'Liber Philos-O-Forum'

'Liber Cyber' and Selected Works

DRAGONS AND CAVES [3876 words]

This lecture paper is an account of the supernatural associations of Ogof Ffynnon Ddu ( "ogov fun-on thee") The Cave of the Black Spring in Upper Swansea Valley, Wales, UK.

The cave, which ranks in the top 10 longest in the world, was discovered in 1946, and was thought by the earliest explorers to be haunted. The survey reveals it to be shaped like a dragon, and the paper points out that it is located in countryside having geographical associations with the Welsh myth cycle of the Mabinogion.

The text is in part autobiographical, describing the author's researches into the nature of the "entity" associated with the cave, attempts made to establish contact, and quasi-numinous experiences within the cave in the 1970s.

PYTHAGORAS AND THE MATHESIS OF CHAOS [2838 words]

Mathesis sits in relationship to mathematics much as does alchemy to modern chemistry. The paper examines Pythagoras' education and his documented career both as an Egyptian priest and as an associate of Babylonian philosophers and shows how he blended these traditions into the mathematical scheme of the cosmos which he propounded.

The historical progress of these ideas into a scheme of magic and numerology are traced with reference to occult works of renaissance mathematicians, and the threads are carried forward up to recent times where the development of Chaos Math is shining new light on the fabric of natural processes, as well as providing clues about the mechanisms of what is termed "magic" today.

SO-CALLED MAGIC OR FRAUD OR BULLSHIT -- DOES IT MATTER? [4495 words]

This paper was the first in a series intended to answer questions from the public which the author found himself facing while tending a market stall dealing in occult paraphernalia. It is intended to be accessible to an audience with no assumed prior knowledge.

Anecdotal examples illustrating what is meant by magic, and by fraud and "bullshit" masquerading as magic are presented. The relationships and distinctions are discussed, and conclusions drawn which point to likely developments as the millennium approaches, which have proved to be succinctly accurate.

PAGANISM AND HERESY IN THE CHRISTIAN ERA [4677 words]

This paper examines the nature of belief systems, and makes an initial attempt from a mathematical argument to answer the question as to whether there can be some "ultimate truth".

The matter of whether all belief systems evolve as a heresy from some earlier "truth" is considered, with the example of Christianity as a heretical derivative of Judaism explored. From that point the development of orthodoxy and its subsequent attitude towards the belief systems which it superseded are considered, as well as its reaction to the emergence of heretical interpretations of its own central message.

The historical record of the crusades, inquisitions and witch-hunts during the past 1000 years is considered in juxtaposition to the central tenets of Christian rhetoric.

THE HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF SECRET SOCIETIES [4778 words]

An attempt to trace the origins of modern organisations like the Freemasons, and occult orders like the Ordo Templi Orientis and the Illuminati. Particular facets of rituals, structure and membership admissibility criteria are traced back to gnostic and pagan schools of learning in the eastern Mediterranean in the early years of the Christian era. Their migration into present times is followed, with due consideration being given to the propensity of secret societies to sow false trails.

The objectives of secret societies generally are considered, and, with anecdotal examples, the question as to whether the history of the world equates to the history of warfare between secret societies is addressed.

CHAOS INVOCATION [3429 words]

The author was invited to present a paper on this topic to the Oxford Golden Dawn Society's 5th Symposium on Thelemic Magic. Although not strictly part of the series, in that it borrows material from one or two of the other papers, there are significant expositions of original thinking about the mechanisms which may be involved in how magic works. The practical part of the presentation to the symposium comprises "The Wishing Well" which is included among the ritual texts appended to the book.

CHAOS AND GAIA [4551 words]

The earlier papers may in a sense be seen as establishing a context; this one introduces substantive new thinking. The classical Greek interpretations of Chaos and of Gaia as the Earth Goddess are explored in the context of a translation by the author of an extract from the Theogony of Hesiod, and these are related to modern conceptions of these entities derived from the work of Benoit Mandlebrot and James Lovelock.

The role of chaotic processes in the emergence and cohesiveness of "life" in the broad and in the molecular sense are analysed, and a systems approach is then applied to the biosphere generally. The view of information as comprising data and instructions is considered, and then extended with the postulation of an additional information class: that of systems structure and control information. Elements belonging to this new class are defined as "Cyber-morphs", and their roles in determining the nature and persistence of life by self-replication are considered, as are their applications in effecting phenomena classified in the domain of "magic". These ideas have subsequently been picked up by occult authors like Peter Carroll and by political theorists.

