[Reverse the Myth] Spiritual Alchemy for "Living as Yourself" Revealed by Aleister Crowley, Gnosis, and the Emerald Tablet: Practical Knowledge to Break Free from Dominant Common Sense and Make Your Inner "Star" Shine

1. Introduction: The "Invisible Prison" We Live In and Ancient Wisdom

Living in modern society, we are blessed with unprecedented convenience and connectivity, yet we harbor an indescribable sense of confinement and difficulty in living. Surrounded by countless "success stories of others" flowing through SNS timelines, "efficient ways of living" recommended by algorithms, and "standard models of happiness" implicitly imposed by society—we have lost sight of "what we truly desire" while living in a state where we are constantly threatened and dominated by "the will of others," such as the approval of others and social evaluation.

This "state of being dominated by the will of others" actually corresponds surprisingly well to the structure of the "invisible prison" that ancient mystics perceived.

About 2,000 years ago, the mystical philosophy of "Gnosticism," which flourished in the Mediterranean world but was later buried in the darkness of history as "heresy" by the orthodox Christian church, defined this physical world as a "cage called order" created by an incomplete and evil false creator god, the "Demiurge." The full picture of this belief system was revealed to the modern world again through the "Nag Hammadi Library," which was miraculously discovered in the Egyptian soil in 1945.

According to Gnosticism, although people harbor a "divine spark (spirit)" derived from the Supreme God (the world of light) within themselves, they are trapped in a "sleep of ignorance" where they forget their essence by being bound by the rules of the material world, the body, and the domination of the Demiurge, which is social destiny. They preached that noticing this invisible domination and remembering one's inner essence (the original self)—that is, obtaining "knowledge (Gnosis)"—is the ultimate salvation and the path to freedom.

Then, in the early 20th century, the extraordinary magician Aleister Crowley integrated this Gnosticism, ancient Egyptian Hermeticism, and the tradition of alchemy, reviving them as a modern practical system of self-transformation. Crowley established the doctrine of "Thelema (Will)" as a philosophy for awakening the original divinity that humans hide in the depths of themselves and living it out completely.

The words written in his masterpiece, "The Book of the Law," "Do what thou wilt (Thelema) shall be the whole of the Law." are by no means a recommendation for selfish egoism. It is a declaration of a life-or-death "Magnum Opus" to reclaim the sovereignty of the soul from the "false domination" of others' expectations and social frameworks, and to discover and fulfill the divine destiny sleeping in one's depths, namely the "True Will."

In this article, we will weave together the "Emerald Tablet," the Hermetic texts, the Nag Hammadi Library, and Aleister Crowley's magical books and tarot theory to thoroughly explain the "practical and spiritual alchemy" for us living in the modern age to escape the "invisible prison" of others' wills, regain our inner sovereignty, and shine as our own unique "stars." The wisdom left behind by the ancient sages should become a powerful weapon for our survival in the modern world.

2. Chapter 1: Learning "Correspondence" and the Cosmic Law of Mirrors from the "Emerald Tablet"

Hermes Trismegistus (Ancient Greek: Ἑρμῆς ὁ Τρισμέγιστος, Latin: Hermes Trismegistus, meaning "Thrice-Greatest Hermes") is a legendary sage and god-man born from the syncretism of Thoth, the ancient Egyptian god of wisdom and magic, and Hermes, the god of Greek mythology, during the Hellenistic period. He is considered the founder of Western mysticism, Hermeticism, and alchemy, and is said to be the author of the "Corpus Hermeticum" and the "Emerald Tablet."

Here, I present the English and Japanese translations by Isaac Newton, who was the discoverer of universal gravitation and a passionate researcher of alchemy throughout his life.

Isaac Newton's translation

1. 'Tis true without lying, certain & most true.

   1. (This is true without lying, certain, and most true.)

2. That which is below is like that which is above & that which is above is like that which is below to do the miracles of one only thing.

   1. (That which is below is like that which is above, and that which is above is like that which is below. It is to perform the miracles of the one thing.)

