Monday, November 28, 2016

What is Luciferianism?


Sometimes mistakenly associated with Satanism due to the Christian interpretation of the fallen angel, Luciferianism is a wholly different belief system and does not revere the devil figure or most characteristics typically affixed to Satan. Rather, Lucifer in this context is seen as one of many morning stars, a symbol of enlightenment, independence and human progression, and is often used interchangeably with similar figures from a range of ancient beliefs, such as the Greek titan Prometheus or the Jewish talmudic figure Lilith.

They support the protection of the natural world. Both the arts and sciences are crucial to human development, and thus both are cherished. Luciferians think that humans should be focused on this life and how to make the most of it every single day. The ability to recognize both good and evil, to accept that all actions have consequences, both positive and negative, and to actively influence one's environment, is a key factor.

For Luciferians, enlightenment is the ultimate goal. The basic Luciferian principles highlight truth and freedom of will, worshipping the inner self and one's ultimate potential. Traditional dogma is shunned as a basis for morality on the grounds that humans should not need deities or fear of eternal punishment to distinguish right from wrong and to do good. All ideas should be tested before being accepted, and even then one should remain skeptical because knowledge and understanding are fluid. Regardless of whether Lucifer is conceived of as a deity or as a mere archetype, he is a representation of ultimate knowledge and exploration: humanity's savior and a champion for continuing personal growth.

Theistic Luciferianism
Some Luciferians believe in Lucifer as an actual deity, not to be worshipped as the Judeo-Christian God but to be revered and followed as a teacher and friend, as a rescuer or guiding spirit, or even the one true god as opposed to the traditional creator of Judaism. Theistic Luciferians are followers of the Left-Hand Path and may adhere to different dogmata put forth by organizations such as the Neo-Luciferian Church or other congregations that are heavily focused on ceremonial magic, the occult and literal interpretations of spiritual stories and figures.


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Friday, November 11, 2016

The Tulpa Effect and Slenderman


Slenderman is a very tall man. He is pale and lanky. He appears to have tentacles that come from his back and two main arms that look human with very long fingers. Slenderman’s most frightening attribute is his lack of a face.

The Tulpa Effect is a theory on the creation and existence of Slender Man.

"Tulpa is a concept in mysticism of a being or object which is created through sheer spiritual or mental discipline alone." - Wikipedia

A Tulpa is a thoughtform, or being created from the collective thoughts of separate individuals. The concept of Tulpas is theoretical in nature and originates from Tibetan mythology, where Tulpas are described as extra bodies that were created from one person's mind in order to travel to spiritual realms. 

The Tulpa Effect is the name given to the unintentional creation of a Tulpa based on collective belief of a being with similar traits.

The Slenderman page says, “the idea of intentional creation of Slender Man as a tulpa came as early as August of 2009, as the idea was first thrown around in the Something Awful forums.”

The idea is still carried today by some Slender Man-based communities, specifically Slender Nation, although the various separate evolutions of the Slender Man creature have created varying beliefs, traits, descriptions, and actions, and no longer includes a single unified description of Slender Man from which a tulpa could be created.

Core Theory centers around the idea that the Slender Man was created as a tulpa in some way in the various ARGs, and acts as an in-game reasoning as to its existence and slight differences among the various series.

Some have worries over the unintentional creation of a Slender Woman tulpa due to the popularity of the mythos in present day. Others believe that the Tulpa Effect may have serious real-life repercussions with the creation of a real Slender Man.

Slenderman shares the same traits as his supernatural cousin, ‘The Rake‘: “During the summer of 2003, events in the northeastern United States involving a strange, human-like creature sparked brief local media interest…”

There seemed to be a number of people who were seeing a bed-side entity that was being called “The Rake.” The name was taken from an Internet meme that was created on a social network. The Rake was a hairless creature reported to be at least 6 feet tall, emaciated and sinewy with dark black eyes. The entity allegedly looked like a balding old man. The ribs could clearly be seen against the skin and the lips on the face were pulled back slightly giving the entity a death grin.

