Drawing a convincing parallel between the cabbalistic tree of the Sefirot and an automobile.
From Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco, C 1988 Gruppo Editoriale Fabbri Bompiani Sonzongo Etas S.p.A.; English translation C 1989 by Harcourt, Inc; 2007 First Harvest edition, pp. 366-168.
"Last night I happened to come across a driver's manual. Maybe it was the semidarkness, or what you had said to me, but I began to imagine that those pages were saying Something Else. Suppose the automobile existed only to serve as a metaphor of creation? ... It is the Tree of the Sefirot."
...
"... The drive shaft is the trunk of the tree. Count the parts: engine, two front wheels, clutch, transmission, two axles, differential, and two rear wheels. Ten parts, ten Sefirot."
...
"...[I]n certain versions Tefiret isn't the sixth Sefirah, but the eighth, below Nezah and Hod. My axle-tree is the tree of Belboth."
...
"But let's pursue the dialectic of the tree. At the summit is the engine, Omnia Movens, of which more later: this is the Creative Source. The engine communicates its creative energy to the two front or higher wheels: the Wheel of Intelligence and the Wheel of Knowledge."
"If the car has a front-wheel drive."
"The good thing about the Belboth tree is that it allows metaphysical alternatives. So we have the image of a spiritual cosmos with front-wheel drive, where the engine, in front, transmits its wishes to the higher wheels, whereas the materialistic version we have a degenerate cosmos in which motion is imparted by the engine to the two lower wheels: from the depths, the cosmic emanation releases the base forces of matter."
...
"... After the engine and the two wheels comes the clutch, the Sefirah of grace that establishes or interrupts the flow of love that binds the rest of the tree to the Supernatural Energy. A disk, a mandala that caresses another mandala. Then the coffer of change—the gear box, or transmission, as the positivists call it, which is the principle of Evil, because it allows human will to speed up or slow down the constant process of emanation. Fort his reason, the automatic transmission costs more, for there it is the tree itself that decides, in accordance with its own Sovereign Equilibrium. Then comes the universal joint, the axle, the drive shaft, the differential—note the opposition/repetition of the quaternion of cylinders in the engine, because the differential (Minor Keter) transmits motion to the earthly wheels. Here the function of the Sefirah of difference is obvious as, with a majestic sense of beauty, it distributes the cosmic forces of the Wheel of Glory and the Wheel of Victory, which in an unaborted universe (front-wheel drive) are subordinate to the motino imparted by the higher wheels."
...
"You have but to look with the eyes of an initiate. The supreme engine lives by an alternation of intake and exhaust. A complex, divine respiration, a cycle initially based on two units called cylinders (an obvious geometric archetype), which then generated a third,, and finally gaze upon each other in mutual love and bring forth the glory of a fourth. In the cycle of the first cylinder (non is first hierarchically, but only through the miraculous alternation of position), the piston (etymology: Pistis Sophia) descends from the upper neutral position to the lower neutral position as the cylinder fills with energy in the pure state. I'm simplifying, because here angelic hierarchies come into play, the ditributor caps, which, as my handbook says, 'allow the opening and closing of the apertures that link the interior of the cylinders to the induction pipes leading out of the carburetor.' The inner seat of the engine can communicate with the rest of the cosmos only through the meditation, and here I believe is revealed—I am reluctant to utter heresy—the original limit of the One, which, in order to create, somehow depends on the Great Eccentrics. A closer reading of the text may be required here. The cylinders fill with energy, the piston returns to the upper neutral position and achieves maximum compression—the simsun. And lo, the glory of the Big Bang: combustion, expansion. A spark flies, the mixture of fuel flares and blazes, and this the handbook calls the active phase of the cycle. And woe, woe if in the mixture of fuel the Shells intrude, the qelippot, drops of impure matter like water or Coca-Cola. Then expansion does not take place or occurs in abortive starts. . . ."
"Then the meaning of Shell is qelippot? We'd better not use it any more. Fron now on, only Virgin's Milk . . ."
"We'll check. It could be a trick of the Seven Sisters, lower emanations trying to control the process of creation. . . . In any case, after expansion, behold the great divine release, the exhaust. The piston rises again to the upper neutral postition and expels the formless matter, now combusted. Only if this process of purification succeeds can the new cycle begin. Which, if you think about it, is also the Neoplatonic mechanism of Exodus and Parodus, miraculous lialectic of the Way Up and the Way Down."
Monday, September 1, 2008
Conspiracy Theory: Nothing New Under the Sun
"The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America" (i.e., the Declaration of Independence) was adopted on 4 July, 1776, mere days after the 2 July vote by the Second Continental Congress to declare independence from Great Britain. (Despite the Declaration's adoption on this date, the famous document on display in the District of Columbia wasn't drafted until after 19 July, and most of the representatives didn't sign until 2 August).
