Many thanks to John Gwatney for gifting me his book Bringer of Light: The Making of Kenneth Anger’s Lucifer Rising! Bringer of Light is a true Labor of Love dedicated to unearthing the most obscure facts, details and images surrounding the circuitous occult creation of Anger's underground film Lucifer Rising. Reminiscences by still living participants shed light on the filmmaker's mindset during their time knowing him; each reflecting many different sides to his behavior, personality and creative process.

Aside from the exhaustively detailed research that went into this tome, there's a rich representation of scanned documents and photos, many of which were acquired first hand from the original photographers or subjects of the photos with accompanying anecdotes making the book itself a “picture within a picture”. Never before seen photos of the personalities involved in the making Lucifer Rising include Robert Fraser, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, each of The Rolling stones, Michael Cooper, Marianne Faithfull, Dennis Hopper, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Donald Cammell, Anita Pallenberg, Bobby Beausoleil and The Freedom Orchestra at Tracy Prison, and of course of Kenneth himself, exhibiting his radically transforming appearance from the late '60s to early '80s.
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The large format book (cloth hardcover, 11-1/4” x 9” / 28-1/2cm x 23cm) allows for full bleed printing for maximum quality of the most rare images.

Because Gwatney unearthed much more additional material, beyond the boundaries of the specific topic of this volume, he has decided to begin a follow-up book about Kenneth Anger in general. For that project, I'm happy to report that Gwatney has begun a series of interviews with me! Since it will undoubtedly take considerable time to complete, you can begin getting a taste of what is to come by reading Bringer of Light by ordering at: https://www.luciferrisingbook.com/ !

Om A Ra Pa Ca Na Dhih
~Zeena

Zeena's in-depth interview by Annette Lamoth-Ramos featured in this issue was the first after many years hiatus from mainstream media spanning her early life until the early '00s. After much interest and feedback generated from this interview, VICE invited Zeena to write her own column, 'From the Eye of the Storm' .​

In February 2024, VICE media announced they are stopping both the online and print magazines. BUT we have unearthed a limited number of print copies - 10 in English and 13 in German - all in original (not pre-owned) condition. Signed and numbered on the lead photo by Zeena, there's also an option to have it personalized on the TO ORDER PAGE.

Condition: Original, Mint to Very Good. Excellent binding, pages are unmarked and clean.
Binding: Softcover
High quality six-color printing on all pages, glossy cover.
114 pages. 8½”x11” / 21½cm x 28cm.​

The only differences between the English and German versions are:

The English edition originally came with a paper wraparound advertisement on the cover for the action-adventure game Dishonored (see image). To offer collectors this item exactly as it was when it hit the stands twelve years ago, we're leaving it on.

The German edition doesn't have any advertising on the cover but features a short write-up about photographer Florian Büttner, who did the photo shoot with Zeena and who gives his impressions of that experience. (See image below for the original German text, English translation follows.) This is photographer profile is only in the German edition and not included in any of the other VICE language editions of the same issue.

Zeena's second solo album 'Transcend' debuts at Snow Gallery NYC on June 3rd, 2023, as soundtrack for their third exhibition in a series, 'Movement of the Triangle,' inspired by Kandinsky’s 'Concerning the Spiritual in Art.' The exhibition also marks the first time originals of Zeena's visual art are shown together with works of her recently deceased godfather Kenneth Anger.
 
All good things come in threes: 

The three lengthy pieces in this album total 52 minutes altogether, affording the listener ample meditative journeys of contemplation and sonic catharsis, ending with an exhilaratingly triumphant sense of dashing through space and time, releasing the ballast of all pain and suffering, emerging as a Victor. The succinct titles focus on specific Buddhist themes, directing the mind toward wider and deeper understanding of ones own spiritual path and experience.

*The album's official release is June 4th, 2023, on the day following its debut at Snow Gallery NYC and a date of immense Buddhist importance, Saga Dawa Düchen, the anniversary of Buddha's Enlightenment and Parinirvana.
*Pre-order the album Transcend prior to the official release date to get the first track; email notification on the release date will give you the link to the rest of the album.

