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In the light of the return of Khonsu (Ashraf), Jim (with Teddy who has, on his data base, a complete record of all that Khonsu has reported) decides to consult Novius. Later, Ethan and Teddy return to 'Vegas to 'pick-up' Glen, Max and Brody, and bring them to the Winter Palace for a meeting to hear about Novius latest conclusions with regard to the information provided by Ashraf.
The following morning Jim took Teddy to see Novius in his study.
Jim also had a 'hard copy' that Teddy had printed off of the information that Ashraf had given since his arrival back at the 'Winter Palace.
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| Novius in his Study in Luxor |
Novius took some considerable time to read and digest the information that Teddy had provided.
"So, our little bear is very useful in that he can record all this information.", Novius remarked admiringly as he carefully perused the documents that Teddy had provided.
"It's 'Teddy' - not 'little bear' - if you don't mind, Novius.", Teddy said haughtily, as he waited for Novius to come to some conclusions, and possibly pass some comments.
"Well this seems like quite a different story to the original one that we were given by this young man...", Novius commented, turning to Jim, and seemingly ignoring Teddy's previous statement.
"True... But I don't think he's deliberately lying.
I think he's a very scared and confused boy - and I'm not really surprised after all that he's gone through - but we'll go into this more, possibly tomorrow, as I would like you to 'chair' a discussion about this whole matter.", Jim suggested.
"Well of course, Marcus (Jim) ...
And now that we seem to be getting more information - hopefully we can come to some more definite conclusions.", Novius said, as he took the printouts over to his desk for further study.
(for more information about Novius go to 'Character Sketches' - and also 'More Lessons with Novius')
At the same time Zac had interupted Ethan in Jim's suite, where Ethan was relishing a breakfast of cheeseburgers - specially prepared by Murad - to inform Ethan that he needed to be ready to go, with Teddy, to pick up Glen, Max and Brody from 'Vegas.
"So I presume that you have told them by 'phone ?", Ethan asked, surprised at the suddenness of the request.
"Of course - and they'll be waiting at the Club Athena - with their luggage." Zac explained.
"Okey dokey...", Ethan replied, going back to his cheeseburgers - seemingly 'unfazed' by the news.
Later, Ethan met up with Teddy in their suite.
"So what did Novius want ?", Ethan asked.
"He wanted to know all about what our friend Ashraf had told us.", Teddy replied.
"And you told him ?", Ethan said.
"Of course - Jim had arranged it...
I gave Novius print-outs of all my recordings of Ashraf talking to you, me and Jim...", Teddy answered.
"And ?", Ethan queried.
"Well - you know Novius...
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| Teddy on the Sofa |
"And when will we get to hear what Novius thinks about all this 'info' ?", Ethan asked.
"Tomorrow, I expect - but first you and me have to go to 'Vegas and collect Glen, Max and Brody". Teddy said.
"Oh, so Zac told you...", Ethan said.
"No - Jim did , actually.", Teddy said, as he carefully started to sort out his cushions on the sofa.
"Right - then shouldn't we get going ?", Ethan asked.
"Yes, but with our 'Portal' it realty takes no time at all...", Teddy replied.
"Well no matter - 'let's get this show on the road'... !", Ethan said enthusiastically.
And with that Ethan left the suite as he picked up Teddy - bounded down the stairs - ran down the corridor, and arrived in the Victorian lounge.
"Pardon me...", Teddy began diffidently, when they arrived at the Victorian Lounge...
"But haven't you forgotten something ?", Teddy asked.
"Oh yes - the little gold box.", Ethan said, feeling very foolish and breathless.
"Precisely !", Teddy responded, as Ethan sat him on the ornately carpeted floor.
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| The 'Dimensional Portal' |
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| The Gold Box |
Once back in the Victorian lounge, Ethan took the gold box out of the white Walmart bag.
"Now stand clear - and here we go !", and Ethan pressed the red button.
"Oh dear... still the white smoke.
You must get Faunus to fix that,", Teddy said, as the 'Dimensional Portal' suddenly and dramatically materialised in the centre of the room.
"So... open the doors...", Ethan impatiently told Teddy.
Teddy obediently pressed the button to gain entry to the portal.
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| Portal Control Panel |
Inside, the 'Portal' was just a small room - although it could expand to accommodate larger groups, or various 'objects'.
The walls, ceiling and floor were plain white, made of some indeterminate material, and the interior was lit with a pervasive white luminescence - all very sci-fi.
