Lon Milo DuQuette

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Aleister Crowley's Illustrated Goetia - Reviewed by Psyche
Enochian World of Aleister Crowley - Reviewed by Psyche
Sex Magic, Tantra and Tarot - Reviewed by Psyche

Title:	Aleister Crowley’s Illustrated Goetia
Sub-title:	Sexual Evocation
Authors:	Lon Milo DuQuette, Christopher S. Hyatt
Illustrator:	David P. Wilson
Publisher:	New Falcon Publications
ISBN:	1561840483
Pages:	236 pp.
Copyright:	1992, 2000
Revision/Edition:	Second Edition
Reviewer:	Psyche
Contact Information:	psyche[at]spiralnature[dot]com
Category:	General Magick, Sex Magick
Review:	‘What Goetia is – is the releasing of yourself from your won fears and illusions by direct confrontation.’ (pg 10) According to tradition, the Goetia is the first book in the Lemegaton attributed to Solomon the King, though likely compiled by a host of authors. Goetic evocation deals with the summoning of the seventy-two lesser spirits and demons. In this edition, based on Crowley’s Goetia, DuQuette and Hyatt strip away all unnecessary trappings and cut through most of the ‘fooltraps’ designed to dissuade less astute practitioners. Traditionally, Goetic evocation calls for strict observance of many details, such as the correct ritual hours, lengthy calls, and an inordinate amount of ceremonial trappings. The authors tell the reader what one can safely do away with, and what can be altered as preference dictates. However, there are some items that the authors do believe are required for the successful (and safer) evocation of the Goetic spirits, including a list of ‘must haves’ with detailed explanations and personal anecdotes as to why they are necessary. Noting 'that there is absolutely no necessity (nor particular advantage) to blindly conforming with the Conjuration scripts of the ancient texts. The Spirits are no more impressed of you say “thee” and “thine” than they are if you say “you” and “yours”.’ (pg 45) Goetic spirits ‘will work for anyone who knows how to use them. This is one of the horrors people attribute to Goetic workings. You “don’t have to be respectable” for Goetia to work for you. Unlike other magical workings there is no implication that the operator has to be “good” and “holy” to achieve results. This idea in itself violates our model of “right” and “wrong”, “just” and “unjust”. In the Goetic world like in the real world the “bad” can and do prosper. Thus our belief in the moral orders of the Universe appears violated by the simple existence of Spirits who will do the bidding of anyone.’ (pg 14) Though they will work for anyone, the authors caution that one ‘must be completely convinced that your demands are absolutely justified. (And don’t think we are invoking the great demon “morality” here. An unnecessary motive is an unworthy motive – pure and simple). When you are truly justified in your demands then you have the momentum of the entire universe behind you.’ (pg 37) Further cautioning and confirming that ‘yes, they are dangerous,’ DuQuette and Hyatt explain that ‘while they remain unmastered they can surface unbidden and wreak all havoc modern psychology blames on “things hidden in the subconscious mind”.’ (pg 24) As well as a few delightfully thrilling personal anecdotes. There are a few changes, namely the elimination of lengthy calls in preference for Thelemic invocations from Liber Samech by Crowley, Enochian calls, etc. As well, ‘for the convenience of the modern reader’ the authors have translated information regarding each of the seventy-two Goetic spirits into modern understanding and Crowleyan associations, and ‘where obvious, returned certain Spirits to their original gender.’ (pg 43) Sketches accompany each of the seventy-two spirits, illustrated by artist-clairvoyant David P. Wilson, a practicing Goetic magickian. ‘Over a period of 15 years, he has evoked each of the Spirits at least once…But it is very important for you to remember that, because no two people have the same visual-emotional “vocabulary”, the images of the Goetic universe will be unique to each of us.’ The authors caution the reader not to ‘think that these sketches are what you must see when evoking any particular Spirit,’ instead explaining that ‘they are intended to serve only as springboards to your imagination.’ (pg 72) Though with such a short section on sex magick, I don’t know that it really deserves the ‘Sexual Evocation’ subtitle as there are really only a few pages on it at the rear of the text. Aimed at those actually interested in actually practicing magick rather than simply reading about it, it gives unambiguous description of what tools are required and the methods of evocation and, briefly, of sexual invocation, cutting through the superfluous and get right to what is necessary. An excellent introduction to Goetic magick as Crowley practiced it.
Review submitted:	30 January 2004

