Sub Rosa | December 2005 1 Issue Three - December 2005 GREG TAYLOR Editorial Editorial 1 News 2 CONTENTS December 2005

t’s December already, what a year! Person- or even printing out a few flyers and distributing Columns: ally, it’s flown by – self-publishing and pro- them? The great resource we have is our com- Greg Taylor moting my book The Guide to Dan Brown’s munity – if everyone did just a little bit, the results 6 The Solomon Key (and then signing up for would be massive. In order to ascertain whether Ian Lawton 8 Ia ‘real’ publishing deal), launching Sub Rosa, going to print would be a worthwhile option, Michael Grosso 10 continuing the daily updates to our news site please visit the Daily Grail (www.dailygrail.com) “The Daily Grail” (www.dailygrail.com) and also and vote in the poll we have there. adding new web resources such as our wiki Also, from Issue 4 we will have a ‘letters’ sec- “The Red Pill” (redpill.dailygrail.com) and our tion (more correctly, email), so if you have any ‘raw feed’ alternative to the Grail, “The Un- feedback or comments to make, please email us Feature: 14 Artist Spotlight: derground Stream of Consciousness” (stream. via [email protected]. We also welcome Utopia In America Evolving... dailygrail.com). All this while having two small any submissions of book, music or DVD reviews by Greg Taylor 48 children to love and care for! – we can’t pay, but we will certainly credit you. Luke Brown Why so busy? Simply put, because research- Enough with the small talk – we’ve got an- ing and publishing on these subjects is what I live other huge issue packed full of content waiting for for. The various resources we’ve created, which I you, so dive right in (after you go vote in the poll mentioned above, allow us now to focus on pre- of course!) . . . senting alternative topics in a number of formats, from daily news briefs, beautiful magazine pres- entations and published books, to user-submit- Editor: Greg Taylor Cover Story: 26 Feature: 54 ted and managed news and information via ‘the Art Director: Mark James Foster Shades of Grey: Rational Spirituality Stream’ and ‘The Red Pill’. Illustrator: Adam Scott Miller The Visions And Art Of by Ian Lawton On the downside to such immersion in the Columnist: Michael Grosso Alex Grey field, is the problem of earning a living and sup- Columnist: Ian Lawton porting my family. I am not a commercially minded News Editor: Rick Gned This issue’s cover feature person, and hate the idea of ‘selling out’. Howev- Writer: Mark Oxbrow is on visionary artist Alex er, hopefully we are setting up a structure which Writer: Philip Gardiner Grey; not only one of the allows us to continue working on these topics. Ad Sales: Rich Shelton foremost artists of our time, Profiler: 66 On “The Daily Grail”, we now have Google Ads, but also an eloquent and which are (usually!) topical advertisements based articulate speaker on the An Old Soul. . . on the keywords found on the website. From subjects of art, mysticism Ian Stevenson what we’ve seen so far, many readers find these Credits: and society in general. a helpful addition, with solid click-through rates We use public domain images and artistic on a regular basis. Here in Sub Rosa, we have a tools, or gain necessary permissions where growing number of advertisers who – once again appropriate. If you have a query regarding – provide topical ads which I’m sure many read- our artistic content, please do not hesitate to ers are very interested in. The support of these contact us. Our thanks go to the following: Feature: 40 Feature: 72 advertisers is what allows us to keep churning out issues, so please support them in return if you Alex Grey Rosslyn And The Grail Seed-Stone Of Creation find their ad interesting! Luke Brown by Mark Oxbrow by Gary Osborn Beyond that, we also now accept donations to Mark Oxbrow help support the magazine, with a view to eventu- Jon Bodsworth (www.egyptarchive.co.uk) & Philip Gardiner Cover image courtesy of Alex Grey ally getting it into print. If you’re not in a financial position to offer a donation, why not help out in To submit content or feedback, please email some other way – for example, passing on the us at [email protected] Reviews 82 web link to your friends or online communities,

2 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Crystal Ball 88 Sub Rosa | December 2005 1 News

New Mexico Circles Explained by Rick Gned Symbols point to Scientology bunker News Briefs

iant symbols have been a solar-powered turntable. It was Studies of Antarctic ice found carved in the New constructed in the late 1980s at a cores have revealed that their beliefs of alien abduction because of GMexico landscape. Resem- cost of US$2.5million. levels of carbon dioxide in Harvard Psychologist sleep paralysis, a harmless but nonetheless bling the patterns etched into the According to former Church the Earth’s atmosphere are frightening desynchronization of sleep cycles. Nazca plains of Peru, they have of Scientology members, the logo now 27 percent higher than Debunks Abductions “You wake up from REM sleep but you still feel had some speculating about crop is a signpost for Church members they’ve been at any point in circles of extraterrestrial origin. traveling from the future and oth- the past 650,000 years. “Nobody is being abducted by aliens” the paralysis that normally accompanies REM sleep,” said Clancy. The truth is a lot stranger. er parts of the universe. The landscape symbols make up Bruce Hines is a former mem- Light-sensitive bacteria has She also writes that alien abductions are imag- been developed as a unique usan Clancy, a postdoctoral fellow in ined by fantasy-prone day-dreamers. “There’s this the logo of the Church of Scien- ber of the Church of Scientology, tology, and are aerial signposts and says the report sounds cor- kind of photographic film. psychology at Harvard University, has at- widely shared cultural script that helps explain Taking 4 hours to form a marking an underground com- rect: “The fact that they would tempted to disprove alien abductions as these frightening sleep paralysis experiences,” she picture in red light only, it S plex, including a vault built into etch this into the desert to be nothing but hallucinations and products of sleep said. “I think these recovered memories are actu- has extremely high resolu- paralysis in a new book, Abducted: How People ally distorted memories of things they had read a mountainside protecting the seen from space, it fits into the tion – 100 megapixels per Come To Believe They Were Kidnapped By Aliens. about or seen . . . [ they] began only after they works of the Church’s founder, whole ideology.” square inch! Clancy believes alien abductees develop were featured on TV and in the movies. Abduc- the late science-fiction author L. Chuck Beatty, another former false memories of traumatic events. “As far as tion accounts did not exist prior to 1962.” Ron Hubbard. member, says there are two other An African-British man re- science knows, nobody is being abducted by Will Bueche is an abductee who worked The Church has acknowledged underground vaults in California, fused to give a blood sample aliens,” she stressed. “One of the most bitter with Harvard psychiatrist Dr John Mack, who that an underground archive of designed to withstand nuclear after police pulled him over for erratic driving, claim- and volatile debates ever to occur in psychology became convinced of a ‘reality’ underlying the Hubbard’s works exists, which war and remain intact for future ing that as a witch-doctor, concerns the reality of repressed and recovered abduction experience. Bueche says Clancy’s includes stainless steel tablets generations, and reincarnated engraved with Hubbard’s writ- current members, to rediscover. it would turn him into a memories of traumatic events.” theories cannot fully explain what he’s experi- zombie. He was cleared of Clancy arrived at Harvard in 1996, and enced. “I think her book comes close to the ing, encased in heat-resistant ti- tanium capsules and playable on (Source: washingtonpost.com) drink-driving, but lost his started her research on false memories by truth in many ways, but it isn’t able to see the license for 18-months for studying victims of sexual abuse. Her work was potential out there for another breakthrough in refusing to give a sample. controversial, and she was accused of trying to how we see reality,” he said. Radar Reveals Martian Ice discredit victims and help the offenders. David Jacobs, an associate professor of his- An Australian hunter’s It was about this time that the Harvard tory at Temple University, who teaches a class Water may be trapped in underground cavity claim of shooting dead a Medical School began investigating the research called UFOs and American Society, thinks panther in the Gippsland methods of Pulitzer Prize-winning psychiatrist Clancy’s work is a typical debunking book. radar antenna aboard sin and preserved for several bil- bush has been dismissed John Mack, who studied the alien abduction phe- “This is junk social science, and there is a Europe’s Mars Express lion years, it may still be there,” after DNA tests revealed nomenon extensively. Along with her advisor, certain condescending quality to it,” he said. “All spacecraft has probed says MARSIS co-leader Jeff Plaut of the animal is an ordinary A feral domestic cat. Harvard psychologist Richard McNally, Clancy debunkers make one or more of the following two kilometers below the sur- NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory mistakes: They ignore the data, they distort the in Pasadena, California, US. decided to disprove the methods of Mack, and face of Mars and found the best Seven stones sacred to the demonstrate that alien abduction stories were data or they don’t know the data.” evidence so far of liquid water The signal reflected from the Native Americans of New figments of the imagination. After receiving hate-mail and an an- deep underground. bottom of the crater is so strong Mexico are to be relocat- Placing an ad in the local paper asking for alien gry backlash from believers, Susan Clancy Scientists believe an impact and appears so flat that it may ed due to the construc- abductees, Clancy received hundreds of enquir- says she is finished with studying the alien crater lies between 1.5 and 2.5 be liquid water. “If you put water tion of a new road. Deco- ies, the majority from journalists wondering what abduction phenomenon. kilometres below the surface of there, that’s what the signal might rated with petroglyphs, the story was. She selected 50 potential abduct- “All you can do is argue that they’re im- the Chryse Planitia area of Mars, look like,” says William T K John- it’s believed the stones ees. Clancy says that the people who recovered probable and that the evidence adduced by the buried beneath volcanic ash or son, MARSIS manager at NASA’s will lose their significance memories of alien abductions were seldom psy- believer is insufficient to justify the belief,” she soil several billion years ago. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pa- and connection to the sa- chologically impaired. “They’re normal, very nice wrote. “Ultimately, then, the existence of ETs is crater’s location is in a basin where sadena, California, US. cred Earth, despite the at- people with no overt psychopathology.” a matter of opinion, and the believers have their ancient rivers once flowed. “If the tention and care given to Clancy thinks many abductees developed own opinions, based on firsthand experience.” water could be captured in a ba- (Source: news.bbc.co.uk) their relocation.

2 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 3 News News

Pyramid Found in Europe? News Briefs Bimini Discovery Proved Right? News Briefs Bosnian explorer claims n American archaeologi- tradict skeptical claims.” to have located a buried cal team led by William Numerous multiple tiers of An international effort to Ancient stone tools found pyramid in the heart of Donato and organised by blocks were discovered, including A investigate the nature of A at a site overlooking the Europe, in his Balkan home- dark energy has deter- Dr Greg Little has confirmed one set of three on top of each Mojave River Valley may land. Semir Osmanagic, who mined that the mysterious limestone artifacts submerged in other. However Dr Little said be as old as 135,000 years, has spent the last 15 years force has remained con- shallow water 50 meters off the the most definitive evidence was casting doubt on the Ber- studying the pyramids of stant over the life of the Miami coast are the remains of an found under the massive blocks. ing Strait migration theory. Central and South America, universe, rather than fad- ancient harbour. “We found rectangular slabs of has been drawn to a pyramid- ing away as some hypoth- In May 2005 the team inves- smooth, cut stone literally stacked Richard Carrigan, a par- like hill overlooking the cen- covery “the Bosnian pyramid eses suggest. tigated a mile-long formation of under several blocks. These were ticle physicist at the US tral Bosnian town of Visoko. of the sun”, a reference to the stones, initially from the air, and used as leveling prop stones. This Fermi National Accelera- “It has all the elements: four famous pyramid at Teotihua- Scientists monitoring later through dives. Large blocks is proof that the so-called Bimini tor Laboratory in Illinois, perfectly shaped slopes pointing can, Mexico. The hill is precisely earth movements in Ant- of limestone arranged in circu- Road was a breakwater forming believes scientists search- toward the cardinal points, a flat aligned to the cardinal directions, arctica have discovered lar patterns were found, spaced an ancient harbour.” ing space for signals from top and an entrance complex,” he and stands some 70 meters (230 icebergs sing. Sound waves at regular intervals. “These finds “While the finds are defini- extraterrestrial civiliza- at a frequency of 0.5 hertz tions are putting Earth’s said. “We have already dug out feet) high. Osmanagic believes took us by surprise,” stated Dr. tive,” says Little, “the real prob- are too low for human security at risk, by distrib- stone blocks which I believe are the hill was shaped by the Il- ears, but playing them at Greg Little. “The circles may be lem is that a few skeptics wrote uting the jumble of signals covering the pyramid. We found lyrian people, who inhabited a higher speed causes the similar to ancient Mediterranean articles asserting the main for- they receive to computers a paved entrance plateau and dis- the Balkan peninsula long be- icebergs to sound like a harbour mooring circles.” mation was simply natural lime- all over the world. covered underground tunnels. fore Slavic tribes conquered it swarm of bees or an or- A mile from this site is the con- stone. A hoax was perpetrated You don’t have to be an expert to around AD 600. chestra warming up. troversial Bimini Road, a J-shaped at Bimini by the skeptics, but you Ancient anchors made realize what this is.” underwater formation of stone have to examine a 1978 report from acacia wood used for Osmanagic calls the new dis- (Source: news.bbc.co.uk) In July 2005 a small primate blocks, declared by many skeptics to understand it. Academic ar- Roman ships have been skull was discovered in the to be a hoax. Two stone anchors chaeologists and geologists don’t found on the receding desert of Tafilalet, near were also found in the 1800-foot- read that report. They cite later shores of the Dead Sea, Cloning Pioneer Quits Morocco. Named Homo long Bimini Road, including sev- summaries, which are based on preserved by natural salt alaouite, it has since been eral other artifacts. falsified data. The hoax is a dis- for more than 2000 years. wang Woo-Suk, South of teams doing so, to avoid the claimed the skull could be “One of these is identical to un- grace, but it’s been actively sup- Korea’s pioneer of possibility of coercion. as old as 360-million-years. usual ancient Greek anchors found ported by key people.” The Japanese Hayabusa probe successfully landed H cloning technology, has “I feel so sorry to speak about at Thera,” Little related. “But the Star Anise, an obscure lico- on the Itokawa asteroid resigned from his official posi- such shameful and miserable most important finds directly con- (Source: I-Newswire.com) tion during landmark research things to you people,” Hwang rice-flavoured spice used 290 million kilometers to grow human embryonic Woo-Suk told a press confer- in Chinese cuisine, may be from Earth and became stem cells from a cloned em- ence. “I again sincerely apolo- the new weapon against the first ever to take sam- Bird Flu. Star Anise is the New Stonehenge Discovery ples, but it has now been bryo, after admitting to ethical gise for having caused concern at primary source of shikimic hit by more technical trou- team of archaeologists ing stones at Stonehenge were a and scientific problems with home and abroad.” acid used to produce osel- ble, and the mission may his research. He maintains that when two tamivir phosphate, better from Sheffield University one-off feature. end in failure. The respected scientist admit- researchers offered their eggs, he known as the brand-name A have revealed significant The new find supports the ted that junior members of the refused to use them. However, Tamiflu. new insights into the role of team’s theory that Stonehenge Scientists at Rutgers, the research team donated their own the junior researchers donated Stonehenge after discovering a was in fact just one part of a much State University of New eggs, and that other women were their eggs under false names in National Enquirer journal- prehistoric ceremonial road. larger complex of stone and tim- Jersey and collaborating in- paid by members of his team to 2003. Hwang says he later found ist and ufologist Robert The new discovery proves ber circles linked by ceremonial stitutions claim that global supply eggs – both without his out the truth but lied about it be- Pratt passed away on there was a walkway between a avenues to the river, and that it’s ocean levels are rising twice knowledge. The donation of eggs cause the women asked him to November 25th, aged 79. henge (a circular momument) at primary role was as a funerary as fast today as they were carries a small risk of contaminat- do so to protect their privacy. Pratt was author of the Durrington Walls, and the River monument. 150 years ago, and global ing the research results, and ethi- book Night Siege: The Hud- Avon, three miles away, blowing warming caused by human cal rules forbid junior members (Source: www.newscientist.com) son Valley UFO Sightings. a hole in the theory the stand- (Source: www.uforeview.net) activities is to blame.

4 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 5 Columns GREG TAYLOR GREG TAYLOR Columns

nection to the new book: effort should have been made to resolve the I was warned that when you become a public dispute? Dr Schwartz’s research is probably the figure that people will come out of the woodwork only thing which currently gives mediums any The Afterlife to profit from you. Well I guess I’m no exception. scientific respectability, so publicly rebuking the One person who has been included on shows with author of those experiments is not going to help me that I do not endorse is Dr. Gary Schwartz. I with credibility – either the researcher can’t be was disappointed to find out that the four years trusted, or his top medium can’t be trusted. An- Aftermath that I spent in the lab for “science” are, in my ybody interested in research into ‘fringe’ topics view, being misused by Dr. Schwartz – even after knows the delicate line being walked between I expressed my disapproval . . . honest exploration, and the minefield of public . . . Participating in lab studies with Dr. perception . . . a few negative sentences can pro- Schwartz was never to be a for-profit venture. I vide enough ammunition to destroy the good always understood that we were participating in work of months of meticulous research. Randi n this issue of Sub Rosa, a number of col- but that he himself fell into his errors carelessly, scientific studies to help us and the world gain a must be a very happy man at the moment . . . umns and articles take a look at the scien- willingly, and eagerly.” better understanding of our abilities...I was prom- tific evidence for the survival of conscious- The acrimonius ‘debate’ between Dr Schwartz ised complete confidentiality and anonymity in ness after death. Though hardly a ‘boom and James Randi has continued over a number how Dr. Schwartz and the University would re- Profile Iindustry’, there is certainly a growing amount of years, with both sides accusing the other of port the results of these studies. Greg Taylor is the owner/editor of . . . What I do is not a carnival sideshow of evidence and research programs which are underhandedness and of spreading untruths. the online alternative news portal, attraction, nor a morning tea leaf reading. So offering support to the hypothesis – from the Enough, certainly, on the part of James Randi to The Daily Grail, and is also the editor please don’t confuse other people’s attempts to reincarnation research of Dr Ian Stevenson, to keep a cloud hanging over Dr Schwartz’s results, of Sub Rosa Magazine. He is inter- profit from the gifts of mediums like myself . . . the Near-Death Experience testing being done once again marginalizing any possible debate on ested and widely read in topics that as having our endorsement. (from http://www.al- by Peter Fenwick, Sam Parnia, the question of whether these challenge the orthodox worldview, lisondubois.com/news.html) and others. One of the more mediums really do have the ability from alternative history to the mys- One of the more controver- to ‘talk to the dead’. teries of human consciousness. This statement will surely be grist to the mill for sial areas of research has been controversial Surely this is an important Greg currently resides in Brisbane, skeptics such as Randi, enabling them to throw the ‘afterlife experiments’ con- question, and we would all be Australia, and has recently published areas of research further doubts over Schwartz’s trustworthiness ducted by Dr Gary Schwartz at served by a far more compre- his first book. The Guide To The Solo- by labelling him a profiteer, and likely sounding the University of Arizona. Un- has been hensive discussion on the mer- mon Key is a guidebook to the eso- a virtual death knell for any acceptance of the der controlled laboratory con- its of the research. It is hard to teric history and locations likely to be ‘afterlife experiments’. ditions, Schwartz tested high- the ‘afterlife fault Dr Schwartz, as his replies included in Dan Brown’s next book, Should Dubois have made a public state- profile mediums to see if they to Randi’s accusations have been The Solomon Key. were able to make contact with experiments’ well thought out, calm responses ment, considering the difficulties already facing ‘the beyond’ and ascertain pri- conducted by Dr on a point-by-point basis. But afterlife research in establishing credibility? On vate details of selected ‘sitters’. sadly, all Randi has to do is pub- the one hand, it’s difficult to fault her – after His conclusion, astoundingly, Gary Schwartz at licly rebuke the research and the all, if mediums are seeking credibility then one was that they could. debate is automatically stifled. would expect to hear the truth from them, no Soon after, Schwartz pub- the University of Unfortunately this is now a sit- matter even if they are attacking one of their lished a book, titled The Af- Arizona uation likely to deteriorate, rath- greatest supporters. Additionally, if she was terlife Experiments, which de- er than improve, after a surpris- promised complete confidentiality, then she scribed the history and thinking behind this set ing statement appeared recently on the website has every right to complain about being the fo- of tests. Needless to say, high-profile media of the medium du jour, Allison Dubois. Dubois, cus of the new book. Alternatively, some might skeptics/cynics such as James Randi were not who has a hit television series based on her life question Dubois’ claim of not being a ‘carnival impressed. Indeed, what followed was a series (Medium, starring Patricia Arquette), has taken sideshow’, considering she seems very happy to of vicious attacks from Randi via his weekly In- offence at a new book by Dr Schwartz which fo- have a television series based on her life? A re- ternet newsletter for the James Randi Educa- cuses on his lab work with her (titled The Truth cent response to her claims by Dr Schwartz (see Find out more . . . tional Foundation (JREF). He labelled Schwartz About Medium). Dubois – whom Dr Schwartz http://veritas.arizona.edu/TRUTH) has a believer in the Tooth Fairy, a self-promoter has previously dubbed a ‘Michael Jordan’ of psy- also thrown further doubts over her account. http://solomon.dailygrail.com who had been “deceived by clever performers, chics – has disavowed any endorsement or con- Perhaps before going public some greater

