How the Ancient Invocation of the Headless God became Aleister Crowley's Ritual of the Bornless One

Aleister Crowley's Ritual of the Bornless One and Liber Samekh has its ancient origins in Greek Magical Papyrus V. 96-172, a c. 4th century exorcistic incantation invoking the Akephalos or the "Headless God." Join me in this episode as I explore the original "Stele of Ieu the Hieroglyphist in His Letter," the mysterious "Headless God," before turning to how this ancient ritual became foundational in the history and practice of contemporary occultism.
In memoriam Jake Stratton-Kent
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Recommended Readings:
British Library - Papyrus 46 - www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDis...
P 5026 - Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung - recherche.smb.museum/detail/8...
Betz - The Greek Magical Papyri in Translation: Including the Demotic Spells - 978-0226044477

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Make Sure to Subscribe & Consider supporting Esoterica by becoming a monthly Patron - www.patreon.com/esotericachannel a one time donation - www.paypal.me/esotericachannel or the Super Thanks - Your support is profoundly appreciated!

[@PoetLoui]

I really enjoyed your video. Thank you 🙏🏼 wishing you well.

[@brianjauch9958]

The headless god kinda sounds like Marvel's MODOK villan.

[@derekstaroba]

@Brian Jauch that's wild I immediately thought of John the Baptist. There's also a motif in Hinduism of the goddess Kali cutting off someones (or "somethings") head and having it on a platter. It's in all four gospels but if you read starting at mark 6:14 specifically Herod literally swears up and down that Jesus and John are the same person and if Jesus really is God then he would be self begotten or self existent and therefore that could be construed as bornless I would think. I just started the video but I'm gonna go ahead and guess whatever Crowley did was a horrible bastardization of some (potential) truth.

[@jmp01a24]

As a Thelemite this is very interesting and also enlightening. Thanks for diving into the many works of Crowley from his re-writing of the GD rituals (which got him sued by the order), the enocian work of John Dee & Kelly (already seen your great video about them) and all his discoveries decoding ancient texts into a new image of man and God.

[@agooglepage9428]

Headless one means without ego in anti clockwise motion the begining.these can be used to either to clean own thoughts or making others harm .

[@jbaquinones]

Wow. For someone who says to have no expertise of modern occultism, I'm totally blown away. I've been in the GD for over 20 years now and you informed me of things I have never heard of. Thank you again Dr Sledge.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Thanks Jorge, It's not that I know nothing it's just not my strong suit and I try to make that clear. And, of course, you can see that in the content around here - it profoundly skews pre-1800. Though, this summer I'm planning to do some reading, especially on 1700-1800 to bring things more into the contemporary period. We'll see if it sticks :) Thanks so much!

[@jbaquinones]

@@TheEsotericaChannel that would be amazing Sir. I think there’s a huge gap between the age of Kabbalah and the French revival from the time of Martinez de Pasqually. He brought up stuff in the reintegration of beings that sounds extremely gnostic in my opinion. But at that time, there were no gnostic gospels. As a gd member I think that this had to be part of the inspiration for Rosicrucian literature and work. I’m also pretty sure he influenced modern freemasonry the French rite particularly. Martinez could have also opened the gates to people like Eliphas Levi, Papus, and the gd founders. But this is just a guess. I’ve been dying for an academic to investigate this area since it could link for the first time the Spanish/French masters to modern occultism. I hope this is what you mean. Thank you again Sir.

[@nodiggity9472]

Yeah, Crowley wasn't exactly the Golden Dawn's favourite alumni.

[@anthonyarcanumsanctumregnu9551]

J You haven't been in the GD they expired over a hundred years ago, a lot of modern off shoot groups that suck, people like myself are the best we manage to get as much as the original papers as possible, mix and match with our own systems and go far, I have been doing the Bornless ritual daily for over ten years along with The middle pillar and Lesser Banishing

[@jbaquinones]

@@anthonyarcanumsanctumregnu9551 the smaragdum temple closed in 1978 in New Zealand. The ones that try to keep the tradition alive are mostly descendants of the temples that regardie helped open.

[@Achilles_Heelys]

I come from a poor background and could never afford education. Thank-you for your free scholarly content. I've recently found your channel and you've a very digestible way of sharing your topic, which i appreciate.

