Babalon 2.0
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I've been poking about the site, looking up past discussions and references to Babalon, and not really finding a focused discussion on her nature and significance. For the most part she is constantly being related to Binah, the ordeal of the Abyss, and other worthy concepts. By contrast, I am writing out of a need, or better, a desire to comprehend her as someone/thing unique and independent of these other constructs.
You know how there are times when you just sense or feel the greater presence of something—it seems to be everywhere, increasing and dominating, at first a subtle joy and eventually becoming a palpable, growing tension?
On that subtle level where the imagination reaches out and attempts to make sense or give shape to this type of premonition it seems to me as if something is coming, something incredible, vast and small, terrible and demanding of love and absolute devotion. Like some Tibetan goddess of destruction and liberation I hear the footfalls of her bare feet. She/it scoops up all the darkness and all the light, defying the apparent polarity of the traditional symbols; and in this gesture my normal, critical approach to almost everything in this world of magick and mystical endeavor is undermined and I almost feel ready to throw it all away, a gesture of love, a bouquet of roses—like Attis in the poem by Catullus where he castrates himself out of love for the goddess Cybele.
Well, it's just a sense, but dwelling on it tends to produce similar flows of images, associations, and feelings.
Things I think are related include my second full reading of Visions and Voices. The first time was with the recommended tarot meditations, without reading the commentary; the second round has been a careful reading, spending time on the comments with the idea of following the thread of the text and commentary much more carefully.
Also, I have managed to attend every one of the Enochian Visions study group in Venice so far, and this has had a decided effect on my state of mind, especially in regards to my dreams where the presence of Anima figures has increased dramatically.
Lastly, in some way the daily meditations have become part of this, though I suspect it is not a perfect fit, the passages still seem to be promoting a kind of momentum, feeding the flames.
I don't want to suggest that I m somehow undergoing a profound initiation. I hate that sort of thing, and generally consider it one step away from going completely bonkers and losing all perspective. I just feel the need to reach out in an effort to comprehend more and more of this thing. I understand this might be a totally vain effort, the idea of getting a complete picture of who and what she is an unrealistic objective. But that doesn't matter, the effort is a kind of projection and I seem to be moving in that direction, and wanting to move in that direction.
In the past I just related to the term Babalon as a concept that I would get around to defining at some point in the future. Now it seems to have caught fire of it's own volition, and it has become important to me, even dear. Frankly, there are many spiritual concepts that leave me cold and rightfully skeptical, but this one is different.
So, I'm hoping people can suggest resources and add to this thought giving me more ways to expand into this attitude.
Love and Will
"I'll give the basics, but not the details. All members of Temple of Thelema, beginning at a particular degree (and focussed especially in two particular degrees) are required to observe, record in their diary, and analyze all occassions of psychological projection they detect in themselves. Step one is to catch when you're looking in a mirror; step 2 is actually looking in that mirror, observing what you see, and doing certain work with it."
Thanks. It will be a little longer before I am ready to apply anywhere, but I need this kind of stuff right now regardless.
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I've been poking about the site, looking up past discussions and references to Babalon, and not really finding a focused discussion on her nature and significance. For the most part she is constantly being related to Binah, the ordeal of the Abyss, and other worthy concepts. By contrast, I am writing out of a need, or better, a desire to comprehend her as someone/thing unique and independent of these other constructs.
You know how there are times when you just sense or feel the greater presence of something—it seems to be everywhere, increasing and dominating, at first a subtle joy and eventually becoming a palpable, growing tension?
On that subtle level where the imagination reaches out and attempts to make sense or give shape to this type of premonition it seems to me as if something is coming, something incredible, vast and small, terrible and demanding of love and absolute devotion. Like some Tibetan goddess of destruction and liberation I hear the footfalls of her bare feet. She/it scoops up all the darkness and all the light, defying the apparent polarity of the traditional symbols; and in this gesture my normal, critical approach to almost everything in this world of magick and mystical endeavor is undermined and I almost feel ready to throw it all away, a gesture of love, a bouquet of roses—like Attis in the poem by Catullus where he castrates himself out of love for the goddess Cybele.
Well, it's just a sense, but dwelling on it tends to produce similar flows of images, associations, and feelings.
Things I think are related include my second full reading of Visions and Voices. The first time was with the recommended tarot meditations, without reading the commentary; the second round has been a careful reading, spending time on the comments with the idea of following the thread of the text and commentary much more carefully.
