Rejected Religion Podcast

Prof.Dr. Wouter J. Hanegraaff discusses the important themes of his book on Hermetic Spirituality, including the embodiment of spiritual realities in the physical world. He also explores the challenges of interpreting ancient texts and the power of imagination in understanding the Hermetica.

In Part 2, Luke and I discuss the esoteric connections and intersections with the figures of Blake and Ginsberg. We talk about in the influence of Emmanuel Swedenborg and Gnosticism on the worldviews of both Blake and Ginsberg, how Ginsberg saw Buddhism and Gnosticism as being connected in a syncretic way, and what contemporary artists could be viewed as ‘carrying on the Blakean torch’ in our own popular culture. Dr Luke Walker has published widely on the intersections between British Romantic poetry, American counterculture, and esotericism.His publications include "‘One physical-mental inspiration of thought': Allen Ginsberg and Black Mountain poetics", in The Beats, Black Mountain, and New Modes in American Poetry, ed. Matt Theado (2021), “Beat Britain: poetic vision and division in Albion’s ‘underground’”, in The Routledge Handbook of International Beat Literature, ed. A. Robert Lee (2018), “Tangled up in Blake: the triangular relationship among Dylan, Blake, and the Beats”, in Rock and Romanticism: Blake, Wordsworth, and Rock from Dylan to U2, ed. James Rovira (2018), “Allen Ginsberg’s ‘Wales Visitation’ as a neo-Romantic response to Wordsworth’s ‘Tintern Abbey’”, in Romanticism journal (2013), and “Allen Ginsberg’s Blakean Albion,” in Comparative American Studies journal (2013). Most recently, Luke co-edited a special issue of the Bulletin of the John Rylands Library, on “The Artist of the Future Age: William Blake, Neo-Romanticism, Counterculture and Now” (2022). He is now writing a book entitled William Blake and Allen Ginsberg: Romanticism, Counterculture and Radical Reception.PROGRAM NOTESDr. Luke Walker:academia.edu page: (99+) Luke Walker | Home - Academia.eduTwitter: Luke Walker (@DrLukeWalker) / TwitterSelected Articles:(99+) Tangled Up in Blake: the Triangular Relationship among Dylan, Blake, and the Beats | Luke Walker - Academia.edu(99+) Allen Ginsberg's Blakean Albion | Luke Walker - Academia.edu(99+) Beat Britain: poetic vision and division in Albion's 'underground' | Luke Walker - Academia.edu(99+) Psychedelic Romanticism: Ginsberg, Blake and Wordsworth | Luke Walker - Academia.edu(99+) 'One physical-mental inspiration of thought': Allen Ginsberg and Black Mountain Poetics | Luke Walker - Academia.eduWilliam Blake Archive: The William Blake ArchiveAllen Ginsberg sings William Blake's 'The Nurse's Song': Allen Ginsberg sings William Blake's "The Nurse's Song" - YouTubeMike Goode, 'Blakespotting': (99+) Blakespotting | Mike Goode - Academia.eduAllen Ginsberg: The Allen Ginsberg Project - AllenGinsberg.org'Wichita Vortex Sutra': Allen Ginsberg: Wichita Vortex Sutra (chriscander.com)Bob Dylan 'Tempest': Bob Dylan - Tempest (Official Audio) - YouTube'Rough and Rowdy Ways': I Contain Multitudes - YouTube'Subterranean Homesick Blues': Bob Dylan - Subterranean Homesick Blues (Official HD Video) - YouTubeOTHER RESOURCES:patti smith: official siteHome - Kae TempestJohn Higgs – Author of Love And Let Die, William Blake Vs The World, Watling Street and The KLFTheme Music: Daniel P. SheaOther music: Stephanie Shea

In Part One, Luke discusses the great influence of the poet and artist William Blake on Allen Ginsberg, one of the most influential people from the Beat Generation and the ‘counterculture’ movement of 1960s United States. He also talks in detail about Ginsberg’s “Blake Vision,” the name Ginsberg gave to a series of extraordinary events in his life in 1948. We then discuss Luke’s article “Tangled Up in Blake” that focuses on Ginsberg’s views about Bob Dylan and their complex relationship. Lastly, we talk about the influence of Buddhism on Ginsberg and how this affected his views about Blake and his worldview in general.Dr Luke Walker has published widely