AnIntroductiontoChaosMagick

byAdrianSavage
ChaostheabsenceofformandorderaboveallotherwordschaoshauntsWesternman.It
fillshismindwithvisionsofseasrunningintorivers,mengivingbirthtofrogs,fishflyingthrough
grassyclouds.Itistheunnamedheartofeveryhorrorstorytheunexpected,theunpredictable,
theuncontrollable,thelawlesschaos.
Fromtheverybeginningofhishistory,Westernmanhassoughttodefeatthismostrelentlessof
enemieschaos.Hehassearchedforwordsandgesturestotamethechaotic,arbitrarywillsof
hisearliestGods.Hehascreatedtheimageofanallpowerfuldeitywhonotonlybroughtorder
outofnothingnessbutistheessenceofthelaw.Hehaschoseninnumerabletyrannies,
preferringthelossofhisverysoultothesightofdogsrunningwildinhisstreets.Hehas
examinedtheworldaroundhim,hopingtofindinflexiblelaws.Hehasalmostdestroyedthe
originalconditionsofhisplanettheveryprocessesthatmakehislifepossibleinorderto
controleveryfacetofhisexistence,oftensacrificinghisdeepestinstinctsonthealtarofhis
needforstability.Andwherehecouldneitherfindnorimposeorder,hehasdevisedmyths,
dogmas,convolutedphilosophicalspeculations,occultformulaeandsterilescientifictheories,
murderinganyonewhodaredquestionthesefanciesalltodenytheterrorhefeelswhenfaced
withwhathecannotunderstand.
Fromthedarkestpasttothisverysecond,hisimageofthewiseonehasbeenofsomeonewho
knewthesecretlawhiddenbeneaththeseeminglyarbitraryworldaroundhim.Hisvisionofthe
magicianhasbeenofsomeonewhocouldexploitthatlawtobendtohiswilltheeverchanging
eventoflife.
Yet,beginninginthelateSixtiesandcontinuingintothepresent,voicesfromEnglandthat
leastchaoticofcountries,homeofmanicuredgardens,teaatfour,andaclasssystemthatfixes
eachperson'splacewiththeirfirstbreathhaveproclaimedchaostheonlyreality,thetrue
sourceofallMagick.Angry,andattimesshrill,theyscreamdenunciationsatthosewho
proclaimthequestfordivineorder.Theyworshipthatmostancientenemychaos.
Tounderstandthisrebellion.wemustfirstexplorethetraditionsthatspawnedit.Sinceinawork
ofthisscopewecannotexaminetheentirebodyofoccultthoughweshallhavetolimit
ourselvestothosestreamsmostrelevanttoChaosMagick.
Let'sbegininMedievalEurope.Itwasduringthisperiodthatthreebranchesofoccultism
developedthatstillinfluenceWesternmagicalthoughttothisdayWicca,Satanism,and
CeremonialMagick.
Ofthethree,Satanismistheeasiesttodiscussanddismiss.BecauseoftheChurch's
continuousinterestinthesubject,Satanismisthemostcarefullyrecordedandbestresearched
ofthethreebranches.Itsbasicconceptsarealsothesimplest:thecompletereversalof
Christianbeliefs.TheSatanistperformstheLatinMassbackwards,mockingit.Heextolsgreed

insteadofcharity,revengeinsteadofforgiveness.JustastheChristianviewsChristasa
personalsaviorwhowillrewardalifetimeofserviledeprivationwithaneternityofblissafter
death,theSatanistseestheDevilwhom,bytheway,theChristianidentifiesastheenemyof
divineorder,ChaosIncarnateasapersonalsaviorwhowillrewardhimwithearthlypowerand
richesforrapinghisneighbor'swife.Inbothcases,theobjectofworshipisviewedasan
externalmasterwhosewillmustbeobeyed.UnlikeWiccaandCeremonialMagick,Satanism
seemstohavechangedlittlesincethedayofitsbirth.Fromthebeginningtothepresent,its
strongestcurrenthasbeenacryagainsttheunnaturalsexualmoralityadvocatedby
Christianity.IntheMiddleAges,itmighthavebeenanextremeandratherdangerousformof
therapyforsexualhangups.Inthesucceedingages,itseemsanexcusetopartyand,perhaps,
awayofgainingthelessphysicallyattractiveagreaternumberofsexpartners.Assoonasthe
Churchstoppedburningitsadvocates,Satanismhasbeenaposetoshockthemoresocially
conventional.Thisisespeciallytruetoday,whenSatanismisthesloganofanumberofrock
bandsadevicebywhichtooffendtheparentsofpimplyfacedadolescents,stiruptheir
alreadyoveractivehormones,andaddtheillusionofsubstancetoshriekingwailsandinfernal
noise.
