Lovecraftian Sex Magick

1 Sex& t heLovecraf t i an Occul t

 A c ommon t heme i n many of t he cer emoni es we hav e col l ect ed i st he expl i ci t combi nat i on of sexual act s and Lovecr af t i an dei t i es.( Harms ms& Gonce,2003,p. 122) r onomi mi c on,andt  Thepopul ar i t yofLov ecr af t ,t heNec heat t endant myt hol ogyoft heCt hul huMyt hoshasi nspi r edandi nf or medapar al l el t r a di t i onofoc c ul tl i t e r at ur e ,as i g ni fic antf r a ct i onofwhi c hde al swi t hs e x mag i ca nds e x uals y mb mbo l i s m m. .“ Oc c ul tl i t e r a t ur e ”i nt hi ss e c t i o ni nc l ude s gr i moi r ess uchast heSi monNec 1977,Schl angekr af t ) ,works r onomi mi c on( oft heoryl i keKennet hGr ant ’ sTheMa 1972,Mul l e r ) ,and Mag i c a lRe v i v al( 2 mag i c alfic t i o n .Whi l eal lt he s et y pe sofwo r ksi nc o r po r a t eLo v e c r a f t i an el eme ment st osome medegr ee,t heyar ebestexami mi nedandunder st oodwi t hi n t hecont extofoccul tt heoryandhi st ory,andsodi st i nctf r om t heMy Myt hos fict i onaddr essedpr evi ousl y .

I nr evi ewi ngt hi sper mut at i onofMyt hosder i vedor– i nspi r edwor k,many oft hesame meobser vat i onswi t hr egar dt ot heCt hul huMyt hosappl yt ot he occul twr i t i ngsder i vedf r om ori nspi r edbyt heMy Myt hos,suchaspr i mary emp mphasi sont heLove cr af tMyt hosandLovecr af thi msel f ,andt he comm mmonmi si nt erpret at i onofHPL’ sl i f e,phi l osophy,andi deasbasedi n partont hepost humouscol l abor at i onswr i t t enbyAugustDer l et hand t heflawedbi ogr aphybyL.Spr aguedeCamp mp.Howev er ,whi l eoccul t i st s mayuset heLove cr af tMyt hosandLovecr af tsc hol ar shi passour ce mat er i al ,t heyder i veal mostnot hi ngf r om nonHPLMyt hosfict i on,and t he r ei sr e l at i v e l yl i t t l ec r o ss pol l i nat i onbe t we e nt hi sMy My t hosfic t i onand Lo v e cr a f t i ano cc ul tl i t e r a t ur e .Soi ti sbe s tt oc ons i de rt he s ewo r ksasa par al l e lt r adi t i o n,wi t ho c cul t i s t sl i keKe nne t hGr antdr a w wi i ngont he 1

  Formoreont heMy Myt hosandoccul tl i t er at ur e,pl easeseeJohnWi sdom GonceI I I ’ s o no mi mi co nFi l e s( c ha pt e r“ Lo v e cr af t i a n Ma gi c :So ur c e sa ndHe He i rs ”i n TheNecr 2003,  We  Wei se rBooks) ,“ Lov ecr af t r el at e dmagi caf t erGr ant ”i nDav eEv ans ’TheHi s t o r yo f 2007,Hi ddenPubl i shi ng) ,and“ Cal l i ngCt hul hu:H.P. Br i t i s hMag i cAf t e rCr o wl wl e y( e s( Lo v e cr af t ’ sMa Ma gi ca lRe a l i s m” m”byEr i cDa Da v i si n BookofLi 2009,TheDi si nf orma mat i on Comp mpany) . 2

  Wo Wo r k so ffic t i o nwr i t t e nt oe xpr e s ss omema ma gi ca li dea ,t e c hni q ue ,orpr i nc i pl ei na nar r at i v ef o r ma mat ;t hedi s t i nc t i o nf r o mo t he rt y pe soffic t i o ni sv e r ysubj e c t i v eand g e ne r a l l yama t t e ro fi nt e nta nda udi e nce .Apr i mee x ampl ei sAl e i s t erCr o wl e y ’ s 1917) .Some mema magi calfict i oni ncor por at esel eme ment soft heCt hul huMyt hos, Moonchi l d(  A ns tt heLi ght :ANi ght si deNar r at i v e( suchasKennet hGr ant ’ s gai 1997,St a r fir e Publ i s hi ng ) .

 wor ksofAl e i s t erCr owl e y ,Ar t hurMac hen,Lov ecr af t ,andDer l e t hamong ot her s;andPhi lHi ne,St ephenSenni t t ,etal .i nt urndr aw i nparton Gr antf ort hei rworks.  TheCt hul huMyt hoshasnotbor r owede xcessi v e l yf r om Lov ec r af t i an oc c ul tl i t e r at ur e ,de s pi t et hef ac tt hef ac tt hataut he nt i coc cul tt r a di t i ons haveperi odi cal l ybeeni ncor por at edorment i onedi nCt hul huMyt hos fic t i o n.Fo re x ampl e ,Ro be r tM.Pr i c ei nc o r po r a t e dr e f e r e nc e st oAl e i s t e r Cr o wl e y ’ st r adi t i o no fr i t uals e xmag i ci n“ Wi l burWhat e l e yWai t i ng ” ( 1987) ,“ Fe e r y ’ sOr i g i nalNo t e s ”( 2008) ,andar g uabl y“ AMat ef o rt he Mut i l at or”( 2004) ,l i kewi seAl anMoor emadeuseofWi l hel m Rei ch’ s or gonet heoryi nNeo 2010) .Ho we v e r ,r e f e r e nc e st ot he nomi c on( Lovecr af t i an occul tdoexi sti nMyt hosfict i on,f orexampl ewhenMoore ( hi ms e l fapr a c t i c i ngmag i c i anwi t hatl e as tapas s i ngf ami l i ar i t ywi t ht he 3 Lo v e cr a f t i ano cc ul t)madement i onoft heTyphoni anTri l ogi esi n Neonomi c on. Lo v e c r a f t i ano c c ul tl i t e r at ur ehasbe e nhi g hl yi nflue nt i ali ns o meoft he i conogr aphyoft heMyt hos,bestevi dencedbyt heubi qui t yoft he “ Nec r onomi conGat e”symbolf r om t heco v eroft heSi monNec r onomi c on ( 1977)des i gnedbyKhem Cai gan.Li kewi se ,t hecl ai msofHPLmadei n Lovecr af t i an occul tandpseudooccul twor karesomet i mesper si st entand i nflue nt i al ,s uc hast her e pe at e dr e f e r e nc et oLo v e c r a f t ’ sc onne c t i o nt o Egypt i an Fr eemasonryf r om Col i nWi l son’ shoaxf uli nt r oduct i onoft he r onomi c on( HayNec 1978,Nevi l l eSpearman) ,orcl ai mst hatLovecr af twas anunconsci ousadeptt hatwr ot et het r ut hasfict i on,orot herwi sewas possessedofsomespeci aloccul tknowl edget hati nf ormedHPL’ sst ori es.  Tohel punder s t andt heme t aphysi csandhi s t or i calc ont e xtoft hewor ks di s c us s e dhe r e ,t hi ss e c t i o n wi l lbe g i nwi t habi to fbac kg r o undmat e r i al . Lo v e c r a f t i anmag i c all i t e r a t ur ei spr i mar i l yi nflue nc e dbyahandf ulo f  wr i t er s ,I ’ v ec hosent oaddr e ssas el e ct i onoft hem separ at e l ywi t hnot es oncer t ai nderi vat i veorr el at edworksandgroups.Duet ot hedi fficul t y andc o s to fs o ur c i ngs omeo ft heo r i g i nalwo r ksi nq ue s t i o n,par t so ft hi s accountwi l lbebasedon sec ondarysour ces .

3

  Asev i dencedby“ Bey ondourKen”i n Kaos14( 2002) ,Moore’ sr evi ew ofKennet hGr ant .

