Βαδίζοντας στο Αριστερό Μονοπάτι της Εκάτης

Η Εκάτη παραμένει ζωντανή σήμερα ίσως περισσότερο από οποιαδήποτε άλλη αρχαία θεά. Και αυτό το επιβεβαιώνουν οι εκατοντάδες solitary practitioners και τα διάφορα coven που λατρεύουν τη Θεά της Νύχτας.
Προσωπικά γνωρίζω αρκετές μάγισσες και μάγους που επικαλούνται το όνομά της. Από όλους, όμως, κανείς δεν με εντυπωσίασε περισσότερο από τον Mark Alan Smith, τον (εξαιρετικά ευγενικό) συγγραφέα μιας νέας τριλογίας βιβλίων, που παντρεύουν τη μαγεία της Αριστερής Ατραπού με τη λατρεία της Εκάτης!
Με αυτόν τον «αιρετικό» του αποκρυφισμού συναντήθηκα πρόσφατα, ανοίγοντας ένα μεγάλο διάλογο για την Εκάτη και τα μυστήριά της, έτσι πάντα όπως τα ερμηνεύει ο ίδιος.
Μέρος της συζήτησης μας, δημοσιεύτηκε στο τεύχος 69 (Μάρτιος 2011) του mystery. Στην συνέχεια όμως, παραθέτω το πλήρες κείμενο, το οποίο όπως θα ανακαλύψετε και εσείς, αφορά και τα μυστήρια του Νεκρονομικόν!


Dear Mr. Smith, first of all, thank you in advance for this conversation. To begin with, would you like to share with us a few things about you, your writing career, as well as your daily routine as an occultist?

Certainly. I am a 39 year old former professional soldier and Hecate devotee. I have been a follower of the Dark Queen since childhood. The path of the written work though, is something which has developed over the last three years. The first inkling that I would perform this particular service on behalf of Hecate came during several powerful works of possession during which time Hecate issued the instruction that She wished me to actually put forth a book which was not only based upon my own ritual and magickal experiences, but which also illuminated the path of soul ascension for others. My first written pieces were essays, basically overviews of my life and work with the Goddess to date, at that time. The book began to take shape both from my own vision, work and of course in line with the vision of Hecate Herself. As you know it was released earlier this year.

In order to write the book I decided that I needed to part myself from what I consider to be normal, everyday mundane life. You could say that the creation of this first book was something which ran concurrent to the ever changing and evolving structure of my own life. In retrospect it rather looks like it was all a part of Hecate's slightly larger plan, as my entire life has now been given over to explore the deeper mysteries, to bring back the gnosis from these works and to release it to those who are looking for a genuine deeper path of spiritual transformation. That is not to say that I do not participate in some of the more mundane aspects of normal life, of course I do, but my sole focus now in this incarnation is to return as much of the lost and hidden gnosis back into the hands of the people as I can in the time given. My daily routine includes, at the very least, a soul connection and daily devotions to Hecate. Though more often than not I am involved in possession work and deeper ritual, if not everyday, then every other day. This is the only way that I can both follow my own personal path to Her and also to aid others in following theirs. On that last note I do also spend quite a bit of time answering the emails of the many people who have taken to writing to me since the release of my first written work in 2008. I leave my email address open on my website so that those who need guidance, or who may have a spiritual query or even a complication arising from some of the more powerful work in my books which they have performed, are not left in the dark with no feedback or assistance in these areas. Very often I am engrossed in writing these books; and with the volumes of gnosis that I have yet to release this looks to be the shape of things for at least the next decade, quite possibly longer; though I always ensure that there is time to connect with Hecate and the other Witch Gods of the Trident, even if this happens to be late at night. Very often the weekly work entails several full blown ritual incursions to the realms of spiritual power. The workload itself keeps me busy many hours of the day and the night, yet this is the perfect life for me. I feel utter contentment in my performance of Hecate's work.

Now let me take you to the main topic of our talk. In early 2010 you published the first volume of a trilogy entitled Trident of Witchcraft. Could you tell us a few things about the content and the purpose of these books?

