Divination is a cultural universal which anthropologists have observed as being present in many religions and cultures in all ages up to the present day (see sibyl). Divination may be defined as a mechanism for ascertaining information by interpretation of omens or an alleged supernatural agency and as divination often entails ritual as different to fortune-telling is often facilitated by trance.

Nechung Oracle

In Tibet, oracles have played, and continue to play, an important part in religion and government. The word ”oracle” is used by Tibetans to refer to the spirit, deity or entity that enters those men and women who act as media between the natural and the spiritual realms. The media are, therefore, known as ”kuten”, which literally means, “the physical basis”.

The Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in northern India, still consults an oracle known as the ”Nechung Oracle”, which is considered the official state oracle of the government of Tibet. He gives a complete description of the process of trance and possession in his book ”Freedom in Exile” [http://www.tibet.com/Buddhism/nechung_hh.html].

Edgar Cayce

Edgar Cayce (1877–1945) was an American psychic who claimed to channel answers to questions on subjects such as health, astrology, reincarnation, and Atlantis while in a kind of sleep trance. Cayce’s methods involved lying down and entering into what appeared to be a trance or sleep state, usually at the request of a subject who was seeking help with health or other issues (the sub

Adapted from the Wikipedia article Trance, under the G. N. U. Free Documentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki

No related posts.

The cover story of the magazine’s very first issue was a tribute to scientist and science fiction writer Isaac Asimov. The robot on the cover of volume 12, #2 (2006) is depicted sitting on a park bench reading that issue. (Asimov wrote a number of stories featuring robots and coined the term robotics.)

Every issue of the magazine opens with a description of The Skeptics Society and its mission statement, which is to explore subjects such as creationism, pyramid power, Bigfoot, pseudohistorical claims (as in the examples of Holocaust denial and extreme Afrocentrism), the use or misuse of theory and statistics, conspiracy theories, urban myths, witch-hunts, mass hysterias, genius and intelligence, and cultural influences on science, as well as controversies involving protosciences at the leading edge of established science, and even fads like cryonics and low-carb diets. In addition to publishing the magazine, the Society also sponsors lecture series at the California Institute of Technology, produces and sells tapes of the lectures, as well as other books on pertinent subjects, holds field trips to investigate and research such subjects, conducts social events to promote good-will, and provides resources for the public and the media, with which they may approach controversial subjects from a skeptical viewpoint.

The magazine’s page count varies from 104 – 114 pages.

Typical topics

The first text piece in each issue is an editorial by James Randi, often made in reaction to stories from the mainstream news media, such as the 2005 story by the ABC ne

The magazine also features a large correspondence section called “Forum” that includes not only letters from lay readers but also in-depth comments and rebuttals from professionals for extended academic debate across issues from past editions.

The bulk of the magazine is devoted to a variety of topics. Its cover stories have ranged from examination of alleged UFOs in religious icons and theories of the likelihood of artificial intelligence to tributes to luminaries such as Isaac Asimov and Ernst Mayr. Some editions feature special sections devoted to a particular topic or theme that is examined through multiple articles by different authors, such as Intelligent design, a frequently recurring topic in the magazine, given the ongoing creation vs. evolution controversy.

”Junior Skeptic”

Bound into most issues is also a 10-page young readers section called ”Junior Skeptic”. Heralded by a cover printed on glossy paper (the rest of the magazine is printed on non-glossy stock), ”Junior Skeptic” focuses on one topic, or practical instruction that is written and illustrated in a style more appealing to children.

Daniel Loxton is the Editor of ”Junior Skeptic”. He writes and illustrates most issues.

The first edition of ”Junior Skeptic” appeared ”Skeptic” in volume 6, #2 of ”Skeptic” (2000).

#Emily Rosa vs Therapeutic Touch ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol06n02.html volume 6, #2])

#Bigfoot ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol06n03.html volume 6, #3])

#Aliens Among Us? ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol06n04.html volume 6, #4])

#Fortune telling ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol07n01.html volume 7, #1])

#Urban legends ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol07n02.html volume 7, #2])

#Halloween ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol07n03.html volume 7, #3])

#Television psychics ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol07n04.html volume 7, #4])

#Charles Darwin ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol08n01.html volume 8, #1])

#Pyramids ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol08n02.html volume 8, #2])

#Atlantis ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol08n04.html volume 8, #4])

#Moon landing hoax ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol09n01.html volume 9, #1])

#Magician’s Force (Magic instruction by magician Bob Friedhoffer.) ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol09n02.html volume 9, #2])

# ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol09n03.html volume 9, #3])

#Sea monsters ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol09n04.html volume 9, #4])

#Extraterrestrial life ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol10n01.html volume 10, #1])

#Yeti ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol10n02.html volume 10, #2])

#Bermuda Triangle ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol10n03.html volume 10, #3])

#King Tut’s Curse ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol10n04.html volume 10, #4])

#Loch Ness Monster ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol11n01.html volume 11, #1])

#Sasquatch Part 1 of 2 ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol11n02.html volume 11, #2])

#Sasquatch Part 2 of 2 ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol11n03.html volume 11, #3])

#Madman of Magic ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol11n04.html volume 11, #4])

