The Black of Thelema
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Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
In light of a recent thread on Black Brothers, I feel compelled to share my understanding of the word "black" in a Thelemic context, as I increasingly discover it to be an uncommon one. It seems to be most commonly understood as a "bad" thing, since it is most often coupled with Black Magick and Black Brothers for readers of the Thelemic canon.
I am sure most of the people reading this are aware of black in a more positive context: N.O.X., Nuit as a Goddess of Night and the Blackness of Infinite Space are a few obvious examples that skim the surface. I'm just not sure if everyone notices how the positive and negative definitions overlap when speaking of Black Brothers and the sort.
Principally, my understanding comes from the following passage:
@Liber LXV cap I said
- So also the light that is absorbed. One absorbs little, and is called white and glistening. One absorbs all and is called black.
- Therefore, O my darling, thou art black.
Really, coming from the lips of Adonai and considering other ideas, I have a hard time seeing anything "bad" about black in such a context.
Liber CCXX tells us that "the rituals of the old time are black," that the "evil ones be cast away," and that the "good ones be purged by the prophet." (II:5) If we come at CCXX with a firm grounding in what we read from LXV, we are blessed to even have these "rituals of the old time," for being black, they can be said to have absorbed all. All too often have I seen the old religions stigmatized as worthless among trending occult enthusiasts, so I feel this is worth saying.
I understand how CCXX cap III:51-55 lends itself to the popular treatment mentioned above, yet I assert that this is merely a misunderstanding of the symbolism presented.
Here, Ra-Hoor-Khuit is seen violently chastising the saviors and prophets of the old time. Of course this is so. Ra-Hoor-Khuit is here representing the source of their suffering and its transcendence. Indeed, is it our place to spit upon "crapulous creeds," or should we simply have faith in Ra-Hoor-Khuit, that the deed is done?
Of course, all perspectives are valid in their respective contexts: one may wish to do the spitting during an invocation to Ra-Hoor-Khuit or some such. I do not wish to judge; I merely wish to provide an alternative to what I perceive as popular thought.
To return to some earlier points: what then of the casting away of the evil and the purging of the good rituals? Is a Black Brother worthless?
I can see that in the purging and casting away of the rituals of the old time that this must be done for the sake of man's understanding, that the rituals be not at odds with empirical or scientific apprehensions. Indeed, even to the end that the willed methods and practices be distilled from the dross of old dogmas and superstitions.
So then, the Black Brothers. I argue it is worthwhile for most aspirants of the A.'. A.'. to learn their methods and know them well, even if only for the sake of those who come after them. Yet, this may not be so worthwhile in every case. It is written:
@Liber LXV cap I said
- Then said Adonai: Thou has the Head of the Hawk, and thy Phallus is the Phallus of Asar. Thou knowest the white, and thou knowest the black, and thou knowest that these are one. But why seekest thou the knowledge of their equivalence?
@Liber CCXX cap I said
- ... Thou knowest! And the sign shall be my ecstasy, the consciousness of the continuity of existence, the omnipresence of my body.
@Liber LXV cap I said
- And Adonai said: The strong brown reaper swept his swathe and rejoiced. The wise man counted his muscles, and pondered, and understood not, and was sad.
Reap thou, and rejoice!
Discussion on any of these points is highly encouraged and appreciated.
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"Really, coming from the lips of Adonai and considering other ideas, I have a hard time seeing anything "bad" about black in such a context."
Different black from the Black of the Black Brothers. (Of course, that is a Holy Book; this is just my opinion, since you asked for it.)
"Liber CCXX tells us that "the rituals of the old time are black," that the "evil ones be cast away," and that the "good ones be purged by the prophet." (II:5) If we come at CCXX with a firm grounding in what we read from LXV, we are blessed to even have these "rituals of the old time," for being black, they can be said to have absorbed all. All too often have I seen the old religions stigmatized as worthless among trending occult enthusiasts, so I feel this is worth saying."
Again, unrelated. (BTW, the ones that are "purged" would be no longer black, would they?)
"Indeed, is it our place to spit upon "crapulous creeds," or should we simply have faith in Ra-Hoor-Khuit, that the deed is done?"
(Keeping it simple.) Both.
"To return to some earlier points: what then of the casting away of the evil and the purging of the good rituals? Is a Black Brother worthless?"
Mostly unrelated, AFAIK."So then, the Black Brothers. I argue it is worthwhile for most aspirants of the A.'. A.'. to learn their methods and know them well, even if only for the sake of those who come after them."
What methods?
From what you wrote, I don't think you know what a Black Brother is at all.