This is an entry level book about Chaos. It is intended to introduce readers with a background in Maths and Physics to the concepts of Chaos Magic. The book should also be useful to those who are knowledgeable about matters occult, providing some insight into the power of non-linear dynamics, or Chaos Mathematics, as a modelling tool for the visible and invisible universe.
The core of the text is a series of eight lecture papers. These were written primarily to answer those questions which were posed to me most frequently, by members of the public, in my role as proprietor of one of the world's first retail outlets devoted to merchandising Chaos.
One issue which recurs time and again is that concerning the conceptual link between Chaos Mathematics and Chaos Magic, both of which are represented among the merchandise I offer for sale from 'Choronzon's Cupboard'. Chaos Maths is perceived as a numerical oddball whereby hugely powerful computers generate pretty psychedelic patterns, while Chaos Magic has the reputation of being the darkest and most unapproachable species of 'Black' Occultism. As I hope will become apparent to the reader, both of these perceptions grossly oversimplify the topics in question.
There is no denying that the fractal patterns of Chaos Maths are visually exciting, but that frisson of cortical stimulation is merely to scratch the surface of the subject. Equally, the veneer of 'street credibility', which many Chaos Magicians adopt, serves to cloak a more rigorous approach to occult matters than is found among most other serious practitioners in that secretive area of study. As one Chaos Magician puts it "At least being seen as blacker than black means that we don't suffer too many psychic attacks; nobody dares".
The synthesis here presented incorporates much new work, and, in particular, draws material from a wide diversity of academic disciplines. Included among these are Ancient, Mediaeval and Modern History, including the history of Science and Mathematics, Number Theory, Quantum Physics, Astrophysics, Ecology, Earth Sciences, Oceanography. The heroes of any perceptible story line range from Ancient Greek poets and philosophers like Hesiod and Pythagoras; through mediaeval heretic-scientists like Agrippa, Dee and Galileo; to the founders of the Royal Society of London, and the originators of modern Physics - Einstein, Schrodinger, Heisenberg and Hubble.
Present day thinkers whose work is prominent include Stephen Hawking, Douglas Hofstadter, Benoit Mandlebrot, James Lovelock, and, of course, Peter Carroll the pioneer of Chaos Magic.
In presenting the series of papers in Bullfrog's Cafe/Bar - a stone's throw from the Greenwich Meridian in London, the objective was that each should stand alone and be intelligible to someone who walked in off the street that evening to shelter from the rain. At the same time, there is a progression of ideas from one paper to the next. The first three papers set out my own perceptions of what 'Magic' is about, and place it's modern manifestations in a philosophical context. Papers four through six examine the relevance of Chaos in ancient and modern views of "Life, the Universe and Everything" (to borrow a phrase from Douglas Adams). In the two concluding papers these concepts are developed to present a rational thesis to approach an explanation of one of the oldest occult disciplines - Astrology, and to set out a comprehensive magical system to provide a framework from which everyone should be able to derive some benefit.
One important feature sets this hook apart from most other works considering so-called occult subject matter. Sincere efforts are made to argue points and deduce theoretical postulates from the conventional Axioms of Mathematics and the generally accepted Laws of Physics. Very little is left to 'faith', and 'beliefs' are eschewed as far as possible. This is one fundamental point of contact between the traditions of Science and Maths and the methods of Chaos Magic. Some anecdotal material is included, which necessarily expects the reader to place some trust in the author, but in almost every case there are other people alive who would be able to confirm the substance of the events recounted.
As the publication of this 'Personal Edition' progresses, a certain lack of uniformity may become apparent. The very rarest low numbers are nothing more than comb-bound photocopies of the original Bullfrog's Philos-O-Forum lecture notes, with the addition of this Preface and a title page. Higher numbered copies may look more professional, with sequential page numbering, and, perhaps, laser printed pages; but although each volume will still be individually signed and numbered by the author, there may be less of that intangible ambience imparted by the knowledge that the author personally copied and collated every page himself.
Sincerest personal thanks are here extended to my dearest wife and kids, who have been wholehearted and steadfast in their support through some troubling times and straightened circumstances.
Thanks to Demian, Dennis and John at Bullfrog's; without their support and indulgence 'Choronzon's Cupboard' would never have reached first base and the Philos-O-Forum could not have been organised.
Special thanks to Pete for help and inspiration going back almost two decades, and to Tony, Nick, Richard and Tracey for their warming breath against icy atmospherics. A word of heartfelt gratitude also to all those folk who had first exposure to the ideas herein at the Monday meetings in Greenwich. Their contributions sustained me in writing the papers, and without them it couldn't have happened.
Frater Choronzon - 1st December 1990 ev
Post Scriptum Thanks to Ken for Laser-Setting the original lecture notes and to Terry and Gere for assistance in times of Copier Chaos.
While browsing the 'net during the past year I have been amused occasionally to stumble upon fragments of my published output from the early years of this decade, presumably scanned from small circulation magazines in which they originally appeared. I have been pleased to direct those I converse with towards these items, and there has been some demand in particular for some background context in which to place the material which is already on the 'net in one place or another.
In response to those requests here follows the more-or-less complete text of the "Liber Cyber" Lectures, and, as a supplement, the corpus of later Philos-O-Forum Lecture Papers delivered after publication of the original edition in December 1990, together with various articles and contemporary scribblings whose extant hard copies permit Optical Character Recognition. In releasing this material I hope to make some contribution to the burgeoning exchange of views on matters occult and arcane at present taking place on the 'net. Enjoy or otherwise as you will!!
Frater Choronzon - July 1997 ev.