Saturn Rising is a talismanic grimoire promoting the veneration, worship and pursuit of death in all its formless glory, whether manifesting as death-as-ending, death-as-change, or death-as-rebirth. While it may appear that creation and destruction are the two ends of a very broad spectrum, this work serves to guide the reader to the understanding that they are but two sides of a very thin coin, remaining forever inseparable. In order to create a work of art, we must first destroy a virgin canvas. Before we are able to compose a piece of music, we must likewise destroy the sanctity of silence. When we choose to create more Life for ourselves, we must also understand how – and what it means – to Die.

Saturn Rising is a fundamentally different text to most every esoteric publication to date. Its extensive use of dependable and reproducible modern science as a device for conceptual metaphor, in addition to its fervent championing of the Scientific Method remind us of those two short statements which grace the “Equinox” journal of the Argenteum Astrum: “The Method of Science — The Aim of Religion”. While some may regard as suspicious the inclusion of a highly-scientific foundation within a talismanic grimoire, its purpose is by no means to attempt to explain-away any spiritual experience in terms of psychological – or other – wholly-physical phenomena. Rather, it is to provide a common foundation and a base of universal definitions by which spiritual experiences may be communicated, systematically evaluated, and if possible, even reproduced. Surely, there can be no better model to adopt than that of modern science if one wishes to attempt the reproduction – and study – of spiritual, mystical and paranormal phenomena.

The greatest benefit to the use of science in a work such as Saturn Rising is the great deal of conceptual standardization, and incremental advancement made possible. Whereas once, religious metaphor was used to explain even the most elementary physical principles we see all around us in the natural world, and which we now take for granted. Over the course of time, our understanding of Nature has progressed to such a degree that we are now able to reverse this practise, and instead use scientific examples of well-known phenomena to classify our many varied experiences, allowing for the systematic exploration thereof. When dealing with such potentially-volatile concepts as death-worship and the integration of the death-current into our existing magical and religious systems, it is useful beyond measure to be able to approach – and adopt – these often-dangerous ideas in a manner, and at a pace best suited to ourselves alone. This is perhaps the most advantageous manifestation of all those which result from the founding of death-cultism upon a firm bedrock of scientific methodology.

The first section of Saturn Rising – entitled “Theory” – concerns itself with exploring the three principal manifestations of death energies; that is, death as an ending, as change, and as a rebirth. The fundamental nature of death itself is considered from the perspective of the author as a medical professional, the social phenomenon known as the “Seven-Year Itch”, and other social aberrations such as a disproportionate propensity for suicide – among numerous other topics – are treated with great clarity, depth of thought, and with two key concepts held at the fore. Firstly, how the consideration of these theoretical subjects may benefit either the understanding, or the application of death-cultism by the reader, so as not to waste their time and energy on trivia or minutiae. Secondly, how the cosmic archetype of Saturn and its associated correspondences ultimately tie-in to the concepts at hand, and what it is that Saturn may be able to teach us regarding death in each of its forms, throughout each of the chapters of this section.

Did you know that Tobacco is the plant most directly associated with Saturn? As is the elemental metal Lead, while Saturn itself is related to both Death, and the passage of Time. What most people do not know, however, is that a number of commercial American tobacco crops are fertilized with material in which extremely high concentrations of a radioactive version of the lead metal may be found. All we need do is add a little time, and it’s little wonder that cigarettes are related to so many cancer deaths. At each step of the way, there is a direct and undeniable link to both death in some form, and Saturn as the archetypal representative thereof, while associations such as this prove themselves to be a recurrent theme throughout the entirety of this work, both quite by accident and yet with an almost unbelievable frequency.

