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Qabalah, Qliphoth And Goetic Magic
Qabalah, Qliphoth and Goetic Magic is a unique practical introduction to magic. The main thread of the book is the exploration of the Qliphoth and the dark mysteries which have for so long been a repressed part of western esotericism. Instead of ignoring and denying the dark side, the author reveals, step by step, how man can get to know his Shadow and, through this, reach a deeper knowledge of the Self. By exploring and not by repressing the Shadow it can be transformed from a destructive force into a creative power.
The book deals with the problem of evil, the symbolism behind the fall of Lucifer and man’s creation process according to Qabalistic philosophy.
The theories that are presented in this book are also linked to practice. Several examples of rituals, meditations, magical exercises and occult correspondences can be found within. Qabalah, Qliphoth and Goetic Magic contains more than one hundred demonic sigils and pieces of art that were created specifically for this book. A unique collection of all the sigils from the classic grimoires Lemegeton: The Lesser Key of Solomon and the infamous Grimorium Verum are also included.
The book deals with the problem of evil, the symbolism behind the fall of Lucifer and man’s creation process according to Qabalistic philosophy.
The theories that are presented in this book are also linked to practice. Several examples of rituals, meditations, magical exercises and occult correspondences can be found within. Qabalah, Qliphoth and Goetic Magic contains more than one hundred demonic sigils and pieces of art that were created specifically for this book. A unique collection of all the sigils from the classic grimoires Lemegeton: The Lesser Key of Solomon and the infamous Grimorium Verum are also included.
268 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
60 people are currently reading
1024 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Karlsson
24 books99 followersThomas Karlsson (born 1972) is a Swedish occultist and an esoteric author. In 1989, he and six other magicians founded Dragon Rouge, a Left-Hand Path initiatory organization and a Draconian Tradition Order, led by Karlsson.[1] As a book author he concentrates on occult, philosophy and paranormal topics. The Dragon Rouge website cites Carlos Castaneda, Julius Evola and Kenneth Grant as some of the magical writers whose work is read by the order, as are texts by classical philosophers such as Herakleitos, Plato and Plotinos, as well as modern philosophers like Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger and Henri Bergson.
Karlsson is also associated with metal bands Therion and Shadowseeds. In the summer of 2007, he has held the first Swedish course ever in Western Esotericism[citation needed] at the Stockholm University. His personal influences include Sumerian mythology, Alchemy, Tantra, the Goetia, and the Qliphoth. In an interview dated in 2003, he claims he experienced astral projections as a child but did not think of them as supernatural experiences until he started formally exploring the occult.
Karlsson is also associated with metal bands Therion and Shadowseeds. In the summer of 2007, he has held the first Swedish course ever in Western Esotericism[citation needed] at the Stockholm University. His personal influences include Sumerian mythology, Alchemy, Tantra, the Goetia, and the Qliphoth. In an interview dated in 2003, he claims he experienced astral projections as a child but did not think of them as supernatural experiences until he started formally exploring the occult.
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April 10, 2023
The author presents yet another endgame for the “left-hand path”
A “have your cake and eat it too” scenario, whereby we can become “God of a new universe”, one with “The universal darkness”, or one with “God on the light-side” depending on our whim.
Don’t ask how though, as these “mysteries” are reserved for higher initiates, dontcha know.
I believe he is largely responsible for the modern proliferation of Kenneth Grants ridiculous invention that the Qliphoth correspond in placement to the Sephiroth and the upper chakras.
Background:
The late 19th Century heralded an “east meets west” moment in esotericism.
Driven largely by those such as Madame Blavatsky and her Theosophical society colleagues, like Charles Leadbeater, who had spent time in India.
The Theosophists, along with some members of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Aleister Crowley, and a few others, sought a reconciliation of the teachings of eastern esotericism with aspects of the western paradigm.
Mostly focusing on the Dharmic traditions, in particular Hinduism and Hindu Tantra.
This collision had created a conundrum for them; western esotericism was in contrast rooted in an utterly irreconcilable dualistic paradigm, and this was now being revealed.
Speaking logically, if the western paradigm was to survive then either a reconciliation, or a conflation, had to occur.
Particularly with respect to the polarised monotheistic concepts of God / Satan and Good / Evil.
There is in fact no correspondent concept in any Dharmic faith. There is One, supreme Good, and the polarity of Truth and ignorance, in the latter of which there is potential for evil. This is an extremely important distinction.
In Hinduism satan corresponds to the asuric (those who reject God) lord of the current time period or Yuga.
They found something of an “in road” on this front on the subject of The Tantric Left-Hand path of Vamacara and its practices that utilise sex.
Blavatsky et al conflated these practices with “sex magick”; practices designed to direct and use the energy from a sexual act for a specific purpose, and designated the left-hand path of Vamacara as “black magic” as a result.
Both the Right- and Left-hand Tantric paths are systems of spiritual practices that ultimately pursue the liberation of the seeker from the karmic cycle of rebirth.
An example that illustrates the difference between the two in the context of sex: A seeker walking the right-hand path renounces the world. When this seeker has successfully cultivated dispassion, transcended the trivia of lust, and cognitively realises every woman in Truth as the microcosmic Goddess, the sublimation of the sexual energy occurs.
Instead of gathering for release at the sacral, it is raised and transmuted into vitality and higher states of consciousness.
