- Beyond Lemuria is an allegory of good and evil intentions. Two groups of mystic seekers are played by the same actors. The sinister "Draconians" search for ancient super-scientific secrets of power in the caverns under Mt. Shasta, while their counterparts, the "Lothinians" seek spiritual enlightenment by climbing America's Holy Mountain. Both groups find what they are seeking and get what they deserve.—Poke Runyon - Writer-Producer
- The entire story actually takes place in the few minutes it takes a candidate, William Morgan, standing before the altar in a magical temple, to decide whether he will follow the path of Light or the way of darkness. In this case the way of darkness is symbolized by the powerful ancient super-science of the underground "Deros" whose dimension can be reached through a machine called "The Intragravatron." In his dark persona Morgan is a neophyte in an evil secret society of "Draconians" who will use the machine to open "The Gate." In his spiritual persona Morgan belongs to the "Lothinian" brotherhood of the Master Phylos (played by the same actor who takes the role of Brother Abaddon of the Draconians). The Lothinians take a yearly pilgrimage up the slopes of Mt. Shasta to receive enlightenment. As the action progresses we cut back and forth between the two groups, contrasting their attitudes and experiences. One by one the Draconians come to bad ends, while the Lithonians find the treasures of the spirit that they are seeking. The black-and-white symbolism is carried through out the film, in sets, costumes and props, emphasizing the medieval morality play theme.—Poke Runyon -- Writer-Producer
- BEYOND LEMURIA, The Shaver Mystery and the Secrets of Mt. Shasta Digital motion picture in wide screen DVD format Running time: 120 minutes. From: C.H.S. Productions in Association with Maelstrom Press, 2007
BEYOND LEMURIA draws upon two contrasting, but related, aspects of modern American folklore that Hollywood and the current fantasy fiction industry have forgotten: the 1940s Shaver Mystery and the 1930s tradition of Atlantean-Lemurian Mystic Masters on Californias mysterious Mt. Shasta. Both of these Atlantis-Lemuria survival themes were published as "true accounts." Science fiction writer and surrealist painter Richard S. Shaver ("Amazing Stories" 1947) believed in the physical reality of the dark, subterranean realm of the Deros, degenerate survivors of Atlantis and Lemuria who still inhabited a secret world-wide network of caverns --- and used ancient telepathic ray machines to spy on and torture surface people. These demonic humanoids were responsible for much of the evil and mental illness in our surface world. Whether real or fanciful, Shaver had created a modern, atomic age version of a medieval hell and a new form of demonology. BEYOND LEMURIA postulates that Shaver's subterranean Dero world exists, but that it is in another dimension. This nearby shadow world can be contacted and entered through a vortex generated by a machine called "The Intragravatron." The sinister Draconian Society has secretly funded the development of this device and plans to open the vortex at an inter-dimensional convergence point deep in the lava caves on the northern slopes of Mt. Shasta. There actually is such a cavern complex and the C.H.S. cast and film crew went there on location, filming deep in Pluto's Cave and high on the slopes of Mt. Shasta. In contrast to the evil Draconians, and their subterranean quest, the transcendental Lothinian Brotherhood, headed by Master Phylos, a reincarnated Atlantean magical adept, journey to Mt. Shasta to find spiritual enlightenment. The original story of Phylos was channeled by a 17 year old boy, Frederick Spenser Oliver, back in the late 19th century and published early in the 20th century as "A Dweller on Two Planets." This book became an occult classic. Phylos was the archetype of all subsequent mystic masters, Atlantean and Lemurian, who have since appeared on the upper slopes of America's Sacred Mountain. To present these two totally contrasting, and yet closely related, themes in a symbolic and artistic expression, I chose to encapsulate the entire story in the context of an occult initiation ceremony. In the beginning of the film young candidate, William Morgan, stands before the altar in a mysterious temple. On the altar are two cups: one white and one black. He must choose which cup to drink. An hour glass tells us that the decision must be made before the sand runs out. The story then proceeds on two tracks with the same actors playing their good and evil counterparts. The sinister Brother Abaddon, Grand Master of the Draconians, is portrayed by same actor who plays the benign Master Phylos of the Lothinians. The Draconian Colonel Rich, a ruthless government secret agent doubles as Reverend Bobby-John Rich, a fundamentalist preacher who meets "The Master Jesus" up on Mt. Shasta. Licentuous Sister Lilith of the Draconians has her counterpart in Lila Valis, a Lothinian neo-pagan free spirit who meets an ancient Lemurian priestess. The priestess has an evil counterpart, the voluptuous and sadistic Dero Princess who tortures Lilith with a huge, ancient ray machine. The Draconians have all been lured to bad ends deep in the cavern world by a 107 year old Romanian Nazi Dero vampire, Zoltan Nodesque, who posed as a scientist on the Intragravatron project. Dero vampires thrive on transfusions of blood from kidnapped surface babies. Deros are also cannibals and satanists. As anthropologist, Marion Roland, says in his lecture: "These aliens are not people you want to have for your next door neighbors." Cutting back and forth between the two stories, we follow the developments from each character's point of view. Lothinian Dr. Xavier, also Dr. X of the Draconians, sees the Fallen Angel "Samyaza" descend to the mountain top in a UFO. Samyaza complete with horns, pointed ears and third eye reveals the secret history of the antediluvian world as set forth in "The Book of Enoch" and gives a prophecy of coming doom based on the Mayan calendar. The oracle is delivered in Enochian, an ancient angelic language used throughout the film. When William Morgan finally receives his enlightenment, from the sage "Hermes Trismegistus," up on the mountain top, we come to the message of the film. Unlike most movies and bestsellers on occult themes, Beyond Lemuria really does reveal esoteric secrets. Hermes explains the deepest mysteries of the qabalah, our mystic union with God, and our individual relation to the universe. We considered the teachings of The Master Jesus, Phylos of Atlantis, Hermes Trismegistus and the other avatars to be important enough to have collected them in an attractive eight page booklet included in the DVD case as an extra bonus feature. Beyond Lemuria is unique in American films. It compares to Alejandro Jodoroskwy's 1973 "The Holy Mountain." It involves controversial occult themes and subject matter. It conveys a spiritual message that most commercial film makers would be reluctant to present.
Poke Runyon -- Writer-Producer
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