Rejected Religion Podcast

In Part 2, we move the conversation to discuss some points brought up in few academic articles, such as how rituals create a liminal space for connection with the invisible realm; the importance of exhibitions for providing spaces of encounter; the importance of religion or spirituality in the art space; what automatism is; and how art can respond to, or cope with, radical changes in the world.PROGRAM NOTESPádraic E. Moore - Website: Padraic MooreAcademia.edu page: Pádraic E. Moore | UCD Ireland - Academia.eduArticle "A Mystic Milieu: Johannes Itten and Mazdaznan at Bauhaus Weimar": A Mystic Milieu - Articles – bauhaus imaginista (bauhaus-imaginista.org)Twitter: Páḋraic E. Moore (@M0REM00REM0RE) / TwitterEwoud van Rijn -Website: ewoud van rijnAcademia.edu page: Ewoud van Rijn | KABK Royal Academy of Art The Hague - Academia.eduArticle "Playing with the Other in the Beyond": (PDF) Playing with the Other in the Beyond | Ewoud van Rijn - Academia.eduInstagram: Ewoud van Rijn (@ewoudvanrijn) • Instagram-foto's en -video'sGarage Rotterdam, The Netherlands; "The Great Invocation" Exhibition: Catalogue | The Great Invocation (garagerotterdam.nl)Kurt Seligmann -The Mirror of Magic (innertraditions.com)Kurt Seligmann 1900-1962 : Leben und Werk. by Hauser, Stephan E.: Very Good Hardcover (1997) First edition. | Roe and Moore (abebooks.com)Paintings of Kurt Seligmann (surrealism.website)Essays by Grazina Subelyte in collected works - "Kurt Seligmann, Surrealism, and the Occult" in- EBOOK: Surrealism Occultism And Politics Book PDF EPUB TUEBL MOBI (findfullebook.com)"Spectrality and the Dance of Death in the Art of Kurt Seligmann" in - Black Mirror 2 – elsewhere – Fulgur PressInfo Grazina Subelyte: Grazina Subelyte - The CourtauldSelected Articles and Books"The Other Side" by Lars Bang Larsen: The Other Side by Lars Bang Larsen — fine print (fineprintmagazine.com)"Coming Forth by Night: Contemporary Art and the Occult" by Dr. Marco Pasi: (PDF) Coming Forth by Night. Contemporary art and the occult | Marco Pasi - Academia.eduSuzi Gablik -The Reenchantment of Art: Gablik, Suzi: 9780500276891: Amazon.com: BooksHas Modernism Failed?: Suzi Gablik: 9780500284841: Amazon.com: Books Artists Mentioned in the Podcast -Redfern Barrett, AA Bronson and Angus Cameron - Witches: Hunted, Appropriated, Empowered, Queered [Second Edition] - Printed MatterLes Complices - Witches: hunted, appropriated, empowered, queeredLinda Stupartchiara fumaiOther Reference Material -The Rosicrucian Enlightenment (archive.org)The Theosophical Enlightenment (S U N Y Series in Western Esoteric Traditions): Godwin, Joscelyn: 9780791421529: Amazon.com: BooksTheme Music: Daniel P. SheaOther Music: Stephanie Shea 