At this point, sex becomes a devotional act, and such a seeker could then if so inclined be used to supercharge the sublimation process. This is what the Left-Hand path does. A renunciate attitude is an absolute pre-requisite.
Otherwise, the seeker will simply get caught up in lust, and then, as the cumulative retention and sublimation of the sexual energy are imperative to both paths, the whole thing is knackered.
The Daoist’s would tell you the same on this subject. Far stricter if anything.
Lose the generative force, and nae diamond body for you pal, they’ll say.
The Left-Hand path to liberation is the path of the renunciate alchemist, creating greater levels of energy for sublimation with a greater level of risk.
Here is two example quotes corroborating this, one from the Yogi Satyananda Saraswati and another from the Aghora series on Left-Hand path Tantra quoting the Aghori Vimalananda.
So Blavatsky et al conflate left-hand tantra with sex magick, designate vamacara as “black magic”
They start saying all kinds of wildly stupid stuff, attempting to overlay their paradigm of Good / Evil onto the Right- and Left-Hand Tantric Paths
Now fortunately, there was a guy around at the time with a wee bit more credibility on the subject than any of these morons.
Sir John Woodroffe, pen name Arthur Avalon, spent twice as much time in India as Blavatsky, Leadbeater and Crowley combined.
In his book on The Kundalini Shakti; The Serpent Power, he says this of Vamacara:
“Vamacara is not black magic, the nearest Sanskrit equivalent for which is Abhicara. There may have been, as the Mahakala-Samhita says, some Kaulas who, like the Vaidikas, sought enjoyment in this and the next world, and not liberation. But to state baldly that Kaulas as a whole do not rouse Kundalini and lead her to the Sahasrara is incorrect. Purnanda-Swami, the author of the text here translated, was himself a Kaula and the whole object of the work is to secure liberation (Moksa)”
Contrast his words with those of Theosophist Purucker who stated that Vamacara leads to “personal obscuration and spiritual annihilation”.
Woodroffe confirms what we already knew: Left- and Right-Hand Tantric paths are both paths to liberation and Vamacara is not synonymous with black magic.
But unfortunately, it didn’t end here.
Crowley took a broader and even stupider approach. He did not confine his conflations to the Tantric left- and right-hand paths. He overtly conflated Hinduism with satanism on a broader basis.
An example that demonstrates his efforts from his book “the vision and the voice”
"... there is a legend of Eve and the Serpent, for Cain was the child of Eve and the Serpent, and not of Eve and Adam; and therefore when he had slain his brother, who was the first murderer, having sacrificed living things to his demon, had Cain the mark upon his brow, which is the mark of the Beast spoken of in the Apocalypse, and is the sign of initiation2.”
Words to which Crowley has added the following endnote:
"2.This is the "Third Eye", the "Eye of Shiva", the Pineal Gland, supposed by some anatomists to be a rudimentary eye."
Crowley conflates the third eye charka, the centre of awareness where self-realisation as microcosm of the macrocosm occurs, with the so-called “mark of the beast”, suggesting ridiculously that sacrificing living things to “your demon” will open the ajna chakra.
Based on efforts like this it is tempting to, as I once did, write Crowley off as a totally insignificant moron.
But unfortunately, we will eventually have to revisit him in more detail.
Despite Woodroffe’s trumps of credibility and authority on the subject, these conflating efforts did not end with the work of those above.
Crowley’s broad-brush approach was a source of inspiration for one of his well-known disciples.
Mr Kenneth Grant. Who produced a works called “Nightside of Eden”
Grant took a leaf out of Crowley’s book, laying the foundation for a whole new generation of conflations.
This book was not on the subject of Hindu Tantra, but discussed one with which it is intrinsically linked; the kabbalistic Sephiroth and the Qliphoth.
The Sephiroth and Qliphoth correspond completely to the upper and lower chakras of Tantric tradition.
Here are the correspondences in full, beginning with the Sephiroth and upper chakras which most may be familiar with:
Keter – Crown – Sahasrara Chakra (Top of head) - Unity
Chokmah and Binah – Wisdom and Understanding – Ajna Eye Chakra (Brow) – Divine Sight
Chesed, Daath and Gevurah – Love, Knowledge and Might – Vishuddha Chakra (Throat) – Divine Love
Tiferet – Beauty – Anahata Chakra (Heart) - Direct Cognition
Netzach and Hod – Eternity and Majesty – Manipura Plexus Chakra (Solar Plexus) - Willpower
Yesod – Foundation – Swadishthana Chakra (Lower abdomen) - Reason
Malkhut – Kingdom – Muladhara Chakra (Perineum) – Memory
Now the Qliphoth and the lower chakras:
Lilith – Night Monsters – Atala Chakra (Hips) – Fear, Lust
Gamaliel – The Obscene Ones – Vitala Chakra (Thighs) – Anger & Viciousness, Resentment
Gharab and Samael – The Corrosive Ones and The Deceitful Ones – Sutala Chakra (Knees) – Jealousy, Inadequacy
Tagimron – The Disputers – Talatala Chakra (Calves) – Deep Confusion, Instinctive Wilfulness (The Black Sun)
Gha Agsheblah, Belial and Golohab – The Smiting Ones, The Worthless Ones and The Flaming Ones – Rasatala Chakra (Ankles) – Selfishness, Animalistic Nature
Ghogiel and Satoriel – The Hindering Ones and The Concealing Ones – Mahatala Chakra (Feet) – Conscienceless, Inner Blindness
Thaumiel – The Contending Forces – Patala Chakra (Soles of the feet) – Hatred, Malice
Crowley only mentions the Qliphoth in passing, doesn’t ever really say anything specific about them.
