A Party blog dedicated to Culture, beginning in the Pagan New Year

The Pagan New Year is almost upon us.  The SMPBI has an outlook which encompasses the old spiritualism which the global religions have attempted to displace.  We also have a strong focus upon matters of Culture.

This year has seen the SMPBI site publishing daily, with an unbroken run of 245 days (starting on the 27th February, counted up til today).  This run is scheduled to end at the end of this year, counted as ending on the 31st October, Samhain.  We are restructuring our internet activity, bringing in a dedicated cultural blog, to commence on the first day of the next year, the 1st November.

More will be revealed imminently.  Suffice to say, the sister blog will be a place for Working Class Art, Poetry, Short Stories and for news of Cultural Events.  Get in touch with David Parry to contribute.  Socialism is an ideal which encourages healthy cultural pursuits, and stands opposed to the degeneracy of liberal extremism.  If you need a place to post your artistic work, the new blog will be ready to welcome you!

David Parry working with the Eurasian Creative Guild

7 Day Literary and Art Week concluded amidst dreams and hopes
Source: http://eurasianperspective.co.uk/2018/10/11/7-day-literary-and-art-week-concluded-amidst-dreams-and-hopes/)

LONDON(Raza Syed/Sohail Loun):The second 7 Day Literary and Art Week 2018, which brought together writers, poets, intellectuals and experts from  all over the world and various walks of life, concluded on 7th Oct 2018(Sunday )with a musical night of dazzling performances in London.

The festival was launched a Fitzroy House where guests and participants from throughout the UK and abroad were warmly welcomed at a ceremony hosted by Sarah Eicker and Anna Lari.

The second Literary and Art Week organised by the Eurasian Creative Guild  was a celebration of new fiction, nonfiction and poetry as well as painting, drawing and sculpture by contemporary Eurasian writers and artists.

Comprising a dynamic and varied programme of 25 events, it showcased work by both established and emerging writers, poets and artists  many of whom were visiting or being represented in the UK for the first time, through readings, discussions and networking, as well as exhibitions interspersed with outstanding performances by renowned musicians.

Guests were then invited to the 5th Base Gallery in Whitechapel for the opening of ‘Living and Dreaming’; an exhibition of contemporary Belarusian art organised by Belarus’ Belbrand Association and the Art Haos Gallery in collaboration with Pro Art & Co.

This was the first time that selected artists had displayed their work outside Belarus and offered audiences a rare opportunity to witness how contemporary art is evolving in the post USSR era. Influences of the country’s grand-masters Mark Chagall and Leon Bakst could clearly be discerned, alongside subjects drawn from traditional folklore but there were also international references including Chinese scroll paintings and Impressionist-style landscapes. In addition to the 5th Base gallery, art was also exhibited in the other venues and altogether, 20 artists, from 5 countries (Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus) were presented including : Gulnara Makhmudova, Gulzada Hamra, Yulia Krylova, Alesia Isa, Alexander Perlin, Maria Kosheleva, Anastasiya Shilyagina, Maria Larionova, Pavel Grebennikov, Roman Sakovich, Varvara Viborova, Olga Grouss, Alexander Yushkevich, Egor Batalyonok, Nicolay Buschik, Alexandra Demidova, Vasilij Kostuchenko, Ivan Semiletov, Anna Silivonchik, Alexandra Shibneva.

The 4th day of Literary Week began at the Celebrity Drop-in Centre at St. Peter’s Anglo-Catholic Church in Clapham, London, hosted by former Chair and long-time champion of ECG, Rev.David Parry. David was then joined by Danielle Irandoost at Yunus Emre, to conduct a discussion on the intriguing interplay between art, espionage and the occult sciences within a distinctively Central Asian context whilst referencing amongst others, writer, painter, theosophist, archaeologist and philosopher,Nicholas Roerich.

Talking about the Festival, Guest and participants said that the festival had made a mark on the cultural life here and stating that Eurasian Creative Guild has become “a prominent voice of Central Asian’s intellectual journey.”

Anna Komar (Belarus) closed the session with a selection of deeply moving poems from“Recycled”, inspired by a young woman’s harrowing experiences of love and abuse. She was joined by her editor John Farndon who warmly endorsed her poetic talent.Perhaps this was the most remarkable programme of the event.