Also, I have managed to attend every one of the Enochian Visions study group in Venice so far, and this has had a decided effect on my state of mind, especially in regards to my dreams where the presence of Anima figures has increased dramatically.
Lastly, in some way the daily meditations have become part of this, though I suspect it is not a perfect fit, the passages still seem to be promoting a kind of momentum, feeding the flames.
I don't want to suggest that I m somehow undergoing a profound initiation. I hate that sort of thing, and generally consider it one step away from going completely bonkers and losing all perspective. I just feel the need to reach out in an effort to comprehend more and more of this thing. I understand this might be a totally vain effort, the idea of getting a complete picture of who and what she is an unrealistic objective. But that doesn't matter, the effort is a kind of projection and I seem to be moving in that direction, and wanting to move in that direction.
In the past I just related to the term Babalon as a concept that I would get around to defining at some point in the future. Now it seems to have caught fire of it's own volition, and it has become important to me, even dear. Frankly, there are many spiritual concepts that leave me cold and rightfully skeptical, but this one is different.
So, I'm hoping people can suggest resources and add to this thought giving me more ways to expand into this attitude.
Love and Will
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I've been poking about the site, looking up past discussions and references to Babalon, and not really finding a focused discussion on her nature and significance. For the most part she is constantly being related to Binah, the ordeal of the Abyss, and other worthy concepts. By contrast, I am writing out of a need, or better, a desire to comprehend her as someone/thing unique and independent of these other constructs.
You know how there are times when you just sense or feel the greater presence of something—it seems to be everywhere, increasing and dominating, at first a subtle joy and eventually becoming a palpable, growing tension?
On that subtle level where the imagination reaches out and attempts to make sense or give shape to this type of premonition it seems to me as if something is coming, something incredible, vast and small, terrible and demanding of love and absolute devotion. Like some Tibetan goddess of destruction and liberation I hear the footfalls of her bare feet. She/it scoops up all the darkness and all the light, defying the apparent polarity of the traditional symbols; and in this gesture my normal, critical approach to almost everything in this world of magick and mystical endeavor is undermined and I almost feel ready to throw it all away, a gesture of love, a bouquet of roses—like Attis in the poem by Catullus where he castrates himself out of love for the goddess Cybele.
Well, it's just a sense, but dwelling on it tends to produce similar flows of images, associations, and feelings.
Things I think are related include my second full reading of Visions and Voices. The first time was with the recommended tarot meditations, without reading the commentary; the second round has been a careful reading, spending time on the comments with the idea of following the thread of the text and commentary much more carefully.
Also, I have managed to attend every one of the Enochian Visions study group in Venice so far, and this has had a decided effect on my state of mind, especially in regards to my dreams where the presence of Anima figures has increased dramatically.
Lastly, in some way the daily meditations have become part of this, though I suspect it is not a perfect fit, the passages still seem to be promoting a kind of momentum, feeding the flames.
I don't want to suggest that I m somehow undergoing a profound initiation. I hate that sort of thing, and generally consider it one step away from going completely bonkers and losing all perspective. I just feel the need to reach out in an effort to comprehend more and more of this thing. I understand this might be a totally vain effort, the idea of getting a complete picture of who and what she is an unrealistic objective. But that doesn't matter, the effort is a kind of projection and I seem to be moving in that direction, and wanting to move in that direction.
In the past I just related to the term Babalon as a concept that I would get around to defining at some point in the future. Now it seems to have caught fire of it's own volition, and it has become important to me, even dear. Frankly, there are many spiritual concepts that leave me cold and rightfully skeptical, but this one is different.
So, I'm hoping people can suggest resources and add to this thought giving me more ways to expand into this attitude.
Love and Will
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
I would like to ask something, if I could of course. In Visions & Voices, page 58 and talking about Weakness in Crowley's approach, it is written following:
"In the Second Order of the Golden Dawn, these tablets were created so that each square was a truncated pyramid, and Babalon is called "Queen of the City of Pyramids" - which is as much the forest of pyramids on these elemental tablets as anything else."
It is very usual opinion that Crowley "invented" Babalon. Is quote above means that Babalon was used in Golden Dawn as deity before Crowley?
Love is the law, love under will.
B.
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I've been poking about the site, looking up past discussions and references to Babalon, and not really finding a focused discussion on her nature and significance. For the most part she is constantly being related to Binah, the ordeal of the Abyss, and other worthy concepts. By contrast, I am writing out of a need, or better, a desire to comprehend her as someone/thing unique and independent of these other constructs.
