40:
579:
619:
498:
1014:
392:, firmly stating that she herself followed the RHP, and that followers of the LHP were practitioners of black magic who were a threat to society. The occult community soon picked up on her newly introduced duality, which, according to historian Dave Evans, "had not been known before" in the Western Esoteric Tradition. For instance,
454:, who did not recognise these terms, and acknowledged that they were newly introduced and that in any case he believed the terms LHP and RHP to be distinct from black and white magic. However, despite Waite's attempts to distinguish the two, the equation of the LHP with black magic was propagated more widely in the fiction of
442:
is sufficient, and if he has been utterly thorough in his own self-destruction, he becomes a "babe of the abyss", arising as a Star in the
Crowleyan system. On the other hand, if he retains some fragment of ego, or if he fears to cross, he then becomes encysted. The layers of his self, which he could
443:
have shed in the Abyss, ossify around him. He is then titled a "brother of the left-hand path", who will eventually be broken up and disintegrated against his will, since he failed to choose voluntary disintegration. Crowley associated all this with "Mary, a blasphemy against
231:
imagery. As Mogg Morgan wrote, the "breaking of taboos makes magic more potent and can lead to reintegration and liberation, the eating of meat in a vegetarian community can have the same liberating effect as anal intercourse in a sexually inhibited
486:, practiced the LHP. Grant's usage takes meaning from its roots in eastern Tantra; Grant states that it is about challenging taboos, but that it should be used in conjunction with the RHP to achieve balance.
414:
further altered and popularized the term in certain occult circles, referring to a "brother of the left-hand path", or a "black brother", as one who failed to attain the grade of
474:
In the latter half of the 20th century various groups arose that self-professedly described themselves as LHP but did not consider themselves as practicing black magic. In 1975,
354:
in many
European countries, where it already has had an association with evil and bad luck since the Classical Latin era. As the historian Dave Evans noted,
219:, which some suggest is in a search for spiritual freedom. As a part of this, LHP followers embrace magical techniques that would traditionally be viewed as
211:
Historian Dave Evans studied self-professed followers of the left-hand path in the early 21st century, making several observations about their practices:
946:
Sutcliffe, Richard J. (1996). "Left-Hand Path Ritual Magick: An
Historical and Philosophical Overview". In G. Harvey; C. Hardman (eds.).
100:
magical actions. Still others treat the paths as fundamental schemes, connected with external divinities on the right, contrasted with
168:
The right-hand path is commonly thought to refer to magical or religious groups which adhere to a certain set of characteristics:
152:
996:
974:
955:
887:
880:
Exorcising the Tree of Evil: How to Use the
Symbolism of the Qabalistic Tree of Life to Recognise and Reverse Negative Energy
856:
418:
in
Crowley's system of ceremonial magic. Crowley also referred to the left-hand path when describing the point at which the
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906:
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812:
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139:
have stressed that both paths can be followed by a magical practitioner, as essentially they have the same goals.
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on the right. Others approach the left/right paths as different kinds of workings, without connotations of
397:
113:
24:
1034:
346:
Returning to Europe, Blavatsky began using the term. It was relatively easy for her to associate
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419:
1039:
434:
or
Knowledge. In this example, the adept must surrender all, including the guidance of his
415:
375:
77:
19:
This article is about the concept in
Western esotericism. For the concept in Hinduism, see
8:
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They adhere to a specific moral code and a belief in some form of judgement, such as
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48:
39:
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411:
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and that Indian servants might use malicious magical rites devoted to the goddess
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with several other people in 1875. She set about writing several books, including
265:
123:
875:
503:
483:
455:
400:, also took the side of the RHP, making the claim that followers of the LHP were
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247:
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use the terminology to establish a dichotomy, broadly simplified as (malicious)
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328:
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and gave accounts of having met with many mystics and magical practitioners in
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and assembling in graveyards, as a part of the spiritual practice. The term
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196:
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The godhood self sought by left-hand path followers is represented by the
401:
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practice that emphasised the breaking of Hindu societal taboos by having
117:) applied to magical groups that follow specific ethical codes and adopt
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177:
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20:
57:(1856), has been adopted as a symbol by adherents of left-hand path
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320:
108:
81:
466:, which he viewed as a threat to traditional British society.
