Post-modern Altars & Rituals
- cyberdemon
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Post-modern Altars & Rituals
I've seen many people with photos of their altars, but they always have a "traditional" feel. I'm not suggesting that there is anything wrong with traditional altars, mind. But my altars make use of what's near. The paper is blessed, it comes from a notebook placed at the feet of a statue of a Goddess of knowledge. Sigils are from the Standard Set and the candles are a touch of tradition. I needed to straighten the paper, so I used a display of modern transport for my very ancient contact, to compliment the display of modern technology already in the background. The cars also represent desire, which I explicitly asked for assistance in fulfilling of.
What do you think? Can altars like these "work"?
I'll be giving more details later. I did another, last night, which I haven't talked about on the forums properly yet, either.
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- the_spiral
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Re: Post-modern Altars & Rituals
This is cool, thanks for sharing it. My altars tend to be more on the traditional side, but I also have stuff like liquor and pipe tobacco on them for Legba and certain ancestors who like to party. I can't share photos of mine as it is taboo in my tradition, but I enjoy seeing what other people put on theirs. And I believe any altar can work if you approach and build it with the right mindset. In fact simpler is better in many cases.
Last edited by the_spiral on Wed Feb 18, 2015 11:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Follow the path of the radiant life force as she flashes upward like lightning through your body." - Vijanabhairava Tantra
- manonthepath
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Re: Post-modern Altars & Rituals
You do realize you've set up a portal? I hope you have the mojo to deal with what comes through.
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Re: Post-modern Altars & Rituals
Could you please expand on why this is a portal, and what the difference is between a portal and an altar? I'm really interested in this - it sounds absolutely fascinating. [grin]manonthepath wrote:You do realize you've set up a portal? I hope you have the mojo to deal with what comes through.
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Re: Post-modern Altars & Rituals
I do, and that's the point honestly. I've done this several times before and the physical effects were that I had a fever for a little while. Same as right now, I'm running a temperature of 103 F but no pain, no gain. Side effects must be endured.Clockwork_Ghost wrote:Could you please expand on why this is a portal, and what the difference is between a portal and an altar? I'm really interested in this - it sounds absolutely fascinating. [grin]manonthepath wrote:You do realize you've set up a portal? I hope you have the mojo to deal with what comes through.
CJ, it is said that summoning rituals of any sort are opening of portals to allow crossing over of beings physical to higher dimensions than us, or at least have a gateway to manifest in some way within our physical 3 and temporal 1 dimensions. A carefully controlled portal allows crossing over of only the recipient of your message, and amateurs are known to not specify who their portal is for when they summon and hence get into all sorts of issues.
The difference between an altar and a portal here is simple - the altar was used to open said portal. Altars have multiple purposes, of course.
We had a storm last night and I was asleep, but I clearly remember doing something on the internet that caused lightning to strike nearby within less than a second of me stopping. Post-ritual dreams are quite nice, I must say.
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- manonthepath
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Re: Post-modern Altars & Rituals
I was only trying to help the guy to avoid a bit of potential suffering. I'd rather just leave it at that for now. I've cut and pasted definitions below.Clockwork_Ghost wrote:Could you please expand on why this is a portal, and what the difference is between a portal and an altar? I'm really interested in this - it sounds absolutely fascinating. [grin]manonthepath wrote:You do realize you've set up a portal? I hope you have the mojo to deal with what comes through.
por·tal1
ˈpôrdl/
noun
1.
a doorway, gate, or other entrance, especially a large and elaborate one.
synonyms: doorway, gateway, entrance, exit, opening; More
2.
COMPUTING
an Internet site providing access or links to other sites.
al·tar (ôl′tər)
n.
1. An elevated place or structure before which religious ceremonies may be enacted or upon which sacrifices may be offered.
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Re: Post-modern Altars & Rituals
I wasn't trying to imply that you wern't. I apologise if my comment came off as confrontational, I am rather interested in evocation and always on the lookout for new ways to bring spiritual entities through.manonthepath wrote: I was only trying to help the guy to avoid a bit of potential suffering. I'd rather just leave it at that for now. I've cut and pasted definitions below.
