Chapter 1: Unveiling the Supernatural

This text is drawn from Sky Gods and the Recipe for Immortality: The secret influence of psychoactivity over science, society, and the supernatural. The exploration of the supernatural raises the question: can it be understood solely through psychoactive, spiritual, or psychological lenses? Interest from scientific, governmental, and academic circles is intensifying in response to this captivating inquiry. In 2023, researchers from the University of Virginia revealed:

"UFO SURVEY SHOWS 19% OF ACADEMICS REPORT UNUSUAL SIGHTINGS… the existence of UAP is no longer debated. The pressing question is: What are they?"

NASA has recently declared its intention to initiate a UFO research initiative, while Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb has launched the Galileo Project to investigate supernatural events. Loeb has proposed the controversial theory that extraterrestrial beings may have visited Earth, drawing insights from an object named Oumuamua:

"Oumuamua's unusual form — reminiscent of a 100-meter-long cigar or pancake — does not closely align with known asteroids or comets. Its brightness indicates that it was at least ten times more reflective than typical celestial bodies in our solar system, suggesting a metallic sheen. Most intriguingly, as it departed after its pass by the sun, it accelerated in a manner that our star's diminishing gravitational influence cannot entirely account for."

Oumuamua concept art via NASA

A recent article by Loeb references the panspermia theory proposed by Nobel Prize-winning psychonaut Francis Crick, suggesting:

"The propagation of life to other planets could be overseen by an advanced civilization that creates various synthetic life forms, carefully matching each seed to the conditions suited for growth, akin to a gardener planting in diverse soils."

While reputable scientists are stepping up to tackle otherworldly inquiries, much of this research has historically unfolded in secrecy.

During the 1960s, prominent scientist and UFO investigator Jacques Vallée was instrumental in the formation of the so-called Invisible College, a group of scientists examining the UFO phenomenon. Vallée made a groundbreaking assertion:

"I contend that a significant force has shaped humanity in the past and continues to do so. Is this force entirely a product of human consciousness, or does it signify alien intervention? This inquiry is central to the mission of the Invisible College."

Vallée collaborated with Dr. Hynek, a consultant for the Air Force's UFO investigation, Project Blue Book. Their experiences inspired Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind. In a 1977 interview, Dr. Hynek reflected:

"I initially set out as a staunch skeptic, reveling in debunking what appeared to be baffling cases. I was the arch-nemesis of those flying saucer enthusiasts who fervently desired UFOs to be interplanetary. My understanding of these groups stemmed almost entirely from Blue Book staff, who dismissed them as crackpots and dreamers.

My perspective gradually evolved, and by the late sixties, it was complete. Today, I would not invest another moment on UFOs if I did not genuinely believe the phenomenon is authentic… The entire Blue Book endeavor was flawed, built on the erroneous assumption that the extraordinary reports could not possibly hold any factual basis."

UFO sighting studied by Project Blue Book

As UFO reports surged during the 1960s, a CIA Director communicated through the New York Times:

"Privately, high-ranking Air Force officials are deeply concerned about UFOs. Yet, through official secrecy and mockery, many citizens are led to think that these unidentified flying objects are mere nonsense… To conceal the truth, the Air Force has silenced its personnel."

Interestingly, the term "Invisible College" traces back to a Renaissance secret society of alchemical scholars. Diana Pasulka, a religion professor at the University of North Carolina, remarked on a physics podcast called Theories of Everything:

"Many members of the Invisible College identify as Rosicrucians… This mystical tradition within European history reveals scientists who were also alchemists, fascinated by non-human intelligences and entities…"

A 1928 illustration of a Rosicrucian crucifixion

The Invisible College originated from a clandestine Masonic group known as Rosicrucianism in the 1600s. A Nature article highlighted that Paracelsus inspired this blend of scientific inquiry and mysticism. The famed alchemist also created the opium tincture, which significantly impacted the British Empire, alleviating pain while wreaking havoc across continents.

Similar to their Freemason counterparts, the Rosicrucians drew from ancient wisdom and exert a considerable yet discreet influence on contemporary society.

Rosicrucian Invisible College illustrated in the 1600s

Research from Oxford University Press has further outlined the evolution of secret societies:

"Freemasonry and Rosicrucianism were instrumental in the establishment of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in the nineteenth century — a principal organization linked with the modern magical revival."

From the Hermetic Order emerged controversial figures like Aleister Crowley, aerospace engineer Jack Parsons, and prolific science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard, who founded the contentious Scientology religion. However, Crowley's notorious practices of sex magic were foreshadowed by Paschal Randolph, a half-black, half-white Rosicrucian mystic, whose teachings in the late nineteenth century offered students a form of DIY occultism that utilized their own bodies — through study, sex, and drugs — to connect with the spiritual realm.

Yet, the allure of a hallucinatory, cosmic sex magic posed significant challenges for anyone, particularly a Black man, during that era. Better-known occult organizations like the Theosophical Society and the Hermetic Society of the Golden Dawn, which emerged in the late 1870s and 1880s, drew heavily on Randolph's influence.

