Astrotheology & Shamanism: Christianity's Pagan Roots. A Revolutionary Reinterpretation of the Evidence

242 Pages·2009·11.844 MB·English

by  Jan Irvin, Andrew Rutajit, Nicholas Zervos

ASTROTHEOLOGY
~
SHAMANISM
Christianity's Pagan Roots
A Revolutionary Reinterpretation of the Evidence
Second Edition
With Black &.. White Illustrations
JAN IRVIN
ANDREW RUTAJIT
For the future generations
Published 2009
Gnostic Media
Research &.. Publishing
www.gnosticmedia.com
Astrotheology & Shamanism:
,.
Christianity's Pagan Roots
A Revolutionary Reinterpretation of the Evidence
Second Edition
Expanded and Revised
With Black & White Illustrations
First edition published by The Book Tree in January 2006 as:
Astrotheology & Shamanism:
Unveiling the Law of Duality in Christianity and Other Religions
ISBN 10: 1-4392-2242-8
ISBN 13: 9781439222423
Library of Congress Control Number: 2008911858
© 2005 - lrvin/Rutajit
© 2009 - Irvin
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the authors and publisher.
Front cover: Lamentation of Christ, Isenheim altarpiece,
second side right panel. By Mathis Gothart Grunewald, 1512-1516.
Table of Contents I i
Table of Contents
Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................................................ i
Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................................................ v
Special Note .................................................................................................................................................................. vi
Preface to the Second Edition ...................................................................................................................................... vii
Preface ......................................................................................................................................................................... viii
Part 1. .............................................................................................................................................................................. 1
The Aquarius Initiation .................................................................................................................................................. l
Chapter One ................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Understanding the Law ofD uality ............................................................................................................................ 3
AS ABOVE- SO BELOW. .................................................................................................................................... 3
Chapter Two ................................................................................................................................................................... 6
The Paradigm Shifi ................................................................................................................................................... 6
FINDING YOURSELF ......................................................................................................................................... 6
THE GALILEAN SHIFT. ...................................................................................................................................... 7
MORE SHIFTS. .................................................................................................................................................. 10
Chapter Three ............................................................................................................................................................... 12
Astrotheo/ogy .......................................................................................................................................................... 12
DISCIPLES OF THE MACROCOSM. ............................................................................................................... 12
THE EARTH MOVES. ........................................................................................................................................ 13
IN THE BEGINNING ......................................................................................................................................... 15
THE ONLY STORY EVER TOLD ....................................................................................................................... 18
HE IS RISEN INDEED. ...................................................................................................................................... 22
EAST STAR ......................................................................................................................................................... 28
GOD'S SUN IN HEAVEN .................................................................................................................................. 30
THE GREAT YEAR ............................................................................................................................................. 33
Part II ........................................................................................................................................................................... 47
The Pharrnacratic Inquisition ....................................................................................................................................... 47
Chapter Four ................................................................................................................................................................ 50
The Holy Grail ........................................................................................................................................................ 50
THE DIRECT RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE ....................................................................................................... 50
THE DEFAMATION OF ALLEGRO .................................................................................................................. 52
DISCIPLES OF THE MICROCOSM. ................................................................................................................ 60
Chapter Five ................................................................................................................................................................. 68
Holiday Symbolism .................................................................................................................................................. 68
SACRED TREES ................................................................................................................................................ 69
THE GROWTH CYCLE ..................................................................................................................................... 70
THE AGE-OLD ICON. ....................................................................................................................................... 80
SANTA CLAUS-
CONDITIONING OUR YOUTH? ...................................................................................................................... 81
SANTA CLAUS, A MUSHROOM? ..................................................................................................................... 83
SANTA'S SECRET. ............................................................................................................................................. 83
POPES AND CARDINALS ................................................................................................................................. 84
COMMUNION ................................................................................................................................................... 86
ANOINTING THE BODY. .................................................................................................................................. 89
Chapter Six ................................................................................................................................................................... 92
The Ouroboros and the Caduceus ........................................................................................................................... 92
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Astrotheo/ogy & Shamanism -Christianity Pagan Roots
ii I Table of Contents
LIVING WATER .................................................................................................................................................. 92
THE CADUCEUS .............................................................................................................................................. 98
WINGS ABO VEISERPENTS BELOW. ............................................................................................................. I 02
ALCHEMY. ....................................................................................................................................................... I 05
Chapter Seven ............................................................................................................................................................ 10 7
Climbing the Ladder to Godhead. ......................................................................................................................... I 07
THE STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN. ......................................................................................................................... I07
