“Oh Owl! Prince of all mortal wisdom, Owl of Bohemia, we beseech thee, grant us thy council,” shouted a white-robed demagogue. Behind him, a human effigy laid burning in a great bonfire. The normal midnight silence of the ancient redwood forest broken by Hall of the Mountain King blaring from giant speakers as a large crowd cheered in approval. Among them were bankers, media moguls, prime ministers, and presidents. But this couldn’t be real…could it?

The preceding is a brief description of a ritual known as The Cremation of Care. Every year since 1873, leaders in the fields of politics, economics, and the news media gather in a redwood forest of northern California, at a lodge known as Bohemian Grove. Donning multicolored robes, so-called ‘priests’ perform this bizarre ritual in which a human effigy is burned in sacrifice to the pagan owl-god, Moloch. Among the leaders that have been documented as attending are Presidents Reagan, Nixon, and Bush (both of them) as well as others like Walter Cronkite and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Ok, by now you’re probably thinking one of two things. Either you’re anxious to find out more (and are getting ready to Google ‘Bohemian Grove’), or you think that this is the most made-up thing you’ve ever heard. For those thinking the later, I don’t blame you. The story of Bohemian Grove probably ranks among the goofiest of conspiracy theories. How could these world leaders—most of them self-proclaimed conservative Christians—partake in such a deranged, occult ceremony? For me, seeing was believing.

In July of 2000, documentary filmmaker Alex Jones successfully infiltrated Bohemian Grove’s very tight security. He became not only the first non-welcomed guest to witness the events there, but also the first to record them for all to see. After watching his documentary, Dark Secrets, I was immediately transformed from a simple citizen to a full blown conspiracy theorist. As I’ve come to see it, the free world is not being ruled by elected and public officials, but rather controlled by a series of clandestine societies with sinister motives.

 To many, this mindset is viewed as childish, absurd, and completely unfounded. The term ‘conspiracy theory’ itself has an implied sense of being fictitious or imaginary. I can understand this viewpoint because, quite frankly, this is a very difficult theory to subscribe to. By recognizing the existence of a shadow government and of secret societies, you are essentially accepting the fact that you as an individual have no say in government. It is a realization that democracy as we know it is little more than an illusion.

To believe that our elected officials are unsullied by outside influences would be so much easier, yet after examining the past, I can’t help but reach a different conclusion. Throughout history, time and time again it has been shown that the ruling elite formulate and carry out malicious agendas, hidden from the view of society. From Nero setting fire to Rome and blaming it on the Christians, to Hitler burning down the Reichstag in order to declare martial law, those with power have been known to show an utter disregard for human life in their pursuit of a final goal.

But what is this goal? What agenda drives these people—these faceless, apathetic schemers—to seek influence and control? It’s a good question, and the best answer that I can come up with is simply for power. It’s been said that those with power seek only to maintain it. To them (this combine of ruling elite), we are mere sheep. They consider themselves to be the enlightened ones; descendents of a long line of privileged and powerful nobility, destined to rule over us.

Still believe in the good intentions of world leadership? Try searching for a single US President that has neither royal blood, nor a long history of old-money. To think that Presidential candidates are chosen because of competency alone is ridiculous. Our system is not open to average citizens; for the resources required to attain a sufficiently high enough level of government to enact real, noticeable change are so far out of reach, it secures the global elite’s control.

Depressed yet? Like I said before, this is a very difficult theory to believe in. It sets a world atmosphere entrenched in secrecy and malign agendas. So what can be done? What can an average citizen do to counteract this seemingly unstoppable force? By reading this far, you’ve already taken the first step. One of these group’s greatest advantages is their secrecy. By acknowledging their existence, you can become a more conscientious observer of world events. Even if you don’t buy this conspiratorial view, I hope you realize the importance of being cautious of government. Power attracts the corruptible; we should be weary of those that seek it.

~Khyron, 2005