"Oh Wisdom Goddess Kali! The mundane world calls me mad, let them think what they wish, carry me to Your secret Cave which the world believes is Hell." Craig Williams
Book Review of "Cave of the Numinous"
Book Review of "Cave of the Numinous"
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Cave of the Numinous Courtesy Craig Williams |
I first met Craig Williams at the annual Esoteric Book Conference in Seattle several years ago where he was giving a presentation about art and different aspects of the Dark Goddesses in Hindu mythology. I was immediately impressed by, not only his occult knowledge, but with the depth and breath of his topic. My attention was grabbed as he spoke about how the seeker must work hard in their own learning and healing. He expanded further to say that if anyone claimed to heal your chakras they were full of it because that actually is the work of the Spiritual seeker themselves. At that point I exhaled a silent Hallelujah because I had grown weary of many teachers or people involved in the Occult, New Age or Pagan paths both on line and in person who touted themselves as Masters or High Priestesses but who seemed to have very little knowledge, experience or who just wanted to make a buck. Here was a man who was calling bunk on those practices and telling us to work through these dangerous paths ourselves; to be our own occult scientists and to experiment, learn, do and record. I listened intently the entire lecture and have followed his writings ever since.
All too often those of us who are interested in such paths find ourselves in an almost unbelievable labyrinth of information, teachers, traditions and books. The diligent student works hard to weed out the dross from the pearls and to ever seek understanding of self and the world around him or her. Many of the books, philosophies and teachings once considered taboo and heretical, and consequently carried a prison or death sentences along with them, can now be found with relative ease and with a lack of scrutiny from the powers that be. The information age is upon us and indeed much has been revealed. However, owning a violin does not a maestro make. The skill required for such a title is years in the making and while this connection is easily made in relation to being a violinist or baseball player or surgeon, it seems to escape many in relation to the occult, magic and spirituality. I sort of see it akin to the game you played when you were a kid where you had a secret message and you whispered into the ear of one kid and he whispered to the next and by the time you reached full circle it was watered down or completely wrong.
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Craig Williams |
And so I must tip my hat yet again and praise my friend Craig Williams for being brave enough to write "Cave of the Numinous". Mr. Williams pierces through and challenges the modern mind set to say that the ancient Masters and Sages did indeed have a system of spiritual praxis that worked and still works today for those willing to set their feet upon the path. As a reference point to students the book works in a system of esoteric Hinduism, Left Handed Tantra and utilizes holy texts such as the "Bhagavad Gita". However, do not let that make you nervous if you are interested in other paths and traditions such as Traditional Witchcraft, African Diasporic Traditions or other Shamanic paths because Craig Williams writes "Cave of the Numinous" as a guide for all spiritual seekers and indeed lets us in on this secret. One of the main points he makes is that of finding a Guru. The term Guru is now a pejorative in modern lexicon because of the many self-proclaimed Gurus out there haunting the streets of LA,Santa Fe, Sedona, San Francisco and Austin, and many of us are loathe to use it. However, Craig illustrates that "Guru" does not merely mean "teacher", it also means initiator and a person who radiates a spiritual light that helps to guide and cut through the ego of the student and to bring him to enlightenment. As I read through this book not only did I learn more about esoteric Hinduism but I could also see these tools as being applicable to the student of the occult and of course closer to my own heart, witchcraft. Craig writes:
"Without the Deity and the Guru, the devotee runs round and round in a solipsistic samsaric Hall of Mirrors, always searching for something 'outside' which will provide access to the secret inner realms....In essence, one cannot be a visitor to penetrate into the realms of Indian esotericism; one must be come a devotee."
