by Donald Tyson
Each lamen is rimmed around its edge with the color of the lord of the Old Ones to which it corresponds. The lamen of Yig is rimmed in black, that of Yog-Sothoth in blue, that of Cthulhu in red, that of Azathoth in yellow, that of Shub-Niggurath in green, that of Nyarlathotep in orange, and that of Dagon in purple.
Lamen of Dagon
The lamens may be made of flat disks of metal or wood, painted on both faces. Another way to make the lamens of the seven lords is to obtain seven matching round wooden picture frames of small diameter, and set an eyehook into the top of each frame so that it may be hung around the neck on a ribbon or chain. The seals can then be painted or marked in black on disks of white parchment or white paper, with the sigils marked in black on the opposite side, and inserted into the round picture frames behind the glass. The sigils on the backs of the paper disks will not be visible, but will still be effective. The wooden frames may then be painted in the colors that match the lords of the seals.
Those who have been elevated to the rank of Master, and who make a choice of one of the seven ways of approach to the throne of chaos, wear an emblem that indicates to the other members of the Order which path they have chosen to walk. They wear this both while learning the discipline of their chosen lord, and after they have succeeded in attaining the black throne. It is worn in an exposed place where it will be easily visible, but it is not worn with ostentation as a vain display. It is a badge of devotion that binds the wearer to the way of the lord it represents. The emblem may be an actual physical object or a representation of that object in the form of jewelry or a decoration.
The emblem of Yig is a knotted cord or noose, or else brooch, pin, or bracelet bearing the form of a knotted cord or noose. The emblem of Shub-Niggurath is a rose, or a piece of jewelry bearing the form of a rose. Cthulhu the warrior has the knife as his emblem, or a representation of a knife or sword in the form of jewelry. Dagon has as his emblem the book or scroll, or its representation in miniature. The emblem of Yog-Sothoth is a key or the miniature decorative representation of a key. The emblem of Nyarlathotep is a human skull or its representation in jewelry. Azathoth has for his emblem a whistle or flute, or a piece of jewelry in this shape.
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The Marks
Those who walk one of the seven paths of the lords in their quest for the attainment of the black throne may wish to adopt the seal of that lord as a body marking, in token of the fidelity that is owed to that lord. The use of the seal as a tattoo is voluntary. The seal of Yig marks the path of the north gate, the seal of Shub-Niggurath the path of the east gate, the seal of Cthulhu the path of the south gate, the seal of Dagon the path of the west gate, the seal of Yog-Sothoth the path of the upper gate, the seal of Nyarlathotep the path of the lower gate, and the seal of Azathoth the path of the central gate which alone among the seven paths has no duration or extent.
The seal chosen is impressed into the skin as a sign of respect and fidelity to the lord of the Old Ones whose name it invokes. It binds the wearer to that lord, and is not to be adopted lightly, for there is potency in the very shape and strokes that compose it. Consider long which lord you choose as your mentor on the quest for the black throne. The tattoo of the seal should be placed on the body with dignity. Among the appropriate places on the body are the base of the neck, the small of the back, the left breast above the heart, and the inside of the left forearm.
Tattoos should be made in black ink. Colors should not be used. The size is a matter for the discretion of the disciple, but it should not exceed an area that can be covered by the palm of the hand. The mark of the lord of the path is to be worn with respect. It is not required for the magic and rites of the Old Ones, but those who have committed themselves on one of the seven paths of attainment may wish to formalize their decision by accepting the mark of their chosen lord. Such marks are not decorations. Only one of the seven should be adopted, and only by the magician who has searched into his or her heart, and has made irrevocable commitment to the path, for once a path is walked, it cannot be unwalked.
Mark of the Old Ones
As a general sign of membership in the esoteric Order of the Old Ones, the mark of the Old Ones may be tattooed on the skin in whatever place is most convenient. It is useful to place the mark where it can be displayed easily to others, as an informal significator of membership in the Order. The mark is a miniature version of the footprint of the Old Ones, which has been left by their unseen passage in sand and in dust. It is composed of five identical black dots arranged on the points of an invisible pentalpha that expresses the five virtues of Attention, Ardor, Aggression, Authority, and Attainment.
The mark of the Old Ones should always be quite small. It is not for decorative display, but is a sign of devotion to the purposes of the Old Ones and membership in their esoteric Order. Those who take upon themselves the mark of five points pledge themselves to study the ways of the Old Ones through their seven lords, and to aid the Old Ones in their great work of restoring the earth to her rightful place on the triple throne of chaos, at the left hand of Azathoth. This is a noble service, for by its fulfillment the order and harmony of the cosmos, lost in the madness of Azathoth since the fall of Barbelzoa, shall be reestablished.
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The Seal Disks
The lords of the Old Ones are capricious and quick to anger. This is especially true of Nyarlathotep, who will as often injure those who seek his attention as he will benefit them. It may be necessary to seek protection from the aroused wrath of one of the lords. This is accomplished by means of the Elder Seal, which has power over all the Old Ones, both outer lords and inner lords, even over great Nyarlathotep. It was created by the Elder Things as a weapon against the Old Ones. Great is the power of the Old Ones, but greater still was the wisdom of the Elder Things.
