Cult Info
I think in these times it is more essential than ever to inform ourselves about cults - what a cult actually IS (and is not) and how we can recognize them. I think many rational people are familiar with the stereotypical image of the 1960’s Guru sect but we are moving into a different era and the typology of cults (if not the methodology) has moved with us.
I don’t intend to embark on any particular hobby-horse with this but I shall probably post some thoughts and examples in the not too distant future. Meanwhile I have added a link category, Cult Info to the sidebar and also a post category which is currently invisible because I haven’t posted anything yet.
A Bientot.
August 30 2005 in Fortean | Read More | Comments [3]
Tao of Gnosticism
Just discovered a great series of articles entitled The Tao of Gnosticism on the blog Sitting Still Doing Nothing which is a highly recommended read.
Part three on the alchemical relation to Gnosis is a must-read. Drop by and say hi!
August 30 2005 in Esoteric Christianity | Read More | Comments [0]
Enneagon
With all this talk of Gurdjieff floating around I was thinking a bit about the Sufi links with G’s ‘system’ and in particular the Enneagon (or enneagram as recently decaffeinated by the new-age steamroller) and its origins.
Many people have sought the origins of the mysterious symbol and not many have had much success. I can’t say I can solve the issue but there are a few interesting links to throw into the pot for anyone who wished to give it a go. Firstly, I suppose I would cite Idries Shah’s comments in his book the Commanding Self
This is obviously an issue to which Shah attaches a great deal of importance and he states as much in this brief section. Addressing the issue of whether the enneagon is ‘unknown in occult circles in the west’ he claims to have seen a drawing of it in a MS in the Library of Grenoble. I do not know which MS he refers to here but the following image is from the frontspiece of Athanasius Kircher’s
This apparent difference between the symbols is interesting. Shah continues in the ‘Commanding Self’ explaining that the symbol itself is often depicted in a coded fashion (it is noteworthy that G himself stated it was incomplete as he gave it) - as an example of this Shah cites the door symbol in the tour Hassan in Rabat, Morocco (see picture and enlargement below).
These hidden, coded or ‘obscured’ depictions of the symbol are not unusual - here is one used by Gurdjieff himself on the front of the prospectus of the Paris Institute.
Imo this is an interesting field of study and there really isn’t that much (sane) research on it available on the web. I shall post a few links in my usual fashion for those interested in investigating (incidentally, it’s come to my attention btw that some people believe that if I post a link it means I agree with what it says - if I get my head round that concept I may post on it soon), anyway.....
Here is a thread on a forum that discusses Oscar Izacho’s use of the enneagram and mentions Shah and Leila Bakhtiar’s ideas of origins. Another, possibly less interesting, thread is at metaco8nitron and also there is an interesting piece on the Kaballah of eight.
This last one may be more interesting than it appears at first glance as it takes in the Ikhwas as-Safa (of whom more in an upcoming post) and focuses on the Kaballah of eight which it regards as the Sufi Kaballah (see Shah’s comments in this regard in the Sufis). This may be significant in the light of Shah’s comments in the CS cited above that the enneagon is often coded as an eight-sided figure.
August 30 2005 in Sufism/Islam | Read More | Comments [5]
Saints and Sinners
The ongoing Gurdjieff discussion at Conclave has got me thinking - which is good because that’s what it’s designed to do....err… anyway, I’ve been thinking about conceptions of ‘piety’ as opposed to the paradigm of traveling a path or ‘seeking’, however one frames that.
August 29 2005 in Esoteric Christianity | Read More | Comments [4]
Bits and Bobs….
Just a few updates on a chilled-out Sunday. Usually people here wash their cars but I don’t have one....
Found a blog with some nice Nasrudin stories on - some I hadn’t heard before (the goat one’s funny). Check it out at: Lawnorder.
Was thinking that it might be good to post a regular Sufi tale or story from Idries Shah and just leave it open for discussion - kind of like how Joe Katzman does it at Winds of Change although I think he has stopped for a while now.
I’ll make a new category for this discussion in a bit and nominate Thursday as the day - obviously, that being the case it will have to be called Mushkil Gusha. Stay tuned.
Also found some other links which people may find interesting (or not): there’s a Rumi/Sufism Forum here and an associated Rumi site which has some interesting older academic articles as well as some Shah stories. Also discovered an interesting Catholic blog with a great article by Hans Urs von Balthasar at North Western Winds which is definitely worth a look.
Have added Enormous Fictions, Weird Events and Indigo Jo to the blogroll.
That should be enough tinkering for now......
August 28 2005 in General Stuff | Read More | Comments [2]
Patricia Cornwell
I have been a student of the Ripper murders for a number of years - just don’t use the word ‘Ripperologist’ - and there are many anomalous facets to the crimes which I may (or may not) get round to posting on eventually. But as it so often does, something else odd has happened in our twee Victorian-wannabe (yes) world.
