VOUDON GNOSIS
DAVID BETH
SCARLET IMPRINT
C O N T E N T S
FOREWORD
i
INTRODUCTION
1
HO OPHIS HO ARCHAIOS
4
WRITTEN MATERIALS AND INNER WORLDS
9
VOLIDON GNOSIS
14
LA PRISE DES YEALJX: THE ELEMENTAL VISION
16
SEXUAL MAGIC
25
POINTS CHAUDS
31
LE TEMPLE DES HOUDEAL1X:
SPIDER SORCERY AND TIME TRAVELLERS
35
THE GRIMOIRE GUEDHUE
46
INTO THE M EON
50
EPILOGUE : LIVING THE DREAM IMAGES
54
APPENDIX I:
NGANGA - THE FETISH MASTER
56
APPENDIX 11:
A-MOR
AN INITIATED ANALYSIS OF LOVE
65
APPENDIX 111:
TIME TRAVELLING USING
EE TEMPLE DES HOLIDEAUX
79
INDEX
87
PLATES A N D ILLUSTRATIONS
NGANGA M. BETH
\ ; VI OF GUEDE KRIST DAVID BETH
EE TEMPLE DES HOUDEAUX DAVID BETH
GHUEDIIE GATE KYLE FYTE
FET1S11 ALTAR PI IOTO BY SANDRA SIMON
ON F OF THE AUTHOR'S PERSONAL FETISH ALTARS
VFVF OF MYSTÈRE ARAIGNÉE DAVID BETH
VFVE OF MAI 1AKALI DAVID BET11
FOREWORD
M i c h a e l B e r t i a u x ' s w o r k f i r s t c a m e t o m o r e w i d e s p r e a d a t t e n t i o n w i t h t h e i n c l u s i o n o f a n a c c o u n t o f a s p e c t s o f h i s w o r k i n K e n n e t h G r a n t ' s Cults of the Shadow ( F r e d e r i c k M u l l e r L t d . , L o n d o n , 1 9 7 S ) . S i n c e t h e n t h e r e h a s b e e n i n c r e a s i n g i n t e r e s t i n B e r t i a u x ' s w o r k , c u l m i n a t i n g i n t h e r e c e n t r e p u b l i c a t i o n o f h i s Voudon Gnostic Workbook. M a n y f i n d B e r t i a u x ' s w o r k e n t h r a l l i n g , b u t t o s o m e i t s s p r a w l i n g i m m e n s i t y m a k e s a n e n t r y i n t o t h e w o r k d i f f i c u l t . I t is o f g r e a t v a l u e t h e r e f o r e t o h a v e t h e g u i d a n c e o f s o m e o n e w h o h a s h a d m a n y y e a r s o f e x p e r i e n c e i n w o r k i n g w i t h M i c h a e l B c r t i a u x a n d i n e x p l o r i n g h i s v a s t b o d y o f w o r k . H a v i n g w o r k e d w i t h t h i s m a t e r i a l , D a v i d B e t h h a s a t t u n e d h i m s e l f t o t h e c u r r e n t w h i c h p o w e r s B e r t i a u x ' s w o r k , a n d is t h u s w e l l q u a l i f i e d . It is t h e t a s k o f a s u c c e s s o r t o d e v e l o p t h e w o r k o f h i s p r e d e c e s s o r , a n d t h i s is t h e p r i n c i p l e b e h i n d t h e H i n d u d o c t r i n e o f parampara, o r s p i r i t u a l l i n e a g e . T h i s is o f t e n i n t e r p r e t e d i n t h e s e n s e o f o n e g r e a t m a n o r w o m a n b e i n g s u c c e e d e d b y s o m e o n e e q u a l l y i l l u s t r i o u s , a n d b u i l d i n g u p o n t h e w o r k o f t h e i l l u s t r i o u s f o r b e a r . H o w e v e r , t h e r e is a d e e p e r m e a n i n g t o t h i s , w h i c h is t h a t w e e a c h h a v e a d i v e r s i t y o f p r e d e c e s s o r s a n d a m u l t i t u d e o f s u c c e s s o r s ; t h a t t h e c h a i n o f i n i t i a t e d i n s i g h t is p a s s e d d o w n n o t t h r o u g h a d i r e c t s u c c e s s i o n o f s t r a i g h t c h a n n e l s , b u t t h r o u g h m y r i a d t r i b u t a r i e s t h a t m a y o f t e n s e e m t o m e a n d e r a n d t a r r y , b u t w h i c h a r e i n r e t r o s p e c t s e e n t o f l o w a l o n g t h e o p t i m a l c o u r s e a c r o s s t h e t e r r a i n .
W e e a c h of u s t a k e i n s p i r a t i o n f r o m a v a r i e t y o f s o u r c e s , all o f w h i c h a r e g r i s t t o t h e m i l l . H o w e v e r , t h e c a t a l y s t i n s y n t h e s i s i n g t h i s i n t o a c o h e r e n t s h a p e is t h e p r a c t i c a l w o r k w h i c h w e u n d e r t a k e i n m y s t i c i s m a n d m a g i c , t h r o u g h w h i c h w e f o r g e l i n k s w i t h w h a t a r e v a r i o u s l y r e f e r r e d t o a s i n n e r p l a n e c o n n e c t i o n s , p r a e t e r - h u m a n i n t e l l i g e n c e s , s p i r i t u a l f o r c e s , t h e m a g i c a l c u r r e n t , e t c . T h i s is n o t t o s u g g e s t t h a t t h e s e t e r m s a r c e q u i v a l e n t ; w h a t t h e y d o i n d i c a t e t h o u g h is c o n n e c t i o n t o s o m e t h i n g d e e p e r a n d m o r e p r o f o u n d t h a n c a n b e g l e a n e d f r o m m e r e i n t e l l e c t u a l s t u d y . D e e p e r a n d m o r e p r o f o u n d , b e c a u s e t h e r e is a c o n n e c t i o n t o f o r c e s b e y o n d t h e i n d i v i d u a l . T h i s p r i n c i p l e o f parampara c a n b e s e e n a t w o r k i n , f o r i n s t a n c e , A l e i s t c r C r o w l e y ' s p r o g r e s s . G i f t e d w i t h a n a g i l e m i n d a n d e x t r e m e l y w e l l r e a d in c o m p a r a t i v e r e l i g i o n a n d m y t h o l o g y , h e e x p e r i m e n t e d w i t h a v a r i e t y o f a p p r o a c h e s ; a n d , t h r o u g h t h e c a t a l y s t o f h i s o w n e x p e r i e n c e , h e s y n t h e s i s e d a u n i q u e b o d y of w o r k t h a t , far f r o m c o m i n g ' o u t o f t h e b l u e ' , w a s r o o t e d i n t h e w o r k o f o t h e r s b e f o r e h i m . A t v a r i o u s t i m e s h e c o n s i d e r e d h i m s e l f t o b e d e v e l o p i n g t h e w o r k of B l a v a t s k y ; a t o t h e r s , t o b e t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f t h e S u m e r i a n t r a d i t i o n . W h a t e v e r t h e p a r t i c u l a r s , h e w a s a l w a y s a w a r e t h a t h i s w o r k d r e w u p o n a v a r i e t y of s o u r c e s , a n d t h a t h i s w o r k i n t u r n w o u l d b e o n e a m o n g s t a n u m b e r o f v a r i e t i e s of s t o n e f r o m w h i c h o t h e r s w o u l d b u i l d t h e i r t e m p l e s . A n o t h e r e x a m p l e is K e n n e t h G r a n t , w h o w a s a s t o n i s h i n g l y w e l l - r e a d a t t h e t i m e h e m e t C r o w l e y a n d s u b s e q u e n t l y t h e a r t i s t a n d o c c u l t i s t A u s t i n O s m a n „ S p a r e . S t e e p i n g h i m s e l f i n t h e w o r k o f C r o w l e y , of S p a r e , of e x p o n e n t s o f A d v a i t a V e d a n t a s u c h as R a m a n a M a h a r s h i , o f w r i t e r s s u c h as H . P . L o v e c r a f t a n d A r t h u r M a c h e n , t h i s w a s s y n t h e s i s e d t h r o u g h t h e c a t a l v s t o f h i s v r o r k i n N e w Isis L o d g e ; a n d t h e r e s u l t is t h e s w e e p i n g , i n t o x i c a t i n g v i s i o n a r t i c u l a t e d i n t h e c o u r s e o f h i s Tjphonian Trilogies, h i s p o e t r y a n d h i s s h o r t s t o r i e s . T h e p o i n t o f t h i s is n o t t o s u g g e s t t h a t t h e r e is a n y t h i n g u n i q u e i n t h i s p r o c e s s — t h a t i n i t i a t e s s u c h as C r o w l e y , as G r a n t , as S p a r e , a s B e r t i a u x h a v e s c a l e d g i d d y h e i g h t s t h a t w e c a n n o t p o s s i b l y e s s a y . O n t h e c o n t r a r y : t h i s c o n t i n u a l a s s i m i l a t i o n a n d r e - e v a l u a t i o n o f e x p e r i e n c e is s o m e t h i n g w h i c h w e all d o as I n i t i a t e s . O n l y i n t h i s w a y is t h e w o r k p a s s e d o n . T h i s , t h e n , is t h e r e a l m e a n i n g o f parampara. M i c h a e l B e r t i a u x h a s t r o d d e n a s i m i l a r l y v o r a c i o u s p a t h , in t h a t h e h a s t a k e n i n f l u e n c e s f r o m a w i d e v a r i e t y of s o u r c e s a n d d i s t i l l e d t h e m i n t o a u n i q u e v i s i o n w h i c h is t h e r e t o b e u t i l i s e d b y t h o s e c o m i n g a f t e r h i m . H o w e v e r , t h e b o d y o f w o r k o f a n a d e p t is a l i v e , t e e m i n g w i t h v i t a l i t y a n d l o o s e e n d s , t h e r e t o b e r e d e v e l o p e d . It is t h e t a s k o f u s , h i s o r h e r s u c c e s s o r s , n o t t o m a k e of t h a t b o d y o f w o r k a m a u s o l e u m , a d e a d t h i n g a w a i t i n g t h e a t t e n t i o n s of a t a x i d e r m i s t o r a n a c a d e m i c , b u t t o n u r t u r e its g r o w t h a n d d e v e l o p m e n t b y v i r t u e o f o u r o w n e x p e r i e n c e s , o u r o w n i n s i g h t s . D a v i d B e t h h a s k n o w n M i c h a e l B e r t i a u x f o r m a n v j y e a r s n o w , a n d h a s a c q u i r e d a g r e a t d e a l o f e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e m y r i a d a s p e c t s o f M i c h a e l ' s w o r k . In t h e p r e s e n t b o o k h e p i c k s o u t v a r i o u s t h e m e s f r o m The Voudon
