Author Occult Authors Hall of Shame

[Sabbatius]

I've read only one of his books. Dark Moon Rising: Pagan BDSM and the Ordeal Path.

Out of all of Raven Kaldera's works, I have read his Northern Tradition Shaman books and his associated works on magic. I have had a copy of the book you mentioned, however I never had the urge to go through it. BDSM was never my taste. Methinks his only text which I honestly found of useful information is Handfasting and Wedding Rituals to which Raven coauthored it with Tannin Schwartzstein.

Raven Kaldera's Shaman works in his so-called Northern Tradition Shamanism is not founded on any existing tradition except Core Shamanism with a Heathen theme.

 

[voidcat]

Out of all of Raven Kaldera's works, I have read his Northern Tradition Shaman books and his associated works on magic. I have had a copy of the book you mentioned, however I never had the urge to go through it. BDSM was never my taste. Methinks his only text which I honestly found of useful information is Handfasting and Wedding Rituals to which Raven coauthored it with Tannin Schwartzstein.

Raven Kaldera's Shaman works in his so-called Northern Tradition Shamanism is not founded on any existing tradition except Core Shamanism with a Heathen theme.

I think he makes it clear his tradition isn't historical on one of his websites and is mostly UPG. Which is fine. Was he not clear in the book?

 

[Sabbatius]

I think he makes it clear his tradition isn't historical on one of his websites and is mostly UPG. Which is fine. Was he not clear in the book?

When his works originally came out, no. Now he is at least more clear. Kaldera is one the reasons that UPG was a major issue to begin with in certain circles and practices.

I will admit, I hold certain biases. Much of Core Shamanism is workable, to a degree. His works are literal hype, like yet another roleplay only this time with Viking action figures under the guise of Northern Tradition. Methinks my bias is because I have to deal with people a lot like him in my own practices and gatherings, many trying to play Native.

 

[voidcat]

When his works originally came out, no. Now he is at least more clear. Kaldera is one the reasons that UPG was a major issue to begin with in certain circles and practices.

I will admit, I hold certain biases. Much of Core Shamanism is workable, to a degree. His works are literal hype, like yet another roleplay only this time with Viking action figures under the guise of Northern Tradition. Methinks my bias is because I have to deal with people a lot like him in my own practices and gatherings, many trying to play Native.

Ah. I didn't know all this. Sounds like a person who approprates a lot. To me UPG is fine as long as you are clear about it. As for folk who play native...it makes no sense to me folk do that. I practice shape-shifting and my practice is animal based but would never call myself a Shaman as I don't know enough to call myself that. And I try hard despite supposedly according to my mom being Lakota Sioux to not incorporate native practices i dont understand as I never grew up with the culture. I as a result don't feel I can claim any of the traditions from the Lakota Sioux as I don't know enough about them. I don't even call myself native because my mom is a known liar and I'd want proof that it is true our family is part Lakota. Like I don't see why people do any practice they don't understand and don't acknowledge where those practices came from.

If Raven is the type to play native that sounds very much like someone I'd want to avoid.

 

[silencewaits]

I've read only one of his books. Dark Moon Rising: Pagan BDSM and the Ordeal Path. Lot of good info but some the stuff was bull or not stuff you should do. And by his own words in the book he's not a good guy.

I read online he's sexually abused folk. I don't know if that's true I haven't found the source of that info. However from reading that book I gathered this:

Just because you can dont mean you should. Just because pain in the extreme can cause spiritual experiences doesn't mean you should hang from hooks piercing your breasts. Or that you should sew someone's mouth up like he did in this article:

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You don't need to harm folk to that degree for them to have altered consciousness. There are better ways.

I don't know much about him personally, but flesh-hooking isn't that uncommon. The mouth sewing is interesting, but not that extreme. If done properly it's like a party trick. I read the rest of the article; if it's willing it doesn't really matter. A bit cringey. Ordeal Master? Very cringey. But I see what he's doing. And sure there are better ways for different aims--but it seems to be some kind of catharsis or ritual suffering. Either re-experiencing traumatic events in a controlled manner, or expressing harmful fantasies/urges in a way that can be processed and moved on from/released. I can't speak on the efficacy of that, but I see the vision.

 

[voidcat]

I don't know much about him personally, but flesh-hooking isn't that uncommon. The mouth sewing is interesting, but not that extreme. If done properly it's like a party trick. I read the rest of the article; if it's willing it doesn't really matter. A bit cringey. Ordeal Master? Very cringey. But I see what he's doing. And sure there are better ways for different aims--but it seems to be some kind of catharsis or ritual suffering. Either re-experiencing traumatic events in a controlled manner, or expressing harmful fantasies/urges in a way that can be processed and moved on from/released. I can't speak on the efficacy of that, but I see the vision.

I can see it too don't get me wrong. And yes I know flesh hooking isn't something he invented. I still think it's a bad idea. I think there are some things are OK that he does. I read his book however and I think a lot of his advice and actions probably could cause harm to people psychologically and lead to needing a therapist for ptsd. I wouldn't question things so hard if it wasn't for the fact he claims a lot of the stuff he does is for mental health and helps the people. Some of it I think can be helpful. But some of it I just question the effectiveness. For example he doesn't do safewords in rituals if someone asks to stop the ordeal he may continue if he thinks the treatment will help the person. I think that that's wrong and if someone isn't prepared to fact something that could be traumatic they shouldn't be forced to. Not if the the treatment is extreme.