White, Black, and Grey Vortices

As we have discussed more than once elsewhere, the traditional‑magical worldview describes the world in a “tripartite” coordinate system, insisting that “intermediate,” “androgynous” forms of manifestation are not reducible to the “sum” of extremes or opposites, but are an autonomous principle. Moreover, in the manifested world only such ‘intermediate’ objects are real, called the alchemical salt.

Strictly speaking, the energetic basis of the cosmos is a kind of ‘salt’ — the medium that modern physicists call the “quantum field” and Traditional Magic calls the Telesma. Nevertheless, because any currents of energy arise from differences in potential, in this aspect one can detect all three kinds of activity, manifesting as vortices.

Formally, considering the quaternary structure of the medium, vortices include two kinds of polarity (vertical and horizontal), and therefore can be of four types: direct descending, reverse descending, direct ascending, reverse ascending. However, in reality there are three types: descending direct (traditionally described as angels), ascending reverse (the so‑called ‘black’ demons or the spirits of the Qliphoth), and the “intermediate” ones (known as “‘grey’ or Subcelestial spirits“), which in turn can be Gatekeepers (or “Goetic” demons, Greek kidemones, κηδεμόνες, Heb. Shomerim or Shoarim, הַשּׁוֹעֲرִים) and epiklets (spirits of the Interworld). Let us examine this situation.

The medium, Telesma, arises as the result of neutralization of the primordial binary — being and consciousness. For objects to emerge from the ocean of a totipotent medium, conscious activity is required; one might say that consciousness is the way the Universe brings itself into being. Consciousness’s presence is will in being, or its “original” impulse — desire. The desire of consciousness to enter being forms the primordial (direct, descending) vortex — the Dinur stream. As we have already said, the nature of this stream — primeval desire — expresses itself as the original creative force — fohat, and it is Dinur that is the source and aggregate of all beings that “materialize” reality at the vortical level — angels.

It is clear that, due to the inertia of the medium, a counter‑tendency to this desire arises within it — an opposing impulse to destroy, disintegrate, and cause chaos — which is expressed in the vortex of the Qliphoth — “utter darkness.” Thus the opposing ascending vortex appears — the Black Serpent — and its manifestations. These forces of inertia, spirits of destruction, entirely hostile to manifestation, its “devourers,” are described as “black” demons.

Besides that initial binary of vortices, there must also be a horizontal balance: the descending reverse and the ascending direct vortices. On a gnoseological level the former is described as epiklets — “spirits of the air,” and the latter as Genii — “spirits of evolution.” However, in reality Genii, falling under the influence of the Qliphoth, lose their evolutionary character, become distorted, “grey,” and turn into ” Goetic demons.” In turn, epiklets, when they encounter and mix with Goetic vortices that have become similar to them, likewise lose connection to the “neighboring,” angelic stream and finally disintegrate.

As a result, both “intermediate” streams lose the ability to draw energy from Dinur, become predatory and are demonized. Therefore, for the “‘free‘” mind that perceives them they become indistinguishable in nature, and only their position as Gatekeepers or wandering demons matters. Thus, although the “inherent nature” of the “grey” spirits is the descending reverse vortex, the ascending direct current acquires the same properties and is absorbed by it. This gives rise to the so‑called “Shining Qlippah,” which includes “salt” vortices with four modes of motion each. That is why “grey” spirits are much closer to people than angels or “black” demons: the vortices of free beings have the same, quadripolar, structure, but are capable of generating energy, and therefore represent a convenient feeding base.

Note that among both Gatekeepers and epiklets there are vortices of both types of origin, although in practice there is always a “mixed” vortex, which makes these spirits suitable for interaction: their energy can be exorcised and transformed but also to “correction,” to transformation, at least at the level of individual mental matrices. And although it is strange and unfounded to hope that one can “fix” the fully corrupted bearers of destructive matrices, their influence on an individual can be overcome. In other words, it is foolish to suppose that one cannot find Vekh’yuiakha in Bael — Vekh’yuiakha, yet transforming Bael’s matrix mentally is necessary into a model of Vekh’yuiakha in one’s own mind is not only possible, but necessary.