6 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 7 Columns IAN LAWTON IAN LAWTON Columns

perimented with psychedelics and other altered states of consciousness for nearly two decades, Putting and in particular has repeatedly taken DMT. He Profile reports that he gradually learnt to control the experience by making the entities appear and Ian Lawton was born in 1959. Formerly disappear, and that as hard as he tried he could a chartered accountant and IT consult- Psychedelics not “press them into giving up some non-tran- ant, he turned his back on the commer- sient feature that would confirm at least a ru- cial world in his mid-thirties to become dimentary autonomous existence beyond my a full-time writer-researcher on ancient Into Perspective own imagination . . . the data that was given up civilizations, esoterica and spirituality. was always relevant only to me.” His first two books, Giza: The Truth and By contrast, researchers such as Mircea Genesis Unveiled, were published by Vir- Eliade and Jeremy Narby have shown that in gin and have sold over 30,000 copies ack in January an episode from a BBC2 newed interest in the research of Rick Strass- a genuinely shamanic context such entities, of- worldwide, gaining widespread acclaim series called “Tribe” documented an- man. So I sat down to read DMT: The Spirit ten in their more traditional animal-plant-hu- for their scholarly balancing of the best thropologist Bruce Parry’s initiation into Molecule with high hopes. man hybrid form, do have a genuine objective of orthodox and alternative thinking. the shamanic Babongo tribe of Gabon, a Unfortunately by the end these hopes had validity – because they have informed tribal His most recent work, The Book of the processB which required him to ingest a consider- been somewhat dashed, and I wondered if I had shamans about combinations of two or more Soul: Rational Spirituality for the Twenty- able quantity of a paste made from the roots of been reading the same book as everyone else. plant constituents that create a variety of suc- First Century, is available direct from his the plant tabernanthe iboga. He explained that an Because far from being the spiritual panacea that cessful cures for myriad health complaints, website at www.ianlawton.com, or early part of the experience involved him being Strassman had hoped, it appears that the psych- which are way beyond the statistical likeli- via Amazon UK. transported back in time to specific situations in edelic doses of intravenous DMT he adminis- hood of mere chance or trial and error. In- which he had caused hurt or offence to others, tered to sixty patients in his study fell well short terlife regression subjects suggest that these and vividly reliving them by swapping places and of his expectations. Only three of them had are “elementals” and “nature spirits” who are thereby becoming acutely aware of the effects “transpersonal” experiences – although none of responsible for guarding the various mineral, of his actions. You can imagine how fascinated these contained any significant spiritual insights vegetable and animal life forms on our planet. I was by this revelation. Here – and in his follow-up none of But they also suggest that they inhabit merely was Parry describing exactly the Strassman’s his sixty subjects seemed to the astral realms of earth, rather than the ethe- same “life-review” experience as have had a sufficiently dramat- real realms that are the true spiritual home that of near-death and interlife subjects ic experience, whatever their of all souls, and from which interlife regres- regression subjects – which is a encountered feelings at the time, that it ben- sion subjects obtain their profound spiritual key element of rational spiritual- efited them in any long-term or insights and wisdom. ity that I describe elsewhere in nonterrestrial conclusively spiritual way. Of I have not so far mentioned the profound this issue – right down to the realms populated course, this is in stark contrast insights into the underlying workings and es- “role-swapping” element. to the results of taking iboga sential unity of the “unseen universe” that are Further research revealed either by “aliens” – and of having near-death or a universal feature of all psychedelic experi- that this is a universally recog- or “elves”, interlife experiences. In fact the ences. These seem not to be “realm-depend- genuinely ethereal realms; and, even in the ap- nised aspect of taking iboga or majority of Strassman’s subjects ent”, and to be validated by modern science. parently rare case of the latter, to what extent its synthesised derivative ibogaine that is nev- encountered nonterrestrial realms populated Moreover, Jeremy Narby has suggested to me they provide more general insights and objec- ertheless unique to this psychedelic – which either by “aliens” or “elves”, which are so typi- that natural substances such as ayahuasca, pe- tive, verifiable information over and above that is why it holds out such promise from a spir- cal of western, non-shamanic psychedelica. So, yote and magic mushrooms produce far more which relates only to our own personal, spir- itual and therapeutic perspective. And it was in despite their apparently non-transcendent na- spiritually insightful and profound experiences itual growth. Iboga in particular may hold some this context that I agreed to give a talk about ture, did these experiences at least have some than their synthesised counterparts. So I do not wonderful potential in this regard – but so, of psychedelics at a major conference in London objective validity – or were they largely subjec- wish to underestimate the power and poten- course, does interlife regression. at the beginning of November. But it was only tive projections? tial of psychedelic experiences in general. But a few weeks beforehand that I was able to give Lesser-known research conducted by John I also think we should be careful not to over- [Note that further information and sources are this my full attention, and this coincided with Kent, the author of a soon-to-be published estimate them. Bearing that in mind, I would available in my paper Psychedelic Experiences in the launch of Graham Hancock’s new book, book called Psychedelic Information Theory, suggest that we should continue to question a Rational Spiritual Context at www.ianlawton. Supernatural – one of the side effects being re- suggests the former. Kent has deliberately ex- whether they involve the merely astral or the com/bosmisc3.htm. ]

8 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 9 Columns MICHAEL GROSSO MICHAEL GROSSO Columns

“Could science help us solve the riddle of Profile Hamlet Michael Grosso is a teacher, author, the afterlife” I asked and painter, whose interests span psychical research, metaphysical art, a distinguished the parapsychology of religion, and, Christian minister. primarily, philosophy. He received his Was Right Ph.D. in philosophy, and studied clas- sical Greek, at Columbia University. “That would degrade He has published books on topics ranging from life after death to the just arrived in Paris to finish a book loved ones are busy watching over us or at the value of faith,” mythologies of endtime. when I got word of my mother’s death. least blissing out in heaven. I can see why He presently lives in Charlottes- A compelling coincidence—it was a book some people might cringe at such talk; after he replied. ville, Virginia, where he is affiliated on what happens to us after we die. all, America has gone from hell-and-brimstone with the Division of Personality IThe perennial mystery I was writing about sermonizing to today’s TV preachments of ously. So do small but qualified university en- Studies of UVA. Michael’s most re- suddenly got very personal. Intimate images easy new age paradise for all. Neither view, in claves around the world today. The challenge cent book is titled Experiencing the of the one who packed my lunch, buttoned my opinion, is very credible. is real and the strange experiences won’t Next World Now, which surveys the my collar, and sent me off to grade school Does that mean we have to bite the bullet of go away. Scholars and scientists – it began evidence for life after death and bubbled up in my mind’s eye. scientific materialism and give up the belief that in England – have been piling up reports of shows how personal experience In the crowd of my something in us survives death? hauntings, apparitions, and mediumship. And can convince you it is real. thoughts, the cold word nev- In my search for answers, I was there are the reincarnation studies of Dr. Ian er tussled with a wistful may- Maybe it’s time surprised to find that for over a Stevenson and the near-death research of be. In other words, was that century a steady trickle of sci- Dr. Bruce Greyson, both at the University of it? Of course, before modern to outgrow “new entists have been collecting re- Virginia. Unfortunately, the impact of all this science, most people believed age” fantasy ports suggesting that some peo- work has yet to be felt by the general public. in a life beyond—but what ple do survive death. I found that resistance to it comes in many about today? – and scientific The picture I get from this forms. “Could science help us solve the riddle Toward the end of her life, research—which is still under- of the afterlife” I asked a distinguished Chris- I had the sad experience of bias – and look way—is more intriguing than in- tian minister. “That would degrade the value being greeted by Mom as if I stantly gratifying. In fact, what it of faith,” he replied. A serious ecologist got were a total stranger. Demen- at some of the shows is that if there is a “next” angry with me when I posed the same ques- tia had robbed her memory. often-stunning world, it’s closer than we think. tion. “Fiddling while Rome burns,” he huffed. “Mom, it’s me—your son,” I’d And what’s more, with a little A neurologist smiled and declared that the soul was the brain – end of discussion. I asked say. She’d look away or give facts luck, almost anybody might catch Amazon US me a blank stare. a glimpse. a colleague who liked to flirt with the afterlife My sick mother losing her memory would And yet, for dubious reasons neither main- idea if he wanted my extra copy of a good Amazon UK seem to prove there is no life after death; for stream science nor mainstream religion seem book on the subject. His reply: “A book? Just as our brains go, so must our personalities. to care about this ray of real light on the mys- words! – just words!” Later, he was candid We may not like it, but science today pretty tery. A significant source of knowledge on one enough to admit he was too frightened of end of the line. much sees the afterlife as a case of Freudian of the basic experiences none of us can avoid death to try to think about it clearly. I think we owe it to ourselves to keep an wish fulfillment and reduces our souls to the having is ignored, played down, or dismissed By the way, it didn’t happen to my Mom, open mind about these unexplained recov- stuff we see in PET scans and MRIs. The ghost with contempt. I can see no good reason why but some people with Alzheimer’s, or demen- eries – and they are only the tip of an ice- has been exorcised from the machine. this should be so. tia, do recover their memories, and they light berg of puzzling stories. We are entitled to And yet, the old belief in a soul beyond Maybe it’s time to outgrow “new age” fan- up with their old personalities – just before keep the door open on the enigma of death. the brain more than lingers on. It’s hard to tasy – and scientific bias – and look at some of they die. So the soul spark isn’t necessarily And Shakespeare was right – there are more avoid popular mediums like John Edward and the often-stunning facts. Psychologists since destroyed by the sick brain. The wire may things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of Sylvia Browne confidently declaring that our William James and Carl Jung took them seri- be impaired but someone is still at the other in mainstream philosophy.

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12 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 13 Many American politicians and evangelists claim a Christian birthright for the United States. In reality the Founding Fathers were not only ambivalent about ‘organised’ Christianity, but in some cases were even hostile to it, and were more likely striving to create a Masonic Utopia free from the constraints of the Church. This little-known fact is likely to play a large part in Dan Brown’s next novel, ‘The Solomon Key’.

n the 18th September, 1793, the first the District of Columbia. President of the United States took To many of us today, it seems strange that part in a Masonic ceremony to offi- such an important day in the history of the cially mark the beginning of the con- United States of America would have such an Ostruction of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. overtly Masonic theme. However, this may well Wearing his own Masonic apron, George be a topic that will soon leap into the public con- Washington marched to the site with mem- sciousness, as it is likely that best-selling author bers of a number of local Freemasonry lodges, Dan Brown will explore the topic in his next and then descended into the construction pit book, The Solomon Key. Brown is on record as which housed the cornerstone of the build- saying the upcoming Robert Langdon novel is ing. Washington placed a silver plate upon on the topic of Freemasonry and “explores the the cornerstone, and then made the stand- hidden history of our nation’s capital.” No doubt ard Masonic ‘offerings’ of corn, wine and oil. a large part of this ‘hidden history’ will consist The Masonic tools carried by Washington on of the Hermetic blend of Masonic, Rosicru- this momentous day are still held at a lodge in cian, and Utopian thinking which was prevalent

14 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 15 Features UTOPIA IN AMERICA UTOPIA IN AMERICA Features

“may have been deeply inspired by the Utopian This brotherhood vision of America.” What is Deism? at one point American scholar Donald R. Dickson pro- vides yet another link between the Utopian Deism is a religious philosophy grounded forth our gratitude to Him. contemplated dreamers and the Virginian settlement in his in the idea that any belief in ‘God’ should As priestcraft was always the enemy of book The Tessera of Antilia. Dickson’s investi- be through the human powers of reason, knowledge, because priestcraft supports emigrating en masse gations uncovered the existence of a Utopian rather than divine revelation and supposed itself by keeping people in delusion and ig- fraternity known as ‘Antilia’, which counted Val- miracles. It gained strong currency in the norance, it was consistent with its policy to Virginia in order entin Andreae – the author of the original Ros- 18th century subsequent to the Enlighten- to make the acquisition of knowledge a icrucian documents – among its participants. real sin. to found their ment, as scientism took root in European Inspired by both the Rosicrucian tracts as well intellectual life. New discoveries, such as Utopian society. as the writings of Sir Francis Bacon, this broth- This classical Deism has the Universe be- Newtonian physics, appeared to support erhood at one point contemplated emigrating ing created by a God who then withdraws the idea that the Universe behaves in a en masse to Virginia in order to found their mathematically predictable ways, which and does not interfere in its affairs. Paine throughout the European intelligentsia during Utopian society. could be understood by applying reason described this philosophy using the anal- the 17th and 18th centuries, and which appears Why were these groups so set on a ‘fresh and logic. ogy of a watchmaker: to have found its way to the shores of America start’ in the New World? The answer lies in The best understanding we can have and played a crucial role in the founding of the the two dominant powers which dominated Eu- of the Deism of the Founding Fathers is When we see a watch, we have as positive United States of America. rope at the time – the Church and the mon- through the words of one of them, Tho- evidence of the existence of a watchmaker, archies. Renaissance thinking, secret societies, mas Paine: as if we saw him; and in like manner the The idea that the United States may have creation is evidence to our reason and our been founded as a ‘Masonic Republic’ based on When the divine gift of reason begins to senses of the existence of a Creator. But Utopian ideals is not a new one. In 1897, an expand itself in the mind and calls man to there is nothing in the works of God that is American army officer named Charles Totten reflection, he then reads and contemplates evidence that He begat a son, nor anything wrote “there are mysteries connected with God and His works, and not in the books in the system of creation that corroborates the birth of this Republic”. Totten had been pretending to be revelation. The creation is such an idea, and, therefore, we are not investigating the strange iconography of the the Bible of the true believer in God. Every- authorized in believing it. Great Seal of the United States, and through thing in this vast volume inspires him with his research became convinced that the birth sublime ideas of the Creator. The little and This move from revelation towards rea- of the American nation could be related to the paltry, and often obscene, tales of the Bible son was triggered by the Rosicrucian phi- Utopian vision of the Englishman Sir Francis Ba- sink into wretchedness when put in com- losophy, and found its first genuine ex- con, which he described in 1626 in his allegori- parison with this mighty work. pression in the ‘Invisible College’ (which cal novel The New Atlantis. The esoteric author The Deist needs none of those tricks and evolved into the Royal Society) in Eng- Manly P. Hall also claimed in his book The Secret shows called miracles to confirm his faith, land. Founded by Rosicrucian and Masonic Destiny of America that Bacon himself had de- for what can be a greater miracle than the thinkers, this group literally gave birth cided that the Utopian dream could be realized creation itself, and his own existence? In to modern science. This combination of in North America. Deism our reason and our belief become Deist, Masonic and scientific thinking can Historian Ron Heisler suggests another link happily united. The wonderful structure of also be found in the Founding Fathers, between Utopian visions in Europe, and the the universe, and everything we behold in perhaps most obviously in the figure of new colony in America. Heisler discovered that the system of the creation, prove to us, far Benjamin Franklin. the German occultist – and staunch Rosicru- better than books can do, the existence It is bemusing to think that despite the cian – Michael Maier was in close contact with of a God, and at the same time proclaim modern view of America as a ‘Christian’ a number of individuals connected with the Vir- His attributes. It is by the exercise of our nation, some of its greatest statesmen and ginia Company. This group of wealthy individu- reason that we are enabled to contemplate leaders were actually Deists. This belief als had been granted a royal charter by James I God in His works, and imitate Him in His was not only restricted to the Founding Fa- in 1606, giving them virtually unlimited power ways. When we see His care and goodness thers such as Franklin, Washington, Jeffer- of government in the New World colony. This extended over all His creatures, it teaches son and Paine – Abraham Lincoln was also charter had been drafted by none other than us our duty toward each other, while it calls an adherent to the philosophy of Deism. Sir Francis Bacon. Heisler believes that Maier’s well-known alchemical tract Atalanta Fugiens Washington Monument

16 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 17 Features UTOPIA IN AMERICA UTOPIA IN AMERICA Features and the printing press all posed new and grow- in 1778, while in France, he was initiated into years by the time he signed the Declaration of ing threats to those in power. New scientific Benjamin Franklin the highly influential Neuf Soeurs (‘Nine Sisters’) Independence. He was not, however, the only discoveries, such as Copernicus’ heliocentric was also a Freemason lodge in Paris, which would boast Voltaire, La- Freemason involved in the Founding of the model of the Solar System and Newton’s phys- fayette, Court de Gebelin and numerous insti- United States. As we have already noted above, ics, were challenging not only the authority of and a Deist gators of the French Revolution as members. George Washington was most definitely a Free- the Church but also God’s place in the cosmos. Manly P. Hall, in The Secret Destiny of Amer- mason. The commander-in-chief of the colonial Secret societies – even semi-mythical ones such ica, claims that Benjamin Franklin was part of armies during the American Revolutionary War as the Rosicrucians – bravely raised new ideas losophies could still work together in the great- the ‘Order of the Quest’, the secret move- was initiated into the lodge at Fredericksburg and challenged the status quo. Scientism gave est quest of all – the search for knowledge. This ment to construct a Utopian democracy in the on the 4th of November 1752. He was ‘raised’ birth to Deism, which stood in sharp contrast pan-sophist philosophy had been enunciated New World: as a Master Mason only a year later. In 1777 he to Christianity with its view that reason, rather very early on in Bacon’s The New Atlantis, where was offered the position of Grand Master of than revelation, should be the basis of any be- a group known as the ‘House of Solomon’ was Men bound by a secret oath to labor in the cause the planned Grand Lodge of the United States, lief in God, and that God would not intervene comprised of philosopher-priests united in this of world democracy decided that in the American but he declined (quite ironically) on the basis in his creation. As the Enlightenment dawned, very goal. In Bacon’s Utopian allegory, we find colonies they would plant the roots of a new way that he was not qualified for such a high office. many intellectuals found themselves as virtual evidence of many of the philosophies perse- of life...Benjamin Franklin exercised an enormous There is little doubt that Washington would heretics when compared with the religions, phi- cuted in Europe: Rosicrucianism, Freemasonry, psychological influence in Colonial politics as the have been more than capable of filling this posi- losophies and governments which controlled Utopian thinking and scientism. We find a simi- appointed spokesman of the unknown philoso- tion – his refusal to accept was based more on European society. lar combination in the life of one of America’s phers; he did not make laws, but his words be- a genuine modesty which remained in evidence Such was the breeding ground for ideas of Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin. came law. throughout his life. He refused to be paid for his a Utopian nation where freedom of religious military service, and left the room when John thought and personal philosophy would be tol- Benjamin Franklin George Washington Adams recommended him for the position of erated, and where government would be dem- commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. ocratic and for the good of the people. Many The first documented evidence referring to Franklin had been a Freemason for almost fifty Despite accepting the post, Washington told Utopians, such as the great educator Comenius, Freemasonry in America was printed in The dreamt of a society where men of opposing phi- Pennsylvania Gazette in 1730, a journal pro- duced by Benjamin Franklin. He was gifted with an enormous array of talents – besides being a journalist and author, Franklin is also remem- bered as an influential scientist and political Mary Magdalene’s origins, secrets statesman. To complement his reputation as one of the great scientists of the 18th Centu- and spiritual technology revealed. ry, he invented two common devices still used today – the lightning rod and bifocal specta- cles. He is also the only Founding Father who Order now. Mention Sub Rosa. is a signatory to the three foundation docu- Get a Free DVD: “The Stairway ments of the United States: the Declaration to Heaven: The Lost Secrets of of Independence, the Treaty of Paris and the United States Constitution. Mary Magdalene”. Benjamin Franklin was also a Freemason and a Deist. He was initiated as a Freemason in February 1731, and rose to the rank of Provin- $24.95 (plus p & h) cial Grand Master of Pennsylvania by 1734. As 292 pages a publisher, he was in a unique position to aid Fully illustrated the cause of Freemasonry in the New World. He published Anderson’s Book of Constitutions, the authoritative Masonic document, in 1734. In 1756 he was inducted into the Royal Society www.williamhenry.net in England, which we have seen was heavily Ma- George Washington’s Masonic Apron sonic and perhaps Rosicrucian in nature. And

18 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 19 Features UTOPIA IN AMERICA What’s in Dan Brown’s next book?

