Alessandro Papa on The Process
Writer, archivist, publisher and cultural historian Alessandro Papa is one of the foremost contemporary authorities on The Process Church of the Final Judgement. A longtime collector and researcher, Papa has dedicated decades to preserving and restoring the truth surrounding the controversial and often-misrepresented group founded by Robert de Grimston and Mary Ann MacLean in the early 1960s. Through his imprint End of Kali-Yuga Editions, he has published essential archival works including The Process: Archives, Documents, Reflections and Revelations and the Process Complete Collection volumes compiling all editions of the Process magazines, making rare and foundational Process texts available to a new generation of readers.Beyond publishing, Papa is the founder of the Museum of Final Judgement in Rome, Italy, which houses one of the world's most comprehensive collections of Process artefacts alongside apocalyptic art, ritual objects, and esoteric works. He is also the founder of the experimental dark ambient project New Processean Order, which over the course of five releases has translated Process theology into spiritual and ritual music. In this interview, Douglas Lucas speaks with Alessandro Papa about his first encounter with The Process, the origins and scope of his collection, the spiritual and cultural significance of the group, and its relevance today. In addition it covers the musical and spiritual group New Processean Order based on the teaching and vision of The Process, and the broader esoteric, artistic and philosophical influences that continue to shape his life and work. Our thanks go to Douglas Lucas, host of the Farther Out YouTube channel, a platform for transmissions of thought and art, for his permission to publish this interview. 
When and how did you discover, and what attracted you to, The Process?I discovered The Process in the '80s, while I was studying the Charles Manson case. Paradoxically, the bullshit about the alleged connections of The Process to Manson (mainly induced by chapter 5 of the first edition of the 1971 book "The Family" by Ed Sanders) attracted me to The Process. Thirty years later, I discovered, providing evidence, that the claimed connections were bullshit that was devised by Scientology. I revealed this story in the foreword of the book "Process Complete Collection Vol.1" (2022). Your collection at the Museum of Final Judgement is a Process treasure trove containing original photographs, magazines, books, jewelry, and more that were produced by the Church. When and how did you start collecting these materials? In the '80s it was already difficult to find original Process material, so I started buying photocopy files from "The Archives of Aesthetic Nihilism" (ran by American archivist/director John Aes-Nihil). Then, in 2002, I got a big legacy of original material from a leading member of The Process. After getting this legacy, I understood that my mission was to make the world know The Process for what it really is. In fact, there is no other modern religion that has been slandered, disparaged, smeared, and calumniated like The Process. 
What was the first object that you collected and what is the most recent item that you've added to the collection?The first original piece that I bought was the "Fear" issue of Process magazine - the last is a collection of about 60 original photos, from the early years of the group in Mayfair until 1975. Despite the huge legacy which I mentioned before, I should admit that to collect Process material cost me a fortune. One rare piece in the museum is a Process missal - tell us about its contents. The Process Missal isn't a service book containing devotional readings or liturgies. For this purpose, The Process released another book titled "Assemblies and Hymns." The Missal (about 400 page long) is a collection of the most important Process teachings written by its Teacher, Robert de Grimston. The copy displayed at the Museum Of Final Judgement is a late one, containing texts revised in December 1973. I consider the books "The Gods and Their People", "And Now The Judgement", "If A Man Asks", "Exit", and "The Gods On War" by Robert de Grimston to be essential Process teachings - what original Process texts do you consider essential? Robert de Grimston considered "Logics," "Dialogues from Xtul," the collection of texts in "The Tide of the End," and especially the "BI" (Brethren Information) to be the core of his teachings. The latter, a series of about 40 texts, were written for the internal Brethren of The Process only. Later, de Grimston decided to publish eight of these "BI" texts in the book "Exit" for a wider audience. In my opinion, all of de Grimston's writings are like small pieces of a big puzzle and, on the whole, they form the vision of The Process, both from a macrocosm and from a microcosm perspective. 
Your book "The Process: Archives, Documents, Reflections and Revelations" as well as your reproductions of the Process magazines ("Process Complete Collection" volumes 1 and 2) that you've published via End of Kali Yuga Editions are wonderful dives into the teachings, aesthetics, history, and more of The Process - what are some other books on the subject that you recommend?There are very few books about The Process. I had great respect for Timothy Wyllie; his book "Love Sex Fear Death" (published by Feral House) is an amazing first-person story. On the contrary, I consider William Sims Bainbridge (author of "Satan's Power: A Deviant Psychotherapy Cult") to be ambiguous - his true role inside The Process warrants further investigation. What is the essence of The Process? In the documentary "Sympathy for the Devil - The True Story of The Process" (2015), the director Neil Edwards asks various people this simple question: "What is The Process?" Everyone gives a different answer and this may cause confusion. Timothy Wyllie gave the correct answer in a previous interview by Richard Metzger in 2009 - Wyllie stated, "The Process is an alchemical process." This is the real essence of The Process though not many people know this. I've been in touch privately and publicly with some original members of the Process Church and have learned a lot about what The Process truly was, and was not, from those conversations - finding that their experiences were positive for the most part. Who are some original members that you've been in contact with over the years and would you share an anecdote from your communications with them? I've met the Nasr brothers, Sammy and Kameel, in person more than once - two very special people! They were born in Bethlehem (Palestine) and they had a very adventurous life, especially Kameel who went around the world twice by bicycle, after leaving The Process. He told his bike adventures in the book "The World Up Close" (1990). Kameel was one of the few people who received the Processean initiation in the Rome chapter of The Process. Throughout the years since its inception, The Process has affected, inspired, and influenced people in various fields of culture - artists, writers, spiritual seekers, etc. - and it continues to create ripples into the present. How do you feel that Process teachings are relevant to the present day? Being a doomsday cult, The Process is the perfect religion for our dark times. Robert de Grimston's vision was prophetic - some of his writings describe the current situation of the rising of Satanic forces and conflict nowadays. We are living the end of the Kali-Yuga and many people are starting to realize that apocalypse is "coming down fast." In addition to your Process archive, the Museum of Final Judgement displays a wonderful collection of religious objects from Nepal and Tibet including kanglings, kapalas, ritual paraphernalia, etc. What draws you to these objects? I've travelled often in the Himalaya area since 1989 and I'm fascinated by the rituals and the aesthetics of Tibetan Buddhism, along with its shamanic practices derived from Bon, the archaic Tibetan religion. So, I started collecting ritual items, paintings, musical instruments, etc. Some of the objects displayed at the Museum Of Final Judgement are really hard to find and to see, even in the best Asian Art Museums in the world. 
