6.4 Phase IV Work Effort

      Manifestations of the Deity as occur in the archetypal entities of Mesopotamian mythologies will be the focus of effort for Phase IV. In order to insure that the malevolent aspect of Mesopotamian mythologies is given due consideration, the she-devil Labartu or Lamashtu* will be treated just as thoroughly as any of the beneficent Mesopotamian archetypes are treated.

Sumerian, Babylonian, Canaanite (particularly the Phoenician Canaanite), Hebrew, Christian, and Assyrian mythologies will be canvassed in order to select a feasible number of God forms with which to work that represent a broad range of Mesopotamian archetypes. For example, Inanna of the Sumerians, Ishtar of the Babylonians, and Astarte of the Canaanites represent the same basic archetypal form. Similarly, the Canaanite Baal and the Hebrew Yahweh have numerous qualities in common.

This effort will be similar to the Task B efforts of Phases II and III. Talisman's and poetic incantations characteristic of Mesopotamian archetypes will be designed and constructed in order to aid in inducing the dramatic feelings required for the successful operation of the rituals of Task D.

Numerous objects indicative of Mesopotamian mythologies will be used as meditative focal points. The Hebrew menorah, the plaque of Lamashtu presented in Budge's "Amulets and Talismans", and Babylonian boundary stones are a few examples of the kind of objects that will be considered for meditation exercises. Page 102 of Joan Oates "Babylon" presents a good example of exquisite visual mythological symbolism which would serve as a good focal point for meditation. In the following quotation from "Babylon" describing the photograph on page 102 therein, the rich mythological content of a particular boundary stone is very obvious. "Boundary-stones are perhaps the most characteristic surviving monuments of Kassite Babylonia. This particularly fine example records a grant of land to Marduk-apla-iddina I by his father Meli-Shipak (12th Century B. C.). The symbols represent various deities and include the dragon and spade of Marduk. At the top are moon (Isis), planet Venus (Ishtar), sun (Shamash), horned crowns representing Anu and Enlil, and the goat-fish of Ea."

The ritual effort required to satisfy the Phase IV objective of marrying my conscious ego to those aspects of the collective unconsciousness mind of Western Mankind that center around our Mesopotamian heritage will involve a more complex procedure than is required in Phases I, II, and III. The Phase I ritual is a general purification transformation process. The Phase II ritual is centered around a single archetypal form, that of Mercury. The Phase III ritual involves only Egyptian mythological archetypes. Phase VI ritual endeavors will involve a number of distinct rituals each one of which will center around one of the Mesopotamian peoples. The exact number of rituals to be conducted in Phase IV will be decided upon during the first few weeks of the Phase IV effort.

As discussed in the description of the Phase III, Task E effort, if the occurrence of synchronistic events accompanying the ritualistic efforts of Phases I, II and III are not prevalent enough to construct a synchronistic record which will merit serious evaluation by independent investigators, then the ritualistic programs for Phases IV, V, and VI (note that Phase VII is strictly dedicated to the production of final documentation) will be designed to enhance the probability of occurrence of events which appear** to be synchronistic in nature. If in fact it is necessary to add a specific synchronistic criterion to the design of the rituals, then the involvement of several students of The House of Thoth (see Section 4.0) may be beneficial. No expense will be incurred due to the involvement of any House of Thoth students in the research program. What would be required of them would be a simple modification of their normal Occult endeavors. For example, in order to attempt to establish a telepathic link between myself and one of the students, a coordination of the subject matter and timing of my ritual work and the student's ritual work would be established.

An interim report and briefing will be prepared and delivered. The one possible difference between the interim documentation for this phase of effort and the preceding phases is that it may include some information relative to one student or several students of The House of Thoth. This will of course be a function of the status of the parapsychological effort.

*See "Amulets and Talismans", E. A. Wallis Budge, p. 102-124.

**Caution with wording is being exercised here in order to convey the fact that careful scientific evaluation by several independent investigators of the synchronistic record produced in this research program will be required before credible conclusions regarding the relationship of ritual Magick and synchronicity can be established.