Today, Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 5:08 pm PDT, marks the exact time of the 57th Anniversary of Jack Parsons‘ tragic death.  Parsons, (born, Marvel Whiteside Parsons, and also known as John), was a brilliant scientist who was one of the main founders of Jet Propulsion Laboratory (affectionately known as “Jack Parsons Laboratories, by Parsons fans).

Jack was the inventor of solid rocket fuel, which was the single most important contribution to the Moon missions, for without Jack’s contribution, there never would have been a man on the moon (at least not within the time frame, it was achieved). For his contributions to the field of space exploration, Jack was given the honor of having not one, but two craters on the moon, named for him (albeit, both are on the dark side of the moon … amazingly appropriate.) Read about Parsons’ craters here.

Despite enough intelligence to have garnered him lasting fame for his contributions in the field of science and chemistry, it was Parsons’ secondary interest and practice of the Magick of Aleister Crowley, that has since overshadowed his more worldly legacy.

In 1939, at the young age of 26, Parsons was introduced, by Wilfrid T. Smith, to the magickal philosophy of Aleister Crowley, the head of the organization known as, the Ordo Templi Orientis.

Parsons life took a strange turn when he undertook a ritual he named, “The Babalon Working“, wherein he performed an intense Enochian Ritual, specifically designed to manifest an earthly incarnation of the Thelemic primal goddess, “Babalon.”

Much has been written about this extraordinary ritual, and its shocking, seemingly tragic outcome, in the form of two books, “Sex and Rockets“, and “Strange Angel“. (Purchase these books, via links listed below).

I have created several Astrological Charts regarding the highlights of Parsons’ fascinating life, which are available upon request, to serious Magicians, and those interested in the Jack’s magickal career.

In honor of Jack’s memory, there is a group on Facebook, dedicated to this amazingly talented man.

There is also a collector’s edition, Jack Parsons’ Memorial T-Shirt, available here.

Jack Parsons – Wikipedia Entry

Books about Jack Parsons: (Buy them by clicking below, and support this site!)

Love and Rockets

Strange Angel

Today is the 60th Anniversary of the death of the avatar of Western Magick, Edward Alexander Crowley (more famously known as Aleister Crowley).

As a Thelemite, I always observe the Holy Days of Thelema, and earlier today remembered to meditate on the special energy of this day; however, at 11:34 pm (PST) the remembrance hit me full force. I felt his spirit must have left close to this time all those years ago.

Crowley, wherever you are . . . say hi to David for me.

Thinking of you,  missing you, celebrating you, always.

Happy Birthday to the late, great Elliott Smith. He would have been 38 years old today. His music is like no other. Transformative, healing, powerful and most of all, brutally honest.

I had the great pleasure of meeting Elliott at Spaceland several years ago. He was sweet, self-effacing and warmly genuine. Completely guileless. After listening to his acoustic set, I picked up a napkin he left on the stage which was scrawled with fresh lyrics he’d just written. Something about pirates. Anyway, his music got me through some tough times.

Yesterday, Mr. B and I wound up turning a friend onto Elliott’s music, and I realized later on, that it was actually Elliott’s birthday.

In my head, I heard Elliott’s voice speaking to me. He said that his favorite birthday present was knowing that people were still moved enough to share his music with their friends.

For those of you who haven’t heard Elliott’s music, here are a few of my favorite songs of his: Christian Brothers, Everything Reminds Me of Her, Speed Trials, Everything Means Nothing to Me, Waltz Number 1 and 2. There are too many to list here. Everything he wrote just brims over with a heartfelt authenticity that just breaks the human heart.

Please visit the Official Elliott Smith Fan Site, and also make sure to check out Elliott’s many Youtube videos. You will discover a treasure in the music and lyrics of this truly great artist. You are loved and missed Elliott. I’ll be lighting a candle for him later tonight at the Elliott Wall on Sunset. Blessings and Light my friend.

For those of you who would like to see Elliott Smith’s Astrological Birth Chart, visit my Magickal Forum.

Today is the anniversary of the 480th Birthday of the well-known, original Enochian Magician, Sir John Dee (the original Agent 007).

Sir John Dee was born on July 13th, 1527 and died in 1609. He was primarily known during his life as an expert mathematician and geographer; however, he was also a scholar of the Occult, and an alchemist as well as the Court Astrologer to no less than Queen Elizabeth I.

The Virgin Queen most likely owes a great deal to Dee for helping her make important decisions that ultimately cemented her unique place in history as the greatest, most powerful queen since the Egyptian Hatshepsut.

To modern occultists, Dee’s primary legacy is his system of Enochian Magick, which he transcribed by using a Trance Medium (Edward Kelley) as a communicator between man and the Angels.

Here are a few links for those of you who might enjoy reading more about this scholar of the divine.

As Dee might have said himself, “Ol Sonuf Vaorsagi!” Happy birthday Sir!

Sir John Dee

Liber Chanokh (Crowley’s Treatise on Enochian Magick)

Voxx Tribute Page to Sir John Dee