College of Thelema: Thelemic Education

Potential Shadows of Thelemic values: As von Franz describes, in Christian circles being sweet, kind and polite are top priority values, and those qualities are assumed to conceal one's hidden feelings, which are their direct opposite—like jealousy, frustration, and so on. In Thelemic circles it's about being "free, loud and adulterous" or very intellectually sophisticated - and those things are used to cover up one's feelings of inadequacy and lack of freedom (freedom from compulsions and various types of mental anguish—insecurities, and so on). One way to extract Shadow material is by understanding the hidden aspect of ourselves that is attracted to some of the Thelemic principles. For instance, sexual liberation aspect which seems to be the initial and fundamental attraction element for so many people, esp. those looking to rid themselves from controlling and conservative upbringing. It is good to remember that external things we are running away from are often embedded in our unconscious, so they go wherever we go, and they will haunt us until we root them out ourselves; once truly integrated we no longer need to seek remedy outside of ourselves. So relative to this aspect, typically women overidentify with Babalon who is wild and sexual, and men see themselves as the Beast. Jim said it well when he emphasized these are offices we can temporarily assume, rather than something we overidentify with full time. So the Shadow aspect in people who want to be seen as the "Beast" would be addiction to sex and sense pleasures, promiscuity and validation that can arise from promiscuity - feeling oneself to be alpha ("wining" biologically in the animal kingdom is related to having many female partners); so here it's not about liberation but about indulging one's addictive tendencies and gaining validation while being free from (at least conscious) guilt and shame, which normally accompany such behavior in mainstream society. For women who want to be perceived as "Babalon", it's a quick way to get attention in the easiest way possible (flashing our goods) and the audience of hungry "beasts" is there to elevate it to the spotlight and assign the label "Goddess" to what is otherwise, more often than not, a person acting out from the place of need or hunger, rather than realization. So here, wish for sexual liberation is hijacked by neurosis of low self-esteem, sense of inadequacy, fear of abandonment, cry for attention, loneliness, feeling that “I am not good enough”, or “I am not enough”, :I am not valuable”; also feeling of inner void/hunger that seeks fulfillment from without—rather than finding that well within (which actually automatically happens if we truly embody Babalon/Beast which can only happen when we put ego/personality’s fixations aside). As Jung pointed out—psyche has compensatory nature - whatever we try to impress upon others - such as "I am confident", "I am beautiful", etc. indicates that deep inside, or in our unconscious, we feel we lack those things. Attempts to behave a certain way to control how others see us - to inspire them to see what we wish to embody (as opposed to just being/acting naturally without agendas) is an example of a contrived, compensatory behavior. Hence, ego is always looking for an audience - someone else to reflect for me what I wish to be or believe about myself. Yet no amount of praise helps us arrive at that fulfillment. We can get 100 praises and 1 piece of bad feedback or criticism and if we are not integrated, we are fixated on that one negative voice and it ruins our whole day. However, we have to start somewhere - we act out for a while and then as we do the work, eventually and hopefully, we start to see these impulses for what they are—and then we can begin to transform them. Of course, we are not solely responding to things from the Shadow side; there is always the higher Self that plays a major role in what we are drawn to. In fact, the Self will put us in situations where our Shadow gets exposed so that we can have an opportunity to integrate it.

I really enjoy reading everything on Jung for this reason. I’ve always been fascinated by dreaming, and have always had very great dream recall like I remember dreams from when I was a kid and I’m 29 now. I actually just got one of his books I’m meaning to read after I’m finished with this thelema one I’m reading now.

Hi Luis, welcome!