#Pyramid power ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol12n02.html volume 12, #2])

#Alien abduction Part 1 ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol12n03.html volume 12, #3])

#Alien Abduction Part 2 ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol12n04.html volume 12, #4])

#Evolution Part 1 ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol13n01.html volume 13, #1])

#Evolution Part 2 ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol13n02.html volume 13, #2])

#Ancient astronauts Part 1 ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol13n03.html volume 13, #3])

#Ancient astronauts Part 2 ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol13n04.html volume 13, #4])

#Dragons ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol14n01.html volume 14, #1])

#Crystal skulls ([http://www.skeptic.com/the_magazine/archives/vol14n02.html volume 14, #2])

Adapted from the Wikipedia article Skeptic (U.S. magazine), under the G. N. U. Free Documentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki

No related posts.

The story is set in 1997, 10 years after its production. the plot follows Zak (full name Francis Zachary McKracken), a writer for the ”National Inquisitor”, a tabloid newspaper; Annie Larris, a freelance scientist; and Melissa China and Leslie Bennett, two Yale University coed students, in their attempt to prevent the nefarious alien Caponians (who have infiltrated the phone company) from slowly reducing the intelligence of everybody on Earth using a 60 Hz “hum”.

The Skolarians, another ancient alien race, have left a defense mechanism hanging around to repulse the Caponians, which just needs a quick reassembly and start-up. Unfortunately, the parts are spread all over the Earth and Mars.

The game was heavily inspired by the many popular theories about aliens, ancient astronauts and mysterious civilizations. The many places visited in the game are common hot-spots of relevant literature, like the pyramids of Egypt and Mexico, Lima, Stonehenge, Atlantis, a space cadillac with Elvis (really an alien) and eventually the Face on Mars. The general New Age feeling is very obvious since players will meet also gurus and a shaman who hold secret knowledge of everything, as well as help convert an airport-housed bum to become a Hare Krishna.

All this is no accident. David Fox, the lead designer and programmer, intended to make a humorous game, but not nearly as wacky as the final version. While designing the game, he spent some days with David Spangler, noted new age writer, before Ron Gilbert and Matthew Alan Kane persuaded Fox to increase the comedy angle. Fox has also said that Zak was not a sequel to Maniac Mansion, and that the two games take place in a different universe.

All versions of Zak except the FM-Towns port require the player to enter copy protection codes whenever they fly outside of the United States. The codes do not have to be entered when flying into the US, or when the player is at an airport in another country. If the player enters the wrong codes five times, Zak gets locked in jail and his guard makes a lengthy anti-piracy speech.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders, under the G. N. U. Free Documentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki

No related posts.

Among the most notable developments in the history of pseudoscience in the 19th century are the rise of Spiritualism (traced in America to 1848), homeopathy (first formulated in 1796), and phrenology (developed around 1800). Another popular pseudoscientific belief that arose during the 19th century was the idea that there were canals visible on Mars. A relatively mild Christian fundamentalist backlash against the scientific theory of evolution foreshadowed subsequent events in the 20th century.

The study of bumps and fissures in people’s skulls to determine their character, phrenology, was originally considered a science. It influenced psychiatry and early studies into neuroscience. As science advanced, phrenology was increasingly viewed as a pseudoscience. Halfway through the 19th century, the scientific community had by and large abandoned it.

Halfway through the century, iridology was invented by the Hungarian physician Ignaz von Peczely. The theory would remain popular throughout the 20th century as well.

Spiritualism (sometimes referred to as “Modern Spiritualism” or “Spiritism”) or “Modern American Spiritualism” grew phenomenally during the period. The American version of this movement has been traced to the Fox sisters who in 1848 began claiming the ability to communicate with the dead. The religious movement would remain popular until the 1920s, when renowned magician Harry Houdini began exposing famous mediums and other performers as frauds (see also Harry Houdini#Debunking spiritualists). While the religious beliefs of Spi

The principles of homeopathy were first formulated in 1796, by German physician Samuel Hahnemann. At the time, mainstream medicine was a primitive affair and still made use of techniques such as bloodletting. Homeopathic medicine by contrast consisted of extremely diluted substances, which meant that patients basically received water. Compared to the damage often caused by conventional medicine, this was an improvement. During the 1830s homeopathic institutions and schools spread across the USA and Europe. Despite these early successes, homeopathy was not without its critics. Its popularity was on the decline before the end of the 19th century, though it has been revived in the 20th century.

The supposed Martian canals were first reported in 1877, by the Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli. The belief in them peaked in the late 19th century, but was widely discredited in the beginning of the 20th century.

The publication of ”Atlantis: The Antediluvian World” by politician and author Ignatius L. Donnelly in 1882, renewed interest in the ancient idea of Atlantis. This highly advanced society supposedly existed several millennia before the rise of civilizations like Ancient Egypt. It was first mentioned by Plato, as a literary device in two of his dialogues. Other stories of lost continents, such as Mu and Lemuria also arose during the late 19th century.

In 1881 the Dutch Vereniging tegen de Kwakzalverij (English: ”Society against Quackery”) was formed to oppose pseudoscientific trends in medicine. It is still active.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article History of pseudoscience, under the G. N. U. Free Documentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki

No related posts.

