skill level for liber astarte?
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Can a relative beginner use the practices of liber astarte or is this sort of practice reserved for more skilled practioners, is there any danger of being deceived by something besides the god you are invoking?
And can I guy invoke a female goddess or is that really gonna mess with his head if hes not ready for it?
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@Laertes said
"Can a relative beginner use the practices of liber astarte or is this sort of practice reserved for more skilled practioners, is there any danger of being deceived by something besides the god you are invoking?"
Yes, go for it if you're so drawn. (Depends on the person, of course, but I'm answering as if you asked whether there is any reason that a typical beginner should avoid it.)
Remember, though, that the nature of the practice is love, and the attitude is deep worship - very close to conventional, heartfelt religious worship. - I see the word "invoke" and immediately start worrying that issues of power + intellectual needs to control etc. will sneak in. Liber 175 is about falling in love!
And it probably won't have the same import to the beginner that it has to the Philosophus. That's OK. Take a clue from the fact that it's on the Probationer's syllabus.
"And can I guy invoke a female goddess or is that really gonna mess with his head if hes not ready for it?"
Oh, sure, absolutely. In fact, probably most hetero men will end up picking a female deity. That's not required in any sense, but it's what most probably end up picking. That is (to repeat myself), you're looking for an expression of deity with Whom you can fall in love, to whom you could devote your entire life.
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ok thanks jim this is very helpful,
for once I think my prior love of Jesus as an evangelical might actually come in handy, I remember being "caught up in the spirit" after reflecting on his love for us and I am sure those same feelings can be applied to other gods/goddesses.