[For Common Month Correspondences refer to Archives/Gnostic Pagan Calendar of Celebrated Days.]



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[8. Ostara 2005]

 

THE CANONIZATION OF ST. MARTHA

 

So now that poor ol’ Martha Stewart got out of jail early—for good behavior no less—the media, even reputable journalists, are falling all over themselves singing the praises of Saint Martha.

 

Stewart was initially charged with insider trading (causing untold $$$ in losses to umwary investors), obstruction of justice, and a few other little odds & ends for pin money. She was subsequently convicted of two felonies, given a five month stretch, served less than three, and was released with electronic monitoring (thank goodness plastic ankle bracelets with remote sensor are in this year!)

 

And that should have been that.

 

But not in America…especially if you’re white & filthy rich & image savvy in Amereeeka.

 

Martha really IS a capitalist saint & heroine, a divine entrepreneur, generating $millions$ from her (reportedly) humble beginnings in a cottage industry—and then miraculously transformed by the holy halo of TV into a heavenly mega-conglomerate. The quality of the products she sold and/or endorsed is questionable (probably more cheap crap manufactured in China), but apparently people couldn’t get enough of them. Martha’s temporary downfall was a result of an obligatory need to sacrifice a few Wall Street crooks on the altar of phony capitalist “justice.”

 

The average person (small investor & worker alike) can barely keep financially afloat, sinking in a sea of credit in a vain attempt to keep the American Dream alive. Many people hopelessly watch as those dreams turn into nightmares, and as the rich steal as much of the pie they can get away with.

 

Stewart was just one who happened to get caught.

 

Hers was a show trial held to appease the little guy’s need to see one of the greedy get retribution. A lot of people didn’t like to work with her, and despite her fabulous wealth, she was gaining a wide reputation as being, well frankly…a bitch.

 

Yet as soon as she becomes a felon, everybody adores her!

 

It’s as bizarre as deceased mobster John Gotti’s daughter having her own show. After all, Gotti WAS a thug & murderer. Well, OK, Victoria Gotii is interesting—but those spoiled brats of hers!!!

 

This is as puzzling a reflection on the American political landscape as was the re-election of The Burning Bush.

 

Tired pathetic Democrats were thrown (once again & again & again) into further fruitless turmoil, so-called “soul searching” wondering WHY? How was this possible? Bush is a laughable, war criminal dunce—and yet with all these defects he STILL won!

 

What a commentary on American politics. 

 

Not having anything new to offer, Democrats are simply slipping into the swamp of rightwing reaction, surrounded by a pervasive miasma of defeatism.

 

As for Martha Stewart, she may have had her Ordeal by Fire, but she sure ain’t Joan of Arc.

 

[Your comments on this article]


 


   ISIS 2005        Dear Readers & Comrades of Mother Earth:                   

May is the month dedicated to the Great Goddess Isis, the Mamajama of Earth manifestation. She is the allegorical power of birth and medicine (some call it “Magick.”) Her triad co-partners are Anubis, the god of death & regeneration, and Thoth, the god of the written word & knowledge (gnosis). The ancient Egyptians often based their spiritual ideology on a triad of divinities—and this may be the source of the Christian Trinity (conspicuously ignoring the female component, of course.)

The Goddess Isis is the sister & wife of Osiris, the Dying God of Resurrection. Their Son is Horus, the falcon-headed solar God of Victory (The Pagan Christ.)

According to mythology, Osiris was slain by his evil brother Set.

After killing Osiris, Set severed the body and hid the pieces all around the earth. In mourning, Isis roamed about recovering the body parts and through her skill of healing she reunited the body of Osiris. Then she breathed life into him (does this sound familiar?), and had intercourse with Osiris and subsequently became pregnant.

The resulting nativity was Horus—The Crowned & Conquering Child of the New Aeon.

The 1st of May as a Day of Celebration is grounded primarily in Gaelic ritual traditions.

Followers of “Wicca” call the first of May Beltane.

Beltane is one of the great Fire Festivals. On the eve of Beltane bonfires were lit & participants jumped over them. Fertility Ritual was also a central feature. The Christian Establishment hijacked many Pagan Feast Days and Beltane was one of them. It was transfigured as the Feast of the Virgin Mary, Theotokos/The Holy Mother of God. Other titles of Mary are The Queen of Heaven & Star of the Sea (no, not the tuna.) All of these attributes were formerly associated with Isis. The Roman Catholic tradition of blessing ships is a rite focused on the Virgin Mary as patroness of sailors. This nautical rite was also originally associated with Isis.

