they are not worshipping the sun, but rather paying homage to God.

Many self-described polytheists are much more nuanced in their approach to divine concepts than given credit for by monotheists. Most polytheists I've met describe a concept of a divine essence capable of manifesting in a multitude of forms, technically a form of panentheism. And while some may believe in the existence more than one distinct divine entities, I don't believe I know a single poly who feels compelled to lie prostrate before any planetary body unless in a creative or celebratory fashion.

It would be so hip if the different religious cultures could APPRECIATE what they had in common with other traditions, rather than trying ever so hard to distinguish themselves in such a way that it seems they're fleeing from the rest of humanity. "Hey, you got a ritual for that? We got a ritual for that! Neato." Instead, we still get brand wars.

Of course, now that I think of it, there's plenty that need not be shared, like gender bias, exploitation of the vulnerable, condemnation of homosexuality and an emphasis on rampant judgmentalism. However, much of cultural and religious ritual can be easily shared and celebrated by the larger community, in the same way cultural foods and music are shared and celebrated.

Such sharing often happens naturally in interfaith families where traditions are woven together to make a unique ritual tapestry. Interfaith families provide a template for good relations across cultures for the community at large. So for all those who are sharing their Passover tables this week, enjoy! May you be blessed with good food and good company.

2009 is the International Year of Astronomy, and today is the kickoff for 100 Hours of Astronomy, a worldwide celebration of space and space exploration. Join in the fun online for live webcasts or find out what events are happening in your area IRL.

Many schools, museums and local planetariums are planning their own events along with major observatories and universities around the world. Amateur astronomy groups will be available to give introductory lessons on the night sky and to offer a glimpse through their telescopes. If you can't get out for a view, there are opportunities online for virtual viewings.

24-hour Global Star Parties are planned for Saturday, the start of Yuri's Night, in honor of cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. Although the 100 Hours Event comes to a close on Sunday, the Yuri's Night celebrations are known to last more than a week in some places. Even if you're not planning to take part in any organized events, this is a great reason to at least look up and appreciate the beauty and wonder of the universe around us.

It could have been, of course, a meteor, a UFO, the second coming of Christ …


Beauty. If you didn't happen to catch my last post about the explosion in the skies over Tidewater Sunday evening, you can catch up on all the latest additions to the theory list by checking out the link in the quote above or the video below. The videographer did a great job capturing the both the strange and the beauty that is Virginia Beach. ♥ The Pilot also has cute little aliens on the main page for those who like that sort of thing. Enjoy!




PS: Think I went overboard on the tags for this post, but they were just so fun to add together!