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Stone Carving that depicts Vasudeva, carrying infant Krishna, protected by a 7 headed serpent
Egyptian statue of a Medjay from Nubia
Magi of Bad Durrenberg (reconstrcution), 9000 BCE, Germany

Egypt

Egyptian Magi standing before the God Osiris, a symbol of the Pharaoh and the first to be ‘mummified’
The canopic jars which contained the organs, each with the head of one of the Four sons of Horus: Imseti (human head), Hapi (baboon head), Duamutef (jackal head) and Quebehsenuef (hawk head)
The Four Archangels, St Michael, Raphael, Gabriel and Uriel.
The Tomb of Unas (old Kingdom). One of the oldest tombs. Notice the lack of imagery, and the simple and bare nature of the coffin
Compare this to the tomb of Tutankhamun (Middle Kingdom). The ornate and imposing nature of tombs at this time, the elaborate art, and the hoard of gold, food, fine clothing, jewels and others wealth. After being entombed, the room would be shut forever, and all the wealth would go to waste
The god Khepri with a human form
A Vaishnavite Yogi
A Shaivite tantric
A piece of parchment with writings from the Rig veda
The tarot card of the Magus. The hands are reversed, intentionally, to hide the true knowledge. It is actually a mirror image, with the left hand upwards and the right downwards
Rock carving on an ancient Hindu temple, depicting the ‘magician pose’ on a Yogini, or Tantrika. It has been defaced, but you can still see the pose.
The Ankh, a Goddess Symbol, now turned into the male Cross.
The Masculine symbols of horn, phallus and trident (or vajra/lightning), turned into demonic symbols.
A solomonic Sun talisman that depicts Jehovah with horns. Magicians remembered the true symbols
A ‘plain’ Masonic lodge. Yet everyone can see the structure is of a Hermetic Temple.
A traditional Hermetic temple with implements.
John William Waterhouse, The Magic Circle, 1886. A witch tracing a magick circle
Tibetan Monk working at the bellows. A monastery where alchemy is practiced.
Dionysus the Areopagite, a Christain mystic and scholar who wrote extensively on spiritual and celestial heirarchies.
The Masonic Banquet
A Roman gnostic amulet where the godname ‘YHVH’ (Yah-woh) is transcribed as ‘IAW’, from the Greek ‘IAO’, pronounced as ‘ee-ah-ooh’
Jesus in the Goddess pose, speaking the word and raising the Kundalini
The Goddess Ishtar depicted the same way
The ‘crucified’ snake, a common alchemical motif. The serpent rising up the spin and stooping down, resting upon the forehead. Hence the depiction of Egyptian pharaohs with a snake on their forehead. The serpent completes the figure, turning the Cross into the Ankh.
The true Buddha. A motif from the magical tradition of Vajrayana.
36 Heavens of Daoist Cosmology. Far from simply minimalism and mindfulness.
Daoist Gods and the directions they rule over. True magick, far from being a monotheistic or ‘nihilistic’ philosophy.
The Cube of Matter, the lunar and male principle, the deity Allah. The crescent Moon
The obelisk on Mt Arafat. The solar, and female principle, the deity Arafat. The Star
The High Priestess in her white veil
Shamanic drum used in Tengriist rituals
A Cathar Chateau in Southern France. An alchemical fortress. It is likely a more modern structure built on the site of the original.
Great Cross of Hendaye. A monument in South western France of Gnostic origin, containing zodiacal and apocalyptic symbolism.
The Temple Church in England, a round Church built in London by the Knights Templar in the 12th Century. Much of the carvings are from a later date, as the structure was damaged during WW2.
Native American ‘medicine wheel’. Traditionally, it was made as a wheel with eight spokes. But there is a version which resembles the Solar Cross, likely developed after Templar contact.
The ‘shew stone’ of Dr. John Dee, employed in the Enochian workings. Now believed to be of Aztec origin.
Rose of 49 Petals on the Notre Dame
A common symbol worn by Revolutionaries in France
Dr John Dee’s ‘Heptarchia Mystica’, containing 7 orders of 7 spirits, thus the number 49
The French magus Eliphas Levi, who crated the motif of ‘Baphomet’, was jailed twice for harboring and spreading socialist and utopian ideals
Robindranath Tagore, a mystic, with other nationalists in Bengal
Parmahamsa Yogananda, spreading the teachings of Yoga in the United States, from where it spread world over via American cultural influence.
Yogananda with Gandhi. Yogananda’s Guru, Sri Yukteshwar Giri, wrote extensively on the coming Age of Aquarius in his book ‘The Holy Science’. It was written in 1894, the same year the Golden Dawn was founded.
The French mystic, philosopher and right wing intellectual, Rene Guenon, in his later years as a sufi.
Artwork depicting a member of the Hashashin, likely the Grandmaster Hasan i-Sabah. They were the model for the Fidayee
The Iroquois Confederacy, a Native American nation which had a Republic form of government
I want to believe

Song of Stars: Astrology beyond the Zodiac

Canopus

The Philosopher’s Stone

Philosopher's Stone Alchemy Hermeticism

The Grade System of Hermetic Initiation: Part One

Welcome back readers. It has been a while. A lot has happened to me since the last post on Between the Pillars.

First off, I just want to say that the prices of the magickal services have gone up. However, given that my prices are still very low compared to many others, I don’t think it should bother anyone.

Today, I want to write about something we haven’t touched upon yet: the 10 fold grade system of the Hermetic tradition. It is not the only grade system in the occult, nor is it only used in the Hermetic tradition. It has predecessors, as well as successors.

But that doesn’t matter. It’s a system that works, and quite well at that.

I have always insisted that Magick comprises the traditions from every corner of the world, and from every time period. To study only one system is like having only a few of the pieces of a puzzle, and trying to form a whole picture. In the 21st century, why handicap ourselves like that? So, my focus will not just be on Hermeticism or Western Ceremonial magick, but on mysticism and magick in general. But first, some background.

The Spiritual Ascent

What is the Tree of Life? Well, I have a whole book on that, but in summary:

The Tree of Life is a diagram whose modern form originated in the mystical western tradition called Kabbalah. It is based on the visions of ancient Hebrew seers, as they were led to the Throne of God by the Archangel Metatron. It describes the process of creation, wherein the the Divine Monad manifests itself through Ten distinct ’emanations’, called the Sephiroth. It has it’s origins in the ancient cultures of North Africa, the Middle East and Southern Europe, and is similar to the Nordic Yggdrasil or the Hindu Sri-Yantra.

The first emanation is called the Crown (Kether), and the energy from it passes through another eight Sephiroth, until it finally settles down in the Kingdom (Malkuth), which is identified with the material world. It shows the process by which the Universe, and the Individual, and all other things are created and brought into the world. In simple words: it is an archetype.

The fundamental idea in Western magick is that a person seeking enlightenment, or spiritual ascension, or magical power, would ‘climb’ back up the Tree of Life, passing through all the Sephiroth, which are imagined as Gates, ruled by various astrological forces. The person would begin the journey in Malkuth, which is the world of waking consciousness, and slowly make their way to Kether, which is the Source. The Tree of Life is imagined as a ladder.

The most important milestone in this process is called Cross the Abyss, where the aspirant crosses the gap between the lower 7 Sephiroth, and the 3 Higher ones. This gap is called the Abyss (Tehom), and the illusionary Sephiroth there is called Knowledge (Da’at).

This journey, which is imagined as a straight and narrow path, is called Quetesh in Hebrew. It is imagined as the Bow, which shoots an arrow right down the Middle of the Tree of Life.

Another system of ascension is found in the Eastern world, with the system of Chakras and the Kundalini. The Chakras are Seven centres of power which lie along the spinal column of the Individual, and also along the Axis Mundi of the whole Cosmos. The first Chakra is called the Crown (Sahasrara: Thousand Petals), and the last one is called the Root chakra (Muladhara: Essence of the Root).

The Central Pillar is called the Lingam (the Spine/Phallus), and it is masculine and fixed. This masculine force is also at times called Purusha (the Man) or Yogi (Monk). The force which moves upward is called Shakti (Power), and it is feminine and moving. It is also called Devi (the Lady).

The idea is that the Chakras represent stages of consciousness, with Highest Chakra represents the Divine principle, while the lowest Chakra represents the waking reality. The spiritual aspirant moves their Consciousness up through their spinal column, through each Chakra, until it reaches the top.

That’s the gist of it. The journey of the aspirant is called the Sadhana in Sanskrit, and it is imagined as the straight and unwavering path traced by an arrow let loose from a bow. Those who have completed the Journey are called Siddhas, or the ‘righteous ones’

An important milestone on this journey is when the Consciousness reaches the Throat Chakra, at which point the Personal Shakti, called the Kundalini, rises from the base of the Spine and makes it’s way to the Top, which is at the nape of the neck. At this point, the individual begins to enter into a state of Spiritual Bliss called Sammadhi. This experience is identical to the Crossing of the Abyss of Kabbalah. A person begins to be freed form the world of Illusion (Maya) and can be called ‘enlightened’. Of course, the Kundalini shall rise further until it reaches the Crown, and can be projected even higher.

Combining the Chakras with the Tree of Life

It should be clear now that the Tree of Life and Chakra system are really talking about the same thing. The Western system, however, is more concerned with theory, and with mapping out the journey, and using it to understand the Universe. This is because Western magicians, due to heavy persecution in the middle ages, relied heavily on scripture and magickal texts to transmit their work. They had to disguise the Work as religious doctrine, and had to explain everything in great detail so that anyone reading it could follow the instructions and have all the requisite knowledge.

