College of Thelema: Thelemic Education

Thank you for your thoughts. There's some interesting avenues in them. Cheers. 93's.

Bit of a necropost but...

“50. There is a word to say about the Hierophantic task. Behold! there are three ordeals in one, and it may be given in three ways. The gross must pass through fire; let the fine be tried in intellect, and the lofty chosen ones in the highest. Thus ye have star & star, system & system; let not one know well the other!”

Ordeals = 370
3 x 370 + 1 = 1111

First Way:

One Gross = 144
Ash (HB: Fire) = 301
301 + 144 = 445
445 + 666 = 1111.

I'm stuck on the other 2 ways though...

93's.

@ldfriend56 said

"the 'choose ye well' makes the most enlightening sense when the option is to 'choose both the serpent and the dove'"

57. Invoke me under my stars!

In ancient Egypt both Ursa Minor and Draco made up an asterism of stars associated with the Hippopotamus Goddess 'Taweret' (aka 'Tuat'). As the Goddess of Childbirth and fertility, she is stationed in the sky approximate to the crotch of the Goddess Nuit, where she plays 'catch the baby' in the place where the child is to be born.

According to legend, the Eye of Ra transformed herself into the Hippopotamus. Crowley associates the Hippo with the Goddess AHAThOOR.

"From Liber Samekh:
(.......a Solar-Phallic Hippopotamus** of a Venereal nature.)
[** Sacred to AHAThOOR. The idea is that of the Female conceived as invulnerable, reposeful, of enormous swallowing capacity etc.] "

Hail unto thee who art Ahathoor in thy triumphing
Even unto thee who art Ahathoor in they beauty
Who travellest over the heavens in thy bark
At the midcourse of the Sun.

Taweret - 'Great One' and 'mistress of the horizon' - is sometimes shown with seven stars lined down her back, which are most likely the seven stars of Ursa Minor. She is depicted with pendulous breasts heavy with milk to suckle the child with.

"...and the Lord Adonai is about it on all sides like a Thunderbolt, and a Pylon, and a Snake, and a Phallus, and in the midst thereof he is like the Woman that jetteth out the milk of the stars from her paps; yea, the milk of the stars from her paps. - LIBER CORDIS CINCTI SERPENTE"

The Goddess Tawaret is also associated with Death.

"Quite contrarily, she also took on the role of a funerary deity in this period, evidenced by the commonplace practice of placing hippopotami decorated with marsh flora in tombs and temples. Some scholars believe that this practice demonstrates that hippopotamus goddesses facilitated the process of rebirth after death, just as they aided in earthly births. These statues, then, assisted the deceased’s passing into the afterlife. - Wiki."

http://robertbauval.co.uk/articles/articles/images/cciae12c.gif

If we chart the Aeons via the polar stars... the Aeon of Horus has already been 'on' since 500 CE and had another 1096 years to go in 1904. If we speculate that the turn of the Aeons keep step with the sweep of the hand of this polar clock, then the year 2102 would be a very significant year in the Aeon of Horus, and we would have 987 years of the Aeon left.

The Aeon of Thaum-Aesch-Nia-eth last commenced in 12,000 BCE when Vega was the Pole Star.
The Aeon of xxxx(?) commenced in 4300 BCE when Theta Bootis was the Pole Star. It was closest to the pole in 4121 BCE.
The Aeon of Isis commenced in 3942 BCE when Thuban was the Pole Star. It was closest to the pole in 2787 BCE.
The Aeon of Osiris commenced in 1500 BCE when Kochab and Pherkad became the Pole Star twins. They were closest to the pole in 500 BCE.
The Aeon of Horus commenced in CE 500 when Polaris (Ursae Minoris) became the Pole Star. It is closest to the pole in 2102 CE.
The Aeon of Ma'at commences in CE 3000 when Alrai becomes the Pole Star. It is closest to the pole in 4400 CE.
The Aeon of Anubis commences in CE 5200 when Iota Cephei becomes the Pole Star. It is closest to the pole in 7600 CE.
The Aeon of Auramoouth commences in CE 10000 when Deneb becomes the Pole Star. It is closest to the pole in 12000 CE.
The Aeon of Thaum-Aesch-Nia-eth commences in CE 14000 CE when Vega becomes the Pole Star again.

I'm missing a God or Goddess... what Aeon came before the Aeon of Isis, and after the Aeon of Thaum-Aesch-Nia-eth?

Thank you - Sister Ursula?
I really like that name! I wouldn't think these names were given by a coincidence. I remember you saying your family was quite well read on occult subjects.

I finally nailed AL I, 57.

Dov (hebrew) = Bear.
Ursa = Bear.