on the intersections between British Romantic poetry, American counterculture, and esotericism.His publications include "‘One physical-mental inspiration of thought': Allen Ginsberg and Black Mountain poetics", in The Beats, Black Mountain, and New Modes in American Poetry, ed. Matt Theado (2021), “Beat Britain: poetic vision and division in Albion’s ‘underground’”, in The Routledge Handbook of International Beat Literature, ed. A. Robert Lee (2018), “Tangled up in Blake: the triangular relationship among Dylan, Blake, and the Beats”, in Rock and Romanticism: Blake, Wordsworth, and Rock from Dylan to U2, ed. James Rovira (2018), “Allen Ginsberg’s ‘Wales Visitation’ as a neo-Romantic response to Wordsworth’s ‘Tintern Abbey’”, in Romanticism journal (2013), and “Allen Ginsberg’s Blakean Albion,” in Comparative American Studies journal (2013). Most recently, Luke co-edited a special issue of the Bulletin of the John Rylands Library, on “The Artist of the Future Age: William Blake, Neo-Romanticism, Counterculture and Now” (2022). He is now writing a book entitled William Blake and Allen Ginsberg: Romanticism, Counterculture and Radical Reception.PROGRAM NOTESDr. Luke Walker:academia.edu page: (99+) Luke Walker | Home - Academia.eduTwitter: Luke Walker (@DrLukeWalker) / TwitterSelected Articles:(99+) Tangled Up in Blake: the Triangular Relationship among Dylan, Blake, and the Beats | Luke Walker - Academia.edu(99+) Allen Ginsberg's Blakean Albion | Luke Walker - Academia.edu(99+) Beat Britain: poetic vision and division in Albion's 'underground' | Luke Walker - Academia.edu(99+) Psychedelic Romanticism: Ginsberg, Blake and Wordsworth | Luke Walker - Academia.edu(99+) 'One physical-mental inspiration of thought': Allen Ginsberg and Black Mountain Poetics | Luke Walker - Academia.eduWilliam Blake Archive: The William Blake ArchiveAllen Ginsberg sings William Blake's 'The Nurse's Song': Allen Ginsberg sings William Blake's "The Nurse's Song" - YouTubeMike Goode, 'Blakespotting': (99+) Blakespotting | Mike Goode - Academia.eduAllen Ginsberg: The Allen Ginsberg Project - AllenGinsberg.org'Wichita Vortex Sutra': Allen Ginsberg: Wichita Vortex Sutra (chriscander.com)Bob Dylan 'Tempest': Bob Dylan - Tempest (Official Audio) - YouTube'Rough and Rowdy Ways': I Contain Multitudes - YouTube'Subterranean Homesick Blues': Bob Dylan - Subterranean Homesick Blues (Official HD Video) - YouTubeOTHER RESOURCES:patti smith: official siteHome - Kae TempestJohn Higgs – Author of Love And Let Die, William Blake Vs The World, Watling Street and The KLFTheme Music: Daniel P. SheaOther music: Stephanie Shea

In this interview, Cavan McLaughlin begins by discussing his motivation and inspiration to create the Trans-States platform, that focuses strongly on bridging the gaps between the academic and larger esoteric/occult communities. Cavan is an artist, filmmaker and media producer as well as an academic lecturer, and this multi-disciplinary aspect is extremely important for the Trans-States exhibition and conference series as well. As the third conference has recently taken place, Cavan and I discuss the successful interdisciplinary interactions and contributions, the themes of the conferences and their developments (based upon Major Arcana tarot cards), and what is to come in the future. Please check out the Trans-States YouTube channel to view uploads of past conference presentations and performances, and check back in the new year for the latest uploads!PROGRAM NOTES  Trans-States YouTube Channel: Trans- States - YouTubeKeynote Alan Moore: Alan Moore - (Keynote) Trans- States conference 2016 - YouTubeWebsite: About Trans- States | Trans- StatesFacebook: Trans- States | FacebookInstagram: Trans- states (@trans_states) Twitter: Trans- States (@Trans_States) / TwitterCavan McLaughlin: Academia.edu: (99+) Cavan McLaughlin | University of the West of England - Academia.eduMonad Journal: Monad: Journal of Transformative Practice | Peer-reviewed open access multimedia journal (monadjournal.com)Facebook: Cavan McLaughlin Instagram: Cavan McLaughlin (@cavan.mclaughlin)Twitter: Cavan McLaughlin (@cavanmclaughlin)   Theme music: Stephanie Shea

