Right Hand Path and Left Hand Path

INTRODUCTION

Many people raise their eyebrows when the Left Hand Path is mentioned. People often associate
it with devil worship, curses, and evil. While Hollywood and the media have given it this dark
glamour, this is simply not true. In fact, you can use these both paths for more effective magical
working and better balance in your life.

For many witches and pagans coming from a right hand path philosophy, these ideas may sound
different from what you have been taught. You may even wonder if learning about the left hand
path could be dangerous. I can assure you that knowledge is not dangerous. In fact, as pagans,
you know that knowledge is power. After reading the following information, whether you choose
to further study the left hand path or even use it in your magical work is totally up to you. Those
coming from the left hand path and reading about the right hand path often bring myths and
preconceived notions as well. Try to keep an open mind as you may learn things that you will
want to incorporate into your own philosophy.

THICS AND INTENT

Before we even begin, the topic of ethics needs to be addressed. Many people feel that left hand
path workings are not ethical. Unfortunately, this also is not true. Followers of any spiritual path
can be unethical. Let’s say there are a group of well meaning Christians who heard your friend is
ill and they are praying for him. While this is a nice gesture, they are also praying for his
conversion. To many of us, this would be unethical. It is one thing to pray for one’s health, and
another to be manipulative. While ethics are important, you always need to look at the intent of
the person doing the working. Manipulation is manipulation, no matter how you spin it.

Here is a very simple way to explain intent. Let’s think about a knife. Some of you are
automatically going to think of a table knife while others might think of a switchblade or a
sporting knife of some type.

Lets say I just present you with a knife that is a little bigger than a table knife with a serrated
edge. Is the knife good or evil?

A mother can prepare a meal for her child with this knife, yet she could also rob a convenience
store. Is it the knife that is evil inherently, or what the owner chooses to use it for? Of course, it
is all about the person’s intent. The knife is merely a tool.

Magic is just like that knife. It is not bad or good - it depends on how it is used. When working
with the right and left hand path - you need to always address two key issues in your practice -
responsibility and intent.

It comes down to your intent and your choices. No fictional devil can make you do anything, and
no angel is going to guide you to greatness. A responsible pagan is accountable for his or her
actions.
It is fairly easy to talk about the importance of doing the right thing. It is much harder when we
have to make choices regarding what is the right thing to do. Too many individuals have been
raised by book religions, and they are just taught what is right and not why it is right. By
understanding the concepts from both paths, you will be able to make better decisions for
yourself regarding both your magical and mundane life. As pagans, we need to know what is
correct action, and why that action is the best choice,

Why are these two philosophies called right hand and left hand? Where did these terms
originate? They do not seem to have distinct origins. Some people believe that the terms Right
Hand Path and Left Hand Path and the philosophy relevant to them originated in India.

High Priest of the Correllian Tradition Don Lewis High-Correll explains:

“In India those branches of Tantra which practice symbolic sexual yoga are said to follow “The
Right Hand Path” while those who practice literal sexual yoga are said to follow “the Left Hand
Path.” That the terms “Right Hand Path” and “Left Hand Path” have come to carry a
connotation of “Good” and “Evil” in the West has to do with the anti-sexual bias of certain
Christian and Christian-influenced Mystics of the 19th Century AD. In tantra, these terms merely refer to ritual form: in all
Tantric ritual the woman begins seated to the right of the man. In tantra that follows symbolic practice she remains there throughout the ceremony. In tantra that
follows literal practice, the woman moves to the left side of the man (her natural power side) when the sexual part of the rite begins.: hence the term Right Hand and
Left Hand.” (Wicca 201. 73)

According to chaosmagic.com:

“Tantric schools of Buddhism,... seek knowledge about the Self , right now in this body, empowering the Self. Most of the great religions of the world are Right Hand
Path - the Self is not valued highly and the followers humble themselves and exalt God. The Left Hand Path is the opposite, we exalt ourselves and bow to ourselves
first, before bowing to any other God. The Left Hand Path is about drawing the power into the Self -- becoming and acting as a God in one's own right, rather than
submitting to a Higher Power or Obliterating the Self and being "one with everything."