The second section of Saturn Rising – entitled “Practise” – deals with the real-world application of established Western Ceremonial Magical techniques, the standardization of fundamental magical definitions using scientific methodology, the construction and employment of ritual tools, the nuances of magical timing, the overriding procedure behind the modified Western method of ritual magic as presented in this text, and a secular, non-ceremonial form of magic which has heretofore seen mention in various books of Chaos – and of course, other – postmodern magical systems, yet not been fully explained in practise, nor had its fundamental workings hypothesized about to any great degree. Both of these oversights have been addressed in Saturn Rising, and a not-only complete, but also eminently workable form of creative magic – similar in some respects to the sigil magic techniques of Austin Osman Spare and Kenneth Grant – comes to the fore as a unique and incredibly flexible means by which future events may be easily molded and shaped to an incredible degree of acuity.

Finally, Saturn Rising closes with a selection of rituals designed to initiate the practitioner into the current of Saturnian death-cultism. The focus of these rituals is to provide a solid framework by which the sole magician may engage with, manipulate to their own ends, and apply in whatever fashion they see fit the energies of death, including integration into their own system(s) of magic and spirituality. The rites themselves include techniques by which gateways into the spiritual realm – including those areas in which angelic and demonic entities are said to reside – may be opened, allowing for a greater degree of contact with spirits, a deeper immersion within the subjective experience of ritual evocation, and the control of non-conscious energy for all manner of interesting ends. The concluding ritual provides the reader with the means to ritually charge objects with spiritual energy, or even invite the habitation of a spirit – again, including angels and demons – within the object in question, usually with the understanding that the particular spirit employed will continue to influence the magician’s life in a positive way, so long as the object sees frequent personal contact. It is for this reason that enchanted jewelry is most commonly encountered, but it must be understood that this situation is a mutual exchange and not one of spiritual dominance, or the use of magical force against the will of an entity.

Overall, Saturn Rising is a unique grimoire which aims to further the conscious acceptance and understanding of the death current, even to the point of venerating this ubiquitous and universal element within the natural world, of which the spiritual and magical realms are but a small part.

Contents

Prologue
Introduction
A Note On Sigils

– Part I: Theory

On the Nature Of Death
The Seven-Year Cycle Correspondences of Saturn
The Sabbatic Goat
Demons Of The Mind
The Wood Of Suicides
Bones For My Beloved
Sacred Geometry
Sacraments Of The Flesh

– Part II: Practise

A Note On Magic
Problematic Terminology
Construction Of Ritual Tools
Guardians Of The Watchtowers
Virtues Of The Hours
Incantations Of Saturn and Mars
The Magical Formula
The Creative Act As Ritual Magic
Life In The Service Of Saturn

– Part III: Rituals

Concerning the Rites Of Saturn
The Beginning Of The End
Opening Gateways Into The Abyss
Possessing An Object With Daemons

Epilogue
About The Author
About The Illustrator

The Saturn Rising / Into the Void is be a black linen bound hardcover, 90 grams bone-white paper bookblock and black end-papers.  Gold lettering printed to the spine and a large gold foil sigil printed to the front cover of the book. 454 pages. The book size will be a standard A5 (148mm width x 210mm high).

The Into the Void Monographic Grimoire book bridges between the main works of Saturn Rising and the forthcoming book, scheduled for release in 2023: Saturn Rising volume 2.

Into the Void. It is a hands on workbook for those who already have familiarized themselves with the subject matter and system of magic as presented by the author in Saturn Rising.

Into the Void – The Suicidal Initiation of Mars in Saturn by J.T. Kirkbride, author of Saturn Rising.

The Into the Void Monographic Grimoire book bridges between the main works of Saturn Rising and the forthcoming book, scheduled for release in 2023: Saturn Rising volume 2.

Into the Void. It is a hands on workbook for those who already have familiarized themselves with the subject matter and system of magic as presented by the author in Saturn Rising.

Over the course of human evolution, one thing has developed and grown which has allowed us to survive within the impersonal environments of unrelenting Nature. Once a useful and necessary tool by which we could separate ourselves from the herd around us, this one irrational concept now threatens to destroy both our humanity, and Humanity itself. This thing of which I speak, is the human ego.

