A Handbook For Right-Wing Youth by Julius Evola
Posted on June 2, 2024
I have read A Handbook For Right-Wing Youth by Julius Evola. Contrary to its title, the book is not quite a handbook, but rather a collection of socio-political essays written in the post-War period (except for one essay published in 1933). As Enjoyers of my content will perhaps be aware, I am an Enthusiast of Evola’s esoterico-magical writings and his writings on religion and Tradition – his socio-political ones, not so much. Even so, reading Evola is always joyful (at least for me).
Against Marxism & Psychoanalysis
In the first essay of the collection, A Message to the Youth, written in 1950, the good baron shares a few fundamental attitudes which I thought were well-formulated:
‘Against Marxism and socialism, let us affirm that the economy and economic interests in all their forms have always exercised – and always will exercise – a subordinate function in normal humanity; that history and every healthy sociopolitical structure are determined by forces of a different sort; and that the fundamental fallacy is to believe that material, environmental factors and conditions of affluence, wealth, or poverty play a decisive role for real human progress.’
Julius Evola – A Handbook For Right-Wing Youth. Page 2.
I have touched on this topic in several podcast episodes and I will return to the topic later on – but to summarise the matter; great men shape history (Napoleon, for example) and economic developments influence the course of history to a lesser extent. In the following passage he states the following against the teachings of (primarily) Freud:
‘Against psychoanalysis, let us uphold the ideal of a personality which does not relinquish its role; an aware and autonomous personality which retains its sovereignty over the nocturnal and subterranean part of its soul and the demon of sexuality – a personality that is neither ‘repressed’ nor psychotically split, but which attains a healthy balance of all its faculties by subordinating them to a higher meaning of life and action.’
Julius Evola – A Handbook For Right-Wing Youth. Pages 2-3.
I elaborate on a similar topic in Demigod Mentality – more specifically, I discuss Plato’s chariot allegory and the different forces within us. Eros – the black horse of desire represents the sexual impulse in this allegory. Pictured below: A Compassionate Chakravarti with all parts of the soul working in harmonious union.
The Definition of Youth
Evola defines youth in the following way:
‘We conceive youth not as a matter of age or a biological fact, but essentially as a spiritual attitude, as a tone and style of life. It is defined by the enthusiasm and generosity of those who follow an ideal simply out of love for this ideal; by a yearning for the unconditional, which is inseparable from any idealism; by a taste for action; by an impulse towards renovation, matching forward; by contempt for easy living.’
Julius Evola – A Handbook For Right-Wing Youth. Page 84.
A Profound Insight
In the essay titled Biological Youthfulness and Political Youthfulness from 1974, the author shares the following insight:
‘In order to perceive their individuality, their importance, many people feel the need to get all worked up, to put themselves against something or someone.’
Julius Evola – A Handbook For Right-Wing Youth. Page 93.
Evola elaborates on a similar topic in another one of his books (Men Among the Ruins or Revolt Against the Modern World). There, he notes that the need to stir up hatred for one‘s enemies is something related to warfare of the lower castes – the Warrior (i.e. those of the Warrior caste) does not need hatred of his enemies, he simply does his duty. In my humble opinion, it is always better to be for something, rather than against something. Being for something does, of course, sometimes mean being against something that threatens that which you are for. It is a subtle but important difference – my position is always that I am for European civilisation. There is also a danger in being drawn down to a constant negative state of mind when one focuses only on what is wrong. Simply put, do not let the black-pills outweigh the white-pills! I will clarify this in a video later on.
Conclusion
As already noted, I prefer Evola‘s more esoteric writings, and there are many books of his that I would recommend before this one (I have reviewed quite a few by now). For radical socio-political commentary, I would rather recommend the works of Guillaume Faye. His Why We Fight was one of the first political books I read, and I have read a few other books of his as well (I will make a podcast episode discussing his insights). Kerry Bolton is another good author when it comes to socio-political matters. When it comes to recommending a handbook (i.e. a book with practical instructions), I would humbly suggest my own Dauntless.
Onwards!
The Way of the Tarot by Alejandro Jodorowsky
Posted on May 28, 2024
I have read The Way of the Tarot – The Spiritual Teacher in the Cards by Alejandro Jodorowsky and Marianne Costa. I read it per the recommendation of Paul Waggener in his excellent Tarot Unveiled.
Is the Tarot Legit or Just New-Age Nonsense?
A valiant companion of mine recently asked me whether the Tarot is spiritually based or just New-Age nonsense. I responded that it depends on how you approach it. A good comparison would be to Karate in America. “McDojos” are common, but there are also legitimate dojos which teach good martial techniques. I view the Tarot Arcana as containing psycho-magical teachings that can be used in a variety of ways in one’s quest for excellence. I discuss The Fool Arcanum in Demigod Mentality – it is my favourite card and has a profound meaning. I will write about the Tarot at length later on – I will also dedicate a podcast episode to the topic (soon).
My View of the Tarot
To summarise my own take on the Tarot in an as concise manner possible, we can use the Death Arcanum (card) as an example. What does it mean? It means that you should do a 24-hour fast. Death (in this scenario) is your friend that goes through your body, cleansing it (via autophagy). As I noted in Dauntless, The Black Death was followed by the Renaissance – life follows death. Therefore, the Death Arcanum is not something negative, but rather a herald of new growth!
