Theory:The Mystery of Kurgasiax is the mystery of the Wheel. The I is at the center, the edges (boundary) of the Wheel are the edges of Mystery, the area outside of it is the Unknown. The way in which it differs from its dayside Wheel of Fortune is hidden in the relationship of Universe A to Universe B.
In order to learn/grow, one must commune with the edges of the Wheel. This is the realm of Mystery, where we enlarge ourselves through experiences with that outside ourselves. The keys for stability in this unstable place, is Mercy and Strength--Geburah and Chesed--the first emanations below the Abyss (Separation).
Strength borne of anger is unstable in itself. Mercy without the action borne of strength, is weak. The translation of energy from Geburah to Chesed manifests as the magickal Weapons of the magickan become the magickal Tools, the essential Tools of the Adept.
What is less obvious is the importance of Mercy (which can be a powerful mantra!). The act of doing something anyway. It is an 'irrational' act--a method of controlling one's universe. One acts 'in spite of'. One forgives. By creating this controlled act, one draws upon the power of creation, the power of the Word. You are no longer reacting blindly to the stimuli of your environment; you are creating your own.
The mechanistic cause -- effect process of the multiverse has no mercy. It is up to us to create it. Consider how important that choice is.
Geburah-strict judgment-is an equalizing, knee-jerk reaction to situations. Within it there is no choice. Fairness and equality is not the highest truth-but it is the truth by which our country is run. Laws must exist where there is no love to temper action. Mercy is a product of love. Mercy allows for choice. The Weapons become the Tools-tools to use at Will. The choice to act anyway.
Practice:
The practical application of Kurgasiax is revealed within the sigil itself. Here we find a glyph for the magickal working involved. The horned circle with the x within represents the earth, our Wheel. Outside the earth lie the Stars, the stars which influence our. destiny while on earth. The path between the magnetic stars and the magnetic earth is our point of departure from enforced response into freedom, Knowing the Stars allow that freedom. And how-do we do this? How do we escape earth's endless chain of cause-effect? The Key exists in the relationship of macrocosm to microcosm. We must look inside ourselves first. The Stars exist inside of us. They are accessed through the Sahasrara Chakra, that center at the top of the head. It is here that the "Kalas of the Stars" rain down. It is here that we find our Stars and begin our journey. When the Star is found within, you are at the beginning of the path. The Star within sets up a sympathetic vibration with the Star outside, in the night sky. That sympathetic vibration is the path which leads you out of yourself, and into freedom.
What we have, finally, is a path up the right-hand side of the Tree: From Malkuth to Netzach, through the Wheel to Chesed, through the Hierophant to Chokmah, the realm of Stars. It is a path well worth traveling.
Card No. 24
A'ANO'NIN - THE ANOINTING
Ecstasy, release, dissolution of the ego, the culmination of passion. These are the spirit of A'ano'nin. One must leave one's Self behind, flinging on fullheartedly into the primal powers. Here we learn that the Kundalini arisen is the natural state of man; we have learned to suppress it, force it down, as we have learned to suppress so much else. All that is needed to return to this natural state is removal of that blockage, those inhibitions which prevent this ultimate orgasm into the force of Nature. A'ano'nin is the catalyst of that change.
Within the Typhonic circle, kneel and touch the card with the fingers of the left hand, the hand of absorption. Focus on the images, and then on the power which lies behind the card. Allow the power from the card to first touch, then flow into the hand.
As this continues, the hand will become slightly numb. This numbness indicates the loss of your personal control and the rise of control by the entity.
Begin to stroke-your, right hand. Feel the force of this alien hand as it caresses you. Let it continue up your arm, over your body, and to your genitalia. As you are masturbated, close your eyes and concentrate upon the vision of a single giant Eye. watching over you. Focus on giving the power forth as longing in your body, connecting you with the Eye. As passion builds, the Eye will appear to change. Continue on to orgasm, and then, with your left hand, take the fluids of your body and anoint the Eye above you.
This ritual may be done under the influence of alcohol, to stimulate the loss of inhibition.
To conclude: The.formula contained within these cards reveal themselves as one working follows another. The shadow-selves carry shapes and forms particular to the magickan performing these rites. As such, different visions may also be obtained and other-rites may be suggested by these forms. These are just a few of the rituals that can be inspired by contact with these atavistic primordial.beings. may your own workings be infused with such joy.
Between the known and the unknown lies the realm of Mystery, the energies which we vaguely sense but have no form for. These cards open the gates of Mystery. They allow the mysteries to become known. The unknown then passes into the realm of Mystery.
Mystery is substance without form; knowledge gives it form. it hardens and relinquishes the realm of creation's possibilities. Most of the power in these cards remains a Mystery, unfinished, free, formless. This is as it should be, as it was at the dawn of creation.