3. And as all things have been & arose from one by the meditation of one: so all things have their birth from this one thing by adaptation.

   1. (And as all things have been and arose from one by the meditation of one, so all things have their birth from this one thing by adaptation.)

4. The Sun is its father, the moon its mother,

   1. (The Sun is its father, the moon is its mother.)

5. the wind hath carried it in its belly, the earth its nurse.

   1. (The wind carried it in its womb, and the earth was its nurse.)

6. The father of all perfection in the whole world is here.

   1. (The father of all perfection in the whole world is here.)

7. Its force or power is entire if it be converted into earth.

   1. (If it is converted into earth, its force, or power, is complete.)

8. Separate thou the earth from the fire, the subtle from the gross sweetly with great industry.

   1. (Separate the earth from the fire, the subtle from the gross, gently and with great diligence.)

9. It ascends from the earth to the heaven & again it descends to the earth and receives the force of things superior & inferior.

   1. (It ascends from earth to heaven and descends again to earth, receiving the power of things superior and inferior.)

10. By this means you shall have the glory of the whole world & thereby all obscurity shall fly from you.

    1. (By this, you shall obtain the glory of the whole world. Therefore, all darkness shall flee from you.)

11. Its force is above all force, for it vanquishes every subtle thing & penetrates every solid thing.

    1. (Its power surpasses all power. For it overcomes every subtle thing and penetrates every solid thing.)

12. So was the world created.

    1. (Thus was the world created.)

13. From this are & do come admirable adaptations where of the means (or process) is here in this.

    1. (From this, admirable adaptations arise, and the means for them are here, within this.)

14. Hence I am called Hermes Trismegistus, having the three parts of the philosophy of the whole world. (Therefore I am called Hermes Trismegistus, possessing the three parts of the philosophy of the whole world.)

15. That which I have said of the operation of the Sun is accomplished & ended.

    1. (What I have said about the operation of the Sun is accomplished and completed.)

Practicing "As Above, So Below" in the Modern Age: The Outer World is a Projection of the Inner Spirit

When we apply this Hermetic worldview to our modern daily lives, we gain extremely important practical knowledge. It is the truth that "the reality world before your eyes (environment, human relationships, events that occur) is a perfect projection (mirror) of your inner self (mental state, beliefs, unconscious conflicts)."

When many modern people find their work not going well, struggle with human relationships, or suffer from a sense of stagnation in life, they seek the cause in the "outer environment" or the "words and actions of others," and struggle desperately to control the outer world. However, as the law of the Emerald Tablet shows, the outer world (above/outer) is merely a mirror of your inner self (below/inner).

If you see that your face reflected in a mirror is dirty, scrubbing the surface of the mirror will never remove the dirt. Similarly, any effort to change only the outer reality with superficial tricks while neglecting your own inner refinement will end in vain.

In the dialogue works such as the "Poimandres" contained in the Hermetic corpus, it is taught that humans were created in the image of God and essentially possess the divine ability to transcend the heavens (planetary forces) that govern the macrocosm. As the Emerald Tablet indicates, by separating the earth from the fire and the subtle from the dense with great diligence (purifying the impure evil thoughts and noise of others in the heart), and by "ascending the spirit from earth to heaven and descending it again from heaven to earth," one makes the integrated power of above and below their own. When this happens, humans grasp the "glory of the whole world," and all "darkness (confusion and anxiety)" flees away.

If you wish to change the world, first achieve harmony within your own inner microcosm. Look deeply into your own thoughts and unconscious realms, and apply the alchemy of the spirit. When you achieve inner harmony, the outer world, which is the mirror, will begin to transform its appearance surprisingly naturally and beautifully.

3. Chapter 2: Gnosticism of the Nag Hammadi Library—Laughing Off "Common Sense" and Moving from Slavery to Freedom

In the history of Western thought, no philosophy has so thoroughly exposed the "structure of world domination" and overturned values from the foundation as Gnosticism. The Coptic papyrus manuscripts of the "Nag Hammadi Library," discovered in southern Egypt in 1945, revived the living voices of those who were condemned as "harmful heretics" by the orthodox early Christian church and buried in darkness.

