What if Brigitte Lahaie movies, such as Jean Rollin’s Fascination, were adapted as Lego sets, as well as Back to the Future or Ghostbusters ? You can dream about it… Or you can order them exclusive minifigs available with the book Brigitte Lahaie Cult Movies ! ->http://bit.ly/BrigitteLahaieCultMovies
I love learning. It sounds a bit reductive, and unfinished as you might ask, “about what?” and feel unanswered when I respond with “everything.” I truly just like the process of gaining knowledge. Of course, specific interests come and go - as a child I spent a lot of time thinking about the Olympics and Japan, I moved on to geography and globalization in high / boarding school (with the occasional celebrity fascination), and in college I focused on development studies and identity studies. They all have led in some ways to one another, and that is one of the most fun things about growing older- you know more. You can move into sub-sectors, building deeper and more elaborate knowledge on specific examples, and then even be able to produce the knowledge yourself!
I loved my entire formal education because it nurtured my curiosity and gave me the tools and people to answer my questions and to prod deeper. I was very fortunate to go to both a boarding school and a university where students are invited, suggested, and even pushed to develop their own learning path- decide what they want to learn about, and then do that. But at the same time, there do exist parameters of some requirements, and even if you are in a class you want, the syllabus will always have a dull section and there may be limits on how you can pursue your research and present your findings (i.e you may have to google stuff and give a powerpoint, whereas you really want to travel somewhere and make a documentary). What I’ve liked most about being in “the real world” the past few months is that I feel like the slate is clean- I don’t have to keep learning new things if I don’t want to (no more picking classes every 6 months) but seeing that I do want to, I can pick anything and do it however I’d like!
In these few months since graduation, what I’ve kept myself busy thinking about are religion and spirituality, the Rwandan genocide and development in the country since then, class and privilege - especially in young adults, North Korea, and professional tennis. It is clear that these interests are too many to focus on equally and that some will remain overtime and my knowledge will deepen, and some will be more ephemeral- a book or two, a documentary, and a few conversations.
In thinking about these levels of knowledge across issues, and specifically when on a RwandAir flight to Kigali asking myself, “how much do I really know about Rwanda?” I came up with the process of The Growth of Knowledge below:
It is very simple yet, I think, also useful in giving some sort of direction in reflecting on how knowledge on a subject evolves- and importantly- how the level of insight grows with each step. It is also important to note that for different issues each step may take longer or shorter, requiring less effort to move between them, than the others. For example, it is very easy to be fascinated by an event like the Rwandan genocide, but the learning curve to get up to understanding is very steep. Alternatively, moving from fascination to understanding about professional tennis is much easier. In this example it comes down to the difficulty of the content itself: comprehending human emotion and causes of violence is much more complicated than understanding the way a sport works. But the learning curve can also be hindered or catalyzed by the availability of or access to knowledge- for example it is impossible to learn specific things about North Korea because it is well-guarded and secretive, but the Korean language itself is in countless books, media, etc so access to acquiring that knowledge is easier.
What divides the three steps of course, also depends on the subject matter, but can be assessed based on four- very interrelated questions (partly in the graph itself as bullet points).
The first is"why you know?“ - going from a general interest to deeper desire for holistic knowledge and increasing insight.
Second, "What you know?” which starts with the basic facts and figures, grows into various sub-sectors of knowledge, and increases further with first-hand personal understanding.
Third, “How you know?” starting with the most readily available and easy to access information and then growing in specificity, complexity, and personal unique information from experience and exposure.
Fourth, “What you do with what you know?” this goes back to how insight increases with each step. It involves deeper and deeper questioning and clarifying those who know more until slowly you become that someone who “knows more.” You must then begin to think about how to present the information and analyze what is important, what needs to be further examined, and then begin to do that examining yourself and helping others to go through the steps towards knowledge.