The Books of the Trident of Witchcraft are in essence a return of the deeper gnosis that has been fragmented or lost over thousands of years. Queen of Hell is the first of these books, it is the opening of the doorway through one who wishes to experience the ascension of the soul through the work of spiritual transmutation, induced by magickal ritual, may walk. The mysteries of the first faith, the very first Witch Craft, date back about twenty thousand years; long before the medieval era of Witches and Witch hunts which the mere mention of the craft seems to conjure up in the minds of many people. The craft itself incorporates the path of the soul to the realms of the Gods, this is the consumate journey. Within this are all the elements of Infernal, Empyrean and Stellar gnosis that been either lost or destroyed during the reign of the various conquering civilisations of times now long past. In short our beloved craft is all but lost, as are its genuine grimoires. Queen of Hell is the introduction to the return of this work. It is the tip of a very large iceberg. The work which will follow returns more of the lost gnosis, filling in many of the gaps in the path of magickal soul transformation and spiritual ascension. Most civilisations around the world have some Witchcraft roots and all believe that they are the founders of this faith. In fact all are correct. The names of the spirits may well differ but one cannot help but notice the many similarities and connections. This illustrates just how fragmented our beloved faith is, and while there are other paths to the deification of the soul, many are not fully known or are at the very best incomplete. The aim of the Books of the Trident is to restore, with gnosis that is born of direct contact through the inner planes with the Gods of the arte, the knowledge of this particular path and its craft.

The work within the first book covers the gnosis of sexual magickal connection to the Goddess and Her kin as well as possession work, inner plane incursion and some of the more traditional methods of solitary initiation including rituals such as the Toad Rite of Hecate. There is an in-depth exploration of the power and rites of protection and of course malefica, and the methods of direct physical evocation of the Gods and spirits of the craft. Later there are works of transmutation, such as the Rite of the Phoenix, which are specifically designed to alter one's own soul path beyond even the present incarnation of the flesh, aligning it with the Path of Hecate. If the first book is the slightly open door then the second book, over which Lucifer presides, is the chamber which contains all the lost keys of power with which one is able to unlock the mysteries of the depths which are contained in the third. The third book will detail the gnosis of total soul incursion into the realm of the depths where the knowledge of the Gods that is known as the Forbidden Wisdom is contained, this is the really hidden power. The path of spiritual transmutation and soul elevation runs throughout all books and the work within them is progressive, leading one to the attainment of the keys of power which initiate the deification of the immortal soul.

More specifically, in the first volume of your trilogy (Queen of Hell), you have exclusively dealt with the magic and the mysteries of the Goddess Hecate. What had exactly lead you to Hecate’s path?

Well the short answer to that is Hecate Herself. Though I have experienced a great deal in the form of mundane life, such as thirteen years in the British Parachute Regiment, Hecate has always been there. As a very young child I was aware that I had a connection to something that wasn't quite tangible at the time on this plane, yet was so much more than that in other realms. I would on occasion be aware of Her presence, but a balance was always maintained; young minds are very impressionable but they can also be very fragile. For me I knew it was something that I should not at that time speak of, it was instinctive that I just accept what was. Later in my teens I was a fully practising follower of the Witchcraft and the artes, always with the Dark Goddess at the head of this. When the more mundane aspects of life were slightly more prevalent then the craft and those I followed, though still with me, would sit in the background until the timing was again correct for me to continue my discovery of this path. The more things took shape the greater Hecate's presence would be, until I was ready to accept a few home truths about my true purpose and realise that everything else which had happened in this incarnation was preparing me for this work, bringing me to this point here. Hecate has always been the greatest influence and the most powerful force in my life, indeed in my heart and in my very soul. Her gift was to allow to me to explore life for what it is, to enjoy the many aspects of it to the full, to know joy and also to know pain. With a great many experiences packed into this one incarnation She has allowed me the freedom of will to do what I suppose She always knew I would; which is to arrive at the point at which I now stand, that of being totally dedicated to restoring this lost gnosis. Those who have read Queen of Hell will understand that although Hecate stands above the other Gods of the Witchcraft as the One Great Dark Goddess She is also the one, who for many, opens that very first door into the realms of the Gods. This was certainly the case for me and it is the method through which all who follow the work within Queen of Hell will come to know and experience the Witch Gods.

