In the brightly lit world of day there are few surprises. There are no dreamy shadows that make a bush a bear, nor thedarkling thrill of longing for another world that you knowsomehow must be just around the corner.  The experience ofphysical darkness is one of constant surprise, it is theexact spiritual analog of the experience of the future.  Thefuture is rushing upon us at all times, and has one expectedquality: its unexpectedness.

Mankind generally dreads the future.  Most of us cringe atchange -- even when it is change for the better.  That ishard-wired into humans, whether Initiates or not.  But somevery few, the naturally arising elite respond to change byacting better/smarter/more creatively.  About ninety-fivepercent of mankind regresses in a change-filled situation. They drink, they sleep more, they lay around with the coverspulled over their heads.  Indeed there is so much change inour world now, that sadly many people suffer from chronicdepression.

There are times in our lives when our body chemistry helpsus out with the onrushing future.  Late adolescence, thattime so often magically associated with the crudest symbolicSatanism, is a such a moment.  I have said that everyone ison the Left Hand Path for a couple of weeks when they are17.  Another time, when body chemistry tends to help us dealwith the onrushing future is our late twenties, when agingprocesses first show up. Then we have to make certaindecisions that will determine the type of people that wewant to be, and the circumstances of that being.

But even with the biological boosts of these times, very feware willing to take on the path of Darkness.  They prefer(what they believe to be) the safer path of the Light.  Theywould rather have their reality determined by an outsidesource like the Church, the State, Big Business or (now Iwill mention the great god) TV. This outside source makeseverything real and fixed -- just as the sun does everyday. The "Light" they go into as they die is a collective one, aplace of Union with others, as welcoming of theirindividuality as the sea might welcome a drop of pure water.

The darker path has a better aesthetic -- at least for manyof us -- but it is not the "look" that would make the BlackMagician.  One of the most powerful Black Magicians I know

IS a musician.  In a Country and Western band.  Whereas mostof the Black Metal shock rockers I come across are aimingfor a collective afterlife, they have merely replacedcrosses with bad upside-down pentagrams and goat heads. 

The real gate to Darkness opens when you decide to pull yourown world out of the matrix of Darkness, rather than accepta prepackaged one.  Thus begins the magic art.  If youdidn't have love or gold yesterday but you have it today --you pulled it out of the Dark.  The Unmanifest. The Unknown.

Many magicians get this far. They can get this or that, andsafely tell themselves that some god or demon helped them todo so.  It would be too scary to think that they might beresponsible -- and then they would have to beginning withthe hard questions of why (on very rare occasions) magicworks and most of the time it (thankfully) does not.

They would be hard pressed to deal with the idea that theyshould create an entire world, rather than merely attractinga lover or healing a friend.

At this point you can raise the objection that this is not aproper _Morbid Curiosity_ article at all. It does not dealwith personal experiences.  Has the soft spoken Texanensorcelled our fearless Loren?

No, because I will bring experience much closer to you.  Tothe very few of you that will dare the Black Magic.  Waht Iam about to say, can be tested -- and most of the testerswill find it lacking.  But I am not here to speak to most.

Most people will never try the following experiment.  Thosethat do, will be for the most part disappointed since theywill not get those move special effects that we all long forat our most childish level.

But a few will Try, and they will find in the followingmonths that have seen a little of the great Darkness withinthem, and the Darkness without -- and a fewer still may findit more exciting than the Light.

This experiment is not a Working of the Temple of Set.  Itpresupposes no theology, cosmology, or any magicalbackground.  It is intended for sane, curious adults --preferably with a high degree of introspection, daring, andintelligence.  But you may try it as well. 

1.  Buy a notebook with a black cover. Once you have ithome, wrap it in black cloth. Show it to no one. Tell no onewhat you are about to do.

2.  For two weeks, take the book out from its hiding place.Do not unwrap it.  Light two candles.  Ask the followingquestions ALOUD. "Do I really want to confront my internalfetters?  Do I really want to know my potential, when thatwill also tell me how much work I will have to do?  Do Idare take on those things outside of my head that  hold meback?  Am I ready to learn magical Secrets about myself andmy world that will set me apart from my neighbors, friends,and family?"  By very still afterward for a minute or two,then blow out the candles.

