The Temple of Set I

by Michael A Aquino

  internal diversion or external opposition; His work is to create a new Universe in

  accordance with His Will. He is the Master of the Law of Change ( Anicca).

  Consider further this quote from Liber B vel Magi:

  Let Him beware of abstinence from action. For the Curse of His grade is that He must

  speak Truth, that the Falsehood thereof may enslave the souls of men. Let HIM then utter

  that without fear, that the Law may be fulfilled. And according to His Original Nature will

  that law be shapen, so that one may declare gentleness and quietness, being an Hindu; and

  another fierceness and servility, being a Jew; and yet another ardour and manliness, being

  an Arab. Yet this matter toucheth the mystery of Incarnation, and is not here to be

  declared.

  Now the grade of a Magister teacheth the Mystery of Sorrow, and the grade of a Magus

  the Mystery of Change, and the grade of Ipsissimus the Mystery of Selflessness, which is

  also called the Mystery of Pan.

  Let the Magus then contemplate each in turn, raising it to the ultimate power of

  infinity. Wherein Sorrow is Joy, and Change is Stability, and Selflessness is Self. For the

  interplay of the parts hath no action upon the whole. And this contemplation shall be

  performed not by simple meditation - how much less then by reason? - but by the method

  which shall have been given unto Him in His initiation to the Grade ...

  In ritual I explored Barrett’s state of being by means of the Fourth Æthyr of The Vision and

  The Voice and by means of IV° analysis, for:

  By a Magus is this writing made known through the mind of a Magister. The one

  uttereth clearly, and the other understandeth; yet the Word is falsehood, and the

  Understanding darkness. And this saying is Of All Truth.

  Nevertheless it is written; for there be times of darkness, and this as a lamp therein.

  It was then evident to me that Ronald Barrett had in fact Come Into Being as a Magus V° in

  the precise sense. He and I discussed some of the implications of this:

  - 66 -

  For one thing, it seemed that his V° was somewhere “in between” the alternatives described by

  Crowley. His Word was more an evolution of Xeper than a destruction and replacement of it. So

  it did not seem to either of us that the Æon of Set was to be superseded, but rather that it was to

  commence a more elaborate stage of development. Nor did Barrett's magical progress simply

  equate to mine [per Crowley’s second alternative]; he was not merely identifying himself with

  Xeper but rather Uttering a new Word containing implications beyond Xeper.

  Then there were issues bearing directly upon the Temple of Set. Per the By-Laws a Magus V°

  must be confirmed as such by unanimous approval of the Council of Nine. The intent of this

  provision, as with those relating to other degrees, was to establish orderly analysis of the degree-

  progress and to safeguard the degree-system against possible abuse.

  The defect of the V° provision, as is also the case with the IV° provision, is that - at least in the

  Temple’s formative years - the Council of Nine includes III° as well as IV° Councillors. The IV° is

  distinguished from the III° by [among other things] the quality of Understanding in a magical

  sense ... being a sort of total awareness of the substance and implications of a Word. Hence a IV°

  Councillor may consider a IV° or V° nomination according to this sort of awareness, while a III°

  Councillor considers the same question according to inductive/deductive reasoning, i.e.

  consideration of specific propositions and issues formulated during the Council’s discussion of the

  nomination.

  My original intention was to communicate my V° nomination for Barrett to the Council of

  Nine in advance of any general discussion within the III°+ as a whole. This notion was preempted

  by the events of the III°+ ritual at the 11/11-12 meeting in San Francisco, wherein Set came forth

  to declare the Coming Into Being of Barrett as a Magus.

  The events of that ritual have since been discussed by many of the Priesthood who were there,

  and so it seems appropriate to make the formal nomination of Ronald K. Barrett for the V° to the

  Council per this III° letter. Perhaps this is also correct from a magical standpoint, since the

  confirmation of a Magus is a development which will have a major impact upon the entire

  Priesthood and Temple of Set.

  How may the Council evaluate such a nomination? The salient characteristics of a Magus have

  been defined both here and in other documents of the Temple - such as the “Book of Coming

  Forth by Night Analysis & Commentary”. Concerning the 11/11 ritual, Councillors may wish to ask

  the impressions of those who were present: Seago, Sinclair, Sarris, Reynolds, Thomas, Waters,

  Moffatt, and Zappitelli. And of course the comments of Barrett himself may be sought by any

  Councillor who wishes to do so. [I understand that Barrett will be preparing a statement of his

  own for consideration by the Council.]

  Unquestionably this is an event of major importance for the Temple and for the Æon. It is also

  the first occasion on which we have been able to use the deliberative processes for a V° evaluation

  established under our By-Laws. I am looking forward with the utmost interest to the outcome.

  On the South Solstice of 1978 the Council of Nine voted its unanimous approval of Barrett’s

  Recognition as a Magus V°. During the following year he refined his Word into a series of five

  “Keys” comprising what he entitled the Book of Opening the Way (Appendices #48-52). Despite

  this effort, Xem would continue to be criticized for its vagueness as a magical concept, though its

  essential meaning never seemed all that mysterious [or impractical] to me (Appendix #53).

