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Series: Walk By the Spirit; Scripture:  1 Corinthians 2:6-16

“It's like wrecking a car to steal a pair of sunglasses. The sunglasses are the ransom. The damage to the car is fifty to seventy-five billion dollars a year.” — Anja Shortland Cybercrime is booming. Ransomware attacks — where criminal gangs encrypt your servers and hold your data hostage until you pay — cost victims somewhere between fifty and seventy-five billion dollars a year in damage. The hackers themselves pocket around a billion. As Anja Shortland, professor of political economy at King's College London and author of Dark Screens: Hackers and Heroes in the Shadowy World of Ransomware, puts it: “it's like wrecking a car to steal a pair of sunglasses.” The sunglasses are the ransom. The wrecked car is the damage to the rest of us. Shortland is an expert in extortive crime — transactions where a legal entity has to make a deal with a criminal group under conditions of zero trust. She has studied kidnap for ransom, Somali piracy, art theft, and now the booming business of ransomware. What fascinates her is not the crime itself but the institutions that emerge in the space between the legal world and the criminal underworld: the insurance companies that price the risk, the negotiators who manage the transaction, the norms that make it possible for a corporation to pay a criminal gang and actually get its data back. In Russia, hacking Westerners isn't even a crime. In North Korea, it's an actual department with a small army of government employees. In Iran, it's a foreign policy. Criminality, Shortland thus argues, is defined by whoever holds power. The game-changer, she argues, is cryptocurrency. Without it, ransomware doesn't work — you can't move money anonymously at scale without it. Regulate cryptocurrency, and you take the profit motive out of most of what she studies. The irony is that the current American administration is amongst the most crypto-friendly in history. Meanwhile, AI — specifically Anthropic's Claude Mythos, the hacking model that was leaked rather than released — is about to give criminals tools that only well-resourced banks and corporations can currently deploy defensively. So cybercrime will continue to boom. Expect a pile-up of wrecked cars on our information highway.Five Takeaways •       We Know You Can Pay a Million: The title of the UK edition of Shortland's book is the most revealing line in ransomware. Criminal gangs don't pick ransom figures arbitrarily. They spend weeks inside the victim's systems, studying cash flow, cash reserves, and insurance coverage, before setting a demand on the painful side of affordable. The victim usually pays — because the alternative is losing access to patient records, customer data, or patents permanently. The hackers know this. The negotiation that follows is, in Shortland's framing, a transaction between parties with zero trust and one thing in common: both want a deal. •       In Russia, It's Not a Crime: Ransomware is not a uniform global crime. In Russia, theft and extortion directed at Westerners is not considered a criminal act. In North Korea, hacking is organised as a government department — a state revenue stream, not a criminal enterprise. The line between crime and legitimacy is drawn by whoever holds power. This complicates any enforcement response: you cannot extradite a North Korean government employee. You cannot prosecute a Russian hacker in a Russian court. The only effective levers are diplomatic, financial, and technical — and all three are currently being weakened. •       Insurance Orders Criminality: Shortland's most counterintuitive argument: insurance companies are not passive bystanders in ransomware. They are active market-makers. By pricing the risk, they create the conditions under which a corporation can make a rational decision to pay. By negotiating on behalf of victims, they create norms — what a fair ransom looks like, what proof of decryption looks like, what happens if the hackers don't deliver. Insurance, in Shortland's telling, is what makes the criminal market function. Most people think insurance is boring. They are not thinking about this. •       Cryptocurrency Is the Real Game-Changer: Ransomware as a profitable business model did not exist before cryptocurrency. Without the ability to move money anonymously at scale, without blockchain verification that payment has been received, the transaction between criminal and victim cannot be completed. Regulate cryptocurrency — apply the anti-money-laundering frameworks that govern wire transfers and bank accounts — and you take the profit motive out of most of what Shortland studies. The irony: the current American administration is among the most crypto-friendly in history, and the president's own family has direct financial interests in the sector. •       Claude Mythos and the Asymmetric AI Problem: Anthropic's Claude Mythos — the AI model built to find software vulnerabilities, which was leaked rather than formally released — is the next phase of this war. The defensive use case is real: a well-resourced bank can use it to find and fix its vulnerabilities before attackers do. The problem is asymmetry. A large financial institution can deploy Claude Mythos defensively. Wiltshire County Council, a local hospital, a dental practice, a legal firm — the soft targets that ransomware gangs prefer — cannot. The hackers will eventually get it. The debate about who should be allowed to use it, and under what conditions, has not happened. That is what worries Shortland most. About the Guest Anja Shortland is a Professor of Political Economy at King's College London and the author of Dark Screens: Hackers and Heroes in the Shadowy World of Ransomware (Princeton University Press, 2025; US edition April 2026) and Kidnap: Inside the Ransom Business. She was a member of the Ransomware Task Force. References: •       Dark Screens: Hackers and Heroes in the Shadowy World of Ransomware by Anja Shortland (Princeton University Press, US edition April 2026). •       Steven Levy, Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution (1984) — referenced in the interview as the origin story of hacking culture. •       Episode 2885: Keith Teare on Adulting — the week Anthropic's Claude Mythos was discussed; the Shortland interview is the companion piece on what it means in practice. About Keen On America Nobody asks more awkward questions than the Anglo-American writer and filmmaker Andrew Keen. In Keen On America, Andrew brings his pointed Transatlantic wit to making sense of the United States — hosting daily interviews about the history and future of this now venerable Republic. With nearly 2,900 episodes since the show launched on TechCrunch in 2010, Keen On America is the most prolific intellectual interview show in the histo...

Dr. Una McCormack is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling science fiction author known for bringing depth, politics, and humanity to some of the genre's most beloved universes. With more than twenty novels, she has written acclaimed stories for Star Trek, Doctor Who, and Firefly, including Star Trek: Picard – The Last Best Hope and the autobiographies of Spock and Kathryn Janeway.  An academic with a PhD in sociology and a longtime lecturer in creative writing, Una blends rigorous thought with compelling storytelling, exploring themes of identity, power, and culture within science fiction worlds.  Her work has earned numerous award nominations and widespread praise from fans and critics alike, making her one of the most respected voices writing in modern science fiction tie-in fiction today.  On this episode, we talk with Una about the craft of writing in iconic universes, what makes Star Trek such fertile ground for storytelling, and how great science fiction can illuminate the world we live in. https://linktr.ee/studiotembo

This week The Sun joins Saturn, Neptune, and Pluto in conversation about what's really important. This is a week that will show you what your responsibilities are and where you need to be discerning with your energy output. The truth is we can't do it all, but we can do what's important! Join my email communitySign up for Cosmic Conversation00:00 Welcome and Deep Breath00:33 Saturn Reality Check01:36 Solar Return Saturn03:53 Equinox Balance05:34 Sun Meets Neptune09:19 From Spiral to Action11:06 Sun Meets Saturn16:06 Venus Chiron Wounds18:03 Moon Out of Bounds19:58 Saturn Sextile Pluto24:30 Generational Shift Ahead26:09 Airline Crisis Astrology28:56 Travel Tips and Goodbye

In this episode, Emily interviews Dr. Trevor Hedberg, an assistant professor of practice at the University of Arizona who teaches a seminar on personal finance to undergrad students based on Morgan Housel's The Psychology of Money. Trevor is a repeat podcast guest, and he shares how teaching the course has made him think differently about finances during his PhD and postdoc, including the financial opportunity cost of grad school and lifetime wealth killers.

