Lords of the Left-Hand Path by Dr. Stephen Flowers

[Informare]

I know a few of you may have read this book, but I just had to make this thread. I've read this book multiple times this year, and I cannot stress enough how absolutely CRUCIAL this book is for fellow travelers of the Left-Hand Path. Ips. Flowers has produced something that is indispensable not only for someone who is LHP, but to any serious scholar of magic, religion, and philosophy. Seeing as how the beliefs we share invite criticism from many, it is very important to be armed with a solid foundation of knowledge and historical context. I'm pretty much constantly rereading this book, and I'm struck at how every single time I do so I am feeling doors unlocking and increasing my understanding.

Ips. Flowers essentially traces the lineage of Left-Hand Path thought from ancient times up to present-day, discussing and analyzing important schools of thought, figures, and organizations. If there was ever a book worth skipping a few meals to afford, this would be one. Do yourself a favor and bolster your own knowledge of what you believe by reading this one. If I was a rich man I'd keep a stack of these books on hand to just give away to whoever wants it. If you just can't afford the $16, at least do some google-ing to discover some of the information that the book contains.

Lords of the Left-Hand Path: Forbidden Practices and Spiritual Heresies: Stephen E. Flowers Ph.D.: 9781594774676: Amazon.com: Books

 

[Infinitum]

I started reading it and never got through it, since I kept getting stuck on stuff I wanted to see the sources for. The problem with books like this is that they're easy to write, but extremely hard to make credible. I might revisit it when I have time to actually look things up, though.

 

[Informare]

The book has a fairly extensive bibliography and citations list, so I'm confused about what you were missing?

 

[Infinitum]

Having a bibliography doesn't really say much before you read the original sources. I might sound extremely sceptic, but I've read enough to know it's needed even with more widely accepted academical works. I'm just not the type who simply reads something and then takes it at face value.

 

[Mindmaster]

I have the original black cover version of this book and while it does contain a hell of a lot of information I found much of it wasn't relevant to the average LHPer and it is very verbose. The writing style is similar to what one would use writing a thesis and not something you hand normal people to read. I found it particularly hard to digest the sections on eastern religions because I frankly have no experience with them or interest (nor do most western occultists/LHPer's at this point). Also worth mentioning are the very skewed views of Crowley and Nazi's -- mostly caused by applying LHP mindset to other peoples manifestations. Crowley's breadth of material takes years to understand, and summing it up is completely impossible. Often when I get into discussions about AC I find it remarkable how people selectively absorb things.

This book is far more useful to someone who doesn't have any exposure to LHP and is looking at the subject in an academic way. It is definitely NOT a must have for anyone due to most of the important information being readily available on the internet without a third party filter in between. At the time it was written this information was not available so I will give it credit for that, but it sort of fails on the subject of "Postmodern Satanism" which is really what is going on now. It's mostly a "history from a perspective book" with all that entails... YMMV... This author also writes under the name Edred Thorsson -- mostly about Germanic paganism/practices.

 

[Adramelek]

Another good book by Dr. Stephen Edred Flowers is his Hermetic Magic - the Postmodern Magical Papyrus of Abaris. It has proven invaluable to me as a Setian Hermeticist and has given me some great ideas for creating my own magical rituals.

Xeper.
/Adramelek\
IAO SET!

 

[Informare]

In regards to Lords... another publisher has picked it up, so availability and price shouldn't be an issue. However, if you are interested in Hermetic Magic, you might want to buy it soon. Runa-Raven press is shutting down, which could make this title hard to find and expensive in the future.

 

[Mindmaster]

Another good book by Dr. Stephen Edred Flowers is his Hermetic Magic - the Postmodern Magical Papyrus of Abaris. It has proven invaluable to me as a Setian Hermeticist and has given me some great ideas for creating my own magical rituals.

Xeper.
/Adramelek\
IAO SET!

I'd agree, but I think his work with Teutonic/Rune magic is generally more relevant/unique. In fact, I didn't immediately know that Flowers and Thorsson were the same person. I had read his other work a long time before LoLP and Hermetic Magic. I still hold the opinion that while Flowers writes some material that tows the LHP line his strengths are all in the other spectrum.

 

[Adramelek]

Actually a good many of Dr. Flowers' books like Hermetic Magic are also published by Samuel Weiser, Inc.

 

[Adramelek]

I'd agree, but I think his work with Teutonic/Rune magic is generally more relevant/unique. In fact, I didn't immediately know that Flowers and Thorsson were the same person. I had read his other work a long time before LoLP and Hermetic Magic. I still hold the opinion that while Flowers writes some material that tows the LHP line his strengths are all in the other spectrum.

I see Dr. Flowers' LHP perspective on these differing forms of magic as a benefit, after all he has been studying and practicing these differing forms since the 1970's and has been an Initiate of the Temple of Set since the year 1980 c.e. He is a Grand Master Emeritus of the Order of the Trapezoid and the Magus of Runa. I personally have come to trust his knowledge and wisdom over the years. Of course, I'm not saying that Flowers' is the only authoritative word.

Xeper.
/Adramelek\
Reyn Til Runa!

