VOUDON GNOSIS

DAVID BETH

SCARLET IMPRINT MMVIII

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 irst 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 in

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 in B e r t i a u x ' s w o r k , c u l m i n a t i n g in

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 ind 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 an e n t r y i n t o t h e w o r k

d i f f icu 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 in

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 in 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 in 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 as 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 an

ag 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 is 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 in 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 in 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 in 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 in 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 th 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 , as 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 in 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 an

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 for 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

in 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 fe 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 bas i s of h is 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 as 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 in 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 in

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 ind 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 ey

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 essay 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 say 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 as t h e f o u n d a t i o n fo 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 say 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 of fe 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 lack 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 say

w a s i n t e n d e d fo 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. ~ Scarlet Imprint, 2008.

W h i l e t h e m a i n focus of 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 as 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 ful ly 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 all

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 in 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 in 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 . In

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 , as w e r e

t r a n s m i t t e d t o h i m b y his 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 as i t

w a s t h e n w e can say 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 log i ca 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 .

4 Kenneth Grant, Nightside of Eden.

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 ts m a i n

t r a i n i n g t o o l , 5 The Voudon Gnostic Workbook, an 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 in p l a c e in 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 bas i s of t h e in 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 in t h e

L . C . N . H e m a v a l so 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 in 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 for 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 in fact 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 as 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 ts 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 cu l t i es w h e n f irst 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. 8 More 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 so

p e o p l e l o o k i n g fo 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 ind 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 an t a s t i c c h a n g e s d o n o t c o m e

eas i ly . 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 in 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 in 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 in 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 id 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 his 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 . So 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 his 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 in 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

in 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

sa id in 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

fo 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 in 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 th 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 ke 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 in 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 and 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 can 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.

La 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 , as 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

succes s fu 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 in t h e L . C . N , d u e in 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 ike t o w o r k c e r t a i n a s p e c t s 9

of 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 l ife a n d d e v e l o p m e n t as m u c h as

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 ia

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

of 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 in t h e

VGW.

T h e r e h a s b e e n su f f i c ien 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 ts s o r c e r y , s u c h as 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 lack 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 of 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 in 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 tself . 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 as 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 . , spec i f i ca l ly 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 e v e r c a r e d n o r i n t e n d e d t o a p p e a l t o t h e m a s s m a r k e t ,

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 fo 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 id 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 in 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 as 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 as

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 as 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 so 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 so 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 for 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 in 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 loya 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 Aff la tus w h i c h s e r v e s as 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 , as 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

ab 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 .

In 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 ts 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 ab 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 an

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 has 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 th 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

fo r e s o t e r i c i n s p i r a t i o n a n d for 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 ol

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 of 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 in th 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 in 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 th 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 in 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 in o r d e r t o u n l o c k p o w e r z o n e s in 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 in 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 .

For example in the Guzoite Papers.

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 fac t i n al 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 as

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 ea r n o c u r r e n t as 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 lays 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 . In 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 so 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 of

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 in a f e w G n o s t i c s e c t s , l i ke La

C o u l e u v r e N o i r e w h o a l so 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

in t h e n a m e of 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 . In 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 fa i th fu 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 .

In 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 , in th 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 in i tself , 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: the

winds, 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

vi ta 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 La 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 in 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 of 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 of

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 in 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 inds

e x p r e s s i o n in 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 igns 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 fe . S u c h

s igns a r e o f t e n a r t i s t i c in 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 in

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 , in 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 eve 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 in i ts r a w n e s s . In t h e

e l e m e n t a l ce 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 as r a w a n d e l e m e n t a l , as 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 ev i l as l o n g as 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 sou 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 in 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 ke 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 all 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

Michael Bertiaux, unpublished paper.

e n g a g e s in w h a t B e r t i a u x ca 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 . In 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 ike t h o s e o f g r i m o i r e s s u c h as 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 th 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 .