Welcome back to Gnostic Insights and to the Gnostic Reformation on Substack. First I have to tell you, what was lost has been found. I went back to White City VA yesterday and had an acupuncture treatment. And on my way out of the building, I saw a maintenance man, a custodian at his cart with his broom. I thought to myself, well, if anybody should be able to find something, it would be this guy. I told him I lost a book two weeks ago, somewhere between 201 and 209 in a lady’s room on a windowsill. And he says, “Well, what was the name of the book?” And I said, “Culpability.” And indeed, the recognition went across his face. He said, “I have seen that book. I have dusted that book every day for two weeks.” And I said, “Why didn’t you turn it into lost and found?” He goes, “Well, it’s not my book. It belongs to somebody. So I just left it there.” So then we had to look for the restroom that he had found it in, because he cleans a lot of ladies rooms in that big span of buildings. I told him it was on the second floor, that it was somewhere between 201 and on my way to the chiropractor in building 209. And so we went upstairs together and he took me right to the bathroom. And there was the book where I had laid it down. I was absolutely overjoyed. I thanked him profusely for his assistance. And I asked him if I could give him a hug. And he said, yeah, sure. So I gave him a big hug and it was wonderful. It was just wonderful. We went back downstairs together. I proceeded out the door and he proceeded with his cart down the hall. I was ecstatic. I should mention that his name was Lester. That way we can all give a blessing for Lester. Thank you, Lester! ***************************** Now, the past couple of weeks, we’ve talked about this Gnostic Reformation here at Gnostic Insights. My Gnosticism that I’m sharing with you is not different than classical Gnosticism, but it is a further refinement. It’s a proceeding onward. We don’t go back into history. We go forward into the future. Today, we’re going to talk about the Demiurge and how this view of the Demiurge that I have is slightly different than the view that a lot of people have. See, most people think of the Demiurge as malicious, as an evil being. And when I first was studying Gnosticism, I was pretty much along those lines as well. I thought that the Demiurge was a very bad guy. But over the past few years, I’ve come to see that the Demiurge isn’t a bad guy. That he’s doing his best. He is the, as I like to say, he is the god of this world. So he’s done a pretty darn good job. He’s done better than you and I could do building a world. But how did he do that? Why is he thought to be malicious? I mean, I often speak of him—and again, I say him, but it’s really an it. Because first off, let’s remember, the Demiurge is not a stand-alone entity. The Demiurge is the separated ego or identity—the presenting face of the Aeon known as Logos, the Aeon who fell. And when Logos fell because he overreached, his ego overreached and thought it could become plugged back into the Father the way the Son is plugged into the Father. Logos mistook himself for the Son, you could say. You could also say he mistook himself for the Fullness. Because there he is sitting right there at the very tippy top of the hierarchy of the Fullness of God–the very top. He was the final Aeon to be produced by the commingling of all of the Aeons giving glory to the Father and the Son. Logos mistakes himself for the Fullness. So Logos was sitting way up there at the tippy top. He didn’t have any neighbors to his left and right because he was the capstone. He didn’t have anybody over above him other than the Father. And the rest of the Pleroma was down there beneath him because he’s sitting as a capstone on the hierarchy of the Fullness of God, which looks like a pyramid. So I think that Logos simply mistook himself for the Son or mistook that he could go ahead and plug in to the Father. He’s right there. He’s so close. You know, we have echoes of that same Fall in the story of the Tower of Babel where the humans built this incredibly tall tower reaching to the heavens, reaching to God. And God, [and in this case it was probably Jehovah, probably the Demiurge because we’re downstream here in the cosmos], thought that was not a good idea. And so he cast them into confusion by a proliferation of languages that they couldn’t understand each other and they stopped building and the tower fell. Italian humanist manuscript late 15th century It’s also the story of Icarus where he made wings and he flew too close to the sun, S-U-N in that case. And when he flew too close to the sun, it melted the wax that was holding his wings together and Icarus fell. These are other examples of falling. 18th century engraving by Bernard Picart So in this case with Logos, Logos wanted to go up to the Father with his Pleroma, which was perfect because the Pleroma of Logos is a fractal of the Fullness of God. It’s a fractal copy of the entire hierarchy. Logos had within its Pleroma a fractal, one level down, of all of the other Aeons. He had a full and complete Pleroma. He had the entire plans. He knew everything to put together paradise, to put together the cosmos. But that wasn’t his job and so he overreached. His ego got out of control and it was his ego that impelled him to overreach, which caused the Fall. The Father couldn’t allow Logos to plug back into him because, well, that space is taken by the Son. But not only that, the Father is too immense, is too illimitable, is too powerful for a lowly Aeon to be able to plug directly in. No one can control that much power. No one can hold that much energy except the Son. So Logos was repelled by the Father to save him from becoming cinders in the light of his immensity. And he fell and he broke apart down here outside of the Pleroma of the Fullness. And it was his broken bits that became the quantum foam of this cosmos. Logos couldn’t get it back together. He couldn’t stuff it all back in. He couldn’t contain the chaos that erupted from him once his ego took over. Logos stumbles and Falls while reaching for Glory. And I hope, as I talk about the Demiurge, that you can hear the parallels to our egos when our own egos get out of control. That’s when all hell breaks loose. The Aeons were designed to stay in the glory beam of the Father and the Son. They each had their position, place, duty, name in the hierarchy. And Logos overreached his position, place, duty, name. His ego took over. That’s why he fell. And then it was nothing but ego down here. The best part of Logos, it says in the Tripartite Tractate, was horrified. And it abandoned the chaos below and returned to the Aeons in the Fullness. But he was broken. He left half of himself behind. So let’s look at this Demiurge that was left behind. The Demiurge is not a character that stands alone. The Demiurge is the shadow of the Fallen Aeon. The Demiurge is the shadow of Logos. Because when his ego took over and separated, all that was left was the shadows. So the Pleroma of the Demiurge is a shadow of the Pleroma of Logos. We know that the Pleroma of Logos is a fractal level down from the hierarchy of the Fullness. What does it mean to be the shadow of that Pleroma? That’s what makes up the body and energy of the Demiurge. So there’s two questions that Gnostics have often wrestled with over the years, particularly the Sethians and then the Platonists in the Greek strain of thought. And these were the questions. How can the Demiurge be ignorant without being evil? And how can the cosmos be orderly yet spiritually deficient? This is answered by thinking of the Demiurge as the shadow of the Fallen Aeon. This means that the Demiurge is not malicious; he’s not autonomous either. He is not the source of being. The Demiurge is a distorted reflection of the higher principle that was Logos. When we think of the Demiurge this way, we can preserve the goodness of the Father and the integrity of the Son and the cooperative nature of the Aeons. Evil didn’t fall from the Father. Evil is nothing but another word for chaos and shadow—lack of goodness. So falling out of the pleroma of the hierarchy of the Fullness created our material cosmos as a shadow place. There is a cosmic deficiency hard-baked into this material universe. And that is, by definition, separation from the Father and the hierarchy of the Fullness of God. Ignorance is a shadow. It’s not a substance. It’s a lack. Again, ignorance is part of the shadow. It’s the ignorance of not knowing God. It’s the ignorance of not remembering where you came from. My Gnostic insight is that the role of the Demiurge is to bring order to chaos, bring order to the quantum foam that was bubbling in and out in and out of existence down here. This is a way different place than the ethereal space. And in order to impose control upon the quantum foam, the Demiurge imposes strict physical laws like a puppet master. He controls physics through laws of physics. Strictly, there can be no deviation or there would be no material universe. That’s a principle that comes right out of physics. The laws of our universe are strictly precise and any deviation causes catastrophic failure. So it was necessary for the Demiurge to impose strict physical laws on both physics and then higher up on the chemistry of how things go together. Bonds, chemical bonds. The Demiurge controls through strings of power. And the Demiurge knows how to do this because it is the shadow of all of that fractal knowledge of Logos. So it has the pattern, but it’s a dead pattern. It’s like he has the blueprints but he doesn’t have the life. He has a little small shadowy model of the way things ought to be. So he knows how things go. He creates structure, but doesn’t understand the meaning or the wisdom behind it. Now, after we second order powers came to Earth to try to remind the Demiurge of love and the Father and the Son and the Fullness above and his better half Logos up there with the Aeons begging for him to come home, praying for him to come home, we second order powers were sent down to try to bring that remembrance to the Demiurge. But we have failed because we get caught up in this never-ending war down here. Never-ending War And you know, it’s not just a never-ending war against the other political party. It’s not just a never-ending war against other people that frustrate our desires. It’s a never-ending war between entropy and creation. It’s a never-ending war between life and death, between material and ethereal. We get lost in the battle and we forget to stand within that beam of glory that comes directly down on us from the hierarchy above. So the Demiurge tries to also impose laws and strict order upon us second order creatures, thinking that we are just wayward molecules because it doesn’t remember where we came from. It doesn’t remember where it came from. The Demiurge does not understand free will. Free will is not allowed in the Demiurgic universe because if the Demiurge allowed any free will in the material, things would fly apart. Things would not hold. So the Demiurge is trying to impose order upon us second order creatures and we are very unruly because of the free will that we inherited from the Aeonic realm and we just do not obey. That’s why the laws in the Old Testament and the Quran are so strict. There’s no deviation allowed because the Demiurge is trying its best to impose order upon us, thinking of us as simply disobedient pieces of material. So in this Gnosticism that I am sharing with you, the Demiurge is cut off from the first principle of knowledge, wisdom, love, consciousness, life. And it’s down here all on its own in this dark and dreary place. The Demiurge is competent. He created this world that we live in. He created the stars in the heavens. He’s doing his best. He’s earnest, but he is spiritually amnesiac which limits his power and understanding. He’s not just a tyrant. In the Gnosticism that I’m sharing with you, the goal has always been to restore the Demiurge back to the Pleroma and slap it back onto Logos, restoring his ego and making Logos whole. Because until the Demiurge returns to the hierarchy of God, there is an Aeon in that hierarchy who is not whole. And that diminishes the Fullness of God. We are actually joining in with the prayer of the Aeons to restore the Demiurge back to the Fullness, to restore the Demiurge back to Logos, which will then restore Logos, which then restores the Aeons of the Fullness. The Demiurge cannot bring life and consciousness to the mud. So we don’t discard the Demiurge but seek to heal the Demiurge. We are not merely trying to escape this material cosmos but we are part of the plan of redemption for the cosmos. The Aeons are not isolated from this universe but they become reconciled with the universe when the Demiurge is restored to Logos. And as I was telling you for the last couple of weeks, humanity isn’t divided into those who are elect and therefore saved and those who are not elect in any of the religions that want to say that only their believers are the elect. Everyone is restored when the Demiurge is restored. And when everyone is restored, then the Demiurge is restored. Now we can’t be restored—we second-order powers already fell when our ego is in control and it is usually in control down here. It’s all a fractal system. It’s all resonating downward. So we resemble the Demiurge when our big S Self is not in control, our Self being a fractal representation of the pleroma of Logos. We failed in that and that is the purpose of the third order of powers which is Christ because we can’t do it on our own. We’ve tried. We’ve tried for millennia. We can’t seem to climb out of that egoic trap that we find ourselves in and therefore the Christ came to redeem us and to redeem the Demiurge. The Christ is a later solution to the Fall. Second-order power was not enough.  Send in the third-order powers and the Christ does have all the power necessary. The Christ has all the mojo of the ethereal plane. Nothing’s missing and it has the full blessing of the Father. We are all elect within the pleroma of Christ. So Christ is the restorative agent to the Demiurge, to us, to all of creation. Christ is the harmonizer. Christ is the healer of the Fallen Aeon and the revealer of the Father and the awakener of the Demiurge and the teacher of humanity. Christ didn’t create the cosmos. Christ restores the cosmos. Christ does not impose law. Christ said he came to replace the law. He takes the law away from the hands of the Demiurge and instead rules through meaning and love. The Christ didn’t come to dominate the Demiurge, to kill the Demiurge. Christ came to enlighten the Demiurge. I have come of late to feel more compassion for the Demiurge. The Demiurge is an innocent victim of the Fall. He’s a limited being that can only rule through strict control. He’s redeemable through the power of Christ, who restores the cosmos. So let’s go through this again real quick. The Son is the primal image of the Father, the first expression of the Father, the first emanation of the Father. As soon as the Son was formed, his component parts were identified and those component parts—those are the Totalities, who then became Self-aware and now we call them the Aeons. They express the Fullness of divine life. See, the Son is one big entity, but the Aeons are all of the Son in smaller approachable forms. It’s like thinking of all of the humans on the planet as one giant mass and trying to relate to humanity as one thought, one thing. Well, that’s not true. We’re each individuals. We’re each a part of humanity and it’s that kind of relationship that the Aeons have to the Son. You see, one Aeon falls and in this Gnosticism, we call that Aeon Logos and his shadow emerged, which is the Demiurge. The Demiurge orders chaos through strict laws, but lacks any spiritual memory and the Christ then, formed cooperatively by the Son, Logos and the Aeons, descends into our cosmic space to heal the Fallen Aeon, to enlighten the Demiurge, to awaken humanity and to restore cosmic harmony. Here is a chart that very neatly displays today’s Gnostic Insights. God bless us all and onward and upward.                            THE FATHER         (Transcendent Source • Beyond Being • Silent Origin)                                    │                      Emanation flows downward (pure gift)                                    ▼                                THE SON        (First Emanation • Direct Image • Perfect Intelligible Form)                                    │                      Expression flows outward (intelligibility)                                    ▼                                  LOGOS      (Articulate Intellect • Pattern of Order • Fractal Pleroma)                                    │                      Differentiation flows into multiplicity                                    ▼                          THE FULLNESS OF AEONS    (Harmonic Community • Modalities of Divine Life • Stable Radiance)                                    │                      (One aeon turns inward (self‑regarding Ego) Logos/Sophia)                                    ▼                          THE FALL      SEPARATION FROM THE FATHER AEONIC DEFICIENCY ARISES      (Ignorance • Misalignment • Loss of Orientation toward the Son)                                    │                      Shadow flows from the deficient Aeon Logos                                    ▼                            THE DEMIURGE – EGO PERSONIFIED    (Shadow‑Image • Earnest but Amnesiac • Competent yet Unillumined)                                    │  Hidden influence flows from the LOGOS   (quiet guidance, unrecognized by the Demiurge, shaping his ordering activity)                                    │            Ordering flows from Logos into the pre‑cosmic chaos/quantum foam                                    ▼                    COSMOS ORDERED BY THE DEMIURGE ALONE    (Physical Laws • Chemical Necessity • Biological Imperatives •     Governmental Structures • Order without Meaning)                                    │  Human souls do NOT arise here. They descend from the Aeons above.                                           ▼                      DESCENT OF HUMAN SOULS FROM AEONS (Soul-stream flows downward • Each soul carries a spark of the aeonic harmony • Enters the cosmos under conditions of amnesia due to bonding with the Demiurgic material.)                                     ▼                                HUMANITY    (Divine Origin • Cosmic Conditioning • Spiritual Amnesia • Longing)                                    │                      Compassion flows from the higher Aeons                                    ▼                                 CHRIST    (Restorative Agent • Cooperative Emanation of Son + Logos + Aeons •     Bridge Between Realms • Physician of Ignorance)                                    │                      Healing flows upward and downward                                    ▼                      CHRIST'S RESTORATIVE ACTIVITY    • Heals the fallen Aeon     • Illuminates the Demiurge (reveals the Logos behind his work)     • Reveals the Father to humanity     • Softens strict law with mercy and wisdom     • Restores harmony among the Aeons     • Awakens the soul's memory of its aeonic origin     • Opens the path of universal return                                    │                      Reconciliation flows back toward the Source                                    ▼                          UNIVERSAL RESTORATION    (Demiurge Enlightened • Aeons Reharmonized • Humanity Awakened •     Cosmos Transfigured • All Return Through the Son to the Father)

