I Interview Michael Bertiaux


I recently interviewed Michael Bertiaux, author, philosopher and artist with special interest in metaphysics and occultism. Contrary to what some would tell you, Bertiaux had little to do with Aleister Crowley's teachings. Bertiaux was introduced to Voudoun in Haiti when he was head of a Epicopalian Church Museum of Art and Archaeology. He met Dante when he was a secretary for the Theosophical Society, then based in the Fine Arts Building, where my offices are located today.

Mr. Bertiaux maintained close ties to the Haitian community in Chicago and was very involved with the African American Spiritualist Movement. He was acquainted with Henry Rucker of the Psychic Institute and Attorney George Adams, founder of the Mission of the Invisible Sciences that was located at 5200 S Kimbark in Chicago.

Mr. Bertiaux was a teacher of John Keehan Dante and has given me an interview replete with acccounts of his influences from movies, in alchemy, transformation and shamanism. He has told me that John Dante was initiated as a priest of Voudoun in Hyde Park in Chicago. He shared with me information that explained, in his opinion and from his memory of their many conversations, his core influences and interests. It is Steve Reeves who comes to Bertiaux's mind as an influence on Keehan, rather than Errol Flynn.

Dante's connection to Bertiaux came through a business partner and student, Marc Lully. Mr. Lully was in business with Dante dealing in adult bookstores. Mr. Lully used the monies earned from these stores to finance his occult bookstore, Atlantis. A very popular north side center for occult information in the 60s and 70s. Dante was taking a mail order course in the Monetary of the Seven Rays, the "Seven Rays" being the divine energy responsible for the evolution of all life and a "magical offshoot of Roman Catholicism.

Now this is a far cry from the warning I got from uniformed people who have no first hand knowledge of Mr Bertiaux and his studies or practices. Good research requires work.

There is more to report, much much more. But you will only see that in the film. I can't tell everything online. New information keeps coming., fantastic information I need to vet carefully before I reveal it. I just have to keep putting in the work.

Comments

C. C. Pieschala said…
Wow Floyd!
I can't wait to hear what else you uncovered! I am intrigued by your research!

I was just looking at mini-me's blog .. sorry I mean the black dragon fighting society's blog. And mini-me, I mean "they" indicate that John thought very highly of us Chicagoans. He called us "mavens" according to dictionary.com that means ...
"Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
ma·ven /ˈmeɪvən/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[mey-vuhn] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –noun an expert or connoisseur. Also, mavin. [Origin: 1960–65; < Yiddish < Heb: connoisseur] Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006."


I guess he thought all the experts were here in Chicago! I'm glad, since we were all his friends and family.

What is even more intriguing is that, beyond the lack of the usual spelling and grammar errors on mini-me's .. I mean the Fall River site, is that John liked to use a word typically that would one would expect from Jewish community.

Being a red haired Irish Catholic John certainly was very culturally diverse! Not a dumb goy to be sure! Oi Vay! I can't wait to see what else you find out about this intriguing man!

Hey mini-me, how are you coming with those frickin' laser beams? Or are we going to have to settle with angry & ill tempered bass?

Har har har dee har har!
*humming "men in tights"*

He probably would have been disappointed by missing out on Fall River's Jewish community before his untimely death.
johnpatricio said…
Very nice info Floyd. Nice research. Much thanks.
el shaitan said…
so did mr. bertiaux provide any addition info about the whole el shaitan "killer kung fu" mystery?

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