#121 Love Actually. The Mystery of Love. We have all experienced it, we all thrive for
it in some aspect, and we all are heavily challenged by it almost every day by
various mediums. But the reality is that Love, in all its masks, is
perhaps just as hard to understand as Salvation, Enlightenment or Gnosis.
We all fall short often when attempting to unleash its fulfilling
benefits. We face Love head on, from the long corridors of history,
psychology, legend and religion. We view this great enigma through the
lenses of Mystics, Philosophers, Theologians, Religious Founders, Artists and, of course, even The Gnostics. Astral
Guest-- Richard Smoley, author of 'Conscious Love', 'Inner Christianity: A Guide
to the Esoteric Tradition', 'Hidden Wisdom: A Guide to the Western Inner
Traditions'.
12/27/2008
#122
And the Band Played On. The Future of Gnosis in the 21st Century and the Survival of
Mankind. Despite having survived the prior, bloodiest century ever, the dawn of
the 21st Century seems to be ushering worse portents and potentials.
Religious Fundamentalism is on the rise, greed is not only good but holy,
war and genocide are rampant, and kingmakers are shredding democracies across
the world. Yet perhaps humanity's spirit is indeed ready for a
collective transformation in this Age of Information. Maybe it's not
humanity's awareness that is lapsing but the old systems it clings to that have
run their course. We offer esoteric alternatives on education, religion,
politics, ethics and economics that are actually being tested and working
across the world. Some draw from the ancient masters, some are radically
new opportunities. Most incorporate the Gnostic Spirit. Astral
Guest-- Paul Tice, author of 'Shadow of Darkness, Dawning of Light',
‘Triumph of Man', and 'Jumpin' Jehovah:
Exposing the Atrocities of the Old Testament God'. 01/03/2009
#123 The
Patriots. Esoteric Secrets of the Founding
Fathers. The Founding
Fathers drew from many sources to create the experiment called the USA.
Many of them were members of Secret Societies, very open to ancient
pagan ideals or the mystical regions of the Judeo/Christian matrix. We
delve into their minds, motivation and the occult clues they left in American symbols,
architecture and the founding documents themselves. We also dispel many
misconceptions, some that we have taken for granted, that have stoked the fires
of Conspiracy Theorists, Christian Fundamentalist and even New Age Gurus.
And perhaps we find the Gnostic influence somewhere hidden in the
background. From the codes in the dollar bill to the true identity of the
Statue of Liberty, it's a fascinating journey.
Astral Guest-- Robert Hieronimus, author of
'Founding Fathers, Secret Societies' and 'The United Symbolism of
America'. 01/24/2009
#124 Angels
in America. Enochian
Magick. There are countless schools of
ceremonial magic. One of the most revered and practiced in the last five
hundred years is Enochian Magick, whose origins come
from one of the greatest minds of the Renaissance. It is the art of
summoning angelic entities who bestow the magician with spiritual gifts like
the expansion of the soul, glimpses to the outer worlds, and the raising
of consciousness to an astral level. We study the origins of this
esoteric praxis, its methodology and even advice on how to pursue it and put it
in practice. Astral
Guest-- Lon Milo Duquette, author of 'Enochian Vision
Magick', ‘The Key to Solomon's Key: Secrets of Magic
& Masonry', and 'The Magick of Aleister Crowley'. 01/31/2009
#125 Fear and Loathing in Orthodoxy. Modern Shamanism & Holy
Hallucinogens. All religions originate from ancient Shamanistic traditions. There
is ample evidence that historically Judaism, Christianity, Classic Pagan cults, the Mystery Schools and even the Gnostics honored the
primordial faiths with mind-altering substances and herbal lore. Yet
Orthodoxy, in all its forms, crushed these avenues in an attempt to stifle
individual revelation and make it easier to control the masses. But today
many Christian and Pagan sects are returning to their roots with the
sacramental use of entheogens to gain a higher state
of consciousness. We explore this closing full circle, the maverick
scholars and scientists that champion this revival, and how incorporating
the misnamed 'psychedelic' praxis can be a charged, powerful highway to Gnosis
and the liberation of the human spirit. Astral Guest--Andrew Rutajit, author of 'The
Vestibule', co-author of 'Astrotheology and Shamanism' and producer of the
DVD’s, 'The Pharmaceutical Inquisition' and ‘Manifesting the Mind’. 02/08/2009
#126
The Once and Future Kings. The God-King Descendants of
Jesus of Nazareth. The belief that Jesus was a holy insurgent, perhaps survived the
crucifixion, married and gave birth to a royal line continues to gain momentum.
