More Blue Moon musings

If you take a Bible and put it out in the wind and the rain, soon the paper on which the words are printed will disintegrate and the words will be gone.

Our Bible IS the Wind and the Rain.

-- Author Unknown

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Pennsylvania history of magic, occultism, and folklore

Poke Runyon is a legend within American Hermeticism--aka Alchemy--and he's still going strong with weekly podcasts at Blog Talk Radio every Thursday. There's a good variety of various interesting subjects. Of course, the German magical traditions have long been prevalent in rural Pennsylvania, so this subject immediately caught my eye. I don't know of any American region where Stregheria has any particular presence, although I have have hypothesized about Upper Michigan Alpine "folk medicine."

The Hermetic Hour: Poke Runyon and Frater Julian

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Boeing X-37

The Boeing X-37, also known as the Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV), is a reusable unmanned spacecraft. It is boosted into space by a launch vehicle, then re-enters Earth's atmosphere and lands as a spaceplane. The X-37 is operated by the United States Air Force for orbital spaceflight missions intended to demonstrate reusable space technologies. It is a 120%-scaled derivative of the earlier Boeing X-40.

Aside from obvious black ops programs, the X-37 spaceship itself is a remarkable vehicle. The importance of which has been downplayed. This spaceship is able to re-enter earth's atmosphere without being damaged just for starters. Apparently, but not fully provable yet, NASA has a fleet of these craft which has conducted many missions..far beyond what is admitted currently.




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The Holographic Universe

The below video is part one of a five part series regarding the unfolding mainstream scientific endeavor of trying to understand matter. It's one of those videos where if you merely start to watch, you may find that you will just want to keep going. I think just watching the first video is sufficient to getting the gist of it. Did you know that during experiments, now known to be true with 100% accuracy, that electrons conduct themselves differently depending on whether or not they're being directly "watched" by someone during the experiment itself. From our understanding, this of course shouldn't be.. but it is; and this is the mainstream talking!




I don't really agree with the wording that it used however. It leaves the laymen with the impression that our physical world literally doesn't exist. A better analogy would be to focus on how matter is viewed. The majority of matter we cannot even see from our perspective. Another way to look at it is the video game example, where the more we learn about particles of matter, the more it looks like pixels of a video game. It's as if we are part of some grand (from our limited perspective) computer-simulated world, created by someone or something.

Another aspect of this is that if we look at the entirety of the known universe, especially between the galaxies, it's very empty. We only perceive it to be "full of stars and stuff." When magnifying particles down to the sub-atomic level, there are comparatively large expanses of "space" like "little universes." Therefore, how do we know that we aren't looking at this all wrong; and that we may be a "tiny universe" within say the fingernail of some "being" in a larger universe... or that the universe of this "being" isn't merely part of..... well, you get the point.

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Iberian Lynx Documentary

The regional European lynx in Spain struggles against extinction.


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Blue Moon musings

This coming Friday evening will be a full "blue moon." A blue moon is an additional full moon that appears in a subdivision of a year, either the third of four full moons in a season or, a second full moon in a month of the common calendar. I think I'll enjoy a Blue Moon beer on this blue moon. The ancient Camunian/proto-European word for moon was Mòn or Mùn, prior to being replaced with the Roman/Latin Lùna. The Camunian village of Monno (in Italian) was known as Mòn in the Camunian dialect. Even the Roman name for the valley, Vallis Camunnorum, has the word Mùn within it, which means "Valley of the Camunni".. which actually breaks down roughly to "valley of the home of the moon people." 

The name in the Camunian dialect was Al Camònega ("valley of the home of the dawning moon"). The influence of the church gave rise to the local term "mòna"... a foul name for a woman, which is rooted in a negative reference towards the old venerated moon goddess. It should be noted that during the times of the witch trials, Camunian Catholics and Camunian Pagans (one-third of the population) got along fine.. as there was plenty of cultural overlap. Try to get out on the trail on the twilight and evening of this Friday's rising blue moon (actually sort've grayish), and feel that age old spiritual-ancestral and solar-lunar energetic interaction.