[@michaelpacinus242]

❤

[@ezekielmaben8888]

if you want to dive deep into some scholarly topics, google scholar often has free pdfs of the things you are interested in.

[@brianjauch9958]

the spirit comes free with admission.

[@JonathanWillis-bq1td]

Most of the people I know with solid information about anything are self educated.

[@dougiescare]

"Untranslatable magic words" Sounds like a good way to add locusts or more fire to our current problems.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Agree - verify then trust

[@quantidel]

Necktie

[@kendbrowns]

@@quantidel What current problems, and who is meant by "our" when you said "our current problems"? Necktie? Please forgive me, as I just began watching Futurama there quantidel c351.

[@googleacount3611]

I really wish there was an channel like yours that dove into historical research on Buddhist, Hindu, and Daoist texts with their own relations to “Esotericism”. Your work is excellent.

[@LLight4]

Well, it all depends on what you mean. Because you think of "their own 'esoterica' " it's problematic, since 'esoterica' just like 'philosophy' and 'religion's are western terms based on latin/Greek words so they convey western presumptions. Calling eastern idea western terms unfortunately always means forcing in some think frames which - to me - changes everything. That's why I wouldn't call original Buddhism 'buddhism' but 'bauddhadarsana' which is a darsana of Buddha's students which is... You get it. My point is, if we are to spend that much time on even establishing what's the closest thing to the 'esoterica' to ancient Indians just imagine how difficult would it be to describe it to the Westerners 🤣 Unless you're talking about cultural/ideological crossovers in ancient times. be awesome to hear about!

[@googleacount3611]

@@LLight4 No I'm more speaking to complexities in religion, and the coverage thereof

[@stevenv6463]

Yes, I hope one day this channel goes into these topics.

[@Highspergamy]

All the philosophy, science, mythos and religion of the last 3200 years.... east and west were custom tailored by the same source.

[@LLight4]

@@Highspergamy uuuummmm human spirit you mean? Life force inside of us?

[@AlwaysADisappointment]

“Sketch and sus!” 😂Dr. Sledge, I have had to stop watching your videos while eating or drinking due to fear of aspiration. You say the funny parts with the same seriousness as all the other parts of your lessons 🤣. I am so happy to have found your talks/lessons and I have told all my like minded friends to follow you as well. As always: keep up the great work, thank you for your lessons, and Shabbat shalom 🙏🏽

[@General_Junkie]

Wow. Giving him a high five?? Lol. You like almost every other person on this Earth think that emoji means to pray but it's actually the high five emoji.

[@CosmicDK]

@@General_Junkie makes me smile that I am not the only one who is aware of that!

[@nickfuller]

This raises a more important topic of discussion. My question to you sir is- why are the hands always of the same skin tone? Why not different? Would be a more realistic "five". I think you're wrong- who are your scholarly sources?

[@santiago-ow6ou]

​​@@General_Junkiefun fact. High five bro 🙏

[@Fr.O.G.]

I have a lot to say about Liber Samekh, The Bornless Ritual, the Headless One, and the PGM in general. I'll try not to get carried away. I think I'll start with the myths surrounding them. The first is, and I'm glad it doesn't appear in this video, that Mathers and Crowley didn't know that the original ritual was an exorcism. They absolutely did, the theory being that if you exorcised everything within, the initiate made a space for a higher power to reside (and once that higher power was within, the initiate then had the authority to boss around the spirits--this is how the ritual became "The Preliminary Invocation".) In Liber Samekh, Crowley both shows and tells this by instructing the initiate to pass counterclockwise ("widdershins"), and explicitly stating it as well. Another myth is that Liber Samekh is for achieving the Knowledge and Conversation. It isn't. Again, Crowley both shows and tells us this in the text. The ritual is for a 5=6 in the A.'. A.'. meaning that the initiate should have already achieved the K&C through their own means before performing Liber Samekh. Think of it like an old timey television. You've changed the channel to the WHGA (Knowledge and Conversation); now you have to wiggle the antenna until you get a good signal (Liber Samekh). That said, people swear by it, and I wouldn't dare argue with those who claim to have achieved the K&C this way. I'm going to cut it short here because I could go on forever on this topic. I will say that Liber Samekh is Crowley's most lucid work. In it, he is unequivocal about the nature of the HGA (another great myth being that Crowley flip flopped about the nature of the HGA, debunked by Erwin Hessle), that if it isn't the unconscious mind, it at least works through the unconscious mind. That said, the Liber Samekh has two unfortunate flaws: as Dr. Sledge said, the goofy attempt to interpret the barbarous words, and a weird structure. For anyone interested in reading Liber Samekh, I suggest picking up Lon MIlo DuQuette's THE MAGICK OF ALEISTER CROWLEY, where DuQuette has edited Liber Samekh into an easier to read format. Okay. That's enough.