Gnostic Workbook as w e l l as f r o m t h e Courses o f f e r e d b y The Monastery of the Seven Rajs a n d o f f e r s h i s o w n i n s i g h t
i n t o t h e m , o n t h e b a s i s o f h i s o w n e x p e r i e n c e . T h i s e x p e r i e n c e is o f c o u r s e t h e c r u c i a l f a c t o r ; w i t h o u t i t w e w o u l d h a v e a m e r e l y a c a d e m i c e x e r c i s e . D r a w i n g u p o n a n a n a l o g y w i t h H e b r e w g e m a t r i a , g n o s i s o r e x p e r i e n c e m a y b e s e e n a s t h e v o w e l s w h i c h b r e a t h e life i n t o t h e
c o n s o n a n t s , g e n e r a t i n g u n i q u e c a d e n c e s . W h e n a p p r o a c h i n g a v a s t b o d y o f w o r k s u c h as The Voudon Gnostic Workbook, i t is o f i n e s t i m a b l e v a l u e t o h a v e t h e g u i d a n c e o f s o m e o n e w h o h a s w o r k e d w i t h t h i s m a t e r i a l . T h i s v a l u e c o n s i s t s n o t i n l e a r n i n g t h e r e b y t h e m e a n i n g a n d s i g n i f i c a n c e o f t h i s w o r k , b u t r a t h e r i n s u g g e s t i o n s as t o h o w w e m i g h t f i n d o u r o w n w a y i n t o t h i s w o r k a n d e x p e r i e n c e t h e g n o s i s f o r o u r s e l v e s . M i c h a e l S t a l e y L o n d o n , A u g u s t 2 0 0 8 .
INTRODUCTION
...in opposition to all humanistic culture, we are lured ever to the brink of chaos. We want to go where we areJorbidden. We want to know what has been denied to us. We seek, in a word, the 'more'.]
T h e c o r e o f t h i s w o r k is f o r m e d b y t h e r e v i s e d e s s a y Into the Meon
— Approaching the Voudon Gnostic Workbook, p u b l i s h e d i n Howlings.' T h e p u b l i s h e r s a n d m y s e l f r e c e i v e d r e p e a t e d r e q u e s t s f r o m m a n y o c c u l t s t u d e n t s a r o u n d t h e w o r l d t o m a k e t h i s e s s a y a v a i l a b l e a g a i n . T h i s i n t e r e s t g a v e r i s e t o t h e i d e a o f u s i n g t h e h e a v i l y r e v i s e d c h a p t e r s o f Into the Meon a s t h e f o u n d a t i o n f o r a u n i q u e b o o k o n V o u d o n G n o s i s . M y i n t e n t i o n w i t h t h e o r i g i n a l e s s a y w a s t o p r o v i d e a n i n i t i a t e d c o m m e n t a r y o n p a r t s o f t h e g n o s i s o f M i c h a e l B e r t i a u x ' s Voudon Gnostic Workbook (VGW). I w a n t e d t o o f f e r i n s i g h t s i n t o m y o w n p e r s o n a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d a d a p t i o n o f t h e B l a c k S n a k e c u r r e n t h o p i n g t h a t i t w o u l d e n a b l e s t u d e n t s o f E s o t e r i c V o u d o n a n d o t h e r r e l a t e d t r a d i t i o n s t o t r a v e l d e e p e r i n t o t h e s e f a s c i n a t i n g m a g i c a l a n d g n o s t i c w o r l d s . I t w a s t h e p r a c t i c i n g s o r c e r e r a n d g n o s t i c t h a t t h e o r i g i n a l e s s a y w a s i n t e n d e d f o r a n d i t is t h e s a m e t y p e o f o c c u l t e x p l o r e r s I w a n t t o r e a c h w i t h t h i s b o o k .
1 Michael Bertiaux, The Voudon Gnostic Workbook.
W h i l e t h e m a i n f o c u s o f t h i s w o r k w i l l s t i l l b e o n t h e E s o t e r i c V o u d o n c u r r e n t a s e x p r e s s e d b y t h e KG If, I h a v e d r a w n o n m a n y o t h e r s o u r c e s i n s i d e a n d o u t s i d e V o u d o n G n o s i s t o e x p l a i n , h i g h l i g h t a n d p u t i n t o c o n t e x t i m p o r t a n t a s p e c t s o f o u r s y s t e m . T h e c o n t e n t o f t h e VGW c a n n o t b e f u l l y u n d e r s t o o d w i t h o u t k n o w l e d g e o f t h e l a r g e r t r a d i t i o n i t w a s c r a f t e d f r o m . I w a n t t o e x p l a i n s o m e o f t h e i m p o r t a n t f o u n d a t i o n s o n w h i c h V o u d o n G n o s i s is b u i l t . A b o v e a l l h o w e v e r , i t is a p e r s o n a l v i s i o n a n d a p p l i a n c e of E s o t e r i c V o u d o n i n m y o w n o c c u l t w o r k a n d g n o s t i c t r a n s f o r m a t i o n w h i c h I w a n t t o s h a r e w i t h y o u . L i k e B e r t i a u x , K e n n e t h G r a n t r i g h t l y o b s e r v e s t h a t :
It is the task of the Initiate who represents a particular magical Order, to develop the work oj his predecessor.3 O n e m u s t k e e p i n m i n d t h e g n o s t i c c h a r a c t e r o f E s o t e r i c V o u d o n . T h i s m e a n s t h a t e v e r y s t u d e n t o f o u r s y s t e m w i l l b e a b l e t o c o n s t r u c t h i s / h e r o w n m a g i c a l u n i v e r s e b u i l t o n u n i v e r s a l t r u t h s a n d p r i n c i p l e s t h r o u g h k e y s u n i q u e t o t h e c u r r e n t . T h e w o r k s o f M i c h a e l B e r t i a u x a r e a n e x a m p l e o f s u c h a m a g i c a l u n i v e r s e . I n t h e Courses of the Monastery of the Seven Rajs, t h e VGW a n d m a n y o t h e r p a p e r s , h e h a s s h a r e d w i t h u s p a r t s o f t h e o c c u l t r e a l m s w h i c h h e b u i l t f r o m t h e i n i t i a t i c t o o l s a n d u n i v e r s a l l a w s o f t h e V o u d o n G n o s t i c c u r r e n t , a s w e r e t r a n s m i t t e d t o h i m b y h i s t e a c h e r s . W h i l e s h a r i n g m u c h o f h i s o c c u l t v i s i o n h e h a s a l s o p a s s e d o n t o u s c e r t a i n k e y s a n d m e c h a n i c s w i t h w h i c h t o b u i l d o u r o w n g n o s t i c a n d m a g i c a l u n i v e r s e a c c o r d i n g t o o u r i n d i v i d u a l n e e d s
1 Kenneth Grant, Nightside of Eden.
Oi
a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g . M a y b e e v e n m o r e a c t u a l n o w a s i t w a s t h e n w e c a n s a y w i t h G r a n t t h a t :
Unless occultism becomes creative in the sense of ipening up new approaches, modifying and developing traditional concepts and generally revealing a little more of that Supreme Goddess whose identity is hidden behind the veil of his, Kali, Nuit, or Sothis, there will be stagnation in the swamps of beliefs rendered inert bj the recent swift acceleration of humanity's consciousness which is little short of miraculous. If the science of the unmanifest is not to remain grounded at a prepubescent stage, while the manifested sciences soar into space, the mature occultist must put aside the tojs of superstition and face fearlesslj the Trees of Eternitj whose trunks and branches glow with solar fire, but whose roots are nourished in the dark.4 W h i l e I h o p e t h a t t h e f o l l o w i n g c h a p t e r s w i l l p r o v i d e s o m e l o g i c a l i n s i g h t a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f o u r w o r k i t is t o t h e n o n - r a t i o n a l t h a t I a i m t o a p p e a l m o s t . T r a v e l b e y o n d t h e w o r l d o f r e a s o n . J o i n m e o n a m a g i c a l j o u r n e y t h r o u g h c h t h o n i c u n d e r w o r l d s a n d k o s m i c d i m e n s i o n s .
