The Self and Holy Guardian Angel in a New Aeon Context

By Alex Martin

I am the flame that burns in every heart of man, and in the core of every star. I am Life, and the giver of Life, yet therefore is theknowledge of me the knowledge of death.
Al II:6

 Ah! Ah! Death! Death! thou shalt long for death. Death is forbidden, o man, unto thee.
Al II:73

The formula of death and rebirth, the formula of the Aeon of Osiris, has been superseded by the formula of the Crowned and Conquering Child, or that of growth, now in the Aeon of Horus. In keeping with this new formula, I have endeavoured to view the Self, or Holy Guardian Angel in a light conducive to the formula of Horus.
First, it is generally assumed that the personality receives energy, impressions, etc. from its “Higher Self,” or the HGA, of which it is an expression and reflection. I feel that this is true to an extent. The personality is a very obvious expression of the HGA. However, I there is oftentimes no distinction made between the HGA and the True Will…it is often assumed that these are one and the same (as per Crowley’s Liber Samech and his thoughts concerning the HGA/True Will).
It is my experience however, that these two things are very different. I have come to view and feel the HGA, or Higher Self, as our highest potential. The True Will is the path we must follow to achieve that self. The HGA is not so much a “tutelary spirit” (as was believed by Abramelin) as it is our potential. Thus, as potential, it is connected to both Nuit (as she is the sum total of all possibilities, or pure potentiality. See Kenneth Grant’s The Magical Revival, “The Death Posture and the New Sexuality” chapter), and Maat (as a “future” self).
How does all of this play into the formula of growth of the Aeon of Horus?
This conception of the HGA is a reversal of the more standard one. Most view the HGA as the spark that seeks expression in the personality. In a sense, this is true; the personality, receiving transmissions from its future, perfected self is spurred to seek its fulfillment (this is my definition of True Will; the seeking of personal perfection). This is accomplished by the reverse flow of time associated with the Aeon of Maat. In the Aeon of Horus, the forward flowing Crowned and Conquering Child must grow in order to attain perfection. This is the sense in which the HGA and Knowledge and Conversation thereof can be viewed as “tutelary.”
The growth, however, is of the self, which, until it reaches its perfection in the HGA is still a personality. The personality, or Child, is the Dwarf Self, Besz, the Ever Changing One. Seeing the Dwarf Self and the HGA as synonymous is in my view fallacious; the Dwarf Self is the Alpha as the HGA is the Omega.
The reason for incarnation is supposedly self-knowledge; thus, it is only through incarnation and “maya” that we find ourselves. We incarnate into these material, fleshy bodies, born not knowing who or what we are. As newborns and infants, we are entirely unaware of the world around us. As we grow older, we become aware of both our environment and ourselves. This is the formula of the Aeon.
If we apply this in a metaphysical sense, the “Self” (Dwarf Self) is first stimulated by the Elements (in the physical body it now inhabits). The understanding of and contact with the four base elements (earth, water, air, and fire) and  the fifth element (spirit or akasha) are the first steps on the road to full Self-Realization. This is the reason that so many spiritual paths and occult orders place such emphasis on working with the elements in the first stages of spiritual growth.
This concept is explored more fully in a ritual I have written. Unfortunately, I have as yet been unable to perform it (due to my preferred necessities, which essentially is a full rock band of musickians…very difficult to find such people here in my part of the world!). I will perhaps submit it for the next Silver Star, but if anyone is interested, contact me at dungeonmasteral@yahoo.com.

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law.
Love is the law, love under will.
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