The Eastern system is much more practical. This is because such knowledge the source of power for the political and religious institutions in the East. There was never any real persecution, but it was closely guarded knowledge, passed down directly from master to student. It was rarely put into writing, nor was there much need to go into detail, because the Master (Guru) would be there with the student to guide them. In fact, merely being in the presence of a Master can cause the Kundalini to awaken. I can attest to this first hand. Thus, it was much more important to talk about the changes happening inside the body, and how to control the power, than try to create precise theories.

So in the West they ended up with a very well established theory, and in the East they developed a very effective practice. Both paths work, and it is worthwhile to combine them. As you know, the 10 Sephiroth of the Tree of Life are divided in such a way that they form Seven ‘layers’. These are identical to the Chakra centres. This means that many of the Chakras correspond to two sephiroth, not just one.

The following is the correct way to interpolate the Ten Sephiroth with the Seven Chakras:

1. Kether (Crown) – Sahasrara (Crown Chakra)
2. Chokmah (Wisdom) and Binah (Understanding) – Ajna (Third Eye Chakra)
3. Da’at (Knowledge) – Visuddha (Throat Chakra)
4. Chesed (Mercy) and Geburah (Power) – Anahata (Heart Chakra)
5. Tifaret (Harmony) – Manipura (Solar Plexus Chakra)
6. Netzach (Victory) and Hod (Glory) – Svadhisthana (Sacral Chakra)
7. Yesod (Foundation) – Muladhara (Root Chakra)

Malkuth (Kingdom) is not part of the seven places, fallen as it is from the place of Da’at. Thus, it can be identified with the dormant ‘Shakti’ of Goddess Power which rests at the base of the spine. Thus, malkuth is rightly called ‘Malkah’, or bride, just as Shakti is the bride of Purusha, or ‘The Man’.

The Ten Fold Grade System

Now we get to the actual Grade system of the Hermetic tradition.

There are ten grades, all arranged along the Tree of Life, along with two intermediary grades. It shows the entire process of spiritual evolution. Understand that, the path is the same, only with different ways of representing it. This is the Hermetic way of seeing it, but in essence this journey is found in all cultures of the world, in different ways.

As you move from one grade to another, so does your consciousness. This does have a biological component, and if you quiet your mind and focus on your bodily sensations, you can actually feel how far up the spinal chord the energy has risen.

The Grade system can be divided into three. The first four grades consist of the ‘outer’ order, and the work of the Outer Order involves working upon the lower self: purifying and mastering oneself and one’s own Being. Each of the four grades corresponds to four components of the lower self, and also to the four elements.

Zelator – Earth – Physical Body – Sensations and Habits
Theoricus – Air – Conscious Mind – Thoughts and Perception
Practicus – Water – Subconscious Mind – Emotions and Intellect
Philosophus – Fire – Will – Intuition and Willpower


The next three grades constitute the Inner Order. Those of these grades are considered ‘Adepts’, while those of the Outer Order are usually called ‘Initiates’. Of course, the word ‘Initiate’ can also just apply to everyone who has been initiated into the order, meaning anyone beyond the grade of Neophyte.

In the Inner Order, everyone is technically on equal standing. An Adept is someone who has learned to commune with their Higher Self, and thus cannot really be ‘told’ what to do. In reality, it is the Inner Order where ‘magick’ begins in any real sense. The Outer Order involves mostly study and spiritual practice, and its rituals and practices are designed to purify the student.

Only in the Inner Order does the Adept begin training to do actual magick. The work of the Adept, having communed with their Higher Self, is now to overcome the Shadow. In other words: illuminate the inner darkness.

The three grades here represent the sacred Masculine, Feminine and the Androgyne.

Adeptus Minor – Androgyne – Life
Adeptus Major – Feminine – Death
Adeptus Exemptus – Masculine – Rebirth


In theory, Adeptus Exemptus is the Highest grade that can be given to a person. The grades beyond the Abyss are called the Secret Order. ‘Secret’ because these grades cannot be conferred, only attained by oneself.

This is because only a student, themselves, can Cross the Abyss when the time is right. No amount of rituals, ceremonies or meditations can make it happen, nor can a Master else cause you to Cross the Abyss and enter Sammadhi. it is a lone Journey.

The three highest grades that make up this stage represent stages of liberation.

Magister Templi – Mother – Power
Magus – Father – Purity
Ipsissimus – Spirit – Love


Whenever talk of the grade system comes up, I see one very common question from beginners: is it possible to rise through the grades without having done any magickal or spiritual practice?

The reason is that people just starting magickal study or practice want to start at the grade of Adeptus Minor! No one wants to be a mere Neophyte, and spend years working towards Adepthood. And so, many newcomers are absolutely desperate to be told that they’re already an Adept, or that the grade can be attained without spiritual practice.

But can it? Well, yes. In fact, it is pretty much expected that if you’re drawn to magick in this lifetime, then your Soul has already done much of the Outer Work in previous incarnations. So then, why this whole routine of going through the outer grades?

Because, in truth, all people at all times, are at the Highest Grade. Everyone in the world is Enlightened…they just don’t know it yet.

This is why this Work is sometimes called ‘Self Realisation’ rather than Attainment. One is not attaining anything, but only remembering.

When one is young, there is at least some point where one is fully in touch with the Higher Self. But life happens, and we begin to deviate from the Great Work. The mind, body and spirit begin to be clouded or fall into decay.

And so, even if a person thinks they are an Adept, or are naturally gifted in magick, or very well read, it never hurts to start at the beginning. The Lower Self needs to be prepared and purified to commune with the Higher Self. This is why the lower grades are needed.

To attempt the work of Magick without first balancing and discipling oneself will be extremely detrimental, and this effect is often seen in religious fanatics or crazed cult leaders: people who have expereinced the energies invoked in the Inner Order, but are not balanced or mature enough to utilise these corectly.

Thus, shun not the Outer Order. It is the most exciting stage of this journey.

The Outer Order

We shall Discuss the probationary grade of Neophyte and the four outer grades of Zelator, Theoricus, Practicus and Philosophus.

Neophyte

The grade of neophyte is not a real grade. It is a probationary grade that typically lasts 6 months or so. Traditionally, it was designed to see if the student was fit to join an esoteric order, and to build up a basic foundation of both theory and practice. With self initiation, this grade is mainly for you to test, for yourself, if you can handle the path of magick.

The rituals of this grade consist of basic banishing and grounding rituals, along with an introduction to basic magickal theory and spiritual practices like meditation. It exposes a person to energies which will start to dramatically change their life and perspective, and it is expected that a lot of people will quit after this grade. And that is precisely the point.

Once the first grade has started, it is not possible to go back. The spiritual transformation shall then go through various stages, and the only respite is in the fifth grade of Adeptus Minor. In other words, Magickal initiation is not just something done overnight. It is a whole hearted commitment which will last years. The exact same commitment is asked for by Eastern practices like Yoga and the Tantra, contrary to the usual notion that Eastern paths are simpler or easier.

And the neophyte grade is like a free trial of what’s to come.

There is nothing wrong with not being ready. While the grade formally lasts 6-7 months, a person may practice the Neophyte material for years. Most magicians do just that, with daily banishing rituals, meditations and purification rites. Some people will spend their whole life simply purifying themselves and meditating, and getting comfortable with this knowledge.

There’s no rush whatsoever. Many who do take that first step onto the grade of Zelator have been prepared over lifetimes, and will be prepared still for lifetimes more.

Some authors make it seem like the neophyte grade is some test or gauntlet designed to separate the ‘worthy’ and ‘unworthy’.

But the fact is that each and every person in the world is worthy. It is only a matter of patience and practice. When one is ready, one will move on.

This grade typically consists of an initial exposure to magickal energy, and one might find that any serious imbalances in one’s life will disappear. In general, good health, vitality and a renewed sense of vigor should be expected by the end.

Zelator

The grade of Zelator, as the name suggests, is a time of Zeal and devotion. It is associated with the element of Earth, with the material body and the world of the senses.

The work of this grade represents perhaps the most important and long lasting stage of spiritual ascension: of mastering the body, and the world of waking consciousness. The rituals of this grade will often bring about shift in perspective and consciousness. The student may find themselves changing their lifestyle, cultivating better lifestyle habits pertaining to food, routine and physical fitness.

A great enthusiasm towards the diligent study and practice of magick may also come about. A person may begin to overcome social anxiety, develop greater work ethic, and see overall success in their studies and/or career. For those who are already well established in life, it can also lead to a lot of money and wealth coming in.

A lot of these things may seem very mundane to some readers. You may wonder what eating properly, sleeping on time and cleaning one’s room have to do with spiritual evolution. And my answer, dear readers, is that it has everything to do with it.

Only very late in my magickal practice did I realise the importance of physical fitness, displine, and cleanliness. Religions of the world have always emphasized these traits, and not without good reason. The spiritual energies that a magician invokes are very, very real. In the Inner Order grades, these energies have a very tangible manifestation, which can very quickly overwhelm and weak mind and body.

Without going too much into details: there have been many times where I was thankful for my physical strength and tolerance, and they were all that kept me from loosing consciousness or being unable to tolerate the very high vibration energies invoked during magick.

Cleanliness and ritual purity are also important, as they allow for an even flow of spiritual energies throughout one’s life. Such a system is found in China in the form of Feng Shui, where the arrangement of the house and placement of objects within it is said to affect how spiritual energies flow through it.

In a more mundane sense, one should also consider that the body is the Temple. The inner world is reflected in the outer world, and a strong body, clean and orderly surroundings and healthy lifestyle will also be reflected in the internal changes taking place.

It is often said that magicians focus too much on the inner world and neglect the outer, not realising that the two are one and the same. Inner transformation goes hand in hand with outer transformation. And finally, there is also the simple fact that magick should not be something that requires the sacrifice of ‘real’ life. It is not escapism.

After all, magick requires commitment, of time, energy and resources. Before such a commitment can be made, it is a good idea to put your life in order. It would be very difficult to go very far with magick if you’re are held back by, say, the lack of money, poor health or a loneliness.

