The Temple of Set II
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in a number of contemporary cults, religions, and magical societies around the world - the Wiccan ‘great rite’, the
auto/hetero/homosexual magic of the O.T.O. VIII°/IX°/XI°, etc. A good update to #13A and #13B. The data dealing
with the Church of Satan are so fragmentary and misleading, however, that the author’s care in researching other
environments must be doubted as well. Use more as a starting point for further research than as a definitive source.”
13D. The Compleat Witch by Anton Szandor LaVey. NY: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1970. Reissued as The
Satanic Witch with an Introduction by Zeena Schreck, Feral House, Los Angeles, 1989. (COS-1) (TOS-3) MA:
“Although the more earthy passages in this book put off many readers who were expecting ‘more of the Satanic
Bible’, LaVey often maintained that it was the best of his three books because it contained the most Lesser Magic. [It
could just as well be included in category 23.] Tucked away amidst the pages are some very incisive comments
concerning human traits and motivations and how both may be recognized and manipulated in day-to-day contexts.
By no means ‘just a sex book’, though a background in Church of Satan history is necessary to understand the
author’s point of perspective. Chapter 8 of #6N reviews #13D in detail.”
13E. Odoratus Sexualis by Iwan Block. North Hollywood: Brandon House, 1967. (COS-3) AL: “The use of
odors in magic.”
13F. Magica Sexualis by Emile Laurent and Paul Nagour. North Hollywood: Brandon House, 1966. (COS-3)
AL: “Contains some little-known lore.”
13G. How to Make a Man Fall in Love With You by Tracy Cabot. NY: St. Martin’s Press, 1984. (TOS-3) Hether
Payne III°: “Despite the tacky title, this book contains excellent LBM lessons for both men and women. It is a good
crash-course in basic psychology that teaches you how to make people feel truly understood, to build trust, and to
persuade through various techniques such as ‘mirroring’, ‘anchoring’, ‘casting a spell’, etc. I have found it very
potent information and accordingly would warn Setians to be careful how they use it - or they may not be able to rid
themselves of the object of their magic. This book is somewhat the opposite of Anton LaVey’s Compleat Witch in
principle and in theory, but I feel it to be of equal importance.”
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13H. Carnal Alchemy by Crystal Dawn and Stephen Flowers. Smithville: Runa-Raven Press, 1995. DW: “The
Temple of Set neither advocates nor forbids sado-magical activities between consenting adult magicians. If you are
inclined to explore pleasure and pain, and want to use this practice for self-transformation, then this is the best
book available - if you can guide your practice by love. If you’re not so inclined, this is an entirely boring book useful
only for shocking your friends. Hence it has no rating, and is mentioned merely to remind the Setian that no topic is
taboo as long as its investigation harms not the mind, the body, nor the potential unfolding of the soul.”
* * *
F13A. Dracula. 1979. Frank Langella, Laurence Olivier, Donald Pleasence, Kate Nelligan. MA: “This film is
placed here rather than in Category #8 because Langella’s interpretation is that of the vampire-as-lover, and
because the impact of that interpretation, particularly upon female audiences who saw this film, proved to be
remarkably powerful. In contrast to more traditional Draculas (such as Christopher Lee, who merely ‘used women
for feeding’ while playing his vampire as a power role), one receives the impression that Langella’s Dracula exists
only for love, having, over the centuries, found all other ambitions to be transitory and shallow. This sensitivity of
his, in contrast to the mundane romantic infatuations of Mina’s human beau, makes Dracula worth the sacrifice that
woman understands her historic role in love to be. It is significant that the ‘normal’ humans in this film will stop at
nothing to destroy the example of Dracula, shaming as it does their own petty sexual power games.”
