From: Steven Craig Area: Thelema To: Gerald Del Campo 14 Jul 92 11:55:04 Subject: Black Rituals UpdReq "The rituals of the old time are black"- I never thought this should be looked at as a specific reference to styles of magick. Rather, I interpret "rituals" in such a context as the behavior-patterns we each have ingrained into us- the daily rut the "robot" within us executes without thinking. Look at each "ritual"- everything you do- and throw out those behaviors which are useless or counterproductive. That which remains, which is useful, should be looked at in a new light, and given new significance. In regards to developing a system of magick entirely divorced from GD/OTO/Masonic influences, the biggest problem that I see is that the average magickian has invested a good deal of time in learning to intuitively grok the symbol-set of those traditions, and it might be more trouble than it would be worth to throw it out and start anew. Of course, it _is_ worthwhile to scrutinize every element of the rituals you do, trying to figure out why it is there. On the other hand, it also is a neat excercise to keep the basic vocabulary, but drastically alter the style of the magick done. I have not messed with this idea overly much, outside of occassionally using music and dance as a catalyst for raising energy, integrating my usual symbols into the proceedings (i.e. a hermetic mosh pit, throwing up chaos-stars at the quarters...) Care to share your findings concerning stretching the boundaries of how to do ritual? 93 93/93, Steve 718499927771849992777184999277718499927771849992777184999277718 From: Steven Craig Area: Thelema To: Kreizenski 14 Jul 92 12:15:44 Subject: Re: Creation/Destruction UpdReq >I was profoundly struck by Crowley's description of one of his >visions... where he walked up a steep hill to find a circle of robed >Ancient Ones. When prompted for a password, he uttered "There is no >God." This was repeated around the circle, until it was returned to >him. When he had uttered it, he thought of it as a God-Rebellious >statement. When it was returned to him, the same words meant >something altogether different.... I am reminded of a parable from RAWilson's "Cosmic Trigger", which apparently comes from the Sufi: "A man who had studied much in the schools of wisdom finally died in the fullness of time and found himself at the gates of eternity. An angel of light approached him and said: "Go no further, O mortal, until you have proven to me your worthiness to enter into paradise." But the man answered, "Just a minute, now. First of all, can you prove to me that this is _a real Heaven_, and not just the wishful fantasy of my disordered mind undergoing death?" Before the angel could reply, a voice from the inside gates shouted: "Let him in- he's one of us!" Another thing worth considering regarding "there is no God" is that in the Qabalah, the name of the first veil of negative existence- the God which exists beyond all manifestation- is Ain, which means "not". (An insight which just struck me- the second veil is Ain Soph- withough limit, which might be considered the supreme name of God to the Jewish Kabbalists (who don't use the three-veil scheme). Before this energy, there was nothing but limitation... God beheld the limitation and said "Not!") 93 93/93, Steve 718499927771849992777184999277718499927771849992777184999277718 From: Steven Craig Area: Thelema To: Josh Norton 14 Jul 92 12:34:40 Subject: Re: Eight Cabala UpdReq Despite warnings to the contrary, I wonder if you could tell me where I could lay my hands on the paper "Generating the Abyss Experience", or better yet describe the technique here... I am strongly of the mindset that a magickian should explore as many states of conciousness as possible, even if some of them are not espescially pleasant. 93 93/93, Steve 718499927771849992777184999277718499927771849992777184999277718 From: Steven Craig Area: Thelema To: Kreizenski 14 Jul 92 13:08:00 Subject: Re: Thoughts : Part 1 UpdReq Good stuff, thanks for sharing it. My own views on the nature of the "gods" is that they are symbolic representations of areas of experience; they are doorways to a level of existence beyond the logical and easily definable. I do not deny the religious component of magick, but I think praying to the gods makes about as much sense as worshipping the doors of a church. Once you get past the gateway, and behold the reality of the god, rather than what the god "should" be or is "supposed" to be, there is (in my experience) a sensation of being awestuck, thrilled, exalted, and humbled. There is _not_ a desire to whine your problems, or grovel, or debase yourself in humility. In my eyes, one of my truest gods is probably art- it is an expression of the divine which is unique in that people aren't told THIS IS HOLY AND YOU'D BETTER APPRECIATE IT SUITABLY, but rather they are allowed to take it at face value, and the "god" within can come alive that much easier. 