Living Lost’s Neighborhood

For really real too.

October 17th, 2009, the day of inf...infaminy, inf... the day of reckoning!

I had a pretty normal day until that late afternoon when I felt like I had bad gas. Indigestion from he-double hockey sticks.

I went to bed that night and woke up around 2 am with this gnawing pain in the center of my chest. So I got up and the wife came along with me to the hospital. They checked my heart, took an x-ray, took some blood and found nothing really wrong. So they assumed I had the beginings of a virus, they gave me a prescription and sent me on my way.

I went back to bed, at least I tried to...

I woke up many hours later and the pain had moved South East.

Uh oh...

I headed back to the hospital and the same staff were still on duty and immediately saw me.

The Doctor took more blood and while the results still looked ok, he knew my appendix was going out. They put me on an IV and admitted me. I did not appear to be in any danger, they thought I had time... and so testing was scheduled the next day.

That was when they saw that my gall bladder had already given up and died out.

The surgeon on duty turned out to be the same surgeon I had before for a minor surgery. He talked to me about the small incisions they would make and how they would remove the gall bladder on Tuesday along with the appendix.

Tuesday arrived, I was in pain and could no longer use the bathroom. They came to take me away around noon for this simple procedure.

I woke up and it was nighttime and I was so heavily sedated that I did not find out how my gallbladder surgery went smoothly, but when they got to the appendix it had ruptured already and it had ruptured into my colon and my insides were filling with poison.

It took me hours for it all to sink in, how in danger I was and yet I found it hard to get worked up about. I was now in the safe zone, covered in bandages, IVs and cathaters. Kinda hard to get worried when I am recovering. I had to basically relearn how to walk. I was in the hospital a full week before I even ate a single bite of food.

So how am I now? 98% better. I am still weak, but I am working on building stamina. I live...

Shirley: You think religion is stupid.
Jeff: No, no. To me, religion is like Paul Rudd. I see the appeal and I would never take it away from anyone, but I would also never stand in line for it.

-Community

I am a very spiritual person, I just do not subscribe to any organized religion.

I do not mean to be offensive if I am, but do religious people have no faith in humanity? Everything good, every kind word, every action done out of sincerity is proof to some that God is good and alive.

Now, I am not saying God does not exist and nor am I saying he is not good or alive.... but, can people not be good just because it is their nature to be good to one another?

And going by this logic... things done out of malice must be attributed to ole' Scartch right?

Then what about things done in that middle area? Done not out of goodness or malice, but because we are just bored or feeling a bit... meh? Do we attribute those actions to Steven Wright?

National Lampoon's Vacation was on TV, and Youngest and I were sitting on the couch watching it, when I said, "The 80's had some good music." He nodded noncommittally, staring at the TV, where a young Anthony Michael Hall was paging through a nudie mag. Then he asked, "You know what would be *so* cool?"
"What?"
"If I could somehow travel back to the time of the 80's."
"Ah. Yeah."
"And if I had like, 80's clothes and all the 80's stuff, and knew how to talk like they did in the 80's."
"Mmhm."
"Because then, maybe I would know what it's like to like 80's music."

What's the first exhibit you visit at the zoo?

Elephants.

Elephant.

Tada! It's an elephant!

Direct link to download .mp3 podcast file -- http://media.blubrry.com/occultofpersonality/www.occultofpersonality.net/wp-content/uploads/OoP_Podcast75_RobertPlace1.mp3

If the above link is not working, please try -- http://www.divshare.com/download/9070324-a2b

“Robert M. Place is an internationally known visionary artist and illustrator, whose award winning works, in painting, sculpture, and jewelry, have been displayed in galleries and museums in America, Europe, and Japan and graced the covers and pages of numerous books and publications. He is the designer, illustrator, and co-author, with Rosemary Ellen Guiley, of: The Alchemical Tarot and The Angels Tarot, which are both published by HarperCollins and have received international acclaim particularly for their skillful and illuminating graphics. He is the designer, illustrator, and author of The Tarot of the Saints, and The Buddha Tarot, which are published by Llewellyn. His fifth book, The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination, is published by Tarcher/Penguin. He has also authored Astrology and Divination, Magic and Alchemy, and Shamanism. His latest Tarot deck and book set is The Vampire Tarot, published by St. Martins Press.”

"The Vampire Tarot" by Robert M. Place

To begin episode 75, Robert describes the prophetic and synchronistic manner that he was introduced to the Tarot. As an artist, he was able to intuitively grasp the symbolism and levels of meaning portrayed in the Tarot images, allowing him to create “The Alchemical Tarot“, a very highly-acclaimed and beautiful deck. Robert then describes his latest creation, “The Vampire Tarot“.

Jonathan the Fool

As a Tarot scholar, his research into the history and folklore of vampires and the Dracula legend led him to the realization that this story was like an inverse of the alchemical quest. The Great Work is analogous to the story told by the Major Arcana of the Tarot. In his analysis of the Dracula legend, Robert realized that this story was also a quest for immortality but in a far darker and different way, replacing the spiritual with the material.

IV. The Count

Robert tells us how the vampire legends invoke the Jungian concept of facing the shadow or the other. The resurrection of these legends in literature coincided with the scientific revolution and Romanticism. The original vampire stories, like the unrefined unconscious mind were dark and frightening, but when examined in the light, by writers and artists, these same stories can take on an alluring quality. Robert explains this evolution from a historical, psychological, and artistic perspective.

