Baphomet

Michael Osiris Snuffin is a freelance editor and the author of The Thoth Companion. He has studied occultism for twenty-five years with an interest in Thelema, the Golden Dawn, chaos magic, and the Left-Hand Path (LHP). He is a former member of the Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO) and founder of a Golden Dawn group. He is also a professional tarot reader. Visit him at Hermetic.com/osiris/index. Kate Freuler is the author of Magic at the Crossroads: The Devil in Modern Witchcraft and Of Blood and Bones: Working with Shadow Magick and the Dark Moon. She has written articles for Llewellyn's Magical Almanac, Llewellyn's Spell-a-Day Almanac, and Llewellyn's Sabbats Almanac. She lives in Ontario, Canada, and can be found making art, wandering around in libraries, and writing. Visit her at www.katefreuler.com.

"A definitive theometry of Baphomet. Snuffin shows us exactly how and why this deity-form arose and developed into a major occult meme that has inspired many of the leading magicians, romantics, and rebels...Impressive research and scholarship has gone into this book. If we define magic as the use of imaginary phenomena to create real effects, then the magical creation and evolution of the Baphomet concept has certainly had a profound effect on the ideas and actions of several generations...Snuffin gradually reveals a deep personal relationship with Baphomet and provides practical meditations and rituals throughout."—Peter J. Carroll, renowned author and chaos magician"Baphomet, a nuanced deity of paradox and evolution, is explored from every imaginable angle in this monumental book. Both academic and practical, Michael Osiris Snuffin's latest offering is invaluable for Pagans and occultists who are steadfastly devoted to exploring life's mysteries and finding our unique places in the world. This is the book we've been waiting for!"—Raven Digitalis, author of The Empath's Oracle"A deep dive into the enigmatic archetype of Baphomet, tracing its evolution from medieval conspiracy theories to modern Paganism and chaos magic. Exploring the origins of Baphomet in the trials of the Knights Templar, its iconic imagery as developed by occultist Éliphas Lévi, and its current role as a powerful symbol of nature, alchemy, and balance, this book offers readers a comprehensive understanding of this occult icon. Snuffin weaves history, ritual, and practical magic into a guide that reveals Baphomet's significance for modern spirituality, environmentalism, and personal transformation. This book provides essential insights into one of the most misunderstood and potent symbols in the world of magic."—John J. Coughlin, author of Out of the Shadows: An Exploration of Dark Paganism and Magick"From the Templars to the Satanic Temple, from Lévi to LaVey, from Purgstall to Carroll, Baphomet plumbs the history, mystery, and lore surrounding its titular sphinx. Within these pages, Michael Osiris Snuffin traces Baphomet's evolution from the bogeyperson of past moral panics to a twenty-first-century figure embodying myriad interpretations in modern ritual."—Richard Kaczynski, author of Perdurabo: The Life of Aleister Crowley

• ContentsForeword xiIntroduction 1PART ONE: HISTORYChapter 1. The Templar-Mason Conspiracy 7Chapter 2. The Creation of Baphomet 23Chapter 3. Baphomet and the Beast 63Chapter 4. The Influence of Satan 81PART TWO: RITUALChapter 5. Baphomet Reborn 95Chapter 6. A Greener Baphomet 111Chapter 7. A Modern Sabbat 129Chapter 8. The Lord of Earth and Rot 145PART THREE: MAGICChapter 9. The Three Faces of Baphomet 169Chapter 10. Working with Baphomet 181Chapter 11. The Five Elements 195Chapter 12. Elemental Alchemy 207Conclusion 229Bibliography 233Art Credits 241