UnlikeSatanism,untilrecentlyCeremonialMagickhasnotpresenteditselfasarebellion
againstChristianity.Ceremonialistshad,infact,beencarefultoavoidanythingtheChurch
wouldconsiderheretical.Oftentheyweredevoutmenwhofelttheywereexploringthedeeper
mysteriesoftheChristianfaith.Inhisrituals,heinvokedtheprotectionoftheGodoftheJews
andtheChristiansandtheaidofthearchangelsandangelsoftheJudeoChristianpantheon.If
hehadtoevokedemons,hedidsointhenameoftheLordandheonlycalleduponthosedevils
hisGodhadboundtotheserviceofmankind.HewasneverpersecutedbytheChurch.There
wasandisastrongclassandsexbiaswithinCeremonialMagickitspractitionershave
traditionallybeenaristocraticmen.Thisbiaspermeatedtheentirefield.Itsritualswere
addressedtomaleentitiestheywerelong,practicalonlybythosewithagreatdealofleisure
theywereofteninGreekandLatinandinvolvedknowledgeofgeometryandmathematics,all
hallmarksofthelearnedclassanditrequiredlavishrobesandtoolswhichonlytherichcould
afford.Mostindicativeofitsclassbiaswasitscuriouslyscientificorientation.Likeascientist,the
Ceremonialistbelievedthedesiredeffectcouldonlybeattainedbyusingthepropertoolsinthe
properprocedureanydeviationbroughtcertainfailure.Likethescientistwhichheoftenwas,
bythewaytheCeremonialistsoughtknowledge.Havinglittlematerialneed,heoftensought
thesecretsofthevisibleandinvisibleuniversepurelyfortheknowing.Thoughthe
Ceremonialistmostoftenworkedalone,heusuallylearnedhisartinalodgemovingup
throughitsranks,guardingthesecretteachingsofhisownstation,whileslavishlyobeyinghis
superiorsinhopesofeventualpromotion.Thelodge'shierarchicalstructureparalleledthe
Ceremonialist'sviewoftheuniverse,everyrankrepresentingaclearlydefinedplanethathehad
thoroughlyexaminedandmastered.
Thoughithasretainedmuchofthisbiasthelodges,theexpensiveequipment,thehierarchical
viewoftheuniverseunlikeSatanism,CeremonialMagickhasevolvedandchanged.The
agentsofthesechangesweretheHermeticOrderoftheGoldenDawnanditsbestknown
memberAleisterCrowley.Thefirstchangecameinrelationtothebeingsaddressed.While
retainingtheJudeoChristianhosts,theGoldenDawnalsoaddressedgodsfromtheEgyptian

andGrecoRomanpantheons,oftendressinginrobesandheadgearsuggestiveofthedeities
invoked.AfterCrowleywentonhisown,hecontinuedtoaddresstheoldgods.Furthermore,he
deniedtheexistenceofanallpowerfulgodheadatthetopoftheuniversalhierarchy.He
proclaimedthegoaloftheMagiciantobe"theattainmentoftheknowledgeandconversationof
theHolyGuardianAngel,"thefulfillmentofhis"truewill,"andtherealizationofhisowndivinity.
AlthoughsomeMagicianswereinfluencedbytheworkofCarlJung,whoconsideredallgodsto
bearchtypicalimagesprojectedbyacollectiveunconscious,andbyEasternphilosophies,
whichweshalltouchonlaterotherswerebeginningtotakeamorepsychologicallyoriented
approachtotheirwork.ThereislittledoubtthatCrowleybelievedtheHolyGuardianAngeltobe
anentityexternaltooneself,oneofanumberofintelligencesoperatingfromotherdimensions
ofexistence.ToCrowley,therealizationoftheMagician'sdivinitydidnotmeanhisabsorption
intotheabsoluteitmeantthefulfillmentofhisindividuallineofevolution.Tirelessly,Crowley
workedwritingnewritualsinEnglish,foundingtheAstrumArgentumandrestructuringthe
OrdoTemplisOrientalis,adaptingOrientalconcepts,synthesizingthevariousmagicaltraditions
Greek,Egyptian,Hermetic,Cabalistic,andMasonicintoanewsystem,whichhepublicized
inendlessbooks.AsidefrombringingMagickbackintothepubliceye,Crowley'sgreatest
contributionwashisforthrightadmissionofthetruesourceofMagicalPowersexualenergy.
Havingopenlyproclaimedthesecret,hereveledinthenotorietythatfollowedacknowledging
hisuseofdrugsandorgiasticindulgencetofacilitateentryintoalteredstatesofconsciousness,
espousingThelema,aphilosophyofabsolutepersonalfreedom(orlicenseashiscritics
charged)andstylinghimself"TheBeast666,"Crowleywentoutofhiswaytoshock.Inso
doing,heopenedhimselftoneedlessmisunderstandingsand,inmanyquarters,wasbrandeda
Blackpractitioner.Inspiteofhisevilreputation,anddespitetheexistenceofmoretraditional
JudeoChristianorientedideasnotablythoseofDionFortuneandIsraelRegardie,both
CabalistsCrowleyiswidelyconsideredthefountainfromwhichflowsallmodernCeremonial
Magick.