[@marasmiusgoldcrow6746]

Love brother Lon's work.!. Do what thou wilt. 665 The neighbor of the beast.

[@Fr.O.G.]

@@nothinghere1996 k

[@tdarons]

@@Fr.O.G. :-)

[@Jon-pw2ik]

@@nothinghere1996 Hey, so about how much acid approx did you drop for this? Or was it shrooms and how much?

[@michaelpacinus242]

I used to do the same thing

[@nathanjudy7705]

I've read a few different perspectives on Crowley's life but never from a religious academic perspective. Going into more detail of a piece of his writing and discussing the actual history of it is something I've never really done either and its so fascinating. Thank you for this!

[@13squared57]

i love the dry dead pan comedy you squeeze into such great knowledge. so glad i subscribed to this channel

[@franklincoolport27]

My Great grandfather was friendly with Aleister Crowley whilst he lived at Boleskine House. Both were keen mountaineer's. My own father recalled a book titled magic of loch Ness, gifted to his grandfather by Crowley.

[@daa5249]

Did they talked about Boleskine House or anything about the paranormal?

[@franklincoolport27]

@@daa5249 Yes their was a discussion regarding the importance of Boleskine House, North facing, river sand on the terrace, the seclusion of location and how these contributed towards various rites , the Abra Melin being of significant importance. This one had to be hastily abandoned as Aleister had to travel to France to deal with some issues with the Golden Dawn.

[@johnnylego807]

@@franklincoolport27this is very neat. I’m genuinely curious, did your great grandfather ever speak about how he was as a person? His nature? I’m genuinely curious. Thankyou for this post.

[@franklincoolport27]

@@johnnylego807 From what i heard Crowley came across as being a highly intelligent individual who was very well versed in many aspects of the human psyche. He absolutely adored the challenges of mountaineering, loved playing chess, seldom losing. He was also known to have a mischievous side and amongst the local villagers some were said to be wary and uneasy around him partly due to his high intelligence which seemed to give him an otherworldly aura.

[@johnnylego807]

@@franklincoolport27 very interesting, Thankyou for replying brotha, most don’t usually follow up with any other details. 💪 💯

[@steben3318]

Call me weird but your opening sequence is the only one that I don't skip through, its so relaxing and watchable that I let it play EVERY time. Me thinks you just shortened it Do you not care about my stress levels? Also, thanks so much for what you do.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Nope, same length as always - just listen to more Chopin nocturnes if you want to extend the vibe ;)

[@steben3318]

@@TheEsotericaChannel Wow, you do supprise me there, thanks for the musical ref I will sleep tonight and dream of Achemical laboratories.

[@sideoutside]

I thought it was just me!!

[@lousialb8962]

This is getting weird. I also love the opening sequence. I, too, REALLY thought it used to be longer (and was disappointed about the shortening). 🤔 Parallel universe? Timeline jumping? Did someone mispronounce an incantation? What's going on?

[@Miguel-pq9hz]

I think Dr. Sledge is just speaking more slowly in recent videos so the opening feels like speeding up a bit?

[@williamrobinson8151]

Im 3 weeks sober and im absorbing info like a sponge. This has told me something about a topic i thought i knew about.. thanku brother.

[@ColinDB3]

"what's a kidney compared to gnosis anyway..." are you sure you didn't miss your vocation as a comedian? I genuinely laughed so loudly when that came up,.

[@ForksandFreaks]

I have a difficult time keeping up with what day it is, but when I see the notification of a new Esoterica video I know it’s finally Friday and it’s going to be a good one. Watching these videos has found it’s place in my morning routine, it feels like my version of Saturday morning cartoons :)

[@thomzwiefler6305]

Brill beef is one of my fav parts of this protagonist journey. I feel like this arc will be completed soon.