It is true though that, against the common expectations, there is only a little reference in Greek influence, for example you don’t mention the well-known greek-roman symbols of the Goddess or you don’t mention the ancient saved/conserved hymns etc. Why did you exclude that part?

Yes it is true, but it is in no-way an exclusion of the Greek arte and its very important role in Hecate's history and Her future role in the hearts and soul paths of mankind. The fact is that I do not see Hecate solely as a Greek Goddess anymore than I see Her solely as Thracian or Chthonic. I see Hecate as the First Goddess who came before all. In actual fact one would not have to look very far to see the Supreme Dark Goddess at the head of most ancient cultures. Granted these people may have, at those times, had different names for Her but it does not alter the fact that She was there, long before the paternal solar cults began to appear. Hecate ante-dates mankind entirely, therefore Her influence has been with us from the beginning of our race. There are many of us working for Hecate in this day and age and each one or each particular group forms a piece of the puzzle, each brings gnosis and contributes to the formation of the whole. In a very similar way there are many paths of spiritual and soul ascension, yet one person cannot follow them all. The Goddess requires that the many bring their work together to form the whole of both the past, the present and of course the future Path of Hecate. The sigils and symbols that one uses in magick may differ from culture to culture. Personally I use those which have been brought before me by either Hecate, Lucifer or one of the other spirits or Witch Gods with whom I am in close communication. These sigils perform very important and very specific tasks and many of them open specific gates to inner plane realms or are used to call upon the Goddess Herself. The one thing that I have learned over the years with the Goddess is to trust Hecate and to use what is placed before me as oppose to what others or even I myself think should be used. Very often sigils are like cut and copied keys which open the same doors, just in a slightly different manner. The sigils of the present day and those of old, some of which are still in use, are in many cases connected throughout the inner planes, such is the way and working of the Gods. Therefore I am very careful to use only that which I have personally worked. I am a firm believer in not putting forth any formula that I myself have not fully worked; this includes, but is not limited to, the powerful sigils of Hecate.
More importantly though, in answer to your last question, is that I am bringing forth the gnosis which Hecate wants either relayed or returned to man, as oppose to that which is already in existence or known.

I have to admit that in your book Queen of Hell, the way you relate the worship of Hecate with the philosophy and the practice of the Left Hand Path is actually pioneering. What made you connect these two? And in which way are they exactly connected?

Thank you, though I feel that the true credit there must go to the Goddess Herself. I am only the messenger and as such I am only following that which I am taught by Hecate and Her kin.

I see the work as Left Hand Path, though I must point out that it is not solely a work which incorporates only the dark energies. The use of the Dayside energy is maintained throughout the book albeit slightly veiled. Work such as the opening of the Gate of Knowledge and the summoning of the magickal energy of creation and destruction relies a great deal on the merging of the twin polarities of Light and Dark. This is one of the cornerstones of magickal practice, for to deny one or the other is to know only half of the total power available. The true Left Hand path is the path of forbidden gnosis, at least from the point of view of the modern world where those in positions of power in society do not want the masses doing too much free thinking. The Left Hand Path has always centred around the power of the Dark Goddess and the gnosis of sexual magick. This is the manner in which first the mind and then the soul can be not only completely freed but also totally empowered in a way that the restrictive organised faiths of the modern world would never condone, let alone wish for. This is the very connection between the Dark Goddess and the Left Hand Path. Hecate offers a path of total mind and soul freedom one that is not governed or restricted by mere mortals and their egos. The gnosis of all within Queen of Hell came from direct contact with Hecate. This is the key to spiritual freedom, the ascension of the soul and the empowered evolution of the free thinking mind. The very reason Hecate is bringing this gnosis to us now is because we, as a race, are so very far behind in our own spiritual evolution. We are held back and governed by those who do not wish us to to think or feel freely. This has always been one of the main reasons for the condemnation of the Left Hand Path. It is why it is feared, because of the power that one may attain directly from the Gods, it is the very reason when combined with the state of our own world why Hecate is bringing this knowledge to the forefront now. This spiritual work is the beginning of many changes which are being instigated by those who hold far more power than the higher governing echelons of the world. This path places great power back into the hands of the people. The connection of the worship of Hecate and the Left Hand Path is one of direct contact and sexual magickal transformation of the soul. The feminine power of the Dark Goddess has always been the true source of transmutative power upon the Left Hand Path.

