Today we welcome the three founding members of de to our pages The Sulfur Society, who for the occasion gave us an interview about their new project.
And when all the ghosts are gone,
you will see that sacred and formless fire,
that Fire that darts and flames
in the hidden depths of the Universe;
and you will hear the Voice of Fire.
Today we welcome the three founding members of de to our pages The Sulfur Society, who for the occasion gave us an interview about their new project.
When did you come up with the idea of โโcreating a magic academy and why?
It's actually an idea that took shape very slowly in an unintentional way. Often over the years, especially after conferences or courses in which we hosted operatives who discussed issues related to magical practice, we happened to receive many emails and private messages in which people asked who to contact or which books to read to learn more.ย
Obviously, we referred to the supervisor himself but in many cases this was made difficult by some factors, such as for example the fact that the supervisor lived and worked abroad or did not accept students. To this, we must add, many testimonies of people who, confiding in us, reported negative experiences related to more or less well-known personalities and organizations. So, after about eight years, we were persuaded to structure a real introductory path to magical operability, combining the knowledge acquired by each of us in our own field of research and individual practice and integrating everything with lessons from some of the major experts in the subject both nationally and internationally.
Just about the teachers present, I see very famous and well-known names. How did they get involved and embrace the project?
We had the great fortune and the great honor of being able to collaborate directly with them and of knowing them personally, we immediately felt a strong harmony with all of them, especially on what we meant by the term magic and on the characteristics that magical operation should retain.
Stephen Skinner, Sebastiano Fusco and Claudio Bonvecchio in particular participated live in Parma at the "Occult Convention", our annual appointment with all those who follow our activities, demonstrating despite their great erudition and experience, extremely open to dialogue and comparison. David Rankine has participated in some of our online initiatives and we immediately recognized in him the fire of passion and a great communion of views. We are aware how uncommon their direct teaching is, particularly in Italy, and we are very grateful to them. ย
How does the path develop within the academy and how does the live part take place?
We have prepared online lessons of about two hours each in which learners will be able to relate directly with teachers, we encourage interaction and comparison, we are not interested in providing notions for their own sake but in making people understand the mechanisms and dynamics underlying the theory and of the practice. Each lesson will have an operational part depending on the specific topic, from meditative techniques to ceremonial gestures up to the creation of ritual components, to name a few.
The live laboratory will be an extremely important moment of the journey, it will last two days, Saturday and Sunday, and will allow to clarify all the possible doubts that arose during the online part, it will be an opportunity to verify the learning of the participants, correct any errors and learn more about everything that was covered during the course.
On the first level we have chosen a beautiful farmhouse surrounded by nature for our exclusive use, while on the second we have opted for an illustrious historic residence in the art nouveau style as a tribute to the magical movements of the early twentieth century.
Is this course open to everyone?
Yes, the course does not require previous experience or studies as it has been designed both for those approaching the subject for the first time and for those who, despite having specific knowledge, want to deepen certain aspects or deal with a different approach from their own. We will start from the basics and we will maintain a tenor in the explanation such that everyone can clearly understand the principles and dynamics we want to convey.
I noticed that there will be specific individual appointments to get to know and evaluate the potential of each participant in the magical field. How will they take place?
We decided to include this aspect because it is actually a fundamental moment in any traditional path. In all the traditions to which I have approached, the moment in which the disciple, the pupil in this specific case, participates in a divination to understand which powers or paths he is more inclined towards, is of great help for the harmonious development of one's potential.ย
Mattia Mazzeo will take care of elaborating a first reading of the participant's birth chart focused specifically on the issue of the student's magical and occult abilities, in order to understand the strengths and weaknesses. Before the start of the second level there will be a live meeting in which Simone Vannini through a ritual practice will loosen possible interferences or obstacles along the way, at the end of the ceremony Dorian Bones will carry out a divination to verify the changes that have occurred during the year and remodulate the student goals.
It seems to me that this is the first course in which all three of you founding members of "The Sulfur Society" will be present. How did you divide the activities between you, Dorian and Mattia?
The division of the topics took place in a very natural and spontaneous way, on the basis of the studies and specific experiences that each of us has matured and of the teachings received in many years of research and training. In recent years Mattia has deepened the study of astrology and in particular, the subject still little known in Italy, of astrological magic applied to talismans and planetary influences. Dorian has always been a great admirer of grimoires and dedicated himself to the more ceremonial part, also taking advantage of his great knowledge of magical herbal medicine. I personally took care of the part linked to Kabbalah, enhancing the Jewish heritage from which it was born, integrating it with the posthumous reworking carried out by Western magical orders starting from the end of the 1800s up to the present day.
Why do you think this project could be important in the Italian esoteric panorama?
The entire work of cultural dissemination undertaken by "The Sulfur Society" was born to try to provide guidance to those interested in approaching esotericism, without the purpose of proselytizing towards a specific philosophy or tradition. For this reason we have always addressed very different issues, trying to consult a large number of researchers from different backgrounds. This attitude is also reflected in Lamen, an academy of traditional magical arts. Those who are not interested in joining an order or those who feel the need to build their own personal base before making such a choice will find in this course the possibility of learn a series of operating principles and techniques capable of providing a solid foundation. ย
It seems to me, from the type of operations and studies, that Dorian will especially deal with vestments and magical herbalism. How will this play out in practice?
As regards the part of gestures, forms and positions to be performed during the ceremonies, students will be provided with a video recording where they will be shown step by step how to correctly perform these gestures. During the lesson the different shapes will then be commented and explained and the same will be done with regard to the part linked to the construction of the circle and the announcement of the staff. Students will then have to practice at home before the live workshop, where postures will be corrected to ensure perfect execution. As regards the part dedicated to magical herbal medicine, some of the main herbs will be treated, with their functions and their uses. In this case the practical part will be addressed during the online lesson, students will in fact be asked to obtain the necessary materials.
Mattia: you mainly deal with astrology and astrological magic, what do you think is the contribution of these two disciplines to ceremonial magic?
Astrological magic, as Simone has already said, is not that much known in Italy, especially when it comes to talismanic magic, which is probably the most complete and fascinating derivation of this art. Integrating the knowledge of the planetary spheres, their deep connection with natural magic, as well as with Kabbalah, will give students the possibility to operate from a ritual point of view with greater awareness and a transversal knowledge of the elements that make up ceremonial magic.ย
Furthermore, I believe that planetary magic is a rather accessible operational starting point even for those who have no experience in the magical field, giving the possibility of coming into direct contact with very distinct energies, those same energies that characterize each individual in a unique way. human being. So making contact with astrology and astrological magic greatly enriches the practice of the magician, bringing him closer to the knowledge of the visible and invisible laws that govern this world and all that is part of it.
Simone: we often talk about cabala associating it with a religious and mainly mystical vision, how do you think it can be declined instead in the magical sphere?
The very origins of Kabbalah are debated, Scholem in his research identifies various possible historical phases and mythological references of birth and renewal of the tradition. Although no religion likes to contemplate the magical aptitude in its doctrine in an open way, I believe that the latter, if understood as the ability to make the tangible and the intangible dialogue for the achievement of a specific purpose, is very present in large part of the original doctrine and lends itself well to a reworking consistent with the spirit that animated the western magical currents of the early twentieth century. I still think that the study of the structure of the tree of life, from the point of view of a sort of metaphysical geographical map, is a fundamental element for understanding the occult universe, its inhabitants and the best way to act in such a context.
Obviously the legacy of Jewish Kabbalah does not end here, we find it for example in the great power and charisma of the psalms or in the value of the use of letters, both on a material level in talismans and on a more subtle level in vocalization, just to name a few shapes.