The museum also exhibits a fantastic collection of visual art including works by Genesis P-Orridge, Joe Coleman, Charles Manson, and other outsider artists. What are some of your favorite pieces in this part of your collection and why? When I was at the museum, I was delighted to see your painting by Italian philosopher and writer Julius Evola - tell us about that and how you acquired it?Between the years 1995-2009, I ran the Mondo Bizzarro Gallery in Bologna and in Rome. It was one of the most groundbreaking and unconventional art galleries in Europe. Some of the Mondo Bizzarro exhibition catalogues are now valuable collectibles, such as the infamous "Killer Art" catalogue. Most of the apocalyptic art collection of the Museum Of Final Judgement comes from the exhibitions at the Mondo Bizzarro Gallery. The Evola painting was owned by my grandfather, who was born in the same area and around the same time as Julius Evola. My favorite artworks in the collection are the painting "The Need to Incorporate Sexual Fantasy into Everyday Life" by Joe Coleman (a grotesque pictorial representation of the Kali-Yuga in America) and the frame-enlargement titled "Bobby Beausoleil as the Demon" by Kenneth Anger which he gifted to me. Are there any other religious or esoteric practices, groups, or other philosophies that have been an inspiration to you or that you've been personally involved with? Besides The Process, I've always been interested in Tantric Buddhism and Tantric Hinduism. In 2014, I received the Kalachakra initiation by His Holiness The Dalai Lama at an event where Richard Gere was present. Earlier, around twenty years ago, I met Alejandro Jodorowsky several times - these meetings had a great influence on my spiritual path. I also met Kenneth Anger and corresponded with him for years, but we talked more about art, movies, history, etc. than about Crowley and magick. Your musical project New Processean Order is based on the teachings of Robert de Grimston and The Process. When did the project begin? The project began in 2014. I know many Italian musicians from the industrial music scene, so at that time I contacted the most Christian, the most Jehovian, the most Luciferian and the most Satanic ones in my circle of friends. We made the first New Processean Order's album, "Hymns to the Great Gods of the Universe," a vinyl release limited to 444 numbered copies plus an art edition of 44 copies. Both editions are now collectible items. 
Who are the members and what kinds of instrumentation are used?Over the years the members have changed and now there are only four of us: me, Marcello Fraioli (of the legendary esoteric-industrial pioneer band Ain Soph), Gabriel Marzi (of the band Dolpo), and my wife Gloria Bazzocchi. The music is mainly electronic and dark ambient, with electric and acoustic guitar and sometimes ritual instruments from Tibet, Nepal and India. What is one of your favorite books and why? One of my favorite books ever is "The Reign of Quantity and the Signs of the Times" by René Guénon. It is a prophetic work that tells of the decline of the modern world and the irreversible process toward apocalypse. It is commonly believed that we are leaving in progress, but this only concerns the material realm. For everything else, especially for the spiritual and the psychic realms, we are living a progressive regression. Human beings are turning into zombies with smartphones in hands. The world is full of people with mental health problems, and some of these seriously ill people are even ruling countries! Are you currently working on any new books, etc.? I'm planning to release a limited silkscreen print with a portrait of Robert de Grimston. In every Process chapter house it was mandatory to display a portrait of The Teacher, so I think that today every Processean should have a photo of de Grimston in their house. As for books, I have enough material to make a "Process Complete Collection Volume 3," so it will probably be released, sooner or later. 
Photo descriptions:1. Alessandro Papa of New Procession Order 2. Original Process photos (including individual and group member portraits, members on the road proselytizing, a Process band performing, Process chapter houses, and more) - hanging above the photos is a cross, Process P symbol, and Goat of Mendes that hung in the altar room at a Process chapter house in Chicago 3. Process missal 4. Original Process books and magazines 5. Original Process jewelry (including a silver cross worn by the lowest ranking members and an Omega ring worn only by high ranking members, belt buckles, and a Process rosary) and other objects 6. End of Kali-Yuga publications: "The Process: Archives, Documents, Reflections, and Revelations" by Alessandro Papa (2013) and the "Process Complete Collection" Volumes 1 and 2 (2022/2023), published by End of Kali-Yuga (2022/2023) Key Resources: End of Kali-Yuga Editions Museum Of Final Judgement on Instagram Museum Of Final Judgement on Facebook As It Is; So Be It: An Introduction to The Process Church of the Final Judgement by Douglas Lucas at The Aither Interviews with outsiders by Douglas Lucas including two interviews with original members of the Process Church on Farther Out YouTube Process Church of the Final Judgement interview with Edward Mason by Douglas Lucas Process Church of the Final Judgement interview with John Harvey by Douglas Lucas Trailer for Neil Edwards documentary Sympathy for the Devil?, The True Story of the Process Church of the Final Judgment PROCESS TRAILER from Neil Edwards on Vimeo. compulsiononline review of Sympathy for the Devil?, The True Story of the Process Church of the Final Judgment |
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