reviews | The Blog of Baphomet

For over the past 35 years, Mogg Morgan and Mandrake of Oxford Press have been at the forefront of exploring, practicing and communicating about the more dynamic and creative dimensions of occult practice in the broad tradition connected with the legacy of Aleister Crowley.

Aleister Crowley and Thelemic Magick by Mogg Morgan

Whether you love or loathe the Great Beast 666, if you are a practicing magician in the 21^st Century you cannot but be shaped by the seismic impact of his legacy. His poetry, radical exploration of personal boundaries and occult endeavour have been critical in shaping both contemporary occultism and the Neo-Pagan revival and yet it’s sometimes difficult to find a starting point in appreciating the vast canon of work that he and the Thelemic traditions have produced. Thankfully this new collection of essays by Mogg and others has provided us with an excellent map with which we can get our bearings.

This collection is made up predominantly of essays written by Mogg over the past 30 years but also contains the writings of others Mandrake authors and summaries of presentations given at the infamous Thelemic Symposiums that were convened in Oxford. Mogg is open about his own journey into the broader Thelemic tradition and his own experience of the tension between those more organised magical orders (the Masonic impulse) and the more freeform experimentation (the Rosicrucian impulse) that can take place either in less formal sodalities or individual practice.

His own work within the Typhonian Order, the Oxford Golden Dawn Society and AMOOKOS mean that this anthology leans strongly (and for me helpfully) toward those less solar-phallic forms of Thelema that so richly inform the Typhonian branch of Thelema and its offspring such as Ma’at Magick and Chaos Magick.

The collection begins with a lively excerpt from Snoo Wilson’s I, Crowley and an introductory overview by Mogg (“Hell of a Guru”) that consider Crowley’s on-going allure and ways of working with the broader Thelemic current. Given how verbose and theoretical much writing on Thelema can be, this book provides some highly practical guidance on how to start working with the tradition and what establishing a daily practice might look like. Whether it’s the use of the magical diary, working with the body or using pathworking, Mogg provides a ready guide and his advice is helpful in avoiding early pitfalls.

Given the Typhonian focus of this collection, Morgan provides us with some detailed reflections on his own initiatory work with the Egyptian God Set/Seth (“Typhonian Magick” and “Cult of the Hidden God”). Refreshingly his work with the Neter Set provides a crucial key for accessing an expression of Thelema that is both Queer friendly and also seeks to engage with the feminism of Babalon in a way that moves beyond a superficial sexual fantasy. As the included presentation by MC Medusa makes clear:

“It seems to me that the stereotyped female experience of magick as an expression of sexuality, devotion and passivity (i.e. the ability to surrender) is as limiting to men as it is to women, sexual preference aside.” Pg.71

Personally I deeply enjoyed the reflections on the ethics of Thelema especially in the context of the “double current” approach that seeks to balance the aeons of both Horus and Ma’at. Morgan helpfully argues that the impulse of Ma’at (as manifest in the works of Achad, Nema and others) helps counterbalance the more libertarian individualism of “Do What Thou Will” with a more collective compassion that allows for our magic to fully engage with concepts of care and society.

The latter quarter of the book contains a varied smorgasbord of presentations given at the numerous Thelemic Symposiums during the early period (1983-1996) that they occurred, and while the pieces chosen may seem somewhat random and haphazard, for me they provide a helpful overview of the diversity of approaches and themes that can be gathered under the broad umbrella of contemporary Thelemic magick. Themes such as working with the Holy Guardian Angel and Enochian are addressed, and I particularly enjoyed Michael Stayley’s reflection on “The Mysteries of Lam” which explored that potential links between extra-terrestrial intelligence and working with the higher self. These were great conferences for those lucky enough to attend (I went to two of them) and the Thelemic disco/after party has become a thing of legend!

