| Black Witchcraft
The Foundations of the Luciferian Path
by Micheal
Ford
The nature of Black Witchcraft in the ancient and
modern world is of anti-nature, or rather the word “Antinomian”
is a Greek form meaning “against the law”. This word
makes reference to rebellion from a structure or spiritual design
of the masses, the majority and whatever the current ideological
mainstream may be at that time. Witchcraft, no matter for what
intent or form, has always stood outside any conventional acceptance
within society – either by the religious hierarchy (even
though it keeps their organizations called Church together and
making money) or even governmental ones. To provide a distinct
understanding of Luciferian Witchcraft from which I am an initiate
of, I must write directly of experience and the vision which all
initiates, past, present or secret, have brought to the current
and how it manifests today. No longer should those of Luciferian
nature be forced to denounce the darkness inherent within us all;
witchcraft as with the human or daemonic spirit is both dual natured,
light and shadow, bestial and angelic, ad infinitum.
The word ‘Black’ within the context
of writing here is in reference to the hidden nature of the Sinister
Craft, it is both the depths of initiation which runs deep in
our souls, and the future possibility by the atavistic urges which
may be harnessed into powerful tools of refining and strengthening
our consciousness. The Order of Phosphorus is an initiatory guild
of practitioners of sorcery from a Left Hand Path point of view.
The word ‘Black’ is described by Idries Shah as being
identified with the sound of FHM in the Arabic tongue, which is
‘black’ meaning ‘wise’ and equally with
‘understanding’. Shah writes further that black holds
a connection with hidden wisdom, thus the phrase, “Dar tariki,
tariqat” which means “In the Darkness, the Path”.
The Order of Phosphorus is symbolic of fire illuminated from clay,
of light emerging from darkness. The magicians and witches of
this 'Skir-hand' Guild are equally focused on not only low sorcery,
but utilizing the hidden nature of darkness to reveal Light within
themselves. Here we find the foundation and essence of Baphomet,
the Father of Wisdom. The Sabbatic God is both the union of the
Beast and the Whore, Ahriman (Satan, Samael) and Az (Lilith, Babalon)
which beget Cain (by the circle of Leviathan, the Serpent of the
Depths). An initiatory image of Cain as Baphomet (by Soror Lilitu
Azhdeha) may be found in “The Book of Cain” and represents
the Black Lord of the Sabbat as a form of the Adversary. A representation
of this path may be found in my publications, “Luciferian
Witchcraft: A Book of the Serpent” which contains the grimoires
“Book of Cain”, “Goetic Sorcery”, “Yatuk
Dinoih”, “Nox Umbra”, “The Paitisha”,
“Azothoz”, “Vox Sabbatum” and much more.
The infamous “Book of the Witch Moon” also has presented
a foundation for the darker aspects of sorcery and vampirism,
which Aleister Crowley alludes to in “De Arte Magica”.
The reader who holds interest in the provenance of the Witches
Sabbat in consideration of the Luciferic gnosis referred to in
this article may have recourse material to seek in the aforementioned
titles as well as works by Kenneth Grant who continued the Initiatic
work of Crowley and Spare from the 1950’s onward.
Symbolism and Commitment
“The model of
Left Hand Path Sexual Magick is a challenge which moves beyond
the constraints of sociological limitation; it is taboo without
psychological degradation, self-motivational empowerment through
becoming as a God or Goddess, to discover your weaknesses and
strengths.” - ADAMU
– Forbidden Sexual Magick
The definition of the Left Hand Path has long been
a clouded and often misunderstood definition. Essentially, the
Left Hand Path is by universal perception as being the mutation
or transformation of consciousness into a divinity or divine conscious,
this is done by the process of the practice of Magick and Sorcery
to achieve the motion of the body and mind towards a higher perception.