The former name of the current pole star Polaris used to be 'Ursae Minoris, in the constellation of Ursa Minor', and the name of the former pole star 'Thuban' means the Serpent, and is in the constellation of Draco- also a Serpent.

The name of the pole star Kochab simply means 'the Star'. (Must investigate original squiggle in M.S.)

The next pole star 'Alrai' is most probably the 'One to follow thee' in AL II,76.

This means we can calculate the Aeons by the Pole Stars! How cool is that?

Sorted. Satisfied. 93's.

The Orch OR model has consciousness starting from energy,
navigating spacetime (writing and reading various bit's of 'qualia' as it goes)
then it hits the microtubules in your brain and body (hello gravity - bye bye super-position)
and voila - you have consciousness inside of a fleshy body (be that a man or paramecium).

So consciousness is an emergent property of the universe rather than a causal property by this account.

If consciousness exists just as one of those things that pop up in the universe (most especially local to planets), then it has nothing else to do but observe the stars and get spaghettified by the odd black hole - except on earth where it found all the building blocks of life and gave itself a project.

Hello consciousness!

HELLO WORLD.

It's got a nice classic look to the book. Neat.

@kasper81 said

"Thanks for that Alrah, very well put. Very good Dr Shoemaker links also, by the way"

You're welcome mate, and I loved the decision of David to feature these CBT techniques as part and parcel of the 'Living Thelema' show.

@kasper81 said

"
@Alrah said
"People who go to get therapy and have mood or personality disorders are usually offered CBT (cognitive behavior therapy) and the meditative techniques that are taught as part of CBT are derived from Yoga. The other part of CBT is learning ways we can identify when our thinking is distorting our perception of reality - either amplifying it or reducing it (by denying it). Dr Shoemaker did a great 'living Thelema' segment on how Magicians can benefit from CBT as part of their daily practise.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxDMxkGyaDU&list=PL5AF2D76A111E402C"

I would say that yoga is not a substitute for counselling. Counselling is a trained professional, confronting our behaviour. No one here, on this message board, knows whether any other poster does irrational things in their daily activity. Not unless they are actual aquaintences, friends, outside of this board, and even then their opinion regarding the others' development is irrelevant, unless they are a trained, professional counsellor. That goes for any Thelemic message board too.

However, I think it's fair to say that posts (especially reactive, instant, "on the bounce" posts) involving rudeness and insults would be indicative of an unresolved psychological problem, simply because they have that defense-mechanism quality to them"

CBT is not a substitute for counselling either. It's more a set of techniques that allow you to identify when your thinking might be a little distorted and then gives you the tools to address the problem and hopefully gain a more balanced perspective. Anyone (with an average IQ) can use these tools, and they don't involve any counselling at all. Even psychologically healthy and well adjusted people can benefit from them, since everyone loses perspective at times. It's just another tool; like counselling is, and people can access both and do yoga as well if they wish.

This message board exists primarily for the use of the students of the Temple of Thelema, and they are all undertaking the great work and that implicitly involves working with the psyche. Sometimes people choose to aire personal matters and gain insight from the shared experiences of others. Sometimes people forget to leave their ego at the door, but eventually everyone learns something. What goes on here is not counselling, but an exchange of dialogue, opinions, knowledge, understanding and occasionally a little bit of wisdom.

In any group of people you will find people that are rude and insulting, defensive and close minded, arrogant and egotistical, woolly minded or grandiose. This may or may not feature as a psychological problem in their lives, but one thing is certain - it's only your problem if you make it your problem.

http://i963.photobucket.com/albums/ae111/alrah/Jung_zpsef1c2cfc.jpg

People who go to get therapy and have mood or personality disorders are usually offered CBT (cognitive behavior therapy) and the meditative techniques that are taught as part of CBT are derived from Yoga. The other part of CBT is learning ways we can identify when our thinking is distorting our perception of reality - either amplifying it or reducing it (by denying it). Dr Shoemaker did a great 'living Thelema' segment on how Magicians can benefit from CBT as part of their daily practise.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxDMxkGyaDU&list=PL5AF2D76A111E402C

@ Legis - I loved watching you trying to impose a standard on yourself as the thread went on - i.e. the 'my last post' stuff, but then you seemed to find yourself driven to post anyway and thereby damned your standard each time to remain an unrealized and impotent restriction of your will...

Was that a deliberate Q.E.D.? I enjoyed it immensely.

@Legis said

"There is also the theory that the only records we have left of the appearance of an Enlightened One (Buddha, what-have-you) are those voted on by the majority who destroyed the rest, preferring a ...less gnostic agenda."

Well... when you have gnostic texts calling Adam, Abraham, Moses etc 'laughingstock' ... well!