Background4 i nLovecr af t i an occul tl i t er at ur edr awsonanumberof Mag i as e x ual i s  s our c e s ,butt hemo s ti mpo r t anti sAl e i s t e rCr o wl e y .Asano c c ul t i s t Cr owl eywasasyncr et i staswel lasasynt het i st .Hedr ew onWest er n e s o t e r i ct r adi t i o ns ,mo s tno t abl yt hec e r e mo ni almag i candi ni t at o r y st r uct ur eoft heHer me t i cOr deroft heGol denDawnandFr ee masonr y , andEast ernesot eri ct r adi t i ons,part i cul ar l yyogaandsomeel ement sof  Tant r a,andcombi nedt hem t opr oduceanor i gi nal ,compos i t esys t em t hatCr owl eycont i nuedt oevol veandr efinet hr oughouthi sl i f e,addi ng new ri t ual sofhi sowndevi si ng.AkeycomponentofCr owl ey’ ssys t em  wast headv oc at i onofane we t hi c :“ Dowhatt houwi l tshal lbet hewhol e o ft heLa w. ”Thi sf r e e do mo fl i c e ns ewasi ndi r e c tc o unt e rt ot heVi c t o r i an pr udenceofCr owl ey’ supbr i ngi ng,andwasacompani ont osi mi l ar sent i ment sont hei mport anceofsexual i t yasevi ncedbycont emporar i es l i keHave l ockEl l i sandSi gmundFr eud,whobel i ev edt hatsexwasa ce nt r alcomponentofhumanexi st enceandpsy che.  Thi sphi l osophi calf r e edom t osat i s f ys e xuali mpul s ebegant ot akea mor eov er t l ymagi calt ur nar ound1910,whenCr owl eywasi nt r oduce dt o t hepr ac t i c e so ft heOr doT e mpl iOr i e nt al i s( O. T . O) .Cr o wl e ywasi ni t i at e d t ot hehi g he s tde g r e e s ,andr e v i s e dt hehi g he rde g r e e so ft heo r de r ,whi c h al r e a dyi nc l ude daut o se xual( VI I I ° )andhe t e r o s e xual( I X° )s e xr i t e s ,by i nt r oduci nganalorhomosexualri t esi nt ot heXI ° .Cr owl eycomposedand pr ac t i c e dadi v e r s ear r a yofs e x ualma gi c : [ M] ent al l ymedi t at i ngonhi speni s—mast ur bat i ng—whi l e t hi nki ngofgodsandangel s;consecr at i ngt al i smanswi t h combi nat i onsofsemen,vagi nalj ui cesandmenst r ualbl ood; pr ol ongi ngandi nt ensi f yi ngsext hr oughvi sual i zat i on…  beseec hi nggodsf ori nf or mat i on,mone yandmat e r i al possessi onsdur i ngsex.( Ur ban,2006,p. 122)  Thet he or ybe hi ndt her i t eswast hati ns e xl ayt hesupr ememagi cal po we r ,t hec r e at i v epo we rt hatc oul dc onc e i v el i f e ,andt hati ft he magi ci anhadsuffici ent l ymedi t at edont heappr opri at esi gi l ,i mage,or desi r edgoal ,andi nt heappr opr i at emet hod,t hent hi spowercoul dbe di r ect edawayf r om t hecr eat i onofaphysi calchi l dt omagi calpurposes. berCDXV–ThePar i sWor ki nga  AsCr owl e ywr ot ei nLi ndhi snovel 4

  Themaj ori t yoft hi sbackgr oundsect i oni sasel ect i vecondensat i onofHughUr ban’ s Mag i aSe x ual i s :Se x ,Mag i c ,andL i be r at i o n( 2006,Uni v e r s i t yofCal i f o r ni aPr e s s ) .

1917) ,e v e nt hec o nc e pt i o no famag i c alc hi l dwaspo ss i bl e .I n Moonc hi l d( descr i bi ngt hesexmagi cr i t ual sandt het heorybehi ndt hem i nhi s  v ar i ouspubl i cat i onss uc hasLi owl eynot berCDXI V–DeAr t eMagi c a,Cr onl yusedal chemi calsymbol i sm andot heraspect sofWes t er noccul t i sm,  butmader ef e r encet o,adapt e d,andi nc or por at edcer t ai nt er ms, pr i nc i pl e s ,andpr ac t i c e so fI ndi ant ant r ai nt ohi so wns y s t e m. I naddi t i ont ot hesexacti t sel fandsexualsymbol i sm,Cr owl eywr ot eand madeuseofsomer el at edpr act i ces.Themal eandf emal esecr et i onsof sexact swer ehel dt ohaveacert ai npowert oanoi ntandempowersi gi l s andt al i smans,andal sot obeconsumeddur i ngt he“ Massoft he 5 Phoeni x”f r om TheBookofLi 1913) .I nDeAr owl eyal so es( t eMagi c aCr  wr ot eof“ Er ot ocomat oseLuci di t y , ”apr act i ceofpr ol ongedse xualac t i vi t y desi gnedt opr oduceexhaust i onandanal t er edst at eofconsci ousness  wher et hesubj ectcancommunewi t hGod. Cr owl ey’ ssyst em ofsexmagi ci spr i mari l yandr ocent ri c;womenare c ons i de r e das s i s t ant s ,s o me t i me si g no r a nto ft he i rpl ac ei nt he symbol i sm ofmagi calr i t ual .I nsomeusagest hi swasaf orm ofmagi cal r ol epl ay ,wher ean ear t hl ywomanwoul dt akeont hespi r i t ualofficeof Babal on,t heScar l etWoman,Mot herofAbomi nat i ons,ascount er partt o Chaos,t hemascul i necr eat i vepri nci pl ei nCr owl ey’ sThel ema,buti n g e ne r a lCr o wl e y ’ ss e x ualr i g ht sa r ede s i g ne df o rt heac t i v eus eand  benefitofme n.  Af t erCr owl e y ,t hemos tsi gni ficantocc ul t i s tdr awnonbyLov e cr af t i an magi ci ansi sAust i nOsmanSpar e,anar t i s tandf or mermemberof Cr o wl e y ’ smag i c als o ci e t yA∴  A∴.Sparedeve l opedhi sownsi mpl i fied magi calsyst em basedar oundt r ansgr essi ngt hear t i fici all i mi t ssetby convent i onalr el i gi onandmoral i t y .Apri marymet hodofSpare’ ssyst em ( cal l edbyKennet hGr ant“ ZosKi aCul t us” )wast heconst r uct i onofa my s t i c als i g i l ,ani de og r am r e pr e s ent at i v eo ft hemag i c i an’ sde s i r e ,whi c h  woul dt henbec har gedandbr oughtt or e al i t ybyent er i nganal t er eds t at e ofconsci ousness.Of t enenought hi sal t er edst at ewasachi evedby 5

  Thei ngest i onofsexualsecr et i onscont i nuedt obeami nort hemei nsomeLovecr af t i an o c c ul two r k i ng s ,a sc anbes e e ni nav ar i a t i o no ft heMa sso ft hePho e ni xi nRi pe l ’ s The Mag i c ko fAt l ant i s :Saut he ne r o m( 1985) ,a ndt hei nc l us i o no f“ c o ns e c r a t e ds e x ua lflui ds ” i nt heent heogeni cel i xi roft heMi skat oni cAl chemi calExpedi t i on.( Harms& Gonce, 2003,p. 117)Fo rmo r eo nt hel a t t e r ,s e eHi ne ’ sa r t i c l e“ So meBr i e fNo t e sRe g a r di ngt he onGoi ngWor kofourMi skat oni cAl chemi calExpedi t i on”( 1994, ht t p: //phi l hi ne. org. uk/wri t i ngs/kt ul _maexp. ht ml )and“ Ct hul huoi dCopul at i ons” ( ht t p: //phi l hi ne . o r g . uk/wr i t i ng s /kt ul _ c o pul . ht ml ) .

ext r emeexhaust i ont hr oughsexualexcess;si mi l ari nmet hod,i fnot pr e c i s e l yt he o r y ,t os o meofCr o wl e y ’ ss e xmag i c ,no t abl yt he“ e r o t o comat osel uci di t y”andt hepr ocessofvi sual i zat i onanduseofsymbol si n t heVI I I °andI X°O. T. O.degr ees,butwi t hf ewert r appi ngsandl ess ce r emony . I nSpar e’ ssyst em,t hegoalandkeyt omagi calsuccessi sl i ber at i onf r om se l f ,abandonmentt ot heunconsc i ousmi ndachi ev edt hr oughembrac i ng s e ns ual i t y .Fo re x ampl e ,hede s c r i be dar i t uals at ur nal i ao rs a bbat : [ T] her ei sasecr etmeet i ngpl aceandan el abor at ecer emony  whi c h i s an e xt ens i v e hypnot i c t o ov er whel m al l ps y c ho l o gi c alr e s i s t anc e s ;t hus ,t hes e ns eo fs me l l ,he ar i ng and si ghtar eseduced by i ncense,mant r i ci ncant at i on and r i t ual ,whi l et ast eandt oucharemademor esensi t i vebyt he st i mul i of wi ne and or al sexual act s. Af t er t ot al sexual sat i at i on byeveryconcei vabl emeans,an affect i vi t ybecomes an ext er i ori ze d hal l uci nat i on of t he pr edet er mi ned wi sh  whi c hi smagi ci ali ni t sr e al i t y .( Gr ant ,1972,p. 197) Spare’ sconcept i onoft hesabbatowessomet hi ngt ot hebur geoni ng dev el opmentandspr eadofGar dner i anWi cc aandr el at edmoder n  wi t c hc r af tmov e me nt si nt he1950sand60s ,f uel edi nnosmal lpar tby t heWi t chCul thypot hesi sofMargar etMur r ayandGeor geFr azer ’ sThe 1890)whi chhadl i kewi sef oundi t si nfluencei nt hefict i on Gol denBough( ofLove cr af tandMachen.

