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Ken sits down with Dayal Patterson, founder of Cult Never Dies and author of Black Metal: Evolution of the Cult. Together, they delve into the dark and fascinating world of Black Metal — from its chaotic origins and occult undercurrents to its modern evolution as one of music’s most misunderstood yet enduring subcultures. Dayal discusses his years documenting the scene, the complex relationship between Black Metal and spirituality, and why physical media, authenticity, and seriousness of intent remain vital in an increasingly digital and disposable age. This week: The origins of Cult Never Dies and the evolution of Dayal’s landmark book Black Metal’s strange blend of rebellion, mysticism, and artistic purity How Venom, Bathory, and punk shaped the genre’s DNA From the 90s underground to global festivals — the scene’s surprising resilience Why Satanism in Black Metal is both literal and symbolic Ritual performance and the blurred line between theatre and devotion The tension between elitism, accessibility, and authenticity Black Metal’s apocalyptic vision and fascination with the occult Industrial influences, Dissection’s “grimoire,” and the rise of esoteric bands Why physical books and records still matter to true believers 📖 Get Black Metal: Evolution of the Cult and other titles from Cult Never Dies: https://cultneverdies.com 🧾 Show Notes 🔗 People, bands, and concepts mentioned: Dayal Patterson – Author and founder of Cult Never Dies https://cultneverdies.com Black Metal: Evolution of the Cult – Revised 2023 edition Venom – The band that coined “Black Metal” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venom_(band) Bathory – Pioneering Scandinavian Black Metal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bathory_(band) Dissection – Reinkaos as occult grimoire https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissection_(band) Watain – Ritual performance and theistic Satanism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watain Gorgoroth – Theatrical and metaphysical extremes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorgoroth Mysticum – Industrial Black Metal innovators https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mysticum Thelema – Occult system influencing many Black Metal bands https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thelema 💻 Follow & Support Follow Cult Never Dies: https://cultneverdies.com https://www.instagram.com/cultneverdies https://www.facebook.com/CultNeverDies Support Right Where You Are Sitting Now on Patreon: https://patreon.com/sittingnow Visit SittingNow for more episodes, articles, and extras: https://sittingnow.co.uk    

  This week, Ken and Ulysses Black talk to sorcerer and author Lili (Idlu Lili Regulus) about her remarkable book She of the Night(Theion Publishing). We explore the enigmatic figure of Lilith across Mesopotamian myth, Jewish mysticism, folklore, and modern magical practice. Lili shares how Lilith first revealed Herself to her, the challenges of writing about such a fluid and multifaceted being, and how one might carefully approach Lilith in ritual and devotion. This week: Lili’s first encounters with Lilith in the 1990s Why Lilith is not an archetype, but a distinct and demanding goddess Mesopotamian “seeds” of Lilith: Lamashtu, Ardat-Lili, Ninlil, and more Lilith’s journey through Jewish mysticism, Arabic folklore, and European charms The Queen of the Night plaque and its mysterious resonance Lilith’s symbols: owls, serpents, night winds, blood, and husks How to approach Lilith in ritual — offerings, timing, and necessary precautions Why Lilith remains a powerful presence for modern magicians and mystics   Show Notes Get She of the Night from Theion Publishing: https://theionpublishing.com/catalogue/she-of-the-night/ 🔗 People, places, concepts mentioned Lili (Idlu Lili Regulus) – Author of She of the Night https://theionpublishing.com Lilith – Wikipedia (overview of the mythological figure) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilith Lamashtu – Wikipedia (Mesopotamian demoness, precursor figure) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamashtu Ardat-Lili – Wikipedia (Spirit connected with Lilith traditions) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardat-lili Ninlil – Wikipedia (Sumerian goddess linked with air, winds, and Lilith traditions) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninlil Tiamat – Wikipedia (Mesopotamian chaos goddess, sometimes connected to Lilith) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiamat Ereshkigal – Wikipedia (Goddess of the underworld) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ereshkigal Queen of the Night plaque – British Museum page https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/W_2003-0703-1 Kabbalah – Wikipedia (context for Lilith as Queen of the Qliphothic husks) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabbalah Theion Publishing – Publisher of She of the Night https://theionpublishing.com 💻 Follow & Support Follow Lili’s work at Theion Publishing: https://theionpublishing.com Follow Ulysses Black’s Substack: https://theritualist.substack.com Support Right Where You Are Sitting Now on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sittingnow Visit SittingNow for more episodes, articles, and extras: https://sittingnow.co.uk      