The only discernible feature within the 'Portal' was a control panel, which looked suspiciously like the buttons to be found in a modern elevator.
The trick to operating the 'Portal' was to enter a complex series of numbers into the control panel that would instruct the 'Portal' as to where and when it would rematerialize.
Fallible humans (like Ethan) were not to be trusted with such operations, and for that reason only Teddy (who was not a 'fallible human', but rather an animatronic teddy bear) was allowed to operate the portal.
So Teddy entered in the 'co-ordinates', and as he pressed each button, the number beside it glowed a delightful shade of pale blue.
After that, nothing discernible happened, but in a matter of moments the doors opened, and they found themselves in Jim's office in the Penthouse building in Summerlin, in Las Vegas. USA !
"Hi ! Anyone here ?", Ethan called out.
"In the living room !", Glen answered.
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| Brody at the Penthouse |
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| Glen at the Penthouse |
The three 'boys' crowded round Teddy, ruffling his fur and tickling his ears, and shaking hands with Ethan.
"You do know I'm not a 'pet' !", Teddy grumbled - but really he was pleased to see them - and flattered that they seemed to be pleased to see him.
"So what's going on in Egypt ?", Glen asked once the greetings were over.
"Well I'm hoping it's gonna be a nice, luxurious holiday in a 'palace' on the Nile.", Max said hopefully.
"Uh-uh... not really.", Ethan said. |
| Max at the Penthouse |
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| Kurt |
"Well Kurt's not too happy.
He had some good fights set up for me...", Brody commented.
(in case you've forgotten or are new to the story, Kurt is the manager of the California Combat Club - now owned by Jim, and oddly situated in 'Paradise', Las Vegas, Nevada, and not California).
"Good fights ? or perhaps more opportunities for you to get 'beaten up'...", Ethan said rather sharply.
"I think you're forgetting my last fight with that guy 'Tank'...
At the end, they had to carry him out of the ring...", Brody said.
"True...", Ethan conceded.
"So have we all got our luggage ?", Teddy asked, like a professional tourist guide.
"What about passports and visas?", Max asked.
"They'll be sent on to you - you won't be needing them for entering Egypt on this occasion.".
"Oh ?", was all that Max could think of saying on receiving Ethan's authoritative, yet odd reply.
"So if you come with me and Teddy into Jim's office, we can make our way to Egypt...", Ethan proposed.
"But what about Chuck, and the limo ?", Brody asked, sounding puzzled.
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| 'Sigi' - the Other Side of the Door the 'Lion Cave' - West Bank - Luxor |
"You see 'Sigi' explained to Max and me that Faunus had provide a 'cool', and a very weird way to travel - and much quicker, and much less hassle than flying.", Glen continued.
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| The Dimensional Portal |
"Oh yes ! - and what's faster than flying ?", Brody asked, as they made their way down the hallway to Jim's office.
"Well, it's called a 'Dimensional Portal-thingy' - or something like that.", Ethan said.
So they entered Jim's Study.
"OK - so Jim's had a new, rather fancy door put in - so what's this got to do with going to Egypt.", Brody said, thinking that they were playing a rather ridiculous practical joke on him.
"Portal is just a fancy word for door, so you're partly right...", Teddy remarked.
"Well bring your luggage, and step inside with us, and we'll show you.", Ethan said.
"Yes, well you go first...", Brody said.
"OK...", Ethan replied, and taking Teddy, he stepped into the 'Portal', followed by Glen and Max, both taking their luggage.
"So, it's a new elevator, to take us down to the underground garage - so why didn't you just say.", Brody said, taking his luggage, and thinking he had worked out what their little game was.
Teddy then tapped in the co-ordinates.
Brody looked puzzled.
"So what's up ?
It doesn't seem to be working.", Brody said, convinced that he had stepped into an elevator, and having noticed that there was no sensation of movement - presumed that there was a 'glitch'.
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| Victorian Lounge - Winter Palace - Luxor - Egypt |
Brody looked out - obviously amazed.
"Where the fuck are we ?", Brody muttered, as he stepped out into the 'Victorian Lounge'..
"This, Brody, is the 'Victorian Lounge-thingy' - and you are now in the 'Winter Palace', in Egypt.", Ethan said proudly.
