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About The Fallen Ones, also Known as Nephilim

By Frater IAM, Magister Templi of Ordo Rosae Crucis

Fratres et Sorores, I will tonight speak of an odd group of beings, who don't seem to easily fit in with what we know about the rest of reality, at least from the views of some mages. These rare beings, variously known as the Nephilim or Fallen Ones are apparently independent Avatars, who move from person to person, capable of independent thought and magick.

Their origin is unknown, although they explain themselves as formed out of the primal fields of Quintessence, moving through humanity in order to purify themselves and finally Ascend. Some mages believe they are the result of extremely potent magick which somehow has severed the link between a human and his Avatar, maybe some form of Gilgul. Others claim the Nephilim are the result of mages straying so far from the path towards eventual Ascension that their Avatars fled to seek their own Ascension without their fallen hosts.

There are four types of these beings, which correspond to the four elements and essences. Pattern and Earth, Questing and Fire, Dynamic and Air, Primordial and Water. The Nephilim seem to regard these divisions as very important, and their personalities often reflect their element. Fire beings tend towards violence, action and passion, while Earth beings tend towards stability, stubbornness and materialism. It's worth noting that they do not themselves believe in our notion of Avatar families.

In most cases, the Nephilim are reincarnated into human bodies and spontaneously Awaken either randomly or when subjected to the presence of strong magick. They rise to the conscious level, and take over the body of their host. The host consciousness seems to become suppressed by the power of his Avatar (they have sometimes been described as "inside out people"). The Fallen Ones seem to be unable to leave their bodies except at death, when they are reincarnated. Some escape their hosts by committing ritual suicide.

Their magickal powers are roughly equal to a normal mage's, but they do not require foci. On the other hand, they seems to fear Paradox much more. It appears to cause them actual physical pain, and they usually rely on very subtle coincidental magick. Due to their long existences and close connection to magick, they are usually very powerful mages.

The goal of the Nephilim seems to be mystical in nature. They appear to seek personal Ascension, mainly using mystical methods of meditation, gnosis or arcane study. In this matter they can sacrifice their current hosts, or anyone else standing in their way. In fact, they appear to search for enlightenment desperately, as if they were filled with a burning inner need for perfection. This supports the theory that they are escaped Avatars seeking Ascension on their own.

How long have these beings existed? No one knows, but my research implies they may have existed since ancient times, quite possibly before written history. Due to their reincarnation, they spend much time in an unconscious state deep within their hosts, and it appears that they can remain dormant through many incarnations. Some of them claim to have been famous people or even the truth behind the ancient Egyptian gods.

Needless to say, different Traditions have very different views of the Fallen Ones. In my research I have discussed them with fellow scholars from the Celestial Chorus, Ahl-i-Batin, Euthanatos and Akashic Brotherhood. It was the Celestial Chorus who named them the Fallen Ones. According to their doctrines, the Nephilim are guardian angels who have stepped out of line, refusing to obey the dictates of the Highest and instead tried to reach Ascension by themselves. They turned their backs on their duty to help mankind. They are fallen, and will remain a disharmonious part of Creation until they realize that the only way towards Ascension is to follow the divine Will.

The Ahl-i-Batin scholars I met called them the Watchers, the First Race or sometimes the Djinn. According to the Koran, Allah first created these beings but had later forsaken them for humanity, who showed greater promise and had free will. There is a warning in one of the suras of the Koran against any contact between the races, on the penalty of eternal damnation. However, due to the great magickal prowess of the Djinn some human sorcerers apparently summoned them to use them, allowing them access to our plane of existence. The Ahl-i-Batin apparently do their best to trace the escaped Watchers (so named because they see all of our reality from their own plane) and bring them back into the fold.

The Euthanatos actively hunt the Nephilim. They regard them as one of the worst perversions of existence known, a Kia who has been polluted by the lower will of an incarnation and now moves along the wheel polluting new reincarnations. The Euthanatos apparently seek to capture them and subject them to Gilgul in order to prevent further contamination.

The scholar of the Akashic Brotherhood with whom I discussed claimed the Fallen Ones were an almost purely Western phenomenon and were practically unknown in the east. He speculated that the widespread belief in reincarnation somehow limited their activity, but this seems doubtful. Another explanation which may or may not be true, is that the Fallen Ones were once defeated in the east and driven west. However, no one has any idea when this happened, who did it and why.

To sum up, the Fallen Ones, or Nephilim, are among the most bizarre beings our Order have ever encountered. They don't seem to fit in with our current theories of the nature of the Avatar, and might even be something else altogether. Their magickal powers are great, making them fearsome adversaries and powerful allies. Their single-minded seeking of Ascension is both fascinating and most dangerous, perhaps best seen as a warning against letting the Seeking overcome our humanity.

Ateh. Malkuth. Ve Geburah. Ve Gedulah. Le Olahm Amen.