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temple of set by Alex Burns (alex@disinfo.com) - December 17, 2002 |
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. . . In his role as tormentor of the wicked, Set appears in various guises in the Duat (Egyptian Underworld). He is the heart-eating dragon SetNakt (Set is Mighty). SetNakt eats the heart (intellect) of the evil individual. He is the figure of Set the Watcher, who observes the progress of the Boat of Re. This role is one of the observer of the Real, a role that he also fills in slaying the demon Apep. Nightly, the Boat of Re is challenged by the non-created serpent Apep. Apep has the power to hypnotize the other inhabitants of the boat. The other gods fall into a trance, the Boat stops, and Set descends to fight the demon. He kills Apep . . . Set is a destroyer of delusional thinking. He destroys that which has failed to Become real. As such he is a tester of the dead - a god of Limits. In short, Set works in the subconscious as a destroyer of delusion. The Temple, as you have wisely observed, has no political agenda. It is like Plato's academy, which sent forth tyrants and scholars, philosophers and generals. We don't take on the world of what is already conditioned and created, but all of our successful graduates do. We seldom lend our Instrumentality to their purposes, knowing that they can network well among themselves, and sure in the knowledge that as they remain in the Temple for the lifelong job of their own Initiation, they will gear their personally assigned Quests for the Temple's expansion and preservation . . . Well, that's the big secret, I usually don't tell people that one for years. Founding and Organizational History During its early institutional existence, the Church of Satan faced periodic internal scandals. In 1975 its founding magus, Anton Szandor LaVey, decided to re-design the organization along personal lines, and announced his decision to sell the initiatory priesthoods. This decision sparked a rift, and led the active priesthood majority to resign in protest at LaVey's betrayal. On the North Solstice of 1975, senior initiate Michael A. Aquino performed a Greater Black Magic Working of Communication. The resulting 'inspired' text—the Book of Coming Forth By Night—directed Aquino to found the Temple of Set as an evolutionary successor institution, re-framing the guiding archetype from the Rebel against Cosmic Injustice to the Principle of Isolate Intelligence. The Temple of Set subsequently evolved into a complex and mysterious international institution devoted to the ethical exploration and application of the Black Arts and the development of postmodern schools of introspective inquiry. Members (Setians) take the ultimate responsibility for conscious evolution of the psyche through application of the core principle Xeper (an Egyptian verb meaning 'I Have Come Into Being'). Metaphysics and magical methodologies are drawn from a variety of prior schools and philosophers, and Setians have pioneered research into Indo-European and emerging postmodern traditions. The institutional framework is similarly multi-layered and diverse, encompassing Orders (analogous to specialist research departments), Pylons (geographically based collectives) and Elements (short-term schools founded to explore specific principles). A Trans-Aeonic Perspective From its generating-point of Xeper, the Aeon of Set matrix has spread to include the discovery of Aeon-supporting Words, including Xem, Remanifest, Runa and Essent. Since Xeper notes the metamorphosis process that all Magi have gone through, the Setian viewpoint offers a trans-Aeonic perspective that illuminates previous philosophies including Agape, Anatta, Aletheia and Thelema. Dangers of Black Magic Regrettably there still exists the stereotype that Black Magic is a synthesis of Hollywood horror movie imagery and unethical practices. Black Magic can be psychologically dangerous because of the intensive exploration of the personal unconsciousness and the assimilation of past psychic traumas. The shock of uncovering certain subjective knowledge can induce extreme cognitive and perceptual dissonance. Modifying the innate structures of the psyche is a Task that requires hard work, intensive reflection, space and Understanding. 2002 Schism: The Storm Awakens Left Hand Path institutions often have a history of confrontations between individualist practitioners of different worldviews. The Temple of Set is no exception. High Priest Don Webb stepped down, and, on 9 September 2002, was succeeded by High Priestess Zeena Schreck. Six weeks after the Helsinki Conclave (September 2002), Zeena, Magister Aaron Besson, Magister Nikolas Schreck, and Magister Michael Kelly all resigned on 8 November 2002. Four Priests—Alfred Rodriguez, Kevin Rockhill, Jared Davison and Richard Gavin—also resigned. Temple of Set sources have claimed that eighteen Initiates have resigned while others have estimated the number at closer to sixty (including several Orders, Elements, and members of the Adept and Setian degrees). The formation of any new magical group usually creates a period of inter-group conflict between the old and new. Michael Kelly's document Four Horsemen (11 November 2002) was posted by others in doctored form on the alt.satanism newsgroup (13 November 2002). An early draft of a Frequently Answered Questions document defines the new and as-yet unnamed group as '. . . a loose confederation of Setian Teachers and Students, an alliance of Orders.' The group has eschewed the Temple's administrative and non-profit structure, as well as its degree system and titles. 