Intimations of a Future Magick

Recently, I have been going back over some older Sinister MSs, partly for the sake of nostalgia and partly to brush up, and I encountered the sections in which modern scientific developments, including quantum theory, were bitterly decried and flat out rejected as nonsense. While I believe there is some merit to such criticism, especially in the modern “scientific” travesty of moulding data to suit a narrative – often for financial gain – and that such blasphemy is a particularly modern sort of “Satanic” approach, I do ultimately think that dismissing an entire field which has yielded results in recent years is gravely mistaken. Indeed, I’ve found a certain congruence between Sinister concepts and the very same sciences which are so viciously attacked.

The concept of “Wyrd” as referenced frequently throughout Sinister MSs, often assumed to mean a singular “destiny” or “fate” in a linear sense. However, for those who’ve spent time immersed in the root culture from which “Wyrd” originates, it is abundantly clear that the concept is anything but linear, following instead a twisting, weaving mire of possibilities and likely outcomes. This is expressed within the Web of Wyrd, or Skuld’s Net, which is depicted as a series of nine lines, three of which are vertical, three slant leftward, and three slant rightward. The three vertical lines are Urd “what has come to pass” Verdandi “what is coming to pass” and Skuld “what should come to pass”, and the six diagonal lines are the myriad threads binding these.

Urd quite obviously represents what has occurred, the past, that which has been irrevocably woven. It is solid and earthen, the roots of Yggdrasil.

Verdandi is the present, a constant flux between what has been presenced and what has yet to be presenced. Contrary to popular opinion, this model of “now” implies that the “present” is an imperceptible and ever-moving point, and can only be observed in its past state. It is neither solid nor fluid, the point of weaving potentiality into actuality – a nexion.

Skuld is the future, or rather, many futures, depending on what is woven in Verdandi. Whereas its opposite is hard and earthy, Skuld is formless liquid, viscous threads of acausality which are solidified at the point of observation – Verdandi. Skuld, for all intents and purposes, is Acausal space, as only Urd requires linear precedence in order to exist, but Skuld simply is – a black, formless sea with no centre.

The interaction between these is not unlike that of certain quantum mechanics, most notably those used by the most cutting edge of experimental computers, which employ quantum theory to process, near instantly, every possible outcome of a given task. Unlike a binary system, which is either/or, a quantum system is all possible forms until observed and solidified. The parallels to Skuld’s net are obvious, and I would go so far as to say that such advances, as vexing as they have been to Sinister forebears, are an inevitability, and one would do well to heed the lessons of the Greek and Islamic astronomers.

It is also worth bearing in mind that we, as a species, are as two-dimensional entities trying to comprehend a three-dimensional space. To us, the Z axis is simply unfathomable and beyond our limited means of expression, and we cannot effectively grasp that our two-dimensional space is but the surface of a sphere. Quantum theory, and other such models, are not the objective “truth” but merely a means of depicting the subtle mechanisms of the cosmos in such a way as to be effectively utilised, and of seeing that otherwise unknowable Z axis.

Chariot and Charioteer

For some time now, I have expressed nothing short of disdain for the archetypal follower, the sort of individual who must be told what to think and do, and absolutely must have someone/something lording over them at all times – and if a master is not present, they will seek one out, perhaps even making them up entirely! My disdain becomes utter contempt when I see them professing any kind of Left-Handed affiliation, and in the same breath, refer to anyone else as their superior, as their “master”, their “high priest”, their “god”. It was as though they had abandoned the superficial trappings of conventional, Nazarene spirituality, but still retained the essence, which to me seemed to defeat the purpose of ultimate and uncompromising freedom, as though a dog, upon being let off its lead, simply sits and stares blankly at its master, instead of taking advantage of its newfound liberty. As of late it has gotten to the point where I will hardly discuss anything with such dyed-in-the-wool lackeys, as I have already determined that ninety-nine-point-nine percent of the time, they will have nothing useful to say, and they will possess hardly an original thought in their head, to boot.

After recent dialogue with a trusted peer, something of a Sinister older brother, and a bit of reflection, my position has softened, and my venom diluted from its lethal potency to a mild bitterness, not unlike a low-to-middling coffee. There is still an internal scowling whenever I see one choosing to follow, but I understand the purpose of these sort on a grander scale.

