What induced you towards the Typhonian path?

[Raj Don Yasser]

With so many different paths/systems/philosophies in the world today, what specifically drew you towards the Typhonian tradition? 

[Nalyd Khezr Bey]

I can't remember exactly the first time I heard/read the name Aleister Crowley (it might have been in Michael Howard's The Occult Conspiracy) but I do know I first paid attention to the name when I acquired a copy of James Wasserman's Art and Symbols of the Occult in 1994. In the book it is stated that Crowley was "the greatest magician of the 20th century" and that stuck out to me. At that time my interest wasn't necessarily the occult but was starting to lean in that direction. Wasserman's book led me to acquire Crowley's The Book of Thoth, a small paperback copy of Book 4 which only contained the first two parts, and a little red paperback copy of The Book of the Law. I approached these books in total ignorance and was actually disappointed in them at first but somehow it felt to me that these books were important. Wasserman's book was also my first known exposure to the names Kenneth and Steffi Grant because there are a couple of Steffi's paintings from Hidden Lore within. Of course the couple examples didn't give much of an indication of what the Grant's were really about as they were the Golden Dawn rose-cross lamen, wands and the floor and ceiling of the Vault of the Adepts.

It wasn't until I was handed a copy of Robert Anton Wilson's Cosmic Trigger a short time later in 1994 that I paid attention to Kenneth Grant as he is quoted several times throughout. I always credit Cosmic Trigger with being the real catalyst that gave what I was becoming interested in context and put me on my way. It probably also helped that I had some life-changing spontaneous "high strangeness" experiences in 1994 as well. Some time in 1995 I first picked up a copy of Aleister Crowley and the Hidden God at a local occult bookstore because this was the book quoted the most in CT. This store actually had most of Grant's trilogies that were published by Skoob at the time and eventually I acquired all of them there except Revival and Circles. It was Hidden God that really put Crowley into perspective for me. Grant's ideas were bizarre enough that something felt right to me about it all. The fact that I understood very little of it was probably motivation enough to continue trying to understand it. I had no idea that Grant was as controversial as he was (nor would I have really cared either). A little later I picked up on some of what was controversial about Grant in Gerald Suster's and Colin Wilson's reviews of Hecate's Fountain in the Skoob Esoterica Anthology. So really my real introduction to magick and occultism proper was through Crowley and Grant. I found out later when I arrived on internet that not many other occultists recommend starting with these two figures but they worked for me.

There is more I could drag out but that is the basic background of how I came to know Kenneth Grant. After Hidden God I soon acquired Outer Gateways which was the newest of the trilogies at that time. This one spoke to me fully in all of its weirdness and I was hooked. It still remains one of my favorites of the trilogies. As far as being on the Typhonian path, I think for me it was more of a gradual process of studying and exploring several other areas and then landing more in this area in around 2005. That is when I feel I began to really grok Grant's angles. I feel it takes having some magical experience under one's belt to begin opening the trilogies up. I began developing and practicing what I call Oneiric Sorcery, tapped into a realm I called the Oneiric Interface which formed my symbiosis with the subliminal circuitry (the Sub-Circuit Symbiosis) and the rest is history, or perhaps, mystery.

[Ad Finem]

For me it was literally a "tangential tantrum". I was 16 and watching the Apollo-Soyuz link up live on TV. in 1975. My mother decide to switch off the TV since I wasn't enough paying attention to what she was saying. In a tantrum I stormed upstairs to my bedroom and as it was a hot, sultry July day I pushed open my bedroom window with far more force than was needed and of course my hand went through the glass and ripped a large opening in my wrist which poured profusely with blood. I was rushed to hospital by a kindly neighbour who had witnessed the accident and received around 13 wire stitches in my wrist, and my arm was in placed a sling for several days. I was bored stuck at home as I didn't really want to go out with my friends, so I went down to the local library and discovered some books on a variety of "occult topics", one of which was Magick by Aleister Crowley. I read though thees books and then spent every Saturday at Atlantis Bookshop in London buying more to build up my own collection. I also spent a lot of my time in the nearby British Museum soaking up the atavisms of ancient Egyptian Gods. I was fortunate that my father worked there so it enabled me to gain access to the British Library and even more books. It was not long before I came across, "The Magical Revival" and also books by Austin Spare whose art I was instantly drawn too. I also at this time began reading more books by Crowley. I developed enough confidence to write a few articles for "occult magazines", and make connections with other people up and down the country.

