I've tried several times to write this post, but it always turns into something else. So, here it goes.
It's a Big Club & You Ain't In It.
The world is full of Secret Clubs that you're not in.
Secret Clubs, like the ones in tree houses which have signs saying "no girls allowed" often have passwords to prohibit people who aren't part of the club in.
In other words, safety measures exist to keep us and them separate. You can't have a caste of "elites" altering the course of human history without segregation and secrecy. That's just facts.
So, like all Secret Clubs from the preschool years, they developed a robust process for screening new applicants. Hazing exists after initiation, yes, but they found good sense in combining the hazing ritual with the application criteria.
In other words, if you wanna be part of the Club, you have to pay the entry fees.
But before even then, you have to know the secret password, the secret knock, and the secret handshake. Additionally, you have to figure all these out on your own.
Of course, if you're born into the Club, your parents will make sure you have an easy time of it, but for all us peasants, we have to show initiative in order to be considered.
You see, they don't want these secrets getting out. So they want all applicants to feel like super special snowflakes and have big egos just like them so that there's less of a risk of you blabbing to all your normie friends. If you feel like you're smarter than everyone else, then obviously you're not gonna want to go back in the hierarchy by bringing everyone else forward. At least, that's if you are a narcissist, right?
All this is wrapped up into the Door Knocker package -- You must have your entry fee payment, know the secret password, the secret knock, and the secret handshake for when they decide to open the door. If you don't have all three of these, they'll probably just kill you and take your entry fee. They are, after all, not obligated to treat you as an equal.
Breaking Down the Coded Language
For the record, these secret codes have deeper meaning, like everything else in the esoterics.
-
Secret Password = Discovering for yourself the Language of the Gods, the Symbol Language, and the Acroamatic Cipher. In addition, showing comprehension of such subjects, and presenting yourself as a learned "Renaissance Man."
-
Secret Knock = You have to show you can dance to the rhythm; that you're one of them; that you are a prodigal son come home after being lost among the gentiles. They believe only those of the same Bloodlines are even capable of such ways of thinking.
-
Secret Handshake = Once in, you gotta show you're down to play the game. That you'll learn exactly how they operate and not mess up when they put you to task. You have to memorize what they want, when they want, and not waver in your attempts.
And then, there's the Entry Fee...
Of course, it's the same as it's always been. Honestly, if you haven't figured it out by now then they'd already have killed you for daring to fly so close to "their" Sun.
It's nothing more than the low, low price of your First Born Son.
Now, don't jump to conclusions. There's different ways to approach such an offering. It's not always gonna be your child, your actual flesh and blood, which they demand you slit the throat of on their altar.
No, no. I mean, that's one method. And they'll probably demand it later anyways.
No, it's not just your Physical Progeny, but your Spiritual Progeny which is of sufficient tender for your entry fee.
Your Great Work can be offered up in place of your actual Child. For, what is the Work done by your hand and inventive mind other than a Child which may go on to Create?
If you invent something, be it a tool, a fantasy world, or any other Work of Art, it is a Child. Children can have Children of their own. "Be fruitful and multiply", right?
When you make a new tool, a new system of construction, people will look at it and their imaginations will form new children of their own with aid of your tool. So, therefore, your tool is a Child which, in turn, shall Birth a Nation of Children as countless as stars in the sky and grains of sand on the shore. When you make something Original, and it alters the course of Human History, you have given Birth to a Child who will carry your Legacy on indefinitely.
Well, that is, if the Club allows it...
The Pyramid and the Eye of Providence
You see, that's what they hoard. They hoard all the Entry Fees by necessity, so the Course of Human History remains under their feet. They decide when such inventions, tools, or works of art enter into the Public Sphere. The Pyramid on the Dollar means just that -- it's a pile of bricks, and each brick represents a Work they have hoarded from another such that they may prop up their Eye of Providence -- the Eye which Provides, and the "Vision of the Future" of Humanity.