Modern occultists suggest that some Hermetic texts may be of Pharaonic origin, and that the legendary “forty-two essential texts” that contain the core Hermetic religious beliefs and philosophy of life remain hidden in a secret library.

In some trance “readings” of Edgar Cayce, Hermes or Thoth was an engineer from the submerged Atlantis, who also built, designed or directed the construction of the Pyramids of Egypt.

The book ”Kybalion”, by authors dubbed “The Three Initiates”, addresses Hermetic principles.

Within the occult tradition, Hermes Trismegistus is associated with several wives, and more than one son who took his name, as well as more than one grandson. This repetition of given name and surname throughout the generations may at least partially account for the legend of his longevity, especially as it is believed that many of his children pursued careers as priests in mystery religions.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article Hermes Trismegistus, under the G. N. U. Free Documentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki

No related posts.

Books and comics

*H. P. Lovecraft (1890–1937) included Mu in his ”Cthulhu” mythos.

*In Robert E. Howard’s Kull stories, Mu was a continent with many cities; when it sank, the mountain tops became the isles of Lemuria.

*Robert A. Heinlein’s story Lost Legacy describes Mu as a “mother of empires” that sank without a trace during a war with its breakaway colony, Atlantis.

*V. T. Hamlin’s ”Alley Oop” comic strips (1932). “Moo” and “Lem” are rival prehistoric nations.

*Massimo De Vita: ”Topolino e l’enigma di Mu” (Mickey Mouse and the Secret of Mu), comic strip, 1979. Mickey Mouse and Goofy discover the secret of Mu’s civilization and it’s abrupt disappearance.

*Henri Vernes’s albums: ”Les tours de cristal” (1961). Hero Bob Morane time-travels to a high-tech Mu, and ”Les géants de Mu” (1975).

*Andre Norton novel Operation Time Search (1967). Mu and Atlantis are rival nations.

*W. Murphy and R. Sapir’s book ”Coin of the Realm” (1971) features Mu. “James Churchward” used as a pseudonym.

*Tom Robbins’ novel ”Still Life with Woodpecker” (1980) makes extensive reference to Mu.

*M. Kurumada’s manga ”Saint Seiya” (Knights of the Zodiac) (1986-1990). Mu is the birthplace of the character Mu, one of the 12 gold saints under Greek goddess Athena’s command. Mu presides over the zodiac temple of Aries.

*Fred Perry

*Hugo Pratt’s comics album ”Mu” (1988-1989). A ”Corto Maltese” adventure.

*Margit Sandemo book series ”Häxmästaren” and ”Legenden om Ljusets rike” . Mu and Lemuria are advanced civilizations.

*James Rollins’s novel ”Deep Fathom”, in which one of the characters is the great-granddaughter of James Churchward.

*Nathaniel Mackey’s National Book Award winning book of poems ”Splay Anthem” (2006) contains his serial poem “Mu”.

*In Book 3 of the Conversations with God series by Neale Donald Walsch, the mythology of the Land of Mu is mentioned as true.

*In Stephen Pressfield’s “The Legend of Bagger Vance” the land of Mu spanned all of the continents 20,000 years ago. An ancient battleground is located in present-day Savanna, Georgia, on the site of the modern golf tournament.

*In Christopher Pike’s Spooksville series of young adult novellas, Mu and Lemuria are one and the same, with the titular city being the sole remnant of the lost continent. The history of Mu/Lemuria and Atlantis plays a significant role throughout the series.

*In Fredric Brown’s short story Letter to a Phoenix the narrator lists the six civilizations which existed on Earth before the current one. Mu is the second last (the last one being Atlantis).

*In Hiroyuki Takei’s Shaman King, the Mu continent is where the last round of the Shaman Tournament is about to take place.

Movies, TV serials, and animations

*”Atragon” (1963) and ”Super Atragon” (1996), based on S. Oshikawa’s novel ”The Undersea Battleship” and Komatsuzaki’s short story above.

*”Brave Raideen” (1975–1976). The inhabitants of Mu left a giant robot to defend Earth when the devils of space returned.

*”The Mysterious Cities of Gold” (1982). In the original, character Tao is a descendant of the Empire of Mu (renamed Hiva in the English dub).

*”Super Dimension Century Orguss” (1983.) The Mu Empire survives as a race of intelligent robots.

*”Space Sheriff Shaider” (1984). The alien Fuuma Empire fought by Shaider came from Mu, twelve thousand years ago.

*”Saint Seiya” (1986) The inhabitants of Mu created the cloths for Athena’s Saints. It is also the name of the current Aries Saint.

*”RahXephon” (2002). The alien Murians come from an alternate dimension into which the continent of Mu was accidentally translated.

*”Transformers: The Headmasters”, 1987. The submerged island of Mu is where MegaZarak harvests the “crysmag” metal.

*”Rebirth of Mothra II” (1997) . Mu is where the monster Dagarla was created.

*”Shaman King” (1998-2004) . Mu is where the final part of the Shaman King tournament is held and where the Shaman King ceremony happens.

Video games

*BioWare’s RPG ”Mass Effect” features mass relay named the Mu Relay which was lost for four thousand years.