Chapter Eight ............................................................................................................................................................. 112
Sexualia .................................................................................................................................................................. I I 2
THE VESICA PISCIS ........................................................................................................................................ I I 2
BORN OF A VIRGIN ......................................................................................................................................... II4
EATING THE SEED. ......................................................................................................................................... I I 7
HERM-APHRODITES. ...................................................................................................................................... I I 8
Chapter Nine .............................................................................................................................................................. 129
Judea-Christianity ................................................................................................................................................. I 29
THE PARADISE OF EDEN. ............................................................................................................................. I 29
THE FORBIDDEN FRUIT. .............................................................................................................................. I 30
THE TREE OF LIFE ........................................................................................................................................ I34
WHAT IS THIS? ............................................................................................................................................... I 36
THE SONG OF SONGS ................................................................................................................................... I40
EZEKIEL'S VISION ......................................................................................................................................... I 42
REVELATION. .................................................................................................................................................. I44
Chapter Ten ................................................................................................................................................................ 145
More Symbolism .................................................................................................................................................... I45
THE DUALITY OF JESUS. .............................................................................................................................. I 45
THE MARK OF THE BEAST ........................................................................................................................... I 47
THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL. ............................................................................................................................... I 53
BUY NOW- PAY LATER ................................................................................................................................. I 55
Chapter Eleven ........................................................................................................................................................... 157
The Third Eye ........................................................................................................................................................ I 57
OPENING THE TEMPLE DOORS. ................................................................................................................. I 57
THE DAY OF CHOOSING .............................................................................................................................. I 60
THE EYE WITHIN ........................................................................................................................................... I 62
THE MISSING LINK. ....................................................................................................................................... I 66
OUROBORIC PSILOCYBE ............................................................................................................................. I 68
CONTACT. ........................................................................................................................................................ I70
Chapter Twelve .......................................................................................................................................................... 172
Psychedelic Vestige ............................................................................................................................................... I 72
Chapter Thirteen ........................................................................................................................................................ 179
The Pharmacratic Inquisition ............................................................................................................................... I 79
WAR GAMES AND MIND GAMES. ................................................................................................................. I 79
INQUISITIONS- THEN AND NOW ............................................................................................................... I 82
THE ORIGINS OF SACRIFICE AND SIN. ...................................................................................................... I86
ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS ................................................................................................................ I 87
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................................. 192
Appendix A ................................................................................................................................................................ 196
A BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE ON JOHN MARCO ALLEGRO ............................................................................ I 96
Appendix B ................................................................................................................................................................ 197
PHILOLOGICAL PARALLELS- AN ESOTERIC
Astrotheology & Shamanism- Christianity's Pagan Roots
Table of Contents I iii
LOOK AT WORDS AND LETTERS ...................................... : .......................................................................... I97
THE EGG OF GOD .................................................................... : .................................................................... 200
HIEROGLYPHICS ........................................................................................................................................... 20I
THE GREEK INFLUENCE ON LANGUAGE ................................................................................................. 20I
MYRRH AND THE RESURRECTION ............................................................................................................. 205
THE LETTER "0 " ........................................................................................................................................... 206
Appendix C ................................................................................................................................................................ 208
THE MUSHROOM SPEAKS ........................................................................................................................... 208
Appendix D ................................................................................................................................................................ 209
THERE IS POWER IN THE BLOOD ............................................................................................................... 209
Appendix E ................................................................................................................................................................ 210
ARE FAIRY TALES FOR CHILDREN OR ADULTS? ...................................................................................... 2I 0
Bibliography .............................................................................................................................................................. 212
Figure Index ............................................................................................................................................................... 218
Index .......................................................................................................................................................................... 221
Also from Gnostic Media: ......................................................................................................................................... 226
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Astrotheology & Shamanism -Christianity Pagan Roots
1v I Dedication
We dedicate this book to the memory of:
Figure 1 -John Marco Allegro (1923-1988)
For your integrity of research against all odds.
