neko
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Greetings!
I had the pleasure of attending the talk by James Eshelman yesterday ( 08/03/08 ) in Toronto, and really just joined this forum for the moment to say thanks again, it was a pleasure to meet a real wizard! The talk was concise, and as I mentioned to a couple of you yesterday it wrapped up nicely what I've been learning slowly over the past three years into an easily-digestible package. Lots of good practical advice as well, including the inspiration to write my autobiography for my self reference. Kudos!
However, it may happen that I actually participate on the board, so I might as well do an introduction thing anyway:
I am 25, a female, Canadian, and not a Thelemite. I have a difficult time with associations and rules which I have not made myself. That is not to say I am not curious on learning more about Thelema and it's practices.
The brief history:
I was lucky to be born and raised by artists in the country on a beautiful piece of property. My childhood was filled with love and creativity from the people around me and because of this I assumed that was the way things were everywhere. Then I grew up, became disillusioned, and as a result quite depressed, nihilistic, empty, suicidal, the whole bit. I thought a lot about death in my early teen years.Shortly after, I found that sex and drugs and general debauchery were great distractions from the emptiness.
Several years of this, and I spontaneously had an experience that suggested I stop all substance abuse all of a sudden. I listened.Three more years of sobriety, finding my footing in life, I was in a really strange situation and had an overwhelming urge to do some LSD again, which I (out of character for me at the time) ended up following through on. It was... profound. Changed my life. I re-understood Love.
So, for the last three years I've been digesting that experience and practicing various types of yoga (albeit not as diligently as I probably should be). I am not interested in yoga or magick for any of the so-called powers or to draw anything into my life, but to learn how to express Love more completely, more consistently, and with more intensity. I am extremely fortunate to have a partner who "gets it" and helps to inspire my progress in this endeavor. He's a Thelemite, and introduced me to it in a very unforced way.
I am fascinated by the variety of human experiences, life in all forms (and the exchanges thereof), understanding and overcoming fears, and developing my self-awareness. I have an incredible love for wizards, delicious food, adventure & new experiences.
Naturally there is a lot more, but much of it is irrelevant. Really I just wanted to say hello! There seem a lot of interesting characters milling about here.
As where I am right now involves being on the internet less and focusing on my own aspirations and projects more, I will probably be an infrequent visitor, but at least I know where to come if I have any questions!With Love,
Neko -
Hi Neko, 93,
Glad you were able to join us yesterday.
"I have a difficult time with associations and rules which I have not made myself. That is not to say I am not curious on learning more about Thelema and it's practices.
"Please remember the associations look artificial or imposed only until we start forming our <i>own</i> associations and making the system(s) our own. Similarly, while we have some functional rules (saying we start at 2.30 doesn't mean we begin at 3.25, please don't show up to a discussion meeting stoned and tell us we all look a really cool shade of green) Thelemites aren't big on life-rules either. If we start up a cult with tight, exclusive structures, we've defeated our own purposes before we've even begun.
As I mentioned to a couple of people yesterday, we plan on getting a discussion group going by next month where people can kick around Thelemic ideas. Yes, we hope to recruit members through using it, but we also want it to be something that is part of the overall 'seeker' community in the city, and not just a means of grabbing recruits. We'll announce it here in the Calander section when we're ready to roll.
Do drop in here on the forum as it continues to develop.
93 93/93,
EM
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Neko,
Thanks for posting. It was a pleasure to meet you. I'm glad you enjoyed the talk
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EM: Certainly I understand functional rules! I'm self-employed; self-discipline and punctuality are key to my wellbeing. Ooh, and just so you don't get the wrong idea, even though I may look like a menace, recreational drug use isn't a regular thing for me anymore, though it was a necessary part of my life to reach the point I am at now.
What I meant was that I tend to be very skeptical of so-called authority figures, and usually avoid putting myself in a position where I become part of a subculture or group which results in me assuming the group's general traits in the eyes of others.I would like to pop in to a discussion group just to see how it goes sometime. After all, my life can always use an extra splash of wizardly colloquium!
With Love,
Neko