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Internet chess

Although there is no online reference to it that I can find, it can be most frustrating when you devote a half hour or longer of your time to a game of online chess, and finally reaching a critical point in the game... only to have the site/game system or internet connection "short your move" which directly makes you lose. Even though the game is meaningless, and you are anonymous, the psychological and intellectual frustration is not lost! It's as though you finally "blew it"... when you actually did not.

Another idea that I had was that it would be better if you were able to simply allow your king to be "taken".. to avoid the intellectual humiliation of being outnumbered and trounced during the final phase of the game. This would be better than the cowardly perception of "resigning" (aka quitting). In the game of rugby, when one team is far ahead on points, they just "call the game" and the players and coaches honorably meet at the center of the field. This fosters more respect between the teams.

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ELE happening now?

You know, we're in real trouble now. The Fukushima disaster--unlike Chernobyl, which ended after about a week I recall hearing--is still ongoing! Some scientists have called it an Extinction Level Event (ELE). If you haven't looked into it, you should. There is a lot on YouTube about it; I would suggest searching "fukushima rense" if you really want it fast and straight. If you read this in time, Fukushima is the subject of tonight's Coast To Coast AM program. There's almost no way to underscore how devastating this disaster is, or how bad it could get. There's practically a news blackout of it. But, what are they going to say... that we're all going to die?

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Gambara and Forseti





['Empfindsamkeit' by German Neofolk band Forseti - ωεlτεηbæμmçhεη]

Queen Gambara was the first queen of the Langobard tribe when they broke off from the Winnili tribe in 1st century Scandinavia. Although she inspired the migration into ancient central Europe with a command to her people to "Go forth!," she never saw the Italian peninsula. Forseti was an important god in Odinic mythology, although he is less known than Odin, Frigga, Tyr, or Thor. Both of these names would sound perceptively as "Italian" to the English-speaking world. I'm always looking for modern tie-ins to the ancient world, and often that can be within surnames.

Just off of the top of my head, the South Tyrolian beer "Forst" comes to mind if I try to brainstorm the root word "Forseti." There's likely no connection, but I ponder it. With a surname search for "Forseti" in Italy, there is nothing; however, there are a very small number of "Forsetti's" in the north. Again, it's likely just coincidental; although old Langobard words and surnames are common, albeit "Italianized." 

In a surname search for "Gambara," as many as perhaps 75 showed up around Emilia and Lombardy. That's not too much of a longshot since the Langobards brought the old legends of their origin with them into their new Cisalpine home. I would lay the odds at about even with that connection. "Gambara" was one of the aristocratic family names who made up the powerful oligarchic Brescian Council of the Middle Ages.

The surname "Gotti" is actually a Lombard regional name with Gothic roots.. originating from "the Goti"... the Goths. "Goti" is a Tuscan regional surname as well. Also, a Goði or Gothi (plural goðar) is the historical Old Norse term for a priest and chieftain in Norse paganism. Some of those long ago "Goti" made their way down to southern Italy... hence the now somewhat infamous Mafia name "Gotti." However, it's much more generally a Lombard surname.

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Regarding the recent rash of clown sightings, but don't laugh yet...





[Rob Zombie's '31' (2016) - Shane's World]

Apparently there has been a rash of reports of people, dressed up as creepy clowns, sneaking up upon and surprising or scaring unsuspecting people at night. It has escalated this year, and you can google or youtube it. It started in California, but has spread all over the country, and even in the UK. This brings up the issue of clowns in general, and that some people actually hate clowns! Personally I never had any problems with clowns as a child, having always seen them as benevolent. This phenomenon of unsuspecting clown terror at night is curious to me. So often, as with horror movies, it's "the face" and "the intent" of the clown, ghoul, monster, etc. The mask and outfit seem to somehow dehumanize them, and they become something of a monster. The mystery of who's behind that mask? Are they crazy, evil, or dangerous?; and at the dead of night no less!

I like the centuries-long history of the circus, the clowns, and other aspects of that eccentric traveling entertainment culture. It's really a small part of our history. Perhaps only some of the using of people with birth defects crossed the line in my opinion. Just last evening, while watching the most recent episode of 'My Haunted House' ('Route 160'), the issue of "clown night terror" was featured... however, in a more supernatural way. Still, even a young smallish blonde woman in a creepy clown mask.. staring at you in the dark of night, was somewhat unnerving. That "intent" thing... creating confusion for the unknowing. Is it a joke? Is it just for fun? Maybe not..