In contrast to your approach, many would claim that Hecate cannot have a correspondence on the Cabbalistic Tree as you suggest in your book. And that is because as a pagan Goddess, she is unfamiliar to the Hebrew-christian character of the Tree. What would you comment on this point?

To be honest I don't reconise the pidgeon holing process which many feel that they must put themselves through in order to progress. I myself am not in fact a Cabbalist. The use of the universal Tree in this work is that of map of both the universe over which Hecate rules supreme and also the path of the soul in microcosm through this macrocosmic realm. The Tree serves as the perfect map through which to guide the initiate towards such tremendous inner and soul expanding initiations as that of crossing the Abyss. Again one could find similar descriptions of such powerful processes of soul evolution in many cultures. Any who are familiar with Hecate as a Goddess who guides the soul through the darkness will be able to make the correlation to Her role as guide and tutor upon the path of soul empowerment. Hecate is also a patron of The Backward way, the process of inversion through which one may enter and explore the realm of the Nightside. This stems from long before Christian or Hebrew times back to an era which ante-dates even the Egyptian dynasties by thousands and thousands of years. The question brings me back to one of my initial points and that is that much of the gnosis that was possessed in full over fifteen thousand years ago by the Atlantean race, i.e. The first race of man, was lost completely. What has been slowly returned to us over the years from the inner planes is still only a very fragmented part of a much greater whole. I would advise any who wish to undertake the spiritual advancement that this work offers to be less concerned with the rigid walls of dogma and to embrace the gnosis of direct contact. While I respect the views of others, I would simply ask those who do not see a correlation in this work to the universal Tree, Do you recognise the planetary entities of our universe, do you see the Sun and the Moon? Then use the map of the Tree as the most convenient form of navigating one's own soul path, through this realm as guided by Hecate, but do not allow yourself to think only in three dimensions or be bound to linear directional thinking when performing this kind of work anymore than you should be held by the dogma of the written word.

In your book, apart from Hecate’s place on the Qliphotic Tree, you also present her as both the mother and the sister of Lucifer. On this point, I would like to ask you two things: a) what does Luficer mean to you and, b) is the relationship of Hecate with him inspired from the magical myth of Aradia, where her mother Diana is also both sister and wife of Lucifer?

I will be covering Lucifer in great detail in the second book of the Trident for He is the patron of that particular work. Lucifer is the being who was created first, before all others, by Hecate. It is from His form that the other Gods were created. Of all the Gods the misconceptions and misdirections which surround Lucifer are the the biggest and most widespread. The unravelling of these has spread through more than one volumeof the Trident alone. Suffice to say that He is the Lord of Ascending Flame. All spirits and Gods who wish to ascend to a permanent state of divinity must pass through Lucifer. He is the true Lord of this universe who rules in Hecate's name; the knowledge and power which come from this understanding are the sole reasons why certain organised faiths have sought for millenia to hide this truth. To know Lucifer is to know freedom upon the Path of Hecate and to be bound by none. He is the God who sits at the centre, and is the subject, of the greatest lie ever perpetrated by the free will of man.

In answer to the question regarding the Aradia myth my answer is no, the correlation between Lucifer and Hecate is not inspired by Aradia but from the knowledge born of direct contact with the Gods; but I rather do feel that the Aradia myth is inspired by the gnosis of the creation of Lucifer from the form of Hecate. It does help us address an interesting point though, and that is that people are still crying out for written proof of this point or that point with the Gods. They need to understand that it is nearly all gone. Firstly it was destroyed in the rise of the tides which swept the Atlanteans and nearly all their knowledge from the planet; secondly much of what remained has been destroyed by whichever conquering civilisations ruled in any one place at any one time. It is because history has been re-written so many times to suit the desires of these so-called civilisations that we have next to nothing left of the first written origins of our Gods. Direct contact is the only way we are going to truly understand the origins of those to whom we devote our love and our lives.