The worldview they preached was extremely radical, yet it is filled with a logic of liberation that is eye-opening for us who suffer in modern managed society and the cage called invisible "common sense."

"Social Rules and Common Sense" by the name of Demiurge (False God)

Gnosticism viewed this physical world, which we accept as a matter of course, as a "prison of the soul" created by the evil creator god "Demiurge" through his own arrogance, as an incomplete and evil imitation of the true world of light (Pleroma).

The Demiurge fears nothing more than the fact that humans harbor a brilliant spiritual essence (divine spark) derived from the "Supreme God (Father of All)" within themselves. Therefore, he constructs various laws, morals, social destinies, and stellar forces (fate), and by planting fear of survival and a sense of duty in humans, he tries to keep them locked in a sleep of ignorance so they do not notice their own divinity.

Try replacing this with modern society. The "hierarchy of academic background, annual income, and social status," the "fear that if you don't live this way you will fall behind," and "public common sense and peer pressure" that threaten us every day—these are exactly the "invisible systems" constructed by the modern Demiurge to steal the freedom of the soul. Many people mistake the order created by this false god for "this is reality and absolute good," and become slaves living an "inauthentic self" that only serves the system.

Reversal of Values and "Laughter": Escape from Ignorance to Absolute Freedom

The true essence of Gnosticism lies in the point that it read and interpreted myths such as the "Genesis" depicted in the Old Testament by "reversing" them as acrobatically as possible. In their mythological interpretation, the "Lord God (Jehovah)" who forbade humans from eating the fruit from the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil" in the Garden of Eden is none other than the evil creator god Demiurge (Yaldabaoth) who tried to close off the wisdom of salvation (Gnosis) from humans. In contrast, the "serpent" who encouraged humans to eat the fruit is rightfully re-evaluated as a "savior" who came to grant the wisdom to escape from false domination and recognize the true self.

This thorough reversal of values and "cold laughter" at earthly powers and the rulers of the universe is the greatest characteristic of the Gnostics. In the "Apocalypse of Peter" and the "Second Treatise of the Great Seth" contained in the "Nag Hammadi Library," Jesus on the cross is not depicted as a figure writhing in physical pain, but as a being who is "standing and laughing" coldly, or triumphantly, at the ignorance and confusion of the evil rulers (Archons) of the earth and the universe. While the rulers boast that "we hold the sovereignty of this world and have executed the truth," the spiritual Jesus, who is the truth itself, is laughing off their incomplete control system.

The "Gospel of Philip" leaves behind words that are the core of this spiritual revolution.

The moment we who live in the modern age stop being afraid of the threats of the invisible Demiurge called "common sense" or "social expectations," and "recognize (Gnosis)" the "essential divine spark (true self) within us," the walls of the prison disappear like a phantom. We must not entrust our existence value to external systems. Seeing through it and saying, "This is just a fake game made by the Demiurge," and obtaining the mental autonomy to quietly laugh it off—that is the ultimate escape route from slavery that Gnosis presents to modern people.

4. Chapter 3: Crowley's "Thelema (Will)" Philosophy—Every Man and Every Woman is a Star

Aleister Crowley inherited two currents: the "as above, so below" of ancient Hermetic thought and the "awakening from a false system" of Gnosticism, reconstructing them in the 20th century as a powerful counter-culture. The Book of the Law, which Crowley is said to have received from the spiritual entity "Aiwass" in Cairo, Egypt, in 1904, presented an absolute golden rule for humans of the new age (the Aeon of Horus) to live by.

That is the doctrine of "Thelema (Will)."

Magick is a "technology of the will" to create your own reality

Crowley presented his system of Magick as one that fused the spirit of modern science with Eastern and Western mysticism to the extreme, and he put forward the following clear slogan:

As the motto of his magical order, the A∴A∴, "The Method of Science, the Aim of Religion" indicates, for Crowley, mysticism was not vague blind faith or spiritual comfort, but an "objective experimental technique" to completely transform one's consciousness and control one's life. Based on this, the "Magick" he defined is extremely simple and practical.