Marat Akhmedjanov founder of Eurasian Creative Guild, thanked all the literary community for making the festival a grand success. He said that the platform is an institution with a huge vision and an ecosystem of multiple projects.

Talking about the Festival, Guest and participants said that the festival had made a mark on the cultural life here and stating that Eurasian Creative Guild has become “a prominent voice of Central Asian’s intellectual journey.”

David Parry on 'Valentinus'

David Parry on 'Valentinus'
In esoteric circles, Valentinus is considered as one of the great mystics and thinkers of early Christian history — even if his Gnostic ideas would later brand him a heretic by the nascent orthodox church. Yet his theologies are gradually being embraced today in the halls of mainstream churches, even by some of the most rigid Catholic orders. We welcome the return of Valentinus, from his transcendent philosophy to his meditative rituals, more needed than ever in a civilization losing hope for meaning and a higher purpose. We also discuss related topics for alternative Christianities of old like sacred theatre, occult sacraments for altered states, shamanistic Gnosis, and much more.
http://aeonbyte.libsyn.com/david-parry-on-the-return-of-valentinus-gnostic-priesthood

Who was Valentinus?
http://www.gnosis.org/library/valentinus/index.html



Highly recommended work in this field...

www.thenewgnosis.org

and From New Age to New Gnosis
https://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Age-Gnosis-Contemporary-Significance/dp/1904519075
Peter Wilberg

Lost Civilizations Conference — An Update

The First International Conference on the Nephilim was held in Central London in February 2014. Organiser David Parry filled in a bit more detail.

An interview with Alexander Baron, a month prior to the conference:

The flyer advertising this unique event can now be downloaded from the Internet Archive. The previous report can be found here. The man behind it is Elchin Afandiyev fan David Parry, who is currently wearing his other hat as a pagan priest.

He interrupted his busy schedule to answer a few questions.

Alexander Baron: How many are you expecting now?

David Parry: Difficult to estimate numbers. However, we have had enquiries from America and Norway, let alone the UK.

AB: I gather you have added an excursion or two; what are these?

DP: I will be leading potential excursions through "esoteric London" and visiting such places as the Templar Church, Freemasons Hall, along with usual tourist attractions.

AB: Your confirmed speakers are?

DP: Our speakers are known internationally. The Reverend Jim Wilhelmsen, for example, is a prominent Evangelical preacher in the US. Also, Andrew Gough has a background in film, independent research and the occult. On top of this, Darren Storer is the rising star of "Psychic London", Andrew Collins is an authority on Earth Mysteries, and Klaus Dona (whose background is in museum curation) has become a regular contributor at a number of international seminars. Perhaps the most significant, however, is Vladimir Weidemann, an ex-BBC journalist, author, (genuine) mystic, and researcher with extremely impressive links at the Academy in Moscow.

AB: I read a book by Andrew Collins years ago, about psychic questing, or perhaps that should be psychic jesting?

DP: I suspect that Mr Collins is serious in his endeavours. Personally, I was introduced to psychic questing (similar to Iain Sinclair's notion psychogeography?) by the author and magician Jack Gale. To my mind, it seems to be an intuitive grasp of environment and history. That said, I have never tried it myself.

AB: And this is aimed at who?

DP: An interested general audience. We are looking at sources of sponsorship at the moment for future events. I will be both convener and Master of Ceremonies. Sylvio Mares (my assistant) and Roman Sharov (IT) are helping with the practicalities.

AB: Where is all this leading?

DP: My own view is that this is a DaDa conference. On a personal level, I suspect the Nephilim will remain a Biblical mystery, and the crystal skulls are objets d'art. Hence, my intention is to bring surrealist themes to London in the form of imaginative artifacts and dreamlike exhibition.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/religion/lost-civilizations-conference-an-update/article/365049#ixzz5TN3Y9waZ

Art, Espionage, and Occultism. Event this Thursday (4.10.18)

Event: On the 4th October (this Thursday) at about 2.30pm: Art, Espionage, and Occultism. 