Welcome back to Gnostic Insights and to the Gnostic Reformation on Substack. First I have to tell you, what was lost has been found. I went back to White City VA yesterday and had an acupuncture treatment. And on my way out of the building, I saw a maintenance man, a custodian at his cart with his broom. I thought to myself, well, if anybody should be able to find something, it would be this guy. I told him I lost a book two weeks ago, somewhere between 201 and 209 in a lady’s room on a windowsill. And he says, “Well, what was the name of the book?” And I said, “Culpability.” And indeed, the recognition went across his face. He said, “I have seen that book. I have dusted that book every day for two weeks.” And I said, “Why didn’t you turn it into lost and found?” He goes, “Well, it’s not my book. It belongs to somebody. So I just left it there.” So then we had to look for the restroom that he had found it in, because he cleans a lot of ladies rooms in that big span of buildings. I told him it was on the second floor, that it was somewhere between 201 and on my way to the chiropractor in building 209. And so we went upstairs together and he took me right to the bathroom. And there was the book where I had laid it down. I was absolutely overjoyed. I thanked him profusely for his assistance. And I asked him if I could give him a hug. And he said, yeah, sure. So I gave him a big hug and it was wonderful. It was just wonderful. We went back downstairs together. I proceeded out the door and he proceeded with his cart down the hall. I was ecstatic. I should mention that his name was Lester. That way we can all give a blessing for Lester. Thank you, Lester! ***************************** Now, the past couple of weeks, we’ve talked about this Gnostic Reformation here at Gnostic Insights. My Gnosticism that I’m sharing with you is not different than classical Gnosticism, but it is a further refinement. It’s a proceeding onward. We don’t go back into history. We go forward into the future. Today, we’re going to talk about the Demiurge and how this view of the Demiurge that I have is slightly different than the view that a lot of people have. See, most people think of the Demiurge as malicious, as an evil being. And when I first was studying Gnosticism, I was pretty much along those lines as well. I thought that the Demiurge was a very bad guy. But over the past few years, I’ve come to see that the Demiurge isn’t a bad guy. That he’s doing his best. He is the, as I like to say, he is the god of this world. So he’s done a pretty darn good job. He’s done better than you and I could do building a world. But how did he do that? Why is he thought to be malicious? I mean, I often speak of him—and again, I say him, but it’s really an it. Because first off, let’s remember, the Demiurge is not a stand-alone entity. The Demiurge is the separated ego or identity—the presenting face of the Aeon known as Logos, the Aeon who fell. And when Logos fell because he overreached, his ego overreached and thought it could become plugged back into the Father the way the Son is plugged into the Father. Logos mistook himself for the Son, you could say. You could also say he mistook himself for the Fullness. Because there he is sitting right there at the very tippy top of the hierarchy of the Fullness of God–the very top. He was the final Aeon to be produced by the commingling of all of the Aeons giving glory to the Father and the Son. Logos mistakes himself for the Fullness. So Logos was sitting way up there at the tippy top. He didn’t have any neighbors to his left and right because he was the capstone. He didn’t have anybody over above him other than the Father. And the rest of the Pleroma was down there beneath him because he’s sitting as a capstone on the hierarchy of the Fullness of God, which looks like a pyramid. So I think that Logos simply mistook himself for the Son or mistook that he could go ahead and plug in to the Father. He’s right there. He’s so close. You know, we have echoes of that same Fall in the story of the Tower of Babel where the humans built this incredibly tall tower reaching to the heavens, reaching to God. And God, [and in this case it was probably Jehovah, probably the Demiurge because we’re downstream here in the cosmos], thought that was not a good idea. And so he cast them into confusion by a proliferation of languages that they couldn’t understand each other and they stopped building and the tower fell. Italian humanist manuscript late 15th century It’s also the story of Icarus where he made wings and he flew too close to the sun, S-U-N in that case. And when he flew too close to the sun, it melted the wax that was holding his wings together and Icarus fell. These are other examples of falling. 18th century engraving by Bernard Picart So in this case with Logos, Logos wanted to go up to the Father with his Pleroma, which was perfect because the Pleroma of Logos is a fractal of the Fullness of God. It’s a fractal copy of the entire hierarchy. Logos had within its Pleroma a fractal, one level down, of all of the other Aeons. He had a full and complete Pleroma. He had the entire plans. He knew everything to put together paradise, to put together the cosmos. But that wasn’t his job and so he overreached. His ego got out of control and it was his ego that impelled him to overreach, which caused the Fall. The Father couldn’t allow Logos to plug back into him because, well, that space is taken by the Son. But not only that, the Father is too immense, is too illimitable, is too powerful for a lowly Aeon to be able to plug directly in. No one can control that much power. No one can hold that much energy except the Son. So Logos was repelled by the Father to save him from becoming cinders in the light of his immensity. And he fell and he broke apart down here outside of the Pleroma of the Fullness. And it was his broken bits that became the quantum foam of this cosmos. Logos couldn’t get it back together. He couldn’t stuff it all back in. He couldn’t contain the chaos that erupted from him once his ego took over. Logos stumbles and Falls while reaching for Glory. And I hope, as I talk about the Demiurge, that you can hear the parallels to our egos when our own egos get out of control. That’s when all hell breaks loose. The Aeons were designed to stay in the glory beam of the Father and the Son. They each had their position, place, duty, name in the hierarchy. And Logos overreached his position, place, duty, name. His ego took over. That’s why he fell. And then it was nothing but ego down here. The best part of Logos, it says in the Tripartite Tractate, was horrified. And it abandoned the chaos below and returned to the Aeons in the Fullness. But he was broken. He left half of himself behind. So let’s look at this Demiurge that was left behind. The Demiurge is not a character that stands alone. The Demiurge is the shadow of the Fallen Aeon. The Demiurge is the shadow of Logos. Because when his ego took over and separated, all that was left was the shadows. So the Pleroma of the Demiurge is a shadow of the Pleroma of Logos. We know that the Pleroma of Logos is a fractal level down from the hierarchy of the Fullness. What does it mean to be the shadow of that Pleroma? That’s what makes up the body and energy of the Demiurge. So there’s two questions that Gnostics have often wrestled with over the years, particularly the Sethians and then the Platonists in the Greek strain of thought. And these were the questions. How can the Demiurge be ignorant without being evil? And how can the cosmos be orderly yet spiritually deficient? This is answered by thinking of the Demiurge as the shadow of the Fallen Aeon. This means that the Demiurge is not malicious; he’s not autonomous either. He is not the source of being. The Demiurge is a distorted reflection of the higher principle that was Logos. When we think of the Demiurge this way, we can preserve the goodness of the Father and the integrity of the Son and the cooperative nature of the Aeons. Evil didn’t fall from the Father. Evil is nothing but another word for chaos and shadow—lack of goodness. So falling out of the pleroma of the hierarchy of the Fullness created our material cosmos as a shadow place. There is a cosmic deficiency hard-baked into this material universe. And that is, by definition, separation from the Father and the hierarchy of the Fullness of God. Ignorance is a shadow. It’s not a substance. It’s a lack. Again, ignorance is part of the shadow. It’s the ignorance of not knowing God. It’s the ignorance of not remembering where you came from. My Gnostic insight is that the role of the Demiurge is to bring order to chaos, bring order to the quantum foam that was bubbling in and out in and out of existence down here. This is a way different place than the ethereal space. And in order to impose control upon the quantum foam, the Demiurge imposes strict physical laws like a puppet master. He controls physics through laws of physics. Strictly, there can be no deviation or there would be no material universe. That’s a principle that comes right out of physics. The laws of our universe are strictly precise and any deviation causes catastrophic failure. So it was necessary for the Demiurge to impose strict physical laws on both physics and then higher up on the chemistry of how things go together. Bonds, chemical bonds. The Demiurge controls through strings of power. And the Demiurge knows how to do this because it is the shadow of all of that fractal knowledge of Logos. So it has the pattern, but it’s a dead pattern. It’s like he has the blueprints but he doesn’t have the life. He has a little small shadowy model of the way things ought to be. So he knows how things go. He creates structure, but doesn’t understand the meaning or the wisdom behind it. Now, after we second order powers came to Earth to try to remind the Demiurge of love and the Father and the Son and the Fullness above and his better half Logos up there with the Aeons begging for him to come home, praying for him to come home, we second order powers were sent down to try to bring that remembrance to the Demiurge. But we have failed because we get caught up in this never-ending war down here. Never-ending War And you know, it’s not just a never-ending war against the other political party. It’s not just a never-ending war against other people that frustrate our desires. It’s a never-ending war between entropy and creation. It’s a never-ending war between life and death, between material and ethereal. We get lost in the battle and we forget to stand within that beam of glory that comes directly down on us from the hierarchy above. So the Demiurge tries to also impose laws and strict order upon us second order creatures, thinking that we are just wayward molecules because it doesn’t remember where we came from. It doesn’t remember where it came from. The Demiurge does not understand free will. Free will is not allowed in the Demiurgic universe because if the Demiurge allowed any free will in the material, things would fly apart. Things would not hold. So the Demiurge is trying to impose order upon us second order creatures and we are very unruly because of the free will that we inherited from the Aeonic realm and we just do not obey. That’s why the laws in the Old Testament and the Quran are so strict. There’s no deviation allowed because the Demiurge is trying its best to impose order upon us, thinking of us as simply disobedient pieces of material. So in this Gnosticism that I am sharing with you, the Demiurge is cut off from the first principle of knowledge, wisdom, love, consciousness, life. And it’s down here all on its own in this dark and dreary place. The Demiurge is competent. He created this world that we live in. He created the stars in the heavens. He’s doing his best. He’s earnest, but he is spiritually amnesiac which limits his power and understanding. He’s not just a tyrant. In the Gnosticism that I’m sharing with you, the goal has always been to restore the Demiurge back to the Pleroma and slap it back onto Logos, restoring his ego and making Logos whole. Because until the Demiurge returns to the hierarchy of God, there is an Aeon in that hierarchy who is not whole. And that diminishes the Fullness of God. We are actually joining in with the prayer of the Aeons to restore the Demiurge back to the Fullness, to restore the Demiurge back to Logos, which will then restore Logos, which then restores the Aeons of the Fullness. The Demiurge cannot bring life and consciousness to the mud. So we don’t discard the Demiurge but seek to heal the Demiurge. We are not merely trying to escape this material cosmos but we are part of the plan of redemption for the cosmos. The Aeons are not isolated from this universe but they become reconciled with the universe when the Demiurge is restored to Logos. And as I was telling you for the last couple of weeks, humanity isn’t divided into those who are elect and therefore saved and those who are not elect in any of the religions that want to say that only their believers are the elect. Everyone is restored when the Demiurge is restored. And when everyone is restored, then the Demiurge is restored. Now we can’t be restored—we second-order powers already fell when our ego is in control and it is usually in control down here. It’s all a fractal system. It’s all resonating downward. So we resemble the Demiurge when our big S Self is not in control, our Self being a fractal representation of the pleroma of Logos. We failed in that and that is the purpose of the third order of powers which is Christ because we can’t do it on our own. We’ve tried. We’ve tried for millennia. We can’t seem to climb out of that egoic trap that we find ourselves in and therefore the Christ came to redeem us and to redeem the Demiurge. The Christ is a later solution to the Fall. Second-order power was not enough.  Send in the third-order powers and the Christ does have all the power necessary. The Christ has all the mojo of the ethereal plane. Nothing’s missing and it has the full blessing of the Father. We are all elect within the pleroma of Christ. So Christ is the restorative agent to the Demiurge, to us, to all of creation. Christ is the harmonizer. Christ is the healer of the Fallen Aeon and the revealer of the Father and the awakener of the Demiurge and the teacher of humanity. Christ didn’t create the cosmos. Christ restores the cosmos. Christ does not impose law. Christ said he came to replace the law. He takes the law away from the hands of the Demiurge and instead rules through meaning and love. The Christ didn’t come to dominate the Demiurge, to kill the Demiurge. Christ came to enlighten the Demiurge. I have come of late to feel more compassion for the Demiurge. The Demiurge is an innocent victim of the Fall. He’s a limited being that can only rule through strict control. He’s redeemable through the power of Christ, who restores the cosmos. So let’s go through this again real quick. The Son is the primal image of the Father, the first expression of the Father, the first emanation of the Father. As soon as the Son was formed, his component parts were identified and those component parts—those are the Totalities, who then became Self-aware and now we call them the Aeons. They express the Fullness of divine life. See, the Son is one big entity, but the Aeons are all of the Son in smaller approachable forms. It’s like thinking of all of the humans on the planet as one giant mass and trying to relate to humanity as one thought, one thing. Well, that’s not true. We’re each individuals. We’re each a part of humanity and it’s that kind of relationship that the Aeons have to the Son. You see, one Aeon falls and in this Gnosticism, we call that Aeon Logos and his shadow emerged, which is the Demiurge. The Demiurge orders chaos through strict laws, but lacks any spiritual memory and the Christ then, formed cooperatively by the Son, Logos and the Aeons, descends into our cosmic space to heal the Fallen Aeon, to enlighten the Demiurge, to awaken humanity and to restore cosmic harmony. Here is a chart that very neatly displays today’s Gnostic Insights. God bless us all and onward and upward.                            THE FATHER         (Transcendent Source • Beyond Being • Silent Origin)                                    │                      Emanation flows downward (pure gift)                                    ▼                                THE SON        (First Emanation • Direct Image • Perfect Intelligible Form)                                    │                      Expression flows outward (intelligibility)                                    ▼                                  LOGOS      (Articulate Intellect • Pattern of Order • Fractal Pleroma)                                    │                      Differentiation flows into multiplicity                                    ▼                          THE FULLNESS OF AEONS    (Harmonic Community • Modalities of Divine Life • Stable Radiance)                                    │                      (One aeon turns inward (self‑regarding Ego) Logos/Sophia)                                    ▼                          THE FALL      SEPARATION FROM THE FATHER AEONIC DEFICIENCY ARISES      (Ignorance • Misalignment • Loss of Orientation toward the Son)                                    │                      Shadow flows from the deficient Aeon Logos                                    ▼                            THE DEMIURGE – EGO PERSONIFIED    (Shadow‑Image • Earnest but Amnesiac • Competent yet Unillumined)                                    │  Hidden influence flows from the LOGOS   (quiet guidance, unrecognized by the Demiurge, shaping his ordering activity)                                    │            Ordering flows from Logos into the pre‑cosmic chaos/quantum foam                                    ▼                    COSMOS ORDERED BY THE DEMIURGE ALONE    (Physical Laws • Chemical Necessity • Biological Imperatives •     Governmental Structures • Order without Meaning)                                    │  Human souls do NOT arise here. They descend from the Aeons above.                                           ▼                      DESCENT OF HUMAN SOULS FROM AEONS (Soul-stream flows downward • Each soul carries a spark of the aeonic harmony • Enters the cosmos under conditions of amnesia due to bonding with the Demiurgic material.)                                     ▼                                HUMANITY    (Divine Origin • Cosmic Conditioning • Spiritual Amnesia • Longing)                                    │                      Compassion flows from the higher Aeons                                    ▼                                 CHRIST    (Restorative Agent • Cooperative Emanation of Son + Logos + Aeons •     Bridge Between Realms • Physician of Ignorance)                                    │                      Healing flows upward and downward                                    ▼                      CHRIST'S RESTORATIVE ACTIVITY    • Heals the fallen Aeon     • Illuminates the Demiurge (reveals the Logos behind his work)     • Reveals the Father to humanity     • Softens strict law with mercy and wisdom     • Restores harmony among the Aeons     • Awakens the soul's memory of its aeonic origin     • Opens the path of universal return                                    │                      Reconciliation flows back toward the Source                                    ▼                          UNIVERSAL RESTORATION    (Demiurge Enlightened • Aeons Reharmonized • Humanity Awakened •     Cosmos Transfigured • All Return Through the Son to the Father)

