What does a Counter-Initiate benefit from counter-initiation? I understand (from Evola) that the goal of initiation is a spiritual self-transformation that grants immortality of the soul. What does counter-initiation promise its adherents?
That's an intriguing question, difficult to answer, but I believe it strikes at the heart of the problem.
As I understand it—and I stress that my interpretation is by no means authoritative—the Counter-Tradition and especially the Counter-Initiation are false and counterfeit in the most comprehensive ways possible. And therein lies the rub: the Counter-Initiation does indeed promise much of the same things that an orthodox, traditional initiation promises, if not much more. Immortality, spiritual transformation or transmutation, and frequently the acquisition of new senses, intellectual faculties, and other powers—all these things and much else are vainly promised by Counter-Initiatic organizations.
The problem is, they have neither the authority nor the intiatic connection to the Tradition to make good on these promises. I believe this is why it's so easy for spiritual seekers to be misled and ensnared by the Counter-Initiation; it often clothes itself in the language, imagery, and ceremonial of orthodox traditions.
A friend of mine who is a student of occultism has some thoughts on the matter. He agrees with the Buddhists that the final stage of true initiation is to shed the self and reunite with the divine source. He says that some initiates refuse to shed the ego and succumb to blandishments of power given to them by subtle powers of a lesser order.
It seems to me that the idea that at some point there is an opportunity to accept power from the subtle inferior forces could explain where counter-initiation came from and what it promises. Quicker, easier, more seductive.
But I'm not sure I agree with him that the ultimate step is to shed one's self. Evola, at least, would disagree, as he saw the goal as the Absolute Self. My friend believed Evola had gone wrong...
It also leaves unanswered the question of where the inferior forces come from and if they have "goals" in the sense that we understand them. That is, are the "forces" actually non-human (or formerly human) intelligences or are they just like "evil gravity" that attracts in a particular direction?
I think in many ways these forces are very much like an "evil gravity," in that they are a natural byproduct of the Reign of Quantity…in other words, the increasing involution of our universe in matter. But I don't think we should kid ourselves either—the inferior forces, or "negotia perambulantes in tenebris" as I have heard them called in some quarters, are very much endued with intelligence, and possess their own goals and agendas.
If you are interested in these matters, I cannot recommend Guénon's "The Reign of Quantity and the Signs of the Times" highly enough; it truly is a masterpiece, and I have barely covered a fraction of the wisdom contained in that book in my own meager writings. In fact, much of the reason I began writing was to grapple with the startling questions posed by that book; it is challenging, but rewarding in equal measure.
Your friend seems to be correct on many points. As for Evola…that's a tricky one. I think René Guénon, Frithjof Schuon, and many other eminent Traditionalists would agree with your friend. For the most part, I'm inclined to agree with them. But Evola's wisdom is far greater than mine, and perhaps his journey toward the Absolute Individual was successful. It just seems to me that the path he advocates is almost—if not entirely—impossible to achieve, and there are too many dangerous pitfalls along the way.
But he does have many interesting things to say about this in his essays in "Introduction to Magic" and in his book "The Hermetic Tradition," and it makes me wonder whether the path he envisions was indeed traveled in the past by certain extraordinary individuals, whose names have come down to us in history and legend, and who lived at a period in our cycle when spiritual realization was more easily attainable than it is now.
Thanks for getting back to me. I have read parts of "The Reign of Quantity and the Signs of the Times" but I haven't read the whole thing. I bought it as an ebook and unfortunately the digital version was not well-done, it was quite hard to read. I need to order it in print and give it a thorough read. Probably a bad idea to buy traditionalist books in digital format in any case, as they could be "vanished" at any time.
What do you think are the goals and agendas of the inferior forces? A blogger I read named Bruce Charlton discusses three types of evil -- which he calls Luciferian, Ahrimanic, and Sorathic, respectively for evil that pursues wicked pleasures, evil that pursues domination and tyranny, and evil that pursues destruction for the sake of destruction. He writes from a Christian perspective but is broad-minded about tradition.
Yes, ebooks are definitely not the best format for Traditionalist works…among other things for just the reason you cite: their tendency to be "vanished" by those who fear their message, or perhaps worse is the possibility that they might be secretly edited and altered.
I recommend the Sophia Perennis editions, which are very well done and authoritative.
As for the agenda of the inferior forces? I think it ultimately falls into the Sorathic category of Charlton's schema—destruction for its own sake. Licentiousness, dissolution, the seeking of absolute power…these are but means to that ultimate end. What Guénon calls the "Counter-Initiation" and Evola calls "Subversion" is aimed at counterfeiting, inverting, and ultimately destroying the traditional order. We can see this in the "Great Parody" embodied by our own civilization, which is almost a total inversion of a traditionally oriented culture…the chaos and disorder is pretty nakedly nihilistic, with no greater goal than the destruction, pure and simple, of what once was.
I guess the best term to use for these forces is the traditional "Satanic," which is what Guénon used, and signifies their adversarial and subversive nature. But keep in mind that the destruction they sow in the world is never ultimately successful—just as the increasing materialization of the universe during the "Reign of Quantity" never reaches its ultimate endpoint either. The present cycle, according to the Traditionalists, will rectify before this can happen, and a new cycle will begin.
This seems to be where the confusion lies—are the subtle inferior forces truly malignant, or are they a natural and perhaps even salutary aspect of the universe? I suppose that's part of the esoteric meaning of that quote in the Bible: "For it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!"
