Archive for Gateways

Works of Light and Fire: Hecates Gate

Posted in Luciferianism, Occultism, Paganism, The Path of Flames with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 15, 2016 by Sypheara

The last two months, after posting the last update, have been very hectic when it comes to activity. For this, and technical reasons causing several drafts to disappear, has caused me to update less than I intended. However, with it being three years approximately to the inception of the blog, I felt it was important to get out some kind of update as both motivation and to let interested parties know as to how things are going.

That said, I will try and launch straight into the updates. Firstly, and most importantly, Hecates stellar gate has been successful carved, blooded, and opened in ritual releasing unique and important gnosis. This has clarified some longer term goals on my path.

The Stellar Gate itself comprises of two, important sigils, one being her full, revealed and activated stellar eye and that of her own, specific sigil relating to her stellar gate. These were etched into a birch endblock, and inked as described in an earlier posting, accompanied by four, surrounding words of power. These words of power consisted of Hecates name, that of two of her appropriate titles, and the name of the Stellar Toad all written in Theban script.

This prepared block was cleansed with Sandalwood incense and water, and in ritual from within the circle with both sides of the tree opened and Hecate invoked into the flesh, empowered. The exact method for this has to at this time remain secret, but involved a specific way of consecrating the block at six, cardinal directions using a specific vocalised stellar key. It also involved some semi circle breaking work to draw in the powers directly from opened conduits, acting as a lightning flash between direction, block and practitioner.

Once correctly opened, Hecate elevated the level of the possession utilising the power of the gate. The level of the possession became strong, and direct, Hecate assuming an insect like form to merge with my own. At the height of the possession and union, the energy released was explosive revealing knowledge of two, new stellar keys as well as a specific, gate construction. Gnosis was delivered as to the full structure of both the keys, and the gate, alongside some clues as to its intrinsic nature. The nature of this possession was exhausting, draining even, being different to the usual kinds of possession experienced. However the conciousness was expanded, and in the days that followed several blocking elements in the work were removed.

It was at this time that I received my new Athame. I had contacted a smith to create a bespoke blade for Hecates craft, but numerous issues had prevented it from making its way into my hands. After only a few days, I received correspondence to let me know, out the blue that it was on its way. After a brief but slightly eventful delivery, it finally arrived and, through intuitive workings with the Gods, was consecrated.

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An example of Damascus Steel. Credit: Ralf Pfeifer

The blade is made from Damascus steel,  and features a curved silver crossguard and the hilt is made of black ebony. Its empowerment was done from within the circle, at the four cardinal directions, with Hecate invoked into the flesh. The hilt was decorated with two, simple sigillic constructions as directed, and the blade was treated with a mix of plant essential oils, one for each element. I hope to in the near  future write a small, descriptive PDF of this process for those who wish to construct a similar blade that is specific to the current of the Trident. This is not to suggest there is an orthodoxy to this process that I feel is likely extremely personal, but hopefully it will offer a springboard for people to base off further ideas.

Lastly but not least, for Beltane celebrations I ran a working dedicated to Lucifer, invoking his stellar and light bearing aspects. This work consisted of two main parts, due to falling several days later than the actual sabbat, on the black moon.

The first part was the opening of a central cauldron of water, to the black moon, in Lucifers name. This cauldron was then used to cleanse, banish and remove malefic ills specific to each individual. Through it Lucifers fire was also drawn, as the height of the black moon ebbed. The new, growing influence of the moon was then used to conduct a group working, petitioning Lucifer to assist and speed up in the healing of the Earth and the rebalance of its world soul via awakening the souls of man.

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The Altar after specific, personal items had been removed. Thanks to the photographer on the day.

Central to the work were two, temporary sigillic gates initially opened in a preliminary work on the Sabbat rite. These were created via automatic writing in possession with Lucifer, and were created as exoteric seals to channel the solar and stellar energies. The first was a variation of his primary sigil, oozing the energies of his lightning flash, and the second was a variant on Hecates Sabbatic Eye infused with his solar energies. The first was used as a primary conduit as part of the altar work, the second the seating sigil for the large, brass cauldron. Added to the cauldron was a mix of plant essential oils, salt, and a exceptional offering gifted by one member of the group. This offering took the form of a triskele created from copper. This was activated, and used to seat additional energies within the cauldron itself.