La 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 . La P r i s e d e s Y e a u x in

o u r s y s t e m is a l so 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 . As 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 gift 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 fu l lness 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 La 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 gn i f i can t ,

a r e i n s t r u m e n t s fo 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

in 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 in 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 ze 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 in 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 ca 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 as 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 as 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 La 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 ed 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 igns 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 Michael Ber t iaux , 4 l h year , 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 ab i l i ty o f La

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 ca r e fu 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 has o b t a i n e d t h e m

h imse 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 va 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 , as t h e s o u r c e o f th i s

t r a n s m i s s i o n is l i ke ly t o b e t h e s a m e as 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 Ecc 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 as ' 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 in

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 and 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 of

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 in 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 c 1 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 of 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 in 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 as La P r i s e d e s Y e a u x in 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 as

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 acu 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 Seven Rays.

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—phi losophy 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 myse 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 fo 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 ts e s o t e r i c p o s s i b i l i t i e s . I t 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 in t h e w o r l d a n d i ts 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 for 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 in 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 in 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 cal 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 . Schroede r , Ludwig Klages, Die Geschichte Seines Lebens. 23

Despi te its dangers and t raps t h e sp i r i t -p r inc ip l e h o w e v e r , also has a un ique deifying and l iberat ing aspect which m u s t be 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 to achieve the highest s u m m i t s of in i t ia t ion. Both the Ecclesia Gnost ica Ae te rna and the Fra tc rn i tas Borealis d e v o t e substantial teachings 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 in 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 ke

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 has 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 ee l i ngs 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

has 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 fe .

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 of

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 in 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 ha 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 'Eros is n o t jus t a fine, b l ind, animalist ic sensuali ty; w e m u s t b e m o r e prec ise : Eros is sensuality at the very m o m e n t of its rea l iza t ion . ' Ludwig 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.

SEXUAL MAGIC

T h e e s o t e r i c fuel

t o e m p o w e r all o f t h e V o u d o n G n o s t i c o p e r a t i o n s a n d

t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s is d i s t i l l e d t h r o u g h t h e u s e o f s e x u a l

e n e r g i e s a n d s e x u a l m a g i c . T h o s e w h o h a v e s t u d i e d t h e

s e c o n d y e a r o f t h e Monastery Courses k n o w jus t how-

e l a b o r a t e a n d m u l t i l a y e r e d s e x u a l m a g i c c a n b e c o m e . I

a m v e r y c o n f i d e n t t h a t t h e s e x u a l m a g i c a l s y s t e m t a u g h t

in 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 , is far m o r e

c o m p l e x a n d e l a b o r a t e t h a n m o s t , if n o t a n y o t h e r

s e x u a l m a g i c a l s y s t e m i n e x i s t e n c e t o d a y .

W h i l e 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 is c o n c e r n e d

w i t h t h e w h o l e s p e c t r u m o l s e x u a l m a g i c a l e n e r g i e s a n d

w o r k , as o p h i t e s t h e L . C . N , f o c u s e s p e c i a l l y o n t h e

m o r e e l e m e n t a l t y p e as t h e r o o t a n d s o u r c e o f all s e x u a l

m a g i c a l e n e r g y . T h e o p e r a t i o n s t o a c c e s s t h e s e t y p e s o f

e n e r g i e s c a n t a k e o n m a n y d i f f e r e n t f o r m s . T h e

e l e m e n t a l s h a d o w — p o w e r s h a m a n o f t h e L . C . N , is

i n t e r e s t e d in d r a w i n g t h e m o s t p o w e r f u l m a g i c a l

e n e r g i e s f r o m t h e r a w e s t a r c h a i c a n d a b o r i g i n a l

e l e m e n t s o f m a n , a n d i n d e e d h i s p r e — h u m a n h e r i t a g e .

U n t a m e d p r i m o r d i a l p o w e r s a r e a c c e s s e d a n d r e l e a s e d

a n d can b e p u t t o u s e by t h e s o r c e r e r . W h i l e a t t h e

p o i n t o f o r g a s m t h e s o r c e r e r c a n d i r e c t h i s e n e r g y i n t o

t h e f u t u r e t o w a r d s a n i d e a l e v o l u t i o n , w h i c h o p e n s u p a

v a r i e t y o f o p e r a t i o n a l p o s s i b i l i t i e s . H e m a y a l so m o v e

b a c k w a r d s i n t o t h o s e d e e p p r i m o r d i a l s t a t e s o f

c o n s c i o u s n e s s w i t h i n t h e o c e a n o f a b s o l u t e p s y c h i c

a w a r e n e s s .

