I’ve put up the page for the book tour for Eva’s Last Dance today.  It seems horribly early, but from years gone by, I remember how December slides by in haze, January disappears down a rabbit hole, and February seems to be here before you get your bearings and settle into the new year properly.

So I’m putting the page up now.  Here’s a link to it, and it’s also listed in the page links in the sidebar.

And I’m finally getting the hint that excerpts are welcome and appreciated.

So here’s an excerpt.

_____________

Nearly 100 years after their last dance together, Eva’s long lost love, Edward makes contact again.  Eva—petite, blonde, blue-eyed, lonely and a vampire now—can’t resist falling into his arm and under his erotic spell.  She’ll do anything he asks of her now.

Until the spell is rudely interrupted by human demon hunter, Ryan Jefferson, who is on the trail of an incubus.  He sets out to seduce Eva properly in a searing night of dance and passion.

_____________________

Excerpt

Usual warning folks…This is not kiddie fare. Read at your own moral risk.

Chapter One

Eva brushed her gloved hand down the length of her gown nervously and stepped out onto the roof, her heart pounding. At the other end of the roof, he was standing there waiting for her and she thought she might die.

“Edward,” she whispered, coming to a halt.

“Yes, it’s me.” He came toward her, holding out a rose. “I know it’s a shock but I can explain all that.” He handed her the rose. “Just as I know you can explain how you came to be here. Now.” And he smiled, just like she remembered, his blue eyes dancing, his easy smile lighting up his face. His blond hair was slicked back as always and he wore a white suit, just as she remembered too.

“You don’t look any different,” she said and her voice was husky.

“Neither do you.” He picked up her hand and drew her toward the centre of the roof. “It’s not the Waldorf, but would you care to dance?”

“I haven’t danced since…since then.” She looked around at the paper lanterns he had strung. “What about music?”

He pulled a small remote control from his pocket and clicked it. “Modern living has some advantages,” he confessed and a Strauss waltz emerged from an MP3 player and speakers set up on a small table. Waltzes. She loved waltzes the best and he knew it. She melted into his arms and wished that she was able to cry, to give expression to the overwhelming joy of being nestled in Edward’s embrace once more. Soon she would have to find out how this miracle had happened. But not now. For now she would simply enjoy it.

And dance. It had been such a long time.

Once, long ago, she and Edward had danced every night, their bodies pressed against each other, their eyes locked, the knowledge of their future together written in each others’ gazes.

She turned her head now to look him in the eye. “Edward.”

He looked at her and she saw once again the gleam in his eyes. The dancing had often been their only way of expressing their physical needs for each other, that they would not be able to fulfill until their marriage. Now she saw and understood the lust in his eyes and welcomed it. There was no impediment and her heart raced. As their steps slowed to a gentle swaying, his big hand gathered up the skirt of her gown, lifting it and his mouth captured her lips.

She moaned as his tongue pushed into her mouth, rough and commanding. Fright tore through her. They would never have been this daring when they were first engaged. Their families would have been shocked and horrified at the public display. But the fright was edged with arousal that swiftly overcame the old barrier. She wanted more.

Edward bent her over his arm, his hand sliding under her gown, past her stocking tops, to the tops of her thighs. His hand was cool but nevertheless, she found his touch made her tremble with anticipation. This was Edward, the man she had loved and thought she had lost.

His lips trailed down her throat to kiss her breasts above the low décolletage of her gown and his hand pushed between her thighs. She was slick with moisture and bare of undergarments. She longed for him to thrust his hand—

“Hey, asshole!”

Edward turned his head around toward the access doorway, questing like a wolf surveys the landscape.

Eva tried to stand up, for there was a man on the roof a few paces from the door, wearing a three-quarter length coat against the April chill, his legs spread in an aggressive stance. Black hair that was supposed to be short but needed cutting and glinting blue in the soft lights. Dark eyes surveying them with a world-weary expression and a sharp jaw set at a sardonic angle. Worse, there was a double-barrel shotgun over one shoulder.

Edward made a sound that was inhuman. A banshee howl. And he dropped her. She fell flat on her ass as he turned and strode toward the stranger, careless of the gun he had over his shoulder.

The man flipped the gun over and fired one barrel and Eva screamed as Edward clutched at his stomach with a shocked expression.

“Surprise,” the stranger said. “Think I’d use normal pellets on an asshole like you? Salt bound with holy water, with my compliments.” He walked up to Edward, put a boot on his shoulder and shoved and Edward fell on his back.

“What are you doing?” Eva cried, scrambling over to them.

“Saving your ass, honey. Don’t get in the way.” The man reached under his coat and pulled out a black knife with a flat, wide blade. Edward lay clutching his stomach and gasping with inhuman, whimpering sounds and the man leaned toward him and thrust the knife into his heart.

Eva screamed. She leapt on his back, reaching for the knife, moving as fast as she could but before she could pluck it from Edward’s heart, he disappeared. She stared at the black, smoking outline where his body had been, disbelief crowding all thoughts from her head.

That was when the man flipped her onto her back on the roof and straddled her, his black eyes glinting dangerously. “You’re a fucking vampire!” he railed.

Ryan watched the delicate little blonde’s crystal blue eyes get very large. “How do you know that?” she whispered. “No humans—”

“I just off’d an incubus. You think I don’t know about vampires?” he railed. “Question is, what did the thing want with you? They go after humans. Not your kind.”

“You’re a hunter,” she said breathlessly, fear blooming in her eyes.

“Relax,” he said, sitting back on his heels. “I took vampires off my hit list five years ago. But that still doesn’t answer my question.”

“Edward…was an incubus?” she asked. She looked like she was about to burst into tears and Ryan put it together with an almost audible click. “Jesus Christ, they duped you, didn’t they? Who was Edward to you? An old boyfriend?” He got to his feet. Normally, he would have let her get up on her own but something about her dress—the olde worlde quaintness of it, the long gloves and the way her golden curls were piled on top of her head…or maybe it was just the way her big blue eyes were gazing at him with such desperate need for help and information—whatever, okay, all right, he was a weak-minded idiot—he picked her up around the waist and put her on her feet. And damn but his hands nearly met around her middle.

And just for a second he flashed on a mental image of gripping her waist as he pounded his cock into her petite little package, making her scream his name.

He stepped back, dropping his hands from her waist like she was a hot potato and picked up the shotgun and reloaded it, giving his suddenly shaking hands something to do.

“Edward…was my fiancé,” she said softly. “We were supposed to have married, May 1, 1912. I was to join him in New York and booked passage on the Titanic.” She looked up at Ryan with a small smile. “I was not one of the women who found an early seat on the lifeboats. But a man who found me as I was dying offered me an alternative and I took it. He made me into a vampire, which allowed me to survive the cold that night and pass as human until we arrived in New York on the Carpathia. I could not go to Edward after that. It was part of the price of becoming a vampire.”

Ryan expected her blue eyes to swim with tears, until he remembered that vampires could not cry. He cleared his own throat. “What happened to him?” he asked.

“He died in the great war,” she said softly. “A hero, they said.” She looked over at the still smoking outline of the incubus. “So when I got his note today, saying that he had returned and wanted to see me, I thought that perhaps he had found a way to live on, just as I had.”

Ryan recalled the image he’d seen as he’d first stepped onto the roof—the demon’s lips on her breasts, his hands between her thighs, the gown hiked up around her hips and realized that his cock was straining against his pants, beating a steady tattoo that echoed in his temples. He was lusting after a vampire. Shit. Who’d have thought?