Kennet hGr ant6  Theuseofspeci al i z edt ec hni que sofse xualmagi ci nr espe ct t ot heMyt hosc anbef oundwi t hi nt hewor ksofKenne t h Gr ant .( Hi nes,2009,p. 32) Br i t i s ho cc ul t i s tKe nne t hGr a ntac hi e v e dno t abi l i t yi nmag i c alc i r c l e sas oneoft hehei r sofAl ei st erCr owl eyandAust i nOsmanSpar e,and t hr oughGr ant ’ seffort smanyofSpare’ swri t i ngswer eev ent ual l y publ i shed,aswel lasCr owl ey’ smagi caldi ari esandaut ohagi ogr aphy ( wi t hCr owl ey’ sl i t er aryexecut orJohnSymonds) .Thr oughhi sown  wr i t i ngs ,andast hef ounderandhe adoft heNe wI s i s /NuI si sLodge ( 19541962)andt heTyphoni anOr doTempl iOr i ent i s( 19552011,now 6

  Themostaccessi bl eandl eastbi asedgener alr ef er enceonGr antIhavef oundi sDave s t o r yo fBr i t i s hMag i c kAf t e rCr o wl e y  Evans’TheHi ( 2007,Hi ddenPubl i shi ng) .

t heTyphoni anOr der ) ,Gr antpr act i cedandel aborat edont hespi ri t ual phi l osophyofThel emaandt hesy st emsofcer emoni alsexmagi c deve l opedbyCr owl ey ,Spare,andot her s. Gr ant ’ swr i t i ng sha v ebe e nc o nt r o v e r s i al ,no tl e as tbe c aus ehec ho set o i ncorpor at eel ement sf r om wor ksoffict i oni nt ohi smagi calsyst em,most pr omi nent l yf r om t heLovecr af tMyt hos.Gr anthadpost ul at edLovecr af t ’ s fict i onr epr esent edanunconsci ousoccul tunder st andi ngsi nceatl east 1970i nanar t i c l ef o rMan,Myt .84ent i t l ed“ Dr eami ngout handMagi cno ofSpace. ”Thesevi ewswer ecodi fiedi nGr ant ’ sfir stmaj oroccul t publ i c at i onTheMagi 1972,Mul l e r ) ,e s se nt i al l yanhi s t or i c al c a lRe v i v al( exegesi sofCr owl ey’ smagi calsyst em ofThel emaf r om pr ehi st ory t hr oughemi nentpost Cr owl eymagi ci ansi ncl udi ngJackPar sons,Di on Fort une,andAus t i nOsmanSpar e.I nt hatbookGr antnot edappar ent be rALv elLe gi s( cor r espondencesbet weenCr owl ey’ sLi “ TheBookoft he Law” )andHPL’ s lAz l lassi mi l ar i t i e sbe t we e n  A i forNecr onomi c on,aswe aspect sofoccul tt heor yandt hefict i onofAr t hurMachen,Lor dDunsany , SaxRohmer ,andot her s.I twaspartofGr ant ’ st hesi st hatLovecr af thad unconsci ousl ycapt ur edr ealoccul tknowl edgei nhi sMyt hosfict i on, despi t eHPL’ savowedmat eri al i sm andst at ement si nhi sl et t er st hatt he tal .we r efic t i o nalwo r ks . Nec r onomi c one  Thi si ncor por at i onofLov ec r af t ’ smat er i alas“ occ ul tt r ut h”( r at he rt han l i t e r a lhi s t o r i c alt r ut h,t ho ug hGr antmuddl e st het woi nhi sbo oks ) r e pr e s e nt so neo fGr ant ’ sma j o ri nno v at i o nst omag i c alpr ac t i c e .  Tr adi t i onal l yoc cul t i s t shadsoughtaut hor i t yi nt hesupposedant i qui t yof t hei rt r adi t i onors our cet ext( asTheHer met i cOr deroft heGol denDawn orGardner ’ sNew Fores tCoven) ,magi cali nst ruct i onr ecei vedf r om be rALv elLe gi s) s upe r nat ur a le nt i t i e s( asCr o wl e y ’ sLi ,oror i gi nal t ec hni quesorper mut at i onsonexi st i ngme t hods( asAus t i nOsman Spare) ,Gr ant ’ sborr owi ngsf r om andr ef er encest oLovecr af tandMachen i nhi so cc ul twr i t i ng s ,andi ns i s t i ngont hemag i c alt r ut ho ft he i rfic t i o nal concept s,openedupnew avenuesf oroccul t i st s.Chaosmagi ci ansi n part i cul arwoul dembr acet hei deat hatasl ongassomeonebel i eve si na concept ,evenapr ovabl yf al seone,i tdoeshol dpowerf ort hem. Gr antf ur t he rr e fine dhi smag i c als y s t e mi nas e r i e sofbo oksc ol l e c t i v e l y i c alRe v i v al ,Al e i s t e rCr o wl e y knownast heTyphoni an Tri ol ogi es:TheMag andt heHi ddenGod( ,Cul t so ft heShado w( , 1973,Mul l er ) 1975,Mul l er ) 1977,Mul l er ) 1980, Ni g ht s i deo fEde n( ,Out s i det heCi r c l e so fTi me( Mul l er ) 1992,Skoob) 1994,Skoob) ,He c at e ’ sFo unt ai n( ,Out erGat eways( ,

1996,Skoob) 2002, Be yondt heMauveZo ne( ,andTheNi nt hAr c h( St arfire ) ;aswel lasvari oussuppl ement arypubl i cat i ons.TheTyphoni an  Tr i l ogi e sar ewor ksoft heor yi ns t eadofdi scr e t ef or mul aeorr i t ual s,and r e pr e s e ntGr ant ’ si nt e r pr e t at i o n,e x pl o r a t i o n,ande x pans i o nsoft he magi calsyst emsofCr owl eyandSpare,andf eat ur eani ncr easi ngl y c onf us e dadmi x t ur eo fo c cul tc o nc e pt s ,bo r r o wi ngl i be r a l l yf r o mt ant r a, par apsychol ogy ,f ant asyandwei r dfict i on,ant hr opol ogy,uf ol ogy,and  books“ r e cei v e d”f r om i nt er pl anare nt i t i esors pi r i t s. I nt hecour seoft heseni nebooks,Gr antmanagest odr aw connect i onsor c or r e l at i o nsbe t we e nt hewe i r dfic t i o no fLo v e c r a f t( i nc l udi ngt he post humouscol l abor at i onsofDer l et h) ,Ar t hurMachen,andavastarr ay ofo cc ul tt o pi c s ,e nt i t i e s ,andc onc e pt i o ns ,s ot hatasi g ni fic antc hunkof hi sc or pusc oul dbei nf e r r e dt out i l i z e ,r e f e r ,orc onne c tt omat e r i al der i v edf r om t heMyt hosi nsomef ashi on—andt husmuc hofGr ant ’ s magi csy st em canbesee nt ouset heMyt hosaswel l .Forexampl e,al ar ge po r t i o no fGr ant ’ swr i t i ngr e v o l v e sar o unde x pl o r a t i o no fano c c ul t i pho t hi ct cos mol ogybasedont heql r e eofde at h,ani nv e r s i o no rmi r r o r phi r o t hi c  negat i veoft hekabbal ahse t r e eofl i f e ,i nhabi t e dbye nt i t i e st hat Gr antequat edwi t hLovecr af t ’ sMyt hosent i t i es.Usi ngCr owl ey’ ssexual ri t ual sasabasi s,Gr antbel i evedt hatt hi sr eal m or“ MauveZone”coul d  bej our ne y edt oi nas t r alf or m,andt hemagi ci ancoul dcommuni c at e  wi t hv ar i ousent i t i est her e.Li ke wi se,Gr ante xpandeduponCr owl e y’ s 7 magi caluseofsexualflui dsbyequat i ngi tt ot heSanskri tt erm kal a, andt henappl i edi tt ot heMyt hos:  Thee mi ssar i e soft heOl dOnessee k nour i shmentofaki nd t hati s avai l abl e on eart h onl y vi he l unarkal ft he at as o nubi l ehumanf emal e.( Gr ant ,1992,p. 30)  Theandr ocent r i sm ofCr owl e yandSpar e ’ smagi calsys t e msi ss t i l lv e r y muchpr ese nti nGr ant ,wi t haf ocusonphal l i candmascul i ne symbol i sm,butsl i ght l ybal ance dbyanemphasi sonwomenasact i v e par t i c i pant sc ont r i but i ngt ot her i t ual sandwi t ht he i ro wnc r e at i v e power ,t houghi nhi saccount sofri t ual swomenseem gener al l yt ost i l lbe obj ect i fied,sot hatf emal esmayoffici at eacer emonybutareof t ent hen t hesubj ectoft hecer emonyaswel l .Thebestexampl esoft hi sareGr ant ’ s ac c ount so fps y c hi co rs pi r i t uals e x ualc o ng r e s swi t hMy t ho se nt i t i e s , 7