(H)e may then direct the energies which are deep

within the psyche to well-up to the surface, to rise

and jlow, to surge upwards again jrom the very

depths of consciousness and experience and to

manifest themselves as new and different forms of

magical experience and power, which can give to

the magician a more complete knowledge of his

experience than what is available to his more ego

conditioned states."8

T h e s o u r c e s f r o m w h i c h t h e s e e n e r g i e s o r i g i n a t e a r e

t h e I d , a n d b e y o n d t h a t , t h e t r a n s c e n d e n t a l Id . T h e

t r a n s c e n d e n t a l Id is t h e a r c h e t y p a l s o u r c e o f all m a g i c a l

f o r c e a n d i t s r e a l m is i d e n t i f i e d w i t h t h e p o w e r s o f t h e

c o s m i c s e r p e n t in t h e i r m o s t a r c h a i c m a n i f e s t a t i o n . T h e

t r a n s c e n d e n t a l E g o is i d e n t i f i e d w i t h D a m b a l l a h , a n d so

t h e s o r c e r e r is a fu s ion of t h e t w o f o r c e s — of t h e c o s m i c

s t e l l a r D r a c o , a n d D a m b a l l a h .

M a n y a r e a w a r e t h a t 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 n c l u d e s o m e o f t h e m o s t h i g h l y e l a b o r a t e d

f o r m s o f g n o s t i c t h o u g h t a n d m a g i c a l p h i l o s o p h y .

M a s t e r B e r t i a u x o n c e sa id in an i n t e r v i e w t h a t , w i t h o u t

h a v i n g s t u d i e d H e g e l a n d t h e G e r m a n p h i l o s o p h e r s ,

w h i c h h e c o n s i d e r s h i g h l y e s o t e r i c , o n e c a n n o t b e h i s

s t u d e n t . H e a n d o t h e r a d e p t s o f t h e O r d e r s h a v e a n d

h a d g r e a t i n t e l l e c t u a l t r a i n i n g a n d t h u s w e r e a b l e t o

i n c o r p o r a t e h i g h l y a b s t r a c t a n d t h e o r e t i c a l s y s t e m s o f

p h i l o s o p h y a n d t h o u g h t i n t o t h e o c c u l t a n d g n o s t i c

f r a m e w o r k o f t h e O r d e r s . B u t u n l i k e t h e p h i l o s o p h e r s ,

w h o w e r e in m o s t cases ' o n l y ' t h i n k e r s , m a y b e e s o t e r i c

t h i n k e r s , b u t n o t o c c u l t i s t s , t h e a d e p 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 w e r e i n d e e d a b l e t o b r i n g t h e s e s y s t e m s

2 8 Michael Bertiaux, 4 t h year, Course of the Monastery of the

Seven Kays.

a l ive in a m a g i c a l w a y — t o e m p o w e r a n d f e e d t h e s e

t h e o r e t i c a l s y s t e m s a n d t u r n t h e m i n t o p r a c t i c a l m a g i c a l

a n d e s o t e r i c w o r l d s fo r t h e u s e o f a s p i r i t u a l a n d m a g i c a l

e v o l u t i o n . T h e y e m p o w e r e d t h e s e a b s t r a c t , p h i l o -

s o p h i c a l a n d h i g h l y e l a b o r a t e s y s t e m s w i t h t h e m o s t

p r i m i t i v e , p o t e n t a n d e l e m e n t a l k i n d o f s e x u a l e n e r g y

a c c e s s i b l e , t h u s u n i t i n g t w o p o w e r f u l p o l e s a n d g i v i n g

b i r t h t o a n e w c r e a t i o n .

