The Oath of the Abyss Part II

This post continues my thoughts on the Oath of the Abyss. The next part reads:

6. that I will continue in the Knowledge and Conversation of my Holy Guardian Angel

This pretty clearly states that this oath is meant for adept level people because those that have contacted their HGA are generally considered adepts. Frankly, I took this before anyone would even think of me as possibly being an adept. This was a mistake and an error and I wouldn’t recommend doing that, except that I do. Sometimes, maybe you should do it. Maybe not.

Different people have different views of the The Holy Guardian Angel (HGA). All I can share is my experience and understanding. I think of the spirit and the process like this.

First you are a totally unenlightened being but you work really hard using the Tree of Life as a model for attainment. Once you clear out enough of your shit, the HGA appears. This is a spirit external to you. I view it as an enlightened spirit whose job it is to help you continue. This spirit has a grand perspective. It sees who you are now and the very nature of your soul and can communicate with both. The HGA guides you to knowledge of your soul.

Very often the process starts with a student teacher relationship. The teacher helps you to your HGA. After that, a good teacher will still be there but fade out a bit and let the HGA take over further instruction. Then, you learn to have contact with your highest soul and the HGA hangs around but leaves the rest up to you and your soul.

This oath is saying you will stay with that process to the end. Even if you haven’t achieved knowledge and conversation with your HGA, you are committing to a given process.

7. that I will work without attachment

This is more of a guideline really. Show me a person that claims to work without attachment and I will show you one heck of an enlightened being, the rare person that can do it, or a person that needs to know him or herself much better. The point here is that you will do the Work without guiding where it will take you.

8. that I will work in truth:

Here we have a certified mess. Is it my truth your truth? How do you know what your truth is? It is a nice sentiment. This may be about piety to your knowledge of the moment. I don’t know.

9. that I will rely only upon myself:

This is important. You can gain information and input from anyone. There is always someone smarter, more experienced or a stronger expert on a given topic. However, you have to rely on yourself. Jason Miller is the bomb but, you may learn that your magick isn’t his magick. His methods may not work for you. You have to figure it out for yourself. Secondarily, you cannot put people up on a pedestal and rely on their judgement of you as a spiritual person or magician. You can learn from their praise or criticism but not rely on it.

10. that I will interpret every phenomenon as a particular dealing of God with my soul. And if I fail herein, may my pyramid be profaned, and the Eye closed to me

that I will interpret every phenomenon as a particular dealing of God with my soul.

This is my favorite line in the oath. This puts a target on your back, filters your vision and colors your entire life perspective. It has a huge impact. This line brings with it pain, discomfort and a host of other unpleasant side effects. However, seeing the universe like that is by far the greatest teacher I have ever had. To say that I am pleased with the long term outcome would be an understatement.

And if I fail herein, may my pyramid be profaned, and the Eye closed to me

Don’t take this oath unless you mean it. Do not take it unless the core of your being is telling you that you are a theurgic magician for life. Do not take this unless you think about this stuff more often than everything else combined. The exception to that may be family. You should think of your family a lot.

There is no going back.