Washington held al Bible from the New Testament, by omitting “Greg Taylor is the up-and-coming the supernatural sections and leaving only the author in this field, and what he has philosophical and philosophical teachings intact. This unique com- pilation became known as the ‘Jefferson Bible’ to say makes fascinating reading.” religious views which – in the early 1900s approximately 2,500 copies – Graham Hancock were printed for the United States Congress. suggest that he, like While historians point out that there is no evidence to tie Thomas Jefferson officially to any Franklin, was a Deist Masonic organization, it is a matter of fact that he had great sympathy for the cause. In a letter the Continental Congress that he was unwor- to Bishop James Madison in 1800, Jefferson re- thy of the honor. He was also reluctant to be layed his thoughts on Adam Weishaupt and his seen using his power as President of the United Illuminati. In what amounts to a defense of both States. Thomas Jefferson wrote of him: Masonry and Weishaupt’s Illuminati, against the conspiracy charges laid by the writers Barruel The moderation and virtue of a single character and Robison, Jefferson’s allegiances clearly lie probably prevented this Revolution from being with the Utopian and Masonic ideals rather than closed, as most others have been, by a subversion Church and monarchies: of that liberty it was intended to establish. [Weishaupt] is among those . . . who believe in In 1788, the year before becoming the first the indefinite perfectibility of man. He thinks he President of the United States, Washington may in time be rendered so perfect that he will did become Master of the Alexandria lodge in be able to govern himself in every circumstance Washington, D.C., today known as the Alex- so as to injure none, to do all the good he can, andria Washington Lodge No. 22. The lodge to leave government no occasion to exercise their became the site of the George Washington Ma- powers over him . . . Weishaupt believes that to sonic Memorial in 1932, a huge Masonic land- promote this perfection of the human character mark modeled on the ancient Lighthouse of Al- was the object of Jesus Christ. That his intention exandria in Egypt, the ‘Pharos’. was simply to reinstate natural religion, and by Despite attending church services with his diffusing the light of his morality, to teach us to wife, Washington held philosophical and reli- govern ourselves. His precepts are the love of god gious views which suggest that he, like Franklin, & love of our neighbor. And by teaching innocence was a Deist. He would regularly leave services of conduct, he expected to place men in their before communion, a habit which moved Rever- natural state of liberty and equality. He says, no end Dr. James Abercrombie to compose a ser- one ever laid a surer foundation for liberty than mon scolding those in high positions for setting our grand master, Jesus of Nazareth. He believes a bad example with their church attendance. the Free Masons were originally possessed of the Washington responded by ceasing to turn true principles and objects of Christianity, and up at all. When Rev. Abercrombie was asked have still preserved some of them by tradition, about Washington’s religious views later in but much disfigured. life, he simply replied: “Sir, Washington was . . . As Weishaupt lived under the tyranny of a Deist.” a despot and priests, he knew that caution was necessary even in spreading information, and the The Guide To Thomas Jefferson principles of pure morality. He proposed therefore to lead the Free masons to adopt this object and Deism links not only Franklin and Washington, to make the objects of their institution the diffu- but also Thomas Jefferson as well – although sion of science & virtue . . . This has given an air DAN BROWN’S the available evidence suggests that he was not of mystery to his views, was the foundation of his a Freemason. Jefferson created his own person- banishment, the subversion of the Masonic order, Now available in all good bookstores across the U.S. 20 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 21 Sample chapter and ordering details at solomon.dailygrail.com Features UTOPIA IN AMERICA UTOPIA IN AMERICA Features

pendence upon Paine’s statements. Paine also ventions, dishonorable to the wisdom and power Many Americans has the honor of being the person to suggest of the Almighty; that the only true religion is De- Paine believed that would be surprised to the name of the United States of America. ism, by which I then meant, and mean now, the Masonry had a This revolutionary thinker was sentenced belief of one God, and an imitation of his moral know that the man in absentia in Great Britain for sedition, and character, or the practice of what are called mor- different origin than despite his support for the French Revolution al virtues. who coined the name in his Rights of Man, was imprisoned and sen- is stated in the myths tenced to death by the revolutionaries for argu- There is no direct evidence that Paine was a of the United States ing against the execution of Louis XVI. Miracu- Freemason. However, after his death an es- of the Craft. had strong feelings lously, his life was spared when the executioner say was published, said to be a chapter from tached to their original religion to meet in secret, marked his door incorrectly. Many Americans Part III of Age of Reason, titled “The Origins of and under the strongest injunctions of secrecy... against Christianity would be surprised to know that the man who Freemasonry”. Whatever his official status was, from the remains of the religion of the Druids, coined the name of the United States, and had Paine certainly had access to information about thus preserved, arose the institution which, to such a profound impact upon its independence, the Craft: avoid the name of Druid, took that of Mason, and is the color for the ravings against him of Robi- had strong feelings against Christianity. In his and practiced under this new name the rites and son, Barruel and Morse, whose real fears are that Age of Reason he wrote: The Entered Apprentice knows but little more of ceremonies of Druids. the craft would be endangered by the spreading of Masonry than the use of signs and tokens, and information, reason and natural morality among The opinions I have advanced...are the effect of certain steps and words by which Masons can rec- Paine’s enmity against Christianity has meant men...if Weishaupt had written here, where no se- the most clear and long-established conviction ognize each other without being discovered by a that to a large extent, his role in the independ- crecy is necessary in our endeavors to render men that the Bible and the Testament are impositions person who is not a Mason. The Fellow Craft is ence of the United States has been swept un- wise and virtuous, he would not have thought of upon the world, that the fall of man, the account not much better instructed in Masonry, than the der the proverbial carpet. Theodore Roosevelt any secret machinery for that purpose. of Jesus Christ being the Son of God, and of his Entered Apprentice. It is only in the Master Ma- inaccurately called Paine “a dirty little atheist” dying to appease the wrath of God, and of salva- son’s Lodge, that whatever knowledge remains of (being a Deist, Paine certainly did believe in a Jefferson was the primary author of the Decla- tion by that strange means, are all fabulous in- the origin of Masonry is preserved and concealed. supreme being), and in 1925 Thomas Edison ration of Independence, and as well as being the conceded that “if Paine had ceased his writ- third President of the United States also served Paine believed that Masonry had a different ori- ings with The Rights of Man he would have at various times as Vice-President, Secretary gin than is stated in the myths of the Craft. He been hailed today as one of the two or three of State and ambassador to France. During promoted his own view that Freemasonry was outstanding figures of the Revolution . . . The his travels to France he accompanied his good derived from the remnants of the Druidic reli- Age of Reason cost him glory at the hands of friend Benjamin Franklin to the ‘Nine Sisters’ gion, which was the most recent culture to bear his countrymen.” Masonic lodge. Many of his closest associates a line of mystical knowledge which also passed We have seen that a number of the Found- and confidantes were Freemasons. through the hands of the Romans, Greeks, Egyp- ing Fathers of the United States were ambiva- tians and Chaldeans. And ultimately, according lent, if not downright hostile, towards Christi- Thomas Paine to Paine, Masonry was based on the worship of anity. A strong thread of Deism runs through the heavens, and in particular, the Sun. the ranks of the influential personalities involved Thomas Paine is yet another Founding Father Paine claimed that the veil of secrecy which in America’s independence. But stronger still is who held strong Deist views. Born and bred in Masons worked under was in order to avoid the presence of Freemasonry. Not only were England, Paine didn’t move to the colonies until persecution by the religion which took over the many of the Founding Fathers initiates of the his late thirties, only a matter of years before worship of the Sun – Christianity: Craft, but also numerous generals in the Con- the Declaration of Independence. He emigrated tinental Army, as well as other individuals who on the advice of Benjamin Franklin, whom he The natural source of secrecy is fear. When any loom large in the drive for independence, such had met in London. Barely a year after arriving, new religion over-runs a former religion, the pro- as the Frenchman Gilbert Lafayette. he published the massively influential Common fessors of the new become the persecutors of This young idealistic French aristocrat took Sense on January 10th 1776, which is said to the old. We see this in all instances that history the position of Major-General in the Continen- have sold more than 600,000 copies in a popu- brings before us . . . when the Christian religion tal Army, with the request that he not be paid lation of only three million. His words inspired over-ran the religion of the Druids in Italy, ancient for his service, at the grand age of 19. His ex- George Washington to seek the route of in- Gaul, Britain, and Ireland, the Druids became the emplary service for the fledgling United States dependence from Great Britain, and Thomas subject of persecution. This would naturally and earned him the respect of George Washington, George Washington National Masonic Memorial Jefferson partly based the Declaration of Inde- (Photograph © J. Alison) necessarily oblige such of them as remained at- whom he thereafter held as a life-long friend.

22 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 23 Features UTOPIA IN AMERICA

was the prime goal of the ‘Order of the Quest’, At the heart of the a secret society composed of intellectuals and founding of the United philosophers which had survived from ancient times. Hall says that the creation of the United States was the deep and States was a step towards the ultimate aim of a abiding desire to create worldwide democracy: WE QUESTION CONSENSUS REALITY All these groups [Knights of the Holy Grail, Christian • • • a new land where the and Jewish Cabalists, Rosicrucians, the Illuminati] Wholistic Health Conspiracies Ancient Civilisations CIA tyrannies of religion belong to what is called The Order of the Quest. All Media Lies • Mind Control • AIDS • Islam • Secret Societies were searching for one and the same thing under a Spirituality • New World Order • Metaphysics • Russia and government were variety of rituals and symbols. That one thing was a perfected social order, Plato’s commonwealth, Prophecy • Occultism • Cover-ups • Terrorism • Iraq • UFOs largely kept in check the government of the philosopher-king.

Lafayette also spent time with Benjamin Frank- It is difficult to reconcile this history with the Since 1991 New Dawn magazine has explored new ideas and ancient beliefs. lin in Paris, where they were both members of modern mythology spread by American politi- Each thought-provoking bimonthly issue examines the hidden dimensions the ‘ Nine Sisters’ Masonic lodge – in fact, each cians and evangelists that the United States is a of world affairs, history and spirituality in a non-dogmatic manner. supported an arm of the aged Voltaire as he was ‘chosen land’ for Christianity. In truth, its found- inducted into the influential organization. Lafay- ers were largely non-Christian, indeed even We invite you to sample the fascinating material in New Dawn by visiting ette’s prominence in the Revolutionary War anti-Christian, who took more from Freema- our web site www.newdawnmagazine.com. has led to approximately four hundred public sonry and Rosicrucian thinking than any other places and streets in the United States being philosophy. At the heart of the founding of the named after him. It is said that when Ameri- United States was the deep and abiding desire Here’s what people are saying about New Dawn: can troops liberated Paris in the First World to create a new land where the tyrannies of re- War, Colonel C. E. Stanton – on behalf of the ligion and government – such as the intolerance “Fresh, vibrant, and always surprising, New “There are few magazines as unique as New U.S. General John Perching, a 33rd Degree of opposing views – were largely kept in check. Dawn is a constant reminder that reality is rarely Dawn, combining a genuine understanding of the Freemason – stood before Lafayette’s tomb on One can only wonder at what the Founding Fa- what it appears to be. One of very few magazines occult basis of the New Age, a healthy respect thers might think of the United States at the I enjoy reading today.” for all traditions, and hard-hittting unflinching the 4th of July 1917, proclaiming “Lafayette, we political analysis – always with a positive eye on are here!” beginning of the 21st century. – RICHARD SMOLEY, author of Inner Christianity: the future.” One of the legendary moments in the move A Guide to the Esoteric Tradition and former towards independence was the ‘Boston Tea editor of Gnosis – VALUM VOTAN (aka Jose Argüelles), author of Party’. On the night of the 16th of December Time and the Technosphere 1773, a group of Boston locals protesting the Profile importation of duty-free tea from the East In- dia Tea Company, boarded the merchant ship Greg Taylor is the author of The Dartmouth and dumped its entire cargo of tea Guide to Dan Brown’s The Solomon into the harbor. While devoid of bloodshed, Key, which previews the topics in Dan this incident marked the beginning of the Revo- Brown’s next book such as the influ- lution, as it ignited colonial passions against the ence of Freemasonry on the founding strictures and impositions of the parliament of of the United States More informa- Great Britain. What is unknown to many is that tion about the book can be found at at least twelve members of the local Masonic solomon.dailygrail.com. lodge were involved in the Boston Tea Party – including the patriot Paul Revere – and at least Greg is also the editor of the popu- another twelve of the participants subsequently lar internet portal “The Daily Grail” joined it. (www.dailygrail.com), and is the Manly Hall’s The Secret Destiny of America editor-in-chief of Sub Rosa (subrosa. dailygrail.com). claims that the creation of the United States WWW.NEWDAWNMAGAZINE.COM 24 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 25 The Visions And Art Of Shades Alex Grey Of

lex Grey is one of the most well Grey known visionary artists in the world. In the mid 1970s he had a series of entheogenically-induced Amystical experiences which transformed his view of the world, from agnostic exis- tentialism to a radical transcendentalism. Since that time, he has painted some of the most recognizable and inspiring sacred art of recent decades. His art has graced the cover of TOOL’s Lateralus album, and Rick Strassman’s book DMT: The Spirit Molecule. Alex’s large-format art book, Sacred Mirrors: The Visionary Art of Alex Grey has sold over one hundred thousand copies, an astounding number for an art book. In recent years he has focused on the construction of the “Chapel of Sacred Mir- rors”, a long-term exhibition of fifty of his works of transformative art, which opened in 2004 in New York City. Alex lives in New York with his wife, the painter Allyson Grey, and their daughter, the actor Zena Grey.

Illustration by Adam Scott Miller 26 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 27 SR: Thanks for taking time I’m a mystic artist, out for a quick chat with us Alex. Many of our readers first that is, spiritual became aware of your work experiences through your well-known images on the TOOL album happened that Lateralus and the cover graphic inspired my artwork for Rick Strassman’s DMT: The to reflect this Spirit Molecule, but may not know a lot more about you sacred dimension than that. Could you give us a quick history of your interest in Chapel is an experimental art art, your influences/heroes, and installation that Allyson and I current projects? and many other artists created to house the art and spirit of AG: The answer to that ques- the Sacred Mirrors. tion is a book . . . in fact it’s Right now I am working on three books – Sacred Mirrors: a portrait of Dr. Albert Hoff- The Visionary Art of Alex Grey man: Discoverer of LSD to (Inner Traditions; 1990); The commemorate his 100th birth- Mission of Art (Shambhala, day. He is still alive and well and 1997); Transfigurations (Inner his birthday is being celebrated Traditions, 2001). My website in Basel with a conference on (www.alexgrey.com) has the study of LSD. My wife and I brief and complete bios. will be there in January. I’m a mystic artist, that is, spiritual experiences happened SR: While we’re talking hallu- that inspired my artwork to cinogens – at this year’s Mind reflect this sacred dimension. States Conference you gave I’m influenced by Michelangelo, a talk on “Drugs and Art”, William Blake, and Ken Wilber. which discussed the different I’ve studied Buddhism for many themes and emotions which years as well as the mystical come through in various artists’ underpinnings of the pantheon work and the relationship to of human and divine wisdom. the drugs they used (including I never finished art school coffee, alcohol, amphetamines and have no degrees but have and hallucinogens). If you were taught in some of the best art to stand outside yourself and schools which gives me per- analyse your own work in this verse pleasure. I teach vision- context, what do you think you ary workshops with my wife would see - both in terms of the and partner of thirty years, drugs used and the themes and Allyson (www.allysongrey. emotions that come through in com), who is also the mother your art? of our one daughter, Zena, an actor (www.zenagrey.com). AG: My impression would We have just recently celebrat- be that this artist is an acid- ed the first anniversary of the head who has pierced the veil Chapel of Sacred Mirrors. The of material world illusion and

28 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 29 Gaia (left panel) Gaia (right panel) Cover Story ALEX GREY TOP SELLING CONSCIOUSNESS TITLE ON AMAZON!

found some spiritual gold. the pressures of modern life and the use of sub- stances to escape those pressures. Alcoholism SR: When discussing alcohol in your Mind has been around as long as alcohol, which dis- CONSCIOUSNESS States lecture, you mentioned how it had the solves boundaries but depresses consciousness effect of ‘loosening’ the constraints of the art- and kills brain cells. Societies from indigenous ist. Do you feel that this ‘loosening’ - not only cultures to post-modern urban dwellers have 20 SCIENTISTS, 9 HOURS, 5 DVDS through alcohol but also other substances - is sought altered states of consciousness through becoming more prevalent as a reaction to mod- many means including meditation, whirling, Includes the following great minds: ern society, where rationalism and logic are the ecstatic dance, drumming and all kinds of depri- ‘rewarded’ traits, while creativity and freedom vation including food, sleep, isolation . . . DR. STUART HAMEROFF, M.D. Professor, Anesthesiology and of the mind are not? Psychology, Associate Director, Center for Consciousness Studies, University of Arizona SR: In terms of the different methods of achiev- DR. ANDREW B. NEWBERG, M.D. Professor, Dept. of Radiology, AG: I think you are talking about a reaction to ing altered states of consciousness, you are seen Division of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

NANCY J. WOOLF, PH.D. Professor, Laboratory of NanoNeuroscience, Department of Psychology, UCLA

JACK A. TUSZYNSKI, PH.D. Professor of Biophysics, Condensed Matter Physics, University of Alberta, Canada

DAVID CHALMERS, PH.D. Professor, Department of Philosophy; Director, Center For Consciousness Studies, University of Arizona

DICK BIERMAN, PH.D. Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Utrecht University

VILAYANUR RAMACHANDRAN, PH.D., MD Director, Center for Brain and Cognition; Professor, Department of Psychology and Neurosciences Program, University of California, San Diego

PAAVO PYLKKANEN M.SC., PH.D. Professor, Consciousness Studies Programme, Department of Humanities, University of Skovde, Sweden

DR. PETRA STOERIG, PH.D. Professor of Experimental Psychology, University of Dusseldorf

C. VAN YOUNGMAN, Professor of Psychology, Art Institute of Philadelphia, Department of General Education

DR. STEVEN SEVUSH, M.D. Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology, University of Miami Brace yourself. All the questions you STEPHEN LABERGE, PH.D. Director of the Lucidity Institute and author of ever had about your identity, your mind, Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming DEAN RADIN, PH.D. Senior Scientist, Institute of Noetic Sciences your dreams, your place in the universe, TONY BELL, PH.D. Senior Scientist, Redwood Neuroscience Institute

and your role in eternity are about to be ELLERY LANIER, PH.D. Interdisciplinary Program, New Mexico State addressed in a no holds barred fashion by University GREGG H. ROSENBERG, PH.D. Post-doctoral Fellow, Artificial Intelligence a group of fearless professors who dare Center, The University of Georgia

plunge where science itself is only just CHRISTIAN SEITER, Department of Psychology, Institut für Umweltmedizin, beginning to venture - into the deepest University of Freiburg realms of interior human existence - into CHESTER WILDEY, M.SC. The University of Texas at Arlington the soul! If you liked “What The Bleep Do WILLOUGHBY BRITTON, University of Arizona, Tucson We Know” and were left wanting more, SUSAN BLACKMORE, Author of “The Meme Machine” ADELE ENGEL BEHAR, Satellite Captiva Ltd this is for you. Artist’s Hand

30 December 2005 | Sub Rosa ORDER FROM OUR WEBSITESub Rosa | December 2005 31 http://www.hoptustore.com/cose.html Cover Story ALEX GREY ALEX GREY Cover Story