HO OPHIS HO ARCHAIOS
B e f o r e e m b a r k i n g o n t h e m o r e a d v a n c e d a n d c o m p l e x o p e r a t i o n s o f t h e S e c t a R o u g e c u l t o f La C o u l e u v r e N o i r e a n d i t s m a i n t r a i n i n g t o o l ,5 The Voudon Gnostic Workbook, a n i n i t i a t e o f
E s o t e r i c V o u d o n n e e d s t o b u i l d u p a s t r o n g a n d s y s t e m a t i c f o u n d a t i o n o f e s o t e r i c t h e o r y a n d p r a c t i c e . T h i s m u s t b e i n p l a c e i n o r d e r t o b e fully c a p a b l e o f a p p r o a c h i n g t h e i n t e n s i v e w o r k o f t h e L . C . N . T h i s is u s u a l l y d o n e b y i n i t i a t i c w o r k w i t h i n t h e M o n a s t e r y o f t h e S e v e n R a y s . I n t e n s i v e w o r k w i t h t h e f o u r y e a r Courses of the
Monastery of the Seven Rays f o r m s t h e b a s i s o f t h e i n i t i a l
w o r k o f a V o u d o n G n o s t i c i n i t i a n d a n d h i s w o r k i n t h e L . C . N . H e m a v a l s o b e g i v e n o t h e r m a t e r i a l s o r p a p e r s a t t h i s t i m e , '1 b u t it is t h e p r i n c i p l e s o u t l i n e d i n t h e f o u r c o u r s e s w h i c h p r o v i d e t h e f o u n d a t i o n f o r all f u t u r e s t u d i e s . T h e M o n a s t e r y is t e c h n i c a l l y a s e p a r a t e a n d i n d e p e n d e n t b o d y , b u t is i n f a c t c o n n e c t e d t o t h e V o u d o n G n o s t i c O r d e r s a n d a c t s a s t h e i r m a j o r t e a c h i n g v e h i c l e t h r o u g h i t s f o u r y e a r ' c o u r s e w o r k . ^ M a n y p e o p l e e x p e r i e n c e d i f f i c u l t i e s w h e n f i r s t a p p r o a c h i n g
' There are many other materials for L.C.N, apart from the
VGW.6
It is absolutely possible to begin work in the L.C.N, at the
same time.
7
The four year guideline is not a static rule but a reference.
8More courses will be published in the future.
t h e c o u r s e w o r k . T h e m a t e r i a l a t t i m e s c a n a p p e a r r a t h e r a b s t r a c t a n d is v e r y c o m p l e x . T h e d e p t h a n d d e n s i t y o f t h e p a p e r s is far b e y o n d t h a t o f m o s t g r o u p s , a n d s o p e o p l e l o o k i n g f o r t h e i r s i m p l i s t i c a n d s u p e r f i c i a l o c c u l t fix w i l l b e q u i c k l y d i s a p p o i n t e d . I t is n o t s u r p r i s i n g t o f i n d t h a t t h e m a j o r i t y of p e o p l e e n g a g e d i n t h e Monastery Courses a r e a d e p t s w i t h a b a c k g r o u n d o f a d v a n c e d m a g i c a l a n d s p i r i t u a l p r a c t i c e , w h o s e f o c u s is o n t r u e m a g i c a l a n d s p i r i t u a l t r a n s f o r m a t i o n . O n e m u s t u n d e r s t a n d t h a t s u c h f a n t a s t i c c h a n g e s d o n o t c o m e e a s i l y . T h e s e s t u d e n t s v a l u e t h e e x i s t e n c e o f s u c h a g r e a t a n d u n i q u e b o d y o f m a t e r i a l . T h e Courses d e m a n d a l o t of c l o s e a t t e n t i o n a n d t h e y a r e n o t d e s i g n e d t o b e u n d e r s t o o d p u r e l y r a t i o n a l l y . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , t h e p r i n c i p l e s a r e t o b e i n t e g r a t e d i n t o y o u r m a g i c a l p e r s o n a i n o r d e r t o fully a b s o r b t h e i r b e n e f i t s . It is c l e a r l y s t a t e d i n t h e p a p e r s t h a t t h e s y s t e m p r e s e n t e d i n t h e Courses is a s u b j e c t i v e s y s t e m , c r e a t e d b y M i c h a e l B e r t i a u x , w i t h c e r t a i n a i d f r o m h i g h e r b e i n g s , u t i l i z i n g t h e k e y s a n d s e c r e t s o f h i s s p i r i t u a l a n d o c c u l t b a c k g r o u n d . S o w h a t w e h a v e is a r e s u l t o f t h i s ' u t i l i z i n g of t h e k e y s ' , a s y s t e m p e r f e c t l y d e s i g n e d t o l e a d b y e x a m p l e — t o h e l p a s t u d e n t s t e p b y s t e p in t h e c r e a t i o n o f h i s o w n m a g i c a l u n i v e r s e , t o i n s p i r e h i m t o b u i l d h i s o w n m a g i c a l w o r l d r a t h e r t h a n b e c o m i n g a m e r e i m i t a t o r . O n e t h i n g y o u c a n b e s u r e of is t h a t all w h i c h is p r e s e n t e d i n t h e Courses w o r k s b e y o n d a n y d o u b t . T h e r e a r e n o m a t h e m a t i c a l p r o o f s t o s u p p o r t t h i s , b u t we. a r e t a l k i n g a b o u t a g n o s t i c s c i e n c e , k n o w i n g . T h e p r i n c i p l e s s e t f o r t h a n d t h e k e y s p r e s e n t e d a r e p r o v e n t o l e a d t o w a r d s a t r u e g n o s t i c L u c i f e r i a n t r a n s f o r m a t i o n . K e e p i n m i n d , y o u a r e n o t s u p p o s e d t o c o p y e v e r y t h i n g t h a t is s a i d i n t h e Courses — y o u n e e d t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e p r i n c i p l e s a n d t h e n c o n s t r u c t y o u r o w n m a g i c a l
u n i v e r s e — t h i s is t h e t r e a s u r e of t h e Courses, a p p l i c a b l e f o r a n y o n e w h o s t u d i e s t h e m , i n i t i a t e o r n o t . F o r i n i t i a t e s o f t h e L . C . N , t h e s e m a t e r i a l s p o s s e s s m a n y m o r e a d d i t i o n a l q u a l i t i e s a n d p o s s i b i l i t i e s — a n d w e h a v e m a n y m o r e m a t e r i a l s , g u i d a n c e a n d i n i t i a t i o n s t o s u p p l e m e n t a n d d e e p e n t h e m . T h e s e c r e t s a r e n o t i n a b o o k ! T h e Courses a r e n o t t h e s e c r e t s o f t h e O r d e r s , a n d n o b o d y w i l l b e a b l e t o p e n e t r a t e t o t h e d e e p e r l a y e r s o f t h e V o u d o n G n o s t i c O r d e r s w h o h a s n o t g o t a n y k i n d o f l i n k t o t h e O r d e r s a n d a n y k i n d o f g u i d a n c e . T h e s a m e a p p l i e s t o w o r k w i t h t h e VGW. T h e Monastery Courses w e r e , a m o n g s t o t h e r t h i n g s , d i r e c t r e s u l t s o b t a i n e d t h r o u g h t h e L . C . N , w o r k a n d t e a c h i n g s . T o t h i s B e r t i a u x a d d e d m a n y o t h e r i d e a s d e r i v e d f r o m h i s d i v e r s e s p i r i t u a l a n d i n t e l l e c t u a l b a c k g r o u n d , s u c h as t h e o s o p h y a n d p h i l o s o p h y , t o c r e a t e a c o m p l e t e p a t h t o g n o s t i c i n i t i a t i o n . T h o u g h w h a t w e s e e i n t h e Courses is i n p a r t a r e s u l t o f w o r k i n g w i t h k e y s , t h e y a r e n o t t h e k e y s t h e m s e l v e s . B e r t i a u x i n t e n d e d t h e Courses t o b e o f g n o s t i c a n d m a g i c a l i n s p i r a t i o n , s o m e t h i n g w h i c h p e o p l e l i k e K e n n e t h G r a n t u n d e r s t o o d w e l l , a n d u s e d . T h e Courses d o n o t , h o w e v e r , p r o v i d e i n i t i a t i o n i n t o t h e L . C . N , o r t h e V o u d o n G n o s t i c c u r r e n t i n t h e i r o w n r i g h t . F o r t h o s e a l i g n e d w i t h t h e L . C . N , a n d s i s t e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s , t h e Courses h o l d m a n y s u r p r i s e s a n d m a n y d o o r s a r e i n s e r t e d w h i c h l e a d t h e o b s e r v a n t a n d d e d i c a t e d s t u d e n t d e e p i n t o t h e l a b y r i n t h o f t h e V o u d o n G n o s i s . W i t h h e l p f r o m m e n t o r s a n d g u i d e s , h u m a n a n d n o n — h u m a n , w i t h i n t h e O r d e r s , t h e s t u d e n t is l e d o n a m a g i c a l j o u r n e y . S t u d e n t s c a n o b t a i n m a n y e x t r a p a p e r s , i n i t i a t i o n s a n d e m p o w e r m e n t s u p o n s h o w i n g t h a t t h e y h a v e s u c c e s s f u l l y e n t e r e d t h e d e e p e r l a y e r s o f t h e O r d e r s ' w o r k t h r o u g h t h e Courses. L a C o u l e u v r e N o i r e is a s p e c i a l i z e d c u l t w i t h i n t h e V o u d o n G n o s t i c c o n t i n u u m a n d n o t e v e r y o n e i n t e r e s t e d i n E s o t e r i c V o u d o n n e e d o r s h o u l d j o i n i t . I n d e e d h e m a y n o t b e a b l e t o j o i n i t a t a l l , a s t h e s p i r i t g u a r d i a n s o f t h e L . C . N , h a v e t o a c c e p t y o u i n t o t h e i r c u l t s . B e f o r e t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e VGW o n l y s p e c i a l s t u d e n t s w h o s u c c e s s f u l l y w o r k e d w i t h i n t h e V o u d o n G n o s t i c O r d e r s w e r e a l l o w e d t o b e g i n s t u d i e s i n t h e L . C . N , d u e i n p a r t t o i t s e x t r e m e e l e m e n t a l n a t u r e . H o w e v e r , t h e VGW n o w p r o v i d e s t h e p o s s i b i l i t y f o r n o n — i n i t i a t e s a n d V o u d o n G n o s t i c i n i t i a t e s a l i k e t o w o r k c e r t a i n a s p e c t s9 o f t h e L . C . N a n d b e c o m e i n s p i r e d a n d m a g i c a l l y e n t r a n c e d b y t h e p o w e r f u l e l e m e n t a l g n o s i s i t r e p r e s e n t s . F r o m m y p e r s o n a l p o i n t o f v i e w , M a s t e r M i c h a e l B e r t i a u x ' s VGW is a m o n g t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t o f t h e m o d e r n m a g i c a l g r i m o i r e s . N o o t h e r s i n g l e b o o k , e x c e p t Vom Kosmogonischen Eros b y L u d w i g K l a g e s , h a s i n f l u e n c e d m y o c c u l t life a n d d e v e l o p m e n t a s m u c h a s t h i s t o m e . T h e VGW is a c o l l e c t i o n o f g o s p e l s , t e c h n i q u e s a n d i n s t r u c t i o n s o f t h e o p h i d i a n s e r p e n t c u l t t h e L . C . N . P e r h a p s t h e m o s t n o t o r i o u s a n d i n f a m o u s o f t h e m o d e r n g r i m o i r e s , i t s c o n t e n t c o n n e c t s u s d i r e c t l y w i t h a n c i e n t t i m e s o f p r i m o r d i a l S a t u r n i a n a n d k o s m i c g n o s i s . E s o t e r i c c u r r e n t s a r e m a d e a v a i l a b l e t o u s v i a p o w e r f u l t r a n s m i s s i o n s f r o m a r c h a i c e n t i t i e s a n d s t r a n g e m a g i c a l r e a l m s .