93 93/93, Steve 718499927771849992777184999277718499927771849992777184999277718 From: Steven Craig Area: Thelema To: Mike Pfeiffer 14 Jul 92 13:23:02 Subject: Symbols UpdReq Another thing to take into consideration: someone made the point that any sublime symbolic truth could be expressed in plain, unambiguous language which anyone can understand. I do not argue with this, but I think that such a process inevitably waters down the idea to the point where it loses all potency. A good example is to be found in zen koans and qabalistic arcana- one could probably spell out such things in easy, unabtuse language, and its effect would be null without the intermediate confusion, twisting of brains and perspective, etc. Also, any valid symbols works on many levels, and therefore a paraphrase is likely to kill off all of those except that which the translator picked up. (Out of time; more later...) 93 93/93, Steve 718499927771849992777184999277718499927771849992777184999277718 From: Neuro Sonic Area: Thelema To: Gerald Del Campo 14 Jul 92 21:25:36 Subject: Re: POLITICAL stupidity UpdReq >I've been interested in writing some amendments which echo Thelemic > POV's Let me know too! I Do Vote! Although this term it looks like S. Craig's vote is the most attractive SC>Write in for CTHULHU! "Why choose the _lesser_ evil? Neuro Sonic 718499927771849992777184999277718499927771849992777184999277718 From: Neuro Sonic Area: Thelema To: Steven Craig 14 Jul 92 21:31:26 Subject: Re: Black Rituals UpdReq >Gnostic Mosh Pit Yes, i also enter new realms, when involved with Dance. Why don't we get a group to go clubbing and design a rite for the Floor. (free- form) I have practiced the LBRP in the middle of my dance trance before, and with all the Freaks (I luv 'em) that are out there shakin' their thang's no one even notices the fact that I'm flinging Pentagrams everywhere! Love is The Law. Will Love Neuro Sonic 718499927771849992777184999277718499927771849992777184999277718 From: Nekhekh Area: Thelema To: Frater Almost 14 Jul 92 20:51:52 Subject: Re: SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING BLUE Rec'd UpdReq Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. > Hmmm..... I can't really say that I've ever used that but it does > look intriguing. I'll deffinitely look into it. WHere can I find a > copy? I have Israfel in my copy of _Gems from the Equinox_ but I've > never even seen thhat ritual before! I'll try to look it up. It's in THE EQUINOX OF THE GODS. Since the Falcon thing's blown over, you should be able to purchase a copy and not feel bad about it. Love is the law, love under will. Nekhekh 718499927771849992777184999277718499927771849992777184999277718 From: Frater Almost Area: Thelema To: Nekhekh 15 Jul 92 00:15:50 Subject: Re: SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING BLUE UpdReq I'll do just that! Thanks, Bro! Now that Hyatt has stopped this little totalitarian tirade, I think that it just might be "okay." :) Pax. 93 718499927771849992777184999277718499927771849992777184999277718 From: Josh Norton Area: Thelema To: Nekhekh 14 Jul 92 12:29:00 Subject: Re: LIBER AL UpdReq >Well, why are you trying to hang out with Dianics, anyway? >Or do you like having your Genotype and Phenotype examined >closely by strange women? I don't TRY to hang out with them. Had enough of that crap at college (good ol' Antioch, where Radicalism is a Way of Life). Like extremists of any stripe, they are better ignored -- attention just encourages them. But at the time I was living in the Cleveland area, a group of the local Dianics were VERY much into the activism thing.... invading other people's meetings, getting down on the males there, trying to convice the females that NO male had any contact with the Goddess and that She wouldn't even appear as long as they were present. Being the contrarian that I am I had to argue, rather than being sensible and just shooting them. Thus I became THE ENEMY, and was subject to a campaign of dirty tricks and anonymous defaming letters for several years. * SLMR 2.1a * What does it all mean, Mr. Natural? 718499927771849992777184999277718499927771849992777184999277718 From: Tony Iannotti Area: Thelema To: Nekhekh 15 Jul 92 09:33:10 Subject: Re: SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING BLUE Sent UpdReq -=In a missive of 14 Jul 92 20:51:52, Nekhekh said to Frater Almost=- (regarding Re: SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING BLUE) N> It's in THE EQUINOX OF THE GODS. Since the Falcon thing's blown over, N> you should be able to purchase a copy and not feel bad about it. In fact, that one is pretty well printed, and on good paper, though not in a sewn binding. There will be hardcover versions available from 93 and Falcon itself, as noted on the copyright page. 93! ... A closed mouth gathers no foot... 718499927771849992777184999277718499927771849992777184999277718 From: Tony Iannotti Area: Thelema To: Frater Almost 15 Jul 92 09:34:20 Subject: Re: SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING BLUE Rec'd Sent UpdReq -=In a missive of 15 Jul 92 00:15:51, Frater Almost said to Nekhekh=- (regarding Re: SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING BLUE) FA> I'll do just that! Thanks, Bro! Now that Hyatt has stopped this FA> little totalitarian tirade, I think that it just might be "okay." :) Don't forget that it was his minion, not Hyatt that started it, and Hyatt that cooperated. ... We need an Alexandria they cannot burn! 718499927771849992777184999277718499927771849992777184999277718