[@agucci]

As a Thelemite and a native Hebrew speaker, I found this extremely fascinating. I have been practicing Liber Samekh for several years now, and some things you mentioned were just under my nose this whole time! Thank you so much for making this video! 93s

[@agucci]

@@dethstark I'm not an O.T.O. member, but I am an A.'.A.'. Aspirant.

[@jerrimenard3092]

@Pete Testube As a magician with High Functioning Autism, I am always drawing connections between numbers, shapes, words ect. It all seems to flow like a current. That never totally shuts off, but it can sleep...

[@Fullmetalmagus]

93, I'm also a Thelemite from the A.A side.

[@PaullyRobots]

13:24 this was the 3rd time I laughed out loud in this video. It IS fantastic and your humor is making my day.

[@silvandarart]

I love the way you tell history, I can listen to you for hours ❤️ your approach is so grounded and pragmatic, it's fantastic

[@dkultraw6412]

Dr Sledge, I’ve been looking forward to this video, thank you so much!

[@ian_b]

Consistently one of the most interesting channels on YT. Thank you for your hard work.

[@NAETEMUSIC]

I am so proud to have subscribed to this channel when it had like 50k subscribers. Mazel Tov on the huge success Dr. Sledge!

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Support like yours makes it all possible!

[@NAETEMUSIC]

@@TheEsotericaChannel Happy to keep it going! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@randyhernandez9328]

Thx Dr. Sledge for your time and efforts on this content we greatly appreciate you.

[@Kvossera]

Thank you so much for exploring Aleister Crowley!! I’ve been fascinated with him for decades and it’s so interesting to learn about him from you with your experience and expertise. I hope that you will continue to talk about modern esoteric mysticism especially those that use ancient texts to build upon. Learning about the texts that were selected and used in modern esoteric mysticism and how it or the rituals around it have changed is my burning curiosity special interest.

[@inregionecaecorum]

An utterly fascinating character if ever there was one, if he had not existed you would have had to invent him :)

[@catcans]

What, and why, things survive is so fascinating to me. I have my uncle's mix CDs from the 90s that have songs that are already out of print and not even available on KZbin. Can't imagine what millennia of humanity has lost. Also I think it's time for a Crowley movie, you know, before Johnny Depp gets too old to play him. 😂😂😂

[@kukumba56]

he won't even need makeup, just a shave

[@DropsofJupiter1212]

Songs from the 90’s are already out of print?? But that was like yesterday

[@Bluecho4]

At least we have some Crowley depictions, such as the graphic novel Aleister & Adolf.

[@A-No-One]

Making the occult mainstream... 🤭 sus will be sus

[@Bildgesmythe]

Great point!

[@sclr]

i'm glad you're touching on crowley. a character i've come to take with a grain of salt but honestly i've learned a lot from as well. i've learned a ton from your videos. but your sense of humor and references have kept me watching and engaged. thank you!

[@kcnchap]

I appreciate your journey. I will be learning through many of these videos (noting your balanced perspective at this moment in time). Thank you for providing this “space/room” to expand upon these perceptions. Also, thank you for this form of your expression and the precious slice of time this must request of you. For those that seek the “nearest” truth in connecting the dots and coalescing this absolute smorgasbord of cross pollinating literature, we have found an excellent communicator. Namaste.

[@peterkarargiris4110]

I've only recently discovered your channel Dr Sledge. I was very much into the occult when I was in my latter teens and I still love the arcane (and heavy metal) now at 58. I've been studying ancient Egypt for over forty years. Please do an episode on The Book of Coming Forth by Day and some of the other classic ancient Egyptian funerary books - The Litany of Re, The Book of Gates, The Pyramid Texts etc. I love your quiet scholarly style and subtle humor. Kudos to you sir.

[@eyesofahriman8205]

Why am I only finding this channel now!? Love your command of language, your presentation and your wealth of esotericism and occult knowledge. Subscribed and alerted. Thank you for these videos.

[@md-nw6br]

I have Butler’s Ritual Magic collecting dust on my shelf!! This video (and ALL of your others) is terribly interesting and I’m chuffed to have supplementary stuff on hand to read. Cracking it open tonight! So appreciative of you for this channel. This stuff is my bread and butter and your videos make all of my “to research” topics so accessible.