I felt the working went very well, the energies being correctly channelled and applied, and this was echoed in the feedback from the group. It is always a pleasure to be able to share what an be shared of the craft and introduce others to these entities in their true forms, especially when it comes to a much maligned entity such as Lucifer that is covered with many masks.

Finally but in no means least, The Rite of Her Sacred fires will be being held on the full moon of May. This rite is open to any who wish to participate, and is partaken in by many devotees of Hecate since its inception in 2010 by Sorita d’Este.  I have performed the rite as prescribed in the past, and it was always an enjoyable and beautiful experience. This year, I will be participating in my own way by incorporating it into wa orking with Hecates opened gate. I encourage all others who have a connection or calling with her to give it a shot. More information about the rite, as well as a much better writeup, can be found at the Covenant of Hecates website by clicking the image below.

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The Rite of Her Sacred Fires (Sorita d’Este)

I hope you have had a fantastic May so far, and hope that it brings many opportunities in the craft to come.

Ave Hecate,

~S~

Opening the Gates to the Stellar Path

Posted in Occultism, The Path of Flames, Traditional Witchcraft with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 7, 2016 by Sypheara

The last month or two has been a pretty difficult and busy time! But after both failures of the biological and technological kind, I am back up and running in some capacity.

I have been in the main, focusing on important private rituals as well as assisting those who have gotten in contact with me in regards to specific guidance on this path. December saw me receiving and consecrating a very powerful tool. It is pictured below, in its raw unactivated form

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The Obsidian Orb, before its consecration and activation

This tool, a large obsidian sphere, has vastly exceeded my expectation. Consecrated as Hecates perfect stellar eye whilst in possession, the obsidian has proved to be a perfect and potent medium for channelling her energies directly through it. It is now used in almost every rite which involves circle and divination work, and played a pivotal role in a group ritual I ran in December. This ritual centred around a witch god known as the Lord of the Dark Star, a very powerful and very ancient being who acts as amongst other things, the guardian to Hecates throne. This was a very intense ritual, more so than initially planned, and it drew some interesting entities to the circles edge. This manifested in tangible, and slightly violent, physical phenomena as the sheer energy drew alot of attention from the local spirits of the place. It was exhilarating to run and invoke him for his guidance and protection.

This ritual made use of one of two formulas given to me by Hecate, this one being a specific vibration that channels both the stellar currents firstly of her, and then of Lucifer. This call rapidly raised the energy in the circle beyond again what was expected. I spent the rest of the month getting observations from this typed up as well as the gnosis received distributed to those who had taken part. It was made clear to me unfortunately this could not be distributed on the blog. However I say those of you who want to work with this entity, I approached him via Hecate and advise if others are interested, that the do the same in their practice. He can be a very remote and challenging entity that should be sought through her. Invoking him through obsidian consecrated in her name within the activated circle with Hecate invoked, utilising blood, seems to be a valid approach. He is of major importance on the stellar path and I expect this is only the first of such powerful works.

On the left, an optical image from the Digitized Sky Survey shows Cygnus X-1, outlined in a red box. Cygnus X-1 is located near large active regions of star formation in the Milky Way, as seen in this image that spans some 700 light years across. An artist's illustration on the right depicts what astronomers think is happening within the Cygnus X-1 system. Cygnus X-1 is a so-called stellar-mass black hole, a class of black holes that comes from the collapse of a massive star. New studies with data from Chandra and several other telescopes have determined the black hole's spin, mass, and distance with unprecedented accuracy.

Black hole (artists impression), NASA

Outside of this I have finally received the package I have been waiting for to start on the next part of the work. This package contains three birch endgrain woodblocks, which will be the perfect physical medium with which to create the Stellar Gates. Each stellar gate will be created in turn, complimenting the initial gate sigil given through the performance of the initiation within the Temple of the Four Pillars of Fire. It was on my visit here I saw first-hand the importance of creating physical gateways in this manner, as up until this time I had not used wood in the construction of gates.

