Here it is folks! The Satanic Episode!
It’s the longest show I’ve put out yet and I’m sure I could have talked about many other things...such as paying more attention to "spiritual" or "traditional" Satanists. Yes, much of the focus is on LaVeyan Satanism. Also it might be interesting to get in to Anton Szandor LaVey in more detail. He was an interesting person. It might have been interesting to dig up some dirt on LaVey...like the fact that his daughter, Zeena, got pregnant and had a son at the age of 14 and she disowned her father prior to his death in 1997.
Anyhow, I hope you like this one. Check out these links for more info:
Happy Summer All!
--Jay O’
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Let me lift this question and answer off of the page and then I’ll throw in what I think:
Yvonne: “What do you see as the future for Witchcraft in Canada and the world?”
Robin: “Oh...chaotic. I’m sure it is. We’re going to have a situation where we’re going to get different groups coming together and then deciding theirs is the only law, theirs is the only way. We’re going to get, if I may use the word rather loosely, a kind of fundamentalism. And we’re going to get egotists writing long books explaining why the only way of doing things is this way or that way, and it’s going to be splendidly confusing everywhere. But, out of it, one hopes, or in the middle of it--there’ll be individual groups, families, persons, who will find it a spiritual route to whatever they need. I don’t believe that the Craft is the only religion available. People have their own paths that they must follow--this happens to be mine.”
I like Skelton’s phrase “splendidly confusing”...and I absolutely believe that he is right...things have become quite chaotic. How many of us have struggled with nailing down definitions. I wrote Fire Lyte at Inciting a Riot with my (possibly ham-fisted) attempt at a definition for “paganism”.
Here’s what I wrote him: “Thought I’d throw in my two cents with your question "What is paganism?" It makes my head hurt trying to answer it...lol!
Long answer: Paganism is an umbrella term used to describe those who follow one or more of a long list of new religious movements that find inspiration from the religious traditions of Pre-Abrahamic cultures--especially those who have a Euro-centric focus. Adherents profess a belief in female and male Divinities; they recognize the sacredness of life lived here and now and have many varied and not necessarily mutually exclusive notions of life after death; personal responsibility for deeds done is stressed; their ritual lives centre around observance of the passage of the seasons thereby acknowledging, accepting, and celebrating the impact that these changing times have on their psyches, their relationships and their everyday lives. They see the world and much that is “of the world” to be intrinsically good-- ie. food, song and dance, sex and generally all that exists within “nature”. There are no central authorities, no “Pagan Popes”, no Pagan synods: as a consequence there are no absolute notions of what a “Pagan” is, there are no doctrines or dogmas which the faithful must adopt to be truly Pagan. This lack of dogma and doctrine makes it extremely difficult for some to nail down a single, unified definition of Paganism.
Short answer: Paganism is the magical art and practice of living heroically, lustfully, and unapologetically before the gaze of Gods and Goddesses, Ancestors, and the many varied ones, both visible and invisible, who share with us this precious, exceedingly rare gem we call Earth.
A bit rambly and wankish, and perhaps too general and wholly wrong, but a fun exercise just the same! ;^)”
I have talked about the definitions of “witch” and “witchcraft” and “wicca” that I use in an earlier episode so I won’t go into it here, but this is another word that many have difficulty defining. This lack of definition, itself, lends to a rather chaotic and “splendidly confusing” situation. As far as “fundamentalism” goes I immediately get one writer popping into my head: Robin Artisson--he can come across as egotistical and righteous and like all fundamentalists he engages in a lot of bashing of other “traditions”. With that said I still enjoy his writing. He is artfully aware, an important, unique voice.
Now generally speaking there seems to be an aweful lot of effort being put toward having Paganism recognized as a “legitimate” religion. This makes (possibly futile) exercises like the one Fire Lyte has called for necessary. This makes seminaries necessary, university degrees necessary, councils and synods necessary, the writing of “one true” laws necessary, “one true” praxidoxies and orthodoxies necessary, it makes the “mainstreaming” of Pagan religions necessary. I can tell you that the way I practice, the way I believe, the way I make my way through the world will NEVER be represented by any one group aside from the one I hold closely to me. If and when they start erecting pagan basilica and handing around the collection plate to pay for the priestess or priest who is presiding, I will simply not participate.
Movements like Fire Lyte’s Project Pagan Enough seem like an attempt at further “mainstreaming” Paganism. There seems to be a growing movement within Pagan podcasting itself that presents itself as “normal”, radio quality shows put out by people who have worked in radio, their edgy and urbane delivery just screams “look how normal I am!” Now, while I can respect people’s need to present themselves as normal people who just happen to be Pagans, it seems to be pointing fingers and sneering derisively at those who do don fairy wings and roller skates. While I hold the conservatism of the likes of Gardner and Valiente with some respect, I also equally accept the contributions of those (particularly from the ‘60s) who wave their freak flags proudly. Not sure I really care either way, when it comes right down to it. I might feel inclined to put up a Project Pagan Enough banner if there were a counter project banner like Project Pagan Weirdos or some such. I joke...
In closing, I’d say that Skelton’s prophetic reply is quite correct: things are chaotic and splendidly confusing, and, well, I think I like it that way. I’m not here to legitimize my beliefs or to impress those of the majority faiths. This, if for no other reason, is why I love living in a secular society!
Also in closing I’d like to give another part of that interview between Robin Skelton and Yvonne Owens:
Yvonne: “Do you think the mystical aspects of our Craft are getting lost in the political and public relations aspects?”
