The Tepaphone - Black Magic Meets Technology

I learned of the tepaphone while reading a novel that mentioned it in passing but it was one of those things that I forgot about for years until I reread the book a few months ago. Curious about the word, I decided to look it up online and what do you know? The tepaphone is a real (and perhaps very dangerous) piece of occult lore.

The tepaphone is essentially a black magic psychotronic death ray. Using magic to hurt people is probably as old as magic but leave it to the Germans to build a machine to optimize the whole ordeal. Conceived of by a secret German occult order, the tepaphone is supposedly a combination of wire coils and lenses used to project some kind of energy onto a target that would harm them greatly. Now, when I hear about this my mind goes spinning, dreaming up explanations for how this type of device works from an occult perspective (and I do have a few ideas) but without actually seeing one I'm not sure I can know for sure.

Having taken a professional interest in optics as of late I find it fascinating that lenses are at work in this device. I wonder what effect they produce while also considering the symbolic power of something that can bend the path of light or even split it into its constituent parts. I guess I'm mostly interested in the possibility of combining something from my mundane life with something from my magical life to get a powerful effect at the end. I wouldn't think this type of device would be limited solely to hurting people either, if it were modified.

I don't know if I'll ever build a tepaphone of my own but it has definitely sparked my imagination to maybe try some new things when it comes to magic (or even psychotronics/radionics). If my surmising of the principles behind the tepaphone is correct then I'd think one wouldn't need to salvage an old magic lantern to build a rough replica to experiment with. It could be as simple as a consecrated flame and a way to creatively direct some intention.

The articles below will more than whet the appetite of any interested occultist. Credit to the respective authors for inspiring this post and my explorations into this area of the mystical.

Tepaphone – The Magickal Death Ray
STRANGE MACHINES
Oh Tepaphone, Oh Tepaphone

Obfuscation in the Occult and why it's necessary.

Those of you that have had even a passing interest in the occult or magic(k) have probably taken a glimpse through books of spells or maybe even online editions of old Renaissance grimoires.  I think something that really stands out in older sources is the extreme effort put into preparation for a magical operation, sometimes starting months before the operation itself is to be performed.  The engraving of specific metal plates with specific symbols, paying tributes of specific substances, fasting, and complex ritualistic preparations are all rather common in older books of evocation.

Likewise, alchemy is famous for its complex or confusing language and codes.  Substances are called by the names of mythical animals, symbols and ciphers are substituted for ingredients and processes, and allegory is implemented to instruct the seeker in the proper way to do things.  To someone that has no knowledge of the symbolism behind these allegories and associations this can all appear rather daunting.

Alchemy and evocation (among other practices) have in common the obfuscation and complication of things for a reason.  In the case of evocation, I think that a lot of preparations exist simply to test the resolve of the potential summoner or to turn away those that cannot see through this ruse.  Few people are going to go through eighteen months of preparations just to summon one angel.  This keeps the unworthy from dabbling in the art.  In the case of alchemy, all of the obfuscation exists to keep certain secrets hidden from the uninitiated and to perhaps keep the alchemist safe from factions that might be less than understanding of their art.  There are many alchemical products that are dangerous or powerful and understandably cannot be laid bare to all comers in plain language.  Depending on the time period and location it might also be unwise for an alchemist to plainly state what they were up to, lest they offend the predominant faith.

Alchemical processes can also be read as more than just physical operations.  Some alchemical recipes are written to resemble literal laboratory operations when they are actually instructing the alchemist on something that must take place in the inner laboratory of the mind and soul.  For the true alchemists, spiritual transformation was the goal of the art; not the production of precious metals as many think.  By writing things in a cryptic way, the master alchemist ensures that the amateur alchemist comes to understand the deeper meanings with time and practice of the art.  The knowledge would have little value if it was acquired by any other means.

Cryptic language and double meanings in the occult are not simply dramatic devices to maintain a mysterious air around certain practices.  Many people in this day and age may strive to be unnecessarily cryptic or mysterious for show, but when these occult practices were first being developed it was very important to hide meanings and lead the unfit astray.  Take this into consideration the next time you pore over a Renaissance grimoire and find yourself unable to follow what's going on.  Sometimes you just have to look a little deeper.

My ambiguous stance regarding some paranormal topics.

I've been told that when it comes to some paranormal topics that I'm very ambiguous about where I stand.  There is a reason for this and it is mostly because I'm not sure where I stand on a lot of things.  I believe that the UFO phenomenon is a reality.  However, I do not know what is causing it.  I believe that Bigfoot may exist but we won't know for sure until we find one.

There are some topics that I'm less ambiguous about because I have more knowledge or experience with them.  ESP and PK are two things that I am a strong believer in as I've seen the research that supports both and I've had personal experiences with both.  Magic(k) is another thing that I believe in (to some extent) as I have some experience with it.  In all of these cases, I don't claim to have the absolute answers of how they work; I just know that they do.

