An Introduction to the Miskatonic Alchemical Expedition 
                      of the Esoteric Order of Dagon 
                   Written for All Prospective Members 
                      by AShT Ch0zar SSaratu'.'1103 


   Bill Siebert (as frater PVN) was a co-founder of Math of the ChRySTAL 
HUMM, a Shamanic/Alchemical Thelemic Powerzone near Ithaca, NY.  
   As LA-BAJ-AL, Mage-&-Watcher, he is one of the 3 founding Sovereigns 
of the Chthonic-Auranian OTO, a branch of the Ordo Templi Orientis 
dedicated to exploration-&-union of the Dark/Light Mysteries of all ’onic 
formul‘. 
   As AShT Ch0zar SSaratu, Bill is the Alchemist-co”rdinator of the Mis 
katonic Alchemical Expedition of the Esoteric Order of Dagon, a 
Lovecraftian Mystery School descended from the Sirius mystery cults of 
’gypt Babylon & Sumeria, by way of Gateways within creative individuals 
who are capable of Dreaming the Mythos & making it accessable even to 
those who do not believe their dreams to be real. 
   This paper is designed to acquaint prospective expedition members with 
the work of the Miskatonic Alchemical Expedition, including requirements 
for affiliation with the Esoteric Order of Dagon. 


                   The Miskatonic Alchemical Expedition 

  The Miskatonic Alchemical Expedition is field-trip oriented R-&-D 
community which operates within that sentient web of initiates known on 
the outer as the Esoteric Order of Dagon (EOD). From my perspective, the 
Miskatonic Alchemical Expedition operates hand-in-hand (perhaps tentacle-
in-hand may be a better euphemism) with the Chthonic-Auranian Branch of 
the Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO). 

   It is assumed that each applicant to the Miskatonic Alchemical Exped-
ition of the EOD is a functional Thelemite whose understanding/apprecia- 
tion of the Mythos is based upon direct personal magickal experience with 
outr‚ energies, not merely an academic interest in the literary genre of 
weird fiction or a sociological/psychological interest in those who chan- 
nel/advocate the Mythos.  That is to say, each applicant is expected have 
an understanding/appreciation of Will, Love, and personal responsibility 
from a Thelemic perspective, be willing/able to put these precepts into 
practice in his/her daily life, & be willing/able to function as a Thele- 
mite within magickal community.  Each applicant is further expected to 
share on-going records of magickal workings, dream diaries, fiction, 
essays, &/or evocative Art which demonstrates his/her vital connection 
with the Mythos as a magickian or a mystic.  Magick may be defined as 
causing change in conformity with Will.  Mysticism (in this context) may 
be defined as a passive link with the Mythos which generates syncretistic 
harmony &/or disolution into the Mythos itself. 

   Initiation into (or affiliation with) the Chthonic-Auranian OTO is by 
no means mandatory for affiliation with the Miskatonic Alchemical 
Expedition. Members of other branches of the OTO, as well as autonamous 
Thelemites are welcome within the ranks of the Miskatonic Alchemical 
Expedition.  The Esoteric Order of Dagon does not require acceptance of 
Liber AL vel Legis as a requirement for membership.  The Miskatonic 
Alchemical Expedition does, however, require that each of its expedition 
members accept Thelema and live by the code of Will, Love, & Personal 
Responsibility.   Whether you accept the veracity of Crowley's channeled 
writings is up to you -- concepts are important, not packaging! 
   
   I strongly urge all those interested in active participation in the 
Miskatonic Alchemical Expedition to apply for membership into the EOD. 
Although it is possible to work with the Miskatonic Alchemical Expedition 
in the short-run without formal affiliation with the Esoteric Order of 
Dagon, I do not recommend this course of action for the long-term. I find 
that formal affiliation is synonymous with commitment. The on-going work 
of the Miskatonic Alchemical Expedition involves deep serious personal 
commitment -- not only to the Great Work, but to the community in which we 
work/play/grow/explore (both individually & collectively). Hangers-on 
often become dead weights.  We are building an ever-growing group gestalt, 
whose food is a shared information base & an ever-evolving group 
mythology. Personal Commitment to the group is a first step towards 
formulating perfect love & perfect trust which is our primary sacrament. 


