Festival of Orgone: A Bit of History Part II

Wilhelm Reich was plagued by political and 'moral' interference during the later years of his life.   His research into the then taboo subject of sex and his vocal opinions concerning politics did help make him a target during the ultra-paranoid McCarthy Era.  However, Reich's treatment is considered one of the worst cases of censorship in U.S. history: Reich was incarcerated, his materials burned, and his equipment destroyed.  Why was there such extreme resistance to Reich and his ideas?  The FDA incinerated literally tons of Reich's materials, Tons.  Perhaps the injustices of his last years of life are why his story resonates with me so strongly.

Festival of Orgone: A Bit of History, Part I

The Festival of Orgone is focused on Wilhelm Reich, the scientist who discovered Orgone. Reich was born on March 24, 1897 and was a contemporary of Freud.  Orgone is a universal life energy discovered by Reich between 1936-1939.  Bluish in color and associated with sexuality, it is theorized to permeate all things.  Orgone takes its name from the orgasm function.

Sadly, the social mores over sexuality and the political climate of his time worked against him.
Continued in Part II...

{Digital Image created in Adobe Illustrator }

I am only touching on brief points in Reich's history here.  I would prefer that you get his full biography from the Wilhelm Reich Infant Trust and the Wilhelm Reich Wiki.

Festival of Orgone 2012: June 20th-July 4th

Please join me at Trail of Breadcrumbs, beginning on the Northern Hemisphere's Summer Solstice, for the two week event I am calling the Festival of Orgone!  Everyday on and between the Summer Solstice and U.S. Independence Day this year I will be posting a new Orgone inspired piece of artwork.  With each piece I will be posting information about Orgone and other universal energies.  Below are a few of my previous pieces based on Orgone energy.

Solve et Coagula: The Grid

The symbol repeated here represents a great deal for me, but the basis of it is the alchemical formula of Solve et Coagula.  Dissolve and Coagulate.  Expansion and Contraction.  Pushing away and Drawing to.  Increase and Decrease.  It is the essence of Duality within the spirit.  The pump of the Heart.  The Rhythm of Sex.  

The single image on its own is kind of my take on the eight pointed star of Chaos Magick.  However it resonates more strongly with Solve et Coagula, but both can be true.  ;-) The longer I have the image around the more I keep finding new meanings attaching themselves to it.  Somehow in my head this is connected with Robert Anton Wilson's and Timothy Leary's views on reality tunnels.  I haven't worked all the bugs out on that one yet so I'll have to get back to you on that.  I suspect this symbol will be with me for awhile and possibly showing up in other works...so there's time. 

This was my desktop for awhile, but it is a little challenging to look at day in and day out.  However, if you enjoy optical effects, make it your desktop and stare at it for awhile and watch what happens.  :-)  Be sure to look at the larger version of this...the jpg thumbnail that blogger created seems to have blurred a bit and upset the contrast of the original image.

{created in Adobe Illustrator}

Loki

I never knew he was associated with earthquakes 

until I read how he was punished by the Asgardians for killing Balder.

Never piss off the Norse.  There are fates worse than Death.

{Bamboo Pad in Illustrator.}