He waved toward the blue satin dress she was wearing. It made her waist look tiny and her breasts look like they might spill out at any moment. The sleeves looked like they would fall from her arms if he gave them the slightest encouragement, further exposing her breasts. He already knew that beneath the long panels of the dress she wore delicate stockings that stopped just above her knees and nothing else.

“Is this what you used to wear, then?”

“Almost,” she said, with a small smile. “My momma would have spanked me for not wearing a corset, or…other items. But yes, this is what we wore then.” And she blushed.

Ryan knew he was lost then. The blush did it. That and the dress that covered up far more than women exposed these days, yet did more to say “fuck me” than most porn. He was gone. Hook, line and sinker. He wanted to wrap himself around her delicate beauty and at the same time pin her to the wall and fuck her until those blue eyes hazed over with sensual repletion.

“So the fucking bastard gives you one dance and you’re putty in his hands,” he ground out. “Didn’t you even stop to ask for his credentials?”

“It was Edward. Why would I ask? And he danced with me. We always danced. We…” Her blush deepened and she dropped her gaze. “We danced instead of…” Then she lifted her head and looked him squarely in the eye. “We danced instead of sex. It was the way of it in those days, Mr.…”

“Ryan,” he said stiffly, as ideas exploded in his mind. “Jesus Christ, you’re a virgin,” he said softly.

“I most certainly am not,” she said stiffly. “I’ve been a vampire for nearly a century, Mr. Ryan. I assure you, virginity is a technicality I left behind a long time ago.”

“Just Ryan.” He held up a hand, frowning. “Technically speaking, you might still be. These things count in the demon world, let me tell you. I’m not talking about toys, or other vampires, or the loss of a hymen, if that’s what you mean.”

Her chin remained up but her blush deepened and he knew he’d hit the mark. He put the shotgun down again, to make himself less threatening and dropped his hands to his sides. “Have you ever had sex with a human male?” he asked softly.

She took a breath. “No,” she admitted.

He nodded. “That’s what the incubus wanted—your virginity. They prey upon humans because they’re easy marks but finding virgins is becoming more and more difficult for them. But when they do, they get all the power that comes with that virgin’s blood. But a virgin vampire’s powers? Sex with you would give them power beyond belief. No wonder they went to such effort to fool you.”

She backed up and sat quickly in the fold up chair next to the table, like the strength had suddenly run out of her legs. “I had no idea,” she said.

“There’s a war on,” he said dryly. “Didn’t they warn you about this stuff?”

“I’ve never… I didn’t tell anyone,” she said.

Ryan knew he had to give her the rest of it. “They’re going to keep coming at you, you know.”

Her blue eyes looked up at him helplessly.

“They’re going to keep coming at you until you do something about it,” he finished harshly.

“What do I do?” she whispered.

His cock throbbed. “Have sex with a human,” he said. He fought for a casual, offhand tone. “I’m willing to help out, if you want.”

___________

So…has promised, do you think?

In ‘Seances, Spirits, and 12 Steps,’  http://mywordlikefire.wordpress.com/2008/09/24/seances-spirits-and-12-steps/ we examined the spiritualism of Alcoholics Anonymous cofounders Bill Wilson and, to a lesser extent, Dr. Bob Smith. We observed that Bill Wilson, the man who wrote the 12 Steps, was involved in psychic activity for decades. While some may attempt to claim Wilson as Christian or insist he was used by Jesus Christ, his spiritual service was in reality to the god of this world.[1] He was a man who cared deeply about his fellow alcoholics, but he was never a Christian.   

Why is this important? Alcoholics Anonymous has been successfully but incorrectly portrayed as Christian in origin. Although it is clear from Scripture alone that we are to have nothing to do with strange spiritual systems (2 Cor. 6:14-17), the misinformation about A.A.’s alleged Biblical roots has convinced many that Christians could and should attend 12 Step groups.

Biographer Robert Thomsen knew Bill Wilson personally. There are numerous biographies now, and it is significant that Thomsen’s biography of Bill W. was the very first.

In the book, ‘Bill W.,’ Thomsen takes us to Wilson’s life before Alcoholics Anonymous existed. To the time when Bill Wilson had been hospitalized yet again for his alcoholism. An amazing thing occurred in his hospital room. A white light, a sense of a Presence, and Wilson never drank again. Wilson describes this Presence as ”…the great reality. The God of the preachers.” (PASS IT ON, pg. 121))

But was it? The God of the Christians? Well, no. For years Wilson had been exposed to the Swedenborgianism of his wife and her family. This religion loves the Bible–but rejects Christ as Savior. Emanuel Swedenborg, whose interpretation of the Bible is the basis for the religion, believed he spoke with all manner of spirits and deceased beings from Martin Luther to Aristotle to the Apostles. 

While Wilson was not a Swedenborgian per se, he was very much inflluenced by Swedenborg’s spiritualistic accounts, and by his rejection of a Biblical, fundamentalist interpretation of the Bible. Wilson also learned (?) through New Thought advocate Emmet Fox, some years later, that the Bible was not as the fundamentalist Christians interpreted it. 

It is understandable if a Christian, upon reading this quote about “The God of the preachers” would assume Bill was referring to the Biblical God. Wilson never accepted Christ.

Wilson’s own wife Lois had a grandfather who was a Swedenborgian preacher. Swedenborgians believe, among other things, that no religion has an exclusive path to salvation.

Here, in the first biography of Bill Wilson, Thomsen describes the “god” Bill Wilson experienced: “There could be no doubt of ultimate order in the universe, the cosmos was not dead matter, but a part of the living Presence, just as he was part of it. Now, in place of the light, the exaltation, he was filled with a peace such as he had never known. He had heard of men who’d tried to open the universe to themselves; he had opened himself to the universe. He had heard men say there was a bit of God in everyone, but this feeling that he was a part of God, himself a living part of the higher power, was a new and revolutionary feeling.” (Bill W., by Robert Thomsen, pg.223, Bold mine)  

This is panentheism.

From this point on Wilson was a sober man, and some months later cofounded Alcoholics Anonymous. Again, there is no doubt Wilson and A.A. cofounder Dr. Bob Smith were trying to help alcoholics. But A.A. has served to point many away from the God of the Bible.

Something rarely recognized, but very profound, happens to people in A.A. It is as if great, invisible chains are placed on those looking for help. For, once in Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, Christians and nonbelievers are taught that sobriety is only possible through the 12 Step religion. 

There are other invisible chains as well. For thousands of Christians, Alcoholics Anonymous has become an idol.  Many believers literally have more faith in A.A. and the 12 Steps than in Jesus Christ.

Have Christians ever considered—truly examined—the spiritual message of Alcoholics Anonymous? People are taught it is acceptable to believe in something, anything, some higher power to help one overcome alcoholism. By no means does this have to be Jesus. If someone wants to believe in Allah, fine. An unnamed spirit, fine. Yet Christians in A.A. are expected to pray and worship with those who exalt other gods. Let’s read what Paul states about this in Galatians 1:6-8:

“I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!” (Galatians 1:6-8)

Paul is not done. This man, who was changed so dramatically by the same God who frees alcoholics, continues:

“As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you have received, he is to be accursed!” (Galatians 1:9)

The power and the horror of the A.A. mythology is the belief that it alone can help. Our churches are full of people who have been delivered by Christ, and who know they have no need of A.A. or the 12 Steps. The ministry Setting Captives Free[3], for example, is a Biblical approach, very effective, and can be found online.

