DIVERSE SANCTUARY'S WRITERS & POETS CORNER Discussions - THE DIVERSE SANCTUARY NETWORK

Democracy v. Republic

2010-04-05T00:27:43.555Z

Democracy v. Republic

a civics lesson

A democracy's where two wolves and a sheep
decide on what's for dinner;
and when it's cuisine by 'majority rule',
you know who'll wind up the thinner.

A republic is where every citizen
looks out for Number One;
and when it comes down to the menu,
the sheep has a vote--and a gun!

The Importance of Purpose, My Quest

2010-03-15T22:43:52.359Z

When I think of all the things I have done and survived... All in my quest for purpose.

Even as I write now...

It is this importance, which drives me. It has driven me throughout my life, in everything. It has taken me into the fires of hell and back. I have sacrificed time, energy, money, homes,positions, love... All in the name of this word purpose.

A higher purpose of course, I seek...

Is this because, I as a child was introduced to Christianity, and raised with the idea, the belief, that God designed each of us with purpose ?

In the midst of my times of anguish, in my despair, when I've been so beaten by my quest and the storms of life, that I've wished to take my own, when I've been separated from God, and the world has dumped such a load on me, that I've forgotten who I am, that I am a child of God,in the middle of my contemplation of suicide and death, and my struggle to survive, I find myself not searching for my father God, no not searching for a savior, no.

What I search for in these times is reason.

With reason, I gain a purpose.

With purpose I find the strength to say it's "OK" to feel good, and to go on reason...

It is this purpose that brings me back to a place where, not only am I
ok, but now I have some justification, with this I can do almost
anything.

Only then does it matter if I know God.

It is this same word that creates Presidents and Rulers, that drives
one man to build and another to destroy. One man to kill, another
to heal. With it, one man rises while another man falls. One
finds reason to live, with purpose, this same man finds reason
to die.

For each of us, this importance of purpose that drives us maybe very different. We may have different purposes at different times. Many of us find many purposes throughout our lives, while some might have only one purpose in mind.

Yet, we all look for and seek some type of purpose, in some way, at some point in our lives.

This importance for purpose is probably a main thread that binds us all together, as people we may not all know a need for God, yet,it is the desire and need for purpose that we all share, that religions are built from.

It is this drive for purpose that leads men to God, and love. As well as leading them into their own personal
hell.

In it, they can find themselves important.

My need for purpose has lead me to do great selfless acts, to create awesome works, to accomplish things I once believed impossible for me to do. I have owned businesses and real estate, I have sacrificed it all to have nothing, homeless, without money, job, car, friends, I've gone to jail, found addiction, abuse, self mutilation, recovery, only to have more to sacrifice latter on, I have risen and fallen, only to jump several times. I've had everything and nothing again and again. I've been driven to kill, to protect myself, to protect others, to seek to take my own life, tried many ways, many times, even now as I light my cigarette...

I have in my desire for purpose, loved, hated, and been hated and loved... I have given myself away for this word and even sold myself for it.

With it I have found death, life, and God.

In it I find hope and strength for each new day, and myself in every person around me... It binds me to my brothers and sisters in spirit. This gives me a purpose beyond myself, but to my world, those to come, like my son...

Because of this word, I write for today, and pray for tomorrow.

Written by myself, Mary Thomas Spears, Rev.©2000

This is a personal reflection essay, I hope you enjoyed it and that it gives you some insight...

MARIJUANA NATION (ORIGINAL POEM)

2010-01-10T03:41:19.570Z

a 420 tribe

as old as time

rise

with passion

and compassion

lift

our sacred

smoke

towards the sky

no longer

shall we hide

pass

the pipe

of peace and restoration

thankful for

the tree of life

the total healing

it provides

supplied

for all the nations

the fruit of her leaves

her medicine

complete

her milk is sweet

with-in his seed

the highest

omega protein meat

cleansing

ground water, air and soil

producing

the finest of oil

ink, paint, cement

gasoline that burns

clean

paper, canvas and bluejeans

truly this

weed

is all we need

step

into your

liberty

the time is

now

to claim

your sovereignty

freedom

the answer

we seek

united

as one

voice

the 420 elders speak

from the four corners of the earth

act

upon your simple

truth

the seed planted

with-in you

stand

this is

revelations

innate

it is the ultimate

forget your shame

fear, pain and hate

know

the highest

of the

high

marijuana nation

arrive

BORN A WHORE (ORIGINAL POEM ~ WARNING: GRAPHIC - RATED R)

