They seem to point at a bunch of California stuff. They say they're based in Virginia. I reached out to their suggested whatsapp but didn't get an immediate answer.
Does anyone have any idea what this is?
Edit: not irregular or even clandestine. Just a complete scam. Main contact lists himself as Jeff Wilkins (PGM of California)
Hi everyone,
My friend knows exactly 0 about firearms, and so came to me to help him id some things he inherited. A few old 22s, a mid 1980s Smith and Wesson, nothing fancy....
... then I saw the Pedro Arrizabalaga 12 gauge side by side with gorgeous engraving. His parents came over from the Basque country, and this probably came with them. From circumstances I doubt it's newer than 1950 (and given that PA came into existence in 1944 that would make it one of the older ones) I still need to check for all the markings etc.
Much to my chagrin he does not want to keep it, but is willing to spend years+ finding the right buyer. I'm trying to help him find a place where he can get fair market value for such a thing.
Any thoughts on where I'd even go to get something like this appraised? I feel like walking into Turners with it isn't exactly the right move.
any help appreciated.
Thank you.
Hi Everyone,
I recently killed my bottle of Diamine Sherwood Green, which I loved. I like writing in green, and it has become something of a signature for my hand written letters.
I generally use quality paper, so that's not a problem, but I am left handed, so drying does matter.
This will be reserved for intentional writing (I use a rollerball for my on the fly and loaning out)
Any suggestions for other greens I should check out?
Thanks.
Hi everyone.
With my apologies, this is a bit of a long-winded rant to get to a short question.
The short question is this: What does one do to translate Masonry from a social club and set of fixed rituals into a personal magical practice?
The background which might make it make more sense is as follows:
I left an esoteric organization after deciding that the path they were on was not for me, and after waiting a year, joined Freemasonry. I joined primarily because I felt I needed to complete my "lesser mystery initiations". In the intervening dozen years, I have worked my way up the line a few times, made it through the Scottish rite curriculum at a valley that actually does the work and gives those who are serious a chance to really study the same, been an officers coach, candidates, coach, etc, and am currently sitting in the east for the third time.
I love my Brethren. They are amazing and I'd happily take a bullet for them, as I know they would for me, and even more happily, they're the type of people that make such a requirement especially unlikely. I have the love and respect of my brethren, and they have mine as well, without question or qualification.
However... I came here to work through my degrees, and have done so. I have worked them as candidate, sideliner, officer, and master. I am absolutely not a good "social fit" for the craft, and that I am as accepted as I am speaks greatly to the integrity good nature of my brethren, and yet, each time I go to lodge, it is a struggle. I can not avoid hearing and being pulled into conversations on sectarian politics and religion. My health is failing. I'm on the spectrum, so all social interaction is something I have to put significant energy and planning into, and which leaves me exhausted and often sick. There are countless reasons I need to pull back from being a 3-5 day a week mason.
Most important, however, is that I wish to be truly selfish, which is to say, to work on transforming myself according to my obligations and according to the tradition which we are heirs too. From things as simple as really learning to guard my speech and ensure that I do not engage in gossip or otherwise harming someones good name, to the examination of the aspects of life and character which we examine, to very real theurgical solomonic magic...
In the OTO, GD, AMORC, etc, there is a specific magical path for personal development to be followed. In modern Masonry as i have experienced it there is none, we must find one for ourselves.
Given that I have read Wilmshurst and Pike, (and consequently De Hoyas who makes Pike 10 times better) I know there are a host of modern authors... where would you start if you were looking to transform the work of our degres into a personal magical practice?
Thank you my brothers.