F13B. The Story of O. S.N. Prodis, Paris, 1975. Video: Independent United Distributors. Corinne Clery, Udo
Kier. Just Jaeckin director. MA: “This is not a film about sadomasochism at all, but about the degrees of mutual
surrender that love involves. O willingly endures the ordeals of Castle Roissy simply because her lover wishes her to,
then emerges not as slave but as goddess for the three men - her lover, her taskmaster at the castle, and finally Sir
Stephen - who are devoted to her. The atmosphere of her new divinity confuses, then obsesses a female friend of
hers, who ultimately is drawn to Roissy for a similar initiation. Perhaps only the French, who are able to portray
even the most outré and graphic forms of erotica without the slightest hint of obscenity, could have made a film such
as this. It is a mirror to its audiences of what sexual and sensual maturity involves - and how remote from that
maturity most persons of either sex actually are.”
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Category 14: Fascism, Totalitarianism, and Magic
Faschimus, Totalitarismus und Magie
as of February 26, 2003
This is a very potent, controversial, and dangerous area of magic, whose implications are rarely
examined, understood, or appreciated by the profane [which is just as well]. Much of the data
concerning it derives from Nazi Germany, whose character as a state based upon magical rather than
conventional principles goes a long way towards explaining the “peculiar” fascination which that
episode continues to exert on students of history and political science. Many of the techniques
pioneered or perfected by the Nazis continue to be used/ abused - generally in a superficial and ignorant
fashion - by every country of the world in one guise or another [never avowedly as “Nazism”, of course].
The Temple of Set emphasizes the potential of human individualism. Metapolitical concepts such
as Nazism do strengthen the power of humans, but only through a degree of collectivization of the will
in a political state system. Well-run states can maximize virtue and minimize vice, as in Plato’s ideal
Republic. Poorly-run states can do just the opposite, suppressing or corrupting virtue, as in Orwell’s
1984. Most contemporary political systems exist between these extremes. The Initiate/citizen must be
sensitive to both the positive opportunities his society provides, and the repressive/destructive
constraints it places on his freedom. Thus he may maximize the benefits of the former and avoid the
damage of the latter.
14A. The Mass Psychology of Fascism by Wilhelm Reich. NY: Simon & Schuster, 1970. [Deutschland: Die
Massenpsychologie des Faschismus, Fischer Taschenbuch-Verlag, Frankfurt, 1974] (TOS-3) MA: “The controversial
Reich examined both the Nazi and the communist elements of Germany, found them wanting, and was roundly
denounced by them in return. This book exposes their use of mass movements and mob psychology as a sexual
substitute, and their repression of ‘innocent’ sex as a deliberate political technique [compare #14E]. This
manipulation of expression and repression is applied to other social phenomena as well - such as certain organized
religious bodies. A lucid and hard-hitting study. A biographical profile of Reich is presented in #6N, Appendix 75 -
‘The Frankenstein Legacy’.”
14B. The Occult and the Third Reich by Jean-Michel Angebert. NY: Macmillan, 1974. (TOS-3) (TRP-3) MA:
“This book contains
sections on the Grail (both Christian and pagan), traditions concerning Atlantis and ancient
initiatory societies, the theories of Nietzsche and Wagner, Nazi mysticism, and the Catharist tradition. Well
footnoted. The almost fantastic subject material tends to make the author’s objectivity suspect, but on close
examination his argument is grounded in responsible research. On the other hand Otto Rahn, the young German
mystic whose theories are advanced in this book did not hold the alleged high rank in the SS, nor commit suicide
because of politico/mystical reasons. He was an Unterscharführer (sergeant) who killed himself after being expelled
from the SS because of his sexual preferences.”
14C. The Grail Legend by Emma Jung and Marie-Louise von Franz. NY: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1970.
[Deutschland: Die Gralslegende in psychologischer Sicht, Olten-Verlag, Freiburg, 1987] (TOS-4) (TRP-1) MA:
“Another book for the C.G. Jung Foundation for Analytical Psychology [see also #19K], this impressive study treats
all major historical versions of the Grail legend, identifies their common features, and evaluates their significance.
The definitive work on the Grail. See also #6N, Appendix 36 - ‘In Quest of the Unholy Grail’.”