The Chapel of Sacred Mirrors sacred geometry, and sacred architecture, Alex Grey describes the monthly interfaith full-moon gatherings, Chapel of Sacred Mirrors: and film, music and poetry evenings—all intended to inspire. We’re very excited to “The Chapel of Sacred Mirrors (CoSM) was be open and receiving visitors.” created to provide a space for spiritual renewal The Chapel of Sacred Mirrors is Alex through contemplation of transformative art Grey’s great dream, and is supported solely . . . there are devotional portrayals of the by charitable donations from the community. human journey from birth to death, with love You can support his endeavour by making a and relationship, creativity, enlightenment, donation to CoSM, or purchasing something and social activism as the unfolding iconic from the webstore at the CoSM website narrative. The Chapel peels away our (www.cosm.org). accumulated layers of separateness, showing that we are all made of the same miraculous blood, guts, and cosmic dust. For receptive Watch a video of Alex giving a short tour of the Chapel, cour- people, mystic art can help catalyse their tesy of www.cosm.org. Does Alex creative and spiritual path. CoSM has already Grey’s Gaia painting (1989) predict begun serving as a cultural and spiritual centre. the World Trade Center attacks? Our evolving community uses the space for (please note: very large file - broadband only) events such as workshops on visionary art,

The Grey family at the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors

The Chapel of Sacred Mirrors (CoSM) The Sacred Mirrors are a series of 21 arose out of a shared, simultaneous vision framed images, consisting of 19 paintings and that Alex and Allyson Grey experienced two etched mirrors, which present a life- during their first MDMA experience. Cur- sized ‘mirror image’ facing viewers, enabling rently housed ‘temporarily’ (for a number them to identify with the art and integrate of years) in New York City, the current its energy into themselves. The anatomy of incarnation of CoSM is meant as a “liv- each image is precisely portrayed, while vi- ing brochure” for the eventual permanent sionary elements allow the viewer to see structure of the Chapel – which Alex sees themselves as reflections of the divine. The as a spirallic or twisted pyramidal form. It is Sacred Mirrors underline the unity of hu- home to many of Alex Grey’s greatest ar- man experience across all racial, class and tistic pieces, including the ‘Sacred Mirrors’. gender divides. Statue at the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors

32 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 33 Cover Story ALEX GREY ALEX GREY Cover Story

– rightly or wrongly – as somewhat of a spokes- that are basic to all humans and many animals, now 17 and I will leave it to her judgment to man for hallucinogen use. You also have a loving as well. The art is conventional in that it cel- speak for herself. family relationship with your wife Allyson and ebrates simple things like love, and attempts to daughter Zena. How do you integrate use of map the dimensions of compassion and infinite SR: The influence of your art and ideas is really I had my first hallucinogens with raising a child and maintaining consciousness that the evolutionary stream has beginning to show with the new generation of a healthy family relationship, considering firstly brought forward. So, there are conventional artists – such as Luke Brown [see our feature LSD experience in that you are pursuing somewhat of an ‘apostate’ and post-conventional elements in my painting. on Luke later in this issue – ed.] – and the Inter- lifestyle to the social norm, and secondly your Allyson and I have always told Zena the net is showing the incredible amount of talent Allyson’s apartment. own personal feelings of responsibility towards truth as we see it. We have not kept secrets out there. What advice would you give young It was our first your family as a husband and father? about substance use, but have only answered artists, in terms of balancing artistic endeavour questions that she asked us, not giving her more and the need to survive in the modern world evening together AG: I had my first LSD experience in Allyson’s information that she needed or wanted. We (i.e. pay the bills) where art rarely pays unless apartment. It was our first evening together. also abstained a great deal from using substanc- you are willing to pursue it within the corporate Allyson was already a seasoned veteran. es while around her, not wanting to jeopardize framework (eg. graphic design of advertising)? I suppose you mean by ‘apostate’ that I may her safety, or make her uncomfortable with our have renounced the conventional approach to possibly unusual behaviour. Plus, when Allyson AG: I would certainly advise young artists to I worked as part of a research team studying family values, but some people have described and I wished to partake of the sacrament we’d put their artwork first. When looking for a way the affects of psychic healers on corn seeds and my work as a kind of Norman Rockwell on always prefer to be free from as much responsi- to pay the bills, stay as close as possible to your planaria. I always spent as much time as possible acid. My imagery portrays mother and child bility as possible, so we would put our daughter passion. I did medical illustration for twelve on my own artwork and really got quite a bit nursing, kissing, praying, copulating – activities in the care of others during that time. Zena is years, and although I hated doing it, I also got done during that time. No one sought me out value from it and learned a great deal. Early on, I for interviews then. (just kidding) painted funhouses and later billboards, I worked I cannot tell anyone how to make money. I in a library and spent a lot of time reading the certainly never did any of the things that other books about altered states and the paranormal. people told me to do in order to make money

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34 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 35 Cover Story ALEX GREY ALEX GREY Cover Story

with my art. When I was in art school, a profes- AG: Escher never claimed to be a mystic but More from Alex Grey sor told me, “Alex, keep doing what you are he did say that he had strange and mysterious doing, my boy, and you will one day be paint- visions, as is evident in his art. I think Escher ing covers for TV Guide.” That was when I certainly could have been having endogenous began seriously deciding to quit art school be- DMT flashes, because there is always a psycho- cause that is not who I was going to be. A gal- chemical component to any mental experience, lery owner once told me to go with the current as long as you’re operating a brain. DMT lives in trend rather than doing the work I was doing. the brain fulltime, as we all know. Neuro-chem- He meant well. icals tessellate with our brain waves in the mys- tical experience and dance to the incomprehen- SR: A turning point in your life was when you sible consciousness that powers the universe. had a transpersonal experience with your wife Allyson under the influence of LSD, where you SR: You talk about art having the potential to Transfigurations Alex Grey and Timothy Leary both saw the same ‘mind lattice’ connecting change humanity and our future. In what way do everyone. Has this experience convinced you you think visionary art is able to achieve this? of some underlying ontological reality to AG: All three experiences have value. Smoked the psychedelic experience? DMT is something like psychic bungee jump- AG: We often forget that what we know of ing. You bound briefly into another dimension the world is entirely dependent on our view, AG: Of course. I’m a psycho-chemical mystic sometimes getting very deep very fast. How- our vision of the world, which is possible to who sees an underlying unity in the timeless ever prolonged immersion into the DMT influ- evolve and transform into inspiring aliveness, Sacred Mirrors now shared by, and at the foundations of all ence via ayahuasca, can catalyse some of the or to stagnate and atrophy into sinkholes of world religions and visionary phenomena. We most intensely beautiful visionary experiences, cynicism. The news media and other corpo- can look at Mohammed’s ride to the Seventh and is half the length of a typical acid experi- rate sponsored culture have an agenda that we Heaven. That was a visionary experience. We ence. Acid is wonderful because it is so easy to unconsciously consume as we tune into their can look at the Annunciation and the Trans- consume and because Allyson loves it and with worldview. The shrill lies that fuel corporate figuration and perhaps even the Resurrection. LSD we’ve had some of the most profound sac- advertising, like, “happiness and satisfaction There is also the Tibet Buddhist pantheon of ramental sojourns of our lives. in life is dependent on the products we con- The Mission of Art Higher World Buddhas. The Torah is full of That said, integration of the experience has sume,” ties us to a fear-based materialist and Jewish mystics like Ezekiel who saw fiery wheels become one of my artworks steady challenges greed-centred worldview. There is no true or Moses himself who beheld the Burning Bush. – to find different methods for evoking the radi- spiritual liberation offered from the corporate Could anyone point to a non-visionary religion? ance of the visionary realms through painting, a media that we consume on a daily basis. It’s Maybe, but all of the religions I can think of came medium with a long history for human culture. no wonder that anti-depressants are current out of the mystical experience, direct contact For 18,000 - 40,000 years humans have been drugs of choice in our culture. Where do we with the divine, by some charismatic leader. I painting images. It’s one of the defining char- do believe that some people are more inclined acteristics of what differentiates human beings toward visionary experiences than others. It is from animals. The integration of the entheogen- our intention, and the shared intention of many, ic experience, in my experience, happens after to revisit the primary religious experience and the drug wears off and the work is to manifest I’m a psycho- 2006 Calendar the “Beyond Within”. The visionary state is cer- new insights into ones creative life. tainly what the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors is all chemical mystic All books, as well as DVDs, clothing, about, no matter how that state is realized. SR: I’ve heard a number of comparisons between posters and other merchandise can be the DMT trip and the work of another vision- bought directly from Alex Grey’s online SR: You’ve had this life-changing experience ary artist, M.C. Escher – from the ‘impossible who sees an store. Additionally, books purchased using LSD, which is certainly a hallucinogen figures’ he is most famous for, to his tessellated from the webstore are individually signed which lends itself time-wise to the contempla- patterns and even images of ‘elves’. Rick Strass- underlying unity in by the author tion and integration of the experience. Do you man discusses endogenous DMT in his book - see any similar value to the smoked DMT expe- could there be an argument for Escher having the timeless now http://www.alexgrey.com/shop.html rience, or is it better employed via the shamanic endogenous DMT flashes? ayahuasca journey?

36 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 37 Cover Story ALEX GREY go for visions of freedom and reflections of our untapped potentials, in this way it can catalyse highest possibilities as a species – not to CNN. and validate people’s path to a sustainable and Today, I think visionary artworks can offer the saner future. “still small voice” of conscience, that may help people wake up from the mass media trance. It takes an engaged individual, willing to think for You can learn more about Alex Grey, view themselves and eager to enlarge their world- galleries of his artwork, and purchase view, to spend time contemplating visionary art goods at his official website, www.alex- and embrace the divine imagination reflected grey.com. More information there, source of creative solutions for our cur- about the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors can rent growing problems. Visionary art can be be found at www.cosm.org. a sacred mirror introducing us to our own

Bardo Being Visionary art can be a sacred mirror introducing

38 Decemberus 200 to5 | our Sub Rosa own untapped potentials . . . Sub Rosa | December 2005 39 AND THE

For the last ten years two Scottish historians, Mark Oxbrow and Ian Robertson, have been on a quest to uncover the real story of Rosslyn. They have unearthed lost tales of the Rosslyn treasure, investigated legends of Templars, and hunted ghosts in the chapel and castle. In Rosslyn and the Grail they reveal Rosslyn’s connections to King Arthur and the quest for the Holy Grail, the history of Rosslyn and the St Clairs, and the secret story Rosslyn of the chapel that has remained hidden for 500 years.

n the last few years Rosslyn Chapel has Christ, the treasure of the Temple of Jerusa- Grabecome world famous. Millions of people lem,il and the Lost Gospels of Jesus. Over the have read aboutby the tiny 15th century Scots last twenty years the chapel has appeared in a church in Dan Brown’s phenomenally popu- number of alternative history books. Authors Ilar novel The Da Vinci Code . MarkIn 2005 over a hun- including Oxbrow Knight and Lomas, Tim Wallace-Mur- dred thousand grail-seekers and DVC tourists phy and Andrew Sinclair have theorised that visited Rosslyn to gaze in wonder at the chap- Rosslyn Chapel is closely connected to the el’s incredible stone carvings and to search for Knights Templar. hidden clues that might lead to the Holy Grail. In reality Rosslyn Chapel has kept its se- It has been said that Rosslyn hides any crets for the last five hundred years. Many au- number of fabled secret treasures including: thors have constructed highly speculative theo- the Holy Grail, the True Cross, the golden ries about Rosslyn but none have come close plate of the Chartres Cathedral labyrinth, the to understanding the true nature of the chapel Ark of the Covenant, the embalmed Head of or revealing the real architects of Rosslyn’s

40 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 41 Features ROSSLYN AND THE GRAIL ROSSLYN AND THE GRAIL Features

that Willia m was a G ra nd Maste r of the Knig h ts S ir William actually Temp lar. T hi s ma kes a b solutel y no sen se at a ll. If Willia m had been a Temp lar then he was a gave damning treac he rous ma n wi thout ho nour. H e would have b ro ken hi s strict Temp lar oath to remain testimo n y against celibate a nd to neve r fi g h t fellow-C hri stia n s, the Knights by o p enl y mar ry i ng a nd beco m i ng a fathe r, a nd by joi ni ng Ro be rt the Bru ce to fi g h t the Eng - Templar. Would he li s h army. Worse tha n that, Sir Willia m actu - a ll y gave da mni ng testi m o ny again st the Knig h ts really have betrayed Temp lar. Would he rea ll y have betraye d hi s fellow knig h ts? his fe llow knights ? T he Temp lars we re b roug h t to tria l i n Scot- la nd i n 1309. T he tra n scri p t of the tria l i s actua- l l y qu i te eas y to fi nd. I t too k m e les s tha n a week So, o n that b rig h t Saturday afte rnoo n I tried to trac k i t d own. I t surpri se d m e that a nu m be r to outli ne the pros a nd co n s of the Temp lar the- of w ri te rs who p u bli s he d their theories a bout ories. T he m ore you researc h the hi story of a the Temp lars a nd a bout Ross l yn d idn’t seem to p e rson, try to u nde rsta nd them a nd learn a bout have fou nd the tria l d o cu m en ts. I t i s the o nl y their li fe a nd d eath, the m ore you feel the nee d piece of co n temp orary hi storica l ev id en ce that to d efend them when som eo ne w ri tes som e - i n a ny way at a ll li n ks the St Clairs of Ross - thi ng a bout them that i s c learl y u n tru e. At the l yn a nd the Temp lars so why i s n’t i t qu ote d i n wo ndrous d esig n. we re keen to believe the a l te rnati ve hi story no- turn of the 14 th cen tury a Scots knig h t na m e d their boo ks a bout the Temp lars a nd Ross l yn? In Rosslyn and the Grail i s our attemp t to tell tion s a bout Ross l yn. T hey wa n te d to believe Sir Willia m St Clair foug h t i n the Wars of Inde- 1309, at Ho l y rood i n Ed i n b ur g h, Sir Willia m St the rea l story of Ross l yn C ha p el a nd Castle - to that ref u gee Temp lars had fl e d p e rsecution i n p enden ce, mar ried, had c hildren a nd d ied o n a Clair a nd hi s fathe r H enry testifi e d again st the set the record straig h t re gard i ng the Temp lar Fra n ce a nd saile d to Scotla nd, that the Temp lars battlefi eld i n Spain as he tried to bear the heart Knig h ts Temp lar. Sir Willia m was neve r a Tem- theories, the Ho l y G rail, a nd The Da Vinci Code . we re g i ve safe haven by the St Clairs of Ross l yn of Ki ng Ro be rt the Bru ce to J e rusa lem. p lar - he acti vel y d i s li ke d the ord e r. T he Tem - At i ts heart, Rosslyn and the Grail i s a boo k of a nd that the c ha p el i s a m o nu m en t to Temp lar Andrew Si n c lair co nv i n ce d hi mself that a p lar ord e r was d estroye d ove r a cen tury before le gends, g host stories a nd curious ta les. We knowle d ge a nd the secret resti ng p lace of their sto ne grave s la b wi th a n eig h t -s p o ke d wheel work be ga n o n the b u ildi ng of Ross l yn i n 1446. caref u ll y exp l ore these stories a nd i nvestigate le gendary treasure. I t’s a great story b ut you a nd a s word i n scri be d up o n i t som ehow prove d T he eig h t -s p o ke d wheel a nd s word i n scri be d the actua l hi story of the c ha p el, the castle a nd m ig h t as well believe i n Hogwarts or Narnia - i t the St Clairs of Ross l yn. i s pure fa n tas y. I m et my co-author Ia n Ro be rtson a bout ten In the last ten years I’ve fi na ll y rea li se d that years ago at a Sau nie re So ciety Symp osiu m. I you ca n’t ta l k som eo ne out of a belief - no mat- had just g i ven my first eve r p u blic lecture a bout te r how m u c h cou n te r ev id en ce you presen t. I Ross l yn C ha p el. I was pretty co nv i n ce d before I tend to sid e wi th the theory of evo lution. I t’s starte d that I was going to throw up. Sp ea ki ng i n ‘just a theory’ b ut g i ven the c hoice between fro n t of a crowd i s hid eous enoug h b ut I had the the evo lution of s p ecies a nd the li te ra l creation ad d e d m i s fortu ne of som ehow hav i ng to follow of the world i n seven days by a n o mni p oten t H enry L i n co l n. If you’ve eve r seen H enry ho ld God, I’m going to sid e wi th Darwi n. At thi s a n aud ien ce en thra lle d wi th ta les of adven ture m o m en t a creationi st m useu m i s bei ng b u il t i n i n the La ng u e d o c you’ll u nde rsta nd that he’s a n Am e rica whe re d i nosaurs will be s hown en te r - u nfeasibl y toug h act to follow. i ng Noa h’s Ark a nd co-ex i sti ng wi th Ada m a nd What mad e matte rs worse was the fact I E ve i n the Gard en of Ed en. When face d wi th was a bout to tell the as sem ble d crowd that a n a ni matro nic quasi-Bi blica l Juras sic Park cost- the theories li n ki ng the Temp lars a nd Ross - i ng 2 5 m illion d o llars to co n stru ct, you pretty l yn we re tota l no n sen se! T he Symp osiu m was m u c h have to adm i t d efeat a nd rea li se that no ta ki ng p lace i n the recen tl y rena m e d ‘Temp lar a m ou n t of co n trary ev id en ce i s goi ng to c ha nge L odge Hotel’ a nd ma ny p eo p le i n the aud ien ce som eo ne’s b elief. But hey, i t’s worth a try.