This week, Ken talks to author and cultural provocateur Stewart Home about his explosive new book Fascist Yoga: Grifters, Occultists, White Supremacists and the New Order in Wellness (Pluto Press). They dive into the strange, hidden history of yoga in the West, its unexpected ties to fascism, and how those shadows still linger in the modern wellness industry. This week: The carnival-barker roots of yoga in the West and the con artistry of Pierre Bernard How racial myth-making turned yoga into an “Aryan science” for early fascists Guido Keller, the Rijeka YOGA group, and the bizarre avant-garde politics of proto-fascism Major J. F. C. Fuller: from Crowleyan yogi to architect of modern warfare Francis Yeats-Brown, Hitler fandom, and yoga propaganda How fascist mysticism evolved into post-war yoga evangelism and daytime TV gurus Why the modern wellness industry still carries the DNA of its darker past Show Notes Get Stewart’s book at Pluto Press: https://www.plutobooks.com Pierre Bernard – Wikipedia (The “Great Oom,” early yoga grifter) https://twitter.com/stewarthomesoc Support Right Where You Are Sitting Now on Patreon: https://sittingnow.co.uk

This week Ken talks to author and esoteric scholar Peter Mark Adams about his new book Ritual and Epiphany in the Mysteries of Mithras (Theion Publishing). They explore the deep mysteries of Mithraic initiation, why caves matter, Mithras as cosmic hero, connections to Saturn, and the relevance of true initiatory experiences today. 💡 This week: Origins and roots of Mithras in Indo-European traditions, The bull-slaying scene (Tauroctony) and its deeper meaning, Mystery cult initiations and purification by water and fire, Why Mithraism appealed to Roman soldiers and elites, Connections to Saturn, Orphism, and the non-dual AI in reconstructing ritual processes, Freemasonry, Thelema, and modern echoes of Mithras 📚 Get Peter’s book at Theion Publishing: https://theionpublishing.com/shop/pma-ritualepiphany/ 🔗 People, places, concepts mentioned Peter Mark Adams – Official website https://petermarkadams.com Peter Mark Adams – Scarlet Imprint profile https://scarletimprint.com/collections/peter-mark-adams Theion Publishing https://theionpublishing.com David Beth – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Beth Helena Blavatsky – Wikipedia (briefly referenced re: esoteric currents) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helena_Blavatsky Epic of Gilgamesh – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_of_Gilgamesh Tiridates I of Armenia – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiridates_I_of_Armenia Nero – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nero Pleiades (star cluster) – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleiades Plato’s Phaedrus – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phaedrus_(dialogue) Porphyry – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porphyry_(philosopher) Orphism (religion) – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orphism_(religion) Saturn (mythology) – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_(mythology) Cronus – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cronus Demiurge – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demiurge Vajrayana Buddhism – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vajrayana Freemasonry – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemasonry Thelema – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thelema Mystery cult – Wikipedia (general concept) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_religion Tauroctony – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tauroctony Pater (Mithraism priest grade) – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithraic_mysteries#Grades_of_initiation

***Begin transmission   Joseph Matheny, David Metcalfe, Willow Truman and Ken Eakins send you transmissions from the Mauve Zone. How idiots became 'intellectuals', The Queen of Canada's Conspiracy scene, how to 'prove' UAPs, and ploughing them fields baby.   Music by Simon Smerdon   Transmission ends***

Join us as we come crashing down from the transcendental realm and deep into the Cthonic realm with our new friend author, publisher and magician David Beth This week: Why boredom is a powerful magickal tool, how the modern world is removing us from the spiritual Kosmos. and how to find Aleister Crowley books in an Indian bookshop in Africa (no, really!). Joining me in co-host duties this week is Ulysses Black Main theme by Simon Smerdon Music bed by chriszabriskie.com   David Beth Bio: David Beth was born in Luanda, Angola, South-West Africa in May, 1974, into a family of the (West) German Diplomatic Corps. He was educated in Europe and in Los Angeles, California, USA. David began his career as a teacher of occultism by leading small classes and conducting seminars in Denmark and Germany, where he was able to initiate a new style of ‘dialogue’ with the various levels of psychic experience. In 2002, after more than a decade of occult and spiritual studies, David began the intensive study of German philosophy and psychology, as internal experience and as evolution of the person, paying attention to those areas where the age of systems (Kant, Hegel, Nietzsche, Lotze) had failed to communicate with their respective age and with contemporary consciousness, especially ‘youth-culture’. At that time, David experienced an epiphany when he was led to discover the evolutionary theogony of eros, as found in the writings of Ludwig Klages, the Graf Hermann von Keyserling, and Max Scheler (philosophers highly read during the Weimar years, 1919-1933), as well as in the work of recent ‘character analysis’. By a careful exploration of his own inner-consciousness, David was able to enter upon a voyage into his own gnostic being. David realised that he had been initiated into this primal awareness by a high-priestess of an ancient Afro-Totemic tradition-history, when he was a very young man, still living in Africa. In a profound sense, she was the archetypal influence discovered by Klages in 1922, when he wrote his book Vom kosmogonischen Eros. In this work, the role of the eternal feminine in evolution was delineated as the faces of Isis, Yenus, Freya, Shakti, Tanith, Sophia-Maria. David realised that this was the answer to the needs of contemporary consciousness, particularly the disenchant­ment of the youth-awareness movement, which was found world-wide. In his first book, Voudon Gnosis, David began to teach for publication his interpretation of the modern mind which becomes gradually suffused with the polar-mysticism of his deeply personal encounter with god-archetypes and forms. These force-fields, which awakened as powers in David’s lectures and class-talks, now came to appear in his desire to hear the new sound-energy and see the light from the north, yet coming from the voice of a youth, a youth fed-up with static traditions, fed-up with traditions that had lost their vital-roots.    