Many people wish to "change reality," yet they live by being swayed by the opinions of others, trapped by fear, and scattering their own will. Crowley's Magick is a "self-integration technique" to concentrate the energy of scattered consciousness like a laser beam and cause dynamic changes in the real world.

"True Will" and the way of life that "Every man and every woman is a star"

The most easily misunderstood part of the Thelemic doctrine is the fundamental law, "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law." This is not an encouragement of impulsive hedonism or egoism, such as "live however you want, even if it inconveniences others." Crowley called temporary human desires (wanting this, wanting to do that, wanting to show off to others, etc.) "false will (ego desires)," and called the ultimate sacred duty sleeping in the deepest part of the soul, stripped of all those things, the "True Will."

True Will is the soul's unique vector (purpose)—that is, "what unique qualities you possess and what role you should play in this macrocosm." Crowley spoke of this truth using a grand cosmic metaphor.

The countless stars shining beautifully in the night sky each follow the laws of gravity, moving in their own "orbits" in perfect balance. A star does not look at a neighboring star, envy its path, think "that orbit looks cooler," change its course, or go to collide with it. Because each star moves perfectly in its own orbit, the entire universe exists as a grand, harmonious system.

Humans are exactly the same. Much of modern human suffering arises from trying to force oneself to walk the "orbits of others" set by the expectations of others or society, or from competing with others and "colliding (friction)." When you discover your "True Will" and walk only your own unique orbit, all fruitless conflict with others disappears. This is because when you are running your own orbit, you do not interfere with the orbits of other stars. On the contrary, when you live your own orbit, the power (gravity) of the entire macrocosm perfectly pushes you in the direction you should go, and all external resistance is absorbed into harmony.

Remembering that you are a "star" emitting a single unique light, eliminating ego desires (noise), and running only the orbit of your "True Will." That is the secret of Crowley's Magick for completely breaking away from the control of others' wills and living in unity with the totality of the universe.

5. Chapter 4: A Soul Prescription for Modern People—The "IAO Cycle" and the Transformation Process of Spiritual Alchemy

When we decide to live our "True Will" and begin a new challenge, we almost always face the walls of reality: "decreased motivation," "serious slumps," and "opposition from those around us or unexpected trouble." Many people give up here, thinking, "It wasn't for me after all" or "My will was wrong," and return to the cage of the Demiurge (safe common sense).

In his book The Book of Thoth, Aleister Crowley explained that this process of frustration and disintegration in the growth of the spirit is an inevitable rite of passage for the soul to evolve to a higher dimension, using the psychological and mystical dynamism of the "formula of the dying god," or the "IAO cycle."

"IAO Cycle": The Psychology of Death and Rebirth

• The Period of I (Isis): "Happy Beginnings and Ease"

  1. When you first embark on a new job, hobby, project, or relationship, everything is filled with freshness and proceeds surprisingly smoothly. This period is very enjoyable and is wrapped in natural energy and a sense of happiness. This is the maternal "protection and nurturing" stage of Isis.

• The Period of A (Apophis): "Decay, Darkness, Despair, and True Molting"

  1. As time passes, the initial excitement fades, and eventually, you become bored with the work, fail to achieve the desired results, and lose sight of the direction you should be heading, leaving you unsure of what to do. This is the period of Apophis, the "Dragon (Destroyer/Darkness)." Doubts about your own abilities arise, and a darkness of deep despair and conflict dominates the soul. Modern people extremely dislike this stagnation or slump as a "failure to be avoided," but in order to dismantle the old ego and refine true gold, this dark period is the most essential alchemical furnace.

• The Period of O (Osiris): "Rebirth, Overcoming, and Sublimation to a Higher Dimension"

  1. When you endure this darkness of Apophis and persistently overcome the challenges, suddenly, the subject is conquered, leading to a triumphant conclusion. This is the stage of Osiris, the "One who is destroyed and appears (the god of death and rebirth)." Through this rebirth, the soul acquires wisdom and power that are far higher and more unshakable than in the initial stage (Isis).

