Temporary change in layout

I have just removed the Labels from this blog. The Label section just got so huge that if a reader wanted to print any post from this blog that it would chew up a dozen pages. I have yet to figure out how I am going to deal with putting up categories to make it easy for the reader to find all posts of a topic that interests them. I apologize for the temporary inconvenience.

Looking for goats to sacrifice

Today, in the Medieval Europe history class, the subject of religion came up. This is to be expected; after all, we were discussing the Church and heresy. In the interests of being fair, the professor stated that he was aware that there were some non-Christians in the room, and he also mentioned his own beliefs. Then he noted that he sometimes wished that he could ask his students what they believed.

At this point, the class clown spoke up and said, "I am a goat sacrifing pagan. Do I need to say more?"

And yes, I am the class clown. I am also hoping that I came across as a harmless kook.

After class, the professor and I were talking, along with other student. And the professor asked me if I prefered "Live or dead goats?"

I answered (without missing a beat) that I prefered mine in pastry form.

He laughed that I probably did----I think he might have noticed the number of cupcakes I buy from the various school club fund raisers.

But this got me to thinking about something that I need to find.

I need to find either a goat shaped cake pan, or goat shaped cookie cutter. If you know where I can get one, please leave an address in the comment section. Thanks.

*drooling* "Goat shaped pastries..."

Link: I have Royal Arch tool envy and who are these deniers

As most of my readers know, I follow several blogs. Today, on Gyllene Gryningen, there is a posting that brings out the tool envy in me; such pretty tools and wands, I have not.

Now my big question is: Who are these people trying to deny the connection between Freemasonry and Golden Dawn? Outside of Howe, I can't think of any serious attempts to do so.

Of course, there are those of us who refuse to believe that a Master Mason is the equal of an Adept Minor. Those of us who refuse to answer to the Masons are simply stating that the systems have went separate ways long ago...and that is merely an administrative issue. (Some of us also refuse to be demoted because of certain curriclum changes and because our lineage is not perfect, go figure that one out...again, an administrative issue.) We are not denying the connection, merely stating that just being a Master Mason grants you no special rights in our system.

(It is much like the relationship between the Elks, Odd Fellows and the Freemasons. They are all related, but different Orders.)

In fact, I think that it is safe to say that the connection between the two systems, if it has ever really been forgotten (or downplayed) has been rediscovered in recent years. If nothing else, my own interest in the Freemasons stems from my Golden Dawn involvements.

The only thing I can think of is perhaps it is different in the circles that VH Frater SR walks in. Then again, it is probably is considering that our two circles have the promotional "free in every box of cracker jack" land mine field separating them. We also have a pond separating us...oh, wait, that is an ocean.

Nevertheless, I cannot help wondering exactly who VH Frater SH is talking about. I am quite sure that I will find out soon enough.

(And guys, if we can't joke about the distance between us, and the reasons for it, what can we joke about?)

Crowley on Coffee

O coffee! By the mighty Name of Power do I invoke thee, consecrating thee to the Service of the Magic of Light. Let the pulsations of my heart be strong and regular and slow! Let my brain be wakeful and active in its supreme task of self-control! That my desired end may be effected through Thy strength, Adonai, unto Whom be the Glory for ever! Amen without lie, and Amen, and Amen of Amen.

---The Late, Great and Current Ipsissimus, Aleister Crowley

Divination: Why I hate being right

Earlier today, I had a friend call me. "You were right," she said. After I figured out what she was talking about (my brain was still editing a webpage detailing the official lodge position on Thelema), I made that noise I occasionally make (the one that makes it sound like I am chewing on a cog---sort of a grinding teeth noise combined with a sigh).

I did not want to be right. I hoped that I was wrong. I hoped that I was wrong so much that I did not pull out my Tarot cards or any other ritual props.

It is one thing to be right about the future when you don't care about the outcome. It is another thing to be right about a situation when you actually care about one or more of the people that the outcome affects.

Occasionally being right about a situation hurts because of the pain that others are feeling.

How many Neophyte Grades does it take to be an Adept?

The other day, I was talking to someone who was trying to impress me. And in desperation (I guess), they mentioned how many groups that they have been in over the space of their esoteric career.

(Ok, "career" is probably not the right word to use here. But I can't think of a better one off the top of my head. Free feel to make suggestions in the comment section.)

Poking at it with a stick, I learned that they have never got past first or second stage in any group. So in Wicca, think First Degree (maybe); in Golden Dawn, think Zelator (maybe).

Exactly how many times though Neophyte does it take to become an Adept?

(Hey, I hear that groan from the peanut gallery.)

Truth be told, it does not matter how many times you went though Neophyte, or your Year and a Day, if you do not get much further than that.

I have several Neophyte Grade experiences, and you only hear me talk about two of them. And you only ever hear me talk about one Year and a Day. I had more than just these three, but these are the only ones that matter to me or anyone else for that matter. I don't think that I mention all the groups I have been in over the years.

Likewise, I have been exposed to several correspondence courses. Again, how many do you actually hear me mention?

(I sometimes think that I have seen everything that might make its way into a correspondence course. Then I get surprised by something.)

Truth of the matter is that it impresses no one when you tell them how many groups you have been in, or how many courses you have studied (or in some cases, paid for and never opened).

What we are curious about is what is the highest level you have obtained. And we do not want to hear you brag about it---we want to see proof in your actions and skills. Anything else and we suspect that your Grade is merely a peice of paper (if that) and that you might not be worth our time and trouble.

Of course, I could be wrong. Maybe there are people impressed by it. What do I know? After all, I am the person standing on top of a soapbox.

Discordianism on "Them"

THE FIVE ORDERS OF DISCORDIA ("THEM")
Gen. Pandaemonium, Commanding

"And behold, thusly the Law formulated: IMPOSITION of Order=escalation of Disorder!" [H.B.T.; The Gospel According to Fred, 1:6]

The seeds of the ORDERS OF DISCORDIA were planted by Greyface into his early disciples. They form the skeleton of the Aneristic Movement, which over emphasizes the Priniciple of Order and is anatagonistic to the necessary compliment, the Principle of Disorder. The Orders are composed of persons all hung up in authority, security and control; i.e., they are blinded by the Aneristic Illusion. They do not know that they belong to Orders of Discordia. But we know.

1. The Military Order of THE KNIGHTS OF THE FIVE SIDED TEMPLE. This is for all of the soldiers and bureaucrats of the world.

2. The Political Order of THE PARTY FOR WAR ON EVIL. This is reserved for lawmakers, censors, and like ilk.

3. The Academic Order of THE HEMLOCK FELLOWSHIP. They commonly inhabit schools and universities, and dominate many of them.

4. The Social Order of THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE FOR CONCERNED CITIZENS. This is mostly a grass-roots version of the more professional military, political, academic and sacred Orders.

5. The Sacred Order of THE DEFAMATION LEAGUE. Not much is known about the D.L., but they are very ancient and quite possibly were founded by Greyface himself. It is known that they now have absolute domination over all organized churches in the world. It is also believed that they have been costuming cabbages and passing them off as human beings.

A person belonging to one or more Order is just as likely to carry a flag of the counter-establishment as the flag of the establishment---just as long as it is a flag.

From Principia Discordia compiled by Malaclypse the Younger.