A Declaration of My Personal Lefthand Path Practice

I decided to write up what being a Lefthand Path practitioner looks like in my practice, as I’ve yet to give my own personal definition. This was also inspired by another lefthand path occultist who shared her own moral framing and codes of conduct.

I feel the lefthand path as we know it today is highly individual. We are breaking new spiritual grounds, as many were killed for these practices throughout history.  All of our interpretations are going to be unique, but coming together we will form one, honoring the path of liberation through our individual wills. I hope this declaration will inspire you to make your own. 

The following will be written as a lefthand path declaration for my own personal empowerment and gnosis. Please take whatever resonates and leave the rest. 

And… here we go…

Our psyches are made up of archetypes and symbols. These play out in our religious mythologies and the stories we tell. They are the way we as humans add a tangible form to what is otherwise unexplainable. 

I believe as occultists we are able to understand and execute our will. Once we have reached a level of understanding where we know our will, we can determine the trajectory of our soul on an individual level.  

I believe that the conscious occultist will determine whether they are on the righthand or the lefthand path by which symbols and archetypes they choose to align with. 

As an occultist, I ‘find myself’ in the underworld. I am not afraid of what is dark and hidden by the psyche, I instead reach willfully into the abyss to find the fragmented parts of myself.

I align with the gods and goddesses of the shadows. I do not look to become ‘the perfected self’, I look to become the completed self… which looks to embrace the shadow, not negate it. I believe that to strive for perfection is to throw part of myself back into the shadows as perfection is not my intended aim in this human experience. 

Ascension before death is not my goal. To prematurely ascend is to wish to escape from the lessons I am meant to learn in this incarnation. 

I embrace my humanity and work through my human body to achieve individuation. This includes embracing the profane and the taboo.

Even while working in the astral planes and channeling the ancients, I remain connected to my current incarnated self. 

As I practice in a theistic sense, I must be mindful of which ancients I chose to align with. I must be aware of the energies which each ancient possesses, and how this ancient will help me grow as a practitioner. 

I must equally be aware of the relationships between my spirits. I do not force spirits who do not align to harmonize for the purpose of ritual. I forbid demeaning, enslaving or entrapping spirits in my practice. 

I do not expect an ancient to do my bidding. I do not act as a subservient worshipper. I, the magician, and the ancient act as collaborators. I understand these are deep and complex relationships which require respect and ritual maintenance. 

I understand the principle of cause and effect, I am accountable for my magical and worldly actions. I value the discipline and patience which must be exercised while acquiring knowledge. 

I take full responsibility for my intellect as well as for my ignorance.  The ancients are never to be scapegoated for hurried, ill advised practices. I have learned and understand the inherent dangers of the occult and thusly learn the importance of patience and discipline. 

I am fully accountable for my personal practice. Anytime a teaching does not align with my will or moral compass, it is my responsibility to discard any dogmatic attachments I might wish to cling to. 

Knowledge, patience, accountability, and balance reign supreme in my personal practice of the lefthand path. 

Hail the Ancients. Hail the Path of Liberation