Now in nightside, Grant quotes A.E Waite, someone who obviously knew what they were talking about, on the subject of the Qliphoth:
“As there is the height of Kether in Kabbalism so too is there the abyss which is below Malkhut”
Note his use of the word “below”, in line with the correspondences above.
Grant then goes full blown Crowley ridiculous:
“It is my intention to show that the Height and the Depth, are identical beneath the image of the Beast”
Say what now?
Grant takes the Qliphoth / Lower chakras, flips and overlays them onto the Sephiroth / Upper chakras, and claims they are one and the same.
Now this is so stupid it would actually be funny, had what is a total and unmitigated LARP, not spawned an entire generation of new conflations and nonsense with this as it’s blueprint.
The next most significant sewage peddler to take up the gauntlet was none other than Mr Thomas Karlsson, founder of the occult order “Dragon Rouge”.
In his hilarious work “Qablah Qliphoth & Goetic Magic” Karlsson builds on Grants inversion and the earlier conflations of Crowley and the Theosophists, conflating both Left-Hand Path Tantra and at times Hinduism broadly, with satanism, as well as utilising Grants inversion and misplacement of the Qliphoth. He is the first to falsely correspond Lilith with Kundalini Shakti.
“And I might have gotten away with it too, if it wasn’t for you meddling dead sea scrolls!!” cries Karlsson as he is bundled away by the occult scooby doo police
Sorry Tom. Lilith is plural. Liliyyot. Demonesses. “Night Monsters”
The dead sea scrolls reveal Lilith is pluralised, rendering such conceptually antithetical to Shakti which is an uncountable noun.
As outlined above Lilith, first of the Qliphoth, corresponds to the first of the Tala chakras, the Atala chakra at the hips.
The bhagavata purana explains that the lower Atala chakra is ruled by Bala, the son of the asura Maya Danava. This is the abode of sexual entities in the form of lustful demonesses. Bala creates these demonesses when he yawns.
Lustful demonesses; Night Monsters / Liliyyot.
Karlsson later realised his error and made a ridiculous attempt to address this in a facebook post entitled "Black Dragon and the Talas" in 2019. Look it up if you fancy a laugh.
Here he hilariously attempts to explain away the absence of the Tala chakras in his system by stating that in his occult order "Dragon Rouge"
"We do not use specific Tala workings before the 5.0 level".
Riiiiiiiiight. That must be why you never mentioned them before.
Doesn't quite explain why that if as you also state in this post the patala chakra carries the keys to "self-deification" that you fail to mention this at all and further make this contradictory statement in your book:
"The goal of the Left Hand Path, according to the Qliphotic-
Alcheraical path, is to reach the outermost dark sphere. Thaumiel"
So according to this post the patala chakra carries the keys to self-deification but according to this book your goal is to reach Thaumiel which corresponds to the crown chakra.
Confused much?
I would have expected a more coherent pile of nonsense from somebody with a PHD in history of religion.
How disappointing.
Now to ask an important question: Just what exactly is going on here?
Is this really just one generation of hapless satanic idiots after another, unwittingly building on LARP after LARP, worth nothing more than a roll of the eye and a shake of the head?
Or is there in fact something a bit more, “sinister”, going on here?
The answer is yes, but unfortunately, I've run out of space.
A “have your cake and eat it too” scenario, whereby we can become “God of a new universe”, one with “The universal darkness”, or one with “God on the light-side” depending on our whim.
Don’t ask how though, as these “mysteries” are reserved for higher initiates, dontcha know.
I believe he is largely responsible for the modern proliferation of Kenneth Grants ridiculous invention that the Qliphoth correspond in placement to the Sephiroth and the upper chakras.
Background:
The late 19th Century heralded an “east meets west” moment in esotericism.
Driven largely by those such as Madame Blavatsky and her Theosophical society colleagues, like Charles Leadbeater, who had spent time in India.
The Theosophists, along with some members of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Aleister Crowley, and a few others, sought a reconciliation of the teachings of eastern esotericism with aspects of the western paradigm.
Mostly focusing on the Dharmic traditions, in particular Hinduism and Hindu Tantra.
This collision had created a conundrum for them; western esotericism was in contrast rooted in an utterly irreconcilable dualistic paradigm, and this was now being revealed.
Speaking logically, if the western paradigm was to survive then either a reconciliation, or a conflation, had to occur.
Particularly with respect to the polarised monotheistic concepts of God / Satan and Good / Evil.
There is in fact no correspondent concept in any Dharmic faith. There is One, supreme Good, and the polarity of Truth and ignorance, in the latter of which there is potential for evil. This is an extremely important distinction.
In Hinduism satan corresponds to the asuric (those who reject God) lord of the current time period or Yuga.
They found something of an “in road” on this front on the subject of The Tantric Left-Hand path of Vamacara and its practices that utilise sex.
Blavatsky et al conflated these practices with “sex magick”; practices designed to direct and use the energy from a sexual act for a specific purpose, and designated the left-hand path of Vamacara as “black magic” as a result.