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Treatise_of_the_Great_Se

@Legis said

"
@Alrah said
"
Well, you're assuming there is a standard to be had from Liber Al vel Legis that everyone understands in the same way... "

Not me personally. I refer to the potential of abusing the text of* Liber Legis *in the same manner that is currently being done with the Bible and "Do unto others as you would have them do to you" in this discussion.

In this discussion, the assumption is that those who have interpreted the Bible and Jesus' words in the fashion you, Los, and perhaps even Crowley describe are actually giving the "correct" way of interpreting the Bible and Jesus' words - therefore, the injunction "Do unto others" itself must necessarily be precisely as base and destructive as the worst interpretation and application of the masses.

I hope that this principle will not be applied to* Liber Legis*, but in my experience such a misreading is the primary response.

To paraphrase Mr. Mackey: "Christianity is bad, m'kay? And everything Jesus said is bad - because Christianity is bad, m'kay?""

I see the distinction yo're making here and understand. There is an argument to be made that all things in the bible, although written apparently in ordinary language are not about ordinary things or even a historical record, but are about theosophy - the psychodynamics of God, which would make Jesus's words a commentary about how God interacts with himself rather than moral or ethical guidance to be followed dogmatically by mankind.

As I understand it - 'the comment' is intended to make us alive to the possibility of standardizing our interpretation of the text which may lead to an exoteric understanding of the book. It's good to be reminded of this on occasion. Thanks for bringing it up.

@Legis said

"
@Alrah said
"The problem with a external standard that has been internalized such as "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is that living up to it requires a certain dogmatic rigidity of the mindset that is ultimately self-defeating. Any dogmatic rigidity will simply be exploited by people who have any of the dark triad personality traits.
"

And what of the injunctions, advice, "standards" if you will, of Liber Legis?

"Let there be no difference made among you between any one thing & any other thing; for thereby there cometh hurt."
"Obey my prophet!"
"Pity not the fallen! I never knew them."
"Mercy let be off: damn them who pity! Kill and torture; spare not; be upon them!"

May these not also be misunderstood? Do they also, when internalized, "require a certain dogmatic rigidity of the mindset that is ultimately self-defeating"?

In my opinion, any spiritual injunction may be misinterpreted, "standardized," and abused by those who wish to manipulate others for their own benefit. If I were a "dark triad" type, oh how I might abuse them to manipulate others into being an enforcer of my ego's own kingdom.

I do agree that Thelema as a whole is more resistant to being abused by manipulations of compassion. It does, however, exhibit some weaknesses,* when specific injunctions are taken out of their context and abused *as "do unto others" has been, in creating a blindness to the potentials of the "dark triad" in oneself."

Well, you're assuming there is a standard to be had from Liber Al vel Legis that everyone understands in the same way... and yet - take the line which says "Pity not the fallen! I never knew them." I have no idea what you think this means, but to me I interpret it as saying "I never knew the 'fallen' Tree of Life - don't pity letting it go!" And the 'them' in this line is not about people to me but sephiroth! lol. I might even subject the words 'pity not' to analysis by gematria or anagram analysis to reveal a completely different meaning.

If there is a 'standard' about the Book of the Law then it's in the way it defaces the apparent meaning of the text so it is not apprehendable by strict rationalism - as do many Kabbalistic works.

The problem with a external standard that has been internalized such as "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is that living up to it requires a certain dogmatic rigidity of the mindset that is ultimately self-defeating. Any dogmatic rigidity will simply be exploited by people who have any of the dark triad personality traits.

We are programmed by the popular culture - a thousand feel good movies, and the naive ethical programming of childhood socialization, to believe that if we adhere to some external standard of 'goodness' or an external standard of altruism and if we simply keep on giving and displaying love to people through good works then eventually any selfish bastard on earth can be 'saved' with enough persistence and they will eventually start to appreciate, internalize and replicate the ethic behind it instead of taking what is offered and saying "Thanks.... suckers!"

That' not practical or realistic and it turns people into victims and self made martyrs.

This is not an argument against altruism per se when it is in line with the will, but it is an argument against any *dogmatic and rigid *forms of altruism that are derived from an external standard that is intended to be a universal guide to action.

Ultimately, you cannot teach or demonstrate love to others if you are unwilling to be loving and considerate to yourself first. As it is a dogmatic standard you are adhering to then the dark triad sense the ultimate dichotomy of self against self and reject it. They see that sort of love for what it ultimately is - a method of coercion and manipulation which is cloaking its own selfishness in altruistic clothes.

I'm with Los and Veronica on this one and I think they have made some excellent points.