The Black Adepts of The Order of Phosphorus and the Black Order
of the Dragon are magicians who are committed to process of self-determined
magical exercises to refine and expand their consciousness; through
physical and mental activity. This includes but is not limited
to, Sexual Magick, Ceremonial practice and Solitary workings of
all kinds to seek the initiatory results of Magick itself.
“This
is not a path of prayer and supplication, but recognition of
the sorcerer's own inherent powers. The forces of Darkness are
called upon as a means of self-expression, self-empowerment,
and self-deification.” – Nathaniel Harris,
(author of WITCHA- A Book of Cunning, Mandrake of Oxford, and
current Magister of The Red Circle, England) from the Introduction
to “Luciferian Witchcraft” by Michael W. Ford
Black Witchcraft as defined within the aforementioned
grimoires is about self-deification but also the further expansion
of consciousness, transforming the mundane into the divine, thus
the antinomian and Satanic symbolism. But herein is cipher and
clue to the essence of the Luciferian path, it is both commitment
and the possession of the lower and higher aspects of Daemonic
identification which empowers the Godforms found in the forbidden
and black grimoires of such as ADAMU, VOX SABBATUM, LIBER HVHI
and LUCIFERIAN WITCHCRAFT. There is no mere psychodrama and within
the circle of the wise does the magician seek a higher spirit
outside of his or her being; they seek it within and the choreography
and instruments of ritual are merely self-empowered tools to aide
in the process of Becoming. 'Skir-hand' Witchcraft within has
been inspired from the family lines of Nathaniel Harris and family,
'Skir' meaning "left hand" or "sinister".
“The
Circle within Luciferian Witchcraft represents the very binding
space of the sorcerers body, both of spirit/celestial and flesh/infernal.
It is the symbol of both the Sun and the Moon, the sphere which
begets strength and the very focus of the Magician.”
- ADAMU – Forbidden Sexual Magick by Michael W.
Ford
The ritual tools within the Black Tradition are
as various as the witches themselves. Some create fetish servitors,
embodied and often created demonic familiars bound to objects,
created from animal remains, blood or sexual fluids to form a
visualized shade which holds significance to the sorcerer himself.
Some create dolls and others use little or no exterior tools or
implements. What holds tradition among such Adepts is the commitment
of the Luciferic Spirit within. This is the mind of the practitioner
which has been liberated through antinomian practices and thought,
by this determined focus that the Will of the Black Adept has
transformed he or she into a Daemonic Being. Within ancient Persian
practice, the Ahriman (Satan) created daemon Akoman (meaning Evil
Mind) is the Luciferian Mind which seeks liberation and independence
from the mass or herd mentality, to become something ‘other’
by the forbidden or ‘evil’ path of Magick or Witchcraft.
Certain tools within the Craft Sinister are often
considered ‘haunted’ objects, empowered by ongoing
ritual practice by the witch or sorcerer which gives the fetish
a seeming life independent from their own, however always usually
in accordance to their Will. Ritual instruments such as the Tibetan
Kangling, a Trumpet made from the thigh bone of a hanged man,
a ritual knife known as an Athame, according to Idries Shah as
‘adhdhame’ being ‘bloodletter’, used in
Sabbat ritual practice to focus the Will or Cast the Mind into
the determined direction of ritual Magick; the blade representing
the Luciferic Mind of the magician. The Skull Cup, made from the
top part of the human skull, makes a drinking bowl used in ceremonial
or solitary practice. None of these ritual tools are required
for practice, which depends solely on the means and predilection
of the sorcerer.
Godforms hold specific power within the cults of
witchcraft as what is empowered from the practitioner themselves.
The Gods and Goddesses would not exist in any tangible form if
humanity did not empower them; either subconsciously or consciously,
thus by the Adept becoming does the Godform become. Deific energy
is a source not only based within the blood of the practitioner,
of the atavistic or primal recesses of the human mind. This Deific
energy or power may be recalled into the flesh and conscious mind
of the practitioner, thus one finds the knowledge undertaken by
earlier sects such as The Golden Dawn, the Maskhara of the Arabic
and Asian tribes, Austin Osman Spare’s Zos Kia Cultus, etc.