Both the Right- and Left-hand Tantric paths are systems of spiritual practices that ultimately pursue the liberation of the seeker from the karmic cycle of rebirth.
An example that illustrates the difference between the two in the context of sex: A seeker walking the right-hand path renounces the world. When this seeker has successfully cultivated dispassion, transcended the trivia of lust, and cognitively realises every woman in Truth as the microcosmic Goddess, the sublimation of the sexual energy occurs.
Instead of gathering for release at the sacral, it is raised and transmuted into vitality and higher states of consciousness.
At this point, sex becomes a devotional act, and such a seeker could then if so inclined be used to supercharge the sublimation process. This is what the Left-Hand path does. A renunciate attitude is an absolute pre-requisite.
Otherwise, the seeker will simply get caught up in lust, and then, as the cumulative retention and sublimation of the sexual energy are imperative to both paths, the whole thing is knackered.
The Daoist’s would tell you the same on this subject. Far stricter if anything.
Lose the generative force, and nae diamond body for you pal, they’ll say.
The Left-Hand path to liberation is the path of the renunciate alchemist, creating greater levels of energy for sublimation with a greater level of risk.
Here is two example quotes corroborating this, one from the Yogi Satyananda Saraswati and another from the Aghora series on Left-Hand path Tantra quoting the Aghori Vimalananda.
So Blavatsky et al conflate left-hand tantra with sex magick, designate vamacara as “black magic”
They start saying all kinds of wildly stupid stuff, attempting to overlay their paradigm of Good / Evil onto the Right- and Left-Hand Tantric Paths
Now fortunately, there was a guy around at the time with a wee bit more credibility on the subject than any of these morons.
Sir John Woodroffe, pen name Arthur Avalon, spent twice as much time in India as Blavatsky, Leadbeater and Crowley combined.
In his book on The Kundalini Shakti; The Serpent Power, he says this of Vamacara:
“Vamacara is not black magic, the nearest Sanskrit equivalent for which is Abhicara. There may have been, as the Mahakala-Samhita says, some Kaulas who, like the Vaidikas, sought enjoyment in this and the next world, and not liberation. But to state baldly that Kaulas as a whole do not rouse Kundalini and lead her to the Sahasrara is incorrect. Purnanda-Swami, the author of the text here translated, was himself a Kaula and the whole object of the work is to secure liberation (Moksa)”
Contrast his words with those of Theosophist Purucker who stated that Vamacara leads to “personal obscuration and spiritual annihilation”.
Woodroffe confirms what we already knew: Left- and Right-Hand Tantric paths are both paths to liberation and Vamacara is not synonymous with black magic.
But unfortunately, it didn’t end here.
Crowley took a broader and even stupider approach. He did not confine his conflations to the Tantric left- and right-hand paths. He overtly conflated Hinduism with satanism on a broader basis.
An example that demonstrates his efforts from his book “the vision and the voice”
"... there is a legend of Eve and the Serpent, for Cain was the child of Eve and the Serpent, and not of Eve and Adam; and therefore when he had slain his brother, who was the first murderer, having sacrificed living things to his demon, had Cain the mark upon his brow, which is the mark of the Beast spoken of in the Apocalypse, and is the sign of initiation2.”
Words to which Crowley has added the following endnote:
"2.This is the "Third Eye", the "Eye of Shiva", the Pineal Gland, supposed by some anatomists to be a rudimentary eye."
Crowley conflates the third eye charka, the centre of awareness where self-realisation as microcosm of the macrocosm occurs, with the so-called “mark of the beast”, suggesting ridiculously that sacrificing living things to “your demon” will open the ajna chakra.
Based on efforts like this it is tempting to, as I once did, write Crowley off as a totally insignificant moron.
But unfortunately, we will eventually have to revisit him in more detail.
Despite Woodroffe’s trumps of credibility and authority on the subject, these conflating efforts did not end with the work of those above.
Crowley’s broad-brush approach was a source of inspiration for one of his well-known disciples.
Mr Kenneth Grant. Who produced a works called “Nightside of Eden”
Grant took a leaf out of Crowley’s book, laying the foundation for a whole new generation of conflations.
This book was not on the subject of Hindu Tantra, but discussed one with which it is intrinsically linked; the kabbalistic Sephiroth and the Qliphoth.
The Sephiroth and Qliphoth correspond completely to the upper and lower chakras of Tantric tradition.
Here are the correspondences in full, beginning with the Sephiroth and upper chakras which most may be familiar with:
Keter – Crown – Sahasrara Chakra (Top of head) - Unity
Chokmah and Binah – Wisdom and Understanding – Ajna Eye Chakra (Brow) – Divine Sight
Chesed, Daath and Gevurah – Love, Knowledge and Might – Vishuddha Chakra (Throat) – Divine Love
Tiferet – Beauty – Anahata Chakra (Heart) - Direct Cognition
Netzach and Hod – Eternity and Majesty – Manipura Plexus Chakra (Solar Plexus) - Willpower
Yesod – Foundation – Swadishthana Chakra (Lower abdomen) - Reason
Malkhut – Kingdom – Muladhara Chakra (Perineum) – Memory
Now the Qliphoth and the lower chakras:
Lilith – Night Monsters – Atala Chakra (Hips) – Fear, Lust
Gamaliel – The Obscene Ones – Vitala Chakra (Thighs) – Anger & Viciousness, Resentment
Gharab and Samael – The Corrosive Ones and The Deceitful Ones – Sutala Chakra (Knees) – Jealousy, Inadequacy
Tagimron – The Disputers – Talatala Chakra (Calves) – Deep Confusion, Instinctive Wilfulness (The Black Sun)
Gha Agsheblah, Belial and Golohab – The Smiting Ones, The Worthless Ones and The Flaming Ones – Rasatala Chakra (Ankles) – Selfishness, Animalistic Nature
Ghogiel and Satoriel – The Hindering Ones and The Concealing Ones – Mahatala Chakra (Feet) – Conscienceless, Inner Blindness
Thaumiel – The Contending Forces – Patala Chakra (Soles of the feet) – Hatred, Malice
Crowley only mentions the Qliphoth in passing, doesn’t ever really say anything specific about them.
