Antares Rocket, or Abraxas Rocket?

Abraxas?

Antares rocket on ISS resupply mission

 explodes seconds after launch

Abraxas (Gk. ΑΒΡΑΞΑΣ, variant form Abrasax, ΑΒΡΑΣΑΞ) was a word of mystic meaning in the system of the Gnostic Basilides, being there applied to the “Great Archon” 
(Gk., megas archōn), the princeps of the 365 spheres (Gk., ouranoi).
The seven letters spelling its name may represent each of the  
seven classic planets—Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.

The word is found in Gnostic texts such as the  

Holy Book of the Great Invisible Spirit, and also appears in the  

Greek Magical Papyri. It was engraved on certain antique gemstones, called on that account Abraxas stones, which were used as amulets or charms. 

As the initial spelling on stones was 'Abrasax' (Αβρασαξ), the spelling of 'Abraxas' seen today probably originates in the confusion made between the Greek letters Sigma and Xi in the Latin transliteration. 

The word may be related to Abracadabra, although other explanations exist. 

Jack Parsons 

(rocket engineer)

Abrasax is invoked in Aleister Crowley's 1913 work, 
"The Gnostic Mass" of Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica:
IO IO IO IAO SABAO KURIE ABRASAX KURIE MEITHRAS KURIE PHALLE. IO PAN, IO PAN PAN IO ISCHUROS, IO ATHANATOS IO ABROTOS IO IAO. KAIRE PHALLE KAIRE PAMPHAGE KAIRE PANGENETOR. HAGIOS, HAGIOS, HAGIOS IAO.

Aleister Crowley

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to work out the link between Crowley, Parsons and the JPL and NASA.

Abraxas is an important figure in Carl Jung's 1916 book  
Seven Sermons to the Dead, a representation of the driving force of 
individuation (synthesis, maturity, oneness), 
referred with the figures for the driving forces of differentiation 
(emergence of consciousness and opposites), 
Helios God-the-Sun, and the Devil.

There is a God about whom you know nothing, because men have forgotten him. We call him by his name: Abraxas. He is less definite than God or Devil.... Abraxas is activity: nothing can resist him but the unreal ... Abraxas stands above the sun[-god] and above the devil.   If the Pleroma were capable of having a being, Abraxas would be its manifestation.

—2nd Sermon

That which is spoken by God-the-Sun is life; that which is spoken by the Devil is death; Abraxas speaketh that hallowed and accursed word, which is life and death at the same time. Abraxas begetteth truth and lying, good and evil, light and darkness in the same word and in the same act. Wherefore is Abraxas terrible.

—3rd Sermon

Several references to the god Abraxas appear in  
Hermann Hesse's 1919 novel Demian, such as:
Abraxas doesn't take exception to any of your thoughts or any of your dreams. 
Never forget that. 
But he will leave you once you become blameless and normal. 
—Pistorius

Pistorius?!

Abraxas

Salman Rushdie's novel Midnight's Children (1981) contains a reference to Abraxas in the chapter "Abracadabra":

Abracadabra: not an Indian word at all, a cabbalistic formula derived from the name of the supreme god of the Basilidan gnostics, containing the number 365, the number of the days of the year, and of the heavens, and of the spirits emanating from the god Abraxas.

—Saleem Sinai

UPDATE: 1/11/14.

SEX AND ROCKETS?

Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo: Co-pilot killed, pilot injured in test flight crash in California

"United States officials are investigating the crash of a Virgin Galactic spaceship in the Mojave Desert in California, which has 

 killed one pilot and injured another.

SpaceShipTwo, a suborbital passenger spaceship being developed by billionaire Richard Branson's company, was on its 55th test flight and had reportedly been trialling a new fuel.
A witness said it exploded soon after it detached from a mothership after leaving the Mojave Air and Space Port on Friday.
The co-pilot of the spaceship was killed in the crash, while the pilot, who ejected, was injured, Kern County Sheriff's spokesman Ray Pruitt said.
The pilot was found at the scene and taken to a local hospital with "moderate to major" injuries, he said.
Scaled Composites president Kevin Mickey told a news conference the ill-fated flight was the first using a new rocket fuel formula the company switched to in May."
Subliminal Sex (with Virgin)?

Selfie in Wonderland?

Check out Starr's new painting and her new blogpost -
Selfie on the way to wonderland
This girl can paint. 
And if you ever see this painting on display in a gallery, don't forget to take a selfie in front of it and show it to your friends;-)

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention while on the subject of the modern-day Alice, that I watched the Christina Aguilera movie Burlesque last night, where Christina plays a girl named Ali  
(short for Alice as they tell us in the movie) .

I must admit that when it comes to a "shake off" between Christina and Taylor, Christina wins hands down, I think.

Alice Dreaming

Gilligan's Island: When Life Gives You Coconuts, Make Coconut Cream Pie?

Working at a health food distributing company, I couldn't help noticing the proliferation of coconut products on the market right now.

Some of the coconut products I have
 in the pantry at the moment 
(forget the Cacao powder packet)

I was thinking that maybe Mary Anne off the TV show Gilligan's Island was ahead of her time with the supposed benefits of eating coconuts ... not that you would have much choice on a deserted island, I guess.

