SACERDOTIUM UMBRAE MORTIS BOOK REVIEW BY J.

PRAUS

The author writes “The book is a complete system of initiation and ascension in the grades of The
Priesthood of the Shadows of Death, an order of predatory sorcerors who specialize in the practice of
energy vampirism and in the necromantic conjuration of revenant phantom shades from the eleven
hells of the Qliphoth.” To this reader’s mind, this work is much more than the grimoire of a certain
specialized order.

Mr. De Laval starts with an introduction of condensed wisdom which should be required reading for
occultists of every type. The whole work is well referenced, and the appendices are clear and useful. It is
written in the vein of Kenneth Grant, who the author clearly admires. There are considerable materials
from gematria and Qabbala. His discussions of the Sephiroth-Qliphoth correlations are particularly well
done. His fresh translations gave me new insight, for instance Samael meaning “spice, medicine,
narcotic, and drug, in addition to poison or toxin.” This certainly opens up new ways of looking at
important concepts. The rites are well described, with clear explanations. The grimoire approach seems
somewhat of a condensation of information, and I wanted more discussion, especially about the
psychological aspects that he alludes to.

"By endeavoring to extend the horizon of consciousness, to enlarge the field of awareness so as to
embrace what previously was unconscious, is obviously a logical method. To become aware of all our
actions, our thoughts and emotions and unsuspected motives, to regard them in their true light as
actually they are and not as we would like them to be or as we would wish an onlooker to perceive
them. It requires, to take this step, an extraordinary degree of honesty and courage... The more of this
suppressed and forgotten material stored in this at one time unknown or dormant side of our nature
that can be raised to the clear light of day, by exactly so much do we awake from the inert stupor into
which we have in the past been plunged." Israel Regardie, The Middle Pillar.

(from A. Crowley, Synopsis on Six Articles on Drugs, 1923, quoted in Aleister Crowley and the Hidden
God, K. Grant) “Every man should learn to master his passions absolutely… The preliminary condition of
success is to obtain a clear view of the subject in every detail, by accurate and intimate analysis. The first
step is, obviously, to conquer the fear and fascination which the slightest allusion to the subject arouses
in the ordinary man or woman… It is therefore essential for people to acquire a complete intellectual
mastery of the subject. When they can contemplate any given sexual idea without emotion of any kind,
they are well on the way to freedom. It is merely the same principle as that on which we act when we
train a medical student to watch operation and dissect corpses, without weeping, fainting, getting cold
feet, etc. The surgeon must look at his patient as an art critic looks at a picture, or a lawyer a brief. As
long as he is excited about it, he cannot see straight; he becomes confused, and is totally unfit to
pronounce just judgment or to take proper action. This may sound platitudinous; yet most people
cannot even understand such an explanation as the above – the mere mention of the subject throws
them into a blind spasm of lust, either exploding in priapism or camouflaged into shocked indignation.”

Why are witches and sorcerers feared and hated? Probably because we go where others cannot. We
can use feared and socially ritualized matters like sex, death, predation, and healing without approved
methods and mediators. This represents anarchic power, both feared and desired by others, who rightly
perceive a possible threat to themselves and the existing social order. Psychoanalysis quickly moved
beyond the idea that bringing a matter into consciousness would clear up blockages and symptoms. It
requires much more examination and ‘working through’. Mr. De Laval understands this. (page 18… “..
for the purpose of inducing arcane psychoanalytic states of self-reflection, which if properly exploited
may sharpen one’s character and make her a more potent force of change and influence in the
universe.”) An excellent description of a mage!

“Caveat Zelator”, I pondered why the warning? Surely those who would be interested in a work of
predatory sorcery know the risks by now. Perhaps not all though, as many have a romanticized view of it
being a quick road to power, love, and wealth. It is surely apparent to all serious practitioners that as
one works with magic, magic works with you. Rather than to be avoided, emotional issues are a sign you
are doing it correctly. We want change, inside and outside of ourselves. It gives us the material to work
with, the energy and desire to cause that change. Still, the results of magic and change are poorly
foreseeable, and magical practice is no substitute for genuine psychotherapy. Unfortunately, rare is the
psychotherapist who is magically knowledgeable and frankly able to work with issues that left hand path
practices may bring up. Perhaps many magical practitioners avoid psychotherapy out of fear or out of a
misplaced grandiosity.

Aesthetically, the book presentation is very high quality, with thick paper, clear and well-organized type
and figures. The writing is clear and eminently readable. The work has a coherent framework and
succeeds very well in its aim. This work is not only a grimoire, but a great example of left-hand path
spirituality and psychology. I heartily recommend this excellent book, and I look forward to many more
from the author and Aeon Sophia Press.

In nomine Draconis, Julie M. Praus, MD

This review was originally posted at the Wizard Forum.