We see the same fevered "student/teacher" hopping and workshop collecting among many in other veins of occult traditions. We see the breaking down and infiltration of traditions by the banal masses as they demand entrance into the Halls of the Sacred and Hidden. We see the same entitlement and self worship of many Westerners applied to Eastern mysticism and other mystery traditions. But again Mr. Williams stands firm and tells us to really look and understand what is happening and why a Master/Guru is important. He writes:
"It is a modern conception that Numinous transmissions are easily accessible to all regardless of the experience or preparedness of the student. In many cases, the teacher becomes an afterthought and the sacred transmission of Gnosis, if found to be valuable at all, is seen as a commodity which can be bought or sold by anyone regardless of preparation or valid qualifications. The student seeks a guide who will validate all of his thoughts/ideas and will quickly dispose of the teacher if any challenge is made to the chela's naive beliefs or consumerist ideals. Information is viewed as something which can be claimed or purchased, initiations much the same. Anyone who draws attention to this situation with a critical eye is labeled an 'elitist' or 'traditionalist' turning those once powerful words into pejorative terms."
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Blue Lotus by Maya Grey |
You see Craig touches on a very important fact that spiritual transmission and direct spirit contact in what ever tradition can ONLY be achieved via a one on one relationship via Guru/Master and student. This helps the student to avoid the common phenomenon of "UPG"(unverified, personal, gnosis). The Guru shapes the lesson for exactly what is needed in that space and time for that individual student. No on-line class, distance learning or group setting can achieve this level of devotion and depth to the student. The intimate relationship between Guru and student is stressed again and again because it is of the utmost importance. In mundane reality this type of transmission may be seen as abhorrent because of our individualistic values, this relationship is actually radical because as Craig writes:
"At its roots, the Guru/student relationship represents the ultimate inversion of the modern mindset, standing firm as a beacon of "luciferian" light of truth, illuminating the passageway into the inner realms of the sacred where the (profane) individual is deconstructed by the solar light of the Atman/Soul."
After expressing the importance of the Guru and student relationship in depth we learn in the Chapter titled "The Sacred Mystery of Guru Yoga" just how in this particular tradition that information and gateways are revealed to the student. The Jnana Yoga is a path of wisdom in which the student is led deep into the realms of the body and mind. Various pathways and techniques are illustrated for us as we journey here. Next is the Karma Yoga wherein the Guru leads the student in exercises of self-transcending Action. Craig also makes sure to point out that Left Handed Tantra is not an excuse to self indulge in all the sex, drugs and rock and roll you were forbidden to engage in when you were sixteen. He illustrates beautifully that it is about transcending yourself and those blocks to your own spiritual gnosis! This may mean you need to get over it and have an orgy at an S & M club or simply that for you living a year of silence is exactly the medicine for your transcendence. Perhaps you have an aversion to giving to the homeless, if so time to open your wallet. If you are engaging in outrageous acts in which you are getting satisfaction from others and calling it Left Handed Tantra then you probably are not really making much change or gaining gnosis. You are just enjoying a mental masturbation of sorts along with playing ego games. We also learn of the path of Bhakti Yoga which is the heart song of the Guru/Student relationship and in which many Westerners feel threatened by. Here again the Guru relationship is stressed and it is something to take note of and so is the subtlety that the teacher may not be what you expect. In other words he may not be the old man in the diaper in the cave on the mountain. Be open to the teacher and see with your heart.
After we learn of the different ways in which the Guru can lead us Craig Williams opens with a set of rituals to help us on this path. The first is the "Cave of the Hridaya Ritual", which is intended for the seeker to open and draw a Guru to him or her. In other words should you be in the place in which you have no teacher this ritual is here to open you to one. Again as I read it was obvious that the seeker could focus on any Master Teacher in what ever spiritual tradition that they felt called to or if clarity was the issue an open call could be made and the journey begun.
Now that we have a firm understanding of the Guru/Student relationship and the pitfalls of the Left Handed path of Tantra part two of the book, "Approaching the Nightside: Provisions for the Left Hand Path", helps us on the actual journey.
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Kali (Artist Unknown) |
Here we learn about the dangers of the Left Hand Path and the Dark Goddess and the damage if the Guru or student are unprepared. Craig gives us information and techniques to traverse this path and ways of dealing with the blocks, fears and issues that arise. However, the psychological dangers are not the only thing the student and Guru must traverse, there are the dangers inherent in working with Spirits and indeed the Dark Goddess herself. As each person interacts with others in different ways so too do the Spirits and the Gods. Without proper preparation and tools the journey is perilous indeed.
