LXV
-
@gmugmble said
"
@Edward Mason said
"Well, we did have books. "And however did they do it without books, way back in that day?"
Before books, learning was passed on by memorization. There were people in the community whose job it was to memorize things verbatim without distortion and recite them to others, from generation to generation.
Before that stage, there was negligible learning passed from generation to generation at all.
-
93 93/93
Well I have to deal with it some way. I guess I will just be hit if I don't catch on eventually.
There is no law beyond Do what thou wilt.
-
"And (I am quite willing to be bold on this), that is the only thing that should be preoccupying you until you attain it."
"I agree! It is, in fact, far more beautiful than any of the others - the very embodiment of Beauty."
I feel exactly that way, its funny that I never gave the K&C of the HGA much thought until I began working seriously, but now its all that seems to matter, (apart from paying the bills of course, although you can correct me on that)
I found that Liber Lxv opened up for me in a way that none of the other Holy books have except Liber Dcccxiii.
In truth I never gave the Holy books much thought at all until around two years ago, I had read and re-read almost all of Crowley's other works, but for some reason I avoided the specifically Thelemic texts for years, I guess I just wasn't ready for meat that strong.
Its also interesting to note that I discovered Sufism not long ago, coincidence? -
93 93/93
"I feel exactly that way, its funny that I never gave the K&C of the HGA much thought until I began working seriously, but now its all that seems to matter, (apart from paying the bills of course, although you can correct me on that)
I found that Liber Lxv opened up for me in a way that none of the other Holy books have except Liber Dcccxiii.
"For me it was Liber AL ch 3 from the beginning. Now I know that Ra Hoor Khuit is absolutely not my HGA. However as an Archetype I have always, even when I didn't know my azz from a hole in the ground, thought of Ra Hoor Khuit as my HGA.Again, so no one thinks I am delusional, I absolutely do know that Ra Hoor Khuit is not my HGA, But I practiced bhakti yoga for 3 years with Ra Hopor Khuit as my Diety.
Actually I haven't looked at it in a while. I guess I will read a chapter out loud tonight and see if my feelings have changed.
Keep posting any thoughts you have. It helps me because it gives me options. Also it is nice to hear others stories who have been there and done that:)
There is no law beyond Do what thou wilt.
-
@Solitarius said
"In truth I never gave the Holy books much thought at all until around two years ago, I had read and re-read almost all of Crowley's other works, but for some reason I avoided the specifically Thelemic texts for years, I guess I just wasn't ready for meat that strong.
Its also interesting to note that I discovered Sufism not long ago, coincidence?
"I've also noticed that certain books, subjects, topics, etc. seem to get sidelined in an uncanny way for me until I'm "ready" for them... something very uncanny in it, beyond just "not getting it" initially. Inclinations at a given time seem to be intertwined as well.
@Solitarius said
"(apart from paying the bills of course, although you can correct me on that)"
"It is my will to make money/that I might pay the bills/that I might continue to thrive/that i might accomplish the Great Work (i.e. K&C)" Makes sense to me, at least!
-
@Al Ha-Shema said
"
@Solitarius said
"In truth I never gave the Holy books much thought at all until around two years ago, I had read and re-read almost all of Crowley's other works, but for some reason I avoided the specifically Thelemic texts for years, I guess I just wasn't ready for meat that strong.
Its also interesting to note that I discovered Sufism not long ago, coincidence?
"I've also noticed that certain books, subjects, topics, etc. seem to get sidelined in an uncanny way for me until I'm "ready" for them... something very uncanny in it, beyond just "not getting it" initially. Inclinations at a given time seem to be intertwined as well.
@Solitarius said
"(apart from paying the bills of course, although you can correct me on that)"
"It is my will to make money/that I might pay the bills/that I might continue to thrive/that i might accomplish the Great Work (i.e. K&C)" Makes sense to me, at least!
"I've noticed that too, interesting huh? I seem to have had something of a satori moment recently and all sorts of things that I ignored before are jumping out at me in unexpected ways, I've even taken to reading the Bible! which proves that you really can find God in a pile of dung
Lol, I like that a lot, I might start doing "Will" more often, and at every opportunity.
But I tell you; you have not lived until you have recited the Holy books over a dirty toilet
( I currently clean at the College where I study to help pay the bills) It certainly give you a sense of humility, but I figured, while I'm touching the shells I may as well get down and dirty with the grossest of gross matter, mayhap I'll find a jewel hidden yet.