You know how there are times when you just sense or feel the greater presence of something—it seems to be everywhere, increasing and dominating, at first a subtle joy and eventually becoming a palpable, growing tension?
On that subtle level where the imagination reaches out and attempts to make sense or give shape to this type of premonition it seems to me as if something is coming, something incredible, vast and small, terrible and demanding of love and absolute devotion. Like some Tibetan goddess of destruction and liberation I hear the footfalls of her bare feet. She/it scoops up all the darkness and all the light, defying the apparent polarity of the traditional symbols; and in this gesture my normal, critical approach to almost everything in this world of magick and mystical endeavor is undermined and I almost feel ready to throw it all away, a gesture of love, a bouquet of roses—like Attis in the poem by Catullus where he castrates himself out of love for the goddess Cybele.
Well, it's just a sense, but dwelling on it tends to produce similar flows of images, associations, and feelings.
Things I think are related include my second full reading of Visions and Voices. The first time was with the recommended tarot meditations, without reading the commentary; the second round has been a careful reading, spending time on the comments with the idea of following the thread of the text and commentary much more carefully.
Also, I have managed to attend every one of the Enochian Visions study group in Venice so far, and this has had a decided effect on my state of mind, especially in regards to my dreams where the presence of Anima figures has increased dramatically.
Lastly, in some way the daily meditations have become part of this, though I suspect it is not a perfect fit, the passages still seem to be promoting a kind of momentum, feeding the flames.
I don't want to suggest that I m somehow undergoing a profound initiation. I hate that sort of thing, and generally consider it one step away from going completely bonkers and losing all perspective. I just feel the need to reach out in an effort to comprehend more and more of this thing. I understand this might be a totally vain effort, the idea of getting a complete picture of who and what she is an unrealistic objective. But that doesn't matter, the effort is a kind of projection and I seem to be moving in that direction, and wanting to move in that direction.
In the past I just related to the term Babalon as a concept that I would get around to defining at some point in the future. Now it seems to have caught fire of it's own volition, and it has become important to me, even dear. Frankly, there are many spiritual concepts that leave me cold and rightfully skeptical, but this one is different.
So, I'm hoping people can suggest resources and add to this thought giving me more ways to expand into this attitude.
Love and Will
@HPK said
"It is very usual opinion that Crowley "invented" Babalon. Is quote above means that Babalon was used in Golden Dawn as deity before Crowley? "
She wasn't acknowledge anywhere in the GD system. The quote means that her Name comes to 156, and the number of squares on each of the Elemental Tablets is 156, and so there's a link.
Babalon, spelled this way, appears no place at all in the whole of the world's literature before The Vision & the Voice. However, it is broadly accepted that at least some of historic references to Babylon were slightly corrupt or mistaken references to her - e.g., "the whore of Babylon" in Revelations was perhaps meant to be "the whore Babalon."
There is also an Enochian word babalond, meaning "harlot," that is likely the etymological origin of her name.
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I've been poking about the site, looking up past discussions and references to Babalon, and not really finding a focused discussion on her nature and significance. For the most part she is constantly being related to Binah, the ordeal of the Abyss, and other worthy concepts. By contrast, I am writing out of a need, or better, a desire to comprehend her as someone/thing unique and independent of these other constructs.
You know how there are times when you just sense or feel the greater presence of something—it seems to be everywhere, increasing and dominating, at first a subtle joy and eventually becoming a palpable, growing tension?
On that subtle level where the imagination reaches out and attempts to make sense or give shape to this type of premonition it seems to me as if something is coming, something incredible, vast and small, terrible and demanding of love and absolute devotion. Like some Tibetan goddess of destruction and liberation I hear the footfalls of her bare feet. She/it scoops up all the darkness and all the light, defying the apparent polarity of the traditional symbols; and in this gesture my normal, critical approach to almost everything in this world of magick and mystical endeavor is undermined and I almost feel ready to throw it all away, a gesture of love, a bouquet of roses—like Attis in the poem by Catullus where he castrates himself out of love for the goddess Cybele.
Well, it's just a sense, but dwelling on it tends to produce similar flows of images, associations, and feelings.
Things I think are related include my second full reading of Visions and Voices. The first time was with the recommended tarot meditations, without reading the commentary; the second round has been a careful reading, spending time on the comments with the idea of following the thread of the text and commentary much more carefully.