In Part 1, Pádraic and Ewoud both talk about their backgrounds and their own interests in the esoteric/occult, and then we move on to talk more about the inspiration for 'The Great Invocation' (Garage Rotterdam), plus Ewoud's inspiration for his own installation there. We talk more about the Theosophical Society as a movement and how it relates to contemporary art; we talk about Kurt Seligmann and the surrealists' viewpoints on art, magic, and the potential of the human mind; and Ewoud discusses an experience he had in the search for a new form of art practice. PROGRAM NOTESPádraic E. Moore - Website: Padraic MooreAcademia.edu page: Pádraic E. Moore | UCD Ireland - Academia.eduArticle "A Mystic Milieu: Johannes Itten and Mazdaznan at Bauhaus Weimar": A Mystic Milieu - Articles – bauhaus imaginista (bauhaus-imaginista.org)Twitter: Páḋraic E. Moore (@M0REM00REM0RE) / TwitterEwoud van Rijn -Website: ewoud van rijnAcademia.edu page: Ewoud van Rijn | KABK Royal Academy of Art The Hague - Academia.eduArticle "Playing with the Other in the Beyond": (PDF) Playing with the Other in the Beyond | Ewoud van Rijn - Academia.eduInstagram: Ewoud van Rijn (@ewoudvanrijn) • Instagram-foto's en -video'sGarage Rotterdam, The Netherlands; "The Great Invocation" Exhibition: Catalogue | The Great Invocation (garagerotterdam.nl)Kurt Seligmann -The Mirror of Magic (innertraditions.com)Kurt Seligmann 1900-1962 : Leben und Werk. by Hauser, Stephan E.: Very Good Hardcover (1997) First edition. | Roe and Moore (abebooks.com)Paintings of Kurt Seligmann (surrealism.website)Essays by Grazina Subelyte in collected works - "Kurt Seligmann, Surrealism, and the Occult" in- EBOOK: Surrealism Occultism And Politics Book PDF EPUB TUEBL MOBI (findfullebook.com)"Spectrality and the Dance of Death in the Art of Kurt Seligmann" in - Black Mirror 2 – elsewhere – Fulgur PressInfo Grazina Subelyte: Grazina Subelyte - The CourtauldSelected Articles and Books"The Other Side" by Lars Bang Larsen: The Other Side by Lars Bang Larsen — fine print (fineprintmagazine.com)"Coming Forth by Night: Contemporary Art and the Occult" by Dr. Marco Pasi: (PDF) Coming Forth by Night. Contemporary art and the occult | Marco Pasi - Academia.eduSuzi Gablik -The Reenchantment of Art: Gablik, Suzi: 9780500276891: Amazon.com: BooksHas Modernism Failed?: Suzi Gablik: 9780500284841: Amazon.com: Books Artists Mentioned in the Podcast -Redfern Barrett, AA Bronson and Angus Cameron - Witches: Hunted, Appropriated, Empowered, Queered [Second Edition] - Printed MatterLes Complices - Witches: hunted, appropriated, empowered, queeredLinda Stupartchiara fumaiOther Reference Material -The Rosicrucian Enlightenment (archive.org)The Theosophical Enlightenment (S U N Y Series in Western Esoteric Traditions): Godwin, Joscelyn: 9780791421529: Amazon.com: BooksTheme Music: Daniel P. SheaOther Music: Stephanie Shea 

Interview Highlights: As Elena discusses, 'real vampyres' are those who feel a physical need to consume energy, whether it be blood or 'psychic' energy. As her research takes an inclusive, sexuological perspective, Elena suggests that this might be a sexual orientation for some. Her research into fetish identity explores the possible connections between this identity and vampyrism, as her data indicates that fetish identity is not a mental pathology, not a choice, and is not necessarily paired with sexual activity. She further notes that some religious and/or spiritual practices can sometimes assist in forming a framework for a person's identity - providing in some cases a safe place to explore this identity. While this is a very complex topic with no easy answers, Elena stresses that 'sexual diversity awareness' can help educate others, create realistic representations regarding the diversity of identity, and help to foster a sense of inclusiveness.RESOURCES Elena Sperner on Academia.edu: Elena Sperner | Linköping University - Academia.eduMA Thesis: (PDF) Fetish Identity: A Collaborative Auto-phenomenographic Approach to Reframe Sexual Fetishism | Elena Sperner - Academia.eduInstagram: Elena (@shatteringglassceiling) • Instagram-foto's en -video'sDr. John Edgar Browning on Academia.edu: John Edgar Browning | Savannah College of Art and Design - Academia.eduSelected articles: "The real vampires of New Orleans and Buffalo: a research note towards comparative ethnography" | John Edgar Browning - Academia.edu(PDF) "Looking Inside the Coffin: An Overview of Contemporary Human Vampirism and Its Relevance for Forensics Professionals" | John Edgar Browning and DJ Williams - Academia.edu"What they do in the shadows: my encounters with the real vampires of New Orleans" | John Edgar Browning - Academia.eduMerticus X is an active researcher and participant in the real vampire community since 1997. Academia. edu page: Merticus X - Academia.eduSelected articles: (PDF) Demystifying Real Vampirism For The Rest Of Us | Merticus X - Academia.edu(PDF) Definition Of Real Vampirism | Merticus X - Academia.eduDr. Joseph Laycock: Vampires Today: The Truth about Modern Vampirism (English Edition) eBook : Laycock, Joseph P.: Amazon.nl: Kindle StoreReal Vampires as an Identity Group: Analyzing Causes and Effects of an Introspective Survey by the Vampire Community on JSTORTheme music: Stephanie Shea

