On this night I finished Become a Living God Real Magick and Real Results. The book was a nice intro into the concepts that E.A Keotting teaches. Perhaps my favorite take away was his explanation of the Planes of Existence. Clearly he is describing the Qabalah Tree of Life and the descent of the Androgynous Man, or Adam Kadmon. But he details it in a modern way which will make a lot more sense to people who have not studied the Qabalah. In a sense Keotting gives the student all the information they “need” to Ascend, but the lacking context, pathworking, and further details are missing. Which of course why his books are advertised at the end.
I was going to start a study and working of the OAA material, but after discussing the matter with some knowledgeable and experienced people I have determined to hold off on that work until I have completed working through the Classics. So I will study and work through WoD first.
I did read some of the OAA book before changing course, and I read the Darkness Meditation. I decided to perform that meditation tonight and the following is a description to the best of my recollection of the key events.
I sat in a chair in front of my alter. The circle drawn and empowered, the Rite of Babalon performed. I closed my eyes and focused on exhaling any negative thoughts, fears, or doubts from my body. Visualizing as darkness being expelled from my lungs like flies drifting into the sky. This worked very well, in fact it was one of the fastest methods I have performed for completely relaxing and a side effect that any doubt or worry I had for the upcoming work was removed. Once cleared I just breathed and relaxed for a few minutes, then I pictured the room around me (for some reason most of my room was easily visible but I had to concentrate to see my alter) and I concentrated on the darkness. I pulled it toward me and enveloped my body with the darkness. A thought struck me from the back of my mind “What do you want, we are power, we have forbidden knowledge”, and to that I replied “forbidden by whom” and the voice/that was my thought/laughed. I felt I passed some test because I realized the ridiculousness of the concept of forbidden. Next the voice/thought said “all that you seek is before you, open your eyes NOW” and so I did. Before was my alter, a lit with candles and resting on the alter was my bone necklace, I had forgotten to put it on. A thought occurred to me, my necklace was made from Death and wearing it connected me to that realm. I honestly feel I failed to fully grasp what the thought was telling me, it laughed again, this time because I failed that particular test. The thought then said “stand and take your power and to prove your dedication burn yourself upon the candles”. I did both without hesitation, infact I stood and moved almost as if not of my own power though I know I was in fact in control. It was my True self guiding my actions faster then my conscious could. I placed my hands over the candle flames just long enough to feel a strong sting. I moved back to my chair where I then said to the thoughtform “I was willing to take pain to prove myself but do not expect me to be a slave to your whim.” Again I feel I passed a test though I wonder if refusing all together would have been even better. Maybe but that moment is gone and I showed my dedication and lack of fear. Upon sitting back down I noticed a very visible decrease in overall light in the room. This concluded the Darkness Meditation. One last note, when I performed the Soul Travel practice I saw myself shrouded in the darkness as it still clung to me. Later, after I opened my eyes (and I had performed the viewing the pendulum practice for a few minutes) I had a sense of elation and connection. I believe my first foray with contacting the powers of Darkness was successful. Though time will tell.
I read the first chapter of WoD and overall it was good. My one complaint is the constant usage of the word “Evil”. That just stinks of Christian mentality. Good and Evil are subjective as I believe most Magicians knows. The Darkness is not “Evil” it is Raw Power, that can be harnessed. Light and Darkness are just shades of the Source. Light tends to be more about Order and Peace, while Darkness is more about Chaos and Change/Destruction. But without change/movement, then life would cease and all would be empty coldness. I laugh each time he talked about Evil. Based on the book I know I would not qualify as a Sorcerer, I think I am more at the Initiate stage though I do not believe it will take me long to reach Sorcerer, I feel I am on the cusp and some serious work will push me over the edge.
