Dogma et Ritual

Category : ,

Date : 2017

The original image of Baphomet (also know as Goat of Mendes) was drawn by the nineteenth century occultist Eliphas Levi (Alphonse Constant) in his famous book -“”Dogma and Ritual of High Magic”. It was drawn with the head of a Goat, a human body with cloven feet and wings. This particular drawing is quite popular with Satanists and Ritual magicians, for different reasons.
However, save for a few details, Levi’s connection between his version of Baphomet and modern representations is mostly nonexistent.

According to Levi’s description:
“The goat on the frontispiece carries the sign of the pentagram on the forehead, with one point at the top, a symbol of light, his two hands forming the sign of hermeticism, the one pointing up to the white moon of the Quabbalic Chesed, the other pointing down to the black one of Geburah. This sign expresses the perfect harmony of mercy with justice. His one arm is female, the other male like the ones of the androgyn of Khunrath, the attributes of which we had to unite with those of our goat because he is one and the same symbol. The flame of intelligence shining between his horns is the magic light of the universal balance, the image of the soul elevated above matter, as the flame, whilst being tied to matter, shines above it. The ugly beast’s head expresses the horror of the sinner, whose materially acting, solely responsible part has to bear the punishment exclusively; because the soul is insensitive according to its nature and can only suffer when it materializes. The rod standing instead of genitals symbolizes eternal life, the body covered with scales the water, the semi-circle above it the atmosphere, the feathers following above the volatile. Humanity is represented by the two breasts and the androgyne arms of this sphinx of the occult sciences.”

“Man in a pentagram (microcosmos)/ Pentagram of Appolonius” -originally from Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa's De occulta philosophia libri tres, 16th century; - “Sabbatic Goat/ Goat of Mendes / Sigil of Baphomet (later)” - appeared the first time in the book La Clef de la Magie Noire by Stanislas de Guaita. Both pentagrams are used side by side in the same book of S. de Guaita in 1879 to refer the white and black magic.

This enigmatic figure was first described during the trials of the Templars, a medieval order of Crusader Monks accused of Heresy, witchcraft, and other crimes. The base of the accusations brought against the Knights Templar was that they worshipped an idol, said to have taken the form of goat-headed figure.

Our version of Baphomet shows a cosmic figure with no connections to the Earth. It is sitting on a circle (wholeness or infinity) where we can see a divine triangle with the names of “Tetragrammaton” and also star of chaos related to the new black magicians.
At his feet we have references to Eliphas Levi (his creator) and “hexakosioi hexekonta hex”, 666 (number of the beast) – Baphomet 666- name adopted by Aleister Crowley.
At the bottom we also distinguish symbols related to the temple of Moloch and at the right a symbol of Earth.

In both sides we have sacred symbols/ expressions related to the Orthodox Cross where we can read “Son of God” and “Conquers”. A little lower the “XV” is linked to the 15 of tarot, the Devil and his similarity to this figure.

The head of Baphomet was slightly changed to look more like a man and at his forehead a third eye – “He is therefore Life, and Love. But moreover his letter is ayin, the Eye, so that he is Light”, wrote Crowley. Around his head we tried to make an illusion of a shining star.
At his belly there is a sphere of the earth, with the Man at the centre, surrounded by zodiacal signs and natural elements from spiritual and physical realms.
In his wings two  Budded Crosses imitating the crossbones and symbols of Pluto (Hades) and Sulphur, both related to Hell.

The character is shown inside a sacred triangle with a horizontal stem resembling a cross. Around that shape we can read “ADAMO”, Adam the first man according to the book of Genesis.

“Baphomet, the Goat of Mendes” Illustration made by Eliphas Lévi for his: ”Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie” , 1854.
Close
Close
Sign in
Close
Cart (0)

No products in the cart. No products in the cart.



Currency


Close