Passport Through Hades

Alan Chapman & Duncan Barford

Alan Chapman and Duncan Barford, editors of a forthcoming collection of Aleister Crowley's magical writings, discuss the true meaning of Crowley's legacy and thought. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

  1. 1D AGO

    Nor do I demand aught in sacrifice

    A health scare provokes some reflections on mortality before the conversation turns to developments in personal practice. Then we warm to our main theme: the relevance of the recently released Epstein files to the spiritual and magical community. Finally, we turn our attention to the paranormal, exploring an alternative understanding of its nature. Jeffery A. Martin and the Finder’s Course: https://tinyurl.com/msm258v7 (finderscourse.com). Accessed February 2026. Two emails from Jeffery Martin to Jeffrey Epstein: https://tinyurl.com/5xsz54jv, https://tinyurl.com/47zt385m (justice.gov). Accessed February 2026. Oxford University (2014). Ancient Carthaginians really did sacrifice their children, https://tinyurl.com/4rdmky3h (ox.ac.uk). Accessed February 2026. Robin Ngo (2025). At Carthage, Child Sacrifice? Tell-tale remains from Carthage Tophet point to child sacrifice, https://tinyurl.com/49pm5sf4 (biblicalarchaeology.org). Accessed February 2026. Judaism as a tradition that specifically outlawed child sacrifice. See: Leviticus 18: 21 and 20: 2-5; Deuteronomy 12: 31 and 18: 10; and Micah 6: 7-8: “Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” For Dick’s dream, see: Philip K. Dick, The Exegesis of Philip K. Dick, edited by P. Jackson & J. Lethem (London: Gollancz, 2012), p. 262. Johannes Trimethius (c. 1500). Steganographia, https://tinyurl.com/yc3vabav (trithemius.com). Accessed February 2026. For Aquinas on angels as their own species, see: Summa Theologiae (First Part, Question 50, Article 4), https://tinyurl.com/3tedwzkp (newadvent.org). Accessed February 2026. For Steiner on the individual human as a species, see: Theosophy: An Introduction to the Supersensible Knowledge of the World and the Destination of Man (Memphis, TN: General, 1910), p. 26. For Steiner as a reincarnation of Aquinas, see: T.H. Meyer, Rudolf Steiner’s Core Mission: The Birth and Development of Spiritual-Scientific Karma Research (Forest Row, UK: Temple Lodge, 2010). Music: (Intro) "For Her Demon Lover" by OEITH; "Ippos Kardia" by Shedding Feathers; "Artiantatica" by Shedding Feathers; (Outro) "Hold Me While I Dissipate" by OEITH. Curl up with Duncan's novel, The Going Down, published by Sul Books, or peek beneath the veil through Occult Experiments in the Home: The Podcast Transcripts, published by Heptarchia. Available from the usual places. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 33m
  2. 06/09/2025

    Who am I, and what shall be the sign?

    Many of us are coming to terms with the implications of AI, but what will this obligatory adaptation extort from us? We consider how our culture’s demand for belief in the promises of AI is the latest iteration of an ancient drama. “I know now from the experience of others that The Book of the Law is veritably a Golden Bough. It is the only thing that one is allowed to take with one through Hades and it is an absolute passport.” The Confessions of Aleister Crowley: an Autohagiography, edited by J. Symonds & K. Grant (London: Arkana, 1989), p. 513. The article that forms the basis of our discussion: Azadeh Joon (2025), “Psychosis Fueled by Generative AI are [sic] Tearing Families Apart as Some Claim Chatbots Represent Spiritual Higher Consciousness”, https://tinyurl.com/msechkx7 (substack.com). Accessed June, 2025. South Wales teenage suicide cluster: https://tinyurl.com/mtm895b6 (wikipedia.com). Accessed June, 2025. “Assisted Dying Bill”: legislation for legalised euthanasia currently processing through the UK Parliament, known officially as “Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill”, https://tinyurl.com/35ajxxpt (parliament.uk). Accessed June, 2025. The Exegesis of Philip K. Dick, edited by P. Jackson & J. Lethem (London: Gollancz, 2011). Music: (Intro) "For Her Demon Lover" by OEITH; "Such Glowing Feedback" by OEITH; "Desolate Bethmoora" by OEITH; (Outro) "Becoming" by OEITH. Curl up with Duncan's novel, The Going Down, published by Sul Books. (Available from all the places you'd expect.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 26m

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Alan Chapman and Duncan Barford, editors of a forthcoming collection of Aleister Crowley's magical writings, discuss the true meaning of Crowley's legacy and thought. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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