In this unique talk by historian Danielle Irandoost and Rev. David Parry, the intriguing interplay between art, espionage and the occult sciences is discussed in terms of a distinctively Central Asian context. Indeed, having already delivered four radio interviews on this subject, Danielle and David will not only examine so-called fake news, conspiracy theories, and the cold, hard, realities of spying, but also intriguing individuals like the writer, painter, theosophist, archaeologist and philosopher, Nicholas Roerich. An astonishing man whose five-year-long expedition (in his own words), starting - “from Sikkim through Punjab, Kashmir, Ladakh, the Karakoram Mountains, Khotan, Kashgar, Qara Shar, Urumchi, Irtysh, the Altai Mountains, the Oyrot region of Mongolia, the Central Gobi, Kansu, Tsaidam, and Tibet" – ended up in Moscow (following a slight detour across Siberia) amid accusations of counter-espionage, diplomatic infiltration and blatant political surveillance. All making this singular contribution to our 2018 Eurasian Creative Guild Literature Week an event demanding the attention of delegates and the general public alike.

A radio broadcast to give you a taste of what to expect from the event:

Alyson Dunlop talks with Daniele Irandoost and David Parry about the subject of espionage and remote viewing. You'll be shaken, but not stirred...
http://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/15564309/adx_96_dan_david.mp3

Full details of the FREE event (location, what's on) can be found by visiting:
http://www.1.eurasiancreativeguild.uk/2018/09/18/combining-fine-art-and-literary-arts-the-2nd-literary-week-in-the-heart-of-england/


More from David on the ADX Files (https://player.fm/series/the-adx-files):
(not related to the event, but a good listen, nonetheless)

Bishop David Parry and Paul Obertelli join Alyson Dunlop to discuss the pagan origins of Christmas. A magical and enlightening show! Merry Christmas!
http://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/13647931/adx_80_david_and_paul_xmas_2017.mp3

An enlightening and enchanting esoteric show! Alyson Dunlop is joined this week by the Rev. Dr. David Parry, a Liberal Catholic priest and a bishop of the Valentinian Gnostic Church, to discuss ancient gnostic mysticism.
http://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/12760922/adx_67_david_parry.mp3

David William Parry

David William Parry (born 25 August 1958), is a published author, poet, dramaturge, Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts, active Libertarian and Valentinian (Gnostic) Bishop. He was the founder and chair of Gruntlers' Group.

In the early eighties he moved to London from Fareham in Hampshire. After living in South London for a few years, he graduated in religious studies at King's College London (1990). Later, in 1996, he obtained a Master's degree in Pastoral Theology at Heythrop College, London.

Career

Parry was teaching contemporary English literature, drama, language and semantics. He has given readings as a poet and practising Pagan; delivered lectures, offered sermons and performed public rituals across the United Kingdom since 1996.

Parry founded Gruntlers' in 2008 as a loosely connected group of "Imagist" writers. By November 2009 this group had developed into "Gruntlers' Arts Group", which staged regular multimedia events at the Poetry Place in Covent Garden.

Also, as producer, director and an actor in Gruntlers' Cabaret, he helped to develop Gruntlers Theatre, which performed the "The Botanist Monsieur Jordan and The Sorcerer-Dervish Mastali Shah", written by Mirza Fatali Akhundov, in 2010 at the "Arts Educational School", where he played the character of "Lord Hatamkhan". In the late autumn of the same year, Gruntlers' introduced Imadaddin Nasimi to the English speaking public at Pushkin House, London. In December 2011, he directed the first English language production of "Shakespeare: a comedy in ten scenes, both serious and tragic" (by the Azerbajiani playwright Elchin Afandiyev). Gruntlers' were a three pronged Arts Collective, consisting of a Theatrical Company, a literary salon and an international multimedia cabaret. In the tradition of DaDa, Absurdism and Surrealism, the principal intention of Gruntlers' Theatre was to promote Fringe arts in a contemporary setting.

Gruntlers' finished in 2012 and Parry started "Allting UK", to promote Literature and the Arts. Following financial problems, however, this company has now become Theo-Humanist Arts Ltd.

Recently, he wrote "A preface with smoke and mirrors" as an introduction to Elchin's first collection of plays in English.

Since 2013, David started additional career as a producer at The Azerbaijan Russian State Theatre.