God’s people have the right—and the obligation—to understand A.A.’s origin is a mixture of anti-Biblical elements. Our erroneous view of A.A’s cofounders, promoted so aggressively by certain Christian authors, has actually done much damage to the Body of Christ. They should not be celebrated or portrayed as Christians, but rather recognized as men who were used to spread a spiritual darkness that has overtaken many.

As covered elsewhere, the official A.A. biography of Bill Wilson, ‘PASS IT ON,’ documents many of Wilson’s forays into Biblically forbidden activities such as spiritualism. These were so frequent he describes the following as “the fairly usual experience.”[4] He writes:

“The ouija board got moving in earnest. What followed was the fairly usual experience—it was a strange mélange of Aristotle, St. Francis, diverse archangels with odd names, deceased friends—some in purgatory and others doing nicely, thank you! There were malign and mischievious ones of all descriptions, telling of vices quite beyond my ken, even as former alcoholics. Then, the seemingly virtuous entities would elbow them out with messages of comfort, information, advice—and sometimes just sheer nonsense.”[5]  

A.A. cofounder Dr. Bob Smith, portrayed as a devout, Bible believing Christian in numerous books by author and A.A. apologist Dick B. and others, was also committed to these prohibited activities.

According to early A.A. member Tom Powers, “Now these people, Bill and Dr. Bob, believed vigorously and aggressively. They were working away at the spiritualism; it wasn’t just a hobby.”[6] No one would know this better than Tom Powers. He participated in many of these psychic incidents alongside the A.A. cofounders.

“As for the person who turns to mediums and to spiritists, to play the harlot after them, I will also set My Face against that person and will cut him off from his people. You shall consecrate yourselves and be holy, for I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 20:6-7)

Dr. Bob, while a consistent Bible reader, did not interpret the Bible as the Word of God. Rather was he more in line with the heretical New Thought interpretation of Emmet Fox.[7] This has been a source of confusion for many who have wondered about the spiritual origin of Alcoholics Anonymous.

When someone calls the A.A. cofounders Christian, let them know Dr.Bob and Bill Wilson used a heretical book by Emmet Fox, a book that denies the Salvation of Christ, as an A.A. teaching tool. The book is deceptively titled, ‘The Sermon On The Mount.’[8]

Author Emmet Fox writes, “The ‘Plan of Salvation’ which figured so prominently in the evangelical sermons of a past generation is as completely unknown to the Bible as it is to the Koran.” [9]

No believer would share such heresy with hurting alcoholics—but the A.A. cofounders did. Dr. Bob loved this book.

Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob looked to the Bible for general principles. They were not saved and sanctified individuals hungry for God’s Holy Word. This is why they could so easily violate His prohibitions about communication with the dead.

According to author Susan Cheever, Dr. Bob “began every morning with meditation and prayer and twenty minutes of Bible study. Like Bill, Bob believed in paranormal possibility, and the two men spent time ‘spooking,’ invoking spirits of the dead.”[10] 

Because the Body of Christ continues to be flooded with literature claiming A.A. is Christian in origin, it is necessary to politely but strongly correct Dick B., author ‘The Oxford Group and Alcoholics Anonymous,’ The Good Book and the Big Book: AA’s Roots in the Bible,’ and many others.

A prolific writer, Dick B. has his fans. On his website under ‘Endorsements,’ Dick B. had listed, for quite some time, an enthusiastic message from…Robert Schuller.

Celebrate Recovery, the well known “Christ centered” 12 Step group, was founded in Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church. Celebrate Recovery is full of sincere people who are doing the best they can with the system given to them by those they trust. But, again, are the 12 Steps intended to help the church–or to serve as a decoy?

In his book, ‘The Truth War,’ the 12 Steps are addressed by John MacArthur. He writes, “Others would formally affirm Christ’s sovereignty and spiritual headship over the church, but they resist His rule in practice. To cite just one instance of how this is done, many churches have set various forms of human psychology, self-help therapy, and the idea of ‘recovery’ in place of the Bible’s teaching about sin and sanctification.” …”So wherever the work of God’s Word is being replaced with twelve-step programs and other substitutes, Christ’s headship over the church is being denied in practice.” (pg.159)

Dick B.’s belief is that use of the Bible, the A.A. cofounders’ involvement with the allegedly “Christian” Oxford Group, and Anne Smith’s “Quiet Time” and “Guidance” demonstrate some of the Christian beginnings of Alcoholics Anonymous. As shall be pointed out in future articles, these incorrect claims have served to link the Body of Christ with the New Age fundamentalism of A.A’s 12 Step religion.

One of the most misleading factors in the origin of Alcoholics Anonymous is the Oxford Group. Founded by Frank Buchman, the Oxford Group was a pseudo-Christian movement that eventually became the MRA (Moral ReArmament), an organization that reached out to all faiths. But, in truth, this is also what the Oxford Group did. 

Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith both attended Oxford Group meetings before they were introduced to one another. The great preacher H.A. Ironside said of the Oxford Group:

“It appeals to people who reject the inspiration of [the Bible] as well to those who profess to believe it; it appeals to people who deny the Deity of Christ as well as to those who acknowledge it; to those who deny the eternal punishment of sin as well as those who believe in it. Here in our city it is openly endorsed by the Swedenborgians and by leaders of the Unitarians, as well as by a number who belong to orthodox churches. But it is silent about the blood of Christ.”[11] In other words, it was very much a forerunner of Alcoholics Anonymous. And equally deceptive.

Well, wait a minute, bottom line, don’t people get sober in Alcoholics Anonymous? Not as often as you might think. A.A. cofounder Bill Wilson himself tried to find alternatives for those for whom A.A. was not effective. Including, unfortunately, LSD.[2] The good news, the secret that should not be a secret, is that Christ has been delivering people all along.

Some years ago Alcoholics Anonymous conducted a triennialsurvey and found that only five percent of the people still attended meetings one year after initial attendance. I don’t think A.A. has done any research since, because that is not an impressive success rate, and doesn’t speak very highly of its effectiveness. If you know of an updated study, please send it this way.  

In the coming weeks we shall be examining the Oxford Group and Anne Smith’s role and understanding of “guidance.” We will do our best to confront and correct false information and misunderstandings. With so many books about A.A.’s supposed Christian beginnings in circulation, only the Lord God can straighten this mess out. Only He can expose darkness to the Light.

Yes and Amen.

Endnotes:

1.     Alcoholics Anonymous Cofounders Were Not Christians http://www.christianworldviewnetwork.com/article.php/3537/Brannon-Howse/John-Lanagan

2.     PASS IT ON,        Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. pg.369-70

3.     http://www.settingcaptivesfree.com/home/our_courses.php

4.     PASS IT ON, Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., pg. 278

5.     Ibid., pg. 278

6.     Ibid., pg.280

7.     http://www.christianworldviewnetwork.com/article.php/3537/Brannon-Howse/John-Lanagan

8.     Emmet Fox, The Sermon On The Mount

9.     Ibid., pg. 5-6

10. Susan Cheever, My Name Is Bill, pg. 197

11. http://www.orange-papers.org/orange-Ironside.html H.A. Ironside, The Oxford Group Movement: Is It Scriptural?

This is my latest painting. It is painted in water soluble graphite and acrylic on canvas. Size 120cm x 160cm. Originally a small sketch, it was called ‘The Damned’. I would like to find a better name so if anyone out there has a suitable suggestion I would be most pleased to hear it. The painting is for sale (contact me on info@artist-gavinmayhew.co.uk for price) or prints from A4 to A2 sizes are available.

the face of the Devil

Bhubaneshwar boy behind the cigarette,
puffing out his Old Town dreams;
Black grooves on his fingers,
dark as Maalisaahi streets.