There are numerous rituals explored by Luciferian Sabbat practitioners
within The Order of Phosphorus and the Black Order of the Dragon
which utilize old methods of lycanthropy and the ‘shedding
of flesh’, of shape shifting by dream in Therion form to
go forth to the erotic convulsions of the Infernal Sabbat.
The God of Luciferian Witchcraft is Seth-an, or
Set (the same as Samael, Satan). This is the Egyptian Prince of
Darkness, a Lord of Chaos and sorcerous power. Set should not
be considered merely a God in an anthropomorphic sense, rather
a deific force which is the very essence of our being. When Azazel
or Lucifer brought to Cain the Black Flame of Consciousness, this
was as too Set’s gift to mankind. By working in the circles
of Luciferian Craft, you are merely fulfilling your ancient heritage.
While some choose paths less dangerous than this; the reality
of witchcraft as a Luciferian Gnosis cannot be denied. The Great
Work in reference to Set is for the magician to seek divinity,
that is awareness, individuality and personal power. By believing
in yourself rather than something ‘higher’ than you
(The only Higher Angelick or Demonic being is YOU, the Luciferic
Angel or Holy Guardian Angel) you become as your models.
Within the Black Tradition the Luciferian Trinity
which is composed of Samael – Lilith – Cain hold significance
in the model of practice within the cult. This Trinity is an alchemical
process of becoming in which the magician aligns and utilizes
the deific associations of Samael – Lilith – Cain
to transform their consciousness into the divine essence which
is Baphomet, the Head of Knowledge. To described Samael, a small
section as follows is from LIBER HVHI, a ritual work which defines
the deeper and darker practice of the Left Hand Path in terms
of Witchcraft.
“For the Devil
is called Diabolus, that is, flowing downwards: that he which
swelled with pride, determined to reign in high places, fell
flowing downwards to the lowest parts, like the torrent of a
violent stream.” –The
Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy
“It is written
in the Bible that Samael/Satan fell from heaven as lightening,
being a flash downwards, who before the fall, was a guarding
Seraph around the throne of God. After his fall he was a master
of death, the very poison of God yet he was also a Giver of
Life, being the father between fallen angel and woman. In later
Jewish writings, Samael is associated with the name Malkira,
which Morris Jastrow Jr. associated with Malik-Ra, being “The
Evil Angel” and the name Matanbuchus, being a form of
Angro-Mainyush or Ahriman. Here does the circle become closed
and the nature of the First Angel become perceived or sensed.
In ongoing ritual work, the magician begins identifying his
or herself with Samael (and Lilith) within the parameters of
their own life and initiation.
The Lord of the Earth,
being a name ascribed to Samael (Satan) and his fallen angels
and demons, are but considered astral spirits, that which no
longer take physical form, but may become manifest through the
magician or witch who may make a “pact” with them,
being initiation and dedication to the Left Hand Path. Samael
is the patron spirit of the Left Hand Path, as his Word is what
formed our thoughts and gave us the inner fire of the Black
Flame, our individual process of thought and free will. The
magicians who aligned their will with the Left Way, that of
Samael (the Devil), were given powers over the earth in one
way or another; all the while strengthening, defining and expanding
their conscious. In Exodus 7 the magicians were able to make
frogs and serpents by the power they obtained in the Devil,
thus such creatures are astral forms of Ahriman (Samael) and
the dreaming body of witches and sorcerers.” -
Liber HVHI
Here we can see that Samael or Satan/Shaitan, is
not the all devouring aspect, but also the savior of humanity
and the original planter of the seed of light in our being. Through
Cain did his lineage survive and continue on spiritually to this
present time.
Lilith, being the Bride of the Devil, is one part
of the Adversary as being the dark instinctual side of man and
woman, feminine, yet horrific and loving all within the same breath.
