Sumble: The Origin of Toasting

Toasting is a peculiar custom in Western society.  Nearly everyone who has a drink makes toasts, but few realize that they are taking part in an ancient custom with roots in the old pre-Christian religions of Northern and Western Europe: the Sumble. The Sumble is an ancient communion rite that was historically practiced by Germanic [...]

Rastafari, Zion and a Religious Irony

Fans of Reggae music understand how intimately tied it is to the Rastafarian movement from which it was born.  Rastafari is a religion, a philosophy, a way of life and a social movement.  Depending on whom you ask regarding the nature of Rasta, you’ll get a different combination of these basic premises.              Rastafari emerged [...]

The Tavern; Home of the Western Philosophical Tradition

     Two things that shouldn’t be discussed in a bar are politics and religion.  At least that’s how the old saying goes.  This idea seems to come from the belief that the watering hole is a place of mostly ignorant hopheads dancing to loud music and enjoying other forms of drunken debauchery, too insecure to [...]

Here We Come A-Wassailing; The Roots of a Christmas Tradition

It’s not Christmas without Christmas carols.  Many of our most traditional carols are filled with lyrics and lines that leave the modern caroler bewildered.  One of my favorite holiday tunes is “Here We Come A-Wassailing,” also commonly known as “Here We Come A-Caroling.”  Just what is wassailing?  Is it just an archaic word for Christmas [...]

Freemason Albert Pike and the Luciferian Quote

Conspiracy theories are popular on the internet.  A simple web search on almost any government agency or religious organization is bound to turn up at least a few web sites dedicated to “exposing” some secret government agenda that’s all a part of the “illuminati” master plan.   A popular favorite subject for these conspiracy enthusiasts [...]

Indigenism and Native Revivalism

By Jay Moody   The middle of the twentieth century saw an upsurge in Native Revivalism in western countries.  With the ‘back to nature’ trend sensationalized by the 1960’s Flower-Power generation many doors were opened in the realm of altered-native religion.  Many hippies, realizing the difficulty in being accepted within Native American communities began a [...]

What is Enlightenment?

by Jay Moody “In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep Then God said, “Let there be light;” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. [...]

The Great Seal on the Dollar Bill

By Jay Moody              The intriguing imagery of the Great Seal on the back of the United States’ one dollar bill is cause for much curiosity and speculation.  This has been a discussion amongst fans of the occult for decades, but the in recent years the success of the movie “National Treasure” has brought the [...]