“Sing, clear-voiced Muse, of Hephaestus famed for inventions. With bright-eyed Athena he taught men glorious crafts throughout the world, -men who before used to dwell in caves in the mountains like wild beasts. But now that they have learned crafts through Hephaestus the famed worker, easily they live a peaceful life in their own houses the whole year round.
Be gracious, Hephaestus, and grant me success and prosperity!”
-Homeric Hymn to Hephaestus
God of Metallurgy
The god Vulcan (Hephaestus in Greek) was the god of volcanoes, blacksmiths, metallurgy, and masons. He was described as bulky and misshapen, working constantly in his fiery forge to create jewelry, armor, and other equipment for the gods of Mount Olympus.
“He designed Hermes‘ winged helmet and sandals, the Aegis breastplate, Aphrodite’s famed girdle, Agamemnon’s staff of office, Achilles’ armor, Heracles’ bronze clappers, Helios’s chariot, the shoulder of Pelops, and Eros’s bow and arrows. In later accounts, Hephaestus worked with the help of the chthonic Cyclopes- among them his assistants in the forge, Brontes, Steropes and Pyracmon.Hephaestus built automatons of metal to work for him. This included tripods that walked to and from Mount Olympus. He gave to the blinded Orion his apprentice Cedalion as a guide. In some versions of the myth, Prometheus stole the fire that he gave to man from Hephaestus’s forge. Hephaestus also created the gift that the gods gave to man, the woman Pandora and her pithos. Being a skilled blacksmith, Hephaestus created all the thrones in the Palace of Olympus.” [source]
The Transmuted Sexual Fire
Samael Aun Weor refers to the forge of Vulcan as the capacity we have within ourselves to spiritualize our sexuality. Within the gnostic esoteric work is the process of transmutation of the sexual energy. It is necessary to comprehend that the sexual energy is the consciousness, and is the foundation for the possibility of spiritual development. When there is a commitment within ourselves to transmute the sexual energy then we have the fire necessary to create the soul and to eliminate the ego.
“The flaming forge of Vulcan is found in the Ninth Sphere. This forge is sex! Mars descends into the Ninth Sphere in order to re-temper his sword and to conquer the heart of Venus (the Venustic Initiation); Hercules descends also in order to clean the Augean stables (the stables of the Soul) with the sacred fire; and Perseus in order to cut the head of Medusa (Satan, the psychological “I”) with the flaming sword. The esotericist student has to deliver the head of Medusa (lodged with serpents) to Minerva, the Goddess of Wisdom.
The Venustic Initiation can only be conquered in the flaming forge of Vulcan!
Absolute purification can only be achieved in the flaming forge of Vulcan! The psychological “I”, the “myself,” which is the Satan mentioned in the sacred Bible, can only be decapitated in the flaming forge of Vulcan. Whosoever wants to enter into the sacred city of nine doors (that is mentioned in the Bhagavad-Gita) must be resolved to descend to the flaming forge of Vulcan.
-Samael Aun Weor, Logos, Mantra, Theurgy
“Oh, you!… the ones who courageously descend into the Averno in order to work in the flaming forge of Vulcan (sex), listen to me.
As the fetus remains nine months within the maternal womb, so this entire humanity remained for nine months within the womb of Rhea, Ceres, Cybele, Isis, the Cosmic Mother.
Vulcan works within the Ninth Circle of Inferno forging the indomitable iron with the living fires of this planetary organism. People with Thelema (willpower), men and women with a willpower of steel, you must work without rest within the Ninth Sphere (sex). Venus, the Divine Mother Kundalini, is, has been, and always will be the priestess spouse of Vulcan, the Third Logos, the Holy Spirit.
The Igni-potent God of Fire descends from the marvelous heights of heaven into the tremendous forge of the Cyclops. With a great voice, he demands the presence of his three brothers, Brontes, Sterope, and Pyracmon, who are living symbols of the elemental creatures of the air, the waters, and the perfumed earth.
The work in the forge of the Cyclops (sex) is terrific. Here, the tempestuous lightning and the secret forces of the storm, as well as the hurricane-like winds, collaborate in the effort. Here, lead is transmuted into gold, and the steel of the flaming sword is tempered.
Here, the gigantic protector shield of the soul is forged. That shield is enough to stop the strikes of the most terrible tenebrous armies. It is an argentine armor, a splendid shield formed with transformative atoms of a high voltage, which reside within the seminal system.
It is a divine auric shield, which is septenary within the intimate constitution of the true Man.
The sexual cavern trembles under the erotic pressure of the bellows during the Maithuna, and strong, sweaty arms strike the anvil with a rhythmic effort. Aeneas looked like a God while challenging the arrogant Laurentians and the impetuous Turnus to combat. When rejoicing with the gifts of his Divine Mother, Aeneas dressed himself with weapons made by Vulcan.
Behold here the Solar Bodies, the terrific crested and fire-spurting helmet, the flaming sword, and the huge, unyielding breastplate of blood-red bronze, as well as the polished greaves and the fabric of the shield engraved with innumerable figures.
There, on that auric, luminous shield, Vulcan, the Third Logos, the Holy Spirit, engraved astonishing prophetic scenes.“
-Samael Aun Weor, Magic of the Runes
Sex and Spirituality
The reality of sex cannot be ignored. Sex has the power to create. With the sexual energy it is possible to create another human life. With the sexual energy conserved and transmuted we create internal light, strength against the darkness of the ego, and establishment of the virtues and the chariot of the soul.
With sex we are always on the verge of creating more light or more darkness. More psychological maturity, wisdom, compassion, and stamina for spiritual practice. Or more pain, more compulsions, more blindness to other’s suffering.
Sex cannot, and should not, be eliminated, ignored, or suppressed, or the physical and mental health can be compromised. Wisely transmute the sexual energy to generate the fire in the forge of Vulcan.