introduction letter

[BlackRose]

Society of the Onyx Star
P.O. Box 538,
Glens Falls, NY 12801 USA

www.societyonyxstar.org


Information Letter


The Society of the Onyx Star (SOTOS) is an international organization that is dedicated to studying both the philosophies and the magical principles of the Left Hand Path, (LHP) and their applications in regard to one's personal and spiritual growth. This informational letter is designed to give you, the reader, as much information about SOTOS as is possible for your consideration. You may or may not agree with everything in this document, which is your prerogative – bearing in mind that SOTOS is not looking to win a contest on the high numbers of its members. Instead, we are looking for serious students so that we can bring the LHP into the 21st century and beyond. If you read this and would like to partake of what we have to offer, then by all means feel free to pursue membership with us. Alternatively, if you should you feel that we are not what you are looking for, may we offer you good luck in finding what you Will, via your own path.

Please take a minute to consider our Mission Statement:

"The purpose of the Society of the Onyx Star is to develop and enhance the philosophies of Left Hand Path traditions. The Society shall make these advancements by serving as a storehouse of philosophical and occult findings, while also providing an organized and initiated structure for the purpose of individual growth and expansion. The Society encourages the development of the individual’s perspective of the Left Hand Path within the bounds of our Ethical Principles; we do not discriminate based on personal interests."


THE LEFT HAND PATH


When considering SOTOS, one must first understand how the Left Hand Path is defined and how it differs from the Right Hand Path (RHP). As a side note, almost every person you ask is going to give you a different perspective on both of these concepts. SOTOS is merely offering generalized definitions; it is the duty of each individual to come to terms with each Path and define each one in their own terms.

The main concept in defining the RHP and LHP is the placement of the Will in its relationship to the Universe around the individual. The Will, like LHP and RHP, is a concept that everyone has a definition for that is relative to their perspective. The Will can be defined as
a conscious and intentional use of personal energy. Therefore, a willed act could be exemplified by brushing one's teeth, driving to work, cleaning your house and going to the store to buy a newspaper.

In "The Magick of Thelema" by Lon Milo Duquette, he offers an insightful definition of an un-willed act. He describes such an act as "any habitual or reactive behavior that overrides the momentum of one's life focus". Smoking a cigarette and drinking that morning cup of coffee can be examples of this.

The RHP is the path of the majority of religions and philosophies in the world today. Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Judaism would be some examples of RHP organizations. The individual is told to
forsake their Will and become one with the "Will of God" and by doing so they will harmonize their life with that of their Gods and live in perfect happiness. The "Will of God" is revealed to them through such means as holy books, sets of commandments, or infallible doctrines lay down by their Supreme Beings. There is created a "priesthood" that must intervene and interpret the message between
follower and deity.

The LHP then, is the path of the individual who realizes that the "Will of God" is his Will. He cares not for holy books or lengthy dogmatic doctrines to guide his life; rather he creates his own road based on conscious and intentional acts. He needs no priests to interpret or reveal the plan of some deity's design, for he creates his own plan in accordance with his own Will and perspective.

Before we can fully offer a starting definition of the LHP for your consideration, there is one more concept we must briefly touch upon. This is the concept of Self.

Sense of the Self is that quality in the individual that has many different terms associated with it. Among them are soul, spirit, essence, awareness, consciousness, and being. What we are talking about here is that the Self is the totality of the essence of one's consciousness. It is your whole being; it is who and what you are.

To the RHP person, the idea of the Self is defused and absorbed into the "Children of God" mentality. Without their deity's aid, the person is wholeheartedly nothing. They live a life that only has meaning in as much as they can serve and cater to the perceived whims of their deity. In the end, the reward for this life of servitude and
Selflessness comes in the form of a dogma ridden, pre-packaged, pre-promised concept of a joyfully painless existence after death.