Wicca,thethirdbranch,isperhapsthehardesttowriteabout.Withoutlendingunduecredence
toitsMedievalpersecutors,whoassociateditwithSatanism,theworksofMargaretMurray,
whoconsideredthereligionofprehistoricman,andthemostlyselfglorifying"traditions"ofits
modernadherents,almostnothingcanbesaidofitspast.Afewthings,however,seemsreadily
apparentthemostimportantofwhichis,thatineverywaytheWiccanstoodincontrasttothe
CeremonialMagician.Firstandforemost,theWiccanpracticedareligionopposedto
Christianity,doubtlessacontinuationofancientlocalbeliefs,thoughwhatthesebeliefswereis
hardtosaywithcertainty.ItwasbecauseoftheirrejectionofChristthatWiccanswere
murderedbytheChurch.InanagewhereChurchandstatewereone,religioustolerancewas
consideredthegatewaytoanarchy.WheretheMedievalCeremonialistwasanaristocraticman
ofthecity,theWiccanwasalwaysapeasantandmostoftenawomanwheretheCeremonialist
practicedalone,performingcomplicatedritualsinLatinandGreek,summoningAngelsand
Demonstoteachhimthemysteriesoftheuniverse,theWiccancommonlycelebratedthe
phenomenaofthechangingseasons,chantingsimplerhymesinordertosecureabetter
harvestoramate.TheCeremonialistpracticedthemystic"Art,"theWiccanpracticed"The
Craft."Muchofthesedifferencescontinuetothisday.ThemodernWiccanstillworkswithina
covenand,thoughhemayliveinanurbanapartmentandhavenoknowledgeofagriculture,he

stillcelebratestheprecessionoftheseasons,chantinginrhymeforwhateverhemayneed.
WheremodernWiccadiffersfromitsMedievalrootsisdifficulttosayhereditaryWitches,
descendantsofWiccanswhosurvivedthe"BurningTimes,"areincrediblysecretiveaboutthe
beliefsandpracticesthattheyhaveinheritedfromtheirancestors.Eveniftheywerenot,it
wouldbeimpossibletotellhowmuchtheoriginalideasweredistorted,addedto,andsubtracted
fromastheywerehandeddownfromgenerationtogeneration.Therefore,itisalsoimpossible
totellhowmuchGeraldGardnerthefatherofmodernWiccapreservedfromthepastand
howmuch,despitehisclaimstothecontrary,heactuallycreated.Whateverthecasemightbe,
justasmostmodernCeremonialMagickflowsfromCrowley,modernWiccaderivesfrom
Gardner.AlthoughagriculturalsymbolismaboundsinGardnersritualsand,byextension,those
ofmostmodernWiccans,muchofitseemssomuchlikerhymedandsimplifiedversionsof
CeremonialistritesthatrumorassignstheirtrueauthorshiptoGardner'sgoodfriend,Aleister
Crowley.IncontrasttoCeremonialism,however,whatdistinguishesmodernWiccaisits
relentlessfeminism.WiccansworshipadualgodheadaGod,oftenidentifiedwiththeSun,
Mars,Pan,orHorus,andaGoddess,oftenidentifiedwiththeMoon,theEarth,Venus,orIsis.
Inallguises,theGoddessisconsidereddominant.ShegivesbirthtotheGod,whoisbothson
andconsort.Sheisconsideredeternal,whiletheGodsufferscontinuousdeathandrebirth,
symbolizedbytheprocessionoftheseasons.ThephasesoftheLunarGoddesswaxing,full,
andwaningareidentifiedwiththethreephasesofawoman'ssexuallifecyclemaiden,
mother,crone.Thebasicideasareelaborateduponinavarietyofways.Womenarealways
consideredwiser,morepsychicallypowerful,andspirituallydevelopedthanmenand,while
WiccanritualsareperformedbyaPriestandaPriestess,thePriestessisalwaystheabsolute
authority.ThePriestisalwaysherservant.Anobserverwellversedinpsychologymightdetect
inWiccanritualsasubtleformoffemalesadismandmalemasochism.ManyWiccansadvocate
Matriarchyasocialsysteminwhichwomenholdultimatepoliticalpower.Unlikethe
Ceremonialists,whotendstotimehisritualsaccordingtointricateastrologicalcalculations,the
WiccanperformsherMagicktothephasesofthemoonworksofexpansionarebegunduring
thenew,andculminateduringthefullmoonworksofconstrictionaredoneinreverse.
IdentifyingtheEarthwiththeGoddessandseekingtokeepclosetoitsagriculturalroots,
modernWiccaiskeenlyinterestedinEcology.Wiccatodayishighlyimageconscious,always
downplayingitspopularassociationwithcursesandorgies.Muchworkisdoneforpsychic
healing.It'sfeminismandconcernforpublicopiniongivesitauniqueattitudetowardssexon
theotherhand,itsallegedderivationfromancientfertilitycultsanditsfeministfocuson
women'ssexualityforceittoacknowledgesexasasourceofMagickalpowerontheother
hand,itsregardforappearancesmakesitchampionmonogamy.Theperfectcovenis
comprisedofloving,deeplycommittedcouples.NoCrowleyiteorgies,please.Inregardstothe
GodandGoddess,mostWiccansareunclearastowhethertheyaretobeconsideredasthe
maleandfemaleaspectsofasingledeity,orastwodistinctentities.ThoughtheWiccanGrace
hasalinestatingthattheGoddessistobefoundwithinoneself,mostWiccanstreatherasan
externalbeing.BeginningwithAlexSanders,manyhavebrokenawayfromGardnerianism,
formingendlessoffshoots,almostallofwhichhaveretainedtheFeministemphasis.Modern
WiccacouldbecalledthereligionoftheWomen'sLiberationMovement.

