No reading this week! Just bring your brain and your ineffable Mind. We’re going to plumb the depths of the cosmos in search of $200 or so. What could go wrong?

In response to overwhelming demand that we read something practical, AVDIERVNT offers Alison Chicosky’s The Secrets of Helios: Unlocking the Practical Uses of PGM IV1956-1715. I take it he has gotten some traction with this book, and may be induced to comment upon it. It isn’t long, so we’ll discuss the whole text.

This coming Wednesday, we discuss the 1935 film adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Please watch the film in advance, and come in with a few notes and questions for the group.

Here is the text of the play, in case you’re one of those peculiar individuals who like to read and watch simultaneously.

This week – the exciting conclusion of Georges Bataille’s Story of the Eye. Please read chapters 9 through to the end (pages 53-103).

Alternate version, if you have woes with the PDF: https://supervert.com/translations/georges-bataille/story-of-the-eye

In honor of Sorcerix Helios’ birthday, we’ll be reading a piece – just the appendices – of the sprawling Illuminatus Trilogy. Pages 708-774 in the PDF.

Helios’ word on the text:

Dear Readers, If you have not previously been able to read or enjoy the Illuminatus trilogy, do not despair that you shall not understand these appendices. The only appendix that relies heavily on the text is the last, which I have not included in our reading. Additionally, I believe those who have read the trilogy agree with me that this prior reading does not fully assist in understanding the glorious nonsense we are to read and comment on this week. Learning may, after all, be quite aside the point the authors intended by including these occult musings. Nevertheless, I found reading them to be extraordinarily helpful in understanding occult reasoning, paradigm construction, and Discordianism in general. I look forward to picking apart these pages with you; I could think of few greater enjoyments I might have on my birthday.

Dear All – this week, a rare pause in our assault on Good Books by Bad People. We stay home tonight, and reconvene on the 18th. Anon, anon!

With apologies, I submit to you a piece of SMUT penned by the young Georges Bataille. We have reveled in the Solar Anus, we have ascended to the Summit, and now it is time for Story of the Eye. Please read chapters 1-8 (pages 3-52).

Alternate version, if you have woes with the PDF: https://supervert.com/translations/georges-bataille/story-of-the-eye

The rules are: you’re allowed to quit midway if you feel excessive nausea. We will judge whether to go into the second half based on everyone’s uh sensibilities. Please consider what this text suggests about Bataille’s theory of Evil as Freedom, and bear in mind that YOU WANTED TO READ THIS.

In other news: The Bastards will take a holiday the week of 9/11, and reconvene our council on 9/18.

One from Lil’ Miss Turnip this week: a selection on mysticism from George Bataille’s On Nietzsche. Also heartily endorsed by M. Grangle; a deeply perceptive and honest account of a certain kind of mystical experience. The pages are 29-57 (60-88 in the PDF).

This coming Wednesday: the second half of C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters! That’s Letters 14-31, pages 67-175.

Tomorrow: a hazardous juxtaposition!

At the recommendation of Fra/Sor Hermafetes, please read C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters, from the Preface through Letter 13 (up to page 67).

Visiting Professor LVX NOX VULGARIS appends a painless 5 pages: the opening chapter from Thomas Hardy’s The Return of the Native, pp.3-8.