The person who walks the Left Hand Path understands that change and growth of the Self cannot and will not happen while sitting and patiently waiting for some eternal reward. They understand that the Self must be nurtured and cultivated into a single and unique essence. The Self is actualized at first as a fragmented and splintered concept, drawing all of its influences from what it has perceived around it. From day one, the actualization and formation of the Self is taken from bits and pieces of ones perception. A baby's personality is influenced from the start by the examples, patterns, and behaviors its family sets before it. The loving mother, the alcoholic father, the controlling sister, and the generous brother are all influences, positive and negative, that affects the way our Selves develop. Later on in life we add other influences from our friends and peers, our community, religions, governments and their laws, jobs, schools, and just about anything else that comes in contact with us. These experiences are subsequently added together, along with our own interpretation of such experiences to create our psychological profile. With the younger stages of life being the most impressionable, it's not surprising to see children who were read imaginative and fantastical stories becoming the most insightful members of the LHP.

It is once all of the fragments of the Self amalgamate that the LHP person will begin to contemplate and evaluate his or her own existence. They begin to question themselves and their place in the universe, along with their perspective of it. Slowly as they journey down the path, they make discoveries of what they like and dislike about them Selves. What they like, they leave alone; what they don't like, they change to fit with their new idealized concepts. They then create change in their Selves in accordance with their Wills.

Here then is the definition of the LHP that SOTOS has found to be accurate in accordance with its own perspective. The Left Hand Path is both a process and a perspective. As a process, the LHP is the intentionally repeated act of utilizing one's Will towards the
unification and isolation of the Self. As a perspective, the LHP is the way in which we perceive and understand the tools that actively manifest our Wills towards the unification and isolation of the Self. We offer this for your consideration, yet at the same time we challenge you to seek out and discover the LHP for yourself. Once you step upon the Path of the Left, you will find that you are walking amongst a new and exciting world. A world where your thirst for knowledge will be quenched, a world where everyday there will be new concepts and challenges to discover and face. A world where an infinite amount of doors will open before you; yet one door will close. This is the door back into the deadly light of ignorance and self-deception that once housed your unconscious Self.

[BlackRose]

OUR SYMBOLISM

The Society of the Onyx Star draws much of its heritage and inspirational symbolism from mankind's own history. While the actual concept of the LHP is a somewhat recent idea, its spirit has been felt since the days when man first crawled from the primordial ooze to take his place as the dominant species on this planet.

Today we draw upon a rich history of symbols, archetypes, and tools that our ancestors have created for us. Everything from pre-Socratic philosophy to modern occultism, from the Runes of the Norse to the Tarot of 13th century Europe, from the early Druid circles to the rites of the Hellfire Club and a vast array of other influences from many perspectives and cultures.

Much of our magical traditions and structures can be traced back through such modern magical orders as the Church of Satan, I.O.T., Ordo Templi Orientis, and the Temple of Set. Influences can also be allocated to such historical orders as the Golden Dawn, The Fraternity of Saturn, and many of the early earth based religions and orders.

Many people may well be thinking that SOTOS is purely a Satanic organization. We would say that the answer is very simply yes and no. Yes, in the sense that many people involved with SOTOS have an interest in modern, traditional, and philosophical Satanism. No, in that SOTOS as a LHP organization encompasses a much broader scope of ideals than just the Satanic. SOTOS is the first truly eclectic LHP organization to be created while drawing from as many perspectives as the individual may want to explore.

Perhaps the most ancient symbol we use in SOTOS is that of the pentagram. The pentagram is a symbol that is almost as old as time itself. The first major use of the pentagram (five-pointed star) was around 3500 B.C in Mesopotamia, when the ancient rulers used it as a
symbol of their power spreading over the world.

In the days of early Greece, the Pythagorean mystics worshiped the pentagram as a symbol of the Goddess Kore. Kore was the goddess of springtime and newness of life and was the youngest form of the three-fold goddess of the feminine life cycle - the others being the
matron and crone. The mystics called the pentagram the Pent-alpha, the Greek birth letter connected five times over.