  Aconceptbasedont heSanskr i twordf or“ t i me, ”butwi t ht headdi t i onalmeani ngof “ l unarflui ds”t hatar e“ si t uat edi nt heorgani sm oft hehumanf emal e. ”( Gr ant ,1992, p. 253)

part i cul arl yt hei nf amous“ Ri t eofKu”supposedl yper f ormedathi sNew 8 I s i sLodg e:  Att hecl i maxoft her i t ualLîshedherr obeand,l i keawhi t e shadow,i ncr edi bl yr ept i l i an,sl i t her ed over t he ri m oft he t ank.As her f orm cl ove t he wat er s ei ghtphal l i cf eel er s r eac hed up and se i z ed her .Theyengage d heri n a mul t i pl e n whi c he ac ht e nt ac l e par t i c i pat e di nt ur n.Lî ’ s mai t huna9 i hai r ,bl ackasni ght ,f ormedasl owl ywavi ngar abesque,each  v i vi dt endr i le t c hed agai ns tt he mauv ez one wi t h Dal i ni an pr eci si on.The ei ght f ol d or gasm t hatfinal l y convul sed her  was r e gi s t e r ed by t he v ot ar i es ar ound t he t hr one .Vi ol ent par oxys ms di spl aced t he bl ack hoods, r ev eal i ng shi ni ng headsandt hepr ot uber antey esoft hebat r achi an mi ni onsof Ct hul hu.( Gr ant ,1992,pp. 189) I nano t he rs uc hr i t ewi t haf e mal ec e l e br anti nane l abo r a t es e t pi e c eof Lengwi t hamechani calshant akbi r dl edt oasi mi l arst i ckyend:  The n,as ee t hi ngmassofwhi t esl ugsandmaggot sf usedi nt o ser pent i ner opeswhi chcr awl edovert hesnow andconve r ged upon t heal t ar ,usi ngt hebodyoft hepr i est essasa l adder .  The yl ef tt r ac esoft hei rasce ntgl i t t e r i ngupon herl egs ,her t hr oatandherf ace,yetl ef tunst ai nedt hei mmacul at ebl ack gr own,f ort heyvani shed beneat hi tand r eappear edvi he at decl i vi t ybet weenherbr east s.Onr eachi ngt hesummi toft he al t ar t he yf or me d an undul ant mass of t e nt ac l es [ …] ( Gr ant ,1992,p. 54)  Ther ear eonl yt wose xualma t t e r sder i v e df r om Cr owl e yt hatGr antdoes notaddr essi ndept hi nt hesebookswi t hr egar dst ot heMyt hos: homosexualsexmagi c,andsuper nat ur alconcept i on.Oft het wo, homosexual i t yi st hemor eanat hemat oGr ant ,andhi sment i onsofi ti n se wher e  Al e i s t erCr o wl e yandt heHi dde nGod,Ni g ht s i deo fEde n,andel ar epr i mar i l yt or e f ut eCr o wl e y ’ sho mo s e xualr i t e sasmi s i nt e r pr e t at i o ns andexpl ai nwhyt hemagi calsymbol i sm i si ncor r ectandev enharmf ul . 8

  Theseepi sodesal ongwi t hot her sgi veni n He 1992)arevi ewedwi t h c at e ’ sFo unt ai n( skept i ci sm evenbybel i ever si nt heoccul t —notsi mpl yf ort heel aborat ecer emoni esand i mpr e s s i v e( i fdi s as t r o us )e ffe c t sGr a ntc l a i ms ,butf o rf ac t ualdi s c r e pa nc i e si nhi s account s.( Evans,2006,p. 314) 9

  Sankr i t ,“ c o upl i ng ; ”“ t heg eni t a l si ns e xua lc o ng r e s s . ”( Gr a nt ,1992,p. 256)

Nowher edoesGr antpr ovi deorsugges thomosexualmagi ci ndi r ect r el at i ont otheMyt hos. Super nat ur alconcept i oni soneoft hosemat t er swher eGr antf ai l edt o dr aw whatt oot herr eader smi ghtseem di r ectandobvi ousparal l el s. Despi t et heemphasi spl acedont hepr oduct i onofamagi calchi l dby Cr owl eyandot her s,Gr antneverr eal l yacknowl edgest hesi mi l ari t i es  be t weenLov ecr af t ’ s“ TheDunwi c hHor r or ”andCr owl e y’ sMoonc hi l d e x c e ptf o rav e r ybr i e fme nt i o ni nAl   ei s t erCr o wl e yandt heHi ddenGod: I nMoonchi t hei ncarnat i onwaseffect edi nandt hr ought he l d  normalse xualf ormul a,and al t hough t hef ul li mpactoft he mo onc hi l d’ sadv e nti sno td es c r i be d,t her e ade ri sl e f twi t h t hei mpr ess i on t hat ,what ev eri tmayhavebeen,i twassome s or tofamonst eri nhumanf or m endowedwi t hs uper human power s.Butnoent i t yi ncarnat i ngvi at heusualchannel sof se x,no physi cali nt r ust i on ofanot herdi mensi on i nt ot he ambi enceofhumani t ycoul d poss i bl yex er ci sepoweri n any  butat er r es t r i als ense.Thi si sbecaus et he“ powe r ”hasbe en ear t hed or engl eshed. [ …]I r ef er t o Howar d P.Lovecr af t  whose occul te xper i ences , di sgui se d as fict i on, vi vi dl y adumbr at et he awf ul poss i bi l i t y at whi c h Cr owl e y but  v ague l yhi nt si nMoonc Gr ant ,1974,pp. 345) hi l d.( El sewher ei nhi swr i t i ngsGr antnev ersee mst omakepl ai nt he connect i onbet weent he“ magi calmi sce genat i on”ofent i t i esandhumans i nt her emot epastwhi chhecl ai msr esul t edi nt hehybr i d,ani mal headed godsofanci entEgyptandt hesi mi l arcosmi cmi scegenat i oni nt he Ct hul huMyt hos.Thecl oses thecomesi nt hi sr egar dar epassagessuch ast hef o l l o wi ng : Spe aki ng o fe xt r at e r r e s t r i al si ne v i t abl ee v o ke s ,i fno tt he Gr eat ol d Ones t he ms el v e s, t hen Thei r emi ss ar i e s or mi ni ons.The y some t i mes mask t hemse l v es ,l i ke Machen’ s  Jer v ase Cr addoc k, i n de fici e nt human f or ms. ( Gr ant ,1992,p. 6) Gr antwasnott heonl yoccul t i stworki ngLovecr af t i anel ement si nt ot hei r  wr i t i ngsatt het i me;Ant onLe Vayf amousl yi ncor por at edt wos uc hr i t e s ani cRi t ual s(  byMi c haelAqui no’ si nTheSat 1972) .Howev er ,Gr antwas t hemo s ti nflue nt i alo ft ho s ee ar l yoc c ul t i s t si nt hede v e l o pme nto f

subsequentMyt hosoccul tl i t er at ur e,andt hemostf ocusedonsexual magi c.Gr antpi ckedupont hesedev el opment si nsomeofhi s onomi cons,t publ i cat i ons,r ef er enci ngt heSi monandHayNecr heEs ot e r i c Or derofDagon( EOD) ,andeccent r i cAmer i canoccul t i stMi chael Be r t i auxi ns e v e r alo fhi swo r ks .Co l i nWi l s o nr e c i pr o c at e dGr ant ’ s i nt e r e s tbyde di c at i ngas ubs t ant i alc hunko fhi si nt r o duc t i o nt oThe R’ l ye hT ex t( r onomi c on,t 1995,Skoob) ,t hesequelt ot heHayNec oGr a nt ’ s f ocusont he“ morbi d”sexualsubt extt hatWi l sonal soper cei vedi n Lo v e cr a f t ’ swo r k.  Asi def r om Gr ant ’ si nflue nceont heLov e cr af t i anoccul t ,hi swor ksar e nomi c on al soref er encedi nMyt hosfict i on,mostnot abl yAl anMoore’ sNeo andpo ss i bl yi ns pi r a t i o nalf ort hec har a c t e r i z at i o ni n“ Fe e r y’ sOr i g i nal Not es”( 1997)byRobertM.Pri ce.