"I don't fuckin' believe it !", Brody exclaimed, as he dropped his cases, and staggered over to one of the ornate armchairs and sat down heavily, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Now you have to swear that you will never tell a soul about this - otherwise Zac and his guys will bundle you into the 'Portal-thingy' and just send you off - anywhere...", Ethan said, trying to sound menacing, but not really succeeding."
"OK ! OK ! - We're friends yes - 'buddies' ? Remember ?
I'll never breathe a word - to anyone - not that anyone would believe me anyway.", Brody said, defensively.
"Yes... but you see it's important - Jim insists.
And already Clare's got into trouble for talking too much." Ethan explained - probably 'talking too much' himself by saying that.
"But she's alright - nothing's happened to her ?", Brody asked, showing an unusual degree of concern.
"Oh yes - Jim just got Faunus to have a chat to her...", Ethan said.
"Good... Well it's certainly quite a place...", Brody said, as he looked around at the huge lounge.
"And all this belongs to Jim - or should I say Mr Johnson." Brody asked, being careful not to sound to familiar with his boss.
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| Bambi and Thumper |
"Yep - he bought it for me and the kittens.", Ethan replied.
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| The 'Boss' and Brody - 'Vegas - Nevada |
At that moment Josh, with Glaux on his shoulder, came into the room.
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| Josh & Glaux |
Who they actually were, or why they all seemed to be so strange, Brody no longer bothered to care, as since he was 'taken on' at the 'California Combat Club' by the now deceased 'Boss', his life had improved out of all recognition in almost every way imaginable.
"So - we'd better get some rooms organised for you, Glen and Max...", Josh said to Brody.
"Thanks - and I see that you've got that sleepy owl over here with you...", Brody commented.
"Yes - he likes the food that he can catch here in the gardens.", Josh replied, making a good effort to be polite.
"He always seems sleepy, Brody, but that's because he's awake all night catching stuff.", Max said, as they made their way to the rear staircase.
"So, once you are settled in your rooms, come back down to the Victorian Lounge, and Jim will welcome you, and tell you what's going on.", Josh said.
Brody - and also Max and Glen were still getting over the experience of being in Las Vegas just a few minutes before as they made their way, with Josh and Glaux, up the stairs to their rooms.
Max and Glen, however, had the benefit of being pre-warned about the 'Portal' by 'Sigi' (although they hadn't really believed him), whereas for Brody the 'dimensional trip' had been a total shock.
Later, before dinner, the 'boy's and Teddy gathered in the Victorian Lounge in order to meet Jim and Novius.
Both Jim and Novius shook hands with the new arrivals, and then everyone found a comfortable armchair, or shared a sofa.
By this time it was beginning to get dark, so Glaux was absent, having 'left the building' to find a suitable perch from which to survey the gardens - prior to his night-time hunting.
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| Khonsu on the West Bank |
"So ... I'm pleased to see our new guests.", Jim began.
Jim then continued his introduction.
"Now some of you are probably wondering why we have come together here.
To begin with - I think that you all know of our 'friend' Khonsu, from the West Bank, here in Luxor who, after an unavoidable absence, has returned to Luxor, and shall be staying with us here in the 'Winter Palace', although he is not attending this meeting, as he has some business with Faunus, on the 'West Bank'.
Yesterday, Khonsu had a long talk with myself, Ethan and Teddy, and this morning I met with Novius, and discussed with him much of what Khonsu had told us.
Now I think it would be useful if we allowed Novius to give us some of his opinions on the information that Khonsu has provided.", Jim explained.
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| 'Peabody Hotel' - Memphis - Tennessee |
"I suppose so, Glen...
And presumably you are referring to a meeting that was held by the 'Boss' at the 'Peabody Hotel' in Memphis, which was very much concerned with Upuaut, and also a young man, who called himself 'Kha-met' - but who also turned up on the 'West Bank', where the locals had taken to calling him 'Khonsu' - apparently because of his odd hairstyle and the fact that he was only seen at night.", Jim said.
"And now, is he called Kha-met, or Khonsu ?", Glen asked.
"Neither, actually.", Zac interrupted.
"He now calls himself 'Ashraf al Masri' - at least on his 'Government Identity Card', which I have had checked - and it is genuine - a that name simply means Ashraf (a common Arabic boy's name - and 'al Masri', which simply means the Egyptian
"OK - well that's probably enough of an introduction.
What I would like to hear now is what Novius would like to share with us about what he thinks about what 'Ashraf al Masri' has been saying - as I think it would be useful information for all of us.