Lilith is known by the Semitic “Layil” which a word
is meaning Night, but also the name of the demon of the storm.
Lilith is associated with the screech owl and other beasts of
the wild, as it is where she went after she left heaven to wander
the earth. She is considered one of the Three Assyrian demons
being Ardat Lilit, Lilit and Lilu, but rather these may be just
variations of her name. It is suggested by some Hebrew scholars
that Lilith was worshipped by exiled Jews from Babylon as a goddess
of the wilderness.
Lilith as described in post-biblical literature
is viewed as the Queen of Demons, she went to the caves near the
Red Sea and copulated with fallen angels to beget other demons,
she also taught (according to Manichaean lore – Az) the
fallen angels how to form bodies and have sexual relations to
give life to other ‘dragon children’. She was said
to have been the reunited with her mate Samael (Ahriman) after
the fall, when he would not be roused by his fellow fallen ones
and demons, only the words of Az (Lilith) could rouse him. He
then kissed her form and caused menstruation, which was passed
on to all women as Lilith is directly connected with their fiery
and dark sides.
The Goddess of Luciferian Witchcraft is Lilith or
Babalon, as described previously. She is also Hecate, the Darkened
Moon Goddess of the Cunning Circle, whose blessing is both youth,
imagination and death. The Son is within you and that is Cain,
the Baphometic Daemon whose magick is the core essence of the
religion of sorcery. The very circle casting rite as written by
Gerald Gardner presents the Mother of Witchcraft, “Mother,
Darksome and Divine, Mine the Scourge and Mine the Kiss, The Five-point
Star of Love and Bliss”. Within the circle there is the
very Graal of the Adversary, that through Self-Love can the essence
of the Pentagram be sensed and understood. He refers to Hecate
or Lilith (via Diana) as being “Hell's dark mistress, Heaven's
Queen.” This is the dual nature of the Devil and his Bride,
the Adversary. That by both Sabbat rites does the cup of Heaven
(Aethyr, Luciferian Sabbat) and Hell (Infernal, Chthonic Sabbat)
are filled.
Cain was the Son born of by some accounts Samael
(the Devil) and Lilith (through Eve), the first Satanist and Witch.
“It is said within
the dark traditions that the Bible is mistaken with regards
to Cain’s true parentage. Cain was in fact a half human,
half demon bastard child of Adam and Lilith. It was for this
reason that the Lord would not accept his offerings and prayers,
rather than any specific demands of animal sacrifice. The tale
continues with Cain being cursed to wander the earth as a vagabond,
with the ground he tills never giving bounty.”
– Nathaniel J. Harris, The Mark of Cain, the First Satanist
and First Murder.
In certain rabbinical literature, the Daughters
of Cain were those who joined in sexual union with the Fallen
Angels, the Watchers, and gave birth to the Nephilim, the Giants
who were war like and brutal. They were said to have populated
the earth in plenty, and attacked the children of Seth. In Manichaean
lore, the Queen of Demons and spiritual initiator of Cain, Lilith
– Az, taught the fallen angels to form physical bodies and
join with others sexually. It is suggested also by writers Kaufmann
Kohler, W.H. Bennett and Louis Ginzberg that the Children of Cain
spent their days at the foot of a mountain (Eden?) practicing
in wild orgies with the music of Lucifer through that created
by Jubal. Women, the first Pairikas or Faeries/Witches, in their
beautiful appearances, invited the sons of Seth (children of god)
and copulated with them, bearing other children. This Jewish Folklore
presents the earliest forms of the Witches Sabbat as a Luciferian
celebration and practice of sexual magick.