The Elder Futhark Rune “Ehwaz” is said to literally represent a horse and its rider. There is a symbiotic relationship between these, like mind and body. One element thinks, and the other “does”. Independently, neither one would achieve terribly much in terms of practical, causal aims, but together, a great deal can be accomplished by this archetypal pair. The rider, for example, may have a destination and a route in mind, and a much greater scheme beyond that, but due to the constraints imposed by physical ability and time, they cannot be realistically expected to make an arduous journey entirely on their own. The horse, by the same token, is capable of great physical exertion, and can travel much further than the rider could ever hope to on his own. However, the horse is also, quite frankly, absolutely fucking daft, and left to its own devices, wouldn’t achieve much besides eating a bit of foliage. These two then form a complimentary pair, where the rider is much better equipped to travel in pursuit of their various ends, and the horse is given a purpose and a goal, and if the rider is worth his salt, the horse will also be much better cared for with them than if it were left to its own devices.

In terms of the aforementioned “follower” I recognise their position as the horse in the Ehwaz pairing. While many things in history are attributed to singular individuals (see: 18 and NS), the fact of the matter is that they did not perform some herculean task all on their own. They did not fly the bombers, fight in the trenches, land on the shores, etc. Such things were only made possible by a great number of followers who believed in their leader’s aims to the point of being totally willing to fight and die for them, if need be. Without the requisite personality cult and clarity of vision, countless would-be loyal followers would instead mill about, living dull, meaningless lives and possessing none of the creativity to remedy the gradual wasting of their existence, lapsing into idle pleasures in order to fill a hole which aches them on an essential level than is only felt, and not consciously understood. Perhaps they will find a church or rally behind the politician of the month, hungry to be led unto greater things but finding only scraps – a paltry meal.

Just as the follower needs to be led, it logically concludes that the individual with grand designs must have resources in order to make their goals a reality, chief among them being the human element. Without cultivating a strong following, the ambitious individual will have no realistic means of waging their conquest, as they cannot possibly fill all of the necessary roles themselves. Such an endeavour would flounder before it even left the gates! Furthermore, just as the follower has an inherent need to be led, the individual recognises the calling to lead, responsibility being the complimentary other half of freedom, and truthfully, the individual rarely has any choice in the matter as they are often forced into the role by necessity, and of course, that strange factor just beyond comprehension called “Wyrd”.

In this case, as with many others, one does well to accept practical realities instead of bemoaning the dissonance between ideals and immutable facts.

Chitinous Covin

One thinks of warfare and conflict in a general sense as hostility, as violence enacted in a bid for control. The concepts of war and violence are, to many, wholly inseparable, and one does not seize control without causing some degree of bodily harm – that is, according to past-aeon minds. However, in the eternal, helical ascent of the Overman, there is a refinement of technique and a clarifying of one’s vision, as one becomes vanguard for Homo Galactica first in mind, and the body following suit.

The sphere of Mars, in conventional astrology, was so-named for a Greco-Roman war deity, and the associated form of Ares cemented its position as dominion of conflict. It is active and passionate, a fiery drive which borders – and often crosses over entirely – on the impulsive, seeking a fight more for the sake of fighting than any specific cause. While not a popular deity in Hellenic culture, the Spartans were a noteworthy exception, their entire society being designed around the arts of warfare, and almost from the moment of birth, one’s life was spent in preparation for violence, honing the skills which would see the Spartans become immortalised as living symbols of bloodshed, artists for whom the battlefield was their canvas – and the spear their brush.

Ares was not the only ruler of Mars, and long before the discovery of the IX sphere, there was a darker cohabitant…

In those past aeons when only the classical seven spheres were known, several were divided between two rulers, many of whom were later given reign over the further spheres as they were discovered. In the case of Mars, bloodthirsty Ares shared the frigid red sands with Scorpio, whose realm can be described as morbid, occult, forbidden… Sinister, even. Scorpio stands as watery contrast to Ares, preferring subtlety and complex games of manipulation in pursuit of the same ends as her fiery older brother – domination. Later regarded by more contemporary astrology as the evolved form of Ares, this evolutionary symbolism extends into causal, practical application, and graduation from a thousand blades at dawn to a single blade at dusk, or perhaps, none at all.