In this conversation from the America at a Crossroads series, acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns and Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Rick Atkinson join journalist Patt Morrison to examine how the American founding era continues to shape today's political and cultural debates.Drawing on their extensive work exploring the Revolutionary period, Burns and Atkinson discuss the ideas, conflicts, and leadership that defined America's birth—and how those same tensions echo in the nation's present moment.The discussion explores questions including:• What lessons does the American Revolution offer for today's challenges?• How did the founding generation navigate division and uncertainty?• What historical perspective can help illuminate the crossroads America faces today?Burns reflects on themes from his documentary The American Revolution, while Atkinson discusses insights from his bestselling Revolution Trilogy, including The Fate of the Day.SpeakersKen Burns – Documentary filmmaker known for landmark series including The Civil War, Baseball, Jazz, The National Parks: America's Best Idea, The Vietnam War, and The American Revolution.Rick Atkinson – Pulitzer Prize–winning historian and #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Long Gray Line, The British Are Coming, The Guns at Last Light, and The Fate of the Day.Patt Morrison – Journalist, author, and longtime Los Angeles Times columnist and broadcaster.Event DetailsAmerica at a CrossroadsMarch 4, 2026Hosted by Jews United for Democracy and Justice

Yesterday marked the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Four years of war in which Russian forces have occupied roughly one and a half percent of Ukraine's territory at the cost of approximately half a million lives. Our guest, Frederick W. Kagan, and his team at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) […]

Yesterday marked the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Four years of war in which Russian forces have occupied roughly one and a half percent of Ukraine's territory at the cost of approximately half a million lives. Our guest, Frederick W. Kagan, and his team at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and the Critical Threats Project (CTP) assess that Russia's strategy is to win at the negotiating table what it cannot seize on the battlefield. Putin's theory of victory rests on the assumption that Russian forces will continue grinding forward indefinitely, regardless of the cost, and that he will be able to persuade the West to abandon Ukraine, ultimately forcing Kyiv to concede more than it already has. Successful negotiation requires changing Putin's calculus. Over the past four years, Ukrainians have made their position unmistakably clear: “We would rather die than be part of Russia.” So, what will drive this tipping point toward peace? Would a global inflection point against malign actors and axis partners change Putin's negotiating position? And what security guarantees from the West would be sufficient to sustain this hypothetical peace? Frederick W. Kagan is a senior fellow and the director of the Critical Threats Project (CTP) at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). He edits CTP's and the Institute for the Study of War's (ISW) daily updates on Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He was previously an associate professor of military history at West Point, and he earned the Distinguished Public Service Award for his volunteer service in Afghanistan. Dr. Kagan coauthored the report Defining Success in Afghanistan and is the author of the “Choosing Victory” report series, which recommended and monitored the US military surge in Iraq.Read the transcript here.Subscribe to our Substack here.

Psalms 119:105-136 - Robin Barfield shows, from Psalm 119, how the Bible is like a light shining into a dark place.

Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Love Illuminates: A Winter Romance in Shibuya Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2026-02-01-23-34-02-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 渋谷の冬、街は美しいイルミネーションで飾られていました。En: In the winter of Shibuya, the city was decorated with beautiful illuminations.Ja: 人々は通りを行き交い、寒さの中でもそこには温かい空気が漂っていました。En: People flowed through the streets, and even amidst the cold, a warm atmosphere lingered.Ja: 渋谷の高校では、文化祭の準備が大詰めを迎えていました。En: At Shibuya High School, preparations for the cultural festival were reaching their final stages.Ja: ハルトは、毎日忙しく働いていました。En: Haruto was busy working every day.Ja: 彼はこの文化祭を大成功にすることを心に決めていました。En: He was determined to make this cultural festival a great success.Ja: 彼は実行委員会の中心人物で、仲間たちを率いて忙しく動き回っていました。En: He was a central figure on the executive committee, leading his peers and bustling around.Ja: 一方、ユキはハルトの親友でした。En: On the other hand, Yuki was Haruto's close friend.Ja: 彼女はずっと前からハルトに特別な感情を抱いていましたが、どう伝えればいいかわからずにいました。En: She had harbored special feelings for Haruto for a long time but didn't know how to express them.Ja: 彼女はいつも側でハルトを見守り、彼を助けようとしていました。En: She always watched over Haruto from the side, trying to help him.Ja: 文化祭当日、学校は活気に満ちていました。En: On the day of the festival, the school was filled with energy.Ja: 展示やパフォーマンスがあちこちで行われ、生徒達の創造力が輝いていました。En: Exhibitions and performances were held everywhere, and the students' creativity shone brightly.Ja: しかし、ハルトはまだ仕事に追われていました。En: However, Haruto was still swamped with work.Ja: ユキは、何度も彼を誘おうとしましたが、なかなかタイミングが合いません。En: Yuki tried many times to invite him, but the timing never seemed right.Ja: 「ハルト、少し休まない？一緒に見て回ろうよ。」と、ユキはやっと声をかけました。En: "Haruto, why don't you take a break? Let's go take a look around together," Yuki finally said.Ja: ハルトは少し考えてから微笑みました。「そうだね、少し休もう。ありがとう、ユキ。」En: Haruto thought for a moment and then smiled. "Yeah, let's take a break. Thank you, Yuki."Ja: 二人は手をつないで、展示を見て回りました。En: The two of them held hands and walked around to see the exhibits.Ja: アート展示コーナーに差し掛かると、部屋は静かでした。En: As they approached the art exhibition corner, the room was quiet.Ja: ユキは深呼吸をしました。En: Yuki took a deep breath.Ja: 「ハルト、ずっと伝えたいことがあるの。」En: "Haruto, there's something I've been wanting to tell you."Ja: ハルトは驚いて、ユキの顔を見ました。「何？」En: Haruto looked at Yuki's face in surprise. "What is it?"Ja: 「私はハルトのことが好き。ずっと前から。」En: "I like you, Haruto. I've liked you for a long time."Ja: ハルトは一瞬驚き、それから柔らかく微笑みました。「ユキ、僕も同じ気持ちだよ。」En: Haruto was momentarily surprised, then softly smiled. "Yuki, I feel the same way."Ja: 二人は顔を見合わせ、その瞬間が永遠に続くように感じました。En: They looked into each other's eyes, feeling as if the moment would last forever.Ja: 外の寒さが嘘のように、彼らの間には暖かさが流れていました。En: It seemed as though the cold outside was just a lie, as warmth flowed between them.Ja: その日以降、ハルトは仕事と友達のバランスを大切にすることを学びました。En: From that day on, Haruto learned to balance work and friendship.Ja: ユキも、自分の気持ちを素直に表現する自信を持つようになりました。En: Yuki also gained the confidence to express her feelings honestly.Ja: 文化祭は大成功に終わり、渋谷の夜は静かに続いていたのでした。En: The cultural festival ended in great success, and the night in Shibuya quietly continued. Vocabulary Words:illuminations: イルミネーションdecorated: 飾られたatmosphere: 空気amidst: 中lingered: 漂ったpreparations: 準備stages: 段階determined: 心に決めたexecutive committee: 実行委員会central figure: 中心人物bustling: 忙しくharbored: 抱いたexpress: 伝えるperformed: 行われたcreativity: 創造力swamped: 追われたinvite: 誘うexhibits: 展示approached: 差し掛かるquiet: 静かsurprise: 驚くmomentarily: 一瞬balance: バランスconfidence: 自信express: 表現するenergetic: 活気meet: 合うwalked: 回ったmoment: 瞬間eternal: 永遠

