The Higherside Chats

Join host, Greg Carlwood, of The Higherside Chats podcast as he talks the history of magic, summoning spirits, & John Dee -with Dr. Stephen Skinner. While many of us are no stranger the the principals of Chaos Magic or astrology, thanks to appearances from former guests such as Gordon White, Chris Knowles and Austin Coppock, today's guest, Dr. Stephen Skinner is a true champion for the re-enchantment of the world. Dr. Skinner has been a passionate and enthusiastic scholar who is considered to be one of the leading authorities on classical magic and the Grimoires. As a man responsible for an impressive body of work, including over 36 published books, Dr. Skinner joins The Higherside to help us expand our knowledge base about the ancient magic of old. Thanks to his tireless dedication to restoring and translating ancient Grimoires and other Greek and Graeco-Egyptian magical writings, many rituals and texts are now available in English for the first time in history. 3:00 Kicking things off, Dr. Skinner begins by describing the technology of magic, detailing his research into the Grimoires, and explaining how learning classical Greek furthered his understanding of ancient Greek and Graeco-Egyptian magic. He details the similar techniques and parallels he discovered during his extensive research of Graeco- Egyptian magic, the Grimoires, and Taoist magicians. 12:42 Having gone through most magical texts, including all Grimoires of the western tradition, Greg and Dr. Skinner discuss the systems and techniques in magical books that could be considered most effective. As Dr. Skinner explains perhaps the best and most complete works are the direct line transmission of spells from the Greek magicians in the Hygromanteia. 21:30 With Dr. Skinner's approach to magic being one of a scientific nature, he and Greg troubleshoot some common errors and small details that may be overlooked by amateur practitioners. Dr. Skinner explains the significance of protection from devious spirits, the power of of smell, the personal purification process prior to ceremonies, how certain scents are used to attract and dispel apparitions, and the importance of the environment, process and timing of magic rituals. 30:01 Dr. Skinner details how the technology of magic has helped him construct a  more perfect paradigm, and an elevated reality. He also elaborates on his stance that magic isn't just for reading, but instead more of an applied science. He describes the best process for conjuring spirits, the necessary commitment involved and the ideal conditions for practicing magic. 42:51 Switching gears, Greg and Dr. Skinner discuss another like-minded man in his scientific approach to magic: mathematician, occultist, and magician to the Queen, John Dee. As Dr. Skinner details the Latin roots of the Grimoires, how that lead to it's exclusivity, and how that has parlayed into today's ritual ceremonies of the elite. Become a Plus Member at www.TheHighersideChatsPlus.com/subscribe to hear a second hour of all THC episodes. This week's included: - separating real dangers and concerns in magic, from religious propaganda - John Dee and Edward Kelly's alchemical work - disentangling magic, religion, & the mystery tradition - the connection between spirits and powerful art - Ufology's connection to magic, and inner Earth beings - invisibility magic - Feng Shui - the Voynich Manuscript A few valuable resources from the interview: Dr. Skinner's "Techniques of Graeco-Egyptian Magic": https://www.amazon.com/Techniques-Graeco-Egyptian-Magic-Stephen-Skinner/dp/0738746320 Peter J. Carroll, Chaos Magician: http://www.specularium.org/ "The Key of Solomon": http://www.sacred-texts.com/grim/kos/ The Egyptian "Book of The Dead": http://www.sacred-texts.com/egy/ebod/ The Voynich Manuscript: http://www.voynich.nu/ "The Goetia of Dr. Rudd" by Dr. Stephen Skinner and David Rankin: https://www.treadwells-london.

