"The beginning of wisdom is found in doubting; by doubting we come to the question, and by seeking we may come upon the truth."
― Peter Abelard

Notes: Within Christianity, doubt is often portrayed as a weakness, indicating a lack of blind belief, with figures like Doubting Thomas serving as cautionary tales rather than examples to be admired. His doubt is presented as a failing, and he is ultimately rebuked by the Jesus character for needing physical proof of such a remarkable claim. This attitude towards doubt reflects a broader trend within Christianity and more widely, the Abrahamic religions as a whole, where questioning or challenging established beliefs is discouraged or even condemned, as doubt is seen as antithetical to faith. However, doubt is not a hindrance to wisdom but instead, as the quote posits, is a necessary precursor to it.

Image: The Incredulity of Thomas by Caravaggio

"Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees the others."
― Aristotle

Notes: Courage stands prominently among the Stoic virtues, with Aristotle noting its pivotal role, considering it the progenitor of all others. In a world often lacking virtue, it's a brave thing to go out there and do what needs to be done. Yet, Aristotle cautioned that unchecked courage easily devolves into recklessness, underscoring the need for temperance and self-discipline to channel courage into meaningful action.

However, above all virtues, Justice reigns supreme. For the Stoics, the whole point of the philosophy was to direct a person towards doing what was right. In fact, Marcus Aurelius deemed injustice as a blasphemy against the ancient gods.

Moral excellence, the Stoics taught, stems from habitual practice. We cultivate justice through just actions, temperance through temperate acts, and courage through brave deeds.

Image: The Green Knight by Ethan M. Aldridge

“Nonetheless, gazing out the train window at a random sample of the Western world, I could not avoid noticing a kind of separation between human beings and all other species. We cut ourselves off by living in cement blocks, moving around in glass-and-metal bubbles, and spending a good part of our time watching other human beings on television. Outside, the pale light of an April sun was shining down on a suburb. I opened a newspaper and all I could find were pictures of human beings and articles about their activities. There was not a single article about another species. ”
― Jeremy Narby, The Cosmic Serpent: DNA and the Origins of Knowledge

Image: Distance by Kenneth Blom

'This world is a prison full of tyranny, injustice, hardship and suffering. I want out.'

I get it. I sympathise. I occupied that headspace in my younger years, when I became interested in 'Gnostic Luciferianism' - 'Escaping the cosmic trap through gnosis and death to return to the void of chaos and liberty' etc. Thankfully it was a short lived phase.

David Icke and an increasing number of 'Truthers' have been pushing the 'Prison Planet' narrative. They're wrong, and what they preach is dangerous.

This natural, material realm that we experience with our Five Senses, is one of many. It is a place of immense beauty upon which evil* has placed a veil of illusion: Man-made law, the digital experience, unnecessary strife, distraction and ignorance. It is neither better nor worse than the so-called 'spiritual' realms, but due to the physical laws that govern this world it offers immense opportunity for growth and experience. It is sacred.

No malevolent demiurge created this place (though he might like you to think he did). To create is to love, and this realm is for our benefit. Yes, it is a place of finite lifespans, and the mechanism to enable that finiteness is 'dharmic' yet reliant upon what we perceive as suffering - death. To make this material realm entirely pain-free would be to take away the very feature that sets it apart from the spiritual realms; the aspects which give us the gift of learning in a 3D, time-bound environment. Clearly those who wish to 'escape' to a spiritual realm and yet bemoan the suffering of the material do not comprehend the gift of contrast. There may well be realms free of suffering, but that is not the purpose of this one.

*Note: 'Evil' is a pre-Christian, OE word.

“The sad truth is that man's real life consists of a complex of inexorable opposites day and night, birth and death, happiness and misery, good and evil. We are not even sure that one will prevail against the other, that good will overcome evil, or joy defeat pain. Life is a battleground. It always has been, and always will be; and if it were not so, existence would come to an end.

