King over the Water review

There is a very interesting review of my book King over the Water here which has been penned by the leader of a Canadian group who made a vault similar to the one I describe in King.  I suggest you read the full version which gives a detailed description of the book's contents but here are some quotes:

"It clear that the author is drawing on initiatory experiences and oral traditions in the various GD related groups he has been active in. While reading, one is left with the impression that much of the information without citation is blended oral tradition and the author's own opinions, all of which I enjoyed reading. While it is written from the attitude of a practitioner, and as has already been mentioned, therefore has no obligatory requirement to take up a specific methodology in its approach; nonetheless, as a reader I was so captivated by some of the stories so much that I wished to know more about the sources of some of the information. A small criticism and request would therefore be that I would have liked to have seen even more historical citations presented whenever it was possible. As this book already shows all the hallmarks of a title that will be much sought-after for years to come, I expect will likely be slated for re-prints. "
"The foray into Mathers and the old Golden Dawn’s history was well done. Particularly the sections on Mathers possible political motives and some of his treme associations in Right Wing politics were new to me, as I expect they will be to many of King’s readers. I thoroughly enjoyed the political section of the book, while the publication of some of these older documents has been long overdue. The slight dabs of layman's psycho-analysis were warranted and will be much appreciated to anyone following a magical path. I have always felt that a genuine magician’s primary goals would be tertiary in nature: first, to develop a specialised skill-set; second, to better oneself; and third, to improve the world around us. Wisdom and insight are two inner constitutions life's maturity can take, regardless if one is working to better oneself through a magical path or not, and in this regard, ribald humour aside, King delivers."

 "These commentaries were interesting, and I particularly valued those on the Vault.  The section on the Vault walls was good, as well as the typescript and reprinted sections from an original MSS of Book of the Tomb, which is not available in print anywhere else; it has literally been a long-lost document to many of us. Now we finally have the painting instructions for the inside of the Pastos that are missing from all other published Golden Dawn books."

"Furthermore, the author offers a personal dialogue about his efforts building a Vault. While I do not always agree with the more personal magical theories presented in King Over the Water, no matter, because they are worthy as an Adept-level considerations, they are thought-provoking and intelligent, and so I enjoyed pondering them.  I really can not emphasise this enough.  This level of Golden Dawn work is valuable, and by finally printing the Book of the Tomb and providing an insightful Commentary, this book proves to be an excellent reference and will take its place as the primary resource for Vault construction.  For anyone serious magical practitioner of the Golden Dawn tradition, this tiny section alone is worth many times the cover price."
"The section on S.L. Mathers is about two-thirds of the book, and is therefore the main feature of attention; however, the original documents such as The Book of the Tomb and the full versions of the Alpha et Omega’s Z Documents, which are both printed here in full for the first time, are where this book really shines for the researcher. There is also a solid document on colour written by an anonymous modern Adept that is informative and helpful."
"The pencil or charcoal sketches by Paola Farrell also deserve mention. They are very beautiful, and these pieces add a dimension and an elegance to the book that is lacking from other new books on the same subject that are inexplicably peopled with the usual fare of clip-art, or photocopied and pixleated wood-cut images."
"All-in-all, I think this book is an invaluable addition to the corpus of Golden Dawn reference books, and I am appreciative of its variety of contents. As the years pass, I feel this is a volume that generations of magicians will be grateful to have access to; and I would not be surprised if various Adepts are now repainting sections of their Pastos and Vault based on these newly available instructions! I have really enjoyed reading this book, and I encourage people to buy this and study it well, your efforts will be well repaid."

Thanks great review.  BTW I am working getting a Kindle version out at the moment and this should not be far away.

The Trans-Saturn Planets, Alchemy and the powers of the higher self.

I have not been a fan of the “later planets” such as Uranus, Pluto, and Neptune because they tend to stuff up everything when it comes to Cabalah etc. In my view the more traditional “seven planets” work fine for magical work and I had doubts as to whether the three new ones had much of an influence. Besides Pluto was not a planet and there might be lots of Pluto like planets out there which have not been discovered yet.

Recently I have been reading Astrology, Karma & Transformation: The Inner Dimensions of the Birth Chart by Stephen Arroyo. Given that I don't believe in re-incarnation either, this should have been a tricky read.

However he pointed out that the three outer planets are ambassadors for galactic forces which mediate their influence upon humanity. But there was also the implication that they were the planetary forces on a higher arc and are responsible for evolution of a human.

Reading the attributions, I twigged that they made snug fit for the Alchemical principles of Mercury, Salt, and Sulphur and the three-fold actions of the Higher Self.  Again this is an idea in progress and nothing official.

In the Golden Dawn these are attributed to the pillars of the Tree of Life rather than any sphere or path. 

 They are also concerned with the three Second Order chiefs on the dais – the Praemonstrator, the Cancellarious and the Imperator. Thus their position in the ritual as being behind it starts to make sense

Thus Uranus is attributed to Mercury, Air, Thoth, and the Middle Pillar. Neptune is attributed to Salt, Water, Isis and the pillar of severity while Pluto is Sulphur, Fire and Horus. This all tallies with the Enochian chess set where Nephthys represents the Earth piece, the Rook and Isis the Water piece and the Queen. Attribution to the pillars adds a whole range of meanings to the trans-saturn planets. It also clears up a few problems I had with these three.