Probably the best creepy clown in recent years was Captain Spaulding, played by Sid Haig in 'House of 1000 Corpses' (2003) and in 'The Devil's Rejects' (2005). For a killer clown, he was rather sensitive about the issue of clown status in general, which made for one of the odd, scary, and funny sub-plots. Sid Haig has been one of the underrated off-beat character actors over the years. At one point, while being robbed at gunpoint, Captain Spaulding didn't even take the robbers very seriously.. until one of them said the wrong words: "I.. HATE.. C-L-O-W-N-S!!!"; at which point he responded with the funniest "low growl"... before dramatically getting even. I thought that first movie was so brutally artistic.

Those movies were written and directed by heavy metal singer and horror movie director Rob Zombie. Rob Zombie is directing another movie due for release in 2016, which promises to be another "1000 corpses," entitled simply  '31'. Five people are kidnapped on the days leading up to Halloween and held hostage in a place called Murder World. While trapped, they must play a violent game called 31 where the mission is to survive 12 hours against a gang of evil clowns. 

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Stella Natura: The Light of Ancestral Fires

Apparently, Stella Natura was an annual concert which started in 2008; and featured various local and international Euro-pagan metal bands and perhaps other types of music. The last concert was held in 2013 in the Tahoe National Forrest. I don't know if this was the location for all of them. It appears that these concerts ran day and night, and perhaps through the weekend; sort've like Ozzfest with quite a few bands, and even different stages. I found out about Stella Natura only after it became defunct. The details are in the link above. It sounds like it was such a great idea. You may see some of the footage in a YouTube "stella natura" search. Perhaps the lesson here is to be smaller and more practical. Maybe only a few bands in a less remote area close to urban centers would work? The Asatru Folk Assembly was one of the sponsors of these concerts. A few images can be found at the Stella Natura facebook page.

Below is footage from the 2012 concert, by an an Australian band called Ironwood. Again, these are mostly Odinic concerns. "Ironwood" is a mystical forest in Norse mythology.





Anarchists and the anti-labor left

A small coalition of people decried Stella Natura as "Fascist." Benito Mussolini, when asked for a definition of Fascism, responded with an answer: "Corporatism".. and obviously the connection between giant corporations and banks with the state. How is some concert "Fascism?" How about Wal-Mart? How about the Bank of International Settlements? How about the American corporations which arm the world, and manufacture the weapons of war right here in this country? They leave them alone. It apparently makes more sense to them to attack some non-political concert. The truth is that the Neo-Liberals and Neo-Conservatives have been in bed with transnational corporations for decades, and have collectively supported every anti-labor outsourcing and trade measure.

Since virtually every person who is fanatical against anything regarding European identity on this marginal level is white--typically from well-to-do families--it does seem strange that they ignore the fact that the state of California is overloaded with identity-specific associations of every kind. All one has to do it look. Social, political, religious, economic, professional, financial, men, women, youth, etc.; all with their doors locked to anyone outside of their ethnic or cultural group. Remember, these were just concerts, and were of a non-political and spiritual nature. Right near where I live, there's a sizable hospital dedicated to one specific ethnic group. It seems almost fantastic, but it's right there on the sign for anyone to read. There's a nearby employment agency dedicated specifically to one particular ethnic group... clearly stated on the window. There's another nearby health center that is dedicated to "recovery" from addictions, such as smoking, drinking, or drugs... and yes, it's dedicated only for one particular race. Says so right on the sign... in nice big letters. C'mon... recovery?? I'm just playing the devil's advocate here. Where's the consistency? The old aristocracy never really went away, they just became liberals. The type of people who have "conditions for friendship," based on politics. This is the result of people who never had to struggle in life for respect.