The human ego gives us a sense of Self. It allows us to say “this is me”, and in today’s culture, extends so far as to include “this is what I believe… This is what I expect… This is what I demand”. Our very identity as human beings, belonging to a race of biologically-similar creatures, hinges upon the premise, and rests squarely within the bounds of what we – as a democratic collective – have decided constitutes a person, or a single individual in our modern world. We are all equal, but only because we have an ego structure which screams to be heard and recognised.

The human ego is a conceptual trap, and long-outlived its purpose as an evolutionary tool millennia ago, with the advent of civilisation and agriculture. Rather than provide us with a survival instinct, it now simply acts as the proxy mannequin by which we measure our civil rights, and our collective entitlements. Rather than provide us with survival instincts and announce “run, you’re about to get hit by a bus!”, it now screams “how much can I sue the bus company for, after they run be down?”. Such fallacies should not be allowed to exist.

Without an ego structure as we know it, we would not need empathy, for we would share each others’ pain; we would not need compassion, for helping others is, in fact, the same as helping ourselves. There would be no thought of reward for good deeds, for the deed along would be payment enough, in seeing others well, and happy. This cannot come to be, so long as our egos insist that we are separate creatures and independent in thought, and existence; separate from each other, separate from our host planet, separate from the universe, and separate from god, however it is chosen to be defined.

This philosophy is mirrored in the Western Ceremonial Tradition, but is is known as “crossing the Abyss”. This act of magical transcendence requires great achievement, great discipline, and the willingness to let oneself go – or, perhaps, the sense of oneself – in order to leave the dualistic world of self vs. other behind, and become unified within Binah and the supernal triad of the Tree Of Life. This next volume, bridging between Saturn Rising vols. 1 & 2, serves as a theoretical groundwork, and extended series of practical pathworking exercises designed to abolish and implode one’s sense of self and the mundane ego. Freed from this limitation, we will be able to ascend much more easily, regard dualisms as the fantasy of sub-Abyssal existence, and step effortlessly across the Abyss anytime we please, recognising immediately that we are no longer owned, manipulated or subservient to our mundane, human egos.

For those who have read Saturn Rising vol.1, the idea of suicide will be familiar as the introduction of Martian energies into a Saturnian environment, providing the fiery, Masculine impetus to effect change in the sullen, cold and introspective Saturnian world. By working through the exercises and rituals in Into The Void, one will effectively commit a form of voluntary spiritual suicide from which it would be difficult to recover, and yet, provide so much greater benefit to the spiritual substance of the practitioner, that no other single change could effect such a dynamic and positive shift within the ir own person.

It should be noted that the mundane ego is not completely destroyed, and that it is no more difficult to go about one’s day thinking of themselves as the person they believe they are. Rather, the ego is imploded on a spiritual level, not on a mundane level, so that when acts of magic and ritual are undertaken, the primal, basic concept of “me” does not get in the way of higher aspirations, in which there exists no division, no you, or I, or anybody else, but simply all as one. After the ritual is complete, it is a simple matter to go back to pretending to be who we think we are in order to conduct our daily business, but we will know better deep in our hearts, and we will feel better on the whole, no longer being hung-up with the idea of a permanent, unchanging, and eternal “I am”.

The ego is a liar; for some, it inflates their sense of self beyond reason and to the contempt of others. For the rest, it lies again and limits their true ability with false ideas of inferiority and ineptitude. Rarely do we ever find a person whose true, inner self is mirrored precisely and accurately by their own perception of their abilities, limitations, or entitlements. The rituals presented in this forthcoming volume side-step these issues entirely, and negate all significance our own personal egos attempt to convince us must be the truth, for they are but liars. It is time for the ego of Mankind to reach its final death; it is time to step into the void, and commit ritual suicide in the name of Mars in Saturn.