LHP paths and general polytheism

[lumineth Realm Lord]

So, in my understanding, the left hand path is about rebellion. The idea is to awaken a sort of inner divine spark, as opposed to being in the service of a god or master. However how does this relate to gods outside of Yahweh? Like the Greek gods, Norse gods, Egyptian gods, or Chinese gods? Are we rebelling against them?

I guess my question is, if you're on this path, how does it impact your relationship with other gods and other paths? How is this rebellion, this intent to become divine, sit with the gods?

 

[Morell]

Good question.
I assume that it depends a lot. I would dare to say that even in Christianity it can be really confusing to point out who are you rebelling against.

There are branches of Norse paganism, that resemble Christianity in this aspect. Like the book about Vril I've read speaks about worship of Aesir and even explicitly said that Lokeans (Loki being the enemy of the gods because of causing Ragnarok and killing Baldr) must be killed to prevent Ragnarok from coming.
In light of that philosophy to rebel against Aesir and following Loki would mean wanting the world to end. However Lokeans or Thursatru, that really seek such a path are very rare. You can find books Thursakingi which describe such extreme anticosmic path going against the Aesir as much as possible.
To me it looks just like reversed Christianity in pagan skin. In one of the books there is prayer where praying person claims themselves to be true satanist. (wonder how that remained in the final text, raises questions)

Personally, as already said, I think that extreme and not liberating as that is just choosing another side, not liberating oneself. But in my faith such extreme path apparently exists. When it comes to less extreme LHP, then I think that there is little issue, unless the Asatru are leaning towards extreme themselves.

 

[MidnightProphet]

So, in my understanding, the left hand path is about rebellion. The idea is to awaken a sort of inner divine spark, as opposed to being in the service of a god or master. However how does this relate to gods outside of Yahweh? Like the Greek gods, Norse gods, Egyptian gods, or Chinese gods? Are we rebelling against them?

I guess my question is, if you're on this path, how does it impact your relationship with other gods and other paths? How is this rebellion, this intent to become divine, sit with the gods?

Classical left hand path wasn't so much about rebellion as it was rejecting Rome's claim to ownership over salvation. Classical "magicians" of the times rejected the moralist approach to salvation solely through the Catholic Church and many of them were actually Christian, because if you wanted to learn languages and have access to travel and research you pretty much had no other option than to join a monastery.

Anyway, from the classic magical period during the Renaissance, the left hand path saw a number of changes including incorporation of wisdom from the kabbalists, which The Church in turn referred to as "Judaising" and punished severely.

On and on it went, with schisms and factioning over the next 500 years until we arrive roughly here, in 2025, where, by formula the left hand path is a rebellion. But, at some point there will be nothing to rebel against, so in my opinion it is better to take up the arts and sciences for the purpose of working out out own salvation (however each one of us may interpret it) rather than rebelling against whatever power we perceive to be oppressing us (because it will always be present and always change it's face.)

 

[Wintruz]

However how does this relate to gods outside of Yahweh? Like the Greek gods, Norse gods, Egyptian gods, or Chinese gods? Are we rebelling against them?

In a certain sense, in a culture where, even in 2025, pagan deities are still popularly associated with demons paganism is itself a Left Hand Path. However, there are ways of approaching this which are more likely to align with the deepest goals of the LHP than others.

If a person is turning to the gods for some kind of salvation, to take responsibility for them, to act, essentially, as Jesus Christ but with Stevie Nicks aesthetics, then this person is really just seeking a soothing night's Sleep. It's just that the myths they dream of are semi-unusual and, possibly, more complex than that dreamt by most others.

If, instead, they say "I am in pursuit of strength and wisdom, I will rely on myself and if, by proving myself virtuous and noble, I draw the gods, those patterns of consciousness which were honoured in the ancient world, then I will walk with them as companions on this path" then that person is, without a shadow of doubt, on the LHP. The gods here don't become something to cower from but something that is honoured through their infusion in the Work the magician is doing. Another way of putting it is this, by looking for wisdom and going to extremes, Odin is honoured. By reverencing beauty, Aphrodite is honoured. This is entirely compatible with "cutting one's own way through the jungle".

 

[lumineth Realm Lord]

Lokeans trying to cause the end of the world would fall more into terrorism than rebellion.

The sort of rebellion that I'm describing is against some form of social or natural order. You're essentially fighting against a perceived system or power for the sake of your own needs or desires.

For an example. Most gods and goddesses of love, beauty, and sexuality would be about creating new life. As in to say marriage, monogamy, and having/raising children. From my readings, Lilith is about sexuality for its own sake and using sexual energy for the purposes of prolonging your own life instead of making a new one. As for Lucifer, he's always being connected to Promotheus. And we all know what Zeus thought about him. I'm not sure what Odin might say, considering he's brought his own brand of knowledge to mankind. Maybe he'd say Prometheus went too far.

The point is, how do the gods feel about people who want to beat the matrix?