[@Leiferuphugus]

Absolutely loved this episode! Thank you for giving this extant ritual such analytic attention!

[@Leiferuphugus]

I'm surprised you didn't poke fun at Crowley's "Solar-Phallic Hippopotamus".

[@taterporkchop]

Hoping this is taken only with the utmost respect and love in which I am stating it, Jewish sarcasm is second to none and you sir are at the top of the proverbial food chain. Thank you!

[@arsstellarum]

Excellent, all the way through. But you really had me at "that better be Allan Bennett's name in those Hieroglyphs!" I've been thinking the same for decades.

[@edgeeffect]

Israel Regardie's analysis and synthesis of The Bornless ritual in "Ceremonial Magic, a guide to the Mechanisms of Ritual" was my first introduction to esoterica. I've got a copy of the book in my office today. For me, this is going to be a good one!

[@giannists8452]

Amazing episode Dr. Sledge! And you are so spot on with your comment on what has managed to survive, I was left wondering how different our understanding would be had the Alexandria library survived..

[@KellyBergerDeusVult]

Thank you. Seeing this helped me contextualize some thoughts I had on Crowley and a project I am working on.

[@jonathanwellington9565]

Where had this channel been hiding for so long ??? Top quality content. Bravo! Subbed half a month ago. The intro is killer❤❤❤

[@nakor555]

You are one of the few who speak about magic esoteric for what it is and not for what it might be... 👌 I'll keep an eye on your channel because I feel that Ill potentially learn something... thx from 🇫🇷

[@thegreenman7]

I love your channel! Your research is fascinating! I have always found the occult interesting, and I think your channel is the best I've ever found! Keep up the good work! Much love!!! Keep em coming!!!

[@jaysindefransisco1118]

Man I love your work. You are a great presenter, teacher and inspiration for intelect. Blessings

[@Braycraycray]

This is my favourite ep so far!!!

[@persephonecampos1065]

you’re amazing! love this channel

[@Flame-Bright-Cheer]

Really really good Channel and I also appreciate the cut of your jib sir🙏

[@Theyreghouls]

Crushed it. Great work!

[@shedtalksrecovery]

So Jake Stratton Kent, has a wonderful booklet published on this particular ritual. I would really love to see you do a breakdown of some of his analysis in contrast to some of your theories. What a wonderful way it would be to remember him. Thanks, Justin, as always for the wonderful and engaging content!

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

It's a good pamphlet, but I think he overplays his hand in locating the text as exclusively a Typhonian text. I'll be discussing this at length this week with an expert in ancient magic and the PGM. JSK, DMS.

[@Simon-IFF]

R.I.P. Jake Stratton Kent

[@ironyelegy]

favorite youtube channel. touching my heart.

[@J1Nflo]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, thank you so much for your contributions to humanity. I have been obsessed with your videos for a while, and any time I have a question you have a video to reference! Thank you ten told!!!!

[@Ambrose-tarot]

Love, love, love this post! Had me cracking up. 😂 Awesome sauce, Sledge! 🌟 This is a ritual I have found most beneficial, regardless of origin…. Intention is key. 🙏

[@CosmicDK]

New to your channel and I am learning so much! Thank you and you have a new subscriber

[@alargedoug]

Great video! I have recently discovered you and I have watched several of your videos and really enjoy every single one. I definitely need a T-shirt! Thanks again

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Glad you like them!

[@briandeitz8209]

Brilliant 👏 bless 🙌 🙏 👏 ❤ thank you for being so well spoken and researching deeply, I appreciate you sharing your knowledge

[@GreenGrid]

Your research is impeccable 🙏 thank you for pushing education 🙏 🕯️

[@dementiamaster12]

I’m really liking your channel. Keep it up

[@BreedersSyndicate]

Really impressed with your grasp of the subject

[@marmorgo5021]

Man! How I love your shows!

[@Euarglh]

I love your comments on Brill. Many of us think the same...