Many modern people mistake the slump period of Apophis (A) for the "end of life" or a "failure" and abandon their challenges before reaching the rebirth of Osiris (O). However, if you deeply understand this IAO cycle, you can possess a strong resilience, knowing that "being in the darkness (Apophis) right now means I am passing through the most important molting process to reach the next higher-dimensional awakening (Osiris)."

*Accordingly, the corresponding items in the table of contents will also be updated as follows.

• A Soul Prescription for Modern People: The "IAO Cycle" and the Transformation Process of Spiritual Alchemy

  • "IAO Cycle": The Psychology of Death and Rebirth—Apophis (Dark Period/Stagnation) is the Most Important Alchemical Process

  • The Three Stages of Spiritual Alchemy: Nigredo, Albedo, and Rubedo

This IAO cycle corresponds perfectly with the "three stages of transformation" that Western alchemists performed when refining the "Philosopher's Stone (the ultimate spiritual awakening)."

• Nigredo:

  1. The initial process of thoroughly dismantling the material and placing it in a state of pitch-black putrefaction. This signifies the collapse of the ego and the death of old attachments, corresponding to "Apophis" in IAO. Without this dismantling (death) through "Nigredo," the material cannot gain the foundation to transform into immortal gold. The pain and troubles we face are the furnace of "Nigredo" that burns away the old ego.

• Albedo:

  1. The process in which the putrefied material is washed and purified into a pure, brilliant "white silver (awakening of the spirit)." This is the stage where reason is liberated from evil thoughts and clear consciousness is regained.

• Rubedo:

  1. The final process in which the fire of passion (sulfur) is poured back into the purified white silver, leading to the most noble "red gold (Philosopher's Stone)"—that is, a state of unwavering awakening where the body and spirit, and individual will and cosmic will, are perfectly "married (united)." This is the birth as "Osiris" in IAO.

In modern times, we tend to view pain and conflict as "evils to be avoided," but in spiritual alchemy, "conflict is the greatest fuel for producing gold." The difficulties and troubles currently before you are not meant to destroy you, but are a sacred alchemical experiment (the process of Nigredo) to burn away the base metal of your ego and purify the pure gold (True Will) that is the essence of your "star." When we hold this truth in our hearts, we can welcome the walls before us as the "best material for self-evolution."

6. Chapter 5: The Fusion of East and West—Returning to Laozi's "Brightness" and the Harmony Brought by the "Mind of No-Mind"

One of the surprising characteristics of Aleister Crowley's mystical philosophy is that it does not remain within Western traditions (Kabbalah, Hermeticism, Magick) but fuses perfectly with profound Eastern wisdom, particularly Laozi's Taoist thought (Tao Te Ching) and the I Ching system. Crowley himself stated the following strong conviction in "The Book of Thoth":

In particular, the cosmology and self-transformation practices flowing through Laozi's "Tao Te Ching" provide extremely elegant wisdom for translating the Hermetic "As above, so below" and the Gnostic "awakening of the inner spark" into our daily "mind-body management techniques."

Returning to the essential "Brightness" by "blocking the holes of desire"

In Chapter 52 of the "Tao Te Ching," Laozi explains the specific method for not dissipating one's life energy and for synchronizing with the fundamental "Tao" of the universe as follows:

For Laozi, "light" refers to wisdom that has manifested toward the external, intellectual world (comparison with others, pursuit of evaluation, clever knowledge). Laozi commands us to turn this "light" that works toward the outside back toward our own interior, and to return to "Brightness (recognition of the Tao)," which is the original, internal, and essential wisdom (using its light to return to its brightness).

This process of "closing the sensory organs of outward desire and pulling energy back to the inner root" shares its essence perfectly with the process of ascent taught in the important Gnostic scripture "Allogenes (The Revelation of the Unknown God)." In "Allogenes," in order for a human to reach the incomprehensible, high-dimensional Supreme God, one is commanded to first turn attention to the "paradigm (typos) arising within oneself," quiet active desire, and withdraw deeply into the "realm of inactivity (silence/stillness)" (a movement toward self-knowledge).

