Tina Sena: Esotericana

Our contributor Tina Sena's current column over at Binnall of America:How To Make The Perfect Paranormal TV Show
In An Imperfect Normal World. Tina discusses paranormal programming, and has a proposal:

Which is why I propose that Syfy, National Geographic and the History Channel (and others like BRAVO, etc.,.) seriously consider doing a paranormal show with a mostly, if not all, female cast. And I'm not talking about your average formulaic paranormal show. It has to be something that's never been done before: A show for women, with women and about women from different professional backgrounds, investigating the oldest, weirdest, most paranormally significant places on Earth.

I'm for that! One of my dreams is to start my own paranormal UFO network. Hmmm...

A few years ago, I think on the Lifetime channel, there was a show about female abductees. Had a cheesy title, something like "I was abducted by aliens!" but it wasn't bad, despite the shaky camera stuff.

Binnall of America: Lesley's Grey Matters

Women of Esoterica contributor Lesley Gunter's current column, Grey Matters, at Binnall of America, where she writes about the "Creepy Summer" in New Mexico:

grey matters: "Always as I see it coming in the Stephen King story The Mist comes to mind, as does the Smoke Monster from Lost. I almost expect some horrible Lovecraftian-type creature to come slithering out of it and start devouring everything in sight. Meanwhile, I think that somewhere beneath that could be a fleet of UFOs and nobody would ever know."

Richelle Hawks' Medusa's Ladder: Patron Saint of UFOs

Women of Esoterica contributor Richelle Hawks  has a wonderful new column (Medusa's Ladder) at BoA entitled Patron Saint of Flying Saucers. As usual, Richelle writes beautifully. In this article, Hawks writes about a lovely book find from 1925 that evokes flying saucers:

Considering it more closely, I was getting a strange, provocative, sci-fi, atomic age kind of vibe from it and it was a very peculiar feeling, quite anachronous. I knew from the book's feel, particular materials, fonts, and agewear that it was older, an interbellum relic. Inspecting the title pages, I was correct—1925. What could this more mod feeling be, then?
I sat down with the book and considered the feeling and the answer hit me suddenly in a flash of recognition—the bottom Saint-scene transformed before my eyes: it's a classic UFO form.
Inspecting it further, I found there were even corresponding details. The window/doors of the coliseum, are fairly close to the place where portholes are described, and there are even spectators in the places where UFO occupants have been described.
Richelle Hawks : Medusa's Ladder

Speaking of Richelle Hawks, saints, and UFOs, a reminder to readers that you can download a free collection of articles by yours truly on Mary and UFOs, including Richelle's article A New Vision:The Virgin Mary Tree of Salt Lake City

New Trickster's Realm: "Twilight Language: Cold War Inklings?"

My new Trickster's Realm is up at Binnall of America: Twilight Language: Cold War Inklings?" about the numerous Russian connections popping up in the culture stream.

Politics and entertainment (I know, what's the difference) merged when Vice President Joe Biden appeared on the Jay Leno show. Biden joined Leno in a comedy sketch and later, they discussed the busted Russian spy ring. Leno showed a photo of one of the alleged spies, Anna Chapman, who's been described as "sultry" by every talking head and newspaper it seems. Leno showed a photo of alleged spy Chapman and asked: "Do we have any spies that hot?" to which Biden, a frustrated comedian, said: "Let me be clear. It was not my idea to send her back."  

One element I could have added but didn't think of: the new movie SALT, with Angelina Jolie. I haven't seen the movie but here is another example of a "sultry" sexy female spy and a Russian connection. Is Jolie's character a good spy or a bad (Russian) spy?

Things are not what they seem in these culture episodes; politicians as thwarted comedians, Russian spies as citizens, Russian lovers/actresses/entertainers, betrayals, non-Russians appearing as Russians . . . is the culture missing the Cold War?

"UFOlogy 101 for Bloggers and Forum Posters"

 Lesley Gunter has a new Gray Matters at BoA: UFOlogy 101 For Bloggers and Forum Posters. Good advice!