14D. The Spear of Destiny by Trevor Ravenscroft. NY: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1973. [Deutschland: Der Kelch des
Schicksals, Sphinx Verlag, CH-Basel, 1987] (TOS-3) (TRP-3) MA: “The chief merit of this book lies in its profile of
the metaphysical and occult-society concepts and movements that influenced pre-Nazi and Nazi Germany. Read
critically but thoughtfully. Since it is heavily footnoted to Theosophical Society (Blavatsky) and Anthrosophical
Society (Steiner) sources, this book cannot be considered factually reliable. [See also #14Y.]”
14E. 1984 by George Orwell. NY: Harcourt, Brace & Co., 1949. [Deutschland: Ullstein Taschenbuchverlag,
Frankfurt, 1981] (TOS-3) MA: “Orwell’s classic portrait of a ‘negative utopia’, with many features adapted from Nazi
Germany and Stalinist Russia - but also a satire of socialist trends in postwar Britain. Many features of Orwell’s
imaginary society may be increasingly applied to actual ones today. The shape of things to come?”
14F. Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1943. [Deutschland: Verlag Franz Eher
Nachf., München, um 1935] (TOS-5) (TRP-3) MA: “Everyone knows that this is ‘the most evil book ever written’*,
but few have taken the time to actually read it, hence cannot really explain why. Further complicating the situation
is Hitler’s interspersion of political philosophy (interesting) with emotional tirades (not so interesting). Look for the
discussions concerning the selection of leaders, control of the masses, and the justification for human social
organization. You may be surprised at what you discover. Keep in mind that this book was written not as a historical
memoir, but rather as a propaganda device to lend an image of philosophical substance and coherence to the still-
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fledgling and somewhat [due to Hitler’s incarceration in prison at the time of MK’s writing] disorganized Nazi Party.
A far more revealing ‘Hitler Memoir’ is #14K. [* During the antiSatanism hysteria of the 1980s, the entire Temple of
Set reading list was denounced by one major newspaper thus: ‘a reading list which includes MK’ (evidently to the
unimportance of any other book on the entire list)!]”
14G. Hitler: Legend, Myth, & Reality by Werner Maser. NY: Harper & Row, 1971. [Deutschland: Adolf Hitler:
Legende, Mythos, Wirklichkeit, Bechtle-Verlag, München, 1982] (TOS-3) MA: “As time passes, biographical profiles
of Hitler become increasingly more objective. This is probably the most useful one currently in print, which Colin
Wilson calls ‘the most important document on Hitler so far published’. It is noteworthy for its focus on the man
rather than on the political official [for the political official see #14H]. If you are going to take a look at Hitler’s own
writings and statements (#14F/K/L), read this first for perspective.”
14H. The War Path (NY: Viking, 1978) and Hitler’s War (2 volumes) (NY: Viking, 1977) by David Irving.
(TOS-4) MA: “1933-39 ( WP) and 1939-45 ( HW) through Hitler’s eyes. An impressive work of research that will
show you peacetime Nazi Germany and World War II as you’ve never seen them before. Sound scholarship,
objective evaluation.”
14I. The Bormann Brotherhood by William Stevenson. NY: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1973. (TOS-3) MA:
“Around VI-VII the pursuit of underground Nazi-survivalist organizations was all the rage, and there was a flurry of
Bormannism, ODESSA films/novels, etc. This little book was sort of overwhelmed in the general stampede, but it
didn’t deserve to be. A cold, clear, fact-packed study of the post-World War II survival of the original Nazi
hierarchy.”
14J. Three Faces of Fascism by Ernst Nolte. NY: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1963. [Deutschland:
Faschimus: von Mussolini zu Hitler, Verlag Kurt Desch GmbH, München, 1968] (TOS-4) MA: “This is a political
science text analyzing 20th-century fascist movements in France, Germany, and Italy. The observations concerning
the metapolitical implications of the philosophy are among the most profound yet voiced. The analysis of the failure
of the French movement is as instructive as that of the successes of the German and Italian movements. It is
interesting to contrast Nolte’s assessment of fascism with Hitler’s [as set forth in #14F].”