2009-12-15T17:37:45.890Z

BORN A WHORE
DADDY'S AND MOMMA'S
BEFORE I WAS FOUR
SOLD OUT BY THE STATE
WHO COULD NOT AFFORD
TO PLACE ME IN FOSTER CARE
SO THEY SENT ME
TO THE DOCTOR INSTEAD
TO BE SOLD OUT AGAIN
I WAS PRESCRIBED A PILL
TO NUMB MY HEAD
SO IT WOULDN'T MATTER
WHEN THEY ENTERED MY BED
ALONG WITH SUMMER CAMP
ONE MONTH A YEAR
A VACATION
FROM THE MOLESTATION
THE STATE
MADE THIS CLEAR
A COUPLE OF SITTERS
WHO TOOK THEIR TURNS
THROUGHOUT THE YEARS
AN OLDER BROTHER
WHO HELD ME DOWN
SO HIS FRIENDS
COULD PARTY ON THE GROUND
ALL BY THE TIME I WAS TEN
IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE
THE DATE RAPE BEGIN
BY FIFTEEN
I'D FOUND MY FIRST HUSBAND
WHO HAD HIS PAPERS
ON MY ASS
OF COURSE HE TOO
WANTED EVERYTHING HE ASKED
ALWAYS HAD TO HAVE HIS WAY
IT NEVER MATTERED
TO ANY OF THEM
WHAT I WANTED OR HAD TO SAY
AS THEY FOCUS AND PUSHED
THEIR DESIRES UPON ME
GETTING THEIR POWER
BY TAKING THEIR WAY
PUSHING BUTTONS
THE ENTIRE TIME
IN AN ATTEMPT TO CONTROL
MY FEELINGS AND MIND
IF I EVER REALLY LOVED THEM
THEY ONLY WANT TO WATCH
THEY ONLY WANT TO PLEASE ME
THEY, THEY, THEY, THEY
THEY ALL KNOW WHAT I REALLY WANT
THEY ALL KNOW WHAT I REALLY NEED
I NEED MORE
I NEED ANOTHER
I NEED A BIGGER COCK
IF THEY AREN'T TRYING TO BUY ME
OR SELL ME
THEY'RE TRYING TO SHARE ME
WITH A STRANGER OR A FRIEND
WHATEVER WORKS FOR THEM
I THINK THE WORD GOT AROUND
EVEN MY BOSSES TRIED
SOME DID
THREW THEIR WEIGHT AROUND
PUSHING ME DOWN
FRIENDS OF THEIR FRIENDS
EVEN KNEW HOW
AS THEY ALL POINT THEIR FINGERS
AT MY SINS
DRUG ADDICT, FELON, WHORE
LIKE I EVER HAD A CHANCE
OR WAS EVER FREE TO CHOOSE
SOLD BY MY PARENTS AT BIRTH
SOLD BY MY COUNTRY FIRST
DECLARED DEAD
TO BE TRADED
FOR STOCK
MY LIFE
NOT THEIRS
TO HOCK
TO ENSURE THEIR
SOCIAL SECURITY
JUSTIFIED
BY THEIR PATRIOTIC DUTY
WANT, NEED TO LIVE
OR LUST
I WAS
BORN A WHORE

BY REV. MARY THOMAS-SPEARS © DEC. 14, 2009

In Afghan Fields

2009-11-10T02:37:50.971Z

Lest we remember...

In Afghan fields the poppies blow,
Between the landmines, row on row,
To our disgrace; and while we lie,
Unsung, a child is getting high,
The harvest of these fields of woe.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We wept, felt pain, engaged some foe,
Fought, and were fought, we knew not why,
In Afghan fields.

Put down your quarrel with the foe;
On all Morphia may bestow
Her boon, a painless last good-bye.
Though still ye be afraid to die,
Ye shall but sleep, since poppies grow
In Afghan fields.

MY LOGIC OF SUICIDE

2009-10-27T00:21:02.726Z

~ A PERSONAL REFLECTIVE ESSAY ~

IT IS ALWAYS THE CONTEMPLATION OF MY LIFE... THAT LEADS ME TO THE CONTEMPLATION OF MY DEATH.