T h e n a t u r e o f The Voudon Gnostic Workbook c a n b e u n s e t t l i n g , s h o c k i n g a n d t e r r i f y i n g t o t h o s e w h o t r u l y w o r k t h e l e s s o n s , a c o n s t a n t t h r e a t t o t h e m a g i c i a n ' s s t a t u s q u o . T h e b o o k is n o t c o n c e r n e d w i t h o c c u l t p o l i t i c a l c o r r e c t n e s s , n o r h a v i n g a p l e a s i n g s t y l e .
They are of course different for the non—initiate and
initiate.
R a t h e r , i t is a d a r i n g e x p o s u r e o f s o r c e r y a n d a v i s i o n o f a m y t h i c a l t e l l u r i a n a n d P e l a s g i a n p a s t w h e r e t h e r e a l m o f t h e G o d s w a s i m m e d i a t e l y a c c e s s i b l e . F o r t h e i n i t i a t e s o f t h e L . C . N , t h i s i m m e d i a t e e s o t e r i c u n i v e r s e b e c o m e s a c o n c r e t e r e a l i t y t h r o u g h t h e p a t h w a y s o u t l i n e d i n t h e VGW. T h e r e h a s b e e n s u f f i c i e n t i n t r o d u c t o r y i n f o r m a t i o n o n t h e w o r k o f t h e V o u d o n G n o s t i c O r d e r s a n d L . C . N . , a n d t h e n a t u r e o f i t s s o r c e r y , s u c h a s i n t h e e x c e l l e n t c h a p t e r s o n t h e B l a c k S n a k e C u l t i n K e n n e t h G r a n t ' s
Cults of the Shadow. T h e r e f o r e t h e f o c u s o f t h i s b o o k is
o n p r e s e n t i n g a g l i m p s e o f m y p e r s o n a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g , e v a l u a t i o n a n d a p p l i c a t i o n o f E s o t e r i c V o u d o n i n m y w o r k .
WRITTEN MATERIALS AND INNER
WORLDS
.. .Psychic approaches to the outside of the mystery are possible, otherwise we wouldn't have a course available. [ButJPhysical initiation is the method of Voudon.10 B e f o r e p l u n g i n g d e e p e r i n t o t h e m a g i c a l l a b y r i n t h o f t h e V o u d o n G n o s i s , I w a n t t o p r e s e n t s o m e i d e a s o n t h e v a l u e , u s e a n d s t a t u s t h a t w r i t t e n m a t e r i a l s h a v e i n o u r c u r r e n t , a n d h o w t h e y r e l a t e t o t h e I n n e r O r d e r s e c r e t s , i n i t i a t i c w o r k a n d e s o t e r i c t r a n s m i s s i o n s . T h e p o w e r a n d v a l u e o f w r i t t e n m a t e r i a l s i n a n e s o t e r i c c o n t e x t is u n d e n i a b l e . O f t e n , w r i t i n g s a r e a p r o o f o f g r e a t m a g i c a l c r e a t i v i t y a n d i n i t i a t i o n . T h e m a g i c o f t h e w o r d m a y b e a t o o l , a k e y , a n d a n e n g i n e i n i t s e l f . I t h e l p s t o e x p l a i n t h e g n o s i s o f a p e r s o n o r g r o u p a n d s e r v e s a s a n i n s p i r a t i o n t o o t h e r s . A t t i m e s i t o p e r a t e s as a f o u n d a t i o n o n w h i c h f u r t h e r i d e a s a r e b a s e d a n d t h u s s u p p o r t s t h e e v o l u t i o n o f t h o u g h t w i t h i n a c o n t i n u u m . S o m e t i m e s I n n e r O r d e r m a t e r i a l m a y b e r e l e a s e d t o t h e p u b l i c w i t h o u t i t c a u s i n g a n y h a r m o r d i s c l o s i n g t h e i n n e r m o s t s e c r e t s a n d g n o s i s . T h i s is t h e c a s e w i t h s o m e m a t e r i a l s o f t h e V o u d o n G n o s t i c O r d e r s , i n c l u d i n g t h e L . C . N . , s p e c i f i c a l l y t h e f o u r y e a r Courses of the Monastery
of the Seven Rays a n d t h e VGW. A l t h o u g h M a s t e r B e r t i a u x
n o r t o a c h i e v e a n y k i n d o f f a m e , h e a n d t h e G r e a t V o u d o n G n o s t i c M a s t e r s d e c i d e d t o m a k e s o m e t e a c h i n g s a v a i l a b l e t o t h e g r e a t e r p u b l i c . B e r t i a u x h a s a l w a y s h a d a g r e a t i n t e r e s t i n e s o t e r i c h e a l i n g a n d c o m p a s s i o n f o r f e l l o w s e e k e r s o n t h e p a t h t o g n o s t i c e n l i g h t e n m e n t . H e k n e w t h a t s o m e o f t h e r e s u l t s a n d m o d e s o f w o r k f r o m t h e r e s e a r c h l a b o r a t o r i e s of, a m o n g s t o t h e r s , t h e L . C . N , c o u l d i n d e e d a i d a d e p t s , w h e t h e r c o n n e c t e d o r u n c o n n e c t e d i n a d i r e c t w a y t o t h e V o u d o n G n o s t i c c o n t i n u u m , t o d e v e l o p a s g n o s t i c i n d i v i d u a l s . A n d i n d e e d t h i s h a p p e n e d m a n y t i m e s a s t h e s e b o o k s n o t o n l y g r e a t l y i n f l u e n c e d c o n t e m p o r a r y o c c u l t c i r c l e s a n d i n d i v i d u a l s , s u c h a s t h e T y p h o n i a n K e n n e t h G r a n t , t h e C h a o s m a g i c k s c e n e a n d G n o s t i c c i r c l e s , b u t a l s o m u s i c i a n s a n d a r t i s t s i n c l u d i n g G r a n t M o r r i s o n , c r e a t o r o f The Invisibles c o m i c s e r i e s . B e r t i a u x a l w a y s i n t e n d e d t h e s e m a t e r i a l s t o b e a n i n s p i r a t i o n t o o t h e r s , t o s u p p o r t t h e i r s p i r i t u a l q u e s t s . H e h a s n e v e r i n t e n d e d t o b e d o g m a t i c o r w o r s h i p p e d . Y e t s o m e t i m e s t h e w r i t t e n w o r d c a n b e m o r e t h a n m e r e l y i n s p i r a t i o n a l a n d i n s t r u c t i o n a l . T h e V o u d o n G n o s t i c m a t e r i a l s , a n d e s p e c i a l l y t h e VGW, a l s o p o s s e s s a d e e p e r l a y e r . T h e y c o n t a i n s e c r e t d o o r s w h i c h m a y b e o p e n e d t o a d m i t t h e s e e k e r i n t o o t h e r u n i v e r s e s a n d d i m e n s i o n s o f s o r c e r y , o f E s o t e r i c V o u d o n . T h e r e e x i s t s t r a n g e p l a c e s o f m a g i c a l p o w e r s a n d s p i r i t u a l e n e r g i e s , w h i c h c o n t a i n p r e c i s e f o r m u l a e f o r g n o s t i c t r a n s f o r m a t i o n . T h e s e r e a l m s a r e h i n t e d a t i n t h e b o o k s a n d m a t e r i a l s o f t h e O r d e r s , b u t t h e k e y s t o u n l o c k t h e d o o r s l e a d i n g t o t h e m a r e n o t i n w r i t t e n f o r m . T h e g a t e s a r e b e i n g g u a r d e d b y t h e s p i r i t w a r d e n s a n d h u m a n p r o t e c t o r s o f t h e O r d e r s , w h o o p e r a t e i n a n e s o t e r i c s y m b i o s i s t o a d m i t o n l y t h o s e l o y a l s t u d e n t s c a p a b l e o f n a v i g a t i n g t h e s e e s o t e r i c a n d n o c t u r n a l w o r l d s . T h e d e e p e r l a y e r s c a n o n l y b e p e n e t r a t e d t h r o u g h d i r e c t g u i d a n c e a n d i n i t i a t i o n b y a f e w M a s t e r s o f t h e V o u d o n G n o s t i c O r d e r s a n d L . C . N . M e m b e r s w i t h p o t e n t i a l a r e g u i d e d b y t h o s e t e a c h e r s o f t h e t r a d i t i o n h o l d i n g s p e c i a l s a c r a m e n t a l p o w e r t o w a r d s t h e r e v e l a t i o n o f t h e I n n e r M y s t e r i e s . A c c e s s t o t h e i n n e r w o r l d s a n d t e m p l e s a l w a y s m e a n s d i r e c t c o n t a c t a n d w o r k w i t h t h e L o a s a n d s p i r i t s o f t h e V o u d o n G n o s t i c c o n t i n u u m u n i q u e l y a t t a c h