Join host, Greg Carlwood, of The Higherside Chats podcast, as he breaks down Gnosticism with the guest, Miguel Conner. While many of us will be familiar with the term Gnosticism due to it’s influence among a wide array of topics, including the use of ritual magic, secret societies, and even the very process of awakening itself, one must admit the waters have been muddied throughout history.   With words like 'Demiurge' and 'Archons' freely thrown about, putting a finer point on this magical hodgepodge of buzzwords can prove to be rather difficult.   Luckily, today’s guest, Miguel Conner of AeonByte, joins The Higherside to help us tighten our loose grasp of understanding about this ancient mystic philosophy. So strap in, and get ready to swallow the red pill people! 2:45 Greg and Miguel begin by dissecting the massive body of work known as Gnosticism. In an attempt to categorize foreign religions, conservative Christians of the 17th century coined the derogatory term, Gnostic. And with the origins of the Gnostics being unknown, Miguel addresses multiple theories, such as their ancient Egyptian roots, Zoroastrianism, and the possibility of them being breakaway sects of Christianity or Judaism. He also breaks down the four hallmarks of Gnosticism. 12:20 With the work of researchers such as David Ike, popularizing terms like Archon, Greg and Miguel discuss how this term has been co-opted and contorted. Miguel elaborates on rebellious stance of Gnosticism during a time when the predominant belief was in the great chain of being that connected us to the Gods. Conner clarifies role of the Demiurge, expands on the demonic nature of the grand architect and details the saga of Sophia. 19:42 Miguel breaks down his article "The Five Most Dangerous Archons in the Gnostic Gospel". 24:30 Greg and Miguel discuss the relation of seemingly separate schools of thought, from Paganism, to Kabbalah and Christianity to Chaos Magic. With Alexandria acting as the world's melting pot, Conner explains how this uncommon cast of characters came together in ancient times and what role their coexistence had on the Gnostic paradigm. 30:42 Instead of stuffing the toothpaste back into the tube, the Roman Catholic Church appropriated many of the Gnostic traditions, perverting them into current day mainstream pillars of the church. Greg and Miguel discuss the idea that "religion is just magic for the masses and magic is just religion for the individual." They also discuss the "Father of Gnosticism" and personal patron saint to Miguel, Simon Magus, his appearance in the book of "Acts of the Apostles" and his union with Helen of Tyre. 39:02 Miguel discusses his favorite group of Gnostics, the Sethians. 42:00 Miguel gives us his take on the work of researchers such as David Icke, John Lash and Jay Weidner. 49:15 Miguel imparts a few Gnostic nuggets from his extensive research into the forbidden gospels. Become a Plus Member at www.TheHighersideChatsPlus.com/subscribe to hear a second hour of all THC episodes. This week's included: - the Gnostic influence on Crowley and Thelema - the occult belief system of the elite, and how to describe it - the elite's use of magic - the coven that put the binding spell on Trump - the history of manipulation and suppression of Gnostic sects - looking at the most remote cultures for a glimpse into the uncorrupted traditions - Buddhism and the Dalai Lama dilemma - portals - overlooked characters and stories in the Gnostic narratives - HBO's hit series "Westworld" A few valuable resources from the interview: April Deconick: http://aprildeconick.com/ Recommended Movie List: "The Matrix": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Matrix "The Truman Show": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Truman_Show "Dark City": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_City_(1998_film) "The Lego Movie": https://en.wikipedia.

Join The Higherside Chat podcast as host Greg Carlwood talks corporate conspiracies, Robin William's death, and media manipulation with guest, Richard Belzer. We are now in the middle of a devastating crisis, compounded in part, because the channels for conquering this corporate corruption have dried up, and seeking restitution and solutions through our justice system is but a dream. Today's guest, Richard Belzer has dedicated his lifetime to reseraching the corporatocracy of America and joins The Higherside to discuss the revolving door between the corporate sector and government that has become a burden to society, while giving the privileged elite a notable advantage. 3:00 As a successful comedian and actor, Richard has ran in the Hollywood circle for years. And yet, despite his successes and the temptations to rest on his laurels, Belzer has spent his life researching conspiracies and leveraged his celebrity status to help shed a light onto some of life's more unsavory subjects. Richard explains how his rebellious nature and investigative inclinations proved to be valuable assets in his exploration. 5:42 In his book "Corporate Conspiracies: How Wall Street Took Over Washington", Belzer lays the framework for how and why we currently find ourselves in an unwinnable war against corporations. Richard also elaborates on the circumstances surrounding the death of Robbin Williams, the role of Big Pharma, and why is his mind, Williams' death was a murder, not suicide. Greg and Richard detail the ways in which the system is designed to embolden pharmaceutical companies, the racket created to ensure their profits remain strong, and the correlation between the mood of the country and drug use. 15:00 With the effects of corporate products felt throughout various aspects of our lives, Greg and Richard take a moment to address the most well-known and influential kingpins in this arena: Dow Chemical Company and Monsanto. With Monsanto bearing the burden of being "the world's most evil company", Richard expounds on the multiple products, such as saccharin, Roundup, GMOs, and Agent Orange, and their devastating effects on both people and planet. Belzer also offers up solutions to this insurmountable issue including limiting their financial influence in politics. 26:50 After discussing and food deserts, Greg and Richard move onto examining Hollywood's use of propaganda to sculpt the collective consciousness and glorify the military industrial complex. In his book, Belzer references movies such as "American Sniper" and "Zero Dark Thirty" as transparent examples of government influence in Hollywood. They also discuss the CIA's use of the mainstream media as another weapon in the arsenal during Operation Mockingbird as far back as the 1950s. 34:42 Richard explains his thoughts on the responsibility of actors when choosing roles. He articulates on the sovereignty of actors, and their ability to turn down parts that may run counter to the personal beliefs. Become a Plus Member at www.TheHighersideChatsPlus.com/subscribe to hear a second hour of all THC episodes. This week's included:   - The Prison Industrial Complex, The Drug War, and it's role in the big conspiracy   - the bank bailout and why it shouldn't just be glossed over   - the prospect for a bailout round 2   - Bayer's role in the development of Heroin - what Richard thinks about the motivations behind the JFK assassination - Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 - Richard's thoughts on the Franklin scandal, blackmail, and pedophilia networks in elite circles - words of artistic inspiration, and Richard's advice to people who aren't living out their dreams due to fear, pressure, and the multitude of things that hold them back A few valuable resources from the interview: Rob Schneider on Robbin Williams' death: http://www.newsmax.com/TheWire/rob-schneider-robin-wiliams-suicidal-parkinsons/2014/08/19/id/589535/