Yet brand new scholarship adds startling evidence to these theories,
pointing to the possibility that Jesus was actually an active, military noble
from a family of established, Davidic rulers in Palestine that controlled more
than the Romans wanted. After his failed attempt to establish a Jewish
Kingdom, he sired a line that later mixed with a dynastic line of God-Kings
from ancient Babylon who then became, unknown until now, many great rulers of
Europe wishing their return to rule Jerusalem. In fact, for centuries,
they succeeded during the Crusades with the aid of the Knight Templars.
These God-Kings were also instrumental in nurturing and defending
the Cathars, sparking the Protestant Reformation, and manipulating
European history for centuries up until this day. We reveal the truth
about these God-Kings and the vast and violent monarchy of Jesus, John the
Baptist, Mary Magdalene, Saul of Tarsus, James the Just and many other figures
that are misrepresented in the Bible but were actually power players of
their days. Astral Guest-- Hugh Montgomery, author
of 'The God-Kings of Europe: The Descendants of Jesus Traced Through
Davidic Dynasties', 'The God-Kings of Outremer',
& 'The God-Kings of England'. 02/14/2009
#127 Immortal Beloved. The Gnostic Gospel of John. Although found
in the Canonical Bible and a favorite to quote by fundamentalists, the truth is
that the Gospel of John is galaxies apart from the Orthodox worldview.
Its origins germinate from an esoteric community heavily influenced by
Jewish Mysticism, Hermeticism and Mystery School ideas. Its message is
heavily Gnostic; and it was the Gnostics who first revered and brought it to
the attention of Christianity (who later usurped and corrupted it). We
unlock The Gospel of John's origins, kernel themes, arcane meaning and many of
its secrets that have nothing to do with faith but the direct communion with
the Divine. Lastly, we understand the symbiotic relationship and
connection between the Gospel of John and the Gospel of Thomas. Astral Guest-- April De Conick, author of 'Voices of the Mystics', 'The Thirteenth
Apostle' & 'Recovering the Gospel of Thomas'. 02/28/2009
#128 Heavy Gnostic Metal. Sex, Drugs & Gnosis Roll in the Bible. Read literally, the Bible is an
ultraviolent, pornographic and dark soap opera orchestrated by the Creator God
and his machinations. Yet recent scholarship reveals an even grimmer
and also benign underbelly of the chronicles of Judaism and Christianity.
The ancient Hebrews were far more hypocritical,
sexually deviant, oppressive and destructive than ever thought before.
Early Christianity would be not much better under the Demiurge. But
there is also a secret history revealing continuous goddess worship, mystical
wisdom and valiant magician-heroes the kept alive the arcane gnosis of the
Sumerians, Babylonians and Persians that would later be passed to the
Gnostics. These revelations as well shed virgin light on the Gnostics that
includes widespread tantric sexual rites, rampant use of cannabis, bizarre
ceremonies from those pre-Judaic cultures and rituals that might shock
modern sensibilities. A program for mature audiences
only.
Astral
Guest-- Chris Bennett, author of 'Sex, Drugs, Violence and the Bible' and
'Burning Shiva'. 03/07/2009
#129 Faithless. Gnosis As The Last
Hope to Bridge Faith & Reason. Humanity is becoming increasingly fragmented in the 21st Century.
Beyond a general lack of reverence and a growing ignorance for the truth,
the chasm between faith and reason continues to grow. This distance is
causing great disunity in the world, a far cry when the secular and the holy
working together created great minds, systems and overall harmony. Gnosis
understood within a postmodern context is mankind's best chance to unite faith
and reason, as well as other dualities. Now, more than ever, the message
of the Classic Gnostics can help heal a wounded, infirm society. Astral
Guest-- Jeff Kripal, author of 'The Serpent's Gift: Gnostic Reflections on the
Study of Religion', 'Roads of Excess, Palaces of Wisdom: Eroticism &
Reflexivity in the Study of Mysticism', and Chair of Religious Studies at The
University of Rice. 03/28/2009
#130 Horus Gump. The Egyptian Influence on
Christianity & Gnosticism. Virgin, cutting-edge evidence finally
reveals the stunning span, sophistication and influence of the ancient Egyptian
Culture. It affected most of the ancient world in innumerable ways.
We reveal the prowess of a civilization that thrived longer than
imagined, existing many thousands of years longer than the Christian era.