In Part 2, Aaron and I look at different related threads that one encounters when delving into this topic; in particular, how Aaron's research ties into a topic that I had talked about last year with regard to the recent documentary-type show called 'Hellier' (specifically with regard to a man named Allen Greenfield). This links to high strangeness such as that seen in the book The Mothman Prophecies, but also ritual magick, and occulture at its finest. We try to make some sense out of all of this and ask how it all relates to the original case study of Steiner and Hynek. We then shift our attention to talk about the challenges that a researcher within academia faces when trying to explore topics that are considered 'controversial', as well as the backlash that a researcher might experience from the people being researched. PROGRAM NOTESAaron's presentation for the Trans-States conference is not yet uploaded to their YouTube channel, but here's the link so you can check back at a later date: https://www.youtube.com/@TransStates/featuredDr Aaron J. French: The Magic of Technology: Rudolf Steiner's Rosicrucianism and the UFO Phenomenon ~ Guest lecture for University College Cork's Study of Religions Research Seminar Series: https://youtu.be/fReIz1gU-nI Dr. Aaron French academia page: (99+) Aaron French | Universität Erfurt - Academia.eduemail: aaron.french@uni-erfurt.deAaron J. French (uni-erfurt.de)Hussein Agrama: Secularity, Synchronicity, and Uncanny Science: Considerations and Challenges (omnilogos.com)The Basement Office -The UFO Lie: Shocking truth of Pentagon AAWSAP program: https://youtu.be/6XD4gQS_-qYAllen Greenfield: Amazon.com: The Complete SECRET CIPHER Of the UfOnauts: 9781718645356: Greenfield, Allen H., Phillips, Olav: BooksJ. Allen Hynek & Jacques Vallee: Hynek and Vallee - The Edge of Reality (1975) | PDF | Unidentified Flying Object | Ufology (scribd.com)Barbara Marciniak Bringers of the Dawn (1992): Bringers of the Dawn | Book by Barbara Marciniak | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster (simonandschuster.com)Michael P. Masters: Amazon.com: Identified Flying Objects: A Multidisciplinary Scientific Approach to the UFO Phenomenon: 9781733634069: Masters, Dr. Michael P: BooksMark O'Connell (biography J. Allen Hynek): The Close Encounters Man: How One Man Made the World Believe in UFOs: O'Connell, Mark: 9780062484178: Amazon.com: BooksNew York Times Article: Glowing Auras and ‘Black Money’: The Pentagon’s Mysterious U.F.O. Program - The New York Times (nytimes.com)Diana Pasulka: American Cosmic: UFOs, Religion, Technology: Pasulka, D.W. (amazon.com) Information regarding Rudolf Steiner's planetary stages of evolution and Vulcan: Vulcan - AnthroWiki ADDITIONAL NOTES:John Greenewald's The Black Vault: The Black Vault - Document Archive - The Black VaultHellier Experiments Information: 'Estes Method': The Estes Method: How the Groundbreaking SB7 Spirit Box Experiment is Changing Paranormal Investigation (weekinweird.com)'God Helmet': God helmet - WikipediaTheme Music: Daniel P. SheaAdditional Music: Stephanie Shea

In Part 1, Aaron and I explore many different rabbit holes regarding esotericism and high strangeness. Aaron begins by expanding on his earlier presentations that he gave this year on this topic; he's looking at the relationship between technology and magic, and is asking, 'how does technology reenchant the world?' One area that we can find a lot of interesting material is the UFO-field. Aaron talks about his research findings regarding the links between Rudolf Steiner and J. Allen Hynek (a scientist who was working with the U.S. government in its project to study the UFO phenomena). From there, we look at the esoteric ideas linked with this topic, how they developed and have become assimilated into New Age thought surrounding the narratives and ideas found in the UFO field. PROGRAM NOTESAaron's presentation for the Trans-States