Craig asks you to ask, "Why do I desire contact with Nightside powers," What do I hope to accomplish by contact with the Nightside,"and "How will this Nightside contact be used and integrated into my spiritual praxis?"
In essence are you practicing a Theurgy of the oppressed? Are you doing this magic out of ego, fear, hatred, greed, lust and ignorance? If so the blood due of the Dark Goddess will be fierce indeed. However, to walk in truth and power and desire to change self and to receive the Dark Kiss one may approach with respect and humility. You may be able to fool yourself but you cannot fool Her. In this chapter Craig goes into depth in the preparations of the body and mind. A holistic approach to a dramatic and searing spiritual journey. Here is the prep work, here we tune our violins, we strengthen our bodies, we practice with our minds.
Finally we arrive at two final rituals the first is the Pratyhara Ritual in which the student "withdraws" the senses in order to traverse deeply into the realm of the Dark Goddess. The second is the Saturn Ritual in which we travel to the darkest recesses of our souls. As above so below, the micro and the macro, alpha and omega and depths of course which cannot be illustrated by a writer with type on a page, because dear reader, one must walk the path alone and practice in earnest...and so I will say no more of these esoteric rituals which lead to the Cave of the Numinous, the Gate of the Soul. No my friends the first step is to purchase this book and digest the information for yourself. The second is whether you feel drawn to Left Hand Tantra and esoteric Hinduism or other roads. If you do then begin to call to yourself a Master teacher to help guide you as you step out in devotion, practice and faith. A good place to start is with Craig Williams book. Good luck my friends and perhaps we shall pass on the moon and star lit road as we journey into the Cave of the Numinous. If we do then I tip my hat to you because this definitely is the road less traveled.
Interview with author Craig Williams
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Image courtesy of Craig Williams |
Maya Grey: Can you tell us what inspired you to write “Cave
of the Numinous”?
Craig Williams: My
main inspiration for writing the Tantric
Physics series was based upon a discussion between David Beth and myself in
which we were discussing and lamenting the endangered state of the
“teacher-chela” or Guru-chela relationship in the modern world. I wanted to
reveal my unique system of Tantric Physics and Esoteric Hinduism and its role
within the larger system Esoteric Voudon and David Beth’s Kosmic Gnosis;
however I did not want this to be a dry lifeless “academic” text so the idea of
an entire Tantric Physics series came
about. The first volume, “The Cave of the Numinous”, focuses upon the vital
role of the teacher, the prime importance of physical initiation and the
important preparatory tools which must be examined and used prior to any
journey into the terra incognita of the mind, body and Soul. These are the
foundations of all the systems which I guide and function within as both a
Bishop and as a private Chela of David Beth. I wanted this series to offer
anyone working within an initiatory system effective tools for transformation.
The fact that this reveals a unique system of Tantric Physics and Esoteric
Hinduism is almost secondary, as the material could be easily utilized by a
Sufi practitioner, a Buddhist or a Gnostic of any system! I even included
unique rituals to help open unique doorways for finding a valid teacher. I hope
to inspire a revival of the important role of the Guru-chela system in modern
gnostic / occult groups as well as provide some unique initiatic insights which
are typically overlooked or disregarded in more dry academic tomes connected to
Tantra. I also wanted to make a radical statement of how Left Hand Tantra
functions within the larger framework of Kosmic Gnosis, which includes Esoteric
Voudon. The use of the terms “Left Hand” has also become vitiated and I wanted
to help clear the fog and shine some light into the shadowy world and reveal a
systematic ontology within. Left Hand Tantra is NOT a “free-for-all” hedonism, but rather a radical pathway of
personal transformation, a “merciless path” which demands everything from the
wayfarer and requires guidance, common sense and initiation to be effectively
manifested. I hope to reveal all of this
in the coming years with further volumes in the Tantric Physics series by Theion Publishing.
MG: We see a
lot of reference to “Left Hand Tantra” and paths to “The Dark Goddess” on the
internet as well as in books and it seems like there is a lot of misinformation
as well as dodgy teachers out there. What advice can you give to seekers when
approaching or researching a teacher?