As you can see, chaos magicians in the West have profoundly stretched the original meanings.

According to Tani Jantsang, head of the organization, The Satanic Reds, there is a part of Thelemite tradition that explains the idea of the left hand path was taken from
lore about Lucifer being God's angel and was seated on His left.

We can also look at the Latin roots of our English language. In the Latin, the word for left is SINISTRUM, This gave us the word sinister. Within that word, we can see
the connotations of evil and wrong-doing.

There are some who hypothesize the terms came from this Biblical verse:

And he shall separate them one from another,

as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.

And he shall set the sheep on his right,

Those who follow a left hand path often use the symbol of the goat or the goat-headed Baphomet. These individuals will refer to right hand pathers as “sheep” who
blindly follow someone else and exhibit a “herd mentality.” You will often hear some refer to themselves as wolves, animals known for their intelligence, care of their
families and pack mentality. There is also the innuendo that wolves prey on sheep, and are stronger animals that can survive in the wild.

It may surprise some of you that Taoism, the ancient religion of China is considered to be left hand path. A Taoist’s goal is to find balance and harmony in all things.
They believe that the universe is made up of two different energies: yin and yang. This flow between the two is seen as natural and does relate to sex and gender. In
fact, the interplay between the male and female, yin and yang, is seen as pleasurable and promotes better health and longer life. While this is a conflict with most of the
book religions, Wiccans and left hand pathers agree that sexuality is something to be embraced, and not to be repressed.

The Two Paths

Let’s start off with some basic information on both paths. The left hand path is about the self, its
development, and the training of the mind. Most of the work you do on the left hand path will be
in your head.

However, the focus is not just on self-enlightenment and evolution. Working on the left hand
path is about growth of the self within society both as a microcosm and macrocosm.

The right hand path is outside the Self and about service. We could say that the right hand path is
more about the body and using it to do your good deeds. In other words, to start out, think of the
left hand path as encompassing your thoughts and private affairs, while the right hand path
focuses on your external life and your actions within the community.

When people say that they just follow the right hand path or only the left hand path, there is a
problem. It is hard to fully function without use of both the mind and the body.

All the psychoanalysis in the world will not cure a stomach ulcer. Applying bandages will not
ease an anxiety disorder. If you pay attention to just the mind or the body, you are imbalanced
and less efficient. You still will have a possibly unhealthy individual. Mind needs body and body
needs mind. A person with a stomach ulcer, however, will do much better with a positive attitude
and healthy self-esteem. An individual with an anxiety disorder will also overcome this
challenge more easily with a healthy body.

Some individuals will tell you that it depends on your perspective. They will give you an
example such as sports and say that the body is more important than the mind. This approach is
illogical. The best athlete in the world will not make it to the Olympics without the best
visualization techniques and self-esteem. He will need to learn about his sport, how to play the
game, and understand the rules. The winner prepares himself physically and mentally for
whatever he is working to achieve.

Some individuals will talk to you about black magic versus white magic and good versus evil.
Raia, in her Correllian course, The Basics of Voudou, states:
Once a priest/priestess begins to practice black magic, they are known as a bo’ko … Bo’ko are
said to serve the lwa with both hands because they practice both black and white magic.

It is important to note that Raia refers to black magic more as “selfish magic.” Voudou priests
and priestesses, like Wiccans and most pagans, also vow to not cause harm to others.

As pagans, we accept the importance of polarities in our work. We know how important the
interplay between God and Goddess, yin and yang, male and female and matter and spirit can be.

The fact is that with polarities, it is hard to explain or define one without the other. Pagans often
talk about darkness and light. Here is a simple truth: You cannot know darkness without light or
light without darkness.