I see that Patricia Cornwell, who wrote a rather ludicrous book
Now this is funny and could almost be an esoteric teaching story! She apparently spent 10K (GBP) on each ad and all too prove she doesn’t have an obsession! And this in addition to $6M so far alleged to have gone into research into the Whitechapel murders - whether or not this includes the $1M which she is alleged to have spent on a Sickert painting which she then destroyed in a hunt for clues is unclear - as is whether or not that story is actually true.
But this seems more like a cynical publicity stunt (or is it me that’s the cynic?) as it turns out (please God no) that she has a sequel to the Sickert book due out shortly. The worst part is that I know I’m going to have to read it.
August 27 2005 in Literature | Read More | Comments [3]
Gurdjieff Links
Looks like Tim Boucher is getting into Gurdjieff and there are what potentially promise to be some great discussions developing over there on Gurdjieff’s ideas.
August 27 2005 in Esoteric Christianity | Read More | Comments [0]
Jesus in Afghanistan
Reading the comments on the Christological aspects of the Dome of the Rock below, I was reminded of the various Middle Eastern, Indian and Japanese (!) traditions that Jesus survived crucifixion and went on to travel, live and teach in the East for around 30 years or so.
The specific example I was thinking of was of an Afghani sect that practiced a ‘ring-dance’ they claimed was taught by Jesus and I know have found the source of this info. It is from O M Burke’s Among the Dervishes
Another good source is the work of Holger Kersten which lists many fascinating avenues for potential research. There is also a great Fortean Times Article from their archives.
August 26 2005 in Esoteric Christianity | Read More | Comments [2]
Saviors of God
It’s a day of synchronicity for me - always a good sign - I posted below about Corlett and Moore’s book which is essentially a commentary on Attar’s The Conference of the Birds
I post this as a resource for readers as it is kind of rare - please post any comments on Jp’s site as it is his discussion.
August 26 2005 in Esoteric Christianity | Read More | Comments [1]
Starlets in Chodors…..
August 22 2005 in Sufism/Islam | Read More | Comments [0]
The Gnostic Bowie
Peter R Koenig is writing a book about David Bowie’s occult interests - it has some fascinating insights into Bowie’s esoteric thought and his researches into the work of Crowley, Gurdjieff and Anger etc.
The book looks to be a must-read when it is finally published but for now Koenig has posted extensive notes at his site which is also a great resource for info on occult matters generally - particularly the OTO and its alleged modern subgroup ‘The Caliphate’.
This is a great article but with far too many themes to post here - if you’re interested in pop, Bowie, Gnosticism or Occult stuff then give it a read.
August 22 2005 in Esoteric Christianity | Read More | Comments [2]
Correfoc (again)
Tonight was the last night of the Gracia Festival and yes, you guessed it, another Correfoc. Here’s a few pictures.
August 22 2005 in Barcelona | Read More | Comments [0]
Tebbit on Islam
It seems that Norman ‘Rottweiller’ Tebbit is once more unleashed and giving us all the benefit of his opinions on Islam. Normally I wouldn’t give him much attention, and all the more so now he is sinking into his dotage but it is worth addressing as his views are a recapitulation of an opinion that has gained common currency and is, imo, a factor that militates towards less understanding rather than more.
August 19 2005 in Sufism/Islam | Read More | Comments [2]
Definitions
On a certain Newsgroup recently someone asked if I could stipulate the difference between Sufism and Islam - if there is one - and if I could explain what Sufism is.
I always decline these sort of questions because a) I usually don’t know much more than the asker and b) I’m not a Sufi and need to keep in mind that I don’t know what I’m talking about. There is always the possibility that someone will take my witterings seriously and that’s not the sort of thing I need going into the book of Judgement which is already pretty full. I’m always pretty careful to create a bad impression but still....you never know....these are strange times.
Anyway, I digress. I was contemplating this for my own satisfaction for a while and accordingly trawled through some Sufi Classics on the matter. I think my favourite comes from Idries Shah’s small pamphlet Observations
I shall share it here as it seems pretty much spot-on:
Religion is often confused with religiosity, just as it is confused with emotionality and obsession. Spirituality is the essence of religion: and there is, again, an essence of spirituality. Sufism is the essence of essences.
There is much food for thought in this short description. Anyone have any other definitions? Agree/disagree?
August 18 2005 in Sufism/Islam | Read More | Comments [10]
More Festa de Gracia
Today is the start of the Festa de Gracia in my barri in Barcelona - which means the end of any work because it is a full-on fireworks, drinking and mayhem party 24/7 for a whole week. Not that I’ll be indulging personally but it matters little - it all happens outside your window. Any window. All windows.
I have also started a Flickr Gallery which has assorted photos and general stuff and features quite a few from today’s utter carnage. Will add more when I recover.
Adieu.
August 16 2005 in Barcelona | Read More | Comments [1]
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