In t h e e l e m e n t a l t e m p l e s o f t h e O r d e r s w e a r e

c o n v i n c e d t h a t w e m u s t b u i l d o u t of, a n d f o c u s t h e

e n e r g y , u p o n t h e l o w a n d e l e m e n t a l p o w e r s . W e w a n t

t o s t i r u p a n c i e n t p o w e r s a n d k o s m i c e m o t i o n s a n d

m e m o r i e s . W e p r e f e r t h e l o w t o t h e h i g h v i b r a t i o n s t o

a c h i e v e t h i s .

In t h e s e c r e t r e s e a r c h l a b o r a t o r i e s o f t h e L . C . N , w e

a r c c o n s t a n t l y w o r k i n g o n n e w m e t h o d s fo r o b t a i n i n g

a n d u s i n g s e x u a l m a g i c a l e n e r g i e s . In t h e f o l l o w i n g , a

s h o r t e x c e r p t f r o m a p a p e r a u t h o r i z e d fo r t h e i n n e r

e l e m e n t a l c e l l o f t h e L . C . N , b y t h e C h o r o n z o n C l u b

w i t h i n o u r c o n t i n u u m , w e r e a d :

Seated in his throne in the north of the temple, in

the place of the least light, the master will sing the

conjuration of elemental being: 'Numesama,

Alfragor, Darteama, Kasqecot — I am without

beginning and without end, I am the wideness of

space and the thinness of time, I am nothing and I

am everything, for my name is darkness and my

essence is the firstborn of all potencies. Come forth

and worship me, I am your master and your god.'

The servitors will now break forth and worship the

master and his body with their lips, mouths,

tongues and hands. The Master rises and is

possessed by the invisible and terrible powers of

darkness and weirdness, as strange voices are heard

and a great Jear descends upon the assembly, a fear

of death and loss of one's very being. The Master

begins the second conjuration in a mysterious

tongue...

A n d t h e n l a t e r in t h e t e x t t h e M a s t e r p r o c l a i m s :

T am Gog and Magog, there is no power to restrain

me!' — If he wishes to practice ritual sexual

intercourse of any type, he will hold them and have

them stand next to his throne. ^

L y c a n t h r o p y , t i m e t r a v e l l i n g a n d e s o t e r i c p s y c h o

ana lys i s a r e all a m o n g s t t h e t e c h n i q u e s e m p l o y e d b y t h e

i n i t i a t e s o f t h e s e e l e m e n t a l s e x u a l t e m p l e s .

T h e a d e p t w i l l b e c o n f r o n t e d w i t h f o r m s o f e n e r g y

a n d p r a c t i c e s w h i c h h e m a y f ind e x t r e m e l y u n s e t t l i n g

a n d a g a i n s t h i s c iv i l i z ed n a t u r e , so o n l y t h o s e w h o fee l

t h e cal l t o t r a v e l b a c k t o t h e b e g i n n i n g s o f t i m e , t o t h e

c r e a t u r e o f i n s t i n c t a n d r a w p o w e r , wi l l b e a l l o w e d

a c c e s s t o t h e s e spec ia l s a n c t u a r i e s .

D u r i n g t h e w o r k w i t h t h i s e l e m e n t a l s e x u a l s o r c e r y

t h e r e a r c o f t e n t i m e s w h e n w e e n g a g e d i r e c t l y w i t h t h e

s p i r i t s , w h o b y t h e i r n a t u r e d o n o t suf fer t h e s a m e

p r o b l e m s as w e h u m a n s d o , e s p e c i a l l y in r e g a r d s t o

m o r a l c o d e s o r c o n f i n e m e n t s . M o r e o v e r , t h e g u a r d i a n

s p i r i t s o f t h e V o u d o n G n o s i s d e l i g h t in s e x u a l m a g i c as i t

is a d i r e c t l i n k t o t h e m a n d a w a y o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n a n d

e x c h a n g e . A n d I a m n o t r e f e r r i n g t o t h e t h e o r e t i c a l ,

h i g h l y a b s t r a c t f o r m s o f s e x u a l m a g i c b u t t o d i r e c t ,

p r i m i t i v e f o r m s o f s e x u a l s o r c e r y t h a t c r e a t e t h e m o s t

p o w e r f u l e f fec t s w h e n w o r k i n g w i t h 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 i s . In t h e s e , o u r n o c t u r n a l t e m p l e s of

Michael Bertiaux, unpublished paper.

p r i m i t i v e p o w e r s , t h e s e x u a l m a g i c o f s e c r e t c u l t s o f

a n c i e n t t i m e s a r e b e i n g c o n t i n u e d .