Also, I have managed to attend every one of the Enochian Visions study group in Venice so far, and this has had a decided effect on my state of mind, especially in regards to my dreams where the presence of Anima figures has increased dramatically.
Lastly, in some way the daily meditations have become part of this, though I suspect it is not a perfect fit, the passages still seem to be promoting a kind of momentum, feeding the flames.
I don't want to suggest that I m somehow undergoing a profound initiation. I hate that sort of thing, and generally consider it one step away from going completely bonkers and losing all perspective. I just feel the need to reach out in an effort to comprehend more and more of this thing. I understand this might be a totally vain effort, the idea of getting a complete picture of who and what she is an unrealistic objective. But that doesn't matter, the effort is a kind of projection and I seem to be moving in that direction, and wanting to move in that direction.
In the past I just related to the term Babalon as a concept that I would get around to defining at some point in the future. Now it seems to have caught fire of it's own volition, and it has become important to me, even dear. Frankly, there are many spiritual concepts that leave me cold and rightfully skeptical, but this one is different.
So, I'm hoping people can suggest resources and add to this thought giving me more ways to expand into this attitude.
Love and Will
Just following up on my initial post.
Since starting thread I have been pondering and ruminating about how best to conceive and understand this concept.
She is illusive. No sooner than it seems I have another piece of the puzzle she seems to move on, and my attempt to spell out what I thought I understood seems dead and definitely not Babalon.
My mind has such an overwhelming tendency to try and reduce all things to that which is useful, and that which isn't. And it seems this effort is making it impossible to understand.
It seems the best I can do in this instance is just stop trying.
Love and Will
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I've been poking about the site, looking up past discussions and references to Babalon, and not really finding a focused discussion on her nature and significance. For the most part she is constantly being related to Binah, the ordeal of the Abyss, and other worthy concepts. By contrast, I am writing out of a need, or better, a desire to comprehend her as someone/thing unique and independent of these other constructs.
You know how there are times when you just sense or feel the greater presence of something—it seems to be everywhere, increasing and dominating, at first a subtle joy and eventually becoming a palpable, growing tension?
On that subtle level where the imagination reaches out and attempts to make sense or give shape to this type of premonition it seems to me as if something is coming, something incredible, vast and small, terrible and demanding of love and absolute devotion. Like some Tibetan goddess of destruction and liberation I hear the footfalls of her bare feet. She/it scoops up all the darkness and all the light, defying the apparent polarity of the traditional symbols; and in this gesture my normal, critical approach to almost everything in this world of magick and mystical endeavor is undermined and I almost feel ready to throw it all away, a gesture of love, a bouquet of roses—like Attis in the poem by Catullus where he castrates himself out of love for the goddess Cybele.
Well, it's just a sense, but dwelling on it tends to produce similar flows of images, associations, and feelings.
Things I think are related include my second full reading of Visions and Voices. The first time was with the recommended tarot meditations, without reading the commentary; the second round has been a careful reading, spending time on the comments with the idea of following the thread of the text and commentary much more carefully.
Also, I have managed to attend every one of the Enochian Visions study group in Venice so far, and this has had a decided effect on my state of mind, especially in regards to my dreams where the presence of Anima figures has increased dramatically.
Lastly, in some way the daily meditations have become part of this, though I suspect it is not a perfect fit, the passages still seem to be promoting a kind of momentum, feeding the flames.
I don't want to suggest that I m somehow undergoing a profound initiation. I hate that sort of thing, and generally consider it one step away from going completely bonkers and losing all perspective. I just feel the need to reach out in an effort to comprehend more and more of this thing. I understand this might be a totally vain effort, the idea of getting a complete picture of who and what she is an unrealistic objective. But that doesn't matter, the effort is a kind of projection and I seem to be moving in that direction, and wanting to move in that direction.
In the past I just related to the term Babalon as a concept that I would get around to defining at some point in the future. Now it seems to have caught fire of it's own volition, and it has become important to me, even dear. Frankly, there are many spiritual concepts that leave me cold and rightfully skeptical, but this one is different.
So, I'm hoping people can suggest resources and add to this thought giving me more ways to expand into this attitude.
Love and Will
You may want to consider removing the seperation between yourself and Babalon.
Also, consider where "meaning" is, Babalon isn't.
Lastly, you may also want to consider there is no such thing in life called Babalon.
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I've been poking about the site, looking up past discussions and references to Babalon, and not really finding a focused discussion on her nature and significance. For the most part she is constantly being related to Binah, the ordeal of the Abyss, and other worthy concepts. By contrast, I am writing out of a need, or better, a desire to comprehend her as someone/thing unique and independent of these other constructs.