e d t o t h e O r d e r s . T h e s e r e a l m s c a n o n l y b e a c c e s s e d if o n e is f o r m a l l y a t t a c h e d t o t h e i n i t i a t i c c h a i n o f t h e O r d e r s o f t h e H i e r o p h a n t M i c h a e l B e r t i a u x a n d t o t h e M a s t e r s w i t h s a c r a m e n t a l p o w e r w h o t r a n s m i t t h e A f f l a t u s w h i c h s e r v e s a s a m a g i c a l l i n k t o t h e I n n e r O r d e r . It is i m p o s s i b l e t o a c h i e v e t h i s l i n k a n d a c c e s s t o t h e i n n e r l a y e r s w i t h o u t b e i n g a t t a c h e d t o t h e c o n t i n u u m o f M i c h a e l B e r t i a u x a n d h i s a p p o i n t e d H i g h P r i e s t s , a s t h e y a r e t h e s u c c e s s o r s o f t h e J e a n — M a i n e f a m i l y t o w h i c h t h e s p i r i t s o f t h e I n n e r T e m p l e o f t h i s c o n t i n u u m a r e b o n d e d a n d l o y a l . O n l y t h o s e w h o p o s s e s s s p e c i a l p o w e r s c o m i n g t h r o u g h h i e r o p h a n t i c i n i t i a t i o n h a v e t h e d u t y a n d a b i l i t i e s t o f e e d t h e e n e r g i e s f r o m t h e I n n e r O r d e r s , t h e s p i r i t p o o l s , t o t h e O u t e r C o u r t s . I n t h e A f r o — A t l a n t e a n t r a d i t i o n , d i r e c t a n d p e r s o n a l e m p o w e r m e n t s a n d t r a n s m i s s i o n s a r e t h e o n l y v a l i d w a y t o p a s s o n s p i r i t u a l a n d m a g i c a l p o w e r s . T h e s e e m p o w e r m e n t s a n d s p i r i t u a l t r a n s f e r s c a n o n l y u n f o l d a n d f u n c t i o n p r o p e r l y if t h e m a g i c i a n o p e r a t e s i n s i d e t h e m a g i c a l a n d s p i r i t u a l c o n t i n u u m g o v e r n e d b y t h e H i e r o p h a n t , H i g h P r i e s t s a n d i t s s p i r i t p a t r o n s . T h e r e is n o o t h e r w a y . E v e r y o n e w h o l e a v e s t h e c o n t i n u u m o r h a s b e e n d i s c o n n e c t e d f r o m i t w i l l l o s e h i s a b i l i t y t o e n t e r t h e I n n e r T e m p l e s o f t h e V o u d o n G n o s i s a n d w i l l l o s e t h e p r o t e c t i o n a n d s u p p o r t o f t h e V o u d o n G n o s t i c s p i r i t s .
O n l y v e r y f e w M a s t e r s o f t h e O r d e r s h a v e a n d h a d t h e p o w e r s a n d d u t y t o s e r v e as a b r i d g e b e t w e e n t h e I n n e r a n d O u t e r O r d e r s , a n d h o l d s p e c i a l s a c r a m e n t a l t o o l s t o p r o t e c t t h e O r d e r s . W h i l e a n i n i t i a t e c a n b e g u i d e d t o t h e h i g h e s t l e v e l o f r e a l i z a t i o n a n d e m p o w e r m e n t o f t h e V o u d o n G n o s i s , t h e s a c r a m e n t a l p o w e r s t o c o n f e r a n d t r a n s f e r p o w e r s t o o t h e r s a r c o n l y p o s s e s s e d b y a n e s o t e r i c a l l y c h o s e n f e w H i g h P r i e s t s w i t h i n t h e O r d e r s . T h e s e M a s t e r s h a v e a l w a y s w o r k e d i n s i d e t h e O r d e r s a n d n o t o n c e h a s o n e o f t h e m left t h e c o n t i n u u m . T h e r e a r e e s o t e r i c r e a s o n s a n d l a w s w h i c h w o u l d m a k e t h i s i m p o s s i b l e . N o w y o u u n d e r s t a n d w h y t h e V o u d o n G n o s t i c O r d e r s a n d L . C . N , f r e e l y o f l e r i n s i g h t i n t o m a n y a r e a s o f t h e i r w o r k a n d e v e n p u b l i s h ' s e c r e t s ' f o r o t h e r s t o s t u d y . It is f o r e s o t e r i c i n s p i r a t i o n a n d f o r p e r s o n a l s p i r i t u a l g r o w t h . It w i l l n o t e n a b l e a n y o n e n o t f o r m a l l y c o n n e c t e d t o t h e V o u d o n G n o s t i c c o n t i n u u m o l H i e r o p h a n t M i c h a e l B c r t i a u x t o e n t e r t h e I n n e r O r d e r s o r c l a i m a n v k i n d o f s a c r a m e n t a l p o w e r . M u c h i n s i g h t c a n b e g a i n e d f r o m t h e s t u d y o f t h e b o o k s o u t s i d e t h e O r d e r s a n d p r o b a b l y m a n y i d e a s a n d t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s c a n o c c u r . H o w e v e r , t h e r e is a l i m i t a t i o n i n t h i s p r o c e s s a n d t h i s l i m i t a t i o n c a n o n l y b e t r a n s c e n d e d t h r o u g h i n i t i a t i c c o n t a c t w i t h t h e s a c r a m e n t a l M a s t e r s a n d g u i d e s o f t h e L . C . N . T h e r e a r e m a n y t y p e s o f e m p o w e r m e n t s a n d i n i t i a t i o n s i n t h e L . C . N , w h i c h a r e g i v e n f r o m m a s t e r t o s t u d e n t . T h e y a r e g i v e n t o s p e c i a l s t u d e n t s w h o h a v e d i s t i n g u i s h e d t h e m s e l v e s a n d h a v e p r o v e n t h e i r l o y a l t y a n d a b i l i t i e s . T h o s e a r e t h e p e o p l e w h o e n t e r f r o m t h e O u t e r O r d e r s t o t h e I n n e r O r d e r s a n d l a y e r s . T h e r e a r e d i f f e r e n t t y p e s o f s u c h r i t e s . A t t h i s p o i n t , o n l y a h a n d f u l o f V o u d o n G n o s t i c m a s t e r s a r e a b l e t o g i v e o u t a n y k i n d o f i n i t i a t i o n s o r e m p o w e r m e n t s . In c o n t r a s t t o t h e r a t h e r s t a t i c a n d s t e r i l e t e m p l e i n i t i a t i o n s o f m a n y O r d e r s , s u c h s a c r a m e n t a l r i t e s a r e b e i n g g i v e n i n a ' f r e e s t y l e ' s h a m a n i s t i c f a s h i o n . W h i l s t t h e y d o f o l l o w c e r t a i n g u i d e l i n e s a n d e s o t e r i c r u l e s , t h e y a r e g i v e n i n d i v i d u a l l y t o e a c h c a n d i d a t e w h o is r e a d y t o r e c e i v e t h e m . O n e s u c h i n i t i a t i o n i n t o t h e L . C . N , t y p e o f w o r k r e q u i r e s t h e a n o i n t i n g a n d a c t i v a t i o n of c e r t a i n p o i n t s o n t h e n a k e d b o d y o f t h e i n i t i a n d , w h i l e t h e i n i t i a t o r w h o is p o s s e s s e d b y t h e p a t r o n s p i r i t s , s p e a k s a n d c h a n t s i n t h e L a n g u e M y s t è r e w h i c h h e w a s t r a i n e d t o ' r e c e i v e ' a n d ' u t t e r ' . T h e i n i t i a t i o n s a n d e m p o w e r m e n t s i n t h e L . C . N , a r e o n l y c o n c e r n e d w i t h m a g i c a l t r a n s m i s s i o n s . It is n o t u n u s u a l f o r a c a n d i d a t e t o e x p e r i e n c e v i s i o n , t r a n c e , p o s s e s s i o n a n d e x t r e m e e m o t i o n s as w e l l as a l t e r e d s t a t e s of m i n d . T h i s is t o t a l l y d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f a t y p i c a l i n i t i a t i o n r i t u a l . P u r e s p i r i t f o r c e is a c t i v a t e d h e r e a n d is t r a n s m i t t e d f r o m t h e M a s t e r t o t h e c a n d i d a t e i n o r d e r t o u n l o c k p o w e r z o n e s i n t h e b o d y , o r t o a c t i v a t e s e x u a l c e n t r e s o r p r e p a r e t h e ' m e a t ' t o r e c e i v e s p i r i t s as p e r m a n e n t r e s i d e n t s . O t h e r i n i t i a t i o n r i t e s a r e h i n t e d a t i n t h e VGW,U a l t h o u g h t h e y a r e a t t i m e s q u i t e c o n c e a l e d .