Oh, right. Sorry - I thought there was something I had missed. I understand where you are coming from now. [thumbup]manonthepath wrote: por·tal1
ˈpôrdl/
noun
1.
a doorway, gate, or other entrance, especially a large and elaborate one.
synonyms: doorway, gateway, entrance, exit, opening; More
2.
COMPUTING
an Internet site providing access or links to other sites.
al·tar (ôl′tər)
n.
1. An elevated place or structure before which religious ceremonies may be enacted or upon which sacrifices may be offered.
- manonthepath
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Re: Post-modern Altars & Rituals
No apology needed. Yours was a genuine request seemingly from the heart. I just declined to expand on my response in detail. This is often my way. No hard feelings on my part. I would caution that this is probably a type of portal I would avoid creating as it is intensely dangerous. I appreciate your efforts regarding the forum as a whole. Thank you. [thumbup]
- cyberdemon
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Re: Post-modern Altars & Rituals
Please take your "suffering-prevention" elsewhere, manonthepath. That is discouragement of practice.
I believe traditional comes from times when occultists literally used what was at hand. Extrapolating it into the 21st century should mean putting together altars using what we have now, shouldn't it?
I've always wondered what sort of incense should be burnt at altars. Never considered tobacco or liquor offerings, actually, thanks for the insight! I do know that in many Indian idol worship rituals they offer actual food and sweets. (A bit much in my opinion, but since those are organized religions, the donated food eventually goes to feeding the homeless or the poor, I'd assume, so it's not all bad.)the_spiral wrote:This is cool, thanks for sharing it. My altars tend to be more on the traditional side, but I also have stuff like liquor and pipe tobacco on them for Legba and certain ancestors who like to party. I can't share photos of mine as it is taboo in my tradition, but I enjoy seeing what other people put on theirs. And I believe any altar can work if you approach and build it with the right mindset. In fact simpler is better in many cases.
I believe traditional comes from times when occultists literally used what was at hand. Extrapolating it into the 21st century should mean putting together altars using what we have now, shouldn't it?
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Re: Post-modern Altars & Rituals
There is nothing wrong with a setting an altar up to a god, goddess or other entity you have a relationship with, as long as its identity is certain.
Anything else is simply scaremongering and discouraging people from engaging in practice.
I have stopped visiting these forums as much as I used to for numerous reasons - kneejerk reactions to new guys being one of them especially.
As feedback however, i strongly do suggest against using a screen or anything electronic. These simply serve as distractions - the light they produce also fucks with you biologically at night and in dark environments, i've had to install flux on my laptop to save me from endless screen glare. I work in IT every day as a programmer and i can say that electronics just break you out of a zone and sense of sacred space a more traditional altar provides.
These devices are designed simply for modern overload of information - that tends to distract rather than focus the mind on any spiritual task at hand. The rest of it is quite creative.
Anything else is simply scaremongering and discouraging people from engaging in practice.
I have stopped visiting these forums as much as I used to for numerous reasons - kneejerk reactions to new guys being one of them especially.
As feedback however, i strongly do suggest against using a screen or anything electronic. These simply serve as distractions - the light they produce also fucks with you biologically at night and in dark environments, i've had to install flux on my laptop to save me from endless screen glare. I work in IT every day as a programmer and i can say that electronics just break you out of a zone and sense of sacred space a more traditional altar provides.
These devices are designed simply for modern overload of information - that tends to distract rather than focus the mind on any spiritual task at hand. The rest of it is quite creative.
'Flores noctis sumus atque alas pandimus, In profundis tenebrarum.'
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- cyberdemon
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Re: Post-modern Altars & Rituals
Good points, I have to take those into consideration. Although my calming seaside wallpaper wasn't much of a distraction, a vibrating phone would definitely be worse!Sypheara wrote:As feedback however, i strongly do suggest against using a screen or anything electronic. These simply serve as distractions - the light they produce also fucks with you biologically at night and in dark environments, i've had to install flux on my laptop to save me from endless screen glare. I work in IT every day as a programmer and i can say that electronics just break you out of a zone and sense of sacred space a more traditional altar provides.
These devices are designed simply for modern overload of information - that tends to distract rather than focus the mind on any spiritual task at hand. The rest of it is quite creative.