I CAN THINK OF IT FROM MANY MORE EDUCATED PERSPECTIVES WITH AGE.

AS I HAVE CONTEMPLATED IT MANY TIMES THROUGH OUT THE MANY YEARS... EVEN TRIED MANY TIMES, MANY WAYS.

SO I GIVE YOU AN EDUCATED VIEW INTO THE MIND OR AT LEAST THIS MIND... AS I CONTEMPLATE.

I WAS NOT ALWAYS THIS EDUCATED.

WHEN I WAS YOUNG IT WAS A LEARNED COPING SKILL.

AS I REFLECT ON IT... THEN IT WAS MAINLY MY MENTAL PAIN I WANTED TO KILL.

THE PHYSICAL PAIN EVENTUALLY HEALED, AND WENT AWAY...

IT IS STILL A BIG PART OF THE REASON I CONTEMPLATE IT TODAY... THE MENTAL PAIN.

ALTHOUGH TODAY I AM TIREDER,OLDER AND ILL, AND DEAL WITH MUCH MORE PHYSICAL PAIN THAT DOESN'T GO AWAY.

I AS A CHILD RAISED IN ABUSE. PHYSICAL, SEXUAL, MENTAL... I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND... THE MENTAL PAIN WAS TOO GREAT.

ALL THESE YEARS LATER... YRS OF COLLEGE, CLASSES, SEMINARS, TRAINING, CERTIFICATES, HONORS, AWARDS... WITH MUCH UNDERSTANDING IN MANY THINGS.

I STILL UNDERSTAND VERY LITTLE AT ALL.

IN FACT IT SEEMS THE MORE I UNDERSTAND AND KNOW. THE LESS I UNDERSTAND AT ALL...

AT LEAST WHEN IT COMES TO THE IMPORTANT THINGS.

THIS ONLY ADDS TO THE MENTAL PAIN...

AT LEAST IN MY MIND.

AS A CHILD TRYING TO COPE... I LEARNED ABUSE, SO THIS TOO WAS HOW I COPED...

ABUSING MYSELF WITH ALCOHOL AND DRUGS...

THE SYSTEM TEACHES CONSUMPTION/ADDICTION IN MANY WAYS AND FORMS, AND IT WAS THE DOCTORS WHO TAUGHT ME TO MEDICATE AND USE DRUGS... WHILE I WAS STILL IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

PLACING ME ON MEDICATIONS FOR MY MOODS AND TO HELP ME COPE WITH THE ABUSE I HAD LEARNED. I WAS TAUGHT ADDICTION.

I WAS 13 THE FIRST TIME I OVERDOSED IN AN ATTEMPT TO DIE.

SOCIAL SERVICES ALSO SENT ME TO SUMMER CAMP ONCE A YEAR BACK THEN, SO I COULD HAVE A VACATION FROM THE MOLESTATION... THIS IS WHAT MY WORKER EXPLAINED TO ME.

THIS ONLY REINFORCED MY LACK OF SELF VALUE OR IMPORTANCE.

ADDING TO MY MENTAL PAIN.

THE SICKNESS {DEMONS} THAT RAN THROUGH MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY, THAT CAUSED THE ABUSE. THEY SEEMED TO FEED OFF EACH OTHERS EGO'S AND SPIRITS... AS PART OF HOW PEOPLE INTERACT... RELATIONSHIPS.

CO-DEPENDENCY = RELATIONSHIP ADDICTION

THIS COMBINED WITH, IT WAS THOSE WHO WERE SUPPOSE TO LOVE ME, WHO ABUSED ME.

LEAD ME TO ONE SICK ADDICTED RELATIONSHIP AFTER THE NEXT...

USING RELATIONSHIPS AS A DRUG... AGAIN... ADDICTION.

TRYING TO KILL THE PAIN OR ADDICTED TO THE PAIN... BY THIS TIME.

ADDICTED TO THE PHYSICAL PAIN SO MUCH SO THAT...

AS A YOUNG ADULT I BEGAN BURNING AND CUTTING, IN BETWEEN SUICIDE ATTEMPTS AND DRUGGING TO EASE THE PAIN... OR THAT IS WHAT I THOUGHT I WAS DOING... IT IS WHAT I TOLD MYSELF... BUT, IT WAS THE PAIN OF THE BURN OR THE CUT THAT MADE ME FEEL BETTER.