The conception of Thelema is a mental construct but it points back to the Will rather than embracing any external and dogmatic standard that can be exploited by others, and that alone is something which should reduce the prevalence of the dark triad instead of encouraging it by feeding it new dogmatically minded victims ready for exploitation.

Thelema is "The Law of the Strong!"

@Takamba said

"Well said, Alrah."

Thanks Takamba. I glad you enjoyed my response.

It also struck me this morning that Thelema is automatically resistant to manipulation from the 'dark triad' of personality traits, whereas the former Christian ethic was often manipulated by these personality types. (I'd been reading up on Machiavelli.)

93's!

@kasper81 said

"
@Alrah said
"
@Takamba said
"

If gratitude attracts gratitude, then selfishness also attracts selfishness. "
"

selfishness actually doesn't attract selfishness. If we get all haughty when someone is having a strop (rare or not) then we are actually no better. We are reacting mechanically and are therefore not authentic. It's also judgmental and therefore unloving. True love is tolerance and understanding hence when we for-give we are then, giving"

You are making a moral judgement, and thereby wishing to be treat as you would ideally do to others. This is a Christian ethic. However the law of Thelema is a realistic one and does not constrain anyone to suffer fools gladly, and in actual fact - at times the best thing you can do for a person is to leave them alone. Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law. That may be the most loving course of action while appearing to be haughty, aloof or unloving to the one left to their own devices. Love is the law, but it is as much for the self as about giving it to others, and one may love others and forgive them their foibles unequivocally while not seeking their companionship or company or to embroil themselves in aiding them evolve past whatever excess energy they may wish to give in altruistic pursuits - especially when that energy is wasted.

Thus, the lover may freely depart from the abusive individual without there being any expectation that they will stand by them until such a time that individual is ready to let go of abusive and selfish patterns of behavior. And likewise, the lover may depart given no cause on the part of the opposite but simply because their concordance now proves displeasing to them.

Like attracts like. Birds of a feather flock together. Misery loves it own company and the joyous seek joyous companions. That is the reality.

Don't confuse the reality that you can observe with your own powers with what you would like and prefer to be the case. Your preference when it comes to the actions of others is not relevant to the law. The law of Thelema entitles you to:

to live by your own law—
to live in the way that you will to do:
to work as you will:
to play as you will:
to rest as you will:
to die when and how you will.
to eat what you will:
to drink what you will:
to dwell where you will:
to move as you will on the face of the earth.
to think what you will:
to speak what you will:
to write what you will:
to draw, paint, carve, etch, mould, build as you will:
to dress as you will.
to love as you will:—
to take your fill and will of love as you will, when, where, and with whom ye will.
to kill those who would thwart these rights.

it does not entitle you :

to forgiveness from others,
to gratitude from others,
to love from others,
to sex from others,
to fair or pleasing to you speech from others,
to any return of mental, emotional or physical energy you may choose to give to others,
to fair judgement from others,
or for others to comply with the laws you choose to live by.

Compassion is the deputy (vice) of the King but how that is expressed by the King is according to no external rule or law but only according to your own law - each King for themselves.

Capish?

@Los said

"
@Avshalom Binyamin said
"You've previously stated that no evidence could be presented that could persuade you to change your beliefs about the reality of the universe."

I don't believe I've ever said that. If you could actually present compelling evidence that Secret Chiefs exist, I would accept that they do.

At any rate, I said that I'm curious about the case you would make in favor of the claim that they do exist. If you don't want to make that case, fine. I strongly suspect it's because you can't, and you know it."

I strongly suspect that neither you nor anyone else can make a case in favour that you exist. And if you ignore this post I'll take that as confirmation that you know it.

@Her said

"
@Alrah said
"I think that sometimes people get a little too hung up on the martial aspect of Geburah without taking account of it's other attribute. Once the fighting is done then the other attribute that comes online is active reverence."

I thought "fighting" was only one aspect of Geburah. What about the intense discipline that Geburah brings? That would seem to make it the perfect counter-point for the expansive, jovian, out-pouring energy of Chesed. Also that same discipline reflects, on a lower level, the initial restriction of Binah with regard to Chokmah. In my opinion it's one of the things that makes Geburah such a perfect fit on the Pillar of Severity."

When it comes to the Tree or the Palaces I like to have things rooted in the tradition. I'm not interested in Chaos Magic.

Thus I suggested the idea of 'Reverence' in respect of Geburah due to a Hekhalot text from antiquity (or it may have been the Zohar actually... I mention it on the thread on Liber 231 of this forum.)

I'll be happy to discuss with you what you think is a Geburah quality of discipline if you can reference a main text in Judaic literature that directly ascribes this quality of discipline to Geburah.