Few have risked as much in pursuit of truth as you.
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Astrotheology & Shamanism -Christianity Pagan Roots
v1 I Special Note
Special Note
This is a mind-expanding book. It helps us share the perspective of a shaman (a seer or wise man) on the
world and on the interplay of sun and stars. In this world view, heaven and earth are the dual parts of a
whole. Duality means correspondence rather than conflict: the confluence of stars governing our destiny;
the roots and leaves of the world tree feeding each other; 'as above, so below'. The world is a web of
interconnections, and to discover their oneness is to discover the god within each living thing.
As part of this world view, symbolism and mythology convey the truth and help us attain it. We need to
understand the power that symbols used to hold - not merely decorative or reflective but as the doors to
deeper meaning. Myths that nowadays seem fanciful conveyed themes such as redemption or rebirth -
themes that underlie age-old religions.
By comparing the symbols and iconography of Christianity with those of different religions, we can see
common ideas stemming from much older and deeper sources. For example, the similarities between the
stories and images of Jesus, Horus and Krishna suggest a common ancestry in sun worship. Since the
Emperor Constantine's Council of Nicaea in AD 325, the story of Christ has been presented as a solid
historical fact. Now we see how various aspects of the Christian religion have grown out of earlier beliefs
based on the power of the sun and the seasons.
The book focuses on the central role of entheogenic plants, especially mushrooms, and the symbolism
associated with them, in enabling the shaman or priest to attain divine knowledge. Ideas put forward by
John Marco Allegro about the origin of religion in The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross in 1970 - which
met universal condemnation- are here largely vindicated. In the development of language from Sumerian
times, Allegro found evidence of a world view based on the beliefs and practices of an ancient fertility
religion; ideas that were handed down in the guise of many different stories through classical and biblical
times. The dry philological approach of The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross is here supported by a wider
study of symbols, iconography and mythology, and further work on word derivation.
To read this book one should put aside the conventional outlook that hinges morality, ethics and history on
the life of a single religious teacher 2,000 years ago. In its place the mind must open to a sense of oneness
with the world and all on it. Through rediscovering our heritage of symbols, myths and evolving languages,
we can try to attain a deeper understanding and compassion for the world we share.
- Judith Anne Brown
Daughter of John Marco Allegro
Author of John Marco Allegro: The Maverick of the Dead Sea Scrolls
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Astrotheology & Shamanism -Christianity Pagan Roots
Preface to the Second Edition I vn
Preface to the Second Edition
This second edition of Astrotheology & Shamanism has been greatly expanded, revised and made available
in colour. To strengthen arguments in certain areas, texts from Epiphanius, the Muslim Mishkat, and others
have been added, and the citations and footnotes have been greatly expanded and updated throughout.
The bibliography has been similarly expanded. The layout of the book has been changed: reorganized,
reformatted and edited for easier flow and reading. In addition, several of the images from the first edition
have been removed, or replaced with images that better suit the material in discussion. The etymology
section has also been cut - several of the word descriptions were found to be in error from their original
sources. Their removal does not affect the concepts and conclusions presented in the book. Finally, the
subtitle has been changed from Unvealing the Law of Duality in Christianity and Other Religions, to:
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Christianity Pagan Roots, A Revolutionary Reinterpretation oft he Evidence, which I feel better describes
what this book is about.
Overall, this edition seeks to correct any errors-content, grammatical, textual or otherwise-that remained
in the first edition. In it, I strive to reach the highest academic standards, while not losing the interest of the
popular reader.
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With this, I am happy to present this second, colour edition of Astrotheology & Shamanism: Christianity
Pagan Roots, A Revolutionary Reinterpretation of the Evidence.
Jan Irvin
December 21, 2008.
Grand Terrace, California
Astrotheology & Shamanism -Christianity :S Pagan Roots