Powers of the Sphinx and Silence
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I have never entirely understood the concept of silence as part of the powers of the Sphinx. Is this not a formula for doing one's will, magic in the world? I try to look at very successful people who accomplish their wills and I don't usually see silence. I see all the other aspects of the sphinx in their lives/actions, but I see them verbalizing those dreams, engaging others into them, and getting people on-board to help accomplish it in the world. If one is silent, how do they bring the needed elements into play to get things moving in Assiah? Maybe something else is meant by silence? Or is there a short required silent phase needed before the 5th power (which would include the verbalizing)?
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To take just one random example of "successful people who accomplish their wills", the Tesla motor company is currently revolutionizing the auto industry through electric innovation. It required:
The Will to make a lasting environmental change.
The Daring to take on a monolithic and pig-headed industry.
The Knowledge of cutting edge electrical engineering and top-notch vehicle safety.
The Silence to develop all of this behind closed doors until a nearly perfect car could be revealed to the public.Had Tesla shared their process with the world, whether honestly spreading the joy or egotistically gloating, it's very likely that they would have been written off in the collective psyche as yet another pipe-dream in the line of failed electric cars before they even got the chance to present their result. By keeping silent until they could release the Model S in its near perfect state, they rocked Motor Trend and have now been able to double down by releasing their design to the public domain.
Silence helps you to focus energy. Talking dissipates it.
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Yeah, it's got secrets to wise use; it ain't as simple as be silent; it's knowing the right use of silence to outfit your car (since we're using the metaphor) as a vehicle of thy will.
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93,
There is a psychology study or two based upon new years resolutions. I can't remember the specific details, but those who told more people about their goals were more likely to give up on their goals earlier.
The theory behind this was apparently that telling someone you are going to do something makes your brain/mind believe that you are already doing it and working towards it. You get a feeling of accomplishment to early and therefore never complete the task.
I also think doubt plays a massive role in things. Doubt is infectious if someone doubts you, you will know it. This doubt can affect many people and can cause you to agree with the doubtful thoughts, "I'm never going to do it, (X) was right!".....thoughts become words, words become affirmations, affirmations breed behaviour.
93, 93/93.
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@mark0987 said
"thoughts become words, words become affirmations, affirmations breed behaviour."
Very well said. In everything, our concepts of the "outcome" shape the outcome. Even an "outcome" is a falsehood and is ever evolving. Confirmation bias at every step...which has its place under a certain microscope...
SIlence can be an affirmation as well, though. Silence is more of a beholding and attention, which can be absorption, or the seed of the other Powers, and even the most active of all the "Powers" in one sense - it encapsulates and resonates with the other Powers always. It is the Birthplace of Everything. The gigantic Yoni boiling over with a priori FUN.
Every magical formula has the element of Silence, otherwise it has no EFFECT. The Universe would then just be considered causes without a reception. But, the Universe and ALL of its perspectives is an equation of two seemingly different values, which is Love. It is the Silence that unites the EFFECT to the cause or vice versa. Or the Self to the Other, from another POV.
The end of all magick and mysticism is Silence. In it contains the the Whole of the System, just as the 0 is the unit or placeholder in which all numbers exist.
But then, what can we really say of Value about Silence? Just stand back and watch. Pun intended.
*Harpocrates is the God of Silence; and this silence has a very special meaning. (See attached essay, Appendix.) The first is Kether, the pure Being invented as an aspect of pure Nothing. In his manifestation, he is not One, but Two; he is only One because he is 0. He exists; Eheieh, his divine name, which signifies "I Am" or "I shall Be", is merely another way of saying that he Is Not; because One leads to nowhere, which is where it came from. So the only possible manifestation is in Two, and that manifestation must be in silence, because the number 3, the number of Binah-Understanding-has not yet been formulated. In other words, there is no Mother. All one has is the impulse of this manifestation; and that must take place in silence. That is to say, there is as yet no more than the impulse, which is unformulated; it is only when it is interpreted that it becomes the Word, the Logos. *
*YOGA AND MAGIC
I. Yoga is the art of uniting the mind to a single idea. It has four methods.Gnana-Yoga. Union by Knowledge.
Raja-Yoga. Union by Will.
Bhakta-Yoga. Union by Love.
Hatha-Yoga. Union by Courage.
add Mantra-Yoga. Union through Speech.
Karma-Yoga. Union through Work.These are united by the supreme method of Silence.
II. Ceremonial Magic is the art of uniting the mind to a single idea.
It has four Methods.