Each Arcanum provides a teaching which you can apply in your life to optimise your journey forward. My interest lies (at the moment) in the 22 Major Arcana (there are also Minor Arcana), and it is on these 22 Arcana that I have meditated. Moreover, I have no interest in Tarot readings or using them as an instrument for divination – I create my own luck!
A Useful Insight
In the introduction, the author shares an insight which I found useful. Said insight is quite straightforward – namely that each Arcana can be seen as mirror and that one can become what is seen in them. To give a personal example, I wish to embody the stability of the Emperor (with good habits and a stable center).
The Marseilles Deck vs the Rider-Waite Deck
The author uses the Marseilles deck (as does Paul Waggener in his Tarot Unveiled). I prefer the Rider-Waite deck; my reason for this is simply that I prefer it, aesthetically speaking. I endeavour to surround myself with as much beauty as possible. Since meditating upon the Tarot is best done when imprinting the Arcana themselves in your mind, it feels better to imprint the more beautiful images of the Rider-Waite deck as opposed to the less beautiful ones from the Marseilles deck.
In the introduction, the author shares his own journey. He notes that he started to frequent a Parisian café where the surrealist artist André Breton (whom he admired) would meet with a group of fellow artists. Said artist did not have anything kind to say about the Rider-Waite deck – proclaiming that there is nothing profound in the deck and that the only valid deck is the Marseilles one.
I am not a fan of surrealism, to put it mildly – so therefore it is perhaps natural that I should have a radically different perspective than Breton when it comes to artistic preference of the Tarot.
On a similar note, in terms of his background and perspectives, the author is quite different from myself (from what I could gather from the biographical elements of the book, at least). With this in mind, it is natural that his interpretations of the Arcana would be different from mine
The Lover
In the chapter about the Major Arcana (which is, in my humble opinion, the most interesting part), the author shares what he believes the Arcana would say – for example, ‘And If The Lover Spoke’:
‘I am the sun of the Arcanum, the white sun: almost invisible but casting my light upon all the figures. I am this star: the joy of existing and the joy that the Other exists. I live in ecstacy. Everything fills me with happiness: nature, the entire universe, the existence of the Other in all its forms – this Other who is none other than me.’
Alejandro Jodorowsky – The Way of the Tarot. Page 160.
I found this quite beautiful (and useful). I got a bit of Sufi vibes from this passage as well. A mystical union with the World and Creation! On a related note, in the Rider-Waite deck this card is named The Lovers (i.e. plural) instead of the Lover as in the Marseilles deck.
Combining Cards
An interesting part in the book is the one concerning the combination of cards – this reminded me a bit of Bind-Runes. This is something I will meditate more upon. To share a combination that I came to think of: The Hanged Man (which can be interpreted as voluntary suffering) can be the base, added to this can be Death (resulting in that the voluntary suffering should be a fast). The Hanged Man with the addition of an Arcanum like the Chariot (conquest) could signify that a hard MMA-session is in order (or a similar endeavour). I will elaborate more on this later on.
Conclusion
The book has 535 pages. Some of the chapters (the one discussing numerology, for example) were not as interesting or relevant for me personally. For those who are unfamiliar with the Tarot, I would recommend starting with Stephen Flowers The Magian Tarok (review) in which the author discusses the origins of the Tarot and the Mithraic influence upon this magical system. Perhaps I will revisit parts of The Way of Tarot later on. For those who want a deep-dive and who will use the Marseilles deck, I can recommend the book.
Onwards!
Masters of Wisdom of Central Asia by Hasan Lufti Shushud
Posted on May 25, 2024
I have read Masters of Wisdom of Central Asia – Teachings from the Sufi Path of Liberation by Hasan Lufti Shushud. As the title of the book suggests, the author introduces Sufi mystics and spiritual teachers (most of whom were active during the Middle Ages) from Central Asia.
Fun Introduction
I found the following introduction amusing. Perhaps I will use a similar formulation at some stage in an attempt to portray myself as humble:
‘From the shortcomings of my unworthy pen I take refuge in the spiritual grace of the great saints, and so I offer this humble work to the perspicacious and high-minded reader.’
Hasan Lufti Shushud – Masters of Wisdom of Central Asia. Page 6.
Fasting
When introducing Baha’ al-Din Naqshband, the author says the following about his teachings:
‘He regarded ascetic practices and especially fasting as the basis of spiritual progress. He used to say: “Without the self-discipline of hunger, thirst, strenuous tasks, and ritual prayer, no one gains mystic insight and vision.”’
Hasan Lufti Shushud – Masters of Wisdom of Central Asia. Pages 59-60.
Fasting – good for soul, mind, and body! I have often talked about the physical benefits of fasting (i.e. autophagy) – later on, I will elaborate on the spiritual benefits.