Robin: “On the whole, yes. I mean, I’m very much drawn to the mystical aspects of it, the aspects of magic and Witchcraft as a knowing and an exploring. That’s because I come to it from poetry. I don’t enjoy public ceremonies very much and I avoid them whenever I can...I never go to University convocations, if I can avoid them. So it’s a matter of personal temperament, I think. And while I admire those people who have public festivals and organize them, because I think it brings people into a relationship with the Craft, which is important, it’s not for me. But I do get worried by people saying, ‘My way of the Craft is the only way, you’ve got to do it this way--you’ve got to do it that way,’ because my sense of the Craft is that it’s very much an individual thing, or perhaps a small-group thing. We don’t have a Bible, we don’t have a ‘Book,’ we don’t have a rule-book or regimen: it is very much an individual perception, for me.”
Sheesh, another instance I wish I had personally known Robin for I feel we would have shared much in common...not just a love of Irish whiskey. ;^) Blessings all and thanks for reading.
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After hearing from a couple of listeners--who found Episode 10 hard to listen to-- I’ve decided to re-upload Episode 10 with those dastardly, and awefully distracting frogs de-amplified.
I hope that this improves things! Let me know if it still sounds like crap... ;^)
Hopefully this won’t screw things up too badly with iTunes and the feed generally.
Blessings all!
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For your downloading convenience here is a promo that is more up to date than the rather flat-sounding, flaccid old thing you may have played before.
Cheers and much love to y’all!
--Jay O’
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I have the new computer and I’m moving in to it slowly. I know I like Windows 7...just not sure if I "get" it yet!
Check out these podcasts I’ve been listening to lately. Each one is excellent!
Standing Stone and Garden Gate
and
Blessings!
--Jay O
]]>In the meantime how about a short blog post?...
Have you read Witches’ All yet? It was put out by the folks at the Witches Almanac a number of years ago. I recently pulled it off of my shelf and started reading it again. Man, what a gem this book is...I find myself picking up things that didn’t grab me (consciously atleast) in previous readings. For instance I have been thinking a lot lately about daily practices and wondering if my lack of one is somehow hurting me. I don’t feel in my gut that it is, but I had some pleasing support in the following line taken from page 18: it says when "harnessing nature’s gifts" that "Success often depends more on instinct and feelings rather than strict discipline and adherence to precepts." My practice arises from responding to "gut-level" needs that arise quite often, if not daily.
You could say that my daily practice is to open up to that animal awareness which is the Witch’s core power. Ahh, it feels nice to know that you’re not just being lazy... ;^)
Blessings!
]]>the comments will now be moderated...
I’m sure that there are plenty of other sites for your hair-thickening and penis-enlarging needs!!
;^)
]]>For the longest time I’ve told myself that I will get a promo for the show up on the feed.
Well, here it is...finally!
Stay tuned...I’m working on Episode 6 right now.
All Blessings Be!
--Jay O’
]]>Here it is...the next episode with a few unscripted "ums" and "ahhs" thrown in for good measure.
I talk about an experience I had with a past life regression tape when I was 14 years old. I talk about reincarnation and a little bit about fate vs. free will.
Hope you like it.
Please, if you have the time, make a review over at iTunes and place your vote at Podcast Pickle or Podcast Alley--you’ll find links for voting in the column to the left.
All Blessings Be!
--Jay O’
]]>Just wanted to let you know that I’ve been a bit stuck lately...writer’s block mostly...but I’m working on having something out soon.
I may resort to recording..."off the cuff"...if I can’t hammer out a script. That just may be enough to break this silly dam that’s holding up the creative flow.
Blessings galore!
--Jay O’
]]>Here it is...Episode 4! I’m so sorry that it’s coming out late...I wanted it out no later than the 10th...but I’m so happy that I’ve beat the arrival of the Winter Solstice.
On this Episode I talk about literalism, I share an experience that helped me get away from literal thinking, I do a whole lot of "shouting out" to the Podkin, I respond to emails, I share another of Robin Skelton’s "Words for Witches", and I talk a bit about Yule and Mother’s Night.
Thanks for listening...all the Blessings of the Solstice, Yule, Alban Arthan, and Mother’s Night be upon you.
And a Happy New Year!
All Blessings Be!
--Jay O’
]]>Due to a computer malfunction, that has left me angry enough to end the life of this lame assed lap top with an eight pound maul, I won’t be putting out a show this weekend...
Yes....I’m...going to breath...it will come out...yes...
BB,
--Jay O’
]]>I’d hoped to have an episode out for you by today...no such luck!
I’ll have it out this weekend...if I haven’t lost power in the snowstorm we’re expecting this weekend.
All Blessings Be!
]]>I’d like to draw your attention to a new addition to the links. This new link will take you to the website of Alison Skelton who is one of Robin Skelton’s daughters. She has been involved in Wicca since before her father...Robin, while a worker of spells for many years didn’t embrace Witchcraft as a religion until relatively late in his life.
She is a visual artist (check out her stunning paintings!), a healer, counsellor, teacher, a founding Priestess of the Thirteenth House Mystery Tradition, founder of the Oroboros project that works to bring together those who wish to work in a group context (focused in the Victoria, B.C. area right now), and an Eclectic Shaman, currently training in "Core Shamanism".
I haven’t met Alison in person yet...I’m hoping to partake in one or more of the many courses that she teaches over in Victoria. Please check out her site and get a glimpse of her fascinating, unique path.
Remember your Muse this weekend!
All Blessings Be,
--Jay O’
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