Now, I should make it clear that this is an ongoing process. I’m not suggesting that a person’s material life must be perfect before starting magick. Rather, both go hand in hand. And the grade of Zelator is the time where you shake yourself out of the stupor that many people fall into. It is the simple acknowledgement that you will not use magick or spirituality to escape from the responsibilities of the ‘real’ world.

First we master the outer and material world, before we go to the spiritual planes. Contrary to common belief, magick does not involve shunning or rejecting the material world, which is after all a reflection of the higher worlds.

In this grade, the consciousness tends to be fixed in the outer body and outer world. The inner Shakti has not begun her ascent up the spine.

Theoricus

The grade of Theoricus is similar to Zelator, and revolves around magick Theory. It is associated with the Conscious Mind, with thoughts, and with perception. It is ruled by the element of Air.

Once the Zelator has put his daily affairs in order, they can start studying magickal theory. Just as the previous grade was about strengthening the body, this grade is about sharpening the mind. The rituals and practices of this grade bring about a strong intellectual tendency, and also a desire to learn about and understand the world around oneself. In pursuit of this, one may learn not just about magick, but about various other fields such as history, politics, science, artistry, linguistics etc.

In fact, knowing about the world and having many skills can be very helpful for a magician. Many magicians are known to be well read and proficient in various skills. But ultimately, the aim is not to learn a lot, but rather sharpen the mind. Unlike school, the student of magick is not learning a bunch of rote information, but rather engaging with the world and its people, history and cultures. The aim is not to learn some information, but learn how to think. For example, the study of politics and history is not about coming to believe in some ideology or memorizing a list of battles, but to familiarize the mind with the nuances and complexities of the society. The aim of learning a new language may not necessarily be to become a fluent speaker, but to see how different languages shape the mind different, and to expand one’s horizons.

A strong mind complements a strong body. This grade helps the student break free of dogmatic beliefs, to question the way things are, and to learn to reject beliefs and values that they have inherited.

For while the wisdom of the ages can have great value, it can also be a poison which blinds us from reality. It is good to expose oneself to new ways of thinking, and to start formulating one’s own beliefs and philosophy. It protects us from becoming reliant on someone else’s version of the truth, and especially from political, religious and cultural lies.

This is also the grade where one begins to experience the energies of planets along with the elements. The grade of Theoricus is ruled by the Moon, as it corresponds to the Lunar sphere on the Tree of Life. Additionally the energies of Saturn are also expereinced, because that is the complementary sphere. This kind of a complementary relationship exists for all grades.

The Moon, or Luna, affects the emotions and sense perception. Saturn affects the rational mind. Thus, this grade has a tendency to exaggerate those aspects. In fact, it is important not to get too caught up in trying to understand everything rationally or categorise everything perfectly.

The consciousness now resides in the Root chakra, which corresponds to the Lunar Sphere at the base of the spine. The consciousness, thus, is still fixed on the outer world, but on the more abstract, mental aspects rather than purely physical.

Practicus

By now you should have picked up a trend with the names. The grade of Practicus focuses, at last, on Practice. It is associated with the element of Water, with the Subconscious mind, and thus with, morals, values, emotions and desires. Whereas the grade of Theoricus focused more on the outward Conscious Mind, Practicus focuses on the deeper, subconscious mind. In this grade, the emotions are allowed to come forth from their usual suppressed state in most people.

One also begins to recognise the traits of the opposite gender within oneself. In fact, it is common for magicians in this grade to display such traits. Men may find themselves becoming more ‘feminine’ while women may become more ‘masculine’. This is because a magician must not have any complexes or reservations, such as imagining oneself as ‘manly’ or ‘womanly’. What exactly this means depends from person to person. The Anima/ Animus, which lies hidden in the subconscious, begins to show itself.

The first two grades, in my opinion, are almost intoxicating. While they are slow, they are also relatively easy. The rituals performed in these grades bring about a great transformation in the personal world, which is what most people are focused on. But Practicus is the first test of these apparent abilities. That is to say, the student may now be called upon to put his knowledge and strength into practice, and also the first time one faces real obstacles from the outer world, not just the abstract ones of the inner world.

To me, the grade of Practicus is a test, and I will not speak much about the trials of this grade because I don’t want to turn people away from magick. This is the grade where you must try to accomplish your goals and desires, and it should be evident that some of these will not come easily.

Most people have a vague idea of what they want in life. But rarely do people have the courage to pursue them. And this is because dreams and desires are often grand and untenable, and it is not easy to know how exactly they should be attained. So, people are content to simply do what they’re told, and wait until some imagined event will bring them these things. Think, for example, of people’s dream of winning the lottery, of finding the perfect job, of suddenly becoming famous etc.

Ultimately, most people just want to be happy and live in peace. All these grand desires are a means to that. The irony, of course, is that any person at any time can be content with their lot and find peace and happiness. In fact, it is the urgent pursuit of happiness that stops people from being happy.

So, people instead hold out hope for extraordinary fortune, living in the future rather than the present. Yet others give up hope entirely and become bitter, living in the glorious past when they still had their dreams, and once again ignoring the present.

But the magician who has crossed Theoricus may find that they suddenly have the courage to live in the present, and pursue exactly what they want. As I said, the changes of these grades are very powerful, and it becomes clear that nothing is actually beyond a person’s grasp.

But, the grade of Practicus is the grade of challenges and trials. These challenges and trials are important to purify and strengthen the individual. This is the a very important grade of spiritual ascension, where a person, for the first time, leaves their comfort zone completely in pursuit of their dreams. One should not underestimate a person who has set their life in order and learned about the world. The Practicus is already very far ahead of most people because of this.

For better or for worse, it is when a person stops living in their head, and starts living in reality. And some may find that reality, without comforting dogmas and illusions, appears unfair and unjust. Of course, even that is an illusion.

In this grade, the influence of Mercury, the ruler of the grade, is felt, as is the influence of the complimentary Jupiter. It is Mercury who is the initiator into magick and the mysteries, and the first step of that initiation is purification through pain. Mercury is also force that carries one’s ambitions aloft on his wings.

Jupiter is the teacher and mentor, and he helps the student retain hope and faith. It may be common for students to develop a ‘larger than life’ persona due to the influence of this planet, which may also mark them out as a target of scorn or resentment by those whose consciousness has not begun to develop.

Ultimately, both planets are associated with learning, and this is the grade of learning certain hard lessons and shattering illusions. Everything, good or bad, must be accepted as it is. Metaphorically, we may say that the waters of the subconscious begin to flood the conscious mind, dissolving boundaries and washing one clean.

Philosophus

Yes, this grade is now associated with Philosophy, with the Will and the Intuition. It corresponds to the element of Fire.

In my book, The Tree of Life: A Beginner’s Guide, I discuss the role of philosophy and it’s link to creativity at length, but here I will mention the importance of developing a personal philosophy.

Once the trials of the Practicus grade are overcome, the great realisation comes that many of one’s beliefs about the world are faulty, and often taken from somewhere else. For many magicians, it is the stage of awakening from the Ego, and realising that the contents of one’s mind are often not aligned with reality.

It is common for people to believe that the world is a certain way. People go their entire lives believing in absurd or false things, just because they sound rational or logical. Rarely, if ever, do people ever question or challenge their beliefs. And even when beliefs are questioned, they are often replaced with other, equally absurd beliefs.

it is only by repeatedly putting one’s beliefs into practice, as is done by the Practicus, that one realises what is real and what is imagined. It is almost like subjecting your beliefs to scientific scrutiny.

Every person has a inner value system, but people don’t normally try to live up to their own values. For example, a person who firmly believes that people should live freely in a primal state of existence, but works a standard corporate job in a big city. Such a person has never actually tried to live up to their own ideals, which is precisely why these ‘ideals’ exist. Trying to live up to such ideals may show they are at odds with the reality of the world and one’s present capabilities.

Some people, who’s ambitions are grounded, may actually end up getting exactly what they wanted, only to realise that it didn’t satisfy them. For example, someone who desperately wants to get into some prestigious college, only to find that they have no interest in their studies and aren’t suited to the competition. It would seem the person was more interested in imagining the scenario, but does not enjoy being in it.

Now that the Philosophus has tried to put their world view into practice, it is important to take a step back and consider one’s life and aspirations. There is no longer anyone to blame, no longer anything holding one back. Becoming freed from dogma and delusion, it is time to start developing a personal philosophy to live by, rather than live by the philosophies of others. It is time to no longer define oneself as belonging to some religion, creed or ideology, or subscribing to some belief system, or clinging to arbitrary labels or vague ambitions. A person must draw now upon their inner resources, and let their intuition guide them towards their purpose in life.

What makes you happy? What do you want from life? How would you like to spend each day of your life? Are you really an introvert/extrovert? Do you really want a lot of money? Can you really be self employed, or do you really believe in some chosen faith?

Discipline plays a role because, when your entire worldview is questioned, it may very well burn away. After all, this is the grade of Fire. And in times like this, it is of utmost importance to maintain some semblance of routine and structure, so you don’t slip into apathetic nihilism or become depressed. And even if you do, you still have to keep moving forward. Everything learned in the last three grades must keep you sane and alert.

The three great virtues of a magician are: Humility, Persistence and Determination. And the Philosophus must keep living their ordinary life, even as the world within is radically transformed. At the very least, all the basic day to day tasks needed for survival must be performed. You will find that the discipline and strength developed through this is invaluable. Very great is the one who can be comfortable with discomfort. Most people withdraw or flee at the hint of the slightest discomfort, but the magician must learn to endure and power through something as difficult as spiritual purification.