It was precisely this conflict within man that led the early Christians to expect and hope for an early end to this world, or the Buddhists to reject all earthly desires and aspirations. These basic answers would be frankly suicidal if they were not linked up with peculiar mental and moral ideas and practices that constitute the bulk of both religions and that, to a certain extent, modify their radical denial of the world.”
― Joseph L. Henderson, Man and His Symbols

Image: Silence by Vrindavan Das

“When the history of the earth enters a very critical period, as at present, the myths, gods and demons that direct us, the Archetypes, come to take an even more active part, becoming almost visible to many. They participate directly in the combat, as happened in the last world war, of cosmic resonance.”
― Miguel Serrano

Image: Wolkenwanderer by Hermann Hendrich

"Myth basically serves four functions. The first is the mystical function, realising what a wonder the universe is, and what a wonder you are, and experiencing awe before this mystery. The second is a cosmological dimension, the dimension with which science is concerned—showing you what shape the universe is, but showing it in such a way that the mystery again comes through. The third function is the sociological one—supporting and validating a certain social order. The fourth function is the pedagogical function, of how to live a human lifetime under any circumstances”
― Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth

Image: Vidar and Fenrir by Dirk Robertson

“Christian societies have never come to the realization that the Mosaic covenant is nothing but a program for world domination by the Jewish nation. That is because it is written right under their nose, in a book whose malice they cannot recognize because they have been told it is the Word of God. It takes a free-thinker like H. G. Wells to see the biblical idea of the Chosen People for what it is: ‘a conspiracy against the rest of the world*.’”
― Laurent Guyénot, Our God is Your God Too But He Has Chosen Us

*Herbert George Wells, The Fate of Homo Sapiens, 1935, p.128. (archive.org)

Image: Esau sold his birthright by Matthias Stom

“There is no way to re-enchant our lives in a disenchanted culture except by becoming renegades from that culture and planting the seeds for a new one.”
—Thomas Moore

Image: Infinite Forests by Albert Bierstadt

“Faith in technology has absolutely nothing to do with reason or wisdom: it is religion — an insensible, uncritical, unquestionable religion. Technology is the foundation of the most anti-intellectual and religious culture Western civilisation, or indeed the world, has ever known.”
― Pentti Linkola, Can Life Prevail?

Image: Transhuman by Debra Lott

Are Noahide Laws compatible with Gnosticism or Paganism?

Much has been speculated regarding the Noahide Laws, these laws are currently being promoted via various channels including the United Nations. These laws are said to bring about ‘world peace’ however the very understanding of ‘peace’ within this context means submission to the Noahide Laws. For more information see the following post on ‘the true meaning of peace’.

The implementation of such seemingly universal laws for many Christians and Muslims would likely be welcomed as they appear to be in alignment with their faith however as many Gnostics and Pagans stand in opposition to all forms of universalism we can anticipate that such laws would be intolerable.

The first of the seven laws from the Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin 56a-b is to not worship idols. The worship of idols doesn’t only prohibit graven images, statues and shrines but also considers the worship of Gods other than the god of Israel to be considered ‘false gods’ and therefore ‘false idols’. Within the mystical tradition of Kabbalah elements considered to be ‘forbidden’ by the off-planet father god are said to derive from the ‘impure shells’ (kelipot ha-temei’ot) meaning that they are ‘intrinsically evil’.

The Noahide Laws also impose a specific perceptual framework through which nature must be observed and understood. Both Pagans and Gnostics have an animistic view holding nature to be sacred with Gnostics seeing the earth itself as the body of the Wisdom goddess the Aeon Sophia. We can see that such laws are a direct affront to our perception of nature and our relationship to it.

Neo-Paganism in the Public Square and Its Relevance to Judaism, Dr. Manfred Gerstenfeld, Volume 11:3-4 (Fall 1999) link

“In today’s fragmented society a large number of religious and secular neo-pagan expressions have emerged and are gathering strength. An increased interest in nature is a central element in many of its manifestations. Expressions of this attitude are found among neo-pagan believers, neo-Nazis and some extreme environmentalist currents.

The ancient revulsion with regard to paganism felt by adherents of Judaism links up with the need to take stock of these contemporary phenomena. The return of paganism forces Judaism to focus on Jewish law and tradition, which proclaim that God is central in the world. Nature is not sacred and its laws represent barbarity; the Noahide laws represent civil society. There are many reasons for Jewish observers to watch attentively which direction the powerful, renewed interest in nature will take, and what consequences this may have for world Jewry.”