CARD NO. 15
HEMETHTERITH (The Formation of) MANA
This is an alchemical rite. Two participants are needed. I will, for simplicity's sake, differentiate between the two as Priestess and Priest, but these terms are not meant to be sexually exclusive.
The Priestess must save her first day's moon blood (if male, another course of action is suggested). This can be done most easily by using a diaphragm or sponge. Keep it refrigerated until the rite. Do not use it if it turns black.
The Priest must obtain goat's milk. Both essences should be kept in specially consecrated cups or bowls and brought out just prior to the working.
Lay Hemethterith card in the center of the Typhonic Circle. Draw a hexagram carefully around the card, making one triangle of milk, the other of blood. Mix the remaining substances together and anoint the palms of the hands and each other's chakras, from top to bottom. Drink what then remains of the consecrated mixture.
The ritual itself is to be performed naked. The Priestess will lay down with the card just beneath her heart chakra, eyes closed, arms out, palms up. The Priest will put his right hand on the Priestess' crown chakra and his left on her womb. He will softly begin to chant the name of hemethterith.
The Priestess shall open herself up to the stellar waves of force as they are envisioned proceeding from the stars overhead. She shall draw this power into herself, until her body can be seen glowing in the darkness. The power will be felt as a Silver Rain falling softly over her body. When the Priest perceives her glow, he may then partake of her power by drinking it from her breasts.
The action of actively absorbing the stellar current by filling the vessel of the body transmutes it's power into Mana. The body becomes the fountain of life.
As this is a gentle rite, performed during the woman's lunar cycle, it should be remembered that during this time, the Priestess is particularity vulnerable to astral influences. Care is needed not to drain too much from her at the climax of this Working.
Card no. 16
URIENS -- THE FISHES EYE
The Fishes Eye never blinks; it is never closed. Eternal, it stares, seeing all which lies before it. Such is our astral vision, yet it is obscured by our own quick minds. The art of clearing our astral vision is the art of becoming still.
Astral entities, though it seems as if they can see us better than we wee them, do not see us perfectly. The simplest way for them to become aware of us is to stop--stop moving, stop thinking, be at rest. The longer we stay in one place, the easier it is for them to become aware of us (this works both ways). When they become aware of us, they will approach us. When they have approached us, then it is our turn. We must look through that Fishes Eye.
One exercise, useful in perfecting inner sight, is to sit still for several minutes, your eyes closed and hands at your sides. Then, eyes still closed, move your hands and arms before you. move them back and forth, closer and farther away. Try to see "through" your eyelids. In very little time, you will begin to see a glow in the shape of your hands. The glow will move when you move your arms. To test your accuracy, open your eyes and compare the astral image to that which your eyes now see.
Empathy is another level of Seeing.. The forms taken are not images, though images may be suggested during the process. We are porous, like those beings with whom we seek to communicate. They move through us as we move through them. Conscious empathy is being aware of this as it happens.
Uriens is the fecundator of astral sight. Uriens pours forth; the fishes Eye takes in the images and the power. The fish swims in the waters of creative inspiration, and is one with its flow. This manifests to us as realization of contact with a Current.
The ritual is to be performed in your bath tub. light the bathroom with candles and create an altar for the presentation of the card of Uriens. Burn lunar incense. Use bath salts if you wish. You should be able to see the card clearly from your bathtub.
As you lay in the tub, observe the card. Note its colors, forms and images. Forget about the tub around you. Focus until nothing exists for you but the card. Continue to focus until nothing exists but the sigil. Reach out with your arms towards the card, and mentally move into its shifting colors. The essence of this card is Movement, and the Inflexible within you will perish within it. Allow your "body" to be washed within its waters. Gaze upon the images you behold as if you were a window--let them pass through you, unimpeded. With this empathy come Wisdom.
CARD NO. 1 2
BARATCHIAL - THE OTHER
Above the Abyss, the Word is the Form taken by the essence of an individual spirit, human or otherwise. It is the ground upon which the Magus walks.
Below the Abyss, the word is the Form of breath; breath is the instrument of the word. On a practical level, this means that breath is prana, power, and when a word is spoken, the breath forms a particular vehicle. This vehicle will resonate with its owner, the named object.
This Working requires the participation of two magickans. Sit on the floor with knees bent under the body, and neck bent so that the head is on the floor. Thrust your arms forward. Position the card of Baratchial between yourselves. Tightly grasp each other's arms underneath the elbow.
Form the name Baratchial with a breathy whisper, then have your partner speak the name. Regulate your breathing in such a way that you match one an other's breaths. Be aware of the form of the breath of light as it leaves your body. Allow the name to flow like a wave of light into your partner. S/he should do likewise.