Mi chaelBer t i aux  Apar tofKenne t hGr ant ’ sCul 1975)andl at erwor ks t soft heShadow ( concernst hemagi calpr act i cesofMi chaelBer t i aux,t heaut horofa  v ol umi nousandec l ec t i cmul t i y e armagi calc or r es pondencecour se, par t i al l yco l l e c t e dast hemas s i v eVoudon1988) ,and Gnos t i cWor kbook( aswe l ll e ade ro fs e v e r alg r o upso fo c cul t i s t s .Gr anta ndBe r t i auxs har e d ani nt er esti nsexualmagi caswel lasLovecr af t i anmagi c,and cor r es pondedatsomel engt h.( Har ms& Gonce ,2003,pp. 1135)Lacki ng ac c e s st oBe r t i aux ’ spubl i s he dmat e r i al s ,t hede s c r i pt i o no fhi smag i c al syst em i sder i vedal mostent i r el yf r om Gr antandGonce’ snot es. Bert i aux’ ssyst em i sbasedpri mari l yonHai t i anVoodoo,but i ncorporat i ngmat eri alf r om avari et yofmagi calsyst emsandi deas i ncl udi ngCr owl ey’ sThel emaandWi l hel m Rei ch’ sorgoner adi at i on.The r e s ul t i ngs y s t e mi ss e gr e g at e d,wi t hc e r t ai nc o ur s e sofmag i c al i ns t r uc t i o nr e s t r i c t e dbyse xo ro t he rq ual i fic at i o n,andwi t has t r o ng emphasi son t hei nt erpl ayofmascul i neandf emi ni nef orces,ener gi es,or r adi at i on.TheLovecr af t i ani ncl usi onst ohi scompl exsyst em appear r e l at i v e l ymi no r ,andi npr a c t i c eBe r t i aux ’ sLo v e cr a f t i ans e xmag i cr i t ual s appeart obebasedpr edomi nant l yon t hepart i ci pant st aki ngonr ol es andengagi ngi nsexualmagi calact susi ngsymbol i sm andmat er i al der i ve df r om t heLovec r af tMyt hosasbackgr ound.

 Accor di ngt oGr ant ,Ber t i auxhada“ Lov ecr af t i ancov en”whi c hpe r f or me d sexualri t esatt wol ocat i ons.Onegroupwas“ st ruct ur edupont hebasi c l aw ofs e xualpol ar i t y ” :  Thi s magi cal cur r ent i s conc ent r at e di n ShubNi ggur at h  whi c h—i n Ber t i aux’ sCov e n—r epr esent smascul i neener gyi n i t s bl i nd and best i alf orm;t he ‘ t housand young’bei ng t he rf e mal ev e hi c l e so fi t smani f e s t at i o n.Be r t i aux ,a s s hakt i so Hi gh Pr i est ,enact st he r i t e ofLycant hr opy by cl osi ng t he ci r cl e,wi ndow,orcav et hr ough whi ch t heGr eatOl d Ones gai ni ngr ess.Thati st o say ,he i mpr egnat es t he pri est ess  wi t ht hes eedoft hese abe as t ,t husc ocr eat i ngwi t hhe rt he t er at oma  who mani f es t st he at avi sms l at ent i nt he de ep. ( Gr ant ,1975,p. 187)  Thesec ondgr oup,i nspi r edbyRi c k’ sLakei nDer l e t h’ s“ TheDwel l eri n Dar kne s s ”( 1944) ,r e po r t e dl yv i s i t e dar e mo t el akei nWi s c ons i nt o at t emptev oki ngDee pOnes : Hepart i ci pant satt hi sst ageact ual l yi mmer set hemsel vesi n t hei cecol dwat erwher eat r ansf er enceofsexmagi calener gy occ ur s bet wee n pri es t s and pri es t es se s whi l e i n t hat el ement .( Gr ant ,1975,p. 189)  Whi l enowr i t er shav et akenupBe r t i aux’ sbr andofLov ecr af t i ans e x magi ct omyknowl edge,i tbearsment i oni ngi fonl yt oshow t hatsuch pr act i ceswer enotuni quet oGr antorhi si mmedi at ei nfluence( whi chi s pr obabl ywhyGr antr eport edt hem) ,andGr antcont i nuedt or ef ert o Bert i aux’ smagi calpr act i cesi nsubsequentbooks,andt husBert i aux’ s Love cr af t i anmagi chashadatl eastsomei mpactt hr oughGr ant .

Si mon 10 r onomi c on   The’ 77Sc hl angekr af tedi t i onoft heNec by“ Si mon”   wasone oft heear l i estandr emai nsoneoft hemosti nfluent i aloccul tworksi nt he Lo ve c r af t i ant r a di t i on,f os t e r e di nnosmal lpar tbyt her e adyav ai l abi l i t y oft heSi monNec ndi t saccess oryvol umest heNec r onomi c ona r onomi c on Spe l l bo ok( esoft heNec r onomi c on ( 1981,Sc hl ang e kr a f t ) ,TheGat 2006,

10

  “ Si mon”i sapseudonym;t heori gi nal’ 77 Nec e as ti sac ol l abor at i v e r onomi c onatl effort ,whi l esubsequentwor ksarepr obabl ybyoccul t i stPet erLevenda.( seeHarms& Gonce,2003,pp. 3941)

 Av on) ,andDeadNames:t 2006, heDar kHi st or yoft heNecr onomi con (  Av on)bei ngmadecont i nual l yav ai l abl ei nmassmar ke tpaper bac k.  Wher eKenne t hGr anthadmappedLov ec r af t ’ smyt host oCr owl e y’ s sys t em,Si mont akesanot herst epf ur t herandat t empt st omapbot ht o hi sper sonalver si onofSumer i an myt hol ogy.Asar esul t ,Si mon’ s KUTULU & co.doesn’ tbearmuchl i kenesst oei t herLovecr af torCr owl ey ,  buti thast hebenefitofbei ngmuc hmor eappr oac habl et ot hel ayr eader , andunl i keGr antt hemat er i ali nt heSi monNec smor e r onomi c oni l i t ur g i c alt hant he or e t i c al ,wi t hi ns t r uc t i ons ,i nv oc at i ons ,s i g nsand s eal s ,ando t he rpr a ct i c alt e c hni c almat e r i alf orpr a ct i t i one r s . Si monacknowl edgest hel i nkbet weensexandmagi ci nhi si nt r oduct i on t ot heNecr nt i o ni ngbutno tde t ai l i ngt het ant r i cs e xmag i c onomi con,me o fCr o wl e y ’ sO. T . O. ,t heps e udo hi s t o r i c alwi t c hc ul t ,andt hes abbat orgi esl i nkedwi t hwi t chcr af tsi ncemedi evalt i mes,andgoesont osay muchmor eaboutt hel at t eri nTheGat wever , e so ft heNe c r o no mi c o n.Ho r onomi c oni t heSi monNec t s e l fi sno tabookwhe r et hes exualac ti t s e l fi s partoft her i t ual s;t houghatonepoi ntSi mondoesment i on“ [ …]butt he Pr i e s t sofOl dwe r enake di nt he i rr i t e s . ”( Si mo n,1980,p. 100)Rat he r , s e x,l o v e ,andg e nde rf o r m par to ft heat t r i but e sofv ar i o usde i t i e sand s pi r i t s ,mo s tno t abl yI nanna.Lat e rwo r ksi nt hes e r i e ss ug g e s t sac t ual pr act i calr i t ual st oachi ev eeffect sofi mmedi at ebenefit —summoni ngt he s pi r i tZi s it ohe alal ov e r ’ squar r e l ,f ore xampl e . Occul twr i t er swhof urt herdeve l opedt hesyst em ofmagi cdescr i bedi n onomi con,suchasWar t heSi monNecr l ockAsyl um ( Mess i ahelBay)and  JoshuaFr e e,hav eal sodev ot edmor eat t ent i ont os e xandt hepl ac eoft he l ant eanNecr onomi c on ( Si mont e xti nt heoc c ul tt r a di t i o n.I nTheAt 2010, Lul u)f orexampl e,Warl ockAsyl um i nt er pr et st heSi monNec r onomi conas r e f e r r i ngt ot het ant r i cse xr i t e so fanc i e ntSume r ,r e f e r e nc i ngKe nne t h Gr ant ’ sTyphoni anTri l ogi esandant hr opol ogi calwor kst oexpl or esomeof t het he me soff e r t i l i t y ,me ns t r uat i on,andr o gy ny ,e t c .r e l at e dt o I nanna/I shnagar ri b/ShubNi ggur at handsi mi l arent i t i es.Si mon’ s mappi ngoft heMyt host omor et r adi t i onalmyt hol ogy,wi t hal lt he st r angegener at i onsandcoupl i ngsi nher entt her e,al soappearst ohave c kofAt l ant i s : i nspi r edl at erworks,suchasFr ankG.Ri pel ’ sTheMagi 1985) . Saut he ne r o m,t heSo ur c eo ft heNe c r o no mi c o n(

