Scientific Illuminism

When Aleister Crowley founded The Equinox he took as its motto "The Methods of Science, the Aim of Religion." This was to be the banner under which Scientific Illuminism was to be explored.
The rigorous methodology of the Hard Sciences, based upon observation and repetition, were to be used in the exploration and refinement of the Self. The methodology for engaging in this practice would be expounded in the primary practical works for Crowley' s A.'.A.'. These methods combined a foundation built upon Eastern Yogic methods for the control of consciousness with the ritual methods of Western Ceremonial Magic all of which executed and recorded under conditions suggested by contemporary scientific method.

It is at the beginning of the foundational document for Scientific Illuminism, Liber O vel Manus et Sagittae we find the following notice:

In this book it is spoken of the Sephiroth and the Paths; of Spirits and
Conjurations; of Gods, Spheres, Planes, and many other things which may or may
not exist.

It is immaterial whether these exist or not. By doing certain things
certain results will follow; students are most earnestly warned against
attributing objective reality or philosophic validity to any of them. The
advantages to be gained from them are chiefly these:
("a") A widening of the horizon of the mind.

("b") An improvement of the control of the mind.

The student, if he attains any success in the following practices, will
find himself confronted by things (ideas or beings) too glorious or too dreadful
to be described. It is essential that he remain the master of all that he
beholds, hears or conceives; otherwise he will be the slave of illusion, and the
prey of madness.

One of Crowley's major contemporary popularizers, Robert Anton Wilson, outlined certain additional requirements for engaging in the practice of Scientific Illuminism in his Cosmic Trigger vol 1. These are: "a) being in excellent health b)being competent in at least one athletic skill c) being able to conduct experiments accurately in at least one science d) having a general knowledge of several sciences e) being able to pass an examination in formal logic being able to pass an examination in the history of philosophy including Idealism, Materialism, Rationalism, Spiritualism, Comparative Theology, etc. "RAW also notes that "[without this] kind of general knowledge and the self-confidence and independence of thought produced by such study, magick investigations will merely blow your mind.(p. 72)"

So what interest might this be for the Setian? After all the basic methodology that Crowley outlines in his training Libri is that of Greater White Magic. Wouldn't investigating these methods prove fruitless? What is there of value here one all the Crowleyana is shaken off? And why bother with physical fitness or athletics at all?

What Crowley's system of Scientific Illuminism teaches is not simply self-delusion but rather learning to pull the wool over your own eyes and as such learning about the nature of the mind and its contents. As Black Magicians this might seem like a fruitless endeavor, but unless one has engaged in such intentional manipulation of perception and learned how it is done one will never know how much of your own "hard won Initiatory experience" is not simply a product of using black wool, especially in cases of Deity Mysticism and "contact with Set." These methods also teach one a certain amount of healthy skepticism about one’s own magical experiences and helps to provide a more conscious understanding of events in the Ritual Chamber.

At its essence Scientific Illuminism is the combination of three things: Rational Training, Meditative Practice and Ritual Magic. This combination is perhaps one of the most effective methods for fully realizing your potential as a magician, and one that fits nicely with the Setian emphasis upon Socratic Reduction and Self-Realization. Arenas within the Temple, at both the Element and Order level, can provide those interested with opportunities to explore each of these facets of Scientific Illuminism.

Of all of them perhaps the most important is that of Rational Training. Rationality has long been falsely seen as anathema to magic. What it is anathema to is not magic but rather pre-rationalism masquerading as significance. Thankfully this is being remedied by the ongoing Work of the Order of Leviathan and the Order of Xnum, especially via their combined effort in the Setian Academy. Such Work strikes a deathblow at the meandering delusional specter of occultism surer then the strangulation of the last Astrologer with the guts of the last Spiritual Master ever will.