The Temple of Set I

by Michael A Aquino

  conceived and executed action. It is “Astral projection” in the strictest sense. (#9G/H “Liber O”,

  #9K)

  Briefly the technique is this: The magician constructs within his SU a “magical double” or

  ka (Goethe’s Doppelgänger). This is an idealized entity whose precise characteristics may vary

  from working to working. He then, by an act of will, transfers his soul or ba to the vehicle of this

  ka and then executes his will in the SU. This may be completely disassociated from the physical

  body of the magician, or it may be closely aligned with it. Physical alteration of imagery in the

  ritual chamber may play a part, as may actions and expressions through the magician’s material

  body.

  At the conclusion of the working, the ba is redirected to the physical body and the ka is

  dispelled. The elements of the SU specifically summoned for the working are released into their

  normal contexts, there to influence their OU counterparts.

  Vast amounts of advice concerning “Astral projection” and the construction and use of a

  magical double have been proffered. There is no one best technique which works for everyone.

  You will have to experiment, turning your mind and consciousness “in upon themselves” to

  explore, understand, and control their functions and parameters. Be careful and gentle with

  yourself. Do not hesitate to ask the Priesthood of Set for advice if in doubt.

  9. Extinguish the Black Flame/Close the Gate

  10. Ring the Bell [as in Step #3].

  11. Utter the Traditional Closing Words: “So It Is Done!”

  * * * * *

  - 235 -

  21: Medial Black Magic

  Over the years we have become accustomed to the Temple of Set’s two major divisions of

  Black Magic: Lesser (LBM) and Greater (GBM). By the former we generally refer to applied/

  scientific/manipulative magic; by the latter to introspective ceremonies of nœtic solemnity.

  It is easy to focus strongly and exclusively on either one or the other of these two categories,

  so much so that we miss that grey area wherein they blend. Let us call this Medial Black

  Magic (MBM).

  MBM involves the use of the magical link (ML) in its simplest, most direct form in an

  operative context. Unlike LBM, in which the magician uses forces and features which are of the

  OU to accomplish his goal, MBM has similar goals but uses metaphysical means - the ML - to

  realize them. It is not as “pure” as true GBM (which has no purpose other than itself).

  The beauty of MBM is its simplicity and directness. It requires only so much formality as

  you feel appropriate to what you wish to do. Grimoires, spellbooks, even the famous curse/lust/

  compassion rituals of the Satanic Bible are needlessly overcomplicated and are just so much

  window-dressing for persons who need such “training wheels” to work up a proper mental/

  magical state of concentration.

  Dark Shadows, that charming occult soap-opera of the 1960s, got it right. When Angelique

  the witch felt the need to curse, confound, or [rarely!] help someone, she would simply light a

  candle, or gaze into a fireplace, or stare at the Moon, and dictate her will. And so it would come

  to pass. Seances and Tarot readings worked, not because they were elaborate frauds or because

  the people participating in them were gullible fools, but because the participants approached

  them with simple open-mindedness.

  However, and this is an important point, MBM is not just “making a wish” or “saying a

  prayer”, because these things involve no will, nor even sincerity. MBM requires your will that

  the result you desire actually occur.

  Unlike LBM, there is no calculable cause-and-effect. If you are using proxemic magic

  (LBM), you can reliably count on keeping someone in a room, driving him out of it, altering his

  mood, etc. because of the physiological and psychological principles you are applying. As a stage

  magician (also LBM) you can trick or control people by things that may seem to be MBM but

  aren’t.

  When you resort to MBM, you enter that Twilight Zone between physics and metaphysics.

  The ML may or may not work, or it may work in some unexpected way [not necessarily to your

  satisfaction]. You may try MBM and get good, regular results. You may get nowhere and

  conclude that, for you anyway, it is a waste of time and an intellectual insult. Or you may find it a

  kind of mix of the two.

  - 236 -

  Keeping MBM simple doesn’t mean that you can’t use more elaborate systems for it if you

  prefer. Just don’t feel that you are forced to recite some long, dreary ritual text to accomplish

  something. A more direct ritual, which you understand and project coherently, will serve you

  better. Remember Angelique! Because in Black Magic there is no turning back.

  The Beginning

  - Mark Thornally II° (2014 CE)

  Renunciation

  Now I have taken leave of memories,

  I am gone down to the grey wave of prose,

  That not ungracious wave which ebbs and flows

  In softly pulsed irregularities,

  The effort breaking slowly into ease,

  The long, low, unimpassioned swell that goes

  To the most cryptic distances one knows

  Of noncommittal, silver-ebbing seas.

