ok, the updates are done and... up. what has changed? the look of the main page has changed www.CultofCthulhu.net , as well as, the addition of a new area. a newsletter sign-up page which is how people shall receive The Green Trapezoid! yes, this quarterly e-zine will contain information on current goings-on, short essays on Cultish topics, and fun things. so please sign-up when convenient.
lastly, my prose poem Unbearable Fruit is on the other site: www.Eldritch-Infernal.com ...interestingly enough, Unbearable Fruit is just as "inspired" and oppressive/difficult as the Meta-Sigil itself. i had the title as a dead link long before i began work on the poetry. in a way, this work is a piece of word magic. not everyone will enjoy it, however. and that's perfectly fine; as it should be.
alright, if you have feedback, then post it here on the CoC forum thread.
lulu.com is the print on demand company which publishes Cthulhu Cult, our bible. this May, lulu is having a special on bulk orders which means extra savings for all of us... (i'm still waiting for my personalized quote). i will be ordering approximately 250 books for direct sales.
the best part is that i've decided now is the time to make a casewrapped hardcover edition of Cthulhu Cult - identical to the paperback and PDF. i'm going to sell them myself in order to save both of us money. including shipping and handling, the price of Cthulhu Cult in hardcover will be $35. to put this in perspective, the softcover retails for about $25 (unsigned) and the limited edition black leather edition went for about $200 a year ago.
the new hardcover of our bible is available only through me and will also be signed by me, High Priest Venger Satanis!!! and shipped to you direct after receiving your money order (made payable to Darrick Dishaw or well-hidden cash of $35 (the preferred methods of payment). for international orders outside the US, add an additional $5 for shipping.
Darrick Dishaw 3523 Swansee Ridge Sun Prairie WI 53590
if you have a question, email me at: Venger.Satanis@yahoo.com (and feel free to re-post as a bulletin or blog entry)...
thanks Jason! Cthulhu Cult's first video review. also wanted to say that i think you're absolutely right about the depth (or lack thereof) regarding the concepts brought up in the book. after a year's perspective, it's really more of an intro/primer to HPL's Mythos, Chaos Magic, and the 4th way.
rest assured that a follow up book is coming which will go further. you'll get a review copy of that as well. probably around xmas 2008.
A: Yes, I believe he was. From out of nowhere, this visionary writer created a sprawling and monstrous cosmology which has influenced many. The truths that HPL touches on are not only profound, but prophetic. He explained string theory and quantum physics before there was such a thing.
Q: Does Cthulhu exist?
A: He is real, but not in the way most people take the word to mean. Cthulhu is not real as the chair I'm sitting in or the orange I'm looking at. He is of a different, higher reality. There are dimensions with more substance and "quality" than the one we occupy. Cthulhu reigns in that reality and occasionally manifests in ours.
Q: Do you consider yourself and your religion evil?
A: Evil is relative. I consider myself and my religion to go against the grain, against nature. We try to bring the universe into our way of thinking, our desires. We do not try to fit into anyone's great plan. We have our own plans and our own goals. So if that is evil, then so are we.
Q: There have been several people who've claimed to have copies of the Necronomicom. Do you believe the Necronomicon exists, and if so, do you belive that any particular person who has claimed to have the real one truly has the real Necronomicon?
A: I don't think there is a "real" Necronomicon as H.P. Lovecraft intended. HPL's vague hints and enticing suggestions create the possibility in people's minds; and that is probably a greater achievement than simply writing a horrifying book.
Q: Do you believe previous religious orders dedicated to Cthulhu or any other Great Old Ones exist?
A: Yes, they do. There are many religions that have been influenced by the Cthulhu Mythos. However, I don't believe they go far enough or take it as seriously as the Cult of Cthulhu. Because of HPL's florid, over-the-top style there are many who love the Mythos because it is amusing... kind of like the live action Batman show from the 1960's staring Adam West. It's so larger than life that some find it silly. The CoC enjoys the humorous side, but we are still deadly serious about the Old Ones.
Q: Cthulhu and the Great Old Old Ones are believed to care nothing about the human race. Why worship them?
A: I do not believe that the Old Ones care nothing for the human race. If they did not care, then why interact with people? Why assist sorcerers? Why Their preoccupation with earth and Their appearance in human dreams? And why are some of us drawn to Them? HPL's story, "The Call of Cthulhu" states that the Great Old Ones will teach man new ways to kill and revel and to be like Them. This clearly states that mankind has strong ties to these nightmarish Gods.
Q: What's all this about killing and reveling?
A: It's all about power and the fruits of power. We have to establish The Old Ones' kingdom on earth... much blood will be spilled.
Q: What are the main principles of your religion?
A:Hmmm, that's a vague sort of question. The word "principles" can be interpreted in different ways... I will say this, however: Power creates opportunities to aquire yet more power.
Q: What will happen after Cthulhu rises?
A: Those who are Awake will learn of Cthulhu's ways; the chosen shall ascend to a Godlike state. The earth and its unevolved ape-like race will be burned in emerald fires, crushed by engorged tentacles, and swallowed by impenetrable darkness.
Q: How does your religion benefit its followers?
A: The Cult of Cthulhu shows people the hidden truth of themselves, the cosmos, and their place in it. Our followers see beyond the false reality all around us. There is a carnal and spiritual salvation through our beliefs, and the ultimate benefit is the potential to become God.
last week, a new official member of the CoC, Rough Magick, contributed money so that others could join without having the financial means to do so themselves.
his gracious donation of $50 is the start of a new scholarship program for would-be Cultists of little means. but how do we decide who is to benefit? this time, we have decided upon an essay writing contest (maybe next year an art work contest?)
entries should be submitted between November 1st and November 15th. the three best essays will be chosen and each winning author will elevated to a Herald of the Old Gods on my birthday, Nov. 25th. only non-official Cultists who seek initiation into our organization should compete.
each essay should be approximately 3,000 words and based on one of these topics:
1. the relationship between Satanism and the Cthulhu Mythos.
2. a personal account of your relationship with the Mythos and Cult of Cthulhu... past, present, and future.
3. critical analysis and exploration of H.P. Lovecraft's writing.
each essay will be judged on the following merits:
1. powerful ideas.
2. originality of content and/or presentation.
3. persuasiveness... creating strong, compelling emotion that takes hold of the reader.
entries can be sent to me by email with "CoC scholarship" in the subject line to: darrick@CultofCthulhu.net
additionally, any and all essays may be used by the Cult of Cthulhu, as well as, the respective authors themselves. post here or email me if you have questions or comments. also, contact me about contributing future scholarship money; i hope we can make this an annual promotion.
rejuvenated
confident
calm