The Death Posture
by Peter J. Carroll, from "The Magic of Thanateros" 1978
The pinnacle of excitation and the pinnacle of absolute quiescence are the same place magically and physiologically. Above that pinnacle in the secret dimension of the self hangs the hawk vulture of the self.
The endless variations of the path of quiescence are all the death posture. The following may be of use in part or whole.
Kneeling in the dragon asana, hands flat on thighs, spine erect, the adept stares fixedly at the image of his own eyes in a large mirror before him, about two feet away. The temple is best completely bare and white.
He may have previously prepared himself by concentration on breathing, mantra, visualisation of some image, or by intense effort of convergent thinking. (Absorption in some exacting mental task).
Gazing at his own eyes the adept stops thinking. No amount of ‘effort’ in the usual sense will avail. Infinite patience will barely suffice. The attention must be continually turned to the eye image until the thinking eventually gives up. Any sort of distortion of the image is symptomatic of thinking and to be avoided.
Success is characterised by certain phenomena for which it is useless to strive. There may be a loss of visual perspective or body image. The body may begin to feel vast or microscopic. These phenomena are characteristic of sensory deprivation. They are not the desired result but indicative of a loosening of belief.
The eyes are then closed and the void is entered as completely as possible. Some image may be used as a receptacle for thought if it not be completely anulled. A visualised shape will do. Hopefully this too can be allowed to fade to leave Kia hovering in an eternity. From here it can hurl itself into any form of magic. Inspirations or avatisms can be dredged up by sigils and will and perception have access to the more recondite corners of the cosmos.
If the foregoing proves insufficient to achieve gnosis the magician stands on tip-toe, eyes closed, with arms locked behind, the neck stretched and back arched, the whole body straining to the limit. A wall may be used for balance. The breathing becomes deep and laboured as the crucifixion continues. Oblivious to everything but strain and tension he may attain the void as this too is suddenly removed and he falls exhausted, supine to the floor.
To exorcise any possible state of aversion which may be invoked by reflex the adept may evoke the sensation of laughter at this point. Reflecting the meaninglessness of anything of which he becomes conscious he laughs aimlessly at everything.
He may be granted the grace of being swept up into the divine madness of ecstatic laguhter.