  As discussed in Chapter #5, it was subsequent to the 11/11/78 Priesthood working that I came

  to realize that my own Task as a Magus had been fulfilled, and that final initiation to the as-yet-

  nonformalized degree of Ipsissimus now faced me. Simultaneously came a conviction that both

  Barrett’s V° Task and my henceforth initiatory focus necessitated the conveyance of the High

  Priesthood of Set. On the Ides of March 1979, when I took the Oath of Ipsissimus, I wrote to the

  Priesthood:

  From Magus Ronald K. Barrett I have just received a copy of the first two Keys of the Book of

  Opening the Way. I have considered them carefully and would now like to share my thoughts with

  the Priesthood of Set.

  From an account by Priestesses Linda Reynolds and Alexandra Sarris of the Working of

  November 11, 1978:

  - 67 -

  Magus Aquino raised his hood and moved before the pentagram, then turned to the

  Priesthood. Before he spoke, it was clear to all that Set had manifested himself in his High

  Priest and Magus. In fact Magus Aquino’s face was no longer apparent - there was a

  darkness within the cowl [later Anubis said that he saw a brief something changing within,

  but wasn't sure what]. He turned and very slowly looked at every one of the Priesthood.

  Set: “Never before have I stood in the midst of such majesty. The majesty of these

  young gods and goddesses. You are the Children of Set ... [and he listed the names]. I have

  lived through the pain of the Æon of Horus, and the pain and pleasure of the Age of Satan,

  and this is my Æon ... has passed - a bridge
... For my Temple that was dust (?) is dormant

  (?) no longer. Before me I see the Black Jackal, he who has opened the way for me ... and

  from the desert ... he who lurked ... And I have raised him up so that all may see.”

  What we can remember is the gist of what was said: that first Set spoke as Set and

  talked about the æons and the Coming Into Being of Anubis, who was the Opener of the

  Way, and hinted at the coming of something more ...

  But it was Ra-en-Set who proclaimed the words that he would nominate Ronald K.

  Barrett to the Council of Nine as Magus V°. And the new Word is Xem. He also said that

  “the body is weary” and swayed perilously as if he would fall. “My limbs are brought back

  together and I am made whole ...” He was supported immediately by NeXbet and Sesheta,

  who created a circle of energy around him. As he spoke, the Priesthood stretched out their

  arms to send him energy, and then touched and hugged him with support, care, and great

  love.When Set came to Anubis and put his hands around Anubis’ head and called him by

  the name of Anubis, [he said]: “... What you have seen and what I have spoken ... [a

  reference to Xem] ... Upon your head, then, do I place my charge. Do not let what has

  happened to them (the ancient Priesthood) happen again. Do not let Anubis minister to

  the dead ...”

  Then Anubis spoke to the Priesthood: “Two lands ... invisible world ... world of

  darkness and the world of light ... Xem being fused ... the time of the great fusion. It is

  rightly written that this is the time of the Coming Into Being of the gods ...”

  During the speech Medu felt the gathering of the entities to share in this event, and

  within their midst, like a pillar of black, was Set, sharing with his Children this night.

  Anubis also had a sense of there being more than the Priesthood in the room. He also felt a

  sense of “Here we go ... again!”, and the feeling was optimistic - that after 5,000 years we

  have the chance to make it.

  Later Ra-en-Set said that if this be truth, let it be known. At that point NeXbet sensed

  before her the grey lady of Maat with her feather, and NeXbet stepped forward and said,

  “Give me your hand,” and Ra-en-Set raised his left hand. She took it and said that Maat

  was before him and held a feather for him, for his words were true. Then Ra-en-Set and

  Anubis clasped hands and stared into one another’s eyes. Anubis had the distinct feeling of

  being able to speak to Magus Aquino - one Magus to another - on the big things - they have

  their own level of communication - like a father and grown-up son.

  And the scales were balanced.

  Anubis turned to the pentagram and said, “The gates have been opened, and they shall

  not be closed again!”

  I myself am not in a position to add to this account of that ritual, because my mind rejects

  analysis of it, just as it rejects analysis of other rituals in which Ra-en-Set Came Into Being. But I

  do remember quite well the moment of placing my hands on the shoulders of Anubis, because it

  was as though some unique “energizing force” passed from myself to him.

  Since that time I have felt oddly “uneasy”, as though there were now a magical imbalance in

  the Temple of Set, and today, as I read the Keys of the Book of Opening the Way, I finally

  Understood why.

  I quote from my letter to the II°+ membership of the Church of Satan (6/19/1975):

  The ancient Chinese once said that the Emperor obviously held the “Mandate of

  Heaven” to retain his throne as long as all was well with the country. If things were not

  going well, it would be assumed that the Mandate had been lost, and thus it became

  - 68 -

  acceptable to replace the Emperor without insulting the throne or the country. As I employ

  the term, the “Infernal Mandate” is carried by whoever best represents the true will of the

  Prince of Darkness at a given point of time. The new organization will be designed so that

  it will be possible to reassign this Mandate where it is believed appropriate without

  scrapping the entire organizational machinery.

