Post by I AM the Way on Jan 10, 2009 12:22:25 GMT -6
the following email correspondence is copied and pasted verbatim. if ever there was a recent and exemplary model for our machine, this might be it. there are many "I"s within us. one day we are one person, the next we are virtually someone else. watch and observe...
Venger,
I'm not sure exactly where we left off in our discussion or why we fell out of contact, but I imagine we both simply became busy with other projects. I recently finished compiling my writings into a single volume. I began with 700 pages of text I had written and went through taking out everything that I thought was "crap" until I was left with a mere 72 pages that I felt was readable. I cannot help but feel that everything I published previously not only is "garbage" but also was highly over-inflated in price. I had set my royalty figures up so that I was make $10-$20 off every book I sold. In many respects, I had lost my integrity - but at least now have come to my senses. ;-) If I write anything else in the future, it will be better edited. It does amaze me, however, that many people seem to like my books although they lack content.
Living in northern Canada - and away from the bigger cities - I have never had a choice but to work alone. While I am well-read and intelligent, I am not an expert in any particular field. In the past, I have mixed many different systems of magic - switching at random between Caballa, Satanism, Witchcraft, Thelema, etc. My approach has always been rather chaotic; I may have been a Satanist one day and a Christian the next. Since marrying my wife 4 years ago, I have become more "stable" - so to speak. I no longer jump between religious extremes engaging in solipsistic ritualism. Since my wife is a pagan, it helps to call myself a pagan - even if my concept of god and goddess are Lucifer and Diana. I believe in One Power (Deity) which manifests both as God and Goddess; both as God and Satan. Universal Deity includes the full spectrum of light and dark beings.
On a personal level, I identify with being a wizard (religiously-neutral), rather than being a Wiccan, Satanist, Occultist, Thelemite, Demonolotrist, etc. I feel that gods and demons exist subjectively rather than objectively - that they are thought-forms, artificial constructs existing in the Personal or Collective Unconscious - and that we create our own reality by our thoughts. I have found that ALL systems of magick work equally well - whether invoking Yahweh, Satan, Kernunnos, or any other "god" or "goddess." Magic is the power of the mind to influence the universe. In this, I have attained much success. It may seem pretentious to call myself a Magus, but I have attained a level of understanding that few attain. While I can rationalize my personal philosophy as being derived from various sources - I cannot perceive a source for DEITUS. It was inspired!
As to my membership in the Cult of Cthulhu: I have joined so many different organization that I have not had time to involve myself in any single organization. It may look good on paper to say that I was an initiate of a number of different orders, but it doesn't accomplish much. To be honest, I don't feel I need any organization at this point in time - but being human and therefore a social creature, I wish to work with others similar to myself - to contribute ideas and receive feedback. Being part of a magickal order is a great check against over-inflation of the ego or solipsism. It is pointless to be part of many different orders, however, since the energy one can commit is diluted to the point where there is no influence. I feel that a choice is called for on my part. I must eithor become involved in the Cult of Cthulhu or give up my membership entirely. I should not be a member on paper alone.
I believe that you awarded the degree "Herald of the Old Ones" to me and gave me a name, saying "make what you will" of this.( I don't even see the email and don't recall off-hand the name I was given.) Am I still a member of the Cult of Cthulhu? I have not been active in the Cult until now... but now I contemplate the possibility of becoming a Wizard of Terrible Darkness or eventually a Priest of R'leyh. (I realize that one must be "invited" to the grade.) Provided that I am still a member "in good standing", despite my lack of involvement, what may I do to further the goals of the Cult of Cthulhu and to advance within the organization? I do not expect "special treatment" of any sort. I am not asking to be made a priest. But, if I commit myself to the Cult of Cthulhu this is something I would pursue - the Priesthood of R'ley.
You asked me once if I would consider bringing the Embassy of Lucifer into the Cult of Cthulhu. I mentioned that I would be more inclined towards starting a "Temple of Tiamat" under the umbrella of your organization. I suppose I was waiting for acknowledgment that this was something I could carry out, thinking that I needed "official sanction" to start a group within the Cult of Cthulhu. In any event, it didn't happen. I dropped the ball! As I think of commiting myself more fully to the development of a single organization - I am inclined to put my support behind you and to do what I can to further the influence of the Cult of Cthulhu including bringing the Embassy of Lucifer into the superstructure of your organization and renaming it or establishing a new order. I am still partial to the "Temple of Tiamat", which could be an official grotto of the Cult of Cthulhu.