*Webzen’s MMORPG ”Mu Online” is set on the continent of Mu.

*In tri-Ace’s Star Ocean, the characters find an ancient map of earth showing Mu. It was struck by a meteor, which created a wormhole that transported the continent and its inhabitants to the planet of Roak, the game’s main setting. The Muah are mentioned again in subsequent installments of the series.

*The NES game ”DuckTales 2” features Mu as one of the stages.

*Game Boy Advance’s game ”Astro Boy: Omega Factor” (2004) features Mu as an Aztec-like land, modeled after the Mu from the Osamu Tezuka anime Marine Express.

*”City of Heroes” and ”City of Villains”. Many humans with magical abilities are descended from the people of Mu. The villain group Circle of Thorns is primarily the ghosts of their ancient enemies, the Oranbegans. Also, the villain group Arachnos has a division made up of Mu descendants.

*”Civilization II: Fantastic Worlds” features a city called Mu on at least two different scenarios.

*”Mega Man Star Force 2” features a Mu that is a floating continent; for thousands of years it has remained cloaked with the use of electromagnetic waves. Dr. Vega, the main antagonist of the game, means to use certain OOPArts to revive the continent.

*”Age of Empires 3: The Asian Dynasties” features three treasures which are the remnants of Mu.

*A part of the Super Nintendo game ”Illusion of Gaia” takes place at Mu, an ancient city in the middle of the ocean, which is adorned with Easter Island statues. Its sequel ”Terranigma” features an island with the same name, albeit with less plot significance.

*In ”Viewtiful Joe”, a level named 2,000,000 Leagues Under The Sea is set in Mu, which is depicted as a somewhat modern underwater city.

*In the Nintendo DS game ”Nostalgia”, Mu is a optional dungeon that the player may choose to explore.

Music

*MU, a ’70s American psychedelic rock band.

*”The Thirteen Cryptical Prophecies of Mu”, song from the album ”The Power Cosmic” by Bal-Sagoth.

*The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu (later known as The KLF), a British techno band very fond of Mu.

*Glassjaw, a rock band from Long Island, NY. The second track on their album ‘Worship and Tribute’ is called “Mu Empire.”

*”Lemuria”, a song from the album ”Lemuria” by symphonic opera metal band, Therion.

*Don Cherry’s 1969 records with Ed Blackwell, Mu, Part I and Mu, Part II.

*Brewer & Shipley’s 1968 record Down In L.A. included a song titled “Incredible State of Affairs” that mentions Atlantis and Mu.

*”Mu”, a track on the 1967 album ”Atlantis” by jazz musician Sun Ra. Other tracks include “Lemuria”, “Yucatan”, “Bimini”, and the title track, “Atlantis”. The album features the Hohner clavinet.

*Robert Plant, of the rock group Led Zeppelin, claimed his symbol on the band’s fourth album (a feather inside a circle) represents the Mu civilization. He said, “My symbol was drawn from sacred symbols of the ancient Mu civilization which existed about 15,000 years ago as part of a lost continent somewhere in the Pacific Ocean between China and Mexico. All sorts of things can be tied in with Mu civilization—even the Easter Island effigies. These Mu people left stone tablets with their symbols inscribed into them all over the places. And they all date from the same time period. The Chinese say these people came from the east and the Mexicans say they came from the west…obviously it was somewhere in between.” (From the book ”Talking”, by Dave Lewis.)

*Planet Mu, a British electronic music label, has released albums titled ”The Sacred Symbols of Mu”, ”The Cosmic Forces of Mu”, ”Children of Mu” and ”Amμnition”. It is owned by Mike Paradinas, who publishes his own work as μ-Ziq, as well as other aliases.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article Mu (lost continent), under the G. N. U. Free Documentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki

No related posts.

In Sleeper religion, philosophy and occult systems, the Thyrsus are often associated with Shamanic customs, Australian aboriginal mythology, Native American mythology, indigenous myth the world over and Greek Orphic and Dionysian mysteries. In addition to Dionysus or Bacchus, other Nature deities such as Pan, Diana, Gaia, Cernunnos, Shiva and the Green Man are associated with the Path as well.

In Atlantean lore the Thyrsus Path is associated with the element of Water. Their colors are red and brown, symbolizing flesh and blood, while the sapphire represents their connection to the spirit world. Vines, especially grape, ivy and kudzu, represent the Primal Wild’s vitality, while cats represent the darker side of the Thyrsus. Their mythical beasts are the minotaur and satyr. Thyrsus rituals favor animal products such as musk, fur and leather, while wine represents the mad revelry of the Primal Wilds. Like Dionysus, the Shaman’s vehicle is the humble donkey, and their celestial body is the Moon.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article Thyrsus (Mage: the Awakening), under the G. N. U. Free Documentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki

No related posts.

Edgar Cayce has variously been referred to as a “prophet” (cf. Jess Stearn’s book, ”The Sleeping Prophet”), a “mystic”, a “seer”, and a “clairvoyant”.

Cayce’s methods involved lying down and entering into what appeared to be a trance or sleep state, usually at the request of a subject who was seeking help with health or other personal problems (subjects were not usually present). The subject’s questions would then be given to Cayce, and Cayce would proceed with a reading. At first these readings dealt primarily with the physical health of the individual (physical readings); later readings on past lives, business advice, dream interpretation, and mental or spiritual health were also given.

