"The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country.'
― Edward Bernays, Propaganda (1928)

Notes: Marc Bernays Randolph, the first CEO and founder of Netflix, is the great-nephew of Edward Bernays, a prominent figure in the field of public relations and the nephew of the founder of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud. Bernays, who is often acknowledged as the "father of public relations," emphasised the potent nature of ideas, referring to them as weapons that could surpass the effectiveness of bullets.

Video: Greg Reese

“Man evolved in cooperating groups united by common cultural and genetic ties, and it is only in such a setting that the individual can feel truly free, and truly protected. Men cannot live happily alone and without values or any sense of identity: such a situation leads to nihilism, drug abuse, criminality, and worse. With the spread of purely egotistic goals at the expense of the altruistic regard for family and nation, the individual begins to talk of his rights rather than his duties, for he no longer feels any sense of destiny, of belonging to and being a part of a greater and more enduring entity. He no longer rejoices in the secure belief that he shares in a heritage which it is part of his common duty to protect he no longer feels that he has anything in common with those around him. In short, he feels lonely and oppressed."
― Alain de Benoist, Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft: A sociological view of the decay of modern society

Image: Brand by Kenneth Blom

“cashless society: (noun.) dystopian civilization where you can be sure the real terrorists have won.”
― Sol Luckman, The Angel's Dictionary

Image: Q2030 by Bob Moran

“Everything is upside-down. Doctors destroy health, lawyers destroy justice, universities destroy knowledge, governments destroy freedom, the major media destroy information, and religion destroys spirituality.”
― Michael Ellner

Image: The Upside Down by Lin Shen Tai Lang

“Perhaps the greatest myth being purveyed, is that myths are just myths.”
― Michael Tsarion

Image: The Lament for Icarus by Herbert James Draper

Next up on The Fyrgen Podcast is a two-part, detailed reveal of the pagan, esoteric, spiritual themes in my story Fire in the White Stone. Joined by ΔĐΔΜ from SΛTIS and Gnostic Intel, who is fluent in western mystical symbolism, we spoke in depth about what's hidden within the story. As you'll hear, even I was surprised to find how much had come through subconsciously.

The two episodes are of course one giant spoiler, so if you haven't yet read my book then you may not want to hear them. If you'd like to brush up in preparation, the book can be read within a couple of hours and is available as printed edition, eBook and audiobook:

Direct (print)
Audiobook
Lulu (print)
Amazon (print & kindle)

“Let all your operations be guided by nature and in those operations be guided by the true and not the fantastic imagination.”
― Paracelsus

Notes: Paracelsus was a Swiss-German physician, alchemist, and philosopher who lived during the 16th century. He believed that the human body was a microcosm of the universe, and that health and illness were a result of the balance or imbalance of the body's internal elements. He developed many new theories and techniques in alchemy, including the use of distillation to isolate and purify chemicals.

Image: Paracelsus performing the experiment of palingenesis by Augustus Knapp

The Fyrgen Podcast - Episode 32: The Secrets of Fire in the White Stone, with ΔĐΔΜ
***NEW EPISODE***

Fyrgen host Dan Capp's story, Fire in the White Stone, and accompanying musical album of the same name, are laden with pagan, mystical symbolism. For the first time, and with the help of esotericist ΔĐΔΜ of the SΛTIS and Gnostic Intel channels, the hidden themes and messages of the story are uncovered and expounded upon. Part 1 of 2. Spoiler alert: Venture no further until you've read/heard the story. Book available direct, at Lulu, Amazon, on Bandcamp, or for those who really can't afford to purchase, Spotify.

Find ΔĐΔΜ's work at: SΛTIS Odysee | SΛTIS Telegram | Gnostic Intel

Wolcensmen song clips featured: Foreboden, Lorn and Loath, The Greene Wall, Maidens of the Rimeland, Hunted, The Woodwose, Of Thralls and Throes.

Available now for patrons (Patreon / SubscribeStar / Substack), without whom this podcast would not be possible. Info, merchandise, and an archive of past episodes at fyrgen.com.

“Images, symbols, myths, and archetypes are what truly stamps a culture, rather than theology and faith in things unseen.”
― Joscelyn Godwin, The Golden Thread: The Ageless Wisdom of the Western Mystery Traditions

Image: Sun and Moon by Jake Baddeley

“Look at every path closely and deliberately, then ask ourselves this crucial question: Does this path have a heart? If it does, then the path is good. If it doesn't then it is of no use to us.”
― Carlos Casteneda

Image: Two Men Contemplating the Moon by Caspar David Friedrich

"A society becomes totalitarian when its structure becomes flagrantly artificial: that is, when its ruling class has lost its function but succeeds in clinging to power by force or fraud."
― George Orwell, The Prevention of Literature