At some point in your book, you mention the Synchronomicon. Could you explain us a little further what exactly is this about? Is it in any way related with the infamous Lovecraft’s Necronomicon?

The Synchronomicon is actually a part of a larger formula. While in magick there are often links between various works the two are in no-way connected here. The Synchronomicon is given by Lucifer during physical plane evocation and communion. It is both a word and a power that is ensorcelled, at the level of the soul, into the person with whom Lucifer holds congress. This yields the power of the many names of the Dark Solar God spoken as one word in the moment. The Synchronomicon draws upon and utilises this simultaneous power of these many names, which act as keys in both the evocation and calling of Lucifer Himself in future work and also in the empowering of one's own magickal rituals. There is a pre-fix to the Synchronomicon which when used with the name of Lucifer summons the power of the Winged Serpent. When used together this formula becomes the Words of the Power of Knowledge. In contrast the Necronomicon translates literally to Dead Names. The link here to the Book of Dead Names should be obvious to most and so while this book of mythic origin clearly yields power to those who work with it and is most definitely connected to realms of the depths, there is no correlation or connection to the Synchronomicon in this instance.

It has caught my attention that you write about the ascent of the magician to the top of the Tree, towards the Throne of Hecate. Your approach reminds me of the Hebrew mysticism of Merkabah and in general to the experience of psyxanodia. Has any of these esoteric traditions influenced you? What exactly do you mean by the ascension of the magician?

No and I have to say that I have no experience with these traditions let alone be influenced by them.

In regards to the ascent of the magician I am refering to the spiritual ascent, both in soul evolution and towards the Throne of Hecate. There are, as I am sure you are aware, many stages in one's spiritual development. Much of the work within the three volumes of the Trident incorporates the gnosis of the Precious Stones or Crowns of Divinity which are integral to the path of self deification. Hence when I am refering to the ascent of the magician it could be in the context of ascending towards the Throne of Hecate; this is both a spiritual goal in Her eternal love and a necessary rite of passage in the acquisition of the required soul empowerments on the path of self deification; or it could refer to the soul's ascent through the paths and gates of the map of the Tree which also entails the various stages of spiritual evolution and experience that one may have covered along the way.

In some of your writings you mention something about a Forbidden Current, the Atlantis Current. Would you like to share a few things about it, and in which way is Hecate connected to it?

The Atlantean current is the raw primal magickal power of the void. Untempered it can be totally soul destroying. However when handled correctly it is singularly the most powerful and limitless form of magickal energy. This is the power that is wielded by the Gods. The Atlantean current and its misuse brought down the very first, and singularly most spiritually powerful, race of man. This current is very much double edged. Hecate allowed the first race of man to ensorcel the raw unlimited power of the Atlantean current, but after their downfall the access of incarnate beings to this awesome energy was greatly limited. It has remained sealed from all for many millenia. Now in this Age of Re-Awakening the Atlantean current and the gnosis of the keys with which the ancient gateways behind which it is held may be opened has been placed back into the hands of a few adepts in order that it once again be released to this world and the inner planes surrounding it. The paradoxical element of the Atlantean current is that it is capable of triggering tremendous leaps in soul transmutation along the path of evolution. It is necessary that enough of this current be once again earthed at this time to bring our race and this world into spiritual alignment as we way are not only way behind but in great danger of destroying ourselves. As First among the Gods and Supreme Dark Queen it is Hecate who holds the decision of whether or not man may be once again allowed to wield such a force. The Atlantean current has the power to either make or break far more than just the individual who summons both it and its ancient guardians forth to the inner and material planes of the modern universe in which we are all currently incarnate. The gnosis of the Atlantean current and the methods through which it may be released and subsequently ensorcelled are dealt with in the second and thrid volumes of the Books of the Trident.

What do you think Hecate actually is? Is she a cosmic energy? A supernatural being? Or perhaps a made up symbol?

Hecate is that which came first before all others, She is both a Cosmic entity and the Great Dark Goddess whose power and influence reaches far beyond the universe we inhabit and out into the endless void. I certainly do not see Her as purely a symbol. This is another reason why I encourage all who would follow Her Path to seek direct contact with Hecate Herself.