Before taking a step "further into the abyss", however, I would like to understand more clearly the philosophy of the CoC. I know that you were a member of the Church of Satan at one time; I have read your reasons for leaving that organization and forming the Cult of Cthulhu. I notice, however, that the Cult of Cthulhu seems to take a much less serious approach to Black Magick than groups like the Temple of Set, Dragon Rouge, and the Order of Phosphorus.It's actually refreshing; many groups seem to take themselves "too" serious. I have read your book and know that there seriousness behind the humour and fun. I believe that I "know", but maybe I've missed something. Please correct me if I am wrong:
To my understanding, the Cult of Cthulhu accepts the literal existence of Satan (not as a Hebrew angel - but rather as one of the Ancient Ones of Sumerian/Babylonian mythology, as invoked in the magick of Crowley and as described in the writings of Lovecraft.) On a stictly exoteric level - there is an entire pantheon of 'Dark Gods' which exit in the Collective Unconscious... On an esoteric level - the physical world does not actually exist but is created by mind. The dragon sleeps and dreams. We are its dreams. When the dragon awakes, the universe that we know will vanish. The Cult of Cthulhu does not "worship" the Ancient Ones but rather reveres them as powerful beings (gods, daemons, or jinn) which have been instructors and teachers of mankind.
If I hear positively from you concerning my involvement in the Cult of Cthulhu - I will leave other groups I have been less involved in so as to commit my time and energy to this organization; I will become active in the Order of Absu and other Cult of Cthulhu boards; I will bring the Embassy of Lucifer fully into the Cult of Cthulhu (renamed, the Order of Thoth-Amon); and I will also begin a series of rituals designed to invoke the Ancient Ones. In any event, I anxiously await your reply!
IA SHUB NIGGURATH!
IA KTULLU!
CM/ TS
thank you for the email. i read it with great interest. yes, you are still considered an official CoC member in good standing. i have no doubt that with suitable time and effort, you will become a Priest of R'lyeh. with the slight paradigm shift... the Cult is now a non-profit corporation and is on its way to having full federal as well as state tax exemption, membership is opening up.
while we seek quality, especially when it comes to more active members, we don't want to eschew quantity either. as the christian churches do, we shall do also. at least, concerning religious membership.
i will be releasing the second CoC tome on the website in February. so i'm excited about that. how one conceptualizes the Great Old Ones and/or the Cult's paradigm is up to the individual. i would be happy for you to organize your own Grotto within the CoC, and would also love to see you as a regular poster on the forum. if possible, it would be great to see you at our convention this Spring, but i know that not everyone has the time or means to travel such distance.
one last thing, that switching of paradigms or displacement you feel is a symptom that all human beings show. we are not one person, we do not have a central or permanent "I". what we have is many little "I"s who do not know each other, taking control for a short time and then going away. the CoC is also a 4th way school and we intend to Awaken as much of mankind as possible.
Ia Ia,
Venger As'Nas Satanis
Cult of Cthulhu High Priest
Venger,
Thank you for the response. I'm glad that you enjoyed my email and that I am still an 'official in good standing.' It does seem to me that you are doing great things with the COC. The Convention sounds very exciting. It is very unfortunate that I cannot attend.
I disagree with the statement that we 'are many little I's controlling for a while and then going away'. It is true that there are several aspects to the personality (ego, id, anima, animus, etc.) but an individual does not normally have multiple personalities.
More so, I would say that the 'personality' is a construct of the brain. All 'mental phenomena' has a physiological basis in the chemical/ and synaptic activity of the brain. The left-brain is analytical/rational while the right-brain is intuitive/artistic. This can create conflict between the apollion and dionysian aspects of the psyche. Further, the core-brain is emotional/primitive/survivalist while the higher-functions of the brain store memories and form associations between events and things.
If a person loses his memory, his personality often changes because the 'personality' is developed in response to many experiences. This only shows, however, that the 'personality' is a creation of the psyche. The conscious personality is a 'mask' that a person wears.
I would like to thank you for your positive endorsement. I would love to set up a group within the COC but unfortunately other involvements logically take priority. What I said in my email about withdrawing from most groups to have more time/energy for the ones that I am involved in was sincere. I realize now though that the Cult of Cthulhu is one of the groups I must leave.
You require no explanation but I have known you long enough that our relationship warrants one. My wife and I are now members of a local pagan grove of about a dozen people. I have agreed to begin the Hereditary Teachings - it's the Y Tylwyth Teg Tradition. I have also been studying Correllian Tradition through Witchschool and have nearly completed the 1st degree Clergy program.
I have decided to focus on Paganism and Wicca because my wife is a Pagan and it is something we do together. Unlike most 'pagans', I realize that we create our own reality by what we believe. I am as much a Black Magician as I will ever be a Wiccan. But I bring this with me in my interaction with others. I am a far more powerful magician than most Wiccans will ever become.
Other than the Embassy of Lucifer, which is and has always been the vehicle for my personal expression and the advancement of Deitus as the Word of the Aeon of Lucifer, I will be withdrawing from all online groups which I am involved in. As of this day, I hereby resign as an official of the Cult of Cthulhu.