By this point, the American Revolutionary War had been going on for more than a year already (incidents sparking the war including the Boston Massacre and the Battles of Lexington and Concord between British troops and American militiamen. The American regular army was established (on paper, if not actually in practice) in June of 1775).
On 1 May, 1776, the secret society that would become known as the Bavarian Illuminati was founded with the dedication to "the systematic and stealthy conquest of nations, one by one, and ultimately the entire world" (Link. Further reference: Payson, Seth, Proof of the Illuminati, The Invisible College Press, LLC, 2003 (first published in Charlestown: Etheridge, 1802), ISBN 1931468141)
Ignoring, for the moment, the obvious Masonic symbolism inherent in many of the most notable symbols of the United States, does the confluence of these dates - 1 May and 4 July 1776 seem suspicious to anyone else? During the 1770s, the British Empire was one of the strongest nations in Europe, with it's colonial Empire stretching from the new world to India and Asia (serious inroads into Africa had not yet been made). The 1763 Treaty of Paris had effectively ended France's participation as a viable colonial power in the New World, and increasing political turmoil would lead to the French Revolution less than a decade after the American one ended.
Bavaria was, after the resolution of the Thirty Years War, one of the strongest states of the Holy Roman Empire (the Prince-Elector of Bavaria was essential in selecting, and was second in power only to, the Holy Roman Emperor), of with Prussia was also a part. Prussian soldiers fought on the side of the Colonists during the American Revolution.
The connections between these facts should be clear - imbittered by the weakened state in which the Thirty Years War left the Holy Roman Empire, Catholic militants from Prussia, under a Bavarian directive, assisted revolutionary American colonists in defeating the British forces in the American colonies, thus weakening the strength of Protestant-led Britain, thus pursuing the "systematic and stealthy conquest of nations" as intended by the Bavarian Illuminati.
Unfortunately for the Illuminati, their actions were curtailed. The Elector Palatine, Karl Theodor came to power in Bavaria and in 1785 created "The Secular Edict" which, in part, banned all secret societies from operating in Bavaria. No longer able to operate in public, the Bavarian Illuminati could no longer be as bold in their actions, and (according to most reputable sources) experienced its downfall shortly thereafter. Further, the unexpected aftermath of the French Revolution that led to the Napoleonic Wars (which resulted in the French conquest of much of the old Holy Roman Empire) further weakened the Bavarian tradition.
PLUR!
By this point, the American Revolutionary War had been going on for more than a year already (incidents sparking the war including the Boston Massacre and the Battles of Lexington and Concord between British troops and American militiamen. The American regular army was established (on paper, if not actually in practice) in June of 1775).
On 1 May, 1776, the secret society that would become known as the Bavarian Illuminati was founded with the dedication to "the systematic and stealthy conquest of nations, one by one, and ultimately the entire world" (Link. Further reference: Payson, Seth, Proof of the Illuminati, The Invisible College Press, LLC, 2003 (first published in Charlestown: Etheridge, 1802), ISBN 1931468141)
Ignoring, for the moment, the obvious Masonic symbolism inherent in many of the most notable symbols of the United States, does the confluence of these dates - 1 May and 4 July 1776 seem suspicious to anyone else? During the 1770s, the British Empire was one of the strongest nations in Europe, with it's colonial Empire stretching from the new world to India and Asia (serious inroads into Africa had not yet been made). The 1763 Treaty of Paris had effectively ended France's participation as a viable colonial power in the New World, and increasing political turmoil would lead to the French Revolution less than a decade after the American one ended.
Bavaria was, after the resolution of the Thirty Years War, one of the strongest states of the Holy Roman Empire (the Prince-Elector of Bavaria was essential in selecting, and was second in power only to, the Holy Roman Emperor), of with Prussia was also a part. Prussian soldiers fought on the side of the Colonists during the American Revolution.
The connections between these facts should be clear - imbittered by the weakened state in which the Thirty Years War left the Holy Roman Empire, Catholic militants from Prussia, under a Bavarian directive, assisted revolutionary American colonists in defeating the British forces in the American colonies, thus weakening the strength of Protestant-led Britain, thus pursuing the "systematic and stealthy conquest of nations" as intended by the Bavarian Illuminati.
Unfortunately for the Illuminati, their actions were curtailed. The Elector Palatine, Karl Theodor came to power in Bavaria and in 1785 created "The Secular Edict" which, in part, banned all secret societies from operating in Bavaria. No longer able to operate in public, the Bavarian Illuminati could no longer be as bold in their actions, and (according to most reputable sources) experienced its downfall shortly thereafter. Further, the unexpected aftermath of the French Revolution that led to the Napoleonic Wars (which resulted in the French conquest of much of the old Holy Roman Empire) further weakened the Bavarian tradition.