42 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 43 Features ROSS LY N AN D TH E G RA I L ROSS LY N AN D TH E G RA I L Features o n t he gr ave s l a b are i n re a li t y t he s y m b o l s of e f fe c t i vel y allows you t o t r avel b ack in t i m e five St C at he r i ne , t he f a m il y s ain t of t he m e d ieva l Each carving was hu ndred year s a nd g ain a n a s t o ni s hi ng i n sig h t S ir William St Clair is Ross l y n St Cl air s . i n t o w h at it s m a ker s b e lieved . A f t e r my t a l k Ia n in t rodu ced hi m se l f and we carefully placed in a T he t e n s of m illion s of p e o p le w ho h ave said to have had all the t a l ked ab ou t the var iou s biz ar re and in t e res t i ng specific part of the re ad T h e D a V i n c i C o d e h ave b e e n t o ld by D a n t hi ng s we h ad e ach d i scovered . I a n h ad grown B rown t h at Ross l y n C h a p e l w a s ac t u a ll y b u il t figures in the chape l u p i n Penicui k , a few m ile s from Ross l y n , a nd I chape l so tha t you by t he K nig h t s Te m p l ar. H owever, i t i s a well first carved in wood h ad grown up in Ed i n b ur g h . We had bot h sp e n t e s t a b li s he d hi s t or ic a l f ac t t h at S ir Willi a m St u n he a l t hy a m ou n t s of t i m e i n lib r ar ie s a nd ar - fo llow the story as Cl air, L ord of Ross l y n a nd t hird E ar l of O r k ney so he could appro ve c hi ves t r y i ng t o un cover t he re a l s t or y of Ross- fou nde d Ross l y n Ch a p e l . Willi a m (a de scend a n t l y n . I t see m e d li ke a good ide a t o wor k t oge t he r you walk clockwise a nd n a m e s a ke of t he Willi a m w ho fe ll i n b at t le them before they we re o n a b oo k . Te n year s l ate r we w rot e R o s s l y n around the chape l i n Sp ain) wa s a power f u l Scot s nob le , adv i sor to and the Grail. t he k i ng a nd S cot s a m b a s s ador t o Fr a n ce a nd carved in sto ne A l ot h a p p e ne d i n t hose t e n year s . I w rot e adm ir a l of t he fl e e t . H e w a s not a Te m p l ar. a b oo k o n H a llowee n a nd m oved t o L o ndo n t o set foot i n side the c ha p el you are enfolde d i n S ir Willi a m w a s t he p at ron a nd fou nde r of S ir Willi a m St Cl air ‘caused ar t i fi cer s t o b e wor k for t he B BC . I be c a m e a f at he r and a hu s- a m e d ieva l world of knig h ts a nd d ra go n s, gar - t he c h a p e l b u t w a s he re a ll y t he sole m a s t e r m i nd b roug h t from ot he r reg ion s a nd foreig n k i ng - b a nd . I a n co - aut hored T h e Q u e s t f o r t h e C e l t i c goy les, gri ffi n s a nd green m en, lion s a nd ca m el s, w ho over s aw ever y m i nu t e d e t ail of d e sig n a nd d o m s . . . m a son s , c ar p e n t e r s , s m i t h s , b ar row - K e y a nd b e c a m e t he cur at or of a pr i v ate cr af t Angel s bari ng b oo ks a nd scro ll s, u nicorn s a nd con s t r u c t ion ? O ver t he year s we wor ked h ard m e n and qu ar r ie r s’ to bu ild Ross l y n Ch a p e l . He g u ild m u seu m i n Ed i n b ur g h . We b ot h h ad ( a nd m o n keys, fol k d ev il s w i th as s’s ears a nd go at’s t o g at he r t oge t he r ever y fr a g m e n t of hi s t or ic a l i s s aid t o h ave h ad a ll t he fi g ures i n t he c h a p e l s t ill have) fu ll t i m e ‘prop e r ’ job s as well . In those horn s, Ap ostles, Sain ts a nd stories fro m the Bi- evide n ce t h at e x i s t s a b ou t m e d ieva l Ross l y n . I t fir s t c ar ved i n wood so he could a p prove t he m t e n year s we al so gr adu a ll y pie ced t oge t he r t he b le. P illars a nd arc he d w i ndow s are i n tricatel y b e c a m e c le ar t h at i n re a li t y t hree p e o p le d e - b e fore t hey were c ar ved i n s t o ne . Willi a m p aid s t or y of Ross l y n . carve d w i th v i nes, leaves a nd fl owe rs. T he who le ser ved t he cred i t for t he cre at ion of Ross l y n t o h ave Ross l y n C h a p e l b u il t a s a l a s t i ng t e s t i - I t i s i m p ossib le t o g li m pse t he t r u e wonde r c ha p el seems to b e a li ve. E ve rythi ng a pp ears to C h a p e l : S ir Willi a m St Cl air, E liz a b e t h Doug l a s , m o ny t o hi s d evot ion t o hi s G od a nd a l so a s a of Ross l y n C h a p e l i n a p hot ogr a p h . W he n you b e co mp letel y ra ndo m, a b ew ilde ri ng ju m b le of a nd S ir G ilb e r t H ay. m ar k of hi s wea l t h a nd i n fl u e n ce . H e b roug h t i ma ges a nd s ym b o l s. For fi ve hu ndre d years p eo- p le have tried to u nde rsta nd how the carv i ngs of Ross l yn C ha p el ca n b e read. I t too k us ove r twen ty years to b e g i n to fi g ure out the secrets ‘CHIVALRY, KNIGHTS, AND THE GRAIL of Ross l yn. We care f u ll y exa m i ne d eve ry carv i ng i n the — A QU EST FOR MALTA’ TOUR c ha p el . One by o ne we researc he d the ir m ea n- i ng i n the co n text of m e d ieva l Scotla nd. Sl ow l y With Karen Ralls, author of we we re a b le to piece togethe r i ndi v idua l c lu es u n til s l ow l y eve rythi ng starte d to fa ll i n to p lace. ‘The Templars and the Grail’ T he who le of Ross l yn C ha p el was b u il t to b e read li ke a g ia n t pict ure b oo k. I t has a b e g i n - 2-9 Nov. 20 06, with extension to Italy 9-16 Nov. 20 06 ni ng, m idd le a nd end. Eac h carv i ng was care - f u ll y p lace d i n a s p ecifi c part of the c ha p el so Click here for more detai ls . . . that you follow the story as you wa l k c l o c kw i se arou nd the c ha p el . * Explore ancient stone monuments . . . some of the oldest in the world! As we b e ga n to u nde rsta nd how to ‘read’ the c ha p el our ad m iration for Ross l yn’s arc hi - * Discover medieval Malta, Gozo, & the legacy of the medieval Hospitallers tects grew. T hey had d esig ne d a m e d ieva l treas- ure that i s not o nl y a fa b u l ous work of art a nd * See the famed carvings of the Cathedral of the Knights of St John arc hi tect ure b ut a n i n cre d i b le v i sion of m e d i - * Experience Florence, Siena, and Rome! . . . and more . . . eva l cosm o l ogy co n necti ng lig h t a nd dark, the stories of the Gos p el s, day a nd nig h t, s pri ng, Amazon UK sum m e r, aut u m n a nd w i n te r, a nd b irth, li fe a nd WWW.ANCIENTQUEST.COM Amazon US d eath. Un cove ri ng the secret of Ross l yn C ha p el

44 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 45 Features R OS SLYN AND THE GRAIL R OS SLYN AND THE GRAIL Features t oge the r the fi ne s t crafts m e n a nd art i sa n s t o ma n, i n the r ig h t p lace, at the r ig h t t i m e. create Ross l y n C h a p e l or, a s i t wa s re cord e d Th e chape l was Ross l y n C h a p e l h a s surv i ve d wars a nd reli - i n a 1523 c h art e r, the Colle g i ate Church of St g iou s u p heava l s . For d e cad e s i t lay a ba ndo ne d, Matthew the Ap os tle a nd E va nge li s t of Ross l y n, not just a working le ft t o cr u m b le a nd fa ll t o r u i n . Ross l y n wa s for- i n the d iocese of Sain t Andrew. gott e n . A ft e r fi ve hu ndred years i ts s t ory a nd Eliza b e th Doug la s wa s Willi a m’s firs t w i fe. church o r a m edieval t r u e m ea ni ng grew se cre t. N ow Ross l y n h a s She h ad b e e n raised i n Fra n ce. H e r fathe r wa s sto ry boo k. I t was a b e com e o ne of the m os t fa m ou s p laces i n the A rchiba ld, fourth Ear l of Doug la s a nd firs t D u ke wor ld . Pe o p le fro m a ll ove r the wor ld com e of Touraine. T he Scots we re c l ose a llie s of the wondrous m e m o rial t o v i si t the c h a p e l a nd m illion s of p ou nd s are Fre n c h a gain s t the Eng li s h throug hou t the m id - b e i ng s p e n t o n preservat ion a nd con servat ion to his first l o ve wor k. I n Rosslyn and the Grail we h ave foug h t t o u n cove r the t r u th a b ou t the c h a p e l . A ft e r fi ve hu ndred years the rea l s t ory of Ross l y n ca n Rosslyn And The Grail d le a ge s . I n 1424 , at the Battle of Ve r ne u ill, fi n a ll y b e t o ld . Eliza b e th’s fathe r, b rothe r Ja m e s a nd firs t hu s - not ju s t a wor ki ng c hurch or a m e d ieva l s t ory Te n s of m illion s of p e o p le wor ld w ide h ave ba nd J o h n St ewart we re s lain . E ig h t years late r, b oo k. I t wa s a wo ndrou s m e m or i a l t o hi s firs t read a b ou t Scotla nd ’s Ross l y n C h a p e l i n See the REVIEW section of this issue for i n 1432, Eliza b e th mar r ied Willi a m St Clair, he r l ove. I t wa s t o b e the p lace w he re he would Da n Brow n’s b l o c kb u s t e r nove l T he Da more details on Rosslyn And The Grail . third hu s ba nd . T hey are said t o h ave mar r ied s p e nd e t e r ni ty sur rou nde d by hi s c hildre n a nd V i nc i C o de, b u t w h at i s the rea l s t ory of for love. hi s l os t w i fe. Willi a m a nd Eliza b e th s t ill lie at Ross l y n a nd the G rail? Eliza b e th wa s not e d for he r b eauty, he r l ove res t i n the b ur i a l vaul t of the St Clairs b e neath of lear ni ng a nd he r pie ty. We d i scove red th at Ross l y n Ch a p e l . Ros s ly n a nd the G ra i l revea l s ta le s of Te m- Profile he r b rothe r A rchiba ld, the fi fth Ear l of Doug - S ir G ilb e rt Hay, o ne of the fore m os t sc ho l - p lars a nd hidd e n t rea sures, h aun t i ngs a nd la s, he l p e d t o f u nd the re con s t r u ct ion of p art ars of m e d ieva l E uro p e, wa s b or n a nd raised i n Ian Robertson and Mark Oxbrow are in - b r u ta l m urd e rs, J o a n of A rc a nd Mary of G la sgow C athe dra l w he n i t wa s s t r u c k by Scotla nd . H e wa s e d u cate d at the Uni ve rsi ty of ternationally respected writers and speak- Q u e e n of Scots, M e r li n the Wizard a nd lig h tni ng a nd bad l y da ma ged by fire i n the ear l y St Andrews, b e ca m e c h a m b e r lain t o the Dau - ers on Arthurian and Grail legends, British K i ng A rthur. 1400s . T he p la n of Ross l y n C h a p e l i s v irt ua ll y p hi n of Fra n ce a nd li ve d i n the Fre n c h court for folklore, Freemasonry, and the history and ide n t ica l t o G la sgow C athe d ra l ’s Ea s t Q u ire. ove r 2 0 years . S ir G ilb e rt wa s a l so a knig h t w ho legends of Rosslyn. They are both Fellows A ft e r 500 years s hroud e d i n mys t e ry a nd Ross l y n wa s p la n ne d a s a huge cr u ci for m may h ave foug h t a l o ngside J o a n of A rc. of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. le ge nd, a nd ove r a d e cad e of research, c hurch a nd u l t i mate l y a s a cen t re of lear ni ng. At Rhe i m s C athe dra l S ir G ilb e rt Hay a nd Mar k Ox b row a nd Ia n Ro b e rtson h ave fi- I n 1451 G la sgow Uni ve rsi ty wa s fou nde d at J o a n the Maide n l oo ke d o n a s the Daup hi n Ian Robertson is the co-author of The n a ll y u n cove red the se cre ts of the c h a p e l, G la sgow C athe dra l . C h ar le s b e ca m e K i ng of Fra n ce. S ir G ilb e rt o nl y Quest for the Celtic K ey , acclaimed as ‘a the ca s tle, the Knig h ts of the Rou nd Ta - I t b e ca m e c lear th at Eliza b e th p laye d a n i m- re t ur ne d t o Scotla nd i n 1445 . H e m ove d d ire ct- must-read book for all who sense the mys- b le a nd the Q u e s t for the H o l y G rail . p orta n t u n sung ro le i n the fou ndi ng of Ross l y n . l y i n t o Ross l y n C a s tle w he re, u nde r the p at ro n- tery and magic of our distant past’. Rob - I t i s eve n p ossib le th at the creat ion of Ross l y n a ge of S ir Willi a m St Clair, he b e ga n t o t ra n s late ertson is the custodian of a private craft C h a p e l wa s act ua ll y Eliza b e th’s idea: the u l t i - i n t o Scots the con t i ne n ta l L’Arbre des Bataille , guild museum in Edinburgh and keeper of mate e x pres sion of he r d evot ion t o G od a nd L’Ordre de Chevalerie a nd Le Governement a renowned relic said to be linked to the lear ni ng. As the o nl y word s carve d i n t o the i n - des Princes – fa m e d b oo ks of knig h thood Crusades. t e r ior of Ross l y n Ch a p e l say : a nd chi va lry. S ir G ilb e rt Hay m ove d back t o Scotla nd a Mark Oxbrow is the author of Halloween , Wine is strong. The King is stronger. year b e fore Ross l y n C h a p e l wa s fou nde d . H e widely considered the definitive history of Women are stronger still: li ve d at Ross l y n C a s tle, w i th S ir Willi a m a s hi s Halloween. Mark also contributed to the but truth conquers all. p at ro n a nd fr ie nd, a s the firs t s t o ne s of the bestselling Cracking the Da Vinci Code , UK c h a p e l we re laid . S ir G ilb e rt Hay wa s a knig h t, a and US TV and DVD documentaries, and I n 1452, si x years aft e r b u ildi ng wor k b e ga n at sc ho lar and a poe t. H e wa s re m e m b e red in the has lectured widely including guest lec - Ross l y n, Eliza b e th Doug la s d ied . Willi a m wa s 16 th cen t ury p oe m, The Lament for the Makaris , tures for the Folklore Society and Univer- 37 years o ld . H e wa s fathe r t o four daug h t e rs a s o ne of Scotla nd ’s greate s t m e n of li t e rature. sité de Bretagne. a nd a son, a nd hi s b e l ove d w i fe lay d ead . Ove r T he re i s no surv i v i ng hi s t or ica l source th at con- the com i ng d e cad e s Willi a m s p e n t a fort u ne fir m s th at S ir G ilb e rt Hay wa s the ‘se cre t archi- www.rosslyngrail.com Amazon UK rea li si ng a d rea m at Ross l y n . T he c h a p e l wa s t e ct’ of Ross l y n C h a p e l . Bu t he wa s the r ig h t

46 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 47 Luke BrownEvolving Visions: Bio: Luke Brown is an intrepid explorer, Fuchs. He is currently a resident of the lush part of a new generation of visionaries re- Elfinstone rainforest in BC Canada, one of an contructing the templates of culture as we infinite number of parallel universes in which he know it. His art speaks of the spiritual mys- resides within simultaneously. teries in the human imagination. Mystical ex- periences, dreams, medicine journeys, and Influences: All of the entheogenic channelled lucid dialogues with the source of plant teachers our highest expressions of our creativity itself, seem to guide and be guided by souls have sneakily disguised as something ex- the colourful symmetries and living surfaces of ternal from ourselves, to help us remember our his art. Much of his work is a graceful synthe- highest expression of our souls . . . sis of digital and painting mediums. Developing his work through mix and remix technologies, Luke is constantly redefining his style as a spir- Inspiration: All those who live fear- itual medium for growth. lessly in the fullest expression of their infinite It is rumored that moments after his birth, creative potential, giving those around them he assumed full lotus posture and led the en- permission to do the same. tire hospital staff in a rolling Aum. (Although the source of that information was on the Artistic Mediums: I create ‘com- third day of a mountain top peyote trip and is ponents’ of different mediums such as oil, acrylic, somewhat unreliable.) What IS certain, is that watercolour and pencil crayon. I scan these sepa- Luke Brown is here on mother Earth with a rate pieces into Photoshop where I digitally col- divine purpose to assist in the awakening of lage them together. I then print the finalized im- humanity, through mapping his hyperspatial age onto canvas, where it is then stretched onto journeys with utmost accuracy, whichever a wood frame and painted over with multiple medium seems best suited. mediums again. Occasionally, elements of these His art has been shown internationally finished pieces are then sources for new ‘com- with such visionary heavyweights such as Alex ponents’ to emerge from, or are directly scanned Grey, HR Giger, Robert Venosa and Ernst into photoshop to be remixed again.

48 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 49 Vajra Vision LUKE BROWN Artist Spotlight

Artist Alex Grey on Luke Brown... “Luke Brown is one of the best and brightest of the young visionary artists. He understands how to graphically translate the infinitely patterned tapestries of psychedelic mindstates, a truly remarkable achievement. Through his art, Luke blurs the boundaries between inner and outer worlds while helping us see the sacred beauty of both realms and the superconsciousness that connects them.”

Mantis Mandala 50 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 51 Baphomet LUKE BROWN Artist Spotlight

Luke Brown’s artwork is on display at his website, www.spectraleyes.com. For those interested in purchas- ing his art, there is a link on site to order prints. Originals and large scale canvas prints are also available by request.

Salvia Dalinorum

Cat Goddess 52 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 53 Namaste Rational Spirituality Evidence Not Faith . . .

by Ian Lawton

e now have an abundance of and they have no agenda or axe to grind. This compelling evidence that allows is obviously in stark contrast to the “revealed us to formulate what I refer to wisdom” of various prophets and gurus, as a rational spiritual worldview. whether self-proclaimed or otherwise, who WPrimarily this comes from modern science, have dominated the religious, mystical and es- and also from thousands of ordinary people oteric landscape throughout human history. who have either had near-death experiences, So let us first examine the evidence. or spontaneously remembered past lives, or been regressed into past lives or even the “in- Scientific Developments terlife” between incarnations. These people provide incredibly consistent testimony, they I am sure most readers will be aware of mod- come from all backgrounds and walks of life, ern developments in theoretical physics, so they had no fixed religious or atheistic pre- I will be brief. These indicate that the origi- conceptions before their various experiences, nal Newtonian idea of fundamental building

54 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Illustration by Adam Scott Miller Sub Rosa | December 2005 55 Features RATIONAL SPIRITUALITY RATIONAL SPIRITUALITY Features blocks of physical matter should be replaced hours in total. not have been obtained by normal means, un- by a model based on pure quantum energy, The verifiable and obscure recall in this less deliberate collusion and deception was and also that multiple “nonphysical” dimen- case is crucial. Whatever general comments involved, and his methodology has been de- This and many other sions exist. However much we still have to they might make about endorphins produc- liberately designed to spot this and other sus- similar near-death learn, in their own right these basic discover- ing euphoria and so on, materialists’ attempts pect motives. ies should be sufficient for any sensible person to explain near-death experiences nearly al- To take just one of his more impressive cases suggest strongly to realise that a strictly materialist worldview ways avoid these regular and crucial aspects. cases, from an early age Swarnlata Mishra spon- is hopelessly inadequate and obsolete. However this particular case has generated so taneously recalled details of the life of another that the soul exists much controversy that a number of sceptics Indian girl called Biya Pathak, who had lived Near-Death Experiences have, for once, examined it closely. They sug- in a separate town some way away from her independent of the gest that Pam could still have heard conversa- present home, and whose family was eventual- physical body Let us now add to this the evidence from near- tions or music through the speaker-plugs in ly traced. Stevenson found that in all she made death research. One startling case should suf- her ears – which were fitted to emit a regu- forty-nine statements about her previous life, fice here. Pam Reynolds’ experience occurred lar pulse to check on her brainstem reaction only a few of which could be regarded as in while she was being operated on for a massive – especially if her levels of anaesthetic were any sense inaccurate, and eighteen of which aneurism at the base of her brain. The proce- low at that point. I accept that this may be were made before there had been any contact dure was nicknamed “standstill” because her a valid assertion, particularly given that these whatsoever between the two families. These body temperature was cooled from ninety- parts of the experience occurred when she statements included identifying former fam- eight to sixty degrees Fahrenheit, her heart was not clinically brain-dead. However, none ily members, sometimes while being actively stopped, and she was inclined on the operat- of them has been able to explain how she misdirected, coming up with little known nick- ing table so that all the blood drained from was able to “see” the saw used on her skull names, and even disclosing to her former hus- her brain. She subsequently reported the typ- – which had an unusual design that a non-ex- band that he had taken 1200 rupees from her ical experiences of leaving her body, and of pert could not be expected to guess at – along money box – something known only to the entering a tunnel and emerging into the light, with its “interchangeable blades” in a “sock- two of them. where she was greeted by deceased family et-wrench case”; and all this despite the fact And there are other more specialised but and friends and felt an incredible atmosphere that her eyes were firmly closed, lubricated crucially important aspects of Stevenson’s re- of peace, love and understanding before being and taped shut throughout, and despite the search that we will return to shortly. cajoled to return into her body. But she also fact that the saw was being used on the top of had verifiable recall of the “toothbrush-like” her head. Past-Life Regression saw used to open her skull, of a conversation Although not of course supporting the between medical staff concerning the arter- idea of reincarnation, this and many other Our next area of evidence is that of past-life ies in her inner thighs, and of the music being similar near-death cases suggest strongly that regression. We should be in no doubt that played as she was being cleaned up at the end the soul exists independent of the physical sometimes this can involve imagination pro- of the operation. These obscure and verified body, and that the brain is not the seat of real ducing elements of a past-life narrative from pieces of information all point towards her consciousness – merely the main organism information acquired by normal means and consciousness and memory having remained through which consciousness operates in the sometimes consciously forgotten. But in many intact throughout, despite her having been physical plane. cases we once again find that historical de- clinically brain-dead for at least thirty minutes tails emerge that are not only verifiable, but during an operation that lasted for some five Children Who Remember Past Lives also so obscure that they could not have been obtained by any normal means. Moreover the If we turn now to reincarnation proper, and possibility of deliberate deception, which is Ramster. She remembered obscure details of She also had to children who remember past lives sponta- about the only materialist explanation that the eighteenth-century life of a girl called Rose neously (as opposed to under hypnosis), the might have held water in these cases, is for Duncan, who lived in Glastonbury. When verifiable recall of American psychologist Ian Stevenson of the the most part so remote as to be negligible. brought to England under controlled condi- University of Virginia has pioneered this re- One excellent case should again suffice to tions by an Australian documentary crew, the “toothbrush-like” search since the early sixties, and is only now make the point. these details were all verified by local histori- saw used to open starting to achieve the recognition he so richly Gwen McDonald, an Australian woman ans and residents – including obscure or ob- deserves. Many of his cases also involve veri- who had never been abroad before, was re- solete names of places and people, obsolete her skull fiable details that are so obscure they could gressed by the pioneering psychologist Peter elements of local dialect, and details of houses