In 2013, David Parry was accused of being a Neo-Fascist by Indymedia UK and Circle Ansuz.

On 3 June 2013 David Parry co-convened an academic conference "Quest of the Heart" with Dr. Minna Koivuniemi, where he read an academic paper, entitled "Henrik Ibsen, Love and the Staging of Kierkegaard's World View". The conference was co-sponsored by the University of Helsinki and University of London.

In July 2013 David Parry produced Elchin Afandief's theatre play "Citizens of Hell", which was reviewed by Digital Journal.

In January 2014, David was made a celebrant for the Fellowship of Independent Celebrants (FOIC). This makes him the first recognised Godhi in United Kingdom with authority to officiate at weddings, funerals, and Child Namings.

On top of this, David has recently extended the reach of Theo-Humanist Arts by co-hosting on the alternative podcast show THA Talks with Paul Obertelli. Furthermore, reviving his credentials in British Surrealism, David has started to co-produce, occasionally write, and direct, for Inlight TV, internet television station.

In December 2014, Parry made history by staging a scene from his play "A Day in the Light" (based on the meeting between Albert Schweitzer and James Cameron) at the British House of Lords.

David Parry and Jez Turner founded the extremist club, as a way to blend serious arts and active politics in 2015.

Parry is convening Arts, Spirituality, and Cern through Kickstarter as a two day conference in February 2016.

Academic Forums

David Parry is a regular round table panellist, contributing academic papers:

• 1996 - Delivered 5 papers on "Mystical Christianity". Theosophical Guest House, Tekels Park, UK
• 2010 - "British Fringe Theatre as Folk Laboratory". First international Theatre Conference. Baku, Azerbaijan.
• 2011 – "Images of Mount Athos in English Literature", (Salzburg, Austria).
• 2012 – "The influence of Athos in the Arts", (Weimar, Germany).
• 2013 – "Orthodoxy, Askesis, and Traditionalist Themes in English Literature", (Belgrade, Serbia).
• 2013 – Panellist at "Modern Mass media and new Challenges" at Baku International Humanitarian Forum.
• 2014 - Panellist for "Religion - What's the point?" at the House of Lords (London, UK)
• 2014 - Panellist and moderator for 3rd Open Central Asian Book Forum and Literature Festival, Almaty, Kazakhstan.
• 2014 - Panellist and guest speaker at Paracon UK, Derby, UK.

Certificates and Awards

• 2011 - Certificate: "Word Union of Culture" for contribution made for cultural contacts between creative people and studios.
• 2014 - Medal: Golden medal for Contributions for developing theatre, Almaty, Kazakhstan at "3rd Open Central Asian Book Forum and Literature Festival"
• 2014 - Certificate: "For the strengthening of peace, friendship and mutual understanding between people" at International association "Generals of the world for peace"
• 2014 - Honorary Life Member of The Doreen Valiente Foundation & The Centre for Pagan Studies for "continued commitment and dedication to the wider Pagan Community".
• 2014 - Certificate of Merit by International Association "Generals of the World for Peace"
• 2014 - Parry was awarded a Fellowship with the Royal Society of Arts (8031816)
• 2014 - Certificate of Continuing Professional Development: "The Artist's Gift - The Contest of Arachne & Athene" Presented by Jim Fitzgerald
• 2015 - Certificate of Continuing Professional Development: "In the Realm of the Ancestors" Presented by Jim Fitzgerald
• 2015 - Certificate of Continuing Professional Development: "Jacob's Ladder: An Adventure in Individuation" Presented by David Freeman
• 2015 - Certificate of Continuing Professional Development: "Incest and the Myth of Myrrha" presented by Julian David

Publications

Parry has published a number of reviews, experimental essays and literary introductions, including:

