Oak: a modern mystery school
The last several weeks have been quite busy for me. While at work I have listened to Max Stirner’s book The Ego and His Own three times, listened to rough versions of The Pentateuch by Stanislaw Przybyszewski,as well as Richard Burton’s translations of Kama Sutram, Anangaranga and the Perfumed Garden of Sheik Nefzaui.
My purpose in exploring these materials was to seek out metaphysical and occult knowledge that might be hidden within them, knowledge that influenced turn-of-the-century German literature in the late 1890s and early 1900s. In particular German author Hanns Heinz Ewers was said to have been deeply influenced by Max Stirner and Stanislaw przybyszewski. He also wrote introductions for the other three books published by sexologist Doctor Magnus Hirschfeld.
The Ego and His Own was a treasure trove that I hope to share with my readers in due course. The Pentateuch was also a Goldmine in a very different way. They both contained very important information of a metaphysical and magical nature. The three other books,Kama Sutram, Anagaranga and Perfumed Garden were disappointing in that respect. They did however, offer a broad overview on the subject of sexuality as understood through history. Not to leave any stone unturned, I also just finished reading Demons of the Flesh: the complete guide to left-hand sex magic by Nikolas and Zeena Schreck. Needless to say, I was extremely disappointed with this book as well. I found nothing in it of consequence to metaphysical or magical pursuits.
The three blogs that I had intended for these three books are instead going to be reused for new purpose. I have already started translation of Sensitiva Amorosa by Ola Hansson. The works of this author were highly recommended by Stanislaw Przybyszewski. Thus I continue my search for metaphysical and magical content within the German literature of that time.
What I have discovered so far within this literature is a marked tendency toward egoism or individualist anarchy, the concept of duality as male and female with androgyny as its goal, and a marked anti-church stance. You will find these themes over and over again in the German works which I have translated.
Metaphysically and magically my own personal path has reached a culmination during this summer solstice. In short, I now feel comfortable in sharing my personal experiences upon the magical path and will do so in the blog Magick, Mystery and Madness. These experiences combined with personal research have led me to conclusions that are at odds with traditional and magical thinking. In a very real way, my conclusions are an extension of the work done by these German authors.
Before I proceed to attack some of the most beloved tenants of modern day mysticism and occultism I find it necessary to give a short introduction and list a few of the qualifications and qualities that I bring to this investigation.
At the age of fourteen I had a profound religious experience in which I vowed to live in such a way that my conscience would be clean. This was the result of a crisis in which I could no longer tolerate my own actions and beliefs. At the age of eighteen I joined the Rosicrucian Order AMORC to which I belonged for the next twenty-two years. Thus I bring twenty-two years of Rosicrucian studies and initiations into this investigation. Concurrent with these studies was membership in the affiliated Traditional Martinist Order or TMO and its 4° of study.
These studies were combined with all the available literature of the Theosophical Society and other branches of Rosicrucian study. In addition I was heavily influenced by the writings of Jane Roberts, Dick Sutphen, and various forms of astrology. I was also involved in heavy study of Neuro Linguistics Programming or NLP and the use of hypnosis.
Several times during these early years a master appeared to me during meditation or self initiation. The first time this happened a master appeared in the middle of my living room floating in the air and sitting cross legged radiating a strong energy of love and light. I was able to walk completely around this figure viewing it from all directions. It had a profound effect on me. I later came to realize that this Rosicrucian master was none other than Hanns Heinz Ewers.
These were the main influences of my early mystical path. I relentlessly pursued spiritual prayer, meditation, and study until crossing the great abyss and merging with the Godhead back in 1990. The books Magister Templi and Modern Survivalism are the results of this mystical path. In reading these two books the reader can determine for him or herself whether I speak from personal experience or not.
Following this experience I was plunged once more back down toward the earth to study and experience the magical path. This path included initiation into the first 3° of the OTO, skirmishes with SOTO, all the written material by Alastair Crowley, study of the Golden Dawn material, and that of Freemasonry. It also included initiations into the York right of Freemasonry as well as studies of the Scottish right, the rights of Memphis and Mizraim and all other known Masonic offshoots.
Research materials included Masonic literature from the local Masonic Lodge, the OTO Phenomenon Reload by Peter Konig, (three volumes) as well as OTO Rituals and Sex Magick. Rounding this off were books on sex energy work by Master Mantak Chia as well as a host of other books too numerous to mention. I almost forgot to mention Dianetics processing and the study of Scientology. This esoteric literature was rounded out with a hard dose of reality, as well as the writings of Nietzsche, Ayn Rand, the philosophy of objectivism, and neo-Tech. Neo-Tech in particular was of a profound influence and I devoured all of the neo-Tech material available for ten years. To my knowledge this material is no longer available to the public.
My journey upon the magical path involved the development or birth of eight astral bodies, one after the other over a period of twenty-five years. This was achieved through the generation of sex energy as described by Montak Chia and the birth of an astral body through astral sex with eight individual females. I knew these females, but only in the Platonic sense. Except for the eighth whom I married.
Because of my personal experiences I understand the mystical path to be crossing the great abyss and merging with the Godhead; and understand the magical path to be the creation of all eight astral bodies through the generation of sexual energy and union with the opposite sex. Both of these paths seem to be mechanical in nature, requiring effort, but not technique or specific practices. This places me at odds with almost any mystical or magical tradition. I further believe that the development of these soul bodies is the reported goal of all religions and magical practices; that it results in mental, spiritual, and emotional as well as physical health. I further understand the traveling of these two paths, the mystical and the magical, to be what has been termed the lesser work. That which is known as the greater work can only be achieved after this first has been accomplished.
In this respect, only now am I able to begin that which has been termed the greater work. By this I mean the creation of a new mystery school which I have called OAK, or Order of Anarchist Knights. The OAK egregore is the dominant magical system currently existing. It exists by right of might within the astral planes, having subjugated all others and integrating them within its own matrix. I leave it to the readers of Magister Templi, Modern Survivalism, Magick, Mystery and Madness, and OAK: Morals and Dogma to determine for themselves the truth of this statement. I have also termed this egregore the Unity Grid.
OAK is a non-hierarchical, loose association of magical individual anarchists in the sense of that described by Max Stirner; empowered individuals that collectively share the astral planes and might be considered a new type of human which I call “the new elves!” It is a continuation of Rosicrucian-ism and the Western mystery tradition. It is also a completion of that incomplete paganism known as Wicca.
I believe that many people through the centuries have attained to similar states of development and that various schools are meant to share those teachings and experiences. However, I also believe that those who attained these levels did not correctly understand the process of their development, attributing growth and development to peculiar practices and beliefs rather than to the simple generation of energy. what I have attained is not the result of specific techniques, beliefs or practices other than basic energy generation practices which I will share.
I invite questions, comments, and any other useful communications. Attacks, magical and otherwise, will be returned in kind. I understand that this material is at odds with most pet theories, but maintain that this material is also an antidote for a society that is quite sick. I claim most of this material as self evident and easily proven for ones self.
- Joe