Visit The Orange Orb

http://orangeorb.blogspot.com

Timothy Good on Binnall of America!

Another great interview with one of UFOlogy's best, Timothy Good. Fantastic!

On Trickster's Realm: "Newport, Oregon: A Haunted Hotel?"

My Trickster's Realm column is up on Binnall of America, and this week I write about the wonderful and unique Sylvia Beach Hotel, and my experience walking around the haunted building. Newport, Oregon: A Haunted Hotel?

A.M. Murphy: New BOA Contributer

Tim Binnall's Binnall of America has a new writer: A.M. Murphy, who has a great first article for her "Not Always So" column. In her first column -- Perilous Objects and Ghostly Handprints:
Women in Esoterica -- Murphy discusses women in esoteric research. While it's obvious that women have always been in the background of UFO, paranormal and Fortean studies, a subtle contradiction is at work. Women have always been firmly entrenched in esoterica; some could say the anima is of that world, hence, the on-going war from the male view against the "divine feminine." Murphy writes:

Women are still not well-represented among UFOlogists or cryptozoologists, but our leadership in the esoteric field literally goes back to prehistory. We belong here.

Graham Hancock writes about female handprints that appear in shamanic cave art from 30,000 years ago, at the very dawn of human consciousness. In the caves at Delphi, generations of female oracles are believed to have squatted over a rift in the rock, inhaling hallucinatory gases that wafted up from the belly of the earth. The Delphic oracles were routinely consulted by heads of state, as was a Biblical prophetess named Deborah who literally led 10,000 men to victory in battle.

Murphy goes on to cite more examples, following a history beginning with cave paintings to the present, along with the still very much present intent of many cultures and religions to virtually annihilate the feminine within the esoteric.

From March: Grey Matters column: Disenchanting News in the Land of Enchantment

Here's a Grey Matters column from Lesley that I missed somehow; it's from March. As Lesley says, it's not esoteric but definitely horrifying. (Although, serial killers share a definite esoteric place within that realm.) Disenchanting News in the Land of Enchantment

The victims are women, and, as with other serial killings with female victims, not much seems to be done about it, and particularly when the victims are "lower class" -- i.e. protitutes, drug addicts, etc.

Lesley's Grey Matters: "Susan Boyle is killing Ufology!"

Lesley's new Grey Matters is up at Binnall of America, and this week she writes about the fascination with the decidedly non-fascinating, while ignoring the real fascinating stuff around us. In Susan Boyle is killing Ufology! Lesley writes:

When I see things like Susan Boyle capture so much attention -- I can only agree with the government (assuming they know a lot about ufos) that we are not ready for disclosure.

We watch it all the time -- the weird crap that captures the nation and/or the western world's attention. Anna Nicole Smith, OJ, Brad/Jen/Angelina and so on. Meanwhile, there is truly amazing stuff going on and most people don't seem to even care. (Italics mine)

I share with Lesley a pleasure in getting some gossipy goods -- shallow, fine, but the point is, as Lesley puts it, is that some of us know it's gossip, and get our gossip "news" from gossip type sources. It in itself isn't news news, not of any great import, but sadly, even places like CNN treat gossip and entertainment buzz with equal seriousness:

I expect to get my celeb gossip from the same place I have always got it, The National Enquirer, not the nightly news or 24 hour news channels. Even on those, I don't mind a short mention of the gossip, but I don't want it to be treated like news because it isn't. Celebrity gossip is treated like being REAL news, far more so than things that are really amazing and could really change the world as we know it -- like ufos.

Seriously, Britney's head shaving incident is treated like a national tragedy that should concern us all. Dozens of people seeing a strange object in the sky over Stephenville (or anywhere else) is comic relief.

Yes, culture has it ass backwards all right. I remember many years ago, when Miami Vice was popular, one of the network news programs breaking in during regular programming with a "news alert" to let us know that actor Don Johnson was gettting a divorce. I remember thinking if I hadn't just slipped into some silly topsy turvy alternate dimension, where news isn't, up is down, that kind of thing.