Now in nightside, Grant quotes A.E Waite, someone who obviously knew what they were talking about, on the subject of the Qliphoth:
“As there is the height of Kether in Kabbalism so too is there the abyss which is below Malkhut”
Note his use of the word “below”, in line with the correspondences above.
Grant then goes full blown Crowley ridiculous:
“It is my intention to show that the Height and the Depth, are identical beneath the image of the Beast”
Say what now?
Grant takes the Qliphoth / Lower chakras, flips and overlays them onto the Sephiroth / Upper chakras, and claims they are one and the same.
Now this is so stupid it would actually be funny, had what is a total and unmitigated LARP, not spawned an entire generation of new conflations and nonsense with this as it’s blueprint.
The next most significant sewage peddler to take up the gauntlet was none other than Mr Thomas Karlsson, founder of the occult order “Dragon Rouge”.
In his hilarious work “Qablah Qliphoth & Goetic Magic” Karlsson builds on Grants inversion and the earlier conflations of Crowley and the Theosophists, conflating both Left-Hand Path Tantra and at times Hinduism broadly, with satanism, as well as utilising Grants inversion and misplacement of the Qliphoth. He is the first to falsely correspond Lilith with Kundalini Shakti.
“And I might have gotten away with it too, if it wasn’t for you meddling dead sea scrolls!!” cries Karlsson as he is bundled away by the occult scooby doo police
Sorry Tom. Lilith is plural. Liliyyot. Demonesses. “Night Monsters”
The dead sea scrolls reveal Lilith is pluralised, rendering such conceptually antithetical to Shakti which is an uncountable noun.
As outlined above Lilith, first of the Qliphoth, corresponds to the first of the Tala chakras, the Atala chakra at the hips.
The bhagavata purana explains that the lower Atala chakra is ruled by Bala, the son of the asura Maya Danava. This is the abode of sexual entities in the form of lustful demonesses. Bala creates these demonesses when he yawns.
Lustful demonesses; Night Monsters / Liliyyot.
Karlsson later realised his error and made a ridiculous attempt to address this in a facebook post entitled "Black Dragon and the Talas" in 2019. Look it up if you fancy a laugh.
Here he hilariously attempts to explain away the absence of the Tala chakras in his system by stating that in his occult order "Dragon Rouge"
"We do not use specific Tala workings before the 5.0 level".
Riiiiiiiiight. That must be why you never mentioned them before.
Doesn't quite explain why that if as you also state in this post the patala chakra carries the keys to "self-deification" that you fail to mention this at all and further make this contradictory statement in your book:
"The goal of the Left Hand Path, according to the Qliphotic-
Alcheraical path, is to reach the outermost dark sphere. Thaumiel"
So according to this post the patala chakra carries the keys to self-deification but according to this book your goal is to reach Thaumiel which corresponds to the crown chakra.
Confused much?
I would have expected a more coherent pile of nonsense from somebody with a PHD in history of religion.
How disappointing.
Now to ask an important question: Just what exactly is going on here?
Is this really just one generation of hapless satanic idiots after another, unwittingly building on LARP after LARP, worth nothing more than a roll of the eye and a shake of the head?
Or is there in fact something a bit more, “sinister”, going on here?
The answer is yes, but unfortunately, I've run out of space.
March 2, 2014
One of the best and most elucidating explorations of the Qliphoth, and I dare say the Qabalah.
Where other books on this (Jewish) mystical system treat the Qliphoth in a stepmotherly fashion, if it's even mentioned, here we get a clarifying discussion on the topic.
It's not really a monograph on the Qliphoth as Karlsson also covers the Goetic magical system, arguing for its relation with the world of the Qliphoth.
The cosmologies and -gonies in the Qabalistic tradition are all expounded upon, as well as a number of theodicies. This to me answered a lot of the questions I had concerning the Qabalah. It's as if up until now I was reading about an unacknowledged repressed youth and intuitively knew some chapters were missing. This is exactly the case with the Qabalists who leave out the Qliphoth in their philosophizing on the system. You can't put forth a proper theology and theosophy without dealing with the shadow, the main antagonist in your story.
The book also makes a clear case for the Left Hand Path as a road that leads to apotheosis, divine solitude and seperation from the world. It's the destiny for a select number prepared to take the leap beyond the comfort of the ingroup and its hope of reabsorption into the divine light. The adepts of the dark path wish to combust into godlike flames themselves, stray away from Creation into feral domains and strenghten the Fall.
Although Karlsson tends to repeat himself, sometimes entire paragraphs of copy-paste, I forgive the editting in this one as I got a lot out of this book because others failed to deliver in the past.