Another reason that I hold to some ambiguity is that I don't want to shove my opinions down other peoples' throats.  I'd rather just give my readers the information and let them decide for themselves (which I hope they do anyway, regardless of how I feel about a topic).

I guess the point of all of this is that if you see that I'm not taking a solid stance on some topic or other that it's not because I don't care about it or don't know anything about the topic; it's because I'm trying to remain as impartial as possible for the reader or because I simply can't say for certain.  Who can really say much for certain about the paranormal anyway?

Is there a greater significance to the lunar eclipse on the solstice?

Most people are probably aware of the lunar eclipse that is in progress as I type this as it's been on the news a lot.  This will be the first total lunar eclipse to coincide with the solstice since 1638.  There's a possibility that the moon may even turn blood red.

I've seen some forum chatter about special magical significances or the like, but I don't really know of anything specific myself.  I was considering using the occasion to empower a ritual tool, but the weather conditions are not favorable for eclipse viewing where I'm at.  In any case, it sets my mind to wondering about the magical possibilities for such a rare event.  There's a lot of symbolism involved.

The Winter Solstice (in the Northern Hemisphere) is the longest night of the year and we have the light of the full moon being covered by the Earth's shadow.  If you are in the Southern Hemisphere then you have the shortest night of the year with a full moon being obscured by the Earth.  I think in both situations there are deeper truths to be pondered when considering the event.

The event itself may hold no power at all, but the power we give to it may be all that's needed to serve whatever purposes we may have.

The eclipse at Space.com

Inspiration from Fiction

In various magic and energy working circles one will sometimes encounter people drawing inspiration from a work of fiction.  A symbol from an anime, a spell from a novel, etc.  The opinions on this are most likely varied, but I am of the opinion that it's not necessarily a bad practice.

Many fictional concepts can be developed to work in the real-world, such as being used in an actual spell or energy working technique.  I think that this would be most obvious in Chaos Magic where users are prone to incorporate anything and everything into their practice.  Energy working is another "anything goes" type of practice in which anything that can be imagined can be utilized.

It's important to recognize that you are borrowing or taking inspiration from something fictional though, rather than trying to pass it off as a real tradition.  Drawing symbols to invoke changes in matter is not how real-world alchemy is done, but if you can find something to help you in a fictional representation of alchemy then I see no problem in using it.  It is, however, important to make sure you aren't incorporating detrimental things into your practice.

Then we have the converse of the above:  People mistake real-world concepts for the inventions of fiction.  Examples that come to mind are ki and chakras.  Just as we may take ideas and inspiration from fiction, so do the creators of fiction take ideas and inspiration from real-world occult traditions and practices.  I usually only see this brought up when ignorant people try to deride someone else's practice for being "made-up" or "fake."

You may not be in favor of taking ideas from fiction because of the confusion or derision it can draw.  I happen to be a fan of "If it works, use it," but I most often draw the line at incorporating fiction into serious practice, mostly because of the issues it can cause.  If you do intend to adopt fictional concepts or ideas into your practice, be aware that this won't always be met with a warm reception.

The siddhis as psychic powers?

In Hindu and Tantric Buddhism the siddhis, or accomplishments, are seen as supernatural powers that one acquires through various means.  These means could be anything from being born with them to the use of herbs, or the use of trance and self-discipline.  Some of the amazing abilities granted by these accomplishments are being immune to heat and cold, transmutation of substances, levitation, and even teleportation (among many others).

I can't help but see a link between these accomplishments and some of the more extraordinary or fantastic psychic or magical abilities that are so popular in the West.  To me, personally, this gives inspiration as I have always leaned more toward the spiritual practices of the East.  However, I recognize that this is probably yet another interpretation of feats and abilities that have been described since ancient times and are available to all people when the right conditions are met.

The more I study this particular field the more I come to realize that whether you call it magic, psychic ability, siddhi, or whatever, you are essentially arriving at the same end:  Some miraculous or superhuman achievement.  Hopefully you can find the siddhis as inspiring as I do.

Wikipedia on the siddhis.
The Siddhis - A Brief Introduction

Read the above descriptions and see if you draw the same conclusions.

Left-Hand vs. Right-Hand

In the present occult community it seems that those classified as "left-handers" get a bad rap.  It should be noted that the distinctions of "left-hand path" and "right-hand path" depend largely on interpretation.  The terms originate from Tantra and were brought to the West by Madame Blavatsky.  In its original sense, the left-hand path connotes the breaking of societal taboos as a part of spiritual practice; things like sex in ritual or drinking alcohol.  The right-hand path refers to spiritual practices that conform to society's standards and generally keep with established doctrine.