56 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 57 Features RATIONAL SPIRITUALITY the Rational and other buildings as they had existed in the way do not belong to the individual concerned. Spirituality eighteenth century. Most stunning was her in- But there are two extremely strong reasons sistence that she had been taken to a cottage to suppose this is not the case. First, thera- Movement in which the floor stones had been stolen from peutic results could never be obtained if this evidence not faith... Glastonbury Abbey, one of which had an ob- were what was happening. And second, most scure carving on it that she had sketched while cases of past-life regression show clear kar- still in Sydney. When she led them to what mic linkages between lives that are personal Are you fed up with religious dogma? was now a dilapidated chicken shed, and the and individual. Nowhere is this more evident Would you prefer a spiritual framework based on rational decades of droppings were swept away, there than in the most unusual cases investigated by was the carving exactly as she had drawn it. Stevenson, those of children born with unu- analysis of modern evidence? So, however much experts might have ar- sual birthmarks and defects. By investigating Are you ready to join others with the same ideas? gued over the Bridey Murphy case, for exam- post-mortem reports and so on, he found ple, there are plenty of others that are incred- that in a number of these cases they corre- Then the Rational Spirituality Movement is for you. We are an emerging ibly strong. But not only that, there is another sponded exactly to the wounds that killed way in which past-life regression provides im- the previous personality the child claimed to worldwide association of like-minded individuals who share a common pressive proof of reincarnation, and that is in have been, and for whom other verifiable data spiritual worldview based on the dual concepts of reincarnation and those cases which involve dramatic therapeu- had been given. karma, and on modern evidence rather than faith and belief in “revealed tic benefits. Many of the pioneering past-life The other possibility often mentioned is therapists of the fifties and sixties discovered that all these subjects are tapping into ances- wisdom”. It can be summed up in the following ten precepts, which derive the technique more or less by accident, often tral memories passed on in their genes. But mainly from the near-death experience and past-life and interlife regression when regressing patients back into their child- again this theory does not hold water, for two evidence analysed in the highly-acclaimed The Book of the Soul. hood. Imprecise commands are taken literally good reasons. The first is that many past lives by those under hypnosis, and when asked, are found to be close together and yet to in- there is no judgment from on high for example, to “go back further” they sud- volve different continents or even races, at a denly began describing events that could not time when people were generally not particu- souls reincarnate to advance karmically have related to their current life. Intrigued, larly mobile. The second is that many of Ste- the pioneers experimented further, and found venson’s cases involve lives separated by only we all have karmic free will that severe psychological and psychosomatic a few years, in which the two families involved all karma involves learning disorders that had often remained virtually are demonstrably not genetically linked. untouched by years of conventional therapy we review our past lives and plan our next one were completely alleviated, sometimes after Unity, Individuality and Transcendence the ethereal realms are governed by perception only a few sessions of past-life therapy – and irrespective of whether or not the patient, or There is no doubt that when dedicated spir- everything has soul energy for that matter the therapist, believed in re- itual seekers gain glimpses of the underlying the human soul is unique incarnation. It was this universal experience workings and complete unity of the true ‘un- that convinced the pioneers – who were all seen universe’, whether spontaneously, via the physical world is an illusion scientifically trained psychologists and psychi- atrists, and most of whom were initially of a balance, forgiveness, faith, patience are paramount sceptical or atheist persuasion – that this was One potential no mere placebo effect, and that reincarnation paranormal Our aim is to reach out and help an ever-growing number of people to is a reality. explanation is that the look behind the veil, and to have a consistent spiritual framework with Alternative Paranormal Explanations which to take their own responsibility for trying to make sense of their subjects are tapping lives. There are no subscriptions or headquarters, and all communication One potential paranormal explanation for this is via electronic newsletter, email and our lively discussion forum. past-life evidence that would not involve rein- into some sort of carnation is that the subjects are tapping into universal memory or some sort of universal memory or conscious- If you agree that it’s time for a change, and that ness, and that the past lives accessed in this consciousness together we can make a difference, please visit 58 December 2005 | Sub Rosa www.rsmovement.orSub Rosa | Decemberg 2005 59 Features RATIONAL SPIRITUALITY RATIONAL SPIRITUALITY Features

not mutually exclusive, but represent a fun- Source; or by Jainist and Taoist propositions damental duality. We are both individual rein- that if we adopt a disinterested or even wholly Interlife subjects carnating entities and holographic representa- ascetic approach we ensure that we generate actively rebut the tions of the unified Ultimate Source all at the no more karma – either positive or negative same time. – and again escape the earthly round thereby. idea of short-cutting This leads us into another contentious is- So do any of these ideas hold water? Clearly sue. The key corollary concept to that of rein- they are all, as always, predicated on revealed the karmic round carnation is that of karma. And the one thing wisdom of one type or another. By contrast that most reincarnatory approaches, both an- there is one final piece of modern evidence experience in full as well? So, arguably, those cient and modern, are agreed upon is that we that arguably acts as the ultimate source of who believe in their ability to short-cut the reincarnate repeatedly in order to progress spiritual wisdom, because it derives from sub- karmic round may be in for something of a our karma sufficiently to break free from the jects who have been regressed not just into shock on their return to the ethereal realms. “earthly karmic round”, and to “reunite with past lives but also into the interlife between in- (Of course, I am well aware that many people the Source”. In other words, to reach the carnations. In the seventies and early eighties engage in alchemical, shamanic, magical, occult point where we have learnt and experienced a number of pioneering psychologists and psy- and mystical practices not so much to tran- everything we can from earthly life, and so no chiatrists – operating largely independently in scend the physical realm as to actively create longer need to incarnate in physical form – al- those pre-internet days – stumbled upon this their own reality, but this is a separate issue though souls who have advanced to this stage interlife state, and it is the consistency of their that we have no time to consider here.) can of course volunteer to come back again to subjects’ testimony that lends it such weight. help humankind in general to progress. And remember again that these are ordinary Reuniting With the Source But even if they accept the reality of re- people, drawn from all walks of life, who do incarnation, many spiritual seekers who are not hold themselves out as spiritual gurus and Interlife regression evidence also forces us to well versed in more esoteric spiritual mysti- who have no religious or political axe to grind. reconsider exactly what we mean by reunit- I have little doubt cism – often prompted by their glimpses of Nor is it likely that they were making their re- ing with the Source, because subjects report that what they the unity of the universe – still seem to believe ports up from information obtained by normal that there is a huge, rich and varied amount that it is possible to escape the karmic round means, given their often obscure nature and of activity occurring in the ethereal realms. are glimpsing early. In other words, they suggest that in any the lack of general publicity that this research Souls at different levels of advancement are in given life, and without any real knowledge of received at the time. training for all kinds of specialist work, from has a genuine, where we are in terms of karmic advance- In this instance we find that interlife sub- learning to be a spirit guide to other souls, ment over an unknown number of incarna- jects actively rebut the idea of short-cutting the through to training as “intelligent designers” objective reality tions, any of us can short-cut the process and karmic round. They consistently indicate that who nudge evolution in certain directions on reunite with the Source after the next physical we are in this for the long haul, and that it is various inhabited planets throughout the uni- death by following a variety of practices. Such only by experiencing both sides of every coin, verse by adapting existing blueprints for dif- meditation or via the use of psychedelics, it is people might be influenced by, for example, and by active engagement in physical life, that ferent environments. And one of our options probably the most profound experience they Gnosticism, which is somewhat silent about we progress sufficiently to escape it. The idea after escaping the earthly karmic round might ever have. Given the extent to which this is reincarnation but certainly regards the physi- that there are no short-cuts is also suggested be to obtain experience in a different plan- supported by modern scientific theory about cal condition as abhorrent and to be escaped by the ultimate question of why, periodically etary environment – for example, perhaps, a the holographic, energetic and conscious na- from at all costs; or by alchemical ideas of and at the point of the timeless universal cycle more nonphysical one. The implication seems ture of everything in the universe – both ap- the transformation of the soul, perhaps mak- that we might refer to as the “Dawn of Brah- to be that if you were to ask even a relatively parently physical and nonphysical – I have lit- ing enigmatic references to obscure Ancient ma” – or “Big Bang” in more modern terms advanced soul who had escaped the earthly tle doubt that what they are glimpsing has a Egyptian knowledge, whereby they think they – does the Ultimate Source burst forth into karmic round if they had even experienced the genuine, objective reality, albeit that some of can guarantee their passage into the ethereal manifestation of the physical and nonphysical Ultimate Source properly, let alone reunited the more detailed aspects of psychedelic ex- realms proper, without having to return to realms and all their forms? The best answer I with it, they would laugh in your face – good periences are objectively questionable. the physical plane, by any number of magical have ever heard for this ultimate question is naturedly, of course. Such transcendental experiences of unity spells or incantations; or by eastern mysticism that the Source wants to grow by experience. This is rather more complex than the are enough to convince many people that it and the essentially Buddhist idea that, because And since we are all just small holographic relatively simplistic idea in most reincarna- is wrong to think of our souls as individually we are not individual souls but all part of one representations of this Source, at the same tory worldviews – arguably derived from, or reincarnating entities. Nevertheless, rational great unity, as soon as we realise this and tran- time as being individual souls on our rein- at least bolstered by, glimpses of the ultimate spirituality insists that these two ideas are scend the ego we are free to reunite with the carnatory journey, then surely our job is to unity down the ages – that once we have fin-

60 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 61 Features RATIONAL SPIRITUALITY RATIONAL SPIRITUALITY Features

were almost certainly allowing their own sub- unresolved emotions of hatred, fear, jealousy, jective expectations and cultural conditioning revenge and so on. In Stevenson’s cases, these to provide them with perceptions that had lit- emotions are so strong and unresolved that tle or no underlying validity. Moreover, they they are accompanied by a physical imprint. may have been completely unable to distin- But what, then, is the real karmic context? guish between experiences of the purely astral To understand this, we need to differenti- as opposed to properly ethereal realms. ate between what I refer to as “progressive” and “repetitive” karma. In fact, this has many The Real Dynamics of Karma similarities with the Hindu concepts of “dhar- ma” and karma, but I believe this traditional Let us now come back down to earth some- analysis still contains some fundamental flaws. what, and consider what all this means for the Modern interlife research shows that more way we approach our everyday lives. What advanced souls not only conduct detailed re- does karmic advancement really mean, and views of their past lives, but also actively choose how do we go about achieving it? It is an unavoidable fact that most histori- cal notions of karma have involved the idea of “action and reaction”, whether this be in the gentle form of “you reap what you sow” or the harsher form of “punishment” for past misdemeanours. Indeed, the influence of this view remains so strong that even most past- life therapists still cling to it in one form or another – even when the evidence in front of them directly contradicts it. So, for exam- ple, we find that some therapeutic case stud- ies of past-life regression reveal a succession ished with earth, the Ultimate Source imme- evidence suggests that our perceptions of the of horrible lives involving murder and other diately awaits us. Of course, some esoteric ethereal realms are governed by our expecta- horrific experiences in which the subject does worldviews discuss hierarchies of angels and tions and cultural conditioning – despite there not alternate between being victim and perpe- demons and different layers of heaven and hell being a clear and consistent underlying con- trator, but is consistently the innocent victim. and so on, and Qabalism incorporates brave text for these perceptions. So relatively imma- How can this represent a process of action attempts to show that the ethereal realms ture souls will tend to hold onto quasi-physi- and reaction? are many layered. But they tend to represent cal perceptions of their surroundings and of If we return to Stevenson’s cases of birth- somewhat rigid and hierarchical approaches, other souls, especially to ease their transition marks and defects, again they provide crucial whereas modern interlife regression evidence after physical death, whereas more advanced evidence in this area, even though he himself indicates a much more fluid process with only souls will tend to perceive the true nature of has been unable to pontificate on their kar- partially-defined boundaries. these realms and their inhabitants as primarily mic significance in order to protect his pro- It is also highly pertinent that this modern energy forms. And regression subjects spe- fessional reputation. But I am under no such cifically emphasise that perceptions of hellish constraints, so can ask the obvious question. and demonic realms may occasionally occur, How can some sort of process of action and Karma and karmic We need to but that these are mere psychic projections of reaction leave the children in these cases our own individual or collective making, that with what appears to be a physical punishment progression is all differentiate between have no permanence or underlying validity. Of in their current life when they were usually what I refer to as course, I cannot help but point out the impli- quite innocent victims in their previous one? about learning, and cation of this, as controversial as it may be, Of course, it cannot. In fact, therapists have experiencing both “progressive” and which is that many of our historical esoteric long realised that the primary causes of sub- gurus who supposedly glimpsed and then de- jects retaining physical or other reminders of a sides of every coin “repetitive” karma scribed these realms while in incarnate trance past-life trauma in their current life are strong

62 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 63 Features RATIONAL SPIRITUALITY and plan their next ones. And even when they karmic progression. choose adverse circumstances such as physi- I would suggest – albeit with some humil- cal disability or financial or emotional depriva- ity, and some reservations about making sure tion, they do so to progress their karma as part we avoid the mistakes of the past – that if we of a learning experience. But this research also want to launch a genuine and far-reaching new shows that less advanced souls often ignore age revolution, and to change the world, we all the review and planning advice available to would do well to pull together behind this them in the interlife – merely “sleeping”, or new rational spiritual framework. A frame- hurrying back with no real plan – and as a re- work based not on the revealed wisdom of sult their lives tend to exhibit repetitive pat- the past and its questionable philosophies and terns. However, even when as a result they motivations, but on consistent modern evi- repeatedly face adverse circumstances, it is dence from a whole plethora of ordinary peo- to give them another opportunity to learn the ple who, I emphasise again, have no political lesson that has escaped them in the past – and or religious axe to grind, and no pretensions not because of some sort of karmic punish- as prophets or gurus. Rational spirituality can ment, or dynamic of action and reaction. And not only unite existing spiritual seekers, but the most crucial test for those stuck in a re- also attract new ones into the fold as the sup- petitive rut is to learn to properly assimilate posedly rational doctrine of materialism is in- their strong negative emotions – either during creasingly laid bare as an illogical nonsense. incarnate life, or by recognising and properly Above all, it gives us a chance to seize our utilising the assistance available to them in the proper birthright, and to take humanity for- interlife – so that they no longer hold their wards into a brighter future. restrictive karmic charge. So my strongest conclusion from an analy- sis of the modern evidence is that karma and karmic progression is all about learning, and Profile experiencing both sides of every coin. There is no karmic “law” of action and reaction. In- Ian Lawton is a full-time writer-re- deed, to the extent that this idea allows peo- searcher specialising in ancient history, ple to hide behind a veil of determinism in- esoterica and spiritual philosophy. His stead of recognising their full responsibility for first two books, Giza: The Truth (1999) making their own karmic choices, this aspect and Genesis Unveiled (2003) were pub- of the revealed wisdom of the past is not just lished by Virgin and have sold over misleading but positively harmful. At the very 30,000 copies worldwide. Through least, instead of worrying about how our past them he has gained a considerable actions and intentions may be influencing the reputation for adopting a scholarly and present, we should be concentrating on how logical approach even to the spiritual our current actions and intentions will affect aspects of his research. In 2004 he pub- our future. And the key will be for us to bal- lished his third book, The Book of the ance and moderate our reactions and emo- Soul: Rational Spirituality for the Twen- tions to all circumstances, whether supposedly ty-First Century, which is available direct good or bad; to forgive ourselves and others; from his website at www.ianlawton. to try to understand the lessons arising from com or via Amazon UK, and contains any set of circumstances, and why we might details of the majority of the evidence have chosen them; and to use our intuition to and analysis presented here. In 2005 he try to make the right decisions to keep us on founded the Rational Spirituality Move- our chosen life path. Above all, of course, we ment, details of which are available at need to recognise that material power, status www.rsmovement.org. and wealth are conclusively not indicators of

64 December 2005 | Sub Rosa SubSub Rosa | December 2005 65 TANOUCHED OLD SOUL . . . THE HYPER-DIMENSIONALPro AMBASSADORfiler

r Ian Stevenson studied medicine at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, “Knowledge in science, Ian Stevenson: transferring to McGill University in Montreal after the outbreak of World as Whitehead said, WarD II. His studies in medicine and biochemis- keeps like a fish” try led to an interest in psychosomatic illnesses (although his mother should also be credited, as Stevenson once said “my mother had believed in the field of psychosomatic medicine began to strongly in the influence of thoughts on psychi- look distant, Stevenson began studying psychia- cal well-being, and I may owe to her my initial try as a means to continue with his interest in the An Old Soul interest”). It was largely this research which effects of mental states on the body. As a part prompted Stevenson to abandon his reduction- of his studies into psychoanalysis, he began ex- ist philosophy, and it showed him the degree to perimenting with psychedelic drugs such as LSD which modern science has unnecessarily ignored and mescaline (remembering that in the 1950s, ancient knowledge: these were still legal and many people thought there was great promise in therapy using these In these researches we thought of ourselves as drugs). While offering caution about the condi- pioneers, but we could not long sustain this view tions under which one administers psychedelics, unless we stopped reading and also forgot what Stevenson said “they increased my conviction of we had already read. Solomon has said in Prov- the dual nature of mind and body.” erbs: “A merry heart doeth good like medicine: However, Stevenson’s distaste of reduction- but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” References ism in scientific and medical circles was followed to what we call psychosomatic medicine occur now by his annoyance at the importance given frequently in Shakespeare and in many other to Freud’s theories in psychiatry, at the expense writers outside the medical profession . . . what of practically every other idea. Stevenson con- needs emphasis is not the frequency of referenc- veyed the problem with a short quote: “where es to the effect of the mind on the body, but the all men think alike, few men think at all.” Some acceptance without question through centuries might say that line has been a driving force for of this relationship. Doubts and neglect of this Stevenson throughout his life, from the psycho- knowledge came later, at least within the medi- somatic research, to his experimentation with cal profession, with the discovery of the role of hallucinogens, and his departure from the ‘or- microorganisms in disease . . . it was the middle thodox’ theories of Freud – but most signifi- of this century before physicians discovered again cantly, in the research he was about to under- the power of the mind on the body. take . . . into the evidence for reincarnation. Stevenson has had a life-long interest in para- When the prospect of permanent employment psychology, and had been familiar with the con-

Can you imagine dedicating more than four decades of your life to investigating a subject, only to have your work ignored, even ridiculed, by your peers? Would it be frustrating? Take that a step further, and imagine if those four decades of research had in fact resulted in a solid amount of evidence for an existence of the ‘soul’ after physical death, in the form of reincarnation. You might wonder how it is that your work, of such obvious importance, could slip through the cracks of a world enamored with ‘reality’ television, plastic music and ‘celebrity scientists’. Such is the lot of Dr Ian Stevenson, Director of the Division of Personality Studies at the University of Virginia. Born in Canada in 1918, the now 87-year-old researcher has devoted more than half of his life to investigating reports from individuals of past-life memories – and has continued to do so, at a pace that would make someone half his age weary. 66 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 67 Illustration by Adam Scott Miller Profiler THE HYPER-DIMENSIONAL AAMBASSADORN OLD SOUL TANOUCHED OLD SOUL . . . THE HYPER-DIMENSIONALPro AMBASSADORfiler cept of reincarnation since childhood. In 1960, “I soon found that the All the cases I’ve investigated so far have short- he published an essay in the Journal of the Amer- comings. Even taken together, they do not offer In-depth Reading: ican Society for Psychical Research, reporting cases were much more anything like proof. But as the body of evidence his observations on the history of research into accumulates, it’s more likely that more and more Old Souls, by Tom Shroder reincarnation. This investigation brought to the numerous than I had people will see its relevance. fore such ideas as the now well-known fact that the majority of persons claiming to remember been led to expect” Nevertheless, Stevenson does say “I think a ra- past lives are children, and that these memories tional person, if he wants, can believe in rein- generally disappear between ages 5 to 8. Con- whether someone clearly living once died. This carnation on the basis of evidence”. This is no cluding his essay, Stevenson recommended that may prove the easier task. doubt due to the convincing nature of some of further research be undertaken to evaluate the his cases. Take the case of Swarnlata Mishra, claims made by children of past lives, pointing His essay won him a prize from the American born in India in 1948. Not long after turning out that . . . three years old, she began suggesting that she SPR, and garnered much attention concerning Amazon US: the idea of collecting evidence for reincarnation. lived at a different address and with a different . . . in mediumistic communications we have the family. On the basis of the information she pro- Even so, Stevenson said “I do not think it oc- Amazon UK: problem of proving that someone clearly dead still curred to me then that I would be the person vided, Stevenson was able to track down this lives. In evaluating apparent memories of former to undertake the task”. However, Eileen Garrett ‘previous life’. What’s more, she then provided incarnations, the problem consists in judging – the founder of Parapsychology Foundation more than 50 specific facts about this person – personally requested that he go to India to in- which were verified by the ‘former’ family. In Twenty Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation, vestigate an alleged reincarnation case she had particular, she identified members of the fam- by Dr Ian Stevenson heard about. Despite undergoing a severe case ily from a large group of visitors, and even her of culture shock, Stevenson’s voyage to India and ‘son’ despite him protesting for more than a day Sri Lanka turned up a surprising fact: “I soon that he was not. found that the cases were much more numerous Apart from simply elucidating cases of re- than I had been led to expect from the scattered incarnation, Stevenson’s research has also pro- reports I had summarized for my essay.” vided some recurrent features. These include: Subsequent visits to the subcontinent contin- ued to turn up more cases, demanding Steven- • Most past lives are recalled by children son’s full-time attention. In a stroke of fortune, between the ages of 2 and 8, and forgotten Amazon US: at this time a wealthy benefactor came forward. after this point. Chester Carlson, the inventor of xerography, Amazon UK: began to offer funds to help pay for his research. • Often ‘announcing dreams’ occur, in which Later, he then offered matching funds for an en- the deceased tells someone in the family they dowed chair at the University of Virginia which are about to be reborn to them. Children Who Remember Past Lives, by enabled Stevenson to devote himself full-time Dr Ian Stevenson to the research – a decision which he says he • There is a high incidence of violent death in has never regretted. the persons whose lives are remembered. Since that time, Ian Stevenson has traveled the globe – he has investigated cases in India, • That birthmarks can occur which correspond Sri Lanka, Lebanon, Brazil, Turkey, Thailand, closely in size and location with a wound causing Europe and North America. He and his team . . . in mediumistic have more than 2600 investigated cases on their “I think a rational communications we have books – though he is quick to point out that they are of varying quality and thoroughness. person, if he wants, the problem of proving This is what makes Stevenson stand out from Amazon US: most other researchers of ‘fringe’ topics: his can believe in that someone clearly scientific professionalism. He avoids any sort of Amazon UK: ‘hyping’ of his data, going as far as to say: reincarnation on the dead still lives basis of evidence”

