THE QLIPHOTH The experiences and recorded experiments conducted by the author lead him to the conclusion that the "Lesser Key of Solomon" is at least, based in reality. The spirits attributed to the "Goetia" correspond appropriately to specific aspects of the "Qliphothic" system, which is in actuality, an integral counterpart to the Qabalistic. This is to be expected, as the magickal system employed by Solomon was qabalistically based.
If the student has sufficiently studied the qabalistic texts recommended in chapter 11 of the previous volume, they should have at least a minute knowledge of the qliphoth's presence, and necessity of existence. The subject of qabalah is considered a rather obscure topic among conventional scholars, and even among those unconventional few, the qliphothic matter is considered equally as obscure again.
Very little has been written specifically on the magickal aspects of the qliphoth. In fact, its study is strongly discouraged by the great majority of teachers of ritual magick. The mere mention of its name seems to strike some instinctive fear in the so-called qabalists of this century, which befits an age old axiom to be quoted here: "Man only fears that which he does not understand."
A growing craze currently experiencing an upsurge of popularity in the occult community is the practice of "chaos" magick. Many exuberant and youthful ritual magicians are tending to restrict themselves to the study of "chaos", as if it were a complete system in itself, when actually it is nothing more than a part of the qabalistic ritual magick system.
This is absolutely not to suggest that this part should be ignored or neglected. On the contrary, one who neglects it or refuses to acknowledge its existence, is equally as unbalanced as those who neglect the qabalistic. The true qabalist should realize that the qliphoth is intricately interwoven with the qabala, and is actually its essential dualistic counterpart. After a working knowledge of the "Tree of Life" is established, the student should proceed logically and scientifically with qliphothic studies.
The last section of the MacGregor-Mathers translation of "The Key of Solomon", entitled "Ancient Fragment of the Key of Solomon, translated from the Hebrew by Eliphaz Levi; and given in his Philosophie Occulte' serie II, page 136.", outlines some important base theory regarding qliphothic hierarchy, as well as qabalistic theory, with some useful adjective commentary. Chapter 26 of "The Mystical Qabala" by Dion Fortune is devoted to the subject, as is chapter 21 of Gareth Knight's "Practical Guide to Qabalistic Symbolism: Volume 1".
Another noteworthy study is the essay entitled "The Qliphoth of the Qabalah" by S.L. MacGregor-Mathers, which was originally published in 1900 as an instructional paper to initiates of the Isis-Urania temple of the Golden Dawn. Another short qliphothic essay is Aleister Crowley's "Liber Arcanorum TWV ATU TOU Tahuti Quas Vidit Asar In Amennti, Sub Figura CCXXXI; Liber Carcerorum TWV Qliphoth Cum Suis Geniis, Adduntur Sigilla Et Nomina Eorum", which was originally published in "The Equinox, Volume 1, #7", and re-published in "Gems From the Equinox" and "The Holy Books of Thelema".
The qabalistic writings of Charles Stanfield Jones, specifically, "Anatomy of the Body of God" and "Q.B.L. or the Brides Reception" suggest some rather innovative theory on pertinent subject matter. Additionally, several of Kenneth Grant's books, specifically "Nightside of Eden," "Cults of the Shadows," "Outside the Circles of Time," and "Hecate's Fountain," offer a valuable magickal perspective on various qliphothic topics by a truly gifted modern occult scholar. All of the above titles are highly recommended reading by the author.