Where other books on this (Jewish) mystical system treat the Qliphoth in a stepmotherly fashion, if it's even mentioned, here we get a clarifying discussion on the topic.
It's not really a monograph on the Qliphoth as Karlsson also covers the Goetic magical system, arguing for its relation with the world of the Qliphoth.
The cosmologies and -gonies in the Qabalistic tradition are all expounded upon, as well as a number of theodicies. This to me answered a lot of the questions I had concerning the Qabalah. It's as if up until now I was reading about an unacknowledged repressed youth and intuitively knew some chapters were missing. This is exactly the case with the Qabalists who leave out the Qliphoth in their philosophizing on the system. You can't put forth a proper theology and theosophy without dealing with the shadow, the main antagonist in your story.
The book also makes a clear case for the Left Hand Path as a road that leads to apotheosis, divine solitude and seperation from the world. It's the destiny for a select number prepared to take the leap beyond the comfort of the ingroup and its hope of reabsorption into the divine light. The adepts of the dark path wish to combust into godlike flames themselves, stray away from Creation into feral domains and strenghten the Fall.
Although Karlsson tends to repeat himself, sometimes entire paragraphs of copy-paste, I forgive the editting in this one as I got a lot out of this book because others failed to deliver in the past.
March 28, 2019
A simple look into the Qabalah and the mysterious Qliphoth, but then springkled with the usual "I shall become a god" left hand bullshit. It comes to the point to where it feels like a goth kid's diary.
Nicely written though.
Nicely written though.
October 2, 2020
So, occult books are pretty similar to books about the occult. After giving a brief history of Cabala (Qabalah), Karlsson gives charts and diagrams showing the connections and sympathies between various demons/spirits and their preferred colors, symbols, days of the week, and smells. The highlight of the book is when Karlsson gives a sort of encyclopaedic description of various demons, and describes Vual as a demon that can "speak Egyptian, but not perfectly". It's ok Vual, just keep up your studying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2025
This is the best explanation of the Qabalah/Kabbalah in my opinion. This is the third book I've read on this subject and the author here takes it further. The explanations are great and go into better details on Qabalah, its origins, the Sephiroth (pl., Sephora - sing.), and the Tree of Life. Something new to me was the Qlipha (sing., qliphoth - pl.). Again the author does a fantastic job explaining exactly what are the Qliphoth and the demonic side of Qabalah. I found very fascinating The Ten Qliphoth (pgs. 112-39) very fascinating as it explains who/what they are and what they do.
Lastly the Goetic Magic chapter was really neat to read. Solomonian magic, ritual magic of the Goetia, 72 demons of the Goetia, occult correspondences, and other interesting topics are covered here.
Overall an extremely fascinating read!
"Knowledge is truly a double-edged sword that constantly lures man to travel further, but which can also destroy him if he journeys too far." pg. 16
"The dark path instead guides man into a second birth in which knowledge is attained, and he becomes like a god, just as the Serpent in the Garden of Eden promised. Evil, power and knowledge are the keywords that illustrate what the dark side has to offer." pg. 105
Lastly the Goetic Magic chapter was really neat to read. Solomonian magic, ritual magic of the Goetia, 72 demons of the Goetia, occult correspondences, and other interesting topics are covered here.
Overall an extremely fascinating read!
"Knowledge is truly a double-edged sword that constantly lures man to travel further, but which can also destroy him if he journeys too far." pg. 16
"The dark path instead guides man into a second birth in which knowledge is attained, and he becomes like a god, just as the Serpent in the Garden of Eden promised. Evil, power and knowledge are the keywords that illustrate what the dark side has to offer." pg. 105
March 5, 2018
This book is incredible. I learned so much about all three of the topics from it. The only complaints I have are that the Goetic section left a bit to be desired and the book kind of just ends (there is so much more that could be said... if the book were 10k pages, ha!). If you're interested in the topics in the title and how they all fit historically and esoterically into the Western occult tradition, could not recommend a book more. Also, has much value for practical application, though, maybe a bit more vague. And I'm sure there are some that would find issues with Karlsson's readings of xyz, if so, great! A book shouldn't tell you 100% what you've seen/want to hear, and thinking through these disagreements is part of what makes these books worth reading... If you're a student of the occult, must read.
November 20, 2010
Fascinating work. Probably the most comprehensive writing I have come across as of yet dealing with the qliphoth in all its aspects. Was disappointed that he only went one pathworking for Qliphotic Tunnels (#22 between Lilith and Gamaliel, Thantifaxath Tunnel) but said that you could get the rest from Dragon Rogue as one of their initiates. He closes the book with tieing in the Goetic with the Qliphoth and giving some actual instances of working in the Goetic system. Well worth getting and reading over if you can even find a copy at a reasonable price now.
July 24, 2017
I'd say this is one of the more important books in my collection! I started reading the Ebook and ordered the published work once I understood how important it is; I had been looking for this for years without knowing it existed. Finally, an explication of the Qabalah and beyond, that makes sense...
March 3, 2016
This book was a veritable treasure trove of information on the Qlippoth and the Sitra Achra.
Written in a very accessible manner, especially when compared to"The Nightside of Eden" which was also written on the same topic.
