"True freedom can only exist in individuals who take personal responsibility for their own thoughts, emotions, words, and actions. It is not enough to simply claim freedom; one must actively live it by being aware of the consequences of their choices and the impact they have on themselves and others… True freedom is not a privilege or a right granted by any external authority; it is a state of being that can only be attained through self-awareness and self-governance.”
― Mark Passio

Image: Freedom of Speech by Norman Rockwell

“People take on the shapes of the songs and the stories that surround them, especially if they don't have their own song.”
― Neil Gaiman, Anansi Boys

Notes: Stories play a pivotal role in shaping and informing our perception of reality. From a subjective standpoint, which constitutes the primary lens through which we engage with the world, it is more precise to assert that stories, rather than atoms, comprise the fundamental building blocks of reality. Stories serve as the lifeblood of any human civilisation, acting as vessels through which knowledge, culture, and wisdom are seamlessly transmitted from one generation to the next. If our stories are hi-jacked by external forces we are then shaped and moulded by their narratives rather than those of our folk.

Image: The Boyhood of Raleigh by John Everett Millais

The Sophianic Myth

“The most beautiful story on Earth, is the story of the Earth.”

Voice Credit: Asa

Discover the Home Story today here.

“People, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one.”
― Charles Mackay

Image: Deserter by Tomasz Alen Kopera

“Mystery teachings do not carry apocalyptic predictions, but the plot of the Sophianic myth contains a key event called “correction” (Greek diorthosis), indicating a decisive moment in the human adventure when we as a species come to terms definitively with the archon problem, the alien presence on Earth. We would resolve and correct that problem through reaching an interactive connection to the wisdom goddess.”
―John Lamb Lash, Trickster Pack: At the End of Deception – A Gnostic View of Disclosure

Image: Where None Have Travelled by Pindurski

“To inspect the evidence of the existence of a conspiracy guiding our political destiny from behind the scenes would force many of these people to repudiate a lifetime of accumulated opinions. It takes a person with strong character indeed to face the facts and admit he has been wrong even if it was because he was uninformed.”
― Frederick Gary Allen, None Dare Call It Conspiracy

Image: The Allegory of Complacency by Mear One (Kalen Ockerman)

“The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way. Some see nature all ridicule and deformity... and some scarce see nature at all. But to the eyes of the man of imagination, nature is imagination itself.”
― William Blake, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell

Image: Encontrar al contemplador by Tomás Sanchez

“Gnostic Sophia literature is essentially different from that of the Buddhist wisdom books. Assuming that man has fallen into this world from a more perfect condition, the Gnostics expended much ingenuity on trying to describe the process which brought about this fall. Classical Buddhism shows no interest in what may have preceded ignorance.”
—Edward Conze, Buddhism and Gnosis

Notes: Contrary to common misconceptions, Gnostics did not believe that humans fell into this world from a more perfect condition. Rather, according to Gnostic teachings, part of the Godhead - Sophia - fell into an unusual engagement with material evolution. This event is not a split in the Godhead, as in Persian duality, but rather part of an exceptional emanation that became our habitat. The idea that humanity suffers from a fallen state is not part of genuine Gnostic teaching instead, the Sophia mythos warns that our species may fall under the deviant influence of the Archons.

Image: 佛 (Buddha) by Xin Zia

"The Natural Law outlook views all of nature as possessing inherent worth and dignity. Both ontologically and energetically, nature is not merely a mechanistic material phenomenon, but is a living matrix of diverse vital biospheres, alive with personality, consciousness, will and the right to thrive. The Earth herself is a sentient being, a person. Nature, and all of nature's elements, are therefore as much an integral concern of the nation as are the nation's human citizens. As stewards of the Earth, it is incumbent upon all human beings to act as protectors of all of our natural resources."
― Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya, The Dharma Manifesto

Image: Vishnu and Krishna by Shashank Mishra

“A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear. The traitor is the plague.”
― Cicero

Image: Ciceros Speech Attacking Catilina in the Roman Senate by Hans Werner Schmidt

I used to wonder what the Sanskrit word 'Tantra' meant. Only recently did I bother to look it up, to learn that it means 'loom' or 'weave'. In its proper context, Tantra means 'method' or 'doctrine'. It describes traditional wisdom and its application in various areas of life.

But as a Heathen of the Germanic tradition I cannot help but focus on the relatedness of the word 'weave', for that is a common metaphor for the Germanic concept of Wyrd (which is more rightly called 'Orlæg'). Orlæg refers to the intertwining pattern that weaves together the undulations of our individual lives.

The common ground between Tantra and Orlæg is that both refer to facts which are tried and tested; to established knowledge and its effect on the here-and-now. This shared concept basically says: Learn from your ancestors - Accept the reality they handed down to you - Use it to your advantage - Expand the collective wisdom of your folk with it.

“When the king can no longer tolerate his jester the tyrant is nigh.”
― Jordan B Peterson

Notes: Within classical society, the jester, while appearing to be a trivial figure, played a vital role in maintaining the proper functioning of the kingdom. The court environment of that era was such that few individuals could openly critique or speak out against the king's court, especially if it involved the lord or the king themselves. The jester, however, was one of the few individuals who had the liberty to speak their minds without fear of retribution. Jesters were not afraid of causing offence, and they often used humour to tease, mock, and joke about the nobility of the court.

