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The Glamour of Severity:

“Blessed are they whose malice is a thing of beauty, for theirs is the highest art.”

If this is your first “Glamour” post, read the Note at the bottom before proceeding.

Over the long history of human apes, the very top spot in the collective, the apex of the pyramid, has often gone to the individual who was most creatively and mercilessly severe. As archetypes, consider Genghis Khan and Joseph Stalin. Why has this pattern persisted over untold millennia?

The most obvious answer is not the right one. Individuals didn’t line up behind Genghis Khan or Joseph Stalin because they were physically afraid to do otherwise. Not initially, anyway. Eventually, yes, but not in the early days. One man, even a Genghis or a Stalin, is easily dispatched by ten men, or a hundred, or even just one skilled assassin. Without the apparatus of the collective wrapped around him, no individual can survive when numerous rivals or opponents decide he has to die, and the mere fact that they feel physically threatened would be enough to decide them. So what, then, is the answer?

Glamour. The glamour of severity. There is something in human instinct (especially among betas and omegas) that responds with subservience when confronted by unrestrained and sophisticated severity.

Severity done right is an art form. What is art? It is creativity undertaken to evoke a psychological response, and done skillfully. Glamour, in all its variations, is art. Let severity, then, be undertaken to evoke a psychological response, and let it be done skillfully, with the long-term goal being ascension up the pyramid of organizational power.

The long-term goal is critical to keep in mind. Severity for the sake of severity is sadism, which has its own satisfactions, but is not a glamour and will not reliably set your foot on the next higher step up the staircase. Sadism, in fact, can become self-sabotaging, especially if it becomes addictive, and Ego (the reality principle) is ignored. Let the goal of ascension be the lynchpin of your art, around which all else revolves.  

Skillfulness is also critical to keep in mind. What is skill? In this case it is clarity of rationale, of intention, of technique, and of observation. Why have you selected this target at this time? What exact punishment do you intend to inflict? How exactly will you go about it? How will you know if and when you have accomplished your will? Skill also entails self-discipline. In this case, self-discipline has to do with knowing if and when to abort and deciding to do so. If your rationale is unclear, or your intention is muddied, or your technique is unsure, or your observational vantage point is obscured, or you observe the fact that your actions aren’t having the intended effect – Abort.

It should go without saying that severity, to be a glamour, has to be done publicly, unless you are only trying to influence the target of your actions. There may in fact be times when you apply severity to someone specifically to achieve the subservience of that person and only that person. But often that person will be of little use to you. In fact their uselessness may factor into your calculus for selecting that person in the first place. When such is the case, your severity will need an audience in order to be a glamour and accelerate your ascension. As with everything else, be skillful in the selection and management of your audience and venue. In fact, apply all the same guidelines as discussed in the previous paragraph: clarity of rationale, of intention, of technique, and of observation. Also apply the same self-discipline around knowing if and when to abort and deciding to do so.

Finally, know yourself. The glamour of severity isn’t for everyone. You can probably already feel in your gut if this glamour is for you. Trust your gut on this. If it’s telling you to abort before you even start, my advice to you is: Abort. At least until you do the necessary mind-work to reorient your intellect and emotions. Don’t rush that process.

If you have the right ears to hear, then hear: Spare the rod and spoil the ascension.ISCHYROS DIAVOLOS!

Note:

Any of the “Bad Attitudes” from WOLFISM XIX can form the nucleus of a catharsis ritual, but only if it speaks to you and only if you’re able to have fun with it. If the one identified above meets those criteria for you, then make it the core of a cathartic ritual for yourself, and perform it. The effect of repeated performances over as long a time as feels right to you, will be to kill the part of your Superego that functions as the jailer of your natural instinct for severity.

I use the word “glamour” in its archaic sense, and I use the British spelling because it’s more likely (at least for us Americans) to conjure up archaic connotations. Vampires were said to have the power of glamour.

The Glamour of Audacity:

“Blessed are they who take the biggest portion, for because of them, the meek will go without.”

If this is your first “Glamour” post, read the Note at the bottom before proceeding.

Taking the biggest portion is an example of audacity. People like to talk about wolves versus sheep. It’s more fruitful to look at wolves versus other wolves. In a pack you have the alpha, the beta, and the omega (the bottommost). In human terms, the omegas are the meek. But what makes an alpha? People will tell you that the alpha feeds first. But why? And how does the alpha achieve its rank? Is there some lupine gladiatorial contest, in which the last wolf standing assumes the top spot? No.