To the casual observer, it might seem like the U.S. has spent years in a constant state of protest — and they're only getting more intense under the second Trump administration. So we're revisiting our conversation with Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, the author of “A Protest History of the United States” about what forms of protest have worked in the past, and what lessons people can take from those protesters.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Today, we'll continue to explore modern scientific advances and ongoing research that deepen understanding of Tang-era structures, emphasizing the importance of sustained study and cultural heritage preservation.

In this episode I am joined by British occultists, authors, and creative collaborators Alan Chapman and Duncan Barford. Alan and Duncan reflect on their decades of shared magickal practice and creative collaboration. They recall their first meeting at the secret society the “Illuminates of Thanateros” and muse on the gatekeeping and status games of the Chaos magick scene. They explain why they feel their emphasis on awakening and association with Buddhist writer and self-proclaimed arhat Daniel Ingram has contributed to their being shunned by leading figures in British occultism. Alan and Duncan take a deep dive into their controversial new understanding of Aleister Crowley, address criticism levelled at them, and reveal the idealogical mistake that drove Alan to withdraw one of his biggest public projects. Alan and Duncan also share their current practices, detail how to develop visionary capability, give their best understanding about how magick really works, and offer their advice for those who wish to enter the path of Western occultism. … Video: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep345-magick-awakening-crowley-alan-chapman-duncan-barford Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:13 - Meeting at an occult secret society 06:29 - Formative experiences of group magick 07:36 - Should you join the IoT? 07:53 - The importance of group magick 08:19 - Timidity in magickal practice 10:20 - What does magick have to do with enlightenment? 12:03 - Jealousy in spiritual circles 14:38 - Peter Carroll vs Neoplatonism 17:11 - Alan and Duncan's contribution to Chaos Magick 19:07 - Feuds between religionists 20:33 - What kind of person is drawn to Chaos Magick? 22:25 - Gatekeeping and status games 23:10 - The best thing about Chaos Magicians 25:45 - Bad uses of Chaos Magick 28:38 - Being ignored by the magickal community 29:24 - Why were Alan and Duncan ignored? 30:!4 - Controversial association with Daniel Ingram 31:54 - Why did Peter Carroll dislike Alan and Duncan? 33:01 - How to understand magickal results and synchronicities 36:46 - How Duncan's practice has changed over time 40:13- Awakening and the structure of things 43:16 - Alan's current practice 43:57 - The everyday as a basis 45:07 - How to get started in magick 52:35 - Permission and confidence 53:41 - Developing visionary capability 54:55 - Alan's understanding of the path 01:00:32 - Pinnacle of practical magick 01:01:46 - Duncan's Goddess vision 01:03:14 - The basis of the path 01:07:50 - How magick works 01:09:00 - Criticism of Alan abandoning projects 01:16:14 - Sigmund Freud 01:16:57 - Why do people criticise Alan? 01:18:56 - One thing that really annoys Alan 01:20:53 - Resentment and psychological shadow 01:22:43 - Malevolence and denying enlightenment 01:29:26 - A dark occult conference experience 01:31:20 - Envy and counter-initiation 01:33:51 - Creative journey 01:35:49 - The toxic belief in cultural progress 01:39:38 - Ken Wilber's Integral Theory 01:41:10 - Daniel Ingram's pivot to science 01:42:19 - The spirit of the times 01:44:08 - Realising cultural chauvinism 01:49:53 - Desire to do something else 01:51:30 - Source of many problems 01:53:23 - The Crowley project 02:01:15 - Alan's academic approach 02:03:53 - Legal challenges 02:06:34 - Crowley on Chinese wisdom 02:09:05 - Dao De Jing 02:17:24 - Misunderstandings about the Dao De Jing 02:19:03 - Jung's (mis?)undersanding of Asian classics 02:21:06 - Western alchemy and spirit writing 02:23:19 - Two kinds of researchers 02:290:02 - Life of Aleister Crowley 02:31:28 - The Inner Church 02:33:28 - The Bornless Rite 02:35:18 - The Book of the Law 02:45:24 - Crossing the abyss 02:47:39 - Mad or enlightened? 02:52:20 - Liber 31 02:53:53 - Crowley's failures 02:55:57 - Jung and Philip K Dick 02:56:41 - Controversial take on Crowley 03:00:48 - Why follow Crowley's path? Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James

In this episode of the Radical Radiance Podcast, host Rebecca George welcomes Amanda Hope Haley to discuss her new book, 'Stones Still Speak: How Biblical Archaeology Illuminates the Stories You Thought You Knew.' They explore the creative process behind the book, the disconnect between biblical interpretation and archaeological findings, and the surprising truths about well-known biblical figures like Goliath. Amanda shares her journey in archaeology and how it has strengthened her faith, emphasizing the importance of understanding the historical context of scripture. The conversation also touches on the balance between appreciating artistic interpretations of biblical stories and discerning their accuracy. Amanda concludes with personal reflections on grace and faith, encouraging listeners to engage deeply with scripture.KeywordsAmanda Hope Haley, Stones Still Speak, Biblical Archaeology, Goliath, Faith, Scripture, Art, Interpretation, Christian Traditions, Historical ContextTakeawaysAmanda has worked in archaeology since 2004.There is a disconnect between academic knowledge and church teachings.Archaeology can help clarify misconceptions about scripture.Goliath was not a giant; he was likely around six and a half feet tall.Understanding the context of scripture can transform our interpretation.Academic study can strengthen faith rather than complicate it.Contradictions in the Bible encourage deeper exploration of faith.Artistic interpretations of scripture often reflect cultural contexts.We should appreciate the intentions behind historical depictions.Engaging with scripture requires time and relationship with God.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Radical Radiance Podcast02:26 Exploring Biblical Archaeology and Its Impact07:00 The Goliath Myth: Unpacking Misconceptions09:48 The Role of Academic Study in Faith13:16 Artistic Interpretations of Scripture16:01 Personal Reflections and Spiritual Growth18:57 Practical Advice for Engaging with Scripture21:47 Conclusion and ResourcesStones Still Speak on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4pHS0DqSponsors:Comfy Earrings: ⁠www.comfyearrings.com⁠CSB: ⁠https://www.bhpublishinggroup.com/csb-womens-study-bible/?emid=pm:em:260101|acq|na|bibles|christian_standard_bible|na|2634076_radical_radiance_womens_study_bible:na:na&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=fy26_bh-bibles_spring26_womens-study-bible&utm_source=radical-radiance&utm_content=acquisition_womens-study-bible_20260101⁠Live Oak Integrative Health: ⁠http://www.liveoakintegrativehealth.com/radiance⁠Links:Radiance Retreat Info: ⁠⁠Radiance Retreat 2026 — Radical RadianceSpeaking: ⁠https://www.radicalradiance.live/speaking⁠ Creative Business Coaching: ⁠https://www.radicalradiance.live/coaching⁠ Camp for Creatives: ⁠https://www.radicalradiance.live/campforcreatives⁠ Listen to Radical Radiance on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/radical-radiance/id1484726102?uo=4⁠ Listen to Radical Radiance on Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/55N56VtU6q33ztgJNw7oTX?si=29648982bc91475f⁠ Take the FREE Waiting Personality Quiz: ⁠https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/676d5c2884dd1e00159563f6⁠ Take the Why Are You Stuck in Your Calling? Quiz: ⁠https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/657326e6544f610014b40b67⁠ Books:You're Not Too Late: Trusting God's Timing in a Hurry-Up World: ⁠https://amzn.to/44omO3k⁠Do the Thing: Gospel-Centered Goals, Gumption, and Grace for the Go-Getter Girl: ⁠https://amzn.to/43IaFpM⁠Before Dawn: Knowing God's Presence in the Dark Seasons of Life: ⁠https://amzn.to/4pdsZjv⁠ 

In the first installment of what will be a two-part feature, we'll talk about the historic quest to rediscover and preserve China's Tang Dynasty wooden architecture, highlighting key discoveries, early investigations, and the challenges posed by time and restoration.