To observe the species’ growth towards Scorpionic warfare, one must observe recent conflicts and the most effective tools used therein. While conventional armies of soldiers, rifles, and armour are still maintained, by far, the most devastating weapons have been less vulgar, taking full advantage of most developed nations’ crippling dependence on functionally immaterial networks. With but a few keystrokes and the right fishes speared, one has access to all manner of sensitive data and fragile systems which can be used to wreak havoc without so much as a single casualty! Or perhaps one might observe the economic side of things, and how by manipulating artificial numbers, an entire nation might be brought to its knees – again, without so much as a single drop of blood spilled. The prevalence of countless subtle threads to tug, and the countless ways in which they might be tugged, makes the modern world a playground for Sinister folk, and this extends to more personal conflicts, in that perhaps going off and lamping some poor bastard might be cathartic, but staying one’s hand and quietly weaving around them might very well result in their complete and total subjugation.

A practical example of Scorpionic warfare is that of a story I was told, wherein Isa-Raido-Ansuz crippled a financial sector with a harmless parcel in just the right place, causing a panic and resulting in significant financial loss to their enemy, who wasted their time and energy on disposing of a totally benign item. Isa-Raido-Ansuz had effectively conjured the spectres of panic and terror, resulting in an overwhelming tactical success with zero casualties.

In the strange, cold darkness far beyond Saturn, chitinous forms writhe, chittering soundlessly in the airless void as they weave duplicitous machinations and conjure plots within plots – Aqrabuamelu.

Worldly Folk

Those who follow the rules, obey the law, and live “normal” lives are referred to as “Mundanes”. They rarely, if ever, colour outside of the lines, and their heads are full of whatever nonsense popular culture has force-fed them. Their responses are programmed, and more often than not, things outside of their established norm are met with fear and hostility, reacting more like animals than genuine human beings. They vote, consume, labour, etc. all in accordance with the lifestyle which was planned for them.

There is something tragic about the notion of the Mundane and their involuntary retardation by external forces.

The response to Mundanes by those who are not “Mundane” is typically a sneering, haughty one, or even outright malice. Contempt bordering on hostility. Because one has perceived the bars of their prison cell, unlike the mundane – who exists in a prison so absolute that the idea of “beyond” is unthinkable – they think themselves superior creatures, and behave with a sort of arrogance in regards to the common man, and this has resembled more the caricatures of the Magian than anything, who refer to Gentiles as “Cattle”, and have within their culture many unkind sayings about Gentiles. Nietzsche himself made the remark that one should be careful not to become what they are fighting against, and yet many would adopt such absolute, reactionary contempt, choosing the ease of broad strokes over fine brushwork and detailing – a baffling position to maintain when one’s goal is to challenge oneself, creating the Overman by choosing the hard way.

My own experiences have taught me to be kinder than the Magian. The Mundanes might not appreciate Sinister material or even have the ability to grasp it in its entirety, but such is not their Wyrd. Does this make them stupid? Do they cease to be people? I should think not, rather, it simply means that their experiences, in conjunction with their nature and the unfortunate culture many are born into, have shaped them differently than us. Many are exceedingly capable people, excelling in fields I am quite sure I could not handle myself, and are content with the idea of being content – antithetical to us, but not everyone dreams of an Imperium. In my dealings with them, I strive to be kind and patient, holding my tongue on more onerous subjects and occasionally dropping breadcrumbs to test the supposed Mundanes, perhaps even sparking tendencies towards the Sinister they didn’t even know they possessed. I have seen, on many occassions, Mundanes rise to meet challenges of will and character, and even little gestures of decency are not uncommon. If I am truly a blackly noble sort, it would then stand to reason to behave in a manner which could be described as “noble”, as I am not a saintly individual by any means, but I have standards, and I am most certainly not Magian.

From a much broader perspective than just my own, it is out of consideration for other, similar folk that I am as mindful. Everything I do might be associated with them, and if I am seen as an absolute bell-end, then by extension those I share traits with suffer the same. Inversely, if I behave with class and proper conduct, peers might share in the resulting esteem. One does a service to the Tradition as a whole by acting with far-reaching implications in mind.

Finally, why the nauseating, saccharine hippie-zen shit, if the broader subject is the “Sinister” Tradition? As stated above, a central part of the Tradition is challenging oneself, and reacting contrarily to impulse. One is hardly anything resembling the Overman by not raising oneself over oneself, instead they are just an edgy, socially inept dweeb who will remain useless and ineffective, having never pushed themselves in any sense. Additionally, and perhaps most overtly “Sinister”, one who is publicly known as a decent fellow can navigate far, and will be extended favours, offers, invitations, and various other social boons which help to cultivate practical ability towards causal change – I recall being extended a very well-paid business opportunity simply by helping jump-start a gentleman’s dead battery.

