Tag Archives: Eliphas Levi

Aug 11 2021

An Egregore — A What??

An egregore, (eg-ree-gore), is an autonomous energy created by a repeated or often talked about concept or belief shared by a number of like-minded people. It’s a thoughtform that takes on a persona.

The concept of an egregore has been around for a long time. There are references to them in the Book of Enoch I believed to have been written in the 2nd Century BCE Enoch referred to them as, “angel-like spirits”.

Eliphas Levy, noted ceremonial magician and occultist, also mentions egregori in his work Le Grand Arcan, written around 1868. In that work Levi suggests an egregore doesn’t pay us any attention because they don’t know about our existence.

Both the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and the Rosicrucians were believed to have more fully developed the idea of an egregore.

It seems an egregore needs to consistently be fed with energy such as acknowledgment, belief in, discussion, and anything else others may do to give it strength.

This persona can behave according to the feelings that brought it into existence or it can take on its own personality – it’s up to the entity. It’s said some people attempt to create an egregore to do their bidding. That isn’t necessarily how it turns out, however. Ultimately, an egregore will do what it wants to do…just like people.

There are most likely a number of them all around us. There doesn’t have to be an intention to make one. Most are unintentionally formed just by gathering with the same people and being avidly involved in something or discussing something they are really ‘into’. There is no conjuring, desire, or magick involved. It just happens. These days Big Foot could have an egregore…

So, can they be seen? Mostly they are just sensed, but an older one with plenty of energy given to them by others, can be glimpsed – usually as a misty shape. They form themselves. Without a regular flow of energy geared to them they will just dissipate.

If you think you have one hanging around and don’t want it, you can forget using salt or sage to get rid of it. The only way they can be changed or made to leave is by those who created it. If you think it’s an old sort of energy and has been around longer than those who gave it form then it must have gained some sentience on its own. And, if people continue to talk about it – its not going anywhere, it will stay. If ian egregore is ignored and not mentioned any more it will disappear on its own. If there’s no energy to give it a construct it won’t last. You also cannot re-create it,or re-develop it, or change it in any way. It is what it is and when it’s gone – it’s done.

– ashanta

Jun 24 2016

Are Pentagrams Good or Evil?

Is the pentagram good or evil?  What a question!  It’s neither.  The pentangle is a symbol, a philosophy, a mathematical theory, and a tool.  From ancient times the pentagram has been used to better understand the Universe and man’s place within it.  Pythagoras used it to represent man.  DaVinci expanded upon his theory.  http://leonardodavinci.stanford.edu/submissions/clabaugh/history/leonardo.html

The number five has represented the five elements:  air, earth, water, fire, and aethyr (spirit).  Five represents the path Venus makes on her trip around the sky: https://johncarlosbaez.wordpress.com/2014/01/04/the-pentagram-of-venus/ .

The pentagram has also been used to illustrate the Golden Ratio:  http://www.livescience.com/37704-phi-golden-ratio.html .

The five-pointed star has been used for millennia on flags, on buildings, in cities, (i.e. Washington, D.C.), and even worn by early Christians to protect themselves against evil.  And yes – it’s used in ceremonial rituals and ceremonial magick.

When used in a mystical sense, the attitude that it is infused in the process is what matters – not the star’s orientation.  Point up or down makes no bit of difference one way or another.  One point up, two points up….really?  What fluff.  Point reference was started in the mid-19th century by a self-proclaimed, jealous, closed-minded magician who called himself Eliphas Levi.  His real name is Alphonse Louis Constant.  Mr. Levi / Constant was a Catholic, very dedicated to the church, who in his later years disavowed magic.  He perhaps came to his writings and teachings with a prejudiced inclination.  The pentagram as evil is really a 19th century folly.

People, usually enthralled with the concept of evil, for whatever reasons, were intrigued.  And, Hollywood, wanting to make money off these strong emotions, started producing films to build up the fenzy and make more money.  That brings us to Anton LeVey  and his Church of Satan.  LeVey, born Howard Stanton LeVey, jumped on the bandwagon seeing an opportunity to promote himself and make some bucks.  LeVey was always a showman, working from an early age in the circus and carnivals.  He was a gifted musician and a good businessman.  He was intelligent and had great marketing skills.

LeVey didn’t believe in Satan and he didn’t much care for what he considered the hypocrasy of humankind.  Go to bars and brothels during the week and then make a showing at church on Sunday.  In his teachings, LeVey promoted self-confidence and gave people the feeling of personal empowerment.  Who doesn’t want that?  He had some good thoughts on the subject, too.  Read his Nine Satanic Statements….not to shabby and nothing evil.

So, is the pentagram good or evil?  It’s entirely up to you.  What do you put into it?  If it’s good thoughts, it’s from within you.  If it’s evil — maybe you are, too.  Just remember the law of three.  What you wish for someone else is what you’ll get back times three.  That’s just the Universal Law of Reciprocity.

– ashanta