Embracing The Dark ÅA The study of Western Esotericism is an K e emerging academic fi eld with research mainly n Kennet Granholm n being carried out on historic currents ranging e t from the renaissance to early modern Europe, G r Embracing the Dark and on ”The New Age Movement”. The mode a n of spirituality called the Left Hand Path has, h o however, not yet attracted the attention lm of academia. The present study of the dark : The Magic Order of Dragon Rouge– E m magic order DRAGON ROUGE constitutes b an attempt to contribute thoroughly and r a Its Practice in Dark Magic c creatively to this line of research. Objects i n and Meaning Making g of study are the organization, philosophy t h and practices of the order, as well as the e complex discursive conventions involved D a in the adherents’ construction of coherent rk world views. In an attempt to shed light on the particularities of this contemporary, late modern esoteric phenomenon, a historical perspective on Western Esotericism has here been combined with a discussion on the impact of recent societal change. Åbo Akademi University Press ISBN 951-765-251-8 2005 Kennet Granholm born 1977 M.A. Åbo Akademi University 2001 Researcher Department of Comparative Religion, Åbo Akademi University Cover: Tove Ahlbäck Åbo Akademi University Press Tavastg. 30 C, FIN-20700 ÅBO, Finland Tel. int. +358-2-215 3292 Fax int. +358-2-215 4490 E-mail: forlaget@abo.fi http://www.abo.fi /stiftelsen/forlag/ Distribution: Oy Tibo-Trading Ab P.O.Box 33, FIN-21601 PARGAS, Finland Tel. int. +358-2-454 9200 Fax int. +358-2-454 9220 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.tibo.net Kennet Granholm born 1977 M.A. Åbo Akademi University 2001 Researcher Department of Comparative Religion, Åbo Akademi University Cover: Tove Ahlbäck Åbo Akademi University Press Tavastg. 30 C, FIN-20700 ÅBO, Finland Tel. int. +358-2-215 3292 Fax int. +358-2-215 4490 E-mail: forlaget@abo.fi http://www.abo.fi /stiftelsen/forlag/ Distribution: Oy Tibo-Trading Ab P.O.Box 33, FIN-21601 PARGAS, Finland Tel. int. +358-2-454 9200 Fax int. +358-2-454 9220 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.tibo.net EMBRACING THE DARK Embracing the Dark The Magic Order of Dragon Rouge - Its Practice in Dark Magic and Meaning Making Kennet Granholm ÅBO 2005 ÅBO AKADEMIS FÖRLAG – ÅBO AKADEMI UNIVERSITY PRESS CIP-Cataloguing in Publication Granholm, Kennet Embracing the dark: the magic order of Dragon Rouge - its practice in dark magic and meaning making / Kennet Granholm - Åbo: Åbo Akademi University Press, 2005. Diss: Åbo Akademi University. ISBN 951-765-251-8 ISBN 951-765-251-8 ISBN 951-765-252-6 (digital) Gummerus Kirjapaino Oy Saarijärvi 2005 TTTTTaaaaabbbbbllllleeeee ooooofffff CCCCCooooonnnnnttttteeeeennnnntttttsssss Illustrations............................................................x Preface ............................................................ xii PPPPPaaaaarrrrrttttt IIIII ----- IIIIInnnnntttttrrrrroooooddddduuuuuccccctttttiiiiiooooonnnnn,,,,, MMMMMaaaaattttteeeeerrrrriiiiiaaaaalllllsssss aaaaannnnnddddd MMMMMeeeeettttthhhhhooooodddddsssss 11111 IIIIInnnnntttttrrrrroooooddddduuuuuccccctttttiiiiiooooonnnnn...............................................................................................................................................................................1111177777 1.1 Aim and Purpose of the Study............. 18 1.2 Terminology ........................................ 21 1.2.1 Key Academic Concepts .......... 21 1.2.2 Insider Terminology Relevant for the Study.............................. 26 1.3 Earlier Research .................................. 31 1.3.1 Research on Dragon Rouge ...... 31 1.3.2 Magic and Western Esotericism . 33 1.3.3 Spirituality and Meaning Making....................... 36 1.4 Presentation of Sources....................... 40 1.4.1 The Interviews............................. 40 1.4.2 The Questionnaires..................... 44 1.4.3 Fieldwork and Participant Observation............. 47 1.4.4 The Official Dragon Rouge Material..................................... 52 1.4.5 Other Material ............................ 54 1.5 Self-positioning.................................... 55 PPPPPAAAAARRRRRTTTTT IIIIIIIIII ––––– DDDDDeeeeessssscccccrrrrriiiiippppptttttiiiiiooooonnnnn 22222 FFFFFooooorrrrrmmmmmaaaaatttttiiiiivvvvveeeee BBBBBaaaaaccccckkkkkgggggrrrrrooooouuuuunnnnnddddd aaaaannnnnddddd CCCCCooooonnnnnttttteeeeexxxxxttttt ooooofffff DDDDDrrrrraaaaagggggooooonnnnn RRRRRooooouuuuugggggeeeee .............................................................................................................................6666611111 2.1 The Academic Study of Western Esotericism............................. 61 2.1.1 The History of Western Esotericism..................... 64 2.1.2 The Theosophical Society........... 70 2.1.3 The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn............................. 74 2.1.4 Aleister Crowley.......................... 78 2.1.5 The ‘New Age’ Movement.......... 86 2.1.6 Neopaganism............................ 93 2.1.7 Neopaganism and ‘New Age’................................. 101 2.2 The Alternative Spiritual Milieu of Sweden......................................... 104 2.3 Changing Society, Changing Religion112 33333 PPPPPhhhhhiiiiilllllooooosssssoooooppppphhhhhiiiiicccccaaaaalllll TTTTTeeeeennnnneeeeetttttsssss ....................................................................................................111112222233333 3.1 Dark Magic – Will, Power and Action . 123 3.1.1 The Principles of Dark Magic..... 135 3.1.2 Feminine Symbolism in the Left Hand Path and Dragon Rouge. 136 3.2 Philosophy......................................... 144 3.2.1 The Dragon as Symbol ............. 145 3.3 Ethics and Morals.............................. 148 3.4 Dragon Rouge and Christianity ......... 156 44444 OOOOOrrrrrgggggaaaaannnnniiiiizzzzzaaaaatttttiiiiiooooonnnnn ...........................................................................................................................................................111116666611111 4.1.1 Thomas Karlsson....................... 161 4.1.2 The Founding and Development of Dragon Rouge ..................... 164 4.2.1 Organizational Structure........... 169 4.2.2 Membership............................. 171 4.2.2.1 Gender.........................175 4.2.3 The Inner Circle ........................177 4.2.4 Lodges and Ritual Groups........180 4.2.5 Finances .................................. 186 4.2.6 Initiatory Structure..................... 187 55555 PPPPPrrrrraaaaaccccctttttiiiiiccccceeeee...................................................................................................................................................................................................111119999911111 5.1 Ethnographies................................... 191 5.1.1 Dragon Rouge Annual Meeting........................191 5.1.2 Course on Ceremonial Magic................... 205 5.1.3 Ceremonial Opening of Lodge Sinistra ..........................220 5.1.4 Initiation into Degree 2.0 - Gamaliel.................................. 228 5.2 Discussion and Analysis..................... 235