XVIII. The Moon

We finish off the conversation as Robert describes how he views the Dracula legend as analogous to the quest for the Holy Grail. Dracula can be seen as the dark knight and those trying to defeat him as the Knights of the Round Table. His perspective on this legend and his beautiful artwork in “The Vampire Tarot” can bring forth yet another version of the archetypal hero’s quest, there all along and just waiting for us to discover it.

XIX. The Sun

If you joined the circus, what act would you most want to perform?

Setting free the elephants. The lions and bears, too. Pretty much all of the animals. Only not just setting them free - somehow magically restoring their lost habitats and returning them home, so they can heal up from the bullhook scars and other injuries that are all just part of being "trained" to entertain people.

After that? Maybe the trapeze.

Today is "Evaluate Your Life Day." So, tell us: how do you think you're life's going so far?

Clearly my li'fe does not ha've enough random apostrophes. Im telling' you, I think every'one needs more of them.

direct link to download .mp3 podcast file -- http://media.blubrry.com/occultofpersonality/www.occultofpersonality.net/wp-content/uploads/OoP_Podcast74_Orryelle.mp3

In podcast episode 74, we’re joined by Orryelle Defenestrate-Bascule, “a prolific visual, sonic and textual artist-magickian. The instruments of his arts and magicks include, but are not limited to: Australia’s Metamorphic Ritual Theatre Co. which presents public rituals aiming to transform rather than merely entertain the audiences.” Orryelle explains how the act of creation is Magickal from an artist’s perspective.

Moonzoomorphs

Orryelle is responsible for the “ever-expanding digital archives and galleries of Mutation Parlour; a member of The HermAphroditic ChAOrder of the Silver Dusk, a global multicultural and multisubcultural blend of tradition and innovation, artist of “Conjunctio” (a Graphic Grimmoire), creator of the Book of Kaos Tarot, and author of A Brief HIRStory of TimEmiT. Orryelle has been extensively involved in the Horus-Maat Lodge, channeling several double-current Libers such as ‘Pennae-Ultim-Atum‘ and ‘The Book of Going Back by Night‘.”

Conjunctio by Orryelle Defenestrate-Basucle

Our conversation touches on the recently published graphic grimiore “Conjunctio” and presentation at the Esoteric Book Conference, the importance of working in the physical plane, aesthetics, art, beauty and transformation, including body modification. Orryelle also discusses the art of ritual performance, world wide travels to sacred sites, and even some thoughts about 2012.

Svadsabmand

Orryelle is extremely creative in many mediums, including poetry, art, music, theater, Magick, Alchemy, and self-transformation. Our conversation provides a bit of insight into Orryelle’s unique Work.

relevant links:

Mutation Parlour

“Conjunctio” by Orryelle Defenestrate-Bascule, available via Fulger Ltd.

Esoteric Book Conference – performances (also discussed in episode 69 with William Keisel of Ouroboros Press)

Orryelle Defenestrate-Bascule

Mutation EnCyclopsedia (tattoos and other body arts)

Metamorphic Ritual Theatre

Global Chakra Workings

Orryelle Defenestrate-Bascule’s publications (including Book of Kaos Tarot), EsoErotic artwork, and music

intro music by HipGnosis and Darkfold

outro music by Orryelle Defenstrate-Bascule – “Kalikaye”

Upcoming class: Occult of Personality presents “Meditation and the Western Esoteric Tradition” on Thursday, October 29th at 8 PM. Please see the link for specific details.

direct link to download .mp3 podcast file -- http://media.blubrry.com/occultofpersonality/www.occultofpersonality.net/wp-content/uploads/OoP_Podcast73_Memie.mp3

In podcast episode 73, we’re joined by Memia Ayat. Memie is a healer, Wiccan, hypnotherapist, and belly dance teacher. She joins us to discuss her diverse interests and how they all fit together.

Memie 2002

In the photo above, Memie (left) is surrounded by a strange mist…

Memie begins the interview by describing the path that led her to Wicca and alternative healing modalities. Memie discusses what it is like to be a Witch in the Salem, Massachusetts community.

Pentagram

In podcast episode 72, Christopher Knowles returns to the show for the second part of our fascinating interview (if you haven’t already, please listen to part 1 – Christopher Knowles and The Secret Sun, pt. 1).

Our Gods Wear Spandex

Chris is the author of the Eagle Award-winning “Our Gods Wear Spandex: The Secret History of Comic Book Heroes,” published by Red Wheel/Weiser and co-author of “The Complete X-Files: Behind the Series, the Myths, and the Movies,” published by Insight Editions. This time, Chris joins us for a very in-depth discussion about the themes explored in his blog, “The Secret Sun”.

Uvsun_trace_big

We begin with some thoughts about space travel and then delve into the concept of secrecy and its role throughout history. Chris expresses the view that modern technology and society are evolving with greater openness and availability of information. He also discusses the possibilities of learning about ourselves from the history of humanity through the ages.

Musei_Vaticani_Mithra_Sol_invictus

Next, we explore the concept of ancient astronaut theory as well as its synchronistic manifestations in popular culture and media. Of course, these ideas are all attempts to provide a narrative for the origins of humanity. We discuss the interpretive methods used when analyzing ancient texts, from literal to esoteric exegesis.

SunFromClouds