This grade is ruled by Venus, the great Goddess, and her counterpart Mars. Venus is the Goddess of Life and Fertility, but before one can feel her love, one must face her dark aspect: that of a life and universe that is seemingly unfair and unjust. Through patience and grace, the student will stand before the darkness and see it transformed into light, just as the cold harshness of winter leads to the fertility and joy of spring.

Mars, of course, is the one providing strength and courage throughout this grade, even as it awakens an inner fire within oneself. Not the explosive flame of ambition or zeal, but the steady flame of perseverance and discipline. Nothing happens overnight, and anything worth attaining takes honest work.

In the grades of Practicus and Philosophus, the consciousness resides in the Sacral Chakra, located around the abdomen. Sexual activity may be become much more increased or decreased than usual. These grades of purging see the consciousness around the digestive and excretory system.

A Short Allegory

The first two grades are those of preparation, and the second two are those of purification. It is actually an alchemical process. It is important, at this point, for me to describe the alchemical process, which is meant to reflect this process of Initiation.

Alchemy is the spiritual science of taking the fabled First Matter (Prima Materia), and subjecting it to a process of purification and exaltation, resulting in the legendary Philosopher’s Stone (Lapis Philosphorum). The Stone, also called the Red Stone, is said to be able to transform base metals into gold, as well as confer eternal life. I’m sure many readers already know the tale. At the very least, you’ve watched this referenced in the first Harry Potter film.

Here, the student themselves is the Prima Materia being perfected.

In alchemical texts, it is said that the Prima Materia must be first separated into it’s three components: Mercury, Sulfur and Salt. Each is then purified and recombined. These should be understood as alchemical principles, and not to be confused with the mundane elements of the same name. Meaning, here Mercury does not refer to quick silver, nor does Salt refer to sodium chloride.

In the Hindu and Buddhist traditions, the metaphor is dropped and these three principles are actually referenced directly as as the three Gunas (traits), present in all things. These are Satvva (positive), Rajas (neutral) and Tamas (negative). But here I will describe the process most commonly found in European texts, as these are the most methodical.

First, one must gather the Prima Materia and ferment it for a long period of time, allowing it to mature and and ‘ripen’ in the heat of the sun. This is the grade of Zelator, where the student prepares themselves for initiation by setting their life in order, and ‘ripening’ the physical body through a healthy lifestyle, and mastering the outward senses. Much like fermentation, this grade is simply a matter of time and patience.

Now, the Prima Materia is heated over a gentle fire for a long time, which causes the alchemical Mercury to distill over. This Mercury may be further distilled and purified. This refers to the grade of Theoricus, where the rational Mind (often symbolised by Mercury) is isolated, and then sharpened through study and intellectual engagement.

Next, the flask is heated over a more intense fire, which gets hotter and hotter, until the alchemical Sulfur distills over. This process is volatile and difficult, and what is left behind is the alchemical Salt, which is black and ashy. This refers to the intense grade of Practicus, where the student is tried and tested, and their stubborn illusions are ripped from them. The emotions, volatile and dangerous, separate out and show themselves, like the Sulfur. It is worth noting that the Eastern counterpart, which is rajas, literally means ‘passions’. The student may be left feeling tired, empty or hollow, like the black Salt left behind. This salt in it’s black state is seen as ‘dead’, and called as the dead head (caput mortem)

Now, the black Salt is heated over a gradually increasing fire, until is begins to incinerate, turning from black to gray and finally to white. To witness this mythical process is itself a spiritual experience, and it refers to the grade of Philosophus, where the Fire or Will slowly increases in intensity, purging the tired initiate, and purifying them, bringing forth a sort of ‘rebirth’ or ‘reawakening’, like the black salt turning to a pristine white.

Now, the Mercury Sulfur and Salt have been separated and purified. They are slowly recombined in a hermetically sealed flask (yes, the word ‘hermetically sealed’ comes from Hermeticism).

Portal

The grade of Portal is another probationary grade, and refers to the time between the Outer and Inner order. It is symbolic of the alchemical process where the three principles are hermetically sealed and recombined.

Here the Divine alchemist, which is the Higher Self of the Initiate, the Spirit, recombines the separated parts of the Prima Materia, which is the Lower Self of Initiate.

The grade of Portal is a period of 9 months where the initiate must withdraw from the outer world as much as possible, and spend time in contemplation and prayer. This is the transition from an Initiate to an Adept.

The primary work in this stage is to think over the journey so far, and prepare for communion with the Higher Self, which is also called the Holy Guardian Angel. This communion can be thought of as the religious experience, which Christians call Grace.

In the East, this same process is replicated when Yogis go into what is called ‘Tapasya’, which is a prolonged period of silent meditation. Hindus and Buddhists call the communion of the religious experience as ‘Darshan’, literally meaning ‘to see’. The Higher Self is called ‘Atman’, or Spirit, while the lower self is called ‘Jiva’, or ‘living being’.

The motif of this grade can be thought of as a wandering, or a self imposed exile, and such a thing is found in various mythologies. During this period, a dramatic shift in consciousness takes place as many redundant aspects of oneself are burned away.

In this stage, the ‘Body of Light’ is firmly established within oneself, and the Sphere of Sensation, often called the Aura, expands from an thin shell just over the skin, to a spherical ball of magnetic energy: a cosmic Egg. The hermetically sealed flask used by alchemists in this stage was often made in the form of a glass Egg, to represent this very Cosmic Egg. The alchemists knew that, as they were making the Red Stone, their own being was being transformed.

We are bringing about the same transformation not through chemical processes, but through rituals, meditation, chanting, study and practical action.

By and large, this stage is one of patience and faith. It is a time of preparation and rebirth, before one ventures out again as an Adept.

I will end this post here, and continue talking about the grades in Part Two. If you wish to learn more about magick, consider checking out my books. Subscribe to me on Patreon to learn about using magick to improve daily life, to gain spiritual insight through tarot, to invoke the great Angels who rule the heavens or conjure the mighty daemons who rule the material universe.

Peace and farewell.

~White Raven

Magickal Services for Career, Relationships, Spirituality, Health, Studies and Life in General

Hello. Today I would like to make a very important announcement, regarding some magickal services I have decided to offer.

Divination Services

Tarot Reading – $20

I will conduct three different tarot readings (depending on your needs) to give you clarity and information regarding any specific topic. This can be some specific event, person or decision, or it can be regarding your life in general. It can range from things like career, studies, relationships, and health, to spirituality, magick and the occult. I will also give advice on what to do next, and how to overcome the challenge you are facing, based on my divination. This is an excellent service when you just want spiritual insight on a single thing.

Natal Chart Reading – $45

Your natal chart is your astrological chart at the moment you were born, and sheds light on many aspects of your life and personality. It is a fantastic tool to help understand oneself, one’s path, and challenges that one shall face.
You shall receive a complete, magickal reading of your natal chart (far deeper than a generic horoscope). It will contain information regarding:
1. Insight regarding your possible life purpose
2. Challenges you are likely to face and overcome
3. Strengths and Weaknesses in character
4. Advice regarding career, relationships and education
5. Prominent angels/demons/deities which affect you
6. Suggestions about what spiritual path would suit you
All that is needed, is your place, date and exact time of birth. The more precise you are, the better the reading will be. I shall also give you a copy of your natal chart.

Ritual Services

Invocation of a Spirit, Angel or Deity- $50

This is my only ritual service for the time being. The idea is simple: you tell me which deity, angel, demon or spirit you want to connect with, and I will invoke them for you.
This works best when you specifically want to call upon a deity to guide you on your magickal path, and along with an invocation I shall also channel messages for you from them, along with anything else they give me, such as a sigil, chant or even something like a suggested practice and study plan.
In other words, it is perfect for beginner-intermediate practitioners who want a deity to help them move further. I suggest you pick a high ranking and prominent deity that you feel a strong and close connection to. If the deity you choose is too shady, or I personally feel repulsed by their energy, I may decline the service.
Often, deities will give a set of personal messages directly to the person who wants their guidance, and advice on how to connect with them. I will simply act as a bridge, and I shall give you my personal opinion, but ultimately I am simply connecting you with your deity of choice, and helping you connect to them yourself.
This service also applies to the Angels and Archangels, and even Saints and Ascended Masters. With Demons, it depends. I can invoke any of the Daemons which were ancient pagan deities, or those who are darker Angels. But I will not call upon actively malevolent Spirits.

If you wish to avail any of these services, please send me an email at white.raven.magi@gmail.com with the subject line as TAROT, NATAL CHART, or INVOCATION. Include some basic details about what you need, and I’ll get back to you within 1-3 days (not counting Saturday).

That is all. Peace and farewell!
~White Raven


Magick is the Path of Warriors and Kings

Welcome to the new year, my dear readers. I say this because it is now March. For me, Spring marks the new year, when the Sun enters into the house of Aries.

The Sun is ‘The King’, and Aries is ‘the Warrior’, associated with the Tarot card ‘Emperor’. What a fitting time to put this post out.

Interesting times are upon us, and the world is changing very quickly. Knowledge is a tool and a weapon to survive and thrive in these times, and to help others.

I also want to mention that from now on, the stuff I write on this blog may become increasingly radical. Why? Because I am, indeed, a radical. A spiritual radical, and mine is a transgressive and all encompassing path. How funny, that in a time of extreme polarity, the ‘Middle Path’ becomes the radical path.

Remember, you don’t have to agree or disagree. That would be boring. Discourse is meant to move us, to stimulate us and cause us to think. That is all.

Magick is the Art of Kings

First let me ask you a question: what is the best way to define a person who studies and performs magick?

Many answers may be given: a mystic, a monk, a holy man, a priest, a witch, a sage, a hermit, a conjuror, a wizard, a shaman…and so on and so forth.

But you know, there’s an interesting thing you’ll notice if you look back on history.