Selected Scriptures

Fluent Fiction - Hindi: Love Illuminates Distance: A Diwali Reunion Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hi/episode/2025-10-13-07-38-20-hi Story Transcript:Hi: बेंगलुरु की खुशनुमा सुबह थी।En: It was a pleasant morning in Bengaluru.Hi: आरव अपने लैपटॉप के सामने बैठा था, कोड्स में खोया हुआ।En: Aarav was sitting in front of his laptop, lost in codes.Hi: आरव का दिमाग बस यही सोच रहा था कि कैसे वो अपनी और नैना की दूरियों को कम कर सकता है।En: Aarav's mind was preoccupied with thoughts of how he could bridge the gap between him and Naina.Hi: वहीं मुंबई में नैना अपनी पेंटिंग्स में रंग भर रही थी।En: Meanwhile, in Mumbai, Naina was adding colors to her paintings.Hi: वो चाहती थी कि इस दिवाली वह आरव के साथ बिताए। पर दोनों जानते थे कि ये आसान नहीं।En: She wanted to spend this Diwali with Aarav, but both knew it wouldn't be easy.Hi: आरव के पास उसका दोस्त रेयांश आया।En: Aarav's friend Reyansh came over.Hi: वह अक्सर कहता, "आरव, लंबी दूरी के रिश्ते भरोसे मंद नहीं होते।"En: He often said, "Aarav, long-distance relationships aren't reliable."Hi: आरव जानता था कि उसकी राह मुश्किल है, पर उसने मन में ठान लिया था कि इस दिवाली वह नैना के करीब होगा।En: Aarav knew his path was difficult, but he had decided in his heart that he would be near Naina this Diwali.Hi: दिवाली के बस दो दिन बचे थे।En: Only two days were left until Diwali.Hi: मोबाइल पर आरव और नैना की बातचीत जारी थी।En: Aarav and Naina were continuing their conversation on the phone.Hi: नैना फोन पर आरव से बोली, "इस बार दिवाली मेरी पेंटिंग गैलरी की प्रदर्शनी में होगी। काश तुम साथ होते।"En: Naina said to Aarav, "This time, Diwali will be at my painting gallery's exhibition. I wish you were with me."Hi: आरव समझ गया कि नैना उसे कितना याद कर रही है।En: Aarav realized how much Naina was missing him.Hi: उसने प्रण लिया कि उसे मुस्कराते हुए देखना ही है।En: He resolved to see her smiling.Hi: रेयांश ने देखा कि आरव बहुत चुप-चुप है।En: Reyansh noticed that Aarav was very quiet.Hi: उसने पुछा, "क्या सोच रहे हो?"En: He asked, "What are you thinking?"Hi: आरव ने जवाब दिया, "सोच रहा हूँ कि कुछ दिनों की छुट्टी ले लूँ। नैना को सरप्राइज देने का मन है।"En: Aarav replied, "I'm thinking of taking some days off. I want to surprise Naina."Hi: रेयांश को आरव का विचार पसंद आया। उसने आरव को प्रोत्साहित किया, "जाओ, वो बहुत खुश होगी।"En: Reyansh liked Aarav's idea and encouraged him, "Go, she will be very happy."Hi: वो ईव ऑफ दिवाली थी।En: It was the eve of Diwali.Hi: आरव ने मुंबई के लिए अपनी फ्लाइट पकड़ ली।En: Aarav caught his flight to Mumbai.Hi: उसकी आँखों में एक चमक थी, जो उसे बताए जा रही थी कि यह सही फैसला है।En: There was a gleam in his eyes, assuring him it was the right decision.Hi: मुंबई पहुँचते ही उसने नैना को कॉल किया, "मैं तुम्हारी गैलरी के बाहर हूँ।"En: As soon as he reached Mumbai, he called Naina, "I'm outside your gallery."Hi: नैना हक्की-बक्की रह गई।En: Naina was taken aback.Hi: उसने दरवाजा खोला तो आरव को देखकर उसकी आंखों में खुशी के आंसू थे।En: She opened the door, and upon seeing Aarav, tears of joy filled her eyes.Hi: दोनों की मुलाकात काफी समय बाद हो रही थी।En: They were meeting after a long time.Hi: انہوں نے ایک-दूसरे को गले लगाकर दिवाली की शुभकामनाएं दीं।En: They embraced each other and wished each other a happy Diwali.Hi: आरव और नैना ने मिलकर चिराग जलाए, मिठाइयाँ खाईं, और रंगोलियों का आनंद लिया।En: Together, Aarav and Naina lit lamps, ate sweets, and enjoyed the rangolis.Hi: उस दिन, दोनों ने महसूस किया कि भावनात्मक जुड़ाव बनाए रखने के लिए केवल बातचीत नहीं, बल्कि साथ होने का महत्व होता है।En: That day, they realized that maintaining an emotional connection requires more than conversation; being together is crucial.Hi: रेयांश, जो हमेशा से आरव के रिश्ते को लेकर संशय में था, ने आरव की और नैना की खुशी देखकर माना कि लंबी दूरी का रिश्ता भी मुमकिन है, बस सच्चे प्रयास और अच्छे संचार से।En: Reyansh, who had always been doubtful about Aarav's relationship, accepted after seeing Aarav and Naina's happiness that a long-distance relationship is possible with true effort and good communication.Hi: इस तरह, आरव और नैना ने दिवाली सचमुच रोशन की।En: In this way, Aarav and Naina truly illuminated Diwali.Hi: आरव ने जाना कि प्यार के लिए समय निकालना सबसे बड़ी खुशी है।En: Aarav learned that taking time for love is the greatest joy.Hi: इस दिवाली के साथ, उनके रिश्ते में एक नया सवेरा आया था।En: With this Diwali, a new dawn came in their relationship. Vocabulary Words:pleasant: खुशनुमाpreoccupied: सोचताbridge: कमgap: दूरीdifficult: मुश्किलrelationship: रिश्तेreliable: भरोसे मंदresolve: प्रणencourage: प्रोत्साहितgleam: चमकassuring: विश्वस्तtear: आंसूembrace: गले लगानाlamp: चिरागsweets: मिठाइयाँrangolis: रंगोलीemotional: भावनात्मकconnection: जुड़ावcrucial: महत्वपूर्णeffort: प्रयासcommunication: संचारilluminate: रोशनdawn: सवेराpreoccupied: खोया हुआexhibition: प्रदर्शनीsurprise: सरप्राइजconversation: बातचीतunderstand: समझनाmiss: यादaccept: माना

In today's message, Pastor Mateo unpacks Ephesians 5, showing how life in Christ means turning from darkness, walking in wisdom, and being filled with the Holy Spirit through a life of worship.

Esoteric Crossroads: Scholars Meet Practitioners is a new collaborative video series, launched in 2025, co-produced by Rejected Religion and RENSEP. Hosted by Stephanie Shea, each session brings together scholars and practitioners for thoughtful dialogue on esoteric traditions. This video is an edited version of the live session that took place in June 2025. If you are interested to learn more and join the upcoming discussions, please visit www.rensep.org or my Patreon page: www.patreon.com/RejectedReligion. Isis Mrugalla Kalmbacher is a scholar of religion. She studied in Heidelberg, Seville, Basel, and Lucerne, focusing on migration studies, international relations, and cultural anthropology. She is currently completing her PhD at the University of Tübingen, where she explores Chaos Magic as her main research topic. In her dissertation, she proposes a new approach to the Study of Religions that centres on group and organisational practices. To support this, she has developed two key theoretical tools: reality techniques and infrastructures.. Nils or Frater Fuchs lächelt viel 12.3 (“Frater Fuchs smiles a lot 12.3”), called “Fuchs” is an Adept and Priest of Chaos in the German section of the Illuminates of Thanateros - I.O.T. In the IOT, his main responsibilities are organising seminars for interested people twice a year, answering applications that people send to the section to become a novice, and supervising the novice trainings. At the moment, he is writing a book, which, among other things, deals with the question of what Chaos Magic actually is. A few questions that were explored: -What is Chaos Magick, and what is the history of CM? -How are sigils created and used in magickal practice? -The uses of CM - what are magicians actually using it for?-How is the CM community organized (or not organized)? The views and opinions expressed in this video are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, Stephanie Shea, or the affiliated platforms. All content is presented for educational and discussion purposes in a spirit of respectful exchange. Music and Video Production: Stephanie Shea This video series is presented by Research Network for the Study of Esoteric Practices - www.rensep.org and Rejected Religion.

There has been an extensive study of workers and the commodities they produce. When it comes to who produces those workers, or who produces people, gives birth to them, raises them, and socializes them, there is a lot less material that examines that type of work. Social Reproduction Theory examines the aspects of capitalism and bridges the gap between feminism and Marxism by incorporating variables such as race and gender. In this week's episode of Capitalism Hits Home, Dr. Fraad provides her insights on the latter, as part of Social Reproduction Theory.    Learn more about CHH:   We make it a point to provide the show free of ads. Your contributions help keep this content free and accessible to all. If you would like to simply donate one time, you can do so by visiting us at http://www.democracyatwork.info/donate.  Become a monthly donor: http://www.patreon.com/democracyatwork

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, hosts Courtney and Travis speak with Jessica Mathisen, a former elementary school teacher and a foster adoptive mom. They discuss Jessica's journey into foster care and adoption, her experiences as a foster parent, and her recent children's book, No Matter Where I Go: God's Love for Kids in Foster Care, aimed at helping kids understand foster care. The conversation delves into the misconceptions surrounding foster care, the challenges faced by foster families, and the importance of relationships and love in the healing process for children in care. Jessica emphasizes that while not everyone can be a foster parent, everyone can contribute in meaningful ways to support vulnerable children and families.Follow Jessica and checkout her podcast and other resources:https://www.jessicanmathisen.com/ Thank you for listening to this episode of The Foster Friendly Podcast.Learn more about being a foster or adoptive parent or supporting those who are in your community.Meet kids awaiting adoption. Join us in helping kids in foster care by donating $18 a month and change the lives of foster kids before they age out.Visit AmericasKidsBelong.org and click the donate button to help us change the outcomes of kids in foster care.

July 20, 2025

 “My whole life burned down to the ground.” When she was six, Joelle Maryn narrowly escaped a house fire. That day, she lost her beloved sister. Adding to her sorrow, Joelle also felt as though she had lost her parents to the heartbreak of losing their child.  Joelle became an actress and model, attempting to rebuild her life with worldly pursuits. What appeared to be a peak of success—her image displayed on a billboard in Times Square—highlighted her achievements.  Yet, as Joelle became more recognizable to the public, she felt increasingly lost and less recognizable to herself. In this 'Women of Wisdom' series, hear how Joelle experienced an Illumination of Conscience that led to her conversion. Listen to Joelle share how she grew to “Become the Fire,” the title of her book. Discover how you can shine brightly with God's love, too! Learn more about Joelle Maryn, an award-winning actress, international TV host, and author at joellemaryn.com.

Message preached at Grace Family Church, Caymanas Estate, Jamaica, by Joel Bain on June 29, 2025

This July 2025 video spotlights stories, inspirations, and soul songs offered by Marie Mohler to empower people in changing times.  Themes include: The Light Touches & Illuminates All Things ~ Leading The Way through the 8:8 Lion's Gate, Where are we holding old records that need to be released?, Yods + Other Potent Frequencies Impacting Us from the Summer Solstice, Garden Insights #3, Our Bodies Are Asking for our Attention, Making Time To Feel (in order To Heal), The Light Is Victorious In Us, New Soul Songs for Ascension Times, Reclaiming Our Optimal Timelines, Staying Inspired, and more. Thank you for joining me, and please share with others who would benefit from these insights and positive messages.Please like, subscribe, and share!For more Inspirational Messages and Products, please visit:https://frequencywriter.substack.com/Or email: info@frequencywriter.comTo listen to more amazing podcasts and insightful broadcasts, or to make a donation, visit:  http://www.wholesoulschoolandfoundation.orgTo donate: https://give.cornerstone.cc/wholesoulschoolandfoundationTo shop our apparel: https://www.bonfire.com/store/whole-soul-school-and-foundation/Thank you!You can also tune in here:Substack: https://frequencywriter.substack.com/X: https://x.com/marie_mohlerFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/wholesoulmasteryYouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@colorthemagicRumble.com: https://rumble.com/c/c-353585​​​​Telegram: https://t.me/wholesoulmasteryTruth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@frequencywriterTune into Frequency Writer Messages, Empowering Podcasts, and Whole Soul School and Foundation's Inspirational Podcasts via: Spotify, Apple iTunes, Buzzsprout, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, Google Play Music + other favorite podcast platforms ***Disclaimer*** These videos are for educational purposes only. None of the authors, contributors, administrators, or anyone else connected with Frequency Writer & Color The Magic, in any way whatsoever, can be responsible for your use of the information or conversations contained in our podcasts, blogs, products, or linked to our website.Support the show

Message preached at Grace Family Church, Caymanas Estate, Jamaica, by Joel Bain on June 22, 2025

Message preached at Grace Family Church, Caymanas Estate,Jamaica, by Joel Bain on June 15, 2025 .

