Another location related to the Process

In going through previous posts, it occurred to me that I had accidentally omitted one location that had previously been home to the Process.  The previous post regarding the presence of the Process in Chicago is located here.

Located just down the block from the other locations associated with the Process and related groups, this Deming street home (associated with the Process in 1976) is yet another beautiful home in another affluent area.

Historical locations related to L.W. de Laurence - Edited!

On Halloween I decided to stop by some locations of interest regarding L.W. de Laurence. De Laurence was a local publisher, hypnotist, mail order innovator, swindler and the head of at least two local magical orders. For more information, follow this link to previous posts regarding de Laurence.

Due to a typo on my part, I originally visited an incorrect location.  Many thanks to David Metcalfe for pointing this out to me.  The post and accompanying photographs have now been corrected.

The first location, at 3340 S. Michigan Ave., was listed in 1915 as being the home of de Laurence's Order of the Black Rose.  That same year the Order's address was also listed as being on Wabash.  Whether the Order moved, or whether the local press confused de Laurence's organization with his publishing headquarters is unclear.  Unfortunately the original building no longer stands, and this location is now occupied by a generic building on the Illinois Institute of Technology campus.

Also in 1915, this location on E. 47th St. is listed as his home address. 

Satanism in the Suburbs: Exploring previous locations of Thee Satanic Church

Terry Taylor's Thee Satanic Church operated in and around Chicago in between 1971 and 1974, under a variety of incarnations including The Orthodox Satanic Church, and Thee Orthodox Satanic Church of the Nethilim Rite.  Previously I've posted an introduction with newspaper articles (including the involvement of Dr. Evelyn Paglini), and a magazine advertisement for the organization.  Thee Satanic Church was operated in conjunction with Taylor's bookstore, House of Occult (not to be confused with the Occult Bookstore, as many books and websites erroneously report).

I was curious as to the locations that these entities inhabited, and made a trek to the various houses and storefronts that used to house this local Satanic group.  One of the more interesting aspects was the incredibly quaint suburban surroundings where Taylor, Paglini & company continued to place their diabolical organizations.

This Edgewater building was listed as the home of Terry Taylor's bookstore, House of the Occult, in 1972.  Advertisements for the bookstore featured a design that included the logo of Taylor's

 This Oak Park residence was home to Thee Satanic Church, according to various advertisements and other sources around 1974.

This western Chicago ice cream shop sits on the 1974 location of Taylor's House of Occult bookshop.

This is the location in Melrose Park, listed in various sources as late as 1976 as being home to both Thee Satanic Church and the International Psychic Center (the organization which Paglini directed Thee Satanic Church into after the split with Taylor - some sources make this sound like an offshoot, some consider Thee Satanic Church to be a rival organization to Taylor's).

Dr. Evelyn Paglini, just a few years after her split from Taylor, on television advising regarding the "Curse of the Evil Devil Stone."


Dr. Evelyn Paglini has remained in the public eye, but I can find no trace of Taylor.  If anyone has any further information, it would be greatly appreciated!

Local independent Ouija-themed experimental art film

Uzi's Party is a film being produced by local filmmaker and Brain Frame creator Lyra Hill.  As of right now there are 3 days remaining to reach the goal on Kickstarter, and it's not very far from actually happening.

From the Kickstarter page:

Uzi's Party is a film about a sleepover, a séance, and the singular aesthetic capabilities of 16mm film.

Five girls gather to hang out and commune with a Ouija board. The host, Uzi (short for Fairuza) tries to keep things in order while her party goes awry. After a short session with the Ouija board, one of the girls is no longer herself - or is she?

The girls in Uzi's Party will all be played by the same actress. And the footage will be shot in-camera, via matting, multiple exposure, and body doubles. What will begin as a stylized, strange (and funny) teen drama will eventually become a disturbing, complex inquiry into possession, identity, and the psychology of young women. As the story progresses, the visual logic will slowly fall apart until you, like the girls in the film, are no longer sure what's real and what's not.

Of particular interest to those of you following Occult Chicago, the $200 pledge gift:

$200: Sacred objects made by Pagan priestesses

I am blessed to have grown up in a tradition that worships the Earth and the Divine Feminine, and even luckier to have this community donate artwork to Uzi's Party, my own mystical project. 

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1877334389/uzis-party-an-experimental-teen-drama-on-16mm-film

Tubal Cain and the White City

Ray Johnson tracked down the whereabouts of a statue of Tubal Cain which was a part of the Columbian Exhibition of 1893.  Long thought missing, it turns out Tubal Cain is safe and sound in Peotone, IL.

