How to manipulate modern society through containment, temperature and pressure.
If Descartes had written “I am, therefore I think,” instead of its perverse reverse, it is conceivable that it might not have been necessary for M. Gleizes to write this book [Life and Death of the Christian West]. Out of the void appeared Descartes’ theory equating “intellect” exclusively with the organ of discursive thought and it is hardly too much to say that man’s thought has operated in the void ever since. Thus detached from the First Cause, as well as from the organism and the sensibilities, this presumptuous mind, this Lucifer marooned in space, occupied, itself with abstractions to such an extent that in the long run downhill of modern civilization it has cease to be aware of reality at all. Its analyses have in the end picked everything to pieces and out of these dismemberments it has manufactured what Mr. Lewis Mumford calls “the behaviourist man, with his slot-machine mind” operating (not living) “as a distracted atom in a growing chaos.” It is only logical that the Cartesian mind, aware of nothing but the atomic whirl out of which it appears to have been spontaneously generated, should have bequeathed to us that typical offshoot of the modern intellectualism, the professional planner carving the atomic mass, deprived of soul, nature, the senses and any purpose in life other than that of quantitative production, into whatever shape he pleases.
~ H. J. Massingham, Foreword to Life and Death of the Christian West by Albert Gleizes
Albert Gleizes was a French Cubist, very much influenced by Rene Guenon, and the author of several books on topics of interest to Tradition. This introduction to one of his books touches on many themes now familiar readers of Guenon and Evola. Of immediate interest is the characterization of modern man “as a distracted atom in a growing chaos.”
If we may develop this analogy, in a Traditional society an atom (or individual man) is one element in a molecule, and molecules are arranged in stable crystalline structures. That is, men are organically related to each other on the one hand, and participate in a higher order, on the other.
A gas, in contrast, consists of molecules unrelated to each other that move about independently, the analogical situation of modern man. In other words, modern man, in liberating himself from the ordered structure of Tradition, has simply created chaos. This he regards as “freedom” and “individuality”, although from a higher perspective, his freedom is nothing more than random movements, and despite his alleged individuality, he is indistinguishable from all the other molecules around him.
The interesting thing about gases is that, while the movements of an individual molecule is unpredictable, the behavior as a whole is entirely predictable according to some very precise chemical and physical gas laws.
For example, if you connect two containers, each with a different gas, with a tiny aperture connecting them, then eventually the two containers will each consist of a balanced mixture of the two gases. This will happen with certainty despite the intention of any of the gas molecules. The other factors affecting the behavior of gases are temperature and pressure. Now the interesting thing about these factors is that they apply only to the aggregate, not the individual. For example, it makes no sense to speak of the temperature of an individual gas molecule, but it does make sense when speaking of the container of gas as a whole.
So there are three factors that can control the behavior of the mass: shape, temperature and pressure. Yet, the individual molecule maintains his sense of freedom and independence, walking his random walk, oblivious to the outside forces that are in actuality constraining his movements. Thus a gas, despite its apparent disorganization, is restricted by those outside forces.
Obviously, a crystalline structure cannot be manipulated in the same way, since it resists such changes as a whole. To destroy it, it is first necessary to undercut its unifying principle, or in other words, its spiritual unity.
So called conspiracies are portrayed as intricate, and evil, movements controlled by one man or else a small cabal. This portrayal is deliberate in order to discredit any such notion. But con-spiracy, means ‘breathing together’, or more precisely, ‘those who share the same spirit’. Those who are spiritually unified do not necessarily have to operate as a conspiracy with cells and a central command. Quite to the contrary, as the Proverbs tell us: “the locusts have no king, yet they attack in formation”.
The shape of discourse is always under the manipulation of spirits. Pressure is applied to control discourse. Heat is applied to bring certain issues to the forefront of the daily news. This is effective because the Ahrimanic and Luciferian spirits of our age convince us:
- You are already free, so you do not have to achieve it
- You are already the master of your own mind, so you need not strive to master it
- You are not organized into a higher order, so neither is anyone else
- Conspiracies are insane, so you need not seek the true sources of ideologies and events
Thus modern man will believe on Tuesday the opposite of what he believed on Monday, all the while he claims to be progressive.
I personally equate Lucifer, the high celestial angel, with Nous, Meister Eckhart’s ‘the uncreated’, the fifth element, the quintessence etc.
The way I see it, there are ‘lucifers’, and then there is Lucifer. The first ones are men who have contacted and stolen the light of the intellect and then have distorted it to their own personal goals, apparently benevolent, consciously malignant, or something in between. This leads to the endless horisontal loop with no escape, into the ‘vicious circle of a satanic intelligence’, the way of the serpent without the dove of love and celestial light. Enter modern science and scientism.
