*Irruption: a sudden, forcible, or violent breaking into a place, a sudden invasion AUTHOR'S NOTE: This one is more ambitious than most. Let's see where it goes. Years ago I read a pair of cosmology books by science author Timothy Ferris, and in one of them (it was either 1988's Coming of Age in the … Continue reading UFOs, the Multiverse and the Irruption of the Paranormal*
Practical Mysticism
Deep Thoughts on Participatory Divination: People, Not Process
AUTHOR'S NOTE: There is an unusually abstract theory in speculative physics (one that is dismissed out-of-hand by the mainstream scientific community) that all objects - whether in concrete form or as massless "packets of energy" - have their origin in the primordial raw material of information that is defined as binary data-bits operating in the … Continue reading Deep Thoughts on Participatory Divination: People, Not Process
“Eyes That Are the Windows, Eyes That Are the View” – Tarot and Quantum Mechanics*
*Lyrics quoted are from the Dave Mason song Sad and Deep as You. AUTHOR'S NOTE: Quantum theory in modern physics holds that until an elementary quantum object is observed (by direct measurement according to mainstream scientists and in response to conscious attention in paranormal circles), it is in an "indeterminate state" and has "no definite … Continue reading “Eyes That Are the Windows, Eyes That Are the View” – Tarot and Quantum Mechanics*
Distant Intention: An Alternative Approach to Remote Divination
AUTHOR'S NOTE: My long-time followers know that I'm skeptical of remote tarot reading because the querent has no direct contact with the cards for the purpose of subconscious induction, my fundamental understanding of "how tarot works." But with a little tweaking of the parameters, that attitude may be shifting. Recently, while reading about experiments in … Continue reading Distant Intention: An Alternative Approach to Remote Divination
Spirit Guides and “Astral Mischief”
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I admit to being tired of hearing mystics emote about the benevolent "spirit guides" who will unerringly steer them straight and therefore deserve their unquestioning trust. This assumption is tossed off casually as if everyone agrees that it's the most natural thing in the world: "My guides told me . . ." I've … Continue reading Spirit Guides and “Astral Mischief”
The Occult Phenomenon of Invisibility: Anecdotal Tales of Mind Over Matter
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Here is more fanciful food-for-thought from my reading of parapsychologist Dean Radin's Supernormal. Back in my "hippie wannabe" days (when I was still too uptight in my suburban East-Coast mindset to qualify - as well as much too clean if what I saw in rural Vermont communes was sufficient proof), my younger brother … Continue reading The Occult Phenomenon of Invisibility: Anecdotal Tales of Mind Over Matter
Occult Knowledge: What’s the Use?
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I have a few less-meaty essays in my backlog of pending posts. This is one, and I will publish the others over the next couple of days. A fellow member of the r/occult sub-reddit community recently asked a particularly vexing question: "What do you people even do with occult knowledge?" This individual was … Continue reading Occult Knowledge: What’s the Use?
The Practical Mystic: Intelligence and Imagination in Tarot Reading
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Some time ago I added a sub-category titled "Practical Mysticism" to the "Categories" drop-down menu on the sidebar. This feature was inspired by my reading of Lon Milo DuQuette's Tarot Architect and it was solidified by the observations of Dr. Dean Radin in Real Magic. I've written extensively in the past on the … Continue reading The Practical Mystic: Intelligence and Imagination in Tarot Reading
Tarot As Blunt Instrument
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm presently immersed in the study of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras as explained by parapsychologist Dean Radin in his book Supernormal, which I'm relating to my practice of divination in a series of essays. One of the first things that impressed me was that - without resorting to complex magical rituals or metaphysical "props" … Continue reading Tarot As Blunt Instrument
Seizing the Power of “Empowerment”
AUTHOR'S NOTE: "Empowerment" is one of the most common personal-growth buzzwords enlisted in the performance of divination. Nobody dares offer a prediction without at least mentioning it for fear of being branded a "fortune-teller." We nearly do back-flips trying to erase any hint of predestination from our readings (you know the shtick: the future isn't … Continue reading Seizing the Power of “Empowerment”