One can’t help but muse that the Pagans had more fun on May Day than did the doleful Christians.

For Socialists, May Day is also Labor Day, celebrating International Worker solidarity.

Fundamentalists of the three major religions do not go beyond the egoistic level of consciousness. This is one reason why they are often violent and have an obsession to “convert” others to think exactly as they do. They are as suspicious of individuality as they are of non-conformity. Militant religious fundamentalism aligned with Global State Capitalism is increasingly demanding that the State be molded to reflect outmoded and destructive tendencies. “Scripture” replaces creativity & common sense.

The prevailing social atmosphere in the United States is that of neo-fascism; a stifling conformity represented by a singular lack of political consciousness in the youth. It is a culture of Greed, Sleeze & Cover-Up.

Interestingly, almost without exception, Pagan and Gnostic groups do not seek to actively convert others to their religious point of view.

Maybe we should…?

PS. May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii.

    

- Site-of-the-Month -

The featured site is a charming one dedicated to the popular Hindu deity Ganesh.

The veneration of zoomorphic gods & goddesses is not well understood by most people outside Pantheist & Pagan circles—or who are not scholars of comparative religion.

In the case of Egyptian deities, the non-human attributions probably originated from tribal standards and evolved into the gods & goddesses. For the Ancestors & contemporary “believers” the gods symbolize a devotional attitude to the forces of nature as well as deep love & respect for the animal kingdom in general. The creator of the featured site states that Ganesh is her Ishta-Devata or chosen deity. This corresponds to the Gnostic/Pagan acknowledgment of the daimon or daemon; also known as The Holy Guardian Angel.

[See also, DAIMONIC REALITY]

The original idea of the little mouse associated with Ganesh was to illustrate the god’s humility & generosity. Ganesh is a totally benevolent deity, freely bestowing blessings both material & spiritual.

[See also, SCIENTIFIC ILLUMINATION & BHAKTI/DEVOTION]

[See also, THE MAHBHARATA]

 

[Select the god to see more images]

[For additional information also select the link below]

    


HERA 2005       Dear Readers & Comrades of Mother Earth:                    

Flowers are flowering, greens are growing, buds are budding, and the Earth is warming up. There is a certain sense of guarded optimism in the air not experienced since the Anglo-American take over of Iraq. Can it be the season? Anti-Depressants kicking in? Maybe it’s the simple fact that more people in the US who reluctantly voted for Bush are realizing just what a mistake that was. Despite the incredible conformism strangling America, more young people seem to be becoming politically aware, a new generation who just may be open minded enough to find their creative way to Socialism. Perhaps they can achieve the promise their grandparents failed to achieve, and the promise their own parents never even tried to understand.

Yeah, baby, let’s hear it for Socialist & Communist Youth!

Hold on, hold on, dear friends, change may be coming sooner than we think, and then “our murdered dreams shall wake" when people take back the power they have squandered on the Beast.

Regarding the black ribbon, as previously stated, it will remain on this page until all the illegal “coalition” troops of the Anglo-American Axis are OUT & when a non-US rigged election can take place.

The current regime in Baghdad is not legitimate.

ALL FOREIGN TROOPS OUT OF IRAQ!

DOWN WITH THE ANGLO-AMERICAN AXIS OF EVIL!

 

Now, on to more pleasant reflections…

June is dedicated to the Greek Goddess Hera (Rome knew her as Juno), the often-jealous wife of Zeus. It certainly seems apt that June is the month of weddings. Hera could be very bountiful and helpful if she liked you, but woe-be-tide if you got on her bad side. She could be a monumental bitch.

June is also the month of the Summer Solstice and feast of Lithia.

Some people think we’re just nuts to actively take part in rituals that supposedly died out long ago. Well, we just do. We honor the Ancestors in this way and honor the Earth, as well as reinforce our collective spiritual center. At least we’re not out trying to brainwash people—or dancing naked around Stonehenge.

 

 


   SEKHMET 2005       Dear Readers & Comrades of Mother Earth:                   

Considering the present critical condition of the Earth and the increasingly violent madness of humanity, The Gnostic Pagan Collective strongly believes in attempting to present a more positive attitude towards others—and that involves a conscious & earnest effort to manifest a more inclusive approach. However, we had previously planned to comment this month on three major points of contention between Paganism & the monotheist religions of Judaism, Islam & Christianity: the conception of time, the idea of faith and the practice of charity.