LIKE A JUNKIE GETTING THEIR FIX.

ADDICTED.

EVEN TO THE DRAMA TO GET AN EGO FIX.

ADDICTED...

TO THE PHYSICAL PAIN... TO DEAL WITH THE MENTAL PAIN... LIKE ANY DRUG.

IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE IT HEAL EVENTUALLY AND GO AWAY...

IN ALL MY ATTEMPTS, IT SEEMS I HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL.

THROUGH OUT THE YEARS, AS I WAS UNABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY KILL MYSELF.

SO I ATTEMPTED TO UNDERSTAND WHY THING WERE AS THEY WERE ? SO THAT I MIGHT LEARN TO LIVE...

YET, THE MORE I UNDERSTAND WHY, THE LESS I UNDERSTAND MAN.

THIS HAS ONLY MADE IT HARDER TO LIVE...

NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

IT HAS ALSO LEFT ME ALONE AND UNTRUSTING, WITH NO FAITH IN MY FELLOW MAN.

MAKING ANY GOOD RELATIONSHIP NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE IT SEEMS.

IN ALL MY STUDIES AND UNDERSTANDING AND MY ATTEMPTS TO EDUCATE OTHERS... IT ISN'T ENOUGH... I JUST CAN'T ACCOMPLISH ALL I CAN SEE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

THAT I FEEL DRIVEN OR CALLED TO DO.

LEADING ME BACK TO THE FEELING OF LACK OF VALUE OR IMPORTANCE... OR NOT QUITE BEING GOOD ENOUGH.

IN ALL MY ATTEMPTS TO QUIT ABUSING DRUGS, AND MY OWN FLESH I STILL WRESTLE WITH CIGARETTES AS THEY KILL MY LUNGS.

SEE AM I CONTEMPLATING SUICIDE...?

OR AM I DOING IT EACH DAY ?

WHY NOT GET IT OVER WITH ?

WE SLAVE TO PAY FOR IT SLOWLY...

WHO'S CRAZIER ???

THE ONE WHO GET'S IT OVER QUICKLY ? OR THE ONE WHO SLAVES MISERABLY TO PAY FOR IT SLOWLY ???

THE ONE WHO SACRIFICES HIS LIFE FOR A PURPOSE ? OR THE ONE WHO DRINKS HIS LIFE AWAY WHILE POPPING PRESCRIPTION PILLS ALL DAY ?

I MEAN, AFTER ALL... DIDN'T CHRIST CARRY HIS CROSS ?

IT IS ALL SUICIDE.

HELL WE PAY FOR IT IN THE FOOD WE EAT AND THE WATER WE DRINK.

IF YOU KNOW, WHAT I KNOW, YOU UNDERSTAND THIS IS TRUE.

WHICH LEADS ME TO WHY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS AND ALL I HAVE SURVIVED AND ALL I KNOW... THAT I STILL CONTEMPLATE...

WE ARE BUT SLAVES.

SLAVES TO THIS FLESH.

THIS FLESH THAT CRAVES IT'S OWN DESTRUCTION...

THIS FLESH THAT IS ATTACHED TO THIS EGO...

AN EGO THAT FOOLS IT'S SELF...

THINKING IT HAS CONTROL.

A FOOL...

IT IS HOW I FEEL.

MOST OF THE TIME...

AS I LOOK AT THE YEARS I SACRIFICED.

THINKING I WAS DOING RIGHT OR ALL I KNEW TO DO...

YET, I WAS BLESSED.

IN MANY AREAS ALONG THE WAY...

SO I COULD SURVIVE ANOTHER DAY.

WHY ???

SO I CAN SLAVE AWAY...

TO LIVE ANOTHER DAY.

IT'S LIKE COCAINE...

ONLY WITH-OUT THE BUZZ.

THIS ADDICTION TO PAIN AND DRAMA...

CALLED LIFE.

THIS IS WHERE I BEGIN TO FIND MYSELF SOUNDING UNGRATEFUL FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL PARADISE THAT IS THE EARTH...

I INHERITED FROM BIRTH.

FOR ALL THE TIMES HE INTERVENED...