Modern society constantly stimulates our "holes of desire"—our eyes and ears—and tries to drag our energy outward through smartphone notifications and advertisements. This state of being tossed about by external noise is exactly what Laozi calls a "dangerous state," and is nothing other than the "sleep of ignorance of the Demiurge" in Gnosticism.

Synchronization with the Macrocosm through "Constant No-Mind (Mind of No-Mind)"

In Chapter 49 of Laozi's "Tao Te Ching," it is taught that the sage should discard personal desires and fixations, treat the hearts of the people as his own heart, and live in a state of "Constant No-Mind (Mind of No-Mind)," where the ego (self-attachment) is thoroughly extinguished.

This state of "No-Mind (emptiness/stillness)" perfectly matches the completed state of "True Will" in Western Magick. As Crowley taught, "True Will" is the "manifestation of the will of the macrocosm" that naturally wells up from the depths of the soul when personal ego desires and the self-attachment of "wanting to be this way" (false will) are thoroughly purified and extinguished.

The "Wu Wei (acting without imposing personal intent, following the natural operation of the universe)" taught by Laozi explains the exact same mechanism as Western spiritual alchemy, where in "Rubedo (rebirth as Osiris)," the individual will is completely integrated and united with the cosmic will to complete absolute harmony (the Philosopher's Stone).

Blocking the "light" that dissipates energy outward and returning to your own inner "Brightness (essential divine spark)." By harboring the "Mind of No-Mind (Constant No-Mind)" that has discarded egoistic attachment, you can finally synchronize with the dynamic operation of the "Tao," which is the macrocosm itself, and run the orbit of your own "star" without friction and with perfect harmony.

7. Conclusion: A Practical Roadmap for Walking the Orbit of Your One-and-Only "Star"

From the ancient Emerald Tablet to the Gnosticism of the Nag Hammadi library, Aleister Crowley's philosophy of Thelema, and the wisdom of Laozi in the East, these philosophies that tower over the history of human thought point to the exact same "ultimate transformation process" across eras and regions.

It is a grand journey—the "Magnum Opus"—of "fully awakening from the false structures of control created by society and others, recognizing (Gnosis) the immortal divinity sleeping in the depths of the self, and living by aligning one's own unique will (Thelema) with the great movement of the universe."

Here, I present four concrete practical steps (a roadmap) to embody this spiritual alchemy in your daily life and reclaim the "sovereignty of your own life" starting tomorrow.

Step 1: Recognize the "Invisible Cage (Demiurge)" and Laugh It Off

First, see through (recognize) that the "fear and sense of duty regarding money, status, evaluation by others, or the pressure to conform known as common sense" that you hold daily are merely a "false game (invisible cage)" created by the evil creator god, the Demiurge, to keep you asleep. Stop wasting your energy being afraid of that cage, and instead, coldly "laugh at" the control system in your heart. The moment you stop giving importance to the external game, that invisible cage loses its power and begins to crumble.

Step 2: Plug the "Holes of Desire" of the Senses and Return to the Inner "Light"

For at least 15 to 30 minutes a day, physically block the information stimuli (holes/gates of desire) that dissipate your life energy outward, such as smartphones, social media, and television. Silence external noise completely and turn the light of your consciousness deep inward (to your breath, bodily sensations, and silence). Through this "withdrawal (return to the inner self)," the "Light"—the inherent wisdom Laozi spoke of—awakens, and the divine spark (identity with the Supreme God) sleeping in the deepest part of your soul begins to breathe again.

Step 3: Cast Aside the Ego and Find the Orbit of Your "True Will"

Adopt a "mind of no-mind (constant non-attachment)" that has let go of comparisons with others and the ego's obsession with "wanting to be seen this way" (false will). However, it is not easy to distinguish in daily life whether "surging impulses are the ego or the True Will." Try to be conscious of three small identification criteria (signs) to distinguish between the two in your daily life.

Focus is sustained as if pushed by the gravity of the macrocosm, and anxiety about the result fades away.