Jesus in a Dream
One of the most prominent Sufi mystics, Khwaja Ahrar (1404–1490), was visited by Jesus in a dream:
‘I saw the Prophet Jesus in a dream. At that time I was just fifteen years old. The venerable Prophet was standing at the threshold of the tomb of Shaikh Abu Bakr Shashi. I fell at his blessed feet. He raised my head from the ground, saying: “Do not be dismayed, for it is fitting that I should undertake your training.” When I told this dream to certain others, they interpreted it to mean that I should become a physician.’
Khwaja Ahrar
He goes on to note that this interpretation did not satisfy him, and his own interpretation was that, since the venerable Jesus had been endowed with the power to bring the dead to life, the dream must have meant that he (Ahrar) would receive the ability revive the hearts of men.
A Beautiful Insight
The author shares the following beautiful insight from Ahrar:
‘For those who achieve this degree of insight, every atom in the universe will surely become a mirror, in which they will behold the everlasting beauty of the Divine Countenance.’
Khwaja Ahrar
He also notes that the venerable Khwaja Ahrar is buried in Samarkand. As Enjoyers of The Greatest Podcast will know, I have long wanted to visit Samarkand – so, if I get around to embark on that journey, I will surely visit Ahrar’s tomb!
Phoenix of the West
I present the following excerpt from a poem without further context. I just thought it sounded epic.
‘Love am I, my whereabouts in space and time unknown;
Khwaja Ahmad Samarqandi
Phoenix of the West am I, my mark and aim unknown. /…/
Although from every atom I shine forth like the sun,
The purpose of my shining forth still remains unknown.’
Aside from the beauty of the poetry itself, I found it interesting that the mystic used the term Phoenix of the West. Pictured below: One of my humble artistic endeavours.
Conclusion
Masters of Wisdom of Central Asia has 178 pages and is a good read for those interested in the topic. On a personal note, I would have preferred more focus on the teachings of the mystics, as opposed to listing many names and lineages (too many names to keep track of!). I would rather recommend Rumi’s Four Essential Practices – Ecstatic Body, Awakened Soul by Will Johnson (review) to start with for those unfamiliar with Sufi mysticism.
Rumi’s Four Essential Practices by Will Johnson
Posted on May 20, 2024
I have read Rumi’s Four Essential Practices – Ecstatic Body, Awakened Soul by Will Johnson. As the title of the book suggests, the author shares the teachings and poetry of the legendary Sufi mystic Rumi. The author introduces him thus:
‘Rumi doesn’t want you to remain calm and tranquil. He wants you to come alive, explode open, and become over-the-top drunk on the divine energies that live inside you.’
Will Johnson – Rumi’s Four Essential Practices. Page 4.
Good stuff! The four essential practices are: eating lightly, breathing deeply, moving freely, gazing raptly. In the introduction, the author notes that Rumi’s message is clear – that a change in psychology stems from a change in physiology. This, I wholeheartedly agree with. It is common to encounter religious teachings which do not place any particular emphasis on the body – I always approach those teachings with caution.
Eating Lightly – Fasting
The first practice, eating lightly – and fasting in particular – will be familiar to most of my readers. Fasting is great for a wide variety of reasons. I mainly do it to cleanse the body (via autophagy). If you have a hard time fasting, you can keep the following words that appear in the book in mind:
‘When you are fasting,
Rumi
You are the guest of God,
And are served the meal of Heaven.’
Speaking of which, I am fasting as as I compose this review. My standard 24-hour fast looks as follows: Butter + Coconut Coffee in the morning (like all mornings), then nothing to eat during the day. The next intake of calories is the same coffee the morning after. The recipe of the coffee looks like this: Golden Coffee Company gourmet coffee, one teaspoon of coconut oil, and half a teaspoon of butter (during winter I use a full teaspoon of butter). Pictured below: Said coffee.
Breathing Deeply
This will (most likely) also be familiar territory for most of my esteemed readers. There is a lot to be said about breathing. I found the following words insightful and useful – something to try during your next meditation!
‘As you breathe in, breathe into the felt awareness of your entire body. As you breathe out, feel your whole body exhaling.
As you breathe in, let yourself feel every single cell in your body.
As you breathe out, let yourself dissolve and merge into the outer world.
Feel your gratitude for being alive, for having life given to you so freely each and every moment in the air you breathe.Gratitude towards the world is the natural feeling state of someone in love.’
Rumi
Pictured below: Yours Truly feeling gratitude towards the world.
Moving Freely and Gazing Raptly
The teaching of moving freely can take its expression in the whirling dervish dance (the tradition originates with Rumi). In one poem, Rumi encourages the reader to learn to dance from the branches of the trees – i.e. just letting the divine energy take hold and go with the flow. Gazing raptly refers to a mystico-magical technique that can be explained as follows: Sit or lie comfortably with your friend, look into his/her eyes and relax (the gaze should not be focused but unfocused like when sun gazing). I have yet to try this technique so I cannot comment further on the matter, but perhaps I will try the technique at some stage.
Conclusion
The book has 153 pages and most of those contain quite little text (as they are made up of poems), so the book can be read quite quickly. The poetry is beautiful – appreciated reading for a Sensitive Poet such as myself! I would say this is a good introductory book to Rumi. I enjoyed reading it in the sun. Onwards!
The Golden One 
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