[For Common Month Correspondences refer to Archives/Gnostic Pagan Calendar of Celebrated Days.]
|
|
--------------- |
NUIT/1st Rotation of January in this Year of
ourSELF2006,
Aeon of Horus,
The Crowned & Conquering Child.
DEAR READERS,
COMRADES OF MOTHER EARTH:
January is dedicated to the ancient Egyptian goddess Nuit (new-eet.) She is the goddess
of the boundless night sky and from her womb emerged what scientists call
"the Big Bang." The only difference between earth-based religion
(paganism) and the mass religions, is that the so-called monotheism of the
anti-pagan mass religions represent a regression of the original wisdom
that revealed that all is from One Source (including the gods we project &
revere), and that there is a changeless stability within the ever-changing
cycle of human growth and understanding. In place of unity monotheist religions
glorify the ego, nationalism & war.
There is no duality; that limited concept was allegorically
resolved long before the advent of monotheistic religion in the mythic
vanquishing of Set (Satan) by Horus, third part of the trinity
Osiris-Isis-Horus.
All Existence is a manifestation of One Factor (Pantheism)
also known as the Theory of Everything. It is humanity that brings duality—the
concept & practice of “evil”—into the world. Gnostics call this split in
consciousness the Demiurge (Yahweh.) Most modern Gnostics perceive this split
as emanating from the natural world.
Gnostic Pagans do not.
The experienced split is literally all in the human mind.
It is humanity that projects the delusions of demons &
Antichrist.
As a consequence, it is humanity, and humanity alone that
can “redeem” itself from its self-made delusions & obsessions.
The unity of individual consciousness with the universal
and the human collective is the ultimate goal of evolution—and this can be
achieved both physically (the scientific mode) and trans-physically (the
spiritual mode.)
This is metaphorically known to Initiates as The Great
Work.
The Gnostic Pagan
Tradition asserts that religion is a personal matter and further affirms the
necessity for the separation of Church & State. We do not interfere with
the religious beliefs of others or attempt or engage in “conversion,” but we do
actively reject destructive tendencies many religions inspire in their
adherents, and their process of infiltrating the Capitalist State.
All Fundamentalism is based on conformity.
We are here as creative participants in this cosmic &
mundane drama, no matter how it began or how it will ultimately end. Kindness,
compassion, understanding…these are all strong and admirable qualities to
nourish; but there comes a point when a person who possess insight, sensitivity
& concern for the Earth and her creatures has to pick up the sword and say,
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
We want to stop the rape of the earth; the abuse of women
& children; the exploitation of workers; the inhumane treatment of the poor
and infirm; and human cruelty to other animals.
For starters, we want to see a definitive end to the Bush
Administration, the War Against Iraq, and the overthrow of the Capitalist
Oligarchy.
[Regarding Iraq: There will be no free or legitimate
election in Iraq until all the forces of the Anglo-American Axis are
permanently OUT.]
The spoilers have unleashed the beast of war; now let the
people unleash the fire of International Social Revolution.
This is our concept of the “Second Coming” when Horus
(Christ) returns with a rod of iron (the People) to cast out the desecrators
from the Temple of the Spirit.
The Aeon of
Horus, The Crowned & Conquering Child, has begun.
The Messiah is
Within You.
Hail
Prometheus!
The
United States is one of the very few Western nations that enforce the death
penalty. It is a debate in America that rages as violently as a woman’s right
to choose or the acceptance of homosexuality. We can understand the gut
reaction of the public to want to kill people convicted of the heinous crimes
that seem to be part and parcel of American society in the 21st
Century. We don’t believe that the Capitalist State should have the power of
the death penalty, but we do sympathize with the victims & families of
violent and abominable crime—and have a suggestion (inspired, in part, by a
Roseanne-Barr-Arnold-Roseanne HBO special that aired several years ago):
Take some god-forsaken place like Bush’s Texas ranch—or, indeed, the entire State of Texas, erect several very tall electric fences around it, have Marines patrol the perimeter (give them something good to do for a change), and incarcerate the most violent and despicable criminals in the facility (the Bush & Cheney families can have their own compound), and leave them to their own devices. Of course the Bush & Cheney clans would last about five minutes, but that’s true karma in action. Food, drugs and other supplies can be airlifted in. People who hunt for sport would probably enjoy it too and could be charged an entrance fee. Think of the money we’d save!
We have been
forced to accept the fact that the majority of people in the United States support
the State Capitalist status quo and that entails their refusal to take action
against either the Bush Administration criminals or the International Oligarchy
in general, the forces fueling the economic drive to ever increasing violence,
injustice and inequality. This lends credence to the various theories that are
going around implying that, although a single species, some of us have
diametrically opposed brainwaves to others, for without mass support—either
implicit or explicit—the Oligarchy would cease to exist. This is not a theory
of superiority, but a speculation on the qualitative differences between the
mob, nationalist mentality and individuals who are fed up with the plundering
of society and the earth, between warmongers and terrestrial caretakers.