Surviving Gilligan's 

Island 

Documentary (2001)

While these coconut products were all around me at work, it took me until this year's Bluesfest at Byron Bay, where I was feeling quite thirsty and didn't want to fork out ten bucks for a beer, that I ran across a guy selling non-alcoholic piña coladas for five bucks, with coconut being the main ingredient.

No, it wasn't Bobby Alu selling
  piña coladas at BF:-)

It was a guy from this company
 selling them

This drink really gave me a boost that I couldn't believe and I ended up coming back another three times on the day, they were that refreshing.
The guy at the stall and I got into a conversation about the benefits of coconut products and I even bought the book pictured below off him.

Coconut Water for 

Health and Healing

"Coconut water is a refreshing beverage that comes from coconuts. 
It’s a powerhouse of nutrition containing a complex blend of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, carbohydrates, antioxidants, enzymes, health enhancing growth hormones, and other phytonutrients. 
Because its electrolyte (ionic mineral) content is similar to human plasma, it has gained international acclaim as a natural sports drink for oral rehydration. 
As such, it has proven superior to commercial sports drinks. 
Unlike other beverages, it is completely compatible with the human body, in so much that it can be infused directly into the bloodstream. 
In fact, doctors have used coconut water successfully as an intravenous fluid for over 60 years.  
Coconut water’s unique nutritional profile gives it the power to balance body chemistry, ward off disease, fight cancer, and retard aging. 
History and folklore credit coconut water with remarkable healing powers, which medical science is now confirming. 
Published medical research shows that coconut water can aid in exercise performance, reduce swelling, dissolve kidney stones and improve kidney function, protect against cancer, improve digestion, relieve constipation, reduce risk of heart disease, lower high blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels, and enhance immune function." 
Coconut Water for Health and Healing

Whilst I'm convinced of the benefits of coconut water, I'm still not so sure about the coconut fat sold in bottles, that is quick to solidify at cool room temperatures.
I just about gag on a spoonful of coconut oil.
It might be OK as cooking oil, but I have my doubts about the health benefits of coconut oil, even though it's said to be a preventive measure for avoiding Alzheimer's Disease.

And according to a packet of Spiral brand coconut paste I was reading at work, coconuts kill ten times more people a year than shark attacks.

So, it's good to see the dangers of this food being placed on packets, similar to the law in Australia requires of cigarette packets to spell out the dangers that smoking causes to your health:-)

Cigarette packets

in Australia

Anyway, it looks like Mary Ann was on to something with her coconut cream pies.

Probably why she (Dawn Wells) still looks and acts so good today.

Mary Ann's Coconut

Cream Pies

Oh, and Mary Ann has always been my pick over Ginger ... even more so now that my (soon to be ex-)wife was named Tina Louise after the actress who plays Ginger.
Both stuck up bitches, who only think of themselves in my books, so the name choice for my wife turned out to be spot on, I think;-)

PS
If Mike Perry should read this post, have a look at the two numbers either side of the radio dial on the radio out of the TV show.

Surviving Gilligan's Island Documentary (2001)

I found this interesting documentary on the net last night and watched the lot and really enjoyed it.
You can watch the whole thing in the You Tube above ... before You Tube take it down, that is.

If it goes down try to see it at Netflix (that's if they have it), or somewhere else, as if like me you grew up watching that show and loved it, then I'm sure you'd like watching this movie.
It's called Surviving Gilligan's Island Documentary.

Gilligan's Island was one of my favourite TV shows growing up in the 60s and 70s and would often bring laughter into a home that really didn't have all that much to laugh about.
Even my subnormal brother would laugh at the slap-stick comedy in this show and couldn't wait to watch it every afternoon.

I couldn't help noticing the time period this doco covered, from the assignation of JFK in the sixties to the events of 2001 ... and we know what happened in that year, as well.

 No man ... or woman is an island on this planet, but increasingly it seems we are becoming stranded on our own deserted islands in the midst of the seemingly hustle and bustle of modern-day life.

 Anyway, watch this great little show if you liked GI, and as a segway into the post I was working on (and will follow this post) ...
"when life gives you coconuts, make coconut cream pie":-)

This badge below has nothing to do with me, I just found it in Google images, but linked it back to the person's Cafe press store, for people reading this post that might like to buy one from the store's owner.

Mary Ann's Coconut Cream Pies

UPDATE:

Gilligan's Island: When Life Gives You Coconuts, Make Coconut Cream Pie?

The Passing of a Great Man: Gough Whitlam (11 July 1916 – 21 October 2014)

"Australia's 21st prime minister and a titan of the 

Australian Labor Party, Edward Gough Whitlam, has died, aged 98.

Mr Whitlam leaves a legacy of unprecedented and unmatched change in Australian politics."
Obituary: former prime minister Gough Whitlam dead at 98

My Highlight of the 

Byron Bay Writers

Festival 2014

It would have been ironic had Gough lived till 100, because every Australian gets a letter from the Queen of England ( ... and Australia) when they reach that milestone.