Best Wishes,
Chad Miller/ Tsirk Susej.
Venger,
I'm not sure exactly where we left off in our discussion or why we fell out of contact, but I imagine we both simply became busy with other projects. I recently finished compiling my writings into a single volume. I began with 700 pages of text I had written and went through taking out everything that I thought was "crap" until I was left with a mere 72 pages that I felt was readable. I cannot help but feel that everything I published previously not only is "garbage" but also was highly over-inflated in price. I had set my royalty figures up so that I was make $10-$20 off every book I sold. In many respects, I had lost my integrity - but at least now have come to my senses. ;-) If I write anything else in the future, it will be better edited. It does amaze me, however, that many people seem to like my books although they lack content.
Living in northern Canada - and away from the bigger cities - I have never had a choice but to work alone. While I am well-read and intelligent, I am not an expert in any particular field. In the past, I have mixed many different systems of magic - switching at random between Caballa, Satanism, Witchcraft, Thelema, etc. My approach has always been rather chaotic; I may have been a Satanist one day and a Christian the next. Since marrying my wife 4 years ago, I have become more "stable" - so to speak. I no longer jump between religious extremes engaging in solipsistic ritualism. Since my wife is a pagan, it helps to call myself a pagan - even if my concept of god and goddess are Lucifer and Diana. I believe in One Power (Deity) which manifests both as God and Goddess; both as God and Satan. Universal Deity includes the full spectrum of light and dark beings.
On a personal level, I identify with being a wizard (religiously-neutral), rather than being a Wiccan, Satanist, Occultist, Thelemite, Demonolotrist, etc. I feel that gods and demons exist subjectively rather than objectively - that they are thought-forms, artificial constructs existing in the Personal or Collective Unconscious - and that we create our own reality by our thoughts. I have found that ALL systems of magick work equally well - whether invoking Yahweh, Satan, Kernunnos, or any other "god" or "goddess." Magic is the power of the mind to influence the universe. In this, I have attained much success. It may seem pretentious to call myself a Magus, but I have attained a level of understanding that few attain. While I can rationalize my personal philosophy as being derived from various sources - I cannot perceive a source for DEITUS. It was inspired!
As to my membership in the Cult of Cthulhu: I have joined so many different organization that I have not had time to involve myself in any single organization. It may look good on paper to say that I was an initiate of a number of different orders, but it doesn't accomplish much. To be honest, I don't feel I need any organization at this point in time - but being human and therefore a social creature, I wish to work with others similar to myself - to contribute ideas and receive feedback. Being part of a magickal order is a great check against over-inflation of the ego or solipsism. It is pointless to be part of many different orders, however, since the energy one can commit is diluted to the point where there is no influence. I feel that a choice is called for on my part. I must eithor become involved in the Cult of Cthulhu or give up my membership entirely. I should not be a member on paper alone.
I believe that you awarded the degree "Herald of the Old Ones" to me and gave me a name, saying "make what you will" of this.( I don't even see the email and don't recall off-hand the name I was given.) Am I still a member of the Cult of Cthulhu? I have not been active in the Cult until now... but now I contemplate the possibility of becoming a Wizard of Terrible Darkness or eventually a Priest of R'leyh. (I realize that one must be "invited" to the grade.) Provided that I am still a member "in good standing", despite my lack of involvement, what may I do to further the goals of the Cult of Cthulhu and to advance within the organization? I do not expect "special treatment" of any sort. I am not asking to be made a priest. But, if I commit myself to the Cult of Cthulhu this is something I would pursue - the Priesthood of R'ley.
You asked me once if I would consider bringing the Embassy of Lucifer into the Cult of Cthulhu. I mentioned that I would be more inclined towards starting a "Temple of Tiamat" under the umbrella of your organization. I suppose I was waiting for acknowledgment that this was something I could carry out, thinking that I needed "official sanction" to start a group within the Cult of Cthulhu. In any event, it didn't happen. I dropped the ball! As I think of commiting myself more fully to the development of a single organization - I am inclined to put my support behind you and to do what I can to further the influence of the Cult of Cthulhu including bringing the Embassy of Lucifer into the superstructure of your organization and renaming it or establishing a new order. I am still partial to the "Temple of Tiamat", which could be an official grotto of the Cult of Cthulhu.
