I've been recently developing an interest on applying Meditation techniques concerning the Deification of the self, by emulating the dark gods such as Odin, Set, you name it. I have personally done short meditations before ritual's in order to clear my mind before I'd start the rituals. But I was never to big on meditating, but recently its been on my mind on trying out Meditation techniques related to the Left Hand Path of that deification upon the self. I understand a few of you on here incorporate meditation techniques on the Left Hand Path. I am not to big on doing ritual nowadays, currently I am more of a studier of philosophy by trying to apply it on the Left Hand Path. I've always regarded understanding philosophy to be key in developing the intellect on the path. But lately I've been feeling that I want more to get out of the Left Hand Path. What Meditation advice can some of you give me concerning the Left Hand Path? (As in visualizations etc.)
Invocation
By Don Webb
“Give a man a mask and he’ll tell you the truth.” Oscar Wilde
Invocation can be viewed in four ways – two for the Right Hand Path, two for the left. In the Right-Hand Path, Invocation is part of the supreme process of achieving union with a god or goddess. It can be either a ceremonial process of calling the god into yourself after you’ve cleaned room (by fasting, good deeds, chastity, reading scripture etc.), or it can be done without ritual – by simply living the life the god likes, he comes to dwell in you.
In the Left Hand Path where the goal is not union with a god, there are likewise two approaches. If you presume the gods to have ontological being (that is they’re real even if you’re not thinking about them), you can follow the Path of the Friend. You’re inviting them to watch your deeds, you are focusing their consciousness on something you think they would find pleasing – much like sharing a YouTube video with a pal. Now if they choose to act in this situation by nudging you with advice depends on your ability to Hear and their Wish to speak. Would you call up the leader of your country to talk about a trip to MacDonalds?
The other (and more popular) modern Left Hand Path practitioners view invocation is the Art of the Mask, alluded to by Mr. Wilde. When I was young and shy I worked at a Renaissance Festival – as soon as I had my costume on, my shyness went away. I could approach women, challenge men to duals and shamelessly steal food from park goers. And amazingly they loved this – where if I had done this without the costume I would have quickly wound up beaten or imprisoned. Putting on the mask of god has a stronger effect than a park entertainer – if one allows oneself to Play hard.
Firstly as a magickian you can invoke any one – Tezcatlipoca, Poseidon, Cthulhu, Brigit. Many folks use a cookbook approach – “Hmm tonight I feel Celtic! “ -- picking gods as one might select an app for a cellphone. That’s OK for practical magic – as always magic works by the passion and precision of the operator. At first this practice can teach tons about the use of belief as a tool It can teach symbolic-logic as well. But for the serious magician who has gone beyond the “fun with magick” phase and wants to change herself, more focus is needed. Pick a god or goddess that illustrates the struggle you have.
This is very different than prayer. Prayer is getting someone else to do the work for you. Prayer, which is the strongest for of Right Hand Path Magick, is surrendering to another. Hey Jebus I can’t handle this, would ya take over? It erodes responsibility – and tears down the sense of self. Invocation allows you to act – even if bolstered by props to your imagination.
INVOCATION (Six Parts)
1. Prepare yourself. Fill your body and senses with things that associate with the god.
2. Address the god in the third person. (i.e. Bes, killer of snakes, protector of childbirth, the island of Ibiza still bears thy name, your smiling visage graced many of a dancing girl's thigh.) This directs your intention into a specific channel. This shows scholarship you have researched the god.
3. Address the god in the second person. (i.e. Bes, with your head of a lion and the dick of a donkey, make all bad things flee, you were the god that brought good-luck to the household) This represents the notion 'To Will', you are creating meaning in a personal manner. Not about scholarship, this is your Will creating something.
4. Address the god in the first person. (i.e. I am Bes, the Lord of Luck, Slayer of Demons, Protector of Pleasure.)
5. Working. You are the god now. This is 'To Dare', you've changed the rules of the cosmos. If you did well, things will be different.
6. Closing. Don't just let this mood fade. Reintegrate these forces within you (Bæytl of Self) i.e. Cannibal Hymn of King Unas: 'I am the maker of gods. My kind gained this Gift, but forgot it, mistaking the hidden parts of themselves for the Other. I eat this god. He is my food, living on in my belly as my Heka.
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The above is a great starting point, but you need to make it your own.
Study Tibetan Phowa (The Transfer of Consciousness)
Read Dr. Aquino's 'Mindstar'
Study Kasmir Shaivism and learn how to attain the transcendental state of Shiva Consciousness. Then replace Shiva with your chosen archetype.
Watch the several excellent videos by Thomas LeRoy about Shiva and the LHP
Join the Sect of the Horned God and make your way through the degrees to my Order of Iblis and Thomas' Order of Shiva
Read Crowley's Liber Samekh (Attainment of the Knowledge and Conversation of Your Holy Guardian Angel)
Learn the Headless Ritual and Invoke often!