I would also like to add that any information given out at this meeting is strictly confidential - and if anyone reveals any of this information to anyone else, who is not here present, then the consequences will be extremely serious.", Jim explained.
"Well thank you. Marcus..." (remember, Novius always used the original Latin names for Jim, Ethan, Josh and Zac).
And so Novius settled back, and began his talk. while the kittens jumped up onto his lap, and settled down, intent on listening (they were, as you should know, no ordinary kittens).
(The additions, in pale blue text, are not part of 'Novius talk' but are extra information - mainly derived from Teddy's data-base - and provided for the general reader.)
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| Pyramid and Valley Temple - Gizeh - Egypt |
In the last hundred years, however, such questions have exercised the minds of not only of 'Egyptologists' - who if the truth were known, know very little of ancient Egypt, but surprisingly, such questions have actually exercised the minds of the leaders of powerful governments, and the security services of many of those governments.
Why this should be, I will endeavour to explain later.", Novius began by way of introduction.
"Excuse me, Novius, but what has all this about ancient Egypt got to do with this strange boy Khonsu ?", Max boldly asked - interrupting Novius.
"That is a good question, Max, and the answer is - 'a great deal' - but much may be explained, in due course, by considering the 'tales' told by this young man 'Ashraf al Masri', who claims, in actuality, to have been a 'slave boy' in ancient Egypt.", Novius replied.
At that remark everyone, except Jim, looked somewhat surprised.
And so Novius continued with his 'talk'.
"Now some of you may be thinking that we talked all about this back in Memphis - and we did deal with many aspects of this subject.
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| Chaco Canyon - New Mexico - USA |
In addition, there has been your previous visit to Egypt and, of course, your involvement with 'Khonsu' - who you previously met when he appeared as 'Kha-met', when you entered what appeared to be a UFO, in the form of a pyramid - the 'Pyramid Ship' - at 'Chaco Canyon'. and when 'Khonsu' took you to the 'Lion Cave' on the 'West Bank' in Luxor.
Now just a few moments ago, I mentioned the involvement of 'Security Services' with regard to matters ancient Egyptian.
This however does not only relate to matters 'ancient Egyptian', but also the whole field of UFOs, right from the late 1940s.
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| Kimpton Hotel - Denver - Colorado |
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is a civilian foreign intelligence service of the federal government of the United States, officially tasked with gathering, processing, and analysing national security information from around the world, primarily through the use of human intelligence. As a principal member of the United States Intelligence Community (IC), the CIA reports to the Director of National Intelligence and is primarily focused on providing intelligence for the President and Cabinet of the United States.
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| UFO - 'Flying Saucer' |
"Well one reason is the fact that 57 percent of US citizens believe that UFO, and therefore presumably 'aliens' of some kind, are real - and with that number of people in the US holding such views, then the matter is obviously of concern to the US government - and other governments for that matter.", Novius replied.
Brody nodded in assent, and Novius continued his talk.
(Most of the information regarding the involvement of the USAF and US Intelligence Organisations was researched by Teddy, on behalf of Novius)
"In the late 1940s, and the following decade, the CIA closely monitored the reports made by the Air Force, aware of the mounting number of sightings.
Increasingly concerned that UFOs might pose a potential security threat, the CIA secretly concluded that since there was a remote possibility that UFOs might be interplanetary aircraft, it would be necessary to investigate each and every reported sighting.
Although it had monitored UFO reports for a number of years, the CIA reacted to the new rash of sightings in the early 1950s by forming a special study group within the 'Office of Scientific Intelligence '(OSI) and the 'Office of Current Intelligence' (OCI) to review the situation.
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| United States Airforce |
He also urged that CIA conceal its interest in UFOs from the media and the public, in view of probable alarmist tendencies that might view such interest as confirming the existence of UFOs , which, of course, to some extent was the fact.
In addition the USAF (United States Ait Force) did its best to deny the reality of UFO sightings, while the CIA continued to show considerable concern about such reports - mainly because of the military and political problems existing between the Soviet Union and the USA, and this was also a factor causing the CIA, and other intelligence agencies, to have serious national security concerns with regard to the 'flying saucer' situation.". Novius continued.
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services. Initially formed as a part of the United States Army on 1 August 1907, the USAF was established as a separate branch of the U.S. Armed Forces on 18 September 1947 with the passing of the National Security Act of 1947.
CIA Logo
And so Novius once again continued...
