Katabasis

“Descent” in Ancient Greek, meaning a “Journey to the Underworld.” Katabasis can also refer to a brief/temporary stay in the underworld. In this sense it is the reverse of Anabasis, “ascent,” given that “ascent”—as in “rebirth”—always follows a “descent” or temporary “death.” These deeper meanings of Katabasis and Anabasis connect the OC’s Book One, Masks of God, with Book Two, Soul Engineer, and Book Three, Brotherhood of Shadows. For more on how these terms affect the structure of the OC see Initiation.