Archive for August, 2010

Arthur Edward Waite on Alchemy

BY: Mark

This method of interpreting the Hermetic allegories is calculated to exalt the alchemists indefinitely in the estimation of all thinking minds. From possibly avaricious investigators of a by-way of physical science, they are transfigured into dreamers of the sublimest imaginable dream, while if that which they conceived was accomplished, they are divine and illuminated monarchs who are throned on the pinnacles of eternity, having dominion over their infinite souls.

     — Arthur Edward Waite.

Part of his argument that alchemy wasn’t about transforming dross into gold. Of course, he couldn’t say as much in plain language because part of the charm of the alchemical process was having the initiate reduce materials down to their most primal expression. That applies to the instructions as well.

The Western Mindset

BY: Mark

One of the underlying premises of another project that I’m involved with (The Mongoliad) is the idea that, while there is no dearth of Eastern martial arts films to be had here in the West, a good, rousing Western-style martial arts adventure is lacking (and, yes, that is what we’re attempting to accomplish). To that end, we’ve begun a rather in-depth course of training and education in the Western martial arts.

These Eastern martial arts films are, of course, suffused with a plethora of magical elements. You can’t seem to go very far into one of these stories without running into someone who has abilities that seem far outside the human norm. Of course, in this world-view, these extra-normal abilities are the norm; they are expressed aspects of the benefits of the martial arts. In the West, we tend to take a dim view on these sorts of abilities, brought about–no doubt–by centuries and centuries of indoctrination by established religious structures that have been telling us that these talents are fake, heretical, and–if they even exist–are manifestations of deals that have been made with demonic forces.

It’s safe to say that such a view is not part of the purview of why we’re here, and so it has occurred to me that in concert with exploring the Western martial arts, it isn’t much of a stretch to explore the mystic and occult side of the Western experience during this same time. I am exploring it already, frankly, and there’s no reason not to dive more fully into this material. It’s a starting point, and we’ll keep moving forward until we get to the current era.

Thawing . . .

BY: Mark

Besides the noble art of getting things done,
there is the noble art of leaving things undone.
The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials.

– Yutang Lin

There is no dearth of things to do around here, and one of the projects that has suffered terribly in the dog-days of summer is this site. I’m still trying to wrap my head around exactly what I want to accomplish, and that isn’t helping my enthusiasm for posting. In the end, I suppose, I just need to start, and in some time, a vision will present itself.