Thank you for your input, much appreciated.
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- Nahemah
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Re: Post-modern Altars & Rituals
My own two cents:
I think cyberdemon is smart enough to deal with any issues and I often use my pc as a portal: heck I live so far away from friends, sometimes it's the quickest method to send or receive, lol, metaphysically as well as literally.
Do you know much about cybermagery, or technopaganism already, cyberdemon?
Your username is suggestive on that, but why not ask directly too, as I can, lol. [eg]
Warnings and advices posted here are all good, but experimentation is a mainstay of human advancement and we all must get our own feet wet sometime.
IMMV, of course, though. [greensmile]
I think cyberdemon is smart enough to deal with any issues and I often use my pc as a portal: heck I live so far away from friends, sometimes it's the quickest method to send or receive, lol, metaphysically as well as literally.
Do you know much about cybermagery, or technopaganism already, cyberdemon?
Your username is suggestive on that, but why not ask directly too, as I can, lol. [eg]
Warnings and advices posted here are all good, but experimentation is a mainstay of human advancement and we all must get our own feet wet sometime.
IMMV, of course, though. [greensmile]
"He lived his words, spoke his own actions and his story and the story of the world ran parallel."
Sartre speaking of Che Guevara.
Sartre speaking of Che Guevara.
- cyberdemon
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Re: Post-modern Altars & Rituals
Oh yes. Most of modern technology can be, by traditional terms, be defined as magick. Programming your own playable universe, hacking into other people's lives, DDoS'ing and doxxing.. I know it's a touchy topic for OFO but if you consider the amount of work that goes behind setting up a wall so no repercussions come to a hacker, it's quite comparable to what an occultist does during their preparations as well. I personally agree with the views of technopaganism but I don't believe it can precisely, with aim, reach the higher planes with significance. For example, the LHC has been operating for years now and is in no way any closer to concretely answering any spiritual questions that weren't already there at the time it started operation. Therefore, a touch of tradition. I think I read a topic on here sometime back regarding ghosts on the internet, though. That was interesting.Nahemah wrote:My own two cents:
I think cyberdemon is smart enough to deal with any issues and I often use my pc as a portal: heck I live so far away from friends, sometimes it's the quickest method to send or receive, lol, metaphysically as well as literally.
Do you know much about cybermagery, or technopaganism already, cyberdemon?
Your username is suggestive on that, but why not ask directly too, as I can, lol. [eg]
Warnings and advices posted here are all good, but experimentation is a mainstay of human advancement and we all must get our own feet wet sometime.
IMMV, of course, though. [greensmile]
Perhaps the LHC would function better as an altar to Uroboros...
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- Nahemah
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Re: Post-modern Altars & Rituals
Ha, not necessarily so, a touchy topic, that is...I know it's a touchy topic for OFO but if you consider the amount of work that goes behind setting up a wall so no repercussions come to a hacker, it's quite comparable to what an occultist does during their preparations as well.
How do you think we are still here and operative as we are?
Obviously, it's because we are innocents adrift in a harsh world...
Welcome to OF.org.
"He lived his words, spoke his own actions and his story and the story of the world ran parallel."
Sartre speaking of Che Guevara.
Sartre speaking of Che Guevara.
- the_spiral
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Re: Post-modern Altars & Rituals
Frankincense is a good all-purpose incense for spirit work. I also like to burn different incense for different purposes: nag champa for cleansing a space and raising vibrations, rose for love spells, jasmine for sex magic and astral work, dragon's blood for protection and luck drawing, and wormwood or sandalwood for conjuring. In terms of offerings, I think it's important to do your research and/or ask individual spirits directly about their likes and dislikes. For ancestors I simply offer them what they enjoyed in life (and both of my grandfathers enjoyed their whiskey!) Keep in mind I'm coming from a specific paradigm but I've found candles, fresh water, flowers and liquor are all popular choices with many spirits.cyberdemon wrote:I've always wondered what sort of incense should be burnt at altars. Never considered tobacco or liquor offerings, actually, thanks for the insight! I do know that in many Indian idol worship rituals they offer actual food and sweets. (A bit much in my opinion, but since those are organized religions, the donated food eventually goes to feeding the homeless or the poor, I'd assume, so it's not all bad.)