When talking about magic, magic is magic. You cannot assign it a color. It is all about intent –
why and how you use it - as we talked about above.

The Left Hand Path vs. The Right Hand Path

Too often, those on the left hand path spend more of their time explaining what their beliefs do not involve, rather
than what they actually are about. Not everyone on the Left hand path is a Satanist.

Satanism is quite possibly the most misunderstood of all religions or philosophies. Some prefer the term secular
humanism to avoid this reaction. Why?

Satanism and the left hand path is really about the self and reaching ones potential. Here are some ideas that left
hand pathers embrace:

*You have to love yourself before you can love another;

*Only emotionally strong parents can produce stable children with healthy self-esteem,

*Question everything, including authority;

*Always look before you leap.

*Provide for self and close family

These are examples of a left handed view of life. It is a belief that forces an individual to be responsible for his or
her self and actions. Because there is no one else to share the blame, it can be a difficult road to follow. There is no
scapegoat. There is no forgiveness. There is only a focus on the present.

These are the characteristics of the left hand path, according to Wikipedia:

1) agnostic view

2) belief that people should strive to become deities

3) self-determined codes of morality

5) possible existence of more than one god

6) practice and knowledge – not faith – makes a pagan (craft vs. religion)

7) deity is transcendant and imminent

8) person is responsible for his own actions

9) no external salvation

10) Magic is based on natural laws and works in accordance with science yet to be explained

11) there is a web of interconnection with the earth

As you read the above, you may notice there are not a lot of differences as compared to the characteristics of a pagan
path.

John Allee explains it this way:

“The left hand path is about what goes on inside you. The right hand path is what goes on outside of yourself. In
other words, The left hand path is esoteric and about the microcosm while the right hand path is exoteric and about
the macrocosm. My favorite way to describe this is that the right hand path’s perception is about becoming, and the
left hand path is about being.”

The left hand path focuses on change from within and evolution. The focus is about the here and now and not the
hereafter.

The book religions that call themselves right hand path are building a community as they suffer in the present,
waiting for the glorious day that they meet their God in heaven. They literally see this life as a waiting room that one
is stuck in until they finally get the call for boarding.

Unfortunately, some pagans have also been conditioned, as children, to believe this way, and they carry this into
their new spirituality as adults. The symptoms include:

*Judgment – there is always a right and wrong, not matter what the topic is. Their version of witchcraft (or
whatever) is the right way and yours is not.

*Guilt – while a code of ethics is important, the pagan philosophy is one that focuses on responsibility. The book
religions often have taught control through guilt. You will find these individuals afraid to admit to a mistake. They
will also carry a lot of guilt with them. When things are not going their way, they will feel they are being punished,
instead of being faced with a challenge to learn a valuable life lesson.

*Sexuality – as much as they try to deny it, they still have guilt over sex and their sexual identity. These are the
people who are uncomfortable about any ideas that buck the traditional systems.

*But’s – no, this is not a misspelling. These are the people who are trying to follow a pagan path, yet in every
description of their beliefs or a topic

they will add a “but.”

*Good and evil – these individuals consistently pepper their conversations with people, places or things being good
or bad, white or black, or good or evil.

There are other symptoms you will recognize through the words and actions of your friends. It is important that you
educate rather than irritate. Remember, these individuals have been conditioned since childhood to believe certain
things. Be understanding, and gently offer a different perspective.

Here is a different way to view the differences: the right hand path gives us a focus for the future The left hand path
always favors the interests of the individual over the collective. "Do What Thou Wilt" is what many left hand
pathers believe. The Wiccans will add harm ye none. The left hand pather says that almost anything you do may end
up harming someone or something. The cow will not be thrilled that you are eating a hamburger. The grass will not
be pleased if you are mowing it. The person who did not get the promotion or the new job, will not be as happy as
you are when you accept it.

Hermetic Law states for every action there is a reaction. Most of the left hand path rejects the idea of karma, but
both paths can agree on Hermetics. These laws are natural laws handed down over thousands of years from Egypt.

