"There are two forces, each having seven streams, and they again seven times seven, and so on downward unto an infinity of numbers.
They are right and left, hand positive and negative, light and darkness, good and evil. Each has many names and many attributes,
and in the ultimate the two are one; though not yet, nor for many eons, is their oneness
manifested, and until then they are opposites.
Their oneness is an occult secret, difficult to understand, and it is madness for the choosers of the left hand force to meditate their treacheries when the star of the right hand force is in the ascendant." from Talbot Mundy's Queen Cleopatra
When embarking on the esoteric path, the
aspirant eventually must decide between the left or the right hand practice. This choice is not always conscious but rather it will reflect the ambitions and motivations of the aspirant. Why is he seeking special wisdom? Is it for alchemy, for
self-gratification or the betterment of mankind? Is it about control and domination of others? The
aspirant can deny being on the left-hand path and vehemently favor the right-hand practice but the real litmus test he might fail the test.
There is no way to fake motivation. The real thoughts and hidden agendas will surface by actions. There is no going around this. The truth always comes to the surface. The saying goes;
"...by their fruits you shall recognize them..."7 Usually practitioners of the left-hand are rather
7Matthew 7:16
benign and harmless. There are always games played for control, money and power. Money and sex are ingredients of the left-hand path.
Perfect example of this was Aleister Crowley. A brilliant and learned man of the occult and magic he is considered, by a BBC poll as being the seventy-third greatest Briton of all time.
Practitioners of the right-hand do not usually achieve fame and wealth. They toil in the shadows and the world is usually an obstacle for them. They would never get on Oprah. The world, as it is today is controlled by the left-hand forces, this is
precisely why the state of affairs are the way they are.
On the other hand the white magicians do get help and they are seldom in the want - "Your needs will be met" as the old saying promises, and relax, it shall be so.
As benign, as some of the left-hand practitioners are, occasionally there are exceptions. For
example, the seduction of the German people by Adolph Hitler and the resulting death and carnage was far from benign.
One of Hitler's dark guru was Guido von List, "the reader of the runes" founder of the Ariosophical Society. List was also the author of Das Geheimnis der Runen (The Secret of the Runes).
Guido von List was strongly influenced by Madame Blavatsky, which he blended with his own racial religious beliefs, founded upon Germanic
paganism. List misinterpreted Blavatsky terms of seven root races of man and based on Blavatsky's book, the Secret Doctrine and other Germanic legends he formed his racial superiority theories of the German people.
The other, with even more direct impact on the Third Reich was Karl Maria Wiligut. Wiligut, who was also called "Himmler's Rasputin" because in
Spring 1935 Wiligut was transferred to Berlin to serve on Himmler's personal staff.
Usually the ceremonial magician will attempt to evoke beings to help them do his bidding, but often the evocation fails or backfires. Still, the dark
forces use the power of the mind as their weapon but their motivation is quite different. The
methodologies are different, attracting followers, disciples is mush easier for those who follow the left-hand ways, since their main object is control, power, money and accomplishments of material in nature, most men will easily relate.
Nature spirits, also known as elementals usually abide in trees, rivers, plants, bogs, mountains, and minerals. They attached themselves to practically every natural thing. The Chinese, for example, believe that they watch over the rice, silk, roads, gateways, and other things.
High magic allows for asking the guidance of the elementals, these are the Gnomes, living in caves and mountains. Sylphs appear as butterflies,
undines as waves, and salamanders as lizard-like creatures that frolic in flames.
Acts that might disturb these creatures are not advised, whenever the magician encroaches upon the territories of the elementals he must first ask for permission and exercise caution thereon. When the balance is kept and harmony is assured by maintaining respectful relationship with the rulers of the four elements, the magician can proceed with whatever task at hand. Help will be given, but fool heartedness and arrogance is usually
detrimental.
The best description of evocation and magical ceremonies can be found by reading the ancient story of Abramelin, the Egyptian magician. The story revolves around the autobiography of Abraham of Worms, it describes his travel from Germany to Egypt and his obtaining
Abramelin's magical and Kabbalistic secrets.
The book's aim to teach all Abraham knows of magic to his son Lamech. The book's several transactions from German are the basis of what modern occultists call the Abramelin operation, in which the operator must undertake a several
months long, ritualistic purifying and cleansing acts in perfect isolation. The ultimate aim of this is to meet the operator's guardian angel.
All of the German texts describe a duration for the operation at least eighteen months before any divine contact is made. In the Mathers translation, the initial phase of working the system lasts only six months.
After the aspirant has made contact with the guardian angel, the magician must evoke the twelve Kings and Dukes of Hell and gain control over them hence removing their negative influence from his life. In addition, these spirits deliver a number of familiar spirits along with a set of magical word-square talismans.
As the result the practitioner is promised the ability to find buried treasure, cast love charms, the ability of magical flight, and the secret
of invisibility. Magic squares feature prominently in the instructions for carrying out these operations, as does a recipe for an anointing oil (taken from Exodus 30), popularly used by ceremonial
magicians under the name "Abramelin Oil". There are also several further tools - such as a holy Lamp, a Wand made of an almond branch, a recipe for incense known today as "Abramelin Incense",8 various Robes, a square or seven-sided plate of silver or (bees) wax, etc.
