Rejected Religion Podcast

Dean Radin is Chief Scientist at the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS), Associated Distinguished Professor at the California Institute of Integral Studies, and cofounder and chairman of the biotech company, Cognigenics. He earned an MS (electrical engineering) and a PhD (psychology) from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and in 2022 was awarded an Honorary DSc (doctor of science) from the Swami Vivekananda University in Bangalore, India.
Before joining the IONS research staff in 2001, Radin worked at AT&T Bell Labs, Princeton University, University of Edinburgh, and SRI International. He has given over 750 talks and interviews worldwide, and he is author or coauthor of some 7 patents, 300 scientific and popular articles, four dozen book chapters, and nine books, four of which have been translated into 15 foreign languages: The Conscious Universe (1997), Entangled Minds (2006), Supernormal (2013), and Real Magic (2018).
In this interview, Dean opens the conversation by talking about why the scientific community is slow to emerge with theoretical explanations as to why anomalous phenomena occur, even with the empirical evidence. He then explains how the three main classes of magickal practice (Divination, Enchantment, and Theurgy) coincide with the three main of psychic phenomena that have been studied over the years by scientists (Clairvoyance, Psychokinesis, and Survival after death).
First explaining the three most notable types of tests that have been developed over the years (tossed dice, random number generator outputs, and photon interference), Dean then explains in more detail the last test and the mystery of the ‘wave-particle duality’ that ‘violates the commonsense doctrine of realism, which assumes that the physical world is completely independent of observation.’
We then move on to the SIGIL (scientific investigation of gazing with intention/intuition at light) experiment that Dean performed with the funding of the Bial Foundation and RENSEP, involving practicing magicians and mediators, and the results of this experiment. Dean talks a bit about further experiments that could be created on the foundation of the SIGIL experiment, and also how all of this ties into the larger discussions about the nature of consciousness and interconnectedness.

https://www.deanradin.com/
https://www.cognigenics.io/

https://noetic.org/

https://www.youtube.com/@InstituteofNoeticSciences

https://www.rensep.org/

https://www.youtube.com/@rensep

https://www.instagram.com/ionsonline/
https://www.instagram.com/rensep_official/
Photo Credit: Jordan Engle @ Lens & Soul
Theme Music & Editing: Daniel P. Shea
End Production: Stephanie Shea
The full episode can be found at my Patreon page; it can also be purchased for a one-time fee: www.patreon.com/RejectedReligion

This month’s guest on the Rejected Religion Podcast is Brennan Kettelle. Brennan returns for Part 2 of our discussion on Monster Theory, this time looking at the applications of Monster Theory, as well as a more in-depth look at how Brennan is using this theory, along with other related concepts and theories.
Brennan is a PhD researcher at the Centre for History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents (HHP), University of Amsterdam. Brennan holds an MA in Gender and Cultural studies (2016) and a research MA in Religious Studies, specializing in Western esotericism (2021). She is currenting writing her doctoral dissertation, investigating historical associations between the religiomythic demoness Lilith and queerness within artistic, literary, and occult discourses. Brennan also teaches an 8-week online course on Lilith - focusing on Lilith’s origins and cultural receptions within Western esotericism - for the Brooklyn-based organization Morbid Anatomy. Utilizing monster theory and queer theory in her research, Brennan is more broadly interested in investigating themes of the ‘monstrous-queer’ within esoteric literature, orders, and figures, as well as esoteric themes within queer subcultures, politics, and histories.
Some highlights:
Brennan’s areas of exploration are primarily located in Gender Studies, Queer Theory, Religious Studies, Horror Theory, and Esotericism. In addition, as Monster Theory has a foundation in psychoanalysis and postmodern theories, Brennan expands on this in greater detail. This leads us into a conversation about the recent film, The Substance, as well as theories found in Foucault’s works.
Shifting the focus to Religious Studies, Brennan notes how monsters are most often aligned with evil; however, there are exceptions to this when it comes to werewolves in the Bible, for example. [Note: the text that I am reading from regarding werewolves in the Bible as well as the Werewolf Renaissance is taken from my own Research Master thesis.] Religion and Horror Studies intersect in films such as Longlegs, where we can see themes such as “monstrous infection” or a returning sickness.
As Brennan states, “the monster is the illumination of everything a society oppresses or represses.”
Speaking on the working term of ‘stigmatized alignment,’ Brennan uses the examples of poet Renee Vivien, and “The Witch of Kings Cross” Rosaleen Norton to explain this concept in more detail.
In closing, Brennan touches upon the adjacent theory of Hauntology, where past ‘monsters’ linger in the present and haunt us. Time, in this instance, could be seen as a monster as well.
This is the Free Content version of Episode 33; you can find the full episode at my Patreon page: https://patreon.com/RejectedReligion?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink
This episode is also available for a one-time purchase.
PROGRAM NOTES
Find Brennan:
https://uva.academia.edu/SBrennanKettelle