I believe traditional comes from times when occultists literally used what was at hand. Extrapolating it into the 21st century should mean putting together altars using what we have now, shouldn't it?
"Follow the path of the radiant life force as she flashes upward like lightning through your body." - Vijanabhairava Tantra
- cyberdemon
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Re: Post-modern Altars & Rituals
I've noted down the names for reference. Seems that these types of incense aren't generally found where I live, with the exception of sandalwood. Might be interesting to note, but heavy amounts of sandalwood is burnt during cremation ceremonies of Hindu believers when they have passed away. Would jasmine be a nocturnal bloom? I suppose flowers that open in the night would have a decent effect on astral work, in theory..the_spiral wrote:
Frankincense is a good all-purpose incense for spirit work. I also like to burn different incense for different purposes: nag champa for cleansing a space and raising vibrations, rose for love spells, jasmine for sex magic and astral work, dragon's blood for protection and luck drawing, and wormwood or sandalwood for conjuring. In terms of offerings, I think it's important to do your research and/or ask individual spirits directly about their likes and dislikes. For ancestors I simply offer them what they enjoyed in life (and both of my grandfathers enjoyed their whiskey!) Keep in mind I'm coming from a specific paradigm but I've found candles, fresh water, flowers and liquor are all popular choices with many spirits.
What is an appropriate way to dispose of leftover offerings used on an altar after a ritual?
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Re: Post-modern Altars & Rituals
I personally take all mine to a crossroads, or secluded place in the woods and leave them there. I also leave offerings in Graveyards that has been on the altar, if you can find all three of those in one place, you've got a great place of both offering and work.
Just be careful in cemeteries, there is a certain code that works best, such as not taking anything from one without payment, paying the gatekeeper on entry or way out, asking permission before entering etc. Basically if you treat the spirits as a guest in their place, youll most likely be fine.
Just be careful in cemeteries, there is a certain code that works best, such as not taking anything from one without payment, paying the gatekeeper on entry or way out, asking permission before entering etc. Basically if you treat the spirits as a guest in their place, youll most likely be fine.
'Flores noctis sumus atque alas pandimus, In profundis tenebrarum.'
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- the_spiral
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Re: Post-modern Altars & Rituals
Yes, night blooming jasmine is a wonderful scent. It is traditionally associated with sexuality (due to its slightly musky, fleshy aroma) as well as prophetic dreams and astral projection due to its spiritual properties. But if you can only get sandalwood, that's a great place to start as it's very holy and can aid all magical work (although spirits of the benevolent dead especially seem to like it, which is possibly how it got its funerary association in Hinduism?) It also stimulates the root chakra so its aroma may give you feelings of calm, grounding and healing.
I leave altar offerings under a tree near my home. This particular tree is beautiful and protects my bedroom window from public view, so it's a form of gratitude. I don't want to be accused of discouraging practice but yeah, graveyards do require specific etiquette and if you aren't comfortable doing graveyard work you may prefer to just pick a local crossroads or tree that feels welcoming and receptive to receiving offerings. You can also bury talismans, amulets and mojo bags under a tree to neutralize them once they've served their purpose.
I leave altar offerings under a tree near my home. This particular tree is beautiful and protects my bedroom window from public view, so it's a form of gratitude. I don't want to be accused of discouraging practice but yeah, graveyards do require specific etiquette and if you aren't comfortable doing graveyard work you may prefer to just pick a local crossroads or tree that feels welcoming and receptive to receiving offerings. You can also bury talismans, amulets and mojo bags under a tree to neutralize them once they've served their purpose.
"Follow the path of the radiant life force as she flashes upward like lightning through your body." - Vijanabhairava Tantra
- cyberdemon
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Re: Post-modern Altars & Rituals
Crossroads are notorious haunts around here, especially in the countryside. I can see why it is a good idea to leave offerings there. Personally I think graveyards are places that shouldn't be disturbed. Since we're talking about ancestor veneration.. Any insight on the mechanics of spirits of the dead? Reincarnation theory? I've considered performing rituals to communicate with the dead but I don't have much of the knowledge required so I stick to directly calling up higher beings (ie. 'demons').