Until September 1923, they were not systematically preserved. However, an October 10, 1922, ”Birmingham Age-Herald” article quotes Cayce as saying that he had given 8,056 readings as of that date, and it is known that he gave approximately 13,000-14,000 readings after that date. Today, only about 14,000 are available at Cayce headquarters and on-line. Thus, it appears that about 7,000-8,000 Cayce readings are missing.

When out of the trance he entered to perform a reading, Cayce said he generally did not remember what he had said during the reading. The unconscious mind, according to Cayce, has access to information which the conscious mind does not — a common assumption about hypnosis in Cayce’s time. After Gladys Davis became Cayce’s secretary on September 10, 1923, all readings we

Cayce said that his trance statements should be taken into account only to the extent that they led to a better life for the recipient. Moreover, he invited his audience to test his suggestions rather than accept them on faith.

Other abilities that have been attributed to Cayce include astral projection, prophesying, mediumship, viewing the Akashic Records or “Book of Life”, and seeing auras. Cayce said he became interested in learning more about these subjects after he was informed about the content of his readings, which he reported that he never actually heard himself.

Major themes

The health readings are most numerous, and they involve many alternative health concepts and practices. Cayce described his work in terms of Christian service. People with esoteric interests have focused on a somewhat different set of topics.

* Origin and destiny of humanity: “All souls were created in the beginning, and are finding their way back to whence they came.” [Reading 3744-5] The Cayce readings could be interpreted as saying that human souls were created with a consciousness of their oneness with God. Some “fell” from this state; others—led by the Jesus soul—volunteered to save them. The Earth, with all its limitations, was created as a suitable arena for spiritual growth. It could also be interpreted as saying that all beings are born and all will eventually die.

* Reincarnation: Cayce’s work teaches the reality of reincarnation and karma, but as instruments of a loving God rather than blind natural laws. Its purpose is to teach us certain spiritual lessons. Animals have undifferentiated, “group” souls rather than individuality and consciousness. Humans have never been incarnated as animals. He describes a very complex design arranged between souls and God to “meet the needs of existing conditions”, which was a reference to the souls who became entrapped in the Earth’s physical materiality, which was not intended for a habitat of the soul. In ”There Is A River”, a biography about Cayce by Thomas Sugrue, we are told by Sugrue that spirit “thought-forms” stayed near and guided the anthropoid ape which was chosen to be the most ideal vehicle for the human physical race to be created from, and psychically guided their separate evolution into a ”Homo sapiens” species. This contradicts Cayce’s view. In reading (3744-5), Cayce states “Man DID NOT descend from the monkey, but man has evolved, resuscitation, you see, from time to time, time to time, here a little, there a little, line upon line and line and line upon line.” Cayce’s view arguably incorporates and parallels Theosophical teachings on spiritual evolution.

* Astrology: Cayce accepts astrology on the basis that our souls spend time on other planets (or perhaps their spiritual counterparts) in between incarnations. The position of the planets at our birth records these influences.

* Universal laws: Souls incarnated on the Earth are subject to certain spiritual laws such as, “As ye sow, so shall ye reap” (karma) or “As ye judge (others), so shall ye be judged.” In Cayce’s belief system, such “laws” represent an aspect of “God’s mercy”, whereby no matter what our circumstances, “He” has promised to guide us in our spiritual path.. Cayce said that when you view it from the highest dimension, there is no time and no space, nor any future or past, and that it is all happening in one fascinating expression and that time is an illusion that has purpose.

* Unknown Life of Jesus: Cayce presented narratives of Jesus’ previous incarnations, including a mysterious Atlantean figure called “Amilius” as well as the more familiar biblical figures of Adam, Enoch, Melchizedek, Joshua, Asaph, and Jeshua. Cayce describes Jesus as an Essene who traveled to India in his youth in order to study Eastern religions, more specifically astrology.

** Jesus and Christ: Following New Thought precedent, Cayce distinguishes between Jesus and Christhood. Briefly, Jesus was a soul like us who reincarnated through many lifetimes. “Christhood” is something he was the first to allow to be “manifest” through his material life, and it is something which we also ought to aspire towards. Cayce accordingly calls Jesus our “elder brother” and frequently makes reference to the way of the “lowly Nazarene.”

* Ideals: Cayce repeatedly stresses the choice of an ideal as the foundation of the spiritual path. “And O that all would realize… that what we are… is the result of what we have done about the ideals we have set” (1549-1). We may choose any ideal we feel drawn to. As we attempt to apply it in our lives, God will guide us further, perhaps inspiring us to revise our choice of ideal. The highest ideal, says Cayce, is Christ; however, the readings recognize “the Christ spirit” in some form as the basis for religions other than Christianity.

* Body, Mind, Spirit: Cayce often invokes these three terms, or their equivalents, to describe the human condition. “Spirit is the life. Mind is the builder. Physical is the result.” (conflation of various readings). The concept has application not only to holistic health but also to the spiritual life.

