Image: Otto Dix, Sunrise, 1913
Occult Sidhi in Frank Herbert's Dune and Castaneda
In my previous blog titled “The Mouth of the Sandworm Is the Wrath of God” I made an assertion that Frank Herbert used concepts from the Hebrew Kaballah in the construction of his Dune myth.
Coincidentally, I have been attempting to correlate Carlos Castaneda's concept of “splitting,” with what “new agers” might term as developing an astral self. Castaneda recounts a compelling account of the final stages of his “splitting” process, in which his teachers, Don Juan and Don Genaro, speak into his two either ears simultaneously. Aparrently, splitting can occur as the result of an intentional process. Clearly, this somewhat counter-intuitive process can be worked upon any man, but Don Juan states that he chooses his initiates by omen. I take the omen concept as synonymous with the concept of Synchronicity, yet again another topic which comes up in Aleister Crowley's work!
I suspect that “splitting” an average man, or one who is not ready for initiation,can result in insanity, paranioa or schizophrenia. The presence of Synchronicity or omen is an indicator that a specific person is ready to initiate an internal journey of living myth, a sign that they are ready for The Work.
As a result of the tactics and teachings of Don Juan, Carlos Castaneda realizes he has the occult ability to be in two physical places simultaneously. Later, Castaneda states, he is instinctively able to use his astral self to protect himself in times of great danger, even to the extent of acting on his physical realm with his astral body.
Aleister Crowley recounts a similar astral ability in the book “Magick Without Tears.” Crowley states that he entered astral form and traveled to an acquaintance's house, and attempted to knock an item off his friend's fireplace mantle. Crowley states that it helped him to turn into a bird for the initial trip, then return to human form when he wanted to effect the object. Of course, this story would not be out of place in Castaneda's writings, as Don Juan himself claimed the ability to take on the form of a crow.
It is my belief that bicameral mind theory, or to put it more broadly, the study of right brain modes of thought, gives us the theoretical tools to reconcile mysticism with science. As I have stated before, myth, ritual, and icons are the currency of the right brain. To worship logical, linear (left brain, patriarchal) thinking, as if it is the pinnacle of modern thought, leads to mechanistic oblivion. Reintegration of the right brain is key, both internally, and outwardly in the modification of societal norms.
The study of Castaneda and Crowley form a sound basis for understanding theoretical or practical aspects of developing an astral body, as well as other “right brain” attributes. I believe I also have sound proof that Frank Herbert may have also been aware of the “astral body” concept through his study of Jewish mysticism and Kaballah.
Israel Regardie, a famous and renowned Kaballist, suggested that practitioners of Kaballah study widely, but also suggested the study of semantics was helpful to such students. Crowley made a similar suggestion, insisting that his students understand the true meaning of words. On that note, lets discuss the meaning of easily the most loaded title in Frank Herbert's Dune, that of Kwisatch Haderach.
Frank Herbert, defines Kwizatch Haderach as the "Shortening of the Way.” This is the label applied by the Bene Gesserit to the unknown for which they sought a genetic solution: a male Bene Gesserit who's organic mental powers would bridge space and time.”
So what of it?
Well, According to a Dune “Wiki:” (Source 2)
“The term itself is Hebrew, K'fitzat ha Derekh, literally “the leaping way” by means of which an initiate may travel some distance instantaneously, appearing to be in two or more places at once.” From the HaZohar, or Book of Splendor, attributed to Rabbi Shimon bar-Yohai
Frank Herbert mythologizes this Leaping Way as the pinnacle of spiritual development, result of a breeding program lasting centuries. The character Paul MauDib, as Kwizatch Haderach, represents the union of vast genetic potential, combined with occult instruction, yogic exercise, and mental conditioning. The resultant Kwizatch Haderach has the ability to observe the true nature of time and space.
Sources:
1. Magick Without Tears, Aleister Crowley
2. http://Dune.wikia.com/wiki/kwizatz_haderach
3. Dune, Frank Herbert
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