By its segments and angles, the Elder Seal mimics and evokes the same poisonous but invisible rays that are cast down from the malefic alignment of the stars. Its force is more concentrated than that of the stars in the heavens, so that even Nyarlathotep, who can walk abroad beneath the moon when wrapped about in his black robes and veiled across the face, finds it difficult to confront the Elder Seal. The sentient things that were made by the Old Ones, and that still dwell in the deep places of the earth, or between the stars, suffer the same pain when the seal is exposed to them.
The Elder Seal
Paint the Elder Seal in gold upon both sides of a black disk that is five inches across. The seal will function potently even when all its details are not precisely rendered, for in its relationships of angles and lengths of rays force is compounded and reinforced, so that a part of the seal has the potency of its entirety.
The Elder Seal should be placed on the altar, between the three lights, during all rites of the Old Ones, but should always be carefully wrapped in white cloth and tied closed with white cord, so that no portion of it is exposed to the sight. If during the course of any rite, the life or sanity of the magician is threatened, the Elder Seal may be unwrapped and used to ward off the threat. Under no circumstances should it be left exposed during normal rites of worship, since its exposed face will prevent the approach of the lords and their servants, and will negate the working of the rites.
The temptation is strong to unleash the Elder Seal to command and compel to obedience the minions of the lords, or even the lords themselves. This temptation should be denied. The Old Ones are not to be trifled with. Magicians who think that the lords can be commanded learn their error in sorrow. The Old Ones favor those who serve them, but they never forget a transgression, and they never forgive. Use the Elder Seal in defense of your sanity and your life, but for no lesser reason.
Each of the twelve dancing gods has a seal that is used to represent the god in the solemn Rite of the Dancing Gods that is conducted on the nights of the equinox, but the seals are also employed when individual dancing gods are invoked for ritual
purposes that fall into their zones of authority. These seals are painted or otherwise delineated in black on the front side of white disks of wood or metal three inches in diameter. On the reverse side of each disk is marked in black the zodiac sign which that god corresponds. The rims of the disks are colored in the color of the lord of the Old Ones who is the active agent for that dancing god. The seal disks of the dancing gods resemble the lamens of the seven lords, but the seals of the twelve gods are not worn around the neck, and have no loop or hook by which they may be hung from a chain.
Seal Disk of Athoth
The following list indicates which zodiac sign is associated with each of the twelve gods, and should be marked on the reverse of the seal disk, and which lord’s color should be painted around the rim.
Athoth (Aries): red of Cthulhu (Mars)
Harmas (Taurus): green of Shub-Niggurath (Venus)
Galila (Gemini): orange of Nyarlathotep (Mercury)
Yobel (Cancer): purple of Dagon (Moon)
Adonaios (Leo): yellow of Azathoth (Sun)
Cain (Virgo): orange of Nyarlathotep (Mercury)
Abel (Libra): green of Shub-Niggurath (Venus)
Akiressina (Scorpio): red of Cthulhu (Mars)
Yubel (Sagittarius): blue of Yog-Sothoth (Jupiter)
Harmupiael (Capricorn): black of Yig (Saturn)
Archiradonin (Aquarius): black of Yig (Saturn)
Belias (Pisces): blue of Yog-Sothoth (Jupiter)
As the planets of the heavens rule the signs of the zodiac, so are the seven lords linked with the twelve dancing gods. However, it would be wrong to state that the lords rule the gods. They are active agents in natural harmony with the blind forces of the gods to which they are linked. Each lord draws upon the forces of two dancing gods, with the exception of Dagon, who is linked only with Yobel, and Azathoth, who is linked only with Adonaios. Through the gates and across the thresholds of the seven lords, by the authority of their names, the magician is able to invoke the blind forces of the dancing gods for works of magic.
Invoke Athoth for matters of self-growth and development, Harmas with regard to matters of security and the protection of possessions, Galila in affairs that concern the home and personal surroundings, Yobel in dealings of family or ownership, Adonaios in matters of creative expression and recreational activities, Cain in matters of personal health and service to others, Abel about affairs of partnerships and marriage, Akiressina in dealings with death and shared resources, Yubel about travel and communication, Harmupiael about career goals and social status, Archiradonin about social relationships and community activities, and Belias in matters of required duty or a troubled conscience.
The spheres of human activity recognized in astrology as under the influence of the twelve zodiac signs and their associated houses of the heavens shall be your guide in determining which of the twelve dancing gods should be invoked for any specific task. Invoke them and direct them in the names and by the authority of their lords, using the keys of the lords as tokens of that authority. In unique rituals for specific practical purposes that fall under the dancing gods, the key of the lord directs and impels the seal disk of the god, and both should be present on the altar ready for use at the commencement of such rituals.