 

[crossfire]

From his Chapter (supposedly) on Buddhism, I wouldn't trust any of his presentations of other religions. He doesn't even get the Four Noble Truths right, and then starts presenting Advaita as if it was Buddhism. Since he's a PhD, he should understand how to do proper research, especially if you are going to publish it under your own name. I would say he is purposefully misrepresenting, since he is a PhD.

Let the buyer beware.

 

[Adramelek]

From his Chapter (supposedly) on Buddhism, I wouldn't trust any of his presentations of other religions. He doesn't even get the Four Noble Truths right, and then starts presenting Advaita as if it was Buddhism. Since his a PhD, he should understand how to do proper research, especially if you are going to publish it under your own name. I would say he is purposefully misrepresenting, since he is a PhD.

Let the buyer beware.

Well, since I don't know much about Buddhism I cant argue with you on this point Crossfire, you could very well be right. Flowers' Ph.D. is in Germanic studies.

 

[crossfire]

Well, since I don't know much about Buddhism I cant argue with you on this point Crossfire, you could very well be right. Flowers' Ph.D. is in Germanic studies.

Believe me, it's worse than bad.

 

[Adramelek]

Believe me, it's worse than bad.

I won't doubt you Crossfire. After all just because someone may have looked into a certain subject, maybe studied it for a time, doesn't make them an expert. Unless they have actually lived and practiced it, Buddhism for instance, their opinions could very well be riddled with errors and flaws.

 

[EtuMalku]

From his Chapter (supposedly) on Buddhism, I wouldn't trust any of his presentations of other religions. He doesn't even get the Four Noble Truths right, and then starts presenting Advaita as if it was Buddhism. Since he's a PhD, he should understand how to do proper research, especially if you are going to publish it under your own name. I would say he is purposefully misrepresenting, since he is a PhD.

Let the buyer beware.

I would actually / personally read Dr. Flowers' chapter(s) on Buddhism and the left hand path before taking someone else's word on it
There's a reason why he has PhD at the end of his name and why he is one of the few Ipsissimus' in the Temple of Set

 

[crossfire]

I would actually / personally read Dr. Flowers' chapter(s) on Buddhism and the left hand path before taking someone else's word on it
There's a reason why he has PhD at the end of his name and why he is one of the few Ipsissimus' in the Temple of Set

I have actually read it, and the analysis I gave in my post above is my own analysis.

 

[Adramelek]

From what I gather Mahayana Buddhism seems, in a way, to be aligned with certain aspects of LHP Luciferianism and Setian philosophy. Concepts such as perfect enlightenment and the enlightened sentient mind - just an observation on my part.

 

[L.Keane]

From what I gather Mahayana Buddhism seems, in a way, to be aligned with certain aspects of LHP Luciferianism and Setian philosophy. Concepts such as perfect enlightenment and the enlightened sentient mind - just an observation on my part.

Adramelek, in my opinion it would be the earlier form of Buddhism, Theravada, that would be more aligned with Setian philosophy. Theravada has a focus on the individual coming to their own "enlightenment" and acting as an exemplar, in turn, for others. This would be in distinction from the Bodhisattva ideal of Mahayana where one is to "hold off" enlightenment until all sentient begins, every blade of grass, is liberated. Also, Theravada had much more "scientific" metaphysical perspective. Many of the branches of Mahayana tend to slide towards a more mystical assumptions where as Theravada tends to focus more on mental processes.

 

[Kemble]

Adramelek, in my opinion it would be the earlier form of Buddhism, Theravada, that would be more aligned with Setian philosophy. Theravada has a focus on the individual coming to their own "enlightenment" and acting as an exemplar, in turn, for others. This would be in distinction from the Bodhisattva ideal of Mahayana where one is to "hold off" enlightenment until all sentient begins, every blade of grass, is liberated. Also, Theravada had much more "scientific" metaphysical perspective. Many of the branches of Mahayana tend to slide towards a more mystical assumptions where as Theravada tends to focus more on mental processes.

For LHP moreso Theravada's experimental innovations I think.

In Theravada there is no "individual" much less "coming" or "going" anywhere. Core difference between Theravada and Mahayana is that Theravada rejects any essential Self. Mahayana sneaks in the notion of Buddha-nature or primordial Mind underneath experience in contrast. So in a sense if a philosophy centers on an essential Self, Theravada would be more unfamiliar. Theravada is also almost exclusively renunciate. Mahayanists can achieve enlightenment without monasticism, and Tantra is even less renunciate -- focusing on using everyday sensory world, emotions, and non-monastic religious teachers.

Not sure if Pali Canon is older. It probably is, but it can also be debatable. You're right; Theravada is more "scientific," but that was an outcome of foreign influence. The incentive to use only the Pali Canon, read it as an instruction manual, and recreate from it Buddha's meditation techniques as central to the Buddhist path arose in dialogue with the 19th/20th century West (by way of Protestantism; same 'sanitization' happened with yogic religion in India). For a talk on this see "Is Mindfulness Buddhist? And Why it Matters.", and "Theravada Reinvents Meditation".

 

[L.Keane]

Kemble,

Good points. I wasn't taking into consideration that base metaphysical assumptions about "anatta" in Theravada but rather the lack of the "Bodhisattva Ideal" (of course not all forms of Mahayana accept this either). Leave it to someone on the LHP to take a core self to be a ontological given. Thanks for the links.