3.  Now the work starts.  During the next five days, watchno TV, don't go clubbing, drink no liquor, take no drugs.Speak to as few as people as possible, don't read anythingfor fun.  Now is the time when you start to decide if youwant to be an immortal independent entity.  Is godhood foryou, or is the collective Light better?  On the first night,light the two candles as before.  Open the book and draw aninverse pentagram.  Under write the word WATER.  Then writedown all the real life experiences, that you have had thatfelt truly magical.  Censor nothing.  This is for you, andyou alone.  When you have written as long as you can, standand face the West and say these words, "Each of these thingscome to me because my Secret Soul beckoned, each wereoragnaized by my Mind which gives meaning, each were felt bymy Heart which unifies me, each has registered in my body,which is my primary magic tool.  Hail my magical potential!"

Blow out the candles.  (You may have to buy a lot of candlesfor this, choose colors that appeal to you).

4.  On the second night, light the candles as before.  Openthe book and draw an inverse pentagram.  Under it write theworld FIRE. Then write down ever really hard and painfulthings that you have done for yourself -- from leaving a badrelationship to going through boot camp.  When you are done,stand and face the South and say these words,"My Secret Soultold to struggle and I struggled, my Mind learned how theworld works, my heart gave my courage and my example gavecourage to others, my body was toughened by the scars andbruises of hard work. Hail my capacity for struggle!"  Blowout the candles.

5.  on the third night, light the candles as before. Openthe book and draw an inverse pentagram. Under it write theword AIR.  Then write down every idea of yours that changedthe world around you -- from chaging how things are done atwork to selling a short story. When you are done, stand andface the East and say these words, "My Secret Soul has thepower of magical utterance, my Mind has the ability to shapemagic into form, my Heart knows when others are ready tohear my magic, my body know how to work it into the world. Hail the whispers of my innermost Self!"  Blow out thecandles.

6.  On the Fourth night, light the candles as before. Openthe book and draw an inverse pentagram. Under it write theword EARTH. Then write down a list of all the assets youhave from your education to your car.  Try not to over- orunderestimate.  When you are done, stand and face the Northand say these words, "My Secret Soul has drawn theseelements for the lifework about to start.  My Mind has thecapacity, if I train it, to turn these things intoworld-changing engines. My Heart if tempered by Love andResolve can teach what to build on and what to sacrifice. Mybody is eager for the labor.  Hail my treasures!" Blow outthe candles.

7.  On the fifth night light the candles say these words, "Ihave seen that I have magic, shown to me by own sense ofwonder.  I have seen that I have endurance shown by my

transformations. I have seen that I can change the world byWill alone by the life of my ideas in the world.  I haveseen that I am rich in what I Need.  With these four Joys, Inow allow myself to honestly see how much I Need to do.  Bymy Secret Soul I reject delusion and Pledge to ask myselfeveryday, 'What is the Work for today?' And my Secret Selfwill tell me by Open and Hidden Signs." Then take the bookout and read it.  Then say these words, "By the Power of mySecret Soul I call Treasures, Wonders, Advisers and Testersform the Darkness without, by the Power of my Secret Soul Iopen the Door to Dreams, Visions, Inspirations, and Wisdomfrom the Darkness within.  I Pledge myself to myself, andwith this Pact effect all worlds with my Black Magic."  Thenwrite down what you plan to do with your life.  When you arewrite the word OMIDINON, and sign your name. Put the bookaway.

8.  Keep the book wrapped up for 18 days, telling no one youhave done this thing.  You have not signed a Pact withanyone or thing other than yourself, you used only yourselfto find the deeds -- and depending on your honesty andaccuracy of memory -- you will have given yourself a Tasteof darkness during these 36 days.  After this it's up to you

I can't give you an experience more personal than this, yetI have shared nothing.  I can't give you greater magic thanthis, yet I have uttered not a charm or spell.  I can'tbetter advice for the direction of your life, yet I havetold you to do nothing.  Like all Black Magicians I am but aflute player in the desert night.  Never seen, and onlybarely heard, for the secret and few the melody will live onfor lifetimes.