During this time the Pythagoreans began to draw certain conclusions about the pent-alpha and soon the "two points" up version became the symbol of the order. Pythagoras realized that the pentagram exemplified the idea of Phi (1.6180339887499 etc), which decimally is called the Golden Mean. From the Golden Mean one can make the Golden Rectangle, whose dimensions are 1.618 or roughly 1/3. So an example of a Golden Rectangle could be a rectangle 13 feet by 8 feet. This ratio became very important in Greek and Egyptian Architecture mainly because it was very easy to reproduce with very little variation.

During the Renaissance an Italian painter named Fibonacci discovered that plants and flowers grew in a particular mathematical sequence.


0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55,89,144…

For those not seeing the formula, adding the two previous numbers to get the sum of the third reveals the Fibonacci Series. 0+1=1, 1+1=2, 1+2=3, 2+3=5, 3+5=8, and so on. Fibonacci found that after a plant grew one flower, it would grow a single replacement, and then two more, ultimately following the numerical pattern exactly. Other examples of the Fibonacci Series in nature are in the way a Nautilus constructs its shell and in sunflowers, which have 55 clockwise spirals overlaid on either 34 or 89 clockwise spirals.

It is an interesting correlation to make when one considers both theorems of the Golden Mean and the Fibonacci Series, as exemplified by the pentagram, and how they together show the mathematical and
geometric structures of the basis of natural life. That life itself seems to follow this mathematical pattern and that ultimately it is symbolized in the pentagram.

In the 1800's Eliphas Levi was the first magician to identify "good" and "evil" pentagrams. His "good" pentagram was a one point up star, which housed a man with in it. The man represented the four elements by his arms and legs and spirit by his head. Over and under the man were the words Adam and Eve. Around the star was five Hebrew letters each on a point.

Levi's "evil" pentagram was the two points up or the inverse pentagram, as it would become known as. The man was replaced by a goats head and the words Samael and Lilith crossed its horns and chin respectively. Around it was spelled L.V.TH.Y.N. or Leviathan in Hebrew.

Levi claimed that the goat's head pentagram represented the demon Baphomet, the same deity that the knights Templar were accused and tried for of worshiping of in the early 1300's. Most of the knights
confessed to crimes against the church under the duress of torture or merely the fear of being tortured – which were favorite tricks of the Holy Inquisition, who were the ones who tried them. All of the order that were tortured recanted their confessions, fuelling speculation that the Inquisition only persecuted them due to their strength and (mainly) their financial status. Even the leader of the Order proclaimed his innocence and that he had lied under extreme torture moments before he was burning at the stake in 1314 in Paris. Thus Levi's drawing would become know as the Sigil of Baphomet.

The Sigil of Baphomet (minus the Samael and Lilith) next would appear on the cover of Maurice Bessy's "A Pictorial History of Magic and the Supernatural", published in English in 1964. It was from this volume that in 1966 Anton Szandor LaVey would take the Sigil from and adopt it as the "official" symbol of the Church of Satan.

Today we in SOTOS look at the pentagram as our symbol when in its inverted state. It is Onyx in color to represent the perfect freedom in darkness we have at our Will to explore and learn what we want to without guilt or fear of some universal retribution. It is also to show that the lights of falsehood and self-deception will never blind us again. It is a star in shape to reflect our isolated conscious selves; as Crowley termed it, "Every man and every woman is a star." Thus we draw our name, The Society of the Onyx Star and our heritage is rich with eclectic symbolism.

[BlackRose]

ETHICS

Because the Society of the Onyx Star fosters an open
atmosphere in which all aspect of occultism and philosophy are explored, this freedom is balanced by the Society's demand for mature, enlightened and ethical individuals. While SOTOS is not here to dictate morals and ethics to people, or to tell individuals how they should live their lives, there are certain societal ideals that we do need to adhere to. We suggest to people that are considering joining SOTOS to look at "The Nine Satanic Statements" and "The Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth" by Anton LaVey. The Liber Oz by Aleister Crowley is also a good starting point for consideration of less Satanic LHP ethics.