FOR ALL THE TIMES HE MET MY NEEDS.

FOR THE LOVE HE CONTINUES TO GIVE...

NO MATTER THE MISTAKES I'VE MADE.

AS I HAVE HAD TO BATTLE TO LIVE...

SO I KNOW HE UNDERSTANDS.

EVEN NOW ALL IS IN HIS HANDS...

IT WAS HE WHO SAID, THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO HAVE EVER LASTING LIFE, WE MUST FIRST BE WILLING TO LOOSE OUR LIVES.

WHICH MEANS TO FIRST BE WILLING TO DIE.

SO WHY ISN'T EVERYONE DOING IT ?

THIS IS WHAT CONFUSES ME HERE.

AND WHERE'S THE LOVE HERE ON EARTH ???

WHEN WE CAN NOT PUT OUR FAITH IN OUR FELLOW MEN...

IS THIS WHY I CONTEMPLATE MY FATE ???

THE LACK OF LOVE ?

OR IS IT THE HATE ???

THE LACK OF BEING ABLE TO LOVE EVEN MORE ?

SEE I WISH I COULD FEED, CLOTHE, HEAL, RESTORE THE WORLD OF ALL IT'S PAINS THAT OVERWHELM ME EACH DAY.

OR IS ALL OF THIS FOR MY EGO'S SAKE ???

AS DAVID SAID, WHO FELL UPON HIS OWN SWORD. WHEN HE WAS FACED WITH DEFEAT IN BATTLE.

FROM WHO'S BLOODLINE JESUS/YASHEWA WAS BORN.

HOW IS IT THEN THE UNFORGIVABLE SIN ?

BY REV. MARY THOMAS SPEARS ©JUNE 16, 2008

Meditation on a Suicide (Villanelle)

2009-10-22T08:52:49.878Z

Meditation on a Suicide: A Villanelle

God only knows if death is for the best,
And who can justly bear his brother's cross;
Sometimes the only cure for life is rest.

Hard men, facing death, applaud a cosmic jest
Well-told, content to have their gold with bitter dross;
God only knows if death is for the best.

Weak men, fearing life, unwilling to contest
For bread, their coats of flesh become their albatross--
Sometimes the only cure for life his rest.

Wise men, weighing each, to move or rest
The issue, in the end perhaps a coin shall toss:
God only knows if death is for the best.

Foolish men, at grave death unimprest,
Fear not to lie beneath the earth and moss;
Sometimes the only cure for life is rest.

And you, my friend, I'll judge you not, lest
I am judged in turn; your sins I'll gloss--
God only knows if death is for the best.
Sometimes the only cure for life is rest.

Three in Homage to W.C. Williams's "The Red Wheelbarrow"

2009-10-14T21:21:55.375Z

I

The Icy Sidewalk

so much depends
upon

a snow-slick
sidewalk

the diamond
thief's rue

such poetic
just ice

II

The Art Teacher

he was a fine
artist

who scorned the
masses

so now he's a
teacher

of fine arts
classes

III

writer's block

trying to
write

but lost for
words

squeezing out
rhymes

like precious
turds

War IS the Answer!

2009-10-01T21:40:19.470Z

I wonder why

I've felt like shit ever since they declared war on drugs
I've been starving ever since they declared war on hunger
I've been depressed since they declared war on mental illness
I can't get a break since they declared war on inequality
I've been broke ever since they declared war on poverty
I've been on the street since they declared war on homelessness
I've been afraid ever since they declared war on terror
I haven't had a moment's peace since they declared war on war
?

THE EXTERNALIZATION OF THE HIERARCHY

2009-09-29T03:29:25.352Z

This essay presupposes a more than passing acquaintance with the writings of G.I. Gurdjieff (as did my previous posts, for that matter). By way of some assistance, however, I have cited the following excerpt from Beelzebub's Tales, as well as my own definition of 'legomonism'.

From G.I. Gurdjieff's Beelzebub’s Tales to His Grandson:

- Dear grandpa, can you please tell me what legomonism is? - asked Hassein
- Legomonism- replied Beelzebub - is the form of knowledge transfer from one generation to another, utilized by initiated tri-centered Earthlings.
This form of information transfer was invented by ancient Atlantidians.
I will tell you who can be considered as 'initiated' and then you will fully understand what 'legomonism' is.
In ancient times the term initiated was referring to individuals who had identical knowledge. Other people could understand this knowledge.
In those times 'initiated' was describing the person which has ,thanks to hard and arduous work and suffering, managed to build objective intrinsic virtue and knowledge. It was referring to the individuals which readily and freely observe other mono-centric and bi-centric beings. Such individuals are always highly revered.

