The following message 'thread' was taken from Mysteria bbs
(818-353-8891)...


Folder: Occult
Msg. # 1532  Dated: 4/8/88          Subj: Occult Phenomena
To: ALL                               From: SYSOP

Left  09:00:40, 04/08/88                             
                                        
Virtually all occult phenomena, whether physical or 'mental' must
have a human intermediary. I won't argue the existence or non-
existence of spiritual entities in this message, but merely point
out that the experience of all occult phenomena is highly
subjective. All telepathic or 'channeling' activity (whether it
is from a ouija board, pendulum, automatic writing, trance, or
whatever) is at least partially from the subconscious mind. This
does not invalidate the experience, but it does suggest we should
critically examine it.
   Evil entities in the occult are over rated. They do not occur
very often. And we will probably find that if they do occur, we
are obseving aspects of ourselves. Physical phenomenon, such as
the movement of things (poltergeist activity) *must* have a human
agent as a source of energy. If you remember the subjective
nature of occult phenomena, you will see how most of it is quite
harmless, and it may even be helpful. It is certainly interesting.
Many times people experience these things as a non-recurrant
'peak experience'. It is sometimes 'strange' though, so if you
want to stop or reduce it, there are some things you can do...
   1) Play loud music (especially 'rock' music).
   2) Immerse yourself in a physical activity (hiking, dancing,
jogging).
   3) Entertain yourself (go out to a movie, or a play, or a
concert, visit friends).
   4) Eat. Large amounts of food, especially meat, reduce our
receptivity to psychic phenomena.  
   5) If you have a religious background, use it. Recite the 23rd 
or 91st Psalms, or the 'Lord's Prayer', or go to church. (If your
religious background is non-Christian, then practice that.)   
   6) Visualize yourself surrounded by *white light*. The 'lesser
ritual of the Pentagram' (a standard magick ritual) is especially
helpful (described in MAGICK8.TXT in the MAGICK file area).
   7) If you happen to have a copy of the 'Necronomicon', then the
invocation of the 'Watcher' may be very helpful. Alternately, ask
for protection from your 'spirit guide', from Jesus, or your
favorite archetype.
   It is an occult law that like attracts like ('birds of a feather
flock together'). The best protection against evil is to be a good
person... //Phil//
                   

Folder: Occult
Msg. # 1571  Dated: 4/10/88          Subj: Negative Entities
To: PHIL HANSFORD                     From: MICHELLE KLEIN-HASS

Left  12:04:34, 04/10/88                  
                                       
Negative entities ARE very real, and although *UN*-common, are not
rare.  They especially are attracted to dabblers, people who 
are very weak, and those who are looking towards something that 
they can hand off the responsibility to.  Avoid any path that
denigrates the power of the individual intellect.  Your brain, your
power of independent thought, is what raises humanity (and perhaps
Cetacea and higher primates) over the other animals.  Use the
"Upperworld" journey in SHAMAN.TXT to contact your higher self,
which is what you are doing when you call upon your "teacher".
But never, never reach out to outside entities, no matter how benign
they seem.  Possession is a REAL possibility.  I speak from personal
experience.  MK-H 
                             

Folder: Occult
Msg. # 1574  Dated: 4/10/88          Subj: Missing the point
To: MICHELLE KLEIN-HASS               From: SYSOP

Left  16:54:29, 04/10/88             
                                                     
You do seem to have missed the point of some of my previous posts,
and your message on 'evil entities' is undermining my efforts
to de-mystify the occult. Of course we can only state what we
believe to be true, based upon our experiences and research. And 
while I do not wish to argue with you, it does seem to me that the
occult is far less dangerous than some of your messages would
suggest. Most occult phenomenon has nothing to do with evil
entities. A ouija board is not inherently dangerous or evil, any
more than a pendulum, or a crystal ball, or a paper and pencil for
that matter. These are only things. They have no power in
themselves. //Phil//
             

Folder: Occult
Msg. # 1588  Dated: 4/11/88          Subj: Entities
To: PHIL HANSFORD                     From: MICHELLE KLEIN-HASS

Left  16:14:36, 04/11/88                   
                                       
I HAVE experienced what these beings CAN do.  There are hazards 
in the occult, especially for the dabbler.  It is not what these
objects are in and of themselves, but what someone can do with 
them.  Unfortunately, many of the "New Agers" have gone the
opposite way, and have said that there is no such thing as evil,
that all "evil" is is either ignorance or imbalance.  This is naive.
And very dangerous.  Evil does exist, just as good does. And 
it is something one must guard against.  Call it an
"occupational hazard", if you like.  I have a series of pieces
I have written, primarily on the dangers of channeling, but also
on the danger of summoning entities.  I will upload them as text
files rather than ASCII upload them to the message base.  I am
not trying to "remysticise" the occult.  I'm just trying to
protect the sanities of those who are not as advanced as you or
I, but are just as curious.  Michelle.
                   