The first third of the book introduces the concept of philosophical evil approached from the lens of Judaism. It offers a few different origin stories of the concept of evil as told by various Kabbalists. But make no mistake, this is not Madonna's Kabbalah. In fact, the second third of the book details the system of the Qlippoth. The Qlippoth translates into "husks" or "shells." They are the leftovers from the first attempts of creation that didn't go as well as our current existence. These "shells" went on to become a sort of anti-creation. These realms are certainly not for the faint of heart. But Thomas Karlsson points out that this dark path, being part of creation, it is also another viable path to enlightenment. Indeed, the left-hand path might even have the potential to turn you into your own idiosyncratic god, capable of creating your own universes and existence. Whereas the Qabalah seeks to reunite us to god and melt into the deity, the Qlippoth separates us further from god. But the act of separation is important in creation. Through it, we are able to have distinction between objects and life forms. Through separation, there is a sense of creative power, and this is what the left-hand path endevours to harness.
The last third of the book deals with the spirits of the Goetia and the Grimorum Verum. It is not a full version of these text per say, but it does have the basic information to be able to carry out rudimentary work with these magickal systems, which Karlsson argues are essential to working with the Qlippoth. It is my understanding the Karlsson included this material in his book because there was little written in Swedish on the topic, which was the original language this book was first published. You are advised to seek out editions of the full texts to figure out the traditional method of working with these spirits of the Goetia and Grimorum Verum. The book even includes a few personal accounts of working with these spirits.
This book is quite rich with information despite its slightly slim page count. And although it tackles a few complicated ideas of Jewish Mysticism, it never feels dense or heavy. A fine blend of theory and practice.
Written in a very accessible manner, especially when compared to"The Nightside of Eden" which was also written on the same topic.
The first third of the book introduces the concept of philosophical evil approached from the lens of Judaism. It offers a few different origin stories of the concept of evil as told by various Kabbalists. But make no mistake, this is not Madonna's Kabbalah. In fact, the second third of the book details the system of the Qlippoth. The Qlippoth translates into "husks" or "shells." They are the leftovers from the first attempts of creation that didn't go as well as our current existence. These "shells" went on to become a sort of anti-creation. These realms are certainly not for the faint of heart. But Thomas Karlsson points out that this dark path, being part of creation, it is also another viable path to enlightenment. Indeed, the left-hand path might even have the potential to turn you into your own idiosyncratic god, capable of creating your own universes and existence. Whereas the Qabalah seeks to reunite us to god and melt into the deity, the Qlippoth separates us further from god. But the act of separation is important in creation. Through it, we are able to have distinction between objects and life forms. Through separation, there is a sense of creative power, and this is what the left-hand path endevours to harness.
The last third of the book deals with the spirits of the Goetia and the Grimorum Verum. It is not a full version of these text per say, but it does have the basic information to be able to carry out rudimentary work with these magickal systems, which Karlsson argues are essential to working with the Qlippoth. It is my understanding the Karlsson included this material in his book because there was little written in Swedish on the topic, which was the original language this book was first published. You are advised to seek out editions of the full texts to figure out the traditional method of working with these spirits of the Goetia and Grimorum Verum. The book even includes a few personal accounts of working with these spirits.
This book is quite rich with information despite its slightly slim page count. And although it tackles a few complicated ideas of Jewish Mysticism, it never feels dense or heavy. A fine blend of theory and practice.
December 4, 2019
Aporta conocimientos escenciales sobre la gnosis qliphotica, la demonología regente del árbol de la muerte, aproximaciones rituales con las energías del mismo muy sencillas y efectivas. Su aporte filosófico sobre el problema de "El Mal" o la dualidad que este representa en el quehacer mágico y también en la vida común.
August 25, 2024
Excellent book. Karlsson is a PhD and intelligently presents his thesis on the left hand path approach to spiritual development, better than most. I may disagree with points of philosophy in this book however there’s also an agreement to the core principles of attaining spiritual development. The difference just lies in our approach.
This book is definitely worth the read and provides a wealth of information on the tree of life, the qliphoth, and the left hand path of magical development. He is quite intelligent. This is a man whose approach to the left hand path is balanced. He is not at all like a crazed mad man such as Kenneth Grant.
This book is definitely worth the read and provides a wealth of information on the tree of life, the qliphoth, and the left hand path of magical development. He is quite intelligent. This is a man whose approach to the left hand path is balanced. He is not at all like a crazed mad man such as Kenneth Grant.
December 26, 2017
it is an alright introduction, but i would have like that more attention was given to the Tunnels of Set and experiences of them and also more on the Goetia would be good - what is in there is interesting too, but too much only gets briefly touched upon -I think an expanded version of this book would be most ideal
October 7, 2022
Una excelente introducción al tema del estudio y práctica del lado oscuro cabalístico. Me parece un libro que debe estar en toda biblioteca de la gente interesada en el tema. La única parte de la que no estuve muy convencido del todo fue la sección sobre goecia y los diferentes grimorios, creo que es información que se puede buscar en otras fuentes y que a mi parecer no aporta tanto
March 8, 2020
A valuable work on Goetic practice for modern readers who may find some more ancient texts a bit tedious to read. A scholarly approach with clear writing style that I found easy to navigate. Expanded my view of Qabalah more than I expected.
September 1, 2023
As always, I greatly enjoyed this on an aesthetic level, but when esoteric authors get into the tedium of which demons rule which houses, who's a duke and who's a prince, what kind of incense needs to be burned to summon Astaroth, etc. etc. I quickly lose interest.
