The Cauldron of Subservience
"Extremes of pain or fear or persistence with some energetic physical activity
(such as the whirling dervish dance) to the point of exhaustion can be effective,
but sexual climax as the ultimate expression of life represents the pinnacle of
excitatory gnosis-Eros."
-----Choronzon 999, Kallisti No. 2
Sex magic, in its various forms, is recognised as being one of the most potent
forms of advanced magical technique known to Western magicians of this century.
Despite this, there are many very experienced magicians who would be hard
pressed to explain exactly what methods constitute sex magic. There are many
methods which could be considered sexual magical technique, but the most simple
explanation of something which would be considered as 'sex magic' is any method
which raises the sexual or kundalini energies, whether or not actual sexual
activity of any kind actually plays a part.
Gnosis can be achieved through many magical methods, sexual or otherwise. The
writings of Austin Osman Spare have focused much attention on sexual methods,
yet still many modern magicians are able to see how these methods relate to
apparently non-sexual methods such as spinning, deprivation, meditation
journeying and others. What draws our attention to sex magic is twofold; it
is our natural primitive drive toward the entire subject of sex combined with
the knowledge that this form of magic is of particularly intense power. It is
our very animal attraction to the sexual drive which gives it the power it has
over us and for us. Within this statement lies an essential caution: Sex magic
is indeed very powerful, and by its very nature is a form of magic which takes
us to the edge where control is an act of conscious will, always in
competition with the natural drive to give ourselves over to the intensity and
abandon of the performance of the ritual, to the raw power of the experiential
crucible of fire and passion.
Austin Spare has become known for autoerotic sex magic. In some ways this can
be both simpler and more intense than an act of sex magic performed by a couple
which may involve sexual activity, as the act of sex can be very distracting in
and of itself from the act of magic, unless both (or all) participants are
extremely self-disciplined. Interestingly, discipline in sex magic can be very
effectively achieved through methods which bring into play other forms of gnosis
fulfilment, such as the fear and pain which are mentioned in the quote at the
beginning of this article.
Working with sex, fear and pain together is a journey into the darkest regions
of sex magic, and is the purpose behind the increasing popularity of S/M sexual
practices within the realm of ritual magic. These practices consist of consentual
acts of dominance and submission in a role playing context which gives the
apparent 'power' of the situation into the hands of one person, commonly referred
to as the 'top', while the other person, often referred to as the 'bottom',
submits to the will and actions of the top within boundaries which have been
prearranged between them (or among them, in larger group situations). It is
important to remember in these 'scenes' as they are called that the roles are
consentual. Despite appearances, nothing happens by force or against the will
or chosen parameters of the bottom. The bottom may experience very real fear
or pain, possibly as well as pleasure and sexual stimulation of some sort
alternately, and it is the very intensity of these experiential perceptions
which will take the bottom into ritual gnosis of a very deep nature, known
as 'bottom space'. Bottom space may also include psychological reactions,
not always of a pleasant nature, and yet these experiences are also
desired by those who tread this path.
In The Topping Book (San Francisco, Greenery Press, 1995), Catherine
Liszt and Dossie Easton tell us that;
"It is within the darkness of the earth, in the cool depths where seeds germinate,
that the material of waste and decay is transformed into fertilizer for new life.
When we evoke our personal demons in an S/M scene, we dig up the darkest and
most difficult of life's journey, and with the magic of erotic energy transform
that shit into our rose garden.
"S/M is sex magic, and you are the magician. The bottom is the cauldron in which
you perform your miracles. Wave your wand, and make magic happen...as you mix
your bottom's energy with your own, heat them up with the fire of passion, and
with that potent precious power turn lead into gold, misery into exhaltation,
bondage into liberation and sex into revelation."
Magic which involves one person utilizing the energy of another is vampiric by
nature, and yet despite the often negative connotations given to acts of
non-consentual psychic vampirism, consentual psychic vampirism in an act of S/M
sex magic is of benefit to both (or all) participants and is no more an act of
force than a ritual where a circle of fluffy magicians share their combined
energies in a simple act of holding hands in a circle. The magical act is done
with an intent and through methods which are agreed by all participants
beforehand. Nobody is coerced or forced, nobody is expected to suffer pain
or distress unwillingly. Some people even thrive on playing the role of bottom
or 'sub', and there are arguments which say that the 'sub' actually has the
greater control over the situation as it is this participant who sets the
pace, often armed with a 'safe word' in case things begin to go beyond their
parameters, and who sets those parameters for the top or 'Dom'.
Directing the magical gnosis of a person who is well into trance as a form of
magic is more common than we often consciously realize. When we teach magic to
our children, we take their innocent power and direct it in early ritual
experiences, just as we would a battery charged with magical power, because
their inexperience prevents them from doing so effectively at first and they
will learn through observation as much as through instruction. It may at
first seem a very different thing to direct the energy of a consenting adult
in a sexual situation, and particularly in the dark realms of S/M, yet the
act of redirecting raw power is very similar.