"Then, after the report of the 'Robertson Panel', which was tasked with looking into the UFO 'problem', both the USAF and the CIA, at least publicly, appeared to dismiss the whole matter of UFOs.
Of course that didn't mean that the intelligence agencies were no longer interested in such phenomena - far from it.
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| Kenneth Arnold |
An example of such a simple, but significant, event occurred on June 24, 1947, when a private pilot - Kenneth Arnold - claimed that he saw a string of nine - and remember that number - shiny unidentified flying objects flying past Mount Rainier at speeds that Arnold estimated at a minimum of 1,200 miles an hour (1,932 km/hr).
This was the first 'post-War' sighting in the United States that produced nationwide news coverage, and is credited with being the first of the modern era of UFO sightings - although in fact it was by no means the first.
Arnold's description of the objects also led to the press quickly coining the term 'flying saucer' as popular description for 'UFOs'.
Apart from such 'sighting's, however, there was also the phenomena of 'contactees' - individuals who claimed to have actual contact with the supposed occupants of these 'flying saucers' - individuals like some of yourselves."
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| 'Alien Leaving a 'Saucer' - Arizona Desert - USA |
Novius then continued speaking.
"The first 'contactees' in the 1950s caused quite a stir, as they were quite happy to publicize, in the media, their meetings with 'aliens', and in many cases published books recounting their experiences.
As time went by, however, the 'stories' that the 'contactees' relayed became more and more bizarre, and gradually, over time, they lost almost all credibility.
The 'aliens' that the 'contactees' supposedly encountered, however, were by and large polite and friendly; tall and handsome, with blue eyes and blond hair - later referred to as 'Nordics'.
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| George Adamski |
Probably the most famous 'contactee' - and there were many during the 1950s and early 1960s - was George Adamski.
Now George Adamski, who was born in 1889, was a Polish American 'contactee' and later author who became widely known after he claimed to have photographed spaceships from other planets, met with friendly Nordic type 'alien' Space Brothers, and to have taken flights with them to the Moon and other planets.
Adamski called himself a 'philosopher', a 'professor' and a 'saucer researcher', although many investigators concluded that his claims were an elaborate hoax, and that Adamski himself was a charlatan.", Novius stated.
Adamski was born in Bromberg in the Kingdom of Prussia, in the German Empire. He was one of five siblings born to ethnic Polish parents. When Adamski was two years old, his family emigrated to the United States and settled in New York City. From 1913 to 1916, beginning at the age of 22, he was a soldier in the 13th U.S. Cavalry Regiment. In 1917 Adamski moved West, doing maintenance work in Yellowstone National Park and working in an Oregon flour mill and a California concrete factory. In the 1920s, Adamski became interested in Theosophy. By 1930 Adamski was a minor figure on the California 'occult' scene, teaching his personal mixture of Eastern religions, which he called 'Universal Law'. In 1944, Adamski and some of his followers purchased land at the base of Palomar Mountain, where they built a house and a campground called 'Palomar Gardens', and a small diner called 'Palomar Gardens Café.
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| 'Ordo Templi Orientis' |
"At the time that Adamski made his claims, however, the fact that, initially, he met with a considerable degree of approval and success encouraged others, such as Howard Menger, Daniel Fry, George Van Tassel, and Truman Bethurum to come forward with reports of similar 'contacts' with 'aliens'.
What we should note, however, particularly with the Adamski 'case', is the connection that Adamski had with the California 'occult' scene.
More disconcerting is the fact that Mount Palomar, where Adamski based his operations, was also the site of a 'temple' belonging to an occult group known as the 'OTO' - 'Ordo Templi Orientis'."
Mount Palomar lies just minutes north of the 33rd parallel. This is significant because 33 is an important number in Masonic symbolism.
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| Jack (Marvel) Parsons |
Marvel Whiteside Parsons - later known as Jack Parsons - was born to a wealthy family, on October 2, 1914, in Los Angeles.
He lived a lonely childhood, due in part to his parents' broken marriage, and spent a great deal of his youth reading and day-dreaming, and developing a growing resentment of all interference, especially of the kind posing as 'authority'.
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| Aleister Crowley |
A brilliant, if rather 'disturbed' bisexual scientist, Parson is reported to have had an 'alien' encounter in the Mojave Desert - presumably along the lines of Adamski's 'desert encounter'.