In t h e d a r k m y s t e r i e s of t h e H i g h P r i e s t s o f H a d e s ,

o f G h u e d h e — N i b b h o a n d B a c a l o u B a c a , s t r a n g e r i t e s a r e

c a r r i e d o u t w h i c h b r i n g u s b a c k i n t o c o n t a c t w i t h t h e

e l e m e n t a l p o w e r s o f o u r p re—civ i l i zed Self. I w i l l n o t g o

i n t o d e t a i l h e r e a n d e x p l a i n e x a c t l y t h e r i t e s a n d

m e t h o d s o f t h o s e s p e c i a l i z e d I n n e r O r d e r c u l t s as t h i s is

r e s e r v e d o n l y fo r t h o s e f e w a d e p t s a c t u a l l y e n t e r i n g t h i s

f ie ld of w o r k . I w i l l say o n l y t h i s m u c h : T o w o r k in th i s

field i t is n o t o n l y n e c e s s a r y t o h a v e a f u n d a m e n t a l

u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e u s u a l f o r m s of s e x u a l m a g i c , l ike

w e f ind in t h e O . T . O . s y s t e m o r in o t h e r s y s t e m s of t h e

E a s t a n d W e s t , b u t o n e m u s t h a v e d o n e i n t e n s e a n d

t h o r o u g h i n v e s t i g a t i o n s i n t o t h e Self, a n d m u s t h a v e

t h r o w n off m o s t o f t h e c o n v e n t i o n a l a n d m o d e r n

s h a c k l e s t h a t k e e p s t h e p r i m a l m a n in b o n d a g e . A

p r e l i m i n a r y w o r k b e f o r e e n t e r i n g t h e s h a d o w s o r c e r y

c o u l d b e t h e w o r k e x p l a i n e d i n t h e Guzotte Papers of t h e

VGW, e s p e c i a l l y t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e ' E r o s o f Les

L o a ' a n d , o f c o u r s e , t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e P o i n t s

C h a u d s . Al l of th i s i n v o l v e s a v e r y e x p l o r a t i v e

m e n t a l i t y , a n d t h e p o t e n t i a l i n i t i a t e m u s t b e r e a d y t o

v e n t u r e far i n t o t h e d a r k r e a l m s of t h e Self a n d i ts

m a g i c a l u n i v e r s e s .

T h e s e I n n e r C u l t s o f e l e m e n t a l s e x u a l s o r c e r y a r e n o t

t h e s a m e as t h e I n n e r C u l t s u s u a l l y s p o k e n of w h e n

d i s c u s s i n g t h e m o r e a d v a n c e d 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 . T h e s e I n n e r C u l t s a n d I n n e r

O r d e r w o r k c a n b e v e r y w e l l a c c e s s e d w i t h o u t e v e r

m o v i n g i n t o t h i s f ie ld . In fac t , m o s t I n n e r O r d e r a d e p t s

w i l l n e v e r e n t e r a n d d e s c e n d i n t o t h o s e t e m p l e s o f t h e

H i g h P r i e s t s o f H a d e s , as t h e y l ack t h e n a t u r a l

p r e d i s p o s i t i o n fo r s u c h w o r k .

F o r m o s t m e m b e r s a n d h i g h e r a d e p t s i t is m o r e t h a n

su f f i c ien t t o m a k e u s e o f t h e r e s u l t s o f t h e fus ion o f t h e

h i g h l y e l a b o r a t e a n d a d v a n c e d t h o u g h t s y s t e m s w i t h t h e

m o s t e l e m e n t a l a n d p r i m i t i v e s e x u a l m a g i c . T h e y w i l l

s u r e l y b e a b l e t o r e a c h t h e h i g h e s t s u m m i t s o f s p i r i t u a l

a n d o c c u l t a t t a i n m e n t .

