Blog

Written by: Jon Sewell

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

The Rites of Eleusis are a series of seven public invocations or rites written by British occultist Aleister Crowley, each centered on one of the seven classical planets of antiquity. They were dramatically performed by Aleister Crowley, Leila Waddell (Laylah), and Victor Benjamin Neuburg in October and November, 1910, at Caxton Hall, London. This act brought Crowley’s occult organization the A∴A∴ into the public eye.

Crowley claimed that the Rites were designed to inspire the audience with ‘religious ecstasy’, and that merely reading them would help people “cultivate their highest faculties”. Some in the popular press thought otherwise, and considered the Rites an immoral display, riddled with ‘blasphemy and erotic suggestion.’

Crowley wrote a great deal on the Rites himself, but as was often the case, he focused on the lofty ideal of what he was trying to express without getting into the basics of what they truly were, and why people would choose to involve themselves with the material.

So I am here to simplify the matter, if I can.

Imagine you want to learn about astrology, and the relationship between a specific planet and the signs of the zodiac that it governs. You could read a book. You could look at a chart. But what if there were a play, where-in you could take the part of that astrological sign, and act the role in relation to the planet, imbuing that role with emotion through dance and poetry and music.

Why, such a play would be a fantastic tool to learn about those subtle and confusing mythical relationships!

That is what the Rites of Eleusis are. And more.

Imagine you were interested in the evolution of man’s relationship to reality, to the religious function in general, to delving into ecstatic states of consciousness through the displacement of your personality to make space for something larger, something broader and somehow central to the human experience. That is what The Rites of Eleusis can be.

What starts out as a practical lesson plan for learning the relationships between various human moods and modes of consciousness becomes, when engaged in fully, a method for experiencing these root emotions in a way that awakens a broader sense of awareness in the individual.

But don’t just take my word for it.

In 2010 Bob Jones, Melissa Holm and I put together a documentary where we interviewed the individuals who were responsible for staging these plays again after they had gone unperformed for 70 years. These people talked about the history and their experiences, and included archival footage of these performances going back 40 years.

https://vimeo.com/257225045

I’ve written a great deal more at www.ritesofeleusis.com about these remarkable plays and how to stage and scale them, and encourage people to do so!

Love is the law, love under will.

Siblings,
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

This post marks my first digital impact on our website since its design over five years ago. I found it fitting to begin our digital journey by working toward a better understanding of the past and our connection to it. Many of us, as magicians, have had at least a cursory introduction to Geomancy. In both the Golden Dawn and A.’.A.’. curriculum include knowledge lectures. I remember when I first started learning Geomancy as a young solitary magician years ago. As it’s taught is Chic and Tabatha Cicero’s “Self Initiation into the Golden Dawn Tradition,” a list of Geomantic intelligencies along with a corresponding invocation was included. I was immediately impressed by a system of divination that included invocations of spirits that corresponded to the query at hand.

Crowley is well known for using the figures not only in divination, but as a set of symbolic devices having concordance with other symbols of planetary or zodiacal virtue. Quite frequently, during our group studies, Crowley refers the reader to the classic “Handbook of Geomancy,” to be found in the Equinox, Vol 1, 2. It isn’t uncommon for me to bring John Michael Greer’s “The Art and Practice of Geomancy” to a talk about another of Crowley’s works to help examine Crowley’s use of the figures as talismanic and symbolic devices.

In light of this, I have decided to invite a guest to speak on the topic of Geomancy. Alexander Cummins is a magician I have come to know and respect for his wit, humor, and expertise on the topics of Geomancy, grimoires, and folk necromancy. Having attended a few of his classes personally, I can attest to the thoroughness of his approach to teaching a variety of topics.

Bio:
Dr Alexander Cummins is a contemporary cunning man and historian. His magical specialties are the dead (folk necromancy), divination (geomancy) and the grimoires.  He received his doctorate on early modern magical approaches to the passions. Dr Cummins gives classes and workshops online and in person. He is an editor for Revelore Press’ Folk Necromancy in Transmission series, and co-hosts the podcast Radio Free Golgotha and co-convenes Speakeasy of the Dead. The Good Doctor (and his services) can be found at www.alexandercummins.com

Geomancy: A Renaissance of Worldly Wisdom
At its height in the Renaissance, geomancy was one of the most popular and well-regarded forms of divination. It was the preferred oracle of monarchs and sages. Occult philosophers swore by it as one of the most accurate and insightful divinatory practices available. While geomancy’s earliest origins lie in Arabic traditions, it swiftly became popular across Europe in the late medieval period.

Perhaps the most inherently elemental system of Western divination, the ‘geo-‘ of it is understood not only as elementally Earthy, but as worldly: for it maps practically and precisely any and all events and influences occurring in and on this world, offering advice both grounded and gnomic.

Geomancy examines the roles of the planets in our daily lives, and while it utilizes the language and expression of astrology, is not dependent on astronomical measure. Our questions are answered in this familiar language of the stars, showing how these titanic forces are playing out in our lives and under our feet. It is not a replacement for astrology but rather its “Sister” oracle, and so many of its terms will be familiar to an astrologer. That said, no previous knowledge of astrology or sorcery is needed to attend or follow this lecture; on the other hand, these explorations and presentation of the art should refresh and enliven those already familiar with divination and even geomancy itself.

This presentation is delivered by Dr Alexander Cummins, himself both a historian of magic and professional geomancer. And so, in this class, we will not only examine the historical practice of this incredibly popular Renaissance system of divination, students new to it will be taught how to consult this most worldly oracle. And even seasoned geomancers should appreciate the shared techniques and tips on exploring geomancy’s spirits and spell-craft! 

This class is a digital exclusive, hosted by Vortex Oasis Ordo Templi Orientis.
Tickets are available for $20.00 for non-members and $10.00 for Vortex dues current members.

Love is the law, love Under Will.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/geomancy-a-renaissance-oracle-of-worldly-wisdom-tickets-159387384959