* Meditation: While Cayce sometimes described particular meditation techniques of sitting or chanting “Arrr–eee-oommm” the crucial element, he believed, is that of opening up to divine influences. The Search For God books say that “Through prayer we speak to God. In meditation, God speaks to us.” Cayce’s concept of meditation has some aspects in common with Hinduism or Buddhism (the chakras, kundalini) but is most similar to Christian versions of New Thought. The symbolism of the Book of Revelation, he says, is based on meditative experiences.

* Extra-sensory perception: Cayce accepted psychic experiences and ESP as a natural by-product of soul growth. God may speak to us through dreams (many readings consist of dream interpretation), or through intuitions similar to the pangs of conscience. However, Cayce did not endorse Spiritualism or mediumship on the grounds that supposed entities thus contacted are not necessarily particularly lofty. Instead, he encouraged seekers to focus on Christ.

* Atlantis: The Cayce readings spoke of the existence of Atlantis, a legendary continent with an advanced technology whose refugees peopled ancient Egypt as well as pre-Columbian America. Cayce’s description of Atlantis has much in common with that of Ignatius L. Donnelly. According to Cayce, Atlantean society was divided into two long-lived political factions—a “good” faction called the “Sons of the Law of One,” and an “evil” faction called the “Sons of Belial.” Many people alive today are the reincarnations of Atlantean souls, he believed, who must now face similar temptations as before. It is said Atlantis suffered three major destructions, one of which was the deluge. According to the readings, a major source of turmoil was the Sons of Belial’s desire to exploit the ”Things”, sub-humans with animal appendages and low intelligence, and the movements to protect and evolve them by the Sons of the Law of One. The final destruction was the overcharging of the crystal which caused a massive explosion.

* Egypt: Next to biblical times, the most significant era for the “life readings” was a pre-dynastic Egyptian civilization consisting of Atlantean refugees. Cayce purported to have been an Egyptian priest named “Ra Ta” who built a spiritually based healing center (the “Temple of Sacrifice”) and educational institution (the “Temple Beautiful”). His diagnostic readings and narratives about the past and future were supposed to be a continuation of his ancient work. This civilization also built monuments on the Giza plateau, including the Great Pyramid, and left records of Atlantis in a “hall of records” located under the right paw of the Great Sphinx of Giza. These readings bear a close resemblance to books by AMORC founder H. Spencer Lewis.

* Earth Changes: Cayce coined the term ”Earth Changes” (later widely used in New Age writings), a reference to a series of cataclysm events which he prophesied would take place in future decades — notably including the Earth shifting on its axis, and most of California dropping into the Pacific Ocean following a catastrophic earthquake.

* Cayce “cures”: Cayce’s medical readings typically prescribe poultices (often of castor oil), osteopathic adjustments, colonic irrigation, massage (often with peanut oil), prayer, folk remedies (e.g. charcoal tablets), various forms of electric medicine and patent medicines (such as Atomidine), and specific recommendations concerning diet and exercise. Cayce is often seen as a practitioner of holistic medicine, and has particularly strong philosophical ties with naturopathy.

* “Cayce diet”: Major dietary recommendations include the avoidance of red meat, alcohol (except red wine), white bread, and fried foods; a preference for fruits and above-ground, leafy vegetables over starches; and a high ratio (80:20%) of alkaline foods over acidic. One meal per day should consist entirely of raw vegetables. Under strict circumstances, Cayce advocated both coffee and pure tobacco cigarettes to be non-harmful to health. “Food combining” was also a central idea in the Cayce diet. According to Cayce, several food combinations that are contraindicated are coffee with milk or sugar, citrus fruit with starchy foods, and high protein foods with starches. Cayce himself followed very few of the dietary recommendations that were suggested by the readings. According to Cayce, two or three almonds (see Amygdalin) a day keep cancer away.

* Dream interpretation: Cayce was one of the early dream interpreters who contradicted Freudian views by saying that dreams can be of many different kinds (including sexual) with many levels of meaning; that lack of interest is the reason for poor dream recall; that only the dreamer knows the meaning of his dream; and that a dream is correctly interpreted when it makes sense to the dreamer, when it checks out with his other dreams, and when it moves him forward in his life.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article Edgar Cayce, under the G. N. U. Free Documentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki

No related posts.

Evolution and Race

Theosophists believe that religion, philosophy, science, the arts, commerce, and philanthropy, among other “virtues”, lead people ever closer to “the Absolute.” Planets, solar systems, galaxies, and the cosmos itself are regarded as conscious entities, fulfilling their own evolutionary paths. The spiritual units of consciousness in the universe are the Monads, which may manifest as angels, human beings or in various other forms. According to Blavatsky, the Monad is the reincarnating unit of the human soul, consisting of the two highest of the seven constituent parts of the human soul. All beings, regardless of stature or complexity, are informed by such a Monad.

