January 2009
It has taken a long 6 years for the book project known as The Lamp of Diogenes (first written by the founder of the Bavarian Illuminati, Dr Adam Weishaupt) to be completed. It is almost there, though I must share the journey (to a certain degree), as it has been wrought with many issues to make me contemplate a conspiracy of sorts.
I acquired the dusty old volume, Lara Croft style, in an old Masonic Library where I instantly recognized the author's name and proceeded to carefully flip through the aged manuscript. Printed in Austria in 1804, its brittle 368 pages stirred in me a wonder. Was this an actual book written by the elusive founder of the most talked about conspiracy theory besides, maybe, the J.F.K. assassination? Would this gem shed light on an organization so secretive that virtually no written records remain (thanks to the Jesuits, mind you)? I had to find out.
Moving back to Seattle (my second time) in 2002, I did some research and found a post grad student who was able to read High German. This was a task in itself as I had carefully photocopied the text, yet the book is not divided up into chapters. One long series of paragraphs with quotes from such Enlightenment era scholars, philosophers and poets such as Shakespeare, Boileau, La Bruyere, Voltaire, The Earl of Rochester, Rousseau, Young, Dryden and Pope make up this venerable work. Worthy of note are some ancient Roman masters, Sophocles, Horace, Cicero and Ovid. The printing itself was of an old font style that made it difficult to read, for me at least, and it's no wonder that it took over 3 years to have it fully translated. The translator, who is certified, wishes to be anonymous for a time and so I shall honor that. Yet, after her diligent struggle, the book found itself finally in English for the first time in history. Yes, it was a master work written by Dr. Weishaupt, the head of the Bavarian Illuminati!
The language and structure of the work, at first, was slightly difficult to read, so having many conversations with my spiritual brother Andrew Swanlund, (over the ramifications and history of the Bavarian Illuminati), he offered to edit the book and then did. His assistance greatly improved The Lamp of Diogenes readability while maintaining the integrity of the work. For this and his friendship, I am most thankful.
I was next to find a friend and fellow seeker of truth, Adam Parfrey of Feral House. We worked on having him possibly release the book through his publishing company. After much talk and mutual work, it was decided that he would utilize a section of the text and an essay I wrote on the good Dr. Weishaupt as a part to an upcoming book (now out) titled Secret and Suppressed II, a work chock-full of conspiracy theories. And to my pleasure, the last known writings of Robert Anton Wilson, (the great American philosopher) who comments on The Lamp of Diogenes and gives more history into the Illuminati.
Growing up reading all the RAW books such as the Illuminatus! Trilogy, thoughts of opening the Pandora's Box of conspiracy made me a bit uneasy. Part of my rational mind became nervous of the prospects of having both sides of the socio/political coin seeing me as a mouthpiece for an organization they see as ‘evil'. Left and right wing nuts have blamed every conceivable dastardly deed throughout history on the Illuminati and the chance to correct their intellectual errors has been a strong catalyst to release this project sooner than later.
Even now, a new movie starring Tom Hanks titled "Angels and Demons" (based on the bestselling author Dan Brown's book of the same title) will be out later this year. This will inevitably help in raising awareness of the Illuminati, and (when the fans buy this book) will elevate their consciousness as well. Win/win.
I have felt a calling to clear the name of Weishaupt and to set the record straight on exactly who and what the Illuminati were about. Even though I have been offered thousands of dollars by various private individuals and churches to sell the original book, I felt it so important to continue this project I had to turn them down. Afraid they might try and destroy it and/or slant it in their own unknown agendas, I declined their offers when the prospect (and need) for money in my life was very strong.
In order to safeguard the book, I heavily insured it and mailed it to the Masonic Temple in Evanston, Illinois. I let my contact (the Knight Templar commander who knighted me there in 2001) know the importance (and financial value) of safeguarding the book and suggested it be put in the large vault within the sanctified walls of the temple. To my shock and horror, I was notified several months later that members of the temple board had sold it to a university there in Chicago!!! This worried me as well. The thought of a university team working on translating the work and having the funds and resources to publish it made this race even more sensitive.
I am relieved now as the Masonic Book Club of America is releasing this gem in December of this year, slated as their book for 2008. With 1,200 members from all walks of life, (many of whom are scholars, satisfyingly enough) the book shall be in the hands of brothers in the same fraternity as the late, great doctor. It will be a limited edition version with an original new painting of Dr. Weishaupt by my good friend and spiritual brother Jeremy Wood. This is by no means the stopping point of this project. My literary agent J. Joyce is working hard, as we speak, to find a major publishing house to release this book to the masses.
Over the many years of reading and rereading The Lamp of Diogenes, researching and corresponding with other truth seekers and laying out designs on the trestle board for future Illuminati-based projects, I am excited as to what the future will unveil. A world more aware of its unlimited possibilities, a society with even greater love in its heart and, ultimately, the light of the knowledge of our universal oneness!