Phi lHi ne Le t ’ sf ac ei t ,Se xual i t yi swe gi ci swei ny ou i r d.Ma r d.Sowhe st arti n on SexualMagi c,you’ r ei nf ora doubl e hel pi ng. ( Hi ne,2008,p. 161)  Anot edwr i t eronc haosmagi ct heor yandanas soc i at eoft heEsot er i c Or derofDagon,Phi lHi ne’ smostsi gni ficantcont r i but i onst oMyt hos o cc ul tl i t e r a t ur ear et hec hapbo okThePseudonomi 1994,Chaos c on( I nt e r nat i o nal )andt hec hapt e r“ Li be rNas t y ”i nhi sbo okPr i meChaos ( 1993,ChaosI nt ernat i onal ) .Hi ne’ sappr oachdecr i est hecr assmassmar ketcommer ci al i sm oft heSi monNec l last he r onomi c onaswe del i ber at eambi gui t yandcompl exi t yofGr ant ,dr awi ngonbot hwi t hout t aki ngei t hert oodogmat i cal l yors eri ousl y .Hi neemphasi zest heper sonal andpr act i calmani pul at i onoft heMyt hossymbolsys t em f ormagi cal purposes. Hi nehaswr i t t enanumberofbr i efart i cl esandess aysonsexandmagi c, emphasi zi ng“ sexualmagi ci saboutexpl ori ngandut l i zyi ngone’ sown awarenessandexper i enceofsexual i t yi nordert obri ngaboutchange,i n ac c or danc ewi t hwi l l . ”( Hi ne ,2008,p. 159)Hi nee ffe c t i v e l ydi s t i l l ss omeo f t hecor econcept sofpsyc hosexualmagi cespousedbyCr owl ey ,Spare, andGr ant ,suchast heuseofsexualt ensi onorr el easet oent erdi ffer ent s t at e sofc o ns c i o us ne s sort of ue lawo r ki ng ,butdi s c ar dsmo s to ft he i r cer emoni alandt heor et i calt r appi ngsandpr econcept i onsofgenderand s e x ual i t y ,mo s tno t abl yGr ant ’ sho mo pho bi cr e i nt e r pr e t at i o no fCr o wl e y ’ s sys t em ofse xmagi c.  Wi t hr e gar dst ot heLov ecr af t i anoc cul thowev er ,Hi nei sr el at i v el y c onc i s e : Oneoft hec ommones tf or msofse xualgnosi swhi c h can be appl i e dt oMy t hosmag i ci st hef ac i l i t at i ono fal t e r e ds t at e so f consc i ousnes sbr oughton by se xualar ousal ,whi ch can be used as a spri ngboard f or expl or at i on ofast r alordr eam zones.Theuseofsexualgnosi st ochar geobsessi vef et i shes i sal soanobvi ousappl i cat i on,asi st hebr eakdownoft aboos and r evul si on’ s by expl ori ng sexualgnosi s out si deofone’ s i mmedi at er ef er ences.( Hi ne,2009,p. 32)  Thi si si ni t swaynodi ffe r e ntf r om t hec onceptoft r ans gr essi v es e xual i t y  behi ndCr owl e y’ sr i t es ,t houghmor epl ai nl ys t at ed—t hedel i ber at e

s unde r i ngofs e x ualt abo ospr o v i di ngame nt alo rs pi r i t uall i be r a t i o n.An exampl eoft heuseof“ r evul si on”i sgi veni nHi ne’ sri t ualpsychodr ama “ TheGhoul ’ sFeast , ”desi gnedt opr ovi deasymbol i ct r ansfigur at i onf r om humant oghoulf ol l owi ngt hel i nesofRi char dUpt onPi ckman.Amongt he s ug g e s t e dac t i v i t i e si s“ [ …]e ng ag i ngi nc o pul at i o nwi t hano t he rc e l e br ant  whohast heappe ar anceofacor pse[ …] ”( Hi ne,2009,p. 42) .  Taki ngi nspi r at i onf r om Lov ec r af t ’ s“ or gi e s”( s uc hasi nLousi anaswamp cul tof“ TheCal lofCt hul hu” )andSpare’ sconceptoft hesabbat ,Hi ne al sooffer ssomespeci fict hought son“ Fr enzi edRi t es” —namel y ,t he di ffic ul t yf o rpar t i c i pant st o“ a bando ns e x ualt abo osands e l f r e s t r ai nt ” ( Hi ne ,2009,p. 31) ,t ol o s et he ms e l v e si nt r uer e v e l e r yandt husa c hi e v e anal t er edst at eofconsci ousness.Oncet hecel ebr ant shadl ost t hemsel ves,br okenf r eef r om t hesoci et alandper sonall i mi t at i onson t he i ra c t i o ns ,t he ywo ul dbemo r eo pe nt omag i c alpo s si bi l i t i e saswe l l .  Thewor kofHi nehasbee ni nflue nt i alonmagi ci anwr i t er ss uc hasGr ant Morr i ssonandSt ephenSenni t t ,andhasr esul t edi nsur pr i si ngl yori gi nal ar r yWi sdom (  wor ksoffict i ons uc hasTheSt 1994,Cr eat i onBooks) ant hol ogy .Senni t ti npart i cul arhaswri t t enoccul tchapbooksofhi sown nf e r nalT e x t s :No x& i nvol vi ngt heCt hul huMyt hos,col l ect edasTheI Li be rKo t h,andpennedt he“ SexI nvocat i onOfTheGr eatOl dOnes( 23 Nai l s) ”i nTheSt ar r yWi sdom.

Donal dTyson St r addl i ngt heboundarybet weenl i t er aryandoccul tfict i onar et he r onomi c onThe  wr i t i ngsofDonal dTys on’ sNecr omi conSer i es :Nec Wander i ngsofAl hazr ed ( haz r ed:Aut horo ft he 2004,Ll e we l l y n A ) ,l 2006,Ll e we l l y n) ,Gr 2008, Nec r onomi c on( i mo i r eo ft heNe c r o no mi c o n( Ll e we l l yn) ,The13Gat 2012, esoft heNecr onomi co n:AWor kbookofMagi c( o no mi c o nT ar o t( Ll e we l l y n) ,andt heNecr 2012,Ll e we l l y n) .T y s onpr o v i de s gr eat eremphasi sont heLovecr af tMyt host hanmanypr evi ouseffor t s, r esul t i ngi nasyst em whi chi smuchmor ecl osel yt i edt oCt hul huMyt hos l i t e r a t ur et hant ot heoc c ul ts y s t e msofGr ant ,Si mo n,Hi ne ,e tal .  Tysonpr e se nt shi smagi c alsys t em i nasi mpl i fiedmanner ,or gani z e df or t heai do ft her e a de r ,andwi t hdi s c r e t er i t ual s .I ns ubs t anc e ,t hi ss y s t e m i spredomi nant l ybasedonpl anet arymagi c,wi t hsomeaddi t i onal  bor r owi ngsandi nfluences;i npar t i cul art he“ gat e wal ki ng”r i t ual soft he