Smirk on his face, bitterness in mouth,
Cuttack in the north, Bhubaneshwar to the south;
Open pits and uncovered drains,
sweeping away the filth from sinful rains.

A city of non-believers, slimy serpents,
a forgotten past and of course,
Gods staring out of walls,
armed with swords and tridents,
from their seats lest they fall.

The glowing cigarette, a riot in the night,
like a ghostly galleon in space,
circled by puffs swirling in the dim light;
When Gods creep indoors and Demons rule the roads,
darkness ushers in a tormenting sight.

Our boy walks alone, prince of the dark streets;
Pleading Gods and fearful Ghosts brushed arrogantly aside;
Bhubaneshwar on the tip of his cigarette,
the kid lights it up with that knowing smile in his eyes.

Hello my Freaky Darlings,

Today’s demon is Glasya-Labolas.

The Seal of Glasya-Labolas

Accordng to the Goetia: Glasya-Labolas is a Mighty President and Earl, and showeth himself in the form of a Dog with Wings like a Gryphon. He teacheth all Arts and Sciences in an instant, and is an Author of Bloodshed and Manslaughter. He teacheth all things Past, and to Come. If desired he causeth the love both of Friends and of Foes. He can make a Man to go Invisible. And he hath under his command 36 Legions of Spirits.

Looks like this little demon comes in pretty handy, especially for us horror writers who suffer from writers block. He could write the bloodshed scenes for us. And let’s face it, who hasn’t wanted to be invisible at some point? Imagine all the fun you could have with that! As long as he makes you visible again after you’ve had your fun.

Have a creepy Demon Friday!

Satan called a worldwide convention of demons. In his opening address he said,

“We can’t keep Christians from going to church. We can’t keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth…. We can’t even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their SAVIOR. Once they gain that connection with JESUS, our power over them is broken. So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners, BUT steal their time, so they don’t have time to develop a relationship with JESUS CHRIST.”

“This is what I want you to do,” said the devil: “Distract them from gaining hold of their SAVIOR and maintaining that Vital connection throughout their day!”

“How shall we do this?” his demons shouted.

“Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable Schemes to occupy their minds,” he answered…..

“Temp them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow. Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles. Keep them from spending time with their children. As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work! Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice. Entice them to play the radio or Ipod whenever they drive.” To keep the TV, DVDs, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly. Have them kill babies before they are born. This will jam their minds and break that union with CHRIST. Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers. Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards. Have them go to perverted life styles. Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering products, services and false hopes.”

“Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what is important, and they’ll become dissatisfied with their wives. Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night. Give them headaches too! If they do not give their husbands the love they need, they will begin to look elsewhere.” That will fragment their families quickly! Give them Santa Clause to distract them from teaching their children the real meaning of Christmas. Give them Easter bunny so they won’t talk about Jesus Christ’s resurrection and power over sin and death….”

“Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from their recreation exhausted. Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect GOD’s creation. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead. Keep them busy, busy, busy!”

“Make plan to have them stop prayer in schools and public places. And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled conscience. Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek the Power from Jesus. Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause. It will work! It will work!”

It was quite a plan!

The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there.

Having little time for their GOD or their families.

Having no time to tell others about the Power of JESUS to change lives. I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his schemes?

You be the judge!!!!

Does “BUSY” mean: B-eing U-nder S-atan’s Y-oke?

What’s on my iPod : (ironically) Iris by Goo Goo Dolls.

I’ve decided that I will keep this blog up and running as a place for my crazy brained ideas. A place where I actually commune with the Muse. My other blog I’ll reserve for more professional posts. That being said, I thought that I might sit down and have a one on one with my MC and Hero of BROKEN.

~~Disclaimer~~ This is just a fun exercise to get into deep character development and see what really makes my characters tick.

So, getting my characters to cooperate was a little harder than expected, but once I finally sat them down and strapped them to a chair, I got some intriguing answers.

First up in the hot seat is Caleb…..

 Cate : So, tell me a little about yourself.

Caleb : (with a smirk) I’m an angel.

Cate : Uhm, besides the obvious. Why don’t we start with simple questions like what’s your favorite color?

Caleb : (the smirk widens) Black.

Cate : That explains alot. What’s your favorite food? (Why do I feel suddenly like I should just hand him a Slam Book?)

Caleb : French Fries. And anything that can be eaten with French Fries.

Cate : Have you ever had Tater Tots?

Caleb : No, what’s that?

Cate : You’ve never had Tater Tots? You’re missing out. But on to the next simple question, or let’s get a little more complex, shall we? Favorite musicain and why.

Caleb : I could say there are too many, but I have a feeling you won’t let me get away with that.

Cate : Nope.

Caleb : (deep sigh) The first musician that really struck me and drew me into his music was Mozart. I remember hiding in the eaves of the German opera house with Az, listening to The Magic Flute and thinking this guy has raw talent, a little off, but still amazingly talented. His music moved me, and that’s saying a lot.

Cate : wow, see how ease it is to open up. So, what about recent musicians?

Caleb : There really are too many to mention.

Cate : Nice try.

Caleb :  (another deep sigh) How far back am I going?

Cate : the past twenty years?

Caleb : Kurt Cobain, John Lennon, Roger Waters, Madonna, and recently someone special turned me on to the Blues and Jonny Lang.

Cate : Really. So, why play the guitar? It seems like you’ve had years and years to choose any instrument you wanted? And why are you the lead singer?

Caleb :  (shifts uneasily in the seat) Az would say that I like to be in the spotlight – all the time. And that’s just not true, that’s Az’s fantasy. But ever since these fools banded with me, I guess I’ve just taken the lead. So, I guess it was natural that I front the band, and since most frontmen don’t play drums, I chose to play the guitar.

Cate : What about the others? Why did they band with you, oh so long ago?

Caleb : Now, you’re asking deep questions. The Fallen tend to find those not fallen in hopes of redemption. I’m not able to provided that for my brothers, but at least, I keep their noses clean until they are redeemed.

Cate : Now for a really deep and revealing question. What was it about Sarah that caught your attention, changed your ways, and made you break a gazillion rules just to be with her.

Caleb : (doubling over with laughter) I always break the rules. there’s nothing new with that one. This time I just chose to break some new ones. And Sarah ( a deep sigh) well, she didn’t put up with my crap, for one, and second, her soul makes the most beautiful music. When she sings, it’s even more beautiful.

Cate : All right, I’m going to let you off the hook now.

Bang Bang

Chapter 16

A rapping at the door.

As soon as the door latched, Antel pulled with all of his might at the strapps holding him down. It was no use, it was obviouse he was not going anywhere. The thought of his body parts being harvested began to torture his brain. “I need to get out of this place.” He thought to himself.

“God… Please help…”

No sooner did the prayer leave his lips when the octogan room he was in began to shake. It was a deep rumble. The table was dancing, bottles began to fall from the ceiling, and it looked as if the whole structure would collapse on top of him at any moment. The louder the rumble became the more the room began to fall apart. Then it was utter silence. Saw dust and smoke from broken bottles filled the room with a light haze.

“Knock, Knock, Knock.” came a rapping at the door.

Not knowing what monsterouse hell was waiting on the other side, Antel thought to himself that playing dead and praying was the best option.

“Crack! Reeep! Cachunk! Bang!

The massive wooden door burst open. Antel quickly shut his eyes and held his breath. Damn it! His heart was practically beating out of his chest. “Lord.”