Album cover for Transcend is a detail from a larger piece, 'Ladders,' original art by Zeena Schreck on display at Snow Gallery until July 2nd, 2023.

Recorded in Berlin, Germany.

Sound Engineer: Robert Mayson, NYC.

Promo videos of the album by Courtney Sell.

Album is in digital download format only.

For full gallery description of the exhibition and other artists featured, click on the below images or visit: https://www.instagram.com/snowgallerynyc/

Christy Alexander Hallberg interviews Zeena for Rock is Lit Podcast, Episode 6, focusing on rock novel ‘Sway’ by Zachary Lazar. Hallberg states, “In the final segment, I was so privileged to get the chance to talk with Zeena Schreck who was kind enough to share her memories of Kenneth Anger and her insight into some of his iconic films, especially the 1969 'Invocation of My Demon Brother', a movie that is the connective tissue of 'Sway'. Believe me you don't want to miss this episode.”

​​Rock is Lit Podcast description:
​
“Zeena Schreck, who is an artist, musician, Tibetan Buddhist yogini, and the goddaughter of Kenneth Anger, as well as former High Priestess of the Church of Satan (founded by her late father Anton LaVey), shares her memories of Kenneth Anger, including how her father made him her godfather and her personal and working relationship with Kenneth. She also talks a bit about her background and rebuilding her life as a Buddhist in Germany. In addition to this, Zeena discusses Kenneth’s interest in Aleister Crowley; the making of and background on some of his iconic films, especially the 1969 film ‘Invocation of My Demon Brother’ (a movie that figures large in Zachary Lazar’s novel ‘Sway’); Kenneth’s relationship with Anita Pallenberg and her influence on the Rolling Stones; and how Kenneth’s work influenced MTV and music videos.”

​Zeena's part begins at the one hour mark: www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislitpodcast/zacharylazar/tonysokol/zeenaschreck
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In addition to the main interview, don't miss the bonus material with show notes and special photos from Zeena on the Rock is Lit Vault page :
https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/podcast-vault-feed/zeenaschreck

Zeena's music "Summer Swelter" and "ENDLICH DAHEIM”, from ‘Bring Me the Head of F. W. Murnau’ are segmented in her interview.

[posted by T.M. Thursday 13 October, 2022; 15:50]

The title of this post, "Last Day of a Bummer Year" is a reference to the below 1988 letter to me from my godfather Kenneth Anger, penned on his personal stationery bearing beautifully intricate artwork by Bobby Beausoleil.

If '88 was "A Bummer Year", then thirty-two years later, as we come to the end of 2020, how should we classify this year? Surely Kenneth, and most of us, will be happy to see the door shut on this year.

Whatever your usual New Year's Eve celebrations, most everyone throughout the world will be having a quiet, lockdown New Year's Eve this year. There are myriad self-help articles and endless updates on every platform about the pandemic and how to deal with it in practical medical and psychological ways. I don't have anything to add to all of that, on that level. 

I know many who have lost loved ones this year, not only to Coronavirus but countless other ways. Many are feeling grief, pain and sorrow because they couldn't see their loved ones one last time before they passed. Others have been separated from family, friends or partners, unable to travel due to quarantine or lockdowns. In times like this, it's important to remember that we're never truly separated from the mind streams of those we love, not even after physical death. If you consider yourself a true mystic, magician or spiritual being of any kind, it's important to develop the mind, and the ability to focus, so that we may connect with those we've lost or are unable to physically be with. 

This WWII song "We'll Meet Again," sung by Vera Lynn who died this year at the age of 103 years shortly after the first lockdown, is as relevant to our feelings of loss and disconnect in the current world-wide situation today as it was eighty years ago. 