Folder: Occult
Msg. # 1595  Dated: 4/11/88          Subj: Evil Entities
To: MICHELLE KLEIN-HASS               From: SYSOP

Left  00:35:43, 04/12/88             
                                                     
Thanks for your upload of the interesting files on Negative Entities
(NEGENTS.TXT, et al). I will keep them online, even though 
I feel you have overstated your points somewhat. At the same time,
you do raise some very valid points. I would not presume to say
there are no evil entities. Yet, during many years of immersion
in magick and the occult, I have never personally had any occult
encounters I couldn't handle, one way or another. It is really
largely a matter of attitude and 'mental set'. Nor would I
advocate the practice of magick ritual without either a magick
circle or the lesser ritual of the pentagram (or both). I would
urge people not to attempt any occult practice which makes them
nervous or uncomfortable. If the 'vibes' are wrong, something has
gone wrong. A successful working produces a good feeling.
//Phil//
                   

Folder: Occult
Msg. # 1677  Dated: 4/19/88          Subj: NEGATIVE ENTITIES
To: MICHELLE KLEIN-HASS               From: JOSEPH WILSON

Left  20:54:15, 04/19/88             
                                             
SOME THOUGHTS REGARDING NEGATIVE ENTITIES, NOW THAT I'VE READ YOUR
THREE FILES... PART OF THE PROBLEM WITH "NEW AGE" THOUGHT IS 
THE LACK OF ABILITY TO FACE REALITY.  IT IS TRUE THAT ULTIMATELY
THERE IS NO SUCH THINGS AS GOOD AND EVIL -- BUT THE KEY IS
ULTIMATELY.  FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES GOOD AND EVIL EXIST WHETHER 
WE USE THOSE TWO WORDS OR SOME EUPHEMISM WHICH MAKES THEM SOUND 
BETTER.  PROBLEM IS THE HUMAN CONCEPTION OF THEM.
         CHRISTIANITY AND OTHER DUALIST RELIGIONS, WHETHER THEY
ARE MONOTHISTIC OR NOT, DIVIDE SPIRITUAL ENTITIES INTO STRICTLY
GOOD OR STRICTLY EVIL.  THEY CANNOT CONCEIVE OF "GOD" AS HAVING
A NEGATIVE SIDE -- SO THEY ASSIGN THE NEGATIVE SIDE ANOTHER NAME
AND THINK IT'S DIFFERENT.  IN THE CHRISTIAN CONCEPT THE OTHER
NAME IS "SATAN".  MOST "PRIMATIVE" (OR OLD PAGAN, RATHER THAN
NEO-PAGAN) RELIGIONS RECOGNIZED THAT THEIR DIVINITIES HAVE BOTH
A GOOD/EVIL OR POSITIVE/NEGATIVE SIDE.   THUS WE HAVE BOTH RITUALS
TO INVOLK, AND RITUALS TO PLACATE THE SAME SPIRIT/DIVINITY.
ANY ENTITY, INCLUDING OURSELVES, IS A COMPLEX COMBINATION OF
WHAT WE CAN THINK OF AS NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE, GOOD AND EVIL.
BUT THIS GOOD OR EVIL IS IN RELATIONSHIP TO SOMETHING ELSE.
IT'S MERELY A CONVENIENT CONCEPT FOR US.  IF SOMETHING IS HARMFUL
TO ME AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED IT'S EVIL FOR ME.  IF SOMETHING
IS BENEFICIAL TO ME AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED IT'S GOOD FOR ME.
THAT SOMETHING MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMETHING
ELSE.
         ONE OF MY BEST TEACHERS EXPLAINED IT THIS WAY.  THINK
OF A CAT.  TO A HUMAN BEING A CAT IS A WARM FUZZY THAT GIVES US
LOVE, SITS IN OUR LAP AND PURRS.  HOWEVER THAT SAME CAT HAS A
QUITE DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP TO THE MOUSE OR BIRD THAT IT
TORTURES AND KILLS.  TO THOSE CREATURES THE MOUSE IS A QUITE
EVIL DEMON.  THE CAT IS NO DIFFERENT.  THE VIEWPOINT OF THE
OTHER BEING IS DIFFERENT.  (AND THE RELATIONSHIP THE CAT HAS
TO THOSE OTHER BEINGS IS DIFFERENT).  
       ENOUGH FOR NOW.         LOVE AND BLESSINGS....
                               JOE
                   

Folder: Occult
Msg. # 1692  Dated: 4/20/88          Subj: CHANNELS.TXT
To: MICHELLE KLEIN-HASS               From: SYSOP

Left  09:41:17, 04/20/88             
                                                     
Regarding your article, CHANNELS.TXT, I am inclined to agree with
you that perhaps only 20 - 25 % of channeled 'entities' are
authentic. Actually, it may be even less. I feel that even the
most authentic cases probably are colored by the channel's
subconscious. But what is so bad about that? Why do you think the
subconscious is bad? It is, after all, the seat of creativity. A poet
uses the same source, as does a writer. It just works a bit
differently, that is all...There is no doubt my mind that some
'channeled' material is 'inspired' in the same sense that some poetry
is 'inspired'. The creative process is the same...I would
rather regard legitimate channeled material as inspired poetry, and
treat it in the same way also... My theory brings about one
important caveat: since channeled material may at the very least be
colored by the channel's subconscious, channeled material is
never 100% infallible...//Phil//