People lost interest in the Rake stories of the northeast after Slenderman appeared in 2009.

Both the Rake and Slenderman have similar traits to another supernatural entity known as the “Grinning Man.”

A website devoted to the grinning man tulpa is ThisMan.org, where the site asks if anyone has had dreams about a bald nondescript grinning man. The website is a dream registry that seems to show that this grinning bald man or the slender man without a face is now in collective unconscious.



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Tuesday, November 8, 2016

The mystical sound of the cricket and astral projection practices


According to the Aztec language, the word Chapultepec means the following: chapul or chapulin means “cricket,” and Tepec means “hill.” Therefore, the Aztec word Chapultepec must be defined as, “the Hill of the Cricket.”

In ancient Rome, during the time of the Caesars, the cricket was sold in golden cages at a very high price. In Mexico City, at the Museum of Anthropology and History, there exists a very interesting picture related to the teachings that were taught to the Aztec nobility and priests in their secret temples.

In this picture, we see two individuals floating over the Hill of Chapultepec. A chirping cricket appears at the summit of the hill. Next to this scene, a floating human face appears; from the mouth emerge two waves of light which symbolize the chirping of the cricket, or in other words, the symbol for the monotonous and sharp sound of the cricket that the two people who are floating over the foothill must produce in order to penetrate into the temple.

The chirping of the cricket is the “still voice” that Appolonius of Tyana utilized in order to depart in his Astral body. This is the small, still voice that Elijah heard when he went out, “and stood in the entering of the cave in the wilderness.”

The human being is a triad of body, soul, and Spirit. A mediator between the Spirit and the body exists. This mediator is the body of the soul, the Astral body. One possesses a soul, yet one is a Spirit. The Astral body is part human and part divine; it is endowed with marvelous internal senses with which we can investigate the great mysteries of life and death. The mind, the willpower, and the Consciousness abide within the Astral body.

In the Hill of Chapultepec exists a temple in the Jinn state; in other words, within the fourth dimension. One can attend this temple in the Astral body. The rector of the Temple of Chapultepec is the venerable Master Rasmussen. This temple is safeguarded by very zealous guardians with naked swords.

During the hours of ordinary sleep, all human beings act and travel in their Astral body; however, upon awakening, not all of us remember what we saw, heard, or did while acting within that body.

Therefore, in the mornings, upon awakening from one’s dreams, one must perform the effort to remember all that one had dreamt. One’s dreams are nothing more than experiences within the Astral World. One must carefully take note of all of them in a notebook.

When you perform your dream yoga practices, concentrate on the sharp chirping of the cricket. This chirping must sound from within the smallest cells of your brain. If this practice is done correctly, you will soon be in that transition between vigil and slumber.

Increase the slumber and the sound of the crickets' chirping by using your willpower. Then get up from your bed and, with complete confidence, leave your bedroom and go towards the Temple of Chapultepec, or wherever else you wish to go. You must try to not lose the lucidity of your Consciousness.

Do not mentally get up from your bed in this vigil stats; instead, actually get yourself up. Nature will take charge of separating your Astral body from your physical body. The physical body will remain sleeping in its bed and the Astral body will become free to travel wherever you wish.

Daily exercise: Any time that you are at your work, in the street, in your house, in the presence of a strange thing, or in front of a person whom you have not seen for a long time, ask yourself: “Am I in the Astral Body?”

Then, perform a small jump and if you float it is because you are within your Astral Body. Thus, you can fly and direct yourself to any place in the world. If you do not float, it is because you are within your body of flesh and bones.

When one practices this exercise during the day, then it is repeated during one’s dreams and the result is that the consciousness awakens and experiences a lucid dream. One becomes aware that one is out of the physical body in the Astral World.