I extend my wishes and prayers that all of you stay physically and mentally healthy, that you have strength to get through these difficult temporary times and that you try to do whatever possible to generate loving-kindness, joyfulness and life affirming thoughts for yourselves and others. Try to not spend too much time taking in disaster oriented news but do stay connected to animals, nature and real-life offline experiences within your immediate environment. It is more important to stay grounded and compassionate than hateful, divisive and accusatory, which doesn't help to heal anything. If we remember that everyone is experiencing their own pain and suffering through all of this, and their own experiences of Impermanence, we can hopefully try to remain calm if and when heated and stressful situations arise. 

My thoughts and blessings for a strong and healthy New Year 2021 are with you all. Through the power of our combined magic and prayers, may we see positive changes in the year to come!

I close now with the closing words from Kenneth Anger's above letter to me, "Keep Well" !

Om Mani Padme Hum & SLM
-Zeena

Medicine Buddha mantra blessings to anyone ill or experiencing mental and psychic disturbances, also for the wellbeing of all animals: 
​Tayatha Om Bekandze Bekandze Maha Bekandze Radza Samudgate Soha

Amy Haben reviews seven bands and musicians who were also part of notorious religious cults, communes, and porn legends between the 1960s-80s, culminating with the best for last, Zeena & Radio Werewolf.
 
Read the entry for Radio Werewolf below, or go to the full article HERE: 
https://pleasekillme.com/subversive-grooves/

Den of Geek online journal explores the mystique and back stories of the 1968 cult anthem Sympathy for the Devil, by The Rolling Stones in this in-depth article. Exclusive interview with Zeena throughout the article, recalling her first-hand experiences with and magical interpretations of the song and its influences (excerpted in parts below: Full article, HERE and again at end of this post):

 Zeena Schreck, a Berlin-based interdisciplinary visual and musical artist told Den of Geek [...] “I'm sure they didn't mind the controversy that came with the dark associations from 'Sympathy,' or the previously released 'Their Satanic Majesties Request.' I'd think the more sinister reputation would have been, for the Stones, a welcome delineation from the 'I-wanna-hold-your-hand’ Beatles [...] generally, it seemed they were tapping into the overall Zeitgeist of the times, of the overwhelming pop-culture focus on occultism, witchcraft, and Satanism,” Zeena explains. “Specifically, the theme of that song seemed more a literary reference, influenced by the Russian novel The Master and Margarita by Bulgakov. I doubt there were any intentional sinister motivations.”

Rock has been called the devil’s music since it began to roll. This is both overt bigotry and inferred spiritual racism. There must be real power in those jungle beats that pump out real magic. “Possibly one of the reasons that particular song developed such an aura surrounding it is due to the consistent, shamanistic-like percussion and chanting,” says Zeena. “The quality of the rhythm in ‘Sympathy’ is similar to magical drumming played to induce trance states. That type of hypnotic rhythm is a traditional method of inducing altered states of consciousness. Combine that with the copious amounts of drugs and psychedelics that everyone was taking those days, while invoking a (conventionally understood) malevolent force, then obviously the effects would be quite epic.”

