Reading the Egyptian God Set(h)

Above carving from Karnak

Reading the Egyptian god Seth (Set) (draft only - work in progress) (Literature for neo-pagans, khemetics, reconstructers) Compiled by Mogg Morgan, (Companions of Seth) (a) Theoretical/Academic (b) Practical/Theurgic (c) Fiction

A. Theoretical/Academic The two classic, essential texts, representing two contrary views about the god are: Gwynn-Griffiths (1960) The Conflict of Set and Horus, a study in the ancient mythology from Egyptian and classical sources, Liverpool H Te Velde (1967) Seth, God of Confusion: A study of his role in Egyptian Mythology and Religion, Brill. The Te Velde is the acknowledged authority these days and his view that Seth was always “malign” is fairly ubiquitous. Even so, Gwyn-

Griffiths’ study of an earlier, more nuanced mythology, still has important academic adherents.

Other core texts are

H D Betz (1986) The Greek Magical Papyri in translation, with demotic spells, Chicago Despite the name the above is an important Egyptian collection of magical books, the practical counterpart to the Corpus Hermetica. There is much of Sethian interest and many practitioners focus on one or two of these complex rituals, recreating them in a post modern context. Robert Ritner (1993) The Mechanics of Ancient Egyptian Magical Practice, Chicago This award winning book reveals much of the working practice of Egyptian magic and in passing about the nature of Seth, who figures in many of its paradigms. Joan Lansberry (2012) Images of Seth: Changing Impressions of a multi-faceted God, Mandrake An exhaustive gazetteer of the images of Seth from the earliest times to the present, with explanations of where they are and what they mean, with useful bibliography.

B. Practical/Theurgic Practical texts extract information from authentic ancient and original mythology in order to provide practical techniques, meditations, rituals etc that are still relevant and can be used by neo-pagans in the modern world. They often also contact theoretical insights and formulations of theology/ “Hermeneia”. Stephen Edred Flowers (2009) Hermetic Magic: a post modern papyrus of Abaris, Weiser Thoughtful and useful compilation of philosophy and liturgical material for the modern Khemetic mage. On the whole quite a neutral approach to Egyptian magic, his description of Seth is given on page 89-90. On page 14 he outlines a “postmodern” rejection of progress: “Postmodernism is … freedom from the pervasive modern idea of progress. – the idea that as time goes on, by applying increasingly rationality and scientific methodology, the problems of the world will be universally evaporated in the light of pure reason. The postmodernist realizes, as did the ancients, that such progress is only possible for individuals. Furthermore, the postmodernist is free of the constraints of modern progressivism: To the modern if it’s not new, if its not the latest thing, then it is “retrograde” or “reactionary” and hence unacceptable. Post-modernists are free to synthesise elements from all phases of human history – in any shape or form that suits their purpose.” Other “new right” authors associated with the author promulgate a similar philosophy and also reject liberalism and democracy. Kenneth Grant, Aleister Crowley and the Hidden God (Muller)

One of the first to reinterpret the magician Aleister Crowley from a more Typhonian point of view. Can be obscurantist but nevertheless has inspired many with his poetic version of a magical tradition.

Mogg Morgan (2005) Tankhem: Seth and Egyptian Magick, Mandrake A collection of linked essays that lay out themes and techniques to be used in exploration of the Sethian mythos. These include “ordinary language trance”; “erotic landscape”, decoding the temple of Osiris to reveal Seth; parallels in Hindu tantrism, etc. Mogg Morgan (2005) The Bull of Ombos: Seth & Egyptian Magick II, Mandrake A long exploration of the mythology of Seth with a suggested identification of key ritual techniques such as Eucharist magick. Appendices with transcriptions of key texts such as Conflict of Seth & Horus; Tale of Two Brothers; Setna’s Story etc. Mogg Morgan (2011 ) Supernatural Assault in Ancient Egypt: Seth, Evil Sleep & the Egyptian Vampire. Mandrake Further research into sacraments of Egyptian magick together with material on a class of dangerous spirits and techniques to work with them. Appendix has complete oracle texts related to this work. Ancient rites for Nephthys analysed for use. Mogg Morgan (2011)The Wheel of the Year in Ancient Egypt: Prayers, Poems & Invocations for the lunar & civil year. Mandrake Seth was, amongst other things, an important lunar deity in Egypt. This is a study of the relatively unknown calendar of Ancient Egypt as used by the archaic Sethians. It has a suggested pantheon of archaic gods from the “Sethian” period. Includes an outline of suggested liturgy based on ancient sources for use over the course of the lunar year. Several appendices of difficult to obtain material including rudimentary tables of lunar omen, inviting the reader to experiment and supplement the list. Mogg Morgan (2014) Phi-Neter, power of the Egyptian Gods, Mandrake A long study on Egyptian daemons, their relationship to stellar lore and Seth with a complete ephemeris of their timings. Hermeticism is explored and various other useful magical techniques of Egyptian magick – includes a workable version of Book of Gates from temple of Sety I at Abydos. Nicholas Schreck (with Zeena) Demons of the Flesh: The Complete Guide to Left Hand Path Sex Magic Controversial for many for their political views which are an unwelcome aspect of otherwise important research. These are well known advocates of a religious approach to Seth, although surprisingly no dedicated monograph on the topic currently in print. Their group, now called Sethian Liberation Front, recently issued the following statement that goes some way to distances them from some past unpleasantness: “It should be obvious that the male-dominated, caste-based, and rigidly dualist National Socialist ideology, with its emphasis on "family values" cannot be reconciled with the sexual adoration of the feminine, the breaking of caste and social

conventions, and the radical non-dualism essential to the left-hand path’s way to liberation. National Socialists would have vilified such transgressive practices for the same reasons that India’s Aryan Brahmins revile the left-hand path to this day...the historical record makes it clear that, from its inception, the SS persecuted and arrested German esotericists, mystics, sex magicians, and even sympathetic rune revivalists, making it a poor model for any kind of left-hand path practitioner. Similarly, the worship of a Middle Eastern deity such as Seth, a sexually ambiguous nomadic desert god known as the patron of foreigners and strangers, the cosmic hypostasis of dissidence and chaos, would surely have been found repugnant by the Third Reich’s xenophobic and order-obsessed worldview.” Sethian Liberation Movement / www.zeena.eu

Don Webb (2011) Seven Faces of Darkness, Runa-Raven “Here is a book which penetrates to the core of the Typhonian current active in the world today-- and does so by returning to the very fountainheads of Setian practice and philosophy.” Short monograph by well respected former head of an important modern sodality known as the Temple of Set, found circa 1975.