ThethreestreamsofWesternOccultismdescribedabovecanbeconsideredtheorthodoxyfrom
whichChaosMagickderivesandagainstwhichitrebels.BeforewecanexploreChaosMagick
morefully,wemustpausebrieflytoexaminefourothertendsthathaveinfluenceditdeeply:
Jungianism,Parapsychology,Physics,andEasternPhilosophy.
OfCarlJung'swork,weneedsaylittle,exceptthathistheoryofarchetypesuniversalimages
thatsymbolizehumanexperiencesandaspectsofthehumanmindhasdefinitelydetermined
ChaosMagick'sviewofallGods.ThoughmostChaospractitionersmightconsiderscienceas
justanothersystem,theycannothelpbutbeinfluencedbyparapsychologicalresearch,which
suggeststhatpsychicabilitymaybeafunctionofthehumanmindmakingpossibletheideaof
Magickalpowerwithoutdisembodiedassistance.QuantumPhysics,withitsindeterminateand
oftentheoreticalparticles,mustfindacozycornerinhisheart.ButEasterphilosophyishis
biggestsource,andwecannotunderstandhisspecialdefinitionofChaosthecornerstoneof
hisideasandhowitdiffersfromthetraditional,WesternviewwithoutunderstandingAsian
thought.
Whatevertheirsuperficialdifferencesinterminologyandpracticalapproach,thethreegreat
streamsofEasternphilosophyHinduism,BuddhismandTaoismareunitedinproclaiming
thattheUniverseisonevast,everchangingwhole,beyondallconcepts,categories,and
definitions.TheHinducallsitBrahman,andhisgods,likethetheoreticalparticlesofQuantum
Physics,aremerelysymbolsofitscosmologicalaspects.TotheBuddhist,itistheVoidthat
beyondalldesignationanddescriptionandhispantheonofBuddhasandBodhisattvasare,
likeJung'sarchetypes,symbolsofpsychologicalstates.TheTaoistsimplycallsittheTao,the
Way.Furthermore,theyagreethatman'sinnernaturewhichtheHinducalls"Atman,"the
Buddhist"nosoul,"andtheTaoist"NonSelf"isidenticalwiththatoftheuniverse.Inallthree
religionstoexistentiallyknowthesetwothingsisconsideredEnlightenmentliberationfrom
viewsandopinions,allofwhichcanonlybefalsehood,bondage,andillusion.
HereliesthedifferencebetweenthetraditionalandtheChaospractitioner'sdefinitionofthat
fearfulwordChaos.TotheChaospractitioner,Chaosisnottheabsenceoforder,butto
paraphraseHenryMilleranorderbeyondunderstanding.ItisanalogoustotheHindu's
Brahman,theBuddhist'sVoid,theTaoist'sTao,andtheAncientAngloSaxon'sWyrd.Itis
constantlychangingitcanbeexperienced,butisbeyondintellectualcategorization.Orderis,
atbest,theaspectofindescribablerealitythatoursensoryequipmentpermitsustoperceive
thebeeseestheflowerdifferentlythanahumanbeing.Atworst,Orderissimplyanillusionary
patternprojectedbyourprejudices.ToAlbertEinstein'sclaimthatGoddoesnotplaydicewith
theUniverse,theChaospractitionermightanswerthattheuniverseisgodifonehastouse
suchanemotionallyloadedwordandHe'stheonlythingHecaneverplaywith.Sincehe
believesthatrealityisultimatelyindescribable,herenouncesalldogma,takingideasand
practicesfromeverywhere,combiningthemassuitsthesituation,droppingthemwhentheyno
longerapply.Inanunknowableuniversenobeliefisvalidyeteverybeliefisvalidsolongas
thebelieverrecognizesitasatool,anecessaryillusion,andsolongasitcontinuestoworkfor
him.
TheentirepatternofChaosMagickcanbereadilyseenataquickglanceatthethoughtsofthe
manitspractitionersconsideritsfatherAustinOsmanSpare.OnceamemberoftheGolden
DawnandanassociateofCrowley'suntildisagreementseveredtheirrelationship,Spare

ceaselesslydenouncedreligion,science,andCeremonialMagick.Hisattacksonallthreewere
foundeduponthesamepremise:inauniversethatdefiesdescription,allsystemsofbeliefcan
onlybefalse.SincemanispartoftheuniverseandthereforealreadyGod,allreligioncanoffer
himisfalseidolsthatkeepshimfromsensinghistruedivinity.Fromtheveryfirst,Sparesaw
thatscienceisitselfaformofreligion,anattempttonametheunnamable,asystemof
categoriesthatdismissesanythingitcannotcontain.CeremonialMagick,heconsideredan
overlycomplicatedwasteoftimeperpetrateduponthegulliblebygreedycharlatansthat
keepsmanfromdiscoveringhistruesourceofpower,whichiswithinhimself.Sparepreached
theneedforabsolutesimplicityinallmagickalworkingsand,insteadofprayerandritual,he
consideredastheultimateMagicktechniquethecreationofandmeditationupontheSigila
personaldesignofstylizedlettersexpressingadesireyetconcealingitfromtheconscious
mind.SigilshavetraditionallybeenthedesignonMagicktalismans,butSpareassertedthat
theirpowerwasnotintrinsictothelinesandfiguresofthedesigntheirpowercamefromtheir
effectuponthedeepestlayersoftheunconsciousmind.Therefore,onehadtocreateone'sown
design,whichhadtobesimpleenoughtobeeasilyvisualizedandcomplexenoughforthe
consciousmindtoforgetitsoriginalmeaning.
