Asetianism and the Left Hand Path

The hidden occult realities in our realm, and the realms beyond; a subject of study for those who dare venture into the unknown beyond. I emphasize "hidden occult realities" - seemingly a tautology due to 'hidden' and 'occult' essentially bearing the same meaning - but here to highlight the difference in traditional occultism to popular occultism where the latter no longer seems to delve into very occult territory, apart from as an introduction, and maybe occult to a materialistic mindset in a smaller sense. The forms of traditional occultism would be those that more so delve into real occult verities and high magick and not the mere superficial marketing sales but actually put in a higher work of sincerity, honesty, dedication and diligence along the arduous path of the soul. However, with this said, the hidden occult realities of our world and the more or less unfathomable beyond - in so far as it is more or less unfathomable to our incarnated minds, at least in its present stage of development most commonly, but that it may be grasped gradually through thorough and extensive esoteric or spiritual (re)search (the experiential insight of gnosis), practice and occult development, also depending upon territory and the realm we're delving into - is a vast area of discovery and exploration. The form of metaphysical development required, or already innate through lifetimes of practice, might be considered quite colossal in order to reach these levels of implicit maturation in our psychological and spiritual constitution to be able to masterfully engage with and manage these realities, to differing extents, where personal effort ignites the spark of further evolution through an act of balance and becoming in our process of never-ending self-mastery and transformation. The occult world, in a real sense, is not a fairytale nor a playing ground for those who are children in understanding. It carries the seriousness of the real world for it is a part of the real world, hidden and unseen. Hence, devotion, dedication, loyalty and sincerity are paramount qualities to such an obscure quest for it is part of the ancient traditions of spirituality themselves; the quest for hidden wisdom or secret knowledge, not for selfish and immature reasons but for the continuation of the evolution of the soul in the sense that we can much easier progress once the key is held firmly in our hands, conquered through our own hard work and effort, honorably, humbly and dignified - the essence of initiation. It cannot be conquered but through the accompanying principles that also mirror its essence and are thus worthy of it. Hidden wisdom mirrors personal, or inner, wisdom. Secret knowledge mirrors maturity and responsibility as well as the way of discovery - the brilliance of our own intellect with the tools of the mind. A path less trodden but paving its way through blood and sacrifice, sometimes literally but other times more metaphorical in the sense of our own pursuit of relentless and untiring efforts. 

In my view, the Left Hand Path is one of those roads of obscure darkness wherein we might delve into the hidden territories of a spiritual search and magickal practices. It is not a safe path by any means but through its constant emphasis upon personal achievement and self-development through self-discipline and due diligence of hard work we might reach higher than the stars or we might fall below into the crumbling dust upon the wayside if our ego overtakes us and we lose the inner compass of our navigation of honor, truth and responsibility - the call of our inner wisdom and strength as well as balance upon the road of forgotten mysteries. It might lead us into the hidden dungeons of overcoming our illusions, by which I mean a much deeper implication than it will appear at surface for our illusions can easily be broken sometimes and without much consequence but here we are treading a much darker path of Underworldly illumination where everything might be turned upside down and our former views might be shattered and no longer held when coming out of this dark tunnel. Darkness is stared in the eye, our shadow and self-deception is known, and we rise triumphant over ourselves given that we are strong, honest and humble enough to do so and yield to wisdom. 

This is a path that, according to my view and understanding, we find highly in alignment with the violet path of Asetianism where, as scholars of a thousand paths, to quote a strongly ideal reference of Asetianists by Master Luis Marques, we study into the sometimes known and sometimes more hidden facets or unknown territories of not just different cultures and their ingrained worldviews but also their profoundly entwined and deeply culturally steeped spiritual practices in our never-ending quest of the Kaleidoscope - the multifariously faceted lens of ever deeper and complex, more whole and complete, understanding of truth regarding different forms of knowledge as well as cultures and traditions around the world to piece together the numerous and scattered pieces of the great puzzle that is Asetianism as well as to rise as masters of wisdom in perpetual renewal. A fire burning to ash the false and preconceived as we are reborn through its flames into a higher gnosis.