  After reading and considering the initial Keys of the Book of Opening the Way, I am convinced

  that the “Infernal Mandate” has now passed. Accordingly I now formally request the Council of

  Nine to entrust the High Priesthood of Set to Magus Ronald K. Barrett. Xeper has been Uttered,

  and it is now the time for the Coming Into Being of Xem.

  As High Priest since June of 1975, I have seen the Temple of Set grow from magical and

  philosophical infancy to become an institution the like of which has not been known on this planet

  since the days of ancient Xem. We have explored the potential of our kind to an almost

  inconceivable degree, and we have Understood the forces of existence in this universe with crystal

  clarity. We have taken the pitiful fragments of the ancient knowledge which came to us through

  the crucible of the Age of Satan, and we have reforged them, like Siegfried's sword, into the

  essence of their original power. We have also come to know one another with extraordinary

  empathy, seeing past the vehicles of our Earthly flesh to the Black Flame that burns within us. All

  these things and more we have done, and now they have brought us to this new Opening of the

  Way.

  What are my own feelings upon this realization? I sense only a quiet pleasure at having, as I

  Understand it, fulfilled the Task given to me by the Book of Coming Forth by Night; and a great

  anticipation concerning what will now Come Into Being. I will of course remain an active Initiate

  and will do what may be within my power to further the Æon; and no doubt you will probably

  continue to be pestered from time to time with my singular opinions. But the impetus of the Æon

  of Set is now in the care of another Magus. And so another magical question seems to be

  answered; for I suspect that the “nineteen parts of the Word” which eluded me are now

  commencing to Come Into Being as the Book of Opening the Way. 50

  To all of you, the Priesthood of Set, there are no words that I can say to express the love and

  respect in which I hold you, as well as the honor it has been to serve as High Priest. We shall

  Understand such things, I am certain, without further comment.

  I, Ra-en-Set, lift up my voice and swear that I myself have been brought hither by Set, the

  Prince of Darkness. After that I had attained unto the Knowledge and Conversation of him by

  virtue of the Diabolicon, and of this Ritual that I bestow upon Setians my fellows, and most of his

  great love that he beareth to me, yea, verily, he led me to the Age of Satan; he bade me fling away

  all that I had and all that I was; and he forsook me in that Hour. But when I came beyond the Age

  of Satan, to be reborn on the North Solstice X, then came he unto me by the Book of Coming

  Forth by Night.

  Also he made me a Magus, speaking through Xeper, the Word of the new æon, the Æon of Set.

  Thus he fulfilled my will to bring full freedom to his Gifted race.

  Yea, he wrought also in me a work of wonder beyond this, but in this matter I as sworn to hold

  my peace. 51

  The Council of Nine and Priesthood of Set subsequently took up the question of a formal VI°

  within the initiatory structure of the Temple of Set, decided that it was appropriate52 , and

  amended the By-Laws
accordingly. Both the succession of the High Priesthood and my formal

  50 In this I was mistaken on two counts: The Book of Opening the Way ceased with five Keys, and I subsequently

  undertook and completed the Word of Set working based on John Dee’s original “Enochian” manuscripts.

  51 These last three paragraphs were inspired by a reflection of Aleister Crowley’s concerning his own “knowledge and

  conversation of his Holy Guardian Angel [Aiwass]” and the initiatory adventure which ultimately led him to his own

  initiation as an Ipsissimus (10)=[1]. It is appended to Liber Samekh in the 1973-restored edition of Magick.

  52 Insofar as the Understanding of the Masters of the Temple extends to the existence, if not the essence of

  Ipsissimus.

  - 69 -

  VI° Recognition occurred at the Temple of Set’s first International Conclave (Set-1), held that

  summer as recounted in the August 1979 Scroll of Set:

  Set-I International Conclave is Accomplished

  - by Constance Moffatt II°

  “A major step in the evolution of the Temple of Set as a whole, something that has been a long

  time in the coming, something we all felt instinctively was vital, has been accomplished,” stated

  Magus Ronald K. Barrett, High Priest, during an interview following the conclusion of Set-I, held

  in Windsor, Canada July 12-15, 1979.

  “A bond has been established in helping to connect all of the Elect so that there is no

  separation of purpose and direction. In the two workings I felt a very strong drive to unite the

  Order of Set (III°+) with an essence that we all knew was there, but when geographically

  separated seems difficult at times to feel,” continued Magus Barrett. “During the Conclave

  working there was a new bond of understanding extended from the Order of Set to the lay

  membership. The obvious advantages of the Conclave are the getting to know the different

  Initiates on an individual basis. Thus when we see a name in the Scroll or in correspondence, we

  can connect the essence of the individual to that name. A deeper sense of trust and love, that could

  not have occurred by any other means than the Conclave, has begun due to the personal contact

  and interrelations with our Setian brothers and sisters.

  “Another major advantage of the Conclave is the fact that we have witnessed the Temple of Set