Indeed, there has even been a formal "inner cult" developed by the OTO, with precise directions regarding meditation rites and techniques, for the purpose of communicating with the LAM consciousness. This can clearly be seen to parallel ancient shamanic trance practices, in which similar communication with similarly described entities are the goal.

Clearly, the LAM image is seen by many to be important and sacred. It is often pointed out that there is a great similarity to the modern gray alien, but that LAM lacks the all important feature of the 'wraparound-eyes.' If only Crowley had included those big praying mantis eyes, there might be some obvious connection here, some undeniable mystery to be decoded.

I have seen the portrait of LAM perhaps 200 times, and always viewed it within this idea of it being a curiously similar gray prototype. However, I dedided to 'stare into its eyes' as suggested by the OTO document.

After a minute or so, another, more familiar image emerged--that of a full blown gray. Crowley has drawn the wraparound bug eyes, and they can be seen when LAM's 'real' beady, lower eyes are negated, either as imagined, or by holding a pinky or a pencil across them. Looking at the drawing then, there is a fully formed gray-like bug eye on the right, and a lesser formed eye on the left.

I don't believe these light colored areas should or can be casually dismissed. Kenneth Grant himself notes that the white area on LAM's forehead is a "well developed Anja chakra." The other areas would seem to be of importance too. Viewing the portrait in this way, the face retains almost the exact same proportions of Strieber's gray that caused so much commotion on the Communion cover. Could Crowley have either consciously or unconsciously, visually, kind of subliminally, encoded the portrait so it becomes implanted in our collective visual record more subtly, only to make such an impact 80 years later, when its fullness is revealed?

That the gray alien has become a ubiquitous cultural icon may be no small matter. However easy it is to dismiss its presence as random, whimsical folly is a mistake. Yes, we turn on the television, and within ten minutes, can probably hope to view a local car commercial in which a wacky little alien swerves around in a flying saucer above SUVs and trucks, or walk into a dollar store and find gimmicky gray alien ID cards and alien bodies hanging from key chains.

But, the mass appropriation by mainstream culture of this gray icon may lend some credibility to what Graham Hancock asserts in Supernatural, Kenneth Grant, and innumerable theorists, writers, and ufologists assert-that, for better or for worse, this being is somehow deeply connected to us, intertwined with our existence, and may hold clues to our enlightenment and evolution as a species.

Sources:
Graham Hancock, Supernatural, Disinformation Company; Revised edition (October 2007)
Michael Staley, LAM: The Gateway, http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/cienciareal/cienciareal01.htm
Ian Blake, The LAM Statement: Sub-Figura vel Liber VIII, http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/bb/book_eight01.htm
Roddie Minor, Liber XCVII- The Amalantrah Working, http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/libers/lib729.html
Barnes and Noble, Authors on the Record, Author Chat Transcript, April 12, 1997
Whitley Strieber: The Secret School