He could hear footsteps walking toward the table. The creatures hands were placed on Antels shoulders as he bent over him. He could feel the hot breath. Breath that smelled like. . .Like a couple pints of Hartleys lager.

“You still alive Kiddo?”

“Roosafee!” Antels eyes opened with a burst of excitment.

Laughter filled the room and pushed out the dread and heaviness that once saturated it. Roosafee began to whisper a strange language. Very soft, intent, and concentrated. The straps that tied down his body began to unravel and untie. As soon as Antel was free he sat up.

Roosafee helped Antel to his feet and said, “I know you have plenty of questions, but we have to get out of hear before Venice returns. Not that I am afraid in any way, but his black market connections in this world can make life pretty difficult for two chaps on a mission”.

“But my skin, its in one of these bottles.” Antel then looked at the rooms floor covered with bottles. There was no way of knowing wich bottle held his apperence. It would be like trying to find someone you love in the middle of time square on new years eve.

“There is no time Antel. We will manage.”

As they began to leave they heard, “meow.” “Roosafee!, one second.” Antel pulled a couple of bottles and planks away from a corner and saw the cage with the cat still inside. At once antel opened its door and let the little bugger out. The cat wasted no time and climbed Antels bones. It perched itself on his shoulder and rubbed its whiskers on his cheek.

“Ok pal.” He meet Roosafee at the door. Roosafee didn’t say anything, he just smirked and walked behind the two until they got outside.

I once ‘dated’ a guy who was a witch. I wonder if he’d let me have some of those white-chocolate KitKats before he infuses them all with demons…

Halloween Candy is Evil!!!

He sees division and he smiles. He sees confusion and he smiles. He sees the lost and he smiles. He is who he is and we call him enemy. He is who is and we call him friend. He is who is and we call him God’s equal. He craves faith and devotion and we have given it to him. He craves power, and our minds are more than willing.

Wars are fought, people are murdered, women and children are raped, the innocent are defiled, and we blame God. We make poor choices, and reap the results of our own doing, and we blame God. We blame God for all the woes of our lives, and yet when life blesses us with good health, or good fortune, we forget His existence. The ungrateful ask for more and there is confusion. The angry forget who they are and there is confusion. The devil smiles and there is confusion.

Open up your heart. Open up your mind. Open up your spirit. Listen!

Cauldron Magazine is one of the most respected occult journals in the UK, established since the 1970’s you can find out more by visiting their website at http://www.the-cauldron.org.uk/ (including subscription info).  It is always both interesting and exciting to find reviews of our publications in magazines, but especially so when they are positive (of course).  In the latest edition of Cauldron several Avalonia titles have received glowing reviews, these include Hekate Liminal Rites, Stellar Magic, The Book of Treasure Spirits and the anthology Both Sides of Heaven.

Both Sides of Heaven – an anthology of essays regarding Angels, Fallen Angels and Demons which was edited by Sorita d’Este and includes essays by some of the best known authors, researchers and mystics of the current occult rennaissance, the contributions include:

Contents:
A Host of Winged Messengers – Sorita d’Este
Fallen Angels and Legends of the Fall – Rufus Harrington
On the Wings of Rebirth – Katherine Sutherland
The Myth of the Fallen Ones – Michael Howard
The Enochians – Aaron Leitch
Madeline Montalban, Elemental and Fallen Angels – Julia Phillips
Azazel & Shemyaza – Diana Allam
Thirteen Unicycles in the Woods – Adele Nozedar
The Salvation of the Sidhe – Emily Carding
The Green Butterfly – Dan Harms
The Fallen Angels and the Goetia - David Rankine
Demons & Devils - Maestro Nestor
Grimoires for Pagans – Jake Stratton-Kent
The Thwarting Angels – Stephen Skinner
Loving Lilith – Melissa Harrington
The Face in the Mirror – Charlotte Rodgers
Between Gods and Men - Kim Huggens
Zoroastrian Angels and Demons – Payam Nabarz

This is what Cauldron thought of this collection:

“This excellent new book from those good people at Avalonia is a collection of eighteen essays exploring the origin, history and magical practices of angles, fallen angels and demons by some of the foremost esoteric writers, occult scholars and magicians (and sometimes all three!) in the field today.  In their essays they contribute their personal experiences, research and insights into this fascinating subject.  The contents range from the occult work of Renaissance magi such as Dr John Dee, Edward Kelley and Dr Thomas Rudd to more recent practitioners like the magus, taromancer and astrologer Madeline Montalban (1910-1982).  There aer also several interesting contributions on the Watchers or fallen angels and their offspring the Nephelim and the magical rites in medieval grimoires such as the Key of Solomon and the Goetia.  After all the New Age nonsense written about angels it is refreshing to get a book that tells the reader exactly what they are.  Very highly recommended.”

Once again we find our heroes standing proud after a battle while Dave Black loots the corpses; and indeed this time, having killed a few Iron House guards, the characters found themselves disappointed by the loot on offer. However, before them stood a noble house well worthy of looting, and Lord Merton st. Helier being himself of noble birth, they decided it only fitting to enter through the main doors.

Unfortunately, the front doors opened into a converted courtyard, covered overhead and with windows each side, which served as a kind of killing ground. Though lord Merton is noble, his instincts are base, and so he and Dave Black decided to enter one of the rooms overlooking this killing ground from the outside. They were lucky to have done so, too, because within the room they found 3 riflemen, preparing to open fire on those of the party who had entered through the main doors. Three more troopers opened fire from the other side of this entrance courtyard. There followed a short and bloody battle in darkness, during which demons and monsters were summoned, and 9 more armed troops came charging through the inner door of this entrance hall. The characters defeated them all, but not before 2 of their number were severely wounded.

Father Cantrus had just finished healing these wounded when a massive fireball exploded in the doorway to the courtyard, taking in everyone within. Cantrus looked out the door and saw a mage at the far end of a moonlit inner garden courtyard, but this mage was just disappearing from view as he looked. The of the party dived into one of the side rooms to escape the blast, and some of them ran down the hallway towards that distant mage’s position; but while they ran, another fireball exploded in their room. Injured, Anna Labrousse crawled into the opposite sideroom, and so was standing in there when the wizard materialised in front of her. She cast her most forceful spell, Grendel’s Demise, just as he hurled another fireball through the window, and then Cantrus was able to paralyse him. Armless and bedraggled, he was dragged into the moonlight and subjected to Dave Black’s tender ministrations, after which he happily reported that there were, in fact, no other guardians in the building, that William de Bouverie’s assistant had a laboratory on the 2nd floor and a study over the entrance hallway and could the man in black please please stop doing that to his left arm?

So, the characters headed up to the 2nd floor. First they investigated de Bouverie’s quarters on the third floor, finding only some french porn and a lot of money. At the 2nd floor, they soon found themselves looking on the door to de Bouverie’s assistant’s laboratory. Russell Ganymede used his infernal vision to look through it, seeing only an empty room, moonlight spilling over laboratory equipment, and a table with some olives on it. Anna Labrousse summoned a monster, which appeared resembling in every respect a mad professor, and commanded it to open the door. It walked inside and disappeared from view, unharmed. Convinced despite a faint buzzing noise that the room must be safe, Russell entered…

… and was hit in the face by a massive flail, composed of a human skull filled with lead and studded with adamantite spikes. He went flying out of the room and landed on the far side of the ante-chamber, seriously injured, where Cantrus promptly healed him. Such is the way of things for an infernal warrior, that though one of his distant brethren might hit him so hard in the face that his cheeks explode, a censurious priest will be with him in but a moment, reminding him of his need to redeem that infernal part of his soul…

So righted, Russell burst into the room again, followed by everyone else. Inside they found themselves face to face with a fly demon, some 12′ in height, hovering on massive fly wings, vaguely humanoid in form but black-skinned, scaly, with multi-facetted fly’s eyes atop a hideous mouth of mandibles, teeth and tusks. The whole was covered in a thin carpet of stiff, wiry hairs, and carrying a massive flail whose chains finished in skulls, one of which had parts of Russell’s face still on it.