In the current community the two seem to be divided into a kind of "black magic" and "white magic."  The left-handers are seen as lacking morals, using magic for selfish or malicious ends, and are usually seen as stereotypical "satanists."  The right-handers are the "love and light" types that are perhaps viewed most often as the stereotypical New Agers.  I happen to think that this dichotomy only serves to divide people that could be working together.

My personal view is that the left-hand path is more about utilizing personal power and emotional release whereas the right-hand path is more about devotion to higher powers and the petitioning of those powers.  It is much more complex than simple "good vs. evil."  I don't see the left-hand path as being necessarily evil at all and there are many right-handers that are guilty of some pretty bad behavior.  I think that left and right are just two different ways of accomplishing what is essentially the same thing, like the original meaning of the left and right-hand paths in Tantra.  It could even be said that both are necessary to form a complete practice.

The overall point that I'm trying to get at is that there's no need for a "vs." at all.  Magical practice doesn't have any intrinsic morality; it's the person practicing that determines whether a path is "good" or "evil."  I don't think that the divisiveness that can erupt in magical communities over this is something to be stamped out just because of ideological differences.  If we take the time we can often learn from people that see things in a different way than we do.

Left-Hand Path and Right-Hand Path

Destroy your sigils or save them?

When I see people explaining how sigil magick works and how to do it, I often see destruction of the sigil as one of the final steps in the working.  This works well when each sigil is created for a very specific, one-time use.  What about if you want to have a collection of sigils that you can flip through to find the appropriate one, then charge it for use?

The setback I see in this is that it may be hard for you to let go of the sigil once it is charged and fired off.  If you dwell on it consciously then it might not work properly because you're not allowing the subconscious to do its job.  On the other hand, wouldn't using the same sigil over and over eventually make it more powerful?  Wouldn't it be similar to the traditional magickal figures of the pentagram, hexagram, etc.?  These are simple figures, highly symbolic, and some would argue that they are so powerful because they've been used so much.

So, which is better?  Do you destroy the sigil to allow it to do its thing or do you keep it so you can use it again?  I don't have an answer to that.  I suspect it depends on individual skill and what you feel most comfortable with.  Personally, I'm fond of the idea of having a collection of sigils and symbols that can be consulted and utilized for specific purposes.  Whether my subconscious would agree isn't something I can tell you.

Then there's the practice of keeping the sigil until the desire has manifested and then destroying it to release the energy.  As you can see, there are very few hard-and-fast rules for this type of magick and I think that's one of its major advantages.

Internet Demons

I've talked a little bit about demons before but I thought I would discuss the idea of demons on the Internet for a bit.  It seems logical to me that with more and more of humanity migrating onto the Internet for various reasons that demons (in the neutral non-human spirit sense and in the malevolent entity sense) would follow.  Indeed, the Internet has become a realm of its own.

So, what if there are demons on the Internet?  This provides some new ground for exploration in the dated study that is demonology as well as some new opportunity for magickians.  Maybe it even provides new opportunity for the sciences now that technology is inherently involved with the demonic activity.

This idea could even be spread to cover those strange electronic gremlins that each of us gets from time to time.  I'm sure I'm not the only one that has had a computer do something incredibly strange and then never do it again.  Could this be the hi-jinks of an Internet demon trying to upset me and feed on my emotion or is it attributable to the fickle nature of modern technology?  Hard to say really.

I think that this is a neat idea, as neat as the idea that the Internet is its own living entity, and it could be expanded on greatly.  I'll leave that for others to do though.  I think the big question is:  Have our demons followed us online?  There probably is no definitive answer to that but the link below gives a short, somewhat disturbing, account of the ramifications.

Demons in the 'Net

Trolling as a magickal tool.

The idea hit me earlier that maybe the time-honored tradition of Internet trolling could be used in magickal practice.  It would, of course, probably be better suited to those of a "left-hand" path as it could be morally dubious and it also utilizes strong emotion.  I believe the difficulty might be in channeling all of that Internet rage into your work, but using a computer in your working shouldn't be that complicated for those with enough ingenuity.

This is essentially co-opted group focus, in a sense, similar to an ordinary magickal group working.  Instead of having a group focusing on your magickal goal, they are focusing their strong emotions towards you.  Your job then is to channel all of that attention being given to you into your working.  Since I'm becoming so fond of sigils I'll use that as an example.

You would need to prepare your sigil (or ritual, etc.) beforehand.  Once you have everything set up then you can begin co-opting the energy you need to make your sigil particularly potent.  I figure that there are two ways of charging a sigil in this way.  The first one would be to use your sigil as your avatar or display picture in a forum or chatroom so that the energy is flowing directly to it.  The second way would be to devise some method of channeling the energy into your working such as keeping the sigil on your computer or using your computer in the ritual (if you're taking the ritual path).  This is where your ingenuity comes in.