We take a journey in time through the grandeur of Ancient Egypt all the
way to its demise at the hands of Orthodoxy. We also expose how
Christianity, on the exoteric side, and Gnosticism, on the esoteric side, was
already mature long before the birth of Jesus Christ in the manifestations and
theologies of Horus, Osiris, Isis, Shu, Anubis, Ra
and other savior deities. Astral Guest-- Acharya
S, author of 'Jesus in Egypt: The Horus-Jesus
Connection', 'The Christ Conspiracy', 'Suns of
God' & 'Who Was Jesus? Fingerprints of The
Christ'. 04/11/2009
#131 The Gnostic Wears Prada. 'The Gnostic':
The New & Only Magazine on GnosticismA Brand new publication has just been
released on all spectrums of Gnosticism and Western Esoterica. It
contains an in-depth interview with Alan Moore, the Gnostic Magician
responsible for 'The Watchmen', 'From Hell' and 'V For
Vendetta'. It includes interviews with Timothy Freke,
Peter Gandi and John Turner. It deeply examines
with the Gnosticism of William Burroughs and Mark Twain, the latest on Philip K
Dick's new material and upcoming biographical movies, an exposition on magic
and Gnosticism, the true meaning of gnosis, virgin revelations on the Bible and
the Gospel of Thomas, the many faces of Judas throughout history and much more.
Lastly, it contains new translations on Gnostic Scriptures, artwork,
poetry and several book reviews. And that's just scratching the surface.
But we more than scratch the surface and expose much of
the information on this new magazine. Astral Guest-- Andrew
Philip Smith, editor of 'The
Gnostic: A Journal of Gnosticism, Western Esotericism and Spirituality', and
author of 'The Gnostics', 'The Lost Sayings of Jesus', 'Gnostic Writings on the
Soul' and 'The Gospel of Philip: Annotated & Explained'. 04/18/2009
#132
The Prisoner. Perhaps
the most overlooked Gnostic Gospel of our modern era is the cult-television
program 'The Prisoner'. Although this outerly, Sixties spy show has
mesmerized people for over forty years, the truth is that 'The Prisoner' was
intended as an allegorical, existential treatise that directly echoed the
Gnostic Spirit. Not only does it touch upon the very issues the ancient
heretics dealt with in a modern context, its storyline directly parallels
many of the Gnostic Scriptures. We tour this surreal, esoteric show and
how it influenced later visionaries in television and film. We also
analyze other television shows that contain Gnostic revelations. Astral
Guest-- Valarie Ziegler, author
of 'Julia: The Public Romance and Private Agony of Julia Ward Howe' and Chair
of Religious Studies at DePauw University.
05/02/2009
#133 The Life of Marcus. The Real Christian Messiah. A recent
archaeological discovery and virgin scholarship reveals that Jesus never
considered himself the Messiah, but pointed to a young companion as the true
Anointed One. This person was the fulfillment of Davidic Prophecies,
was revered as a demigod by Jews and Samaritans, and was respected and honored
by Roman Emperors. He was also a brilliant philosopher, theologian and
mystic according to Rabbinical Lore. His ideas and deeds were likely the
fountainhead of a Gospel Tradition, Kabbalah and Gnosticism. Orthodoxy
rewrote him in many ways to marginalize him against Jesus Christ. You may
know him as Saint Mark, the Apostle Mark, Marcion, Marcus the Magician and
other names. But his true identity and impact are finally revealed.
His name was Marcus Agrippa, the Last King of Israel. Astral
Guest-- Stephan Hermann Huller, author of 'The Real Messiah: The Throne of Saint
Mark & The True Origins of Christianity' and
'Against Polycarp'. 05/16/2009
#134 The Sound of Miracles. Gnosticism in 'A Course In
Miracles'. Since 1977, 'A Course in Miracles' has taken the alternative
spiritual-seeking world by storm, both with great fanfare and often great
controversy. We explore its history, tenets and ultimate rewards.
We also discover if the timeless wisdom of the Gnostics is part of the
fabric of 'A Course in Miracles’, as well as other esoteric schools. And
does its message resound in the core theology of The Gospel of Thomas, the Valentinian tradition, and other Gnostic legacies? Astral
Guest-- Rogier Van Vlissingen, author
of 'Closing the Circle: Pursah's
Gospel of Thomas and A Course in Miracles'.
05/30/2009
#135 Total Recall. Philip
K. Dick, Part 2. We revisit one of the
greatest Gnostic Saints of the 20th Century and perhaps in all of history in an
intimate, personal view from his widow and collaborator. Not only do we
get to understand PKD's complex mind and mystical experiences in their true
context, we also understand the man behind the legend. We dispel and strengthen
various rumors and myths about one of the greatest sci-fi authors of our days
from someone who knew him best. Lastly, we give an exposition on
a completed, posthumous work by Philip K. Dick that was meant to be a
continuation of his Valis Trilogy, his revelations on Gnosticism, Kabbalah and
other esoteric schools of thought. Astral
Guest-- Tessa Dick, author of 'The Owl In Daylight',
'Bad Moon Rising' and ‘Philip K. Dick: Remembering Firebright'.