The alpha doesn’t feed first because it’s the alpha. The alpha is the alpha because it feeds first. Because it dares to. Because it assumes it can get away with it and it capitalizes on that opportunity. Audacity is how it claims the top spot. It feels the audacity within itself and expresses it. The beta and omega wolves smell the audacity and defer to it. This is a potent and useful glamour. It works for humans too. All else being equal, the one who dares to feed first, or take the biggest portion, or call dibs on the best office, or claim the best bedroom, or court the best mate, or stake out the best real estate, or choose the best table or the best seat – that individual announces by such actions that it is the alpha, and all else being equal, the other humans will assume their beta or omega positions. What could be more potent or more useful than that?

There are, of course, three points of prudence to consider:

1. Identify any others in the group who practice audacity themselves or who will resist your practice of it. These are rival alphas and their strength and cunning must be accounted for in your calculus.

2. In our human society, which is far more complex than a pack of wolves, predefined hierarchies exist. Identify anyone higher up the chain who might feel threatened or insulted, or be morally or philosophically put out by your audacity, and account for them in your calculus.

3. Betas and especially omegas may not be the sort who accept their positions gracefully. Their envy of you may devolve into resentment and then, especially if they are of the most vile sort, their resentment will devolve into malice, and their malice into treachery. Your strength will not be enough against such as these. You will need your cunning as well. Account for this in your calculus.

Just don’t let your own prudence devolve into perpetual paralysis. Sometimes there aren’t any rival alphas. Sometimes there isn’t anyone higher up the chain who would care about your intended action. Sometimes the betas and omegas are the sort who know their place and are happy to occupy it. Or sometimes you’re stronger than the other alphas, or more cunning than the betas and omegas. Each situation must be assessed on its own merits. If, by your calculus, you can get away with audacity – then take the leap. Do it. Then do it again. And again. Because, as the saying goes, “It is good to be king.”

The biggest portion will feel good in your belly. ISCHYROS DIAVOLOS!

Note:

Any of the “Bad Attitudes” from WOLFISM XIX can form the nucleus of a catharsis ritual, but only if it speaks to you and only if you’re able to have fun with it. If the one identified above meets those criteria for you, then make it the core of a cathartic ritual for yourself, and perform it. The effect of repeated performances over as long a time as feels right to you, will be to kill the part of your Superego that functions as the jailer of your natural instinct for audacity.

I use the word “glamour” in its archaic sense, and I use the British spelling because it’s more likely (at least for us Americans) to conjure up archaic connotations. Vampires were said to have the power of glamour.

The Glamour of Mirth:

“Blessed are they who laugh, for they know the great truth.”

If this is your first “Glamour” post, read the Note at the bottom before proceeding.

Laughter is contagious. This is well known. It is also well known that laughter relieves tension and can even, briefly, overcome fatigue. What many don’t know is this: laughter is a magnet. It attracts people to our side and even to our cause. The natural human instinct is to draw near to mirth and to feel comfortable around it, all else being equal. Unless you’re in a very unnatural, neurotic, rigid, or dangerous situation, my advice to you will be to relax the metaphorical sphincter that won’t let you burst out with raucous amusement. People will “magically” be drawn to you like moths to a flame.

Why is this so? Evolution. Our natural instincts evolved over tens of millions of years to respond in several relevant ways.

First, mirth is a form of pleasure. It releases endorphins. Pleasure has been a compass for living things for as long as there have been neurochemicals. Like the mouse, the walrus, and the gibbon, we draw near and hover in proximity to that which feels good to us. And remember, laughter is contagious.

Secondly, nature has selected for mirth. This is unsurprising, because, as scientific studies have demonstrated, happy people make good choices. It is scientifically verified that people who are generally happy are better able to think long term. People who are generally unhappy find it hard to get out of short-term thinking, which is the domain of stupidity. Anything that causes us to lean toward a pro-survival and pro-success mindset has been selected for. It is only the Superego, working hand in hand with prior trauma, that gets in the way.

Thirdly, mirth is a sign of strength. Only the strong find it easy to laugh. The weak may accomplish it sporadically but overall they can’t rise to the occasion. They lack the ferocity. Make no mistake: It is the ferocious who know best how to laugh, and people flock to them, because they know instinctively it is good to be in the pride of the strongest lion.

Throw your head back and laugh! ISCHYROS DIAVOLOS!

Note:

Any of the “Bad Attitudes” from WOLFISM XIX can form the nucleus of a catharsis ritual, but only if it speaks to you and only if you’re able to have fun with it. If the one identified above meets those criteria for you, then make it the core of a cathartic ritual for yourself, and perform it. The effect of repeated performances over as long a time as feels right to you, will be to kill the part of your Superego that functions as the jailer of your natural instinct for mirth.

I use the word “glamour” in its archaic sense, and I use the British spelling because it’s more likely (at least for us Americans) to conjure up archaic connotations. Vampires were said to have the power of glamour.