V O U D O N GNOSIS
S o m e t h i n g t h a t a t t r a c t e d m e d e e p l y f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g t o t h e VGW, a n d i n f a c t i n a l l o f B e r t i a u x ' s w r i t i n g s , w a s i t s i n h e r e n t g n o s t i c c h a r a c t e r . M i c h a e l B e r t i a u x b o l d l y s t a t e s t h a t a s g n o s t i c m a g i c i a n s :...in opposition to all humanistic culture, we are lured ever to the brink of chaos. We want to go where we are forbidden. We want to know what has been denied to us. We seek, in a word, the 'more'.'2
A n d t r u l y , o n o u r q u e s t t h e r e m u s t b e n o b o u n d a r i e s b e y o n d w h i c h o n e is f o r b i d d e n t o v e n t u r e , a n d w e m u s t f e a r n o c u r r e n t a s t o o d e e p o r d a r k . T h e f r o n t i e r m u s t b e c o n s t a n t l y p u s h e d f o r w a r d ! B e r t i a u x a c k n o w l e d g e s t h a t a t t h e r o o t o f all r e l i g i o n s a n d s p i r i t u a l s y s t e m s l a y s a g n o s t i c s o u r c e a n d t h a t b y t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f p r e c i s e o c c u l t a n d e s o t e r i c f o r m u l a e w e c a n d r a w p o w e r a n d e n e r g y f r o m v a r i o u s s y s t e m s a n d u s e t h e m f o r m a g i c a l o p e r a t i o n s i n o u r l a b o r a t o r i e s o f L u c i f e r i a n t r a n s f o r m a t i o n . I n o u r s c h o o l t h e C h r i s t m y t h , f o r e x a m p l e , is n o t s o m u c h a s s o c i a t e d w i t h s u n w o r s h i p i n i t s p r i m i t i v e f o r m , b u t r a t h e r w i t h a n e l a b o r a t e t r a n s f e r a n d a b s o r p t i o n o f s o l a r q u a l i t i e s i n t o t h e C h r i s t — f i g u r e . T h i s w a y w e a r e a b l e t o c r e a t e a p o w e r f u l g o d i m a g e b e f i t t i n g a n d e m p o w e r i n g o u r w o r k as a l c h e m i c a l s e x u a l m a g i c i a n s . F r o m t h e d a w n o f C h r i s t o l o g y , t h i s t r u e e s o t e r i c r e l a t i n g o f C h r i s t t o t h e s u n w a s d o n e o n l y i n a f e w G n o s t i c s e c t s , l i k e L a C o u l e u v r e N o i r e w h o a l s o e q u a t e h i m w i t h D a m b a l l a h a n d L e g h b a . H e is t h u s t u r n e d i n t o t h e S u n G o d a t t h e c r o s s r o a d s . A m a g i c a l f o r m u l a o f a p p l i c a t i o n e n a b l e s t h e o p h i d i a n s e x m a g i c i a n s t o d r a w u p o n all t h e m a g i c d o n e i n t h e n a m e o f C h r i s t a n d t r a n s f e r i t s p o w e r t o t h e i r r i t e s . I n t h i s w a y all t h e p s y c h i c e n e r g y g e n e r a t e d b y t h e C h r i s t i a n f a i t h f u l , w h i c h is s t o r e d i n a v a s t a s t r a l r e s e r v o i r , c a n b e t a p p e d i n t o b y t h e V o u d o n G n o s t i c s o r c e r e r s f o r t h e e m p o w e r m e n t o f t h e i r w o r k . I n t h e VGW B e r t i a u x u s e s a r a n g e o f s p i r i t u a l a n d e s o t e r i c s y s t e m s , l i k e H i n d u i s m a n d S h i n t o , i n t h i s w a y a n d s o o p e n s u p a v e r y b r o a d m a g i c a l u n i v e r s e . B u t m a k e n o m i s t a k e , t h i s p r o c e s s o f a b s o r b i n g t h e e s o t e r i c e n e r g i e s o f d i f f e r e n t s y s t e m s r e q u i r e s a d e e p i n i t i a t i c k n o w l e d g e o f c e r t a i n o c c u l t p r o c e d u r e s a n d is n o t a r a n d o m a n d s u p e r f i c i a l a d a p t i o n o f o t h e r s y s t e m s . T h e i n i t i a t i c k n o w l e d g e a n d t o o l s o f i n c o r p o r a t i n g t h e e s o t e r i c c o r e s o f o t h e r s y s t e m s a r e p r o v i d e d t o u s t h r o u g h t h e s e c r e t s o f E s o t e r i c V o u d o n . E s o t e r i c V o u d o n , a d e e p s y s t e m i n i t s e l f , is t h e t h r e a d t h a t r u n s t h r o u g h t h e w h o l e o f V o u d o n G n o s i s .
LA PRISE DES YEAUX
THE ELEMENTAL VISION
The elemental vision signals rebirth; within us, the element recalls its limitlessness amid the primordial flux, as element and flux devour themselves anew: thewinds, the trees, and the stars now speak. Through immeasurably distant ages, death and birth greet the soul of man in the wavering blade of grass, and they hear the dark inner night of the blood of man in the falling rain, as it trickles through the leaves outside. 1
T h e r e is o n e v i t a l f a c t o r t o u n d e r s t a n d w h e n w o r k i n g w i t h t h e VGW a n d all t h e m o r e a d v a n c e d a r e a s o f L a C o u l e u v r e N o i r e a n d t h e V o u d o n G n o s i s i n g e n e r a l . I t is n o t t h e c o n c e p t u a l b u t e l e m e n t a l t y p e o f ( s e x u a l ) m a g i c , w i t h i t s f o c u s o n t h e e l e m e n t a l k i n g d o m , w h i c h is t h e c e n t r a l f o r m o f w o r k . It is d i r e c t l y f r o m e l e m e n t a l c o n t a c t s t h a t w e w e r e a b l e t o d r a w a w h o l e e n c y c l o p a e d i a o f e l e m e n t a l s o r c e r y , a n d s o m e o f t h e s e r e s u l t s a r e t o b e
Ludwig Klages quoted in: H . E . Schroeder, Ludwig Klages,
Die Geschichte Seines Lebens. Michael Bertiaux has actually been
the first occultist/philosophcr/gnostic in the English speaking
world to understand, acknowledge and point out the esoteric
significance and character of Klages' work in general and
especially also for Voudon Gnosis.