- Esoteric Medicine and Practical Magic, Samael Aun Weor


Dream Yoga Practice (Astral)

Learn to use your imagination and will, united in vibrant harmony Lying in your bed or seated in a comfortable chair, imagine a well-known faraway place (a house, a park, an avenue, a city, etc.) and lull yourself to sleep with that image in your mind. When you find yourself falling asleep with that image in your mind, make that image real; forget the place where your body is; put the force of will into play and, full of confidence in yourself walk through the imagined place. Walk in the imagined place as if you were there in flesh and bones. If the practice is done correctly, you will unfold and your soul will be transported to that place and you will be able to see and hear everything that happens there. 

-Introduction to Gnosis, Samael Aun Weor

Remember Dreams (Astral)

After returning to the body we wake up in our bed. Many disciples commit the mistake of moving in the bed in the precise moment of waking up from the normal sleep. With this movement, the astral body is agitated and the memories are lost. When awakening in his bed, the student of Occultism must not move! We must remain still, close our eyes and make a retrospective exercise to meticulously remember all those places we were at with our astral body, all the words we heard, what we said, etc.

 -Esoteric Treaty of Theurgy, Samael Aun Weor

Development of Oneiric Memory (Astral)

You need memory to remember your internal experiences. Do not spill the semen. Know that in the semen are millions of microscopic brain cells. You must not lose those cells.

Special food to develop the power of memory

Prepare your breakfast with acidic fruit and ground almonds with bee honey. In this way you provide the brain with the necessary atoms for the memory.

Esoteric Diet

Breakfast: Toasted bread with pure honey, hot milk, and fruit.

Lunch: Must consist of vegetables, fruits, and any type of grain.

Dinner: Bread with pure honey and hot milk. Nothing more.

Meditation should he performed at 10:00 p.m. nightly. Meditation should also be performed at dawn. If the student meditates during these hours, he will progress rapidly.

-The Yellow Book, Samael Aun Weor

Internal experiences 

While the body sleeps, the ego lives in the internal worlds and travels to different places. In the internal worlds we are tested many times. We receive initiation in the internal temples. It becomes necessary to remember everything that we do outside the body. With the instructions given in this book every human being will be able to awaken consciousness and remember his internal experiences. It is painful to know that there are many Initiates who work in the Great Temples of the White Lodge whilst their physical body sleeps, and yet they do not remember anything because their memory is atrophied.

-Perfect Matrimony, Samael Aun Weor

The Particular Keynote (Astral)

In an almost imperceptible manner, a keynote always resounds within the brain of every living being. That keynote is that of the ray to which each person belongs and seems to come from the cells of the cerebellum. Some hear the sound of small flutes of the Egyptian ray; others will hear the “gong” of the Oriental ray, others the roaring of the sea, of the lunar ray, etc.

If the disciple silences all his thoughts in the calm of the night, he will hear his keynote; then he can cause that note to vibrate loudly, with will and when the note is already so loud that it invades and semi-paralyzes the entire physical body, the disciple should get out of bed and betake himself to the Gnostic Church for the Masters of the White Brotherhood will receive him there with incomparable happiness.

-Zodiacal Course, Samael Aun Weor

Mantra EGIPTO (Astral)

Our disciples must acquire the power of Astral Body projection. This power is acquired by vocalizing daily for an hour the sacred mantra Egipto. The vowel “E” makes the thyroid gland vibrate and grants the initiate the power of the occult ear. The “G” awakens the chakra of the liver, and when this chakra has reached its full development, then, the initiate can enter and leave the Physical Body any time at will. The vowel “I,” combined with the letter “P,” develops Clairvoyance in the initiate, and the power to depart in the Astral Body through the window of Brahma, which is the pineal gland. Pronounce the letter “T” with force over the vowel “O, “ which is intimately related with the chakra of the heart; this is how the initiate can acquire the power to project the self through this plexus and thus travel in his Astral Body.