The Glamour of Sensual Attunement:

“Blessed are they who lust, for their senses are alive.”

If this is your first “Glamour” post, read the Note at the bottom before proceeding.

Sensual attunement to your lover during sex is what happens when you allow your lust to enflame your senses. Mind-clearing exercises like Zazen can train you to gag the chattering monkey in your head at will. That chattering monkey doesn’t want you paying attention to your senses. Gag the little beast. Then drink in your lover with your eyes, your ears, your tongue, your nose, and every inch of your body’s largest organ, which is your skin. The more you drink, the more your lust will thirst.

Your sensual attunement bewitches not only you, but also your lover. Nothing enflames a partner like the knowledge that you are intoxicated by their every inch, every cell, every atom. As the fire of your libido is stoked by the sight, the sound, the smell, the taste, and the touch of your lover, your lover’s libido will in turn be stoked, flame begetting flame. As your senses drive you wild, your wildness will overwhelm all that is tame within your lover, until the two of you, like two lions, will roar with all the dark primal energies of jungles never visited by civilized man.

Why is sensual attunement so powerful? Evolution. Our natural instincts evolved over tens of millions of years to respond with heat when the mate grows heated. Estrus is not a part of our biology any longer, not because we’re less libidinous, but because we’re infinitely more so.  

Do you want the secret of how to be an exciting lover? I have given it to you. Read it and take it to heart.

Come to life! ISCHYROS DIAVOLOS!

Note:

Any of the “Bad Attitudes” from WOLFISM XIX can form the nucleus of a catharsis ritual, but only if it speaks to you and only if you’re able to have fun with it. If the one identified above meets those criteria for you, then make it the core of a cathartic ritual for yourself, and perform it. The effect of repeated performances over as long a time as feels right to you, will be to kill the part of your Superego that functions as the jailer of your natural instinct for sensual attunement.

I use the word “glamour” in its archaic sense, and I use the British spelling because it’s more likely (at least for us Americans) to conjure up archaic connotations. Vampires were said to have the power of glamour.

The Glamour of Self-Confidence:

“Blessed are the arrogant who walk like kings, for the earth knows its master.”

Any of the “Bad Attitudes” from WOLFISM XIX can form the nucleus of a catharsis ritual, but only if it speaks to you and only if you’re able to have fun with it. If the one identified above meets those criteria for you, then make it the core of a cathartic ritual for yourself, and perform it. The effect of repeated performances, over as long a time as feels right to you, will be to kill the part of your Superego that functions as the jailer for your natural self-confidence.

I use the word “glamour” in its archaic sense, and I use the British spelling because it’s more likely (at least for us Americans) to conjure up archaic connotations. Vampires were said to have the power of glamour.

Self-confidence bewitches the observer. A job applicant who is self-confident in an interview is more likely to get hired. A hopeful lover in pursuit, who is self-confident, is more likely to get a “yes” to a question like, “Can I buy you a drink?” – or, “Want to get out of here?” A manager who is self-confident in meetings is more likely to get promoted. A con artist who is self-confident is more likely to be believed. A salesperson who is self-confident is more likely to make the sale. A boxer who is self-confident is more likely to intimidate his or her opponent. A long-time lover who is self-confident is more likely to get a “yes” to a question like, “Will you marry me?” A stage performer who is self-confident is more likely to command an audience.

Why is self-confidence so powerful? Evolution. Our natural instincts evolved over tens of millions of years to favor self-confidence in lovers, leaders, and even followers, and to distrust and disdain self-doubt, diffidence, nervousness, and timidity.

If you want to succeed in life, self-confidence is mandatory. You have to learn it. Simple as that. No excuses. Anything that helps you to learn it, or to unlearn self-doubt, diffidence, nervousness, and timidity – Do. Do it now and keep doing it. Cathartic ritual can help you with the unlearning. As for the learning, the best technique is to roleplay (out in the real world, with real people, in real situations where you're pursuing real goals) what you think self-confidence looks like. Just go for it. Do your best. Fake it till you make it. Practice makes perfect. You’ll eventually, maybe immediately, see positive results, and these will have the psychological effect of watering the roots of your natural self-confidence, which will sprout, flower, and bear fruit.

Also, here’s a little trick: When you feel nervous in a public situation, tap your hand rapidly against your thigh - out of sight if possible, but either way, just do it - because even in plain view, your hand tapping your thigh is unlikely to draw attention, especially if, while doing it, you’re boldly maintaining eye contact. This technique unobtrusively dissipates the nervous energy. I’ve been doing this for over 40 years. It’s one of the most effective techniques I’ve ever found.

No excuses. ISCHYROS DIAVOLOS!