The main difference is in intensity and character of that raw power. The energy
of the child is innocent and trusting, powered by the very innocence which allows
the child to trust the parent to direct them only through ritual experiences
suitable for their age and experience. In my own case, I consider very carefully
before inviting my daughter to participate in ritual. I discuss the intent
with her and have never used methods which should upset any of the social
workers. Directing her power in ritual is an act of instruction, as described
above.
Redirecting the energy of a consenting adult however, can be very different in
method. The way the energy flows through me may be very similar, but the actual
methods as well as my own attitude toward the act are entirely unlike anything
I would consider performing with a child. The act of stirring the cauldron
of a willing 'victim' immersed in the ecstasy of 'bottom space' is wonderfully
vampiric, carrying associations with the blood swoon of the vampire novels I
have read, passionate and dark, fierce and profound, and yet tender in the
knowledge that my 'victim' gives himself to me willingly in the way that the
vassals of the fictional vampires offer themselves to their beloved masters,
offering their exposed throats to feed the hunger of the predatory demon
with complete trust that the vampire will preserve the life of the trusting
minion, that it may live to serve the powerful vampire again.
Playing the role of 'Master' in such a scenario brings a heavy responsibility.
The magician should be very experienced and competent in a variety of magical
practices and techniques to begin with. Both (or all) participants should have
worked with S/M methods together before attempting magical ritual with these
methods as well. A feeling for the type of energy which is being summoned
through this sort of activity is essential for adequate control of magic which
is performed on the darkest edges of human experience. Utilizing pleasure and
pain and delving into the psychological shadow is obviously no place for
beginners or for irresponsible experimentation, yet it is a realm of
fundamental power which cannot be ignored, however steadfastly it may be
repressed. Working with potentially chaotic energies is an art of balance
at any time. Opening one's dark side to the chaos and turbulence of human
sensory stimulus is no place for the squeamish or for potential panic.
The ability to keep one's head in a crisis and to respond quickly and
intelligently to any eventuality, whether magical or physical, is a
requisite skill for the magician in this position. Anyone considering
experimentation with S/M magic is encouraged to read the books suggested
at the end of this article for reference and to experiment with S/M
techniques with a consentual partner before delving into the magical
possibilities offered by this area of magic.
The methods themselves can be many and varied, as with any magical system. One
ritual method suggested in The Topping Book is to chant in rhythm to
flagellation, both the giver and receiver entering into the ritual space as
well as the bottom space of S/M to build up the power of trance in unison to
the cadence of the action. It is the responsibility of the top in this
situation to retain sufficient conscious awareness of the physical effects
of the activity to insure that no unwanted or serious physical harm may
come of this practice. The absolute trust which is required of the sub
in this situation goes far beyond simple trust of the top to wish to do no
harm, but into trust that the top's ability to maintain control on all
levels while in ecstatic trance is at least adequate, if not paramount.
Alternatively, the top may wish to perform a very controlled ritual according
to other methods, drawing energy from the bottom space of the sub in true
vampiric fashion while the sub gives him or herself over completely to
generating the trance energy with no responsibility for the direction of the
magic. In this situation, the sub need not even be a magician, but should be
an experienced sub who is aware of what is to take place and is able to trust
the magician to perform to specifications.
Actual sex may or may not play a part in this form of magic. What will or will
not occur should definitely be agreed between or among all parties before
beginning. The important aspect of the operation is to use the combined powers
of deep trance and kundalini excitement, by whatever methods have been agreed
beforehand, to produce the requisite energy for a magical act. There is no
getting around the efficacy of this method of power raising, although it isn't
something which would appeal to everybody or necessarily be appropriate to
every situation. Sex magic may take many forms. Not all of them require
delving into the dark reaches of pain and fear to be effective. Yet for those
who will and dare this path, the potential for aquisition of raw power for
use in magic is undeniably immense.
NOTE: Those who are new to magic should not expect to encounter bdsm or any form
of sex magic in open magical groups. These techniques are practiced privately by
experienced practitioners and most often by established couples.
BDSM practices emphasis Safe, Sane, Consensual practices only and anyone interested
in this area is strongly encouraged to read the recommended books listed below, in
order to learn safe practice before experimenting.
Recommended Reading:
SM 101: A Realistic Introduction by Jay Wiseman
The Topping Book by Dossie Easton and Catherine A. Liszt
The Bottoming Book by Dossie Easton and Catherine A. Liszt
The Sexually Dominant Woman by Lady Green
all above available from Greenery Press, San Francisco
or in UK from Amazon.co.uk