I should note that I don't perform rituals very often. It's not exactly an art to repeat and practice over and over, what with the side effects that come with it. Once in a while and at times of need..
I should note that I don't perform rituals very often. It's not exactly an art to repeat and practice over and over, what with the side effects that come with it. Once in a while and at times of need..
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Re: Post-modern Altars & Rituals
cyberdemon wrote:I've seen many people with photos of their altars, but they always have a "traditional" feel. I'm not suggesting that there is anything wrong with traditional altars, mind. But my altars make use of what's near. The paper is blessed, it comes from a notebook placed at the feet of a statue of a Goddess of knowledge. Sigils are from the Standard Set and the candles are a touch of tradition. I needed to straighten the paper, so I used a display of modern transport for my very ancient contact, to compliment the display of modern technology already in the background. The cars also represent desire, which I explicitly asked for assistance in fulfilling of.
What do you think? Can altars like these "work"?
I'll be giving more details later. I did another, last night, which I haven't talked about on the forums properly yet, either.
I feel like altars like these would have more power to them than some of the more "traditional" styles I've seen, a lot of the reason due to how personalized it is.
My entire computer is actually an altar, in it's own way. Utilizing my background and certain programs in sigilized designs, I've worked some pretty successful magick.
My traditional altar looks pretty similar in design to my computer altar, just with actual books and herbs and such. It's on the top shelf of my book case, and it triples as a spice rack, book collection, and working area.
I keep my data well organized on my pcs, so in reality my laptop is more of a library than anything. I'm also a pretty master pirate, so the media formes my library holds is quite expansive.
If we were to assume that the underlying *code* in reality was of a similar design to how a program is written in Computing, we can also assume that a computer has the capabilities of storing and utilizing magickal energy.
Although I'm not sure if the energy from the electricity and such in the computer has any record-able influence on a spell, though I couldn't doubt it. Keeping a cell phone in my pocket for more than 5 minutes causes my leg to burn, feeling like a chemical fire in my jeans. There's still a lot of variable I have to work through before I can know for sure if using technology is a good way to go in magick. Not traditional, and also sometimes frowned upon, obviously. But we can only learn more with experimentation.
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"God is an imprecise name for the only thing in the universe that actually exists."
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Tell me what you know about darkness, and I will tell you about the light.
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Selected Contributions;
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"God is an imprecise name for the only thing in the universe that actually exists."
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Tell me what you know about darkness, and I will tell you about the light.
.
.
Selected Contributions;
Planetary Associations of Common Intoxicants
The Mysteries of Death
https://hdagaz.wordpress.com/
- ultimafool
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Re: Post-modern Altars & Rituals
I dig your po-mo altar, cyberdemon! It seems to me that magicians throughout history have always utilized and incorporated new tech/science and philosophy into their practices. Everything must evolve with the changing environment in order to survive, especially magick.
Regarding spirits of the dead: I have no personal experience with them, but I have yet another relevant tale involving my most awesome grandmother. This was when she was still a Buddhist. There's a really interesting catalyst that lead up to the following, but I get it mixed up with another weird event and I can't be arsed to call up my mother for clarification. Anyways...
So one day, my mother comes home from high school, or maybe middle school I think, to find her mother stomping around the house hollerin' about how she's great uncle so and so and great-grandfather on her mother's side and on and on. She's got her long hair tied up in a bun like how men used to wear their hair in the old days of Korea (I forgot to mention I'm part Korean from my mother's side. All this stuff happened in Korea). My mother is flipping out as is her father. Basically, the self-proclaimed spirits of dead ancestors wanted my grandmother to become a shaman. After my mother told me about this, I did a little bit of research and the shamanic tradition in Korea tends to favor the women, although male shamans are not uncommon.
This involved building altars for the spirits and giving them offerings. In return, the spirits promised to make her rich via fortune-telling. My grandfather being an urbane and rational type flat out refused and decided to take her to see a doctor. On the taxi ride to the hospital, my grandmother says that the spirits say that are going to depart for now and that the doctors will find nothing wrong but they will return. Sure enough, the doctors found nothing wrong and later the spirits returned.
