The ending of Starfire Journal

[kylefite]

I'm reposting this announcement from Michael Staley (originally posted on Lashtal.com on 9/17/19) as it will certainly be of interest to all us.

On one hand it is announcement to lament. On the other, it is an opportunity to look back fondly (as well as forward to the "New Wineskins" which are to come):

I decided a while back that there would be no further issues of Starfire. Something new will take its place – there is a title which I have been rolling around the tongue for some time, and which will be revealed when the time is right.

I loved putting together the first five issues. Starfire started in 1986, in the days of copy and paste, and this remained the case for the first four issues. Really good fun – pasting the images into the page of text with cowgum, using snowpake to mask the edges, delivering the camera-ready copy to the printers – those were the days. I used to print out the pages of text using a Brother CE-70 electronic typewriter which was my pride and joy at the time, and which I purchased spefically to output text as camera-ready copy. The typewriter had daisy-wheel fonts, and the one I used was ‘Anelia PS’.

[Gregory Peters]

Thank you for post this. Ah, all good things. I have no doubt that the phoenix rising from the pyre of Starfire will be amazing.

[John Hope]

Thanks for sharing the news Kyle, sad but at the same time very much looking forward to seeing what will be next!

[stephen]

Yes, thanks for reposting this Kyle.

I've known that this was the case for some time now, though I thought it was a shame that we could not round things off with a STARFIRE Vol.II No.5. Those of us who are members of Ordo Typhonis have seen the resurrection of a new internal Order newsletter in recent times of course.  Actually, I've just seen a statement by Michael today on the Kenneth Grant Facebook Group page in response to queries about republication of the Trilogies, where he says that the primary role of Starfire Publishing is to make available the Work of Kenneth Grant.  Given this agenda, I am doubtful that we will ever see the publication of anything like Starfire Journal in the foreseeable future, alas.

[Michael Staley]

Sept 26, 2019 15:03:58 GMT stephen said:

Yes, thanks for reposting this Kyle.

I've known that this was the case for some time now, though I thought it was a shame that we could not round things off with a STARFIRE Vol.II No.5. Those of us who are members of Ordo Typhonis have seen the resurrection of a new internal Order newsletter in recent times of course.  Actually, I've just seen a statement by Michael today on the Kenneth Grant Facebook Group page in response to queries about republication of the Trilogies, where he says that the primary role of Starfire Publishing is to make available the Work of Kenneth Grant.  Given this agenda, I am doubtful that we will ever see the publication of anything like Starfire Journal in the foreseeable future, alas.

My comment on the Facebook page was ". . . the primary function of Starfire Publishing is to promote Grant's work." I was responding to a sneerer, and so perhaps overstated it a tad. However, by "Grant's work" is meant the work he developed over several decades, drawing upon a diversity of sources and influences. "Grant's work", then, is shorthand. You are not correct to draw the inference you have drawn.

When I published the first issue of Starfire in May 1986 I did not really understand Grant's work. Without wishing to be too solipsist, Starfire was my initiatic journey, my attempt to understand - and to express that understanding of - "reality". The first five issues were exciting issues to put together and publish; the issues of volume 2 less so. Starfire had always been an occasional journal, but as volume 2 was published the gap between issues became longer, and the fact was that I was no longer enjoying it; it had become a chore, almost an albatross around my neck.

I'm sure that there will be something like Starfire in the foreseeable future.

[Gregory Peters]

I have a great fondness for Starfire and am sad to see it pass. However, in the bigger scheme I do prefer and am happy to see continued developments within the Order itself. That and the public facing work of having Kenneth Grant's published material in print is paramount IMO.

[stephen]

Sept 26, 2019 17:02:51 GMT Michael Staley said:

Sept 26, 2019 15:03:58 GMT stephen said:

Yes, thanks for reposting this Kyle.

I've known that this was the case for some time now, though I thought it was a shame that we could not round things off with a STARFIRE Vol.II No.5. Those of us who are members of Ordo Typhonis have seen the resurrection of a new internal Order newsletter in recent times of course.  Actually, I've just seen a statement by Michael today on the Kenneth Grant Facebook Group page in response to queries about republication of the Trilogies, where he says that the primary role of Starfire Publishing is to make available the Work of Kenneth Grant.  Given this agenda, I am doubtful that we will ever see the publication of anything like Starfire Journal in the foreseeable future, alas.

My comment on the Facebook page was ". . . the primary function of Starfire Publishing is to promote Grant's work." I was responding to a sneerer, and so perhaps overstated it a tad. However, by "Grant's work" is meant the work he developed over several decades, drawing upon a diversity of sources and influences. "Grant's work", then, is shorthand. You are not correct to draw the inference you have drawn.

When I published the first issue of Starfire in May 1986 I did not really understand Grant's work. Without wishing to be too solipsist, Starfire was my initiatic journey, my attempt to understand - and to express that understanding of - "reality". The first five issues were exciting issues to put together and publish; the issues of volume 2 less so. Starfire had always been an occasional journal, but as volume 2 was published the gap between issues became longer, and the fact was that I was no longer enjoying it; it had become a chore, almost an albatross around my neck.

I'm sure that there will be something like Starfire in the foreseeable future.

I know that there were a couple of cuckoos nesting in the last issue of Starfire, (those two bloody awful 'Toltec' articles), but it is a bit sad to see it likened to "almost an albatross", although I do understand what you are saying.

When I was expressing my opinion that it might be some time before we saw the publication of anything like Starfire from Starfire Publishing, I was tempering the enthusiasm of Prometheus with the experience of Epimetheus.

I would be happy to be proven incorrect in the inference that I have drawn.

[Michael Staley]

I'm surprised at your interpretation of my phrase "almost an albatross".

I wasn't describing the last issue of Starfire - or any other issue, come to that - as "almost an albatross". I was talking about continuing to work upon something for which - rightly or wrongly - I had diminishing enthusiasm.

[kylefite]

I can certainly understand Michael's feelings of a former joy having become bitter over time. It seems that the “wineskins” wear out and, should we endlessly trudge on, our Holy Pilgrimage becomes a “Dull Round.”

There is a great release when we cast such a burden into the Fire. This, in my experience, is followed by an inward rush of energy and inspiration. We can grapple anew with Mystery and evoke the Unknown. The Sorcerer is ever on the razor cusp between Tonal and Nagual (just a description, Stephen, which may, hopefully be divorced from any perceived “Cuckoo Toltecerry”).

I just received my email from J.D. Holmes regarding preorders for the latest from Starfire:

www.jdholmes.com/shop/jdholmes/SF-IAM.html

I've been excited to read this volume since I first learned of the undertaking. Ordo Typhonis does, indeed, continue with its internal newsletter and publication for members and I believe we may look forward to the new “public” vehicles for our creative vision which will, most assuredly, arise.