Image: 1984 by Jonathan Burton

"The symbol is the instrument of the poet and the mystic, and its power lies in its ability to suggest something beyond itself. A symbol, like a metaphor, is a means of expressing something more than can be expressed in literal terms, and in exploring the symbol we enter into contact with the reality that lies beyond the surface of things.”
― Kathleen Raine, Defending Ancient Springs

Image: The Kiss of the Muse or (The Dream of the Poet), 1859 by Paul Cezanne

“A king is a king, but a bard is the heart and soul of the people; he is their life in song, and the lamp which guides their steps along the paths of destiny. A bard is the essential spirit of the clan; he is the linking ring, the golden cord which unites the manifold ages of the clan, binding all that is past with all that is yet to come.”
― Stephen R. Lawhead, The Endless Knot

Notes: The bard is often overlooked in modernity, but their importance cannot be overstated. Their ability to weave intricate tales and shape our collective consciousness is crucial for society's well-being. In the latest episode of The Fyrgen podcast, Dan and I explore the power of narrative and mythology to sculpt and shape reality, and delve into the mystical symbolism of Dan's story, Fire in the White Stone. To rediscover the magic of storytelling and the critical role of the bard, listen to the podcast here.

Image: Orpheus Leading Eurydice from the Underworld by Jean-Baptiste-Camille-Corot

"Words are pale shadows of forgotten names. As names have power, words have power. Words can light fires in the minds of men. Words can wring tears from the hardest hearts…But a word is nothing but a painting of a fire. A name is the fire itself.”
― Patrick Rothfuss, The Wise Man's Fear

Image: Fire Covenant by Rovina Cai

"A storyteller is the one who keeps the memories of a people alive. They are the guardians of our history and the weavers of our future.”
― Jim Henson

Image: The Storyteller by Jacques Clement Wagrez

"When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."
― Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Sign of the Four

Image: Sherlock Holmes by Nataša Ilinčić

"Mythology is not a lie, mythology is poetry, it is metaphorical. It has been well said that mythology is the penultimate truth--penultimate because the ultimate cannot be put into words."
― Joseph Campbell

Notes: In the latest episode of The Fyrgen podcast, Dan and I bring our journey to a close as we unveil the mystical symbolism interwoven throughout Dan's mesmerising tale, Fire in the White Stone. This marks the final episode, at least for now, of The Fyrgen, and it’s honour to partake in concluding what undoubtedly stands as my favourite podcast.

You can catch up on part one here and listen to the latest episode here.

What Dan has crafted with The Fyrgen is what I consider to be "evergreen content”, timeless and enduring. If you haven't yet ventured into the depths of the archives, I urge you to dig deep, for there lie countless treasures, delightful surprises, and profound insights waiting to be discovered.

Image: Fire in the White Stone by David Thiérrée

“The Grail legend has even more relevance today, at a time when environmental crisis and industrialism run amok promise to turn huge swaths of the living Earth into a Waste Land more desolate than anything the storytellers of the Middle Ages could have imagined. Questing, knightly courage, and the art of asking the right questions still has a central role in the task of finding the Grail today.”
― John Michael Greer, The Druidry Handbook

Image: Parsifal and the Holy Grail by J. Augustus Knapp

Notes: John Michael Greer, a renowned author and Druid, often delves into the mystical realm of the Holy Grail in his work. Drawing upon his extensive knowledge of esoteric traditions, Greer like others explores the Grail as a symbol of spiritual transformation and transcendence however also posits the Grails connection to ancient fertility rites and a lost form of technology. John discusses his ideas surrounding the grail here in this short (34 mins) podcast.

“Humans tried to develop intelligent machines as secondary reflex systems, turning over primary decisions to mechanical servants. Gradually, though, the creators did not leave enough to do for themselves; they began to feel alienated, dehumanised, and even manipulated. Eventually, humans became little more than decisionless robots themselves, left without an understanding of their natural existence.”
― Brian Herbert, The Butlerian Jihad

Notes: The meme of the Butlerian Jihad has become ever more prescient the further our dependency upon machines and technology grows. The threat of technological slavery far from a dystopian science fiction nightmare is looming on the horizon and for many is now in plain sight. For more information and insights into the relevance of The Butlerian Jihad be sure to check out Morgoth Review’s excellent video essay (24 mins) here.

Image: Erasmus by Mark Molnar

“In Anglo-Saxon literature, which Tolkien knew, the place of fate (wyrd) is central. Only occasionally is it suggested that efforts of the hero are determinative. Beowulf, most famously gives himself up to the powers of wyrd before each battle, accepting as fact that the outcome has already been determined. The task of the hero, therefore, was to fight well, to earn a reputation as a great warrior.”
― Kathleen E. Dubs, "Fortune and Fate" in J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia : Scholarship And Critical Assessment

Image: Beowulf’s Funeral by John Howe

“Without myth, however, every culture loses its healthy creative natural power: it is only a horizon encompassed with myth that rounds off to unity a social movement.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche, The Birth of Tragedy

Image: Orpheus in Hell by Pierre by Amédé Marcel-Beronneau