It is also worth noting that the “He would never do that!” effect is very real…

Der Schattenmagier

Adolf Hitler, known as 18 by those who likely can’t afford to be overheard name-dropping the supreme evil of the past century, has a fairly prominent place in the mythos of the Sinister Tradition, to the point of his date of birth marking a unique year-keeping system (Year of Fayen). However, the nature of this veneration is a complex one, with some individuals wholly devoted to the idea of NS, and others taking a far more meta stance on the man whose actions ensured his name will ring synonymous with evil for many, many generations to come. The inclusion of NS within Sinister lore is a fairly hazy account, the participation of certain individuals being attributed to recruitment for their respective goals, and it is not unreasonable for the arrangement to be a mutually beneficial one, where stormtroopers might be found amongst devils and vice versa.

One kind of Sinister individual will see themselves as inheriting a covert war, NS black knights fighting impossible odds for their volk. They’ve given up up any hope of a “normal” happy existence, instead taking up the mantle of NS in an asymmetrical war against oppressive , tyrannical Magian overlords. Their Satanism is based in the concept that, being the ultimate enemy of God in the Abrahamic sense, their enemies would by extension be the chosen people of God. Their “end” goal – in quotations because no self-respecting Ubermensch would stop climbing upwards – would be the foundation of a galactic empire in their image, and the logical outward expansion which follows. Weißteufel, in a word, individuals of will and character for whom moral qualms mean nothing, whose loyalty is to their own and no other.

Still another is less concerned with NS as an objective, nor 18 as a semi-divine figure, and they are more concerned with the lessons which can be extracted therefrom. If one sets aside emotional responses and examines the figure of 18 and what was created by his efforts, one cannot help but be impressed with the achievements of the artist-turned-soldier-turned-Fuhrer. 18 had, by virtually every account, risen from relatively nothing and lived an eventful life before taking supreme control of his homeland, and by way of oratory which appealed to something very true, very essential, within the German people, changed a depressed, worn-torn nation into an economic and military powerhouse, and eventually, the most dire threat in the world to the presently established order. 18 to this sort is the archetypal dark wizard, a proper alchemist who turned leaden, post-World War hearts into the gold which is a vital and industrious nation, and were it not for their eventual defeat, humanity would stand astride the stars in a galactic Imperium. 18 embodied the kind of mastery of Acausal forces all should aspire to, manifesting something very real via tugging the threads of that which is only felt within a populace. In fact, any aspiring Magus, regardless of race or nationality, would do well to study his mythos and apply the Sinister wisdom which might be gleaned. A darkly-minded ethnic Jew who sets their emotions aside to study and apply the wizardry of 18 would be treading blasphemous ground indeed, and theirs would be the greater power if they saw it through to a meaningful conclusion.

As a final note, when I was exploring independent sources online for definitions and roots for the word “Fayen” I came across one English source which described it as coming from a term for “That which is doomed/fated to die” and another which was in French, translating to “Otherworldly”. It is my belief that both of these concepts are just as applicable as the commonly accepted “fire” and indeed, being of the latter camp, I find myself much more partial to that which is evoked by these alternate definitions, speaking as they do to my own personal mythos.

Empty Vessels

The Sinister Tradition has no shortage of mythos and esoteric formulae, indeed, part of its appeal is the richness of its lore – should one be able to get past the self-keeping gates and see for themselves. From a vivid and engaging take on the classical Tarot deck, often accompanied by the stellar works of Christos Beest, to a multidimensional ritual game which hones a certain intellectual aspect, to a series of Acausal forms corresponding to each of the aforementioned Tarot’s Major Arcana and regarded as “deities”, to its alchemical Sevenfold Way which is also tied directly to the Tarot and its deities… and that’s just the surface level material which is explicitly described, as exploration of these yields riddles to be solved and unwritten insights to be obtained. There is much to get lost in, and many have done exactly that. However, this material is not static dogma, and a greater part of the Sinister Tradition is what it evokes in one who immerses themselves.