CHAOS AND COSMOS [4805 words]

An explanation for a lay audience of present thinking in relation to cosmogenesis and quantum processes.

The main thrust of the paper is that the myriad variety of the perceptible universe is explicable in terms of the conventionally accepted laws of physics, together with the processes of chaos, and the semblance of order which spontaneously emerges therefrom.

The paradoxes consequent from attempts to reconcile quantum mechanics and general relativity are discussed in this context. Questions relating to the origin and fate of the universe are discussed, as are entities like Black Holes and Worm Holes distorting the topology of space-time.

ASTROLOGY -- A RATIONAL CHAO/DYNAMIC APPRAISAL [5393 words]

Here is an attempt to provide a rational basis for some traditional tenets of astrology in the broadest sense that the movements of the bodies in the solar system produce real effects on terrestrial events.

The influences of gravity and of electromagnetism are considered inasmuch as they can produce variations in the rate of the Earth's rotation and fluctuation in the magnetic field respectively. Some analysis of phenomena such as dowsing (water-diving) is made in the context of human sensitivity to micro-magnetic variations, and explanations of some elements of traditional astrology are postulated, with exact alignments of celestial bodies involving the Earth being pointed up as being particularly significant.

ECLIPSES [4903 words]

Developing the theme of the previous paper, exact alignments of planets and "lights" in the solar system are demonstrated to punctuate instances of advancement in human understanding of the cosmos. The reasons are explored and a scheme is advanced for taking advantage of such events for magical work.

Practical applications are suggested and threads from many of the foregoing papers are drawn together in setting forth and developing a programme of occult observance which had its origin in workings performed many years before involving the Celtic underworld entity Gwyn ap Nudd. These having been alluded to in the first paper of this collection.

KNOTS, SUPERSTRINGS & OTHER COSMIC STUFF [3725 words]

An extension of the Cyber-morph concept, introduced earlier, into the mathematical discipline of topology (rubber-sheet geometry) and applied to make a distinction between "chaos" on the one hand and "entropy" or random disorder on the other. Questions considered include the uni-directional nature of time, simulations of the behaviour of the early universe drawn from observations of the micro-structure of "liquid crystal", and mathematical manifolds.

In the paper The Choronzon Lemma is postulated: that any system of mathematics exhibiting a rich internal structure will eventually be shown to have one or more analogues either in physical reality or in the "meta-reality" of magical phenomena.

THE CRYPTO-ZOO [4674 words]

A rather lighter offering than some of the preceding papers. A classification is attempted of creatures at or beyond the fringes of zoology. The origins of tales of dragons and sea-monsters are explored, along with the creatures of classical mythology such as the phoenix, the chimera and the basilisk. Here are to be found the Loch Ness monster, bigfoot, and mermaids, together with paleolontological survivors such as the coelacanth.

MEGALITHIC TECHNOLOGY [4852 words]

The author turns his attention to the possible methods of construction of the megalithic structures found and attributed to ancient cultures all over the world. Dismissing, after consideration, magical methods which would require some breach of the established laws of physics, he takes note of a demonstration laid on by the inhabitants of Easter Island for the benefit of Thor Heyerdahl of the quarrying, transport and erection of megalithic statuary material, and then considers migration routes for that technology and possible origins.

Structures in Egypt, the coastal lands of Celtic Europe and in the Americas are considered, together with exotic explanations involving civilisations emanating from "lost continents", extra-terrestrials. Alignments of megalithic structures are also discussed.

THE HISTORY OF EROTICISM IN RITUAL [5091 words]

Sex magic is always a popular topic, and it must be remembered that these lectures were presented in a public forum where some attention had to be given to the matter of "bums on seats". This paper traces the origins of the sexual component in pagan ritual back to ancient Babylon and Phoenicia, taking in the spiritual dimension attendant upon "the oldest profession".

Areas discussed include (1) fertility rites, (2) rites of passage, and (3) erotognosis, the latter being the application of sexual arousal and climax to magical effect either for purposes of divination or for generating action at a distance. The origins of the traditions of festivals like St Valentines Day are examined.