Interview Highlights: Richard begins by giving a short background and biography of Waite and the people who had a great influence on his life. We discuss Waite's famous tarot deck and the inspiration for it, noting that illustrator Pamela Coleman Smith is often omitted from being mentioned. Richard then talks in more detail about how Waite's 'outsider status' has led to his work being neglected, and how his notion of a 'secret tradition' is deserving of more study. REFERENCES Email Richard Mason: rwgm@outlook.com Online Book List by Arthur Edward Waite: Arthur Edward Waite (Waite, Arthur Edward, 1857-1942) | The Online Books Page (upenn.edu)The Secret Tradition in Freemasonry, Vol. 1&2: (PDF) A. E Waite - The Secret Tradition in Freemasonry | Athanassios Nick. Christopoulos - Academia.eduThe Pictoral Key to the Tarot: The Pictorial Key to the TarotTranslations of Eliphas Levi's: - Transcendental Magic: Its Doctrine and Ritual: Transcendental magic, its doctrine and ritual : Lévi, Eliphas, 1810-1875 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive- The History of Magic: The history of magic : including a clear and precise exposition of its procedure, its rites and its mysteries : Lévi, Eliphas, 1810-1875 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet ArchiveRobert Gilbert, A.E. Waite: A Magician of Many Parts (biography): Waite - A Magician of Many Parts.pdf (preterhuman.net)Stewart Südekum (regarding tarot): Arthur Edward Waite | Stuart Südekum (wordpress.com)In 1987, Adam McLean organized the 'Golden Dawn Conference,' wherein Roger Parisous presented about Waite, and puts forth some interesting alternate explanations about the Rider-Waite tarot. You can access his presentation here (located at Adam McClean's YouTube Channel): GD Conference 1987 Lecture 2 Roger Parisious - YouTubeThe full conference is available on a playlist provided by Adam McLean, for those who are interested. Website ESSWE (European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism): ESSWE | European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism - AboutTheme music: Stephanie SheaSHOW LESS 

Part 2 Highlights:My conversation with Jenny goes in a direction that I had not really anticipated, but was happy to let organically unfold. Jenny begins by talking about the contemporary pagan practices and traditional Irish views about Samhain or Halloween, but from there we talk rather in-depth about the complex relationship between the dead and 'the good people', otherwise known as fairies- whether they like humans or not - and how the ideas about 'the good people' are tied up in Irish culture (that has had a difficult past, especially due to Catholicism), and how new narratives are emerging due to contemporary pagan efforts.PROGRAM NOTES:Bio Dr. Jenny Butler (website and UCC page): About - Dr Jenny ButlerUCC Research Profiles: Jenny Butler, Study of ReligionsAcademia.edu page: Jenny Butler | University College Cork - Academia.eduSelected works:(PDF) Symbolic and Social Roles of Women in Death Ritual in Traditional Irish Society | Jenny Butler - Academia.edu(PDF) Neo-Pagan Celebrations of Samhain | Jenny Butler - Academia.edu(PDF) The Neo-Pagan Ritual Year and Historical Reinterpretations | Jenny Butler - Academia.edu(PDF) The Neo-Pagan Ritual Year | Jenny Butler - Academia.edu(PDF) Irish Neo-Paganism: Worldview and Identity | Jenny Butler - Academia.edu(PDF) Remembrance of the Ancestors in Contemporary Paganism - Lineage, Identity, and Cultural Belonging in the Irish Context | Jenny Butler - Academia.eduOther Reference Works: The Banshee: The Irish Death Messenger  by Patricia Lysaght: The Banshee: The Irish Death Messenger by Patricia Lysaght (goodreads.com)The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles by Ronald Hutton: The pagan religions of the ancient British Isles : their nature and legacy : Hutton, Ronald : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet ArchiveThe Book of the Cailleach: Stories of the Wise Woman Healer by Gearoid O'Crualaoich: The Book of the Cailleach: Stories of the Wise Woman Healer: Amazon.co.uk: Gearóid Ó Crualaoich: 9781859184127: Books Theme music: Daniel P. SheaOther music: Stephanie Shea