@jjones I appreciate the way you connect True Will as being contained within the shadow, yet I am curious about the definition of shadow being "all of which we choose not to identify as." I wonder if there are aspects of our shadow that are not part of our True Will, things we do not identify with and no longer serve us. Sounds like tricky business! Because on the other hand, I agree with you that "there will always be some aspect of True Will within [the] Shadow." You bring up an excellent point that even for those who can state their True Will in words, life is an ever-evolving dynamic motion and how our True Will is best expressed changes across a lifetime, even more. So, there will always be blind spots... which, you know what, I think I see your point now. Makes me think of the Masonic legend of the rejected stone! Perhaps many of us have unconsciously thrown out our True Will into our Shadow, and now we have to dig through that deep to find it again? In your next paragraph, I definitely relate. It reminds me of the Emperor with no clothes... for some reason it is so embarrassing to think of other people seeing my shadow before I see it myself. Especially when I first started this kind of introspective work, I was aware of how big my blind spots were, yet I hadn't built the skills to see myself clearly, it was so frustrating!! And, I knew other people were more skilled in this than I, and could definitely see that shadow all over the place. I was mortified. Luckily, as I grow in self-awareness, I feel more at peace with my younger self because as I can see mine and others' shadows more clearly, I have much more compassion. Likely, the people I worried about the most were also the least judgmental. Also, I think humor really helps. I know that if I can laugh at myself, then I am free from that aspect of my shadow. It is quite silly to attend a parade with no clothes on, very serious-like, and puffed up... if only the emperor learned to laugh at himself! There would be much less violence in this world if people learned how to laugh. I also really appreciate how you say "the things we repress as society atrophy our ability to adequately perceive and understand those psychic objects being repressed." This makes me think about the power of naming something... how if we collectively repress it, we no longer have the power to define it. We forget about its existence while it remains active and churning in our lives. There is something here about history, how important stories are in defining the ego of a culture. Later you talk about the way initiates have an almost irritating effect on non-initiates, which I believe is especially the case for adepts. I think people who have integrated their shadow and exist simply in a state of certainty and truth can be very disquieting to others. I'm not sure but I wonder if this is perhaps the "red powder of projection." Adepts have a way of, just by being in proximity to others, increase the rate of putrefaction and, ultimately, transmutation. Sometimes this looks messy at first. I think it sparks a sense of unease, wondering why they aren't so clear, leading them to question just how much they know of themselves and the world. I think this happens to those who are primed to search. I really love how you describe the state of being an example for others by not projecting your Shadow on them as "one of the greatest expressions of True Will I have experienced thus far in my journey." That is beautifully said! And now thinking about it, it is safe to say that this is an aspect of every person's True Will, imho... something to practice living everyday! I so so appreciate your alternative interpretation of the story!! I agree that Von Franz seems to do the thing she warns against, trying to fit a rigid model to the story... your correspondences to the three planets makes a lot of sense. I especially like your association of the Tailor to the Sun. Honestly, I did not like the story or her interpretation... but using your analysis, especially discovering that it is a Thelemic parable, makes me like it much more! While reading this section of your post, I thought of how cool it would be to write fairy tales using the tarot trumps and court cards to highlight the nuances of their energy, for example, their ego, superconsciousness, shadow, etc.. like how you uplift those layers in the characters of this tale. Very cool! Your ending statement, so solid and inspiring. Fear being the enemy of shadow work is deeply resonate, thank you for sharing!

@Stef Yay!

I have tried the soft tip “paintbrush” style, but find the chisel point easiest and most accurate.

https://thelema.org/aa/bookofthelaw

I think about this frequently. Jung was highly fascinated by the Nag Hammadi Codex after it was discovered. If you haven't checked it out yet, I highly recommend it. In the Gospel of Thomas (perhaps one of the most popular writings in the Codex), the figure of Christ describes Thelemic ideology well before Crowley's time. So much so that more than a few in my life have argued Thelema is just an updated form of Christianity. The Gospel of Thomas includes descriptions by Christ that we are to discover our own unique connection to divinity, live in relationship to that divinity, and ignore those who claim to know better. Christ calls for a very personal relationship with the divine that does not require one to practice Biblical exegesis, or that strange spell "in Jesus's Name..." that the Church so adamantly grasps to. It is no wonder the Codex was hidden at the onset of Christian imperialism.