As someone cautiously inspired by Crowley, I found the broad and creative approach of this work extremely helpful in relation to my own magical practice. While there are many aspects of Crowley’s life and character that trouble me, like the Beatles on the cover of Sargent Pepper’s I also want to acknowledge the way in which the he sought to be himself and shake off the dusty restriction of the Victorian era. While I may not consider myself a card-carrying Thelemite, I can agree with Mogg’s observation:

“Those who choose to follow this magical path aim to decondition themselves, to develop independence of spirit and ultimately become their very own self.” Pg.17

I strongly recommend this excellent book to anyone seek to pursue such a goal.

Steve Dee

Coming up next…

Pagan Phoenix SW Spring Conference – The first digital version of the very popular Pagan conference with Prof. Ronald Hutton, Levannah Morgan, Ethan Pennell & Damh the Bard 04 Mar, 10:30 – 17:00 UK time in Zoomland.

The Magic of Place: Psychogeography – Lecture. Julian Vayne’s online lecture explores methods to connect to the land under one’s feet, whether it be in the city or the countryside. 09 Feb, 19:00 – 20:30 UK time in Zoomland.

Psychic Powers & Psychedelics. Join us for an amazing journey from ancient entheogenic cultures to the parapsychological experiments of the 1960s through to the current Psychedelic Renaissance, and beyond. Expect a delicious blend of personal stories, historical context and some of the latest findings in psychedelic science.Thursday 2nd March 2023: 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm UK time in Zoomland.

Sigil Magic. Sigils are an approachable way to use intention to transform our reality. This 3-part livestream workshop with occultist Julian Vayne teaches the history and development of sigil magic. It also presents many practical approaches to this craft. We’ll explore ancient sigil-style methods such as the use of bind runes and Solomonic symbols as well as hi-tech ways to cast sigil spells using the internet and even your phone. Tuesday 9th May 2023 : 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm UK time in Zoomland.

Breathwork Ceremony. Breath is the mantra that begins the day we are born and continues until the day we let go of our form. In this in-person ceremony at the College, occultist Julian Vayne will facilitate a powerful journey through breathwork into a profound altered state. The method of changing awareness through this breathwork is controllable, profound and can lead to deep healing and new insights. Friday 12th May 2023: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm in person at The College of Psychic Studies, London.

Sound Magic. From rune singing and the use of drumming to create altered states, to mantra, healing sound frequencies, glossolalia and ritual poetry, this experiential workshop will guide you into sound’s transformative power. Saturday 13th May 2023: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm in person at The College of Psychic Studies, London

“Women are divinity, women are life, women are jewels.”
Yoni Tantra

“Within, a Sakta; outwardly a Saivite; in the world a Vaisnava. This is the rule.”
Kaula Upanisad

Regular readers of this blog will be aware of my previous explorations of the contribution that Mike Magee has made to development of the Thelemic current within the world of contemporary occultism here. Via the impact of the Amookos Order that he founded (the Arcane and Magickal Order Of the Knights Of Shambhala), and his accessible but scholarly translation of core Sanskrit texts, Mike has helped lay a significant foundation for how we as magical practitioners in the 21st Century integrate non-western sources into our practice.

The genesis of Amookos is often considered to be the result of Mike’s initiatory relationship with Sri Mahendranath (Dadaji) and the seismic impact that this had on his personal magical universe. While the encounter with Dadaji was undoubtedly powerful, it also came within the context of his work with Kenneth Grant and his Typhonian Order. Grant himself was significantly influenced by Eastern teaching and source material (as depicted within At the Feet of the Guru) and Mike is quite open about how the presence of this material in his work with Grant catalyzed his own journey eastwards. Prior to travelling to India and encountering Dadaji, Mike had already begun mantra work, embarked on in-depth studies of Sidereal astrology and Sanskrit, and was familiar with Kashmir Shaivism. While Dadaji’s relationship with Mike and Amookos sadly deteriorated due to the on-set of dementia at the end of Dadaji’s life, Mike was able to utilize his own significant skills as both a translator and interpreter to move forward on the path and this current volume is a prime example of his contribution.

