CARD CARRYING MEMBER OF A SECRET SOCIETY 6.24.08 A few people inquired about my tattoo recently, and that’s the inspiration for this post. I wasn’t certain about the design when I first got the tattoo, but I feel like it defines me better than I can define it (in addition to being placed well and looking really good). I often have a difficult time describing what it represents (assuming, of course, that I even know what it truly represents). Therefore, I usually don’t say much in describing it to others aside from the top-secret information that “it’s not a normal cross”. I got a couple responses to that this weekend that made me want to refresh my memory. But before I delve into that, I’ll start with what I remember and the significance it has to me. I’ve had an interesting religious path in my life, from a Catholic rearing all the way through Satanism, Atheism, and ending in my current Agnosticism – but I’ll save that for another time. For me, the Path of Illumination began upon reading Dan Brown’s Angels & Demons, which introduced me to the idea of the Illuminati – a secret society of brilliant people who sought the truth. Typically I feel there’s a stark contrast between the religious sort who simply have faith compared to scientists who must have proof. However, the Illuminati were, at least in my mind, scientists seeking the truth but with the mindset that religion and science were not, in fact, two ideas constantly in conflict with each other, but instead went hand-in-hand. At the very least, they were advocating that knowledge in science does not defeat the idea that God may exist...and maybe on the opposite side of the spectrum that belief in God does not mean we should not pursue a better understanding of science and how it can benefit society. Now, Angels & Demons is a captivating book that I simply could not put down. I love Rome (and the idea of Rome), and there was a continual intrigue as Robert Langdon ran around pursuing the culprit who was murdering priests in the fountains around the city of Rome, leaving ambigram clues that related to their method of being killed. The incorporation of the elements (earth, air, fire, water) was a brilliant stroke in garnering my attention, as I’ve grown up with a fascination for the elements and the natural processes of nature. Of course, you almost know from the start that it’s not the true Illuminati who are responsible for the murders, ultimately finding out about some form of corruption in the Church where they are trying to blame a long-forgotten secret society in their plan to gain power. And that pretty much sums up the main idea behind my tattoo: the pursuit of knowledge and truth, as well as a representation of the elements in the smaller triangles that combine to form the Illuminati diamond in the center of the cross. The little bit of digging I’ve done so far has also enlightened me that the ‘star’ at the top is actually an inverted pentagram. That alone has an added significance for me because although the Church of Satan went a little over the deep end in certain regards, it had a lot of interesting points that I agreed with, including a pursuit of knowledge and a push for personal responsibility. That’s it for my personal perspective…then we get to the good stuff, courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illuminati. Illuminati (plural of Latin illuminatus, "enlightened") is a name that refers to several groups, both real and fictitious. Historically, it refers specifically to the (Bavarian) Illuminati, an Enlightenment-era secret society founded in the late eighteenth century. However, in modern times it refers to a purported conspiratorial organization which acts as a shadowy power behind the throne, allegedly controlling world affairs through present day governments and corporations, usually as a modern incarnation or continuation of the Bavarian Illuminati. In this context, Illuminati is often used in reference to a New World Order (NWO). Many conspiracy theorists believe the Illuminati are the masterminds behind events that will lead to the establishment of such a New World Order. Confusing the issue further is the fact that there are also several modern fraternal groups which include the word "Illuminati" in their names. In rarer cases, the Illuminati refers to an elite set of enlightened individuals who may not cooperate but are uniquely empowered by their enlightenment, much like the intelligentsia classes of today are empowered by their education and intelligence. These are people who have become illuminated and have achieved a higher mystical understanding of the universe. Many secret societies and mystical traditions are concerned with this kind of illumination or enlightenment, such as the Rosicrucian Societies, the Martinists and the original Bavarian Illuminati.[ All told, I’d be proud to be a card-carrying member of the Illuminati…if such a group existed, that is. This article was written by angelduzt. Send thoughts and comments to duzt@lifeduzt.net.