These Anarchists leave even these extreme examples of "identity" alone. They leave even the arms manufacturing companies alone. They leave the strip mining and fracking companies alone. One strip mining corporation in Arkansas armed a rebel group in a very poor country some years ago, and directly caused thousands of innocent people to get slain; just to get at those resources, which they did once the new regime came into power. They leave people like that alone. I couldn't find where any "Anarchist" ever mentioned this company--much less the CEO!--in any capacity... which intellectually should remove their anti-Fascist status. Well, if they don't care about the Communists murdering 200 million innocent people in the last century, I doubt they would care about "consistency." They're more worried about a concert, and people having a good time in a remote location. If there would somehow be a true political-intellectual public debate in which every established fact must be internalized right down to its logical conclusion, and every internal contradiction must be worked out.... there wouldn't be any "right" or "left" in this country anymore. Politics is the only science in which facts mean virtually nothing.

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'Swiss close Matterhorn 150 years after 1st ascent'

'Swiss close Matterhorn 150 years after 1st ascent'

AP - July 14, 2015

BERLIN (AP) — No climbers were allowed on Switzerland's Matterhorn mountain Tuesday, as authorities declared a daylong 'silence' on the 150th anniversary of the first ascent to honor more than 500 climbers who have died trying to reach the top.

A group of seven mountaineers led by Briton Edward Whymper became the first to scale the peak on July 14, 1865. Four members of the team died on the descent.

The solemn silence on the Matterhorn — underlined with the threat of a 5,000 Swiss francs ($5,290) fine — was part of a series of events marking the anniversary, which also included a light display along the route of the original ascent.

Authorities have also taken longer-term steps to calm the crush of mountaineers trying to reach the iconic 4,478-meter (14,692-foot) Alpine peak that Switzerland shares with neighboring Italy. The Hoernlihuette base camp refuge, also reopened Tuesday, has been reduced to 140 beds from 170.

An anniversary ascent by a team of climbers from Britain, France, Italy and Switzerland — reflecting the nationalities on the first ascent — is planned for Friday.

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The Matterhorn, which is close to the Italian border at Zermatt, has been called "the mountain of mountains." I had no idea that 500 climbers have been killed making that accent. The Matterhorn is 14,692 feet, making it one of the highest peaks in Europe. Although the dramatic "horn" tip is so well-known, the overall mountain is larger apparently. Many photos show the horn with frosty fog gathered around it, looking like steam. The mountain is a symbol of nature at it's most rugged and beautiful, and a symbol of the Alpine region.

Matterhorn

First ascent of the Matterhorn

Edward Whymper

Golden age of alpinism

Quintino Sella

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Wolves and Doves - Perception vs. Reality

Within human perception, wolves are a symbol of violence and aggression. Despite the overwhelming love for the canine, wolves have been driven away by concerted force. The "big bad wolf." Also, within human perception, doves are a symbol of peace and tranquility. Hence the phrase "the dove of peace." In reality, wolves never kill each other; while doves, like humans, do kill each other. So do we need to change that phrase to.... "the wolf of peace?"

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Random thoughts on day of Mother Cabrini's Sainthood

Lombard-born Mother Cabrini became the first American Saint on this day in 1946. I just wanted to post a few random things for no particular reason. I wonder if Mother Cabrini could be considered part of Ambrosian culture? Probably not, since it is only considered a liturgy; which is why is was allowed in the first place. The beautiful Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden, Colorado is on my to-visit-list. I want to walk up that long stairway to the sky.

Mother Cabrini loved the mountains of Colorado. The foothills west of Denver held a special attraction for her. During her journeys in 1902 to visit the Italian workers and their families in the Clear Creek, Argentine, and South Park mining districts, Frances X. Cabrini discovered a property on the east slope of Lookout Mountain owned by the town of Golden.

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2 intriguing titles

Last week I watched two mystery/horror movies with intriguing names. 'Wicker Park' was a movie that, according to reviews, people either liked or disliked with no in-between. My vote is nay. Mungo Lake was an Australian supernatural flick. I'll lean toward yay on that one.