Si monNec het r adi t i ont hathasspr ungupar oundt hat r onomi c onandt pr a ct i c e . ShubNi ggur at hi st hepri maryf ocusofmostoft hese xualmagi ci n  Tyson’ swor k,r epr es ent edasagoat l i keher maphr odi t e ,c haot i cdei t yof pe r pe t ualf e r t i l i t yands e x ualat t r ac t i o n.Aswi t hSi mo n,T y s onas s oc i at e s ShubNi g gur at hwi t hac onv e nt i o nall o v e /f e r t i l i t yent i t y ,i nt hi sc as et he ast r ol ogi calVenus—butal soemphasi ze sShubNi ggur at hasadei t yof perv er t edf ecundi t y ,amot herofmonst er s.Thedevot eesofShubNi ggur at h,seekst at esofal t er edconsci ousnesst hr oughsexand s e ns ual i t y ;T y s ong i v e sde t ai l sofo nes uc hr i t e ,whi c happe ar st obea  bowdl er i z edv ar i at i ononCr owl e y’ s“ er ot ocomot osel uc i di t y” : Ont hedaypr i ort ot heat t emptt oopent heGat eoft heEast upon t hepat ht ot hebl ack t hr one,t hef ol l oweroft hi sway shoul dr el y on t he ai d ofa part nert o sust ai n hi s ar ousal  wi t houti nt e r r upt i oncont i nuousl y .Thi scanbedonewi t ht he ai do fc ar e s s e s ,e mbr ac e s ,e r o t i car t ,s e ns ualmus i c ,i nc e ns e , sensual bat hs, and oi l sf or t he ski n. I f nece ssar y ,t he aspi r ant may sus t ai n hi s own ar ousal ,but t hi si s mor e di fficul t as i t di vi des concent r at i on.Al ways t he i mage of ShubNi ggur at h shoul dbehel di nt hei magi nat i on,buti na f orm oft hegoddesst hati sat t r act i veand seduct i vet ot he aspi r ant f or her f avor . Femal e di sci pl es wi l l choose t o concei veheri n hermascul i neaspect ,unl esst heyf avort he l ov eofwomen.  Whi l et hi ss us t ai nedar ousali sbei ngmai nt ai nedon t heday pr i o rt ot he r i t ualo fo pe ni ng t heg at e ,t he f o l l o we ro ft hi s pat h mustnots l eep.Fat i gueoft hesensesi snece ssar yt o opent heGat eoft heEast .Ar ousalshoul dbemai nt ai nedt oa condi t i on of di scomf ort t hat i s amost pai nf ul .I f ShubNi ggur at h hashear d and heeded t hepr aye r soft heaspi r at , t he godess wi l l hel pt o sus t ai n ar ousal ,s ome t i mes t oa degr eet hatse emsal mostsuper human.( Tys on,2008,p. 148)  Whi l eTysondoesmakeal l owancesf orf emal e( andl es bi an)de v ot ees,t he r onomi c on  bul kofhi sl anguagei nt hi ssec t i onandt hr oughoutt heNec s e r i e si ss t i l lg e ne r al l yandr o c ent r i candhe t e r o no r mat i v e .Whi l eTy s on doesnotdenouncemal ehomose xual i t yanywher easGr antdi d,nei t her do e shee v e ra c c ountf o ri t .

 Tysoni sal s onot abl ef orhavi ngwr i t t enaf ul loccul t flav or edbi ogr aphyof eam Wor l dofH.P. Lovecr af tt oaccompanyhi sot herwor ks,TheDr 2010,Ll e we l l y n) .Whi l eTy s onmos t l ys t i c kst ot hef ac t s ,hei s Lo ve c r af t( pr obabl yt hefir stt oascr i bet oHPLmagi calt al ent sbasedonr epr essed sexualener gy: I ti st hecommon pr act i cei n East er n esot er i cschool s,such as t hatofChi neset ao,Ti bet an bon,and Hi ndu t ant r a,t o del i ber at el y use suppr ess ed sexuale ner gy t o pr ovoke t he awakeni ng ofmagi calorpar anor malabi l i t i es,among t hem t hegi f t sofas t r alv i s i onandas t r alt r a v el .I nLov ec r af t ’ sc as e, t hi s awakeni ng may hav e occ ur r ed spont aneousl y ,wi t hout hi m ev err eal i z i ng whatwas goi ng on,buti twas no l es s pot entf orhavi ngbeenunsought .( Tyson,2010,p. 84) I nas c r i bi ngt he s et al e nt st oHPL,T y s ondo e sl i t t l emo r et hanr e pe att he sameasser t i onsasKennet hGr antt hatLovecr af tunknowi ngl yper cei ve d occul tt r ut hsandwr ot et hem asfict i on.  Tyson’ ss t r ongadher encet oLov ecr af t ’ swr i t i ngandsc hol ar s hi p,r el at i v e l y si mpl eandcl ear l yor gani ze doccul tt echni ques;acknowl edgementt he fic t i v eor i gi noft heNec v e c r a f t ’ sfic t i o n asfic t i o nsar e r onomi c onandLo t hepr i mar yc har ac t e r i s t i c so fhi sLo v e cr a f t i ano cc ul tl i t e r a t ur e .Whi l e  Tysonbor r owspr i nci pl es ,i deas,ande v ent er mi nol ogyf r om Gr ant , Si mon,etal . ;andcandi dl ydi scussessexi nt heLovecr af tMyt hosand Lo v e cr a f t ’ sl i f e ,f o rt hemo s tpar thi soc c ul two r ksar emos t l ysani t i z e d—   nodr ug s ,s o do my ,i ng e s t i o no fs e x ualflui ds ,e t c .I nt hi swa y ,T y s on’ s Nec r onomi c ons e r i e sdo e sno ti g no r es e xors e xmag i c ,butne i t he rdo e si t r e al l ye xpl o r eo re mphas i z et het r ans g r e s s i v enat ur eo fs e xasGr ant , Hi nes,etal .haddone.Thi scoul dmer el ybemarket i ng,t omaket he  booksmor eac cept abl et oal ar gehe t e r onor mat i v eaudi ence ,orsi mpl y  Tyson’ sper sonpr ef er e nceasac er emoni almagi ci an.

 Asenat hMason ( 2007,Rot erDr ache)i sa Ne c r o no mi c o nGno si s–APr ac t i c alI nt r o duc t i o n  condensedexeg esi sofTyson’ sNecr onomi conSer i es,t heHayandSi mon a nt ’ sTy pho ni anTr i l o gi e s ,Hi ne ’ sPseudonomi tal . Nec r onomi c ons,Gr c on,e 11  byPol i shoc cul t i s tAs enat hMason.   Wher emostLovecr af t i an occul t i st s 11

sbeenpri nt edi nbot hGer man andEngl i shedi t i ons;al l Necr onomi conGnosi sha r e f e r e nc e sandq uo t e si nt hi ss e c t i o ns ha l lde a lwi t ht heEng l i s ht r a ns l a t i o n,who s e phr asi ngi ssomet i mesabi tawkwar d.

r e s t r i c tt he ms e l v e st owo r ki ngwi t hLo v ec r a f t ’ sfic t i o n( i nc l udi ngDe r l e t h’ s “ post humous”addi t i ons) ,Masonal soi ncorporat esl at ermat eri alf r om suchMyt hoswr i t e sasRamse yCampbe l landBr i anLuml e y .Muc hoft he t e x ti sc onc e r ne dwi t hc o l l at i ngas pe c t soft hev ar i o usLo v e c r a f t i ano c cul t s y s t e msanddi s t i l l i ngt he mi nt oar e l at i v e l yc o he r e ntandac c e s s i bl e f ormat ,andpunct uat edbyori gi nalpat hworki ngsandri t ual s.I ngi vi nga l i s to fmag i c alt e c hni que si nt heLo v e cr a f t i ant r adi t i o n,f o re xampl e , Masongi vest hef ol l owi ngdescri pt i onofsexmagi c:  The Ct hul hu Myt hos i ncl ude al so many se xualel e me nt s. One oft hem ar e„ sac r ed mar r i age s ” or se xualco ngr es s oc cur r i ngbe t wee nanOl dGodandahumanpart ne r .Suc ha si t uat i on i s descr i bed i n Lovecr af t ’ s st ory The Dunwi c h   [ …]Sexualgnosi si saspeci ficwayofi nvocat i on,when Ho r r o r t he power ofan i nv oked dei t y mani f es t st hr ough se xual i mpul se sandi st husabsor bed i nt ot hebodyandmi ndofa magi ci an.Thi s way t he al i en nat ur e ofGr eatOl d Onesi s mor eeasi l yabsor bedi nt oconsci ousness.Thi si sal sooneof t hewayst oachi eveat r ancest at e:att hemomentofor gasm t he mi nd i sf ocuse d on a si ngl e exper i ence and al lot her st at es ofconsci ousness ar el ef tbehi nd.An exampl e ofa magi calwor ki ng when se xualc ongr es s oc c ur s bet wee na mal e magi c i an and t he ot her f or ce i s uni on wi t h ShubNi ggur at h,a quasi f emal e dei t y ofs t r ongl y sexualnat ur e.  Anot her pr act i ce by a mal e and a f emal e magi ci ans,one i nvoki ng e. g.YogSot hot ht he ot herone –ShubNi ggur at h.  The nt hecongr essoccur sbe t wee nt hemal eand t hef emal e magi ci an and t he i nvoked power s ar et r ansf er r ed t o eac h ot herand uni t ed.Anot hers ex ualt ec hni que whi c h can be appl i ed t o Necr onomi con pr act i ce i st he popul ar t ant r i c t r adi t i o no fa c hi e v i ng t he s t at eo fe c s t at i ct r anc et hr o ug h awakeni ng and r ai s i ng t he poweroft he Fi r e Snake.The ser pent i ne dei t i es i nt he Ct hul hu Myt hos, es peci al l y Yi g, c or r es pond t o t he t ant r i c c once pt of Kundal i ni [ …] ( Mason,2007,pp. 223)  Thi si snot hi ngpar t i cul ar l ynov eli nt er msofc ont ent ,buti tdoes r epr esentper hapst hefir stconcert edeffortt ouni f yandcat egori zet he  v ar i ouss e xmagi csdev el opedi nLov ecr af t i anoccul tl i t er at ur esof ar undert hesamer ubr i c.I nt hesamesec t i on,Masonal sobr i eflydi scusse s