The correct pronunciation of this mantra is as follows: EEEEEEGGGGGGGIIIIIIIIPPPPPPPTTTTOOOOOOOO

Those who still do not have the ability to project themselves in the Astral Body with our clues, lack this power. Therefore, they must first acquire it by vocalizing daily for one hour the mantra Egipto. This mantra develops the chakras related with the projection of the Astral Body completely. This is how the disciple acquires the power of entering and leaving the Physical Body at will. Once the power for astral projection is acquired, the disciple will enter and leave the Physical Body at will.

-The Seven Words, Samael Aun Weor

Mantra LA RA and the Anahat sound (Astral)

The human being can travel to any place in the world or in the infernos with his Astral Body. The key in order to consciously travel with the Astral Body is the following: Laying down on his bed, face up, the disciple must fall sleep while vocalizing the syllables “LA” “RA”.

The student will independently vocalize each syllable, that is to say, each syllable with a separate breath, as follows: LLLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAA……RRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAA

The vocalization of these two sacred syllables must be done mentally.

These two syllables have the power of making the sexual energy intensely vibrate. Thus, the disciple must fall asleep while vocalizing with tranquility in his bed. Thus, this is how the sexual energies, the creative energies of the Third Logos begin to vibrate when the student vocalizes these two syllables.

These type of energies produce a sweet and subtle sound when they are intensely vibrating. This sound is similar to that of the cricket. The student must learn how to handle this sound, as this is the subtle voice which grants us the power to consciously travel with our Astral Body.

-Message of Aquarius, Samael Aun Weor

Meditation on the “Ursa Major” (Meditation-Astral)

Ursa Major is also known as the Great Bear and is a constellation in the northern celestial hemisphere.

Ancient men grew spiritually under the influence of the “Ursa Major” and students should meditate intensely on the ‘Ursa Major’ if they want to awaken consciousness. That constellation radiates powerful spiritual forces and man should learn to converse with the sidereal Geni of that constellation.

There is a key to transfer oneself to that constellation. The key is to meditate profoundly on a “yellow stone” that exists in the astral. Do this exercise in the moments of transition between vigil and sleep and thou shall then transfer thyself in the astral body to the largest star of the ‘Ursa Major’, where a powerful and gigantic civilization exists.

-Zodiacal Course, Samael Aun Weor

Self-Remembering (Psychology and Self Knowledge-Astral) 

Gnostic students must remember themselves while in the presence of any kind of interesting representation, one must remember oneself and ask oneself the following questions: Where am I? What am I doing here? Could I be out of my physical body?

Then, carefully observe everything surrounding you; observe well the sky with inquisitive eyes; any kind of detail from the internal worlds; be it a set of foreign colors, be it a strange animal, the beloved shadow of a deceased person, ect., this will conform that you are out of your physical body; the you will awaken the Consciousness. It becomes very useful, in those instants of reflection and self-remembering, to hop with the intention of floating in that environment. It is logical that if we float it is because we are out of our physical body.

If all the dormants, while sleeping, ask themselves such  reflective questions, it is logical that they would awaken consciousness. If the ego, after death, asks itself such questions in the presence of any representation, then it would awaken instantly. Unfortunately, the ego never thinks about those questions because during its life it has never had the custom of questioning itself. It is necessary to grasp this custom and to live it intensely. Only in this way, can we conceive of the idea of asking ourselves such questions while sleeping and after death. The result of this practice is the awakening of the consciousness. Anyone who awakens their consciousness may become clairvoyant. Anyone who awakens the consciousness lives fully awakened in the Superior worlds while the physical body sleeps. The Great Masters do not dream.

 -Esoteric Course of Kabbalah, Samael Aun Weor


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Friday, November 4, 2016

Occultism, the study of hidden knowledge


The occult (from the Latin word occultus "clandestine, hidden, secret") is "knowledge of the hidden".

