Sam Webster's Blog, page 2
August 20, 2014
In times when
In times when the demos locks itself up
In times when mediocrity is the only value remaining
In times when all truth is opinion
In times when ‘the best lack all conviction and the worst are full of passionate intensity’
Then is evoked Tyrannis Soter from the pit called Because
Mouths are filled with ashes and blood
Hands are filled with torches and clubs
Knees are bent in submission
Minds are bent with lies
No, my love, this is not the start of the fight
This is the sundering that will have us at each other’s throats
When the Marshal stands over us and raises his baton
We will look up in surprise
Then the fight will begin.
I would cry now but that sea was drained long ago
August 6, 2014
The Armor of Loving Kindness
I am protected from the sword of anger by the armor of loving kindness.
I am protected from the sword of ego-clinging by the armor of loving kindness.
Though my vow of loving kindness is peaceful, it conquers anger.
The smile of loving kindness destroys the grimace of the demon anger.
Through silence and loving kindness,
The chariot of liberation is very dignified.
The steed of virtue is truly beautiful.
The regal vestments are rich and splendid.
~ Chogyam Trungpa
July 30, 2014
Announcing the 2014 Diotima Prize Selection Committee
I am pleased to announce the members of the 2014 Diotima Prize Selection Committee: Rev. Dr. Bonnie Dlott, Christina Gargiullo, Christine Hoff Kraemer PhD, and Hayden Reynolds, PhD. Their bios can be found here. Along with myself as chair, they will be reading the application essays of Pagan M.Div seminarians to determine who will receive this year’s Diotima Prize of $1000.
Thank you for supporting our Community!
The application deadline is September 1, 2014.
More information about the Diotima Prize can be found here.
Please share!
July 23, 2014
My father is the intrinsic awareness…
My father is the intrinsic awareness, Samantabhadra.
My mother is the ultimate sphere, Samantabhadri.
My lineage is the union of intrinsic awareness and ultimate sphere.
My name is the glorious Lotus-Born [Padmasambhava].
My country is the unborn ultimate sphere.
I consume dualistic thoughts as food.
My role is to accomplish the actions of the Buddhas.
—Padmasambhava
Happy Wednesday!
My father is the intrinsic awareness, Samantabhadra.
My m...
My father is the intrinsic awareness, Samantabhadra.
My mother is the ultimate sphere, Samantabhadri.
My lineage is the union of intrinsic awareness and ultimate sphere.
My name is the glorious Lotus-Born [Padmasambhava].
My country is the unborn ultimate sphere.
I consume dualistic thoughts as food.
My role is to accomplish the actions of the Buddhas.
—Padmasambhava
Happy Wednesday!
July 16, 2014
the Star Ruby, with a GD hack
Never being one to leave well enough alone, when I learned the Star Ruby some thirty years ago, I noted some variations in it from standard GD procedure. Mainly, dropping the Godforms at the quarters and doing them at the center during a (kind of lame) ‘paian’. Later I discovered this was an OTO thing, making it even less attractive. This is my version of the Ruby, one of my favorite rituals, working the Godforms at the Quarters, and with a pumped up Pan paian.
July 9, 2014
Epiphanies in Iamblichus
Happy Wednesday! Some discussion on the sundry grades of Epiphanies on the OSOGD site:
When we successfully invoke, the Being who we call comes. Sometimes it is very internal, sometimes we go the distance and work for an very dual and/or external manifestation. The result, whether mental, ‘astral’, or (near-)physical, is traditionally called an epiphany, a ‘showing up’. We are taught to be be cautious and test what arrives. When we are properly skillful we can take advantage of the test-tools the Golden Dawn system supplies to determine if we have called the correct Being. Read more…
July 2, 2014
Golem: a Pagan view of Corporations
My latest post on The Wild Hunt–
Have you heard about the GM ignition switch recall? It was a long-standing problem that resulted in a number of deaths but ignored by the executure. Rightly, many are horrified but few have the magical insight or the systems theory to understand how GM could be so stupid. Here is how a Pagan might understand the problem… – See more at: http://wildhunt.org/2014/06/golem-a-pagan-view-of-corporations.html
June 4, 2014
The Book of the Great Queen
Delightfully, I get to tout Concrescent Press’ latest project:
The Book of the Great Queen by Morpheus Ravenna
She is kicking off a Indogogo Campaign to fund her writing, book creation and art for the book. Come join us and support this important project!
Here is what Morpheus has to say about it:
I’m launching an IndieGoGo fundraising campaign for The Book of the Great Queen: the book that’s long been needed, exploring the mysteries of the Morrigan, the ancient Celtic Goddess of battle, sovereignty, prophecy, and Otherworld power.
We’re hosting a little party on launch night to have some fun, raise the excitement, and spread the word. For locals, you can join us at Evermore House in Oakland, CA. There will be convivial beverages, food, chocolate!
For everyone else – there will be a video hangout/ live stream so you can join us remotely! See below for details.
Get a look in person at the devotional illuminated manuscript art I’m creating for my backer perks!
Touch and drool over the prototype version of Amelia Hogan’s hand-bound artistic editions of the book!
Chat with me, and members of my team, about what’s happening with the book!
Help us start off the campaign with a BOOM!
Stable URL for the campaign: http://bookofthegreatqueen.com/
For now, that redirects to a campaign preview – once it goes live, it’ll link to the live campaign page.
For more info about the book project, go here: http://bansheearts.com/projects/the-book-of-the-great-queen/
Log on to the video hangout here: https://plus.google.com/events/cde2403pqtaqvm5p6igfdjat75c
Google Hangouts only allow up to 10 video participants, but everyone else can log on, view the video stream, and submit comments/questions by text chat. If you’ll have a few people together and you want to be one of the 10 video links, send me a note and I’ll add you to the list!
Video stream will also be viewable here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxjWK20Yclgs
May 28, 2014
Taking Place…at The WIld Hunt.
In case you did not see it, my latest post ran Saturday May 24th on The Wild Hunt. It was a exploration of how we Pagans relate to sacred locations. Here after I will have a column on the 4th Saturdays of the Month.
Let me know what you think!