68 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 69 Profiler THE HYPER-DIMENSIONAL AAMBASSADORN OLD SOUL TANOUCHED OOLDLD SOUL SOUL . . . THE THE HYPER-DIMENSIONALHYPER-DIMENSIONALProPr AMBASSADORAMBASSADOoffiiller R death in the previous life. birthmarks and birth defects on the claimant, Even though he was on the eve of turning 80, even going back through autopsy records in There’s a saying, his stamina was astounding. Ranging far outside It is this final point which perhaps gives Dr order to ensure maximum evidence is available the cities in both Lebanon and India, relentlessly Ian Stevenson’s research some much-needed for the claims. Of these cases, he says they “Science only logging 12-hour days seven days a week in often evidential clout. Much of his more recent “provide the strongest evidence we have so changes one funeral inhospitable environments, he rarely betrayed research has focused on identifying injuries far in favor of reincarnation.” [see http://www. the slightest fatigue. It was all I could do to keep in the claimed past life which match up to childpastlives.org/birthmrk.htm for an at a time.” from begging him to take a break.

essay by Stevenson on this. ] However, Stevenson is under no illusions as to Other convincing cases uncovered by the chances of his work being recognised by Notable Quotes From Dr Ian Stevenson: Stevenson involve xenoglossy, the ability to mainstream science before his advanced years speak a language never learned (in this life at catch up with him. On being questioned by least), combined with evidential memories of Shroder on this, he dryly noted: “Knowledge in science, as Whitehead said, nosis is never a useful tool, but I do deplore times long past. keeps like a fish” the commercial exploitation and misleading Stevenson’s dedication to his work has con- There’s a saying, “Science only changes one claims that are often made.” tinued through the decades, despite complaints funeral at a time.” “For me everything now believed by scien- from his University alumni concerning the na- tists is open to question, and I am always “My idea of God is that He is evolving. I ture of his research, and even pleas from his Nevertheless, inroads are being made, and dismayed to find that many scientists accept don’t believe in the watchmaker God, the wife to not ruin a promising career. Most peo- perhaps one day his contribution will receive current knowledge as fixed forever” original creator who built the watch and ple profess their amazement at the energy he the respect it deserves. In the Journal of Nervous then lets it tick. I believe in a “self-maker devotes to the research – when journalist Tom and Mental Diseases, Dr Harold Lief wrote of “I can also believe that in mystical experi- God” who is evolving and experimenting; Schroder traveled with him during the writing Ian Stevenson: “Either he is making a colossal ences we may have direct access to impor- so are we as parts of Him.” of his book Old Souls: The Scientific Evidence for mistake, or he will be known as the Galileo of tant truths or, more specifically, to the most Reincarnation, he could barely keep pace: the twentieth century.” important truth of all, which is that we our- “Precognition is just a clearer idea of a pos- selves are part of a Great All” sible future. Imagine a person in a canoe paddling down a river. Around the corner “Freud now appears to me to have been an are rapids he doesn’t see. Someone on the emperor without clothes, and I am less sur- cliff above, seeing the whole river, can see prised that he developed the concepts he es- what’s likely to happen to that person.” poused than that he succeeded in persuading so many persons to accept them” “I have concentrated most of my effort in examining the evidence for the survival of “Everyone wants a case in Iowa. Well, I’ll human personality after death. I have stud- give them a case in Iowa. They aren’t as ied and written reports on apparitions, the strong as the Lebanese cases, but they do visions of dying persons and of persons re- exist.” covered from near death, and to certain types of mediumistic communications. The “It seems to me that it’s far better to be evidence that I have found most promis- 90 percent certain of something important ing has been that provided by children who than 100 percent certain of something that claim to remember past lives.” is trivial.” “What was more distressing was that other “In my experience, nearly all so-called pre- people, instead of coming to me and say- vious personalities evoked through hypno- ing, “I’d like to see your data,” would make tism are entirely imaginary and a result of cracks to her at cocktail parties in my ab- the patient’s eagerness to obey the hypno- sence, tease her, and I thought that was tist’s suggestion . . . I’m not saying that hyp- shameful...” (on his late wife)

70 December 2005 | Sub Rosa SSubub Rosa | December 2005 7175 The Seed-Stone Great Pyramid of Creation b

y y t is said that in its day the Great Pyramid

Gary Osborn and Philip Gardiner Philip and Osborn Gary would have stood around 480 feet high, and that it once shone bright in the sun, having been covered in casing stones made Iof pure white limestone. It must have looked magnificent – an inspiration to human achieve- ment. The ancient Greek geographer Strabo, (63 BC-24 AD – having lived at the same time as Jesus) once said that the Great Pyramid seemed like a “building let down from heaven, untouched by human hands”. Rumour has it that these white limestone casing stones numbered 144,000 – a sacred number of some relevance, although the true number is estimated to be 115,000. This is yet another example of the encoded details or clues we keep finding in many different sources and which have been added at some time in his- tory and for good reason, as they were perhaps meant to expose the true purpose of the Great Pyramid to those with the eyes to see it as well as preserve this information. In the sunlight these white casing stones would have acted like gigantic mirrors, reflect- ing a light so powerful that the Great Pyramid

72 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Illustration by MarkSub James Rosa Foster | December 2005 73 Features SEED-STONE OF CREATION SEED-STONE OF CREATION Features

“would have been visible from the moon as a the apex down. However, after realising the microcosmic levels of reality; the “seeds” from shining star on earth” (according to Great Pyra- impossible task set before them, we are told This mythical act of which all things are being continually created mid of Giza Research Association). No wonder that they abandoned the project. creation is similar to and recreated. the ancient Egyptians named the Great Pyramid Although coarse and uneven, the summit is In the Egyptian creation myth, it was from Khut, meaning ‘Light’, or Ikhet, the “Glorious a convenient viewpoint for those who decide the creation of the this phallic hill, that Atum-Ra, by enfolding his Light” or “Shining One”. (and are allowed) to climb its 203 courses or hand around his penis (again demonstrating the However, it is said that this idyllic vision has steps (originally 210) – each of which are 3- universe as told by union of opposites) masturbated himself to an been robbed from us in more recent times by ft high or more. To the ancient Egyptians, the the Arabs of the region, who in 1356 began dis- capstone or pyramidion of a pyramid or phal- modern physicists mantling its casing stones to build the temples lic-shaped obelisk (really a raised-up pyramid) and mosques in the surrounding city of Cairo, signified the apex or pinnacle of their beliefs in mound is a metaphor for a vortex of energy – a which had been partly destroyed by an earth- more ways than one. circular matrix created from its own centre. This quake in 1301 AD. Reports say that not only creation myth is the origin of the ancient Egyp- were the casing stones removed, but the men The Seed of Creation tian Sun symbol – a simple circle with a dot. even tried to dismantle the pyramid itself from Some traditions hold to the idea that the Out of all the ‘Creation’ myths of the ancient waters of Nun surround this ‘hill’ or ‘mound’ Egyptians, the ‘Heliopolitan’ version (named – being the first ‘world mountain.’ However, it after the city of Heliopolis) is the most popular. would be more correct to say that the “waters” To the ancient It is said that in the beginning, the universe (the potential energy) of Nun is at the very cen- was a “formless, watery void” named Nu tre of the mound – like the lava at the centre of Egyptians, the capstone or Nun. The English word ‘None’ – meaning a volcano – being the centre of all creation. or pyramidion signified “nothing” or “zero” may be a derivative of this Here, the confusing concept of the ‘World ancient name. Mountain’ can be further explained in that an the apex or pinnacle Out of the waters of Nun emerged a phallic- analogy was made with the “liquid-fire” (lava) shaped hill – the ‘primeval mound’. This hill or that rises up from the depths or centre of the of their beliefs earth and through a mountain volcano so as to explode in all directions from the truncated summit – note that the Great Pyramid is also truncated. The inherent sexual imagery was not lost on those who noticed the correspond- ence between the lava rising upward through the axis of the volcano, the Kundalini prana energy – the mix of ‘fire’ and ‘water’ – rising up through the sushumna of the spine, and the semen, which rises up through the phallus at the climactic moment of sexual intercourse between male and female subjects – again the opposites. In Hindu cosmology, this ancient Egyptian imagery of the energy rising up through the phal- lus of Atum-Ra and surrounded by the “waters” – the matrix of space – would be interpreted as the male Lingam (erect penis) surrounded by the female Yoni (vagina). It is said that from this union of Lingam and Yoni, the whole universe comes into being. And this would be correct as the sexual act reflects the fusion of oppo- sites; the same mechanistic process that goes Pyramidion from Amenemhat III’s Pyramid at Dashour (Photograph © Jon Bodsworth www.egyptarchive.co.uk) on within one’s consciousness and also at the Reconsecrated Egyptian obelisk (Photograph © Philip Gardiner)

74 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 75 Features SEED-STONE OF CREATION SEED-STONE OF CREATION Features explosive orgasm – his seed igniting the birth of or ‘seed-droplet’ which seeded this creation. every man and woman and inside the centre the Universe and creating all life within it. From The meteorites We have here a reference to the ‘zero- of the skull – hence the placement of the Ben- this fusion point, the Universe expanded in all that fell to earth point’, because that’s just what the pinpoint ben on top of the column, obelisk or pyramid complexity – unfolding like a flower through apex of the pyramid symbolises. We also see which represented the human spine and body. many levels. In the minds of the ancients, this were believed to be in this interpretation, the ‘proto-atom’ of the To the ancient Egyptians the soul was known was how the material world became manifest. cosmos – i.e., zero-time, and just before the as the ba – which they believed was one’s own This mythical act of creation is similar to semen droplets of “big bang”, as conceptualised by our modern- link to the source or Godhead known as the the creation of the universe as told by modern day physicists. Some say that the pyramid was Akh. Note that among the Pyramid Texts are physicists – the popular “Big Bang” theory. This the Creator capped by a gold-plated Benben pyramidion the ‘glorifications’ – the sabu (associated with theory holds that the Universe was seeded into while others say that the capstone was of pure the star constellation of Orion) which makes life from a ‘point of singularity’ – the proto- permassive blackholes’ – around which swirl black onyx, or possibly even a quartz crys- one into an Akh. The ‘Akh’ is the ancient Egyp- atom (Atum) of potential energy/information, the galaxies of suns and from which they are tal or meteorite. There is logic behind the tian term for the ‘spiritual centre’ or ‘source of which exploded its contents outwards and in being both created and destroyed. last suggestion. creation’ – i.e., zero-point – so Akh is the high- all directions. Like the Tao of Chinese tradition, Atum- The meteorites that fell to earth were be- est point or centre reached and it is reached As the matrix of the Universe expanded, Ra was the neter (nature) or ‘neuter’ (neu- lieved to be semen droplets of the Creator; via the ba – the soul. there appeared within it, similar ‘points of sin- tral) – an Androgynous figure – neither male deposits from Atum-Ra’s own creation of the The Biblical ‘dove’ is also symbolic of the gularity’ – the centres of the vortices we call nor female, but encompassing both opposites universe. It is said that the meteorites that soul, but more importantly, according to the atoms and subatomic particles from which all and their principles. However, to many Atum were observed falling, and the ones discov- Egyptians it was believed that the soul – the manner of complex patterns of creation are was also known as a male god, and immedi- ered – some of which were conically shaped ‘life force’ that sustains our very existence – blinking into and out of existence. At another ately after this burst of creation, from his phal- (pyramidion) due to the friction caused by the was given to us by the Creator Atum-Ra, who level there are also the blackhole/whitehole lus – which in most esoteric traditions also earth’s atmosphere – provided evidence for represents the Akh and is equatable with the vortices, known by our astrophysicists as ‘su- doubles as the spinal column – two opposite this belief. Sumerian god Anu. Its interesting that scien- beings – the god Shu and the female goddess Te- Both the Benben stone and its related ar- tists now have evidence that falling meteorites, fnut emerge. Shu is the ‘active force’ in the uni- chetypal creature, the bennu bird, (a Heron) and particularly iron meteorites, played an im- verse – the ‘male principle,’ which makes things which is often depicted perched on top of the portant part in the evolution of life on earth. happen, and Tefnut is the ‘female principle,’ capstone of an obelisk (‘sacred pillar’ – sha- Keeping with these philosophical thoughts, one which limits, regulates, controls and directs the manic), also represented the ‘soul’, the ‘divine could interpret this to mean that like an egg, male energy. Tefnut is also known as Maat or spark’ or ‘life force’ that is said to reside in the earth, had been seeded, or infused with the Ma’at – the goddess of justice and judgement, who is also the risen Kundalini goddess of wis- dom. This would mean that the Kundalini expe- rience is associated with one’s own judgement, in that having this experience, and successfully all the way to its climax, one is ensured a place in heaven. The Great Pyramid

The Great Pyramid is a splendid example of the shamanic world mountain or the primordial mound of creation. The capstone of the pyramid which was also placed at the apex of columns and obelisks, representing the shamanic ‘world pillar’, was called the Benben and represented the ‘seed-point’ of creation. In other words, the pillar or obelisk represented the phallus of the supreme god Atum-Ra, who personified the source-centre of the cosmos and all of creation Reconsecrated Egyptian obelisk (Photograph © Philip Gardiner) – the Benben on top representing the sperm Glass pyramid at the Louvre, Paris (Photograph © Philip Gardiner)

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soul of the Akh Creator – the life-force, the would benefit surely. Some books by Philip same force or energy which is evident in the There seems to be a It is indeed a strange world when we con- Gardner and Gary Osborn: shining stars. “knowledge” reserved sider that many of us would rather continue to Furthermore, the bennu bird is also the accept or believe without question, the rather The Serpent Grail: The Truth Behind the Holy Phoenix – the sacred bird of rebirth and res- for the general masses mundane explanations given by mainstream Grail, the Philosopher’s Stone and the Elixir of urrection. This suggests that the ancient Egyp- and another kind of Egyptologists and historians, while at the same Life tians, or a people from whom these mythical time ignoring the fact that there are also many creature-archetypes, symbols and metaphors knowledge for those mystifying symbols, signs, secret codes, secret were perhaps borrowed or inherited – also be- messages, in text, art and architecture both an- lieved in reincarnation: that all things go around who are “in the know” cient and modern, which seem to be conveying in cycles and that although the physical vehicle a far greater purpose given to the pyramids – may be discarded and changed, the soul or ‘di- are unconscious of this ‘divine spark’ within us and most notably, the Great Pyramid of Giza. Amazon UK vine spark’ of the universe which reincarnates and therefore our own spirituality and immor- Given these facts, the reader will appre- – becoming immersed in matter – belongs to tality. This explanation of ours may have some ciate, that there seems to be a “knowledge” the Creator, to which everything is linked, and light shed on it by the following quote by au- reserved for the general masses and another is immortal and indestructible. thor Peter Lemesurier, in his book The Great kind of knowledge for those who are “in the We would say that the Great Pyramid repre- Pyramid Decoded: know”, and those who have earned their ‘right sents this indestructible ‘divine spark’ – perhaps to know’ by being able to read the hidden clues the ‘stone’ that fell from heaven – immersed There is some evidence in the ancient texts that in the symbolic language. But to be able to read as it is in the material world as the zero-point the eventual addition of the capstone (and thus these clues and pointers, one must first be- Gnosis: The Secret of Solomon’s Temple – the seed-stone and point of creation itself. the completion of the pyramid to its full design) come aware of; acknowledge and understand Revealed was seen by the initiates as symbolising the return the reality of an extraordinary and rare phe- The Capstone of the Light to the world in the Messianic person nomenon regarding the human mind and the of the resurrected Osiris’. physical body – a phenomenon we can all ex- Many are perplexed as to the reasons why the perience, and this experience is exemplified in Great Pyramid might have been built without There is more to this explanation or theory the conception of the Benben – the apex of the being capped – after all it’s a little unsettling that which we will reveal in books yet to be Amazon UK a building like that could remain purposefully published – suffice to say, that ancient Egyptian (Photograph © Jon Bodsworth www.egyptarchive.co.uk) unfinished. An early reference to the missing imagery – i.e., obelisks and truncated pyramids capstone comes from Diodorus Siculus – who – are endemic in Masonic symbolism, and this claims to have visited the Giza complex and saw posits a nagging question which has not been the Great Pyramid with its casing stones intact. satisfactorily answered – if at all asked: He wrote that the structure was “complete If the Great Pyramid and other pyramids and without the least decay, and yet it lacked are merely ‘tombs, and tombs only’, as many its apex stone”. an orthodox historian or Egyptologist would The Shining Ones: The World’s Most This is interesting because how could the be quick to inform us, then why does all this Powerful Secret Society Revealed capstone have been dismantled without first emblematic imagery exist? This symbolism be- demolishing the smooth casing-stones so that longs not only to the many secret societies, but one could approach it by stepping on the course also to many mystery schools of the esoteric. core-masonry that lay underneath? This state- Surely such imagery hints at a vast secret associ- ment by Diodorus is used as evidence that the ated with the Great Pyramid? A profound secret capstone had never been added to the struc- that has been hiding behind the ‘smokescreen Amazon UK ture – and this is now the emerging consensus cover’ of it being a tomb or burial mound? view: that the Great Pyramid never had a cap- And what is this secret? Take the symbolic stone placed on it – which indeed contradicts location of the glass pyramid in Paris: was the the ancient Egyptian veneration of the Benben glass pyramid built and placed on the former – and that it remained unfinished and perhaps Paris ‘zero-point’ meridian meant to silently for a more profound symbolic reason: perhaps refer to this secret and/or perhaps immortal- something to do with the fact that most of us ise it? Again, only those with the eyes to see it