                          The Focus of Our Work

  From my perspective, the work of the Miskatonic Alchemical Expedition 
is always evolving & does not really fit into neat categories. Chaos does 
not lend itself to description in a linear essay format.  Although I have 
chosen to speak of the work of the Expedition as though it could be 
separated into neat little boxes, such categorizations can be misleading.  
Needless to say, the little boxes I portray are my own. 
   [I once had a vision of entering the abyss by a rear entrance.  All of 
the various gods, demons, angels, and other sundry beings were lounging 
about playing poker, skiny-dipping in the great sea, and otherwise 
enjoying each other's company. Then someone saw me & began shouting over 
a PA system:  "Qliphoth to your shells!  God/desses to your Spheres!  
Everybody get into your boxes!" -- In the abyss (as in this world) 
everything overlaps. Neat boxes exist only in the minds of those who 
choose to separate their life experience into categories.] 
   
   On an individual basis, members of Miskatonic Alchemical Expedition 
utilize techniques of conscious dreaming, astral projection, & self-
induced trance states to explore the realms of dream, nightmare, & 
vision.  As we re-enter normal waking consciousness via the gateway at 
Da„th <which (to me) typifies the energies of Herschel (Uranus)>, 
expedition members focus their dream images into conscious awareness & 
outward expression via Hod (writing, scientific/magickal technique, etc.) 
or Netzach (Art, Music, etc.).  It is within this realm that exploration 
reifies personal initiation within the here-&-now. 
   
   On a group basis, members of Miskatonic Alchemical Expedition utilize 
Shamanic (Netzachian) & Ceremonial (Hodian) magickal techniques to focus 
their individual consciousness  & the gestalt of the group itself thru 
the astral gateway at Yesod and into the worlds of dream, myth, and 
creativity.  These expeditions are undertaken as group endeavors to 
manipulate/explore the worlds of dream without the need to give-up waking 
consciousness. 


                  On the Dangers of Over-Specialization 

   It is my feeling (based on personal observation of my own imbalances & 
much research over the past two decades) that over-emphasis on individual 
exploration can lead to introversion & isolation which borders on the 
pathological.  A solitary magickian wakes-up alone. S/He becomes aware of 
his/her inherent trans-dimensional nature apart from a community of 
peers. S/He works the Path of the Hermit in order to tap-into his/her 
initiated self.  Adepts of this path progress rapidly to become Masters 
of the inner planes, but often at the expense of being able to relate to 
their fellow humans as anything other than tools for their personal trip.  
For within the initiatory context of vision & dreamspace, everything is a 
projection of the self outward (a diagnostic tool to speed integration of 
personality) &/or a spirit sent to guide the initiate upon his/her path.  
It is easy for a hermit to become an exalted adept --yea, even a God. But 
(all too often) s/he is not able to perceive the initiation of others who 
work analagous formul‘ of attainment. Smug superiority over his/her 
magickal comrades coupled with fear/loathing/disdain of those whom s/he 
considers to be mundane often limit the degree to which such individuals 
are able to manifest their true natures in the here-&-now.  
   
   Aleister Crowley, Nicola Tesla, Austin Osmun Spare, and H.P. Lovecraft 
all spring to mind as examples of initiates who woke-up alone.  Each was 
a genius.  Each had a profound effect on the world I live in. Yet, each 
was severly imbalanced in his relationships with other people.  Tesla was 
perhaps the most extreme.  He could not tolerate being touched.  He felt 
it disturbed his subtle magnetic fields.  He once moved a thousand miles 
from his home simply because someone put his arm on Tesla's shoulder! Of 
these 4, I feel that Crowley worked most diligently to balance his soli- 
tary inner plane Workings with connection to community (being tapped-into 
non-solitary sex magick probably helped a lot)! But in community, he act 
ed as though he were the most advanced initiate on the planet.  Based on 
the number of people who moved in-&-out of his life, it would seem that 
he was somewhat difficult to be around for protracted periods of time. He 
surrounded himself with people whom he used as tools &/or endeavored to 
re-form into images of himself.  I learned a lot from Crowley. But, after 
many years of being a Hermit, I am now working to balance my exalted Her- 
metic initiations with group interactions within a community of magickal 
peers. 
   