cr eat i ngservi t ors.Thi spr ocessappearst obearmai nl yf r om Kennet h Gr ant ’ sdi scussi onofhomuncul iandsi gi lmagi cder i vedf r om Spare :  Thepr ocedur eoft hei rc r e at i on by a ski l l f ulmagi ci an doe s nor di ffer f r om t he popul ar moder nt ec hni ques ofc haos magi c.And t hus,fir stwehavet ospeci f yat ask orf unct i on t heyaresupposed t o per f orm,t hen cr eat e a si gi l ,gi vet he Shoggot h aname,and final l yact i vat et heservi t orbyr i t ual means.Themet hod ofact i vi at i on i st hr ough sexualener gy ( accordi ngt oKennet hGr ant ,t heword„ Shoggot h”i sr el at i ng t o Chal dean „ s hagg at hai ” – „ f or ni c at i on” ) . The whol e o pe r at i o no fc r e at i ngt hes e r v i t o rl as t s40da y s ,dur i ngwhi c h amagi ci an f ee dst heShoggot h wi t h hi ssexualflui dsmi xed  wi t hhi sownbl ood.( Mason,2007,pp. 234) I nt hechapt er“ Sex,Bl ood,ChaosandDeat h–Pr ese nt at i onofShubNi ggur at h”( wr i t t enwi t hAdam Kosci uk) ,Masonal l oyst hedi sparat eand pr es ent at i onsofShubNi ggur at handt heGoatwi t haThousandYoung f r om sour cesi nLovecr af t i anoccul tl i t er at ur eandCt hul huMyt hos fict i on.Ther esul t i nghi st oryandexami nat i onofwor shi pexami neshow Lo v e c r a f t i ano c c ul t i s t sc or r e l at e dShubNi g gur at hwi t hf e mal ede i t i e sand e nt i t i e s ,andde i t i e soff e r t i l i t y ,l o v e,and/ors e x.Thechapt e re ndswi t h “ TheBl ackCommuni on, ”ari t eofse xualsor ce r ybet wee namal eand f e mal epar t i c i pant .Thet woe nac tr i t ual i z e dc oi t usaspr i e s tandpr i e s t e s s ofShubNi ggur at h.Thef emal epart i ci pantseeksi dent i ficat i onwi t hand posses si onbyShubNi ggur at h,becomi nghermat er i alavat ar ;andt he mal es ee ksspi r i t ualcommuni onwi t hShubNi ggur at ht hr oughcongr es s  wi t ht hepr i es t ess.  Theot herc hapt erde al i ngs t r ongl ywi t hs e xmagi ci s“ TheSer pentGod  Yi gandt hePowe rofEcs t asy . ”Aswi t hShubNi ggur at h,Masonpl ace sYi g ast heo r i g i nalbe hi ndv ar i ouss nakede i t i e s ,de v i l s ,ande nt i t i e sofmy t h andr e l i g i o n.Yi g ’ ss e xualas pe c tde r i v e si npar tf r o m hi sde pi c t i o ni n“ T he r onomi c on:The Cur s eo fYi g ”andT y s on’ sus eo fYi gi nhi sno v e lNec Wander i ngsofAl hazr ed  ( 2004) ,butt hepr i marymagi calmec hani sm of  Yi gi se nt er i ngane cs t at i ct r anc es t at ef uel edbyt het ant r i cconceptof kundal i niasexpr essedbyGr antandCr owl ey—amet aphysi cal ,l i bi di nal ser pentpowert hati scoi l edi nt hepel vi s,andwhenawakenedt hi s phal l i cs nake po we rc ani nduc et hede s i r e de c s t at i cs t at e :

 The pr i e s t ess, i nflamed t o t he poi nt of or gasm, i s „ pe ne t r a t e d”b yt hede i t y ,whi c hi nt hi spr a c t i c ei si de nt i fie d  wi t h Yi g,whe nt he ser pentpowerr i se s up herspi ne and act i vat est hechakr as,t heener gy z ones .Att hemomentof or gasm,t he ener gy i s move dt ot hecent r eoft heWi l l ,t he  Aj na c hakr a.The t hi r de y e opens and t he v i si on ofot he r pl anes and di mensi ons i s achi ev ed. [ …] I n t he Tant r i c t r adi t i on, se xual flui ds se cr et ed dur i ng t he or gasm ar e r egardedasmagi cal l ypot entl i qui ds.( Mason,2007,p. 156) Mason pr ovi desari t ualal ongt hesel i nest oendt hechapt er“ The Se r pe nt i neEc s t a sy . ”I nf or mi ti sadi r e c t e dv i s ual i z at i one xe r c i s e, descendedf r om Cr owl eyorSpare ’ sat t empt st oachi eveamagi caleffect  byvi s ual i z i ngwhi l emas t ur bat i ng.Thegoaloft hee xer ci sei st oac hi e v ea st at eofext r emear ousal ,t obeawareoft hekundal i nipoweranddi r ecti t t ori se,soast oener gi zet hecr ownchakr aandachi evepossessi onbyYi g pr o c ee di ngt hr o ug ht hev i s ual i z a t i o n;whi l et hi sdo e sno ts pe c i fic al l y i nv o l v emas t ur b at i o n,i ti she av i l yi mpl i e d.  Whi l eAsenat hMason’ sNec eatan r onomi c onGnosi shasnothadasgr i mpactont heLovecr af t i an occul tast hewor kofGr ant ,Si mon,Tyson,or Hi ne,i ti sexempl aryoft hesubst ant i alamountofmat eri alt hatt hose i nt er est edi nt heLovecr af t i an occul tandsexmagi chavet oworkwi t h, andt heki ndsofmat er i alt heydopr oduce,andt husr epr esent sIt hi nk t heshapeoff ut ur edevel opment s.Wher eKennet hGr antwr ot er el at i ve o bs c ur ebo oksf o ras e l e c taudi e nc e ,c ho c kf ul lo fs e xandr e l at i v e l y compl exmagi calt heor y;Si monwr ot eanal mostsexl essNec r onomi c on  wi t he ndur i ngmas smar ke tsal abi l i t y .Tysont ookami ddl egr ound,mo r e sal aci oust hanSi monbutconsi der abl yt amert hanGr ant ,andf r om t he numberoft i t l esi nhi sNecr onomi conSer i eshasachi eve datl eastmodest commer ci alsuccess—anddespi t et hevari et yofi t ssour ces,i ti sf r om  Tysont hatMason’ sbookder i v esmuc hofi t ss t yl eandpar adi gm. sver ymuchi nl i newi t ht hehet er onormat i ve Nec r onomi c onGnosi si  bas el i neoft heNecr omo ni c onSer i e s,wi t hs canti fanyment i onof ho mo s e xual i t y ,andr e l at i v e l yc ons e r v at i v ei nt heki ndso fs e x ualmat e r i al i taddr esses—nodi scussi onofanaloror almagi o re xampl e , as e x ual i s,f andaf arcr yf r om t hevari edsexualmat er i ali nGr ant ’ sTyphoni an  Tr i l ogi e s.