From Khem's On-line English Dictionary of the Arch-Absurd:

A legomonism is a unit of being-data that is "inserted" or "spliced" into a work of art, or into a custom, ritual or other being-practice, and discernible as a “lawful otherwise”, precisely as malicious code is inserted into a computer program.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE EXTERNALIZATION OF THE HIERARCHY

What is the "Great Work"?

Beelzebub himself gives us the answer in an important legomonism he caused to be inserted into the work of that "Striver Towards Objective Truth", known to the world as "John Milton": the Great Work, he says, is the "making of a Heaven in Hell's despite".

Everyone on Earth is involved in the Great Work in some "official" capacity or other, and falls into a hierarchy structured, not surprisingly, as a pyramid. Each "row of stones" in the pyramid is identifiable amongst its class by a common level of awareness. The awareness of the row above comprehends the awarenesses of the rows below as the valence of an outer electron encompasses the valence of an inner one, or as Jupiter includes the Earth in its orbit around the Sun.

Thus in practical terms the "Great Work" can be defined as both the "Art of Governance" (doing government), and as the "Art and Science of Coming to Awareness of How the Earth is Governed", depending on one's position in the structure. The aptness of these articulations is evinced when we examine the various "offices" comprising the hierarchy of the Work, the rows of the pyramid's "stones", as it were, starting with the Capstone or apex:

1. The Chairman

This office was first held by Beelzebub himself, and for this reason the current occupant is said to sit in the "Devil's Chair".

At the current stage of the Earth's development it is no longer a requirement of good government that there always be an official sitting in the Devil's Chair. When the Chair is occupied, it is said that the Devil is "Getting His Due", during which periods the Earth is governed as a Monarchy, but appears to the subjective observer to be a global republic. Men refer to these times as "Golden Ages". When the Chair is empty, the Devil is said to be "Taking His Rest"; at such times the Earth is governed as a global republic, but appears to the subjective observer to be ruled by a succession of petty kings and tyrants. Men refer to these periods as "Dark Ages".

When the Devil's Chair is unoccupied the pyramid, of course, is lacking a capstone. A pyramid with no apex is trapezoidal in shape.

One of the innermost orders of Initiates of the Left Hand Path is the "Order of the Trapezoid", which includes among its ranks the highest degree Luciferians and Black Magicians. A trapezoid is said to be the ideal shape for attracting demons; it is a natural pedestal upon which "idols" may be worshiped, which of course appeals to their prideful natures.

On YouTube are videos of the funeral of Pope John Paul II. You will note that he is clearly being interred in a trapezoidal casket, after a career as the most public (and publicized) pontiff of all time. Beelzebub is, after all, the "Prince of the Powers of the Air" (waves)!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbOSbIDJ1xA" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbOSbIDJ1xA

There are some who believe that the Church of Rome has arrived at the "fullness of time" and has transmogrified into the Whore of Babylon. Rumours abound that the dead pope has been groomed his entire career for a "demonic resurrection", an "Eternal-Hasnamuss-Individual", as it were, in fulfillment of prophecy...

But I digress.

The Chairman's role in the Great Work is to be the source of all legomonisms, and even in absentia he remains at all times the Arch-Director of the Earth.

2. Certain Most Very Sacred Individuals/Ascended Masters

The function of these officials is to channel the will of the Chairman to the lower rows of the pyramid by means of the transmission of legomonisms. They are also known as "Directors" because they function exactly like any other film director: Beelzebub writes the script and the Directors put the players in motion. Hence the very apt legomonism: "All the world's a stage..." The title of the film which they direct is "The Book of Life".

These officials are also known as "Fisher Kings" or "Fishers of Men" (not in quotation marks), for reasons which will become apparent below.

3. Sufis or Genuine Initiates

These are in many ways the most important stones in the entire pyramid. The function of these officials is the "Creation of New Values" (Nietszche: "What is called for is the trans-valuation of all values").