• "Caliban's Redemption" (Mandrake 2004 / Finatran),
• "The Grammar of Witchcraft" (Mandrake 2009),
• Preface to Gulvin's "Pyramid theory of Marriage", (2009)
• Editor: Akhundov's "Botanist Monsieur Jordan and the Sorcerer-Dervish Mastali Shah", (2010)
• "Preface to Elchin: My favourite Madman and other Plays", (2012)
• "National Anarchism: Methodology and Application" (2013) – Essay entitled "Heathenism and Tradition of Dissent"
• TEAS Magazine June 2012 (Page 13) – "Getting 'The Hump' at Eurovision"
• "Deconstructing Mount Athos: An Image of the Sacred in English Literature" - Tradition (2015)
• "Performing Gnosis: A Few Investigative Jottings" - C. G. Jung Club London Newsletter Summer 2015 (Page 6)
• "THE COURAGE TO BE" - Norskk
• "My Homeland, Oh My Crimea" (Silk Road Media 2015): as Editor
• "The Plight of a Postmodern Hunter" (HERTFORDSHIRE PRESS 2015): as Editor
• "Goethe and Abay" (HERTFORDSHIRE PRESS 2015): as Editor
• "The Wormwood Wind" (Silk Road Media 2015): as Editor
• "THE HOLLYWOOD CONUNDRUM OR GUARDIAN OF TREASURE" (Silk Road Media 2015): as Editor

(Source: https://annamb2276.wixsite.com/fieraesoterika/single-post/2017/07/04/David-William-Parry)

David Parry's address to the Baku IHF, October 2013

Delivered to the Baku International Humanities Forum in October 2013

Introduction: Trivia and Dissent

My fear is that the press increasingly communicates in a one dimensional manner, no matter what language it speaks in. Put differently, it talks in the parlance of conjecture. Yet, there is on old saying in Great Britain claiming “assumptions” make an “ass” out of “you” and “me”, which may be why I find the very title of the topic under discussion on this round table problematic. If is not simply the philosophical fact that notions of the “topical” seem driven by a rampant ideological depersonalisation sadly prevalent in our modern times, but that “globalizing” is itself held up as an unquestionable “good”, along with its quasi-demonic twin the “information network”. We are all human beings, undoubtedly, and access to raw data could be classed as a human Right, but boundaries and boarders are equally important, particularly against the manufactured flow of Media generalisation and the dangerous dismissal of informed dissent.

Ostensibly, the fields of Media, Entertainment, and Communication have never been more exciting. Additionally, the vigorous investment-opportunities in this area over the past three decades bear clear testimony to an unabated enthusiasm for technical development. Overall, such excitement is due to the alleged benefits of electronic innovations like Infobahn’s, as well as new methods of digitalised transmission Indeed, the working paper No. 179, 1994, (old news) of the Centre for Coordination Science at MIT describes the concept as follows: “The information superhighway directly connects millions of people, each both a consumer of information and a potential provider. Most predictions about commercial opportunities on the information superhighway focus on the provision of information products, such as video on demand, and on new sales outlets for physical products, as with home shopping. The information superhighway brings together millions of individuals who could exchange information with one another. Any conception of a traditional market for making beneficial exchanges, such as an agricultural market or trading pit, or any system where individuals respond to posted prices on a computer screen is woefully inadequate for the extremely large number of often complex trades that will be required.” However, even a cursory examination of these concerns quickly reveals inauthentic ideological assumptions.  Do we really, as individuals, need to barter in a twenty four hour feeding frenzy of theoretical gains, or pick up a date in the perpetual, unsleeping, purgatory of the sexually available? Is it actually a burning issue of the day to be informed about tax benefits gifted to a Manchester United Soccer player, the price of cheese in Beijing, or how many fist fights a Hollywood celebrity has had with prying paparazzi? Malcontented media bosses and info-junkies to one side, potential usage is an important factor in terms of environment sustainability, and in their nightmare world of broken machines only the affluent seem to benefit.

British Theatre, curiously, is an instructive reminder of quality over quantity.  Not merely a diversion from the dreary realities of our workaday lives, unlike so many democratising Apps, televisual entertainments, pushbike exchanges, or consciously narcotising podcasts. It explores Beauty, both great and small: in itself, an act of information-dissent. Traditionally, standing against the type of collectivisation placing facticity above all, along with embodying an opposition to the decrementing and cynical way commerce inculcates issue-priorities it refuses to surrender idea-rich content to reductively manageable bytes. And as such, Theatre reminds us all that knowledge is not only information, but a superior, intrinsically unique, source of human freedom, along with the enlightening realisation that facts never equate with truth; a very poor equation in qualitative human cognition.