   On the other hand, I am finding that those who work almost exclusively 
in community (Wo/Men of Earth) can also grow in an imbalanced manner.  As 
my personal experience with this formula is more limited than my hermetic 
experience, I can more readily perceive the weaknesses of Wo/Men of Earth 
than their strengths. The Hermit perceives the Universe as being a tool 
for his/her personal initiation.  Hermits are cosmic children. The Multi- 
verse is their school & playground.  Wo/Men of Earth are cosmic parents.  
Sometimes they get so caught-up in being responsible that they seem to 
have forgotten how to play. 
   
   When Hermits & Wo/Men of Earth clash, it is often over the role of 
healing/nurturing.  The Hermit wants to play games of initiation & create 
heroic mythologies.  The Wo/Man of Earth wants to play parent or healer.  
There are times/places for games of high initiation, and times/places for 
games of healing & nurturing. When these two currents work in balance, 
everything is copacetic and magick flows on all levels.  To me, the 
positive interweaving of the magicks of the Hermit & the Wo/Man of Earth 
create a space in which the godform of the Lovers can manifest.   
   
  Problems arise (from my perspective) when time/space has been set-aside 
for initiatory game playing, and True initiation occurs.  Under such cir- 
cumstances, the flow of raw magickal power thru an unfolding gestalt can 
sometimes be mis-perceived as a symptom of a disease process (e.g.,a 
psychotic episode, life-threatening physical ailment, magickal attack, 
etc), rather than as a positive initiatory experience. A Wo/Man of Earth 
who is not able to tap-into his/her Hermetic godform has a very strong 
tendency to intervene in a nurturing/healing way -- even when nurturing 
intervetion could well be counter-productive to the Work-at-hand. 

   From my perspective, a gestalt is a functional magickal organism. Each 
individual within that gestalt takes on specific function(s). Sometimes a 
person will breathe as though s/he is hyperventilating, or somebody else 
will stop breathing, altogether.  Neither is dangerous. During one 
initiatory experience, I stopped breathing for over an hour (timed by a 
clock) without any serious repercussions other than a splitting headache 
the following day. While in another gestalt, a very powerful Hermit was 
work ing intimately with Fire. A Wo/Man of Earth attempted to intervene-- 
for she felt that the Hermit might hurt herself. The Hermit was self-
possessed enough to laugh at the Wo/Man of Earth, then pick up some hot 
coals to demonstrate that she was able to care for herself -- magickal 
reality was maintained!  
   
   But such a high degree of self-possession is rare, even among highly 
skilled Hermits, when they operate in a group gestalt.  Worry trips (no 
matter how well-meaning) can throw me off-balance. I might have suffocat- 
ed had I been surrounded by well-meaning nervous nellies who wanted to 
rush me off to a hospital.  The woman who handled fire could have been 
seriously burned if her certitude faltered at the wrong moment.  This is 
why I have a much easier time manifesting paranormal phenomena in my 
solitary work.  As a Hermit, I have become quite used to clocks running 
back wards, and seeing strange alien beings looking out at me from my 
bathroom mirror.  
[By the way, I became aware of paranormal manifestations years prior to 
beginning my researches with psychoactive sacraments.] 
   
   In my opinion, a Wo/Man of Earth who is over-due for an extended 
magickal retirement is real prone to ground the group's energy whenever 
s/he feels threatened by feelings/thoughts/phenomena which clash with 
his/her reality framework.  In extreme cases, lack of emphasis on 
individual personal development seems to manifest as an underdevelopment 
of an individual's Hadit-Point, making him/her susceptible to major freak-
outs during group workings. I perceive freak-outs as being related to 
feeling a loss of center when each individual Hadit-point merges into the 
group gestalt. 
   
