I work with demons because angels scare the fuck out of me.
Month: April 2014
Warrior of the Demiurge
Those who say they will die first and then rise are in error. If they do not first receive the resurrection while they live, when they die they will receive nothing.
Babalon Rising Pan-Thelemic Festival
Babalon Rising Pan-Thelemic Festival
Back after a one year hiatus, Babalon Rising is a Pan-Thelemic event, meaning it is for everyone who believes in doing their true will, not just members of the OTO. It’s for all those who have an interest in magick. Held June 12-15 in southern Indiana.
I’ll be making two presentations: The Babalon Current in Modern Magick, and Activist Magick.
White Wolf Games is Dead
The last nail in the coffin for the once great RPG company. I feel great sadness, especially for those who have lost their jobs.
How many times does this have to happen? Everyone knew this was the eventuality when CCP bought White Wolf. Why do creators think, “oh no, it won’t happen to me. I can sell my company. They won’t destroy it.”
At least the World of Darkness isn’t dead. Long live Onyx Path. Now let’s hope CCP sees reason and sells the IP to Onyx Path outright for a reasonable price.
The Answer to Your Question
Dear tumblr magicians, pagans, and esoteric types,
If you have the question, “Can I mix X belief with Y faith?”
The answer is yes. Yes you can. You don’t need my permission or anyone else’s. You don’t need anyone’s approval. And you can change your mind later if you want.
Believe what you want. It is the assholes who try to tell you there is only one truth.
Incorrect.
Religions have rules. They do not disappear just because you wish really hard.
I knew I would peeve many a fool with that post and I had resolved myself not to respond to them. But then Solon had to put her two-cents in, and I enjoy nothing more than annoying a fascist.
Who here has a degree in Comparative Religion? No one else? Good. Let’s begin.
The modern discipline of Comparative Religion, like many of the social sciences, is only about a hundred years old. Though young, one would think that those involved would have come up with a definition for what they are studying. They have not. Because even saying what a religion is turns out to be a tricky business.
You can say that a religion involves an outside extra-human agency—a deity. This is, of course, untrue. As many Buddhists and Taoists and others have no deity (though some Buddhists and Taoists do, much to the annoyance of the others), and yet they are considered religions.
Are religions organizations with certain symbols and mythology that promulgate and explain the faith? Maybe. But you can still visit Lenin’s tomb, and old style communism fits all that criteria. Maybe communism is a religion?
One thing that has been observed is that religions change all the time. Usually, just because people want them to. All Christians started out as Jews until they decided they didn’t want that baggage anymore and they up and changed the rules. When Joseph Smith founded his faith, current Christianity did not allow for polygamous marriage. But the Mormons had too many women, so hey, we just change the rules. Or did they change the rules back?
With 99% certainty, the one thing I can say that religions don’t have, are rules. Sorry for all you folks who get so frightened and need rules to make them feel safe, there are none.
Nothing is true. Everything is permitted.
Now in Print!
As a creator, I believe that you pay for content, not for form. Whenever possible, I make all my ebooks DRM free, meaning you can use them on any device you own. Also, when you buy through Amazon, if you purchase a print copy of my books, you get the kindle version for free.
Chasing the Wyrm: Christopher Yan – Office of Arcane Affairs
“I work for the Office of Arcane Affairs.
You have never heard of us.
If the CIA finds out al-Qaeda has a guy who can bend spoons, they call the OAA, and they send me. When the Office of Naval Intelligence has reports of a strange, giant, glowing squid, “Hey OAA, can Topher scuba dive?” An infestation of rabid, gun-toting, were-jaguars in a South American jungle? No problem. Topher can fix it. Nothing worse than spooked spooks who don’t have a clue what they’re dealing with.
But that’s my job. Because being a wizard means I’m the only one who can handle it.”
To protect its interests, the U.S. government projects its power militarily, economically, and magically. It leaves the last to the Office of Arcane Affairs.
Christopher Yan didn’t ask for the job. A wizard born with the power to warp reality, the OAA calls on him to neutralize all arcane threats. Part spy, part fixer, part assassin, Topher searches for a way to make his unique gift serve both his country and his principles. When he makes an enemy of a rogue wizard serving a dying insurgency, he learns the limits his conscience can bear.
Now in the Apple iBookstore
Chasing the Wyrm: Christopher Yan – Office of Arcane Affairs
“I work for the Office of Arcane Affairs.
You have never heard of us.
If the CIA finds out al-Qaeda has a guy who can bend spoons, they call the OAA, and they send me. When the Office of Naval Intelligence has reports of a strange, giant, glowing squid, “Hey OAA, can Topher scuba dive?” An infestation of rabid, gun-toting, were-jaguars in a South American jungle? No problem. Topher can fix it. Nothing worse than spooked spooks who don’t have a clue what they’re dealing with.
But that’s my job. Because being a wizard means I’m the only one who can handle it.”
To protect its interests, the U.S. government projects its power militarily, economically, and magically. It leaves the last to the Office of Arcane Affairs.
Christopher Yan didn’t ask for the job. A wizard born with the power to warp reality, the OAA calls on him to neutralize all arcane threats. Part spy, part fixer, part assassin, Topher searches for a way to make his unique gift serve both his country and his principles. When he makes an enemy of a rogue wizard serving a dying insurgency, he learns the limits his conscience can bear.