As you continue to trade this energy back and forth between you, your partner will slowly take on the aspect of the "Other". To your partner, you wi1l begin to take on this aspect.
Raise the volume and frequency of the call. Intensify your waves of light. The name may begin to change, and take on strange forms. Allow it to do so. Let the word grow, mutate, and pulsate with its own life. Do not be overly concerned by any astral changes in your appearance; they are merely a by-product. Pay close attention to the Other; feel its force.
The Words will eventually slow and fade. They shall drift into oblivion.
Rest in silence before closing the Temple.
This rituals power will increase with use. Profound changes can take place within the psyche of the two performing this rite.
CHARACITH -- THE SPINE OF THE SERPENT
It is the vertebrae which holds the body, together. Contained within it are the nerves which link to create the life of the whole. The vertebrae can be seen as a glyph of joining. It is the medium by which one thing joins another.
You, like the spine, are a link in a vertebrae. What is above you and below you flows through you as much as you flow through them. Physically, this is represented by the nervous system, in particular, that of the spine.
Characith is a seemingly electromagnetic medium which joins one thing to another, creating that whole. It creates many things, such as group minds, and yet goes beyond them as well.
The ritual may be done singly or within a group. Sit within the Typhonic circle, before the card of Characith. Hold out both hands to either side of you.. If you are in a group, all should join hands, and the two end people will each hold out one of their hands. The right hand should be envisioned as emanating a vortex of red glowing light. The left hand, blue. Be sure to sit straight-spined. After the formulations are solid, concentrate on the image of Characith, and call. With each call, let your consciousness be expelled out with your breath, to touch and draw forth the spirit of Characith.
As you continue you will see entities come, as if to feed. from your palms. They may appear as serpents. They may appear as a pair of inhuman hands grasping your own. They will come. You will feel an electrical presence pulse through you as they touch you. Allow your consciousness to touch theirs; become a part of them. As far-reaching as they are, only your personal limitations will be your stopping point. Expand (or travel) as far as you can go trough them.
ADVANCED WORK -- If this force can be maintained, it can be used as the vehicle of inter-stellar communications.
A WORD ON MADNESS
The dangers of the magickan's path are many, and not the least of them come from himself. The threat of madness is a lingering worry in the back of the practicioner's head, rarely made conscious until too late.
Sanity is like a fulcrum-point, with balance being maintained on both sides. When it is tipped too far, by an excess of power on one side or another, the fulcrum slips and is lost. Those sides can be considered as common reality and magickal reality. Both can endure tremendous amounts of power, which manifests as attention and focus, but both must be attended to equally to maintain the balance.
In eastern mysticism, a teacher is the accepted fail safe of the student. A teacher will guide the student within the confines of that teacher's magickal reality. It is the sharing of that reality which is important here. In sharing the new vision of the world, the student is linking--combining magickal reality and common reality. No matter how much power and intensity the student is subjected to, it is balanced through contact with the teachers understanding.
This knowledge is essential when working in the far corners of Chaos. The primary danger to the solo magickan is that of isolation from his fellow peers. Isolation precedes madness. In our tendency to gravitate towards those who understand us, we inadvertently protect ourselves from this danger.
But often our wanderings take us far from any shared system. And in order to grow, we must go outside the known places of our world, even those shared magickal realms. A fellow traveler, if not a teacher, can be your safeguard in these places., As one who has walked upon the tightrope of sanity and madness, I share with you here what I have learned.
ZAMRADIEL -- THE BLOODHOUND'S -PATH Within the tunnel of Zamradiel lies Shugal, guardian, watcher and guide. Here, death and life become one and the same. To attain converse with Shugal, and admission to the path beyond, first find an appropriate spirit house. The corpse of a road-killed dog is most suitable. Take the body home. Sever the head from the body and bury the body with appropriate rites to set the soul of the animal free. You can cleanse the skull of flesh by first cutting away the excess decay, then soaking it in 1/4 strength Clorox.
When the spirit house is prepared for the rite, lay the skull over the card of Zamradiel. Sit within the Typhonian Circle, facing the skull. Burn one small candle behind it.
Prick your finger (or use menstrual blood) to trace the sigil of the Marassa onto the forehead. you have now prepared your Bloodhound.
Put your hands on either side of the skull and transfer energy between them. The sigil will begin to glow and pulsate. When a powerful pathway has been established, put your two middle fingers into the eye sockets. You may feel an electrical shock.
Focus on the space behind the sigil. Vision now will be making themselves manifest. Close your eyes and follow the bloodhounds path.
This ritual grows in power with repetition. As the path becomes often trod, it will become more clear a Shugal's howl winds its way through your soul.