One of Marvels most notable comic book heroes was told a phrase which we at SOTOS hold to be very insightful. It was the uncle of the Amazing Spiderman who told the fledgling hero, "with great power,
comes great responsibility." When dealing with magic and many of the skills one learns while walking the LHP, it does become possible to use that magic and those skills to influence others. The individual is asked to use great discernment in choosing to take a magical act against someone or not. Just because we have the power to do something, does not necessarily mean that we should. Because of the open and trustful environment in SOTOS, it is grounds for immediate expulsion if one is found trying to use magic against his or her fellow members without serious reason. Even then, members are STRONGLY advised to follow the path to their superiors and let them deal with the problem. In TEN OUT OF TEN cases, we will resolve said problem. SOTOS is an organization of trustworthy experience and is an opportune situation in which to explore and learn freely. Those indulging in personal and political squabbling will be warned to cease and desist.

All in SOTOS understands that the LHP is about the processes of life, living, and Willful evolution. We choose to celebrate life and all of its wonders. We care not to follow the example made by the death cults of modern religion. While we are mindful of what happens
after one dies and have many theories on that, we look towards the existence we are enjoying now, rather then waiting for the eternal reward of the next life. NEVER DO WE HARM ANY LIVING BEING FOR ANY CEREMONIAL OR RELIGIOUS PURPOSES. The intentional act of hurting anyone or any animal is grounds for immediate expulsion.

SOTOS is not here to institute rules or regulations on one's lifestyle. What one chooses to do in their private life is entirely up to that person. When at any SOTOS gatherings, international, national, or local, drug use is not allowed nor is participation in any events while under the influence of drugs. This again is ground for expulsion from the organization, however prescription drugs are allowed. We respect all international, national, and regional laws on the use of illegal drugs. The individual is left to decide just how it is affecting his mental capacity and if he can clearly and Willfully participate in SOTOS events.

These few guidelines are not set up to hinder anyone's personal growth; rather they are in place as to create an atmosphere that people can feel completely comfortable within so that the exchange of ideas and theories can happen freely. If these guidelines seem a
bit harsh to you; then perhaps SOTOS in not the organization for you.

STRUCTURE

The High Council (HC) holds ultimate authority in SOTOS. The High Council is made up of 13 members and serves as the governing body and board of directors. The HC is personally responsible to the Powers of Darkness to guide SOTOS through the magical streams of the current Aeon in a balance and forward fashion. Both male and female members of the HC are called Magistrates and can be from various levels in their personal Initiation.

The High Council's responsibilities are numerous. Amongst them are, creating and amending By-Laws, settling internal conflicts, approving the appointments of Representatives, approving the appointment of both the Council Administrator and the Executive Director, approving high level Recognitions, and pretty much anything else that they deem is necessary.

The Council Administrator (CA) assists the HC in all of its functions. Any issue that is brought before the Council must first pass through the hands of the CA. This is not so much as a "weeding out" process as much as it is a gathering of all the facts. The CA then presents the material before the HC so that they can vote on
it. The CA also acts as the treasurer of SOTOS and gives quarterly financial reports to the HC. The CA can be contacted by emailing to [e-mail].

The Executive Director (ED) oversees the needs of the
membership and keeps membership records. All membership applications go through the ED for approval. At the same time the ED sends out membership certificates and membership cards, and likewise records all Recognitions. All Chantry Charters are approved and granted through the ED. The ED also is the editor of the quarterly newsletter. Address changes should be sent to the ED. The ED can be contacted at
[e-mail].

SOTOS is really two organizations working
together. One side based on the pure logistics of philosophy, and the other based on an occult based initiatory structure. When a person joins SOTOS they must choose which Path they want to undertake. Both are intertwined with one another, and offer different levels of advancement - eventually amalgamating into one path.

[BlackRose]

The Path of the Philosopher (PotP) is the LHP from a philosophical standpoint. What might be misunderstood at first as mere humanism isreally a much more pragmatic application of human existence withoutthe christianized ideals. The PotP is an extensive study of allaspects of philosophy. Modern, ancient and personal ideas, are all brought together to form the basis of a strong knowledge in ideas on existence, thought and theory.