Again, this is a simple tool for reflecting and in few ways is it quantifiable or scientific- but I think it is useful in asking the important questions of “How can we learn?” and “How much do we know?” and to also show that growing in knowledge to expertise requires an increase in insight most of all- that constantly reading simple books on a subject will never make you really understand- we need to increase the complexity and push ourselves to build our insight. The tool also gives direction and reasoning to learning more and what to do when we know more- it is almost a motivation or a map of learning.
To end, I must say that similarly to the model itself, I feel that “liking to learn” can be a process on its own accord- and that the model helps to move from “understanding” learning to “expertise” on learning- and as I continue to think more about learning and talk with others who know much more, the model will adapt.
pronunciation | ‘nU-mi-nus note | The word originated in religious usage, but it can be applied to natural experiences as well as supernatural. It can also mean “suggesting the presence of something holy or divine”.
Sooner or later it’d get to you. Death was fascinated by humans, and study was never a one-way thing. A man might spend his life peering at the private life of elementary particles and then find he either knew who he was or where he was, but not both. Death had picked up…humanity. Not the real thing, but something that might pass for it until you examined it closely.
Used to arouse enamor and playful infatuation – given to a potential sweetheart or lover to sway them to your favor, romantically, sexually or (maybe) platonically
This recipe sounds very bright and not something I would have come up with – but that’s the beauty of it, I didn’t have to! I transcribed it from a recipe given to me by my newest Spirit Teacher: hence the namesake. Given I am not currently shopping for love, I figured I would post it here (with her permission, of course) and see if all of you could get any use out of it. Be mindful, I haven’t tried this recipe, so I cannot vouch for its effectiveness – but Guiérda’s recipes haven’t let me down yet, I don’t see this being that one that does so.
Ingredients:
Hollyhock Flowers (dried and powdered; I’d say Hibiscus could be used in place of)
Honey
Blooms of Alisma lanceolatum (though I’d say any wetland, flowering fern might do)
Verydry,white wine or (dry, notsweet!)vermouth
Orange Rind/Peel
A Sprig of Fresh Thyme
A Pinch of Crushed Anise Seed
Preparation:
In a clean, glass bottle (of any size) rinse first with spring water or the water of a moving (clean) creek. Allow this to dry, then add in just enough honey to coat the bottom and come roughly ½ inch up. To this, add, in order: Hollyhock powder, the orange peel, Anise seeds and just a scant bit of wine/vermouth to get things moving. Spin the bottle to combine the honey with the vermouth, warming it slightly if need be.
Cap or cover the bottle and allow the mixture to sit overnight.
The following day, pour in a small amounts of wine/vermouth incrementally, swirling with each addition to ensure proper mixing. When the mixture nearly fills the bottle, add in the fresh blooms and thyme, then shake gently. From the bottle take a drink, and allow the contents to fall from your mouth back into the bottle – basically backwash, there’s really no sweet way to put that. Cap/Cork.
Best served chilled, if drinking straight, or can be sneaked into food or drink of any kind. I’d say it would keep (refrigerated) for no more than a week.
This is a standalone post, and an abridgement of an original study of a particular kind of psychic energy field. If you find yourself or another person to be naturally capable of many of the things described here, please act as ethically as possible in everything you do. If you have any questions, feel free to ask us.
To preface my description of this kind of energy and its effects, it is important for me to discuss something which has been widely accepted by occultists and theologians for a long time. There are people alive on Earth who are born under the right celestial conditions (or to the right parents, or in other appropriate conditions) to gain permanent magical properties for their entire lives. This is not to say that each and every person subconsciously exerts magical influence over the world around them (I would argue that some people are born completely devoid of special magical affinities, though this does not mean they can’t effectively use magic), but rather, that some people are born under the right conditions, or to the right parents (incubi and succubi, for example) to manifest as human forms of non-human entities. This can easily be construed as one meaning of many mythological representations of intelligent creatures such as the Fae, Satyrs, Fauns, Imps, Goblins, and many others.
