#lhpgnosis

[skepticaloccultist]

Entering the Desert

  "Entering the Desert" Craig Williams

Craig Williams previous work on Left Hand Path centered Tantric ritual, "The Cave of the Numinous", was an incredible exposition of gnostic esoteric Hinduism and its relation to contemporary Left Hand Path occult practice.

In his new work "Entering the Desert", a beautifully bound and incredibly designed volume out on Anathema Publishing, Craig continues to explore the path of initiation and self discovery through the concepts of eastern tantric ritual.

In "Entering the Desert" the 'desert' becomes a metaphor for the internal space that inhabits our being, a windswept and temperamental landscape full of various "mirages" that distract us from our true path.

Subtitled "A Pilgrimage to the Hinterlands of the Soul" Craig delves into the nature of our perceptions and the barren landscape of internal gnosis that we carry with us in our often overcomplicated modern lives.

In particular I felt that the modern tone of the work, his addressing the realities of our consumer society and contrasting them with the initiatic path of LHP gnosis, really gave the work a relevance to today's practitioners. The work is not mired, as so many are, in an imagined past or over flowery text. Instead it gets right to the meat of self awareness and the role the path plays in our lives.

The function of what Williams' refers to as "the Cell" or ritual space for personal practice is highly enlightening. Going over the importance of this type of space in personal praxis Craig gives us a thorough description of the role this private space plays and its necessary variables.

To my delight the work raises the concept of what Williams' refers to as "The Ritual of Reading" or 'lectio divina', an incredibly important practice in any occult path that is sorely overlooked in most systems and traditions. The context of reading as ritualized and sacred is central to the understanding of any teaching derived from the written word and it is refreshing to see it so clearly outlined here as Craig has done.

"Entering the Desert" ends with a rather straightforward and practice grimoire chapter, outlining an outdoor ritual practice in nature and followed by a selection of verses for contemplation of the "Desert of the Soul."

Beyond the beautiful content the book itself is a wonderful object designed and made with care. The two tone black and gold text, the overall layout and its full colour and black and white illustrations throughout make it an exceptional volume with a great "hand feel" as one reads it. It is a comfortable size that is rewarding to the touch. The design is exceptional throughout and shows a great deal of attention to detail. The cover has a 'blind stamp' design of David S. Herrerías' illustrations.

Cloth bound in a sand coloured fabric with a beautiful cream coloured paper and illustrative decorative endpapers the book comes with a postcard that gives the reader access to audio material, recordings by Shibalba and Alone in the Hollow Garden/Nam-Khar as a bonus ritual soundtrack for one's workings.

Clearly a work of love from author, designer, illustrator and publisher alike. A must read for anyone with a contemporary Left Hand Path practice.

Get your copy from Anathema Publishing here:

Entering the Desert Craig Williams