Lesley asks why it is that mainstream culture is so fascinated with the likes of gossip and other frivolous distractions, while ignoring the truly fantastic (and unexplained?)

Lesley begins her article by talking about American Idol's Susan Boyle who is "unattractive." I saw the clip where she comes out, and the expressions on the faces of both audience and judges. Some of those expressions included outright disgust.

As to the perennial question of why mainstream society and the infrastructure continues to ignore, ridicule and marginalize paranormal and Fortean type occurrences, while it's extremely frustrating, it might be some comfort to realize this is as much a part of the phenomena itself in many cultures, including ours. Call it the Trickster or what you like, but the phenomena enjoys this constant dance of "catch me if you can," of being elusive. Anomalous events, from Bigfoot to ghosts to UFOs and all of the other stuff in between are subversive, anti-structure, in your face occurrences that thumb their noses at science, religions, and society's comfort zones. Like gossip and entertainment. Everyone, including the skeptoids and pathological debunkers, know damn well these things exist, they simply cannot acknowledge the fact. Willful ignorance of the data, marginalizing and trivializing both the phenomena and individuals who experience, believe or research weird stuff, and insults are the rule, as well as the weird inverse of phenomena that Lesley points out. Gossip and fascination with the shallow bewitches; while the real mysteries are shoved aside.

Richelle Hawks on Synchronicity

WOE contributor Richelle Hawks Medusa's Ladder column for Binnall of America is about book synchronicity, a very enjoyable article. Slightly Woo-woo: Synchronicity and the Unconscious.

Tarot, Maxi Pads, and Animal Sacrifice

Richelle Hawks has a great piece on commercials and advertising, on Binnall of America in her Medusa's Ladder column:Strange Days, Indeed: Notes on Identity and the Super Bowl Commercials And when I read this I just had to find out more:

"I found a magazine ad of an Always maxipad slapped on a tarot card."

If that isn't esoterica I don't know what is. It's teeming with esoteric symbolism.

I found the image; it appears on The Tarot Channel blog. Of course there isn't really a Tarot card called "The Protector" but here's what Tarot Channel says about the number II assigned to the ad card:

I'm thinking that the ad creators had to have some knowledge of Tarot because "The Protector" is assigned Roman numeral II, The High Priestess (who is, of course, associated with the moon).

And in a bit of synchronicity, my Trickster's Realm column for Binnall of America is also about commercials and advertising. Conspiracies and Cannibalism: Animals and Advertising.I didn't know Richelle's column was about commercials until she told me the other day; after I had been working on mine. I avoided reading her column until I sent mine off to Tim Binnall.

Richelle's is up now, mine will be up sometime tomorrow. And be sure to read all the great columns over there as well.

Ann Druffel on Tim Binnall

Ann Druffel appears on Tim Binnall's BOA. I haven't listened to it yet, (just about to though!) but I'm sure it's going to be very interesting!

Druffel is co-author, (D.Scoot Rogo) of The Tujunga Canyon Contacts, a classic in UFO literature. This book is one of the early books I read on UFOs, and the experience drew me further into the realm of UFOs. Born in Los Angeles and living all over Southern and Northern California, I had a particularly strong reaction to the experiences in that book.

Here are some links: you can order the book via Anomalist Books. And listen to the interview on Tim's site here.

Vatican Cracks Down, ....

I have something up at UFO-Mary about the Vatican's recent cracking down on those who experience Marian Apparitions. It's a bit chilling.

Bush/Cheny pushed through, even in their last, gasping days, their agenda to continue the wolf slaughter.

Lesley posted a couple of interesting photographs she took in Washington of the BVM with orbs.

I comment about the hilarity of the so-called UFO Iconoclasts bloggers and their ridiculous assertion I, along with Lesley and Lehmberg, are "bringing down UFOlogy."

My musings on 2012 on Binnall of America.While there at Tim Binnall's, be sure to read Richelle Hawks, Tina Sena, Richard Thompson, Lesley and everyone else! Also listen to the great podcasts.

