A Man for All Seasons

Written by Jess Jones

Frater Nox. Director, writer, actor, chaos magick icon, and now creator of the online world, Sidarhael, This is a flat-earth, fantasy world where we are invited to lose ourselves in carefully crafted and expertly moderated Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.  If you think this just another role-playing module, then (like any undertaking that Frater Nox puts his hands to) you will be surprised and challenged.

Frater Nox is no stranger to the online occult community.  Many may remember his time as an Admin for CMG 1.0 prior to “The Forgettening”, as well as for the later iteration of CMG 2.O.  He served for a while on the Advocacy Council during the creation of the Learning Annex, and currently he is the founding member of the Chaos Beta group and can be found bumping around as a member of the Chaos Magick Guild.  

I can still recall the very first conversation that I had with Frater Nox.  He had posted his film Cognito and I made a poke at artists and film.  In many ways it has set the tone and the fundamental aspect of our discussions. 

“ I am perplexed. But the time is now. Can I now prove that my inner world and the inner world of those that I have come to impress is in fact the same place? Impossible. But who am I? I am a million things. I am the constructs expected of me by the nodes I encounter. I am the man who is no longer the man I was yesterday. I have arrived. I am awake. I am on time.” 

• (Comments on his film Cognito.)  

In this vaunted film, you can see the display of existential tension between the object of a story and the writer, acting as both creator of the story and observer.  In the process of creation, it is impossible for some part of the Author not to be displayed in the creation, written, drawn, or media presentation.  This film, Cogito, requires that the viewer not only consider the story but consider the story as having an impact on reality.   

In many ways it is not an unexpected step for Frater Nox to be drawn to the concepts and applications of Chaos Magick. It almost stands as a contradiction and would seem counterintuitive when one considers that he is also well known for his study and standing as a Thelemite.  The irony has brought me no end of amusement. 

A second film that he directed, Nova, was featured at the New Zealand International Film Festival in 2002. Once again the subject is aspects of our perceptual reality where the characters function more like simple props while the real process of perception can be seen in the camera focus and angles. The viewer is forced to see the world from unusual and different locations as the subject struggles with cognitive dissonance and the changing of his internal reality. I would argue that his expert and creative use of perspective has more to do with conveying the underlying process and delivers the viewer to the sudden and inexorable realization that the reality which we desire first starts within our mind and is then created through a force of determined will and action. For the dynamic use of light, angle, and perspective the film is quite noteworthy.   

It seems that the underlying process of Frater Nox’s journey continues to be finding ways to express the idea of reality being something that is amenable to the will and mind; that through the process of creative expression in all its forms we can unlock realms of internal magic and focus to create our own subjective reality.  In this one can see the working of his Thelema perspective.  

Frater Nox took a long break from the online community, and set out on a journey that allowed him to find his partner in life and the remarkable ability to undertake creative works and efforts.  The two of them now reside in New Guinea where they have created a studio of sorts and build for themselves a creative grotto from which to explore their individual purposes and explore their occult understanding. 

Frater Nox now works with his wife and partner. Together, the pair published the Codex Memetica, which has received critical acclaim and provides a forward thinking, if not revolutionary method of occult practice and application that creates a readily accessible approach to the Hermetic Kabbalistic construct. 

Recently, in the last several months I looked up and suddenly he had returned.  No fanfare, no warning, and with little fuss there he was.  And once again, not to be anything other than his inner self, he was creating, or rather, recreating himself. Through the creative process of storytelling, character construction, and being a guide for others he has brought to the community the chance to access parts of themselves and discover how immersion in the art of imagery can open internal resources that can fundamentally change their existence. 

Frater Nox has created an entire world in Sidarhael, which he invites people to experience through the venue of D&D. As the master of the experience, he has crafted exquisite and thoughtful modules for individual or group quests. He brings all the tools of his craft to focus, making the experience not only an enjoyable and challenging quest for those who enjoy first person role playing but also ensures that the opportunity presents tools for interior growth and progression.  

I have taken the time to watch several of his videos which feature him as the DM as well as the players who participate in one of his journeys through Sidarhael.  One of the first things that becomes apparent is that he is a master of visual and narrative expression as he interacts with the players and weaves the adventure. He acts as both external personalities within the story and the subtle hand of providence guiding the direction of the adventure.  

Through careful use of concepts and images he chaperones players as they confront obstacles that are designed to not only provide a sense of challenge and entertainment but also, if one takes the time to discern the process in its entirety, provide them conceptual tools that if applied could be used in Magical practice and internal perceptual focus. 

What makes the process unique and unlike other D&D undertakings is the purpose of the journey. After the quest is completed, the player will have gained more than simple experience points for their characters -- they will have gained experience for their own character.  

Sidarhael has been crafted by an occult mind of well known ability who has taken careful control over the minutia and every aspect of image and form.  Frater Nox uses this to his players’ advantage as he moves the tale from place to place and through one experience after another. Each moment is crafted with the will and awareness of someone with a purpose and point.  

I look back through the years of messages back and forth with Frater Nox, and the underlying truth of his journey is that he challenges those around him, but none more than himself.