May 30, 2025
Karlsson first explains the dark side of the Tree of Life (i.e. Tree of Knowledge); then the lore behind the fall; and finally how to initiate oneself via the Tree of Knowledge. The practical side is also explained via ceremonial magic and meditation.
February 16, 2018
Livro completo, oferece diversas interpretações a respeito de temas muito relevantes e vale a pena ler até para os aversos ao assunto.
September 1, 2018
Very powerful book with advanced practices, definitely not for a Neophyte and recommend patience and annual re-reading for better understanding during practice.
September 19, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learned some new things. I can't wait to journey through the Qliphoth.
April 22, 2019
Great book! The Brazilian edition is packed with illustrations and a very careful design project. And the contents are also great! The book shines light on the nature of the Kaballah and points such as the difference between the terms Kaballah, Cabala and Qabalah. It is a great source of insight on the left hand path, and I would definitely recommend it to any one that is interested in occultism. Great read!
October 2, 2016
An excellent work from the founder of the Dragon Rouge.
Karlsson covers aspects of the left-hand path, the nature of 'good' and 'evil' and their role in Judiac Qabbalistic mysticism. The end result is an essential text for those seeking an approach to the left-hand path other than those of atheistic Satanism. Karlsson's approach relies strongly upon the essential role of the qliphotic shells and the value that these hold for the magus able to work with these. Karlosson also provides an detailed approach to the use of the goetia within the left-hand path, with perfectly usable alternatives to the common goetic rites that focus upon a meditative approach instead.
A great text for those interested in the goetia or the qabbalah. An essential text for those interested in a theistic left-hand path approach.
Karlsson covers aspects of the left-hand path, the nature of 'good' and 'evil' and their role in Judiac Qabbalistic mysticism. The end result is an essential text for those seeking an approach to the left-hand path other than those of atheistic Satanism. Karlsson's approach relies strongly upon the essential role of the qliphotic shells and the value that these hold for the magus able to work with these. Karlosson also provides an detailed approach to the use of the goetia within the left-hand path, with perfectly usable alternatives to the common goetic rites that focus upon a meditative approach instead.
A great text for those interested in the goetia or the qabbalah. An essential text for those interested in a theistic left-hand path approach.
January 3, 2021
This book is a fabulous introduction to qabalah and its magical perception, as well as instructing the vision of the Qliphoth and how Goetia has influenced history.
Of course, no spells or decrees are included here to invoke or evoke any kind of spirit. This book is just an introduction that Karlsson offers from a neutral position.
The good thing about this book is that the reader is free to choose which path to follow and is not forced to perform certain rituals.
Choose this book if you want to clarify basic terms and topics (magic and magick). Also, do not wait until the biggest secret about the qabalah (RHP or LHP) in this book or the Qliphoths system. Although the graphics and guides are interesting, Readers should read more about the topic and know who to invoke and why.
Of course, no spells or decrees are included here to invoke or evoke any kind of spirit. This book is just an introduction that Karlsson offers from a neutral position.
The good thing about this book is that the reader is free to choose which path to follow and is not forced to perform certain rituals.
Choose this book if you want to clarify basic terms and topics (magic and magick). Also, do not wait until the biggest secret about the qabalah (RHP or LHP) in this book or the Qliphoths system. Although the graphics and guides are interesting, Readers should read more about the topic and know who to invoke and why.
March 22, 2016
A very comprehensive book on the Qlippoth as well as a thorough disposition on the nature and philosophy of evil. This is a must have for any student of hermetic kabbalah. It explains Isaac de Lurias ideas on the history of the Qlippoth. Such ideas are: how Daath became a fallen sephirot and the abyss was created (this was Lucifers sephirot before and made sense how he was closest to the throne of god before the fall, how the qlippoth came to be from the sephirot of gevurah, and the previous evil universes of severity that imploded on themselves before our current universe. If you are interested in learning about the Qlioppoth, this should be the first book you read.
February 2, 2016
Very interesting! Gives some insight into the basics of Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism as well as the darker counterparts, the shadows of the sephiroth known as the qliphoth. It also delves into magic and invocations. Something for the one who is interested in being introduced to the darker paths of spirituality. Also very easy to read. Great book!
May 30, 2023
Although it's style can be a bit tedious at times, it is probably the best book on the subject out there and with the right tools and study it contains a good basis for the LHP Qabbalah/Qlippoth/The Tree of Knowledge. The reader best be familiar with concepts such as Black Magic, Qabbalah, and Thelema. It is by no means suitable for a beginner.
September 18, 2013
Some interesting info, but very repetitive. Mr. Karlsen could have stood some serious editing here. The basic overview of varying Qabalic views on the nature and purpose of evil was educational, and the presentation of the schema for the Qlippoth was interesting, if a trifle under-sourced.
May 7, 2023
Muito bom para conhecer sobre o aspecto mais sombrio não só da Cabala, como da existência. O autor traz uma pesquisa profunda e detalhada sobre o tema e deixa tudo muito bem explicado e organizado. Essa edição da Penumbra Livros está incrível.
November 10, 2016
great info and helpful
January 22, 2016
E' uno di quei libri che può cambiarti la vita, da leggere con cautela.
February 26, 2016
¡Por fin, la edición oficial en español de mano del autor y con material y arte extras! Un clásico imperdible.
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