'New Age' a Coherent Concept? by George D. Chryssides University Of
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Evoking the Sacred: the Artist As Shaman
Evoking the Sacred: The Artist as Shaman Dawn Whitehand BAVA (Hons) This exegesis is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Arts Academy University of Ballarat PO Box 745 Camp Street, Ballarat, Victoria 3353 Australia Submitted in April 2009 The objects of [American] Indians are expressive and most decorative because they are alive, living in our experience of them. When the Indian potter collects clay, she asks the consent of the river-bed and sings its praises for having made something as beautiful clay. When she fires her pottery, to this day, she still offers songs to the fire so it will not discolor [sic] or burst her wares. And finally, when she paints her pottery, she imprints it with the images that give it life and power- because for an Indian, pottery is something significant, not just a utility but a ‘being’ for which there is as much of a natural order as there is for persons or foxes or trees.1 Jamake Highwater 1 Jamake Highwater, The Primal Mind: Vision and Reality in Indian America. (New York: Harper and Row, Publishers, Inc., 1981), 77-8. ii Abstract This thesis examines, via a feminist theoretical framework, the systems in existence that permit the ongoing exploitation of the environment; and the appropriateness of ceramics as a medium to reinvigorate dormant insights. I argue that the organic nuances expressed through clay; the earthy, phenomenological and historic ritual connotations of clay; and the tactile textured surfaces and undulating form, allows ceramics to conjure responses within the viewer that reinvigorates a sense of embedment in the Earth. -
(Title of the Thesis)*
Dionysian Semiotics: Myco-Dendrolatry and Other Shamanic Motifs in the Myths and Rituals of the Phrygian Mother by Daniel Attrell A thesis presented to the University of Waterloo in fulfillment of the thesis requirement for the degree of Master of Arts in Ancient Mediterranean Cultures Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 2013 © Daniel Attrell 2013 Author’s Declaration I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this thesis. This is a true copy of the thesis, including any required final revisions, as accepted by my examiners. I understand that my thesis may be made electronically available to the public. ii Abstract The administration of initiation rites by an ecstatic specialist, now known to western scholarship by the general designation of ‗shaman‘, has proven to be one of humanity‘s oldest, most widespread, and continuous magico-religious traditions. At the heart of their initiatory rituals lay an ordeal – a metaphysical journey - almost ubiquitously brought on by the effects of a life-changing hallucinogenic drug experience. To guide their initiates, these shaman worked with a repertoire of locally acquired instruments, costumes, dances, and ecstasy-inducing substances. Among past Mediterranean cultures, Semitic and Indo-European, these sorts of initiation rites were vital to society‘s spiritual well-being. It was, however, the mystery schools of antiquity – organizations founded upon conserving the secrets of plant-lore, astrology, theurgy and mystical philosophy – which satisfied the role of the shaman in Greco-Roman society. The rites they delivered to the common individual were a form of ritualized ecstasy and they provided an orderly context for religiously-oriented intoxication. -
The Complete System of Thelemic Magick
Thelemic Qabalah Volume I Publication in Class C by Frater Apollonius 4°=7□ ATAT Fable Once upon a time there was a Great Wild Beast whose mighty roar could be heard all over a sleepy kingdom. In this kingdom there were many lovely maidens. Each Maiden lived in a wonderful cottage by a lake or a stream or by the ocean or by an echoing valley. The Children of this kingdom knew no mother or father but rather sought sustenance and comfort in the house of one of the many Maidens. Each Maiden gathered about herself all of the beautiful Children that she came in contact with and taught them by the L.V.X. of Her Soul. Each Maiden could hear the roar of the Great Wild Beast and knew that with each roar, new Children would come seeking sustenance and shelter and knowledge. The maidens would leave on porch lights to guide the children to them for the Kingdom was enveloped in eternal darkness save in the presence of a Maiden. If a Child learned well, they became a Maiden and left the cottage, with a light of their own to build and light a cottage of their own. At intervals, a Great Wild Beast would be born and roar for a time. Each Great Wild Beast, nearing the time of His passing, would teach a Maiden how to roar like them and instruct them to pass the roar on until they heard another Great Wild Beast. One day, the Great Wild Beast died and his roar was not heard in the Kingdom for many a year. -
A New Age Case Study on Contested Models of Science