   If a freaked-out person gets sick (allergy attack, faints, etc.) &/or 
projects his/her dis-ease outward onto an empathic receptor in the group 
gestalt, the group energy is effectively re-focused from High magick to a 
medical/psychological emergency, which (it would seem) is more normal to 
some than the initiatory paranormal universe which I prefer to inhabit. 
By dampening, stifling, or distracting group energy, the imbalanced 
Wo/Man of Earth effectively limits/disperses exponential initiatory 
growth which gestalt consciousness engenders, unless s/he can be brought 
to balance by other members of the gestalt.  

   This is where I feel the Lover comes into play.  Those who embody the 
godform of the Lover are able to relate to both the Hermit and the Wo/Man 
of Earth without losing center, and without becoming judgemental of where 
the other person is coming from.  A Lover is able to relate to each of 
the wonders/joys/responsibilities/challenges of being a Hermit and of be 
ing a Wo/Man of Earth -- without losing perspective on that which 
transcends each separate task.  A Lover is a Peacemaker who unites all in 
Love under Will.   Lovers are (from my perspective) a godform which 
ameliorate the functioning of Hermits within community, and Wo/Men of 
Earth within paranormal reality.   
   
   Mathew Henry once commented that peace is such a precious jewel that 
he would give anything for it but truth.  The godform of a Lover is some 
times attempted by those who do not really understand what is like to be 
a Hermit or a Wo/Man of Earth.  In such an instance, the ersatz Lover may 
attempt to smoothe things out, without really being able to catalyze 
resolution. Such practices (in my experiences) lead to a fracturing of 
community. To me, a Lover is functional as a balance-point between 
Hermits & Wo/Men of Earth only insofar as s/he is able to relate to both 
via personal experience, not just empathy.  

  I speak of Hermits, Lovers, and Wo/Men of Earth as though they are 
separate beings.  Such over-specialization (if it really existed) would 
be ridiculous!  I am working on all three grades --as is everyone I know.  
The appropriate balance of Hermit, Lover, & Wo/Man of Earth within each 
of us is a highly delicate & ever-evolving balance, which we explore and 
fine-tune on an on-going basis.  I encourage (& expect) each Expedition 
member to work/play/explore with those individuals/groups he/she/they may 
feel are appropriate, using whatever techniques he/she/they deem useful-- 
There is no law beyond Do what thou wilt! 


               Affiliation with the Esoteric Order of Dagon 

   We cannot initiate anyone into the Esoteric Order of Dagon. We do not 
feel that initiation of this kind can be conferred from without  --it em- 
anates from within as the result of personal exploration & synthesis.  
Initiation is a personal process of flowering/unfoldment. Initiation is a 
side-effect of getting in-touch with one's self, and discovering/creating 
relationships between one's self & the rest of the Multiverse.  Although 
the EOD does not confer initiation, we are willing (yea, even eager!) to 
recognize initiates by the fruits of their labors --their magickal and
creative output. 
   
   If it is your will to seek affiliation with the Miskatonic Alchemical 
Expedition of the Esoteric Order of Dagon, please send me a personal 
letter stating your will in this matter.   Let me know what you feel you 
have to offer our group & what you are looking to get from your 
association with us. Please include your biography (earth-plane as well 
as magickal), along with any pertinent information about yourself & your 
personal explorations which you are willing to share at this time. I 
would really appreciate a recent photo of yourself, along with your birth 
data (date/time/place). If you are involved (or have past affiliations) 
with other magickal groups (local/regional/international), please tell me 
of your experiences with them insofar as you are able without violating 
any confidentialities or oaths of secrecy. 

   Acceptance into the Esoteric Order of Dagon requires some form of 
evidence of your activity in the Great Work. Evidence can include any/all 
of the following: samples of your dream record, records of Magickal Work 
ings, essays on magickal technique/philosophy, creative magickal fiction 
&/or Art (or photographs of your Art) which demonstrate your connection 
with the Mythos.  Those who are new to communicating their visions may 
find it useful to use fiction as a vehicle of expression. 

     Dream fragments which provide detailed description of rituals, alien 
beings, bizarre settings, &/or actual text (words or artwork) from astral 
books or manuscripts are particularly useful to other dreamers.  But even 
brief fragments of dreams can sometimes provide a key word or image which 
another dreamer is seeking. If your artform does not lend itself to writ-
ten or pictorial evidence, please discuss your work with me.  Together I 
am sure that we can come up with some method for you to demonstrate your 
activity in the Great Work. 