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man, god-king-priest, would go into trance to boxes: “The real treasure is not always what’s Over time, an ancient initiate out of body experiences – the flight of “The real treasure is not inside the box but is the box itself”. shamanic culture the ba or soul, and ultimately the enlighten- always what’s inside the After looking briefly at just some of the con- ment experience known by the Hindus as Kun- clusions given and questions posed in this essay, had developed into a dalini, and by which the shaman accessed the box but is the box itself” no one can really doubt that the amount of in- Akh – the source-centre of creation – and at formation that can be gained from closely stud- ‘cosmological system’ the climax of enlightenment. being part of this agenda. ying the Great Pyramid and its location – even Our own conclusion is, that it is from this Anything that contains important informa- if much of this information was intentionally en- pyramid and what it really signifies. experience – one’s awakening to this source tion which is not instantly recognisable on the coded or not – is indeed so mind-boggling, that The Benben is the zero-point; the non-local, – that the profound knowledge still being pre- surface can be considered to be a retainer of a one could be forgiven for thinking that ‘God’ non-dimensional nature of the source conscious- served by various secret societies, was first de- code or cipher, and we can be sure that this is or some ‘higher intelligence’ not constrained ness within us and from which the informa- rived, and which over time, an ancient shamanic what the Great Pyramid is in structure. by the laws of our reality had built it, saying: tion patterns of one’s own reality are created culture had developed into a ‘cosmological sys- As described by our friend, the writer and “There you are, all the information you need to and projected outwards like the spokes ra- tem’. We are now certain that this knowledge esotericist Anneke Koremans, the pyramids and know about you and your reality is all stored within diating from the hub of a wheel. Our theory is summarised in the layout and symbolic loca- all temples for that matter are like cupboards or this monument – find it and use it!” . . . that the tip of the missing capstone repre- tion of Giza and the architectural design of the sents the zero-point of creation is supported Great Pyramid, which also contains encoded by the following: information about the geophysics of the earth It’s a fact that Quartz grows in a particu- and acts as a precessional clock to determine Profile lar geometric pattern, as do all crystals. And the cycles of reality within which it was believed it’s a fact that quartz grows in the form of a man is trapped. The shaman sought to find a Philip Gardner has been described vari- vealed. For more information, see Philip’s triangle or pyramid with an angle of 51.43 de- way in which to escape these cycles through ously as – the anti-Christ, the Devil incar- personal website which links to the official grees – the same as the sloping sides of the trance and these altered state experiences. nate, a seeker after truth, shocking, the websites for each book [http://www.philip- Great Pyramid. The reality of this is supplemented by the most interesting interviewee ever, chal- gardiner.net/] Quartz crystal begins its life deep within associative information that has been encoded lenging, controversial, the new Salman Gary Osborn has been a writer on the earth from hot vapour, which is a super- worldwide in ancient texts, myths, art, and even Rushdie and was even banned from the mysticism and esoteric traditions for over saturated solution of silicon dioxide. As it cools our contemporary architecture – and there- United Arab Emirates. Philip is married ten years. He once worked for the Dai- a unit cell of quartz forms around a nucleat- fore we are looking at the ultimate code which with two children and lives in the heart ly Mail newspaper and has been involved ing site (seed) in the same way that an oyster some have tried to conceal and suppress – the of Robin Hood country in England. He has with the media-film industry before manag- forms. The quartz is the matrix created around official ‘tomb explanation’, as taught in schools, a Masters Degree in Strategic Marketing ing a family business – a graphic-design and a seed point. The forming atoms that are bond- and nine diplomas ranging from Personnel screen-printing printing company which ing together to create the crystal are laid down Management through to Holistic Medicine specialised in both designing and creating where there is most energy – the molecules and the craft of Etymology. custom-made studio equipment for various adhering to the base silicon matrix. Made up as Before retiring to dedicate his time to internationally-known recording artists. a tetrahedron shaped molecule, it is now com- researching and writing, Philip was a Mar- Gary’s interests range from history, posed of four atoms of oxygen with one silicon keting Director and owner of a company science and technology, quantum physics, atom suspended within. This primary cell unit in the UK. Part of this role included giving philosophy, psychology and popular cul- now attracts other silicon dioxide molecules lectures on the art and history of market- ture to metaphysics and esoteric subjects. and over time trillions of these cells link to- ing and propaganda to various organisa- He has co-written various articles for gether in a spiralling motion, layer upon layer tions including certain government bodies Shaman’s Drum magazine covering sub- until the crystal is made. The crystal is a known and companies. Philip began his writing ca- jects related to Ancient Mysteries: Esoter- quantum converter that is able to transmit en- reer with a book entitled Proof? Does God ic traditions, Alchemy, Mysticism, Ancient ergy in a magnified state and this energy can Exist? Published in 2002 and followed this Shamanism and the nature of human con- easily be absorbed or received by biological up with his best-selling The Shining Ones: sciousness. He describes himself as an ‘ini- matter – such as the human body. 90% of gran- The World’s Most Powerful Secret Society tiate into the mysteries’ – his knowledge, ite is quartz – and the walls of the Kings Cham- Revealed, which launched in the UK and theories and insights being the direct re- ber are made out of blocks of granite. immediately outsold. His latest book is sult of an extraordinary experience he had Its possible then that the King’s Chamber Gnosis: The Secret of Solomon’s Temple Re- in 1993. was a place of initiation, where the adept sha- Symbol of endless serpent, from Masonic Qabalah

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about during controversial restoration work by architect – and Freemason – David Bryce. The various myths and fantasies upon which It’s hard to top hidden the chapters are based include the murdered treasure, the quest for apprentice, the haunted castle, Robert the chapel (and associated locales such as Rosslyn Bruce and the white deer, the secret crypt, the the Holy Grail, and the Rosslyn and the Grail Castle). What they have discovered in this dec- Knights Templar, the Holy Grail and The Da Vin- burial place of Jesus for Mark Oxbrow and Ian Robertson ade long journey is that there is truly a hidden ci Code. The first chapter, “Amidst the Woods”, dimension to Rosslyn Chapel. But it has nothing provides an historical introduction to the area incredible! to do with everything you’ve heard. A quote while also making a claim for a connection to from the pair in the introduction sums it all up: Arthurian myths (which the authors say was co- “Without careful research, it is easy to make opted by English monks in Glastonbury during serious mistakes.” the 12th century). From there Rosslyn and the times it took me more than four paragraphs to This book is about undoing many of those Grail alternates between sentimental exposi- realise I was reading about a different topic. ‘serious mistakes’. Never mind the disclaimer tions of local folklore, and attacks on alternative The authors’ warning of serious mistakes aris- that their aim “is not to debunk the myths or historians. Andrew Sinclair in particular comes ing from lack of careful research is not something to explain away the magic and mystery of the in for some savage treatment, while others crit- which readers should forget about when reading chapel and castle,” because that is exactly what icised include Tim Wallace-Murphy, Knight and this book either. A number of times the refer- the book does, and in a methodical way. Each Lomas, and Baigent and Leigh. Strangely enough, ence is made to the official ‘start date’ of Free- chapter is devoted to one particular myth about the only mention of Henry Lincoln is a short masonry (when addressing alternative historians’ Rosslyn, and within them Oxbrow and Robertson passage praising him for his courage in taking claim for Masonic influences at Rosslyn), when detail the actual history – derived from in-depth on new ideas and admitting to being wrong . . . there are obvious historical footnotes which sug- research – versus the claims made by alternative some Rennes le Chateau critics might wonder gest speculative Freemasonry arose – in some historians, or in some cases the local folklore. at this treatment compared to the others. form – well before this date. Small items such as Much of this will be tough going for roman- Amid the myths to be exploded is the identi- this detract from the presentation in Rosslyn and tically-minded readers. The authors might feel fication of aloe and maize carvings within Ross- the Grail, as it sounds like the authors are all too correct in saying “the odd thing is that the actu- lyn Chapel (said to be strawberry leaves and keen to support their own beliefs uncritically. al history of Rosslyn is far more incredible and wheat), that the crypt hides some great secret, Overall though, that simply can’t be said of Amazon UK spell-binding than any of the theories and fan- that the chapel is based on the ground-plan of the book as a whole. The research is first rate, tasies,” but I personally doubt that readers will Solomon’s Temple, and that the Templars had a the revelations often startling. Readers will also Amazon US agree. It’s hard to top hidden treasure, the quest hand in its construction. The attribution of pa- be fascinated by much of the local lore which for the Holy Grail, and the burial place of Jesus gan worship via the Green Men within Rosslyn hasn’t turned up in the ‘popular’ literature on nother book about Rosslyn? It’s for incredible! However, this book is a necessary is also debunked, with Robertson and Oxbrow Rosslyn, such as the tales of the ghostly White amazing the amount of words that read. The revelations are eye-opening, even if it pointing out that the Green Men are a deco- Lady, and the treasure in Rosslyn Castle. The have been written about this small is in a debunking vein. For instance, the sculpted rative feature first used by the Romans which fourteen chapters are supplemented by six ap- chapel, which lies in the countryside “Masonic angels”, often trumpeted as proof of flourished in medieval churches – although they pendices (almost half as many pages in the ap- aA surprisingly short distance away from the a secret connection to early Freemasonry, are later acknowledge a link to vegetative cycles, pendices as in the rest of the book) which pro- centre of Edinburgh. Not just words though, revealed to be 19th century additions carried when they point out that the Green Men ‘age’ vide a timeline, historical writings supporting but memes. In our heads, it has become a as you walk around the chapel clockwise…yet their research and associated myths. Templar strong-hold, a bastion of treasures another fascinating revelation amongst many to Curiously enough, the authors seem to from the Holy Grail to the body of Jesus himself. be found in Rosslyn and the Grail. continually hint at a real connection between However, this little book – rather than adding Amid the myths to The sheer amount of facts and historical ref- Rosslyn and the Arthurian myths and legends of to the already confused situation – might just erences which the authors have turned up some- the Holy Grail (and also seen in the title of the flush all those previous words and memes right be exploded is the times actually detracts from the book a little. book). However, they never really develop this down the drain. identification of aloe Reader interaction often takes a backseat to the idea as they promise – perhaps the scene is be- Mark Oxbrow and Ian Robertson are dedi- listing of facts, and some may feel they are be- ing set for a sequel which moves from debunk- cated Rosslyn researchers. They have spent and maize carvings ing preached to, more than taught (always a bad ing mode to providng fresh insights. Whatever more than ten years investigating the various thing in a debunking book). This problem extends the case, this is simply a must-have book for histories and myths surrounding the enigmatic within Rosslyn Chapel to a number of clumsy segues between topics; at Rosslyn enthusiasts.

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T he G olden T hread of T ime that Autumn is moving into Winter; Spring is in the intricacies, both exoteric and esoteric, ondly the compass cannot tell you the time coming sooner and Summer is stretching it- of the workings of the artefact and the uni- of day, month or year. The wonderful Celtic Crichton Miller self out like a lazy lion in the Sahara. In other verse in general. This incredible discovery Cross that Crichton re-discovered is all any parts of the globe huge waves crash onto idyl- will one day change the world and help man- future survivor will need. lic shores and destroy the lives of thousands of kind to grow strong again. When we find our- Read this book, keep it close to your heart; The following review is by Philip Gardiner, humans; whirling tornadoes break and batter selves in the stark reality of a nuclear winter; understand the workings of this cross, be - author of The Shining Ones, The Serpent Grail whole States in America and ice mountains the a solar consumed desert; a frozen wasteland cause one day, it may save your life. If you val- and Gnosis. An essay by Philip can be found size of Ben Nevis collapse and crumble into – then and probably only then, will mankind ue your children’s or grandchildren’s lives then elsewhere in this issue of Sub Rosa. the warming waters. There is one thing that remember this fight of Crichton Miller’s to pass on the information and knowledge of the is sure – the world is changing around us as make known the secret tool of the ancients. stars, let it be locked in their young minds and we live and breath. Whether you believe this The reason is quite simple. Only by using this hearts. The future of humanity may again de- change is man-made or by the power of the device, which requires no electricity, gas, pet- pend upon the wisdom of the ancients, who solar Father in the sky; whether you think the rol or any power at all will we then, be able kept this knowledge for us locked subtly away. leaders of political parties and corporate em- to discover where and when we are. This may Crichton has re-discovered the incredible sci- pires are making the destruction of the world seem incredibly trivial to us now, but imagine ence and simplicity of our ancestors who too a reality or it is simply a cycle of nature – one standing in the middle of a barren landscape needed to escape the oncoming deluge over thing overrides the argument – we cannot es- of brilliant snow or sand and needing to find 12,000 years ago. Did mankind recover again cape it now. your way home. How will you do this without because he had the cross? And so, what to do, where to go, to whom your GPS? A compass only points north and I thought I would never hear myself say this do we turn? What will you hide away in your there are two issues with this. Firstly north to anybody - but take up the cross, it may very secure dug-out? Will you hoard tinned food may move magnetically, and this will cause well be your saviour. and a tin opener? Or bottled water? And chaos as we are already discovering with our when they run out, what then? How will modern electromagnetic systems. And sec - Review by Philip Gardiner you hunt for food then? Should you carry a gun? And where will you get the bullets when all the shops have been removed by that passing ice-flow? You will need to travel. You will need to move fast and over long distances. You will need to know the weather cycles and the times Amazon UK of year and you will need to know your way around. How are you going to do this? richton Miller is a man on a mission. You see what Crichton has stumbled upon His mission is, in my humble opinion, may seem on first viewing to be fairly mun- far more important than the Victorian dane. But, the closer you look and the more search for the source of the Nile or the you find out, the more you become consumed C60’s race for space. It is more extravagant than the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb and in my mind of more archaeological, scientific and historical importance than just about anything . . .you b e come else you care to mention. To comprehend why I say this we need to con su med i n t he just consider a few points. Firstly, how many of us agree that our Mother Earth is warm- i nt r icac ies, bot h ing? How many of us are aware over the short e xot er ic a nd esot er ic, lifetimes that we have had so far that the cli- mate has been altering year after year? I know of t he work i ng s of for myself, living in middle England that we no longer have the snowstorms I knew as a child; t he a r tefac t

84 October 2005 | Sub Rosa Reviews Reviews

The Secret Teachings of All Ages That is not to say that Hall failed in his goal, for The Secret Teachings of All Ages has become one Manly P. Hall of the classics of esoteric literature, and influ- The Secret Teachings enced many in varied ways. Are we to expect about this book that has inspired so many? the masses of our reality TV generation to pick of All Ages was For me personally – looking in retrospect up this work and read with interest about the meant as a codex – I think I found in Hall a kindred spirit, and in Cabiric Mysteries of Samothrace? Not likely. his book an encyclopediac survey of all those But perhaps it has and will continue to influ- of mystical teachings “wholly beyond the pale of material- ence enough of the right people, that some istic theology”. I’m sure, as an impressionable of the sacred will be reclaimed through their philosophies twelve-year-old, the majestic esoteric look of own contributions. the book helped plenty as well. But Hall’s atti- To provide a suitable summary of the con- tude to our modern dogma of materialism, and tent of this book would take a book itself. All the urgent need to reclaim the sacred, was ee- that can be offered in this space is that The Se- to justify their own personal theory (or best- rie in its prescience. In the preface to the Dia- cret Teachings of All Ages will tutor you on the selling self-help CD range), Hall worked from a mond Jubilee edition of The Secret Teachings, he ancient mysteries, secret societies, philosophy, different angle. The Secret Teachings of All Ages reflected on the circumstances which led him myth and religion. Chapters on Pythagoras, was meant as a codex of mystical philosophies to write the book: the Rosicrucians, Alchemy, Qabbalism, mystic – a comprehensive guide for the neophyte to Christianity, the Tarot and Zodiac (almost 50 the often fragmentary writings of the ancient The original edition was planned and issued in the chapters all up) will leave the reader not just sages and mystery schools. Hall again explains: interval between the termination of World War I enlightened, but perhaps even initiated. How- and the Great Depression of 1929. During this time ever, while it may bear all the hallmarks of a Having no particular ‘ism’ of my own to promulgate, I had a brief career on Wall Street, the outstand- Bible of the mystical, this is not God’s infallible I have not attempted to twist the original writings ing event of which was witnessing a man depressed word. It is the awe-inspiring writings of a disaf- to substantiate preconceived notions, nor have I dis- Amazon UK over investment losses take his life fected twenty-something, who is wise enough torted doctrines in any effort to reconcile the irrec- My fleeting contact with high finance resulted to preface his work by saying: oncilable differences present in the various systems Amazon US in serious doubts concerning business as it was be- of religio-philosophic thought. ing conducted. It was apparent that materialism I make no claim for either the infallibility or the The entire theory of the book is diametrically here aren’t too many books which you was in complete control of the economic structure, originality of any statement herein contained. I have opposed to the modern method of thinking, for it can describe as life-changing. Manly P. the final objective of which was for the individual studied the fragmentary writings of the ancients is concerned with subjects openly ridiculed by the Hall’s The Secret Teachings of All Ages to become part of a system providing an economic sufficiently to realize that dogmatic utterances sophists of the twentieth century. Its true purpose is was one of those books for me. When security at the expense of the human soul, mind, concerning their tenets are worse than foolhardy. to introduce the mind of the reader to a hypothesis TI first encountered an earlier edition of this old and body. Traditionalism is the curse of modern philosophy, of living wholly beyond the pale of materialistic the- tome at age twelve, I had to deal with a huge book particularly that of the European schools. ology, philosophy or science. filled with occult imagery and complemented by In the eight decades since the book was first a suitably thick layer of dust, unearthed in a dim published it would seem that Hall’s concern was Did I say twenty-something? Certainly - Manly This is a work to be treasured, and for any- recess of the local library. While a nice prop in well justified, and the urgency for a solution to P. Hall had not even turned 28 when The Secret one interested in esoteric philosophy I sin- the movies, it certainly was an awkward thing rampant materialism has grown exponentially. Teachings of All Ages was first published. To many, cerely recommend this new readers edition to read at a small study desk. such a fact would perhaps turn them off the book, of The Secret Teachings of All Ages. If you have For those wishing to add a copy of this in- fearing a superficial and immature survey of the the money, then the hardcover edition would fluential book to their collection, the good folks world’s most spiritual ideas and traditions. How- certainly be a worthwhile acquisition. But for over at Tarcher-Penguin have done us all a mas- Manly P. Hall had ever, this is not the case. Somehow – whether the rest of us, Tarcher-Penguin have offered sive favour in releasing a “Reader’s Edition” of you label it channeling, past-life knowledge, or the next best thing. Boasting the full text of Hall’s masterwork – somehow squeezing the not even turned just plain precocious talent – Hall was able to the original, plus 100 line drawings and 14 of text (and a fair number of the images) into a assemble a masterwork worthy of a 70-year-old the original colour plates by artist J. Augustus very portable 672-page paperback of less-than 28 when The Secret professor of religion and philosophy. Knapp, the new reader’s edition of The Secret 6 by 10 inch dimensions. Not to mention you Teachings of All Ages The other refreshing aspect of The Secret Teachings of All Ages takes pride of place on my can pick it up for well under $US20 at Amazon. Teachings is its objective presentation. While reading table – and will be a work that I pass But enough of the superficial details – what is it was first published. most modern authors use the ancient traditions on to my own children.

86 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 87 Book: The Egypt Code Book: I Have America Surrounded Author: Robert Bauval Author: John Higgs Release: March 2, 2006 Release: 2006

est-selling author Robert Bauval makes new book is scheduled to come out in a long-awaited return next year with his 2006 taking a look at the life of coun- Bnext book The Egypt Code, a book which A ter-culture hero (and villain to some), he says will answer the nagging question Timothy Leary. I Have America Surrounded: The of ‘WHY?’ Life of Timothy Leary has been written with ac- “Why go to all this trouble and effort to cess to all Leary’s papers and letters and the raise giant pyramids and temples in ‘the image full co-operation of his estate and archivist. of the heaven’?” says Bauval. “Why the desire to It’s a mix of both the adventure of his life and have an Egypt that is ‘As above, so Below’? The the ideas that drove him. There is also a strong answer is as intriguing as it is simple . . . if you focus on his fugitive life after his prison break know were to look, that is . . . ” and his collaboration with the FBI – stories The Egypt Code is said to demonstrate that that have never been told properly before. the changes that took place in the sky over More information about the book, and a mail- the 3000 years of ancient Egyptian civilisation, ing list for news, can be found at the official from roughly 3000 BC to the Christian era, are website for Higg’s book (www.ihaveamericas- ‘reflected’, so to speak, on the land with the urrounded.com). positioning and orientation of pyramids, temples and religious centres. Book: What Happens When We Die? Author: Sam Parnia Release: January 15, 2006

r Sam Parnia is one of the leading modern researchers into Near Death DExperiences (NDEs). His work as an emergency doctor led him to contemplate the mysteries surrounding death, and eventually on a quest to discover what happens when we die. This book will explain how he has investigated the possibility the survival of consciousness, and his conclusions.

88 December 2005 | Sub Rosa Sub Rosa | December 2005 89