For me, this book represents a brilliant distillation of over 40 years of practice, translation and interpretation of the Tantric Shri Vidya (Goddess focused) tradition. For those in the know, Mike’s work held over at shivashakti.com has long represented some of the highest quality translations of primary texts relating to the Kaula Nath path (upon which Amookos is based) and wider tantric traditions. This book provides us with an excellent drawing together of material relating to the darker aspects of the Goddess and specifically the Great Mother Kali.

The book has a forward by Phil Hine and contains numerous beautifully illustrated line drawings by Jan Bailey. The introduction by Mike contains a superb overview of the central themes, methods and approaches that are often utilized in approaching “the primordial Devi who is the root of all Great Knowledges….She destroys time, is time, and is the night of eternity”. Blimey! And we are only on page 4! As both a practitioner and scholar, Magee does not shy away from the complexity of the terrain he is seeking to depict and the differing cultures and historic periods that this material has emerged from. While this is far from a simplified attempt to reduce the Great Mother to a few bullet points, it does offer the determined explorer with a vital portal through which we can appreciate the contradiction and theological complexity that her traditions embody.

Kali Magic is at once scholarly and highly practical with sections on Sadhana that explore core techniques and technologies such as mantra, yantra and nyasa. The book contains helpful explanations of the major Kali Yantras and how their insights might provide vital keys as to how our practice might be earthed in the body and within the ritual space (whether actual or imagined) of the cremation grounds. In the latter portion of the book Mike provides us with vivid translations of primary source material that will allow our practical exploration to be based firmly within the depths of historic traditions. Personally I found these Goddess Upanishads and Tantras both powerful and shocking in their physical frankness. As Mike stresses, the way of the Great Mother and the Left Hand Path is raw and unapologetic in its exploration of how bodily fluids and sexual practices can be skillfully utilized in promoting the most profound alchemical processes:

“The miraculous Yoni Tattva Tantra is the best of all tantras. Because of love for you, this very hidden tantra is revealed. The only evil in sexual intercourse is disgust for blood and semen. He who mixes them with wine is discriminating in worship.” Yoni Tantra, Third Patala.

This is a truly significant work that represents a lifetime of scholarship and devotion, and while deep and demanding it also captures the raw beauty of Kali and pulls no punches in opening a door way to her mysteries. Highly recommended for those magical practitioners wishing to work with Tantric currents in a way in that is profoundly aware of the original source material so as to avoid either reductionism or consumerist appropriation. As we as Pagans and Occultists seek to evolve and strengthen our theology and sadhana in order to highlight the potent validity of our chosen spiritual paths, works such as Kali Magic offer a vital and valuable contribution to such processes of growth.

Steve Dee

Purchase Kali Magic by Mike Magee

Coming Up Next…

There are still a few places left on our Sacred Space Holder Program for people looking to develop their practice of working with Sacred Mushrooms. Join Nikki, Julian and the fabulous Fungi Academy crew in October on the shores of Lake Atitlán for a hands-on adventure into the science and spirituality of psychedelic ceremony.

For people who can’t make it in person to Fungi Academy HQ in Guatemala there is the Psychedelic Journeywork course, use the code ‘Julian’ to get a discount!

Julian is also going to be teaching again with Treadwell’s Books in the autumn this year with lectures and workshops, online and in-person, on subjects including The Meaning of Witchcraft, Queer Magic, Applied Chaos Magic, Aleister Crowley’s Magick and The Thoth Tarot

For more details of one-to-one mentoring and support, psychedelic integration services, tarot readings and online courses with Julian please visit julianvayne.com

Nikki and Julian will be running a ceremony at Medicine Festival and will also be speaking at Trans-States.

Steve Dee’s new book Chaos Monk: Bringing Magical Creativity to the New Monastic Path is out now!