John Wisniewski is a writer who resides in New York. He has written for LA Review of Books, AMFM Magazine, Toronto Review of Books, and other publications.
1. When did you become interested in studying Occult subjects, Robert?
Introduced at a very early age to Alchemy (by my father), Magick (my uncles) and the study of Rosicrucianism (by my mother).
2. Could you tell us about writing Night of Pan, and what interests you about Aleister Crowley?
NOX PAN developed from having been taught the Thoth Tarot over 45 years ago. I became interested in initiatic esotericism which was developed originally from an Rosicrucian perspective then from an AA lineage, this was then furthered through reading Crowley’s more ‘philosophical works’. This led me to compare the first 22 poems (including ?!) in the ‘Book of Lies’ and which as I would discover (cf. NOP) was an early precursor to the Atu or Major Arcana of his later Thoth deck. The NOX idea was then prefigured in the major Atu and as they related to the grade structure AA, initiation, and 22 paths on the Etz Chaiim. The major point of my research was to demonstrate how the Atu and poems could be used by students and in particular by so-called ‘Babes of the Abyss’ (as a non-grade) and how they could be used to prepare the ‘babe’ to enter and move beyond the abyss (through ‘ego mortification’) onto the 3 higher grades of the system. This could only be achieved by having been initiated from the 32nd path, that is from Malkuth (the Universe Atu) and by way of the Ophidian current and paths that lead to KCHGA and were as such prerequisites for preparing to cross the abyss. Crowley’s preparation of the grade system of the AA – Equinox (1909 etc.). The Book of Lies (1912/13) were therefore extremely important for the development and philosophy (O.T.O.) and that would be outworked more comprehensively through Harris’ artwork (Oxford exhibition in 1941) and Crowley’s Book of Thoth (1944). It was therefore through Crowley’s Book of Lies and the role played by his scarlet woman at the time Leila Waddell that would lead to the esoteric praxeis, and where the cards could be seen as glyphs leading the ‘way’ to a structured series of initiations.
3. What have you learned through your travels around the world, to study magick and the occult?
My travels have been and are still closely related to my academic and esoteric studies – they include making connections with both academics and fellow occultists – these include travels all over Europe, North Africa (esp. Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and Morocco), and India (North and South) – where I have learned from several associate adepts about their own magical techniques and their insight into alchemical processes. I have always been keen to study and develop my use of ancient languages and praxeis especially in relation to ‘modern’ ideas about magick and which has been provided from more Ancient praxeis in general. My university studies included: Hieroglyphs, Greek, Latin, and OT Hebrew, and along with archaeology and ancient history. All of this provided a basis from which to make a closer contact through texts and iconography on both a theosophical and more practical magical level.
4. Is there a resurgence of interest in the occult, and learning more about it, Robert? Is there a magical revival happening?
There is a ‘revival’ but, I would note that this is seen through a more positive creative and esoteric use of the magical current, that is as it ‘weaves its way’ through our studies and praxeis (e.g. the ‘great work’) – and this I sincerely hope will continue. However, students must first be taught how to discover, engage and then manipulate the Ophidian Current through that of its full dunamis (power).
5. Tell us about your travels to Egypt. Did you learn much about Setian magic?
As a young boy I spent several years being toured around Egyptian museums and sites by my father. I then went back to Egypt on several occasions to visit several of his friends and to renew my ever-growing interest in Egyptian magick and Hermetic occult – especially in relation to my study of hieroglyphs, and classical languages. Set would become a particular interest as I studied and translated the middle Egyptian and Demotic texts (esp. The Book of Thoth – a training manual for young swnw(t) (magicians, seers and healers), and that relate to skrying the Duat or netherworld (see for example, my own Typhonian Trilogy: the Flesh of Re, Chamber of Darkness, and the Limbs of the Duat). As I would discover Set, Re, Heka and Sia help the practitioner in activating your own mehen serpent-barque throughout the 12 nightside hours – otherwise those described as the ‘looping tunnels of Set’ (subconscious Nightside). For indeed it is Set you will need to invoke in order to traverse the 1st hour, basically allowing you entry and who will aid you in wounding Apep (otherwise your great big ego), and then from where this will enable your Akh/Ba (mind/soul) to then skry the hours in the netherworld, otherwise the tunnels of Set – as some of your readers will know these are glyphed in Kenneth Grant’s Typhonian trilogies. Set therefore becomes an important symbola for the mind (Akh), as Re for the soul (Ba), and Osiris for your body (Khat). Thus, simply put – mind, soul, and body are rejuvenated in the 5th and 6th hours and then enable you to re-emerge like Kephra in the morning (hopefully!).