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Someone should make a compilation of my brill shade and send it to them

[@theosophicalwatermelons8181]

There's a very Bornless One-like moment in Elden Ring, where inside of a mausoleum there is a headless cadaver laid out on a plinth, and by touching the headless body, the player can receive the ego-image of one of the in-game gods or demigods. There has been talk in Esoterica comments sections before about the level of occult intelligence in From Software games. In Bloodborne you burn sigils into your own mind, in the manner of Spare's occult practice, much of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is spent performing alchemical processes with iron, sulfur, and mercury, and much of the games' writing style bears heavy resemblances to Automatic Writing or something composed in another form of trance state, so it wouldn't surprise me if the Walking Mausoleum ritual I described above is modeled off of the Bornless One.

[@goose33]

Ac valhalla had a lot of this Shit a lot of movies and video games show us it Just gotta recognize it

[@elleofmusic]

I was thinking this very same thing! Also makes the "Great Rune of the Unborn" Amber Egg an even more interesting concept as well.

[@theosophicalwatermelons8181]

@@elleofmusic I hadn't even thought of that. A Hermetic Egg for transmuting the Ego-Image. The polymorphous self of the 21st Century is the polymorphous self of the Philosopher's Stone.

[@Integritys_Sum]

Oh shit, another souls player spotted

[@williammartinactor]

What a dazzling way to begin a new week. This lecture is a guardian angel.

[@jeffrobodine239]

Man ! What a great explanation ! So through.

[@SoulSovereignty]

You are crazy awesome, and I love the work you are doing. Seriously, your expose research provides a ton of "glue" to piece together a personal tapestry of insights. Truly amazing, thank you.

[@hibiki_lb]

yeah i watch esoterica for the amazing scholarly content but i also watch esoterica for the shade against long dead men

[@RickL555]

Ha, I love that "and this is where the history gets a bit iffy" look you give into the camera. Too few are so honest these days. This was cool. I usually avoid that late 19th-early 20th occult stuff like the plague but you keep it academic so props. Keep up the good work, buddy.

[@Sirius263]

An exceptional exploration. Many thanks.

[@kfjw]

I first heard the word "Akephalos" in Behemoth lyrics. I'm glad to know the significance.

[@nehemiahsomers4141]

Read the full ritual, most of the lyrics to the song are fully from the ritual

[@mellie4174]

Wow great essay there. I am new to all this so i don't always understand everything but i'm really enjoying tracing back the roots of these various religious groups or practices and seeing how they all shared and riffed off each other

[@Bildgesmythe]

Binge watch this channel, it's amazing how much you learn.

[@strawberryego6669]

This was great. Just what I needed today. What a fascinating idea to _me_ Thanks again for your excellent work. #HappyPassover

[@davieboy3814]

Thank you for this fascinating video.

[@ninetales6485]

Just awesome! The Headless One is my favorite Greek Papyrus ritual. During the early nineties actually performed this two to three times a week for a year. It's crazy

[@SlowPersuit]

Interesting. Just out of interest, did sh*t get wierd?

[@dom5288]

I’m also curious if sh*t got weird

[@iachtulhu1420]

I did it for few times myself during my dabbling with Golden Dawn/Thelema type of ceremonial magick. Usually I would do a Qabalistic Cross and then proceed to Lesser Banishing Ritual of Pentagram and then onto Bornless One invocation. My beliefs changed drastically from those years, but I can tell Bornless One had the most drastic influence on my attitude. I even got scared a little bit - because I felt invulnerable and above anything :) well, maybe it was just a ego trip, but still, the last part of identification with Bornless One is the most intense things I experienced. Nothing weird in a visual or supernatural sense, just a sense of extreme power and "size" and the stronger sense of presence of something greater.

[@ninetales6485]

@@SlowPersuit yes but since I have only my experiences and don't expect others to believe me, you do you.

[@SlowPersuit]

@@ninetales6485 Crickey! Sorry I asked. The "Yes" was good enough tho. ;-)

[@lazmotron]

One of the only channels worth watching on youtube!

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Definitely not but thanks!

[@jayearnhardt9790]

Thank you DR YOUR EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE IS QUITE AWESOME AND INSPIRING YOUR MANOR OF EXPRESSION HELPS THE STUDENT EMENCLY

[@oza9287]

The imagery of the invocation really reminds me of Georges Bataille and the Acephale society

[@futuremutant]

Love the dry humor in these man 😂 truly appreciated 🙏

[@zaclassiterdrums]

I love how you sneak little TTRPG bits in your scripts! I’d love to see your take on the satanic panic or some other tabletop/esoteric topic!

