Paracultural Calendar for April 8

[Mark Thibodeau]

On this day in *1820*, the world famous *Venus de Milo* statue is
discovered on the Aegean island of Melos. One of the most magnificent
surviving examples of Ancient artistic genius, it is dated to between 130
and 100 BC. Western European art would not again achieve the level of
sophistication on display in the Venus until the Renaissance, roughly
fifteen hundred years later.

***

During a three-day span beginning on this day in *1904*, while visiting
Cairo, Egypt, notorious British occultist *Aleister Crowley* “receives” the
first chapter of *The Book of the Law*, the central sacred text of the
religious philosophy that would come to be known as Thelema. Also
known as *Liber
Al Vel Legis*, this slim volume – allegedly dictated “from beyond” by
*Hoor-Paar-Kraat* (“Horus the Child”) via a discarnate intermediary called
*Aiwass* (whom Crowley would eventually claim as his own personal Holy
Guardian Angel) – is widely regarded as kicking off the Aeon of Horus,
which some have connected to both the Age of Aquarius and the New Age. This
otherworldly revelation-by-dictation has come to be considered one of the
most important mystical documents of the 20th century, and is well
worth *reading
<http://www.sacred-texts.com/oto/engccxx.htm>*.

***

On this day in *2004*, National Security Advisor the *Reverend Doctor
Condoleezza Rice Junior* appears before the independent congressional
commission investigating the terror attacks of 9/11 and delivers one of the
longest opening statements in the history of opening statements. Whether
this was due to the crushing weight of her guilty conscience, or a desire
to bore people into changing the channel before the questioning began, only
Condi knows for sure. In any case, here's the closing statement from her
epic opening statement, to which hindsight has certainly not been kind:

"Today, along with many allies, we are helping the people of Iraq and
Afghanistan to build free societies. And we are working with the people of
the Middle East to spread the blessings of liberty and democracy as the
alternatives to instability, hatred, and terror. … The defeat of terror and
the success of freedom in those nations will serve the interests of our
Nation and inspire hope and encourage reform throughout the greater Middle
East. In the aftermath of September 11, those were the right choices for
America to make -- the only choices that can ensure the safety of our
Nation in the decades to come."

**** *

On this day in *1946*, after a series of disastrous failures and bungled
opportunities, the *League of Nations* - which had risen from the ashes of
World War One - assembles for last time before ultimately disbanding 4 days
later, on April 12, leaving behind little more than an official emblem
featuring one of the most eyebrow-raising and paranoia-inducing designs
ever created. I mean, just look at it! Two pentagrams inside a pentagon?
Come on!
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