f o u n d i n t h e VGW. T h e V o u d o n G n o s t i c a n d L . C . N , t r a d i t i o n f o c u s e s l a r g e l y o n w o r k i n g w i t h t h e r o o t s o f s e x u a l i t y . H e r e , e l e m e n t a l m a g i c v e r y o f t e n f i n d s e x p r e s s i o n i n t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f s i g n s . T h e s e s i g n s t h e n e x p l a i n a n d s h o w t h e t r u e n a t u r e o f e l e m e n t a l l i f e . S u c h s i g n s a r e o f t e n a r t i s t i c i n e x p r e s s i o n , l i k e B e r t i a u x ' s p a i n t i n g s . W h a t w e h a v e c o m e t o t e r m E s o t e r i c L o g i c i n t h e s e c r e t s o f t h e V o u d o n G n o s t i c O r d e r s a n d L . C . N , i s , i n e s s e n c e , n o t a c o n c e p t u a l t y p e of w o r k o r e x p r e s s i o n . T h e e s s e n c e o f o u r E s o t e r i c L o g i c is c o n n e c t e d t o a d e e p l e v e l o f e l e m e n t a l m a n i f e s t a t i o n . I t is n o n — v e r b a l a n d d e e p l y p l u t o n i a n i n i t s r a w n e s s . In t h e e l e m e n t a l c e l l s of t h e V o u d o n G n o s i s t h e b o d y is b e i n g e x p e r i e n c e d a s r a w a n d e l e m e n t a l , a s p u r e i n s t i n c t . E s o t e r i c w o r k i n g s o f t h i s n a t u r e l e a d t o a m e t a p h y s i c a l b r e a k t h r o u g h , a c e r t a i n t y p e o f v i o l e n c e w h i c h is n o t e s o t e r i c a l l y e v i l a s l o n g a s i t is n o t c o n c e p t u a l i s e d . B e r t i a u x c o r r e c t l y s t a t e s t h a t :
.. .(e)vil is in the world of conceptualized types of language, but violence in the unconscious realm — violence as Lebensphilosophie (after Klages) is the basis of all true art, all gesture, all hedonic tone, and the elemental motion of primitives, be they society, people or sounds.14
O n e c u l t u s w i t h i n V o u d o n G n o s i s m a k e s t h e s o u l ( i n c l u d i n g m i n d ) / b o d y c o m p l e x t h e e l e m e n t a l p o l e o f a c t i o n , w h i c h b e c o m e s t h e i r e s o t e r i c p o i t e a u m i t a n . S i m i l a r t o t h e d e v o t e e s of e x o t e r i c V o u d o n w h e n t h e y d a n c e i n a f r e n e t i c e c s t a s y a r o u n d t h e p o i t e a u m i t a n a n d h u r l t h e m s e l v e s l i k e e n e r g e t i c s p a r k s a n d h o w l s of p s y c h i s m a t a l l t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s , t h e E s o t e r i c V o u d o i s t
e n g a g e s i n w h a t B e r t i a u x c a l l s ' m e d i u m i s t i c w r e s t l i n g w i t h t h e s p i r i t s ' . T h i s is t h e w a y t h e s p i r i t s w a n t t o w o r k a n d i n t e r a c t w i t h u s . I n o u r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n , t h i s w o u l d a l s o b e t h e w a y o f i n t e r a c t i n g w i t h o t h e r s p i r i t s , l i k e t h o s e o f g r i m o i r e s s u c h a s t h e Goetia a n d Grimorium Verum. T h i s s p e c i a l c u l t u s t e a c h e s t h e w o r s h i p o f a c e r t a i n t y p e o f g o d - p o s s e s s i o n a c t e d o u t t h r o u g h t h e p h e n o m e n a o f t h e b o d y . A n o t h e r r e l a t e d v e r y p o w e r f u l m e t h o d o f e x p r e s s i n g t h i s e n e r g y w o r k e d w i t h i n o u r c o n t i n u u m is a c u l t t h a t w a s t a u g h t b y t h e l a t e H e c t o r J e a n — M a i n e a n d is c o n n e c t e d t o a p h a n t a s t i c m a g i c a l a n d i n i t i a t i c f a c u l t y , La Prise des Yeux, t h e s e i z i n g o f t h e e y e s . L a P r i s e d e s Y e a u x is o n e o f t h e m y s t e r i e s o f t h e V o u d o n G n o s t i c O r d e r s a n d is a c h i e v e d t h r o u g h t h e r a w f u r o r o f o u r e l e m e n t a l w o r s h i p . L a P r i s e d e s Y e a u x i n o u r s y s t e m is a l s o c a l l e d t h e E s o t e r i c V i s i o n , o c c u l t i m a g i n a t i o n o r i n n e r s i g h t . A s o n e o f t h e p o w e r s o f t h e H i g h P r i e s t h o o d i t is g i v e n as a g i f t f r o m t h e w o r l d o f t h e s p i r i t s t o t h o s e w h o h a v e d e d i c a t e d t h e i r f u l l n e s s o f b e i n g t o t h e V o u d o n G n o s t i c G o d s . T h e s e p o w e r s , o f w h i c h L a P r i s e d e s Y e a u x is o n e of t h e m o s t s i g n i f i c a n t , a r e i n s t r u m e n t s f o r t h e i n i t i a t e as a n e s o t e r i c t e c h n i c i a n i n s e r v i c e t o t h e s p i r i t s . T h r o u g h t h e m h e is a b l e t o p a r t i c i p a t e e n t i r e l y a n d w i t h o u t l i m i t s i n t h e i r w o r l d s . E n t i t i e s , i n n e r p l a n e a d e p t s f r o m b e y o n d t h e p h y s i c a l , s e i z e t h e e y e s of t h e i n i t i a t e a n d e n a b l e h i m t o ' k n o w ' a n y o b j e c t t h e y w a n t h i m t o i n v e s t i g a t e o r h e w a n t s t o u n d e r s t a n d i n i t s m e t a p h y s i c a l r e a l i t y . H e is e n a b l e d t o ' s e e ' t h e o b j e c t i n i t s m a g i c a l r e a l i t y b e y o n d t h e p r o f a n e i m a g e a n d e n t e r i n t o c o m m u n i c a t i o n w i t h i t . A n o t h e r r e l a t e d e s o t e r i c t r a d i t i o n c a l l s t h i s ' t h e r e g a i n i n g o f t h e
1
' This is also employed to work the earlier mentioned
mediumistic wrestling in its highest forms.
l a n g u a g e o f A v a l o n — T h u l e ' , i n w h i c h w e a r e s u d d e n l y a b l e t o r e c l a i m t h e p r i m o r d i a l a b i l i t y t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e l a n g u a g e o f a n i m a l s , p l a n t s a n d l a n d s c a p e s a n d m o v e b e y o n d t h e p r o f a n e v i s i o n a n d i m a g e o f t h e p h y s i c a l w o r l d . A t t h e s a m e t i m e t h e i n i t i a t e w i l l b e a b l e t o e n t e r t h e t e r r i t o r i e s o f t h e i n n e r p l a n e s a n d i n v e s t i g a t e t h e m . P r o d u c i n g a r t a s p a r t o f r i t u a l b e c a m e s t r o n g l y c o n n e c t e d t o t h i s c u l t a s t h e i n i t i a t e s d r e w m o r e a n d m o r e p o w e r s a n d p i c t u r e s f r o m t h e w o r l d o f t h e s p i r i t s . T h r o u g h c r e a t i v e a n d s y m b o l i c r e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f w h a t t h e i n i t i a t e e x p e r i e n c e s t h r o u g h L a P r i s e d e s Y e u x , h e is a b l e t o d e v e l o p a c o h e r e n t m a p o f t h e m a g i c a l u n i v e r s e , i n n e r a n d o u t e r , a n d a l l o w a p r o g r e s s i v e m y s t i c a l a n d m a g i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t . It is n o t u n u s u a l t o s e e t h e t e m p l e o f a V o u d o n G n o s t i c i n i t i a t e f i l l e d w i t h a r t a n d c r e a t i v e o b j e c t s w h i c h a r e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s a n d r e c o n s t r u c t i o n s o f h i s i n n e r p l a n e e x p e r i e n c e s t h r o u g h La P r i s e d e s Y e u x . T h r o u g h t h i s r e d u c t i o n o f c o m p l e x a n d p r e c i s e m a g i c a l e x p e r i e n c e s t o a r t i s t i c s y m b o l s a n d s i g n s t h e o c c u l t i s m o f s u c h c u l t s b e c o m e s h i g h l y i n d i v i d u a l i s e d .
For while each magician 'saw' the very same objects of existence and empirical possibility in the inner regions of intuitional space, because of the ways in which experience was organised and personalised, each magician saw frames and reference as different in aesthetic qualities and so reconstructions show both the fundamental unity as well as the mythical
. r- • • . 1 6
diversity oj mitiatic perception.
1 6 M i c h a e l B e r t i a u x , 4l h y e a r , Course of the Monastery of the Seven Rays.
T h r o u g h t h e s e p r o c e s s e s w e a r e a l s o a b l e t o s h o w t o o t h e r i n i t i a t e s o f t h e O r d e r , s t i l l l a c k i n g t h e a b i l i t y o f L a P r i s e d e s Y e u x , h o w t h e :
.. .phantastic realms of the spirits manifest and how m the multiplicity of spirits, we have one vision of power — the elemental and raw vision of the Gods of
Vudu.17 C a n d i d a t e s t o t h e H i g h P r i e s t h o o d m a y r e c e i v e t h e p o w e r s o n c e t h e y a r e c a r e f u l l y a n d r i t u a l l y p r e p a r e d b y a s a c r a m e n t a l M a s t e r w h o a l r e a d y h a s o b t a i n e d t h e m h i m s e l f . T h e s e m y s t e r i e s , w i t h t h e i r u n b r o k e n c h a i n o f M a s t e r s a n d a d e p t s , h a v e c o m e d o w n t o u s f r o m t h e a n c i e n t e s o t e r i c s c h o o l s . H e r e w e a r e a b l e t o s h o w t h e i n d i v i d u a l b u t u n i v e r s a l g n o s t i c a n d e s o t e r i c v a l i d i t y o f t h e V o u d o n G n o s t i c s v s t e m , a s t h e s o u r c e o f t h i s t r a n s m i s s i o n is l i k e l y t o b e t h e s a m e a s is b e i n g f o u n d w i t h i n t h e a n c i e n t c u l t s o f t h e K o s m i c G n o s t i c s .I S O f t h e s e t h e F r a t e r n i t a s B o r e a l i s , a u n i v e r s a l H y p e r b o r e a n O r d e r , a n d t h e E c c l e s i a G n o s t i c a A c t c r n a , a r e t h e m o s t p u b l i c . N o t o n l y d i d B e r t i a u x a n d J e a n — M a i n e r e f e r t o V o u d o n G n o s i s a s ' n o r t h e r l y ' , t h e o r i g i n a l s a n c t u a r y i n H a i t i w a s c a l l e d t h e ' T e m p l e o f t h e T w o Y g g d r a s i l s ' . M o r e i m p o r t a n t l y , d u r i n g V o u d o n G n o s t i c a n d L . C . N , i n n e r p l a n e c o n t a c t s , d e i t i e s h a v e i d e n t i f i e d t h e m s e l v e s as V o u d o n G o d s a n d G e r m a n i c d e i t i e s . T h e O r d e r s t e a c h t h a t t h e G o d s o f V o u d o n a n d t h e G e r m a n i c / N o r s e s o r c e r e r s a r e t h e t r a n s p o r t e d G o d s o f
1
' Michael Bertiaux, unpublished paper.