6. Why does man study magic practice and the occult?
We study and practice magick to seek and perfect that of our original state of being – hence it is an ontological necessity. Compare the rough to the smooth ashlar block. Ultimately, we seek that of illumination through gnosis (self-knowledge), for after all – ‘All is One’.
7. What are you currently working on, and what future-plans and projects do you have?
At present I have just finished writing my 12th book, it is an in-depth magical and philosophical analysis of Mithraism based on a study of the available textual and iconographic sources. My primary focus has been to unlock the meaning behind their goal (teleology) and that in relation to their understanding of the soul (psyche) as an embodied being (their ontology), and as I argue is directly related to their initiatory praxeis (the Mithraic grade system) that can lead the initiate to an understanding of soteria (being ‘saved’), all of this is connected to the narrative iconography associated with Mithras and is extended in Porphyry’s De Antro. My plans are to keep my monthly lecture series here at the Courtyard going, to organise next year’s Occult conference (March 2025) here on the Isle of Wight, along with lecturing at several mainland occult conferences, writing more articles for publication, and perhaps getting my notes in order for my next book – back to an Egyptian themed magical exploration…?!
Biography
Dr. Robert Anderson Plimer was born in Edinburgh, then after a short stay in Egypt, he returned home to attend school in the city, before moving to the Scottish Borders. Bob’s degrees and postgraduate studies include Classics at Newcastle; Philosophy, Classics and Religious Studies at Surrey; Hieroglyphics, Philosophy of Mind & Metaphysics at Oxford. After completing university, Robert spent the next 10 years as a professional Musician/Composer touring extensively both here in the UK and abroad. Robert then went on to teach postgrad Classics teachers, along with Ancient History, Latin & Greek, Philosophy and Religious Studies. In his travels, he has gained a thorough knowledge of both ancient and modern esotericism – especially regarding Graeco-Egyptian and Latin texts. As well as being a member of several occult groups (including the Ordo Typhonis), he is a lifetime member of the International Alchemy Guild; Bob also runs monthly seminars at the Phoenix Club on the Isle of Wight, where he lectures on a variety of esoteric subjects including: Graeco–Egyptian Magick; Hermeticism, Neoplatonism, Kabbalah, The Thoth Tarot, and other forms of divination; along with Alchemical theoria and praxis.
Published books include: a Four Volume series on Hermetic Philosophy; Decoding Alchemy (on spagyrics); The Alchemical World of Edward Kelley – Theatrum Astronomiae Terrestris; The Philosopher’s Net (At the Still Point of the Turning World); The Night of Pan (based on Crowley’s Book of Lies and Thoth Tarot); a Typhonian inspired Trilogy: The Flesh of Re, Chamber of Darkness, and Limbs of the Duat, Bob explores initiation and the magical praxeis associated with skrying the Egyptian Netherworld. Bob has recently completed his Mithraic Soteriology – Souls, Blood, Bones & Flesh.
Links
bobplimer@yahoo.co.uk YouTube lectures: Black Lodge Publishing. On FB: Robert Anderson Plimer, Courtyard Alchemy, and Black Lodge Publishing. For books etc. see BLP International – https://blpshopint-69b2d.gr8.com/ and BLP UK – https://blpshopuk-589b7.gr8.com/