Aside from human manifestations of lesser immaterial beings such as those elementals mentioned above (which generally have very specific and small fields of influence), there are arguably some people who are demigods (a word which we will use to mean mortal half-gods). Demigods tend to be particularly capable of magic without necessarily having the need to consciously focus their energy (one might say that some order of reality voluntarily warps itself to suit a demigod’s needs), but some gain different benefits from their divine condition of being (for example, Heracles was not particularly magically-inclined, but his godlike strength did still afford him a lot of protection from magical and supernatural enemies). These are probably the same people who are called “Nephilim” in Judaism, as the gods of most pagan pantheons are the very same beings who are fallen Jewish angels, those who took human wives (beginning with the Martial Archangel Samael, the Satan who descended and took Lilith as his wife, ultimately causing them both to become demons).
And then, there are finally those people who are manifestations of gods themselves. These people are very uncommon, but we could consider Jesus Christ a good example of this who is widely acknowledged as such in modern western society. Jesus is specifically a manifestation of a Sun-god (it’s irrelevant which one, as we shouldn’t make too much effort to distinguish one Sun-god from another, in my opinion). Hermes Trismegistus (who, like Jesus Christ, is probably a highly-mythologized figure based on a much less-impressive real person) could be reasonably considered to be a human incarnation of Thoth or Mercury. Certainly, I could provide several more examples, but I feel like these are sufficient. One could say of these gods-incarnate that there are versions of them who manifest even to exert their influence in very small (even seemingly inconsequential) contexts, and exerting their influences only there. There is no reason why two different people in different locations and situations at the same time can’t be manifestations of the same god, but it is important to think very critically in your analysis if you suspect someone is of this particular nature. It’s probably never a good idea to tell a person they are or might be a god incarnate.
All of the aforementioned types of people are born with some degree of a radiant energy which surrounds them, and which profoundly affects most of the people who come into proximity with it. Although this energy doesn’t effect all people the same way (some people will react to it with hostility, others will consciously try not to be affected by it, and a few are simply unaffected by it), its most common tendency is to cause all those affected to adore the person who radiates this energy which for our purposes, will be dubbed “the Glamour.”
As opposed to archetypes (which are usually represented by the “normal human” characters in mythology), which a person can switch between as necessary in their lives, incarnations are much more absolute, meaning they must constitute the purest essence of a person, rather than just a situational role. People may take on charisma at various points depending on their archetypal role in a given situation, but those with the Glamour will have their magnetism before, during, and after.
People who have the Glamour often don’t have any idea why they’re so adored, and this adoration can be a source of irritation, annoyance, or even grave danger. They will find themselves badgered by others who want to be seen with them, want to learn the secrets to their “coolness,” want to be validated by them, or even who want to destroy them (this last kind of person being a power-hungry predator). Often, people with the Glamour will be subject to unwanted conversation from people who basically amount to “adoring fans” at nearly every turn, making many parts of life a game of social avoidance. Now I will speak at a little more length about the three aforementioned subdivisions of incarnate supernatural being, and I’ll discuss some of the difficulties their Glamours are likely to bring. As you read this, it’s important to keep in mind that none of these experiences define a person as one of these incarnations, and that there are many more factors that should be considered when trying to identify human forms as manifestations of such (which is not really the subject of this article).
It is especially true that elementals and genii are targeted by malicious magic-users (usually misaligned folk-magicians, high-magic sorcerers who completely lack morality, or witches of a particularly deranged lineage) very often. In this case, the assailant will often take the form of a sexual predator, especially if the elemental is here in the form of a young human, though this does not exempt adults of this nature from that danger. The reason elementals are so often targeted is unclear, but it seems to me like the assailants consciously or subconsciously know that people have forcibly manipulated and harnessed these kinds of powers since the dawn of human history, and they believe it will get them some significant material gain, social status, or at least a microcosmic sense of power. Unfortunately for the elemental, this story does not usually end well. However, it is possible for the elemental to survive and continue, and when they do, they often rise to magnificent social status (in human terms), while their adversaries are usually condemned by their own actions to a life of insignificance or misery.
