Carroll “Poke” Runyon describes himself as “A Gentleman of The Old School” which he defines as, “One who recites classical poetry to heartless beauties while wrestling alligators.” He has lived out his Neo-Romantic philosophy as a Captain in the Green Berets, a student of Ninjutsu, a blue-water sailor, a scuba-diver, an internationally published novelist and author of adventure stories in the legendary Argosy magazine.

For more than fifty years he has been a leading figure in the revival of ceremonial magick as Western civilization’s spiritual counterpart to Eastern mysticism and native American shamanism. His background in occult study and practice is extensive: in 1970 he became the founder-magister of the Ordo Templi Astartes, which is now America’s oldest continually operating ritual magick lodge.

In 1980 Runyon received his Master’s Degree in cultural anthropology from California State University at Northridge, specializing in magick. After graduate school he took all the degrees of Freemasonry in both the Scottish and York Rites. He then undertook an intense series of Tibetan tantric initiations and training sessions under the direction of H.E. Luding Khen Rinpoche of the Sakya Order, mastering the Vajra Yogini (Goddess of the Sorcerers) system. Runyon later received the Kalachakra initiation from H.H. The Dalai Lama.

He is author of Secrets of the Golden Dawn Cypher Manuscript and has served as an officer in three active Golden Dawn temples. His articles on Magick and the Western Tradition have appeared in Gnostica magazine, Atlantis Rising, and his Church’s journal, The Seventh Ray.

Runyon’s most noted contribution to the post W.W. II occult revival has been his rediscovery and subsequent development of the facial reflection/distortion dark mirror skrying method for magical evocation.

Runyon has written, produced and narrated a video entitled: The Magick of Solomon that dramatically demonstrates the unique and powerful spiritual development system described in The Book of Solomon’s Magick. He has also written and produced the occult documentaries Dark Mirror of Magick, The Rites of Magick, and the 2007 dramatic feature length motion picture Beyond Lemuria.