Part One Highlights:Jenny begins by explaining the meanings of the terms 'neo-pagan' and 'pagan,' and why she has stopped using the first term and opts instead for 'contemporary pagan.' We then delve into the topic of death and how death and the dead are viewed in Irish traditions, as well as in some contemporary pagan views. The conversation extends to the roles of women, and traditions such as keening, that are associated with Irish wakes; as well as female otherworldy characters such as the banshee, that are associated with the dead, the Otherworld, and the divine feminine. PROGRAM NOTES:Bio Dr. Jenny Butler (website and UCC page): About - Dr Jenny ButlerUCC Research Profiles: Jenny Butler, Study of ReligionsAcademia.edu page: Jenny Butler | University College Cork - Academia.eduSelected works:(PDF) Symbolic and Social Roles of Women in Death Ritual in Traditional Irish Society | Jenny Butler - Academia.edu(PDF) Neo-Pagan Celebrations of Samhain | Jenny Butler - Academia.edu(PDF) The Neo-Pagan Ritual Year and Historical Reinterpretations | Jenny Butler - Academia.edu(PDF) The Neo-Pagan Ritual Year | Jenny Butler - Academia.edu(PDF) Irish Neo-Paganism: Worldview and Identity | Jenny Butler - Academia.edu(PDF) Remembrance of the Ancestors in Contemporary Paganism - Lineage, Identity, and Cultural Belonging in the Irish Context | Jenny Butler - Academia.eduOther Reference Works: The Banshee: The Irish Death Messenger  by Patricia Lysaght: The Banshee: The Irish Death Messenger by Patricia Lysaght (goodreads.com)The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles by Ronald Hutton: The pagan religions of the ancient British Isles : their nature and legacy : Hutton, Ronald : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet ArchiveThe Book of the Cailleach: Stories of the Wise Woman Healer by Gearoid O'Crualaoich: The Book of the Cailleach: Stories of the Wise Woman Healer: Amazon.co.uk: Gearóid Ó Crualaoich: 9781859184127: Books Theme music: Daniel P. SheaOther music: Stephanie Shea

Rejected Religion Spotlight with Keith Ready, Chairman of the Boleskine House FoundationBoleskine House: Heritage, History, and EsotericismINTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTSKeith starts our discussion by giving a short background and history of Boleskine House and the surrounding area. We then move to how the house is linked to the area of esotericism/occultism through one of its more famous (infamous?) owners, Aleister Crowley. Keith talks about why Crowley bought the house, and the changes that were made to the house in order to perform the arduous magical ritual to summon one's Holy Guardian Angel, known as the Abramelin Ritual. We then shift gears to discuss the events that led to the creation of the Foundation and the goals/aims of the Foundation, both locally and internationally. In closing, we discuss the various options available to those who are interested in contributing to the restoration of Boleskine House. For questions about Journal submissions, etc., email: info@boleskinehouse.org. LINKSBoleskine House (includes all links to social media pages)Inzamelingsactie van Boleskine House Foundation SCIO : "Raise the Roof" of Boleskine House (gofundme.com)Boleskine Journal Issue #4 | Boleskine HouseKeith Readdy's book: One Truth and One Spirit (one-truth-one-spirit.com)Boleskine House Foundation SCIO (boleskinehouse) - Profiel | PinterestTheme music: Stephanie Shea

The podcast episode for October will be delayed a bit, but look for a new audio-only version of Rejected Religion Spotlight (featured on YouTube)! 

In Part 2, Mriganka discusses two important figures within the Indian Theosophical Society - Peary Chand Mittra and Mohini Chatterji - how they became 'on the radar' of Blavatsky and Olcott, their differing ideas and perspectives, and how escalating tensions led to a break between Mohini Chatterji and Blavatsky. Mriganka talks in particular about how Indian philosophies such as Advaita Vedanta influenced the Indian perspective and how Indian members approached Theosophy because of it. PROGRAM NOTESMriganka's academia.edu/ UvA page: (99+) Mriganka Mukhopadhyay | University of Amsterdam - Academia.edu(99+) (PDF) Mohini: A Case Study of a Transnational Spiritual Space in the History of the Theosophical Society | Mriganka Mukhopadhyay - Academia.edu(99+) (PDF) A Short History of the Theosophical Movement in Colonial Bengal | Mriganka Mukhopadhyay - Academia.edu(99+) (PDF) The Occult and the Orient: The Theosophical Society and the Socio- Religious Space in Colonial India | Mriganka Mukhopadhyay - Academia.edu(99+) (PDF) Occult's First Foot Soldier in Bengal: Peary Chand Mittra and the Early Theosophical Movement | Mriganka Mukhopadhyay - Academia.eduFacebook: Mriganka Mukhopadhyay | FacebookMohini Chatterji's Bhagavad Gita: The Bhagavad Gîtâ; Or, The Lord's Lay: Chatterji, Mohini M.: Amazon.com: BooksAnnie Besant's Bhagavad Gita: The Bhagavad-Gita (Text and Translation) (yogastudies.org)Mohini Chatterji and Laura Holloway's Man: Fragments of a Forgotten History: ManFragmentsOfAForgottenHistory_MChatterjiLCHolloway.pdf (theosophy.world)Michael Gomes The Dawning of the Theosophical Movement: DAWNING OF THE THEOSOPHICAL MO : Gomes, Michael: Amazon.nl: BoekenJoscelyn Godwin The Theosophical Enlightenment: Amazon.com: The Theosophical Enlightenment (S U N Y Series in Western Esoteric Traditions): 9780791421529: Godwin, Joscelyn: BooksTheme music: Daniel P. SheaOther music: Stephanie SheaNote: The 'other music' featured in this video was created by myself, Stephanie Shea, specifically for my own work using the Launchpad: DJ with Novation App, from Ampify Music. Under Ampify Music's license agreement, it states that all 'sounds' provided in their soundpacks are royalty-free, and that I/the user "own the intellectual property rights in your recordings of your musical work or compositions which use any Sounds and/or Tools."  Furthermore, other users of the same soundpack "acknowledge that other users may use the Sounds and/or Tools in their own musical compositions and you may not prevent other users from doing so." [see https://ampifymusic.com/soundpacks_legal/]. 