The left hand path also has no use for the Three-fold Law. The right hand path adds to the idea of karma by using
the Three-fold Law, stating that anything that will return to you, comes back multiplied.

Many Wiccans argue about just how many times a reaction occurs. Let’s be honest here, if you hurt someone, you
would not want to be hurt back once, three times or one hundred times. The Three-fold law is a way of warning
people to remember their responsibility for their own actions.

The Paths and Magic

The Left Hand Path is an approach to knowledge that is dark, hidden, and receptive. It is the path
of silence and inner revealing through meditation. The passive, feminine, Yin influence is felt
here. The symbol is the pentagram with the point going earthward. Some say that the position of
the points are very relevant, representing the female genitalia, and the two points up,
symbolizing the breasts. This pentacle with the earthward point also symbolizes power going in.
It is almost always seen in silver.

The right hand path is an approach to knowledge that is illuminated, evident and active. It is
evidentiary and active. It is interactive and participative. It corresponds to the masculine and the
yang. It is symbolizes power or energy going out. Those following the right hand path wear this
in silver or gold, and sometimes copper.

The pentacle that represents the right hand path has the point of the star

pointing skyward. Some say the star is reminiscent of Leonardo Da Vinci’s “Vitruvian Man”
Others point to the symbolism of the erect phallus as being the skyward point, with the two
earthward points denoting the testicles.
Left hand pathers will often add the head of the goat to their pentacle, which they call a
pentagram. The head of the goat invokes the earth element and the Hebrew letters for Leviathan
signify the waters of the abyss. Often referred to as the Baphomet, from the Greek "Baphe and
Metis" meaning wisdom and measurement, this symbol may take its cue from Levi’s Baphomet
and may also pay homage to the Goddess Sophia.

Eliphas Levi drew the most used and popular image of the Baphomet. This 19th century Catholic priest turned
occultist, he believed the Baphomet was the deity that the Knights Templar were said to have followed.

Stephen Dafoe explains the significance of the Baphomet:

“It is believed that within Lévi's Baphomet, are contained the dualistic nature of life and the male female aspects of creation. The image combines both male and
female qualities; one arm masculine, one feminine; the breasts of a woman with a phallic object on its lap; one arm pointing skyward while one pointing down,
perhaps a representation of the Hermetic axiom "As Above...So Below". The illustration also shows one arm points toward a white crescent moon the other towards a
dark crescent moon, perhaps a representation of the waxing and waning phases of the moon but it could also represent the duality of good and evil. On the right arm is
written "Solve" Solution and on the Left "Coagula" Coagulation. These are references found in alchemy a study that Lévi not only undertook but also wrote about in
his books. (“Author of Unholy Worship”, www.templarhistory.com/levi.html)

While many see the Baphomet as evil, its meaning is certainly not as simplistic as that. Sadly, most left hand pathers who use copies of this image for their workings
are unaware of the Baphomet’s artist or the meaning of all the symbology.

Here is the answer to the great question about the use of the two pentacles and Magic with both paths. Neither path has a trademark on a particular symbol.. If the
Working involves sending or transmitting energy, the skyward pentacle is used. If the Working involves receiving or absorbing energy, the earthward symbol is used.
Now we see the polarities come into play and it is all about energy not a judgment call - Passive and Active. Form and Force. Flesh and Spirit. The same qualities come
into play.

Furthermore, you cannot elevate the spirit while condemning the flesh

and visa -versa! . The aspiring magician must maintain a BALANCE in his or her perspective and not place one symbol above the other because they compliment,
define and complete each other.

As with the great rite, the male and female come together and this is the interplay and between the right hand path and left hand path.

When a man and a woman argue it is a terrible thing - but when they are

making love it is a beautiful expression of their love for each

other. Look at tantra and the great rite. These are culminations of the LHP and RHP together - there is no involvement of good and evil.