The demon spewed horrific green vomit on everyone present, and battle was joined as the acid ate at them. However, before the demon could rend them all limb from limb, Father Cantrus wiped the fly bile from his mouth and, chanting biblical curses, forced the being back into hell. All that remained was a wisp of sulfur stench, and a lot of serious injuries.

The characters then investigated the laboratory and its associated study, and found themselves in possession of a number of incriminating documents. These seemed to be telling them that:

• The Essential Compromise may have been some kind of trick, by the denizens of hell, to help them find gates on earth through which they could enter the world
• de Bouverie’s assistant, Alastair Crow was the same man (?) that the characters killed during the uprising in Albany
• Alastair Crow had planned for a genocide in America, possibly as part of a ritual to invoke the gate, or perhaps to clear Indian resistance from areas he needed to visit
• In exchange for aiding an enthusiastic Washington in his genocidal plans, Crow gained unfettered access to the American inland
• Once in the inland, Crow aimed to find “the Thorntree” and had maps guiding him. When his plans fell apart due to the characters’ involvement, he simply arranged an expedition using his Irish soldiers, and set off some weeks earlier

The characters also found a diary of de Bouverie’s which seemed to indicate that he had made Crow’s acquaintance some time ago and had, since then, slowly become enamoured of – indeed, almost infatuated with – him, and that since their assocation had begun de Bouverie had rapidly gained in temporal power. He had also given Crow more and more control over his personal affairs, ultimately giving him complete control of Lanhydrock and its environs so he could concentrate on his duties as a representative in the parliament in London. A Faustian pact indeed…

So, having established the motive and the method of a great crime, the characters decided to return to America and stop it. They rode back overland to their boat, and upon arrival at Newquay discovered an Indian crouched on the deck of their ship. This man had arrived as an albatross the day before, and assumed human form on the deck. He was wild, windswept and confused, his mind almost lost to the bird he had become for the long flight. But the characters were able to restore his health, and Anna Labrousse talked him back into his mind. He came to after some hours of quiet work, to tell them:

“The Prophet begs you come. We have need of you!”

Channeling is forbidden by the Bible, it is the same as trying to speak with the dead, whether the person channeling knows it or not. They are opening themselves up for communication from a demon, and demons are all liars, everyone except Satanists and those as deluded as them know that demons, are, by definition, evil beings.

There is no evidence that any channeler has ever channeled an alien, all the evidence suggests that they are either lying or a demon is speaking through them, as the things that come out of their mouth is always wrong in some way, and always fits a certain type of communication style, that is the person supposedly being channeled always claims (and they are always things that anyone could make up, like about Atlantis) that what it is saying is fact, never opinion. For example, something lie this, “The Atlanteans lived 10,000 years ago but destroyed themselves in their carelessness), and that is the sign of a prideful liar. I’m not saying that people must arbitrarily saying, “This is my opinion” but I’ve heard and read supposedly channeled aliens and dead humans, and there is always something that goes against the Bible. Why isn’t there one single spirit that agrees with the Bible? If you claim it’s because they find out it’s wrong, well then why don’t any say, “I was a former Christian and learned this part of the Bible was wrong.” No, it’s always, “Go for the kill” so to speak, in other words, get the lie out as fast as you can. And the lack of sophistication also shows that the beings speaking are careless about the truth (not bothering to be clever about it like saying that they were a former Christian or that they also had a Bible on their planet that turned out to be false and that they learned their lesson). This is evidence of low intelligence or a lack of concern for the truth, of a personality that just goes about sloppily bashing the truth as if it were a joke. On the other hand it could be that the reason we only hear stupid spirits that lack sophistication is because God only allows the stupid ones to possess a person or speak through them. The reason for that may be that if more clever spirits were allowed to use a person to speak, that the deception would make it more difficult for people in general to tell the truth from a lie, a level of difficulty that God doesn’t want the world in general to have to deal with for whatever reason.

Evidence of God or at least some superior being imposing a limit on what these spirits can do is that it’s known they can sometimes possess people and do things that humans are not able to do naturally: manipulating objects without touching them, speak in languages not known to the person being possessed, do things that are so painful that it’s unlikely that even an insane person would do them (like repeatedly biting on things that cause teeth to immediately break off or scratching things with your fingers so that your nails ripped off), floating, saying things that couldn’t be known without having been spied on or seeing and hearing a person’s memories, making smells seemingly out of no where (probably by transmuting the particulates in the air into some other form that smells),  changing the temperature of the air or an object, making or projecting images like of an object or possibly of some creature (which may be a demon or part of a demon itself rather than a projection or temporary manipulation of matter), making vocalizations or music on audio recordings that were apparently directly imprinted onto the recording, making images directly onto video recordings so that the images couldn’t have been seen by anyone, causing wounds that don’t get infected, and that can remain opened for long periods of times and bleed greatly without the person they’ve wounded, dying (stigmata), HOWEVER, that these powerful spirits aren’t doing this whenever they want, and let us know now and then that they don’t like to hear or see anything that is strongly related to God (for example a certain famous prophet who commanded that his followers randomly terrorize non-believers, and that command is recorded in their holy book) was said to go beserk when he saw crosses, suggests that it’s God who is limiting them. And note that no one has ever heard of a spirit being saying, “Stop talking about Shiva! I don’t want to hear about Zeus!” to someone trying to cast them out using their names, but only throwing fits when hearing something like, “In the name of Jesus,” or verses from the Bible, and so on. Though God seems to have limited the kinds of spirits that can possess people, he has allowed much great deception in the form of misleading people as to what the true religion is (as opposed to allowing any supposed alien or dead human to teach that there is no God). For example implying that no one goes to heaven but just reincarnates or reincarnates a certain amount of times then goes to Heaven, or that Catholicism is the true religion (a few times Catholics or people that could be persuaded to become Catholics have seen or at least claimed to have seen visions of angels fighting or while possessed, supposedly hate to be touched with holy water, and the holy water concept is strongly associated with the Catholic religion). You never, not even in movies, see a possessed person being exorcised by an Episcopalian priest, a Mormon, or Baptist, it’s always, suspiciously, a Catholic, and since the New Age, by sorcerers/witches and or mediums. The malicious intent of the demons is also evident by their choice of what they throw fits over with regards to who and how they are repelled: Catholic priests, mediums, and witches. Why these three? Here is a psychological analysis again:

1) Catholic doctrine and the Bible forbid channeling or consulting demons, casting spells, and even fortune-telling. And demons give us the impression that Catholics can repel them, but not other types of groups that many consider Christians, whether considering them to be hypocritical Christians or not. And a careful study of a certain chapter in Revelation indicates that God considers the Catholics church to be the “whore that rides the beast” who is “drunk with the blood of the saints”. In other words God considers them to be unfaithful, both physically and spiritually adulterous (including not being faithful to God) and to be responsible for the deaths of a great many true Christians. The clue is the reference to the city on “seven hills” in this chapter (Rome is the only known city on seven hills with great influence of the world). Now if you suppose that Satan is a very malicious liar, and a clever one as the Bible teaches he is, then it’s makes sense as to why he would want to give the appearance that one “Christian” group (that God took the time to write about as being the worst on Earth), as being the only Christians powerful enough to stop him, or that even have a chance (Catholic priests have a high failure rate of getting rid of demons, and as far as the evidences shows, they don’t actually get rid of any demons, but rather the demons leave on their own, and according to the Bible, possess the same person again, and probably sometimes when their are no priests around or anyone to notice the possession, (like hidden abuse)).