Demigods are usually subject more to tests of direct violence, especially those involving grossly unfair odds. Those who are physically strong will usually survive by those means, while others will be forced to survive by whichever magical means they are given. Once again, though, we face the issue of knowledge. I can’t emphasize enough that the vast majority of the people we’re talking about have no idea that they’re using magical power, nor do they often know how to focus or control their own magical energy. This doesn’t mean they usually fall in the face of the obstacles that they face, but that they survive and overcome by what seem more like miracles than magic. We could argue that they are either, but because the demigod can learn to harness whatever powers they are born with, I consider those means to be magic.
Gods incarnate can take many, many forms, and the tests they face in human life are almost impossible to accurately quantify. Sun-gods usually have lives which contain many parallels to the life of Jesus Christ, or of Ra (the tragic but necessary surrender to death is vital, even if it is a metaphor). Someone who is Mercury incarnate could have any of a great many different life stories and still be accurately regarded as the same being, so identification of this kind of being takes careful analysis, and if you are trying to identify one, you should never jump to conclusions which you can’t support.
Now, we should further discuss the nature and potential of the Glamour itself. For several years now, I’ve observed and researched this type of psychic energy field. It’s one which is almost always acknowledged by occult scholars, though I have never seen it formally named, or addressed at length. I’ll introduce this idea with a related and slightly more well-known topic. Henry Cornelius Agrippa wrote of something witches can do to a person which he called “fascination.” This magical binding is described as something that effects people through their eyes. In particular, he speaks of the witch affecting men with this (of course, being assumed that the witch is a woman in this case, despite our modern understanding that this is certainly not the only case). Now, knowing that witches are not limited to one gender or another, we can assume that anyone who is attracted to the gender of the witch in question might be susceptible to this type of magic. It is important to keep in mind that witchcraft is a particular category of magic. I will eventually make a post which helps to draw a distinction between various types of magic, and that might give some of you some useful insight.
Cornelius Agrippa specifies that this fascination is brought about by a combination of two things. The first thing is the intent of the witch to so affect anyone susceptible. The second is a sanguine kind of “spiritual vapor” (which I believe he means metaphorically). So then, blood is the humor witches use to fascinate their targets. Ancient occultists acknowledged the fact that the humors weren’t intended to serve as the sole basis of medicine, but rather, as a symbolic guide for physicians (who were often astrologers, too). While we know that the metaphorical association for fascination is blood, and therefore a hot-moist quality, and the Air element, we see that this implies that fascination itself is a somewhat limited magical art.
Fascination is not exactly like the Glamour we’re talking about, and there are a few reasons why. Unlike the Glamour, the art of fascination requires intent in order to work correctly. It is specifically addressed in the Books of Occult Philosophy that in addition to this, direct eye contact between the witch and the target of this magic is essential. He goes on to say that witches are so powerful in this kind of act that even the gaze of the victim can become under their control (the Glamour appears to be capable of this, as well). Finally, he mentions a few additional supplements to this, which are various scents and perfumes to create different effects (again, all of which can be easily achieved by people with the Glamour). Finally, Cornelius Agrippa’s description of fascination strongly implies that it only works on people who are attracted to the witch’s gender. All of this distinguishes fascination from the type of energy field I’m researching, though the two are otherwise very similar in effect.
Because of what we’ve discussed above, we know that if a person has the Glamour, they are extremely well-equipped to gain great things in life, and to be recognized for their achievements. However, one’s equipment does not determine one’s profession. If you were to give a peasant a sword, could he help you much in battle? But if you were to take the time to teach the peasant all the subtleties and skills necessary in combat, and to strengthen his mind and soul, would he perhaps be of more help than before? In this sense, those with the Glamour don’t necessarily have the amount of control over others that they could. They may subconsciously exert some influence over everyone nearby, but the effects they have might be completely unintentional (and therefore unpredictable). However, we know that witches can fascinate a person with little more than eye-contact with intent, so why couldn’t a person gifted with a sort of divine charisma have an even more effective influence over others?