And if this
weren’t bad enough, there are seemingly limitless shades of white, black and
gray within everybody.
There is a
danger here of regressing to a sort of neo-eugenics, a claim that one
individual is more worthy of living than another. Obviously on the spiritual
level this is an error to be avoided.
The
Christian Fundamentalists have their own unique view: when society becomes
unbearable due to humanity’s inability to come together and project positive
solutions, they (the “born-againers”) will simply disappear into the sky during
the “rapture” and then they will complacently watch the chaos below—the chaos
the self-righteous themselves are largely responsible for.
People have been known to change for the better—it doesn’t occur often—but it’s possible. We want to be open to the possibilities in others for positive development, while remaining true to our own convictions and need to take some responsibility for what goes on in the world around us.
ASTATRE/1st Rotation of February
in this Year of ourSELF2006,
Aeon of Horus,
The Crowned & Conquering Child.
DEAR READERS,
COMRADES OF MOTHER EARTH:
This month is dedicated to
the ancient goddess Astarte.
Astarte was a Semitic
goddess of sexuality, fertility and war. Her cult migrated to Egypt where she
morphed into the trinity of Anat-Sekhmet-Isis.
As she became associated with the Isis cult, Astarte was sometimes shown
suckling a child, another pre-Christian prototype of the Virgin and Child
(Horus.)
The goddess emerged in
Ireland as Brigid (or
Brigit), a Celtic-Irish fire goddess and an aspect
of the Triple Goddess. As in the case of so many
pagan divinities, Brigid was transfigured into a saint by the Catholic Church.
St. Brigid was supposedly an actual person (451?-525?) who was related to the
monarchy and associated with St. Patrick. Her biography is as dubious as that
of St. Patrick & his banishing of the snakes.
In part, the goddess
Brigid represents the first budding, the living power within dormant branches.
Some believe that this latent fertility was called “wick” and that this is the
origin of the term “Wicca.” The majority of Wiccans believe the term derives
from the Old English for “Wise Ones.”
The Feast of Brigid is traditionally known as Imbolc and symbolizes the
anticipated return of Spring.
Temple
of Astarte
As much as
we would love to see a completely non-violent Social Revolution to overthrow
the corrupt Capitalist Oligarchy and their reactionary puppets, the history of
the world and recent events demonstrate that this wish is a fantasy. The
Oligarchs will not let go of their stranglehold on the means of production, nor
will anti-environmentalists and others locked in an outmoded mindset let go of
their cherished prejudices or their own destructive economic interests. Every
time the working class unites in meaningful action in defense of its basic
rights, the Oligarchy sends out its full arsenal of cops and the military. This
happens when environmentalists attempt to prevent the onslaught against the
earth by the greedy and shortsighted. Cruelty to other animals is justified as
“free enterprise.” The Oligarchs are afraid of the people because the Oligarchs
have usurped the power of the people with lies, bribes and intimidation.
Although not
a “popular” position, we support united working class action aligned with
supporters to map out a plan to take over the power of the state and to
transform it to elected socialist administration for the good of the majority,
not for the enrichment of a privileged few with false & violent values.
Perhaps even
more importantly, workers and the underclass must reject those patriarchal
religions that advocate "crusades" and "holy Wars" and call
for any form of theocracy—as all the fundamentalist forms of
Christianity-Judaism-Islam are so fanatically dedicated to accomplish.
The working
class of all races and ethnic clans must abandon their perspective bias and work
together to achieve a global society based on economic equality, social justice
and lasting peace.
OSTARA/1st Rotation of March in this Year of
ourSELF2006,
Aeon of Horus,
The Crowned & Conquering Child.
DEAR READERS,
COMRADES OF MOTHER EARTH:
March is dedicated to the goddess Ostara and marks celebration
of the Vernal Equinox and for Gnostic Pagans the Festival of the Crowned &
Conquering Child (the falcon-headed god Horus) representing The New Aeon of
Human Liberation.
Ostara is
descended from ancient Teutonic-Nordic origins (Freya.) Because of this, early
20th century racists and so-called “mystics” such as the deranged National
Socialists abused her image, going so far as to name one of their contemptible
periodicals after her.
We prefer to think of Ostara
as the goddess in legend that relates how she took pity on a small bird
suffering during the harsh winter and transformed it into a more hearty rabbit.
Many people believe this is the origin of the Easter egg. Eggs also represent
fertility and birth.
Certainly there is a
connection between the name of the goddess and “Easter.”