Reach out! I'd love to hear from you!What happens when decorating for a women's ministry event turns into a profound spiritual revelation? Join us for a heart-warming exploration of how stained glass becomes the perfect metaphor for our spiritual lives.Joanne Sharp takes us on her journey from Pinterest rabbit holes to divine inspiration, discovering that stained glass—unlike any other art form—requires light to pass through it to achieve its full beauty. This simple fact unlocks a powerful truth: we are like pieces of stained glass, each uniquely shaped and colored by our experiences, yet dependent on God's light shining through us to radiate His glory.The custom-made illuminated cross becomes a centerpiece not just for the event, but for understanding our connection to each other. When one piece of glass cracks or breaks, the surrounding pieces hold it in place. Similarly, even in our darkest moments, our sisters in Christ alongside us provide strength, support, and an unbreakable connection to the source of light.From Genesis where God first created light to Revelation where His radiance eliminates the need for sun or lamps, Joanne guides us through Scripture's consistent message of divine illumination. Jesus declared Himself the light, then called us to be light-bearers too. This gives us reason to sing even in darkness, knowing His unfailing love continually illuminates our path.Whatever shadow you're facing today, remember that God's light transforms brokenness into beauty. Together, we become a living stained glass masterpiece—colorful testimonies to God's redemptive work. Subscribe to hear more inspirational messages that help you find light in life's darkest corners and join a community of women supporting each other in faith. Now get out into the world and be a woman who intentionally encourages another! #women #podcast

Hello star lovelies! It's a great time to be a soul. Welcome to our second celebrity star peek! Today, Pulitzer Prize winner Kendrick Lamar is in the spotlight as we dive under the hood of his astrological chart. These star peeks are a great way to see how chart readings work, and you may find some similarities in your own chart!What You'll LearnHow the Gemini Sun in his chart fuels Kendrick Lamar's intellect, adaptability, and lyrical mastery.The significance of Chiron, Uranus, and the Moon in Kendrick's drive to heal through words and challenge the status quo.The influence of soulful karma and past lives, and how personal purpose and collective healing intersect.Why a Libra Ascendant shapes Kendrick's external presence and sense of justice.How understanding your own chart can reveal untapped gifts, creative potential, and lasting satisfaction.Key Quotes“He would much rather be real and be truthful than be liked and be false. And I love that for him, his soul is singing.”“He cannot help himself but be an artist. This is artistic expression, like one times a million, exponentially.”Key Questions Answered1. What makes Kendrick Lamar's astrology chart so unique? (00:49)Every astrology chart is singular, repeating only once every 25,000 years. Kendrick Lamar's chart reveals a late Gemini Sun alongside a powerful Chiron placement, signifying a soul intent on challenging norms, healing through creativity, and expressing duality in life and art.2. How do Chiron and Uranus shape Kendrick's artistic and healing voice? (02:18)Chiron's position close to Kendrick's Sun illustrates how healing—both personal and collective—flows through his work. “As he heals the world, he heals himself, and as he heals himself, he heals the world,” according to Kim. Uranus in opposition amplifies his drive to disrupt, provoke thought, and stand as a lightning rod for truth, particularly in his music and lyrics.3. What role do past lives and soulful karma play in his journey? (15:04)Digging into Kendrick's soulful lineage, Kim uncovers lifetimes marked by lost voice and suppressed expression—experiences now fueling his desire for powerful, honest self-expression. Understanding and transforming such karma, as demonstrated through astrology, promotes not only healing but also the fulfillment of a unique soul purpose.Actionable InsightsExplore your own astrological trifecta (Sun, Moon, Ascendant) to better understand your natural talents and emotional drives.Recognize how past experiences, soulful karma, or inherited stories might play a role in your communication style and sense of purpose.Use astrology as a strategic tool to align with your soul's intentions, gain clarity on challenges, and uncover the gifts you're meant to share with the world.Connect and Grow With UsIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to Your Star Path to Success on your favorite platform, and don't forget to rate and review. Share it with fellow astrology enthusiasts and anyone striving to better understand themselves through the wisdom of the stars.Want to explore your personalized star chart or learn more about intuitive astrology? Visit kimwoods.com or take the quiz at yourstarmaptosuccess.com for next steps on reclaiming your power and prosperity. 

“Our Teacher” is a collection of essays written by students of Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong). This series is comprised of their personal experiences with the practice and their interactions with Dafa's founder, Mr. Li Hongzhi, when the practice was first taught to the public. The writings were originally published on the Minghui […]

“Our Teacher” is a collection of essays written by students of Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong). This series is comprised of their personal experiences with the practice and their interactions with its founder, Mr. Li Hongzhi, when the practice was first taught to the public. The writings were originally published on the Minghui […]

Alison Armstrong began studying human behavior in 1991, focusing on understanding men and how to bring out their best. Her research expanded to include women, uncovering universal human instincts that impact behavior across gender, age, and background. Alison offers practical, partnership-based solutions through seminars, books, and online programs, helping millions achieve more fulfilling lives, relationships, and productive organizations. A sought-after speaker and thought leader, her approach is widely referenced by other experts in the field.

Hello star lovelies! It's a great time to be a soul. Welcome to a new series where we dive into the stars of celebrities, offering an insight into how the process works. Today, we explore Selena Gomez's astrological chart and uncover the spiritual insights that illuminate her path to success. Discover how the stars guide her through challenges and toward success. The Soul of Selena GomezUnderstanding Selena's Astrological FoundationsSelena's chart offers profound insights into her soul's journey, with an important inner life amid a very public career.The Influence of Internal EnergiesSelena's chart reveals an internal focus, with most planetary alignments beneath the horizon. This design underlines the importance of self-reflection and inner growth, aspects vital for anyone with a high-profile life.Key Insight: Venus and Chiron ConnectionsDiscover how Selena's Venus and Chiron placement impacts her creativity and self-worth.This alignment fosters vulnerability and the potential for deep personal growth.Astrological Significance of Her Sun PositionPositioned on the cusp of Cancer and Leo, we explore how this unique placement empowers Selena with both introspective and vibrant, expressive qualities.Ancestral Influences and Leadership PotentialDiscover how Selena's chart suggests a potential for leadership and influence.Pluto in the Fourth HouseThe soul-healing power of Selena's chart reflects her need for ancestral connection and inner exploration.The Power of Saturn and GeniusHow Selena's Saturn placement encourages a deep understanding of self-sufficiency in relationships, emphasizing interdependence.Inspirational Quotes"Selena's soul would much rather her be known for Selena.""Selena's chart is like, oh, I am going to rock the house on this."Key QuestionsHow does Selena Gomez's Leo influence impact her career?Kim explains that Selena's Leo placements highlight her natural leadership and performance abilities, aiding her success in the public eye. [11:56]What challenges does Selena face in relationships due to her Saturn placement?Selena's Saturn in Aquarius emphasizes lessons in interdependence and balance between freedom and commitment in relationships. [32:27]How can understanding ancestral influences benefit us?By diving into soul DNA and ancestral wounding, one can regain soul pieces and heal deep-seated blocks, which Kim suggests would benefit Selena profoundly. [21:12]ConclusionExplore your own astrological insights by aligning with the stars and discovering hidden potentials. Let Selena's journey inspire your own path towards soulful success.Stay connected, subscribe, rate, and review our podcast on your favorite platform to keep exploring the vast possibilities astrology offers.

“Our Teacher” is a collection of essays written by students of Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong). This series is comprised of their personal experiences with the practice and their interactions with its founder, Mr. Li Hongzhi, when the practice was first taught to the public. The writings were originally published on the Minghui […]

Watch it on Torah Anytime - https://www.torahanytime.com/#/lectures?v=353824 For past shiurim in Yiddish & English: https://bit.ly/2QhADhe Hotline: 718-686-8300 Email signup: http://bit.ly/HavSignup For questions/comments or to sponsor a shiur: info@machonhavineini.com Or call us: 347-351-2400 WhatsApp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Lqt6Kd1sb458SZvyFeJgOJ Click to donate a Shiur https://donate.machonhavineini.com/

Melinda Gonzalez is a cherished member of the Faith with Friends podcast community, sharing her insights and personal reflections during the Lenten season. Her deep understanding of spiritual texts and her ability to translate them into real-life applications provide comfort and wisdom to listeners seeking spiritual growth and enlightenment.Episode Summary:In this special Lenten series of the Faith with Friends podcast, host Lisa Lorenzo invites her listeners on a transformative 40-day journey to enrich their faith and spiritual relationships. This episode features Melinda Gonzalez, who lends her voice and insights to enrich the communal exploration of faith during Lent. As Lisa introduces, this series is dedicated to exploring the Scripture and allowing friends to share their encouraging perspectives.Mel dives into a focused discussion on John 8:12, where Jesus proclaims, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life." She unpacks the rich symbolism of light in the Bible, revealing how it stands for truth, goodness, and God's presence. Mel explains how invoking Jesus' light can illuminate the dark areas of our lives, guiding us toward a path of truth and fulfillment. By referencing both New and Old Testament scriptures such as Psalm 27:1 and Isaiah, Melinda crafts a compelling narrative of the divine light as a guide and source of renewal.Key Takeaways:The importance of engaging with scripture during times of spiritual reflection, especially during Lent.John 8:12 highlights Jesus as the source of light that guides believers out of darkness.Light in the Bible is a profound symbol of truth, divinity, and salvation.Reliance on divine light encourages spiritual renewal and provides direction in uncertain times.Focus on songs of faith and scriptural encouragement can deepen one's trust and faith in God.Notable Quotes:"Jesus is our path out of darkness. When we follow his light...""I'm reminded to bask in the light of the Lord whenever I need to be renewed.""Arise, shine, for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you."