InhisworkonSigilization,weseetheEasterninfluenceonSpare'sideas.ThoughtheSigilisto
becreatedundertheinfluenceofadesperatedesire,andistobevisualizedandmeditated
uponwhiletheobsessionpersists,itcanhavenoMagicaleffectuntilonehasexhaustedthe
desire,forgottenthemeaningoftheSigil,andbecomecompletelyindifferenttothedesireand
thesymbolthatrepresentsit.ToSpare,meditationmeanttoholdtheSigilinthemind'seyeuntil
itgraduallyexcludedallotherthoughtsandthenfadedfromconsciousness,leavingthemind
vacuousthepolaroppositetofixingone'sminduponasymbol,ponderingitsmeaning,fighting
offallotherideas,andfocusingallofone'sconcentratedwilluponitsrealization.Anyonewith
evenasuperficialknowledgeoftheHinduorBuddhisttantrawillrecognizethisasthepractice
oftheTantrika,whoperformsidenticalvisualizationsuponYantrasgeometricdesigns
representingcosmicandpsychologicalforces,YantrasarethebasicpatternsbehindMandalas
andconsidersthefulfillmentofadesireasasteptowardsdetachmentfromalldesires.
Asifthatwerenotenough,Spare'sconceptoftheuniverseseemslikeAsianideasrephrased.
Theabsolute,hecalledKiaawordthathasnomeaninginanyWesternlanguageand
resemblestheJapaneseword"ki,"whichmeansthevitalbreathbehindalllife.Notehowclosely
Spare'swordsechothoseofLaoTzu.Spare:"Ofname,ithasnoneed,todesignate,IcallitKia
...theKiawhichcanbeexpressedinconceivableideasisnottheeternalKia."LaoTzu:"The
TaothatcanbesaidisnottheTao...Ofitself,ithasnoname...forlackofabetterword,I
callit"TheTao."TheKiawhichcouldjustaseasilybecalledChaosisbeyonddescription,a
completewhole,withoutdivisibleparts,aninconceivablezero.Yetitmanifestsitselfinapparent
dualitiesmaleandfemale,lightanddarkness,birthanddeath.InSpare'sformula,from
nothingcomestwo.Butthepolesofeachdualityarenotabsoluteuntoitselfeachislikeanarm
linkedtogetherbyatorso,whichinthiscasecannotbedescribed.Thedualitiesalwaysarise
together.Joyemergeswithanguish,faithwithdoubt.Therefore,themindcannotavoidconflict
andcontradiction.Spare'ssolutionisnottochoosebetweenopposingurgesbuttoobserve
themsimultaneouslyastateofmindwhichfixesitsconsciousness,forexample,upondawn
anddusk,twilighthoursthatareneitherdaynornight."NeitherNeither"atoncerecallsthe

Hindu"NetiNeti,"notthis/notthat,Nargajuna'sdialecticalnegationswherebynothingcanbe
saidtoexistornottoexist,thenonchoosingoftheTaoisthermit,andthenondiscriminating
awarenessoftheZenMaster.Healsourgesthattheegorestsinastateofselflovewhichis
nottobeconfusedwithnarcissismastatewhereinitishappilyabsorbedinthejoyofitsown
existenceanddoesnothavetheneedtocontinuouslyaggrandizeitselfbyendlessconquest
andacquisition.AstheUpanishadssay:"LettheSelffindrefugeintheSelf."
DuringhislifetimeSpareabrilliantartist,whoproducedaseriesofstrikingautomaticdrawings
neverreceivedtheattentionthatwasgivenhisformerassociate,Crowley.Whatlittlenotice
camehiswaywasmostlybad.Artcriticshatedhisworkandmanyoccultists,includingCrowley,
consideredhimaBlackMagician.Hisideaswhichhecommunicatedinshortbooks,writtenin
anexhortatory,denunciatory,declamatorystylereminiscentof"ThusSpokeZarathrusta"have
onlyrecentlybeengiventheconsiderationtheydeserve.
Perhapsitisthehighestcomplimenttoamanwhohateddoctrinethatthoseresponsibleforthe
rediscoveryofhisworkdonottakehimasanabsoluteauthority.WhileRaySherwin,Julian
Wilde,and"TheCircleofChaos"maypraiseSpare'swork,theyconsiderhimapointof
departure,aninfluenceonanforerunneroftheirownendeavors.Unlikethefollowersof
Crowley,theyhavenotturnedSpareintoaGoldenAss.Spare'sdiscipleshowtheywould
probablyhatethattermdifferfromhimasmuchastheydifferfromeachother.Themajor
differenceisthatSpare'ssuccessors,whilecriticalofit,donotrejectritualoutofhand.