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Whole episode on the panic - check it out!

[@tacocatpoopracecarpooptacocat]

I'm from Michigan and I'd love to attend a live esoterica seminar if you're still planning on doing them in the future. Religion/occult youtube channels like yours have shown me how fascinating the subject is and i'm really considering majoring in religious studies. Still a senior in highschool for now, though. I loved your introduction to kabbalah and jewish mysticism series and I appreciate how upfront you are about being a marxist and having a historical materialist perspective. We definitely need more scholarly videos like yours on youtube. P.S. My favorite black metal bands are Leviathan and Paysage D'Hiver, check them out if you haven't!!!

[@ihatespam2]

The Sledge of hammers, provides excellent insight and data! I spent years in occult and meditation “circles,” to the point where I left supernatural beliefs behind. But the Doc has re-enthused my interest in the topic, if only as a fascination with the workings of the human mind. Still waiting for a good Crowley movie. Is it even possible?

[@error4159]

I kept hearing O Father O Satan O Sun by Behemoth while watching this. Awesome video, awesome song.

[@morteneide3857]

Thank you for interesting information.

[@jamesnewman8011]

Oh wow. I just realized this came out an hour ago. I know nothing about the occult, but have always been fascinated by it.

[@Bildgesmythe]

This is a great channel to learn, binge watch past episodes.

[@Victorwater]

Excellent presentation. I would love to hear a little about your point of view of Saint Martin's works and Martinism in general. Thank you for your wonderful knowledge, my friend

[@jameskennedy721]

great explanation . thanks

[@AlexanderCanwell]

Thank you so much for this

[@clemhollingsworth9885]

Quite the challenge. Thanks!

[@ebertwix5860]

It's truly unfortunate that most of written history will often be lost. History is decided by victors and book burners

[@devinsmith4790]

Most works were lost due to burning, it's more neglect of copying them.

[@mirceazaharia2094]

Book burning is, in almost every case, a disgusting and terrible waste. Even the bad ones or evil ones have the value of teaching us what we must NOT do.

[@JHSMDH]

No history is determined by historians. It's crazy how we know so many bad things about "victors" for them to have wrote it

[@johnnylego807]

@@mirceazaharia2094amen too that.

[@johnnylego807]

Not to mention stolen books, hidden away from us, even currently, wether in private collections or the basement at the Vatican. It’s very unfair/ unfortunate.

[@sideoutside]

Nothing is truly lost forever. It's still right where it was.

[@razielarchangel8316]

Very interesting analysis. As you have mentioned the structure of this spell is based on the symbol of number 3 and relates to three elements in its original form. The symbolic meaning of number 3 is used not by accident here cause it relates to the forming a shape in a three dimensional space - the triangle itself is the first geometric figure and correspond with the Goetic Triangle of Manifestation. Therefore introducing the rushing fire concept into this spell can be considered as misconception of how the element forces should be used by the mage in this ritual because the missing element of fire should manifest into the evocation triangle enclosing the balance of four elements. In such case the following entity invocation which is used after the Headless God invocation is meant to bring the elemental balance to the ritual stage and manifest this entity through the forces of living or rushing fire. The Headless God invocation is missing its head on purpose to manifest one selective subconscious daemon construct through an ego aspect with the fire element in the triangle. Totally agree with the interpretation of Ego loss state during this magick ritual.

[@bradhart5222]

Thank you Dr. Sledge, you cover the best material. I won’t go all fanboy on a brother. Just thanks.

[@megelizabeth9492]

Honestly, the thing I find most interesting about this, is that arguably, the relatively well documented history of victorian occultism is probably the best window have into how most of the of the PGM, and other magical texts like it were actually composed.

[@megelizabeth9492]

Both are the product of a vibrant intellectual community combining cutting edge, philosophical, religious and scientific ideas of the day, with ancient texts, and a good helping of, let’s call it, creative artistic liberties, to create highly syncretistic, diverse, and often idiosyncratic magic systems

[@VIP-ry6vv]

The secret history wouldn't be secret if it were known. I really enjoy the way you unscramble these texts to present the information without prophecy.