What benefit is there for anyone who wants to work with Hecate’s magic? Why should anyone want to work with the magic of the Night and the Nightside in general?

Hecate illuminates a true path of soul ascension for Her devotees. In a time when many people are discouraged by the dead ends and false hopes of so many so-called genuine faiths Hecate's Flame is the torch of pure spiritual gnosis which can guide a soul along the path of spiritual evolution.

The Nightside is the place where many of the secrets of the Witch Gods are kept. The path of one who follows Hecate weaves between the worlds of light and dark just as the many vortices of power through which the soul must transition on its consumate journey open within these different realms. The greatest secrets of the Gods are not in plain view for all to see and casually stumble upon. The path itself is one of devotion and as such the goals of self and soul empowerment and the secrets of the Witchcraft must be worked for before they are revealed. The Nightside holds many of these such secrets within its darker realms. By exploring them not only is the path of individual soul empowering and evolution revealed but the gnosis of the universe and its architects as well as many other mysteries is also given to one, who in love and devotion, follows Hecate's teachings along these pathways.

In your opinion, what is the best way for a magician to contact Hecate?

There is no best way. There are however many methods through which one may achieve contact. These really depend on what level the individual is at upon their own spiritual path. Many need to work harder in certain areas before they are able to appreciate the beauties of full physical manifestation for instance. Yet for others this comes relatively quickly. Devotions and prayer are of course integral to the work. Within Queen of Hell I have laid out a path which illuminates the methods of direct contact. Basic ritual and prayer that is both spoken and then sent forth in flame before engaging in meditative work is a very good method of initiating contact to begin with. The creation of an altar as a point of worship through which one may guide one's own devotions, love and prayers is another excellent start. The creation of gateways, be they picture, mirror, sigil or spirit pot is also recommended. Though of course the soul and body are two of the most powerful gateways that can be employed in this way. Possession work and sexual magick are two of the pinnacles of occult learning and as such I would encourage anyone who wishes to achieve intimate union with Hecate and learn from the Goddess Herself to aim towards this sort of communion. Gateways, sigils and links created in blood are also important. Blood and sexual fluids are two of the most important and powerful occult fluids once their essences have been charged and empowered in ritual communion with the Goddess of Witchcraft. These fluids will enhance further soul transition and empower further communication when applied correctly and in the right context.

In your book you often refer to the occult qualities of sex. What is the role of sexual magic in the worship of Hecate?

The sexual kalas of the Goddess are transformative in more ways than one. They affect the body, the mind and the soul. The kalas of Hecate relate directly to the power of the mythical Grail in that they initiate the process of spirtual re-birth through death. The kalas work in much same the fashion as the magickal fire of the Gods which burns the Phoenix to ashes from which it then it then rises, re-born anew. Much of my own spiritual initiations were through the rites of sexual magick that were brought to me by Hecate. The Goddess is able to empower the soul through the practice of sexual magickal communion. When vast amounts of gnosis are delivered to the individual, in many cases, the mind is not able to withstand the tremendous amount of both knowledge and energy. This is placed within the being at soul level and through the rites of sexual magick it may be retrieved, post ritual over varying lengths of time. The sexual magickal connection also aids one in opening gateways and transitioning through realms that would remain otherwise sealed. Hecate teaches the gnosis of the sexual power, its magick and among other things the polarisation of the twin fire serpents of the kundalini. The sexual magician and Hecate devotee knows the love of the Gods, the ecstacies of their touch and is able to understand their greatest secrets.

At some point you write that not everyone is able to reach the end of their wandering in the path of Hecate. What are the obstacles that anyone could come across while working with Hecate, and which is the most unpleasant thing that can happen to him/her?

The path of spiritual evolution is far from an attended course. Not all who undertake the work will reach the end and quite simply, not all are suitable. Great power may be attained upon this path, but the path itself holds many tests for those who seek this. Not least of which are the many tests of the ego. Man's greatest enemy has always been his own ego. Hence those who are not wholly true to both themselves and the Gods, seeking power only for purely selfish purposes may well find that their journey does not take them where they initially thought it would.