Because the Abramelin operation involves
8This is in some cases identical to the Holy anointing oil described in Exodus 30:22-25
evocation of demons, it is in its entirety not something I would recommend, especially if the actual meeting of the guardian angel is in question.
The danger in this business is our ability to project events especially when we wish something very much.
Reportedly, the British occultist Aleister Crowley had attempted the operation on several occasions with questionable success. One time he had visions of a high being but afterwards he lacked the usual advertised powers of treasure-finding, invisibility, flight, and love-drawing. His reported hashish use during and before the operation might have
clouded this or perhaps he encountered something entirely different.
How many people were successful in this
operation? There is another person, who is unlike Crowley, is still alive today. His name is William Bloom, and he wrote an interesting book on his experiences and trials he had encountered in North Africa. His book is titled "The Sacred Magician", it is out of print today.9
Personally, since the text's primary focus is upon the invocation of the guardian angel, I have been reluctant to dismiss it as dark magic and I have extensively studied the operation and recommend the reader to do the same for its research and reference value.
My main interest in the works of Abraham of Worms is the word squares. Word squares relate to numerology and talisman magic, which I have reoccurring interest. I personally do not believe the operation would ever work as written.
Let me share an occult secret with the reader according to the Ancient Wisdom. This is about the nature and existence of this Guardian Angel. This spirit guide is not an angel in the true sense of the
9That which was a reprint of the earlier book of the same name by the pseudonymous "Georges Chevalier".
seven Archangels and high beings mentioned in the Bible,10 despite the common misconception.
All incarnated humans have a guardian at their disposal and this guardian sprit is always at hand to help us achieve what we desire, it is our invisible helper. There is a catch however, this spirit is there to help in good and bad deeds, it asks no
questions, it will help us unconditionally no matter what the goal and destination may be. It is amoral and truly and frighteningly open minded. It can be used for good as it can be used for bad.
This unlimited creativity and freedom of choice we have inherited from the infinite divine, but this is a double edged sword and can and will cut both ways.
Know this and your shall have an advantage over those who still take the good book too literally and will labor for months on the Abramelin operation.
Black Magic
Eliphas Levi, in his formidable piece, Dogma et Rituel de la Haute Magie, writes about black magic:
" IN BLACK MAGIC, THE DEVIL IS THE GREAT MAGICAL AGENT EMPLOYED FOR EVIL PURPOSES BY A PERVERSE WILL."
This is misleading on many fronts, the name
"devil", of course is Lucifer, the fallen angel, the term "devil" is a catchall phrase that has no philosophical basis. It stands for ignorance, darkness and misuse of great powers. In that context the quote is right. However, there is no entity such as the "devil", it is Lucifer, it has always been Lucifer, and he has no ill will or particular
10 Behold, I send an Angel before you, to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Beware of Him, and obey His voice; provoke Him not, for He will not pardon thy transgressions; for My Name is in Him. But, if thou shalt indeed obey His voice, and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy unto your enemies, and an adversary unto your adversaries. [Exodus 23: 20-23]
nefarious intention, other than keeping the human race from awakening and keep us in darkness. His main weapon is individualism, ego and control of one another, all embedded, deeply in human nature. Billions of people are happy unknowing collaborators, toiling in careers, accumulating material things, mistreating others and going to wars.
There are "dark centers" around the world where teaching high magic is and exercise in futility. It is useless for a magician on the right-hand path to dwell in such a place. The concentrated energies of all the dark practitioners are way too strong in these places. These centers of darkness are concentrated urban places such as San Francisco and London.
Centers of the "light" are New York and Los
Angeles and perhaps in New Orleans, especially for their creative energies, partially overriding the existing dark ones. It is well advised for a novice, practicing magician to avoid large urban centers with their problems created by the vortex of
negative energies, urban blight and other social ills.
In purposeful black ceremonies when anyone invokes the "devil" with intentional ceremonies, the Lucifer or his myriads of "agents" come and is seen. Much earthly pleasures, wealth and
opportunities will suddenly present themselves to the magician. It is precisely the danger and
temptation, the ease and speed at which help is given. As the woman is quoted in the play Bell, Book and Candle 11, "The white ones do it for others, we do it for ourseves".
According to Levi, using magic to gain love is automatically nefarious and dark. He writes about this in chapter sixteen under the name,
11 Bell, Book and Candle: A Comedy in Three Acts by John Van Druten
bewitchment. This is because any material gain, other than for day-to-day survival is essentially dark magic. Voodoo is not dark because its name, it is only dark when practiced like most people practice it, to harm someone as tit for tat, in petty human squabble, love wooing or other petty and selfish reasons. Even the group energies of the dark, Voodoo priests and their followers are enough to be dangerous to the uninitiated.