The same thing goes with Literary works as well. Things like Harry Potter are a good example. JK Rowling used the Harry Potter series as her Entry Fee into the Club. She offered it up to be a part of "their" world and rise above the rabble. In exchange, however, her Child, which is her Legacy, is theirs to control. If they want to turn Dumbledore gay, then you have to go along with it. Period. You gave it to them and their Club. It's not your Child anymore, though you still get to take the Credit.
One-Hit Wonders also fit this description.
Things like All-Star
https://genius.com/Smash-mouth-all-star-lyrics
All the symbolism in that song is actually proof in concept that the lyricist has read Alchemical, Rosicrucian, and Philosophical documents. The "star" in question is the Illuminated One, and the entire song is the ladder one must climb to reach the "High Places."
I advise you read it keeping in mind Alchemy, the Occult, and Esoterics. It's actually a Masterpiece.
Oh, an the L on the forehead is for Lucifer, by the way. The Bringer of Light. Not necessarily Satanic, mind you. It depends on the context. In the song it could just mean he approached a Cabal member and they were testing his comprehension of signs and symbols.
Fed to the rules and I hit the ground runnin'
This is the line that stands out the most to me. That and the whole Chorus is very Alchemical
[Chorus] Hey now, you're an all star Get your game on, go play Hey now, you're a rock star Get the show on, get paid (And all that glitters is gold) Only shootin' stars break the mold
Sorry if that ruins the song for you. You better get used to it though. Now that I've pointed this out, you'll notice it everywhere.
The Hero's Journey
As far as Literary works go, I'll loop back to Harry Potter. There's a reason they changed the first book name from Philosopher's Stone to Sorcerer's Stone. They couldn't be that on the nose with it.
These things exist. There is a Philosopher's Stone. And like Dumbledore says, "You see, only one who wanted to find the stone - find it, but not use it - would be able to get it, otherwise they'd just see themselves making gold or drinking Elixir of Life."
Those who have conversed with me before will see it's what I've been saying all along. You may only stumble upon the Stone on your normal course of Work. You will eventually find it without even trying, simply because you're living life to its fullest. If you have a pressing need or desire for the Stone, you will be impatient and like opening the oven door too many times to check if the food is done, you'll just let all the heat escape and the souflé will collapse on itself.
The Philosopher's Stone is any Great Work which "gives you the fizz" and inspires others to use it to give birth to their own works. How many fan-fictions have been written in the Harry Potter universe? How many in the Lord of the Rings universe? What legacy have these two franchises left? How have each altered the course of human history, language, memes, and understanding?
That's what a Stone is. A panacea is just one example of one, as they come in different shapes and sizes.
But more than that, especially in terms of Literature, a Stone follows the Hero's Journey. There is a humble beginning, exciting adventures with learning, a climax where we meet the villain and for a moment all seems lost, and then the Hero overcomes insurmountable odds to arise the Victor and claim his Inheritance in the World he helped Change and make his own.
Any Works, including your life and the life of your Children, be they flesh and blood or things of the spirit, are sufficient entry fees for the Club.
Knocking on the Door
Once you have the Entry Fee, you inject the Password into it, then it's time to Knock on the Door. You will then act as a Door Knocker. A Creator, who is wiling to forsake God in order to advance your Self. You Knock, and the ritual Knocking is what Seals your fate. It's what opens the Door and behind the shut Door is "refuge" from God.
God wants our Creative Works to shine in the Light, not be cloistered under a pile of other Works collecting dust, only to prop up the Egos of Tyrants.
You don't know this, however, until the Door opens and you see them sitting in their "Temple" on a hill of stolen goods.
At that point, you have a decision to make. Refuse the offer, and refuse the Handshake, which may mean your death and certainly your Cancellation/Excommunication if you're lucky...
Or, you join them upon hearing the words: "All these will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down, and worship me."
The Biggest Lesson
Do recognize, though, that the reason they even allow you to join the club is because once they make this deal with the Devil, they can no longer Create. Taking a step inside that Den of Vipers seals away your Divine Spark. They will only let you rent it back out at their leisure.
And that's the biggest lesson.
The reason they collect these things is because if they refused them then they would spread and change the World. Their scheme is to offer people prestige and power in exchange for you halting the World becoming the Kingdom of God.
It's all delay tactics, but it is effective.