BeforewegointoapointbypointexaminationofhowChaosMagickdiffersfromconventional
occultism,abriefreviewoftheworkofthepractitionerswhohavebecomeknowninAmerica
wouldbehelpful.
Ofthe"CircleofChaos,wecansayverylittle.Theyareaneclecticcollectionofdiverse
occultistswhocametogetherinthemiddleSixtiespartlyinreactionagainstthegrowing
sectarianismandcommercialismwithintheoccultworld.Theyhavecreatedasetofrituals
weavingdifferentstrandsfromthetraditionsoftheirvariousmembers.Sofar,theyhave
publishedonlyonebook,"TheRitesofChaos,"copywrittenunderthename"PaulaPagani."Itis
acollectionofseasonalrituals,rhymedcelebrationsofthetraditionalWiccanholidays.Originally
knownas"TheCircleoftheWyrd,"the"CircleofChaos"isbasicallyWiccaninstyle,ifnot
completelyinsubstance.
Inthetruestsense,thesamecannottrulybesaidofJulianWilde.Heconsidershimselfa
ShamanisticTantricWiccanandiseverybitaseclecticasthatdesignationimplies.Byhisown
account,hehasstudiedWicca,Cabala,Shamanism,ZenandTibetanTantricBuddhism,has
usedsexanddrugsandRockn'Rollasaidstoachievingtrance,andhasbeeninfluencedby
thewritingsofCarlosCastenadaandMichaelMoorcock.His"GrimoireofChaosMagick"a
fragmentofhispersonalBookofShadowswhichhehashadpublishedasacollectionof
suggestionstolikemindedsoulsisaslim,yetextraordinarybook.Hiswritingstyleiseven
fiercerandmoredenunciatorythanSpare's.Hisinvocationsarefreeverses,fullofstriking
imagesconveyedinabarbaricyetmajesticlanguagebetweentheirlinesoneglimpsesaman
whohassurvivedalmosteverykindofpersonalcatastrophe.Asiftoprovethesincerityofhis
commitmenttoeclecticism,hisbookcontainsbothabitterattackonandaritualbyAleister
Crowley.WildeisthefounderoftheChurchofKa'atas,anentitythatdoesnotexistinthelegal

senseofthewordandisjustanameforthosewhomoreorlesssharehisviews.Heistruly,as
hedescribeshimself,aChaosWarrior.
RaySherwinisperhapsthemostconventionaloftheChaospractitioners.Asamemberofthe
I.O.T.anEnglishlodgethatbrokeawayfromtheO.T.O.heisaCeremonialMagician.Unlike
SpareandWilde,hisbooksarewritteninacalm,analyticalstyle,systematicallyexploringpoints
ofpracticalconcerntotheMagician.ApointworthnotingisthattheI.O.T.unlikeotherChaos
practitionersconsidersChaosasoneendofaduality,theotherendbeingCosmos/Order.
Sherwindoesnotseemtofullysubscribetothisview,buthedoesnotcompletelyrefuteit,
takingastanceofmaybe/maybenot.
HavinggottenageneralviewofChaosMagick,nowweshalltakeapointbypointlookathow
itspractitionersdifferfromorthodoxoccultismandfromeachother.Unfortunately,weshallhave
tolimitmostofthisdiscussiontotheviewsofSpare,Wilde,andSherwin,since"TheCircleof
Chaos"hasonlypublishedtheirseasonalrituals.
SourceofPower:WhattheMagicianconsidersthesourceofhispowerdeterminestherestof
hispractice.Obviously,theSatanistbelievesthathispowerisagiftfromhismaster,theDevil.
TheCeremonialistbelievesthathispowerderives,throughaseriesofastralentities,ultimately
fromtheLordofHosts,themosthighGodaCrowleyitewouldsaythatonlytheastralbeings
existandgivepower.AndtheWiccanplaceshistrustintheGoddess,theGod,andthe
elementals.ButalloftheChaospractitionersagreedthatasyetundiscoveredenergieswithin
thehumansubconsciousarethetruesourceofMagick.TheysharethisviewwithEastern
philosophy,parapsychology,andsuchmoderntheoristsofMagickasIsaacBonewitz.
PreparatoryExercises:MostMagicaltraditionscontainabodyofexercisesdesignedtoopen
thenovicetoMagicalinfluences,whichmustbemasteredbeforehe'sallowedtoprogressto
ritualwork.Doubtless,themodernSatanistconsidersafeworgiesandacoupleofhundred
poundsofthestrongestgrasshecanbuysufficienttothetask.BothmodernWiccansand
Ceremonialistsconcentrateonastralprojectionandonvisualizationusuallyonthetattwasand
theMajorArcanaoftheTarot.Spare,ontheotherhand,placesalltheemphasisonthedeath
postureinwhichonetotallyrelaxesone'sbodyandkeepsone'smindasblankaspossiblefor
aslongaspossible,apracticeusefulindevelopingtheneither/neitherstateofmind.AndWilde
hascreatedawholenewsetofexercises.Themostinterestingoftheseisameditation,based
onTibetanTantra,inwhichonevisualizesone'sbodymeltingdowncompletelythenrebuilding
itselffromnothing,andanothermeditationinwhichonevisualizesthechakraspsychiccenters
arrangedoneatoptheotheronthespine,ayogicconceptasmodernroomsconnectedbya
spiralstaircase.Truetoform,Wildesaysthatonedoesnothavetobelieveintheliteral
existenceofthechakras.Thenoteworthyaspectofalltheseexercisesisthattheyattemptto
putthepractitionerintouchwithhisdeeperselfnotwithexternalentitiesandplanes.