Can you guess my chapter of Liber Lxv!? -
@Solitarius said
" But I tell you; you have not lived until you have recited the Holy books over a dirty toilet
( I currently clean at the College where I study to help pay the bills) It certainly give you a sense of humility, but I figured, while I'm touching the shells I may as well get down and dirty with the grossest of gross matter, mayhap I'll find a jewel hidden yet.
Can you guess my chapter of Liber Lxv!?"
I'll have to try that. I'm guessing yours is chapter 1, "Subdue thy fear and disgust ..." -
93 93/93
"n truth I never gave the Holy books much thought at all until around two years ago, I had read and re-read almost all of Crowley's other works, but for some reason I avoided the specifically Thelemic texts for years, I guess I just wasn't ready for meat that strong.
Its also interesting to note that I discovered Sufism not long ago, coincidence?"I find this really odd. All I had at first was the HB. I didn't read or mess with anything else for about 5 years.
Anyway, I am over it. I am going to approach it like reading poetry.I think that might work. I am going to read some tonight and see what happens.If I have to I will just force my way through it. Either way its getting read
There is no law beyond Do what thou wilt.
-
@gmugmble said
"
@Solitarius said
" But I tell you; you have not lived until you have recited the Holy books over a dirty toilet ( I currently clean at the College where I study to help pay the bills) It certainly give you a sense of humility, but I figured, while I'm touching the shells I may as well get down and dirty with the grossest of gross matter, mayhap I'll find a jewel hidden yet.
Can you guess my chapter of Liber Lxv!?" I'll have to try that. I'm guessing yours is chapter 1, "Subdue thy fear and disgust ...""Good guess,
-
Try reading it aloud. It makes a huge difference. (Especially since you have to recite it at the end of your labors.)
-
@Jim Eshelman said
"Try reading it aloud. It makes a huge difference. (Especially since you have to recite it at the end of your labors.)"
K:)
There is no law beyond Do what thou wilt.
-
93 93/93
Well, last night I read the first chapter out loud and to my surprise it rolled off my tounge
There is no law beyond Do what thou wilt.
-
93
Oh good, I'm glad your getting to grips with it
93 93/93
-
93 93/93
@Solitarius said
"93
Oh good, I'm glad your getting to grips with it
93 93/93"
Thank you
I think time might have helped. I haven't read that Liber in a long time. I had a prejudice about it that now I find is not true. Blessed be time
There is no law beyond Do what thou wilt.
-
93 93/93
I can say that this Liber is definitely starting to sing
The following is a beautiful passage:"
- Who art thou that dost float and fly and dive and soar in the inane? Behold, these many æons have passed; whence camest thou? Whither wilt thou go?
- And laughing I chid him, saying: No whence! No whither!
- The swan being silent, he answered: Then, if with no goal, why this eternal journey?
- And I laid my head against the Head of the Swan, and laughed, saying: Is there not joy ineffable in this aimless winging? Is there not weariness and impatience for who would attain to some goal?
25.And the swan was ever silent. Ah! but we floated in the infinite Abyss. Joy! Joy!
White swan, bear thou ever me up between thy wings!
--LIBER LXV
"
There is no law beyond Do what thou wilt.
-
93 93/93
I was setting here thinking about LXV. I am amazed how one scene merges into another without a notice by me. It seamless but it doesn't "look" seamless:p I hope I made sense
There is no law beyond Do what thou wilt.
-
93
I think your beginning to get it
As you have probably noticed you can't really analyse Liber Lxv intellectually, it kind of gets into your pores and alters the way you see things, at least it did with me.
I believe that is why Probationers have to spend all that time memorising it, I find that I recite it while I work in the mornings, going over passages slowly, savouring it, and every now and then I notice a layer of meaning that I missed before, so far it has been one of the most productive areas of my practice since I became a probationer, it has informed my other practices and shed light on areas that I did not even know existed, answered questions as I thought to ask them, and really given me a sense of aspiration.I hope you get as much out of it as I am.
93 93/93
-
That's my favorite aspect of the Holy Books, and particularly Libri LXV and CDXVIII, the fact that you can constantly gain deeper insights into them (not to mention of course, the BOTL)
-
93 93/93
@Al Ha-Shema said
"That's my favorite aspect of the Holy Books, and particularly Libri LXV and CDXVIII, the fact that you can constantly gain deeper insights into them (not to mention of course, the BOTL)
"Yea . Me too
There is no law beyond Do what thou wilt.
-
Actually, I've written a son (not finished yet) for acoustic guitar using the poem in verse 1 of Ch.I of Liber LXV as lyrics. If I get to recording it I'll have to share a link