“Kingship, in its esoteric sense, doesn’t mean power over others. It means sovereignty—mastery over the inner kingdom. A true king has conquered not the world, but the self. That’s why in Hermeticism, alchemy, and many spiritual paths, the King is a symbol of the integrated self—the one who has harmonized will, intellect, imagination, instinct, and spirit. The crown isn’t given. It’s earned through sacrifice, discipline, and transmutation. That’s why kingship is always preceded by the Work. You don’t get to wear the crown without walking through the fire. Even in the Bible, when Jesus is accused of claiming to be king, it wasn’t just a political accusation—it was a metaphysical one. They feared not a rebellion, but a man whose inner authority made him immune to the control of external structures. He was sovereign in a way that threatened all systems built on fear and dependence. That’s what makes kingship dangerous in the eyes of the world: it doesn’t bow. It doesn’t seek approval. It governs from within. In magick, we talk about “becoming king of your realm.” That doesn’t mean egoic dominion—it means taking full responsibility for your energy, your thoughts, your actions, your path. No more blaming others. No more waiting to be rescued. No more serving false masters—whether internal or external. The true king serves the divine spark within, and nothing else. That’s why, in the end, kingship is the culmination of the Great Work: not a throne, but a state of being. Not a title, but a transfiguration.” - Damien Echols
Mastery & Divine Royalty
The Magical Origin of Kings
James George Frazer's The Magical Origin of Kings (1920)
Magical and Religious Foundations of Kingship: Frazer argues that early kings often emerged from roles as magicians or priests, deriving their authority from their perceived ability to wield magical powers or commune with the divine. This connection positioned kings as more than mere political leaders, embedding them within the spiritual fabric of their societies.
Comparative Cultural Analysis: The book draws on a wide range of cultures, including ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and tribal societies in Africa and the Americas. Through this comparative approach, Frazer illustrates how similar magical and religious practices surrounding kingship appeared across diverse civilizations, suggesting a universal pattern in the development of royal authority.
Role of Magical Rituals: Frazer emphasizes the importance of rituals, such as coronation ceremonies, in reinforcing the king's divine right to rule. These magical practices were believed to legitimize the king’s power and ensure the well-being of the community, linking political leadership with supernatural forces.
The Sacred King and Ritual Sacrifice: The book also explores the concept of the "sacred king," a figure whose life and death were tied to the prosperity of the land. In some cultures, Frazer notes, the king was ritually sacrificed to maintain fertility and abundance, reflecting the profound interplay between kingship, magic, and religion.
In essence, The Magical Origin of Kings highlights how early kingship evolved from magical and religious roots into a formalized institution of power, with rituals and beliefs serving as critical mechanisms to sustain its authority and significance across human societies.
King of Kings: Rex Regum
The King’s Code
Divine Monarchy
Democracy is not freedom. Rule by the majority is tyranny. Rule by the masses always ends in oligarchy.
What humanity really needs is a divine monarchy, a line of Philosopher-Kings and Priest-Kings to arise. Those who lead because they are the wisest, most inwardly powerful, those who are servants of God.
The Heart of the King
“The heart of the king is in the hand of God; He turns it wherever He wills.
The King of kings rules over kings. The heart of man is in God’s hand; Wherever He wants it to go, there He guides it.”
The Metaphysics of Kingship
The Metaphysics of Kingship
• traditional coronation rites (Sumerian, Egyptian, Byzantine, Hebrew)
• sacred oil (chrism), the anointing rituals, the concept of divine right, and the mythic structure of royal legitimacy