I then decide, with a partner I had at the time, to move and live in a 16th century mansion house in a very remote area of Wales where we had an idea of running some Gnostic School but which unfortunately never really materialised. My interests waned somewhat after 1989 and at this time I focused solely on what I called, "Stellar Gnosis" and also Alchemy which I discovered though a book called, "The Golden Game" by Stanislas klossowski de Rola. Then, further on in my life while researching my own family history, I discovered my grandmother had a connection with Aleister Crowley and this renewed my interest just at the time when KG had published his latter works. While enjoying a short holiday in Germany I read, "The Ninth Arch" and was struck by the similarities which I found in this and other of his publications with my own researches which I had conducted independently on a purely stellar gnosis. Reading these later works by KG, particularly, "Against the Light" and "The Ninth Arch", I found that these books opened up much more of the Typhonian Tradition that I hadn't, at that time, really considered, especially in connection with, "The Book of the Law" and works written by Crowley, and for this I remain deeply indebted to Kenneth Grant. In a strange way he appeared twice as a beacon in my magical studies when on both occasions, lost in the tunnels of Set, I needed a direction and focus, and this for me has been the Typhonian Tradition.

A.F

[John Hope]

Around the time I was involved with the O.T.O. I began experiencing increasingly intense lucid dreams, sleep paralysis visions, poltergeist style manifestations, and all of an explicit Typhonian nature, and I had a general psychical pull towards the Current. After some years of evaluating I decided that the Ordo Typhonis is the only correct and truthful lineage.

[parsifal]

Greetings all. Does one tap into the current of the Order when they undertake the Task of seeking membership? What I mean is, once one commits to performing the work, and is engaged in it, could it be said that one enters the stream of the current, and that one begins to draw the assistance and "grace" (for lack of a better word) of the transplutonic Nu-Isis? Or is it the case that one remains in the outer darkness, so to speak, until entry is attained?

Thanks,

P.

[Raj Don Yasser]

Jan 13, 2017 12:20:51 GMT parsifal said:

Greetings all. Does one tap into the current of the Order when they undertake the Task of seeking membership? 

I'm sure Michael or Edward will reply as this is a meaningful question. My guess is that the answer is "no". 

If all it took to "tap into the current" is an email from the Order reporting that one is accepted for probation, one could infer that there is some sort of "magick" in the email that allows "access" to the 93/696 current. This would be no different than receiving an indulgence from the Roman Catholic church, which offers pieces of paper with claims of "magick" power. While I'm not an authority regarding the Typhonian Order, my personal belief is that ONE DOES NOT CHOOSE to "tap into the current". Rather, the current is ALREADY "accessible" to ANYBODY and EVERYBODY, if one would simply let go of the belief that they're NOT already in line with the 93/696 current. 

That being said, it is also my belief that petitioning for membership and later acceptance as a formal member of the Typhonian Order will, in fact, be beneficial in lifting the veils, one by one, of illusion and, thus, may experience this current in a more meaningful manner. Again, I'm not speaking on behalf of the Typhonian Order, nor am I an expert by any means.



"All initiation is self-initiation" is a quote that supports my guess, but I defer to Michael or Edward for an "authoritative" answer.

[parsifal]

Thank you for your thoughtful reply, Raj Don Yasser. I'm intrigued by the concept you put forward, of the Current already being accessible without us realizing it. This calls to mind, for me, Ramana Maharshi's teachings about the Self--we will realize it when we neutralize once and for all the I-thought, which is the culprit behind the illusion of perceived reality.

I wasn't thinking of the magick being in the e-mail like an indulgence. I guess I was thinking more along the lines of one entering into the orbit of the Egregore of the Order--that some kind of link is established when one takes on the work. That decision to commit is a sort of an initiatory leap in itself, isn't it? I'm envisioning here the Egregore as being a sort of gateway on Earth, or a power zone, through which the Current flows especially strongly. And when one takes that leap and is accepted into the probationary work by the head of the Order, that perhaps the power of the Egregore informs the work. But perhaps I delude myself. Maybe my thinking on this really is no different from someone who believes in papal indulgences, or novenas: light a candle, recite the words, and presto chango, your wishes will be granted.

Thanks again for your comments. I'd be interested to hear what Michael and Edward (and anyone else here who has insights on this subject) might have to say.

P.

[Raj Don Yasser]

Jan 13, 2017 23:52:38 GMT parsifal said:

I wasn't thinking of the magick being in the e-mail like an indulgence. I guess I was thinking more along the lines of one entering into the orbit of the Egregore of the Order--that some kind of link is established when one takes on the work. That decision to commit is a sort of an initiatory leap in itself, isn't it? I'm envisioning here the Egregore as being a sort of gateway on Earth, or a power zone, through which the Current flows especially strongly. And when one takes that leap and is accepted into the probationary work by the head of the Order, that perhaps the power of the Egregore informs the work. 