conference is not yet uploaded to their YouTube channel, but here's the link so you can check back at a later date: https://www.youtube.com/@TransStates/featuredDr Aaron J. French: The Magic of Technology: Rudolf Steiner's Rosicrucianism and the UFO Phenomenon ~ Guest lecture for University College Cork's Study of Religions Research Seminar Series: https://youtu.be/fReIz1gU-nI Dr. Aaron French academia page: (99+) Aaron French | Universität Erfurt - Academia.eduemail: aaron.french@uni-erfurt.deAaron J. French (uni-erfurt.de)Hussein Agrama: Secularity, Synchronicity, and Uncanny Science: Considerations and Challenges (omnilogos.com)The Basement Office -The UFO Lie: Shocking truth of Pentagon AAWSAP program: https://youtu.be/6XD4gQS_-qYAllen Greenfield: Amazon.com: The Complete SECRET CIPHER Of the UfOnauts: 9781718645356: Greenfield, Allen H., Phillips, Olav: BooksJ. Allen Hynek & Jacques Vallee: Hynek and Vallee - The Edge of Reality (1975) | PDF | Unidentified Flying Object | Ufology (scribd.com)Barbara Marciniak Bringers of the Dawn (1992): Bringers of the Dawn | Book by Barbara Marciniak | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster (simonandschuster.com)Michael P. Masters: Amazon.com: Identified Flying Objects: A Multidisciplinary Scientific Approach to the UFO Phenomenon: 9781733634069: Masters, Dr. Michael P: BooksMark O'Connell (biography J. Allen Hynek): The Close Encounters Man: How One Man Made the World Believe in UFOs: O'Connell, Mark: 9780062484178: Amazon.com: BooksNew York Times Article: Glowing Auras and ‘Black Money’: The Pentagon’s Mysterious U.F.O. Program - The New York Times (nytimes.com)Diana Pasulka: American Cosmic: UFOs, Religion, Technology: Pasulka, D.W. (amazon.com) Information regarding Rudolf Steiner's planetary stages of evolution and Vulcan: Vulcan - AnthroWiki ADDITIONAL NOTES:John Greenewald's The Black Vault: The Black Vault - Document Archive - The Black VaultHellier Experiments Information: 'Estes Method': The Estes Method: How the Groundbreaking SB7 Spirit Box Experiment is Changing Paranormal Investigation (weekinweird.com)'God Helmet': God helmet - WikipediaTheme Music: Daniel P. SheaAdditional Music: Stephanie Shea 

Richard Mason returns to discuss A.E. Waite's order, The Fellowship of the Rosy Cross, and the special tarot deck developed for private use in rituals. Waite formed the order in 1915 (during WW1) and enlisted the help of artists and a financial backer to create the tarot 'deck,' that is now housed in the British Museum. Notable in the artwork is the shift from 'magic' to 'mysticism', and this artwork reflects Waite's strong views of a 'secret tradition' - a blend of Christianity with various esoteric concepts. Note of Clarification: 'W.M. Yeats' is incorrect; W.B. Yeats was intended during conversation; The master album of the Trinick-Pippet drawings are located at the British Museum (not the British Library). Thanks to Richard Mason for generously providing the images used in this video. PROGRAM NOTES Contact Richard Mason: rwgm@outlook.com Primary Sources: -Myer, Isaac, Qabbalah. The Philosophical Writings of Solomon Ben Yehuda Ibn Gebirol or Avicebron, and their connection with the Hebrew Qabbalah and Sepher ha-Zohar (1888) -Encausse, Gérard, Qabalah: The Secret Tradition of the West (1892) -Édouard E., Blitz, Treatise on The Great Art: A System of Physics According to Hermetic Philosophy and Theory and Practice of the Magisterium (1898) -A. E. Waite’s occult journal The Unknown World (1894-95) -Waite, A. E., Azoth, or The Star in the East (1893)   -The Doctrine and Literature of Kabbalah (1899/1902)   -Steps to the Crown (1907)   -The Hidden Church of the Holy Grail (1909)   -The Secret Tradition in Freemasonry (1911)   -The Brotherhood of the Rosy Cross (1924)   -The Holy Grail its Legends and Symbolism (1933)   -The Secret Tradition in Freemasonry (volume II) (1936) Secondary Sources: -Gilbert, R. A., A. E. Waite: A Bibliography, (1983) -Gilbert, R. A., A. E. Waite: Magician of Many Parts, (1987) -Hanegraaff, Wouter, “The