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1.13.10

Christopher O'Brien

(2 Hours, 22 Minutes)


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Cutting edge esoteric researcher Christopher O'Brien joins us for a deeply esoteric discussion on his book Stalking the Tricksters which examines the trickster phenomenon. In this free-flowing conversation, we'll be discussing what the trickster is (both classically and in O'Brien's view), types of tricksters, people as tricksters, the marginalization of tricksters by mainstream religion, examining the esoteric from "outside the box," melding mainstream science and the occult, the importance of blood in different paranormal realms, humans supplying the trickster with technology, and a host of other heady topics concerning this nebulous esoteric genre.

It's a wildly mind-bending conversation that is truly an edition of BoA:Audio that you do not want to miss !

Full Preview: We kick things off with the bio / background on Christopher O'Brien and find out about his previous research into the strange events in San Luis Valley, including his extensive investigation of the cattle mutilation phenomenon there, and how that led to his work investigating the Trickster phenomenon.

Diving into our discussion on the trickster, we start with a general overview of what the trickster is believed to be and O'Brien fleshes this out with remarkable detail. He explains how the rise of monotheistic religion marginalized the trickster and also talks about the three types of tricksters (anthropomorphic animal, tragic hero, and shaman). He also puts forward his new interpretation of the trickster which suggests that it is evolving into a self-aware entity. We find out from O'Brien if he thinks that the evolving, self-aware nature of the trickster has been there all along or if it is a new development.

Further trying to crystallize the trickster enigma, we pondering whether, in contemporary times, people can be actual tricksters or are they merely harnessing (or influenced by) the trickster energy. This segues into some discussion on whether or not the mainstream religion's marginalization of the trickster was an intentional act. Taking into account that shape shifting plays a major role in the trickster enigma, we discuss how there are a number of paranormal phenomena that normally would not be considered trickster but, upon a more careful examination, seem to fit the profile fairly well.

Next we discuss the tulpa and how it may be the best overall summation of the O'Brien's trickster theory as the tulpa starts in the mind and then develops into a tangible thing. This leads to some discussion on whether people can "tulpify" other things aside from entities, such as the mysterious helicopter sighting which was an integral part of O'Brien's early research. Carrying this "tulpification" concept further, we talk about an incident, as chronicled in the book, where a newspaper article on a hoax "devil sighting" ended up resulting in numerous subsequent "real" sightings from people who read the article.

That line of thinking leads us to talking about the need to study a witnesses' reaction to an anomalous event as much as the event itself. We then extend that into the UFO phenomenon and speculate on, if there is an agent of change at work, what might be the goal of that agenda. This leads to some discussion on how the nature of esoteric research may need to change perspective in order to fully grasp what is behind paranormal phenomena.

Looking at one of the stories found in the book, we have O'Brien recount his investigation of a cattle mutilation which saw the remaining, living cattle form some kind of "prayer circle" around their deceased brethren. Moving back into a meta level of discussion, we ponder if emerging "new science" will ever be able to unlock the source behind the trickster force. He also puts forth one area where locking down the trickster energy has high potential to be achieved. This segues back into some discussion on the need for more "outside the box" thinking in esoterica and also how the younger generation seems to have a more jaded view of the paranormal.

The conversation then turns towards how there seems to be a melding of "alternative" science with mainstream science and we consider if, perhaps, that unification has already happened "in the black" and the mainstream populace merely hasn't been informed yet. That, in turns, leads us to talking about Jack Parsons and Aleister Crowley as well as the occult leanings of the power elites. Going down a slightly different road, we examine one recurring element found in O'Brien's book: the importance of blood in different esoteric realms.

Taking things back to the trickster, we discuss O'Brien's theory that the human relationship with the trickster energy may have flipped and, now, the humans are supplying the trickster with technology as opposed to previous times when the opposite was happening. O'Brien puts forward his concerns that, with the abundance of technology in today's world, perhaps the trickster is using that to eventually manifest itself as a physical being. We next get O'Brien to recount a story from the book where some dwarves were jumping on top of cars in a casino parking lot and the entire event was allegedly captured by security cameras. O'Brien shares an update on that story and the whereabouts of the video tape and also provides some insight on how he handles on-site investigations with witnesses. This segues into some discussion on the surprising prevalence of North American elementals.

Heading towards the close, we ponder the idea that, while the trickster energy is not necessarily evil, per se, if it is sentient, could it now be angry that it has been marginalized in contemporary culture. Looking at the trickster energy as a catalyst for change, regardless of what event actually takes place, we apply that to 2012 and ponder who it fits into such a scenario. O'Brien also puts forward the concern that there may be a societal programming at work which will "tulpify" catastrophes on Earth as a result of all the 2012 hype. Wrapping things up, we get O'Brien to speculate, as best he can, on how he sees this trickster energy evolving in the future. And, finally, we find out what's next for O'Brien O'Brien, including further examinations and applications of the trickster phenomenon.


Christopher O'Brien Bio

From 1992 to 2002 Christopher O'Brien investigated over one thousand paranormal events reported in the San Luis Valley—located in South-central Colorado/North Central New Mexico. Working with law enforcement officials, ex-military, ranchers and an extensive network of skywatchers, he documented what may have been the most intense wave of unexplained activity ever seen in a single region of North America.

His ten-year investigation resulted in the three books of his "mysterious valley" trilogy, The Mysterious Valley, Enter the Valley, and Secrets of the Mysterious Valley. His meticulous field investigation of UFO reports, unexplained livestock deaths, Native American legends, cryptozoology, secret military activity and the folklore, found in the world's largest alpine valley, has produced one of the largest databases of unusual occurrences gathered from a single geographic region.

He is currently working with a team of specialists installing a high-tech video surveillance and hard-data monitoring system in and around the San Luis Valley. His latest book Stalking the Tricksters has just been released by Adventures Unlimited Press. This controversial book distills his years of field investigation and research into an ingenious unified paranormal theory that is sure to create intense interest and controversy.

His website is ourstrangeplanet.com


Next Week :

Adam Davies

Extreme Expeditions

Fresh off a year that saw two major trips in search of mysterious cryptids, Adam Davies joins us to talk about his Monsterquest special that saw him traveling to the Himalayas in search of the Abominable Snowman and to Sumatra looking for the Orang Pendek. We'll get Adam's take on the trials and tribulations of pursuing these infamous cryptobeasts on the ground in foreign lands.

It's a fun-filled and informative conversation with one of the most daring and hardcore researchers in esoterica: Adam Davies.


BoA : Audio, Season V archive