Informed men refer to these individuals as "sufis", a term with many hidden meanings. One such meaning of "sufi" is "fish", because a sufi swims in the "River of Knowledge" and tends to congregate in "schools". He does not swim like an ordinary fish, however, but upstream, like a salmon. Could it have been the Salmon of Wisdom who first uttered that immortal sufi battle cry: "The Truth Against the World"?

There is a further connotation of the word "fish", namely, of naivete or gullibility. A newly incarcerated prison inmate, for instance, goes through a period (or so I am told!) during which he is known to the general population as a "new fish", one who has yet to "learn the ropes", so to speak. This connotation applies to those sufis who are destined to progress entirely through the method of trial and error, and for this reason are said to be on the "Path of the Fool".

A sufi is "hooked" by one or more of the Certain Most Very Sacred Individuals from the pond filled by "men" of the next category, through a procedure depicted in certain works of art of a masonic nature, and which accounts for the "Fisher" appellations referred to above.

4. Strivers Towards Objective Truth

The officials who comprise this row of the pyramid are distinguishable from those in the rows above them in that they are unaware of the office which they hold. Because they have not yet awakened and are unaware of their place in the hierarchy, they must be counted among the class made up of Ordinary Men (men in quotation marks), but with one all-important difference: owing to the crystallization of a "certain something" in the beings of these individuals, an "urge" or "goad" arises in them which causes them to struggle mightily to create something entirely out of their own beings, without imitating or wiseacreing.

This struggle causes vibrations to go out into the Megalocosmos, bringing these persons to the attention of the Certain Most Very Sacred Individuals, who then "direct" the insertion of legomonisms into the works of art of these Strivers.

At this level of the hierarchy a very important division occurs.

These four levels are collectively responsible for that part of the Great Work known as "Making Human Life Worth Living", because "man does not live by bread alone". All these officials share a commonality of suffering which is a cruel paradox of the Great Work. This suffering is the inevitable corollary of their collective duty to see to it that the base of the pyramid, which of course is made up of the mass of humanity (Men in Quotation Marks), are "Given Their Reward" during the brief spans of their arisings on the Earth.

Beelzebub foresaw that it is in accordance with Divine Justice for this category of three-brained beings to live out the lives they were fated to live in the Book of Life; then upon death, to become the "Raw Material" of the Great Work, the Flesh returning to the Earth to serve for further Creation by God, while their Fates, the stories of the lives they have lived and died, serve as the "Raw Material" for further Creation by Man. As Homer, that former Striver Towards Objective Truth and now Certain Most Very Sacred Individual, discovered through his conscious labours and intentional sufferings, there must be Death "so that men can have stories for songs!"

The "Book" of these Fates is quite logically called the "Book of Life", for what is a man's life except a chapter in a Book written by God? It follows, then, that to "find your name written in the Book of Life" is to awaken to the reality that you only have "life" at all insofar as you are fated to die (Charles Manson: "Were we born to die?")

5. Ordinary Men (Men in Quotation Marks)

This category is, naturally, the base of the pyramid and has no conscious involvement in the Great Work, but as set out above, constitutes the Great Work's Raw Material. Such a one exists only as a "Body of Fate" (W.B. Yeats: "The Vision"). In other words, an individual of this category has no substance apart from his corporeal body, and because the human body is ultimately made out of "death", the Saviour Himself counts such a person one among "The Dead".

Carlos Casteneda , making use of an ingenious occult blind, refers to the members of this category as "Allies" (who look like ordinary men but with no "luminous egg" inside). This is because just as a nation at war must often align with countries to whom it is antagonistic in peace time, the Genuine Initiate, as an "impeccable warrior", must often associate with such men in order to accomplish his various being-tasks along the road of the Great Work.

G. I. Gurdjieff mentions a sub-category of Men in Quotation Marks as well, a virulently parasitic class which he calls “robber gangs” or “counterfeit initiates”. These comprise the class of Ordinary Men with whom the Genuine Initiate is most often compelled to associate in his conscious labours, which has given rise to that cheeky legomonism: "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer!"

The Arch Surgeon-General of the Universe recommends the taking of this blog in small doses, before bed time and with a grain of salt.

Take the understanding of the East and the knowledge of the West—and then seek.
Gurdjieff's 19th aphorism.