There appear to have been two main types of people who practiced magick: those who already possessed a noble, spiritual or royal lineage, the result of generations of intellect, power and wealth, and those who attained such wealth, status and power by becoming magicians.

You know, it’s worth noting: Jesus was a magician, and he was called King of the Jews. He wasn’t really a King, but a carpenter. But he is not called a rebel, a prophet or a mystic. No, he is specifically called King of the Jews. It is an integral part of his character. The same could be said for King Solomon. Indeed, when magicians were not kings, they were often associated with Kings and Monarchs. Think Imhotep, Merlin, John Dee, etc. It is also no coincidence that symbols of enlightenment within magickal systems, like Krishna, the Buddha, Dionysus, Horus etc. were Kings or Warriors (often both).

In the collective consciousness of the human race, there appears the figure of a wizard, alchemist or magician who has enormous power. This figure is not bound by the rules of the world, and is able to attain whatever he or she desires. The idea of the wizard’s tower on top of a mountain, or an alchemists fortress is nothing but this.

The magician was always regarded as a noble sort of figure. In his writings, Aleister Crowley uses the word ‘Kings’ to refer to Adepts of magick. Not mystic or magi or master, he specifically calls the Adept as a ‘King’.

Look at the Kabbalistic Tree of Life: the highest Sephiroth that can ever be attained or manifested in this world is Chesed: the King. The Higher Sephiroth of Binah, Chokmah and Kether are subtle and sublime, and are experienced only internally. Hence, even one who has internally attained Da’ath or the worlds higher, shall be as a King upon this Earth.

The greatest magicians in history had the attitude and dignity of Kings. They were not servants or martyrs. They are not found living in poverty or lacking in life. Even when they walked the path of Asceticism, one did not think of them as ‘impoverished’. Because what is a King, if not a ideal that inspires their subjects? In fact, the whole idea of the ascetic path in magick, is that the magician can attain whatever they need simply by focusing their Will upon it. So, they give up their worldly possessions as a show of this level of attainment. Any other type of asceticism is flawed, especially the ones focused on poverty, or born out of a hatred for the body or matter itself.

There is a great lie that has pervaded in recent times, and perhaps this lie was created to keep potential students as poor and weak. The lie is this: that a magician is a strange, ostracized creature, who must become cold and inhumane for the sake of knowledge, and give up the pleasures of life. Every story, from the green skinned witch who lives in a swamp and eats children, to the immoral necromancer who defiles dead bodies, to the impoverished hermit who lives in a cave..all these are lies designed to stop magicians from existing within the mainstream, and enacting their Will in the world.

You see, the very existence of a magician is a threat to all that is corrupt and degenerate. Those who are spiritually and morally bankrupt cannot survive if there are magi in the world. Even without coming out in the open or talking about our magick, magicians can seldom be ignored. Their actions, beliefs, thoughts, their very way of living turns them into beacons of Light, Strength and Willpower. Like the allegorical Philosopher’s Stone, which turns lead into gold, the Magician serves as a catalyst, that can elevate and transform the people and environments they are in. An Adept magi turns that which is degenerate and profane, into that which is sacred and regenerate.

The Joy of the Magi

Recently, during an invocation, I asked the spirit guides why so many historical mystics and magicians had such tragic lives. Why is it so often, that they were forced to be martyred for their ideals, and generally hated by people. I demanded to know why so many of these higher beings, who are apparently here to help us, and encourage us to study magick, did not save them. I was told a couple of interesting things:

“How do you know that they were killed, martyred and hated? Were you there, or are you simply basing this on the history that is presented to you? How do you that you are not being lied to? What if the great magi did not die as you think they were? What if they flourished, prospered and lived lives to the fullest? What if their death here was simply a step in a greater existence?”

“Those who were martyred, martyred themselves. The life of an individual is a projection of their consciousness, and they themselves bring about their whole lives. Many magi fell into despair, they could not live up to their ideals. They turned themselves into martyrs, and convinced themselves that their path was difficult or lonely. This manifested in their martyrdom. Never did the Gods ordain this. They manifested their own hardships”

This…hit me pretty hard. It made me wonder: why has magick has been turned into an object of fear and hate, and the history of magick and mysticism presented as tragic? It’s almost like whoever created this flawed perspective, was saying “look, look at these people. They practiced magick, and they challenged the status quo. And for that, they suffered. Horrible things happened to them. Now, you wouldn’t want to practice magick and challenge the world, would you?”

Of course. If doing magick means committing oneself to a life of hardship and suffering, why would anyone take a risk? Who envies the path of a martyr, or the tortured seeker of truth?

And when we do talk about magick as a means to attain our desires, it is conveniently distorted to become ‘devil worship’. Because we have been conditioned to believe in ideologies that consider pleasure, joy and happiness to be sinful. It is indeed, a very effective way to keep the masses in line, by turning suffering into a virtue. Why ask for more, if doing so means flirting with evil? So let me be clear

Sufferings is NOT a virtue.

We are presented, by mainstream culture, with two archetypes of the ‘Magician’. Either the magician is a ‘good’ figure, and such a person is impoverished, passive and pacifist. He gives up family, happiness, pleasure and ambition to become some sort of ascetic seeking the truth, and is ultimately sacrificed for the ‘greater good’. Or, it is the ‘evil’ figure, where the magician decides to greedily better his life and makes a pact with dark forces. He becomes cruel and inhuman, and uses people as he sees fit to attain his own goals. This is quite an unhealthy and extreme polarity, and explains very well why most people are put off by the word ‘occult’ (which just means ‘hidden’, and is a reference to esoteric knowledge, not necessarily ‘secret’ knowledge).

Nothing could be further from the truth, and the longer you follow the path of magick and mysticism, the more this childish façade falls away.

Remember that in Kabbalah, Tifaret is the Sephirah which represents Adepthood, and is also associated with Joy and Happiness. It is also the Solar centre, and represents the Self.

Compared to the time of ancient Egypt, India, China, Sumer and Mycenae, when magick was the highest and most sacred art, the cornerstone of society and object of admiration and study, in recent times it has been suppressed and presented as a niche hobby pursued by eccentrics, or as a mere alternate religion, and the symbols of magick are turned into idols of worship, used to justify all sorts of corrupt actions and false beliefs. Make no mistake, it is a very recent trend. Perhaps not even a hundred years old. Perhaps it is because the Internet has suddenly made knowledge far more easily accessible than before.

Even some major New Age and neo-Pagan traditions present magick as some path of self sacrifice and meekness, wrapped in a moral dogma more absurd and rigid than even Churchianity! The make ‘magick’ look like the silly, childish pastime of bored hipsters in first world countries. Meanwhile, some ‘dark’ magicians have done a great job of becoming social outcasts, and make magick look like a hobby for the mentally ill (no offence, but let’s be honest now).

The most powerful type of Magick, often called ‘Enochian’ magick, is presented as being dangerous and unfit for practice even among authentic traditions and communities. Yes, it is ‘dangerous’. If you took a person who never driven a car, and made him compete in Formula One, that would also be dangerous.

But magick cannot be veiled or hidden. Its truth shall shine across time and space, across generations and cultures.

A magician is a unique individual, someone who has the potential to uncover the Mysteries of the world. Magick, Spirituality and Religion are simply different degrees of the same thing. Magick is simply the highest type of religion, and mainstream religion teaches the simplest magickal truths. A magician who has attained Adepthood, and invoked their Higher Self, is a King or Queen in their own right.

Every human has a ‘seed’ inside them: the ability to become a King/Queen, to attain that dignity. It flourishes in all people in varying degrees, and this can be seen as ‘potential’. The art of transforming potential into action, is magick. Those who practice this to the highest degree are magicians: individuals who can transform the world, its culture, and the perceptions of those around them through manifesting their Will. That’s what a magician is, a transformer, a spiritual alchemist, just as their own consciousness is transformed by even greater forces and symbols.

This is all allegorical, and should be understood as such. Misunderstanding these ideas has led many magicians to develop delusions of grandeur and messiah complexes. As the Daoists say, one must cultivate the practice of ‘not doing’. I’m not saying go try to preach to people, to fight for some ideology, or try to ‘do’ anything. The transformation is natural, it happens on its own. The magician is not sitting there choosing or deciding things logically, but having the will and the courage to keep moving forward on the path that continually manifests in the world.

A true magician is only to live in a dignified and justified manner, through inner wisdom. This is revealed through meditation, and invocation, and the purpose of life is to discover one’s path and walk it. This is meaning of True Will. One who follows their true Will shall be favoured by the Universe.

The Privilege of Magick

To do magick is a privilege, for it is a noble craft.

Let me clarify what I mean.

We live in a strange time where suffering is a virtue, and so privileged individuals want to pretend that they struggled as much as others and never had any help. Can you imagine, if ancient Kings insisted they had no wealth and power, and were the same as an ordinary peasant? Would anyone follow a King?

When I say privilege, I’m referring to certain types of privilege. Is it a privilege to be born intelligent, creative and with a healthy mind and body?

Yes. And practicing magick requires various things. And these are privileges. I am unspeakably privileged, to have been born intelligent, healthy and creative. To simply have been shown this path, and to have uncovered this knowledge, is a privilege. One might say it s the greatest privilege, and we need not be ashamed of what we know and can do.

I am privileged, unimaginably so, because I know magick. And I will never apologise for this.

I’m a magician, and I define my own reality. It is a choice, whether we identify as privileged or not. A lot was denied to me, and I’ve been through many hardships…but I honestly don’t care about that nor do I want pity. No, I view myself as elite, privileged and standing upright over the world, and my attitude reflects this. It may comes across as arrogant, but so what? Have you had a look around? Have you noticed that life is….brutal? Meekness, passivity, mediocrity are not even an option. In order to be truly ‘good’, to stand up for one’s beliefs and values, to help those less fortunate, and to live a life worth living, such a perspective is necessary. Unless, you think that a victimized, self loathing person can save even themselves, let alone others.