Please read more at:  http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-strange-haunted-history/2013/01/tubal-cain-left-the-white-city-with-no-forwarding-address/

The Second City, witchcraft and comedy

Many thanks to Chas Clifton for forwarding this article to me.  Taki's Magazine details the mysterious figure of Del Close and his connection to both the national comedy scene and witchcraft.

"From the late 1960s until his death in 1999, Close taught long form at Second City Toronto and Chicago and served as SNL’s “house metaphysician.” No wonder the names of his other devoted disciples read like a comedy hall of fame: Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, John Candy, Andy Dick, Chris Farley, Shelley Long, and Gilda Radner, to name a very few."

 

 

 http://takimag.com/article/comedy_for_the_devil_kathy_shaidle/print#ixzz2WleB8gib

Call for Summer Solstice events

Please send public Summer Solstice event listings to:  occultchicago@gmail.com

Sabaen Order photograph

Without a doubt, the most popular subject here on Occult Chicago is the Sabean Religious Order. 

I've recently come across some more information about Odun Arechaga and the Sabaens, and a few people have emailed me with their personal involvement with the group.  I'll share some of this once I have a chance, but for now enjoy this photograph.

Advertisement for Thee Satanic Chuch, 1974

I recently came across this 1974 advertisement for Thee Satanic Church.

Not to be confused with the Church of Satan, Thee Satanic Church (at various times / incarnations known as Thee Satanic Orthodox Church of Nethilim Rite, among other things) was run locally by Terry Taylor.

For more information, see the previous post about Terry Taylor and Satanism in Chicago.

Does anyone know if Terry Taylor is still around? 

Dr. Bronner, public crucifixion and Chicago

In honor of Easter, a Chicago story related to a crucifixion.

I'd always assumed that Dr. Bronner's religious essays on the side of soap bottles was somehow related to an extremely right-wing Christian sect.  To be honest, I'd never thought much of it.

Image courtesy Wikipedia.

Recently we have been moving toward more natural products in our home, and Jane purchased a gigantic bottle of Bronner's 18-in-1 soap.  I started reading the bottle and noticed an interestingly singular amalgamation of various belief systems - Christianity, Judaism and references to authors such as Rudyard Kipling.

Bronner it seems has a much more fascinating background than one might anticipate. 

Not surprisingly, a bit of research brings Bronner's antics directly through Chicago.

Three are Sought in Crucifixion of Chicago Man - The Evening Independent, March 10, 1945

An escape from a mental institution in Elgin immediately followed this incident.

Choronzon Club on Facebook?

Interestingly enough, the Choronzon Club appears to now be represented on Facebook.

Tau Choronzon I (1897-1987), from Choronzon Club on Facebook

Hocus Pocus art show, March 24th

Tangentially on topic, this may be of interest to some readers.  Tomorrow (Sunday, March 24th).

Please join us for a spectacular art show and side show attractions.


HOCUS POCUS

The Flat Iron

1565 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60622

 

Over 60 artists
Magicians/Zoltar
Aerial Burlesque by the lovely Angela Eve
Palm Reader Mister Vibe
Tarot Card Reader
Music by Dee Pants
Wheel of Fortune Fortitude
The artwork, jewelry and crafts for sale will all be inspired by Harry Houdini, Victorian magic, circus sideshow, the occult and all things mystical.
Curated by Cheri Basak and Anne Elliott
Sponsored by Revolution Tattoo

Facebook event page

Chicago-based Tarot art Kickstarter

A new collaborative Tarot themed project just announced.

From the Kickstarter page:

The Major Arcana are the most emotionally evocative cards in a tarot deck.  How would an artist and a tarot reader explore these archetypes through the photographic medium?

Lara Dorsett is a photographer and artist who employs intuition and mythology in her personal work.  Jeffrey Kramer is a tarot reader with a background in medieval traditions and lore.

This project will involve the first nine cards in the Major Arcana:  The Fool, Magician, High Priestess, Empress, Emperor, Hierophant, Lovers, Chariot and Strength. 

Lara and Jeffrey will each shoot in black and white film and be challenged to create all of these images in the Chicagoland area.  They will only use props and materials created or found with volunteer models (when used.)

The resulting work will be shown in a local space with free admission for guests.
The successful completion of this project will result in further exploration of the remaining Major Arcana.

For more information, visit:

Kickstarter page

Lara Elizabeth Dorsett's photography website

The Truth About the Occult

Found on the Blue Line.  Of course, I had to pick it up.