14K. Hitler’s Secret Conversations 1941-1944 by H.R. Trevor-Roper (Ed.). NY: Farrar, Straus and Young, 1953
[simultaneously published in England as Hitler’s Table Talk by Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London]. [Deutschland:
Hitlers Tischgespräche im Führerhauptquartier, Picker, Goldmann Taschenbuch Nr. 11234, München, 1979
(Englische Ausgabe Herausgeber Trevor-Roper)] (TOS-5) (TRP-3) MA: “Martin Bormann was sufficiently
fascinated by Adolf Hitler’s private conversational comments on various topics that he persuaded Hitler to allow
them to be stenographically recorded. After 1945 the transcriptions were found among Bormann’s private papers
and were ultimately compiled and published by Professor Trevor-Roper (who also edited and published the final
entries of Dr. Goebbels’ diaries). Hitler’s conversations cover an astonishingly broad spectrum of topics - organized
religion, metaphysics, dogmatism, Voltaire, origins of the human race, æsthetics, Egyptian & Greek culture,
Hoerbiger’s cosmology, genius, philosophy of law, superstition, mental diseases, etc. An impressive look into the
mind of an individual whom the postwar world has been conditioned to dismiss as a crude, criminal, and
unintrospective thug. Read, then judge for yourself.”
14L. The Voice of Destruction by Hermann Rauschning. NY: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1940. [Deutschland:
Gespräche mit Hitler, Europaverlag, CH-Zuerich, 1988] (TOS-5) (TRP-3) MA: “Rauschning was a regional party
leader (Gauleiter) of the early Nazi Party who was a confidant of Hitler’s during 1932-34. At first so impressed with
the Führer’s private statements that he took extensive and immediate notes, he later took fright and bolted to Paris.
In 1937-38 he wrote a theoretical condemnation of Nazism entitled The Revolution of Nihilism: Warning to the
West (NY: Alliance Book Corporation, 1939). It seemed so alarmist that few took it seriously - until World War II
broke out. Then Rauschning was able to publish these transcripts and analyses of Hitler’s conversations. Topics
&
nbsp; include: Aristocracy, Antichrist, barbarism, ethics of war, a new social order, the Human Solstice, Black & White
Magic, and the mystical elements in Obersalzburg. Most of the material for Nazi occultism alluded to in #4B came
from this book. It was regarded as so ‘weird’ as to be spurious until after the war, when the #14K material came to
light and substantiated it.”
14M. Hitler’s Secret Sciences by Nigel Pennick. Suffolk: Neville Spearman, 1981. (TOS-4) (TRP-1) MA: “The
esoteric section of the German Nazi SS was not the Sicherheitsdienst [as alleged in #6L] but the Deutsche
Ahnenerbe (German Ancestral Heritage Organization). Most histories of the SS concern themselves with the better-
known organizations and activities of the Black Order, mentioning the Ahnenerbe only in passing. This is one of the
first books to discuss it in any detail. Again there is a lot of #14B/C/D material, but it is all relevant and coherently
organized. This is a concise (177 pages), fact-packed book bolstered by a strong bibliography of rare and unusual
publications and periodicals. If you are seriously interested in the Ahnenerbe, and are fluent in highly-technical
German, see Kater, Michael H., Das ‘Ahnenerbe’ der SS 1935-1945: ein Betrag zur Kulturpolitik des Dritten Reiches
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(Stuttgart, Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, 1974). [The complete archæological, magical, and administrative records of the
Ahnenerbe are contained on microfilm rolls #120-211, Microcopy T-580 (10-135-4) in the National Archives
Building of the United States, Washington, D.C. These papers have never been sorted, indexed, and annotated in
detail, but the Order of the Trapezoid has compiled a working index with brief annotations pending a more
thorough study. Initiates of the Order who may be traveling to Washington and wish to examine that microfilm are
invited to contact the Temple office for a copy of the index.] [See also #5H.]”
14N. The Passing of the Great Race by Madison Grant. NY: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1916. [Deutschland: WU:
8*-913] (TOS-5) MA: “You can still find #14F in print, because it’s a good whipping-boy for sanctimonous finger-