____

In short, the Noahide Laws are completely incompatible with the Pagan or Gnostic worldview. We must therefore oppose them in order to preserve our pact or bond with the greater forces of the environment so that we can exercise sovereignty over our own minds and that practising Pagans and Gnostics alike can thrive alongside nature in a sane and harmonious manner.

“The cultivation of passionate love began in Europe as a reaction to Christianity (and in particular its doctrine of marriage) by people whose spirit, whether naturally or by inheritance, was still pagan,”
―Denis de Rougemont, Love in the Western World

Notes: During the medieval period, the tradition of amor courtois emerged as a response to the domination of salvationist religion throughout Europe. This concept of romantic love defied ecclesiastical doctrines, positioning the knight as reliant on his lady to dignify his exploits. This movement effectively revived the ancient practices of Goddess worship and contributed more to the humanisation of Western society than any sermons from priests. The devotion to personal love, illustrated by legendary characters like Tristan and Isolde, offered a powerful alternative to the prevailing religious orthodoxy.

Image: Tristan and Isolde (extract) by John William Waterhouse

"Ignorance is not bliss; it is the breeding ground for tyranny and oppression. Ignorance allows manipulation, control, and the violation of natural law principles to persist unchecked. It is through knowledge and understanding that we can liberate ourselves from the chains of ignorance and reclaim our personal sovereignty. Ignorance blinds us to the true nature of reality and prevents us from recognizing the mechanisms of oppression and the erosion of our freedoms. By seeking knowledge, questioning assumptions, and being open to new information, we can break free from the shackles of ignorance and actively participate in creating a more enlightened and free society.”
― Mark Passio

Image: The Blind Leading the Blind by Pieter Bruegel the Elder

“Our word nature is cognate to our word natal. From Latin natus (something “born”), nature implies birth, growth, change, flux—above all, life. To look upon nature is to see something alive. To think of the natural (as opposed to the supernatural) as “dead” has it exactly backwards, as we shall see. Opponents of naturalism think that if reality is exhausted by the natural, this means atheism and modernity. But this makes no sense, because that is exactly how ancient peoples saw it. All nature is alive. There are spirits in every tree, every field, in the upper air, in the depths of the earth, behind the hearth, above the doorway, and everywhere else you look, without exception. Nature is full of gods. We have absolutely no reason to think that our ancient forebears had need of some other realm in which to banish divinity from the world.”
― Imperium Press, A Defence of Animism

Image: Pan with a Flute by Italian School, 17th century

The Outsider's Insight: Colin Wilson's Legacy

Born today, June 26th, Colin Wilson (26 June 1931 - 5 December 2013) was an English existentialist philosopher and novelist. Over his prolific career, Wilson authored more than 100 books, both fiction and non-fiction, covering a vast array of subjects including philosophy, mysticism, and the paranormal. He also penned numerous biographies and memoirs. Wilson gained early fame with his 1956 book, "The Outsider," which delves into themes of alienation as explored by various philosophers and artists.

Wilson had a deep understanding of Gnosticism, frequently writing for and giving interviews to "The Gnostic" journal, which focuses on Western esotericism and spirituality. His work often reflected Gnostic ideas, particularly in his acclaimed 1967 science fiction horror novel, "The Mind Parasites." The noscript itself alludes to the Archons of Gnostic lore.

Here is an excerpt from "The Mind Parasites”:

“Now I suspect that these mind vampires specialise in finding races who have almost reached this point of evolution, who are on the brink of achieving a new power, and then feeding on them until they have destroyed them. It is not their actual intention to destroy because once they have done this, they are forced to seek another host. Their intention is to feed for as long as possible on the tremendous energies generated by the evolutionary struggle. Their purpose, therefore, is to prevent man from discovering the worlds inside himself, to keep his attention directed outwards. I think there can be no possible doubt that the wars of the twentieth century are a deliberate contrivance of these vampires…