In Part 1, Mriganka gives an outline of the cultural, social, and religious history in Bengal, and the beginnings of the Theosophical Society in India - why Calcutta was so attractive to Helena Blavatsky and Henry Olcott, and who they were interested in as potential members. Mriganka also gives an explanation of particular terms that we use often in our conversation, such as the Brahmo Samaj sect and Ram Mohan Roy; the Bhadralok community; and the Bengal Renaissance - these are important to know about in order to understand the historical context of 19th c. India. Mriganka also discusses how the popularity of Mesmerism and Spiritualism in India formed the basis for the formation and propagation of the later Theosophical Society.We also explore the sensitive concept of Aryanism as it related to the Indian people involved, and how this term was used and understood by the Westerners, and by the indiginous Indians of Calcutta. This leads to a broader discussion of the agency of the Indian Theosophical Society members, and who was speaking with more authenticity.PROGRAM NOTESMriganka's academia.edu/ UvA page: (99+) Mriganka Mukhopadhyay | University of Amsterdam - Academia.edu(99+) (PDF) Mohini: A Case Study of a Transnational Spiritual Space in the History of the Theosophical Society | Mriganka Mukhopadhyay - Academia.edu(99+) (PDF) A Short History of the Theosophical Movement in Colonial Bengal | Mriganka Mukhopadhyay - Academia.edu(99+) (PDF) The Occult and the Orient: The Theosophical Society and the Socio- Religious Space in Colonial India | Mriganka Mukhopadhyay - Academia.edu(99+) (PDF) Occult's First Foot Soldier in Bengal: Peary Chand Mittra and the Early Theosophical Movement | Mriganka Mukhopadhyay - Academia.eduFacebook: Mriganka Mukhopadhyay | FacebookMohini Chatterji's Bhagavad Gita: The Bhagavad Gîtâ; Or, The Lord's Lay: Chatterji, Mohini M.: Amazon.com: BooksAnnie Besant's Bhagavad Gita: The Bhagavad-Gita (Text and Translation) (yogastudies.org)Mohini Chatterji and Laura Holloway's Man: Fragments of a Forgotten History: ManFragmentsOfAForgottenHistory_MChatterjiLCHolloway.pdf (theosophy.world)Michael Gomes The Dawning of the Theosophical Movement: DAWNING OF THE THEOSOPHICAL MO : Gomes, Michael: Amazon.nl: BoekenJoscelyn Godwin The Theosophical Enlightenment: Amazon.com: The Theosophical Enlightenment (S U N Y Series in Western Esoteric Traditions): 9780791421529: Godwin, Joscelyn: BooksTheme music: Daniel P. SheaOther music: Stephanie SheaNote: The 'other music' featured in this video was created by myself, Stephanie Shea, specifically for my own work using the Launchpad: DJ with Novation App, from Ampify Music. Under Ampify Music's license agreement, it states that all 'sounds' provided in their soundpacks are royalty-free, and that I/the user "own the intellectual property rights in your recordings of your musical work or compositions which use any Sounds and/or Tools."  Furthermore, other users of the same soundpack "acknowledge that other users may use the Sounds and/or Tools in their own musical compositions and you may not prevent other users from doing so." [see https://ampifymusic.com/soundpacks_legal/].