You know how there are times when you just sense or feel the greater presence of something—it seems to be everywhere, increasing and dominating, at first a subtle joy and eventually becoming a palpable, growing tension?
On that subtle level where the imagination reaches out and attempts to make sense or give shape to this type of premonition it seems to me as if something is coming, something incredible, vast and small, terrible and demanding of love and absolute devotion. Like some Tibetan goddess of destruction and liberation I hear the footfalls of her bare feet. She/it scoops up all the darkness and all the light, defying the apparent polarity of the traditional symbols; and in this gesture my normal, critical approach to almost everything in this world of magick and mystical endeavor is undermined and I almost feel ready to throw it all away, a gesture of love, a bouquet of roses—like Attis in the poem by Catullus where he castrates himself out of love for the goddess Cybele.
Well, it's just a sense, but dwelling on it tends to produce similar flows of images, associations, and feelings.
Things I think are related include my second full reading of Visions and Voices. The first time was with the recommended tarot meditations, without reading the commentary; the second round has been a careful reading, spending time on the comments with the idea of following the thread of the text and commentary much more carefully.
Also, I have managed to attend every one of the Enochian Visions study group in Venice so far, and this has had a decided effect on my state of mind, especially in regards to my dreams where the presence of Anima figures has increased dramatically.
Lastly, in some way the daily meditations have become part of this, though I suspect it is not a perfect fit, the passages still seem to be promoting a kind of momentum, feeding the flames.
I don't want to suggest that I m somehow undergoing a profound initiation. I hate that sort of thing, and generally consider it one step away from going completely bonkers and losing all perspective. I just feel the need to reach out in an effort to comprehend more and more of this thing. I understand this might be a totally vain effort, the idea of getting a complete picture of who and what she is an unrealistic objective. But that doesn't matter, the effort is a kind of projection and I seem to be moving in that direction, and wanting to move in that direction.
In the past I just related to the term Babalon as a concept that I would get around to defining at some point in the future. Now it seems to have caught fire of it's own volition, and it has become important to me, even dear. Frankly, there are many spiritual concepts that leave me cold and rightfully skeptical, but this one is different.
So, I'm hoping people can suggest resources and add to this thought giving me more ways to expand into this attitude.
Love and Will
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I've been poking about the site, looking up past discussions and references to Babalon, and not really finding a focused discussion on her nature and significance. For the most part she is constantly being related to Binah, the ordeal of the Abyss, and other worthy concepts. By contrast, I am writing out of a need, or better, a desire to comprehend her as someone/thing unique and independent of these other constructs.
You know how there are times when you just sense or feel the greater presence of something—it seems to be everywhere, increasing and dominating, at first a subtle joy and eventually becoming a palpable, growing tension?
On that subtle level where the imagination reaches out and attempts to make sense or give shape to this type of premonition it seems to me as if something is coming, something incredible, vast and small, terrible and demanding of love and absolute devotion. Like some Tibetan goddess of destruction and liberation I hear the footfalls of her bare feet. She/it scoops up all the darkness and all the light, defying the apparent polarity of the traditional symbols; and in this gesture my normal, critical approach to almost everything in this world of magick and mystical endeavor is undermined and I almost feel ready to throw it all away, a gesture of love, a bouquet of roses—like Attis in the poem by Catullus where he castrates himself out of love for the goddess Cybele.
Well, it's just a sense, but dwelling on it tends to produce similar flows of images, associations, and feelings.
Things I think are related include my second full reading of Visions and Voices. The first time was with the recommended tarot meditations, without reading the commentary; the second round has been a careful reading, spending time on the comments with the idea of following the thread of the text and commentary much more carefully.
Also, I have managed to attend every one of the Enochian Visions study group in Venice so far, and this has had a decided effect on my state of mind, especially in regards to my dreams where the presence of Anima figures has increased dramatically.
Lastly, in some way the daily meditations have become part of this, though I suspect it is not a perfect fit, the passages still seem to be promoting a kind of momentum, feeding the flames.
I don't want to suggest that I m somehow undergoing a profound initiation. I hate that sort of thing, and generally consider it one step away from going completely bonkers and losing all perspective. I just feel the need to reach out in an effort to comprehend more and more of this thing. I understand this might be a totally vain effort, the idea of getting a complete picture of who and what she is an unrealistic objective. But that doesn't matter, the effort is a kind of projection and I seem to be moving in that direction, and wanting to move in that direction.