Divination:Usually,thenextstepinthenovice'strainingislearningvariousmethodsof
forecastingcomingevents.WiccanstendtoconcentrateontheMagickMirror,thecrystalball,
andoccasionallyonreadingthepatternsoftealeavesandthelike.BothCeremonialistsand
WiccansplacegreatstorebytheTarot.Inrecentyears,theIChingandtheRuneshave
becomepopular,andinsomequarterstheOuijaboardisexperiencingarevival.Medieval
occultiststhoughtthatdivinatorymethodswerechannelsthroughwhichtheGods,DemiAngels,
andspiritscommunicatewithmen.EvenCrowleybelievedthattheiroperationsdependedupon

astralintelligences.Thoughtherearestillthosewhoholdtotheolderview,mostmodern
practitionersviewdivinatorydevicesasmeanstofocustheconsciousmind,allowingthe
subconscioustopresentitsknowledgeofthefuture.AllChaospractitionersagreewiththe
modernview.Wildetakesitastepfurtherbysuggestingthatpalmistryandastrology,which
mostoccultistsseeasobjective"sciences,"arealsofocusingdevices.ToWildewhohas
designedhisownversionoftheMajorArcanaoftheTarotforhisprivateusethearrangement
ofplanetsonahoroscopeorlinesonapalmprobablyhavenomeaningotherthanwhatthey
suggesttotheinterpreter'spsychicfaculties.
Initiation:Inallocculttraditions,bothWesternandEastern,initiationisconsideredthedeathof
theoldbeingandthesimultaneousbirthoftheMagickalPerson.Usually,itisthoughthat
Magickalpowerisconferredeitherbyadisembodiedentityor,intheEasterntradition,bythe
teacherupontheinitiateduringtheceremony.Chaospractitionershaveamorecomplexview
oftheprocess.ToSpare,initiationwasasmuchofafarceasanyotherceremony.Sherwinand
Wildeagreethatinanofitselfinitiationmeansnothingmorethanacceptanceintoaparticular
groupofpractitioners.WildetakestheShamanisticviewthatrealinitiationisaproductofsevere
personalcrisiscaughtinasituationfromwhichthereisnonormalavenue,ofescape,the
Individualspontaneouslysummonsuppreviouslyunsuspectedpowerfromhissubconscious.
WhileagreeingwithWilde'sview,Sherwinbelievesthatitistheresponsibilityoftheinitiating
grouptoartificiallyproduceacontrolledcrisisintheinitiateapracticeemployedbytheancient
mysteryschoolsofEgypt,Greece,andRome,andtheMasonicorders.
RitualandCeremony:TraditionalpractitionersofMagickhaveseenritualasaperformancethat
pleasedtheGodssomuchthattheywouldgranttheperformer'srequestasakindofrewiringof
cosmiccircuitrytowardsaspecificgoal.Gettingeverydetailoftheceremonyhasalwaysbeen
consideredofutmostimportancetothesuccessoftheoperationonemistakemeantfailure.
ModernWicca,however,acknowledgesthatintentdeterminestheeffectivenessoftheritemore
thanperfectionofitsform.ChaosMagickagreeswithmodernWiccaandagaingoesquitea
fewstepsfurther.BothWildeandSherwinviewritualasaformoftheater,designedtoarouse
theperformer'semotiontoafeverpitchandthendischargeitoutwardsacatharsisthatleaves
themagiciandrainedoftheobsessionandputshismindinSpare'sdetached"neither/neither"
state.TheybelievethatMagickcannotdoitsworksolongasthemagicianconsciouslywishes
theoperationtosucceed.Inordertogethiswish,itmustnolongerbehiswish.Unlikethe
varioustraditionsofCeremonialistsandWiccans,allofwhichemployspecificmethodsof
castingaCircle,eachofthemclaimingthattheirwayistheonlyrightoneWilde,Sherwin,and
theCircleofChaosadvisethepractitionertocasthis/herCircleanywaytheywant.While
traditionalmagiciansofallpersuasionsdemandthatritualsdoneforspecificgoalsmustbe
performedwiththeappropriateincenses,oils,andcoloredcandles,Wildesuggestsusingthe
mostmindblowingincensesandthemostgarishlycoloredcandlesonecanfindforallrituals.
HealsosuggestsvisualizingvariousanimalsastheGuardiansoftheCircle,insteadofthe
traditionalLordsoftheElements.Sherwinsuggestsvisualizingeitherbeingsfromouterspace,
garbedinappropriate"Bmovie"costumes,ornakedsexobjectsatthefourwatchtowers.
