Dan Harms and I have engaged in a little chat over the past few days concenring H.P Lovecraft. Our previous discussions can be viewed at the following link:
I must note that Ben Nixx made the following comment:
“I’ve made similar speculations on the Cult of Cthulhu forum in a similar discussion, Dan. I am a local of Lovecraft, a Rhode Island native all of my life, & I am aware of many of the resources he might of had exposure to here. Those include the Masons as one of, if not the first Masonic lodge in the United States was founded here as well as the first synagogue in the U.S. Lovecraft also lived right down the block from Brown University which has an excellent Egyptology department. & there also exists a Hindu society that I can’t remember the name of off hand, but it was also around in Lovecraft’s day, not to mention the resources he would have had access to in New York; so yes, I can fully appreciate the validity of your argument.
Now, taking things a step further, & I’m sure I will be crucified for this, let’s examine the effect of this one story, “The Call of Cthulhu” has had on a select minority in our society over the years.
In his story, Lovecraft states that Dead Cthulhu spoke to artists, occultists, & those “sensitive” to the messages from the “other side” so to speak. Over the last 90 years give or take, that one story has influenced generations of artists, occultists, & “sensitives”. From one story of one pulp author out of Providence, RI, an entire genre has risen that spans all forms of artistic & metaphysical expression. I’m not sure of many personalities who could have that kind of phenomena attached to their name; especially one who lived such an obscure life.
Take this as pure speculation & conjecture as you will, but to me, there seems to be something to this & this evidence added to the many parallels with Aleister Crowley’s work, as well as even more ancient sources to me, makes an extremely plausible argument for Lovecraft’s initiatory experience. Whether he was a member of an actual order or was initiated by the forces themselves can & most likely will be debated for years to come, but to me, the evidence of his influence on such a grand scale speaks for itself.”
This is pretty good insight from a man who is a Gate-Walker. More of Ben Nixx’s observations can be read on his blog page:
2 thoughts on “Ben Nixx Lends A Helping Hand to The Dan Harms’ Machine”
I think that Lovecraft was a talented writer with a vivid dream life and a great knowledge of mythology, especially of the Classical variety. Using these gifts, he was able to write stories that tap into themes that have resonated with a large group of people across distance and time.
Why those themes have that resonance is the open question to which I am still considering my answer.
I’ve found that a certain amount of caution must be maintained with the “Lovecraft was an initiate” argument. HPL had acquired a good deal of knowledge through his reading in the realms of mythology and folklore, and his intellect and intuition might have helped him fill in the gaps. Thus, an argument that Lovecraft was initiated must show that he was aware of information not available save through that channel. It’s a high bar, of course.
Indeed it is a high bar, Dan. Most initiatory organizations at that time were very much under the radar so to speak. Trying to find membership rolls from almost a hundred years ago would be extremely difficult even if said organization kept them; many did not to preserve the anonymity of their membership or the members themselves were listed under different names. This, unfortunately, makes such an undertaking nigh impossible.
I would, however, like to site a point from the Greek mystery schools. I believe, & I reserve the right to be wrong as I am pulling this from memory, there was a case where an individual, or perhaps a number of individuals were able to show knowledge of the initiatory practices of the Eleusian(?) Mystery School which dealt in the mysteries of Demeter & its adherents were initiated through her cycle. The knowledge of these individuals was confirmed by members of the sect & it was also confirmed that these individuals were never initiated formally. This is documented & when I am able I will find the source where I am drawing this from; but could this not establish precedent for an initiation by the powers themselves in Lovecraft’s case thereby giving him the knowledge & also putting the uncanny resonance behind it in his medium of expression?
I think that Lovecraft was a talented writer with a vivid dream life and a great knowledge of mythology, especially of the Classical variety. Using these gifts, he was able to write stories that tap into themes that have resonated with a large group of people across distance and time.
Why those themes have that resonance is the open question to which I am still considering my answer.
I’ve found that a certain amount of caution must be maintained with the “Lovecraft was an initiate” argument. HPL had acquired a good deal of knowledge through his reading in the realms of mythology and folklore, and his intellect and intuition might have helped him fill in the gaps. Thus, an argument that Lovecraft was initiated must show that he was aware of information not available save through that channel. It’s a high bar, of course.
Indeed it is a high bar, Dan. Most initiatory organizations at that time were very much under the radar so to speak. Trying to find membership rolls from almost a hundred years ago would be extremely difficult even if said organization kept them; many did not to preserve the anonymity of their membership or the members themselves were listed under different names. This, unfortunately, makes such an undertaking nigh impossible.
I would, however, like to site a point from the Greek mystery schools. I believe, & I reserve the right to be wrong as I am pulling this from memory, there was a case where an individual, or perhaps a number of individuals were able to show knowledge of the initiatory practices of the Eleusian(?) Mystery School which dealt in the mysteries of Demeter & its adherents were initiated through her cycle. The knowledge of these individuals was confirmed by members of the sect & it was also confirmed that these individuals were never initiated formally. This is documented & when I am able I will find the source where I am drawing this from; but could this not establish precedent for an initiation by the powers themselves in Lovecraft’s case thereby giving him the knowledge & also putting the uncanny resonance behind it in his medium of expression?