I have another theory, which is so absurd that I hardly dare to mention it. This is that the mind vampires are, without intending it, the instruments of some higher force. They may, of course, succeed in destroying any race that becomes their host. But if, by any chance, the race should become aware of the danger, the result is bound to be the exact opposite of what is intended. One of the chief obstacles to human evolution is man's boredom and ignorance, his tendency to drift and allow tomorrow to take care of itself. In a certain sense, this is perhaps a greater danger to evolution - or at least, a hindrance - than the vampires themselves. Once a race becomes aware of these vampires, the battle is already half won. Once man has a purpose and a belief, he is almost invincible. The vampires might serve, therefore, to inoculate man against his own indifference and laziness. However, this is no more than a casual speculation…”
― Colin Wilson, Mind Parasites

“I can categorically state beyond a shadow of a doubt that Julian Assange and Wikileaks is a complete and utter piece of theatre put out there. It is ‘QAnon and the white hats’ for Guardian readers and normies…

I know Julian Assange is an actor is because if he was real he would have been vaporised years ago. He is the Emmanuel Goldstein of the current world to give you hope and believe that somehow out there are good guys on the inside…Wikileaks what did it achieve? Nothing, no prosecutions, no trials, no arrests.

Julian Assange is a crisis actor; Wikileaks was a lie, the same lie they've been given us for 2,000 years since Constantine implemented the Edict of Milan. You’re still waiting for redeemers, you're still waiting for saviours; because they know that as long as you're waiting for the next Revelation you won't do anything yourself.”
—Thomas Sheridan

Image: Wikileaks by Anon

“the world has become full of the ideas of the Messiah, the ideas of the Torah and the ideas of the commandments, so that these have spread to faraway islands and to many dim hearted nations, and they now discuss these ideas and the commandments of the Torah.”
—Mosheh ben Maimon (Maimonides), Hayad Hachazaka

Notes: Moses Maimonides aka Ramban, a 12th-century scholar and philosopher, is considered a foundational figure in modern Jewish law and a leading authority on Jewish philosophy. In his legal work 'Hayad Hachazaka,' he acknowledges Christianity and Islam as necessary preparations for the Messiah, promoting the worship of one God, and moving gentiles away from their ancestral gods, priming them to accept Noahidism.

Maimonides notes that Christians and Muslims, by accepting the Torah's authenticity validates Jewish fables and myths as genuine history. This belief in the Torah also affirms their prophetic powers and their unique relationship with the one God.

Image: Isidor Kaufmann

“Money, being naturally barren, to make it breed money is preposterous and a perversion from the end of its institution, which was only to serve the purpose of exchange and not of increase... Men called bankers we shall hate, for they enrich themselves while doing nothing.”
– Aristotle, Politics

Image: The Tax Collectors by Quentin Massys

“There are two totally different orders of mythology. There is the mythology that relates you to your nature and to the natural world, of which you're a part. Then, there is the mythology that is strictly sociological, linking you to a particular society. You are not simply a natural human being; you are a member of a particular group…

Now, the biblical tradition is a socially oriented mythology. Nature is condemned. In the nineteenth century, scholars thought of mythology and ritual as an attempt to control nature. But that is magic, not mythology or religion. Nature religions are not attempts to control nature but to help you put yourself in accord with it. However, when nature is thought of as evil, you don't put yourself in accord with it; you control it, or try to, and hence the tension, the anxiety, the cutting down of forests, and the annihilation of native people. This perspective accentuates the separation from nature.”
―Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth

Image: The Druids by Julia Tar

"For the old European world, the forest was the birthplace of myth, a vast and mysterious realm where the boundaries between the human and the supernatural blurred. It was in the depths of these ancient woods that stories of gods, heroes, and mythical creatures were born, woven into the fabric of cultural memory.”
―Yvonne Verdier, The Forest of Stories

Notes: Yvonne Verdier (1941-1989) was a renowned French ethnologist, sociologist, and anthropologist. Her work primarily focused on rural communities in France, examining their traditions, daily life, and cultural practices through a detailed ethnographic lens. Her research often delved into how myth and cultural practices were deeply intertwined with the natural environment.

Image: Hendrik Pieter Koekkoek

“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.”
―H. L. Mencken

Image: Hobson’s Arse by Bob Moran