[@a_lucientes]

I love your presentation style. Fascinating stuff. I had no idea Liber Samech was based on an ancient manuscript, but it doesnt surprise me. I've never read it. I studied Crowley's work for a number of years but was never a practitioner of it. (I have been to a couple of Gnostic Masses. They were interesting. In a way its like Crowley remade the religion of his parents (It's a bit ironic that Hubbard was able to accomplish what Crowley so desperately worked to. (whatever the hopefully currently dismal state of Scientology is). As Im sure you know there are recent versions of The Book of the Dead that are far superior to the one Budge did.(Faulkner's. And Scalf's I thought is very good. Though Im no expert). Love your channel! **Regarding Crowley, read The King of the Shadow Realm by Symonds. I was fascinated to learn he had _borrowed_ "Do what thou wilt," the very name "Thelema" (which means "will' in Greek), -even the Abbey, all from Rabelais' Gargantua and Pantagruel, -as well as much about Crowley the man you will not find in any of the magickal biographies, ie. Regardie's Eye in the Triangle, etc/. Many people were bothered by its publication but I think it's a worthwhile read if you really want to know what kind of person Crowley was. Anyway, great stuff, thank you.

[@harryhoofcloppen]

The requirement for pure rainwater in a spell makes a lot of sense if the mage had a thing for Purity Of Essence.

[@kevnicholas4761]

Aleister "Felt cute, might delete later" Crowley 😂😂😂 - I love Dr Sledge

[@paulkohl9267]

The image of the akephalon (the headless one) around 10:30 show signs of Egyptian religious influence. The head looks like it has neter heiroglyphs. The anthromorphic character of the headless one is also reminiscent of Egyptian deities. Repitition of the same symbols often happens in Egyptian writing, which is present in the image, as well. It is quite strange this cosmic headless standing chicken monster.

[@thedappermagician6905]

Nah G, those letter repetitions are for intonation. Almost like the harmonic frequency of the sound/being of the entity. The 'tattoos upon the chest'. Absolutely hilarious is this thing without a head blasted the one true God out of its chest and then from that the universe emerged. 'But who created God?' Lol you don't wanna know, my man.

[@brooke9192]

It's super interesting listening to your work as an evangelical Christian.

[@kinkinjazon7819]

Thanks to your info.

[@EmperorCaligula_EC]

I remember a story, true or not, where one of the Masters of the Golden Dawn, maybe Mathers, explained the Kabbalah and the magical concepts, where the more skeptical person said "Well with this you could make anything out of nothing", to which Mathers replied: "With this all was made out of nothing." Found that always a nice reply to the idea of Occult Creativity. The Magus creates, because he is the image of the Creative Force. So he recreates himself in the Divine he always was. Sort of. The means need only one criterion: does it do the job? Great channel and greetings, 93:93:93

[@noxcorvus93]

Brilliant! Frater Acher in his Clavis Goetica has a nice study of the headless rite from PGM.

[@Luxflux777]

Very informative ty

[@carloseduardojorqueragonza3390]

Thank U, Thank U, infinite Thank U, Dr. Sledge!!!

[@genghisgalahad8465]

Just at the beginning of this monumental video, kudos already! Who knew that this elusive to me ritual has its roots and home in the PGM? I knew that.... 👀, ehem! This is my learning before diving in to practice as my self-initiated tribute to JSK, hereby of my own accord, soon, of course!

[@genghisgalahad8465]

4:55 I started taking notes at this point on mention of the shady NPC, which I thought was a continuation of the description of said NPC merchant! 🎉 ✍️ 📝

[@kheph777]

I've always assumed "Jeu" was essentially a loosely-coded form of "YHV" (Yod Heh Vav) - the Tetragrammaton with the repeated Heh removed (so, therefore, a Trigrammaton). That's also the origin of IAO (Yod Heh Vav written in Greek) - and both of these have the Gnostic associations you mentioned. :)

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

That's my guess, יהו is also attested in sefer yetzirah.

[@M4th3u54ndr4d3]

The israelite pronounce of yhwh was propably IAOUE, with the tonal syllabe being the first. If you pronounce it fast, it will become IAO. At least that is why most linguists agree. In fact, we do not know how it was pronounced.

[@F1Finance]

never clicked faster. nice video