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE QI EQUALS MC-SQUARED: A NEW AGE CASE STUDY ON CONTESTED MODELS OF SCIENCE, SPIRITUALITY AND THE ACQUISITION OF SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of Master of Arts in Anthropology By Garrett Sadler December 2014 The thesis of Garrett Sadler is approved: _________________________________________ ______________ Dr. Christina von Mayrhauser Date _________________________________________ ______________ Dr. Sabina Magliocco Date _________________________________________ ______________ Dr. Kimberly Kirner, Chair Date California State University, Northridge ii Acknowledgements There are many people to whom I am endlessly in debt for their guidance, wisdom, expertise, support, sympathy, counseling, therapy (lots and lots of therapy), and—simply put—genuine care for my success over the course of this project and, more generally, my graduate career. Thank you, Drs. Christina von Mayrhauser, Sabina Magliocco, and Kimberly Kirner. Each of you has played a significant role in developing and honing my skills and intellect in anthropological thought and, perhaps more significantly, in being a good person. Additionally, I would like to single out two students without whose friendship (more accurately, mentorship) I would not have completed this degree: Victoria Weaver and Kevin Zemlicka. Victoria and Kevin, I am honored to have you as such dear friends. From our mutual experiences in this program, I know that our bond is permanent. Please be prepared to keep assisting me with my many neuroses in the future. To all of those mentioned above, know that you have instilled in me aspects of character, personality, identity (or whatever the hell you want to call it) that will remain with me eternally. -
Exegesis of the Greek Scriptures
6 | Exegesis of the Greek Scriptures The principles required for responsible interpretation of the New Testament principles required for responsible interpretation of the New Testament Enrichment Version The Enrichment Version is designed for those who wish to explore principles that lead to healthy procedures for comprehending and applying the New Testament without the intention of pursuing either a certificate or a degree. This syllabus is identical to the one used by credit and degree-track students, except it is void of Internet articles, videos, listings of secondary resources, exams, and writing assignments. There is nothing to submit for professorial review or grading. Therefore, the Enrichment syllabus is available for downloading without cost. Interested parties may glean substantial knowledge, comprehension, and understanding of New Testament exegesis through this guide. Other courses deal with the people, places, and events of the Greek Scriptures and their meaning. This course in exegesis is concerned with the student's own ability to interpret New Testament texts. The need to do personal interpretation presupposes that spiritual maturity rests upon good exegesis. The course assumes the student has a good understanding of the nature and content of the New Testament. The task here is to select samples of biblical texts and consider how they should be studied and what application can be made for the present day. The course is organized in four modules: (1) Interpreting the New Testament, (2) Matthew and Mark, (3) Acts and the Modern Church, and (4) The Book of Revelation. Objectives • Recognize the nature of New Testament compositions • Identify rules, vocabulary, and principles for interpreting New Testament genres • Apply New Testament texts to contemporary situations Course Learning Outcomes At the end of the course, the student will be able to 1. -
Children of the New Age’ – Is Qualitatively Rich but Quantitatively Limited
9 THE END OF ‘NEW AGE’ The church dissatisfies me. I know all the things they teach. I want more, you know? (Alison, Unit of Service, 1997) We are trained to listen to experts in our culture and not to ourselves. The premise of the New Age is the other way around. (Spangler 1996: 184) The whole point is our journey,not our destination. (Edwards 1993: 63) Recapitulation In this book I have reconstructed the genealogy of a multivalent emblem,‘New Age’,within interconnected networks of ‘alternative’spirituality from the 1930s to the 1990s. In the first part, called ‘Emblem’, I examined Peter Caddy’s career in the Rosicrucian Order, the activities of Sheena Govan’s group and the early years of the Findhorn settlement. I found evidence of other networks active in England, New Zealand and the US in the late 1950s and early 1960s – George Trevelyan, the Heralds of the New Age, the North American ‘subculture’ delineated by David Spangler – for whom ‘New Age’ was an apocalyptic emblem within a cocktail of occult, psychic and spiritualistic ideas and practices. In this early period the expression had objective historical status among communicants: a ‘New Age’ was imminent, its apocalyptic harbingers were on the horizon and groups had to prepare themselves spiritually in response. In the second part, ‘Idiom’, I traced the diffusion and disintegration of this emblem in the 1970s and beyond under the influence of a youthful counter culture and a concomitant decline in the authority of grand narratives (Lyotard 1979) in the culture at large. ‘New Age’ became, as it were, adjectival, a loose ‘quality’ of a person, act or social process rather than a negotiated emblem.As a 195 IDIOM sign of this shift it became self-consciously problematised by both participants and observers – one informant in Lowe and Shaw (1993: 227) said vehemently ‘I hate that cliche “New Age” ’. -
Thich Nhat Hanh, Tulku Thondup, and Others
BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 2 ! FALL - WINTER • 2011 - 12 ! YES,YES, LIFE!LIFE! -MAYMAY WWEE BBEE JJOINEDOINED IINN TTHEHE GGREATREAT HHEARTEART ! l CONTENTS ELCOME to our latest ANYEN HAS OFFERED a 5 Upcoming Banyen Events Wissue of Branches of Breal “gathering of the 6 New Music Light! You’ll find here 223 ways” since 1970, and we 7 New Videos BRANCHES OF LIGHT reviews of new books, continue to morph and 8 Art, Creativity & Music News & Reviews from 8 Poetry, Writing & Stories Banyen Books and Sound music, videos, audios— learn how best we can serve 10 Yoga & the Hindu Traditions gems among the latest new the deep learnings and 12 Buddhism & Zen ISSUE 39 Fall-Winter-Spring 2011-2012 releases in all our fields, earth-loving harmony we 15 Tibetan Buddhism 17 Taoism & Chi Energetics Publisher & Editor from healing arts, new sci- humans need as we mature 17 BodyMind Healing Kolin Lymworth ence, body-mind explo- into a sustainable, responsi- 18 Healing Energies / Herbs Managing Editor & Production ration, ecology and com- ble planetary stewardship. Michael Bertrand 20 Bodywork & Movement munity... to angels, new 21 Food, Nutrition & Healing Design Laura Duncan Good Look Graphics economics, gardening, AY YOU FIND HERE the 22 Inspiration & Empowerment Cover Fiona Gamiet Articulate Design alchemy and metaphysics, Mresources to nourish 23 Psychology, Therapy & Dreams 24 Midlife & ElderWisdom On the Cover shamanism, the spiritual your journey. Reviews here 25 Jungian & Depth Psychology Flowers from Lizanne’s garden... 25 Mythology & Symbolism a rainbow over Bowen Island... traditions of the world, and are just the waves atop an 26 Meditation conscious evolution. -
Bibliography of Occult and Fantastic Beliefs Vol.4: S - Z
Bruno Antonio Buike, editor / undercover-collective „Paul Smith“, alias University of Melbourne, Australia Bibliography of Occult and Fantastic Beliefs vol.4: S - Z © Neuss / Germany: Bruno Buike 2017 Buike Music and Science [email protected] BBWV E30 Bruno Antonio Buike, editor / undercover-collective „Paul Smith“, alias University of Melbourne, Australia Bibliography of Occult and Fantastic Beliefs - vol.4: S - Z Neuss: Bruno Buike 2017 CONTENT Vol. 1 A-D 273 p. Vol. 2 E-K 271 p. Vol. 3 L-R 263 p. Vol. 4 S-Z 239 p. Appr. 21.000 title entries - total 1046 p. ---xxx--- 1. Dies ist ein wissenschaftliches Projekt ohne kommerzielle Interessen. 2. Wer finanzielle Forderungen gegen dieses Projekt erhebt, dessen Beitrag und Name werden in der nächsten Auflage gelöscht. 3. Das Projekt wurde gefördert von der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Sozialamt Neuss. 4. Rechtschreibfehler zu unterlassen, konnte ich meinem Computer trotz jahrelanger Versuche nicht beibringen. Im Gegenteil: Das Biest fügt immer wieder neue Fehler ein, wo vorher keine waren! 1. This is a scientific project without commercial interests, that is not in bookstores, but free in Internet. 2. Financial and legal claims against this project, will result in the contribution and the name of contributor in the next edition canceled. 3. This project has been sponsored by the Federal Republic of Germany, Department for Social Benefits, city of Neuss. 4. Correct spelling and orthography is subject of a constant fight between me and my computer – AND THE SOFTWARE in use – and normally the other side is the winning party! Editor`s note – Vorwort des Herausgebers preface 1 ENGLISH SHORT PREFACE „Paul Smith“ is a FAKE-IDENTY behind which very probably is a COLLCETIVE of writers and researchers, using a more RATIONAL and SOBER approach towards the complex of Rennes-le-Chateau and to related complex of „Priory of Sion“ (Prieure de Sion of Pierre Plantard, Geradrd de Sede, Phlippe de Cherisey, Jean-Luc Chaumeil and others). -
Analogical Evidence and Shamanism in Archaeological Interpretation: South African and European Palaeolithic Rock Art
Analogical Evidence and Shamanism in Archaeological Interpretation: South African and European Palaeolithic Rock Art MARÍA CRUZ BERROCAL Rock art studies have been strongly reliant on ethnography in recent decades. Since the 1970s, the (re)turn to ethnography has been considered short of a paradigmatic change, and it has indeed stirred a lot of theoretical discussion in the very under-theorized field of rock art research. The ethnographic turn has been mainly built around shamanism, very loosely defined here as the causal association that researchers establish between shamanic practices and rock art, and from which explanations have been sought. The application of this approach has changed through time, depending on 1) the archaeological context in which it was to be applied, 2) the use of additional sources of evi- dence (namely, neuropsychology), 3) the role of shamanism as a hypothesis or as an established fact. As a hypothesis it has been built on the basis of three dif- ferent kinds of analogies: ethnographic, formal and uniformitarian. This paper addresses the shifting character of shamanism in South African and European Palaeolithic rock art studies, seeking to contribute at least in part to a broader reflection on the nature of analogical reasoning and its implications. INTRODUCTION This paper highlights the role that anal- ogy plays in shamanism, and its changing This paper is a historiographic revision of nature through time. The term shamanism the application of a shamanistic hypothesis, hides not only different analogies, but also henceforth ‘shamanism’, to rock art stud- different theoretical approaches to the social ies, especially in the South African and significance of rock art. -