Before taking a step "further into the abyss", however, I would like to understand more clearly the philosophy of the CoC. I know that you were a member of the Church of Satan at one time; I have read your reasons for leaving that organization and forming the Cult of Cthulhu. I notice, however, that the Cult of Cthulhu seems to take a much less serious approach to Black Magick than groups like the Temple of Set, Dragon Rouge, and the Order of Phosphorus.It's actually refreshing; many groups seem to take themselves "too" serious. I have read your book and know that there seriousness behind the humour and fun. I believe that I "know", but maybe I've missed something. Please correct me if I am wrong:
To my understanding, the Cult of Cthulhu accepts the literal existence of Satan (not as a Hebrew angel - but rather as one of the Ancient Ones of Sumerian/Babylonian mythology, as invoked in the magick of Crowley and as described in the writings of Lovecraft.) On a stictly exoteric level - there is an entire pantheon of 'Dark Gods' which exit in the Collective Unconscious... On an esoteric level - the physical world does not actually exist but is created by mind. The dragon sleeps and dreams. We are its dreams. When the dragon awakes, the universe that we know will vanish. The Cult of Cthulhu does not "worship" the Ancient Ones but rather reveres them as powerful beings (gods, daemons, or jinn) which have been instructors and teachers of mankind.
If I hear positively from you concerning my involvement in the Cult of Cthulhu - I will leave other groups I have been less involved in so as to commit my time and energy to this organization; I will become active in the Order of Absu and other Cult of Cthulhu boards; I will bring the Embassy of Lucifer fully into the Cult of Cthulhu (renamed, the Order of Thoth-Amon); and I will also begin a series of rituals designed to invoke the Ancient Ones. In any event, I anxiously await your reply!
IA SHUB NIGGURATH!
IA KTULLU!
CM/ TS
thank you for the email. i read it with great interest. yes, you are still considered an official CoC member in good standing. i have no doubt that with suitable time and effort, you will become a Priest of R'lyeh. with the slight paradigm shift... the Cult is now a non-profit corporation and is on its way to having full federal as well as state tax exemption, membership is opening up.
while we seek quality, especially when it comes to more active members, we don't want to eschew quantity either. as the christian churches do, we shall do also. at least, concerning religious membership.
i will be releasing the second CoC tome on the website in February. so i'm excited about that. how one conceptualizes the Great Old Ones and/or the Cult's paradigm is up to the individual. i would be happy for you to organize your own Grotto within the CoC, and would also love to see you as a regular poster on the forum. if possible, it would be great to see you at our convention this Spring, but i know that not everyone has the time or means to travel such distance.
one last thing, that switching of paradigms or displacement you feel is a symptom that all human beings show. we are not one person, we do not have a central or permanent "I". what we have is many little "I"s who do not know each other, taking control for a short time and then going away. the CoC is also a 4th way school and we intend to Awaken as much of mankind as possible.
Ia Ia,
Venger As'Nas Satanis
Cult of Cthulhu High Priest
Venger,
Thank you for the response. I'm glad that you enjoyed my email and that I am still an 'official in good standing.' It does seem to me that you are doing great things with the COC. The Convention sounds very exciting. It is very unfortunate that I cannot attend.
I disagree with the statement that we 'are many little I's controlling for a while and then going away'. It is true that there are several aspects to the personality (ego, id, anima, animus, etc.) but an individual does not normally have multiple personalities.
More so, I would say that the 'personality' is a construct of the brain. All 'mental phenomena' has a physiological basis in the chemical/ and synaptic activity of the brain. The left-brain is analytical/rational while the right-brain is intuitive/artistic. This can create conflict between the apollion and dionysian aspects of the psyche. Further, the core-brain is emotional/primitive/survivalist while the higher-functions of the brain store memories and form associations between events and things.
If a person loses his memory, his personality often changes because the 'personality' is developed in response to many experiences. This only shows, however, that the 'personality' is a creation of the psyche. The conscious personality is a 'mask' that a person wears.
I would like to thank you for your positive endorsement. I would love to set up a group within the COC but unfortunately other involvements logically take priority. What I said in my email about withdrawing from most groups to have more time/energy for the ones that I am involved in was sincere. I realize now though that the Cult of Cthulhu is one of the groups I must leave.
You require no explanation but I have known you long enough that our relationship warrants one. My wife and I are now members of a local pagan grove of about a dozen people. I have agreed to begin the Hereditary Teachings - it's the Y Tylwyth Teg Tradition. I have also been studying Correllian Tradition through Witchschool and have nearly completed the 1st degree Clergy program.
I have decided to focus on Paganism and Wicca because my wife is a Pagan and it is something we do together. Unlike most 'pagans', I realize that we create our own reality by what we believe. I am as much a Black Magician as I will ever be a Wiccan. But I bring this with me in my interaction with others. I am a far more powerful magician than most Wiccans will ever become.
Other than the Embassy of Lucifer, which is and has always been the vehicle for my personal expression and the advancement of Deitus as the Word of the Aeon of Lucifer, I will be withdrawing from all online groups which I am involved in. As of this day, I hereby resign as an official of the Cult of Cthulhu.
Best Wishes,
Chad Miller/ Tsirk Susej.