 

The Christian concept of time is linear, therefore history only began with the birth of a child attributed to be the     one & only son of a one & only God about 2,000 years ago, and it will culminate when he returns to earth in a Bruce Willis-like endzeit (end of time.) Jews date time from the mythological birth of Adam & Eve. They are still awaiting the Messiah. Although Islam accepts the prophets (including Joshua ben Joseph, or "Jesus”), they claim Muhammad is the last & “greatest” and measure time to include the conversion of the world to Islam. The Pagan perception of time is cyclical, more tied into the seasons and the physicality of change. The three so-called Axil Age “confessional, monotheist religions” are based on the idea of faith (a belief in a “supernatural” world beyond the five senses.)

 

[For a more detailed explanation regarding the so-called “Axil Age” religions see REVIEW: ISLAM.]

 

Paganism is grounded in earth-based ritual observance of the forces of nature and does not require its celebrants to “believe in” anything they cannot directly experience thru the senses. We do believe in training the senses to experience a reality beyond the mundane. Many experiences that appear to have “paranormal” or “psychic” significance can & will be proven to be “normal,” or, worse case scenario, the product of fraud and/or mental defect.

 

The only “faith” needed for Gnostic Pagan Celebrants is faith in the Human Spirit (and that’s a tall order these days.)

 

It has been said, “No Buddhist ever had a vision of Christ, and no Christian had a vision of Buddha.”

 

Yet a Gnostic Pagan can have a vision of both—and study Kabbalah.

AND Karl Marx.

 

Of course the Gnostic Pagan Circle considers pure LSD, THC (as in marijuana) & “magic mushrooms” Holy Sacraments, so it can certainly be said that we have our little foibles too. The use of psychoactive substances or A.E.S. is common to almost all Pagan societies, but was nipped in the bud (sorry, couldn’t resist the pun intended) in the last century when the US government realized what a power for transformation A.E.S. (Awareness Enhancing Substances) represented when spiritually utilized. The State and its “official” Axil Religions demand absolute conformity. AES reveal how shallow the ego identity is and, conversely, the sacred depths of the daemon/the Self.

 

One of the reasons so many pagans converted to the Roman and Orthodox churches was that these simple “country folk” were awed by the opulence of an already morally corrupted religion, albeit during an era of extreme social disintegration in the West (and curiously this same time was a period similar to the artistic & scientific Renaissance for Islamic countries.) As a consequence, pagans who basically believed in very little at this juncture began to believe that Christianity possessed what they perceived as a better “magic.” They were also coerced to convert by both religious & secular “authorities.” One need only look to the experience of Native Americans & Hawaiians exploited by Christian Missionaries. They forced the Bible on the natives & in return stole their land and their dignity. The method employed by the Missionaries often resembled what today we would call 3rd degree badgering by the police.

 

As for the concept of “charity” linked to the three religions, as socialists we don’t believe in bestowing “charity” either according to the whim of a dishonest political Order, or by hit or miss gestures arising from a need to feel good in “pitying the poor.” Instead we demand an International Social Revolution, an insurgency of the majority against exploitation by the Capitalist Oligarchy. One of the reasons religion became anathema to Marxists is that the major religions have always worked hand in glove with the State in a de facto conspiracy to keep people enslaved both physically & spiritually. Be that as it may, we think the “village atheist” style Marxist approach to religion is shortsighted. The atheistic jargon is unnecessary, derived from a conscious or unconscious motivation aimed at self-aggrandizement & an immature desire to alienate generally kind & well-meaning people. The buzzwords of 19th Century materialism are out of date & intellectually boorish. People who don’t experience spiritual depth tend to project this shallowness into the world and expect potential political allies who do experience a spiritual dimension to either shut up about it or get lost.

 

Superficiality & insensitivity is just as unattractive in a Marxist as it is in a Capitalist.

 

And finally, Christianity has traditionally been obsessed with converting anyone & everyone. This need for conformity is almost unique to monotheist religion & arises from a profound sense of social insecurity. It is rare to find it in Pagan or Gnostic organizations. The Gnostic Pagan School advocates cell or “coven” groups in which psychic energy is first individually raised & then collectively focused. The concept of “going to church on Sunday” and hearing the same sermons over & over again is as unacceptable as being forced into the confines of a “hallowed” structure with people you don’t know, or who are spiritually out of synch or simply go to church for appearance sake or, even worse, attend Church, Mosque or Synagogue for business reasons.

 

It’s one thing being civil to people, and quite another to “worship” the Demiurge (Yahweh) with them!

 

For a detailed exposition of the Gnostic Pagan Tradition refer to the FOUNDING DOCUMENT.