Nietzsche, despite his positive and traditional elements of his thinking, is the best example of the way of the serpent caught in a loop of ‘endless return’. Tomberg talks about this very well in Meditations on the Tarot, in a chapter about the wheel of fate (Atu X).
Cologero writes :: Guenon refers to “directors” who foment such confusions and “know very well how to use them for their own ends.” He also claims that is seems that a “preconceived plan” is involved. ::
Concerning those who work toward such subversive ends, M. Guenon stated that the preconceived plan relies on the ignorance of large numbers of those involved in subversion, most of whom propagate their false ideas in ‘good faith’, blind to and unconscious of the bigger picture of which they only paint a small but significant part within their own arena.
This is verified by any encounters you may have with those who have been exposed to certain ‘brands’ of subversion. Be very mindful in your interactions with them, and you might discern the distinctive ‘marks’ that betray their tenebrous abode. They indeed appear to be victims when you descry their weaknesses.
I would not be surprised, were I to meet them, to find that the fully conscious agents (directors) of subversion were the most apparently degenerate, and the least capable of suppressing display of their grotesque identifiers before one who can see (thought I’m not certain). It is a necessary corollary of their state, and so it cannot be easily camouflaged.
Verily, the Truth cannot be opposed, for the very plane that houses the will to oppose it is situated below the horizon of efficacy. Nonetheless, guard thyself.
Cologero and Aidan, many thanks. I would like to stay in contact with you and Gorna Hoor. Even though I am not adherent of any of the three Abrahamic Religions or their offshots I like reading your understanding and explanations.
I am myself initiated in Traditional Gaudiya Vaishnavism and I do very much combine it with teachings of B.G. Tilak and that what is left of the knowledge of the pre-christian Indo-European civilization. Some call it Paganism, some Heathenism i just call it Polytheism.
My very best to both of you !
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In the essay “Recent Confusions”, Rene Guenon writes:
Guenon refers to “directors” who foment such confusions and “know very well how to use them for their own ends.” He also claims that is seems that a “preconceived plan” is involved. The aim, it appears, is to attract those dissatisfied with exoterism in order to distract them with a pseudo-esoterism. This typically takes the form of incorporating really traditional elements, but this does not alter the untraditional nature of the amalgam. These usually claim to be discovering ancient traditions, but are in actuality no more than fantastical reconstructions that appeal to one’s emotional nature rather than intellectual.
False light – an alternative gnosis – is what was meant by false knowledge (not just an accidental or intentional misrepresentation of one thing or another in an otherwise rational presentation). Behind this light, gathering and then leading its followers, is a spirit which exists in opposition to the Supreme and which is therefore destined for annihilation. Much could be spelled out about it and much has been – few have been as clear as Guenon. I refer you to his words on this rather than mine.
A better question than “what is the ‘original’ source of false knowledge and counterfeit spirituality?” might be “IS there such a thing as counterfeit spirituality?” This leads to a very fruitful line of inquiry: “is there true spirituality? If so, what is my relationship to it?” and so on.
One may then ask, in passing, as one is traveling in the opposite direction, what purpose a counterfeit might serve. At that point it might then be possible to glean something of the operations and origins of such things, as viewed safely in reflection upon a symbolic mirror. That which we see may strongly motivate us to move toward God.
With regard to the celestial bodies, Lucifer has generally been associated with the Morning Star, Venus, rather than the Sun. In the Western Tradition, it is Christ who is associated with the Solar Deity.
In this excellent piece by Cologero, the pairing of Lucifer with Ahriman echoes Rudolf Steiner’s division of the devilish forces at work upon and within our world. This may well come through Cologero via Tomberg – it is a useful perspective as far as it goes. Guenon’s view of the counter-principle is starker still and far more terrible.
The good news – the antidote to any and all spiritual poison – is that the Supreme contains no opposite of Itself.
Apologies. I wrote above ”false spirituality” it should be: ”counterfeit spirituality”.
First choice in your post.
What is the ”original source of false knowledge and false spirituality” in your comment ? I am honestly asking.
Thank you.
Suncovrat, it depends who and what you are talking about when you talk about Lucifer.
If you personally refer to the Sun God as Lucifer, that would be highly idiosyncratic of you but you would be right in saying that you would not be talking about an enemy of either the soul or God.
If, on the other hand, you used the name Lucifer to refer to an ‘original’ source of false knowledge and counterfeit spirituality that manages to misdirect the elect by virtue of being a hair’s breadth from the truth while at the same time missing it absolutely, you would also be aware that there is a direction which is contrary to the Divine. This is the more standard usage, worthy of some deep consideration.
Luciferian ? Lucifer is the Sun God and not some ”arch enemy”.
Weird!