CW: Yes, the terms “Left Hand Path” and “Dark
Goddess” are becoming completely commodified in the modern world, with anyone
and everyone claiming to be “left hand” and calling up the “Dark Goddess” as
easily as shooting an email to a friend or texting with an iphone. Therefore it becomes incumbent upon the
student to use discrimination with seeking a pathway or teacher. However, this
discrimination must first be turned upon themselves! They must ask sobering questions: “why am I
seeking a teacher? Why am I seeking to walk the Left Hand Path? What do I hope
to gain? What am I willing to offer the teacher or system if and when I find
them? Have I worked to balance myself on
the most basic levels before seeking deeper study?” These are just a few questions which jump out
to me and is far from an exhaustive list! The modern seeker seems to search for
a teacher / system like they are shopping for a new car; they treat it as a
product which can be easily obtained with little effort and which must conform
to their every wish! I often hear students or seekers ask or complain about how
hard it is to find a teacher yet when asked what they are willing to do to
actually obtain this rare mythical artifact, the answer is a blank stare. The
teacher is expected to “wow” or impress the student and convince the student
that he or she is a worthy guide for them. So it’s a complicated and depressing
situation, a true example of the Kali Yuga.
A student must
surely seek a teacher who is authentic, this goes without question. However,
this must also be joined with an attitude which is ready to be a student! I
also think the modern technological age has left a tamasic residue in the mind,
in which the student expects everything to be “instant” and as easy as sending
an email. Finding a valid teacher is hard but NOT impossible. But to find this
we may have to travel, search, meet many people , change and grow! You can’t
just Google enlightenment! Although I’m sure there are some people who say that
you can.
Another important
idea for students to keep in mind is to look for the fruit of the teacher. Has
the teacher produced other students which were able to manifest and grow? Is
the teacher cultivating a personal approach for the student based upon his or
her unique adhikara or state of being
or are they handing out a homogenized standardized transmission? The student should examine the background of
the teacher and ask themselves if this background seems to connect to areas in
which they too have journeyed or expressed curiosity, and approach the teacher
with humility and respect, not treat the teacher as if they are a product which
comes with a “satisfaction guaranteed” tag!
Spiritual systems can be quite complex and confusing, and the mind is
even more mysterious. So for a student to assume that they can be their own
guide is both naïve and dangerous. I’m always shocked to see people grasp the
idea that one cannot learn martial arts or medicine “on your own” yet claim
that any and every God is communicating all the inner secrets to them instantly
without any guide!! The bottom line is
that there is no guarantee for anyone. But there are constant Cosmic doorways
offered to the student, however one has to be watchful, patient and open to
change / growth.
MG: So many
people believe they do not need spiritual teachers and that they are receiving direct
Spirit contact because of feelings they had or dreams they had. Can you speak
to this and help clarify the difference between what goes on in our psyche
versus work with a Guru or Master in relation to the Spirits?
CW: This is an extremely important
question! We live in a world filled with Spirits on an infinite level of Cosmic
expression therefore there is no doubt that one can communicate with discarnate
intelligences. In the system of Kosmic Gnosis in which I work and teach, the
one in which David Beth guides, cultivates a level of awareness which I term
“Sacramental Vision” in which we seek to communicate and “see” the Soul which
resides in all levels of the world and in all levels of the physical mind-body.
So I have no doubt that one can contact Spirits and discarnate intelligences.
