Invoke Often
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@Jim Eshelman said
"One way is to adapt Nuit's statement, "My ecstasy is in yours. My joy is to see your joy." Adopt the postulate that the Angel receives pleasure through your experiencing of it. While enjoying pleasure, be mindful of the Angel, of this fact (postulate), etc., and feel... well, whatever you feel in the realization that you are contributing joy to the Angel.
Remember also that feeling genuine gratitude opens the heart center - it has a particular physical feel to it when it's authentic."
This made my head explode (in a good way). I have a personal question that arises upon reading this, and I'd like to get your thoughts on them, Jim, if you don't mind.
I have a tendency (inherited from my dad) to shower love interests with gifts, affection, and such. I feel in my element when I'm the one who is giving the love, manifesting my desire. Would it be wise to attempt to turn this toward the Angel (as far as I can grasp Him at this stage)? I'm guessing yes; can you confirm or deny this, and/or add anything to it?
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@Ash said
"I have a tendency (inherited from my dad) to shower love interests with gifts, affection, and such. I feel in my element when I'm the one who is giving the love, manifesting my desire. Would it be wise to attempt to turn this toward the Angel (as far as I can grasp Him at this stage)? I'm guessing yes; can you confirm or deny this, and/or add anything to it?"
It's natural to you? If so, then... sure!
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@Jim Eshelman said
"Remember also that feeling genuine gratitude opens the heart center - it has a particular physical feel to it when it's authentic."
What are your recommendations as far as opening the various centers (Cakras) in terms of order (first, second, third and so on....) Do you think the current of Initiatory change from the Age of Osiris to Horus has any effect on that? Thanks.
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@Jim Eshelman said
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@seekinghga said
"In his writings Crowley used the words "invoke often," quite frequently when detailing the necessary fervor needed to "call" the HGA. He did not mean a ceremony per se, did he? It was more of an allusion to consistent subconscious suggestion to the mind, correct? "It depends on the stage your at. When you're at the stage of performing ritual invocation of the HGA (say, in an Abramelin-esque operation), it most definitely means to do the ritual frequently. But at many (most?) other times it means more like what you said.
The question is... how to do that. Turning thoughts to the angel is one way, but also witnessing the angel's hand in every change of circumstance is another. Or frequent eucharist. Or mindfulness of the angel in all enjoyment. Or awareness of what is really going on four times a day during Liber Resh. Or a thousand other specific and vague things."
So another possible way of looking what Jim has laid out could be classified as: Turning thoughts etc. - Devotion - Bhakti Yoga; witnessing the Angel's hand... - Knowledge (in that to witness is to know) - Gnana Yoga; Eucharist - Action - Karma Yoga etc.
Also, Crowley used a fair amount of mind-altering substances, which comes more under the related heading of "enflame oneself often," but I think it would be a mistake to start on the path with that as the PRIMARY technique- you don't want to end up like Humpty Dumpty or Phaeton!. IMO, the most important thing the initiate will need is Faith, in order to see themself through the extreme mental and emotional stress that accompanies the high frequencies that the Higher Spirit World resonates at. In other words, without Faith, Courage, and frankly the Grace from the Angel (which could be looked at as simply your own True Will), the vibrations would tear your mind apart!
The best way to prepare and strengthen oneself in Faith and Courage is through: building an emotional connection to ADNI through Devotion-Bhakti Yoga, through Knowledge and Philosophical training - Gnana Yoga, and Eucharist - Action - Karma Yoga.
One last thought, are you ready now to accept your Angel and what that would mean for your current life? What about your family, ambitions, goals, job, bills? Could you abandon all that the instant you realised you must? Or would your mind be torn apart like a ship gnashed against the rocks? What about your world-view? Could you handle your entire understanding of EVERYTHING being rent like an old wine sack? What about the vision? Could it be so different, so alien to the human mind that you're driven mad from some hideous, Picasoesque night-mare? That's where Humility comes into play - Humility from the sheer terror of the meeting of the Infinite with the finite!
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BRING IT!!! hahaha!
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@pinealman said
"BRING IT!!! hahaha!"
The hard part is maintaining that courage after "it" gets "brought," usually square into your face. I shudder slightly with recollection.