  ***Begin transmission   David Metcalfe, Darragh Mason, Willow Truman, and Ken Eakins send you transmissions from the Mauve Zone. Check Darragh's amazing podcast @SpiritBox Check Willow's podcast archive @thenonsensebazaar7273   Music by Simon Smerdon   Transmission ends***

Enter the Chapel Perilous with us and bite from the apple of Eris as we explore the life and thought crimes of Robert Anton Wilson with author Gabriel Kennedy (Prop Anon). This week: RAW’s Aleister Crowley influences explored, why did the Chicago Police have a file on the Wilsons, RAWs relationship with Timothy Leary, and much more. Main theme by Simon Smerdon Music bed by chriszabriskie.com Pick up Gabriel’s book: Amazon UK Amazon US Lulu Gabriel Kennedy Bio: Gabriel Kennedy, aka Prop Anon, is an actor, musician, and writer whose work has been featured in BoingBoing.net, Realitysandwich.com, Mondo2000.com, and his own website, http://chapelperilous.us. Chapel Perilous: The Life and Thought Crimes of Robert Anton Wilson is his first book. Source: Google Books  

***Begin transmission Joseph Matheny, David Metcalfe, and Ken Eakins send you transmissions from the Mauve Zone. It's a Drone-O-Rama in the US and UK, The Orange Man is back in power, and Ken's Mantoid encounter. Music by Simon Smerdon   Transmission ends***   ► Web: https://sittingnow.co.uk ► Patreon: http://patreon.com/sittingnow ► Twitter: http://x.com/sittingnow ► Instagram: @sittingnow ► Tiktok @sittingnowofficial  

Egyptian deities, Thelemic Cabals and New Orleans Voodoo is our destination this week. Our shamanic spirit guide is the lovely Louie Martinié of Black Moon Publishing. This week: Who is Nema and what was the Bate Cabal?, what’s Ma’at (got to do) got to do with it?, Letters to Kenneth Grant, New Orleans Voodoo and much more.   Main theme by Simon Smerdon Music bed by chriszabriskie.com Show notes: The Horus Ma’at Lodge – Bate Cabal related Black Moon Publishing – Louis and Co’s publishing company Black Moon Publishing Facebook Voodoo Spiritual Temple – Louie’s Temple Starfire Publishing – Kenneth Grant’s books Ma’at Magick – Amazon Links UK/US/EU The Adena Mounds   Louis Martinié Bio: Louis Martinié is an author, “internationally known” percussionist, practitioner of a multitude of religions among them being New Orleans style Voodoo, and co-author of the book New Orleans VooDoo Tarot (1992), with Sallie Ann Glassman. He is a priest and drummer with the New Orleans Voodoo Spiritual Temple, and a primary drummer for the rituals of Priestess Miriam Chamani He is a leader of the band of drummers known as the Krewe of Nutria, who have drummed for the ritual shows of the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum. He is also the editor and a founder of Black Moon Publishing.

Travel with us down the 26th path to encounter the Crawling Chaos of the Faceless God Nyarlathotep. This week, our shamanic guide is scholar and author Tomas Vincente. This week: Kenneth Grant and the dream lore of H.P. Lovecraft, the connection between Nyarlathotep and Anubis, Why occultists need to loosen up their frameworks, the ordeal of the Abyss, and much more. Main theme by Simon Smerdon (Mothboy) Music bed by chriszabriskie.com Tomas Vincente Bio: Dr. Tomas Vincente is a scholar of ancient religion, magic and esotericism. His past work explores the emergence of Christian monotheism and the resulting decline of the chthonic cults of the ancient Mediterranean and Near East. He is dedicated to recovering the integrity of this archaic spirituality of blood and fire, which has been demonized by the Abrahamic religions for two millennia.