As someone who adores Carl Jung, I thought I'd add my own thoughts for the sake of records keeping. In response to the first point, Jung was describing the New Aeon as an age of relativity. In other words, To enter the New Aeon, Jung's writings imply that without any external institutions, traditions, and/or powers for the common folk to fall back on, we are left with empiricism. Crowley seemed to think similarly. If this idea is an interesting one, I highly recommend a book called Quantum Psychology by Robert Anton Wilson. It offers a highly concise and entertaining guide to train the mind to experience as a scientist. It does so by targeting the thing we all use to think, language. In practice, empiricism looks a lot like the Chaos Magick maxim, "Nothing is true, everything is permitted." (My Qabalistic thinking cap says, "Naturally, Nothing IS true, because Nuit describes herself as Nothing!") In regards to the second point, yes, Abraxas, though a solar deity, is a description of the Supernals in my understanding of Jung's work. Abraxas was described by Jung as the ultimate unification of opposites. Abraxas appears to Jung as the Lord of the Light and the Darkness. Abraxas is fundamentally beyond human comprehension because Abraxas transcends reality. If I remember correctly, in Jung's Sermons, he talks about how the average person is incapable of handling the reality that if "God" is all powerful, that means "God" causes all of the problems of the world just as much as all of the goodness in the world. His descriptions of Abraxas are similar to ancient Greek descriptions of Hekate, who both creates and destroys in her wake (many ancient Greeks believed Hekate to be similar to our descriptions of Binah). Jung was highly aware that the transcendent denies all descriptions, because to describe a limitless being would inherently limit it. In that regard, Abraxas is similar to Nuit in that we can't really "talk" about Abraxas. However, even Nuit limits her expressions in the Book of the Law to Joy, and so Abraxas seems to describe the interplay between human rationalism (which was traditionally seen as the Great Father) and chaos (which was traditionally seen as the Great Mother). To further complicate the discussion, Crowley argues that there has been a polarity shift in the New Aeon, to where the Father principle is now Chaos (Therion, the Great Beast), and the Mother principle is structure (Babalon, the Scarlet Woman).

Welcome, Scott!

Oooooooooooh!!!!!! Thank you!!!! Anyone up for a field trip?

It is Open Source, and none of it is particularly specific to me.

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law, Some argue survival IS adaptation. I see this was posted a few years ago, so I’m sorry if this doesn’t have the same relevance; but just in case &/or for others, I’v felt this same plea many times. Or at least, your words bring up recurring feelings I relate to. Not only have I always felt a sense of being at-odds with my environment; I’v moved quite a few times, wondering how to adapt. So I can’t help but share. Currently in Oregon, US, I live in a valley higher(ish) in elevation, against forested mountains. The towns have populated and grown into each-other so is pretty urbanized, not “out-there.” And this is the first time I chose to move solely based on circumstance. Iv always had (relative) difficulty with finances; chasing breaking-even. Adaptation is an alchemical process I personally liken to gardening. My spiritual practices–next to this physical correspondence I can engage with in the same world I am questioning–is how I have coped, now & in the past. They give immediately, material to observe & work with; adaptation becomes the side-effect. Did the whale really “try” to lose its limbs and push its nostrils above its skull? We can definitely say the cetacean tried to swim & never stopped. There are great anchors and vistas through the path when perseverance heads the course– –and as many have attested; Pearls of Wisdom (James Eshelman) has some particular nuggets of sheer gold that never cease to surprise. Meditations, practices, rituals, the breakdown of human-nature in relation to ritualistic value. These spiritual practices ground & sharpen my senses & concentration, my imagination & passion; and these are all we really have to interact & effect our universe about us & within us. A famous principle of Permaculture: “The Problem is the Solution.” I.e. I have legs for land & no mammal can swim far, but the most food freely swims in the ocean; to freely swimming, I become the largest, undisturbed mammal ever to live. Generally I only see a magickal act, or expression of my will, as an intentional action which produces a beneficial result–usually near or right in line with my intent. And so the adaptations necessary come to light next to the unintentional (“unmagickal” if-you-like) actions. Adaptations that supply security and fulfillment are definite expressions of my will. Habits and experiments are lessons to be learned from. Love is the law, love under will. L L L L

There are adorations and annunciations to the Feminine and Daughter, but they are privileged.