PLUR!
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Time-Out Box
I've been holding onto this scrap of paper in my wallet since my senior year of high school. I only vaguely remember the circumstances surrounding the creation of the rhyme, but I always thought it was make a great hook, or part of a chorus of a fun, poppy song.
"That's what happens in the time-out box
Socks come off
People get kicked
Some people never return"
If anyone is actually inspired enough to try to use this bit of sillyness, please let me know beforehand - I'd love to hear your work!
PLUR!
"That's what happens in the time-out box
Socks come off
People get kicked
Some people never return"
If anyone is actually inspired enough to try to use this bit of sillyness, please let me know beforehand - I'd love to hear your work!
PLUR!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Magic, Science, and Religion
My last semester at Guilford, I finally took my IDS class - an interdisciplinary course required for all senior liberal arts students before they would be allowed to graduate. That course provided me with about a page worth of really profound and really amusing quotes, and since I don't think I'll have a chance to share them with people any other way, I've decided to put them out here in my blog. I believe that all quotes are credited to their original speakers, unless the speaker was unknown.
"The anti-technology revolution always fails." - Eric M.
"It's hard to tell." - Eric M. (these words themselves don't sound too impressive, but Eric always said this instead of "I don't know" or something similar. The way in which he said it convinced me every time that nothing was unknowable, as long as I was willing to put forth the effort to discover it.)
(this was all that remained of a lesson from another class that had been left up on the blackboard, and only partially erased. I am intensely curious about what it originally intended to say!)
"...DESIGN
...BROUGHT UINTO BEING"
"Dang! I could really use some flippers!" - Don S.
"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than knowledge." - Charles Darwin (hey...not all the quotes came from my classmates and professors!)
"Take New Zealand for example, it's full of birds." - Beth T.
"Why do we teach kids to stop, drop, and roll when they catch on fire? 'Cause they might." - Eric M.
"That's why this class is called 'Magic, Science, and Religion', and not 'cat'." - Beth T.
"Correspondence theory: 'the truth is out there'." - Eric M.
"In conclusion - snakes." - Danielle P.
And sadly, the semester ended before I could record any more. I miss that class.
PLUR!
"The anti-technology revolution always fails." - Eric M.
"It's hard to tell." - Eric M. (these words themselves don't sound too impressive, but Eric always said this instead of "I don't know" or something similar. The way in which he said it convinced me every time that nothing was unknowable, as long as I was willing to put forth the effort to discover it.)
(this was all that remained of a lesson from another class that had been left up on the blackboard, and only partially erased. I am intensely curious about what it originally intended to say!)
"...DESIGN
...BROUGHT U
"Dang! I could really use some flippers!" - Don S.
"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than knowledge." - Charles Darwin (hey...not all the quotes came from my classmates and professors!)
"Take New Zealand for example, it's full of birds." - Beth T.
"Why do we teach kids to stop, drop, and roll when they catch on fire? 'Cause they might." - Eric M.
"That's why this class is called 'Magic, Science, and Religion', and not 'cat'." - Beth T.
"Correspondence theory: 'the truth is out there'." - Eric M.
"In conclusion - snakes." - Danielle P.
And sadly, the semester ended before I could record any more. I miss that class.
PLUR!
I wish I had the other half
I was flipping through my journal (for Christmas last, I "gifted" myself with an authentic Moleskine journal - it was a vanity to be sure, but a guy's got to splurge every once in a while, right?) a few days ago, trying to find a page where I'd been doing some character planning for Beckett, who is one of my two favorite characters to play with (I'm a roleplayer, and completely unapologetic on that point!), when I came across a few excerpts of text from my IDS class last semester.
Although I'm on the cusp of (or perhaps even comfortably into) adulthood, I still derive a simple pleasure from passing notes to people. In my journal was half a note that I'd passed back and forth with MJ, a lovely and talented young woman that I didn't take nearly enough opportunities to try to befriend before we both graduated. I believe we started out talking about majors. Unfortunately, while I remember the situation, I can't remember a word that was written, aside from what I jotted down in my journal.
But I do have a tendency to ramble. On to the content.
"So, what you're telling me is that you think art is silly? And how does that make you feel?
[response]
I'm psych. Wanna switch? (smiley face)
[response]
That's really funny, because I love bad art!
[response]
In the town I grew up in, there were 3 churches - a Baptist, a Methodist, and a Jehovah's Witness.
[response]
BECAUSE THEY'RE AWESOME"
I WISH that I could remember what we were talking about, and I wish I had the other half of the note!
PLUR!