However, to assume that any and every emotional
stimulation or dream is a valid Spirit communication is an extremely dangerous
and flawed pathway. This is one of
the reasons why so many Sufi teachers tell Western seekers “you don’t need a
Spiritual guide, you need a psychologist!” which more often than not angers the
seeker who then labels the Sufi teacher as “arrogant” or flawed. To communicate with Spirits, Loa, Gods, the
Dead, Ancestors, or any type of discarnate intelligence is an extremely subtle
experience in most cases, and one must learn to cultivate an entirely new
system of “subtle organs” which function on a level which in most cases is in
radical opposition to the modern conditioned mind / world. Therefore most if not all traditional systems
use physical initiatory methods to link the student to a sacred lineage or paramapara which can open doorways into
the Numinous which are obscured or hidden to the modern sight. The teacher can
provide access to these realms via words, texts, rituals and physical
initiation and help the student cultivate the subtle inner organs which can
function on the inner realms of Being. This allows for a balanced experience
and also protection in mysterious realms as well. There is no doubt an infinite
number of Spirits existing in our environment, in our bodies and in our
mind-space; some of these Spirits can be helpful, some indifferent, some feral
and some malevolent. It’s extremely naïve to believe that we can navigate these
realms without guidance from people who have also journeyed into these realms!
Therefore it’s important to have guides and teachers in the physical realm, a
flesh and blood teacher. In the systems in which I function and serve, whether
alchemical Apostolic Kosmic Gnosis , Left Hand Tantra , JuJu Rouge sorcery, or
Esoteric Voudon, the teacher must be a physical person and the initiation must
be in the physical as well. There is no “astral guide” or “astral initiation”
which can come before overpower the physical transmission between the Teacher
and Chela. We may have occasional
moments of “divine inspiration” no doubt! But to assume that we can call these
up like we can order a coffee is not only absurd but insulting to the
respective gnostic systems themselves.
Many people with severe psychological problems claim to talk to Spirits!
Many serial killers claim that Spirits told them to kill! Many religions start wars which Spirits claim
to guide! Talking to Spirits seems to be
as easy as calling your best friend these days, which is quite misleading and
misinformed. Our Spirit guides can be easily contacted however, this is often
not in any way connected to how we perceive standard communication to function!
So we must also use discrimination and cultivate systems which allow us to enter
into inner states of awareness not contaminated with modern Archonic
dross. I often feel that it’s much like
spending time in nature once one has lived in an urban environment for a long
time. It takes time for the senses to readjust to a new environment, one
without artificial stimulation and artificial nourishment. Once the mind and
senses enter a new environment, new sights and sounds can start to manifest
which we would be unable to discern initially; and we often need someone to
teach us how to adjust and adapt to this new environment, how to build a fire in
order to provide natural light. If one considers this scenario in a
contemplative mood, many powerful metaphors can be revealed with are related to
our spiritual lives.
I have no doubt
that people can contact Spirits. I just encourage people to have a sober
attitude to this communication and not assume that every nuance of the nervous
system is a message from the Gods. Discarnate intelligences communicate via our
senses and our nervous systems, and these can be damaged and flawed. I discuss
this in-depth in “Cave of the Numinous” and we often need the diagnostic mind
of the teacher to show us where the flaws exist so we can clear / heal and
resolve these flaws so that clear Spirit communication CAN occur. The teacher can and should function as a doorway
into the mysterious realms of the Numinous and teach us to travel into these
realms in a safe and powerful manner.
I grew up
immersed in study with a Spiritualist church and the main guides in this group
were crucial for helping others to learn to “listen to the Spirits” as well as
discerning what the “Spirits” were attempting to communicate! It was common
sense knowledge that it took time, patience , initiation, systematic personal
spiritual cultivation, and human guides in order to cultivate clairvoyance and
clairaudience. It was not assumed or taught that anyone or everyone could
“communicate with the Spirits”, it was a process of subtle listening as well as
physical initiation and personal spiritual evolution it was not just “calling
in the Spirits.” Yet today the modern
world demands instant results and communication modeled after our obsession
with technology! Therefore I encourage people to find balanced human guides to help
facilitate travels into the “ Borderland” and to couple this with methodical
spiritual study to facilitate cultivation of the inner senses which function in
the mysterious realms of the Spirits and in the subtle realms which surround us
all. There are of course always rogue
exceptions to these ideas but these are much rarer than we would like to think,
and to assume that each of us is an exception to the rule is a naïve and
dangerous idea as well!
MG: Let’s talk
about meditation and ritual and how that leads to spiritual praxis. So many
people want to jump right to the “book of spells” or how to get what they want
from the Spirits. Why are meditation and ritual important?
