Our Esotericism
- Temple of the Stars
- Dec 19, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Feb 7
One should consider, then, that "paganism" is a fundamentally tendentious and artificial concept that scarcely corresponds to the historical reality of what the pre-Christian world always was in its normal manifestations, apart from a few decadent elements and aspects that derived from the degenerate remains of older cultures. Once we are clear about this, we come today to a paradoxical realization: that this imaginary paganism that never existed, but was invented by Christian apologists, is now serving as the starting-point for certain so-called pagan circles, and is thus threatening for the first time in history to become a reality--no more and no less than that.
– Julius Evola,
Our numinous ways, inherited from the triune union of Leodensian, Cantabrigian and Salopian properties, are quite different from the usual occult practices so common in the digital spectacle—either derivative of Kabbalah or excessively paying homage to Abrahamic lore, or otherwise mangling serious traditions to fit in with the Puer Aeternus spirit of Extreme Metal. Ours revolve around purely esoteric, mystical, and intimate weltanschauung that eschews all self-destructive, counter-productive tendencies and behaviours under the pretense of politics, ideology, and impotent attempts to change the world “by any means necessary”. We offer no suffocating collectivism, demand no blind loyalty let alone membership fee—we simply wish to practice a personal journey of self-discovery, and offer guidance to the likeminded.
Our numinous esotericism, outlined below, involves seven stages of practical tasks. These tasks pay tribute to the Seven Spheres of what we call the Hebdomad. This Greek word appears in ancient Hermetic and Plutarchian texts—often in relation to Pythagorean mathematics, the goddess Athena, and the myth of Isis and Osiris. This connects our ways to an ancient lineage going back to the primordial wisdoms the Ancient Greeks associated with Hyperborea, shrouded in mystique, yet remaining relevant and time-honoured.
Overall, our numinous esotericism is a personal yet communitarian, introspective yet empathetic way of life, encouraging of freethought and speculations from first principles, while prioritizing the limit-experiences of the Sublime that Nature and the Stars can offer us. Ours is free from the trappings and pitfalls of dogma and extremism, and the trifle matters of the digital theatre.
Method
The Hebdomad consists of the seven spheres: Moon, Mercury, Venus, Sun, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Working through the Hebdomad involves a graded journey of seven stages, each with a suggested practical task.
Each sphere is associated with a personal learning or discovery known as pathei mathos. Most likely a common phrase within the lifetime of Aeschylus—whose play Agamemnon centres on this theme—, it means “wisdom from adversity”. In the context of the Hebdomad, pathei mathos refers to a personal learning from a practical experience. The aim of each learning limit-experience is to develop the practicioner’s physical and perceiverational faculties.
“Perceiverational faculties” encompass insight, rational understanding, and empathy. The stage associated with the sphere of the Sun focuses on perceiving one's own physis (what the Thelemites call “True Will”) and the physis of Nature and the cosmic order beyond. This includes understanding the connection between one’s own physis, Nature, living beings on Earth, and the broader Cosmos—which encompasses other solar systems, planets, and potential lifeforms.
Philosophical Implications
Succinctly put, the theory behind the Hebdomad is based on two philosophical principles.
The first principle—derived from Hermeticism and Alchemy—asserts that there is an inner nature to Being and to human beings, which is not perceptible to our physical senses and cannot be discovered by the experimental method of the natural sciences.
The second principle—also derived from Hermeticism and Alchemy—asserts that this inner nature can be understood through symbolism and the relationships between symbols, based on the Aristotelian principle that existence is a reasoned order capable of being rationally understood.
The Sphere Tasks
These tasks have been proven effective in developing the necessary personal physis through experience. Most of them involve physical effort, and some also require distancing oneself from modern living and embracing a simpler, outdoor lifestyle.
To begin the Moon Sphere, one should obtain and read tractates I, III, IV, and XIII of the Corpus Hermeticum, along with scholarly commentary and two different translations for comparison. Afterward, an essay should be written to demonstrate understanding of Hellenic Hermeticism. The Temple of the Stars recommends these translations with commentaries: Hermetica (1995) by Brian Copenhaver, and Corpus Hermeticum: Eight Tractates: Translation and Commentary (2017) by David Myatt.
The Mercury Sphere involves physical challenges.
For women:
Walking 27 miles, in rural terrain, in less than seven (7) hours while carrying a rucksack weighing at least 15 pounds;
Running 26 miles and 385 yards, in five (5) hours;
Cycling 170 miles in twelve (12) hours.
For men:
Walking 32 miles, in rural terrain, in less than seven (7) hours while carrying a rucksack weighing at least 30 pounds;
Running 26 miles and 385 yards, in four and a half (4 ½) hours;
Cycling 200 or more miles in twelve (12) hours.
In the Venus Sphere, one is required to find an isolated hill or mountain with a romantic partner, to wild-camp for at least three days and nights, away from any human habitation, to observe an unobstructed night-time view of the Stars.
The Sun Sphere entails living alone in the wilderness near drinkable water for three (3) months, carrying all necessary supplies in a rucksack. During this time, one must maintain isolation, use only candles for illumination, have no means of measuring time or communication with the outside world, and keep a handwritten journal to record thoughts and experiences.
The Mars Sphere requires the devotion of writing a full-length novel of whatever genre. Two of its characters must be based on or inspired by historical and contemporary figures who resonate with you (whether positively, or negatively). Contemporary or historical research may be necessary in order to write plausible characters, scenarios, dialogues and locations. This could include reading several published novels.
The Jupiter Sphere is a task that begins a Full Moon in Autumn and lasts seven (7) days and nights: one is to stay alone for this long in an isolated underground cavern where or near to where drinkable water flows. A suitable alternative would be an isolated dark cave with its entrance suitably screened from light.
For the Saturn Sphere, the task involves the practitioner—along with their romantic partner—walking, in isolated terrain, a distance of at least 210 miles in 21 days carrying appropriate equipment for camping and supplies of food and water to last several days with their route enabling them to find suitable sources of drinking water when necessary. Supplies of food, if dehydrated or freeze-dried, should last as long as practicable, and then when necessary and possible food can be bought en route. The journey is to end at or near a site which the practicioner and their partner both find they have an empathy with. The practitioner and the partner should each keep a handwritten diary of their journey.
Further Reading
Seven Oxonians (2021). The Hebdomian Way
Cicero, Marcus Tullius. Somnium Scipionis