Paschal Randolph's Rosicrucian symbol of a flying disc and pyramids under the Eye of Horus

Rosicrucianism and Hermeticism are deeply rooted in the alchemical traditions of Renaissance figures such as John Dee, opium pioneer Paracelsus, and supernatural philosopher Giordano Bruno. Like Galileo, Bruno was denounced as a heretic by the Catholic Church for asserting that stars are distant suns. He also claimed that the universe is infinite and that distant solar systems could harbor extraterrestrial life. Bruno believed in the immortality of the soul but met a brutal end at the hands of the Church.

With intertwined origins in Renaissance alchemy and heresy, Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism, and the Hermetic Order have subsequently influenced notorious modern UFO cults like the Order of the Solar Temple and Heaven's Gate. A researcher for the Encyclopedia of Religion and Society noted:

"Masonic and Rosicrucian ideals and practices have been integrated into early groups, most notably in the Order of the Solar Temple… The most controversial factions merging UFO beliefs with variations of contactee claims are the Order of the Solar Temple and Heaven's Gate. Both groups hold apocalyptic views, believing that suicide will grant them immortality in the (literal) heavens through their connection with extraterrestrial beings."

Often, groups claiming contact with aliens that impart knowledge blend into the broader New Age movement, which involves purportedly channeling messages from higher, more advanced entities.

Modern members of Freemasonry and Rosicrucianism would likely distance themselves from controversial sects like Crowley’s Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn; nevertheless, the shared heritage remains striking.

Aleister Crowley in Golden Dawn attire

Regardless of the core intentions or concealed technologies, secrecy inherently breeds public mistrust. Simultaneously, many competing psychoactive sects have been forced underground by dominant religious authorities throughout history. Nevertheless, the impact of Freemasonry and Rosicrucianism continues to resonate profoundly in today's society.

As a significant representation of contemporary Rosicrucian influence, a grand museum housing ancient Egyptian artifacts stands at the heart of Silicon Valley. The Rosicrucian Museum was established by H. Spencer Lewis, a follower of Aleister Crowley’s psychedelic cult.

A Bay Area journalist once remarked that upon visiting the museum, attendees are invited to join a lineage tracing back to the Renaissance, ancient Egypt, and perhaps further:

"While it boasts the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts on the West Coast, the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is not solely focused on archaeology. Its purpose is to inspire followers, not just to preserve antiquities. This venue serves as the spiritual core of the Rosicrucians, a secret society believing that ancient Egyptians possessed knowledge capable of unraveling the mysteries of humanity… Those dedicated to their weekly lessons can reportedly achieve remarkable results within five years, including — allegedly — the ability to communicate with others and move objects solely through mental focus."

Given such extraordinary and supernatural assertions, Jacques Vallée and Dr. Hynek (leading figures in UFO research) were influenced by Rosicrucian principles and were said to have been members at one time. In an interview with Rice University, Vallée referenced the famed alchemist Paracelsus, stating:

"Dr. Hynek and I independently reached the conclusion that if you desire to know more, you know where to look. It's not confined to books, you know. I've always cherished the image of the Rosicrucians when they were asked how they acquired their knowledge. They said, you must procure the book of nature. You must seek the book of nature and study it. Of course, people would question the cost and the source. The book of nature surrounds you; that is the book. However, it requires a unique perspective to truly understand it, which differs from the approach most people take."

Are the advocates for supernatural revelation intertwined with modern secret societies such as Freemasonry or Rosicrucianism?

The former head of the Pentagon's Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program, Lue Elizondo, has echoed Rosicrucian concepts. In the tradition of Hynek and Vallée, Elizondo once sketched a diagram resembling a key Rosicrucian emblem during a podcast interview.

The iconic triangle within a circle or square aligns with the mythical Philosopher's Stone of ancient lore. According to a separate online source, the Rosicrucian symbol conveys that:

"Humans are believed to possess a divine origin but have forgotten their true source. The path of transfiguration, as proposed by the Lectorium Rosicrucianum, aims to rediscover and awaken the divine spark (the rose of the heart, i.e., the residual divine component of each human being), ultimately guiding humanity back to its original state."

In an astonishing visual synchronicity, the Rosicrucian symbol bears a resemblance to an advanced concept in modern physics known as the octonion.

The Fano Plane Endowed with Octonions via Western Michigan University

The New Scientist magazine recently highlighted the striking similarity in illustrations:

"A recent paper by John Baez from the University of California, Riverside, has ignited considerable online debate among string theorists. It all boils down to one remarkable realization: the number 8 transcends mere numerology. It serves as our key to the Universe."

Continued: Octonion Odyssey: Higher Dimensions in Science and Spirit — Mathematics, shamanic healing, and supernatural reality.

Chapter 2: The Influence of Ancient Teachings

The first video, Historiographical Concepts in the Study of Western Esotericism (2/2) - YouTube, delves into the historical narratives surrounding Western esoteric traditions and their connections to contemporary inquiries into the supernatural.

The second video, These Ancient Teachings Will BEND Your REALITY - YouTube, explores how ancient wisdom and practices may influence modern perceptions of reality and spirituality.