Key 23 is no more—a black hole in the Internet—but back in 2004 I started a group blog with a number of Internet denizens to explore occult themes, the surviving counterculture, and the swiftly dominating cyberculture. Below is an article from that experiment—posted and backdated here for historical accuracy. Broken links removed.

The king is dead, but his spirit lives on, like an excited child gleefully hording his toys away from the crowded play of others. With the passing of Pope John Paul II, thousands upon thousands of people flocked to see the remains of the pontiff, referred to as one of the greatest men of the last half century. But the question remains if he really was the mythic man on the pedestal of the Catholic church, or if he should be hailed as a puppet on the strings of a political council.

The kingdom of Catholicism has not changed. I do not see an anxiety among Christiandom's followers that amounts to the crumbling of an empire at large. Think of the magickal lodges of the past and present. Think of how many crumble upon the expiration of their willful leader. Those that remain intact are less so because of the message that comes out of the mouth of their figurehead, and more so because of the business nature in which they have engrossed themselves. In truth, every individual vying to attain the papacy must understand that with such an honor comes the price of a life lived in physical truth. The Pope is meant to be taken as a literal leader about as much as the Queen of England. His power lies not in his actual thoughts and deeds, but instead in the mythical creation that his followers bestow upon him. He is a living myth who ushers in peace and mysticism merely through the atmosphere of mystery that surrounds him.

To call him a puppet is a bit harsh. He is much like a poor man's president, answering to his cardinals like the US leader answers / battles with his Congress. Though his deeds might be good, they are nothing more nor less than any other man with a heart to do what's right. Judge the man outside of the papacy if you would judge his physical deeds; but judge the man inside of the papacy to invoke the awe and revelry of his honored position.

In the image of the Pope lies an archetype of the Catholic church. He is a living, breathing egregore of an institution more powerful than countries. Each ascendent to the throne throws his real life away to become a vessel for the invoked / evoked energy of the Roman Catholic church - to be a physical representation of a mystical and mythical dogma. Sometimes, you must put things into perspective to see the truth - even if it's a subjective one.