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and spirit into three separate, albeit interrelated, entities.
439:
343:, and it was from this that Blavatsky first coined the term.
308:
304:
236:
220:
184:
128:
450:
A figure
Fortune considered to be a follower of the LHP was
273:
term meaning "left-handed attainment". The converse term is
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351:
332:
173:
608:
606:
918:
Sexual Magick: Secrets of Sexual Gnosis in
Western Magick
768:
756:
727:
715:
603:
544: – Magical practice involving evocation of spirits
983:
520: – Above-ground location for disposal of the dead
989:
Uncle
Setnakt's Essential Guide to the Left Hand Path
514: – Tantric Shaivite tradition and monastic order
422:
chooses to cross the Abyss, which is the location of
30:"Left-Hand Path" redirects here. For other uses, see
780:
703:
691:
667:
493:
950:. London: Thorsons/HarperCollins. pp. 109–37.
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567:
555:
807:(2nd rev. ed.). Delhi: Manohar Publications.
16:Dichotomy between two opposing approaches to magic
1026:
469:
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744:
742:
532: – Medieval Tantric tradition of Shaivism
478:, a student of Aleister Crowley, explained in
447:", and with the celibacy of Christian clergy.
438:, and leap into the Abyss. If his accumulated
259:
215:They often reject societal convention and the
802:
685:
739:
370:Adoption into the western esoteric tradition
358:were referred to as "left-handed", while in
868:The History of British Magick after Crowley
295:, a 19th-century occultist who founded the
374:In New York, Madame Blavatsky founded the
945:
384:(1877) in which she introduced the terms
127:) adopts the opposite attitude, breaking
896:
597:
239:, instead adhering to forms of personal
38:
964:
843:
821:
750:
585:
538: – Religious tradition in Hinduism
458:; Wheatley also conflated the two with
339:literally meant "the left-hand way" in
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250:and incorporate it into magical ritual.
235:They often question religious or moral
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299:. She had travelled across parts of
121:, while the left-hand path (LHP, or
526: – Buddhist religious practice
462:and also the political ideology of
396:, founder of the magical group the
13:
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899:Qabalah, Qliphoth and Goetic Magic
163:
135:. Contemporary occultists such as
80:. Various groups engaged with the
14:
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1006:
206:
54:Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie
1012:
496:
408:against their European masters.
107:The terms have their origins in
967:Aghora: At the Left Hand of God
805:History of the Tantric Religion
679:
111:: the right-hand path (RHP, or
76:are two opposing approaches to
32:Left-Hand Path (disambiguation)
796:
643:
591:
158:
1:
987:; Stephen E. Flowers (1999).
803:Bhattacharyya, N. N. (1999).
548:
470:Later 20th and 21st centuries
315:as a translation of the term
92:on the left and (benevolent)
366:were called "left-footers".
172:They divide the concepts of
7:
965:Svoboda, Robert E. (1986).
851:. New Falcon Publications.
827:Liber Null & Psychonaut
489:
482:that he and his group, the
260:Tantra and Madame Blavatsky
10:
1056:
882:. Kima Global Publishers.
426:and the illusory eleventh
398:Society of the Inner Light
29:
18:
897:Karlsson, Thomas (2019).
311:. She developed the term
969:. Brotherhood of Life.
612:Hine, Phil, quoted in
61:
916:Shual, Katon (2012).
223:, for instance using
42:
1021:at Wikimedia Commons
870:. Hidden Publishing.
866:Evans, Dave (2007).
849:Magick Without Tears
686:Bhattacharyya (1999)
376:Theosophical Society
327:in ritual, drinking
297:Theosophical Society
255:History of the terms
765:, pp. 182–183.
688:, pp. 81, 447.
480:Cults of the Shadow
452:Arthur Edward Waite
436:Holy Guardian Angel
246:They often embrace
201:Abrahamic religions
131:and abandoning set
66:Western esotericism
922:Mandrake of Oxford
777:, p. 189–190.