 And of course, it was the Queen through the Governor General who kicked Gough out of his Prime-minstership of Oz.

Brisbane Does Love its EKKA

 ... and Starr's EKKA Paintings

 It's been a year of great men passing from a world that they gave so much, to so many people.

Giving the Middle Finger to the Fool's Ring

I wrote a post a while back about throwing my wedding ring into the ocean at Byron Bay -
Love on the Rocks ... A Fool's Journey?
and replacing it with a "Prosperity Ring" that I got from Israel over the internet and placing it on my middle left-hand finger.

At the time I was reading a book about rings that I had bought a few years back, second hand from Amazon, but had never gotten around to reading until my ring toss and started pondering the significance of rings.
The book is called,
Rings for the Finger
and was written by George Frederick Kunz
(Kunz ... sounds very close to the name I sometimes mutter under my breath to myself whenever the thought of my soon to be ex enters my mind;-)
 It is an old book, but quite interesting with its information on ring wearing customs.
But I was surprised that the middle finger of the left hand was considered to be, "the finger for fools"!?

I thought this was quite funny, since I was thinking what a fool I was for wearing a wedding ring on the traditional finger for wedding rings all these years.
But at the same time, I thought it was neat that my "Prosperity Ring" was now on the Fool's finger.
Ring Symbolism
Middle: The identity finger. 
The Saturn finger is associated with wisdom and dealing with responsibility and our role in life.  
(Saturn was the father of Jupiter.) 
This is the finger with the most strength and balance. 
Wearing a ring on this finger announces, "I am" and governs the way we see ourselves, our potentials, and our limitations. 
It is an effort to enhance willpower with the support of total ego.

Saturn

(The Middle Finger)

The Balance Wheel, sense of right and wrong, the law, search for truth, propriety, self-analysis, secretiveness.

 Saturn has been called “the balance wheel” of the hand or the personality. 
It is here that we find the qualities relating to universal and human law and justice and our relationship to them. 
To emphasize the role of Saturn is to emphasize the sense of what is right and wrong, what is proper in any given situation. 
Other qualities related to Saturn are a certain tendency toward introspection. 
Saturn in its extreme can develop into a tendency to secretiveness. 
Saturn carried too far tends to be weighty, heavy and sad. 
My own palmistry teacher used to say that “everybody has more than enough of the qualities of Saturn.”  
It would be rare that a person would want to bring greater emphasis to this particular aspect.

Symbolism, Significance and Meaning of Rings on the Five Fingers

 

The Middle Finger

Apart from the obvious hand gesture, the middle finger is your largest, boldest finger.
Rings worn on the middle finger are surprisingly uncommon — 
in part, that’s because it’s adjacent to the index finger, and anything bulky can be quite a hindrance to fine manual tasks. 
It’s best to keep things small and simple if you’re wearing them on your middle finger.
That said, a lot of first-time ring-wearers might feel more comfortable with the middle finger, purely because if feels so central, sturdy, and frankly, “manly.” 
If the idea of a pinky ring weirds you out, and you don’t want any confusion with wedding/engagement symbolism, the middle finger’s a safe default.
Because of its central location, the middle finger is held to symbolize balance and responsibility and is associated with Saturn. 
Since Saturn’s metal is lead, simple gray metals like steel are common middle finger choices.
Rings & Finger Symbolism | Which Finger Should You Wear a Ring On | Rings & Meanings

 I like the idea of being on "The Fool's Journey" of the Tarot, so I'm pleased to give the middle finger to the Fool's ring.
Makes it all the more symbolic to me, since the biggest fools in life are the ones who think they are not fools.

"The Ring is a traditional symbol of infinity or eternity, the transposition of the magickal circle into the real world of tangible, functional objects.
In a magical sense, wearing a ring binds you with power, with energy."
Ring Symbolism

 

Life Support?

Thinking about getting a tattoo like this for my left wrist this weekend, to go under my watchband, in case I ever end up on life support.

It should make it easier on my family if they are ever forced to make a decision to pull the plug on me, or not.

UPDATE: 18/10/2014.

Too late.
Oh, what a fool I am?-)
Now here's a sync also.
I had to be down in the Byron Bay area early in the day for an open house, for a house I wanted to look at, as I'm thinking (pretty hard too) about moving down there.
I had also made up my mind to get a tattoo from Sharky's Tattoo in Byron Bay later in the day, so thought I would take in a movie across the road first, have some lunch, and get a tattoo and go home.

My only two real choices for the time I wanted to see a movie in Byron Bay were Gone Girl, which I have already seen, or The Maze Runner, which I did want to see, as everybody has been telling me how good it is.
See the comments section of the Gone Girl post, for example.

Boy did it blow me away when I saw the main runner in the film had his left wrist bandaged at one stage of the movie, as if he had just gotten a tattoo, too:-)

Where I got my new tattoo.
The cinema is right across the road from it

Oddly enough, it was another movie that gave me the idea for getting the tattoo in the first place. 
Transcendence.

Nice job on the tattoo, too Rob. 

Cheers.