Today, the role of the jester has evolved into that of the comedian, who holds the great responsibility of speaking truth to power and challenging the status quo, a role that for the most part they have completely neglected.

Image: Stańczyk by Jan Matejko

“Most civilisation is based on cowardice. It's so easy to civilize by teaching cowardice. You water down the standards which would lead to bravery. You restrain the will. You regulate the appetites. You fence in the horizons. You make a law for every movement. You deny the existence of chaos. You teach even the children to breathe slowly. You tame.”
― Frank Herbert, God Emperor of Dune

Image: Bene Gesserit by Mark Zug

“In unraveling the intricacies of a culture's myths, symbols, and archetypes, we embark on a journey of discovery that traverses the terrain of its collective soul. We navigate the labyrinth of meaning, unraveling the enigmas that define its identity. By deciphering these keys to understanding, we gain access to the inner sanctum where a culture's deepest reservoirs of values, fears, and aspirations converge, offering us a profound glimpse into the heart of humanity's ceaseless quest for meaning and belonging.”
― Mircea Eliade

Image: Theseus and Minotaur (Detail) by Maestro dei Cassoni Campana

“Monotheism mounted a two pronged attack on pagan cultures. It appealed to the rulers of societies as a superior means of social control and it appealed to the poor masses as it made a virtue of avoiding the sybaritic excesses that they could not usually afford to indulge."
― Peter J Carroll, Liber Kaos

Image: The Coronation of Charlemagne by Friedrich Kaulbach

Notes: Charlemagne, widely revered as the "saviour of Europe," engaged in a 32-year conflict of domination and spiritual transmutation against the pagan Saxons, from 772 to 804. His intention was to supplant the ancient beliefs and cultural foundations of the Saxons with the moral code and governance of Christianity.

The Charlemagne Prize continues to uphold the core values of its namesake, and was initially awarded to Richard von Codenhove-Kalergi. Subsequent recipients have included Tony Blair, Winston Churchill, Angela Merkel, Henry Kissinger and the current recipient, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"Authority should be questioned, not blindly obeyed. Critical thinking is the antidote to manipulation and control. In a world where authority figures and institutions often claim unquestionable power, it is crucial to cultivate a mindset of critical thinking and skepticism. Blind obedience to authority can lead to the erosion of personal freedom and the perpetuation of harmful systems. By questioning and critically examining authority, we can discern between legitimate and illegitimate exercise of power. Critical thinking enables us to challenge assumptions, seek evidence, and make informed decisions based on our own reasoning and understanding.”
― Mark Passio

Image: John Nada / They Live by Dave Merrell

“Christianity is a creed embraced by billions, but rarely chosen by anyone. The same is true of Islam, whose followers now make up about one-fifth of the world’s population of six billion people. Jews are racially born into their religion. Today we have utterly forgotten that heresy derives from the Greek heraisthai, ‘to choose.’ To be heretical means to have choices and not be forced or obligated to believe what one is told to believe. A heretic is free to choose what to believe, or not to believe.”
― John Lamb Lash, Not in His Image: Gnostic Vision, Sacred Ecology, and the Future of Belief

Image: Fallen Angel by Alexandre Cabanel

"I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man she must be quiet.”
― 1 Timothy 2:12, New Testament

"The Germans believe that those of the female sex posses an inherent sacredness and the wisdom for prophecy; and as such the men do not avoid asking advice of their women and nor do the men ignore when their women reply.”
― Germania, Tacitus

Notes: From a Gnostic viewpoint, acknowledging the inherent sacredness of the female sex, rooted in Wisdom, mirrors the significance of Sophia within the cosmic order. Just as Sophia embodies divine Wisdom and understanding, women can serve as channels for elevated spiritual insight and intuition. The imposition of the Abrahamic religions, which uphold an off planet male deity removed from the realm of senses disrupts our connection to the sacred Earth and nature. Simultaneously, it undermines the historical role of women in prophecy, insight, and Wisdom.

Image: The Inquisition by Samson Goetze

“The narrative of the virus is the virus.”
― John Lamb Lash, March 29, 2020

Image: Zombie Sequel by Bob Moran

“Diet, injections, and injunctions will combine, from a very early age, to produce the sort of character and the sort of beliefs that the authorities consider desirable, and any serious criticism of the powers that be will become psychologically impossible. Even if all are miserable, all will believe themselves happy, because the government will tell them that they are so.”
― Bertrand Russell, The Impact of Science on Society, 1952

Image: Still from ‘In Shadow: A Modern Odyssey’ by Lubomir Arsov

Check out the short film (13 mins) here

“The dissident artist must see himself as an ancient bard. His duty is to guide, to warn, to advise, to preserve the wisdom and heritage of the tribe, and to inspire great deeds. Time is up for the self-indulgent ‘troubled’ artist. That artist is both a creation of the decadent modern age and also partly responsible for creating the decadent modern age. The dissident artist must lift his people up and out of these marshlands of malaise and mediocrity.”
― Pox Populi, Guide to Creating Dissident Nationalist Art

Image: The Bard by Thomas Jones