Mysteries of Sex in the House of the Hidden Light: A. E. Waite and Kabbalah” (2018) -Ferguson, Christine, Reading with the Occultists: Arthur Machen and A. E. Waite and the Ecstasies of Popular Fiction (2016) -Parisious, Roger, Figures in a Dance: The Rider-Waite Tarot, (1987) -Roukema, Aren, Esotericism and Narrative: The Occult Fiction in Charles Williams Fiction, (2018) -Südekum, Stuart, “The Secret Tradition of Silence” (2014) -Südekum, Stuart, Drinking from the Haunted Well: A mystical exploration in the Fairy Land of A. E. Waite, (2014) -Seidmann, Gertrud, The Rev. Greville John Chester and ‘The Ashmolean Museum as a Home for Archaeology in Oxford’. Bulletin of the History of Archaeology, 16(1), (2006), pp.27–33. Theme Music: Stephanie Shea

In this discussion, Michelle and Christian share their experiences with pilgrimages, and how they came to write their book about the Japanese pilgrimage route known as the Kumano Kodo. As many may not have had their own experiences with pilgrimages, they talk about the reasons that people might choose to go on a pilgrimage, what the purpose is, and how it's not always a 'religious' thing. We also discuss the liminal aspect of the pilgrimage road, the different types of spirits that one can encounter as the pilgrim enters the 'other' space on the road, and how these encounters change the perspective of the pilgrim during the pilgrimage, but also afterwards. This conversation also includes some information about the mythology of the Kumano region of Japan, plus an interesting finding by Christian about the political side of the Kumano Kodo as a UNESCO heritage site, plus much, much more that can't be included in a short summary! PROGRAM NOTESKumano Kodo: Pilgrimage to Powerspots - Amazon.com: Kumano Kodo: Pilgrimage to Powerspots: J. Christian Greer, Michelle K. Oing, J. Christian Greer: 9798985917307: Amazon.com: BooksEbay: Kumano Kodo: Pilgrimage to Powerspots | eBay Dr. Michelle K. Oing -Academia.edu: (99+) Michelle Oing | Stanford University - Academia.eduInstagram: ~*unofficial histories*~ (@speculativearchaeology) • Instagram-foto's en -video'sDr. J. Christian Greer -Academia.edu: (99+) J. Christian Greer | Stanford University - Academia.eduInstagram: Dr. JCG (@angelheadedhipstersarchive) • Instagram-foto's en -video'sWebsite: dr. J. Christian Greer (jchristiangreer.com)Artwork: J. Christian GreerTheme music: Daniel P. SheaOther music: Stephanie Shea 

In the first part of our interview, Andrea and I discuss the complex issue regarding the definition of 'magic' within the Western historical study of esotericism and/or religion, and how we could perhaps see 'magic' as a meta-category containing 'family resemblances' or 'patterns of magicity' that allow for comparisons of different magical practices or attitudes. We also talk about the differences between the etic and emic perspectives of the term 'magic', as grimoires are concerned with the magicians' views and ideas about the rituals they perform and the significance these rituals hold.  We then delve into the topic of legitimization of ritual magical practices within the context of Christianity from the 1200s-1500s. In this time period, most magical texts were considered heretical by the Church, forcing magicians to try to legitimize the use of these manuscripts. We look in particular at the views of Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim and his attempts to restore the reputation of magic as a divine art.  