Episode 6: Mar Shimun and the Snake People

Dear Unknown Friend, on occasion we will present to our audience episodes that may seem slightly off-brand. These will feature true to life stories of paranormal, occult, and metaphysical phenomena. For today’s episode we wish to share a segment from an upcoming book, originally written in the 1980s, by Richard Porter Adair, called “The Philosophers of the Living Fire: The Dance of Life”. It is an autobiographical story, with names changed for reasons only known to the author.

The story in overview concerns a 30-year old Robin Gordon who, in the fall of 1950, had recently arrived in New York City, seeking a new life far away from the influences of his upbringing and familial ties. He travels there also for the sake of a reunion with a friend and mentor he had met a few years earlier while living in Chicago. This “august teacher,” Mar Shimun, also known as John More-Moreno, is an Eastern Orthodox Bishop and also a member of an occult brotherhood, known as the Philosophers of the Living Fire. He is a man of diminutive stature, yet charismatic, and of African descent, having been born on the Island of Granada.

Mar Shimun takes Robin under his wing as a student, for he had seen a certain quality in Robin that he endeavored to help nurture. The pair subsequently have meetings every Monday night, and during these meetings Mar Shimun teaches Robin many secrets of occultism, esotericism, and shares, at times, stories from his own youth, and his own initiation into the occult path, that were designed to help Robin understand the practical reality of occultism, as well as theoretical principles. The following excerpt is one such example. This story perhaps conveys more than anything the true and significant dangers of occult practice, when it is caught up in what can be called arbitrary or personal magic, as opposed to sacred magic. Which means to say, magic of a lower plane, as opposed to the aims of Theurgy.
In this segment of the story, the pair had just recently reunited, and Robin had purchased some of the books recommended by Mar Shimun, and they are now engaged in the first of many Monday night meetings. In this episode, Mar Shimun recounts a story that took place in the 1920s. Please enjoy the show.

Magus Incognito reads the excerpt: Arriving back at his apartment about eight o’clock, Robin nodded to T.A. across the street, who was busy sweeping the sidewalks. He then welcomed in Mar Shimun, who was punctual and kindly in his manner.

“Well, well, well. It is good to see you, young Robin!” exclaimed Mar Shimun.

“Truly, Bishop, I am honored. Please make yourself comfortable. I’m just lighting up the hearth fire to make everything cozier. You might take a look at the books I got today. They are on the desktop there.”

Mar Shimun strolled over to the desk and perused the purchases.

“Very good, Robin. I prepared an outline which I am leaving with you tonight. It will serve as a guide in exactly what you must try to learn from these books. We will go over these subjects repeatedly to test your progress. As to our regular meetings, we will utilize them as a form of lecture, which you should note down after I have left. This will test your powers of retention and attentiveness.”

“Sounds good,” replied an excited Robin.

Mar Shimun took a seat by the fire and extended his palms towards its glowing warmth. “In order to illustrate certain powerful Forces at work in the universe, true life experiences may be drawn on. Over our next few meetings, I will share some of these experiences. Tonight, I will tell you of one I had during the years I spent in Costa Rica."

Robin went to the kitchen, then returned with some ginger tea for his guest and took a seat adjacent to the Bishop.

“I’m intrigued, Bishop!” Robin exclaimed with enthusiasm.

“Ah, ginger tea, on such a cold night, what a blessing. Thank you, Robin.” He carefully sipped the tea then placed the mug on the table by his chair. “Now, Robin, I have already told you of my physician friend, Armand, who was the one who persuaded me to go to that exotic little country. Well, we went there and rented a tiny two-story house not far from the city square. Here Armand hung out his shingle. It was not long after that our first adventure started.

"One afternoon, into the little surgery came a small chap with a case of dysentery. He was the last patient of the day and wanted to talk. After he commenced, Armand called me to the office. I joined him from upstairs, where I had been writing. This is his story…”

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The novel, "The Philosophers of the Living Fire: The Dance of Life", will be available for purchase soon, and we will make the announcement as soon as possible.

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