THE HELLFIRE CLUB AND OTHER SWINGERS [4502 words]

A follow-on from the preceding lecture, this paper considers the area of hedonistic and Bacchanalian rites, tracing the progress of the ultimate libertarian tenet "Do What Thou Wilt". First promulgated in literature by Rabelais in a fictional context, this doctrine was actualised as the motto of Sir Francis Dashwood's "Hellfire Club" in 18th century England, and then equally notoriously by Aleister Crowley as the basis of his philosophy of Thelema in the early years of this century.

The extent to which the motto provides a basis for truly libertarian practices in modern occultism as opposed to in the "swingers" clubs and bordellos of modern metropolitan conurbations is considered.

MATHE-MAGIC AND MONEY [5687 words]

A technical paper exploring applications of chaos mathematics to trading on the world's money markets. It introduces the notion of money as pure number and shows how the principles of chaos can be used, perhaps with the assistance of appropriate computer software, to generate profits from a variety of traded financial instruments, notably stock index futures.

Much of the paper is concerned with explaining how such markets operate for the benefit of a non-specialist audience. Some anecdotes are included relating attempts to manipulate the market using direct magical action.

"CHOOSE YE AN ISLAND" -- ALL HAIL CHAOTOPIA [5332 words]

A utopian adventure postulating the establishment of a quasi-anarchist society on an insular territory. Issues of sovereignty are considered, together with socio-economic implications of such an experiment.

Several candidate landmasses are considered together with the practicalities of acquisition. Sustainment of a community on the basis of offering a tax-haven, together with efficient communications to enable income to be generated from global money markets forms part of the subject matter.

CRISIS MAGICIANS, ORDERS, DISORDERS, LYNX AND LONE WOLVES [4751 words]

The author asks why people study magic, and, once studying it, why they feel the need to do so in groupings, which more often than not develop a hierarchical structure.

Chaos Magic is considered as a case study. Having started out as a loose collection of individuals with similar interests and essentially egalitarian axioms, over the course of a decade or so it evolved into an "order" complete with a hierarchy, rule books, dogma and papal excommunications. This paper was highly controversial in London occult circles when first presented.

SAINT AUGUSTINE AND SEX MAGIC [4982 words]

Basically a research into the pagan practices of ancient Carthage as illuminated by the writings of the church father St Augustine of Hippo. The author interprets his writings in the light of other classical sources and detects a far deeper involvement in the paganism of his place of birth than is admitted to in the "Confessions". Augustine's role, together with that of St Ambrose, in the transformation of nascent Christianity into a creature acceptable to imperial Rome is evaluated. Attention is drawn to the subsequent plight of the North African "Donatists", who, it can be argued, preserved the original philosophical thrust of the early church without making compromises to political expediency.

"WE LIVE IN A CHRISTIAN COUNTRY" [5254 words]

A look into the origins of the relationship between church and state going back to the age of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great; this paper casts light upon the "Donation of Constantine", the document upon which the establishment of the Holy Roman Empire, and ultimately all the sovereign states of western Europe, was based. It supports the conclusion of the 15th century humanist Laurentius Valla that the document was a crude forgery, as was acknowledged by the Vatican some 300 years later.

The author then considers the re-interpretation of that forgery made by the only Englishman ever to occupy the papal chair, Adrian IV, as the basis for the donation of the territory of Ireland to the English crown. The points made go some distance towards explaining the intractability of the "Irish problem" which persists to this day.

SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS MEETS CHAOS THEORY [4767 words]

A refutation of Aquinas' philosophical position by application of the Incompleteness Theorems of Kurt Gödel to establish the validity of the proposition "There Can Be No Ultimate Truth". Much of the paper is taken up with an explanation of the mathematical/logical proof of Godel's result; thought to be the first time this had been attempted for a non-specialist audience.

The paper concludes by asserting that the concept of infallibility is meaningless, and carries on to demonstrate that there can be no such thing as bug-free computer software, as organisations all over the world are discovering to their great cost as the millennium approaches.

AGAINST MILLENNARIANISM -- THE AGE OF AQUARIUS IS CANCELLED [3499 words]

A paper exploring concepts of the "End of the World" and the way in which these have become compounded with notions of some great event accompanying the millennium. There is some investigation of what was portended for the year 1000, and a roll-call of other subsequent years in which the eschaton was confidently predicted.