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Title:	Enochian World of Aleister Crowley
Sub-title:	Enochian Sex Magick
Authors:	Aleister Crowley, Lon Milo DuQuette, Christopher S. Hyatt
Illustrator:	David P. Wilson
Publisher:	New Falcon Publications
ISBN:	1561840297
Pages:	162 pp.
Copyright:	1991, 1993, 1997, 2002
Revision/Edition:	Fourth Printing
Reviewer:	Psyche
Contact Information:	psyche[at]spiralnature[dot]com
Category:	General Magick, Sex Magick
Review:	Hyatt has ‘found the Enochian system to be the safest, cleanest and most logical system of practical magick one can perform. But it is an art and as such requires not only study and practice but also inspiration and the love-hate relationship all artists have with their craft’ (pg 59). He further advises the reader to ‘resign yourself at the outset to take responsibility for your own magical reality. When you have firmly assumed this responsibility you will realize there is no Enochian universe per se. There is only your universe which you can access by the Enochian formulae. There is no Enochian magick per se. There is only your magick, facilitated by the methods of the Enochian system’ (pg 21). It contains Liber LXXXIV vel Chanokh, with detailed notes and further explanations preceding the text itself, providing a lucid and detailed guide to the Enochian system via Crowley, spiced with anecdotes describing the authors’ personal experience with the Enochian system. To further facilitate the ease of understanding the system the authors advise using coloured diagrams, noting that while ‘all this may take a few hours to execute but it will save you months (or as in my case, years) of confusion’ (pg 46) as through colour-coding it becomes more obvious how the tablets relate. However, the section devoted to sex magick is small, only two short and somewhat vague chapters tagged on the end. Hyatt intends this ‘for the reader who is already knowledgeable on these subjects’, noting that he is merely offering ‘a few helpful hints concerning how Enochian can be used in these areas’ (pg 104). While this may be true, it also means that it doesn’t quite warrant the slightly misleading ‘Sex Magick’ subtitle given to it. Toward the rear of the book there is an Enochian dictionary; complete with several pages of Enochian words, their pronunciation and English translation. Also included is the Lesser Ritual of the Hexagram, and in the appendix there are several diagrams of the tablets, the pentagrams and signs, as well as eight ‘sex magick symbols’. Lucid, concise, precise in its language, the Enochian World of Aleister Crowley is excellent as a general introduction to the study Enochian magick through Crowley, if not a practical guide to sex magick.
Review submitted:	18 March 2004

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Title:	Sex Magic, Tantra and Tarot
Sub-title:	The Way of the Secret Lover
Author:	Christopher Hyatt, Ph. D. & Lon Milo DuQuette
Publisher:	New Falcon Publications
ISBN:	1561840440
Pages:	191 pp. (Incl. appendices)
Copyright:	1991, 1996, 2004
Revision/Edition:	SSecond Expanded and Revised Edition
Reviewer:	Psyche
Contact Information:	psyche[at]spiralnature[dot]com
Category:	Sex Magick, Magick, Tarot
Review:	Through Tarot, quabbalah, and tantric practice leading towards attaining conversation with one’s Holy Guardian Angel, or as it is termed in this work, one’s ‘Secret Lover’: ‘We momentarily feel the embrace of our Secret Lover in the ecstasy of orgasm and in moments of rapture when the beauty of music or dance or visual art or nature overcome us ‘(pg 11). Further, learning the Will to surrender, as Hyatt and DuQuette note ‘[m]ost people feel unable to surrender or be in the presence of someone who is surrendering because of the pain it brings to the surface. They feel the pounding force of life pushing through their skin and they are horrified of losing what sense of autonomy they do have’ (pg 18). One method of overcoming this barrier is through Tarot: ‘One way that we in the West can understand our ability (or inability) to achieve this type of surrender is by utilizing the archetypical images of our own psyche. The images of the Tarot have, for centuries, allowed t he diligent seeker an opportunity to “eaves drop” on the pictorial language of the subconscious mind’ (pg 23). This isn’t an introductory book on sex magick, nor is it about sex magick in general. Rather this work focuses on the aspects of sex magick relating more specifically to the theory and practice leading to one specific ritual, with an additional one thrown in for good measure. The principle purpose of this work leading towards the Ultimate Divination, a ritual using Tarot to invoke one’s HGA with ultimate purpose. Elemental, astrological, planetary, quabbalistic, associations for the Tarot are detailed, along with their meanings. The major arcana are accompanied by illustrations designed by Lon Milo DuQuette and penned by David P. Wilson, with inspiration clearly drawn from Crowley and his Book of Thoth, and consequently the Golden Dawn associations. Offers a very brief mythological ‘traditional’ history of the origin of the Tarot and a frank appraisal of sex magick in how it is viewed, and how it is practiced: ‘There is a commonly-held belief that those who practice sex-magic are indulging themselves in wild orgiastic rites at every opportunity. This is rarely the case. After all, if you need to go through lots of occult rigmarole just to get laid, then you’re a bit sad, aren’t you? Then again, the occult subculture is full of SAD people, desperate to finally get laid and attempting to turn to sex-magic as a last resort’ (pg 161). However, while the authors demonstrate a more or less healthy attitude towards homosexuality, their focus is primarily from a male perspective. Indeed, most of the text seems focused on the male’s role. Lesbianism gets but a brief mention as being ‘ok’ because it’s a ‘turn on’. As the authors are both men, it’s not surprising that a male bias exists, but it is still disappointing to see. It’s not a sex magick how-to book, nor Tantra, and it’s not a book on Tarot specifically. So what is it? Best I can figure, it’s an old fashioned grimoire with insight into the particular psychological and ritual trappings required to work a specific rite with a specific goal in mind. It’s a shame the title seems ill-matched to its contents.
Review submitted:	28 May 2005

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