In the silence, ask deeply and quietly, "If there were absolutely no external conditions or fear, what is it that I truly want to express on this earth, and what is the creative duty I must fulfill?" The quiet conviction found there is the orbital path of your unique "star." When you take a step in that direction, the power (gravity) of the entire macrocosm begins to support you.

Step 4: Welcome the Darkness of "Apophis (Blackening)" and Alchemize It

Never view the slumps, stagnation, and despair (the "Apophis" of IAO) that will inevitably visit you during your challenge as "failure." Realize that "I am now in the most important furnace of 'Blackening' (putrefaction and the dismantling of the old ego)," and welcome that conflict and pain as "noble material" for molting into a higher self (rebirth as Osiris, completion of the Philosopher's Stone). Only after enduring the darkness does the moment of "Reddening (true self-integration)," the immortal gold, await you.

Let us end the way of life where you are tossed about by the wills of others and consumed within an invisible prison, starting today, this very moment.

You are a precious "star" that emits a unique light, existing only once in this macrocosm. Recognize the "divine spark" within you, and begin to walk that glorious orbit, simply, proudly, and filled with harmony. All the order of the universe is waiting with open arms for that proud step of yours.

8. List of Major Sources and Explanations

The descriptions in this manuscript are structured based on the context of the following major occult and philosophical literature and historical texts.

• "The Emerald Tablet" / "The Corpus Hermeticum"

  • The principle of "correspondence" between the microcosm and the macrocosm ("As above, so below").

  • A monistic worldview that all existence was born through the meditation and adaptation of the One.

  • Sensory deprivation and dynamic spiritual ascension/integration techniques where the soul travels from earth to heaven and back from heaven to earth.

• "The Nag Hammadi Library"

  • A worldview where the physical world created by the imperfect creator god, the Demiurge (Yaldabaoth), is a prison for the soul (anti-cosmic dualism).

  • Liberation of the spirit from the control of the body and the stars (fate), and salvation through recognizing (Gnosis) the identity of one's own essence (divine spark) with the Supreme God (Father of all).

  • "The Gospel of Philip": The doctrine of reclaiming sovereignty through knowledge, stating "Ignorance is a slave, and knowledge (Gnosis) is freedom."

  • "The Second Treatise of the Great Seth" and "The Apocalypse of Peter": Neutralizing the false rulers of the earth (the Archon/Demiurgic order) through "cold laughter."

  • "The Tripartite Tractate": Theodicy of suffering (a teleological view that the ignorance and suffering of this world are the wisdom and providence of the Supreme God for the soul to be trained and to obtain higher knowledge and goodness).

  • "Allogenes": Withdrawal into the "inactivity (silence)" of the senses and ascension to reach the unknowable existence.

• The works of Aleister Crowley (e.g., 'The Book of the Law,' 'Magick in Theory and Practice,' 'The Book of Thoth').

  • The doctrine of 'Thelema (Will)' and the definition of Magick ('The Science and Art of causing Change to occur in conformity with Will').

  • 'Every man and every woman is a star'—a way of life where each individual lives in perfect harmony with the macrocosm by following the unique orbit of their own 'True Will'.

  • The 'IAO Cycle': A psychological formula regarding the stages of passage in all spiritual and creative development—Isis (joyful beginning), Apophis (decay and despair), and Osiris (rebirth and overcoming).

  • Observations on the complete equivalence between Western magical systems (Qabalah, Tree of Life, Thoth Tarot) and Eastern I Ching and Taoist philosophy.

• 'Tao Te Ching' Chapter 52: A meditation and health practice of blocking the holes (sensory organs) that evoke desire and closing the gates of the heart to avoid danger and exhaustion throughout life. The importance of turning the 'light' (clever knowledge, attachment to others) that appears externally back inward to return to the original 'clarity' (the inherent and essential recognition of the Tao) (Yong qi guang, fu gui qi ming). Chapter 49 'Constant No-Mind (The Mind of No-Mind)': Eliminating individual ego and desire to synchronize and harmonize with the non-action and natural flow of the 'Tao,' the fundamental principle of the universe.