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The Necronomicon
No man has ever seen the true Necronomicon, but only an astral semblance of it that is a mere shadow of the reality. The book resides beneath the throne of Azathoth, the naked sight of which would tear the human mind to gibbering fragments. Its pages are infinite in number. On them is written in the language of the Old Ones the laws of chaos, and the names of those men, women, and alien beings who have pledged their lives in service to the great work of the Old Ones, the purging of the lands and seas of this earth of all vulgar life, and her elevation through the highest gate of Yog-Sothoth to the black throne. Only creatures that burrow deep beneath the skin of this world, or whose consciousness resembles that of the Old Ones themselves, will survive the transition and be released living before the throne when Barbelzoa regains her true form. Many of them will perish. Those that can endure the maelstrom of chaos may find themselves bound in service to Nyarlathotep and his unwilling bride Barbelzoa for eternity.
It is not the intention of Nyarlathotep that chaos should cease to dominate the universe. He has little wish for a return to the harmony of the golden age that was before the fall, but revels in the ceaseless fountain of disorder and all its wild outpourings. However, Yog-Sothoth has always preferred reason and the rule of law, and has always given his first allegiance to Azathoth, for he remembers the blind idiot god as he was before the descent of Barbelzoa into matter. Among the lords of the Old Ones, some there are such as Cthulhu who will side with the Crawling Chaos, but others such as Yig will support Yog-Sothoth. Nor is it certain which way the allegiance of all four of the other lords will turn, although some claim that Yog-Sothoth has the sympathy of Dagon. Neither man nor god can predict what will happen when the princess is restored to her left-hand seat on the triple throne.
Nyarlathotep has promised to transform the elect among his followers on the earth so that their minds and bodies become able to withstand the torments of chaos. The Necronomicon states that this transition to higher space will not be long in coming, yet who knows how the gods reckon the passage of time? It is assuredly the same period of cleansing of this world that is prophesied in the final book of the Christians, but the prophet John did not possess the key to its understanding, and did not divine its true intention.
Those said to be marked by the Beast are those who bear the mark of Nyarlathotep, but the mark is concealed, not exposed to the uninitiated. Those marked by the Beast serve Nyarlathotep. The one hundred and forty-four thousand virgins spoken of by John are those of the living and of the dead who have pledged themselves before the black throne to Azathoth as his personal vassals, or who will pledge themselves in the future, to serve him forever when he regains his sight and his reason on the high seat, and restores the summer land. They are called virgins in the Revelation of John, from the purity of their transformed minds and bodies that remain after their elevation through the higher gates of Yog-Sothoth, which burn away in the flames of stars all their dross nature. As for the rest of unheeding humanity, when they die they become the wailing voices of despair in the black vortex that swirls around the chaos mount.
All that is written in the Necronomicon beneath the black throne shall come to pass, but only when it is read. What is written on unread pages of the book remains unfixed, and may be altered by time. The fate of every living creature in the cosmos is written therein, and those who are brought before the throne by Nyarlathotep to sign their names in blood in the book may read their own fates, if they dare to turn its pages. They have but one chance to read the Necronomicon—when they stand before the throne in their astral shells, where the book floats upon the air, awaiting their names, they have the power to turn its pages.
What they read in the Necronomicon, they remember only in dreams, for the mind mercifully blots out during waking life the knowledge of what is to come. Those who chance to remember the words of the book outside of their dreams at once run mad, though a few of them retain enough reason to write down some of what they have glimpsed before the black throne. One such madman was the poet of Yemen, Abdul Alhazred, who recorded some of what he read and remembered from his dreams, before the Old Ones sent their invisible servant to rend his flesh and lift him up to a higher sphere.
In imitation of the great book of all books, those who worship and serve the Old Ones in this world should make lesser books in which they record the laws of the Old Ones that apply to their own lives, and the progress of their work in magic. They shall put into their books the rituals they create for their own uses, and the communications and teachings they receive from the Old Ones and their servants, for each receives instruction according
to his capacity. In memory of the black book beneath the black throne, they shall call their books the Necronomicon. The book will be different for each member of the Order of the Old Ones, yet always shall serve the same purpose—to train its maker in the arts of the occult, and to prepare his mind for the coming great work.
This preparation takes innumerable paths, for each man and woman serves the Old Ones in a different way, hardening the mind and heart against horrors that would drive the uninitiated mad in moments. Nyarlathotep will assign tasks to members of our Order each according to their abilities and circumstances in life. His words come into the ear like the buzzings of insects on the night breeze, and those who hear must heed. He tells them what they must do to prepare themselves to stand before the black throne, and how to inscribe their names in the Necronomicon. In the period before this attainment, they learn and work and serve, and he and the other lords favor true worship and offerings with worldly gifts.
No man may know when the final outcome prophesied in the pages of the black book will be fulfilled, for the number of its pages changes from moment to moment with each worldly event. The Work of the Trapezohedron may come to its fulfillment tomorrow, or not for a thousand years. Those who serve the Old Ones add their souls to the book when they die, increasing its power by tiny increments. The greater its power grows, the more tangibly the things written on its pages show themselves in the lower chaos, where we dwell among the damned.