Invoking a Demon Brother: “Sympathy for the Devil” was captured in two takes, the first one Richards declared a disaster, before hitting on the perfect alchemy. The recording was filmed by French new wave film icon Jean-Luc Godard, who renamed his film One Plus One in honor of it for its 1968 producer’s cut. During the five days of recording, as the stories go, a film lamp started a fire that laid waste to the band’s equipment. The tapes were protected, another clue to the possessed nature of the noise.
The band’s mythic satanic alliance was further cemented by their association with American underground filmmaker Kenneth Anger, a former child actor who wrote the tell-all book Hollywood Babylon. Anger was a Crowleyan who called his movies Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome, Scorpio Rising, and Fireworks “visual incantations” and “moving spells.” Jagger played the synthesizer soundtrack for his Invocation of My Demon Brother. Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin scored one on Crowley. Anger met the Stones through art gallery owner Robert Fraser and asked if they would work on a film called Lucifer Rising. Anger wanted to cast Mick as Lucifer and Keith as Beelzebub.
Zeena says that, during the 1960s and 1970s, the filmmaker “transmitted the influences of Curtis Harrington, Jean Cocteau, and Maya Deren [to her],” adding that her own art “was influenced early in life by the mentorship of her godfather Kenneth Anger.” During her childhood and adolescence, Zeena “was privy to Anger's conversations about his involvement with such contemporaries as the Rolling Stones, Jimmy Page and Anita Pallenberg.”
“Occasionally Kenneth Anger would mention his involvement with the members of the band,” Zeena says. “When the subject came up, he'd say they'd brought destructive energies upon themselves. Ironically he, himself, helped facilitate that, being their magical mentor. Despite the Stones' backing off from the 60s’ dark occult influences around them, there can be no denying that Anger was a strong influence for a time, as witness Jagger's soundtrack for Invocation of my Demon Brother.”
But Zeena, who was teaching magic and sorcery at the age of 16, “never agreed with Kenneth's admiration and proselytizing of Aleister Crowley and Thelema. It's a very destructive and misogynistic philosophy which has brought a lot of harm to people who take it seriously.” Zeena severed ties with her father and his Church, and is now a teacher of Tibetan Tantric Buddhism, where the music of the Rolling Stones is more welcome.
“Although Kenneth Anger was befriended with both the Rolling Stones and my father during the same years, you definitely would not hear ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ playing at Church of Satan headquarters,” Zeena says. “The simple reason is that the High Priest had very rigid, idiosyncratic interpretations of what he considered ‘satanic music.’ Rock music, heavy metal, or any other kind of popular music, were definitely not part of his satanic jukebox.”
The British band might also have stopped dropping quarters into the American director’s nickelodeon. “Kenneth Anger they thought laughable,” Faithfull wrote in her memoirs. “Mick and Keith were utterly contemptuous of his satanic hocus-pocus.”
“However, a more direct magical influence, aside from Kenneth Anger, influencing the group during the making of 'Sympathy for the Devil', would have more likely been Anita Pallenberg,” Zeena says. “She openly practiced black magical rituals and never hid her fascination for the darker side of life. She not only performed backing vocals but also had a creative influence on the music and style of the group, being their sort of 'resident witch.' I know one of Pallenberg's cousins who confirmed she was always into the black arts and a little 'witchy.’”

Because Swinging London in the '60s only really ranged a few blocks, both the Rolling Stones and the Beatles were loosely connected to the sixties counter-spiritual group, the Process Church of Final Judgement, but mainly because they all went to Pink Floyd shows. “The Stones' playing with popular satanic themes and imagery may have begun superficially at first but ultimately a malignant seed was planted and the conditions for destructive consequences ripened,” Zeena says, referencing another tragedy that played into the song’s morbid mythology.
The legend of the “Sympathy for the Devil” took more sinister turn during the Altamont Free Concert in 1969. Though Meredith Hunter was killed by Hell’s Angel’s bikers who were working security while the band was playing "Under My Thumb," the fight that killed him interrupted the band as they kicked into their rhythmic satanic anthem. "We're always having—something very funny happens when we start that number," Jagger said before the band restarted the number. Because of the public outrage, the Stones didn’t play the song live for the next seven years.
Brian Jones was played out during the recording of Beggars Banquet, but he was not silent. Richards worked double and triple duty, but Jones did the wonderful slide work in “No Expectations,” and played the sitar and tanpura on "Street Fighting Man." The album would be the last with Jones, who was discovered drowned in his Sussex swimming pool on July 26, 1969.  His own musical exploration propelled the band to take the lead in many major musical movements. “Speaking only for my years composing with Radio Werewolf, I wouldn't say ‘Sympathy’ or Satanic Majesties Request had direct influence on my music within Radio Werewolf,” Zeena says. “But I did have a strong affinity with their music produced in the Brian Jones years - their music when it had a more medieval flavor. That sound is what I'm naturally drawn to and often create.”

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE ​http://www.denofgeek.com/us/culture/the-rolling-stones/273983/the-occult-influences-of-sympathy-for-the-devil

To my Fallen Angel Godfather, wishing him a spectacularly cosmic 90th solar return. -Zeena Schreck

Interview with Zeena recalling memories of her artistic mentor and godfather Kenneth Anger
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