The Holy Qabalah. Union by Knowledge.
The Sacred Magic. Union by Will.
The Acts of Worship. Union by Love.
The Ordeals. Union by Courage.
add The Invocations. Union by Speech.
The Acts of Service. Union through Work.These are united by the supreme method of Silence.
III. If this idea be any but the Supreme and Perfect idea, and the student lose control, the result is insanity, obsession, fanaticism, or paralysis and death **(add addiction to gossip and incurable idleness), **according to the nature of the failure.
Let then the Student understand all these things and combine them in his Art, uniting them by the supreme method of Silence. *
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I got the impression that the question was focused on realizing a particular magical will (i.e. a particular magical act motivated by the will of Yod/Chokmah, the first power of the Sphinx) rather than the general living of one's True Will, No?
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@Gnosomai Emauton said
"I got the impression that the question was focused on realizing a particular magical will (i.e. a particular magical act motivated by the will of Yod/Chokmah, the first power of the Sphinx) rather than the general living of one's True Will, No?"
Is there a first Power of the Sphinx? If there were, wouldn't the first one be To Know? Unless you were referring to something else...
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Yes - purely as a labeling convention - the First Power of the Sphinx is To Know.
- To Know
- To Will
- To Dare
- To Hold Silence
I only know of one doctrinal reason why this matters (the sequence encodes one of the important Rosicrucian signature phrases) and can conceive of (i.e., make up) another non-trivial reason (Knowledge is requisite for knowingly aligning with Will); mostly, though, it's a communication convention.
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@Jim Eshelman said
" mostly, though, it's a communication convention."
That's how I've always understood it.
Anyway, while we're here, it reminds me of some other stuff...
Crowley attributes these to different elements and, as a result, different directions depending on the source. This would imply different Godforms are assigned to different elements/directions, if we followed out the Power of the Sphinx attributions and applied them to ritual.
What is your opinion on this, Jim? The Powers are attributed differently in the BoT and MWT than they are in Liber 111. Do you consider one of Crowley's attributions "more" correct?
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I know five different attribution sets of these by Crowley, in different times, different contexts, etc. I'm disinclined to give an opinion (though I have one <g>) because (1) at a couple of key points in formal examinations the aspirant needs to struggle with this exact issue and produce an answer, and (2) my mere opinion certainly isn't important enough to overwhelm the significant advantage of not screwing with these exams.
You haven't even mentioned those in 777, in works like De Lege Libellum, in Liber Aleph, or on a distinct and obvious document that is the very first official thing placed in the hands of a new A.'.A.'. Probationer.
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@Jim Eshelman said
"You haven't even mentioned those in 777, in works like De Lege Libellum, in Liber Aleph, or on a distinct and obvious document that is the very first official thing placed in the hands of a new A.'.A.'. Probationer."
Oh come on! I mentioned Liber Aleph above (sorry for the shorthand).
Well, I'll give an opinion. It changes! Based on the operation.
The "elements" don't change positions from the New Aeonic view, but the order in which one uses them may change, based on the operation; however, the Power of the Sphinx order stays static.
For an analogy, if one performs the signs of NOX in a particular order, it can mean something completely different than in another order...it does NOT mean one order is MORE CORRECT than any other, as some might believe - just as if one performs an action in the circle widdershins/deosil, or even spiralling on one's own axis, it simply has a different intent or, more directly, a different TARGET. Knowing this TARGET would be part of To Know.
Knowing where one "is standing" is something that needs to be considered before performing an operation (from Tiphareth, Malkuth, etc.) and where the operation is being directed toward is another consideration...
Regardless of the specific intent, to Know what one is doing, Willing it, Daring it, then staying Silent is the alchemical principle that applies to ALL operations - it does not change.
Sometimes the starting/ending point does change, but that's just an arbitrary/relative point that one chooses to view from. It's all coordinated by Spirit, which is always To Go!
This answer will be wrong by TOT standards because it would fuck up the test if you use the answer given by someone else.
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Well allow me to give a different perspective on the subject.
Actually I believe that success actually is a very distinctive mark of doing your Will, or at least that you are very close to it.
To be successful at something you must:- Objectively, have the necessary traits and skills to be able to perform it well.
It is no good for me to try being a successful businessman, I simply do not have a multitasking brain. On the other hand my actual job demands a singletaksing brain, and that makes me more efficient than my colleges that are multitasking.
- Subjectively, be free from those inner conflicts that would jeopardize your productivity at those tasks.
Being able of harnessing your emotions towards a goal is much easier if that goal echos deeply on your natural structure and tendencies.
If the True Will is the dynamic expression of you inmost nature (or psychological constellation as Jung would call), fulfilling it would automatically fufill the two conditions to be successful. Of course success should not be measured simply on a social scale but mostly by the ability to perform the chosen task.
Crowley for example, did a lot of things but, the only thing that we can say he was successful was in “teaching the next step”, that was his stated Will, that he did and did well.
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@DavidH said
"93.
I have never entirely understood the concept of silence as part of the powers of the Sphinx. Is this not a formula for doing one's will, magic in the world? I try to look at very successful people who accomplish their wills and I don't usually see silence. I see all the other aspects of the sphinx in their lives/actions, but I see them verbalizing those dreams, engaging others into them, and getting people on-board to help accomplish it in the world. If one is silent, how do they bring the needed elements into play to get things moving in Assiah? Maybe something else is meant by silence? Or is there a short required silent phase needed before the 5th power (which would include the verbalizing)?"
Well, what I understand about the subject is that silence is a tool. Most of those people do a lot of talking but, on the other hand are unbelievable discreet and self-contained. It is not about stopping communication as such, but being able to control communication.
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@Frater 639 said
"Knowing where one "is standing" is something that needs to be considered before performing an operation (from Tiphareth, Malkuth, etc.) and where the operation is being directed toward is another consideration...
Regardless of the specific intent, to Know what one is doing, Willing it, Daring it, then staying Silent is the alchemical principle that applies to ALL operations - it does not change.
Sometimes the starting/ending point does change, but that's just an arbitrary/relative point that one chooses to view from. It's all coordinated by Spirit, which is always To Go! "
I'm quoting myself because I must be lonely. Then, in answer to my loneliness!, I had someone contact me and tell me that an operation doesn't always have to be coordinated by Spirit, as in the formula of ALIM, instead of ALHIM. They were absolutely right and I stand corrected.
*The Elements are all represented, as in Tetragrammaton, but there is no development from one into the others. They are, as it were, thrown together — untamed, only sympathising by virtue of their wild and stormy but elastically resistless energy. The Central letter is "He" — the letter of breath — and represents Spirit. The first letter "Aleph" is the natural letter of Air, and the Final "Mem" is the natural letter of Water. Together, "Aleph" and "Mem" make "Am" — the mother within whose womb the Cosmos is conceived. But "Yod" is not the natural letter of Fire. Its juxtaposition with "He" sanctifies that fire to the "Yod" of Tetragrammaton. Similarly we find "Lamed" for Earth, where we should expect Tau — in order to emphasize the influence of Venus, who rules Libra.
"ALHIM", therefore, represents rather the formula of Consecration than that of a complete ceremony. It is the breath of benediction, yet so potent that it can give life to clay and light to darkness.
[...]
After the magician has created his instrument, and balanced it truly, and filled it with the lightnings of his Will, then is the weapon laid away to rest; and in this Silence, a true Consecration comes.
THE FORMULA OF ALIM
It is extremely interesting to contrast with the above the formula of the elemental Gods deprived of the creative spirit... *
-- MTP Part III Chap IV
I think this chapter is extremely relevant to the topic, since it mentions the Tetragrammation (which is the closest correlation to the Powers of the Sphinx IMHO and it does happen to be Chap. 4) and Silence specifically. Anyway, speaking of fours...may you have a happy Jupiter Day.
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In my opinion, the meaning increases in depth as one progresses through the grades.
For example, at Neophyte it may be relevant to practical applications or a utilitarian context e.g
"silence, in order to maintain secrecy". Then as the initiate further evolves the meaning becomes
more relevant to the innermost self and the paths of initiation before adeptus minor. In other words,
"silence" is unveiled to be a secret of the innermost truths that are revealed by your further progress
toward the Angel. It's important not to minimize the powers in a mundane context and leave your mind
open to greater more secret meanings (depending upon where you are progress wise). -
East quarter is where guardian shows. So at this dirrection we definitely dont need silence and dare fits best there.
West quarter is thelemic quarter, so know fits there. Altrought you can switch know with dare and see result...
Sounth is for personal changings that sometimes may try happen. I found that this quarter is very passive and nothing wants or even cant happen there. Will there.
North is space of personal activities, information, so silence fits there.
And my further intuitive toughts would be - if at east we want constant overseer of angel we put water, if we want action or reaction - will, intervention - dare, short audial messages earth. And so for other quarters, but east quarter is really most important. -
Only one quarter is a Thelemic quarter?
