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Slaanesh is the Chaos Lord of Ecstatic
Delight and Intellectual Indulgence, hence IMHO an excellent deity
for Sex Magick, a hermaphroditic being (symbolizing the bliss
of transcendence of limitations through union) whose followers
are said to "abandon self-restraint and inhibitions to embrace
the countless possibilities of mind and flesh ...dedicated to
the pursuit of hedonistic pleasures and the overthrow of all codes
of decent behaviour...", implying new areas of exploration
re: society, gender identity and sexuality- transgression of all
laws, breaking of all covenants, accepting the rejected, guiltlessness-
all aspects of the pursuit of the Left Hand Path and similar ideals.
Several things spring to mind as aspects of Slaanesh Work- the
exploration of gender and sexuality with an eye towards personal
and societal taboos and the confrontation thereof, the concept
of intentional blasphemy- transgression as a means of Illumination-
confronting one's personal fears and limitations and transcending
them, harnessing passions and ecstasy as a means of accessing
power and exploring one's limitations therein- one's tolerance
for states of gnosis and intensity of stimuli, physically-based
techniques of Magick- using the body as a tool, neurosomatic power
and Wisdom of the Flesh (and the role of such as a catalyst for
personal Illumination). The link between art and transgression-
true creativity involves breaking boundaries as exhibited by the
Surrealists in particular and embodied by the Muse who creates
desire but doesn't fulfill it in and of itself- inciting the artist
to go further and further in pursuit. As such, Slaanesh draws
on the Law of the Forbidden- that the Rejected exerts an irresistible
fascination.
The Feri concept of Blackheart- "the lascivious purity in
the hearts of children and animals" seems to connect in with
Slaaneshi thinking- a free, unfiltered flow of communication,
information and energy (communication as a form of sexuality)-
total honesty and authenticity, Saturnian "compassionless
Love" and the breaking down of imposed barriers. The concepts
of true "Innocence" and "Purity" bear little
resemblance to mainstream society's definitions thereof.
Slaanesh also aids in accessing primal, atavistic states of consciousness
through sensual indulgence.
When invoking hir in this manner (primarily through sexual acktivity)
I notice hir approaching presence as a rising blackness coming
up from "below" (not a direction applicable in the physical
world but a sort of metaphorical Below that I can't exactly describe
in words)-blotting out my ego-consciousness and allowing pure
primal awareness to take over, driven by Slaaneshi-awareness-
profoundly Magickal enhanced sensory and energetic awareness and
a sort of non-cognitive hyper-consciousness.
One factor of potential interest lies in Slaanesh's role as ruler
of Intellectual Indulgence- apparently a contrast to the more
earthy nature of the deity until one takes in to account the Faustian
path of seeking new knowledge and experiences of the mind as well
as the body.
So you see that Slaanesh is no god/ess of mere hedonism but rather
a patron of Left Hand Path
Illumination. Some caveats apply, however- Slaanesh cares not
for Hir devotees safety- one's - s/he'll show you a path but cares
not at all how you use it- you may achieve self-deification or
crash and burn- it's all the same to Hir fate lies in one's own
hands, not in Hirs. Also- Slaanesh favours authenticity over conformity
to societal or other-determined standards.
Following are some quotes from other writings;
"The very touch of the god's breath overwhelms mortal senses with the scent of delight... the slightest purr of the god's voice is enough to stimulate the senses into eternal and blissful oblivion. To the followers of Slaanesh the mortal world is grey and insipid compared to the sensual paradise of their master's affection."
"...s/he reigns in a vast and luxurious palace in the void, where favoured followers litter the floors, indulging themselves in all forms of perverse pleasures of the flesh"
"Slaanesh takes the form of a hermaphroditic humanoid, male on the left side and female on the right, with an unnatural and almost disturbing beauty. Two pairs of horns rise from hir flowing golden hair and s/he dresses in a mail shirt fringed with velvet. Hir right hand holds the magickal jade sceptre which is hir greatest treasure."
(note: this only represents Slaanesh's
primary form, s/he can manifest in any form and may base hir appearance
on what the viewer finds desirable)
"The symbol of Slaanesh combines the conventional symbols for male and female, although it is seldom worm openly by hir followers. In its place they often wear items of jewellery bearing erotic motifs. Followers dress in robes which are often opened to leave the right side of the chest uncovered, a requirement in many of hir rituals of worship. Pastel and electric shades are the chief colours, although white is often used as well. These colours are often carried over into everyday wear, although they may be modified to fit in with current fashions. Regardless of any considerations, all Slaanesh followers wear garb of sensuously high quality."
"Slaanesh is seductive as only an immortal can be, disarming in hir innocence, utterly beguiling in hir manner".
"Six is regarded as the number of Slaanesh, and is reflected in many small and large things by hir followers."
-"Realms of Chaos", GDW
I leave you with a small collection of quotes I've put together
to serve as an Invokation to the Lord/Lady of Ecstatic Delight:
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