Exegesis, Religious Coping, and Spiritual Growth by Michael R
How Do You Read It?: Exegesis, Religious Coping, and Spiritual Growth By Michael R. O’Shea Date: April 12, 2021 Approved: _____________________ First Reader _____________________ D.Min. Director Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Ministry in the Divinity School of Duke University 2021 How Do You Read It?: Exegesis, Religious Coping, and Spiritual Growth By Michael R. O’Shea Date: April 12, 2021 Approved: _____________________ First Reader _____________________ D.Min. Director An abstract of a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Ministry in the Divinity School of Duke University 2021 copyright Abstract This thesis analyzes critical and non-critical approaches to the interpretation of scripture against the four psychological features of religious coping identified by Ken Pargament—differentiation, integration, flexibility, and security—to argue that an ecclesial-critical approach to biblical interpretation is best suited to nurture the psychological resources necessary to successfully navigate spiritual crisis and produce ongoing spiritual growth. iv Dedication To all those who have contributed to my spiritual growth. v Table of Contents Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... iv Dedication ................................................................................................................................... v Table of Contents -
Semiotics and Magick
Berkeley Journal of Religion and Theology Volume 6, Issue 1 ISSN 2380-7458 Semiotics and Magick Author(s): Nathan W. Bjorge Source: Berkeley Journal of Religion and Theology 6, no. 1 (2020): 30-51. Published by: Graduate Theological Union © 2020 Online article published on: December 12, 2020 Copyright Notice: This file and its contents are copyright of the Graduate Theological Union © 2020. All rights reserved. Your use of the Archives of the Berkeley Journal of Religion and Theology (BJRT) indicates your acceptance of the BJRT’s policy regarding the use of its resources, as discussed below: Any redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the contents in any form is prohibited with the following exceptions: Ø You may download and print to a local hard disk this entire article for your personal and non- commercial use only. Ø You may quote short sections of this article in other publications with the proper citations and attributions. Ø Permission has been obtained from the Journal’s management for exceptions to redistribution or reproduction. A written and signed letter from the Journal must be secured expressing this permission. To obtain permissions for exceptions, or to contact the Journal regarding any questions regarding any further use of this article, please e-mail the managing editor at [email protected] The Berkeley Journal of Religion and Theology aims to offer its scholarly contributions free to the community in furtherance of the Graduate Theological Union’s mission. Semiotics and Magick Nathan W. Bjorge Graduate Theological Union Berkeley, California, U.S.A. ABSTRACT: In this essay Maurice Blanchot’s structuralist concept of symbolic transcendence is hermeneutically deployed to reexamine Aleister Crowley’s Thelemic theory of Magick through a semiotic and materialist lens. -
Seeing Beauty:A Visual Exploration of Transformative Experience
Seeing Beauty A Visual Exploration of Transformative Experience. by Alyssa Simone BVA Hons, First Class, University Medal, The University of Sydney Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, University of Tasmania, June 2011 Signed statement of originality This thesis contains no material which has been accepted for a degree or diploma by the University or any other institution, except by way of background information and duly acknowledged in the thesis. To the best of my knowledge and belief, it incorporates no material previously published or written by another person except where due acknowledgement is made in the text. Alyssa Simone ii Signed statement of authority of access to copying This thesis may be made available for loan and limited copying in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968. Alyssa Simone iii Abstract This thesis is concerned with developing a visual language to explore the concept of immaterial reality as encountered through transformative experience. Many individuals have had unique, and often profound, transformative experiences which have made them aware of a different order of reality. Following the experience, there is a certainty within the individual that an intangible aspect of reality exists, traditionally referred to as the immaterial or spiritual. The experiences are not exclusive to, or necessarily associated with, traditional forms of institutionalised religion and they are not automatically related to the occult. They can occur to any individual, regardless of age, sex, race or their location in time and space. The experiences are imbued with an archetypal form of beauty which permeates the individual’s vision of existence.