'We Work together through mutual respect and interest, not through any organisational limitations or restrictions,' the FAQ document states. Finally, its founders have sought to avoid the "magical society" structure of post-Theosophy groups: the confederation is 'an ongoing Magical Working in which we may participate, a living, dynamic and evolving thing.' After a period of custodianship and transition, the Council of Nine, the Temple of Set's oversight body, ratified the nomination of Dr. Michael A. Aquino on 9 December 2002 as the new High Priest of Set. Public Research Sources While the long-term implications of this schism are still unfolding, interested parties can check out a growing collection of public material on Left Hand Path practices and traditions. Neville Drury's Occult Experience book (New York: Avery Penguin Putnam, 1987) and documentary film features an extensive interview with the Aquinos. Larry Kahaner's Cults That Kill (New York: Warner Books, 1989) contrasts Setian philosophy with 'occult crime' distortions during the 1980s Satanic Ritual Abuse cycle. Dr. Stephen Edred Flowers' Lords of the Left Hand Path (Smithville, TX: Runa-Raven Press, 1997) remains the most authoritative and academic study of dissent and antinomian spirituality; Nikolas Schreck's Flowers From Hell: A Satanic Reader (London: Creation Books, 2001) collates key literary texts. Don Webb's Seven Faces of Darkness: Practical Typhonian Magic (Smithville, TX: Runa-Raven Press, 1996) and Uncle Setnakt's Guide to the Left Hand Path (Smithville, TX: Runa-Raven Press, 1999) offer a postmodern and practical approach to Left Hand Path initiation. Nikolas Schreck's The Satanic Cinema (London: Creation Books, 2001) offers a self-critique of Devil as Satanic archetype in historical film. Two books, Dr. Stephen Edred Flowers and Crystal Dawn's Carnal Alchemy (Smithville, TX: Runa-Raven Press, 2001), and Nikolas and Zeena Schreck's Demons of the Flesh (London: Creation Books, 2002), reveal Left Hand Path practices of sado-magical and tantric sexuality. The Temple of Set and Internet Subcultures A negative aura influenced by Judeo-Christian social fictions has pervaded some hysterical conspiriology explorations of the Temple of Set's founders and philosophies. The collection of links below is intended as a starting point for the serious researcher and practitioner interested to pursue further the exaltation and empowering of the Self through antinomian practices. Disclosure: The dossier's author was affiliated with the Temple of Set (June 1996—April 1998). The views expressed above represent those of the writer and not necessarily those of The Disinformation Company Ltd. |
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Temple of Set Yankee Rose Order of the Trapezoid Balanone's Temple of Set Introduction Setian Home Pages: Dr. Michael A. Aquino Occult Institute of Technology Antinomian Page of Spiritual Dissent Saundhaus Anubis Engraving Runa-Raven Press Hyperborea Setian Home Pages: William D Pridgen Order of the Black Tower Order of Leviathan Order of Uart Order of the Vampyre Order of Setne Khamuast Order of Shuti Order of the Claw of the Bear Bolverker Black Phoenix Pylon Black Ring Pylon Nan Madol Pylon Re-Setaue Pylon Pergamon Pylon Gates of Hell Pylon Draconis Pylon Onyx Covergence Pylon Innomendandum Pylon The Vajra Element Temple of Set Official Reading List (1989 edition) The Acacias of Set Real Amazons Netzine Chaos & Mr E.: Don Webb Interviews Edred Thorsson Mark/Space - Anachron City - WebbWorks Webb on the Web The Rest of the Don Webb Interview Radio Free Setian Xennu en Set Aurora's Pyramid Fr klogW Le Flambeau Vivant Lechuza's Lair Unholy Rapture The Crypt of Nephren-Ka Black Adder's House Moggy's Maleficarium Ludwig's Tower Seekermind's Homepage The Hall of Nephele Adept Apep VonDraco: The Heart of Darkness Helen & Quintin Phillips Typhon Vortex Paul Kantner and the Jefferson Starship Opening the Stargate General Admissions & Information Letter (1996) Into The Infernal Gate Starry Wisdom Sect Cuir Underground: Sado-Magic for Satan The Temple of Akhenaten The Pharaoh The Vehmgericht of Westphalia A Sex Magic Primer Pretenders To The Throne Open Directory: Satanism: Temple Of Set Disinformation Dossier on Anton Szandor LaVey Disinformation Dossier on Aleister Crowley Disinformation Dossier on The Cult of H.P. Lovecraft |
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