College of Thelema: Thelemic Education

Oooooooooooh!!!!!! Thank you!!!! Anyone up for a field trip?

@gerry456 said

"Yeah it was nothing to do with the band, it was about L.A."

What about LA? Did you enjoy it? What were your thoughts on it?

93!

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@gerry456 said

"
Also, has anyone heard of the graphic novel Love and Rockets? I think it's based in South Cali.."

Nope. But I've heard of the band...

How's the graphic novel?

@Avshalom Binyamin said

"Word up. Yeah plants get a Namaste too, even moss in the cracks in the pavement."

@gerry456 said

"I suppose so, "Namaste" seems more effective to me as I'm spreading out myself into all living things when I do it."

I totally get that. I love the word "Namaste," as when I say it, I am honoring the divine in myself, and in others--including those who aren't human.

Additionally, when I greet humans with "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law," I am reminded that I have a Will, and they have a Will, and I feel encouraged to both do my Will and support them on their journey as they do theirs. It's just a different flavor.

I agree with Shariyf. I'm signed up for a repeat course in March. It's fabulous.

Hi again,

I thought of other options for you! While I know you were thinking specifically of ritual work, as I said in my last post it is my (professional) opinion that ceremonial ritual work is too strenuous (and boring!) for most children. So here are a few more Earth Magick options for you that are more kid-friendly.

Reclaiming (<!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.reclaiming.org">www.reclaiming.org</a><!-- w -->) has two camps for families: Witchlets in the Woods (www.witchletsinthewoods.org) and Redwood Magic (www.reclaimingquarterly.org/web/rmfc). Both of these are great ways to a) introduce the basic concepts of magic to children where they can practice child-centered magic with other children and b) connect with other magical families. When my son is old enough, you can bet we'll attending one or the other.

I like to chant and I play music for my son every single day. Sometimes I play magical chants for him, so that they'll be familiar to him once he's older. Reclaiming has a few CD's that I love--you can look them up on Amazon; they all are great--but my absolute favorite Pagan/Goddess/Empowered Woman/Spiritual CD is called Goddess Chants by Shawna Carol.

I think for a 9 year old (is she growing up in a Pagan/Thelemitc household?) music might be an easy transition into ritual work. After all, we can cast a circle with song, and call in the quarters/elements with song, so why not learn some easy, accessible ways to do this?

Again, just some thoughts for you. Good luck!

Hi there,

While I don't have any ceremonial recommendations for you, I have Circle Round by Starhawk, et al--although there are some chapers, if I remember correctly, that I thought were complete bs. However, It has a wonderful CD, although it may be too young for your girl. I also have Family Wicca: Practical Paganism for Parents and Children by Ashleen O'Gaea but haven't cracked it in years--and another one at work that I can't remember the title to.

Personally, I think that beginning with Wicca is a fantastic idea, as children are naturally curious and drawn to things they can see and touch and having them outdoors learning about rocks and plants and seasons and stars, etc. can only support an interest in ceremonial magic later. Also, in my home we sing songs like The Rainbow Connection and others of that ilk. My friend used to light a special candle each night before her child went to bed and the child would make a wish for herself, her friends (ie her community), and for the world each night and then blow it out. Just use your intuition and creativity and you'll be fine.

Additionally, have you looked into Spiral Scouts? They are pretty fantastic and encourge a magical community. Here is their website: www.spiralscouts.org

Looks like more books on raising children in magickal traditions are sorely needed! Also, we can continue the conversation here.

Nice to meet you, Soror, we're very glad you're here!

...but that's according to "Rabbi Lamed Ben Clifford". If you were to study with another teacher, they might disagree.

I say, "Vee Vee Vee Vee Vee" but I always feel really stupid.

I am not in ToT or in the OTO...however, I am in another Thelemic order.

I do not believe you need to practice magick in order to be a Thelemite. I do believe it can support the finding and implementation of one's True Will, when used appropriately.

"
If youre a man who has no luck with the opposite sex.. with magick, badda boom. I've seen it. he gets the women he chooses.

that dude is doing what thou wilt.
that is the whole of HIS law..
"

...what about HER Will and HER law and HER choice? I mean, if she didn't want to go out with him prior to his using demons, doesn't that magic make her also following his Will rather than her own?

What do you mean here, exactly?

Since it's on the desk...

Gates of Light: The first English translation of a Classic Introduction to Jewish Mysticism by Rabbi Joseph Gikatilla Translated & with an Introduction by Avi Weinstein. AltaMira Press.

Here's the Amazon link:
www.amazon.com/Gates-Light-Shaare-Sacred-Literature/dp/0761990003/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-1820934-9440445?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192376010&sr=8-1

...After musing upon something that could be called a Thelemic symbol, I decided that if I were to get inked with one, I'd get the symbol of the Sun to symbolize the Stellar nature of Thelema, as well as the circumference of the circle with the "dot" in the center referral to Nuit and Hadit.

Or maybe a pent with a red circle in the middle...?

I don't think I'll have any inking done any time soon, though. The piercing I got last is infected and that's enough to deal with.

@Froclown said

"Others who are not Thelemites may be performing their natural functions, they may be in perfect adherence to "DO what thou WILT" yet not be consciously aware of the law, nor actively engaged in promoting it."

My questions are: Do you have to know about the BotL in order for the Will you're doing to be called "Will"? Do you have to know about Crowley to be called a Thelemite?

Interestingly enough, I asked this very same question on another board a while back. Unfortunately, it did not generate the thoughtful discussion that I was hoping for, and that it has here--I'm so glad you posed it.

Here's the link, if anyone is interested--although I warn you, some of the depth (including my own) leaves much to be desired...

helema.tribe.net/thread/9f9afccd-a910-48cc-bb22-c11fef220d29

(Thank you, Jim, for heruraha.net, where thoughtful conversation takes place much more often than many other websites!)

*snickers *