Theosophical writings propose that human civilizations, like all other parts of the universe, develop cyclically through seven stages. Blavatsky posited that the whole humanity, and indeed every reincarnating human monad, evolves through a series of seven “Root Races”. Thus in the first age, humans were pure spirit; in the second age, they were sexless beings inhabiting the now lost continent of Hyperborea; in the third age the giant Lemurians were informed by spiritual impulses endowing them with human consciousness and sexual reproduction. Modern humans finally developed on the continent of Atlantis. Since Atlantis was the nadir of the cycle, the present fifth age is a time of reawakening humanity’s psychic gifts. Blavatsky said: “these two other senses on the ascending arc be on the same respective planes as hearing and touch”, or perhaps rather intuition and telepathy as the reference seems to say. The term psychic here really mean{ the realization of the permeability of consciousness as it had not been known earlier in evolution, although sensed by some more sensitive individuals of our species. Blavatsky mentioned the psychic to be “the super-ethereal or connecting link between matter and pure spirit, and the physical.”

Blavatsky suggested that most of present day humanity belongs to the fifth rootrace, the Aryans, which originally developed on Atlantis,. It was her belief that the older races will eventually die out, as the fifth rootrace in time will be replaced by the more advanced peoples of the sixth root race which is set to develop on the reemerging Lemurian continent.

Blavatsky claimed that “The occult doctrine admits of no such divisions as the Aryan and the Semite, accepting even the Turanian with ample reservations. The Semites, especially the Arabs, are later Aryans—degenerate in spirituality and perfected in materiality.”. However, this statement was not made in a spirit of attacking any ethnicity. (The Key to Theosophy, p.& 209: “St. Paul said,” etc. etc.) In fact, one of the main purposes of the Theosophical Society was “To form a nucleus of the universal brotherhood of humanity without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste, or colour.”(see above at The Three Objects)

Guido von List (and his followers such as Lanz von Liebenfels) later took up some of Blavatsky’s theories, mixing them with nationalism to formulate Ariosophy, a precursor of nazism. Ariosophy emphasized intellectual expositions of racial evolution. The Thule Society was one of several German occult groups drawing on Ariosophy to preach Aryan supremacy. It provides a direct link between occult racial theories and the racial ideology of Hitler and the emerging Nazi party.”

The Septenary

Theosophists opine that the most material of the vestures of the Soul are interpenetrated by the particles of the more subtle vesture. For example they claim that -The “Sthula-Sarira” or most material body, is, as science is aware, mostly space at its atomic level (as all matter is known to be), and these interstitial spaces are inhabited by those subtler particles of the Astral Body or Linga sarira, and so on for the other more energy-like envelopes of the Soul. The important thing about this interpenetration of each sheath, is that we see the inner person as a fluid and unbroken continuity, although varying in density/flexibility and energy and therefore more and more susceptible to the behest of the Real Person – the Soul/Higher Self since they are less and less encumbered by material boundaries. Perhaps the image of a suspension or colloid in chemistry is an apt perspective. And since matter is merely the material counterpart of consciousness (ultimately our aspect being pure consciousness), this interpenetration of sheaths allows for consciousness to interpenetrate Man’s nature and explains how we are sensitive to what we think of as external stimuli, through the five senses.

Theosophy, as well as many other esoteric groups and occult societies, claims in their esoteric cosmology that the universe is ordered by the number seven. The reincarnating consciousness of the monad utilizes spirit/matter forms in seven bodies:

* The first body is called ”sthula-sarira” (Sanskrit, from ”sthula” meaning coarse, gross, not refined, heavy, bulky, fat in the sense of bigness, conditioned and differentiated matter + ”sarira” to moulder, waste away). A gross body, impermanent because of its wholly compounded character. The physical body is usually considered as the lowest substance-principle. The physical form is the result of the harmonious co-working on the physical plane of forces and faculties streaming through their astral vehicle or linga-sarira, the pattern or model of the physical body.

* The second body is called ”Linga-Sarira”, (Sanskrit, from ”linga” meaning characteristic mark, model, pattern + ”sarira”, from the verbal root sri to moulder, waste away). A pattern or model that is impermanent; the model-body or astral body, only slightly more ethereal than the physical body. It is the astral model around which the physical body is built, and from which the physical body flows or develops as growth proceeds.

* The third body is prana (Sanskrit, from ”pra” before + the verbal root ”an” to breathe, to live). In theosophy, the breath of life. This life or prana works on, in, and around us, pulsating unceasingly during the term of physical existence. Prana is “the radiating force or Energy of Atma — as the Universal Life and the One Self — its lower or rather (in its effects) more physical, because manifesting, aspect. Prana or Life permeates the whole being of the objective Universe; and is called a ‘principle’ only because it is an indispensable factor and the deus ex machina of the living man.”

* The fourth principle is kāma (Sanskrit, from the verbal root ”kam” meaning to desire). Desire; the desire principle is the driving, impelling force. Born from the interaction of atman, buddhi, and manas, kama per se is a colourless force, good or bad according to the way the mind and soul use it. It is the seat of the living electrical impulses, desires, and aspirations, considered in their energetic aspect.

* The fifth principle is manas (Sanskrit, from the verbal root ”man” meaning to think). The seat of mentation and egoic consciousness; in humanity Manas is the human person, the reincarnating ego, immortal in essence, enduring in its higher aspects through the entire manvantara. When embodied, manas is dual, gravitating toward buddhi in its higher aspects and in its lower aspects toward kama. The first is intuitive mind, the second the animal, ratiocinative consciousness, the lower mentality and passions of the personality.