The initial gate therefore, on my return to my own indoor working space, was created out of similar wood and activated as directed by Belial and the Gates ruling entity. Its surface was marked with the four words of power given by its guardian, the Ivory Spider, as well as his sigil and that of the gate sigil itself. It proved to be once activated, incredibly powerful, as detailed in earlier postings. What follows is a brief description of it’s creation.

I’ll mention firstly that I am no professional engraver nor could I be considered artistically inclined, working entirely within a technical field. However the following has proven to work, if to be a bit of an unforgiving process. I am sure there are many improvements that could be made by those who possess greater artistic skill in this area.

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Typical slab and blocks utilised in Engraving (credit to linked site with more info)

The actual creation of the gates can only be be started when the gnosis for them is delivered by it’s specific patron. Once this has occurred, it’s actual physical creation can be started. It is a process which can be both laborious, and difficult. Once begun care must be taken as even one small mistake can mean the entire process must be restarted.

The wood itself is the first major consideration – gates of this power cannot be constructed in the usual manner using paper or parchment. Instead they must be constructed on a much more potent material such as wood, stone or in some cases bone and flesh. This is foremost to be remembered – they will NOT be correctly or sufficiently opened if carved or marked on poor or unsuitable material unable to unlock their vast energies. Leave any preconceptions of relying solely on magical ‘will’ behind you and acquire the necessary material. Any other approach will serve you poorly in their creation. My affinity for birch and my working with the general and specific familiars of this tree lent itself through intuition to being the wood I eventually used.

The second is the marking of each, individual sigil or seal upon the woods surface. For this I simply mark each sigil first using a pencil and then use a simple array of small chisels to first mark, deepen and then smooth each line. I then get rid of the left over wood shavings ensuring a clean surface, and then fill each and every line with consecrated, artists ink to permanently mark each and every line of each sigil. This is done simply using a dip pen, using an old and broken nib as the process can damage them easily. This part requires caution as a single big mistake can ruin an entire woodblock and thus hours of work. Once applied the ink will spread through the lines and give it a strong definition. It is not difficult for this to be done quite accurately as long as time and care is taken, and the process is not rushed. Rushing the process just lengthens the entire procedure, as mistakes are made and resources wasted. Note the use of specific magickal inks have merit here, if directed to be used.

The third is its full activation. Once the ink has dried, the entire completed stele is passed through heavy sandalwood smoke or other appropriate incense smoke to cleanse and empower it. Exhaled breath after holding a shot of an alcoholic spirit  in the mouth heightens this further. Once thus prepared, the gate is activated in the cast circle via direct instructions given by the Gods either at that time, or at the time the knowledge of the sigil was originally given. Up to now has involved libating each line of the sigil in blood, empowering the stele at the relevant quarter or multiple quarters of the circle,  and then sealing this in sexual magickal communion with the patron of the gate. However the process for each gate can be unique once constructed and should be explored further at an individual level with the gates specific ruling patron.

It is in this way I will be constructing all the necessary stellar gates over the next few months. Each one will be worked with and explored on an individual basis as well as grouped together.  I am also likely to be creating a full evocation triangle for use within this work. This evocation triangle will initially be used in rituals with Lucifer, and will also be made out of wood. It will be used to ask for his guidance, advice, and relevant primary key for use upon this specific path.

Hopefully this has been of help to those who want a bit more insight into this process. I thoroughly recommend this approach to be considered when a permanent gate needs creating. I hope Imbolc was a good sabbat for everyone and can definitely say that there is an interesting journey ahead!

Ave Hecate,
~S~

Enlinking Familiars to Objects

Posted in Luciferianism, The Path of Flames with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 13, 2015 by Sypheara

Finally, I have a draft of the Enlinking Familiar rite I am happy to release. Having gone through numerous edits, I believe it is now in a state that is correctly representative. It quickly became much larger and intricately detailed that I initially intended, in order to correctly and fully detail the process involved.

This marks the completion of the two familiar rites I initially set out to perform within my own, personal workings and to document. This entry details the means by which the Primary Familiar was initially encountered in its full, manifested form, and given a physical shell so it could be interacted with to carry out powerful external workings.

