True Will and sex
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Hi. This is my first post here. I'm enquiring into Thelema. Here's my first question:
To what extent are sex magick, and the sex'n'drugs lifestyle (or experimentation with those things), essential to Thelema?
I mean, I can't be the only person with an interest in Thelema who is happily, monogamously married, to a non-occultist!
In Rodney Orpheus' Abrahadabra, he sums up Thelemic morality, IIRC, as "It's all about sex'n'drugs'n'rock'n'roll, really." While that is obviously a puerile interpretation of the Law, much of that lifestyle does appear to be recommended in Liber AL and its commentary, e.g. "wine and strange drugs." I like wine. Strange drugs, I am done with.
Also, while one must accept AL to call oneself a Thelemite, how about Crowley's commentary? There are many things in there I find repugnant, e.g. the recommendation that children should view all manner of sexual acts. I find his libertinism infantile. I used to share it, when I was, say, 14.
Am I too conservative to be a Thelemite?
I expect someone to reply with "There is no law beyond Do what thou wilt." Why then all the other admonitions in AL? What if it's one's Will to be a celibate teetotaller? Then one would be ignoring significant parts of AL. What is the connection between doing your True Will and all the sex and drugs stuff that seems to go along with Thelema?
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As a monogamous married person married to a non-occultist myself, I would have to say that Thelema fits very nicely in my lifestyle. I would look specifically at what passages the wine and drugs are mentioned and what meaning might be behind them where they're used. Also, there is the question of, why are you conservative? Is it because of what you've learned from society or what you feel is right deep in your heart?
Personally, I don't see the problem with a child viewing a sexual act. It's no different than watching a person relieve themself in the restroom or eat a meal at the table. They're all natural human acts. Why is this so repugnant to you?
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@Gawain said
"To what extent are sex magick, and the sex'n'drugs lifestyle (or experimentation with those things), essential to Thelema?"
They're irrelevant to Thelema.
They are, in and of themselves, potentially powerful techniques which we treat interchangeably with other known valid techniques. In fact, an inspection of the A.'.A.'. curriculum shows them getting no particular additional attention compared to other categories of techniques.
They were very important to Aleister Crowley. That wasn't what you asked, though.
Also, because of social suppression and, in some cases, criminalization, they have tended to be more important for Thelemites (and others) who are especially pushing what one might call a civil rights agenda of occultism.
"I mean, I can't be the only person with an interest in Thelema who is happily, monogamously married, to a non-occultist!"
Uh, you can have really amazing sex magick (as well as amazingly magical sex) while being happily, monogamously, faithfully married to a non-occultist.
"I like wine. Strange drugs, I am done with."
BTW, though I don't think this is the primary meaning of that passage: Some of those strange drugs are created inside of your brain as a consquence of the practices assigned.
You should, in any case, feel at liberty to take those substances. You don't have to exercise every freedom you have.
"Also, while one must accept AL to call oneself a Thelemite, how about Crowley's commentary?"
I think the answer to the first has to be Yes in the general case - otherwise, what is the definition to mean? As to the second, our view is that Crowley is the one best witness to the Book's reception, and a qualified expert who spent the remainder of his life passionately exploring it, so one must reasonably give significant weight to his point of view on the matter as a "best witness" - but the Book itself specifically says he won't get it all. So there is nothing "last word" about his p.o.v.
"I expect someone to reply with "There is no law beyond Do what thou wilt." Why then all the other admonitions in AL? What if it's one's Will to be a celibate teetotaller?"
If that's part of one's True Will - if it is done as a celebration and not as cow-towing to suppression - then it's Thelemic.
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93,
My perception of sex magick is that it isn't necessarily for beginners. Sex is, sure, and there's no harm in learning magick, especially if you have a good teacher or teaching group. Combining the two <i>successfully</i> might take a while. It might become sex-with-an-extra-kick (not to be sneezed at!), but using magick actually to open up and open out on more than the physical plane can take time. Your partner needs to be into the idea for things to work best.
Taking 'strange' drugs is up to you, though I think we all benefit from exploring them at some point. Level of use of familiar ones (like the grape-derived ethyl alcohol I am consuming as I write this) is wholly up to you. The Book of the Law does not insist we get stoned, only (IMHO) offering an injunction to open up to new experiences.
Most serious-minded Thelemites of my acquaintance (not all) are basically serial monogamists, or even monogamous monogamists. And that's comfortable for them. What AC felt he needed to do 90 years ago is another issue.
Addendum: Listening to rock music is nowhere prescribed in the Book of the Law. Crowley always said he had a tin ear.
93 93/93,
EM
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Thank you for your very helpful replies.
kuniggety:
"As a monogamous married person married to a non-occultist myself, I would have to say that Thelema fits very nicely in my lifestyle."
Good to hear.
"why are you conservative? Is it because of what you've learned from society or what you feel is right deep in your heart?"
To the extent that I am conservative on whatever topics, it is the result of life experience and contemplation. Nobody ever taught me it. What we 'feel deep in our hearts' is often what has been planted there by society. These are my considered opinions.
Anyway, I didn't come here to argue my views, but to ask whether they are compatible with Thelema. But I must say that I do regard sex as something rather on a different plane than eating or excreting. And I object to sexualizing children by making voyeurs of them.
Jim:
"no particular additional attention compared to other categories of techniques"
But they are a standard part of the curriculum at certain levels?
Edward Mason:
"Your partner needs to be into the idea for things to work best. "
Quite.
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@Gawain said
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"no particular additional attention compared to other categories of techniques"But they are a standard part of the curriculum at certain levels?"
Whose curriculum?
In the A.'.A.'. there are certain instructions given. A practical one begins as early as 1=10. There is never any testing on any of those particular techniques.