What does a Counter-Initiate benefit from counter-initiation? I understand (from Evola) that the goal of initiation is a spiritual self-transformation that grants immortality of the soul. What does counter-initiation promise its adherents?
That's an intriguing question, difficult to answer, but I believe it strikes at the heart of the problem.
As I understand it—and I stress that my interpretation is by no means authoritative—the Counter-Tradition and especially the Counter-Initiation are false and counterfeit in the most comprehensive ways possible. And therein lies the rub: the Counter-Initiation does indeed promise much of the same things that an orthodox, traditional initiation promises, if not much more. Immortality, spiritual transformation or transmutation, and frequently the acquisition of new senses, intellectual faculties, and other powers—all these things and much else are vainly promised by Counter-Initiatic organizations.
The problem is, they have neither the authority nor the intiatic connection to the Tradition to make good on these promises. I believe this is why it's so easy for spiritual seekers to be misled and ensnared by the Counter-Initiation; it often clothes itself in the language, imagery, and ceremonial of orthodox traditions.
A friend of mine who is a student of occultism has some thoughts on the matter. He agrees with the Buddhists that the final stage of true initiation is to shed the self and reunite with the divine source. He says that some initiates refuse to shed the ego and succumb to blandishments of power given to them by subtle powers of a lesser order.
It seems to me that the idea that at some point there is an opportunity to accept power from the subtle inferior forces could explain where counter-initiation came from and what it promises. Quicker, easier, more seductive.
But I'm not sure I agree with him that the ultimate step is to shed one's self. Evola, at least, would disagree, as he saw the goal as the Absolute Self. My friend believed Evola had gone wrong...
It also leaves unanswered the question of where the inferior forces come from and if they have "goals" in the sense that we understand them. That is, are the "forces" actually non-human (or formerly human) intelligences or are they just like "evil gravity" that attracts in a particular direction?
I think in many ways these forces are very much like an "evil gravity," in that they are a natural byproduct of the Reign of Quantity…in other words, the increasing involution of our universe in matter. But I don't think we should kid ourselves either—the inferior forces, or "negotia perambulantes in tenebris" as I have heard them called in some quarters, are very much endued with intelligence, and possess their own goals and agendas.
If you are interested in these matters, I cannot recommend Guénon's "The Reign of Quantity and the Signs of the Times" highly enough; it truly is a masterpiece, and I have barely covered a fraction of the wisdom contained in that book in my own meager writings. In fact, much of the reason I began writing was to grapple with the startling questions posed by that book; it is challenging, but rewarding in equal measure.
Your friend seems to be correct on many points. As for Evola…that's a tricky one. I think René Guénon, Frithjof Schuon, and many other eminent Traditionalists would agree with your friend. For the most part, I'm inclined to agree with them. But Evola's wisdom is far greater than mine, and perhaps his journey toward the Absolute Individual was successful. It just seems to me that the path he advocates is almost—if not entirely—impossible to achieve, and there are too many dangerous pitfalls along the way.
But he does have many interesting things to say about this in his essays in "Introduction to Magic" and in his book "The Hermetic Tradition," and it makes me wonder whether the path he envisions was indeed traveled in the past by certain extraordinary individuals, whose names have come down to us in history and legend, and who lived at a period in our cycle when spiritual realization was more easily attainable than it is now.
Thanks for getting back to me. I have read parts of "The Reign of Quantity and the Signs of the Times" but I haven't read the whole thing. I bought it as an ebook and unfortunately the digital version was not well-done, it was quite hard to read. I need to order it in print and give it a thorough read. Probably a bad idea to buy traditionalist books in digital format in any case, as they could be "vanished" at any time.
What do you think are the goals and agendas of the inferior forces? A blogger I read named Bruce Charlton discusses three types of evil -- which he calls Luciferian, Ahrimanic, and Sorathic, respectively for evil that pursues wicked pleasures, evil that pursues domination and tyranny, and evil that pursues destruction for the sake of destruction. He writes from a Christian perspective but is broad-minded about tradition.
Yes, ebooks are definitely not the best format for Traditionalist works…among other things for just the reason you cite: their tendency to be "vanished" by those who fear their message, or perhaps worse is the possibility that they might be secretly edited and altered.
I recommend the Sophia Perennis editions, which are very well done and authoritative.
As for the agenda of the inferior forces? I think it ultimately falls into the Sorathic category of Charlton's schema—destruction for its own sake. Licentiousness, dissolution, the seeking of absolute power…these are but means to that ultimate end. What Guénon calls the "Counter-Initiation" and Evola calls "Subversion" is aimed at counterfeiting, inverting, and ultimately destroying the traditional order. We can see this in the "Great Parody" embodied by our own civilization, which is almost a total inversion of a traditionally oriented culture…the chaos and disorder is pretty nakedly nihilistic, with no greater goal than the destruction, pure and simple, of what once was.
I guess the best term to use for these forces is the traditional "Satanic," which is what Guénon used, and signifies their adversarial and subversive nature. But keep in mind that the destruction they sow in the world is never ultimately successful—just as the increasing materialization of the universe during the "Reign of Quantity" never reaches its ultimate endpoint either. The present cycle, according to the Traditionalists, will rectify before this can happen, and a new cycle will begin.
This seems to be where the confusion lies—are the subtle inferior forces truly malignant, or are they a natural and perhaps even salutary aspect of the universe? I suppose that's part of the esoteric meaning of that quote in the Bible: "For it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!"
In any case, these are excellent questions!