Perception is powerful indeed, and your perception of yourself defines who you are. The real privilege is to simply know this.

To simply know that one can define one’s reality, that one can manifest one’s desires, and that one’s power is entirely within oneself is the highest and greatest privilege of all. I cannot even imagine being ‘normal’ anymore, and living my whole life thinking someone or something outside me was in control, or being subservient to cultural, spiritual or ideological dogma, or having disempowering beliefs and constantly being in conflict over arbitrary, pointless things. I know that each and every thing that happens to me, that has ever happened or will ever happen is the Universe directly speaking to me: the world around us is a mirror, and we are looking at ourselves.

What truth could be greater, and what knowledge could be more powerful?

To be a magician is a privilege, and many, many privileges go along with it. The intelligence required to understand this blog alone is a monumental privilege. Never, ever apologise or think yourself to be weak and unprivileged. Magick is a privilege because it enables the attainment of all other privileges: wealth, status, power, happiness, whatever you want. Never feel like these are unearned, because it is not some external deity giving them to you. Magick is the manifestation of one’s Will.

The Spiritual Warrior

But, you may now ask: so why is life filled with suffering? If we are so privileged, why do we suffer? In fact, why do even the most privileged among us suffer, and why do those who try to do the greatest things, suffer the most? And why does following one’s path lead to suffering? Why is is more difficult to learn magick, and understand these things, than to live without them? Why is it more comfortable to be weak and ignorant? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?

Suffering is part of it, and no magick can ever help you avoid the lessons you have to learn. The greater the suffering, the greater the magician who endures and overcomes it. Suffering is not a virtue, but it is the fire which forges us. It is the alchemical fire which produces the shining Stone of Light.

You see, privilege NEED NOT be earned. That is to say, we don’t need to ‘earn’ the right to live, to walk our path, to be happy, and to possess knowledge.

Instead, the person bestowed with privilege should make themselves worthy of it. And if a person has no privileges, a person may reach out and take it for themselves. Power is given to the worthy, and this worthiness is proved through suffering. Adversity brings out the best in us.

This is why the magician suffers, and why this path can be hard at times. I mean, everyone suffers. It’s up to you to decide if this suffering is meaningless, or worth something. Don’t think “oh, why am I being punished? Am I not a good person? I’m doing magick, aren’t I? I’m following my true will after all”.

No, see it instead like, “here I am, trying to manifest my Will. And the Universe rises up like a serpent all around me, to test me. I am being tested, to see if I am worthy of Power. And my Will must be unyielding, and I must overpower these challenges!”

After all, these ‘challenges’ are nothing but the manifestation of the inner world. They represent aspects of you which are repressed, conflicted or unaligned. It is lesser Wills within you, competing for dominance, rejecting the doctrine of your ‘True Will’. You are overpowering parts of your own Self, and in this way you are becoming stronger and more perfect. The result of this is that you become ‘powerful’. It is all internal, essentially.

There is, in reality, no such thing as revolution, oppression, exploitation, progress or tradition. Instead, it is the Will of people, of cultures, of communities, of factions, of societies, and the forces of nature pitted against others of a similar nature. Humanity itself is a single consciousness, and itself has many aspects which are repressed, unaligned or in conflict. And just as a war rages within the Individual, war rages in the world, in societies. Even the forces of nature are conflicted, even stars and galaxies consume each other. All of it must be allowed to come to pass, to be faced and overcome, so that the ‘Self’ of the human consciousness, and even the ‘Self’ of the Universe may be realised and perfected.

This is why War exists, and what the Path of the Warrior is. As much as we may desire it, the world cannot reign in artificial peace. If peace must exist, it must be true peace. We can ‘put off’ conflicts and wars only for so long, as world governments are so apt at doing.

War is simply the final means to force action and change. It is only when action has not been taken when it should have, when things are ignored or denied, that violence ends up erupting. One might say that war is the result of action not taken. Mars is the spirit of War, and it rules both action and warfare, as well as strength and transformation. When one does not take action for fear of minor conflict, one will eventually be forced into a major and violent conflict.

A King, put simply, is an individual who has dominated their inner universe to this Will, for they understand that the Microcosm is the Macrocosm. And this is done by facing the world, unafraid, with an unbreakable will. Magickal power is attained through courage and might. It is a warrior’s path, and life is a battlefield.

Spiritual gifts are not attained by living a stress free life in a monastery, by listening to positive platitudes or by drugging oneself to the point of numbness These practices have produced a lot of so called ‘masters’ who could lose their minds if they had to live in a densely populated urban center and hold a proper job. The mother who wakes up at 5 am to prepare food for her school going children every single day without fail, has a far greater and stronger Will than the person who comfortably sits around all day without responsibilities, and proclaims how stress free their ‘spiritual’ life is.

So don’t let such people belittle you for not being spiritual enough, for doing ‘mundane’ things. If you’re facing life, doing things that need to be done: studying, working, raising families, cooking, cleaning, paying bills and living, then you are already transforming.

If a magician, or indeed any individual loses their power or suffers, it is basically an inner force that challenges their Will. One may find all sorts of external forces to blame. One may point to politics, to economics, to religion and culture. One may find every excuse to call the world unjust and unfair. But if you understand the great Hermetic secret: that every single individual deserves every single thing that happens to them, including exaltation as well as abject failure, then you shall not suffer, because nothing holds power over you, and everything is in your power.

And a King who has steadily subdued the inner Universe has great power. They may pass it on to their children, or share it with their community. In this way the whole collective becomes empowered. THIS is empowerment, not waiting for apathetic politicians, celebrities or religious messiahs to come and put food in one’s mouth.

Without a King, there is no Slave. The Slave is merely a King of the lowest degree, and a King simply the highest Slave, having no Kings over him.

Remember polarity: without shame, there can be no pride. Since I am not ashamed of my privilege as a magician, I’m not proud of it either. It emerged within me, and can emerge within anyone. I am not ‘superior’ to others, because if I thought that way, I’d have to accept that someone or something was ‘superior’ to me!

The Sacred Philosophy

A person is a slave. They are born into this world, and immediately conditioned by their environment. They inherit various traits and qualities, and they are also taught all sorts of things. How to think, how to feel, what is right and wrong, why things work the way they do. Some people may be in a community with many empowering beliefs, others in ones with disempowering beliefs, and most people will have a mix of these. This is unjust and unfair, but it is by design, and likely serves a purpose, primarily to survive and find comfort.

The person is then unable to ever, truly, experience freedom. Their entire life, they belong to categories defined by others, and believe in all sorts of abstractions. Every aspect of their life shall be defined, and they will eventually cling to it. Almost nothing can break the conditioning, and this too is by design. The conditioning is like a ship, drifting on a stormy, chaotic sea. As alluring as it may seem to jump overboard, it is a terrible idea. You will drown. This is what many magicians try, unsuccessfully, to do. They reject all social norms, all notions of common sense, all morals and values, and all traditional symbols. They lose touch with reality, and are consumed by Chaos. There is some truth in the tales of magicians who sought knowledge and went mad because they couldn’t handle it.

But instead, what if we learned to sail the ship, and take control of it. We may become a master of the ship, and and go where we want. And, if we come across other ships, our knowledge will help us guide them also. We may become the Master of a fleet. What if we committed ourselves to become a master of our inner world, and of our own destiny?

This is a King, capable of attaining anything they want by focusing their mind and will upon it. This is what magick is.

It is misunderstood by many, who think it involves casting spells or conjuring spirits and begging them for favours. No. Those are simply a means, a method of focusing a Will. To attain something may involve conjuring a spirit, OR it may involve invoking a god, OR it may involve going to college and getting a degree, or it may involve learning some skill. All of these are a medium for magick.

The difference is, a weak person may do these things due to imagined external circumstances. A person may call upon a God because it is a religious obligation, while a magician shall do it because it is their Will. A person may pursue a certain career because it is what is asked of them, or they think it is ‘good’ or will lead to money. A magician does it, because it is their Will.

Do what you Will, and face the repercussions. Their is no sin, only cause and effect. What you sow, you shall reap. It is not some biased deity ‘judging’ you, you are simply getting the fruit of your labour, and you perceive it as good or bad. And sometimes, it is also generational, so you may be reaping the fruits of your ancestors actions. That is what ‘karma’ means by the way (which literally just means ‘action’), and why Hindu mystics focused on karma instead of on the idea of ‘sin and virtue’. This is also why they say ‘karma is inherited’. It may be unfair, but it is what it is. Sometimes, one may have to break free of societal or ancestral karma, which involves breaking toxic cycles in which one’s family, society or community has become trapped. It is hard, but if you can first free yourself, only then you have a chance at freeing others. And sometimes, others are not ready, and must be left to learn their own lessons.

Do you understand now, why some individuals who commit ‘evil’ actions apparently get away? Because it is not the action that is evil. If a soldier, out of love for his country, kills another soldier, they may feel a sense of glory, and be honoured as a hero. But if they do it out of hatred, malice or for sadistic pleasure, they should not be surprised if the world around them hated them, and seemingly tortures them for pleasure. A person who has sunk into depravity becomes a tortured and bitter person. Here are those who complain that God is unfair, not understanding that everything is just. Nothing in the Universe can deviate from it’s principles, which are precise and exact, and human society and life is governed by the same natural principles which govern the stars, the seas and the seasons. We are really not so different and special. A seemingly complex machine can be operated by an experienced user, who understands clearly how it works. This person does not demand the machine to work in ways it cannot. Imagine, if a person could fully grasp the principles governing their life, behaviors and beliefs. Would this person not control their whole reality?