If these three planets are cosmic ambassadors they fit into the realm of the Higher Self. Indeed in Gnostic Terms once you have passed through the seven doors of the Archons (which are human limitations) you enter into the divine realms. The fact that the Higher Self is three-fold should be no real surprise as they fit to the three alchemical principles of Salt, Mercury, and Sulphur – the very principles which the Creator used to build the universe and thus trapped spirit into creation.

Sulphur is our soul. It is our individuality, our true nature or essence. Pluto is seen as a change-agent. It is like the death card in that it burns away lies so that truth can rise force as an eagle and then as a Phoenix. But what is being destroyed is not what we are but what others have made us. Pluto changes are very specific and controlled. It is also Mars on a Higher Arc.

Pluto transits then are the soul adjusting itself to its correct destiny so that we can “be real”. Pluto/Sulphur transforms us to the needs of our Soul and its destiny rather than the lesser life that had before. In plant alchemy, Sulphur is its volatile or essential oil. Sulphur smells very strong.

Salt is the crystallization through which the other two principles things work through. On the Tree of Life, this is expressed through Chesed which brings all things into order. Neptune is Venus on a higher arc but would appear to be the opposite of what the Alchemists attribute to Salt. Modern astrologers call Neptune, the planet of deception, delusion, derangement, guilt, persecution and mutter about drugs and alcohol. On the plus side they give spiritual enlightenment, and mystical experiences to this planet. This implies then that all spritual or mystical experiences are escapism. So how is this salt which gives the impression of matter and materialism? Salt is not placed on the middle pillar and neither is it attributed to Malkuth. It is placed on the Pillar of Cloud. 

 In Plant alchemy Salt is not the plant body, but the mineral matrix of the plant which is found by an extraction method. Humanity's destiny as seen by the trans-saturnian planets is not matter related, but rather to understand matter at an abstract level. Humanities real realm is the abstract astral kingdom of dreams. Isis liberates the spirit from matter and releases it into the astral world. It does this by abstracting matter so that its truth can be seen.

Mercury is a mediator between Sulphur and Salt. Mercury is the animating spirit whereas Sulphur is the soul. It brings the soul down into the physical world. Modern Astrologers say that it's sometimes liberating, and other times you're thrown into chaos. Uranus is unemotional change which is needed. Uranus will change you whether you think you want it or not. Mercury is a trickster and messes with what you think is true and important. There are close connections with the Fool tarot card because it is mostly to do with clearing obstructions for the spirit to move.

In plant alchemy, Mercury is the spirit that rises from the plant during the process. In chemistry Mercury is a liquid metal and it is solid, yet liquid at the same time. It turns into a gas easily. Uranus's force changes all aspects of a person's life.

With the trans-saturnian planets we start too see the sorts of cycles that were so beloved of the Ancients. Since the planets move so slowly we cant start to see each generation as part of a big Alchemical experiment on humanity by a three-fold God.

When we come to life transits by these planets we can see them as Alchemical experiments on our life. Someone who is going through a rough pluto transit can know what alchemical force is being dealt with and start to co-operate with it.

What will be interesting is when a tenth planet turns up and what this will mean to humanity.

Hermetic Virtues -- a sign of unity in the GD

Hermetic Virtues was five years old this issue and I have been writing for it since issue one.  The magazine was aimed at a support for Chic Cicero but fast became a rallying point for the Golden Dawn community.  Like the recent congratulations card (which now has about a thousand signatures from all over the Golden Dawn community) HV is proof of how unified the Golden Dawn community is and how it works together to bring knowledge to those who follow the GD tradition.  HV's mailing list is now about 900 Golden Dawn members.
  It is worthwhile noting that every significant Golden Dawn writerand a few up coming star  has put in an article in HV. There will be a few more names being added in the future and there are some exciting ideas planned.  Here is an "off the top of my head"  list of the sorts of authors who have contributed:

Aaron Leitch
Andrew Catero

Andrew J. Mortimer

Charles “Chic” Cicero

Darcy Kuntz

Dean F. Wilson

Diane Peterson

Donald Michael Kraig

Eric V. Sisco

Harry Wendrich

Ian Cowburn

James Wasserman

Jayne Gibson

John Gilbert

John Michael Greer

Joseph Max

Lauren Gardner

Lon Milo Duquette

Lyam Thomas Christopher

Mark Stavish

Melissa Seims

Nick Farrell

Paola Farrell

Nicola Wendrich

Olen Rush

Pat Zalewski

Paul A. Clarke

Peregrin Wildoak
Rachel Walker

Sam Webster

Samuel Robinson

Samuel Scarborough

Sandra Tabatha Cicero

Tim Walley

Tommy Westlund

VH Frater YShY     

The magazine has been a lot of hard work for the production team of Samuel Scarborough, Anita Hoener, the late Mark Griggs and the editor Vic Sabljic but it has managed to do a lot over last five years. It is a sign that the Golden Dawn community works In varietate concordia If you follow the Golden Dawn path it is well worth the subscription fee you can sign up here . This is the sort of thing that the Golden Dawn community is about. Articles can be sent here submissions@hermeticvirtues.org.