T h e i r t a l e n t s a n d ab i l i t i e s a r e p u t t o u s e o n o t h e r

f r o n t s a n d in d i f f e r e n t r e s e a r c h l a b o r a t o r i e s o f t h e I n n e r

O r d e r s . T h e i r c o n t a c t w i t h s e x u a l m a g i c w i l l a l so b e

v e r y c h a l l e n g i n g a n d i n t e n s e , as t h e s exo—mag ica l

e n e r g i e s a r e t h e f o u n d a t i o n o f al l o u r w o r k . T h e y w i l l

b e a b l e t o u s e all t h e r e s u l t s a n d b e n e f i t s c r e a t e d b y t h e

a d e p t s o f t h e e l e m e n t a l s e x u a l t e m p l e s as in t u r n t h o s e

a d e p t s w i l l b e a b l e t o u s e t h e i r r e s u l t s a n d t h e i r

c r e a t i o n s .

B u t t h e r e r e m a i n t h o s e M a s t e r s i n t h e s e c r e t

l a b o r a t o r i e s a n d t e m p l e s w h o w i l l c o n t i n u e t o e x p l o r e

f u r t h e r t h o s e d a r k r e a l m s a n d p e r f o r m t h e s e r i t e s o f

s e x u a l m a g i c t o c r e a t e p o o l s o f s t r o n g r a w e l e m e n t a l

e n e r g y a n d p o w e r f r o m w h i c h all t h e H i g h P r i e s 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 c a n d r a w e n e r g i e s t o e m p o w e r

o r i n i t i a t e t h e i r s t u d e n t s a l o n g t h e l i n e s o f t h e s y s t e m .

P O I N T S C H A U D S

I n t i m a t e l y c o n n e c t e d

t o t h e s e x u a l m a g i c o f t h e V o u d o n G n o s t i c s is t h e

d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e P o i n t s C h a u d s , o r H o t P o i n t s . T h e

P o i n t s C h a u d s a r e i n t e l l i g e n t e n t i t i e s , as w e l l as d y n a m i c

p r o c e s s e s o f e n e r g i e s . T h e y h a v e t h e i r r o o t s a n d s o u r c e

o f p o w e r in t h e b i s e x u a l i t y o f E s o t e r i c V o u d o n , a n d

t h u s a r e u l t i m a t e l y p r i n c i p l e s a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n

e n e r g i e s o f L e s V u d u , t h e G o d s o f t h e V o u d o n G n o s t i c

w o r l d . In t o t a l w e h a v e 3 3 6 H o t P o i n t s — 16 b a s i c

a x i o m s a n d t h e 6 4 m a g i c a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s p l u s t h e 2 5 6

a m p l i f i c a t i o n s .

H o w e v e r , b e f o r e t h e H o t P o i n t s c a n b e d e v e l o p e d i n

a n y w a y w e n e e d t o p r o v i d e a m a g i c a l f o r c e f ie ld i n

w h i c h w e c a n c r e a t e a n d a c t i v a t e t h e m . T h i s m a g i c a l

f o r c e f ie ld i n o u r s y s t e m is c o n s t r u c t e d o u t o f ' m a t i n g ' ,

' c o n t r a c t i n g ' e x t r e m e e n e r g i e s , t h e 16 g e n i t a l a n d 16

c e r e b r a l c e n t e r s , " ' a c c o r d i n g t o a s p e c i a l s e x m a g i c a l

f o r m u l a . By m e a n s o f a n h i e r o s g a m o s o f t h e n e g a t i v e

a n d p o s i t i v e c e n t e r s , m a g i c a l e n e r g i e s a r c c r e a t e d .

T h e s e f o r m a m a t r i x , t h e c r e a t i o n o f a f ie ld o f p o w e r

u p o n w h i c h t h e w o r k o f t h e P o i n t s C h a u d s is b u i l t .