In this rite the method by which this was carried out is detailed. Whilst it is specifically written to pertain to the primary familiar, it can be abstracted easily to be applied to any familiar a witch needs to enlink. Note this is not a binding process but the creation of an active gateway! Once opened, it is a link that cannot be removed or destroyed without consequences for both familiar and practitioner. Note also this is written from the perspective entirely of someone working with Hecates energies.. it is only though her energies this particular rite can be successful.

In addition, the rite mentions briefly the wand and triangle of Arte. These are both necessary tools that need to be both acquired, and utilised effectively within the rite for it to be truly effective. It could be that these small entries form themselves  the basis of a basic, working tools entry that will be later detailed, but this has yet to be fully decided.

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The Veiled Stellar Eye of Hecate

This rite contains some further elucidation on the Stellar Eyes of the Gods,and the role that Hecates specifically plays within this rite. It is through her Stellar Eye the power to link familiars in this particular way is carried out, the true forms of which only she herself can reveal to the witch. It also in its own way, acts as as a multifaceted and hidden key.  It also forms a part of a hidden and secret path to deeper mysteries within her realms, and can be utilized for a specific line of Ascent for those who she bestows this gift upon.

The resources section has been updated, and the write up can be found at the following link:

https://theluciferianrevolution.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/enlinkingobjectsexternalfamiliars4.pdf

My attention now turns to working on active gateways and much deeper, and occult work with the Trident Gods to properly begin the lightning path that leads across the Abyss. In addition, a working on the 21st with a local group has been scheduled to further raise and connect with the Stellar Energies, hopefully giving others a firsthand taste of this empowering current.

Ave Hecate,

~S~

Samhain Blessings

Posted in Other, Paganism, The Path of Flames with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on October 31, 2015 by Sypheara

Was reflecting on and came to the conclusion that a post was in order, considering the auspiciousness of the day.

My mundane situation has calmed down considerably, and I am (mostly) moved into my new place. Tonight, the Temple Room will be reactivated by a process involving the following. Whilst I do not have time to detail this process, it can be quickly lain out as follows for the interested:

  • The casting of the sphere of night.
  • Calling of the quarters.
  • Calls given composed of the both the Planetary , Stellar calls, and that of the Ephesian letters.
  • Ensorcelling of the powers of the sphere.
  • Invocation and Possession involving Hecate.
  • Opening of both sides of the Tree, light, then dark to balance the polarities.
  • The concentration of this energy into opening the new gateway within the new inner temple through blood work, sexual magick at the height of frenzy and excitation.

I wish everyone who is reading a blessed and productive Samhain…  may the torches of the Gods forever illuminate your path. I hope your workings tonight truly blow open the veils and reveal the gnosis that you seek.

Ave Hecate,

Ave Lucifer,

Ave Belial,

All Hail to the Witchgods this Night!

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Samhain by MidnightsTouch

Gnosis via the Eyes of the Gods

Posted in Greco-Egyptian, Occultism, Paganism, The Path of Flames, Traditional Witchcraft with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 26, 2015 by Sypheara

There are many ways in which the Gods deliver gnosis to those who have successfully forged a working relationship with them, or to those who they wish to bestow upon their gnosis. This can take the form of anything from vivid possession of the body and journeying in bilocation, to audible voices and intuitive experiences.

One common and powerful way they communicate and grant their gifts is via  the Eyes of the Gods. These manifest as gigantic eyes to our minds, usually during liminal, journeying experiences but some cases even without warning, superimposing themselves over our sight.

These manifestations are always vivid, made up of a dizzying array of colour and light. The sensation is that of a hyper real experience as the God manifests themselves in the form of their great eyes directly. This is often accompanied with an auditory sensation akin to a low or high pitched notes that oscillates endlessly. Each experience of the Eyes of the Gods is unique, depending on which God is manifesting and in which form they so choose. Common forms for these appearances as Serpentine, Mammalian and Compound eyes, but other more geoemetric arrangements can encountered and experienced.

Gazing into the eye in fascination is usually an automatic response, such is the alluring draw of these beings, ancient beyond comparison. Often when this is done, for any length of time, within the eyes the observer will become aware of a shifting pattern of lines, geometric shapes and quivering sine waves. Sometimes, these condense into a solid, powerful and radiant sigil.