* The sixth principle or vehicle is Buddhi (Sanskrit, from the verbal root ”budh” to awaken, enlighten, know). The vehicle of pure, universal spirit, hence an inseparable garment or vehicle of atman, which is, in its essence, of the highest plane of akasa or alaya. In man buddhi is the spiritual soul, the faculty of discriminating, the channel through which streams divine inspiration from the atman to the ego, and therefore that faculty which enables us to discern between good and evil: spiritual conscience. The qualities of the buddhic principle when awakened are higher judgment, instant understanding, discrimination, intuition, love that has no bounds, and consequent universal forgiveness.

* The seventh is called Atman (Sanskrit). Self; pure consciousness, that cosmic self which is the same in every dweller on this globe and on every one of the planetary or stellar bodies in space. It is the feeling and knowledge of “I am,” pure cognition, the abstract idea of self. It does not differ at all throughout the cosmos except in degree of self-recognition. It may also be considered as the First Logos in the human microcosm. During incarnation the lowest aspects of atman take on attributes, because it is linked with buddhi, as the buddhi is linked with manas, as the manas is linked with kama, etc.

See: [http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/etgloss/etg-hp.htm Encyclopedic Theosophic Glossary]

No related posts.

In 1994, “Stargate” the movie was released, produced and directed by Roland Emmerich, whose credits now include, “Godzilla” and “Independence day”. This film has gone on to spawn two spin-off TV series, Stargate SG1 starting in 1997 and Stargate Atlantis starting 2004. The first series ran for a record 10 years, and Stargate Atlantis is on its fourth season, so clearly, the formula works.

Briefly, the Film was based on the Largely discredited notion that the Pyramids of Egypt, were constructed by visiting aliens and that the Pantheon of Ancient Egyptian Gods, were actually visiting Aliens. Nevertheless, this Roland Emmerich film, a firm favorite of mine, carries this premise off with verve. The story goes that Aliens visit Earth, use humans to build space man stuff, leave Earth to go to another Galaxy at the far end of the Universe, and leave behind the material wonders of ancient Egypt, and the Stargate. The Stargate is discovered by scientists, acquired by US air force, experimented on, for decades. The final codes are deciphered by an outsider invited in. Then, a team is sent for first time through the Stargate to another Planet in another Galaxy. They meet enslaved Humans transported to the planet millennia ago, do battle with the aliens, and win. Stargate SG1 follows on from here. The Stargate TV series are a very rich tapestry of complex events and the writers rarely leave loose ends dangling and forgotten about.

In series 8 of Stargate SG1, a City Built by a race known as the ancients is discover

Stargate Atlantis is as complex as its predecessor. However, it has a completely different flavor. Where Stargate SG1 focuses on the activities of a team of 4 persons, and then gradually widened its focus, Stargate Atlantis starts with a full expedition as its cast, though focused on a core of about 10 persons, plus its focus is immediately at a Galactic scale. There are four major drivers that give Stargate Atlantis a flavor of constant urgency and tension.

Firstly, the team is trapped in Atlantis unable to return to Earth. This is primarily because the Stargate only had enough power for a one way trip , ego, they expect to find a power source to power their return to Earth. There is a continuous search for the correct power source.

Secondly. the Ancients were beaten by a formidable Enemy. This is important because, the Ancients are humanoid, assumed to be related to mankind, and their technology annihilated all protagonists in the Milky way Galaxy, the Battle ground of Stargate SG1. Whoever beat the ancients had to be bad new, and although the defeat was 10,000 years previously, the enemy still Held sway in the Pegasus Galaxy. The Enemy, the Wraith uses humanity as Food. The Wraith give no quarter, surrender is no option, the Wraith “cull” entire planetary population and this is portrayed in horrifying detail, The Wraith are aware of the return of people to the City of the Ancients, Atlantis, and are gathering their forces for a titanic battle

The scientific expedition is short of all supplies, including food. They are forced to trade with communities they discover via their short range Stargate, this leads to both positive and negative encounters.

The City, properly powered is capable of flying back to Earth. This discovery is made by the expedition and the Wraith also find out. The Wraith’s depredations have so badly affected Human population numbers that the Wraith have started to Starve. Then they discover the Existence of Earth, and the rest of the heavily populated Milky Way Galaxy , filled with Races, technologically inferior to the Ancients, whom they have already defeated. Their keenness to Acquire Atlantis escalates and their advance towards Atlantis speeds up.

In summary, Robert C Cooper and Brad Wright, the Creators of the series have crafted a sumptuous and fabulous series which in season one almost never disappointed me. Their development of the characters and the overall concept of the series is in my opinion first rate. The episodes swing effortlessly from a story about a small expedition to a small village dealing primarily with human interaction, to titanic Interstellar Battles superbly portrayed for a television audience.

The science is not always immaculate, but it must be remembered that the actual performance of sciences 10,000 years in advance of ours can not be accurately by 21st Century TV. This is a series to be treasured, get it.

Oladotun Ogunsulire

Author Bio

I’ve been a science fiction for many years and this influenced my decision to do my first degree mechanical Engineering. Nowadays, I am an accountant by profession.

For more , do visit my space travel store at http://www.proximacentauri.biz

No related posts.