Here, it seems fitting for me to briefly discuss two people whose Glamours I have studied to a small extent. They are of Air and Earth elements, respectively, and I had noted that both of them have a fair level of conscious control over the effects they exert. I have researched numerous others, too, but this article will not be so exhaustive.
The first person whom I recognized to have the Glamour has described it to me as originating from behind her eyes. As per Cornelius Agrippa’s description of fascination, hers was certainly corresponding to the element of Air, meaning that is is likely a sanguine Glamour as well. It was described to me not as a consciously-learned skill, but a slowly acquired mastery over that field of energy which she has always produced. To simplify what she said, I would say that I believe her Glamour functions as a “psychological climate control” to those around her.
A second person whom I studied spoke of a Glamour of the Earth element, which is therefore cold-dry, and melancholic. He said his Glamour largely influences the spatial-cognitive conditions around him, and the force originates in his abdomen. For an example of his influence, he said he has a significant level of control over the gazes of those around him, and that he can usually consciously influence people to look a certain direction or vice-versa. In addition, he said he regularly exerts some influence over people and their physical positions, consistently compelling them to reposition themselves according to his desires. He also reports that in certain situations, using his eyes in the same way as a witch does in the practice of fascination is an extremely helpful skill for augmenting and directing the Glamour.
It is relevant to speak of people who are immune to the Glamour (or at least, who react to it differently than someone with Glamour might intend). Some people have learned their immunity to it, and generally, these people are also bitter and without imagination, though perhaps more intelligent than average (intelligence more often manifests as self-control and self-awareness than it does as analytical skills or logic). Unfortunately, many of those who have learned immunity to it can still recognize it, and react with hostility to those who do have the Glamour. More often than not, a person will have learned immunity to one form of the Glamour (often because a former lover of theirs had a particular Glamour, and they despise it when they recognize it in others), and not others.
There are also those who have complete natural immunity to the Glamour. These people are often completely oblivious to it, and are unable to identify it directly. If this kind of person learns to identify the Glamour, it’s usually because they have determined how other people react to it, rather than how to perceive Glamour itself.
The last thing I should discuss is a trend I’ve noted among some particularly novice magic-users who don’t seem interested enough in their pursuit of these arts to learn how to cast anything of use. Instead of taking the time to learn fascination or similar arts (which are completely within the reach of anyone who takes the time and effort to study and practice them), they will often attempt to manufacture for themselves a Glamour. While humorous to observe from a distance, it isn’t something worth attempting. If you don’t have a Glamour to sharpen, you probably don’t need one. I’d like to reiterate here that all the people I’ve studied who do have Glamours were plagued by that trait for decades. Most people I’ve seen try to artificially create Glamours for themselves have just ended up making mockeries of themselves, but one other has brought a plague of unwanted company into his life through the act, ultimately resulting in fairly extreme misfortunes involving the police (I admit his magic was significantly more effective, but it was clearly not worthwhile). If anyone ever safely succeeds at this, I would love to know more, so I can study and experiment with it, myself. Admittedly, the only ever people I’ve seen believe this pursuit is worthwhile were people I would describe as horrible magic-users (again, perhaps because serious students of the occult know the art of fascination and its purpose).
To summarize, human incarnations of immortal beings are naturally capable of a form of mind-control which I refer to as “the Glamour.” If someone so-gifted becomes skilled enough with their Glamour, it can be used to influence nearly anyone in a consistent and fairly-controlled manner. There are different specific manifestations of this mind-control energy, and the people gifted with it influence people in close proximity to them whether they are aware of their Glamour or not. Some people are immune to it, others react aggressively toward it. Some people (myself included) have learned to observe it, and try not to interact with it one way or another. Hopefully this post has given you some insight into the mechanics of this characteristic of some mythical beings, and will allow you to more readily recognize it and other energies when they affect you. If you can learn to protect yourself from such subtle psychic influences as these, you can gain a much greater level of control over your life. As always, thank you for reading.