CW: This is another excellent question
which is directly related to the previous question. The use of meditation is extremely important
to de-condition the mind and clear the mindspace of pranic residue which we
refer to in Yoga as vasanas and samskaras. If the mind is not calmed and
cleared, if the waves of the mind are not calm, one cannot effectively enter
into deeper states of consciousness or for that matter clearly communicate with
discarnate intelligences. The use of
meditation is foundational for all other practices in any system of inner work.
Therefore it is incumbent upon the student to learn to meditate and to
cultivate a calm balanced state of mind before attempting to dive into
mysterious realms much less walk the Left Hand path!! And learning to meditate from a book can be
difficult therefore, once again the role of the teacher and tradition comes
into play.
The use of ritual
is also extremely important as it is the gateway into Sacred Time and Sacred
Space; it takes us outside of mundane time and space and allows us to induce
specific states of being which are conducive to deeper states of consciousness
and communication with Spirits / Loa / Gods. This is one of the most important roles of the
Mass in Gnostic work. I think in many
ways, learning to meditate and to use ritual work is perhaps the most important
work one can do to begin the process of deepening one’s spiritual praxis. This
takes time, patience and guidance and is not as exciting as a “secret grimoire”
or book of spells, however as Michael Bertiaux has said, the magician must “be
able to translate himself literally into a grimoire.” The student must learn to
find the secrets hidden within the mind- body before he or she seeks to find a
secret book which instantly opens the gates to the infinite. Learning how to
meditate and learning how to perform ritual work (which can vary from tradition
to tradition) is extremely important in understanding the true “inner secrets”
and should not be ignored.
MG: You work a
lot in Ayurveda and are committed to health and well being.
Can you speak to this as well as the concept of the body as alchemical alembic?
CW: The health
and vitality of the human body is a crucial factor in spiritual growth. In
Indian gnosis this was always a foundational factor with the medical system of
Ayurveda always being used in conjunction with Yoga or in conjunction with
Tantra; Ayurveda is particularly important in Left Hand Tantra as it has a unique
sub-speciality concerned with sexual vitality termed Vajikarana chikitsa which is focused on the use of specific
substances to cultivate health and vitality in relation to sexual activity as
well as overall reproductive health. Tantra , Yoga , and Ayurveda are
essentially alchemical sciences which allow the physical as well as the mental
body to be transformed into an alembic, a womb nourished by the tapas of the
practitioner’s sadhana. Therefore in Left Hand Tantra we seek to cultivate a
deep core of physical and mental health and use unique methods of rejuvenation
to cultivate specific types of magical Ojas which can be used in a wide range
of practices. If one is always tired, anxious, depressed or suffers from poor
quality sleep or digestion, then the ability to deepen one’s spiritual praxis
is severely limited. I have lengthy
study of allopathic medicine as well as Traditional Chinese Medicine used in
conjunction with Ayurveda in an attempt to envision and translate the unique
metaphors of the corporeal body. In the Kosmic Gnosis of the EGA, guided by the
Hierophancy of David Beth, we do not seek to transcend the physical or mental
body, rather we seek to refine and utilize the corporeal in all its esoteric
functions! This also applies to the systems of Esoteric Voudon and Esoteric
Hinduism which function within the meta-current of the EGA’s Kosmic Gnosis.
MG: What
advice can you give to folks who are new and seeking or who are going through a
“dark night of the soul” and are in ways seeking for the second time but have
lost faith in their spiritual journeys?
CW:
I would always suggest that people seek out a teacher in the physical
realms who can help guide and develop one’s practice as well as seek to connect
with like-minded individuals who share common goals. Our social environment is
very important as it can determine the state of our mind, creating a background
or stage upon which we choose to act out the karma of our lives. Therefore I
always suggest people seek spiritual fellowship and fraternity and the guidance
of a teacher who can provide insights and advice. This is not always easy but
it is far from impossible. I also
encourage people to use systems of cognitive therapy and to strive to make time
for fun and laughter in their lives. Our lives are gone in a blink of an eye,
and we must realize that each day is a rare opportunity to live, experience
life and help one another. Often when people are experiencing a “dark night of
the Soul” the best thing to facilitate a shift is to seek ways to help others
who are less fortunate and are suffering more than we are suffering. We must
seek to turn our entire lives into a sacred prayer to the Divine and not
constantly seek “results” like we seek mundane goals.