These concepts are tied in with the "New Age" notion of the arrival of an Age of Aquarius predicated on a supposed precession of the vernal equinox through each of the signs of the zodiac. The author examines astronomical records from Egyptian, Babylonian, mediaeval and renaissance sources to point out that the balance of evidence would suggest that the movement of the equinoctial point is oscillatory rather than cyclical in character. Thus, rather than a progression from Pisces into Aquarius, what we are likely to see is a reversal and then a retrograde motion back towards Aries.

"PERPETUUM MOBILE" [4677 words]

A review of the Laws of Thermodynamics in the light of conclusions deducible from Godel's results. The first part of the paper explains what the Laws of Thermodynamics are; why there is an absolute zero of temperature; why "entropy" or disorder increases in the universe with passage of time; why the concept of a perpetual motion machine is offensive to physicists.

There follows a historical account of attempts to build perpetual motion machines, and of frauds perpetrated on the basis of ones which were supposed to work. The paper points out that the thermodynamic principles of the physicists are based on experiment rather than formal proof, and therefore asserts that, mathematically, although one might conclude that it would be extraordinarily difficult to construct such a machine, it is not valid to state that it is impossible.

"ALSO SPRACH CHARLIE BREWSTER" [3194 words]

Subtitled 'A Century of Hindsight on the Philosophies of Friedrich Nietzsche', the author attempts to evaluate the main corpus of Nietzsche's writings, taking in the contradictions, paradoxes and sheer arrogance which he present to the reader. It is asserted that Nietzsche's genius was that he was able to "paradigm shift" in the manner of a modern magical practitioner, and thus not only to appreciate opposing viewpoints on a topic, but to present them as if they were his most passionately held standpoint; this done though without pointing out the moments of the paradigm shift to the reader. Thus have such a diversity of subsequent thinkers been able to extract elements from his work as a foundation for their own.

Nietzsche's presentations of religion as the ultimate lie and morality as the ultimate immorality are addressed, as are his attitudes to nihilism and "the order of rank". In summary the author feels Nietzsche made a reasonable attempt at a "transvaluation of all values", as he set out to do, but that he was hampered by the relative immaturity in understanding of the way the universe works characteristic of the time when he was writing.

The Frater Choronzon concludes his Period of Speech with the words:

Wholly Magic - A Tribute to Graham Bond [1273 words]

The author's introduction to ceremonial magic was through acquaintanceship with the late blues organist and saxophonist Graham Bond. This short article makes acknowledgement and gives a flavour of the personality of that colourful 1960s figure.

The Sarcophagus of Mycerinus [1446 words]
A short piece on the possibility of salvaging a unique item of Egyptian funery sculpture.

Black Magic and Dirty Tricks [735 words]
A contribution to the debate on alleged anti-social practices of occult practitioners.

Erotognosis [1838 words]
An explicit discussion of sex magick techniques.

Sex Magick Techniques in Industrial Espionnage for Fun and Profit [739 words]
Some anecdotal material.

Magical Conflict - The Corporate Adversary [1524 words]
Anecdotal material with theoretical issues considered.

Dead Names and Dead Language [1604 words]
An examination of reasons why "barbarous" languages are effective in magical work.

Antiarchy [1073 words]
Proposals for experimentation in magical group structures.

Liber Ritus Libera [fragment] [460 words]
Introductory guidelines for a personal sex magic journal.

Mass of Chaos 'I' [971 words]
Rubric and text for a ritual employing BDSM techniques.

Ritual Texts Employing Enochian Verse:

The Wishing Well [1428 words]
General purpose wish-making ritual employing recursive self-referent Enochian Verse.

Pan Fortification Ritual [677 words]
Ritual for defence and self-empowerment.

Invocation of the ChaoSurge [691 words]
Ritual to be employed at moments of planetary alignment.

Mass of Chaos 'G' [1022 words]
Procedure for invocation of and discourse with Celtic underworld deity Gwyn-ap-Nudd.

"Those whom the Gods would destroy, they first make mad"

Free Spirit - Free Speech [2422 words]
A summary of some key points from the lecture series presented in aphoristic style.

ChaoCred Economics [3114 words]
Exploration of ideas about alternative economic structures.