Above carving from Karnak

Reading the Egyptian god Seth (Set)

(draft only - work in progress)

(Literature for neo-pagans, khemetics,

reconstructers)

Compiled by Mogg Morgan, (Companions of Seth)

(a) Theoretical/Academic
(b) Practical/Theurgic
(c) Fiction

A. Theoretical/Academic
The two classic, essential texts, representing two contrary views
about the god are:

Gwynn-Griffiths (1960) The Conflict of Set and Horus, a

study in the ancient mythology from Egyptian and classical
sources, Liverpool

H Te Velde (1967) Seth, God of Confusion: A study of his role

in Egyptian Mythology and Religion, Brill.

The Te Velde is the acknowledged authority these days and his

view that Seth was always “malign” is fairly ubiquitous. Even so,
Gwyn-Griffiths’ study of an earlier, more nuanced mythology, still
has important academic adherents.
Other core texts are
H D Betz (1986) The Greek Magical Papyri in translation,
with demotic spells, Chicago
Despite the name the above is an important Egyptian collection of
magical books, the practical counterpart to the Corpus Hermetica.
There is much of Sethian interest and many practitioners focus on
one or two of these complex rituals, recreating them in a post
modern context.

Robert Ritner (1993) The Mechanics of Ancient Egyptian

Magical Practice, Chicago
This award winning book reveals much of the working practice of
Egyptian magic and in passing about the nature of Seth, who
figures in many of its paradigms.

Joan Lansberry (2012) Images of Seth: Changing

Impressions of a multi-faceted God, Mandrake
An exhaustive gazetteer of the images of Seth from the earliest
times to the present, with explanations of where they are and what
they mean, with useful bibliography.

B. Practical/Theurgic
Practical texts extract information from authentic ancient and
original mythology in order to provide practical techniques,
meditations, rituals etc that are still relevant and can be used by
neo-pagans in the modern world. They often also contact
theoretical insights and formulations of theology/ “Hermeneia”.

Billy Walker John (2003) The Setian

A gem of a book, very good primer

Stephen Edred Flowers (2009) Hermetic Magic: a post

modern papyrus of Abaris, Weiser
Thoughtful and useful compilation of philosophy and liturgical
material for the modern Khemetic mage. On the whole quite a
neutral approach to Egyptian magic, his description of Seth is given
on page 89-90. On page 14 he outlines a “postmodern” rejection of
progress:

“Postmodernism is … freedom from the pervasive modern idea of progress. – the idea
that as time goes on, by applying increasingly rationality and scientific methodology,
the problems of the world will be universally evaporated in the light of pure reason.
The postmodernist realizes, as did the ancients, that such progress is only possible for
individuals. Furthermore, the postmodernist is free of the constraints of modern
progressivism: To the modern if it’s not new, if its not the latest thing, then it is
“retrograde” or “reactionary” and hence unacceptable. Post-modernists are free to
synthesise elements from all phases of human history – in any shape or form that suits
their purpose.” Other “new right” authors associated with the author promulgate a
similar philosophy and also reject liberalism and democracy.
Kenneth Grant, Aleister Crowley and the Hidden God
(Muller)
One of the first to reinterpret the magician Aleister Crowley from a
more Typhonian point of view. Can be obscurantist but
nevertheless has inspired many with his poetic version of a magical
tradition.
Mogg Morgan (2005) Tankhem: Seth and Egyptian Magick,
Mandrake
A collection of linked essays that lay out themes and techniques to
be used in exploration of the Sethian mythos. These include
“ordinary language trance”; “erotic landscape”, decoding the
temple of Osiris to reveal Seth; parallels in Hindu tantrism, etc.

Mogg Morgan (2005) The Bull of Ombos: Seth & Egyptian

Magick II, Mandrake
A long exploration of the mythology of Seth with a suggested
identification of key ritual techniques such as Eucharist magick.
Appendices with transcriptions of key texts such as Conflict of Seth
& Horus; Tale of Two Brothers; Setna’s Story etc.

