© fra Nefastos 2006
The following is a list of literature, that is recommended for members and to those who may be considering membership.
1. Original Sacred Texts of different religions.
Of these, especially the following:
-The Bible. As an interpretation of true Christianity especially The Sermon of the Mount (Matt. Chapters 5 to 7). Knowledge also of The Genesis, The Book of Job and The Apocalypse of St.John is good for the study of the fraternity’s philosophy.
– The Bhagavad Gîtâ
– The Dhammapada
– The Tibetan Book of the Dead, the reading and studying of which will help in the understanding of both death as well as the multi-faceted world view of mysticism far better than theses ‘dried up with endless analysis’.
– Gnostic evangeliums, such as the findings of Nag Hammadi and The Evangelium of Judas. The “heretical” trends of Christianity maintained in themselves a lot more conscious and acknowledged esoteric doctrines than the successive power-risen official form of Christianity. For a modern man it should be a priori clear that any religious line of thought having an emphasis on knowledge (Gnosis) is philosophically on a far more elaborate level than those requiring sheer belief.
2. The theosophical texts of Helena Blavatsky and Pekka Ervast.
Blavatsky, who has been criticized a lot and rarely read with thought, displayed in her texts a complete foundation for the modern occult renaissance. It has been said that Blavatsky wrote almost nothing of her own, but only packaged the earlier doctrines for a complete whole; on the other hand any form of modern occultism seems to be based either openly or secretly to Blavatsky. Her Opus Magnum is “The Secret Doctrine”. As a valuable presentation of theosophical occultism “The Key to Theosophy” is recommended. The writings of Pekka Ervast, who brought the Blavatskyan theosophy to Finland, are equally recommendable. Concerning the study of Satanism, especially the work “Pahan voittaminen [Overcoming Evil]”.
3. Classical texts of Occultism and the ancient mystics.
Such as The Corpus Hermeticum and the wide symbolical-philosophical tradition of Alchemy, etc.
4. Works of classic philosophers.
Philosophical thinking in the particular meaning of the word is the purest form of intellectual contemplation, and in combination with inspiration and practical life it forms a basis for true spiritual development. Most classics of mainstream Western philosophy (for example the works of Plato, Leibniz, Spinoza and Schopenhauer) can also be read in a way that resembles occultism in some of its aspects. This applies especially to the so called German Idealism of which the thought of F.W.J. Schelling in particular is virtually pure occultism for the most part.
5. Works of the opponents of occultism.
If one is to research occultism seriously, one must justify it to one’s self holistically. We must not fall into the same error of which we blame many critics of religious thought – namely, taking an easy target to attack, and then blame the whole way of thought based on that particular weak spot. There is a considerable advantage for a serious occultist to be familiar with classical critique of religious thinking, which for some part applies also to occultism. For example, the thoughts of Durkheim, Freud, Hume, Marx, Feuerbach and Nietzsche concerning religion are often worth serious contemplation.
6. Quality fiction.
Focusing solely on non-fictional books might easily force our thinking into narrow patterns. By fiction, poetry, mythology, etc. one’s mind can preserve the ability to stay inspired and open for new ideas.
8. Works of Johannes Nefastos.
Quite understandably the works of of Johannes Nefastos are an essential part of the philosophy of the Star of Azazel.
Cautiousness is emphasized concerning the vast field of current New Age literature. Those authors who list the magical phenomena they have allegedly produced very often lead their readers away from holistic, harmonizing occult growth. Not only cultivated emotional life, not only intellectual analysis, and not only the strong will to growth, but all these together lead the seeker forward. And as important as it is to be able to read various kinds of texts with open eyes, equally so is the ability to deeply contemplate the most essential ones. Many of the most ingenious occult authors have also held distorted ideals, which one must be able to identify and abandon.