https://www.instagram.com/_restingwitchface/

Monster Theory Resources:
https://ieas-szeged.hu/downtherabbithole/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Barbara-Creed-The-Monstrous-Feminine-2007.pdf

https://archive.org/details/monstersincloset0000bens

https://www.amazon.com/Celluloid-Closet-Arthur-Laurents/dp/B001NI5C6U

https://archive.org/details/religionitsmonst0000beal

https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9780203361894/philosophy-horror-noel-carroll

https://revisesociology.com/2016/09/21/foucault-surveillance-crime-control/

https://medium.com/deterritorialization/jacques-derridas-specter-s-of-marx-and-the-concept-of-hauntology-reflections-on-deconstruction-2eb687322a69

https://academic.oup.com/fs/article/59/3/373/638853

Films and Shows Mentioned (Selection):
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17526714/ The Substance

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23468...

Karen Swartz (Åbo Academy University)

Interview Highlights:

Karen shares some of her preliminary research findings regarding four women - Marie Steiner von-Sivers, Ita Wegman, Edith Maryon, and Judith von Halle (not three as I mistakenly mention in the interview) - all deeply involved within the Anthroposophical Society over the past decades and in the present day. While doing research for her PhD, Karen found that narratives surrounding these influential women were often curiously different in nature than those surrounding men. Additionally, their efforts were often not mentioned, or if they were, they were downplayed, as if to suggest the women involved did not play a pivotal, leading role in the work of the Society. She has now started a new project to explore this new area in greater detail.

Karen notes how the status of the women who were involved in personal relationships with Rudolf Steiner also declined when they were no longer "favored" by him. Dr. Manon Hedenborg White's term "proximal authority" is referred to in this case, and Karen explains how she sees this perspective playing out in her case study. We also discuss how Judith von Halle's claims to Steiner's authority has caused upset within the Society, and the problematic response of the group to her attempts to forge her own autonomous path (that differed from how the group responded to men making similar claims).

This discussion highlights an important issue of how women's roles/efforts/works are often marginalized and minimized as compared to men's, and how this case study can open up further important discussions. For example, why are these women spoken about as if they aren't fully autonomous, capable adult women as their male counterparts are (with reference to the women being referred to as 'helping angels'). What are the larger implications of this case study with regard to gender and authority?

Theme music: Stephanie Shea

Interview Highlights:

Richard begins by giving a short background and biography of Waite and the people who had a great influence on his life. We discuss Waite's famous tarot deck and the inspiration for it, noting that illustrator Pamela Coleman Smith is often omitted from being mentioned. Richard then talks in more detail about how Waite's 'outsider status' has led to his work being neglected, and how his notion of a 'secret tradition' is deserving of more study.

REFERENCES

Email Richard Mason: [email protected]

Online Book List by Arthur Edward Waite: Arthur Edward Waite (Waite, Arthur Edward, 1857-1942) | The Online Books Page (upenn.edu)

The Secret Tradition in Freemasonry, Vol. 1&2: (PDF) A. E Waite - The Secret Tradition in Freemasonry | Athanassios Nick. Christopoulos - Academia.edu

The Pictoral Key to the Tarot: The Pictorial Key to the Tarot

Translations of Eliphas Levi's:

Transcendental Magic: Its Doctrine and Ritual: Transcendental magic, its doctrine and ritual : Lévi, Eliphas, 1810-1875 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

The History of Magic: The history of magic : including a clear and precise exposition of its procedure, its rites and its mysteries : Lévi, Eliphas, 1810-1875 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Robert Gilbert, A.E. Waite: A Magician of Many Parts (biography): Waite - A Magician of Many Parts.pdf (preterhuman.net)

Stewart Südekum (regarding tarot): Arthur Edward Waite | Stuart Südekum (wordpress.com)

In 1987, Adam McLean organized the 'Golden Dawn Conference,' wherein Roger Parisous presented about Waite, and puts forth some interesting alternate explanations about the Rider-Waite tarot. You can access his presentation here (located at Adam McClean's YouTube Channel): GD Conference 1987 Lecture 2 Roger Parisious - YouTube

The full conference is available on a playlist provided by Adam McLean, for those who are interested.

Website ESSWE (European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism): ESSWE | European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism - About

Theme music: Stephanie Shea

SHOW LESS

In this Bonus Episode, Pat and I deep-dive into the workings of the Celtic Wheel, that Pat refers to as "a companion on the pilgrimage of life." This discussion is not so much about rituals, but more about the spiritual concepts that Pat has gleaned from her experiences with Celtic Spirituality. Our informal exchange focuses on each season, and the special gifts that each month brings.

EPISODE NOTES:
Website Mara Freeman: Chalice Centre | Celtic & Western Magical Traditions

The Celtic Sacred Year: Celtic Sacred Year (chalicecentre.net)

Website John O'Donohue: Works (johnodonohue.com)