John Dee And The Enochian Apocalypse
December 19, 2012Read moreDoctor John Dee (1527 – 1609), remains one of London’s most intriguing historical figures. He even inspired Damon Albarn, the singer/songwriter of Blur to write and perform an opera about his life in 2012. This should not be surprising, for Dee’s talents are many and his legend seems eternal. Dee was a renaissance man; an occultist, mathematician, astronomer, astrologer and
00The Conspiracy Olympics
June 12, 2012Read moreFrom the balcony of my Shoreditch flat I can just about make out London’s Olympic Stadium in the distance. Should any of the 2012 Olympic ‘conspiracy’ rumours come to fruition then I am assured of having a bird’s eye view of the proceedings. Let’s hope the most memorable thing about the Games is the athletes. The 2012 London Summer Olympics
Everywhere But No Place
September 20, 2011Read moreI need to tell you about a great new book, but before I do let me say this: I hate fiction. I mean I loathe it. I really don’t care what colour someone’s eyes are or how soft their voice is. Frankly, most adjectives make me cringe. When I was filming the National Geographic documentary, The Truth Behind King Arthur,
The Stone
January 6, 2011Read moreI love horror films. Mind you, not just any scary movie. I’m talking about vintage, genre-defining works, such as Hammer Horror productions and cult classics, like The Wicker Man. In addition to horror, these films offered a sublime blend of drama and sex appeal that has never been equalled. The sexy, but convincingly mystical, Britt Ekland, in 1973’s The Wicker
Was Doctor Dolittle a Shaman?
March 21, 2010Read moreI recently attended a weekend workshop led by the writer and shamanic practitioner, Simon Buxton, who I interviewed in 2009 in support of his wonderful book, The Shamanic Way of the Bee. Simon facilitated The Way of the Shaman workshop on behalf of The Foundation for Shamanic Studies, who have helped inspire a revival in shamanism, at least in the West, over
Music To My Ears
December 21, 2009Read moreIf I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a hundred, maybe even a thousand times; man does not live by mysteries alone. Putting it simply, one needs pursuits and hobbies that do not involve questing after the Holy Grail! Luckily for me, there’s music; a vice that soothes my soul in an altogether different way. I grew up in Chicago
Remembering The Steeple Master
November 14, 2009Read moreFew pupils of masters ever achieve greatness, let alone become masters themselves. Nicholas Hawksmoor did, however, and I am privileged to live in the shadow of his baroque brilliance. As a student of one of England’s most renowned architects, Sir Christopher Wren, Hawksmoor was more ambitious than other apprentices. His work included Westminster Abbey, Blenheim Palace, Hampton Court Palace, Kensington
World Premiere of Vanishing of the Bees
October 1, 2009Read moreI have my friend Simon Buxton to thank for introducing me to Maryam Henein, the talented Co-Director / Producer of Vanishing of the Bees, and I recently had the pleasure of attending the world premiere of her important new film. Along with Co-Director / Producer, George Langworthy, Maryam has produced a superb, must-see film that captures the world of the
The Highgate Vampire
September 26, 2009Read moreHighgate Cemetery is one of London’s special places. It’s also a favorite haunt – excuse the pun – of satanists, witches, lunatics and vampire slayers. So I figured I’d fit right in. The famed Egyptian Avenue at Highgate Cemetery My tour of the grandiose gothic graveyard begun promptly at 4 pm, and no sooner had we began than our guide
Atlantis Never Existed
September 24, 2009Read moreThe legend of Atlantis is predicated on hearsay and I have my suspicions that the fabled antediluvian utopia never existed. You see, Plato (428 BC – 328 BC) introduced the notion of the lost civilization in his dialogues, Timaeus and Critias, and of the four personalities that he recounts only Critias speaks of Atlantis. Our entire notion of this antediluvian
The Godfather of Esoteria
September 20, 2009Read moreColin Wilson published his first book, the seminal The Outsider in 1956, before I was born! With over 100 books to his credit, Colin is not just a legend; he’s the Godfather of modern day esoteria. Colin Wilson – a portrait of timeless cool His new book, Super Consciousness: The Quest for the Peak, Experience, only adds to his
Black Genesis
September 16, 2009Read moreWhat a hoot. Here I am back at Edge TV preparing to interview the extraordinary Robert Bauval. Phil Gardiner, host of the esoteric talk show ‘Gardiner’s World’, asked if I would conduct half of Robert’s two hour interview, and needless to say I was delighted. I had prepared to chat with Robert about his illustrious career, but Phil has different