In the past I just related to the term Babalon as a concept that I would get around to defining at some point in the future. Now it seems to have caught fire of it's own volition, and it has become important to me, even dear. Frankly, there are many spiritual concepts that leave me cold and rightfully skeptical, but this one is different.
So, I'm hoping people can suggest resources and add to this thought giving me more ways to expand into this attitude.
Love and Will
"if you remove the separation, what's the fun?"
The joy of dissolution
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I've been poking about the site, looking up past discussions and references to Babalon, and not really finding a focused discussion on her nature and significance. For the most part she is constantly being related to Binah, the ordeal of the Abyss, and other worthy concepts. By contrast, I am writing out of a need, or better, a desire to comprehend her as someone/thing unique and independent of these other constructs.
You know how there are times when you just sense or feel the greater presence of something—it seems to be everywhere, increasing and dominating, at first a subtle joy and eventually becoming a palpable, growing tension?
On that subtle level where the imagination reaches out and attempts to make sense or give shape to this type of premonition it seems to me as if something is coming, something incredible, vast and small, terrible and demanding of love and absolute devotion. Like some Tibetan goddess of destruction and liberation I hear the footfalls of her bare feet. She/it scoops up all the darkness and all the light, defying the apparent polarity of the traditional symbols; and in this gesture my normal, critical approach to almost everything in this world of magick and mystical endeavor is undermined and I almost feel ready to throw it all away, a gesture of love, a bouquet of roses—like Attis in the poem by Catullus where he castrates himself out of love for the goddess Cybele.
Well, it's just a sense, but dwelling on it tends to produce similar flows of images, associations, and feelings.
Things I think are related include my second full reading of Visions and Voices. The first time was with the recommended tarot meditations, without reading the commentary; the second round has been a careful reading, spending time on the comments with the idea of following the thread of the text and commentary much more carefully.
Also, I have managed to attend every one of the Enochian Visions study group in Venice so far, and this has had a decided effect on my state of mind, especially in regards to my dreams where the presence of Anima figures has increased dramatically.
Lastly, in some way the daily meditations have become part of this, though I suspect it is not a perfect fit, the passages still seem to be promoting a kind of momentum, feeding the flames.
I don't want to suggest that I m somehow undergoing a profound initiation. I hate that sort of thing, and generally consider it one step away from going completely bonkers and losing all perspective. I just feel the need to reach out in an effort to comprehend more and more of this thing. I understand this might be a totally vain effort, the idea of getting a complete picture of who and what she is an unrealistic objective. But that doesn't matter, the effort is a kind of projection and I seem to be moving in that direction, and wanting to move in that direction.
In the past I just related to the term Babalon as a concept that I would get around to defining at some point in the future. Now it seems to have caught fire of it's own volition, and it has become important to me, even dear. Frankly, there are many spiritual concepts that leave me cold and rightfully skeptical, but this one is different.
So, I'm hoping people can suggest resources and add to this thought giving me more ways to expand into this attitude.
Love and Will
"All saints revile her, and all sober men
Ruled by the God Apollo's golden mean—
In scorn of which I sailed to find her
In distant regions likeliest to hold her
Whom I desired above all things to know,
Sister of the mirage and echo."—Robert Graves, from the dedication to his book The White Goddess
Love and Will
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I've been poking about the site, looking up past discussions and references to Babalon, and not really finding a focused discussion on her nature and significance. For the most part she is constantly being related to Binah, the ordeal of the Abyss, and other worthy concepts. By contrast, I am writing out of a need, or better, a desire to comprehend her as someone/thing unique and independent of these other constructs.
You know how there are times when you just sense or feel the greater presence of something—it seems to be everywhere, increasing and dominating, at first a subtle joy and eventually becoming a palpable, growing tension?
On that subtle level where the imagination reaches out and attempts to make sense or give shape to this type of premonition it seems to me as if something is coming, something incredible, vast and small, terrible and demanding of love and absolute devotion. Like some Tibetan goddess of destruction and liberation I hear the footfalls of her bare feet. She/it scoops up all the darkness and all the light, defying the apparent polarity of the traditional symbols; and in this gesture my normal, critical approach to almost everything in this world of magick and mystical endeavor is undermined and I almost feel ready to throw it all away, a gesture of love, a bouquet of roses—like Attis in the poem by Catullus where he castrates himself out of love for the goddess Cybele.