The PotP considers philosophy through such means as lectures and presentations, research papers, large discussion groups, symposiums, and field trips to libraries, museums, and other places of relative interest.

There are four grades for the Philosopher to work through, each one bringing bigger understanding and mastery with it - and of course recognition.

The first Grade (I*) is the Novitiate. The Novitiate has just begun his journey into the LHP and has little more than a broad interest. They will start this journey by looking at all the philosophical standpoints of the LHP, and attempting to make sense of as much as they can in order to find their TRUE interest and their true talents.

The second Grade (II*) is the Watcher. Watchers have studied the thoughts and visions of many, and realize what it is that interests them most. They are starting to form their own opinions on their preferred area of interest, and are becoming more and more capable of
backing them up. This is ultimately the highest grade for most members, as the grades above are really extensions of this, with specializations.

The third Grade (III*) is the grade of the Inquisitor. They have solidified what they think with what others have thought before them, and share their findings with others. They are still inquisitive however, as they wish for that final refinement of their own beliefs, and show determination to find it - while helping others start out on
their own path. This is the first grade in the PotP where members tend to the needs of those junior to them, and give stringent questioning to Watchers who are solidifying their own ideals. An Inquisitor is inquisitive in every sense of the word.

The fourth and final Grade (IV*) is the Black Guard. Their perspectives are at such an advanced stage that they have formed a new philosophy altogether that they can teach. They only give out a few of their secrets however, guarding much of their knowledge so
that another philosopher can find for themselves the inspirations for their own philosophy. They are also the protectors and keepers of the temples magic theories, and can help even a great magician to solve the most complex of problems with often the simplest solutions. They also protect the teaching of those junior to them,
while making sure they always take new ideas on board. Finally, the Black Guard will keep the Inquisitors in check, and make sure the Watchers find their true path.

[BlackRose]

The Path of the Initiate (PotI) is the way of the magician. It is based on traditional western concepts of magick as seen though a systemized and well-developed Degree System. Really the PotI is part magickal initiation and part religious training per say. This is the Path of the warrior-priest.

There are two forms of magick studied, Lesser Black Magick (LBM) and Greater Black Magick (GBM). LBM is the art of manipulating one's environment to suit their Will. This can be applied to one's everyday day life. You have a favorite parking spot at work, but someone always takes it. So you set your alarm clock 15 minutes earlier (act of Will), so that you will get that parking spot before anyone else (manipulation of ones Universe). Such things as advertising and propaganda also fall under the LBM idea as mass LBM. The field of Social Psychology is pretty much the mundane study of LBM. But please remember, just because it is called "Lesser" Black Magick does not mean it is any less potent.

Greater Black Magick is the study of ritual or ceremonial magick. Crowley defined Magick as "the science and art of causing change inconformity with one's Will." Ritual is a tool that can greatly enhance our ability to cause that change. Within the idea of GBM there are two types of ceremonies, Illustrative and Operative. The Illustrative ceremony is the "I want to learn something" ceremony,
while the Operative is the "I want to achieve something" ceremony.

SOTOS has opted to stay with tradition and has adopted the four-degree structure as used by the O.T.O., early Church of Satan and the current Temple of Set. This is a system that has been proven to work time and time again, so SOTOS feels no need to improve on its structure.

The First Degree (I*) is called Frater or Sorra, Latin for brother and sister. The work of the I* is to learn how to apply magick in ones life. They learn the tools of the trade and begin to walk on the LHP. It is also a time where the initiate can explore both SOTOS and the PotI freely and evaluate whether or not they are for him. Should the I* find that the LHP and SOTOS is not for him, we wish them well inthere exploration of other Paths. Some aspects of SOTOS, like joining Orders, are off limits to the I* because they deal with more technical knowledge then the First Degree is ready for yet.