Our conversation then leads to different magical texts, focusing on the Liber Iuratus Honorii, or The Sworn Book of Honorius as it relates to Andrea's own research into ritual spaces. We also use Andrea's article to discuss these concepts in more detail, especially why space is such an important part of the magical ritual. PROGRAM NOTESAndrea Franchetto -Andrea Franchetto - Stockholm University (su.se)(1) Andrea Franchetto | Stockholm University - Academia.edu(1) Andrea Franchetto | FacebookAndrea (@andrewcrnf) • Instagram-foto's en -video'sResearch Master Thesis: content (uva.nl)Imaginal architectural devices and the ritual space of medieval necromancy - ScienceDirect 'Magic' -(83) General Introduction to 'Defining Magic: A Reader' | Bernd-Christian Otto and Michael Stausberg - Academia.edu(1) Magic (Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology, 2nd Edition) | Bernd-Christian Otto - Academia.eduPatterns of Magicity: A Review of Defining Magic: A Reader | Asprem | Correspondences (correspondencesjournal.com)(64) « Astral Magic and Intellectual Changes (Twelfth-Fifteenth Centuries). “Astrological Images” and the Concept of “Addressative” Magic », dans J. Bremmer et J. R. Veenstra (dir.), The Metamorphosis of Magic From Late Antiquity to Early Modern Period, Louvain, Peeters, 2002, p. 167-187. | Nicolas Weill-Parot - Academia.edu(83) Contemporary Ritual Magic (Chapter 39, The Occult World) | Egil Asprem - Academia.edu(83) Intermediary Beings (Ch. 64, The Occult World) | Egil Asprem - Academia.edu(83) Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa (2015) | Wouter J. Hanegraaff - Academia.edu(1) Better than Magic: Cornelius Agrippa and Lazzarellian Hermetism (2009) | Wouter J. Hanegraaff - Academia.edu(1) Lodovico Lazzarelli and the Hermetic Christ: At the Sources of Renaissance Hermetism (2005) | Wouter J. Hanegraaff - Academia.eduGrimoires -Liber Juratus Honorii, or the Sworn Book of Honorius (esotericarchives.com)The Sworn Book of Honorius and the Christian Reception of Angel Magic* - DocestSpeculum Astronomiae | Detailed PediaArs Notoria: the Notory Art of Solomon (esotericarchives.com)Picatrix (The Aim of the Sage) of pseudo-Majriti (summary) (esotericarchives.com)Theme Music: Daniel P. SheaOther Music: Stephanie Shea 

In this interview, Ralph shares his own perspectives on many of the topics that Dr. Christian Greer and I had discussed in Episode 19 ('Etic Examinations'). He shares his own background in occultism, 'the state of things' in Germany in the 1970s and -80s, as well as the change in perspective with the introduction of the 'Anglo' or British perspective about occultism and chaos magic. He also talks about his viewpoints regarding the concepts of 'gnosis' and 'shamanism' as they relate to chaos magic, how he feels about 'rationalist' thinkers such as Theodor Adorno, and highlights some of his own works. In my opinion, Ralph gives a very interesting overview of how he, as a practitioner, things about magic and how magic works for people who practice it. A very special thanks to Friedemann Rimbach-Sator for the inspiration behind the 'chaos magic' episodes, and for introducing me to Ralph Tegtmeier. PROGRAM NOTESSelected Bibliography Ralph Tegtmeier/ Frater U:.D:. (provided  by Mr. Tegtmeier):Amazon.com: High Magic: Theory & Practice: 9780738704715: U.:D.:, Frater: BooksMoney Magic by Frater UD – Draconis Arcanum (draconisbooks.com)(99+) Practical Sigil Magic - Frater U.D | EmMa Cold-Hag - Academia.eduSex Magic by Frater UD – Draconis Arcanum (draconisbooks.com)The Magical Shield, by Frater UD by Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD. - IssuuWhere Do Demons Live by Frater UD – Draconis Arcanum (draconisbooks.com)Amazon.com: Living Magic: Contemporary Insights and Experiences from Practicing Magicians: 9780738766799: U.:D.:, Frater, Budenbender, Axel, Eilenstein, Harry, Knecht, Josef: BooksDark Star Magick - Posts | Facebook (A Fall Like No Other)Other Selected Frater U:.D:. References:Models of Magic (chaosmatrix.org)Frater U:.D:. - [ChaosMatrix.org]Chaos Magic:Liber Null & Psychonaut: An Introduction to Chaos Magic: Carroll, Peter J.: 8601404697678: Amazon.com: BooksSelected Academic References:(99+) Chaos Magick | Colin Duggan - Academia.edu(99+) Perennialism and Iconoclasm: Chaos Magick and the Legitimacy of Innovation | Colin Duggan - Academia.edu(99+) The Illuminates of Thanateros and the Institutionalisation of Religious Individualisation | Bernd-Christian Otto - Academia.edu Contact Ralph Tegtmeier/Frater U:.D:. Ralph Tegtmeier | FacebookTheme music: Daniel P. SheaOther music: Stephanie Shea