And these principles are what are called ‘The Mysteries’, the esoteric knowledge uncovered by studying the occult. Utilising these principles correctly is ‘magick’. Self knowledge leads to Worldly knowledge, and Worldly knowledge leads to Self knowledge, because they are part of the same machine (are they not?).

Most sufferings is no some ‘bad’ thing happening to a person, but simply not having the knowledge or understanding to overcome a challenge. But by facing the challenge, this knowledge may be obtained, or some new principles understood.

Or you may die. But then what can be done? For better or for worse, that’s how this Universe is. What will you, blame mortality itself?

The magician is, therefore, unapologetic and does not rely on anything but themselves. They may not even rely on the Gods, on Prophets, on Angels or Demons, or even on so called ideals and high minded morals. These are guides and teachers, but we are the master of our reality. ‘Piety’ is a waste of time, but faith is not.

Pleasure is not sin, although lesser pleasure may be sacrificed for greater pleasure. The pleasure of eating junk food may be given up for the pleasure of a fit and healthy body. Every greater pleasure is exponentially higher than the lower ones, just like the path of Kings is exponentially powerful than all lower and lesser paths. And in this path, the Universe shall raise up the aspirant, so that they may stand over the world and attain anything. This is what Magick is, the Royal path on the Warrior.

If you liked this post, be sure to follow Between the Pillars. You can also check out my Books to learn more about magick, or subscribe to my Patreon to learn about spells, tarot, invocation and evocation.

Until Next Time
White Raven Invictus

Dark Meditations with Archangel Samael

Hello. It’s me.

This Mercury Retrograde has been..annoying, to say the least. But now things should get back on track, hopefully. I’m still working on the next book, which has now been in the works for a while now.

There’s also some major changes coming to both the Blog and Patreon.

I’ve also gotten very busy lately in life, especially my non-occult pursuits. Recently, my magick has evolved in big way. The knowledge that I have sought after for a long time, is finally being revealed to me, and I’m being asked to share it. I’m trying of course, but it isn’t always clear how this stuff should be made public.

I’ve always strived to make the contents of this blog as clear and accessible as possible. But in the pursuit of that simplicity, I’ve somehow managed to make everything complicated.

It’s polarity. What is simple takes more effort to understand. What is complicated is easier to understand.

For example, imagine a complex math equation. Such an equation can be written in just one line, but it represents years of study and work. To the average person, it looks like gibberish, but to a mathematician, who understands the symbols and theorems behind it, everything is very clear.

On the other hand, we could show the entire proof of the equation. We could fill an entire page with formulae, showing how we arrived at the equation. This makes the task of reading it a lot harder, but now any person who knows basic arithmetic can follow along. But, this means true mathematicians must sit through a lot more tedium just to get to the point.

So who should I write for?

I think there’s enough material out there for absolute beginners of magick, and often such material doesn’t go deeper. It doesn’t need to. So why cover trodden ground?

What’s the point going over pages upon pages of theory and tables and correspondences? What’s the point explaining, for the 1000th time, how to make a sigil or charge a candle? Why would anyone need to read an article on Between the Pillars for something like that, where there’s already hundreds of five minute youtube videos explaining it?

You see, I was afraid. I didn’t want to be the crazy guy, standing in the city square, ringing a bell shouting “it’s a lie, it’s a lie! History is a lie, culture is a lie, religion is a lie. They’re lying to you! They’ve been lying to you for twenty five centuries!!”

But now I think: why do I need to go to the city square? There are enough people to do that. I could also be the crazy guy living in a hut in the forest, saying the same thing but only attracting the attention of those who would care to listen.

I’m a bit of an elitist, which probably comes as no surprise to anyone. This knowledge isn’t for everyone, and I won’t pretend that it is. I want to share what I’ve learned with others who are on the same page, with those who understand, because that’s how our community grows and evolves, and how new ideas are generated. The longer we pretend to involve everyone, the longer we delay.

And if it scares or upsets people, so be it. Fear is all they’ll ever know. No more hiding.

This is a blog. A blog is like a journey. My journey. Today, I’m going to share an experience I had recently with the Archangel Samael.

Revisiting Samael

My invocation of the Archangel Samael was the very first post I ever made to this blog. Over time, I have made various edits and cleanups, and a few years back I went and updated all the older posts on the blog, including that one. The updates were mostly addendums about how my opinions about certain things had changed, or how my understanding had developed or evolved. At times, entire concepts from older posts had become obsolete. Instead of just getting rid of them, I simply included an update regarding them. This way, people can read the original material along with my evolving opinions.

Most occultists change their opinions and beliefs extensively throughout their lives. Dogma is really bad for magick, and if you read the works of any prominent occult or esoteric writers, you will see they rarely ever ‘double down’ on things they previously believed. That doesn’t mean what was believed before is ‘wrong’, merely that it has served some purpose and now is no longer needed. That’s how spiritual evolution works.

The Archangel Samael is a very, very important and prominent part of my magickal journey. Despite this, I haven’t written much about him, and that’s largely because there was a massive gap between my early days of spiritual dabbling, and eventual initiation into the Golden Dawn system, where I rarely invoked him in any major way. Yes, there were times when I called him, but it was never something to write a whole blog post about.

The experience I’m going to write about today is a recent experience that’s actually worth sharing.

Not a ‘ritual’ exactly. More like a meditative trance I was guided in the middle of the night. I was half asleep, which is apparently a great time for spiritual work and to receive messages. According to Samael, conscious resistance is very low, and information can be downloaded easily.

As I recently explained on my Patron, spirit communication does not happen in words. Rather, it takes place in the form of impressions, which the conscious mind then unpacks and translates into language. When a trance is deep, the impressions are all that come, and barely become words. That was the case here. So all the messages I write are actually paraphrased, rather than straight dictates.

At it’s purest and highest forms, such communication is even more sublime. Rather than impressions, a whole concept or set of information gets instantly understood and internalised. This is called Gnosis, or ‘knowing’.

The Dark Meditation

I did not plan this meditation. But that’s just how synchronicity works. I was going to sleep at midnight, but ended up staying awake till 2am.

It was dark and cold, and suddenly I started to feel like…well, like not sleeping. Instead, the thought of calling on Archangel Samael and meditating came to me. And when I say ‘came to me’, that’s how messages from the Higher Self come. You simply know that a certain thing needs to be done at a certain point.

I was guided to turn off the lights, get some water and sit on my bed to meditate. I was about to draw the curtains, but a sharp resistance stopped me. This ritual was to be done in total darkness.

I was also guided to put on my headphones and use some ambient music for the meditation. At first, I tried some generic choir music. But then I was urged to specifically find thunder, lighting and rain, because those are apt for calling Samael. At this point he was already around, by the way. The ‘calling’ is more a formality to match our wavelengths. So I was about to start, and then it struck me: what mantra or enn to use? I had nothing prepared after all!

Samael told me to go online on my phone, and look for an enn. So I did, and found many, many different people, all with different enns that they claimed was the ‘correct’ version. Then Samael spoke:

“You see how many mantras there are? And they all will work! There is no ‘correct’ mantra, and there never was..”

I was then informed that essentially ALL mantras, enns and hymns, in all religions and spiritual traditions, were essentially barbarous speech. That is to say, one must think of a deity, focus on its energy, and then simply start chanting. The words come naturally, but have no logical meaning.

Apparently, this is how the ancient sages channeled hymns and such, and why most spiritual traditions were oral (for example, the Vedas). But then these utterings were noted down, memorised and repeated. And thus the original effect and power was lost or diluted.

Therefore, I simply began to channel a hymn to Samael. You’ll remember that when I first invoked him, I’d ALSO channeled a hymn. But this time, it was not English words. It was simply incantations meant to push deeper into trance. He also clarified that barbarous speech and words of power are not the same thing. Words of Power DO need to be spoken exactly as intended, and there the sound produced itself has power. It should also be noted that devotional songs, as well as subconscious affirmations neither barbarous speech nor words of power, but two separate things entirely.

Anyway, as I invoked, the darkness around me got thicker, and my heartrate went up. The trance got stronger and stronger, and I fell fully immersed in the ambient thunder and rain. I saw visions of the sky opening, and a mighty angel with many wings descending. It was all in black and white, and completely silent. Absolute silence is a very common aspect of Samael.

Now, here’s how I was directed to do the meditation. It followed a very normal pattern of energising the chakras and aura. Normally, I visualise light entering my chakras, moving down the central channel, and finally radiating out to my aura, energising me. This I do often, and Samael directed me to do something similar, but with darkness instead.


At first, my immediate reaction was to stop it, because I normally visualize impurity and profane energy as darkness. Like for example, when I am taking a ritual bath, I will visualise my body covered in a black ink, and it gets washed away. My subconscious understands black energy as negativity. But then Samael informed me:

“Darkness is not negative. That’s just how you choose to perceive impurity. If you want, you could visualise impurity in any other way, so why choose darkness? Darkness is also the colour of emptiness. Darkness is the colour of the inner void, that empty place where the inner light dwells!”


He then recited the famous Golden Dawn motto I hold very dearly to myself: “The light shineth in the darkness, but the darkness comprehendeth it not..”. I believe it is a Biblical saying.

Interestingly, I had once called on Samuel Lidell Mathers (the founder of the Golden Dawn who had chosen this phrase in the first place), and indeed he had come. When I questioned him regarding this axiom, he actually gave me a second part of it: “and the darkness hideth in the Light, but the Light seeketh it not.”

In case you didn’t know, the Golden Dawn adepts count, to a certain degree, as ascended masters. It’s easier to call them when you also belong to the tradition.

Samael then explained that he was the spirit of the inner void. He was the emissary of the inner womb, the darkness from which the light shines. He explained that one must look deeper into the darkness, to perceive the light. He explained that this could be a scary and radical act for many magicians. However, since I had already faced many of my fears and overcome many of my complexes, it would be relatively easy for me.

