Lodge vs Grimoiric Occultism

There are two main different branches of occultism found within western occulture. On one hand you have the lodge-system which is quasi-masonic and almost as a rule uses the qabbala as a spiritual map. Then you have  grimoiric-system which tends to use a neoplatonic/goetic spiritual map. Both have a different approach to the unseen world, and methods in which to accomplish their tasks.
I will try to divide each system into their two main functions, that being mysticism and magic as far as I understand them from my practice..

Within the lodge-system, you will find the mysticism of that branch of occulture within their initiatory structure. Here all tools held by the officers, including the roles of the officers, their respective movements on the floor, their spoken words or songs, divine names intoned, the colored vestments worn by their members, and incensing odors are all combined to impart a grand message onto the psyche of the initiate which will lend to spiritual growth and advancement. I know that many in the occult world will read "psyche" and think it is less real, primarily due to the renaissance going on currently in the grimoiric side of the western occulture whom are actively rejecting the modern idea of psychology with respect to magic. But to say that the symbolic totality of these ceremonies are less effective because they recognize the modern idea of psychology would be missing the point completely. Both systems and maps(Neoplatonic and Qabbalistic) involve the theory of emanation and in both maps, the mental realms precede that of the spirit and physical. So it is here that the long-magician is working, not with the spirits per se, but of the mental realms where symbols are things and the root of what will come about.
Like the approach to mysticism, the lodge-system can use the same concepts to produce practical magical results in their lives by ceremonial pulling ideas and symbols together at auspicious times and allowing those the manifest physically.

Opposite of the lodge-system, we find the grimoiric-system where magicians tend to focus their work on the spirit world instead of the mental realms.. While the tools used by the grimoiric magician still have symbolic value, the goal is merely to use the tools as a method to contact spirits and sustain the magician while in the process. The task of acquiring the tools, performing the consecrations, exorcisms in order to contact a spirit and then the gaining of knowledge in the process makes up the mystical aspect of this system.  The practical magical is of course is accomplished when said spirit accomplish the tasks set out by the magician via threats, bribes of offerings, or contract.


There are of course some overlap. While the lodge-magician will use divine and angelic names as part of their symbolic language, some spirits no doubt might be attracted to and or work with said magician. These spirits may interact along with the magician on a mental level through visions, dreams, or auditory hallucinations which are very similar to some grimoiric-magician experiences.

There has been some discussion lately about political worldviews and occultism. I must say that I am increasingly annoyed with the predominant liberalism found in occult organizations; it has certainly become such a barrier for someone with more conservative views like mine own.  Most importantly, if your are into culturism like me you can forget about joining any occult organization; you just won't get very far. This is how one-sided the occult world is. So let me express mine openly.

Liberal occultist: We are all one people, one race.

Me: Well, perhaps at one time we were, but we have all diversified since then. Each racial group has a set of unique gifts and genetic evolutions that are specific to their culture and environment. You see when we were all in Africa we were photo-racial(non-racial), but as we departed and journey we entered different climates and encountered different experiences that shaped who we are as people, genetically, not just psychologically and technologically. This is evident in forensics where the investigator can guess the racial group of the skeletal remains, and also why one will have difficulty receiving bone marrow from other racial groups, or why cyclical anemia is almost exclusively found in african(non-white) population to protect against malaria. To deny the existence of races(genetic family groupings) is kind of misleading at best, and a lie at worst.

Liberal Occultist: Multiculturalism is about embracing and respecting the diversity of the world.
Me: Wrong. Multiculturalism destroys cultures and identity. It is admirable to want to embrace other cultures and learn about them, but true diversity means letting those cultures exist without interfering.  Here is what happens. Lets say you have Japan, full of Japanese people, and therefore Japanese culture. Now, lets say you start pouring in thousands of Nigerians. At first the Nigerians will participate in the greater Japanese culture because they have to, to work and to survive. But, once there are enough Nigerians in Japan to support a pocket Nigerian culture in Japan, they will no longer have to participate in Japan's culture. Now lets say that the Nigerians have a higher birth rate than the native Japanese. Now the Nigerians potentially present a threat to the existence of Japanese culture and the Japanese people; they will eventually cease to exist as a culture and a people. No. Multiculturalism is the opposite of diversity and respect. It destroys unique cultures by forcing other cultures in like a cancer to eat away at the previously sovereign and unique native culture.

Liberal Occultist: Opposing multiculturalism is racist.
Me: Well maybe. But don't you think all races have the right to exist on their own as unique expressions of God? Or do you think we have to thrust every race upon eachother  and encourage miscegenation until there is only one mediocre, boring single race of people? Where is the diversity in that? And don't you think that is a step backward in evolution, since that is how we started and we have evolved into diverse, unique racial groupings?

Liberal Occultist: You must hate non-whites
Me: Nope! Quite the contrary. I enjoy all racial groups as each have their own unique gifts and cultures with which the world is seen through. I just think they should all be allowed to flourish, and multiculturalism will not allow that to happen.



At this point conversation ends with the Liberal Occultist continuing to shout names and shutting doors. You see, liberals talk a big game about being tolerant, but somehow they end-up being some of the most intolerant people I ever meet. I only wish that there was a place for Culturism to also flourish in the Western Occult world.