06/13/2009
#136 Gnostic Poet’s Society. The Gnostic WB
Yeats. Countless
people have enjoyed and been inspired by the ethereal poetry of William Butler
Yeats. Many have known about his affiliations with the Golden
Dawn and other occult groups, or the fact he was a magician and Hermeticist. Yet few understand that Yeats was a
self-professed Gnostic Sage who secretly wrote about the fall and rise of
Sophia, the Indwelling Christ, the rule of the Demiurge, the coming of a New
Age and various other themes the ancient heretics contemplated. We study
the life of this mystic bard, including his influences and esoteric views.
We also decipher his Gnostic Theology hidden deep within his airy poetry
that conveys the Ageless Wisdom of the Knowers of the
Unknown. Astral Guest-- Mina Cho, author of
'The Explanation of WB Yeat's Poetry'. 06/27/2009
#137 Yaldabaoth
Almighty. The Atrocities of the
Demiurge in the Old Testament.
Once upon a time, a group of mystical Jews realized that all was not
well with the Creator God, his divine plan, and basically his treatment of
humanity. This minor group would later become the Gnostics and Kabbalists. They took the path of symbolism, allegory
and myth to find spiritual liberation and higher forms of divinity. Yet
the majority of the Abrahamic religions, up to this
day, still take this Bronze Age deity and his chronicles as a sacred example to
live by. Taken literary, the Old Testament is a bloody, cruel testament
of a lower godhead and his crimes against humanity. We take Literalists
on their own turf and expose the truth of a callous, ignorant being who has
been emulated by mankind for thousands of years. We put Jehovah on trial
in order to reclaim reason, esoteric understanding and the compassion that is
still scant in these days of growing holy warfare. It's a tongue and
cheek but serious at the core message. Astral Guest-- Paul Tice, author of 'Jumpin' Jehovah:
The Atrocities of the Old Testament God' & 'Shadow of Darkness,
Dawning of Light: Awakening of Human Consciousness in the 21st Century'. 07/11/2009
#138 Vanilla Skies. The Daemon
or Higher Self. In Ancient
Times, it was believed individuals possessed a higher mind beyond time and
space that could guide one to a better life or truer reality. It was
called the Daemon, Nous or Divine Twin, among many other names. Many
Gnostic Sects believed in this concept, as well as other esoteric religions
throughout history. New breakthroughs in neurology, psychology and
physics now support the reality we have a higher mind we can access to reach a
state of wholeness. We study the theology, science, great thinkers who
experienced this phenomenon and changed the world, and how each one of us can
find our own Daemon. Astral Guest-- Anthony
Peake, author
of 'The Daemon' & 'Is There Life After
Death?' 07/18/2009
#139 Hermes & Me 2. Hermeticism, Part 2. In our first program, we explored the
evolution and impact of Pagan Gnosticism from a broad historical perspective,
ranging from Egyptian times to the Renaissance and beyond. We focus now
on the Classic Hermeticists of the Greco/Roman World
and the early Christian Era. We explore their
origins, theology, cosmology and cosmogony; and what might have happened to
this 'kinder, gentler' brand of Gnosticism that saw Creation and all of its
players as benign tools for the restoration of the soul. We also compare and contrast Pagan Gnosticism with its
Christian counterpart, as well as its relationship and influence of the other
religions of that time. And reveal startling evidence of who truly kept
the secrets of these Gnostic Magicians alive throughout history. Astral
Guest-- Jesse Folks, contributing
writer for 'The Gnostic Magazine', co-founder of The Palm Tree Garden, and teacher at Catholic
University in Washington DC. 10/03/2009
#140 Frekeshow. The Gnosis
of Timothy Freke. One of the
most important proponents for Gnosticism in the last decade has been
best-selling author Timothy Freke. His work with Peter Gandi in the 'Jesus Mysteries' Trilogy also revived an
interest in Greek Esoteric thought, Mystery Religions and Neo-Platonic
philosophy. Timothy comes on the program to discuss his new and personal
autobiographical book. He intimately discusses his life and life events
that shaped his often controversial ideology, his mystical experiences, and his
evolution as a Freethinker. He also presents his vision for his
organization, The Alliance of Lucid Living, and shares
instructional exercises learned throughout his spiritual journeys on how to
gain Gnosis. Astral Guest-- Timothy
Freke, author the new 'How Long is Now?',
'Lucid' Living', and co-author of the 'Jesus Mysteries' Trilogy and 'The
Gospel of the Second Coming'. 10/10/2009