Naturalistic

Occultism:

An introduction to
scientific illuminism

2nd edition

by

IAO131

1st Edition: 2009, e.v.

2nd Edition: 2012, e.v.

The Method of Science, The Aim of Religion

An official production of
the Society of Scientific Illuminism
http://www.scientific-illuminism.org

Table of Contents
Preface to the Second Edition

Introduction to Scientific Illuminism

0. The Society of Scientific Illuminism
1. A Naturalistic, Scientific Approach to Magick
2. The Scientific Illuminist
3. Further Considerations of the Practitioner
4. What is Magick?: Subjectivity and Objectivity
5. The Unifying Language of Phenomenology
6. On Pragmatism
7. A Summary of our Approach

5
8
20
32
42
47
59
64

Theory
8. As Above, So Below As Within, So Without
9. The Planets, Zodiac, and other Symbol Schemes: The
Psyche's Categorizations and their Conscious
Manipulation through Conditioning
10. Divination: Tarot, I Ching, and Entrails
11. Gematria: Finding Patterns in Numbers
12. Why Magick Seems to Work
13. Magick and Synchronicity
14. Psychotherapy and Initiation
15. Astral Phenomena: The Neurology of the Astral
Body, the Astral Plane, and Astral Projection
16. Astral Workings & Scrying: The Interpretation of
Ambiguous Stimuli
17. Invocation: The Willed Activation of Latent Parts of
the Psyche
18. On the Mystic Attainment

68
71

78
87
92
96
99
106
115
120
124

Practice
19. The Practice of Naturalistic Occultism
20. Astral Projection or Scrying
21. Lucid Dreaming
22. Un-Differentiated Consciousness through Focused
Attention
23. An Inconclusive Conclusion

135
139
141
144

Appendix I: Glossary
Appendix II: Recommendations for Further Reading
Appendix III: Acknowledgments

152
157

147

Preface to the
Second Edition
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
The star of magick has just begun to rise. No one can
foresee what uncharted territory we may find if we follow it.
The spiritual pursuit has always held a special place in the
hearts of men and women, though its forms are diverse and
ever-changing. Naturalistic Occultism is a new approach to
that voyage to which we are all called: the journey to Know
Thyself.
When I released the first edition of this book on the
th
105 Thelemic New Year (March, 2009 e.v.), I couldn't have
known the desire of many occultists, both young and old, to
have a scientific approach to the practice of magick. It seems
that the modern occultist more often than not innately
resonates with the idea of pursuing the aims of religion with
the methods of science. The response has been
overwhelmingly positive and encouraging, and if there has
been one consistent complaint, it has been that the first
edition was too short.
The book began as a couple of essays that attempted to
understand the astral plane and astral projection in terms of
modern neurology. These were combined into a chapter of the
book (p.102), and other chapters were slowly added. These
ideas came out of a desire to be able to integrate much of what
I was studying at the time specifically, social psychology and
cognitive neuroscience into my understanding and practice

of occultism. As I have learned more, my understanding has

increased yet I have found that what was written for the
original edition needs to be largely untouched. For the second
edition of this book chapters have been edited, many more
references have been added, and new chapters have been
written. Notably, the new chapters include an exploration of
what it means to be a Scientific Illuminist, a consideration of
the use of phenomenological language in writing the Magical
Record and communicating with other occultists, and a
psychological explanation of synchronicity. I have also
included a Glossary in the back of the book that defines
many occult terms in naturalistic language, summarizing
much of what the bulk of this book is dedicated to explaining
in depth.
I want to emphasize that this book is intended to be an
initiation in the most basic sense of the word. That is, the
ideas expounded here should represent a new beginning: the
field of Naturalistic Occultism is only in the nascent phase of
its development. The nurturing of this approach to its
maturity will require the insight, collaboration, and hard work
of magicians such as yourself. I encourage anyone who reads
this book and is inspired in the least by its approach to contact
me and to learn more about the aims of the Society of
Scientific Illuminism. I am more than willing to discuss the
ideas found in this book in greater detail, to hear suggestions
for clarification and expansion of these concepts, and to learn
of any criticisms that you might have.
Though the star of magick is only on the horizon, it
may soon be a guide for humanity, aiding us in the navigating

the waters of the mysteries of existence. The process of

clearing away the clouds of ignorance, superstition, and
dogma has just begun, and I encourage you anyone who has
been called by whatever means to know and master the forces
of Nature found in yourself and the world to join me in this
exciting undertaking. Together we may strive towards the
perfection of ourselves, the progress of our field, and the
creation of a thriving community of Scientific Illuminists.
Frater IAO131
frater.iao131@gmail.com
Love is the law, love under will.

Introduction to
Scientific Illuminism

chapter 0:

The Society of
Scientific Illuminism
In 1909, Aleister Crowley released the first installment
of a journal called The Equinox: The Review of Scientific
Illuminism. Its motto was The Method of Science, the Aim of
Religion. In its very first issue, Crowley wrote an editorial
from which the following is excerpted:
Whatever knowledge may previously have been
imputed to men, it has always been fenced in with
conditions and restrictions. The time has come to
speak plainly, and so far as may be in the
language of the multitude.
Thus, the Brothers of the AA announce
themselves without miracle or mystery. It is easy
for every charlatan to perform wonders, to
bewilder and even to deceive not only fools but all
persons, however shrewd, untrained in
observation; nor does the trained observed always
succeed instantly in detecting the fraud. Again,
what the AA propose to do is to enable such
men as are capable of advancement to a higher
interpretation of manhood to do so; and the proof
of their ability lies in their success, and not in any
other irrelevant phenomenon. The argument from
miracles is a non sequitur
The Brothers of the AA have set their faces
against all charlatanism, whether of miracle-