How do you incite the strong emotions though?  If you're dealing with Wiccans then point out how Gerald Gardner plagiarized Aleister Crowley (see this previous post for more info).  If you're dealing with followers of Crowley you can call him a deviant drug addict.  Obviously this only works on specific groups.  If you're working with a more eclectic crowd then you'll probably need more general triggers.  I would avoid things like "Magick isn't real," as this could work its way into your own subconscious and potentially subvert your goals.  Anyone that's had much experience in these types of crowds should be able to come up with something to stir emotions.

All of this is morally questionable, perhaps reprehensible, but I thought that it might be interesting to folks even if they never actually try the idea out.  I enjoy thinking of new ways to look at old things and solve problems.  With this much negativity on the Internet, someone may as well try to put it to use, right?  If anyone does try this then please let me know how it turns out.  This is frontier stuff right here, I think.  Exploration and experimentation is encouraged.

I also apologize for the flood of magic(k)-related topics lately.  I know that probably not everyone enjoys reading about this stuff but I've been getting back into it lately and I feel that the best writing comes from personal experience.  So there you go.  I'll try to post about more diverse topics in the future.

Magical Alphabets

I've recently taken an interest in magical alphabets, specifically the Theban alphabet.  Magical alphabets have the advantage of giving something a mystical feel as well as concealing information from those that cannot read the text.  Using a magical alphabet also allows for a deeper level of abstraction and symbolism which can aid in some forms of magic (sigil magic comes to mind).

Most of the popular magical alphabets are quite old and related to us through Agrippa.  These alphabets are usually based on Latin or Hebrew and are little more than substitution ciphers.  As with certain languages, the age could be said to aid in the potency of the alphabets.  This potency is also added to by the effort expended by a person in learning and writing the magical alphabet.  In the case of Enochian, we have a means to communicate with the angels themselves.

Enochian is not merely a magical alphabet though.  Enochian is an entire language, channeled by John Dee and Edward Kelly in the 1500s from the angels themselves.  Through the use of Enochian and the associated magical system one is said to be able to gain secret knowledge.  Obviously, learning an entire language (a complex one at that) takes a lot more effort than learning a new alphabet so it is perhaps not for everyone.  Those not particularly interested in ceremonial magic may have no use for Enochian at all.

If you are interested in incorporating magical alphabets into your own practice then see the links below.

Theban Alphabet
Enochian Alphabet
Enochian Language on Wikipedia

Demons: Evil or Misunderstood?

In a lot of modern occult circles any talk of demons is generally frowned upon unless it's talk of how to defend yourself from them or exorcise them.  This is interesting as it wasn't always this way.  This is evident in the Keys of Solomon, specifically the Goetia.  The Goetia focuses almost entirely on various demons and their means of summoning.

Demons were not always seen as the malevolent forces that most Westerners view them as now.  In the beginning, demons (or daemons/daimons) where seen as non-human spirits that coexist with mankind.  Just as there are good and evil people there were some spirits seen as good and some spirits seen as evil.  With this in mind, it seems reasonable for a magician to summon a benevolent demon in order to solicit its help in some manner.  No soul-selling or pacts necessary, just the petition to a non-human spirit.

I think that Christianity gets the most credit for the contemporary view of demons as evil beings out to possess your body and damn your soul.  I only bring this up because even though the original concept of demons has been tinged by time and translation, there are still occultists that adamantly insist that one not deal with demons.  It should be said that these people are usually "right handers" or "white witches."  I find it ironic that they would hold to and support a predominantly Christian view of demons with the knowledge that they have been just as demonized for being witches of any kind.  In light of this inaccuracy (largely translation-based in the first place), you would think that these occultists might be more sympathetic to demons.

Just something to think about the next time you see mention of summoning spirits or demons.  For a much deeper view of demons, please see the link below.

Wikipedia on demons.

Summoning Demons

Recently I've been very interested in sigils and sigil magic.  It just so happens that when browsing some darker areas of the Internet in the wee hours of the morning I stumbled upon an image file containing 99 sigils.  Ninety of these are specific to particular demons, apparently.  The remaining nine have more general purposes.

I don't typically dabble with spirits or demons but I thought this might be relevant to the interests of my readers.  Whether you choose to work with this is up to you.  I thought I recognized some of these names and symbols from somewhere but I've searched my books as well as the Internet and the closest I can turn up is this image, apparently found in a number of places on the Net besides the place I got it from.  Some of these are evocative of the Keys of Solomon, but I can't find any matches.  I haven't studied Solomon's works that closely though.

For those of you that might be brave enough to try this, let me know what happens.