The scent of Petrichor, for example, is something that stirs memories very unique to me. Because I knew the stench of geosmin long before I had even heard of anything explicitly Sinister, the lunar sphere is forever associated with solitary wandering through pine and fern – often through places deemed “off-limits” or “no trespassing” but these words are meaningless without enforcement – beneath a pleasantly dour sky, which seemed to me far preferable to the hateful sun and the inexplicable desperation it radiated. Rainfall evoked a cosy sort of melancholy, a moody contemplation which would only be sullied by the company of others. Mine was a cheerless state, but it was a sublime cheerlessness which seemed artful and intimate, heightened by the fact that only moss and blackberries, rotting leaves and detritus shared in wordless appreciation for the rain. When I play music in the associated mode, there is again the feeling of old, and there I am in that great pine cathedral of the Moon.

In addition to one’s personal experiences, one’s studies outside of Sinister material will have a considerable impact on their perception of various elements. One who has a background in mythology and folklore might look at the names of the 21 deities associated with the Sevenfold Way, and immediately draw parallels between the deity in question and the ancient culture it references, for example “Lidagon” might evoke for some the old gods of the fertile crescent, forever tinging that form with a certain Mesopotamian “flavour”, or perhaps they might see “Vindex” and recall, first and foremost, a principled statesman of old who understood his elevated position as one of duty and did not think to pursue selfish ends – a lofty, noble individual who seemed to care more for the people than himself, thus, “Vindex” is a self-sacrificing hero from this perspective, a strong, intelligent person who is willing to take on considerable odds for a perceived higher calling.

Naturally, those familiar with classic horror of the past century will look at the sigil of Nemicu and think of a certain ancient race, now all but extinct and the surviving members having degenerated considerably – the falls of old empires are among the most potent sources of wisdom.

Without having studied apparently unrelated subjects, one might have never seen these names or their associated mythos before approaching the Sinister, and so their perception is restricted entirely to the descriptions listed within various Sinister works, and it is when the puzzle is completed via study and experience that the full nature of the form in question will be accessible through far less mundane processes. One ventures into the Acausal by means of their Causal understanding.

On Iteration

There is a particular model, a simulation really, of the process of natural selection, wherein several entities are generated from a standard template, each one a slightly different variation. These instances of the primogenitor organism are then tasked with progression through an obstacle course, during which many of the derivative organisms find themselves unable to progress and so are removed from the algorithmic gene pool. The derivative organism which makes it the furthest through the obstacle course becomes primogenitor of the next generation, from which is spawned a new generation of organisms, and so the process carries on ad infinitum, with each generation varying wildly from the primogenitor.

The same principle of adaptation applies far beyond sterile imitations of natural processes, and it is particularly relevant in the case of the Sinister Tradition. Going against the proverbial grain in true Satanic fashion, the various texts of the Sinister tradition encourage a decentralised format, each adherent being expected to form a sub-tradition in the form of a local, in-the-flesh Nexion, isolated and independent from the rest – although networking is not out of the question. Each of these Nexions can be thought of as a derivative organism from the primogenitor – Nexion zero in West England – and like the aforementioned model, it is mutated in some way, possessing qualities unique to it and perhaps contrary to its peers. Most certainly, it is distinct from its forebears as it very well should be – the environment is radically different than what Nexion zero experienced, several elements which were then either in their infancy or wholly nonexistent now being commonplace, and that which was “dark” has now become wholly unimpressive to blasé observers.

What was rapturously blasphemous in the time and place of Anton Long might not be as potent a form in the culture where a modern Nexion might open. For example, “Satan” is now a popular culture icon to be bought and sold for one’s amusement, whereas in days past, Nazarene-dominated society blanched at the merest idea of their spiritual arch-enemy. In more recent times, the mantle of “Satan” was taken on by Adolf Hitler, and by extension the NSDAP, and so Sinister individuals would recognise Hitler as the manifestation of that which was “Sinister” and the highest blasphemy of the times – an icon of worship and reverence not just because of the specifics of his career (which, like much history, might very well be distorted), but because of the essence behind the form, being a representative of that formless darkness beneath/beyond the Id, the black earth in which Yggdrasil is rooted, etc. As Western culture slowly becomes desensitized to the idea of Nazism and affiliated material, being more the stuff of uneasy laughter than genuine horror, it is prudent for existing Nexions, and those emerging, to be aware of their changing environment and always be on the cutting edge of darkness. Certainly, a universal trait is and will always be that of lawlessness and rugged individuality even unto death, but the specifics and precise form are heavily dependent on the prevailing zeitgeist.

Where is Satan now, and in what form?