The Second Degree (II*) is called Warlock or Witch. This is the best times in ones Initiatory life. You are free to explore all aspects of SOTOS yet have no responsibilities. We you are Recognized to the II*, SOTOS is basically granting you status as a competent Black Magician. It's a sort of license to practice. The II* in reality is truly the highest degree one can attain in the six degree structure, the III*+ are merely enhancements of the II*.

The Third Degree (III*) is called the Priest or Priestess. It is the first of the priesthood degrees. The III* is essentially an II* that has gone through the experience of the Priesthood. The III*'s duties are to work with I*'s and Recognize them to the II* along with there own personal Initiatory work.

The Fourth Degree (IV*) is called a Magister or Magistra Templi, Master of the Temple. Their duty is to tend their "garden of initiates." They walk amongst the City of the Pyramids. Crowley called them the "master of mysticism" and if they will to, the IV* may start an Order in which to teach his perspective. If you think of
SOTOS like a college, the Order would be the different majors. AMagister Templi that has founded an Order is called a Grand Master in that Order.


As can be seen, there are four Grades/Degrees for each path, with many crossovers' between the two. As the Paths intertwine, there are a further two Grades for initiates to pass through. These are only achievable when one can exhibit expertise in magick and philosophy to an extent beyond their original path. Such wonderfully talented individuals will then fall into two categories.

The first is the Magus or Maga. A Magus is a Magister whose perspective has become so solidified that it actually becomes part of the universe. A Magi then utters what is called an Aeonic word. Aeons are basically units of time governed by a predominating philosophy. Currently there have been 3 Aeons on this planet, the Aeons of Isis, Osiris, and Horus.

There are two types of Aeonic Words, Instituting and Enhancing. There is only ever one Aeon Instituting Word as they are what start the Aeon off, and the Aeon of Horus's Instituting Word was Thelema spoken by Crowley. With Aeon Enhancing words, there can be any number of them so long as they follow one rule; they can never conflict with the Aeon Instituting Word. It is the duty of the Magi to utter his Word and then teach it.

The second and complete Grade is called the Ipsissimus or Ipsissima. As Crowley said," The Ipsissimus is beyond all of this." Only those with the TRUE abilities of such a grade will truly understand what it means to be "beyond all of this"...

Outside of both Paths, SOTOS has local groups called Chantries. Chantries are regional and local facets of SOTOS that cater to geographically close members. General Chantries pick names that reflect some of the overall principles they are working with. A Chantry in Boston may call itself Chantry Cthulhu because it works
with many Lovecraftian themes. Chantry names and archetypes come from a wide variety of sources.

All Chantries are lead by experienced SOTOS members, typically Representatives. Representatives are individuals that have exhibited a dedication and knowledge of SOTOS's theories and organizational means. They are chosen by the High Council and Representatives are also considered official spokespeople for SOTOS. A senior member of both paths aids in the running of the Chantry.

MEMBERSHIP

Now that you have taken the time to consider what SOTOS is all about. If you feel that we are the right organization for you we invite you to pursue membership with us.

Please fill out the accompanying membership application and send it to the Executive Director via our post office box. Feel free to also enclose a letter stating anything else about you; you think we would want to know in considering your application. If you know a member of SOTOS already, have them also send a letter stating that they know you and that they sponsor your application.

While membership in SOTOS is currently free, we do ask for a donation of $25 to cover your membership certificate, card and SOTOS medallion. You may include this with your application. On the very rare chance that you should not be accepted into SOTOS your $25 will be returned to you.

When your membership is approved you will receive a welcome letter from the Executive Director along with your membership number on it. At that point you will be considered an “associate member” of SOTOS until you choose which Path you would like to work on. You can be an “associate member” for one year, freely exploring the benefits of both Paths to find which one is right for you. After which point you must choose a Path.

Some people may know which Path they shall choose from the moment they fill out the application. Please check which Path you chose and your journey as a Frater, Sorra, or Novitiate will begin.

We thank you for taking the time to consider the Society of the Onyx Star.

May the Left Hand Path always guide your way!!!

The Society of the Onyx Star

(The names of the PotP is under review and subject to change)


Shana (BlackRose)