 

 

 

The major Celebration in July is a pre-Christian one called Lammas or Lughnasadh.

 

July is also dedicated to the lion-headed Goddess Sekhmet according to The Gnostic Pagan Tradition. She forms part of a spiritual triad along with Isis and Ma’at. Sekhmet has a dual nature, one for healing and one for destruction. As a fire goddess Sekhmet also represents both the positive and the negative of that element. For example, in ancient Egypt Sekhmet would be invoked for healing and purifying surgical instruments with spiritual and, of course, physical fire. Negatively Sekhmet was also called upon as a vindictive curse and was often considered to be the source of illness and bad luck.

 In Hawaii she is known as Pele. 

Sekhmet was a goddess you didn’t want to mess with.

It was well known that the best way to placate the goddess was to offer her beer, and plenty of it!

 

                                         

Hold on, hold on, dear friends, change may be coming sooner than we think, and then “our murdered dreams shall wake" when people take back the power they have squandered on the Beast.

Until the Time of Liberation, we remain at our post, “signaling thru the flames.”

Regarding the black ribbon, as previously stated, it will remain on this page until all the illegal “coalition” troops of the Anglo-American Axis are OUT of Iraq & when a non-US rigged election can take place.

The current regime in Baghdad is not legitimate.

ALL FOREIGN TROOPS OUT OF IRAQ!

 

 

 

 

Site-of-the-Month

[Please Note: Creators of selected sites do not necessarily reflect

any affiliation or agreement with the political or other ideas

expressed on Gnostics & The Social Revolution]

Lady of the Flame

[This is an excellent site on all levels.]

 

 

 

 

 

      

 

 

DEMETER 2005       Dear Readers & Comrades of Mother Earth:

The escalation of global violence bears a direct connection to the insatiable greed of the Oligarchs (the Modern Gnostic "Archons") and their wanton use of brute force to mold the world according to their own distorted view. State Capitalists have nurtured an atmosphere of death & destruction around the world. The illegal War Against Iraq was the last straw. The international comunity, particularly citizens in the United States, should be repulsed by Washington, The New Rome.

We disagree with those who hold the Capitalist Oligarchy solely responsible for the carnage in Iraq, and then go on to claim that the troops are morally blameless. That’s almost on the level of old Nazis exonerating themselves by saying, “We were just following orders.” Nor do we absolve the troops in the name of “class solidarity.” The troops are made up of individuals, and as individuals they voluntarily joined to “be all they could be in Army.” As individuals we shape the world around us, either in a creative way or in a destructive way. Enlisting was a personal action that helped fuel the madness represented by the Bush Family Mafia. The recruits were not forced to serve The Beast, but they voluntarily offered themselves up (for a price) to the New World Disorder.                                                                  

The troops bear a direct personal responsibility for the war—after all, nobody could fail to realize that the Armed Forces is nothing more than a barbaric killing machine—and judging from the evidence the US has desperately attempted to suppress, many of the troops enjoyed killing & torturing Iraqis. 

For another, very legitimate view on this question check this article out.

[See also, Mother of fallen soldier camps outside Bush ranch: “Why did you kill my son?”]

Of course we don’t want young people of any country to die or be maimed in a disastrous war fostered by the USA, a completely discredited State Capitalist government. Iraq is not the enemy, but Washington is. Bush & Blair are War Criminals, and must be dealt with accordingly. Put them on trial with Saddam. After all, their motives are the same.

Those who slay innocent children together deserve a nameless grave together, and to be obliterated from the Book of Life.

Individual “redemption” is always possible, and the individual soldier can forgive himself or herself the “sin” of being an accomplice for The New Rome, but the soldier must first of all “sin no more.” In addition, the recruit must acknowledge his or her participation in collective State sanctioned terror—then they must renounce former allegiance to The Beast.

Maybe then they can rejoin the unity of spirit & begin to forgive themselves.

Regarding “Islamic Terrorists” their actions are cruel & wicked too. But there again Bush & Company tossed gasoline & threw in a lighted match.

Site-of-the-Month

[Please Note: Creators of selected sites do not necessarily have

any affiliation or agreement with the political or other views

expressed on Gnostics & The Social Revolution]

 

August is dedicated to the Greek goddess Demeter (the Roman Ceres.)

Her rites go back to the very roots of human existence & consisted at least

in part by the consumption of psychedelic awareness enhancing substances.

 

     Click on the images of the goddess below for more information, —

or on the sheaves of grain.