The Risen Christ for
Gnostic Pagans refers not only to the concept of The God’s Resurrection from
physical death, but also the Return of the Goddess in her form of Persephone, a
full moon goddess) from the Underworld (Hades or Hell & the vanquishing of
her son Horus over the darkness of winter.) It was said that Christ descended
into hell and liberated the souls trapped there. In the Gnostic Gospel of St.
Peter a great secret is revealed—the state of hell (alienation from the Source
of All Being) is NOT an eternal state. The Great Source of Unity denies the
eternal condemnation of any soul. Let those who have ears hear and understand.
We ourselves are the judges of our own state of being both in this life or any
other.
March 5th also marks the
Navigium, the Celebration of Isis-as-Patroness of Sailing & Sailors. In
this role she was known as the Star-of-the Sea, a signification usurped by the
early Christians & bestowed upon the Virgin Mary. In Roman Catholic
countries the rite is still preserved, albeit in a highly diluted form. The
ancient ritual must have been a beautiful sight, with ships passing before an
image of The Great Mother of All Mysteries.
Concerning the connection
between Isis and the
“traditional” Gnostic goddess or principle Sophia
(Wisdom) The Gnostic Pagan
School equates the two; whereas most Gnostics deny any connection at all.
Since the vast majority of early Gnostics were patriarchal in practice if not
in philosophy, this is true. However, we trace our theological roots to the
Aeon of Isis decisively culminating with the death of Cleopatra in Alexandria,
the home of Gnostic Paganism. The Pagan intellectuals of that time may not have
considered themselves to be “Gnostics” as such, but they (including Cleopatra)
were fully aware of the numerous philosophical works (including the Testament
of the Hebrew God or the Demiurge) in the great Library of Alexandria. These
Pagans equated Sophia with Isis—and we accept this interpretation too as Isis
preceded the concept of Sophia by thousands of years, and yet they represent
the same concept—that is, Isis/Sophia are the feminine principles of supreme
knowledge and mother of The Conquering Child (Horus/Christ/Humanity.)
Isis is the Goddess of
Compassion, Magick, Healing Arts & Secrets of the Universe Revealed. We see
a co-relationship in Isis’ wandering the earth in desolation for the corpse of
her brother & husband Osiris with Sophia’s descent into the lowest material
plane.
Isis is the prototype of
the Mother of All Living Things—and is the multiracial source of all feminine
goddesses, including Ostara.
The Pagan Goddess Ostara
promises eternal Spring & Renewal.
MA’AT/1st Rotation
of April in this Year of ourSELF2006,
Current Aeon of
Horus, The Crowned & Conquering Child.
DEAR READERS,
COMRADES OF MOTHER EARTH:
This month we celebrate the solar goddess Ma’at, the
divinity of cosmic law and social order. Ma’at also represents the element of
Fire and the 5th Aeon (the current Aeon of Horus being the 4th
Aeon according to Gnostic Pagan theology.) Ma’at is second only to Isis in our
pantheon and is also known as the Guardian of the Southern Tower.
Ma’at is crowned with the Feather of Truth & is
often depicted 
wearing wings. She is closely associated with the
lunar deity Thoth, the god of knowledge & the written word. Together with
the solar god Horus they form a unique spiritual trinity.
Ma’at and
Horus represent the Female and Male cosmic polarity, or Shakti & Shiva.
Just as Isis and Osiris embodied this polarity for Gnostic Pagans in the former
aeon, Ma’at and Horus represent them in the New Aeon of The Conquering Child.
United they also represent the Self-birth of Humanity.
In Africa-based
religion, Ma’at’s fire element or flambeau can be seen in the veneration of the
warrior-saint Jeanne d’Arc/Joan of Arc.
↑Shades of Vietnam Era “Progressive” Peace
Crawls!!!↑
What About the
Iraqi Dead???
US Claims Reports of Iraqi Civilian Killings 'Misinformation'
As Iraq disintegrates into sectarian violence and
probable civil war, let’s not ever forget that it was war criminals Bush &
Blair and the Anglo/American Capitalist Oligarchy who created the conditions
for the on-going slaughter of innocent people in the Middle East and elsewhere.
Iraq cannot move forward until the Occupiers are OUT.
The Democrat
& Republican “leadership” & the even wealthier Oligarchs manipulating
them are a murderous & greedy lot that should be dealt with accordingly by
a united, international working class. Unfortunately large layers of
professional liars (newscasters and other media manipulators & cultural sell-outs; union misleaders, etc.)
are keeping youth bound to the social killing machine & in a constant state
of terminal apathy. Just about any means are justified to break the ideological
grasp that the Global Capitalist Terrorists have on the young and the state
apparatus. Nothing less will do than a complete (permanent) social revolution
to bring the world into the new aeon.
______________________
__________
Continue EDITORIALS
2006
Return to NEWSLETTER
Updated 12/06