My former teacher was an associate of Manly Palmer Hall in the 50's and 60's in Los Angeles. He told us many interesting stories of Hall, whom he loved and admired. Towards the end of his life Hall decided to go to Haiti to learn more about Voodoo.
Many people warned him about the dangers and pitfalls might be coming from taking such a trip.
Sadly, he did not listen. Right after the trip, he contacted the dreaded disease of elephantiasis, a mysterious and untreatable disease. His lower body grew so obese that he needed a special lift to get him in and out of his car.
The Grey Eminence
"The Grey Eminence" may have double meaning and connotation, but in this context, it is used for those who work against the "light" unknowingly.
The emphasis is based on ignorance and fear. The forces of the Dark, knowingly latch on to these human follies and work them against the Hierarchy.
Lets take the example of Rasputin, who was a holy men, albeit unusual in appearance and mannerism, a powerful "wizard", a healer and
possessor of the most enigmatic personality. Rising from a simple pheasant stock, this Russian monk became the personal confidant of the Tsaritsa Alexandra (wife of the Tsar Nicholas II), was of German descent.
While fascinated by him, the Saint
Petersburg elite did not widely accept Rasputin: he did not fit in with the royal family, and he and the Russian Orthodox Church had a very tense
relationship. The Holy Synod frequently attacked Rasputin, accusing him of a variety of immoral or evil practices, which is typical of pattern of the Grey Eminence.
During World War I, Rasputin to show his loyalty to Russia Rasputin expressed his interest in going to the front to bless the troops early in the war, the Commander-in-Chief, Grand Duke Nicholas,
promised to hang him if he dared to show up there.
While Tsar Nicholas II was away at the front, Rasputin's influence over Tsaritsa Alexandra increased immensely. He soon became her confidant and personal adviser, and also convinced her to fill some governmental offices with his own handpicked candidates. This was all in order to create a more enlightened Russia but the Hierarchy is not always successful, usually the failure originates from the character defect or flaw in the operator, in this case Rasputin, but the exact reasoning of the outcome is only speculation. I personally suspect his weakness for alcohol and drugs were somehow connected to his ultimate downfall.
The legends surrounding the death of Rasputin are perhaps even more mysterious and bizarre than his life. According to Greg King's 1996 book The Man Who Killed Rasputin, a previous attempt on Rasputin's life had failed: Rasputin was visiting his wife and children in Pokrovskoye, his hometown along in Siberia. On June 29, 1914, he was attacked suddenly by Khionia Guseva, a
former prostitute who had become a disciple of the monk Iliodor12.
12he had a fallout with Rasputin.
Guseva thrust a knife into Rasputin's abdomen, and his entrails hung out of what seemed like a mortal wound. Convinced of her success, Guseva supposedly screamed, "I have killed the antichrist!"
Rasputin recovered. It was said of his survival that
"the soul of this cursed muzhik13 was sewn on his body." His daughter, Maria, observed in her memoirs that he was never the same man after that: he seemed to tire more easily and frequently took opium for pain relief.
The murder of Rasputin has become a legend, precisely because his unnatural death or in fact clinging to life was a phenomena that historians and medical science cannot explain even today.
On December 16, 1916, having decided that Rasputin's influence over the Tsaritsa had made him a threat to the empire, a group of nobles led by PrinceFelix Yusupovand the Grand DukeDmitri Pavlovichand the right-wing politicianVladimir Purishkevichapparently lured Rasputin to the Yusupovs'Moika Palace,
The group led him down to the cellar, where they served him cakes and red wine laced with a massive amount ofcyanide. According to legend, Rasputin was unaffected, althoughVasily
Maklakovhad supplied enoughpoisonto kill five men.
Determined to finish the job, Prince Yusupov became anxious about the possibility that Rasputin might live until the morning, leaving the
conspirators no time to conceal his body. Yusupov ran upstairs to consult the others and then came back down to shoot Rasputin through the back with a revolver. Rasputin fell, and the company left the palace for a while. Yusupov, who had left without a coat, decided to return to get one, and while at the
13refers to a Russian peasant.
palace, he went to check on the body.
Suddenly, Rasputin opened his eyes and lunged at Yusupov. He grabbed Yusupov, ominously
whispered in his ear, "you bad boy," and attempted to strangle him. At that moment, however, the other conspirators arrived and fired at Rasputin.
After being hit three times in the back, he fell once more. As they got closer to his body, they found that, remarkably, he was still alive, struggling to get up. They clubbed him into submission, After binding his body and wrapping him in a carpet, they threw him into the icyNeva River. He broke out of his bonds and the carpet wrapping him, but drowned in the river.
Three days later, Rasputin's body, poisoned, shot four times, badly beaten, and drowned, was
recovered from the river. Anautopsyestablished that the cause of death wasdrowning. His arms were found in an upright position, as if he had tried to claw his way out from under the ice. It was found that he had indeed been poisoned, and that the poison alone should have been enough to kill him.
There is a report that after his body was recovered, water was found in the lungs, supporting the idea that he was still alive before submersion into the
There is a report that after his body was recovered, water was found in the lungs, supporting the idea that he was still alive before submersion into the