So, if anyone tries to change the world, they could kill them off, sure. But it's better for them to invite them and extort their Works rather than beat back the unstoppable progress of Human ingenuity. The Patent Office Gatekeeping inventions is one literal example of them doing this.
Tesla is their most punctured victim, as well...
When someone makes a Great Work, it actually holds them and their Club hostage. Their only reasonable option is to negotiate terms, otherwise the trail of blood they leave will eventually lead back to their pit and The People will leave no Stone unturned.
If they ignore it, such things will be their undoing.
Ultimately, they have to exchange value for power, otherwise the Growing Pangs of the Universe will be too much to bear. The dam walls will give way, and the Flood will occur once again. Instead of a Flood of Water as in the Days of Noah, it will be a Flood of Information -- Information and inventions they've kept from us.
And that's that for now.
That's how you join their club.
You just gotta morally bankrupt yourself and Sacrifice that which means most to you on the Altar of Pride and Ego.
Worship of the Sun, which represents your Self glowing brightly in the Profane Pride of the Devil.
Anyone who does these things are Door Knockers.
That's what I'm gonna call them from now on. If you have any questions in the future, then I've probably linked to this thread.
Toodles!
He's describing the "fizz."
The part of the soda that keeps it from being stale and "flat."
It's that twinkle in the eyes of a child when he sees a toy he wants. Such things are obsessions, and the substance of idols in their own right. "I want it, I want it, I want it!"
Temperance is required to keep your hand from lifting towards that which, in excess, will be your undoing.
I agree with the temperance part. But then again, that's kind of the whole point of these "Gifts" AKA "The Spark".
I have a bit of an issue with your Child's Greed metaphor, though iI don't totally disagree. I have a young child, and am a Good Father, and as a result interact with a large amount of children. The lustful Fizz, as you describe it, seems to be a learned, unnatural, phenomenon from my experiences. Young children do not possess it.
That "want" is programming. Insidious, lifelong programming. Which is how they are able to entice Artists as they grow towards maturity.
Just a fine point. Always appreciate your "mystic" thoughts. o7
Edit: I also disagree with your reading of the last lines. Frankly, Bukowski probably isn't a Great poet, and struggled to finish the piece properly. IMO. I first encountered the poem through his reading of it, which I think it well done in capturing his intended emphasis.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6HpgtW8tGfA
Anyway - your OP is inspired. Peace.
Not so.
Be careful not to assume it's entirely negative.
"The Fizz" is that thing which draws the better part out of a man, as well as the worst.
It's the Muse.
It's whatever, and whomever, that inspires you to act in ways you would otherwise not.
Go to a hardware store, and walk around. Look at all the tools. Does it not spark a desire to create? "I could make this, or that" if only I had this item.
A man wants to open up a shop, what does he fill it with? In what does he specialize?
"The Fizz" is the passion, the Divine Spark vibrating in your heart, begging to put hammer to anvil and bash out a new legacy. It's the tingle in your spine when you hear a song. The goosebumps that comes when things are just as they are supposed to be.
It's a movement, a motion. You look at a picture of a cloud and you cannot know it for what it truly is. Only by witnessing the cloud fluttering about can you truly come to know it.
The Fizz is Experience, and the Desire to Experience new things, for better or worse.
Temperance is the steady hand that knows not to sneak out partying in the middle of the night in order to satiate the lust for experience.
But that lust under temperance reverts to its original form -- which is expressed by the words: "To dare greatly, all in the Glory of God."
The last line requires a full scene of imagery.
Imagine him sitting in a chair in a hotel room. A woman(most likely) comes out of the shower and moves across the room.
She could act one of two ways -- get all embarrassed and hide her tits and crotch, or play it off smooth and pretend to not notice him sitting there, seeing her all naked.
The latter is the better choice, because it shows some degree of not caring about what others think of her. Did she notice him or not?
If she did, then what does it matter, really? Play it cool, have style, and own the moment instead of shrink back in embarrassment.
That last line is a description of style in terms of confidence even when in a vulnerable position. Temperance, therefore, is her self control to not lose her cool even if she's been surprised and seen naked.