I suppose grandmother capitulated to grandfather's wishes and struggled against the spirits demands. That's when they really started screwing with her. A child-like spirit came to her claiming to be a daughter she lost during child birth, pleading with her to take up shamanism. It seemed like the entire family tree showed up trying every strategy they could. During a meal, she suddenly scooped up a bowl of rice, overturning it and slammed it down on the table, proclaiming that the spirits told her that her family had poisoned it.
My mother told me this story when I was telling her how I believed that spirits of the dead either reincarnate or move on after about a week. Therefore, communication with dead ancestors is impossible and these spirits of the dead must be astral beings tricking us into feeding them so they can participate in physical activities. Think about it. I mean why would the spirits of her ancestors LIE to my grandmother and tell her that my family was trying to poison her food? Why would they be so emotionally manipulative so as to trot out the supposed spirit of her stillborn daughter?
Well, being the willful woman she is, grandmother resisted the spirits and finally they all left, one by one, after calling her, and I quote, "A stubborn bitch"! So yeah, not to disparage anyone's practices, I mean if it works for you, keep workin' it, but personally, I don't buy the whole spirits of ancestors thing. These low-level astral intelligences would much rather you make a deal with them on their terms, rather than you realize what they are. Because once you do, you realize you don't have to make a deal with them as a shaman, you can command them as a mage. I believe these beings are the same type that have called themselves elves, fairies, gnomes, goetia/daemons, etc. The current paradigm for these entities is "extra-terrestrial".
That being said, I don't make deals or even command spirits in my work. I'd rather not open up that bag of cats. I deal strictly with my own personal evolution and attempt contacts with evolved spirit beings for guidance. THAT having been said, I have been working a lot lately with the alien/UFO paradigm. The connections seem so obvious to me what with them claiming to come from the stars, as in astral. Other clues offered have to do with the specific star systems they claim to come from. Traditional occult knowledge regarding astrological influence and the meaning of the zodiac and constellations reveals the tone/vibe and intentions of the beings. For example, the famous George Adamski contacted by a being called Orthon preached love and claimed to be from Venus. There's also the vesica pisces-like symbol left in the sand from Orthon's shoes during their last contact in the desert, alluding to a Jesus-like quality. Jesus, of course is related to Venus via the upright pentagram and the verses referring to himself as "the bringer of light" and "the morning star". Occultist and UFOLogist Allen Greenfield has made some interesting connections with a new-aeon English qaballah gematria and the names and home worlds of various "extra-terrestrials".
Man, that was kind of a long post, huh (although I could go on some more about alien/star/occult/magick connection)? [tongue2]
Regarding spirits of the dead: I have no personal experience with them, but I have yet another relevant tale involving my most awesome grandmother. This was when she was still a Buddhist. There's a really interesting catalyst that lead up to the following, but I get it mixed up with another weird event and I can't be arsed to call up my mother for clarification. Anyways...
So one day, my mother comes home from high school, or maybe middle school I think, to find her mother stomping around the house hollerin' about how she's great uncle so and so and great-grandfather on her mother's side and on and on. She's got her long hair tied up in a bun like how men used to wear their hair in the old days of Korea (I forgot to mention I'm part Korean from my mother's side. All this stuff happened in Korea). My mother is flipping out as is her father. Basically, the self-proclaimed spirits of dead ancestors wanted my grandmother to become a shaman. After my mother told me about this, I did a little bit of research and the shamanic tradition in Korea tends to favor the women, although male shamans are not uncommon.
This involved building altars for the spirits and giving them offerings. In return, the spirits promised to make her rich via fortune-telling. My grandfather being an urbane and rational type flat out refused and decided to take her to see a doctor. On the taxi ride to the hospital, my grandmother says that the spirits say that are going to depart for now and that the doctors will find nothing wrong but they will return. Sure enough, the doctors found nothing wrong and later the spirits returned.
I suppose grandmother capitulated to grandfather's wishes and struggled against the spirits demands. That's when they really started screwing with her. A child-like spirit came to her claiming to be a daughter she lost during child birth, pleading with her to take up shamanism. It seemed like the entire family tree showed up trying every strategy they could. During a meal, she suddenly scooped up a bowl of rice, overturning it and slammed it down on the table, proclaiming that the spirits told her that her family had poisoned it.