“To Philo, likewise,
Cain is the type of avarice, of "folly and impiety"
("De Cherubim," xx.), and of self-love ("De Sacrificiis
Abelis et Caini"; "Quod Deterius Potiori Insidiari
Soleat," 10). "He built a city" (Gen. iv. 17)
means that "he built a doctrinal system of law-lessness,
insolence, and immoderate indulgence in pleasure" ("De
Posteritate," 15); and the Epicurean philosophers are of
the school of Cain, "claiming to have Cain as teacher and
guide, who recommended the worship of the sensual powers in
preference to the powers above, and who practiced his doctrine
by destroying Abel, the expounder of the opposite doctrine"
(ib. 11).” – The
Jewish Encyclopedia, compiled by Kaufmann Kohler, W. H. Bennett,
Louis Ginzberg
Herein we can see that Cain is thus a flesh and blood embodiment
of the Luciferian Path itself, he is the Son of Satan and Lilith,
the dark essence which is deeply connected with Eve, the wife
of Adam. Cain is not only the patron father of Witches, also the
symbol of the initiate upon the antinomian path.
Nathaniel Harris, an hereditary British Witch, whose long involvement
in various magical circles and authorship of grimoires not only
within the Black Tradition, but also that of the traditional Witcha
path, is bold enough to present ideas of our spiritual lineage
found in the dreaming minds of the Cunning Brothers and Sisters.
The symbolic Mark of initiation, which Aleister Crowley termed
the Mark of the Beast of the Apocalypse in “The Book of
Thoth”, has brought different interpretations of its form,
but the function itself is clear.
“This
mark, or stigma, may have been a reference to some form of tattooing.
The story may have originally referred to the nomadic tribe
of the Kenites, itinerant metal-smiths who believed themselves
to be the descendants of a Cain, related also to the Midianites
and Israelites who traveled the desert rift of Arabah from around
the 13th to 9th centuries BC. They would avenge the murder of
any tribe member severely. This mark was later equated in the
times of witchcraft persecution with the marks given to initiates
of the cult. Historically, Cain is recognized as an initiator
throughout various heretical societies, including the ancient
Toadsman fraternity, The Skull and Bonesmen, and the Horse Whisperers.”
- Nathaniel J. Harris, Witcha, A Book of Cunning (Mandrake
of Oxford)
This mark is represented as being a symbolic Marking of Antinomian
Commitment, of being awakened to the Path of the Devil and his
Bride, to becoming through the Daemonic Spirit inherent within
our blood. This dynamic process has been represented in the “Luciferian
Witchcraft” grimoires in various manners, in Yatuk Dinoih,
I have presented a system coherent with Cainite Workings based
on the isolated spirit as embodied in the Flesh of the initiate,
being as represented as Paitisha, the “Rite of Zohak”
and other workings within the grimoire. The spirit of Baphomet
or the Sabbatic Goat, the God of Witches is revealed thus as Cain
himself, the Bestial God who has shed the flesh to the Daemon
head of the Therion formed Witch-God or Goddess.
Once one has began the process of separation, ignorance falls
away as clay burnt with blackened flames, the spirit lifts up
to dance in twisted widdershins forms, the body and shadow and
light copulate to the Musick of Jubal Cain and the Sabbat Circle
is complete.
Part 2 - Foundations
of Black Witchcraft
Further Reading:
Michael W. Ford is the
Magister of The Order of Phosphorus, a closed order of solitary
initiates and The Black Order of the Dragon, the inner guild based
around Yatukivah – Persian and Chaos sorcery. He is the
author of “Luciferian Witchcraft” which contains 12
different grimoires including the Left Hand Path Tantric Grimoire,
Adamu, a forbidden book of Sexual Magick, Goetic Sorcery, a Luciferian
approach to the 72 Spirits of the Shemhamforasche, Yatuk Dinoih
and other works focused on the darksome rites of the path of Shadow
Sorcery and so-called Skir-hand Witchcraft, introduced by Nathaniel
J. Harris, a Hereditary Witch from the UK. Known as Akhtya Seker
Arimanius, Ford also is the author of Liber HVHI, an explaination
of the Luciferian trinity and the rituals of the Qlippoth, The
Book of the Witch Moon which features an introduction by Chaos
Magician Peter J. Carroll and numerous articles and essays. |
