Kurtis is the author of The Black Magic of Ahriman, a groundbreaking work in the Left-Hand Path. His fusion of martial arts with magical practice and his pragmatic, bullshit-free take on the esoteric makes this a truly electrifying discussion. We dive into the real risks of the occult path, practical strategies for surviving dark initiations, and the necessity of ego death.
We also unpack the spiritual alchemy that differentiates real initiates from role-players selling fantasy. Kurtis speaks candidly about the psychological consequences of working with spirits, the dangers of bypassing foundational practice, and why most modern occultists are playing with fire without knowing how to contain it.
We talk about the 166 scales of the Dragon and their numerological relationship with the 72 Goetic spirits. Kurtis unpacks this from a non-dual perspective: how potential, not polarity, defines true divinity. The Tree of Life and the Tree of Death are not oppositional—they’re facets of the same battery of cosmic potential. Understanding this, he says, is the key to working with both angelic and demonic forces without becoming enslaved by either.
“Absolute light and absolute darkness are both equally blinding. True vision comes from seeing through the eye of the dragon.”
“Ego death isn’t the end—it’s the beginning of your ability to wield divine power without corruption.”
The Left-Hand Path is not about rebellion for rebellion’s sake, but integration of both polarities—light and dark—as mutually dependent forces.
Ego death is a prerequisite to true magical power, but its reintegration is what makes the magician whole and functional in the world.
Spirits are not anthropomorphic beings; they are universal potentials. Evocation awakens these within you—not outside of you.
Martial arts and disciplined physical practice ground the magician in presence, enabling real-time alignment of mind, energy, and ritual.
Working with darkness without preparation leads to psychic destabilization. Power without responsibility is not only ineffective—it’s dangerous.
Not everyone is suited to become a Magus. The occult is not for everyone, and pretending it is cheapens and endangers the path.
True magic is not about conjuring wealth or lust; it is about becoming the dragon—unified, conscious power embodied in human form.
“Spirits are not beings with voices and limbs—they are potentials within the fabric of reality waiting to be activated by you.”
“Power without integration is a curse. The magician who cannot contain the current becomes consumed by it.”
Ego death is not the end of the path, but a terrifying beginning. It’s not about destroying the ego—it’s about purifying and reintegrating it so that it serves your divine essence, not your social programming. Kurtis urges practitioners to anchor divine potential into flesh and reminds us that true power is contextual and earned—not granted by reciting invocations.
We also explore the martial foundation of magical integrity. Kurtis discusses how movement and discipline cultivate presence, how martial arts tune the spirit through kinetic meditation, and how these tools make the magician more grounded and effective. The path, he emphasizes, is not about acquiring powers but embodying them.
A key revelation: spirits do not have limbs or voices—they are potentials within the fabric of reality. The process of evocation awakens corresponding potentials within you. The real result of magical contact is not a flashy manifestation but the reshaping of your inner and outer world through aligned action. If you’re not changing, you’re not practicing magic.
This episode is also a cautionary tale. Kurtis warns that many are misled by glossy occult marketing that promises power without sacrifice. He exposes the false gurus who push dangerous practices on unprepared minds, stating that spiritual instability doesn’t just harm the individual—it corrupts the collective. Being a true teacher is not about fame; it’s about guardianship of psychic, spiritual, and physical safety.
We close with practical advice: start at the bottom of the Tree—Malkuth or Nahemoth—before attempting higher spheres. Build your energetic and psychological resilience before taking on heavy currents. The spirits will come naturally when you are ready. The core work is inner empowerment. Until you’ve been broken open, burned clean, and rebuilt yourself, you are not ready to wield the dragon’s fire.
“Martial discipline teaches the magician how to move energy, mind, and will as one. Without embodiment, magic is fantasy.”
“You are not evoking something outside of you. You are awakening that which must now live through you.”
“Don’t seek magic to escape your humanity. Seek it to transmute it.”
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Before proceeding, please acknowledge and accept our formal position. We do not accept the models proposed by various occult groups that portray angels or demons as abstract beings with agency or will of their own. Rather, we view them purely as representations of the practitioner’s individual psyche. We also regard the reasons for their changes over time and the similarities between cultures as evidence of a shared human unconscious, referred to by Jung as the collective unconscious.
This means it is not “the devil” that makes people do harmful things; people alone are responsible for their actions. When someone has an unhealthy relationship with these parts of the psyche, their experience can become distorted. They may require professional therapy and the guidance of a mental health professional; otherwise, they risk taking these powers of the unconscious to a dark place because those parts have been corrupted by misinformation, trauma, or both.
Our position is that each person is the ruler of their own kingdom/reality, and that spirit has no interest in human affairs and is not subject to an ego.
Accordingly, our interpretation of occult systems—from the Tree of Life and Tree of Death to the Goetia and Shem—is purely symbolic. We treat them through the IFS (Internal Family Systems) model as representational frameworks that illustrate splits within the human psyche, and we work with them in a manner similar to “duality therapy.”
Therefore, any person claiming that a spirit instructed them to do X or Y is expressing a cry for help and should be treated as such.
This is why this movement is clearly marked by the identifier “God Is Not Therapy.” We are not here to provide therapy, but to present a model of these forces and practices for the purpose of understanding, navigating, and working with one’s own unconscious. By proceeding, you acknowledge your responsibility to seek professional assistance if you are experiencing any of these issues before continuing with this work.
This content on this website is reservered for registered members only. Please log in to view it.
Before proceeding, please acknowledge and accept our formal position. We do not accept the models proposed by various occult groups that portray angels or demons as abstract beings with agency or will of their own. Rather, we view them purely as representations of the practitioner’s individual psyche. We also regard the reasons for their changes over time and the similarities between cultures as evidence of a shared human unconscious, referred to by Jung as the collective unconscious.
This means it is not “the devil” that makes people do harmful things; people alone are responsible for their actions. When someone has an unhealthy relationship with these parts of the psyche, their experience can become distorted. They may require professional therapy and the guidance of a mental health professional; otherwise, they risk taking these powers of the unconscious to a dark place because those parts have been corrupted by misinformation, trauma, or both.
Our position is that each person is the ruler of their own kingdom/reality, and that spirit has no interest in human affairs and is not subject to an ego.
Accordingly, our interpretation of occult systems—from the Tree of Life and Tree of Death to the Goetia and Shem—is purely symbolic. We treat them through the IFS (Internal Family Systems) model as representational frameworks that illustrate splits within the human psyche, and we work with them in a manner similar to “duality therapy.”
Therefore, any person claiming that a spirit instructed them to do X or Y is expressing a cry for help and should be treated as such.
This is why this movement is clearly marked by the identifier “God Is Not Therapy.” We are not here to provide therapy, but to present a model of these forces and practices for the purpose of understanding, navigating, and working with one’s own unconscious. By proceeding, you acknowledge your responsibility to seek professional assistance if you are experiencing any of these issues before continuing with this work.
This content on this website is reservered for registered members only. Please log in to view it.