My mother told me this story when I was telling her how I believed that spirits of the dead either reincarnate or move on after about a week. Therefore, communication with dead ancestors is impossible and these spirits of the dead must be astral beings tricking us into feeding them so they can participate in physical activities. Think about it. I mean why would the spirits of her ancestors LIE to my grandmother and tell her that my family was trying to poison her food? Why would they be so emotionally manipulative so as to trot out the supposed spirit of her stillborn daughter?
Well, being the willful woman she is, grandmother resisted the spirits and finally they all left, one by one, after calling her, and I quote, "A stubborn bitch"! So yeah, not to disparage anyone's practices, I mean if it works for you, keep workin' it, but personally, I don't buy the whole spirits of ancestors thing. These low-level astral intelligences would much rather you make a deal with them on their terms, rather than you realize what they are. Because once you do, you realize you don't have to make a deal with them as a shaman, you can command them as a mage. I believe these beings are the same type that have called themselves elves, fairies, gnomes, goetia/daemons, etc. The current paradigm for these entities is "extra-terrestrial".
That being said, I don't make deals or even command spirits in my work. I'd rather not open up that bag of cats. I deal strictly with my own personal evolution and attempt contacts with evolved spirit beings for guidance. THAT having been said, I have been working a lot lately with the alien/UFO paradigm. The connections seem so obvious to me what with them claiming to come from the stars, as in astral. Other clues offered have to do with the specific star systems they claim to come from. Traditional occult knowledge regarding astrological influence and the meaning of the zodiac and constellations reveals the tone/vibe and intentions of the beings. For example, the famous George Adamski contacted by a being called Orthon preached love and claimed to be from Venus. There's also the vesica pisces-like symbol left in the sand from Orthon's shoes during their last contact in the desert, alluding to a Jesus-like quality. Jesus, of course is related to Venus via the upright pentagram and the verses referring to himself as "the bringer of light" and "the morning star". Occultist and UFOLogist Allen Greenfield has made some interesting connections with a new-aeon English qaballah gematria and the names and home worlds of various "extra-terrestrials".
Man, that was kind of a long post, huh (although I could go on some more about alien/star/occult/magick connection)? [tongue2]
- cyberdemon
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Re: Post-modern Altars & Rituals
Haelos, since "energy cannot be created or destroyed but can be converted from one form to another", technically speaking, magick energy should be the same. Electricity was first recorded as a phenomenon around 600 BC but it wasn't until the 1800s that electricity entered modern use. It's only been about 200 years! Seeing as humans have lived without electricity for thousands and thousands of years before all this, we should definitely doing our best to put it to use in our altars..
My my, ultimafool that is a huge post and an interesting story. I too have my suspicions regarding ancestor veneration because (at least currently) I strongly believe in reincarnation theory. As for extraterrestrials, I consider all "demons" and higher beings as such. Now, unless we someday see aliens that are physical to our 3 dimensions & time, I see them all as extradimensional to be precise. I was once told "aliens live outside the universe" as if it was a great secret, from a very spiritual friend.
As such, attempts to contact them must have some form of quantum mechanics involved. For example, manonthepath's reference to portals. A traditional portal set-up can be done using any altar. "Plasma" reactions (eg fire, electricity) can all definitely have quantum implications, as can thought-forms, astral-work and telepathy..
The difference between the Very Large Array (for example) and an altar is as follows:
1. Altars can be used towards a specific address, presuming that they will receive the message. Will is important, it is an important part of magick - use of intent.
2. Very Large Array can be used to send messages over a broad spectrum to no one on particular while hoping someone will read it, but it's used to try to receive messages instead.
HAHA, brilliant!and it triples as a spice rack
My my, ultimafool that is a huge post and an interesting story. I too have my suspicions regarding ancestor veneration because (at least currently) I strongly believe in reincarnation theory. As for extraterrestrials, I consider all "demons" and higher beings as such. Now, unless we someday see aliens that are physical to our 3 dimensions & time, I see them all as extradimensional to be precise. I was once told "aliens live outside the universe" as if it was a great secret, from a very spiritual friend.