Well, it's just a sense, but dwelling on it tends to produce similar flows of images, associations, and feelings.
Things I think are related include my second full reading of Visions and Voices. The first time was with the recommended tarot meditations, without reading the commentary; the second round has been a careful reading, spending time on the comments with the idea of following the thread of the text and commentary much more carefully.
Also, I have managed to attend every one of the Enochian Visions study group in Venice so far, and this has had a decided effect on my state of mind, especially in regards to my dreams where the presence of Anima figures has increased dramatically.
Lastly, in some way the daily meditations have become part of this, though I suspect it is not a perfect fit, the passages still seem to be promoting a kind of momentum, feeding the flames.
I don't want to suggest that I m somehow undergoing a profound initiation. I hate that sort of thing, and generally consider it one step away from going completely bonkers and losing all perspective. I just feel the need to reach out in an effort to comprehend more and more of this thing. I understand this might be a totally vain effort, the idea of getting a complete picture of who and what she is an unrealistic objective. But that doesn't matter, the effort is a kind of projection and I seem to be moving in that direction, and wanting to move in that direction.
In the past I just related to the term Babalon as a concept that I would get around to defining at some point in the future. Now it seems to have caught fire of it's own volition, and it has become important to me, even dear. Frankly, there are many spiritual concepts that leave me cold and rightfully skeptical, but this one is different.
So, I'm hoping people can suggest resources and add to this thought giving me more ways to expand into this attitude.
Love and Will
Thanks for that, Robert.
Today, I have been struggling with sense vs. non-sense. In that light, Babalon can seem just as abhorrent as Choronzon.
But that's the wrong light.
And that was a scandalous thought to me until I read that poem.
Duh. Of course."Some dance to remember.
Some dance to forget."Thanks.
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I've been poking about the site, looking up past discussions and references to Babalon, and not really finding a focused discussion on her nature and significance. For the most part she is constantly being related to Binah, the ordeal of the Abyss, and other worthy concepts. By contrast, I am writing out of a need, or better, a desire to comprehend her as someone/thing unique and independent of these other constructs.
You know how there are times when you just sense or feel the greater presence of something—it seems to be everywhere, increasing and dominating, at first a subtle joy and eventually becoming a palpable, growing tension?
On that subtle level where the imagination reaches out and attempts to make sense or give shape to this type of premonition it seems to me as if something is coming, something incredible, vast and small, terrible and demanding of love and absolute devotion. Like some Tibetan goddess of destruction and liberation I hear the footfalls of her bare feet. She/it scoops up all the darkness and all the light, defying the apparent polarity of the traditional symbols; and in this gesture my normal, critical approach to almost everything in this world of magick and mystical endeavor is undermined and I almost feel ready to throw it all away, a gesture of love, a bouquet of roses—like Attis in the poem by Catullus where he castrates himself out of love for the goddess Cybele.
Well, it's just a sense, but dwelling on it tends to produce similar flows of images, associations, and feelings.
Things I think are related include my second full reading of Visions and Voices. The first time was with the recommended tarot meditations, without reading the commentary; the second round has been a careful reading, spending time on the comments with the idea of following the thread of the text and commentary much more carefully.
Also, I have managed to attend every one of the Enochian Visions study group in Venice so far, and this has had a decided effect on my state of mind, especially in regards to my dreams where the presence of Anima figures has increased dramatically.
Lastly, in some way the daily meditations have become part of this, though I suspect it is not a perfect fit, the passages still seem to be promoting a kind of momentum, feeding the flames.
I don't want to suggest that I m somehow undergoing a profound initiation. I hate that sort of thing, and generally consider it one step away from going completely bonkers and losing all perspective. I just feel the need to reach out in an effort to comprehend more and more of this thing. I understand this might be a totally vain effort, the idea of getting a complete picture of who and what she is an unrealistic objective. But that doesn't matter, the effort is a kind of projection and I seem to be moving in that direction, and wanting to move in that direction.
In the past I just related to the term Babalon as a concept that I would get around to defining at some point in the future. Now it seems to have caught fire of it's own volition, and it has become important to me, even dear. Frankly, there are many spiritual concepts that leave me cold and rightfully skeptical, but this one is different.
So, I'm hoping people can suggest resources and add to this thought giving me more ways to expand into this attitude.