2) Demons give the impression that mediums and witches can make them leave, at least in the mass media (for example no medium has ever been shown being attacked by a demon, a ghost investigator was recently attacked/possessed, supposedly, and it can be seen on youtube, but there was no indication that he was a medium or a witch that I knew of). Now what makes no sense about that, is that, again, traditional and official Catholic doctrine teaches that mediums and witches are evil and are under the persuasion of Satan, and if Satan, then the rest of the disobedient angels/demons, as Satan is their leader. The Bible also implies this.

Notice the polar opposites: Catholics, supposedly the only true Christians or rather only ones who will make it to Heaven and live forever in peace, and the mediums and witches, mediums who are said to channel demons, and it’s implied that witches, even if they don’t know it, rely on Satan/demons to accomplish their magic. Do you notice the irony, or the joke of this “Trickster”, this comedian, this mocker, called Satan?:

He’s simultaneously promoting the Catholic denomination, which at least in the opinion of 50+ million Christians is the most hated by God of of all Christian cults and the mediums and witches, whom Satan works and speaks through, and more ironic, is that Satan often uses mediums to console those who are tormented over the loss off someone they loved. In other words Satan is making it look like the worst cult on Earth is the true religion while causing great confusion also by making it look like Catholicism is completely wrong, by putting mediums and witches in a good light. And this makes the Bible look wrong to those WHO KNOW that the Bible forbids speaking to the dead and witchcraft, and which implies that the Catholic denomination prevents lasting peace.

Is what I’ve said just ranting? If so, then show the flaw or flaws in my logic. Note: simply telling me that the Bible is false is not evidence of anything, let alone scientific evidence, also showing any supposed evidence that it is won’t be accepted by me, since I’ve already examined it all, and though I’m not a professional biologist or physicist or archeologist, I don’t need to be anymore than any who disbelieves the Bible needs to be in order to “know” it’s not true, rather we can read the research of those who are and examine their trustworthiness in various ways to know if they are telling the truth, or if their research makes sense. And for those of you who think, “Well if you won’t except the only evidence that the Bible is false then you’re preventing anyone from showing your reasoning is false”, that’s wrong, because you can view my belief in the Bible as true as a hypothesis that it is true, and then look for any flaw or flaws in my exposition based on that hypothesis.

For example, if someone wouldn’t accept that the basic evidence for macro-evolution were true, and wrote a exposition based on it, that wouldn’t prevent me from showing that their exposition was wrong (if it were long enough) being that flaws are inevitable in any teaching based on a lie, especially a great amount of lies as many think the Bible is.

It’s out!  It’s out!

It’s finally out!

Of the three books in this series, Mia’s Return edges out slightly ahead of the pack as my favorite.  Not huge amounts, just by a nose.  The others have their elements that endear them to me, but overall, Mia has…symmetry.  Which is unusual, because most authors always struggle with the middle book of a trilogy because of the famous saggy middle syndrome.

The emotional intensity and conflict in this one just fell into place and went “click” and the book wrote itself.  So much so that I sweated for two days to bring it down under the word count limit.

But it’s out.

It’s out!

Click here to read more about it on my site.

Click here to buy it.  (awww, come on, I have to do this, I’m a poor author!)

FIRST DROP OF CRIMSON

Night Huntress World, Book 1
(a sexy spinoff from the Night Huntress series)
by Jeaniene Frost
release date: 02/09/2010

pre-order on Amazon Immortal Fiction

back cover description: 
The night is not safe for mortals. Denise MacGregor knows all too well what lurks in the shadows – her best friend is half-vampire Cat Crawfield – and she has already lost more than the average human could bear. But her family’s dark past is wrapped in secrets and shrouded in darkness – and a demon shapeshifter has marked Denise as prey. Now her survival depends on an immortal who craves a taste of her.

He is Spade, a powerful, mysterious vampire who has walked the earth for centuries and is now duty-bound to protect this endangered, alluring human – even if it means destroying his own kind. Denise may arouse his deepest hungers, but Spade knows he must fight his urge to have her as they face the demon nightmare together…

• read chapter one excerpt on her blog

Many of you have noticed that I have not been posting to my blog as regularly as I had been in the past. If you are a regular reader, I apologize. It seem that as the title states “My hands have been silent”.

 The reality of it is that I have struggled recently with being able to put into words my emotions and thoughts. Since being in a major car accident in September, my routine seems to have me out of sync. Although my faith in God has not faltered, my willingness to call on him for strength seems to come only after I have carried my burdens farther than I should have on my own. I know better than that. But I also believe that as a human being many of us have a habit of leaning on ourselves first, and God second.

Psalm 121:1-3

A song of ascents.

 ¹ I lift up my eyes to the hills—
       where does my help come from?

 ² My help comes from the LORD,
       the Maker of heaven and earth.

 ³ He will not let your foot slip—
       he who watches over you will not slumber;

Our Lord is with us every second of every day. He never stops standing guard. He never lets go of us. It is we who forget, we who let go of God, not the other way around.

Prayer: Precious God, thank you for always being there beside me. Even in the toughest of times you are there. When my struggles are at their peak, you are there to carry my burden. Remind me oh God of your great strength and the shield of protection you offer me from my faults and my demons. Help me to lean on you first, and make myself a distant second. In the name of your son Jesus I pray. Amen

The Saint Michael Prayer with a pro-life twist (in bold):

Dear St. Michael the Archangel

Defend us in battle.

Be our protection against

the wickedness and snares

of the devil.

May God rebuke him,

we humbly pray,

and do thou, Oh Prince

of the heavenly host,

by the divine power of God,

cast into hell Satan

and his legion of devils

and demons who prowl

about the world

seeking the ruin of souls

and the deaths of babies

in their mothers’ womb.

The following passage is from The Life of St. Martin by Sulpitius  Severus Chapter XXIII. Today is  the feast of St. Martin on the old calendar. You can read a good summary of the Life of St. Martin and his feast day at Aaron Taylor’s first class blog Logismoi.