The local Indians regarded Mount Palomar as 'holy'. Perhaps because of this the O.T.O. believed that Palomar was the 'sexual chakra' of the Earth. Parsons, who led the OTO in California, commuted regularly between Palomar and Pasadena. The famed 'Mount Palomar Observatory', with Art Deco buildings designed by Russell W. Porter to house the 200-inch Hale Telescope, was opened in 1949, although the OTO Temple was consecrated on Palomar in 1930, well before the Observatory was planned.
Mount Palomar Observatory
And this, of course, has brought us, by many strange coincidences, to Aleister Crowley, who, according to my research, may indeed play a part in this whole 'alien' matter that is rarely considered.
In the beginning, Crowley was simply a wealthy young man, living off a vast inheritance, who played around with occult ideas that he liked to call 'Magick' - always spelt with a 'k'.
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| 'Stele of Ankh-ef-en-Khonsu' |
The stele of 'Ankh-ef-en-Khonsu' is still on public display in the Cairo Museum, with it's original 'museum number' 666, which had particular significance for Crowley - the number being the number of 'the Beast' taken from the 'Book of Revelations' - the last book in the 'New Testament'
"Ah... and there's that name again !", Ethan remarked, referring to the name Khonsu, and interrupting Novius.
"Yes indeed - Novius agreed.
"And it was as a result of this discovery that Crowley made contact with a 'non-human' entity that called itself 'Aiwass' and, over a number of afternoons in Cairo, 'Aiwass' dictated to Crowley what has become known as the 'Liber AL vel Legis' or 'Book of the Law'.
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| Egyptianism |
Interest in Ancient Egypt and the 'gods' was also encouraged by the Napoleonic conquest of Egypt in 1798, by Madame Blavatsky, in 'Isis Unveiled' in 1877, and much later, by Paul Brunton, who wrote of his mystical exploits in his best selling book 'In Search of Secret Egypt'.
And so here were some of the probable origins of the fascination in the West with ancient Egypt; the myths; the 'gods' and the monuments
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| Schwaller de Lubicz |
René Adolphe Schwaller de Lubicz was born in 1887 and died in 1961).
He was born René Adolphe Schwaller in Alsace-Lorraine, and became a French Egyptologist and mystic who popularized the idea of 'sacred geometry' in ancient Egypt during his study of the art and architecture of the Temple of Luxor in Egypt.
The results of his studies were published in his subsequent book 'The Temple In Man'.
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| L Ron Hubbard |
Almost immediately Parsons met Marjorie Cameron, and regarded her as the being that he and Hubbard had materialized through the ritual.
Soon Parsons began the next stage of the ritual, by attempting to conceive a child through 'sex magic workings'.
Although no child was conceived, this did not apparently affect the result of the ritual to that point.
Now regardless, many occultists believe that previously Crowley had opened up a 'portal', in 1918 during the 'Amalantrah Workings', and reported that had made contact with a being (Lam) who was a representative of what we now refer to as 'Grey' aliens.
It is also conjectured that Parsons and Hubbard had intentionally enlarged that 'portal' during what came to be known as the 'Babalon Workings', to which I have previously referred.
Interestingly, it was only at the end of the Second World War, right after Parsons 'Babalon Working', that UFO sightings became common in the USA.". Novius was saying - but Jim interupted.
"So... excuse me Novius.
I'm sure that we are all fascinated by your interesting talk, and are keen to eventually hear any conclusions that you may offer - but I really think we should break for dinner, and then return after our refreshment...", Jim said, taking great care to be polite, and not offend Novius in any way.
"Yes, of course Marcus.
You see, once I get started on this sort of thing, I lose all track of time.
Now if you boys really want to hear my conclusions, I shall be back here after dinner, but I will not be offended in any way if you feel that, at least for one night, you've heard enough.", Novius said, very gallantly.
"Golly ! that was complicated...", Ethan said, and Brody agreed, as left the Victorian Lounge, but all the 'boys' - and to Novius they were all boys - crowded round him with praise for his talk, and numerous questions - which Novius fended off in a friendly manner, assuring everybody that there would be plenty of time for any questions that they might have at the end of the evening.
After an excellent evening meal, provided by Murad - the new Chef de Cuisine at the Winter Palace, everyone returned to the Victorian Lounge to hear the conclusion of Novius' talk, and then to ask any relevant questions - and some surprises await them...
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All text - © Copyright Peter Crawford 2021
All Images - © Copyright Vittorio Carvelli 2021
Graphic Design - © Copyright Zac Sawyer 202