Re-reading my post, I hope I didn't sound rude regarding indulgences, merely wanted to state my thoughts as clearly as possible.

In my twenties I assumed that after being initiated into a Thelemic fraternity, I would "magically" become connected with the 93 current, and like countless others, was disappointed. Much later in life, after years as a Sufi initiate, I realized that the veils of illusion were lifted IN SPITE OF, rather than BECAUSE OF, my connection with the lodge in Istanbul. Does formal work with an order seem to exponentially induce growth? Most certainly, in my life, it has, but not BECAUSE of the initiation or affiliation. I hope that makes sense, as I agree that "when one takes that leap and is accepted into the probationary work....the power of the Egregore informs the work". Your use of language, using the term "informs the work", is certainly congruent with my experience.

[parsifal]

Your words were to the point. They prompted me to reflect more deeply about what I was actually trying to express--and whether or not there is legitimacy to these notions about initiation that I've constructed in my head--so I am thankful for them, Raj Don Yasser. I must say, though, your remarks about Istanbul and Sufi initiation are downright intriguing! They lead me to wonder what led you to the Typhonian Path. I'd love to hear, if you're willing to share it.

[Raj Don Yasser]

Living in Turkey while a young adult in the Army had a profound impact on my future and subsequent inducement towards the Typhonian Tradition. Being a farm-boy from the mid-west, Turkey was my first experience living in a culture with values based on a non-Christian tradition. After completing my enlistment I became a pre-seminary student preparing to become a Lutheran pastor and, after learning (on my own) that the Bible stories learned as a child were of Babylonian, Egyptian, Chaldean origin, a veil was lifted and I subsequently left the church.

While shopping at a large antique store I noticed a small shop adjacent to the entrance with unusual statues near the door. Upon entering I learned it was a small "occult" bookshop and the owner was a member of a Thelemic fraternal order. After many hours of discussions on the books I'd read related to Thelema, I was initiated into the same fraternal order and after several months realized this fraternity had nothing to offer that I hadn't already learned in books or experienced through my formal meditation practice.

Continuing on my own, I devoured every book on Alchemy, Traditionalism, Gurdjieff, and related topics. After formally practicing with a Gurdjieff group I eventually traveled extensively to determine whether any of the stories in "Meetings with Remarkable Men" were based on fact (and nearly died a couple times in the process). Some of the Sufi Murshids I met offered valuable teachings, along with visible evidence that Gurdjieff was a guest at their Order, and I was eventually admitted into one of the traditional Turkish Sufi Orders in Istanbul. In addition to the near-death experiences while traveling to discover the origin of Gurdjieff's teachings, I also observed several Sufi sheikhs demonstrating/displaying phenomenon that could NOT, under any circumstance, be considered possible with the laws that seem to govern our universe. After about seven years of daily practice as a Sufi, one day a number of veils were lifted in an explosion of insight. This experience was not due to methods practiced, but in spite of them. That being said, had I not engaged in lengthy daily practice, the veils would likely have remained. Nevertheless, I do not attribute the experience of "Reality" to the Sufi practices performed. From that time on, I practiced traditional meditation practice but left behind any interest in "the occult", paranormal activity, "ultimate reality", etc.

Typhonian Path: I had read some books by Kenneth Grant and Starfire journal in the mid-90s and, out of all the books related to Thelema, these titles were the most congruent with my own understanding of the Current. In my life, having formally practiced a number of paths, the ONE tradition that ALWAYS kept my interest is Advaita Vedanta, particularly the works of Ramana Maharshi, as well as the collection of Jack Parson's essays. Recalling my appreciation of Grant's work, I re-purchased "At the Feet of the Guru" and the collection of Starfire articles published as "Ecpyrosis". I also read the first trilogy again (it had been twenty years since reading the trilogy) and my appreciation and understanding was much more profound. Subsequently, I contacted Starfire through email to learn more about the Typhonian Order and discovered that the contact person at Starfire was the person who had written several articles in "Ecpyrosis" that I greatly appreciate to this day.

Bottom Line: What induced me towards the Typhonian Tradition? Perhaps it's my great appreciation of Advaita Vedanta and the fact that, aside from Ramana Maharshi, the most lucid articles I'd read on Advaita were authored by Grant and members of the Typhonian Order. Further, the Typhonian conceptualization of dreams and "other dimensional" intelligence seems the most valid based on current science. 

[parsifal]

What an astonishing story. Who hasn't read Gurdjieff and dreamed about setting out to find their own "remarkable men" like Gurdjieff did? Thanks very much for this, Raj Don Yasser.