Occultism or occult studies is the study of hidden knowledge. This in and of itself can be interpreted several ways, including:

  • Knowledge kept from the wider population, offered only to initiates after proper preparation. Reasons for this commonly include the belief that such knowledge is dangerous to the unprepared, and that revealing sacred knowledge to the common populace profanes that knowledge.
  • Knowledge disguised by God for only the select few to comprehend. Multiple Renaissance occultists, for example, wrote of the Book of Nature, that is to say, the physical universe. Within this book are clues and messages, left by God, which can be found and deciphered by those both educated and worthy.
  • Knowledge of realms, energies, or abilities not recognized by the general populace. The most common use of the term occult in this way is in relation to the practice of magic, but in a wider sense anything supernatural or paranormal might be included.

There are countless practices around the world that might be labeled as occult including magic, alchemy, Kabbalah extra-sensory perception, astrology, numerology, spiritualism, religion, and divination. 

Many occultists follow practices involving aspects of multiple paths, which makes generalizing about the occult extremely difficult. In addition, not all followers of these paths label themselves occultists, and outsiders should be sensitive to such differences in definition.

It also describes a number of magical organizations or orders, the teachings and practices taught by them, and to a large body of current and historical literature and spiritual philosophy related to this subject.

Occultism is often considered roughly synonymous with esoteric and mystical, two far less threatening terms often used in conjunction with branches of mainstream and alternative religions alike.

Occult qualities are properties that have no known rational explanation; in the Middle Ages, for example, magnetism was considered an occult quality. Newton's contemporaries severely criticized his theory that gravity was effected through "action at a distance", as occult.


Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Sexual stimulation re-routes brain activity to reach an 'altered state of consciousness'


Northwestern University neuroscience professor Adam Safron has made the first comprehensive model of what orgasms do to brain activity. Sexual stimulation literally re-routes brain activity, creating a trance.

In a nutshell, sexual stimulation focuses our neurons in such a way that we are sent into a trance, blocking out everything else and concentrating solely, intensely on the sensation alone.

We lose our usual self-awareness and consciousness of other noises, feelings, and smells around us. 

No other natural stimulation could recreate this level of concentration.

'Sex is a source of pleasurable sensations and emotional connection, but beyond that, it's actually an altered state of consciousness,' Dr Safron explains.

To examine this unique trance, Dr Safron reviewed related studies and literature over many years to come up with a model in which rhythmic sexual activity likely influences brain rhythms.

His model showed stimulating particular nerves in a particular way at a particular speed over and over again focuses our neurons.

They begin to synchronize their activity. This focusing process is called neural entrainment.

Eventually, if stimulation continues long enough, this synchronization can spread throughout the brain making us more focused than ever.   

This may be crucial for allowing for a sufficient intensity of experience to trigger the mechanisms of climax.

Dr Safron's previous research has focused on the neural bases of sexual preferences. 

He said orgasm is related to this work because it is one of the most powerful rewards available, and therefore, may have an important role in shaping preferences.

'Before this paper, we knew what lit up in the brain when people had orgasms, and we knew a lot about the hormonal and neurochemical factors in non-human animals, but we didn't really know why sex and orgasm feel the way they do,' Dr Safron said. 

'This paper provides a level of mechanistic detail that was previously lacking.'

WHY RHYTHM IS SO IMPORTANT 

To Dr Safron's surprise, he found parallels between sexual climax, seizures, music and dance.

All four flood the brain's sensory channels with rhythmic inputs. 

'Synchronization is important for signal propagation in the brain, because neurons are more likely to fire if they are stimulated multiple times within a narrow window of time,' Dr Safron said. 

'Otherwise, the signals decay as part of a general resetting mechanism, rather than sum together. 

'This then caused me to hypothesize that rhythmic entrainment is the primary mechanism by which orgasmic thresholds are surpassed.' 

'The idea that sexual experiences can be like trance states is in some ways ancient. Turns out this idea is supported by modern understandings of neuroscience,' Dr Safron said. 

'In theory, this could change the way people view their sexuality.




Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Interesting Day of the Dead Facts


Indigenous people from Mexico believe the soul is eternal and that it can travel back and forth from this world and the next. The celebration of the Day of the Dead is based on the belief that the souls of their loved ones will come back and visit them.

The Aztec Holiday.

Rituals celebrating the lives of dead ancestors had been performed by Mesoamerican civilizations for at least 3,000 years.

The Aztec Festival of the Dead was originally a two-month celebration during which the fall harvest was celebrated, and figures of ‘death’ were personified as well as honored. The festival was presided over by Mictecacíhuatl, Goddess of the Dead and the Underworld, also known to the Aztecs as Mictlán. In the pre-Columbian belief system, Mictlán was not dark or macabre, but rather a peaceful realm where souls rested until the days of visiting the living, or los Días de los Muertos, arrived. Over the course of the festivities, participants place offerings for the dead in front of homemade altars, including special foods, traditional flowers, candles, photographs, and other offerings.

Although primarily a Mexican festival, the Day of the Dead is in fact celebrated by Catholic cultures throughout the world. Many countries in Latin America, Europe and Asia mark the day.

It is related to Samhain and Halloween. 

When the Spanish Conquistadors arrived in Central America in the 15th century they were appalled at the indigenous pagan practices, and in an attempt to convert the locals to Catholicism moved the popular festival to the beginning of November to coincide with the Catholic All Saints and All Souls days. All Saints Day is the day after Halloween, which was in turn based on the earlier pagan ritual of Samhain, the Celtic day and feast of the dead. The Spanish combined their custom of Halloween with the similar Mesoamerican festival, creating The Day of the Dead.

Many Mexicans bristle at any hint of the relationship between Halloween and The Day of The Dead but the two celebrations are undeniably linked. 

Party at the cemetery

The souls of children are believed to return first on November 1, with adult spirits following on November 2. Plans for the festival are made throughout the year, including gathering the goods that will be offered to the dead. During the period of October 31 and November 2 families usually clean and decorate the graves where their loved ones are buried and decorate their graves with offerings.

In some places in Mexico families embellished the tombs of their loved ones for a vigil during the night. The vigil lasts until dawn and includes music, food and drinks at the graveyard. This is a real party!

The elements of the altar

One of the most important traditions is the set up of an altar in memory of the deceased where the four elements of nature, water, wind, fire, and earth are represented. Also it is traditional to have photos in the altar of the departed ancestors. 

Traveling between this world and the next is hard work. To sustain the spirits as they travel food and drink is placed on the altars, usually favorite dishes of the departed. Each altar also includes Water, Salt and Bread as well as a washbasin for the dead to spruce up when they return.

Day of the Dead Bread

This bread known as pan de muerto is baked and eaten on the Day of the Dead. It’s a sweet, egg-based bread usually containing the herb anise, and made during the weeks leading up to the holiday. The bread can be baked in different shapes such as skulls, bones, flowers, and animals, and is often eaten at the altar. 

Marigolds

Mexican cempasúchitl (marigold) is the traditional flower used to honor the dead. It is yellow like the sun and represents life and hope. They are used in the altars and graveyards.

The fragrance of the Marigolds is supposed to lead the spirits home.

Sugar Skulls and La Catrina

Decorated sugar skulls are a particularly unique Day of the Dead tradition. The molded sugar skulls are meant to represent the life and individuality of the departed.

La Catrina (an etching created in the early 19th century by Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada) has become an iconic image of the festival. It depicts a female skeleton, usually dressed in elegant clothes.

No Mourning

Far from a sad occasion, Day of the Dead celebrates the lives of loved ones who have passed away with family gatherings and joyous memories.

The Aztecs did not believe in mourning their dead as tears would make the spirits’ journey more difficult, rather they celebrated their lives and memory.

Souls fly on the wings of butterflies 

While the fall is the season for the Day of the Dead, it’s also when monarch butterflies arrive in Mexico. Legend has it that the butterflies are the souls of the deceased returning to earth. What a beautiful image for such a creepy occurrence.