MG: You let us
know in your book that the tools therein are not just for Esoteric Hindu paths
but can be used for other spiritual disciplines. Can you expand on the relationship
or similarities between Gnostic, Vedic and Voudou systems?
CW: Yes, the tools found within “Cave of the
Numinous” are applicable for ALL systems of gnostic praxis, not just Esoteric
Hinduism. The common thread which unites Vedic / Voudon / Gnostic systems is
the Teacher –Chela relationship and the one-to-one transmission of gnosis via
the physical relationship between the Teacher and Chela. This cannot be over-emphasized! It is my hope
that “Cave of the Numinous” will inspire any reader to reevaluate their
spiritual praxis and seek out a valid guide to help them grow and deepen their
respective praxis and break away from ersatz egoic based New Age practices
which preach instant results or “magical secrets” which bypass dedicated
methodical cultivation of Self-Realization. “Cave of the Numinous” seeks to provide a
unique window into initiatic systems however it also provides rituals and
insights which can awaken inner gateways whereby the practitioner can contact
living guides / teachers who can assist them on their unique journey into the
Numinous.
MG: Many
readers may not know that you also work as a Rootworker and hail from
Louisiana. Can you talk to some of your experience in Hoodoo and how that ties
into your work in esoteric Voudou?
CW: I am eternally grateful to have the good karma
to grow up in Louisiana!! I was able to
grow up in a magical world filled with Spiritualist churches, Catholic
mysticism, and feral folk Hoodoo practices. I was always drawn to studying folk
systems of medicine and at one time owned an herbal apothecary which served as
a supplier to local Conjure practitioners and Root workers ; this allowed me to
study and work with a wide array of Hoodoo systems. When I eventually encountered Esoteric Voudon
and the works of Michael Bertiaux, it was not strange to me in any way, it
actually seemed to make sense. I consider meeting David Beth as perhaps the
most important point in my spiritual life as it allowed me to integrate my
lifetime of experiences in Louisiana Hoodoo, Catholic mysticism, and Vedic
initiatic gnosis into a larger meta-current of Kosmic Gnosis. I still use a
large amount of Hoodoo practices in my personal work, and see the system of
Esoteric Voudon as a larger ontological framework into which I can feed my
inner experiences of Conjure and Hoodoo.
This is also applicable to my initiatic work with David Beth within the
system of JuJu Rouge Fetich sorcery as well as the larger system of Tantric
Physics, in which Michael Bertiaux is also extremely supportive! It also
important to note that even within my studies of Hoodoo and Conjure, it too was
with one-to-one physical teachers and not from astral realms or books!
MG: Can you
speak a bit more about “The Dark Goddess”, what do you mean when you say this
and what advice can you give for people who are drawn to this type of “energy”?
CW: When I speak of the Dark Goddess, I am
referring to the various forms of MahaKali found within the system of the Dasha
Mahavidyas or Ten Wisdom Goddesses of Indian Gnosis. There are many realms in which the Dark
Goddess seeks to express Herself, however, for the systems in which I function,
the Dark Goddess MahaKali serves as the main Gateway.
MG: Thank you
so much Craig for writing this phenomenal book! Where can readers find access
to you and what plans do you have for future writings, teachings and events?
CW: It’s my pleasure to have this
conversation with you Maya! I have always admired your work! I look forward to
seeing everyone at the upcoming “Voices of Modern Gnosticism” panel talk in
November which will be moderated by the amazing Greg Kaminsky of the wonderful
Occult of Personality! And I encourage everyone to sign up for updates from
Theion Publishing for information on future volumes in the Tantric Physics
series and also visit my website at www.AyurvedaAustin.com.
You can find more information about Craig Williams and the "Cave of the Numinous" as well as other esoteric titles at Theion Publishing. Happy Hunting!
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