Serpent Vs. the Dove

Aum418

"
That sounds like an excellent idea, but I don't have the comment. Do you have a URL to it?"

My bad - I had assuemd people knew about this stuff.

Everyone on here who has not read these commentaries really should. There is an absrud amount of bullshit on these forums, especially in the form of "dont you know its against the Law to discuss it?" Its absolutely ridiculous. Also, someone asked if you needed to be in CoT or ToT to be a Thelemite? I simply cannot fathom how people could remotely come CLOSE to drawing this conclusion. OBVIOUSLY some study is needed or this kind of nonsense will crop up quickly...

Please read these commentaries, reference them, etc... I see no reason why we shouldnt read the author's (or at least the scribe's) opinion on this text.

65 & 210,
111-418

Malaclypse

Thanks aum! I'll do my research, but don't be surprised if I come up with more of my theories; it's an excellent way to learn so that, for one thing, you won't, in the end, have to put up with ignorance.

Jim Eshelman

@Malaclypse said

"I don't know, because I haven't read the Bible. I read somewhere that he had come with swords for the reason given below, which I take to mean the instrument of Air."

You possibly mean Matt. 10:34; but there is also Matt. 26:52 which, by your symbolic logic, is not too different from Liber L.'s position against "Because." You approach of interpreting the passages in terms of the symbolism of magical implements is also very interesting when viewing John 18:11.

"
@aum418 said
"How about taking the 2 minutes it takes to read Crowley's own comments on this verse?"

That sounds like an excellent idea, but I don't have the comment. Do you have a URL to it?"

Jumping in with a recommendation: You should own one! Nearly the first book every Thelemite should acquire is one of the versions of Crowley's commentaries on The Book of the Law. College of Thelema recommends either the Regardie edited version of The Law is For All (usually available used through various online sources) or the Grant-edited edition (very expensive and rare these days, but beautiful!) of The Magical & Philosophical Commentaries on The Book of the Law. Both of these are complete. Barring the availability of those, the substantially reduced version of The Law is For All (the non-Regardie issue) is usually the best that can be found. Go buy a book!

Aum418

@Malaclypse said

"Thanks aum! I'll do my research, but don't be surprised if I come up with more of my theories; it's an excellent way to learn so that, for one thing, you won't, in the end, have to put up with ignorance."

I hope you do!

Have fun with those.

65 & 210,
111-418

Malaclypse

@Jim Eshelman said

"Go buy a book! "

Yes, I shall! It was good for me to have this little "bout", because I didn't think it through enough, which is detrimental to my path. Thanks again guys!

luxinhominefactum

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law

on another plane entirely, "choose ye well" can be viewed as yet another injunction to act in harmony with your will.

as far as the curses in chapter three go, i echo the "read the commentaries!!!" suggestion above. in addition to the commentaries mentioned here, i'm a big personal fan of marcelo motta's "commentaries of AL," which include crowley's "new" comment and motta's own ideas.

Love is the law, love under will
LIHF

Uni_Verse

My first impression with the Serpent/Dove, is that there is direct involvement ( the serpent who slithers on its belly, touching the ground) and the more detached kind of love.

One might say, manifestation/principle.

But, I also wonder if it could be a reference to the Tree of Life. The serpent winds up along the Tree, while the Dove flies down from the top. How, the perspective of Love changes the "higher" our perspective goes.

Michaeljwjr

It has been awhile since I've been able to post here however I was able to go to the library today so I can add something I've been thinking about.

Purely from a physical sense of the universe, I've come to understand that the most present, constant force, will always be cold, and darkness.

Light takes fuel, it must be maintained, warmth(fire) follows the same. Darkness just is. It's always. Light needs to strengthen, to maintain existence, however darkness, doesn't. It just needs to wait for the light to go away.

Between the serpent and the dove, I just reread my copy of the Gospel of Thomas today, and noticed a huge opposame between the Book of Law, and the Gospel of Thomas.

It seems that though they both appear to want the same end, how you go about doing it seems to directly contradict one another.

damian blackthorn

I believe the Serpent and the Dove,are actions.Remember Crowley came from a puritannical up bringing.The Serpent being Evil or a representation thereof ,The Dove being a representation of the Divine [good]. Choose ye well.As High Magicians we learn to use both.But in the end.who are we individually,what have we chosen The Serpent or the Dove. AGAPE 93/93 93 Frater Nocturnus

Michaeljwjr

My question, is that if you are to choose between the serpent, and the dove... what is the winged serpent?

damian blackthorn

for some reason wajet comes to mind

SetiDraconis

sorry got to say im a serpant for sure...but I dont see it as a evil force but one of wisdom but defently of a "Reptailian Draconian" current as I see it.

This reminds me of the policatcal qusition of are you are Hawk aggrssive[Right wing] or Dove passive nature[left wing]

damian blackthorn

i agree