The energies and the elixirs, evaporations and

magical tonics, essences and presences create

collectively the 'magical nest of serpents'.!l

i ( l See more on these centers in the 2'"' and 4' 1 ' Year Course of the Monastery of the Seven Kays. ! 1 Michael Bcrtiaux, 4 t h year, Course of the Monastery of the Seven Rays.

Voudon Gnosis Points Chauds

T h i s n e s t o f s e r p e n t s , le nid de serpents, " is t h e f o r c e

f ie ld o f e x t r e m e m a g i c a l p o w e r u p o n w h i c h t h e P o i n t s

C h a u d s c a n b e c r e a t e d , fed a n d a c t i v a t e d .

T h e n e x t s t e p is t h e i n d u c t i o n o f t h e P o i n t s C h a u d s

i n t o t h e i n d i v i d u a l ' s s y s t e m of m a g i c a l o p e r a t i o n s (h i s

[ in jv is ib lc b o d i e s ) in o r d e r f o r a n i n i t i a t e t o f u n c t i o n

p e r f e c t l y as a V o u d o n G n o s t i c m a g i c i a n . T h e P o i n t s

C h a u d s a r e c e n t r e s t h a t w h e n a c t i v a t e d c a n r e l e a s e

spec i f i c k a l a s / O j a s m a n i f e s t e d t h r o u g h s e x o — m a g i c a l

w o r k .

So how are the Points Chauds given or received?

T h e r e a r c d i f f e r e n t w a y s in o u r s y s t e m t o d o t h i s . L e t

m e n o w t o u c h u p o n a p r o c e d u r e d e s c r i b e d in t h e VGW

a n d w h i c h is r e f e r r e d t o as t h e G u z o t t e s y s t e m .

T h e P o i n t s C h a u d s a r e c l o s e l y a s s o c i a t e d t o w h a t w e

call t h e Presentments''1 w h i c h a r c in t h e i r e s s e n c e s v e r y

p o w e r f u l ' a p p e a r a n c e e l e m e n t á i s ' . T h e s e P r e s e n t m e n t s

a r e t h e w a y in w h i c h Les V u d u i n t e r a c t w i t h t h e b o d y o f

t h e i n i t i a t e . I t is t h e c o m m u n i c a t i o n o f i n i t i a t i c e n e r g i e s .

i 2 The created 16 magical serpents are designated by the Ophidian Tharot, 'which imply all of the meanings associated with the mated chakras and with their mystical correspondences and powers, as well as the magical energies which are now represented so well by the serpent products of this magical mating.' See Michael Bcrtiaux, 4 t h year, Course of the Monastery of the Seven Kays.

" Presentments: 'This is a Haitian magickal word for the things that appear to the senses, inner and outer. Thus the color blue would be an example. But such 'things presented' are really magical objects. They are appearance—elementals and are therefore quite powerful. Guzotte has sought to focus on them in order to call our attention to their powers'. Michael Bertiaux, The Voudon Gnostic Workbook.

T h e s e P r e s e n t m e n t s n o w n e e d t o b e d e v e l o p e d a n d t h e n

b e c o m e H o t P o i n t s . T h i s d e v e l o p m e n t m u s t t a k e p l a c e

t h r o u g h v i e w i n g a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e P r e s e n t m e n t s as

Pheonismes f4 T h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g is d o n e t h r o u g h a

p r o c e s s B e r t i a u x r e f e r s t o as ' E s o t e r i c L o g i c o f t h e

b o d y ' . T h i s p r o c e s s is b o t h i n d i v i d u a l a n d e x p e r i e n t i a l ,

b u t is a l so i n p a r t s g u i d e d b y i n i t i a t i c t r a n s m i s s i o n s f r o m

a H i g h P r i e s t . W h e n t h i s i n t e g r a t i v e a n d e s o t e r i c

p r o c e s s o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e P r e s e n t m e n t s as

P h e o n i s m e s is a c h i e v e d , t h e P h e o n i s m e s b e c o m e H o t

P o i n t s a n d c a n t h e n b e m a p p e d o u t a n d i n d u c t e d in t h e