   At present, the existence of the EOD is somewhat in question. Some 
years ago when I dropped out of contact with Soror Azenath of R'yleh 
lodge, the protocol for new members was straightfoward.  Since then, 
Soror Azenath has turned-over conrol to a lodge in England <whose name I 
am not at liberty to divelge>, which has in turn gone silent upon the 
outer due <I am told> to political harassment of esoteric Orders in 
Britain. 
   
   The Miskatonic Alchemical Expedition operates under a charter which 
preceeds the <now silent> British lodge's sanction.  We seek contact with 
other EOD members who operate without benefit of a central clearing-house 
as well as those alchemist-dreamers whose path leads them to the EOD for 
the first time.  Although the EOD is not functioning on the outer thru 
the auspices of our Brittish lodge, we of the Miskatonic Alchemical 
Expedition invite your cooperation and participation in Thelemic/Love-
craftian/Shammanic aspects of the Great Work. 
   
   Neither the EOD nor the Miskatonic Alchemical Expedition charges dues 
or initiation fees.  You are expected to pay only for those goods & serv- 
ices which you specifically request.  Donations to help pay for postage 
&/or to support our on-going publishing projects are always welcome.   As 
material flows into the Expedition library, I will make it available to 
other Expedition members who request them.   We encourage expedition 
members to submit material to the Black Moon Archives.  

  To paraphrase Robert Anton Wilson, information can only be communicated 
among equals. The Miskatonic Alchemical Expedition is based upon co”per- 
ation & sharing of information. I am asking you to submit personal infor- 
mation to me for evaluation. It is only fair that I make my material 
available to you. Elsewhere on this bbs are probably other files which 
pertain to the work at hand. To view a greater breadth of my work, write 
to Black Moon Archives, Box 19469, Cincinnati, OH, 45219-0469 for a 
complete listing of all their archive material.  Black Moon has a file of 
magickal papers by dozens of contemporary magickians, including hundreds 
of pages by me <listed under PVN and other pseudonoms> -- much of it 
un-edited un-expurgated raw diary material.  Black Moon will send you 
copies of any/all of their material for 12› per pg plus shipping. 
   New and newly revised material of mine will also appear on 
   Mumbo Jumbo Kathedral (504) 891-0693 and other fine bbs's. 
   

                          Immortalist Copyright

            This essay is produced under Immortalist Copyright.
    We who plan to live forever live by a set of rules which transcend
                     common law and mundane morality.  
          We who live outside of law are, by neccessity, honest. 
         I freely give permission for anyone to reprint this essay
    <in whole or in part> so long as this c/r notice remains appended.
        If you find the ideas contained herein to be of value, 
                    feel free to reprint this document,
                 or use my ideas in whatever way you will. 
                         I plan on living forever.  
                 All energy exchanges eventually balance. 
                 If it be your Will to support this work, 
                        I appreciate your feedback. 
               Comments/suggestions/ideas feed my evolution. 
        I especially value emanations of your personal experience. 
         I also value financial contributions, both large & small. 
                  Get back to me (PVN) via my mailbox on 
                   Mumbo Jumbo Kathedral (504) 891-0693 
                       or write me at PO Box 56667, 
                        New Orleans LA 70156-6667


                                                               PVN

                                  NOTICE

                  As of the thirty-first of October 1992 e.v., 
                 the `Um-Ur-Atwiel  / Shub-Niggurath  lodge 
                      of the Estoteric Order of Dagon 
                      is opened under the auspices of 
   frater AShT Ch0zar SSaratu '.' 1103 and soror AShTRT-`g-PAR  '.' 703 

      All aspirants and members of the E.O.D. in the New Orleans area 
              interested in explorations of a Chthonic nature 
                     are sincerely invited to contact: 
                        PVN or Lilith via E-mail on  
                Mumbo Jumbo Jumbo Kathedral (504) 891-0693 
                          or write PO Box 56667,
                        New Orleans, LA. 70156-6667