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The Solar Eclipse, May 2013, Liscarroll National School

The Eye Sigils, although not the Eyes themselves, contain a vast amount of power. They can be roughly split into two categories: Ingressing, and Egressing. Note before I continue that these categories are purely to make working with them easier; it is a purely human, logical construction for the purpose as acting as a quick rule in regards to the applications of any particular eye sigil. This can (and definitely should) be backed up by further work with the entity which gave the original eye sigil.

Ingressing eye sigils direct power inwards. These eyes are great to work with in offering and devotion, and reveal great gnosis through their utilisation through contemplation and/or blood work. They primarily act as maps, keys and gates to other realms.

Egressing eye sigils direct power forcibly outwards, acting as potent protective and malefic tools, and also act as powerful sigils to create active and powerful gateways for earthing the currents of the witchgods.

As mentioned above, this rule is not hard and fast. The reality is that the majority of the time, an eye sigil is a mix of these depending on the reason why it was  gifted upon its observer in the first place. However in my experiences so far,  they are usually weighted to one of these categories and  are given for one specific use. Each should certainly be approached and understood on its own basis.

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The Eye of Horus, self edited

The appearances of these eyes cannot be forced, only requested, and are to be seen as fragments of the Gods themselves and respected as such. It is likely they will be encountered in invocation, if they make their presence known to the practitioner who invites them into their flesh.  They are also present when the Gods are watching us, although usually in a more distant format and is in these cases encountered primarily in the dream state. The first of these resolved eye sigils that were specifically granted to me, along with increased visions of these eyes, has been revealed as a vital part in the construction of the lower stellar body. It is through the constructed and empowerment of this body via which the Ivory Spider, along with a myriad of other Witch Gods, will allow for the full integration of the lower spheres for the crossing of the Abyss.

As contrast to the above, it can be easily demonstrated that such powerful eye sigils, and the eyes in general  in regards to magickal purposes have a precedent in many other cultures in the world. Both of the examples I use below could fill a post on their own, so I will keep it brief and the reader is encouraged to research further.

Egyptian culture has a famous example in the Eye of Horus. Horus was one of the most significant Egyptian deities, a stellar sky god of immense power. In one Egyptian myth, Horus was engaged in combat with  his uncle Set for the throne after his father, Osiris’s death. In said fight Set landed a blow which blinded Horus, entirely gouging out his left eye. This wound was later to be magically healed, in one strain of the story by the god Thoth. The lost eye of Horus, upon being recovered, was offered by Horus himself to his father Osiris in an attempt to once again resurrect him. This led to the Eye of Horus becoming linked strongly with protective elements, healing, and sacrifice, due to its sympathetic links with the actual severed eye of the God.

A different but none the less impressive example are the tales surrounding the protective and malefic power of the heads of the Gorgons, from the Greek classical period. Gorgons in the tales of antiquity are described as terrifying female monsters, possessed of hair comprised of living snakes as well as a stare that could turn a man to stone in an instant.  Perhaps due to their terrifying nature, great power, and associations with immortality, it was unsurprising that the head of the Gorgons would be fashioned and used in an amulet form, known as a Gorgoneion. This Gorgoneion was primarily used for protective purposes to avert the ‘evil eye’ of malefic intent turned towards its possessor or location it was drawn upon, in a way that could well be described as fighting fire with fire. The use of  this technique, known as Apotropaic magic, was widespread in the Mediterranean region at the time.

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Medusa by Arnold Böcklin, circa 1878

This short entry I hope has been of interest. Although seemingly simple it is a topic with vast depth, something I have found through exploring the stellar eyes of the Gods.  Further posts are forthcoming as work is completed and archived, but unfortunately I have temporarily been disrupted by my mundane situation, due to having to move house. This said, the PDF second part of Familiar Bonding will be completed and posted either on or hopefully soon after Samhain.

This will be the final PDF on the topics of Familiars for the foreseeable furture, and with the initial gnosis of both the Eyes and the Foundations of the lower body thus complete, work will begin on creating the three remaining stellar gates for the  for the preparation for the incorporation of the spheres and finally the crossing of the abyss itself.

Ave Hecate,
Ave Lucifer,
Ave Belial,
~S~