The line must be drawn here! (Or what happended to the 3rd Part of my critical review of ‘Mathers’ Last Secret’)

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This is a sad day. Unfortunately, instead of giving reasoned and scholarly arguments against my critique Nick Farrell has resorted today to the method of character sniping, as we have become acquainted with throughout his book as a weapon used against Mathers. This makes me believe that he lacks any solid arguments and is acting desperate to save his reputation; however, this choice of strategy will only make it worse for us all at is provides absolutely nothing constructive.

On his blog he wrote yesterday, obviously referring to my two part critical review:

…one so called scholarly critique was packed full of so much magical ignorance, and logical holes, I could not even begin to reply to it.

And when I asked him a bit ironically to enlighten me from my ignorance and point out these logical holes infesting my review, he simply answered in this rather unfraternal manner today:

It would be obvious if you had any degree of real magical experience, and knowledge. Engaging, or correcting your arguments gives them more credibility than they are worth. No one has to debate “black is really white” arguments just because someone wants recognition or respect. It is not my job to provide you with any of the training or spiritual development you are lacking.

After (perhaps not so) careful consideration I have decided to write this short reply, which will mark the end of my review of Nick Farrell’s Mathers’ Last Secret. Even before his latest below the belt attack I was considering not to write the last part of the review – projected to deal with Mr. Farrell’s analysis of the 5°=6° Grade ritual and teachings – as I believe that all has already been said that can possibly be said regarding this book. I don’t want to be repetitive.

The line myst be drawn here!

If Mr. Farrell believs that I am asking for his “peer recognition”, an academic term borrowed by and frequently used by reconstructionists, he is sadly mistaken. I don’t need it; I have all the recognition that I need from the proper channels thank you. For me it is irrelevant if reconstructionists like Mr. Farrell recognize my words or not; I don’t even expect them to. But to be honest I actually believed that Mr. Farrell had more scholarly integrity then this; I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt and have up until now anticipated his answer, a possible scholarly challange – and this is what he comes up with!

Now there is no doubt in my mind that Mr. Farrell is acting from the point of view of both a tabloid journalist and a fantasy writer in all his dealings; we cannot expect to see any answer or rebuttal worthy of the name coming from him anymore or at anytime.

Contrary to him, I am speaking from a 14 years experience of regularly working magically with the A∴O∴ rituals. I have watched many students grow and develop through them. I’m not just sitting behind my desk and making things up like people of Mr. Farrell’s vocation. Luckily enough, now the readers have the chance to read both mine and his arguments and decide for themselves. I trust their reason, intuition and judgment in all of this. Each to his own.

I have tried to discuss with Mr. Farrell in the past and also to maintain fraternal manners with him, from Imperator to Imperator, for the benefit of both our respective egregores. Although I confess that my last part of the review were quite severe in its judgement, it had to be said; if you put out such a badly researched and faulty analysed work, deal with the scholarly consequences. My review has never been an attempt at discrediting Mr. Farrell as an individual nor as an Adept; it’s not personal at all, at least not until now. We have in fact had some good encounters prior to his publication of Mathers’ Last Secret.

I tried in vain to appeal to him not to profane the rituals that my Temple had enacted for the past two decades with great success, but to no avail. He even assured me that the rituals that he would publish wouldn’t reveal any secrets from the rituals in the George Slater collection, as used by my Temple as the main source text. Today we know that this was a lie all along.

I haven’t even mentioned the question of secrecy and profanation previously in my review, as I have tried to restrict it to a purely scholarly level and magical discussion. But after today’s rant from Mr. Farrell it has to be said. The book Mathers’ Last Secret should never have been published. I don’t buy any reconstructionist arguments that these are the rituals of a long dead Order and that a cache of old documents found in a basement may be used in any manner possible for the sake of scholarly research. We are initiates first, then scholars second. Mr. Farrell’s book is a clear act of profanation and violation to the spirit of his sacred vows as an initiate. With this publication he joins the Golden Dawn hall of shame together with such luminaries as Aleister Crowley, Israel Regardie, and Pat Zalewski. At least, he is in good company.

After the publication, things has changed drastically; not only is it an attempt to cash in some money on the reputation and integrity of the Golden Dawn Tradition – a common feature seen amongst reconstructionist Golden Dawn Adepts – I furthermore regard it as a willful attack on the reputation and integrity on both my Temple and the Order under which aegis it works. And now, after today’s obvious attempt at character assassination of me, I will quit argumenting with him in a reasoned or diplomatic manner, as there is no point in arguing with someone who is so prone to “projection” and is so filled with venom against me. Henceforth I will treat him with all the due respect that he deserves.

I was at first angry on him after the publication of Mathers’ Last Secret, and even more chocked reading his “analysis”. I’m not that angry on him anymore, but after today mostly sad and disappointed; ok, I will admit that I’m a bit pissed as well (what can I say; I am still not more than human, and this is such a distraction from the Great Work!). But he has cast his dice and there is no turning back. He is the Imperator of his own Order, as I am the Imperator of a Jurisdiction of a world wide organization. His attack on me has consequences that goes far beyond the merely personal. We not only answer to ourselves, but to our respective egregores as well. I won’t forget this; the line must be drawn here!

S∴R∴