Mogg Morgan (2011 ) Supernatural Assault in Ancient

Egypt: Seth, Evil Sleep & the Egyptian Vampire. Mandrake
Further research into sacraments of Egyptian magick together with
material on a class of dangerous spirits and techniques to work
with them. Appendix has complete oracle texts related to this work.
Ancient rites for Nephthys analysed for use.

Mogg Morgan (2011)The Wheel of the Year in Ancient Egypt:

Prayers, Poems & Invocations for the lunar & civil year.
Mandrake
Seth was, amongst other things, an important lunar deity in Egypt.
This is a study of the relatively unknown calendar of Ancient Egypt
as used by the archaic Sethians. It has a suggested pantheon of
archaic gods from the “Sethian” period. Includes an outline of
suggested liturgy based on ancient sources for use over the course
of the lunar year. Several appendices of difficult to obtain material
including rudimentary tables of lunar omen, inviting the reader to
experiment and supplement the list.

Mogg Morgan (2014) Phi-Neter, power of the Egyptian Gods,

Mandrake
A long study on Egyptian daemons, their relationship to stellar lore
and Seth with a complete ephemeris of their timings. Hermeticism
is explored and various other useful magical techniques of Egyptian
magick – includes a workable version of Book of Gates from temple
of Sety I at Abydos.

Nicholas Schreck (with Zeena) Demons of the Flesh: The

Complete Guide to Left Hand Path Sex Magic
Controversial for many for their political views which are an
unwelcome aspect of otherwise important research. These are well
known advocates of a religious approach to Seth, although
surprisingly no dedicated monograph on the topic currently in
print. Their group, now called Sethian Liberation Front, recently
issued the following statement that goes some way to distances
them from some past unpleasantness:

“It should be obvious that the male-dominated, caste-based, and rigidly dualist
National Socialist ideology, with its emphasis on "family values" cannot be reconciled
with the sexual adoration of the feminine, the breaking of caste and social
conventions, and the radical non-dualism essential to the left-hand path’s way to
liberation. National Socialists would have vilified such transgressive practices for the
same reasons that India’s Aryan Brahmins revile the left-hand path to this day...the
historical record makes it clear that, from its inception, the SS persecuted and arrested
German esotericists, mystics, sex magicians, and even sympathetic rune revivalists,
making it a poor model for any kind of left-hand path practitioner. Similarly, the
worship of a Middle Eastern deity such as Seth, a sexually ambiguous nomadic desert
god known as the patron of foreigners and strangers, the cosmic hypostasis of
dissidence and chaos, would surely have been found repugnant by the Third Reich’s
xenophobic and order-obsessed worldview.” Sethian Liberation Movement /
www.zeena.eu
Don Webb (2011) Seven Faces of Darkness, Runa-Raven
“Here is a book which penetrates to the core of the Typhonian
current active in the world today-- and does so by returning to the
very fountainheads of Setian practice and philosophy.” Short
monograph by well respected former head of an important modern
sodality known as the Temple of Set, found circa 1975.

Don Webb & Judith Page (2017) Set

Compilation

“Behold, I am creating everything anew”

Another landmark in the rise and rise of Egyptian Seth. Both authors are well-known
advocates and devotees of this now, not so hidden god, whose influence on the
modern occult revival is difficult to ignore. Co-author Don Webb, calls this his
“religious text” and what is on offer is a complete survey of the historical and mythic
field together with extended liturgy and rites, some reconstructed from ancient
sources, some created anew. Illustrated throughout by Judith Page, who has also
redrawn many famous images or vignettes for the collection, together with
informative essays, crucial topics for the mythos. I was particularly struck by Don’s
admonition that this book is for the hopeful; “an antinomian stance on a polluted and
troubled world” – despite which, a life affirming Seth is at work behind the scenes,
creating wealth & reducing poverty. Essential stuff (Mogg Morgan author “Phi-Neter:
Power of the Egyptian Gods”)