There is no conflict between these paths if they are True; there are

bumps in the road as in any meeting of minds or coupling, but they are

yin/yang and exist together.

There is always RHP in LHP, and always LHP in RHP. There is the "Being"
of the receptive LHP and then the "Becoming" which is the active RHP.

There is the Knowledge of the LHP that leads to the \ deeds of the RHP. Everything is Yin and Yang. Passive Idea and Active Deed. Like Sat-Being and Tan-Becoming
comes from the Vedic. This is where some believe SAT-TAN, or Satan, came from.

The RHP is the way of Yang. The LHP is the way of Yin. That's it.

Like Yin and Yang, you cannot separate the two. Yin/Dark/Receptive.

Yang/Light/Active.

High Priest of the Correllian Tradition Reverend Don Lewis High-Correll states:

“Like Wicca, Tantra (Hindu, Buddhist and Taoist alike) perceives the world as being created and sustained by polar forces, represented by feminine and masculine.
Also like Wicca, Tantra teaches that worldly problems are created by not moving in synch with the flow of the Polarities. The goal of Tantra is to bring about the union
of the polarities….and thus transcend worldly difficulties and achieve enlightenment or oneness with deity.” (73)

 Right Hand Path and Left Hand Path

[ Right Hand Path and Left Hand Path | My Course Schedule ]

Conclusion

There is danger when right and left are seen as against each other. This is when the right hand path becomes a false
path. It becomes this against that, us against them, and then the left hand path is seen as frightening and evil. Thus,
the person craves only the light alone and does not want to see the dark. The person looks to others for their
validation instead of going inside and validating themselves, When a person refuses to see into their shadow side,
they are denying any form of self-acceptance or depth of insight. This often becomes dangerous and is the beginning
of a fundamentalist belief and lifestyle,

With critical evaluation and conceptualization of both paths, one will not only be enlightened beyond the present
norm of divine revelation but will also discover the very nature of man. Giving a fair consideration between two
paths, for me, is the ultimate solution to overcome those religious mysteries and dilemmas.

We cannot deny the light or darkness in ourselves or in our life. There

is night and there is day just as we have what we subjectively call good

days and bad days. Death is as natural as birth, it is only different because we perceive one to be happy and the other
to be tragic.

Whether we are dealing with everyday stresses or serious challenges in

appreciate when we experience a good one.

Without darkness, there can be no light. Without light there can be no darkness. Use your outer strengths and inner
strengths to the best of your abilities both in mundane and magical workings. Study both paths and many traditions
and take what you want to find what really works for you

Christianity will always be about Christ. Wicca is almost always related to the God and Goddess. The left hand path
practitioner is often agnostic or atheistic. This is hard for some people to understand, especially coming from a
Christian or Muslim book religion.

Again, for the left hand pather, the practitioner is the one ultimately responsible for his success or failure. The
reason is you can take Satan out of Satanism, he is not really there to being with. Satan has always meant adversary
or teacher. Most Satanists today will tell you that the left hand path is one where you ask the question Why?

There are also left hand path pagans. They may refer to themselves as

Theistic Satanists, dark Witches, dark pagans, pagan-Satanists, and a myriad other labels for self-identification.
Those who are not agnostic or atheistic work with the dark gods and goddesses. However, if they do not learn
balance, they are living a needlessly harsh and cold lifestyle.

Where can we begin to find common ground?

All pagans believe in the concept of sovereignty and the importance of healthy self-esteem. We can all agree to a
divine spark in ourselves and others. From the left, we learn about deep responsibility, introspection, and finding
knowledge from within. From the right we learn about community, the need to serve and be served, and to seek
knowledge from outside the self.

This is not just about magic. Think about working towards a balance in your personal relationships. A healthy
couple would want each person to be independent and have healthy self-esteem before entering into a relationship.
Then, this same couple would want to come outside of themselves and get to know the other person and have a
mutually fulfilling experience interacting with each other.