This common source is clear when one analyses the nature
of the Voudon Gnostic system in depth — there are many
clear indications.
A t l a n t i s a n d c o u l d b e r e l a t e d i n t h i s w a y :NORSE V O U D O N
O d i n ( W o D a n ) D a m b a l l a h F r i g g y a A i d a L o k i L e g h b a T h o r O g o u — F e r B a l d e r G h u e d h e F r e y r S i m b i F r e y a E r z u l i c1 9 B e r t i a u x s t a t e s t h a t t h e m a g i c o f t h e N o r s e s o r c e r e r s " a n d t h a t o f t h e V o u d o n G n o s t i c s is e s s e n t i a l l y t h e s a m e , a n d t h a t t h e M o n a s t e r y o f t h e S e v e n R a y s c a n b e said t o t e a c h t h e ' N o r s e — V o u d o o m a g i c o f A t l a n t i s i n i t s t r a d i t i o n a l a n d f u t u r i s t i c d i m e n s i o n s . ' " ' W h a t B e r t i a u x d e s c r i b e s a s L a P r i s e d e s Y e a u x i n t h e VGW a n d t h e Monastery Courses is t a u g h t w i t h i n t h e K o s m i c g r o u p s a s t h e E l e m e n t a l V i s i o n , w h i c h l e a d s t o t h e r e g a i n i n g o f t h e f a c u l t y o f t h e l a n g u a g e o f A v a l o n — T h u l e :The elemental vision signals rebirth; within us, the element recalls its limitlessness amid the primordial flux, as element and flux devour themselves anew: the winds, the trees, and the stars now speak.
1 9 Compare Michael Bertiaux, 4'1' year, Course of the Monastery
of the Seven Rays.
" This is true for a specific type of 'northern sorcerers' such
as the adepts of the Fraternitas Borealis but not, of course, tor
the multitude of neo—Norse, runic and Asatru groups.
2 1 Michael Bertiaux, 4'1' year, Course of the Monastery of the
Through immeasurably distant ages, death and birth greet the soul of man in the wavering blade oj grass, and they hear the dark inner night of the blood of man in the Jailing rain, as it trickles through the leaves outside"
H e r e L u d w i g K l a g e s , t h e g r e a t c h a m p i o n o f 20''' c e n t u r y l i f e — p h i l o s o p h y a n d a p r o f o u n d i n f l u e n c e o n B e r t i a u x a n d m y s e l f , p o i n t s s t r a i g h t t o o n e o f t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t r e a s o n s f o r u s i n g t h e e l e m e n t a l a n d e c s t a t i c p a t h a n d i t s e s o t e r i c p o s s i b i l i t i e s . It g e n e r a t e s r e b i r t h a n d r e v i t a l i z a t i o n , a n d a l l o w s u s t o m e t a p h y s i c a l l y p a r t a k e i n t h e w o r l d a n d i t s s o u l , a n d t h r o u g h t h i s b e c o m e i n i t i a t e d i n t o t r u e e s o t e r i c i s m a n d a b s o l u t e B e i n g . T h e V o u d o n G n o s t i c s s h a r e a n o t h e r c o n c e p t w i t h t h e K o s m i c G n o s t i c s , t h e p r e f e r e n c e o f t h e p a t h o f t h e m a g i c i a n t o t h a t o f t h e m y s t i c ; t h e p r e f e r e n c e f o r t h e e s o t e r i c p r i n c i p l e o f t h e s o u l t o t h a t o f t h e s p i r i t i n i t s t r a d i t i o n a l s e n s e . T h i s m o s t p r o b a b l y c o m e s t o t h e m t h r o u g h t h e m y t h i c a l t r a d i t i o n o f H y p e r b o r e a - A t l a n t i s . W h i l e t h e s p i r i t — p r i n c i p l e i n i t s u n t a m e d a n d u n r e f i n e d f o r m " d e m a n d s d i s e n g a g e m e n t w i t h t h e w o r l d o f t h e b o d y a n d s e n s a t i o n s b y f o l l o w i n g t h e c a l l o f t h e a -c o s m i -c ' i n t r u d e r ' ( s p i r i t ) , t h e p r i n -c i p l e o f ' s o u l ' a c k n o w l e d g e s a p r o f o u n d m y s t e r y t h r o u g h t h e
H . E . S c h r o e d e r , Ludwig Klages, Die Geschichte Seines Lebens.
23
D e s p i t e its d a n g e r s and t r a p s t h e s p i r i t - p r i n c i p l e h o w e v e r , also has a u n i q u e deifying and l i b e r a t i n g a s p e c t w h i c h m u s t b e a c k n o w l e d g e d w h e n w e a t t e m p t t o a c h i e v e t h e h i g h e s t s u m m i t s of i n i t i a t i o n . B o t h t h e Ecclesia G n o s t i c a A e t e r n a a n d t h e F r a t c r n i t a s Borealis d e v o t e s u b s t a n t i a l t e a c h i n g s t o this field. e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e s o u l w h i c h is c o n n e c t e d t o t h e b o d y a n d s e n s e s . W h i l e t h e r u l e o f t h e s p i r i t - p r i n c i p l e is m a i n l y c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y a d e n i a l o f t h e w o r l d a n d t h e c h a s t i s i n g o f e l e m e n t a l e x p e r i e n c e , t h e s o u l - p r i n c i p l e a d v o c a t e s a D i o n y s i a n e c s t a s y i n e x p e r i e n c e , a n d b e c o m i n g e m p o w e r e d b y w h a t t h e K o s m i c i n i t i a t e s h a v e c o m e t o t e r m t h e ' E r o s C o s m o g o n o s V T h i s E r o s , l i k e m a g n e t i s m , p u l s e s t h r o u g h a n d p e r m e a t e s t h e e n t i r e b e i n g b e c a u s e it h a s t h e c a p a b i l i t y t o m a k e t i m e a n d s p a c e d i s a p p e a r , o r r a t h e r , b e c h a n g e d i n t o a n e l e m e n t a l a n d all p r e s e n t o c e a n t h a t b i n d s t o g e t h e r t h e p o l e s o f t h e w o r l d . I call i t c o s m o g o n i c b e c a u s e it m a k e s i n n e r f e e l i n g s b e c o m e o u t w a r d r e a l i t y . It is t h e c o n t i n u a l r e v e l a t i o n g u s h i n g f o r t h f r o m t h e d e e p e s t s o u l . T h i s f o r c e a l l o w s u s t o e x p e r i e n c e a c r e a t i v e e c s t a s y w h i c h h a s t w o s u c c e s s i v e s t a g e s , t h e s u b l i m a t i o n of t h e e g o a n d t h e n t h e r e s u r g e n c e o f l i f e . W h e n B e r t i a u x e x p l a i n s t h e m y s t e r i e s o f t h e B o d y o f O s i r i s — L e g h b a a n d t h e B l a c k a n d R e d R a y s i n t h e VGW, h e p o i n t s t o p r e c i s e l y t h i s . A s t h e i n i t i a t e is g r a d u a l l y l e d b y t h e H i e r o p h a n t t h r o u g h t h e e s o t e r i c p r o c e s s e s a n d m a g i c a l s t a g e s o f t h e O s i r i a n m y t h o s , h e e n t e r s a n d p a s s e s t h r o u g h t h e h a l l s o f t h e m y s t e r i e s .
These halls are within the initiate's own body but they are also deep states of awareness, whereby that part of him which is the Osiris—Leghba soul takes over, upon awakening, and replaces the persona of the mere mortal. When this happens, the soul is then awakened to its true essence and we are able to understand that the Osirian Resurrection has
M ' E r o s is n o t j u s t a fine, b l i n d , a n i m a l i s t i c s e n s u a l i t y ; w e
m u s t b e m o r e p r e c i s e : E r o s is sensuality at t h e v e r y m o m e n t of its r e a l i z a t i o n . ' L u d w i g Klages, Rhythmen und Runen.
happened. These mysteries are physical processes and they are related to the laws of the awakening of the body and its understanding of itself as the soul.'1
T h r o u g h t h i s p r o c e s s t h e i n i t i a t e t u r n s h i s b o d y i n t o a p e r f e c t m a p o r n e t w o r k o f t h e i d e a l a n d t o t a l w o r l d s o f b e i n g .
These worlds come and are present in the body and in the processes, which enable the body to function in every way, jrom exoteric to the most esoteric, because the spirits oj these very high or remote worlds are totally in the field of the body, present really in the incarnation of physical substance, and awaiting the magickal awakening of their true
2 6
essence.
P e r f e c t i o n is a c h i e v e d w h e n t h e s o u l a w a k e n s , a n d t h e a w a k e n e d s o u l is v i s i o n ! W h a t is r e v e a l e d is t h e e s o t e r i c a c t u a l i t y o f t h e p r i m o r d i a l i m a g e s .
He who is inhabited by Eros—Dionysus is a dcemon whilst he yet remains a man. Such a being sees through the shadow—body of things into the flaming night of the images. He himself is destiny;
he himself incarnates a Gorgonic dread. The streams of earth, the storms of heaven, and the starry vaults above are all within him, and his power reaches beyond the orbit of Saturn.''
Michael Bertiaux, The Voudon Gnostic Workbook.
M Michael Bertiaux, The Voudon Gnostic Workbook. 1 1 Ludwig Klages, Rbytbmen und Runen.