The Awake Space Podcast is 100% listener supported by patrons atThe Awake Space PatreonIn this chart topping talk show, your host Laurie Rivers, walks you through the hot topics of the week, including how to navigate the illuminating and disruptive Leo Full Moon. Since the Full Moon is square Uranus, we're dealing with a kind of chaos that can be harnessed for redirection, IF you take proactive steps. Laurie gives you the info on how to manage the big picture in this episode, for details on the personal focus you can check out her Patron Only Podcast from 2/8/2025 on how to deal with the big energyHEREAs always Laurie gives big thanks to patrons for sponsoring the podcast and gives you the run down on what to expect in the newsheadlines this week as she reads her predictions fromThe Awake Space Astrology MagazineIn honor of Black History Month, Laurie goes looks at two men whose focus on community made them leaders in their own way: George Washington Carver and Kendrick Lamar, find out more about each of their astrology as well as their stories on the podcast.You can learn more about George W. CarverhereLearn more about Kendrick LamarhereLaurie winds up the podcast with reminders on how you can use your consciousness deliberately and gives you strategies for grounding and centering into the here and now.Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Awake Space Podcast08:27 Understanding Thought Forms and Mindset20:46 The Power of Self-Awareness and Community21:29 Patron Appreciation and Community Building23:18 Harnessing the Energy of the Full Moon23:25 Harnessing the Full Moon's Energy26:16 Embracing Change and Disruption29:30 Building Confidence and Self-Expression32:18 Navigating Unexpected Opportunities35:33 Leveraging Technology and Innovation38:12 Self-Validation and Grounding41:30 Anticipating Surprises and Trusting the Process43:24 Patron Shout Outs and Community Engagement45:53 Upcoming Headlines and Podcast Segments45:58 Introduction to Current Events and Astrology48:21 Astrological Predictions for the Full Moon51:10 Global Events and Natural Disasters55:17 Political Turmoil and Economic Challenges58:09 Social Unrest and Global Conflicts01:00:40 Community Appreciation and Acknowledgments01:01:42 Exploring Influential Figures: George Washington Carver and Kendrick Lamar01:34:36 Resilience and Identity in Kendrick Lamar's Journey01:37:29 What we can do this week to make it through

Sailor Noob is the podcast where a Sailor Moon superfan and a total noob go episode by episode through the original Sailor Moon series!The saga comes to a close this week as Usagi faces off against Galaxia for the fate of the galaxy! Can one girl stand alone against the legendary Sailor Senshi?In this episode, we discuss magical girls. We also talk about grating doppelgangers, spoilers ahoy, getting your bits out, Debbie Harry, rapier and diaper, Hug Assault, going for TV-MA, a Shin Godzilla level of damage, getting blipped, 185 dead car ladies, turning the "In the Manga..." tables, the Chibi Chibi secret sauce, Sex Switch, Sally the Witch = Thor, Late Night Anime, magical boys, and Shojo is third person!The sword was a little kid!Give the gift of a Sailor Noob Patreon subscription to your favorite noob!https://www.patreon.com/sailornoob/giftWe're on iTunes and your listening platform of choice! Please subscribe and give us a rating and a review! Arigato gozaimasu!https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sailor-noob/id1486204787Leave us a comment on Spotify!Listen to our new podcast, Mona Lisa Overpod!https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mona-lisa-overpod--6195851Become a patron of the show and get access to our live-action PGSM, Animedification, Utena, Ghibli, and Evangelion podcasts!http://www.patreon.com/sailornoobPut Sailor Noob merch on your body!http://justenoughtrope.threadless.comSailor Noob is a part of the Just Enough Trope podcast network. Check out our other shows about your favorite pop culture topics and join our Discord!http://www.twitter.com/noob_sailorhttp://www.justenoughtrope.comhttp://www.instagram.com/noob_sailorhttps://discord.gg/7E6wUayqBuy us a coffee on Ko-Fi!https://ko-fi.com/justenoughtrope

Explore the transformative interplay of Gnosis and the Multimind in Chaos Magic, where altered states of consciousness and the plurality of the self converge. This video delves into the historical evolution of Gnosis, from its mystical roots in ancient traditions to its pragmatic reimagining by figures like Peter Carroll, and examines the Multimind as a postmodern lens on identity. Discover how these concepts empower Chaos Magicians to transcend mental limitations, harness internal complexity, and reshape reality. Through a mix of historical insight, theoretical exploration, and practical applications, this discussion highlights the profound adaptability of Chaos Magic in navigating the fragmented self and the challenges of modern consciousness. CONNECT & SUPPORT

The Game Awards 2024 have concluded and they were quite the showcase this year. For the 10th anniversary, Geoff Keighley pulled out all the stops with some amazing reveals such as Naughty Dog's next game, the return of Okami, The Witcher 4 announcement and much more. We review NetEase's new game Marvel Rivals. This is pretty much an Overwatch clone but brings a lot of new features that Overwatch is lacking in a polished and fun hero shooter experience in third person. Featuring over 33 heroes and villians, this game is a blast to play.As we near 1 year with Helldivers, the Illuminates have finally arrived and we dive into the frontlines to fight back. It's a new foe that throws new challenges our way. We also talk about live services games and what makes them successful like Helldivers 2.Lastly, Secret Level is finally out in part 1. We review the first half of the anthology series from the creators of Love, Death and Robots featuring short animations from games like Sifu, Crossfire, Unreal Tournament and more.Show Notes:1:13 - Housekeeping3:17 - The Game Awards 2024 Reactions53:47 - Marvel Rivals Review1:22:07 - The Illuminates are Here: Looking Back on the Year of Helldivers 21:50:32 - Secret Level Part 1 Review2:08:27 - What Makes a Live Service Successful?2:34:28 - Upcoming Video Game Releases Become a part of the conversation! If you donate $1 or more on Patreon you can get exclusive access to the Patreon-only chat and channels on the server. Visit our website to find our social channels, check past podcasts and donate to the show.Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our latest videos as they drop. Credits:"Blue Groove Deluxe" by BlueFoxMusic on audiojungle.netWoman Announcer - Ariana Guerra; Actress"Wisdom" by Super Nostalgia 64

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Welcome to Media Club Plus: a podcast about diving into the media that interests us and the stories that excite us. Now for our headliner this evening, you've seen him in clubs across the Mitene Union, please give a warm Chimera Ant welcome to Bronk Shiltins!!!! Ok here's a joke for you: what's the only thing worse than falling into a debt trap and being caught for 1 month in a state of enforced zetsu? Being caught for 1 month in a state of enforced zetsu on the day the Chimera Ant King is born! No but seriously folks it's great to be here at the ant fortress. I took this gig because I'd do anything to get ahead, now I'd do anything just to keep it! Boy that king sure has a short temper, huh? And that's not the only short thing about h--   As always we are brought to you by Friends at the Table. This season, we're watching 2011's Hunter x Hunter, based on the manga by Yoshihiro Togashi. In this episode we cover episodes 89-92, titled Compassion x And x Strength, Slow x and x Cursed, The Strong x and x The Weak, and One Wish x And x Two Promises. Next episode we'll be covering episodes 93-95, titled Date x With x Palm, Friend x And x Journey, and Grudge x And x Dread.   Austin's Tweet discussed in this episode: https://x.com/austin_walker/status/1554557950554939392 Featuring Keith Carberry (@KeithJCarberry, @KeithJCarberry), Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal, @jdq) Sylvi Bullet (@SYLVIBULLET, @SYLVIBULLET), Andrew Lee Swan (@swandre3000, @swandre3000) and Austin Walker (@austin_walker, @austinwalker) Produced by Keith Carberry Music by Jack de Quidt (available at notquitereal.bandcamp.com) Cover Art by by Annie Johnston-Glick (@dancynrew) anniejg.com To find the screenshots for this episode, check out this post on our patreon, friendsatthetable.cash This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to http://friendsatthetable.cash ...Or find our merch here http://friendsatthetable.shop To find transcripts of the episodes, go to http://TranscriptsattheTable.com

My special guest is Mark Anthony who's here to discuss his book called Afterlife Frequency.   The psychic lawyer takes you on a quest for answers - and finds them. World-renowned psychic medium and Oxford-educated attorney Mark Anthony bridges the divide between faith and science in this fascinating afterlife exploration, taking you around the globe, from the cosmic to the subatomic, and into the human soul itself. Combining physics, neuroscience, and riveting true stories, this book: Reveals how our “electromagnetic soul” is pure eternal energy that never dies Takes spirit communication, near-death experiences, and deathbed visions out of the shadows of superstition and into the light of 21st century science Presents Anthony's RAFT technique to recognize contact with spirits, accept it as real, feel it without fear, and trust in the experience Provides hope for recovery from grief, PTSD, survivor's guilt, or a loved one's suicide or homicide Illuminates how contact with spirits is a powerful instrument of healing and love.  Follow Our Other ShowsFollow UFO WitnessesFollow Crime Watch WeeklyFollow Paranormal FearsFollow Seven: Disturbing Chronicle StoriesJoin our Patreon for ad-free listening and more bonus content.Follow us on Instagram @mysteriousradioFollow us on TikTok mysteriousradioTikTok Follow us on Twitter @mysteriousradio Follow us on Pinterest pinterest.com/mysteriousradio Like us on Facebook Facebook.com/mysteriousradio

Join Premium! Ready for an ad-free meditation experience? Join Premium now and get every episode from ALL of our podcasts completely ad-free now! Just a few clicks makes it easy for you to listen on your favorite podcast player.  Become a PREMIUM member today by going to --> https://WomensMeditationNetwork.com/premium Let the light of the moon grace your face, Softening each feature, easing your embrace. The silver glow, a tender, gentle guide, Illuminates the peace you hold inside. PAUSE… Breathe and open to the night's caress, Allow the moon's calm to dissolve your stress. Breathe in the cool, serene lunar light, Let it fill your being, gentle and bright. LONG PAUSE… You are unbound by the day's past tales, Under the moon, a fresh breath prevails. Embrace the night, with its quiet allure, Inviting in what makes your spirit pure. PAUSE… The moon's phases, a journey through time, Each cycle, a chance to rise, a climb. As it waxes and wanes, so can you, Changing, growing, becoming anew. PAUSE… Feel the expansiveness within your heart, The moonlit night plays a vital part. Rest in the stillness, bathe in silver beams, Aligning your soul with moonlit dreams. LONG PAUSE… What might you release under this moonlit glow? What parts of you are ready to let go? Imagine shedding what no longer serves, In the lunar light, your purpose preserves. PAUSE… So inhale deeply, embrace the night's power, Let moonlight be your guide this hour. Trust in the magic that the moonlight brings, To transform and enlighten all your things. PAUSE… Slow down, relax under the starlit sky, Let the moon's embrace lift your spirits high. The gentle beams, washing over you, Reveal the path, and guide you true. LONG PAUSE… Release the barriers, the old narratives fade, Under the moon, new foundations are laid. What will you build in this luminous gleam? What visions will you weave into your dream? PAUSE… Now, call in your desires, let them freely roam, The moonlit night, making your heart its home. Don't ponder the how, or the when, or the way, The moon's soft light is here to stay. PAUSE… Let your dreams under the moon dance and sway, In your life's canvas, they brightly lay. What you choose now, under this celestial light, Will flourish and bloom, and feel just right. PAUSE… Slow down and soften, Slow down and clear. The moon's energy surrounds you, Feel its presence, ever near. LONG PAUSE… Sweet dreams, beautiful.

Award-winning director Ava DuVernay's new film Origin explores a new way to consider the historical subjugation of Black people in America: As the adverse result of a caste system.The film is inspired by Isabel Wilkerson's book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. In the movie, Wilkerson embarks on a journey to learn about caste - traveling to Germany and India to get to the root of the Black experience in America. DuVernay also directed 13th, When They See Us, and Selma.