“You have already suffered. You are already emptied, and prepared to receive the Light”

And then I began the visualisation without fear. “Fear is failure, and the forerunner to failure” as the GD axiom goes.

First, I visualised a deep, absolute darkness fill my Crown chakra. Then it travelled down, to my Third eye, and so on, down the channel. Normally I visualise white planetary symbols on my chakras as they fill with light, but now I visualised black symbols of the planets instead. The darkness travelled down, all the way to my Root chakra. Then it coursed through my body, and radiated out to fill my aura.

The light is cold, but the darkness feels warm. I felt empty, barely conscious, and without resistance, fear or doubt. At that moment, everything fell still and silent.

Then it began: some sort of transformation, along with a whole host of messages. I will do my best to recall.

The Messages from Darkness

The Archangel Samael told me the root of his name. As you know, the name Samael is often translated as the ‘poison of god’.

“Indeed, darkness is the blinding venom of God. For the foolish, it can be terrifying. But the wise can navigate it without fear”


He then drew my attention to the secret syllable ‘Sham‘, which is a root word in Hindu tantra, and used for a specific purpose in Kundalini yoga. He told me that this is the real root of his name, and is a word of power. It is also where the term ‘Ha Shem’ comes from, which denotes the 72 fold name of God in Judaism. It is the root of the Persian word ‘Shyam’, meaning evening, and also the root word for Shamash, the Babylonian term for the Sun.

Thus, the Archangel Samael (Sham-ah-il) is associated with the Kundalini. The Kundalini is a feminine, draconic force that rests in all individuals. There’s little more I can say regarding that.

At this point, my back began to hurt. This is quite a common thing that happens when meditating, especially if one does not have a proper seat or cushion. Normally, the key is to simply ignore it and get through it. Samael explained why this is

“The minor pains and annoyances are meant to keep the unworthy away from this knowledge. This knowledge is meant only for those who are prepared. This is the first threshold to cross, and very few shall ever cross it. You must resist the urge to stop.”

So I continued despite the minor aching in my lower back and knees. As I know from experience, it goes away in a little while.

I got further messages.

“People fear the darkness because it reflects their fears. It forces them to turn within and acknowledge the emptiness they harbour”

I saw ghosts. I saw phantoms. I saw serpents. A ghost came up, and was inches from my face.

“But he who has recognised that the dakrness comes from within has nothing to fear. No force can harm him, because he recognises that all is within. A mere reflection!”

I saw the creatures melt into puddles of darkness, and then merge into a massive shadow which was emanating from my own body.

People focus only on the light, and neglect the darkness. This halts the process of ascension. Everyday, you meditate on the light. From now on, meditate once on the darkness and once on the light each day.”


I came to realise that I was totally immersed in Boas, Pillar of Severity. I could see orange flames inside me, and a flaming orange Swastika in my crown chakra. I also saw a white, glowing symbol on my root chakra, shaped like a wheel. They looked..organic.

“True symbols of power are revealed in visions, but people are unable to copy them. So they become simplified, distorted and eventually lost”

I then realised that this weird wheel like thing, which almost looked like an iris drawn in chalk, was the actual symbol of Spirit. It dawned on me that this was the original inspiration behind the more well known symbol:

It looked a lot more organic and ‘real’, and it dawned on me that all magickal symbols were simply an approximation of the real thing, almost like a motif. The real symbols were too complex to remember and replicate, so simplified symbols were made instead, to act as anchors for those forces. It was like comparing a real object, to a simplified picture of it.

I saw the Tarot card of Death, and I realised that Samael was the very embodiment of it. He brought death, upheaval and rebirth. To many, Death represents the absolute end of things. But to magicians, it is in fact an important threshold to cross in order to truly awaken.

I was then told that I was at the second threshold of the meditation: boredom and emptiness. I was told that now a strong desire to end the meditation would come, believing that all the work was done. Instead, I should continue. I was led to bend my back downwards, while still sitting, so that my head was touching the ground.

“This posture causes blood to rush to the head, activating the spiritual senses and pineal gland”

I then realised that both Hindus and Muslims do this. We place our head on the ground during or at the end of prayer, but it is normally a sign of prostration and submission.

A misunderstood gesture. The true purpose of this gesture was to bring blood to the head, and bring alertness, activating the psychic senses.”


As I sat there, head down, I was told to cover my eyes and “focus on the void”.

Then I sat up again, and now I could feel an immense power rising up inside me. A chill passed through me, and I was covered in goosebumps. And then the energy and adrenaline exploded inside me, spreading out my heads in rapid, spontaneous movements. I was reminded of traditional dance. I realised that religious and traditional dances were originally a way to channel and direct energy this way, and modern dynamic dance forms still do this. The products of culture: dance, language, song and art, were never meant to be repetitive, reproduced or dogmatically adhered to. All of it was meant to be natural expressions of the energy that builds up inside.


And then I was done. I was a bit tired so I fell back on my bed. The Archangel Samael commended me on making it through that. I asked “So, are we done”

“We are never done. This was the first part of the meditation. You can rest and continue later”

But I asked why I couldn’t just do it then and there. I wanted to see how far I could go. So I told Samael “take me as far as you can”

“How far I can take you: no person can go”

“Then take me as far as I can go”

Then I sat up, after a bit of rest, and began meditating once again.

The Light Meditation

The second time was a more standard meditation. I visualised a beam of radiant light, as often. But it was so much more powerful than I have ever felt. Once again, I visualised white light coming into my Crown Chakra, then down the channel to the Root, fill my body and radiate into my aura. The Light was bright, cool and full of life.

It was not Samael now, but another figure. I could see a vibrant purple. As weird as this may sound, the energy felt almost ‘biblical’.

It was the Archangel Metatron, as I would later realise. And he told me a variety of things. By then I was so deep in trance that I could not comprehend most of it, but I must have downloaded all the messages subconsciously.

He told me that the ancient prophets, magi and sages underwent similar meditation.

“When the sages of the past, emerged from their meditations and went into the world, they faced ridicule and mockery, and they were attacked and challenged. But they were not affected, for they understood that all they saw and encountered, was an expression of themselves. And so, they laughed in the face of adversity and mockery, and no harm could come to them”


I was also told:

“Spirit is immortal and everlasting, and it has no need to fear. It cannot be touched or harmed, and nothing can exist, which is not part of it. Therefore, have no fear before anyone, for you can accomplish anything.”


The visions came further. I saw old men and women, from all over the world. They were from many different times and of many different races, in many different garbs. They were invoking the mysteries, and they had ascended and seen the inner light.

“You have no idea how powerful you are. This power should not be ridiculed, nor underestimated. Never profane that which is sacred”

I saw purple spirals, like rolling wings, before my eyes. It was all lighted up, like someone shining a torch in my eyes. Now, this is pretty standard for meditation, and has happened before. But it was somehow more powerful, more grounded.

Often, meditation makes me feel light and disconnected. But now I felt immersed in the world, in reality itself.

I saw the dark and the light body next to each other. And then, they merged, and overlapped, and became one. The chakras were neither light nor dark. Instead, they were like black balls of crystal with a powerful light shining inside them, making them glow.


“The light shineth in the darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not. The darkness hideth in the light, and the light seekest it not.”

I was witnessing Spirit shine within Matter. The union of the Male and the Female.

Damn.

I was told that this was, and always has been known to the great Masters. But it is generally not spoken of, and kept hidden. It was only taught to students who were ready.

But secrecy had caused the knowledge to be distorted, and misunderstood by the masses. It had created the false dichotomy of Spirit and Matter, and matter, the feminine, was suppressed. Spirit, which was masculine, having lost its connection to Matter, appeared tyrannical and harsh, like a wrathful God punishing his subjects.

Conclusions

Am I telling you to try this meditation?

Absolutely.

But, it may be different for you. Essentially, the Archangel Samael told me that every type of meditation has two forms: a light form, and a dark form. Both should be done. Over time, both shall happen simultaneously.

For example, when you meditate on the chakras, and fill them with white light, you should also do one for darkness. Every meditation of light has a counterpart, which is the same meditation with darkness.

As I’m sure you know, the work of magick produces obstacles. When we, for example, start invoking the light, it forces our life to become purified. We may be forced to shine a light on those parts of ourselves which we are ignoring, to let go of toxic beliefs and ideas, and so forth. Invoking the darkness is similar, and can only happen when a person has internalised the light.

Otherwise, instead of power, you shall find repressed memories, fears, complexes, and all sorts of other hidden aspects of oneself. The darkness will become scary, and terrifying.

I’ve done the darkness meditation several times now, and at one time I was faced with waves and waves of terror, and I became paralyzed with fear. Then I faced it once again, but this time I was not afraid. It’s hard to put in words. But, I was told that this is a test. Each time I maintain my calm, and face the terror, I grow stronger. It subsides, and dissolves like a mirage.

Reminds me of that scene from the new Dune film (which I have already watched three times because I love it), where Lady Jessica is reciting a prayer against fear.

This is not a practice for beginners, because it will test you. But those who have already internalized the light, who have already faced their fears and and redeemed their inner self, this may be a vital practice. This may be why so many of us, who have fully internalized the light, begin to feel weak, ungrounded or unable to face the darkness of the ‘real’ world. It’s because this crucial part of the puzzle was kept hidden.

An Angel once literally told me “The ancient magi, fearing that the key would fall into the wrong hands, broke it into two, and scattered the pieces in different directions”.

This is the other part of the puzzle. The darkness, or Matter, is a receptacle for the light of Spirit, and must be invoked by a balanced adept. It will give much needed strength and a feel of connection to the world around.

This is real. This is really how it is. So do with it what you will. I will see you soon.

~Peace and Farewell
White Raven Invictus