“THERE was a certain man, Clarus by name, a most noble youth, who afterwards became a presbyter, and who is now, through his happy departure from this world, numbered among the saints. He, leaving all others, betook himself to Martin, and in a short time became distinguished for the most exalted faith, and for all sorts of excellence. Now, it came to pass that, when he had erected an abode for himself not far from the monastery of the bishop, and many brethren were staying with him, a certain youth, Anatolius by name, having, under the profession of a monk, falsely assumed every appearance of humility and innocence, came to him, and lived for some time on the common store along with the rest. Then, as time went on, he began to affirm that angels were in the habit of talking with him. As no one gave any credit to his words, he urged a number of the brethren to believe by certain signs. At length he went to such a length as to declare that angels passed between him and God; and now he wished that he should be regarded as one of the prophets. Clarus, however, could by no means be induced to believe. He then began to threaten Clarus with the anger of God and present afflictions, because he did not believe one of the saints. At the last, he is related to have burst forth with the following declaration: “Behold, the Lord will this night give me a white robe out of heaven, clothed in which, I will dwell in the midst of you; and that will be to you a sign that I am the Power of God, inasmuch as I have been presented with the garment of God.” Then truly the expectation of all was highly raised by this profession. Accordingly, about the middle of the night, it was seen, by the noise of people moving eagerly about, that the whole monastery in the place was excited. It might be seen, too, that the cell in which the young man referred to lived was glittering with numerous lights; and the whisperings of those moving about in it, as well as a kind of murmur of many. voices, could be heard. Then, on silence being secured, the youth coming forth calls one of the brethren, Sabatius by name, to himself, and shows him the robe in which he had been clothed. He again, filled with amazement, gathers the rest together, and Clarus himself also runs up; and a light being obtained, they all carefully inspect the garment. Now, it was of the utmost softness, of marvelous brightness, and of glittering purple, and yet no one could discover what was its nature, or of what sort of fleece it had been formed. However, when it was more minutely examined by the eyes or fingers, it seemed nothing else than a garment. In the meantime, Clarus urges upon the brethren to be earnest in prayer, that the Lord would show them more clearly what it really was. Accordingly, the rest of the night was spent in singing hymns and psalms. But when day broke, Clarus wished to take the young man by the hand, and bring him to Martin, being well aware that he could not be deceived by any arts of the devil. Then, indeed, the miserable man began to resist and refuse, and affirmed that he had been forbidden to show himself to Martin. And when they compelled him to go against his will, the garment vanished from among the hands of those who were conducting him. Wherefore, who can doubt that this, too, was an illustration of the power of Martin, so that the devil could no longer dissemble or conceal his own deception, when it was to be submitted to the eyes of Martin?”

Editor’s Note: This is part III in a series  of posts on The Exorcist and Rosemary’s Baby.  For part I of the series, scroll down or click here.  For part II, scroll down or click here.  As mentioned before the first post: I reveal many plot points from these films, so please watch them before reading.

In my previous posts on Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist, I touched upon some of the ways in which these films exploit the uncanny feelings we experience in relation to our own bodies, as well as how these films may have a comment on the ways in which contemporary power structures terrorize and appropriate the female body.   In this continuation of the larger discussion on Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist, I am interested in investigating how these films might also be mining some horror from the inherently uncomfortable disconnect we all have between our minds and our bodies.

In support of this notion, I will posit that the eeriest things in life are not often the things prowling around outside your home at night, nor are they the things coming down from outer space to apprehend unsuspecting sleepers, and certainly they are not pitchfork-wielding goblins reveling in a fiery orgy of sin below the earth.  On the contrary, the eeriest things in life often originate within the confines of our own skulls.  Throughout our history, we humans have made a habit of projecting the weird things going on in our own psyches outwardly, thereby attributing anomalous or unsavory behavior or phenomena to demons, witches and the like.  For instance, Mary Beth Norton makes a compelling argument in her 2002 book In the Devil’s Snare, that the Salem Witch Trials toward the end of the 17^th Century can be largely attributed to the anxieties and other psychological ramifications of frontier life, and specifically the fear of Native American attacks on European settlements.  The dark-skinned men lurking in the unfamiliar forests, along with the constant bloodshed that was inherent to that time and place, created a fear that was coupled with an already-present collective belief in witches, demons and unknown evils lurking in the shadows.  While these settlers did have actual danger prowling outside their homes, they were not aware that the reach of Native American influence reached through the walls of their homes into their minds, leading to irrational behavior and decision-making.  Those weren’t demons in the woods, those were people tired of being slaughtered and otherwise molested by strangely-dressed white people.

The point is that our own minds are the source of our greatest terrors.  And historically, as with the Salem Witch Trials example above, it has been  much easier to explain away the most uncomfortable or undesirable aspects of our lives with a little bit of supernatural belief and magical thinking.  The most powerful of these supernatural belief systems are the monotheistic religions which, although they are very much thriving to this day, are much more difficult to accept absolutely than they were, say, 500 years ago.  Magical thinking was a pat way to explain away events and circumstances that otherwise were baffling or anxiety-provoking.  With scientific knowledge skyrocketing in the latter half of the 19^th Century and through the 20^th Century, it became much more difficult to blame everything on witches, angels, demons and god(s).  In this vein, both Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist share a subtheme of religious faith and the loss thereof.  Father Karras, the central priest character in The Exorcist (although not the “Exorcist” referred to in the title), is wrestling with his own loss of faith.  Father Karras resides in a slummy area of Washington DC, with poverty and squalor constituting his day-to-day world and, along with this, he shares his small apartment with this ailing mother, who eventually is forced to move into a mental institution brimming with the psychologically anomalous.  Karras finds it difficult to rectify these realities with his Catholic beliefs and the demon possessing Regan exploits this fact.  In Rosemary’s Baby, one scene has the camera conspicuously linger on the April 8^th, 1966 cover of Time magazine.  The cover simply features the question “Is God Dead?” in bold red letters over a black background.  This was an actual cover of Time that was attached to an article that stated that the age of religion was essentially out the door.  Rosemary herself, when asked by Roman if she is religious, states, “I was brought up Catholic, but now I don’t know”.

Both films take as their setting a 20^th Century backdrop that is turning more toward medical, scientific and psychological knowledge to assist with problems of the body and mind instead of relying upon supernatural paradigms.  Until recent modern history, many of us have told ourselves stories about the ethereal soul and its dominion over the base, corrupted body.  The soul is said to be made of otherworldly material that is unfortunately tainted by the fleshy, gooey spaceship that it must possess in order to traverse through our inherently dirty world.  If one begins to accept the idea that we – every part of us – are of this world and then supplants the soul idea with this way of thinking, then the means by which one thinks of oneself and the world becomes dramatically altered.  This paradigmatic shift would be seismically uncomfortable, and it is my contention that Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist place themselves firmly in the fault line created from just such a shift.

In his wonderfully entertaining 2007 film The Pervert’s Guide to the Cinema, Slavoj Zizek shares some of his thoughts on modern cinema from a philosophical perspective that is rooted in the ideas of famed French psychoanalytic thinker Jacques Lacan.  In his film, Zizek pontificates on Ridley Scott’s Alien and claims that this film derives its power, particularly regarding the iconic scene in which an alien baby hatches from the stomach of its human host, from the idea that humans are essentially alien intelligences with a human body as a host.  We humans are uncomfortable in our own skins because of a fundamental disconnect; we tolerate our bodies, but we must also misrecognize our bodies as something different from ourselves in order to get by.  This disconnect is much easier to handle when one has, for instance, the Christian notion of the soul which advises comfortingly that there is no need to worry, that it’s right to fear your body, and that it’s really okay that you will die someday, for everything will be taken care of because your personality is actually not of this world to begin with.  For psychoanalysis as well as for Christianity, we are essentially ghosts inside a machine, or aliens inside of spaceships.  Christianity tells us that our alien souls will someday rejoin the Mothership (Fathership?)  in the sky, whereas psychoanalysis offers no such happy ending.  For psychoanalysis, life is weird and then you die.

Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist generate some wonderful creepiness by interjecting antiquated notions of Soul/Body and Good/Evil into a modern, scientifically-advanced setting.  One can have every priest and psychologist on call, but life will never cease to be strange.  It’s unfortunate that this basic concept is lost on many contemporary horror filmmakers.  These filmmakers spend too much time on computer graphics and convoluted story lines and not enough time looking into the mirror and contemplating the stranger staring back.

Note: I’m thinking there’s one more post on these two films on the way.  I’m thinking the next post will be about domestic spaces and antagonistic furniture in Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist.