Banishing Ritual before meditation?
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Is it neccesary, or at least a good idea, to do a banishing ritual like the LBRP before attempting to meditate, Crowley never seems to speak about it in Book 4, which seems to be at least a full summary of his techniques and views on meditation; I've tried it with a LBRP once and it did not seem to matter much (but this was also when i was just learning it for the 1st time)?
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@Laertes said
"Is it neccesary, or at least a good idea, to do a banishing ritual like the LBRP before attempting to meditate, Crowley never seems to speak about it in Book 4, which seems to be at least a full summary of his techniques and views on meditation; I've tried it with a LBRP once and it did not seem to matter much (but this was also when i was just learning it for the 1st time)?"
Opinion, I speculate. It is both not necessary and at least a good idea. But in that order. In other words, follow the program - learn raja, then learn magick (or at least become practiced in one and the other until you decide where your equilibrium with it all is).
But that's just my opinion about yoga and the LBRP.
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Yeah, it depends on what you do and where you go during your meditation.
If you're doing simple asana and concentration, then as Takamba says both not necessary and a good idea.
If in your meditation you're going 'deep within' then it starts to get into astral territory, and becomes pretty necessary.
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Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
From Postcards to Probationers:
"YOGA AND MAGIC
I. Yoga is the art of uniting the mind to a single idea. It has four methods.
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II. Ceremonial Magic is the art of uniting the mind to a single idea. It has four methods.
...
"Need I say more?
Love is the law, love under will.
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thanks for your replies.
Takamba, your reply made me realize that I have been "off balance" as far as dividing my practice between magick and meditation, thus far I have been very careful to do only magick on a daily basis and zero meditation, although I at LEAST do daily the 4 solar adorations and some practice from Liber Jugorum. I also try to do the LBRH and the LRH daily, but with a roommate around this is hit or miss (fortunately, L. Resh is easier to do discreetly).
I know that I must commit fully to developing meditation skills following the practices in Book 4 and Liber E vel Exercitorum. But i am also wondering if the practices from Liber Jugorum are not to be underestimated when used in conjunction with those practices, what do you think? I have been focusing on ignoring "ruling my action" mostly so far since it seems to line up with Asana which is where I am beginning. I found an effective oath to take is not to itch myself for a predetermined period of time, this was extremely helpful when I first sat down to work on my Asana (Although I do not recommend starting off with 6 hours of no itching, I truly learned the meaning of Crowley's word discussing the oath, (although I am sure his were much more intense) when he says, "He has, perhaps, almost lost sight of it; it has become meaningless to him... but if he can stick to it he will come through". I never knew how many times I itched unconsciously! Sitting in a 3 hours class an hour into the oath became almost unbearable as I was assaulted by itches so bad I never would have gave a second thought to itching and which became extremely tempting to go for. Of course I still messed up and itched 9 times, but I opted to use a thick rubber band instead of a razor.
Anyway, to sum it up im thinking for beginners a strict practice of daily Asana exercises and work from Liber Jugorum is a great combo, I'm wondering if any one else has done this, any good oaths which helped you master Asana, (at least to the best of your knowledge)?
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That's interesting that you chose to refuse scratching your itches as a Liber Jugorum practice. I may very well try that myself!
@Laertes said
"Anyway, to sum it up im thinking for beginners a strict practice of daily Asana exercises and work from Liber Jugorum is a great combo, I'm wondering if any one else has done this, any good oaths which helped you master Asana, (at least to the best of your knowledge)?"
I can't say I am even remotely close to "mastering" Asana, but I have always found that it is far more effective when I declare that I want to sit in this one position and not move a muscle for X minutes. When I declare that this is actually what I am doing and that I am doing this intentionally, I feel as though I am harder to sway.
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Laertes,
My answer in full means to show you my entire journal of that period - but I'll cut it short: You are on the right track.
Yes, Liber Jugerum et al as you said is EXACTLY what I would recommend - an my record would show a very exciting and interesting (and specific) path of that work that you remind me of. Follow Jugerum to the word, do the exercise as described and what I did eventually turned a certain individual in my life to someone I not only didn't use the name of (etc etc et al to the program), this person in the end became invisible to me - not there even when there. It provided a certain evidence of the power of mind and thought.
Have I said too much?
Oh! And the oath you want recommended - a bit tricky but the one I had at that time boiled down simply to "never speak untruth." That, btw, even applies when in passing in a hall (in college for example, as was the time), I answered in truth (and as fully as was right at that time) "hey, how's it going?"