Love and Will
I just found this quote, I thought it was amusing, and fairly on target:
"The Harlot Babylon is preparing the nations to receive the antichrist. The Harlot Babylon will be a religion of affirmation, toleration, no absolutes, a counterfeit justice movement. They will feed the poor, have humanitarian projects, inspire acts of compassion for all the wrong reasons. They won't know it ... I believe that one of the main pastors as a forerunner to the Harlot movement is Oprah." ~ Mike Bickle, New Apostolic Reformation (NAR)
America's own Taliban
A fast growing right-wing politico-religious presence plans to implement an end-times, Christian theocracy in the US.
english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/07/20117259426336524.html -
I've been poking about the site, looking up past discussions and references to Babalon, and not really finding a focused discussion on her nature and significance. For the most part she is constantly being related to Binah, the ordeal of the Abyss, and other worthy concepts. By contrast, I am writing out of a need, or better, a desire to comprehend her as someone/thing unique and independent of these other constructs.
You know how there are times when you just sense or feel the greater presence of something—it seems to be everywhere, increasing and dominating, at first a subtle joy and eventually becoming a palpable, growing tension?
On that subtle level where the imagination reaches out and attempts to make sense or give shape to this type of premonition it seems to me as if something is coming, something incredible, vast and small, terrible and demanding of love and absolute devotion. Like some Tibetan goddess of destruction and liberation I hear the footfalls of her bare feet. She/it scoops up all the darkness and all the light, defying the apparent polarity of the traditional symbols; and in this gesture my normal, critical approach to almost everything in this world of magick and mystical endeavor is undermined and I almost feel ready to throw it all away, a gesture of love, a bouquet of roses—like Attis in the poem by Catullus where he castrates himself out of love for the goddess Cybele.
Well, it's just a sense, but dwelling on it tends to produce similar flows of images, associations, and feelings.
Things I think are related include my second full reading of Visions and Voices. The first time was with the recommended tarot meditations, without reading the commentary; the second round has been a careful reading, spending time on the comments with the idea of following the thread of the text and commentary much more carefully.
Also, I have managed to attend every one of the Enochian Visions study group in Venice so far, and this has had a decided effect on my state of mind, especially in regards to my dreams where the presence of Anima figures has increased dramatically.
Lastly, in some way the daily meditations have become part of this, though I suspect it is not a perfect fit, the passages still seem to be promoting a kind of momentum, feeding the flames.
I don't want to suggest that I m somehow undergoing a profound initiation. I hate that sort of thing, and generally consider it one step away from going completely bonkers and losing all perspective. I just feel the need to reach out in an effort to comprehend more and more of this thing. I understand this might be a totally vain effort, the idea of getting a complete picture of who and what she is an unrealistic objective. But that doesn't matter, the effort is a kind of projection and I seem to be moving in that direction, and wanting to move in that direction.
In the past I just related to the term Babalon as a concept that I would get around to defining at some point in the future. Now it seems to have caught fire of it's own volition, and it has become important to me, even dear. Frankly, there are many spiritual concepts that leave me cold and rightfully skeptical, but this one is different.
So, I'm hoping people can suggest resources and add to this thought giving me more ways to expand into this attitude.
Love and Will
@AliceNui said
"I just found this quote, I thought it was amusing, and fairly on target:
"The Harlot Babylon is preparing the nations to receive the antichrist. The Harlot Babylon will be a religion of affirmation, toleration, no absolutes, a counterfeit justice movement. They will feed the poor, have humanitarian projects, inspire acts of compassion for all the wrong reasons. They won't know it ... I believe that one of the main pastors as a forerunner to the Harlot movement is Oprah." ~ Mike Bickle, New Apostolic Reformation (NAR)
America's own Taliban
A fast growing right-wing politico-religious presence plans to implement an end-times, Christian theocracy in the US.
english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/07/20117259426336524.html"Yes, this is pretty much what they think. I did a lot of original research into this movement a few years back for a piece I was creating called Playing the Rapture. It explored the relationship between religion and politics in the US. This research goes a long way to explain my total lack of sympathy and tolerance for a basic idea-set that is held by this militant branch of christian fundamentalist, but which is also becoming common outside of christian activist circles, and has become the basic reactionary-conservative play-book of ideas and arguments designed to create the kind of change they desire. I've even encountered people who self-identify as Thelemites, and who mouth essentially the same arguments.
But this is way OT! Sorry for the mini-rant, Mea Culpa!
Hmmmm, how to get back on track?
...hey Oprah, if you are Babalalon, well... would you like a foot massage?Love and Will