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Harbaugh-Cowherd interview

Coffee'd up radio sports personality ambushes coach at 6 AM, resulting in an awkward interview. Sociologically, I found this to be interesting. I've found Jim Harbaugh to be very personable, yet somehow is frequently judged as being the opposite. No matter how passionate one may be regarding any subject or interest, they could just draw a blank with a phony line of questioning. You can't always be on your A-Game.. Many people prefer more of a fake immediate-best-buddy sort of person over even a more genuine personality. It's probably split right down the middle with people at large; but I'll always take the latter.

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Jaws - 40 Years

Every year one of the cable networks has a "Shark week" special from Sunday to Saturday. This week it's the Discovery channel, with non-stop shark programs and documentaries. On the American Movie Classics channel yesterday, they aired off of the "Jaws movies." Apparently the iconic movie and the shark craze in general is associated with the Fourth of July and the real kick off of summer, just as in the 1975 movie. I remember when I was very young in the summer of 75, the media, entertainment, and commercial blitz all about sharks. This seemed to last several years; and the movie has created a lasting fascination with sharks. It was a great movie, and an equally great soundtrack. It all seemed to lead to "the hunt" towards the end.

I recall visiting cousins back in the midwest, and the ones my age were equally fascinated with the movie; and we "reinacted" it along the lake there, just as I had with friends at home. We would form something that would serve as the vessel from the movie and pretend, often reciting some of the lines from the film. Remember, this was even before VCRs, much less the internet and all the rest. If someone loved a movie, they could buy the soundtrack, the book, posters, and memorabilia... everything except the film. In those scenes were Robert Shaw was singing and looking like he was enjoying himself lots... he was actually buzzed as it turns out. The 70s had all those original mega-hit movies.

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Ancient underground chamber found under someone's house

I just saw this today: 'Ancient Ritual Bath Found Under Unsuspecting Family's Floorboards'. Just the concept that someone would discover that their home was thousands of years old would be strange enough. The photo of the steps leading down is so bizarre. It doesn't even have to be ancient. Portland, Oregon has some places where there are walkways and rooms that have been discovered deep down into the earth. Seattle has it's underground city, where the "old city" was built upon.

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Felines are not canines!

I don't know why people insist in trying to "breed cats." For example, the munchkin cats. Cats are perfect the way they are, and they already are a small and relatively short-legged animal. Why purposely breed in a birth defect? They don't have genes like wolves. Other irresponsible breeding includes mixing housecats and bobcats. Those genes for a large powerful animal don't just disappear. Also, who's bright idea was it to hybridize big cats? A liger (lion-tiger mix) cannot survive in the wild due to it's massive size; so should ligers be allowed to mate with other lions or tigers? There are many other such mixes. The Leopon (lion-leopard mix) is not a beautiful animal....

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Princess Gisla's angry speech" was from the last episode and scene from this past 'Vikings' season three. The Parisian princess was being forced into a marriage with regional Viking chief Rollo. I have mixed feelings, as part of me wants to laugh at her speech and pouty and disgusted appearance; while at the same time it's against my own spiritual beliefs to laugh at someone's pain.. even if they're an adversary. In other words, it's only funny if it's not you. However, with Rollo's fur clad appearance, his own greeting to her in French, and followed by his large grin, I think the scene was intended on being subtly humorous. Beyond the production itself, the two actors would be a good genetic match. In any case, excellent acting by the actress Morgane Polanski. One of the YouTube commenters, apparently a French speaker, said that this was "old French." France is like Italy in that there were numerous languages in the Middle Ages, after which only one was instituted. Someone cleverly put together a video called 'Rollo and Gisla: Empire of Our Own' with footage from the series.


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Cat meets dolphins


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Gypsey Teague is guest on Coast To Coast AM this Friday

Witchcraft and Steampunk/Open lines

Date:	Friday - July 10, 2015
Host:	George Noory
Guests:	Gypsey Teague, Open Lines

Gypsey Teague is the Branch Head of the Gunnin Architecture Library at Clemson University, as well as a craftwoman, and Elder and High Priestess in the Georgian and Icelandic Norse traditions. In the first half, she'll discuss her work as a practicing witch, and her creation of Steampunk Magic. Followed by Open Lines.

 

Website(s):

• gypseyteague.com

Book(s):

• The Witch's Guide to Wands
• Steampunk Magic

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