  Come over me, and cover all my mind -

  My truant mind - and take her into you,

  Grey, temperate wave, lest she be gone along

  The beach and over the hills to find

  The path beneath the cypresses we knew,

  Or the green path that ended like a song.

  - Betty Ford III° (1925 CE)

  - 237 -

  Plates

  - 238 -

  - 239 -

  302 East Calle Laureles, William Murray and Michael Aquino, the day of the 22nd & Kansas

  Santa Barbara, California, meeting, San Francisco, California

  site of the North Solstice X

  Working

  Meg Longoria and Robert Ethel

  Brandy Aquino and James Lewis

  - 240 -

  Dale Seago, Lilith Sinclair, William Murray

  Robertt Neilly

  Roland Holt and Michael Aquino

  Visiting dæmon & William Murray

  contemplating one another

  - 241 -

  Jinni Bast, Marie Kelly, James Lewis

  Willie Browning, Robert Menschel, Dale Seago

  - 242 -

  Margaret Wendall and Betty Ford

  Yole Patterson

  Lilith Sinclair and Jinni Bast

  Ricco Zappitelli

  - 243 -

  Linda Reynolds, Lilith Sinclair, Michael Aquino

  Alexandra Sarris and Robert Menschel

  - 244 -

  James Lewis and Dale Seago

  Linda Thomas and Jerry Reynolds

  - 245 -

  Ronald K. Barrett and Lilith Sinclair

  The “Egyptian eyes” experiment:

  Ronald K. Barrett, Michael Aquino, Lilith Sinclair

  - 246 -

  --------------------------- Ronald K. Barrett ---------------------------

  Constance and Robert Moffatt

  - 247 -

  Colleen Huddleston, Ronald K. Barrett, Stephen Bushey, Janet Menschel

  Robert Moffatt, Lynn Norton, Lilith Sinclair

  - 248 -

  Robert DeCecco, Lilith Sinclair, Ronald K. Barrett

  Michael Aquino with Priesthood-Presented Medallion, Set-1 Conclave

  - 249 -

 
; David Austen James Lewis and Robertt Neilly

  Patricia Hardy and Robert Menschel Mitchell Wade

  - 250 -

  Nancy Flowers, Linda Reynolds, Ronald L. Barrett

  Zeena & Nikolas Schreck and Don Webb Peter Rivera

  - 251 -

  Robert Brink and Alexandra Sarris Eric Kauschen

  Michael Aquino and Stephen Flowers

  - 252 -

  The Wewelsburg to the SE tower

  The Wewelsburg to the North Tower

  Wewelsburg Main Entrance

  Wewelsburg Courtyard to the North

  Tower Grail Hall door

  - 253 -

  The Red & Black Candles in the Grail

  Vehm Sigil in the Grail Hall

  Hall prior to the Wewelsburg Working

  Entrance to Walhalla

  - 254 -

  Michael Aquino in the Walhalla

  And So It Is Done.

  prior to the Wewelsburg Working

  - 255 -

  About the Author

  Michael A. Aquino was the only member of the Church of Satan to attain the Second Level of the Fourth

  Degree (Magister Templi IV°-II’) prior to 1975, and was a member of the Church’s Council of Nine and Order of the

  Trapezoid 1970-75. He served as Editor of the Church’s Cloven Hoof newsletter 1971-75.

  He served as founding High Priest of the Temple of Set 1975-1996, was Recognized as an Ipsissimus VI°, and

  was founding Grand Master of the Temple’s Order of the Trapezoid 1982-87.

  In secular life he is a Lt. Colonel, Psychological Operations, U.S. Army (Ret.). He is a graduate of the

  Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University; Defense Intelligence College, Defense

  Intelligence Agency; Foreign Service Institute, Department of State; U.S. Army Special Warfare Center (Special

  Forces (“Green Beret”)/Psychological Operations/Civil Affairs/ Foreign Area Officer); U.S. Army Command &

  General Staff College; U.S. Army Intelligence School, and U.S. Army Space Institute. Decorations include the Bronze

  Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal (3 awards), Special Forces Tab, Parachutist

  Badge, USAF Space & Missile Badge, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Psychological Warfare Medal

  (First Class), & Air Service Medal (Honor Grade).

  Academic credentials include the B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California,

  Santa Barbara; and the M.P.A. in Public Administration from George Washington University. He has taught as

  Adjunct Professor of Political Science, Golden Gate University 1980-86.

  In 2006, following his retirement as a U.S. government officer, he was recognized by Scotland’s Lord Lyon

  King of Arms as the 13th Baron of Rachane, Argyllshire. He is a member of Clan Campbell.

  He, his wife Lilith, and inevitable cats live in San Francisco, California.