The path is very much dictated by the relationship between the individual and the Goddess and of course the choices that they make. There are of course certain rites of great power which may break an individual if approached half hearted or with the ego driven thirst for power and power alone without the true devotion and faith that will, without doubt, be needed during times of testing along the transmutational path of the ascending soul. The Rite of the Phoenix in Queen of Hell is one such ritual. Among many things this rite triggers the crossing of the vast Dark Abyss. This test alone may claim the mind of one who is unprepared for their soul's incursion into this realm. It is no secret that the Abyss totally destroys the flimsy, false and very often over-inflated ego. Not all who enter will make that crossing, but for those who do it is not only the stonger spiritual mind which awaits one upon success but also the far greater and much closer communion and contact, the actual merging to many degrees, with the Goddess Hecate, Lucifer and their kin.

For those who lose their way it is possible to lose the path of the soul entirely. There are many pitfalls. Great power is not given lightly, an individual must prove to themselves, not just the Witch Gods that they are worthy and capable of managing such. The greatest test an adept can face is the test of their own faith. It is so easily spoken of, yet to uphold it when all else indicates the very opposite is another matter entirely. Many cannot hold their faith when all things appear to turn against them. Losing one's faith in the face of test and adversity can be far more damning than any thoughts of bottomless pits or fire and brimstone!

What is your advice to those who want to work with Hecate’s magic? Should they watch out for anything in particular?

Yes, I believe those who read this will by now be picking up on the Direct Contact theme which runs throughout the interview. The greatest power and the deepest and most potent magickal secrets are both given by and learned from the Witch Goddess directly. If you seek the knowledge and power in love and devotion and keep the ego in reasonable check then you will find, Goddess willing, what you are looking for. Be mindful of becoming too bound to dogmatic approaches and the rigid or restrictive views of others. The Path of Hecate is not always easy to walk. The tests can be very demanding and true spiritual power, when encountered can be overwhelming and all who undertake this work must allow themselves time to assimilate this when it is experienced in such a way. To follow the path in earnest means to initiate great change both in and around oneself, devotees need to be prepared for this. Those seeking a genuine spiritual path, one of true power in a time when there are so many false hopes would do well to search for Hecate's flame. Devotion though is most definitely a pre-requisite upon any genuine spiritual quest.

What other books shall we expect from you? I read that you are preparing the Red King. Would you like share a few things about this project?

There are many books which will follow those of the Trident. I rather feel that by the time I have released the next several years worth of gnosis that I will have another decade or two's worth to then put forward to the masses, and so the cycle will continue. I fully intend to use the remainder of this incarnation to bring back as much as I can.

The Red King is the second volume of the Trident and it focusses upon the Gnosis of Lucifer. From the more Traditional Witchcraft power that Lucifer offers to the release of the Atlantean current and preparation of the being for soul incursion into this realm, The Red King is all about empowering the being along the path of self-deification. The Path of Flame, shown by Lucifer leads the devotees of Hecate and Her kin deeper into the lost and forgotten wisdom of the ancient Witchcraft. The Red King is the lynchpin around which the other volumes of the Trident are held, it contains the keys which are required to proceed further along this path. There are six books within The Red King, the first being the First Book of Lucifer and the remaining five being the Books of the Lost Keys of Power. The full description of The Red King can be found on the publishers website at www.ixaxaar.com

Finally, one last question I ask to all the interviewers: Have you ever had any paranormal experience that you would like to share with us?

Well that would depend upon what we shall class as paranormal George. My day to day life is filled with the visible presence of the spirits and Gods of the arte, such is the position that my work upon this path has placed me. To some I suppose the regular manifestations of these beings would seem paranormal, to me it is now very much the norm and I have to say that I would not wish this any other way. The presence of these beings, their feel and their very visible manifestation is a comforting reminder when my body and mind inevitably become very tired as happens on occasion, particularly when writing. They remind me why I am doing this. I am doing this for Hecate.This work and my place within in it now is, for me, like having come home. These experiences and those who bring them are my life and my love.

I would like to thank you for this opportunity to put forth some of my experiences and views today. For any who wish to follow my work or take a closer look at some of my previous written work I enclose my website address: www.primalcraft.com.

With Blessings to you all,

In the Shadow of the Trident,

In Nomine Hecate,

Mark Alan Smith