Sherwood Forest Shrews
September 12, 2009Read moreThere was no way I was going to pass up an opportunity to meet ‘the real’ Robin Hood, in Sherwood Forest, with his Merry Men and special lady, Maid Marian. Nope, it simply was not going to happen, especially as my friend, the author Philip Gardiner was filming a documentary on Robin Hood and was in need of an extra
Finding Solace on the Summer Solstice
September 9, 2009Read moreThe summer solstice is celebrated the world over, especially across old Europe. Quite simply, it’s a day of celebration and remembrance like no other. In England, the tradition is synonymous with Stonehenge, and in my opinion, not in a good way. Poor Stonehenge, I have always felt; the sacred, world heritage temple is routinely trashed by pseudo neo pagans and
Portal Power
September 7, 2009Read moreIt’s a late summer’s evening and my good friend, the esteemed author Patrice Chaplin, and I are sitting on a park bench in a churchyard that adjoins one of London’s oldest and most famous high streets. Nothing unusual there, except for the fact that we are sitting in the middle of an inter-dimensional portal. I’m rather new to the whole
Indigo Man in Perillos
September 5, 2009Read moreI joined the well-known group of researchers in the middle of their trip, which kicked off in Bruges and meandered its way to the South of France before arriving in Rennes-le-Chateau. Led by the best selling author Kathleen McGowan, the assembly included McGowan’s trusted researchers, as well as authors Filip Coppens, Andrew Douzet and the renowned harpist Ani Williams, an
Interview of Secrets
June 26, 2009Read moreToday is my fourth appearance on Philip Gardiner’s syndicated talk show, Gardiners World, sort of an esoteric ‘David Letterman’ show. On my first visit, some three months earlier, I had spoken about the forgotten legacy of the sacred bee, and on my second, I bantered with my friend, the godfather of punk, Rat Scabies. We disagreed on
Confessions of a Rinpoche
December 3, 2008Read moreRinpoche means ‘precious master’ in Himalayan Buddhism and is a title awarded to young men who are believed to be reincarnated masters. On a recent trip to Bhutan, where Buddhism continues to flourish – some say in its purest form – I had the privilege to meet with His Holiness, Rinpoche Jangtrul, a reincarnated Bhutanese meditation master from the 14th
R.I.P Jean-Luc Robin
March 12, 2008Read moreThe world of Rennes-Le-Chateau has lost a great friend; it has lost Jean-Luc Robin. Jean-Luc during our interview, in the Garden of the Villa Bethania Jean-Luc was my friend and gave me my first tour of Rennes-Le-Chateau. His knowledge was broad and deep, and his conclusions sensible, sceptical and measured. He lived and breathed Rennes-Le-Chateau, having once served as caretaker
Golgotha, England
February 10, 2008Read moreGolgotha is the name of a hill near Jerusalem where Christ was crucified. Biblical texts refer to it as the ‘place of the skull’, leading many scholars to place it northwest of the city, near a rocky outcrop that resembles a skull. To his end, John 19:17 informs us of the legend: “So they took Jesus, and he went out,
My Dinner with André
July 4, 2007Read moreAndré Douzet is an enigma, much like the subjects he writes about in his books and on his website, Société Perillos. While many feel his research into the mystery of Rennes-le-Château is vital and fresh, others are less complementary. What are his theories? For a start, he’s championed the belief that Bérenger Saunière traveled with regularity to Lyon and Perillos,
City of Secrets
May 11, 2007Read moreThere’s a new name in Rennes-le-Château research; Patrice Chaplin. City of Secrets, Chaplin’s controversial new book unveils an entirely new twist to the conventional mystery and in the process delivers the most refreshing work in the genre in years. Oh, and it’s a love story. Patrice Chaplin’s provocative new book In City of Secrets, Chaplin draws on a life time
Postcard From Atlantis
March 11, 2007Read moreMark, hi. Thanks for looking after the web site while I’m away! So, greetings from Atlantis! The Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island that is; not far from Bimini Road, in the Bahamas. Albeit a little ostentatious, the hotel is all right, really. Sadly, people seem oblivious to its amazing esoteric design and symbolism. The guy who built it seems to
90 Years On: A Remembrance
January 22, 2007Read more90 years ago today, Bérenger Saunière, the beloved protagonist of Rennes-le-Château lore, passed from this mortal realm. On reflection, his death was nearly as enigmatic as his life. Bérenger Saunière: 1852-1917 Many speculate whether Saunière was murdered, like father Gelis (fatal blows to the head) and father Boudet (apparent poisoning) before him? Perhaps not, but having suffered an attack on