Although I'm on the cusp of (or perhaps even comfortably into) adulthood, I still derive a simple pleasure from passing notes to people. In my journal was half a note that I'd passed back and forth with MJ, a lovely and talented young woman that I didn't take nearly enough opportunities to try to befriend before we both graduated. I believe we started out talking about majors. Unfortunately, while I remember the situation, I can't remember a word that was written, aside from what I jotted down in my journal.
But I do have a tendency to ramble. On to the content.
"So, what you're telling me is that you think art is silly? And how does that make you feel?
[response]
I'm psych. Wanna switch? (smiley face)
[response]
That's really funny, because I love bad art!
[response]
In the town I grew up in, there were 3 churches - a Baptist, a Methodist, and a Jehovah's Witness.
[response]
BECAUSE THEY'RE AWESOME"
I WISH that I could remember what we were talking about, and I wish I had the other half of the note!
PLUR!
Friday, July 4, 2008
American Independence Day
This excerpt comes from Jeffrey Rowland, who's cynicism and caustic frustration toward American government are sometimes off-putting to me. The commentary that accompanies today's webcomic entry seemed extremely poignant to me.
"Happy Independence Day America! Remember that the people that made up the Declaration of Independence were alive today, they would probably declare independence from what most of America has become."
Normally I'd provide some commentary, but I don't feel that I need to. I'm not asking you to agree or disagree with this quote. Just...think about it.
If you want to hear more of Rowland's opinions, or read his webcomic OverCompensating, the website to go to is www.overcompensating.com.
PLUR!
"Happy Independence Day America! Remember that the people that made up the Declaration of Independence were alive today, they would probably declare independence from what most of America has become."
Normally I'd provide some commentary, but I don't feel that I need to. I'm not asking you to agree or disagree with this quote. Just...think about it.
If you want to hear more of Rowland's opinions, or read his webcomic OverCompensating, the website to go to is www.overcompensating.com.
PLUR!
Monday, March 31, 2008
Re-re-re-revisited
I've decided that, since I have a tendency to forget otherwise, that I'd make a list of all the movies I've been told I have to see (or see again). If you know of another one, or want to suggest another one, please feel free and I'll add it to the list!
The Lost Boys
Eragon
Hot Fuzz (Thanks everybody 3.5.07)
Flushed Away (thanks sis 3.5.07)
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (thanks everyone, esp. Rachel 11.6.07)
Trainspotting
Lawnmower Man
Pride & Prejudice
Children of Men
Pan's Labyrinth
Donny Darko (thanks sis)
Battle Royale (thanks Jerry)
Boondock Saints (thanks Roommate-Dan)
300 (thanks...um, just about everybody!)
El Mariachi/Desperado/Once Upon A Time in Mexico (thanks Pirate House denizens 3.5.07)
Elizabethtown (thanks Megan 3.5.07)
Love Actually (3.5.07)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (thanks...Rachel? 3.5.07)
Meet the Robinsons (Thanks sis 3.5.07)
Little Miss Sunshine (thanks Amanda B. 11.6.07)
Sin City (thanks Kyle 11.6.07)
Shaolin Soccer (thanks Kyle 11.6.07)
Snatch (thanks Jay 11.6.07)
Finding Neverland (thanks Jay 11.6.07)
Canadian Bacon (thanks Jerry 11.6.07)
Idiocracy (thanks Alison 11.6.07)
Casino Royale (thanks Samantha 31.3.08)
Hairspray (thanks sis 31.3.08)
Stardust (thanks sis and Ribbons 31.3.08)
Blazing Saddles (3.31.08)
The Last Unicorn (3.31.08)
...And that's all I can remember at the moment. If you remember more or want to suggest a new one, please do and I'll add it to the list!
PLUR!
Trainspotting
Lawnmower Man
Pride & Prejudice
Children of Men
Pan's Labyrinth
Donny Darko (thanks sis)
Battle Royale (thanks Jerry)
Boondock Saints (thanks Roommate-Dan)
300 (thanks...um, just about everybody!)
El Mariachi/Desperado/
Elizabethtown (thanks Megan 3.5.07)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (thanks...Rachel? 3.5.07)
Meet the Robinsons (Thanks sis 3.5.07)
Little Miss Sunshine (thanks Amanda B. 11.6.07)
Sin City (thanks Kyle 11.6.07)
Snatch (thanks Jay 11.6.07)
Finding Neverland (thanks Jay 11.6.07)
Canadian Bacon (thanks Jerry 11.6.07)
Idiocracy (thanks Alison 11.6.07)
Hairspray (thanks sis 31.3.08)
Stardust (thanks sis and Ribbons 31.3.08)
Blazing Saddles (3.31.08)
The Last Unicorn (3.31.08)
...And that's all I can remember at the moment. If you remember more or want to suggest a new one, please do and I'll add it to the list!
PLUR!
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