As such, attempts to contact them must have some form of quantum mechanics involved. For example, manonthepath's reference to portals. A traditional portal set-up can be done using any altar. "Plasma" reactions (eg fire, electricity) can all definitely have quantum implications, as can thought-forms, astral-work and telepathy..
The difference between the Very Large Array (for example) and an altar is as follows:
1. Altars can be used towards a specific address, presuming that they will receive the message. Will is important, it is an important part of magick - use of intent.
2. Very Large Array can be used to send messages over a broad spectrum to no one on particular while hoping someone will read it, but it's used to try to receive messages instead.
on hiatus. contact via elsewhere.
- ultimafool
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Re: Post-modern Altars & Rituals
Cool, man. Like, I totally get it. An altar is for hollerin' at a specific being, say a devotional altar to a deity or for a ritual to invoke Hermes. A VLA (Very Large Array) would be like a scrying mirror or cup.cyberdemon wrote: My my, ultimafool that is a huge post and an interesting story. I too have my suspicions regarding ancestor veneration because (at least currently) I strongly believe in reincarnation theory. As for extraterrestrials, I consider all "demons" and higher beings as such. Now, unless we someday see aliens that are physical to our 3 dimensions & time, I see them all as extradimensional to be precise. I was once told "aliens live outside the universe" as if it was a great secret, from a very spiritual friend.
As such, attempts to contact them must have some form of quantum mechanics involved. For example, manonthepath's reference to portals. A traditional portal set-up can be done using any altar. "Plasma" reactions (eg fire, electricity) can all definitely have quantum implications, as can thought-forms, astral-work and telepathy..
The difference between the Very Large Array (for example) and an altar is as follows:
1. Altars can be used towards a specific address, presuming that they will receive the message. Will is important, it is an important part of magick - use of intent.
2. Very Large Array can be used to send messages over a broad spectrum to no one on particular while hoping someone will read it, but it's used to try to receive messages instead.
Isn't there some free screensaver software from SETI that helps them to decode signals or something? That might make for an interesting addition to a digital altar ritual.
Also, I just got hip to the Oculus Rift and my little monkey brain went into overdrive! I was at a gallery once and there was this exhibit where you could draw stuff in the air and a digital screen would trace what you draw. I so wanted my GF to film the screen while I did LBRP but there were so many little kids there. But imagine something like that, tied into Rift and you've got a personalized VR temple space! A VR temple would blow anything IRL out of the water. You could have a temple on the moon! Now imagine doing group rituals with fellow mages from all over the globe! I know there are a lot of programmers who are magicians out there. One of youse need to make this happen! One last sentence with an exclamation point!
- cyberdemon
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Re: Post-modern Altars & Rituals
Yeah, the SETI@home project. It wouldn't make sense though as it probably isn't real-time and analyzes recordings at least a few minutes to hours old made somewhere far away.. Now if there was something similar that could analyze local energies, waves, sounds, radio signals, it could probably help.ultimafool wrote:Isn't there some free screensaver software from SETI that helps them to decode signals or something? That might make for an interesting addition to a digital altar ritual.
Also, I just got hip to the Oculus Rift and my little monkey brain went into overdrive! I was at a gallery once and there was this exhibit where you could draw stuff in the air and a digital screen would trace what you draw. I so wanted my GF to film the screen while I did LBRP but there were so many little kids there. But imagine something like that, tied into Rift and you've got a personalized VR temple space! A VR temple would blow anything IRL out of the water. You could have a temple on the moon! Now imagine doing group rituals with fellow mages from all over the globe! I know there are a lot of programmers who are magicians out there. One of youse need to make this happen! One last sentence with an exclamation point!
Oh dear. Drawing actual sigils in the air using VR. That would be perfect! I'd had high hopes for Google-glass, actually, over the Oculus, because the glass seemed more practical and Rift is much more on the novelty side of VR. Either way, I hadn't considered what you have! You're right, this does need to happen!
on hiatus. contact via elsewhere.
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Re: Post-modern Altars & Rituals
Could you make 4d pictures of locations using the oculus? If so i can see people using it while preparing to astral project to some location (some street in france, the bottom of the ocean, mars). They should consider working with NASA to get 4d images of different planets, i would happily use it to walk around on venus [tongue]