Ken and Brian get front-row tickets to the Magick Show, our master magician is the legendary countercultural master Therion, Richard Metzger. This week: How did the right-wing utilise magick, the sneaky occult tricks of Steve Bannon, Richard’s new show The Magick Show, and much more. Go help fund The Magick Show at http://magickshow.net   Main theme by Simon Smerdon (Mothboy) Music bed by chriszabriskie.com   Richard Metzger Bio: Richard Metzger is an American writer, journalist, and media personality best known for his work on Disinformation, a television show that aired on the Independent Film Channel in the early 2000s. The show explored unconventional topics like conspiracy theories, secret societies, and the paranormal, earning Metzger a reputation as a charismatic and thoughtful figure in alternative media. In addition to his TV career, Metzger is an influential writer and editor, contributing to publications and anthologies that challenge mainstream narratives. He is a key figure behind the Disinformation publishing company, which released books on countercultural and conspiracy topics, including The Disinformation Guide to Conspiracies. Metzger also runs Dangerous Minds, a website that continues to explore fringe culture, mysticism, and hidden histories. With his blend of curiosity, humor, and skepticism, Metzger has shaped the conversation around alternative thought and remains a prominent figure in the world of independent media. (source: ChatGPT)

***Begin transmission Joseph Matheny, Viking Brian, and Ken Eakins send you transmissions from the Mauve Zone. Did the Internet ruin the Backrooms? The Conspirituality grift, The Christian New Age, and The Black Lodge For the youth new to the scene, Brian was part of a podcast that inspired SittingNow called 'The Viking Youth Power Hour', so give him some love. Check out Brian's Brewery here - https://www.ibw-chicago.com/6-6-6/ Music by Simon Smerdon   Transmission ends***

We travel through the hidden mythologies of Eurasia to discover Daemons lurking in the shadows, capturing children, and seeing off evil sorcerers. Our Daemonolgist this week is the author of ‘Daemons are Forever’ David Gordon White. This week: Daemons made from faeces, Tantra’s place in India, Dangerous Pools, Changelings, and much more.   Main theme by Simon Smerdon (Mothboy) Music bed by chriszabriskie.com Get David’s book here:UK – https://amzn.to/4brXJFL US – https://amzn.to/3zb3gTt David Gordon White Bio: Since being named the J. F. Rowny Professor of Comparative Religion in 2011, I have returned to the focus of my PhD dissertation and first book, Myths of the Dog-Man (Chicago: 1991). While that project focused on the spread of the mytheme of a particular monstrous race across ancient and medieval Asia and Europe, my current interest concerns contacts and exchanges in matters of demonology. Unbound as they are by exclusivist doctrinal and institutional strictures,, demons have traveled more lightly than gods, and so it is that one finds the names of Buddhist demons in medieval Manichean spell texts, charms against Iranian demons in Lithuanian and Chinese sources, an amulet of an Indian demoness at an archeological site in Turkmenistan, and so on. Elsewhere, the yoginis and dakinis of South and East Asian Hinduism and Buddhism are found to be related to the striga of ancient Rome and the vampires of early modern eastern Europe; the tenth-century BCE Homeric myth of Odysseus and Circe reappears, only slightly altered, in the Mahavamsa, a fifth-century CE chronicle of the island of Ceylon; and the nightmares of European lore find their homologues in the maras of South Asia and the Chinese “devil-kings” called mo-wang. It is the “connected histories” of these beings and the humans who trafficked in them that have become my area of focus. Both the Silk Road and ancient and medieval maritime trade routes were information superhighways, and a portion of that information was demonological. It is easy to imagine soldiers, sailors, merchants, diviners, monks, and priests swapping amulets and spells at Silk Road halting points and ports. Demons and the techniques to control them were as much a commodity in the ancient and medieval world as germs, guns, and steel. Source – https://www.religion.ucsb.edu/people/faculty/david-white/

Ken and Marck drill into the cavernous tunnels of Mount Shasta searching for Lermurian secrets. Our flying submarine captain this week is Justin McHenry author of ‘Lemuria: A True Story of a Fake Place’. This week: The great Lemur mystery, Blavatsky and root races, The I AM Movement and the Minutemen, The Shaver Mysteries, and much more. Get Justin’s book: https://amzn.to/3vAafEa (UK) https://amzn.to/3VMsOzx (US) Justin McHenry Bio: I love a good story. And history holds an infinite number of stories just waiting to be rediscovered and brought back out into the present. History is a part of who I am. For over half my life, I have been studying and researching and writing and working with history. Working as an archivist and researcher and getting to physically interact with and study centuries old historical documents has created this very personal relationship with history for me. Discovering those stories held within, the lives of the people mentioned, the events coming to life is as exciting as anything can be. Being a part of the process of researching that history, finding those stories, and bringing them to life is what drives me as a writer and a historian. My interests are varied and my writing has matched my curiosity. Being from West Virginia and studying West Virginia history, I have written much about the state’s history from telling the story of the first person to die in the state from Spanish flu, who was an incarcerated black man, to how the first woman in the state to establish her own law practice sued the male hierarchy of her town for their sexist harassment of herself and her career. But I have also written about feuding Revolutionary War doctors, 19th century ghost hunting, and much more.