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@nderabloodredsky said
"Also, Crowley used a fair amount of mind-altering substances, which comes more under the related heading of "enflame oneself often," but I think it would be a mistake to start on the path with that as the PRIMARY technique- you don't want to end up like Humpty Dumpty or Phaeton!. IMO, the most important thing the initiate will need is Faith, in order to see themself through the extreme mental and emotional stress that accompanies the high frequencies that the Higher Spirit World resonates at. In other words, without Faith, Courage, and frankly the Grace from the Angel (which could be looked at as simply your own True Will), the vibrations would tear your mind apart!
The best way to prepare and strengthen oneself in Faith and Courage is through: building an emotional connection to ADNI through Devotion-Bhakti Yoga, through Knowledge and Philosophical training - Gnana Yoga, and Eucharist - Action - Karma Yoga.
One last thought, are you ready now to accept your Angel and what that would mean for your current life? What about your family, ambitions, goals, job, bills? Could you abandon all that the instant you realised you must? Or would your mind be torn apart like a ship gnashed against the rocks? What about your world-view? Could you handle your entire understanding of EVERYTHING being rent like an old wine sack? What about the vision? Could it be so different, so alien to the human mind that you're driven mad from some hideous, Picasoesque night-mare? That's where Humility comes into play - Humility from the sheer terror of the meeting of the Infinite with the finite!"
I slept with Faith, and found a corpse in my arms on
awaking; I drank and danced all night with Doubt,
and found her a virgin in the morning.Every experience I have had with my HGA has been beautiful in a terrible way. I would not describe it as something that could potentially drive someone mad, maybe if the person is particularly unstable and they probably did not meet their angel to begin with. The humility that I feel is a reflection of the sheer perfection of the Angel against my flawed and finite mind. It is beautiful in that there are no words in which to express it, and terrible because there are no words to express it. I grunt and cry out and make noises to attempt to describe the experiences but HGA is so far off the map that there is no symbol to attach to it. That is why it is called the Holy "Guardian" Angel, though ordeals might be suffered the Angel will lead you no farther than you can go.
I spent a year barely able to feed myself, living in an apartment that was falling apart beneath my feet in the middle of the ghetto. I thought I would lose everything that I had worked for and fell into a deep deep despair. One day while meditating with a friend, I was wrapped in the light of my angel and I realized that I had placed all of my self-worth on material success. Well, I began to hit the temple with full force with a F*** IT ALL attitude, and guess what? A career advancement appeared and a move to a new place with a safer less-distracting atmosphere!
I can only wonder where this idea of the K&C being a terrifying experience? I guess if you have a massive shadow self to deal with than that can be likely.
72
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@TheSilent1 said
"I can only wonder where this idea of the K&C being a terrifying experience? I guess if you have a massive shadow self to deal with than that can be likely."
Yes, the pathway to the K&C can be horrifying to some because of that very thing. And, in any case, it would usually seem a waste of a good Dominus Liminis period if there weren't a few ordeals of Death and the Devil in the mix.
But that approachway is different from the K&C itself.
Also, there are diverse experiences of the HGA preliminary to, and highly distinguishable from, the K&C.
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@nderabloodredsky said
"
One last thought, are you ready now to accept your Angel and what that would mean for your current life? What about your family, ambitions, goals, job, bills? Could you abandon all that the instant you realised you must? Or would your mind be torn apart like a ship gnashed against the rocks? What about your world-view? Could you handle your entire understanding of EVERYTHING being rent like an old wine sack? What about the vision? Could it be so different, so alien to the human mind that you're driven mad from some hideous, Picasoesque night-mare? That's where Humility comes into play - Humility from the sheer terror of the meeting of the Infinite with the finite!"'Tis a good rant, it sounds akin to my own predilection of messaging. (I mean that in a good way, btw
)But aren't most of these issues dealt with when one encounters the Trance of Sorrow? Or is that Trance and the K&C linked in some adroit way? I know that Crowley associates the Sorrow Trance with the achievement of crossing the Abyss, but I do prefer to toast my bread before I make the sandwich.
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"I know that Crowley associates the Sorrow Trance with the achievement of crossing the Abyss"
Wasn't this what spurred him to take up the Great Work?
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Yeah, you're quite right. I had recalled something that Crowley wrote in his Little Essay on Sorrow, but it has been too long since I read that and I really should have re-read it (dumb dumb). As you say, the first sentence of that Essay is in regards to the beginning of that path and not the end. When will I learn...
Thanks for clearing that up for me.
Peace.