736:, p. 183–184.
724:, p. 181–182.
325:sexual intercourse
62:
1017:Media related to
998:978-1-885972-10-1
991:. Runa Raven Pr.
976:978-0-914732-21-1
957:978-0-7225-3233-1
889:978-0-9584493-1-1
858:978-1-56184-018-2
845:Crowley, Aleister
823:Carroll, Peter J.
283:use of the terms
153:Tree of Knowledge
119:social convention
47:, as depicted by
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893:
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829:. Weiser Books.
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420:Adeptus Exemptus
412:Aleister Crowley
293:Madame Blavatsky
291:originated with
137:Peter J. Carroll
102:self-deification
86:ceremonial magic
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504:Religion portal
502:
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484:Typhonian Order
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456:Dennis Wheatley
416:Magister Templi
390:right-hand path
372:
364:Roman Catholics
289:right-hand path
262:
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166:
164:Right-hand path
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74:right-hand path
35:
28:
17:
12:
11:
5:
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1035:Left-Hand Path
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1019:Left-Hand Path
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1007:External links
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948:Paganism Today
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789:, p. 193.
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751:Crowley (1991)
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702:
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690:
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586:Carroll (1987)
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518:Charnel ground
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386:left-hand path
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313:left-hand path
285:left-hand path
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207:Left-hand path
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195:The occultist
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70:left-hand path
59:belief systems
43:The figure of
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227:or embracing
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189:Threefold Law
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104:on the left.
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26:
22:
988:
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826:
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787:Evans (2007)
782:
775:Evans (2007)
770:
763:Evans (2007)
758:
734:Evans (2007)
729:
722:Evans (2007)
717:
710:Evans (2007)
705:
698:Evans (2007)
693:
681:
674:Evans (2007)
669:
662:Evans (2007)
657:
650:Shual (2012)
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638:Evans (2007)
633:
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614:Evans (2007)
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574:Evans (2007)
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562:Evans (2007)
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479:
473:
449:
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394:Dion Fortune
389:
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347:
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319:, an Indian
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197:Dion Fortune
194:
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143:
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73:
69:
63:
52:
49:Éliphas Lévi
36:
1040:Dichotomies
797:Works cited
628:, p. .
626:Gray (2004)
600:, p. .
588:, p. .
430:, which is
402:homosexuals
356:homosexuals
203:to be RHP.
199:considered
159:Terminology
114:dakṣiṇācāra
98:good or bad
94:white magic
90:black magic
25:Dakṣiṇācāra
1029:Categories
920:. Oxford:
549:References
360:Protestant
217:status quo
985:Webb, Don
753:, ch. 12.
464:communism
424:Choronzon
337:vamachara
331:, eating
317:vamachara
248:sexuality
241:anarchism
232:society."
225:sex magic
21:Vamachara
901:. AJNA.
878:(2004).
847:(1991).
825:(1987).
530:Kapalika
490:See also
460:Satanism
362:nations
341:Sanskrit
271:Sanskrit
266:Vāmācāra
149:Thaumiel
133:morality
124:vāmācāra
45:Baphomet
542:Sorcery
445:Babalon
428:Sephira
329:alcohol
321:Tantric
281:Western
229:Satanic
187:or the
151:in the
145:qliphah
995:
973:
954:
928:
905:
886:
855:
833:
811:
512:Aghori
432:Da'ath
279:. The
129:taboos
109:tantra
82:occult
536:Kaula
440:karma
350:with
309:Tibet
305:India
269:is a
237:dogma
221:taboo
185:karma
78:magic
993:ISBN
971:ISBN
952:ISBN
926:ISBN
903:ISBN
884:ISBN
853:ISBN
831:ISBN
809:ISBN
524:Chöd
406:Kali
388:and
352:evil
348:left
333:meat
307:and
287:and
178:body
174:mind
84:and
72:and
23:and
64:In
51:in
1031::
924:.
741:^
605:^
176:,
155:.
68:,
1001:.
979:.
960:.
934:.
911:.
892:.
861:.
839:.
817:.
243:.
191:.
34:.
27:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