Lastly, my Mothman's Photographer III by Andrew Colvin, arrived today! I am so excited, I've only read the forward by Nick Redfern and leafed through it, but it promises to be great.

BVM, Bigfoot, Playboy, Darklore, Trickster's Realm

On UFO-Mary I have several new posts, including one on the Mexican edition of Playboy magazine, with it's Virgin Mary like model on the cover. Just in time for the pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

I've been experiencing a few synchroniciites related to the image of Mary, as well as Goddess energy in general. It's not surprising to find that when ones attention is really directed at something; UFOs, what have you, the synchronicities appear!

Snarly Skepticism; also the unofficial JREF Watch, I just decided, has an entry on the dangers of Bigfoot research. Yes, dangers. The harm Bigfoot research, and just a "belief" in Bigfoot, must be told! Beware!

Usually my Trickster's Realm column for Binnall of America goes up on Monday, but recently things have been changed around a bit. So my column won't be up until Thursday. I write about the Darklore, Volume II that just came out. Speaking of, it'll make a great gift! You can find out about ordering information at Amazon.com or the Daily Grail site.

It's been snowy here, which I don't like. It's wet, it's cold, what's the point? Fortunately I don't have to go anywhere these days; I"m off for winter break for three weeks. So I'm cozy in my house, trying to work on various writing projects.

And speaking of writing projects, visit my Lulu.com storefront. I plan to have a few more things available -- some for free -- in a few days.

I was going to be on the X-Zone radio show but still sick with some cold/throat thing. I'm much better but my throat still hurts and I sound like a frog. I'm sure in a few days I'll be fine, and will post the date when I know more.

New Gray Matters Up at BOA

A very neat ghost/trickster story by Lesley for her Gray Matters column on BOA.

Gray Matters on FRINGE

Coincidentally, Lesley also writes about a TV program for her column Gray Matters this week on Binnall of America.(I wrote about The Mentalist, and Psych, for Trickster's Realm this week.) Lesley really likes Fringe, and I do too; it's my favorite new show so far. Unfortunately, it's on opposite The Mentalist, but we just record one, watch the other. While there at BOA, be sure to read all the great columns, like Richelle Hawks,(also a contributor here at Women of Esoterica), Tina Sena, etc.

Faux Psychic TV

My new Trickster's Realm column is up at Binnall of America: Not Really Psychic, Just Faking It, about two shows I like: Psych, and The Mentalist.

Be sure to read all the other great columns at BOA, as well as the forum. Remember that Binnall of America has great podcasts too!

Richelle Hawks on "What the Bleep Do We Know?"

Richelle gives her opinions on the movie What the Bleep Do We Know? in Thoughts On That Bleeping Movie. She didn't like it -- but, do not mistake that for her not "getting it" or even not "liking" the message. In many ways, I agree, in some, I simply didn't notice the things she points out. It'll be interesting to watch the film again with that in mind. Overall, I liked the movie, mostly because of the message, but I agree with Richelle, that it was simplistic. Although, that's not the only reason Hawks didn't like the film; in other words, it's too simplistic to say she merely thinks it's simplistic. Heh. Read her views on her Medusa's Ladder column for Binnall of America.

Richelle also has something to say about the "urban legend" of the natives not seeing Columbus's ships. . . something that needs to be said a lot more often.

Tina Sena: GOD - In HIs Great Flying Mothership

Tina Sena has a really nice piece up on Binnall of America for her Esoterica column: GOD -- In His Great Flying Mothership. It's weird, because, for some reason, I've been thinking along these same lines, and I don't even know why -- about a connection between the "fallen angels" and aliens and UFOs. But especially about One Source kind of thing. I like what Sena writes here:

But for us here in the west, it's okay to go ghost hunting, ufo hunting, bigfoot hunting and the like and never associate any of these things with one great diversion. Maybe they are all from the same source. Maybe none of it is as weird as we think. Maybe we are just too primitive to get what's going on.