Believingthatthesourceofpowerlieswithinthepractitioner,WildesuggeststhattheMagician
arouseher/hisanger,hatred,sadness,griefand,mostespecially,lustsuggestingthatbefore
theritualoneeithermasturbateorhavesomebodyfellateone,stoppingbeforeorgasm,saving

sexualreleaseuntilthehighpointoftherite.Hebelievesthatpetitionaryprayerstothegods
shouldbecomposedspontaneouslyattheritual'shighpoint.Sherwin,forhispart,refutesthe
theorythatspecificritualsshouldbedoneatspecifictimes,reasoningthatnot~1peopleare
observablyaffectedbythephasesofthemoonandthatthetablesassigningcertaindaysand
hourstocertainplanetsweredrawnupbeforethediscoveryofNeptune,UranusandPlutoand
arethereforeinvalid.Thebesttimetoperformaritualiswhentheneedandopportunitypresent
themselves.
TheGodsofChaos:BecauseChaospractitionersconsidertheirgodsasprojectionsoftheir
ownminds,theirattitudetowardsthemiseclecticandorthodoxMagicianswouldsay
irreverent.WildesGrimoirelistsapotpourriofdivinitiesfromahodgepodgeofpantheons.He
saysthatGodscanbeadaptedfromthewordsofwriterssuchasTolkein,andfurtherstates
thatanyGodwhodoesn'tprovideaminimumofserviceshouldbeforgotten.Ingeneral,Chaos
practitionersprefertoconcentrateonrecentlyrediscoveredornewlycreateddeities.Amongthe
rediscovered,somefavoritesareBaphomet,anandrogynoushornedgodwho,inthe12th
century,theKnightsTemplarusedasaCabalisticsymbol,waswrittenaboutinthel9thcentury
byEliphasLevi,andisconsideredbyWildeasthesumtotalofalluniversalforcesandthe
personificationofactiveChaos.AnotherfavoriteisEris,GoddessofDiscord,alongforgotten
Greekdivinitywhowasconsidered(inHesiod's"Theogeny")asbeingthemoresavage,female
halfofEros,GodofLove.TotheancientGreeks,ErosandEristogethercomprisedan
androgynousAphrodite.TheCircleofChaospaysreverencetoThatanerosadivinitycreated
byThessaloniusLoyolawhorepresentstheFreudianprincipleofSexandDeath.Wildehas
createdK'atasawiseoldOrientalmanwithgreeneyes,whofunctionsasacalmguidethrough
theChaoticstorm.TakingChaostheorytoitsfurthestextremeitmightbesaidthatacomic
bookherolikeSupermanmightbethebestprotectorforsomeonewhocanfeelnoaffinitywitha
classicwarriorgodsuchasMars.
MagickalWorks:UnlikeWilde,whohasnothingnewtoaddtothetechniquesofPractical
Magickhesuggeststhatonebuytraditionalspellandcandleburningbooksandadapttheir
teachingstoone'sneed.Sherwin'sexperimentshaveledhimtosomeinterestinginnovations.
AsiftosendashiverthroughSpare'sbody,SherwinmaintainsthatSigilsarebestvitalized
throughintenserituals.TakingSpare'sworkyetanotherstepfurther,Sherwinbelievesthatone
shouldexcerptcertainsyllablesfromthesentencethathasbeensigilizedandthenchantthem
asasortofnonsensemantrawhilemeditatingontheSigil.
Aswecansee,thepractitionersofChaosMagickarebothunitedanddistinguishedfromeach
otherbytheiremphasisonexperimentationandindividualexperience.ChaosMagickisnota
newordifferentkindofMagick.Itisasetofworkingprinciplessomenew,someancient,
whichtheindividualpractitionercancreativelyreinterprettosuithisownneeds.
WhateffectsuchapersonalizedapproachwillhaveonAmericanoccultismisdifficulttosay.
WhocanpredictChaos?ItmayverywellappealtoAmericanindividualism.Itmayprovea
usefulbridgebetweenEasternandWesternoccultismalinkupthatinthepasthasbeen
sabotagedbytheliberalwhiteman'sfawningsearchfortheexoticsavagetheconservative
whiteman'satavisticinabilitytoacceptthewisdomofanyonewhodoesnotresemblehimor
possesshistechnology,andtheinferioritycomplexthatdrivesAsianteacherstotreat
Westernersasrichretards.Atworse,itmayprovetobejustanothersloganspewedby

Mohawkheadedmoronswho,beingtoostupidtoseethetrueChaoswithintheorderof
everydaylife,invokeChaosbybreakingbeerbottlesonthesidewalkandvomitinginother
people'shallways.Eventhisuglypossibilityistolerable,however,ifChaosMagickwillsilence
themanhatingmouthingsofthemaximatriarchalWiccans,endtheneedtoauthenticate
ancienttraditionsthatwerecreatedthedayaftertomorrowbyethnicallymindedWitches,and
stoptheendlessdebateindulgedinbyrivaloccultfactionsoverhowmanyplanesrealityhas
andwhichistheonetruecolorschemetoworkMagickwithallofwhichpresentlydominate
Americanoccultism.IfChaosMagickcanstopAmericanCeremonialistsfromlickingthetoesof
theirAleisterCrowleystatues...but,perhapssomethingsaretoomuchtowishfor.
Nomatter.Whatevermaycomeofit,theBritishareinvadingusagain.Thistimetheirbanners
say:

CHAOSCONTROLS