The book and current it works from is directly inline with the vampiric school of energy manipulation
and necromancy. It is different and opposite of GT types of evocation in regards to protection, which
there is really none present, not even banishing. To be initiated into the priesthood you must first infect
yourself with a parasitic shade which you feed with your own blood, this being said I would definitely
not recommend this work to any beginners as mental psychosis and obsession could manifest. There are
other initiation rites that must be preformed, then there are separate rites to advance through the four
grades of priesthood. There are 11 classes of spirits drawn up being based on the tribes of Canaan each
presided over by a ruling exarch. G. D. Laval shows a great understanding of Hebrew and has written a
very well done review of the Qliphoth with some corrections to spelling and translations. Ritual
implements are not that difficult to acquire, cemetery dirt, the usual daggers, chalice, bell, candle
holders, a stake replacing the traditional wand, inscribed with some power names and words. Later on
in the system it goes into the creation of some jewelry doesn't seem too extravagant, ritual garb etc,
that section doesn't seem to me to be all that strict I'm sure one could work out substitutions if needed.
The final grade consists of creation of a bound guardian spirit/shade creation housed in a spirit vessel
you create, this involves the procuring of some human bones, reminds me slightly of some of the rites
practiced in Palo by Mayombero and some other necromantic practices involving binding spirits.

The spirits are evoked via mantra, incense specific to each class and exarch of the 11 demon tribes is
burned, there are tables for times and days for them, specific mantras to be repeated, the spirits are
manifested via scrying, it is a rather solid system that I have achieved success with.

I think anyone who actively practices demonic, necromantic, Qliphothic or is involved in the vampiric
magic current could get some use out of it even if they don't choose to advance through the priesthood.
The rites of conjuration is the foundational ceremony of the entire work. That is to say the priest needs
to have acquired and consecrated all the specific tools of the craft and worked through the sacraments
present within the book. That being said to reach the first step in priesthood, the grade of Jeriah, you
must evoke a specter from each of the 9 classes of vampiric death shades. You then are taught of their
specific virtues and establish a working relationship where you are able to call upon them in the future.
Later on in the priesthood when your power is greater you are required to conjure forth the kings of the
tribes from their qliphothic thrones. I don't believe that any other means outside of the practices written
would produce satisfactory results when conjuring as these kings and the shades under them are
completely tied into the praxis of the priesthood and it's connections within its Qliphoth current. The
ritual isn't to overwhelming considering it is for a modern LHP practice, ritual garb is worn, 12 hour
fasting, bathe, specific circle of conjuration is drawn upon the floor, chalice filled Incense and candles lot
then you begin. There is an opening of the gate ritual then the invocations and mantras are repeated
until the spirits are evoked present within the scrying mirror, no full physical manifestations are
achieved. After your discourse with the spirit there is a revocation of the spirits back to the qliphothic
hell from which it came via provided words of power. Then there is a closing of the gate ritual and you
are finished. It is a very involved system that is very interconnected and everything builds off another
concept presented earlier in the workings. This is a really great book that will give you all the tools and
information that you need to self initiate and work within this specific current.

Next a little on Black Magic Evocation of the Shem Ha Mephorash, a monster of LHP evocation
information.

In essence it dissects the Abrahamic deity into 72 pieces, the divine name and nature of God, and lays
out a system for the practitioner to conjure the spirits as goetic entities to perform magic with. It holds
true that the forces of creation, structure and order exist in a parallel state with the qliphothic forces of
chaos, entropy and destruction, one side of the tree requires the other to exist. The angels of the Shem
Ha Mephorash, then exist both as demonic and angelic agents that the magician can utilize. The Shem
angels then reside in the various sephiroth realms and have baneful aspects that mirror and distort
spilling over into the qliphothic hells. Using this qliphothic energy one can evoke, or bring up, the
energies of the spirits in shadow anti-universal form and function.

He has a rather straight-forward approach to the conjuration that he has stripped what he believes are
unnecessary and outdated elements tied to the Christian mythos. There are three methods that he lists
for accessing the Shem, although there are really countless ways to utilize the system. For the
ceremonial evocation the tools are rather customary, a wand, athame or sword, chalice, baphometic
pentagram, at least one religious icon of your chosen path, incense and burner, candle holders and
candles, a scrying apparatus, and a gong or bell. Also there is a list of additional relics that a black
magician could utilize to add ritual potency and empower the the shades with, I will not share those
here.

It provides all the necessary information you need to work his system or you can take the entities
information and use it in your own ritual magic as you desire, the BME is much different than the SUM in
this regard. I believe it has to do with the fact that the Shem angels and their correspondent and inverse
energies are much older than the kings presented in SUM which makes the Shem easier to access from
different ritual practice as more pathways have been carved to reach them through time.

In his evocation method you force the entities to appear utilizing 36 decans of witchcrafts princes
names, words of power based on grimoiric ciphers and the four gates of the elements and some of the
high ranking demons as well. He has included information on the 72 angels of the Shem their natures,
times, days, sigils, names, Hebrew explanations and the insight to allow the magician to work with their
qliphothic emanations. This is a great book dealing with true black magic that I would recommend to any
advanced magician that does not have hang-ups or issues related to inverse diabolical workings. I do
believe that one benefits from a familiarity with the Shem in its other "white" usage to gain insight into
the angels, but I believe that even if one did not they would be able to work the system that he has lain
out.