 

Alas! the forbidden fruits were eaten,
    And thereby the warm life of reason congealed.
    A grain of wheat eclipsed the sun of Adam,
    Like as the Dragon's tail dulls the brightness of the moon
.

— Rumi: Masnavi I Ma'navi

 

POMONA 2005       Dear Readers & Comrades of Mother Earth:

September is dedicated to the Roman Goddess Pomona, whose mother was Ceres, the goddess of grain. The more ancient Greek variant calls her Persephone, daughter of Demeter. Both Pomona & Persephone, in addition to their connection with harvest ritual, were associated with the Orpheus & Adonis cults. These cults revolved around the Dying God (the harvest cut down, sacrifice of the God, the descent of the God into Hades in search of his lost love Pomona/Persephone.) In a more popularized version Hades (Pluto) god of the underworld abducts the young goddess to hell. Demeter in her grief strikes a bargain with the god. She will consent to bless the earth with her bounty if Hades consents to release Persephone for the six months that correspond to Spring and Summer.

It is tempting see correlations between these myths and the story of Christ’s descent into hell in the three days following his burial in order to free the christian and pre-christian saints.

The major high holy day in Pomona is Mabon, the celebration of the Autumn Equinox.

The Equinox, of course, marks the time when day and night are equal. With the waning of the light the old crops either die or are harvested. So, like the balance of the season, it is a time for both joy and saddness. This is also a time that in antiquity was intimately associated with the great Mystery Schools. It has been suggested that ergot was specially prepared to produce an awareness enhancing substance or psychedelic and partaken as a sacrament representing the body of The God or Goddess. Even more arcane rituals were open only to women. No doubt information regarding general hygiene and the birthing process were exchanged during these ceremonies.

The Gnostic Pagan Circle today has adapted these ancient practices in the ritualization of the goddess Isis who represents a matrix of the forces of the terrestrial/Earth sphere. The School sees this as the time when Isis mourned the death of Osiris. From the Autumn Equinox until the Winter Solstice a black veil known as the Veil of Isis is draped over the statue or other ikon (image) of the goddess.

 

As the death toll of American troops increases in Iraq, the circular reasoning and patriotic spin is operating in high gear on every level of US society. It goes like this: As more troops are slaughtered, society must likewise increase its support for the war—and send more soldiers to be slaughtered.

This is not quite occurring according to State Capitalist plan.

The media is certainly working overtime doing its part. The same plastic smiling faces continue to repeat what they’ve been told or, perhaps even worse, bury the truth they know.

Capitalist Nationalism with its narrow self-interest is the basis of war & control of the people. It is the infantile, destructive philosophy of MY COUNTRY RIGHT OR WRONG. Nationalism always promotes the lowest common denominator bourgeois concepts such as the superiority of one race over others & the need for social conformity. War and “National Security” are used to intimidate citizens & suppress dissent.

Lately Nationalism is expressed as “Our culture is better than your culture, our technology is better than your technology, our religion is greater than your religion, and our freedom is more free than your freedom. We are the biggest, the bravest, the boldest, the best.” Nationalism is the big gun brought out to cover up deep social fractures, rampant criminal activity both on the street and within Government circles, capitalist skullduggery aimed at workers, and is driven by deeply buried feelings of social & personal inferiority.

For example, if the United States Government was really stable & secure, it would not have the need to attempt to control the world, dragging everybody into its paranoiac proclamations & vendettas against technologically weaker countries & non-European populations. Extreme nationalism in conjunction with capitalism inevitably leads to fascism.

You can love the land without the constraint of nationalism or jingoism.

The general public seems passively angry, confused—yet few are reacting to the horror that America has unleashed on Iraq. During the War Against Vietnam there was less censorship, but it still took a long time for Americans to react—and that reaction was largely fueled by the fact that most troops had been subject to conscription—and the USA was clearly loosing the ground war. If the troops in Iraq today were conscripted you can bet there would be a hell of a lot more people on the street protesting this latest criminal war. Without personal computers & the Internet the small militant anti-war movement probably wouldn’t even exist in the USA.

So don’t be afraid to speak the truth—and act on your knowledge—but have the sense to know when to be silent too.

 

Site-of-the-Month

[Please Note: Creators of selected sites do not necessarily have

any affiliation or agreement with the political or other views

expressed on Gnostics & The Social Revolution]

 

        

       

 

This may well be the Big Mama of all sites that present information & graphics

about Ancient Egypt, particularly it’s Gods, Goddesses & mystic

belief system.

 

A must see to believe!

Continue EDITORIALS 2005

NEWSLETTER

PARALLEL PERSPECTIVES

Updated 10/05