Things we need to escape the gravity of.
A few weeks ago Gordon and I surprised some, and delighted others, by stating that we thought western occultism needed to escape the gravity of the HGA.
Its not that it’s bad to attain K&C of HGA. It’s just that its a bad thing mind you, it has just become such a huge honking deal that it has actually become an obstacle for many. Thinkuing about it tonight and there are a few things like that.
Here then is a list of five things western occultism needs to escape the gravity of:
1. The HGA.
As already mentioned, it is a good thing. I attained K&C in 1996. Its just that it has sort of become a pre-req for all magic in the eyes of many people, which it is not. It is what it is. It does not guarantee smooth sailing. It does not protect you from your own mistakes. Furthermore, it is not universal. Witches, Druids, Shaman, and yes even Ceremonial Magicians, should not be as pre-occupied as they are with it. There is no evidence that the writers of most of the renaissance grimoires ever did anything like that, so why treat it like a necessary step?
Again, just to reiterate. Its a good thing just not a necessary thing.
Also, it has to be abandoned to really understand higher mystical states like what is presented in the abyss experience.
2. The Goetia.
Christ almighty I am so sick of the fucking Goetia! You would think that it is the only list of spirits in all of magic. They are not more powerful. They are CERTAINLY not easier to work with. They are just famous. Bune has become like the fucking Katy Perry of wealth magic.
3. Wicca Bashing.
Know what? Three of the very best magicians I know are Gardnerian Wiccans. They are also Sangreal Sodality bretheren, and serious occultists. There is more there there than many people give credit for. Every time I see some half-assed article informing wiccans of false history, I just think “yeah man, they know already. It just happens to work and fullfill their needs“. When I see people claiming its ALL just watered down Thelema, I think “yeah the OTO would give its left nut to be that successful“.
I dont just mean the old guard either. There is juice even behind the generic “Goddess” and “Horned God” that people evoked using bad books from the 80s. One of the most amazing experiences of my career was sparked by working one of Scott Cunningham’s rituals under two giant Holly Trees when I was 17 years old. A deer literally came out of the woods and walked to the edge of the circle.
4. Quantum Physics. Two things here.
First is stop talking about Quantum Mechanics like its cutting fucking edge science that was discovered yesterday. ITS A HUNDRED FUCKING YEARS OLD. At least String Theory is only 50 years old, and has interesting correlations with harmonics.
Second point is: You are getting it wrong. It doesn’t prove magic. It doesn’t say the things that the secret says it says. What the BLEEP do We Know is a BLEEPING heap of BLEEPING Bullshit. Basically, unless you have a degree in physics, stop making claims about it. I know three physicists who ALSO practice magic and none of them relate Quantum Physics to magic the way that pop Occulture does.
I like science as science. On the rare occasions that science proves something that was previously in the realm of magic (benefits of meditation, lucid dreaming tech, internal heat yoga, etc) than YAY! But please stop trying to make science something it is not.
5. System Hubris.
SO fucking tired about hearing about how X is the real deal because it is 1) written in a renaissance grimoire 2) an African Diasporic Tradition 3) uses proper herbs and ingredients 4) doesnt use any herbs or ingredients 5) makes the best use of energetics 6) has no use for “energy” in magic … You get the idea. Pick one or make your own.
Basically if you can do something really fucking amazing repeatedly, please teleport your wizardly ass over here and shit your alchemical gold brick on my coffee table. I will accept that you really have done something well beyond what other systems are doing. Until then, I dont want to hear about how Crowley and GD are lame and get no results, but you do.
If you have to piss in someone else’s cup to make me think your water is sweet, I am not even gonna taste it.
Thats it for now.
