College of Thelema: Thelemic Education

I have never entirely understood the concept of silence as part of the powers of the Sphinx. Is this not a formula for doing one's will, magic in the world? I try to look at very successful people who accomplish their wills and I don't usually see silence. I see all the other aspects of the sphinx in their lives/actions, but I see them verbalizing those dreams, engaging others into them, and getting people on-board to help accomplish it in the world. If one is silent, how do they bring the needed elements into play to get things moving in Assiah? Maybe something else is meant by silence? Or is there a short required silent phase needed before the 5th power (which would include the verbalizing)?

"He that lives long & desires death much is ever the King among the Kings."

I am looking up Liber XXI on the net, trying to find a good copy and I am coming across two versions. One version ends with:
WHO HATH THE TAO IS HERE AND NOW
..........IN SILENCE OF THE PATH

and the other version ends with:
THIS SACRED TAO TO MEN THAT VOW
..........THEMSELVES TO FATHOM IT.

Is the previous one an incomplete version?

Thanks!

I have seen some Magickal Orders use the Sign of Silence with the left hand, and some with the right. Most Images of Harpocrates use the right hand. I've also seen some texts refer to both hands.

Are these signs different according to the hand used, or is it just a matter of tradition/preference? Should it always be done the same or does different practices call for different hands.

Does it have anything to do with the concepts of one side being passive and the other active? or active vs. receiving?

Does Crowley ever equate Hoor-paar-kraat with SET, or is this purely a Grant concept?

93!

I searched through the thread and ITC issues and could not find a direct answer to this. When "performing" Resh and giving the "sign of your grade," are you visualizing the God form in your exact body position? So, instead of seeing the God in it's characteristic stance, you would instead see it in your grade sign?

93. Thanks everyone for the input!

@Jim Eshelman said

"David, there are hints scattered through the early chapters of Pearls of Wisdom (which I happen to know you have ). I haven't published anything comprehensive on the "how," though, because it isn't the kind of thing you can get from an instruction manual.

You can absorb it, though, from those who know what they're talking about if you are open to it. I've long recommended a little book by Parker J. Palmer, Let Your Life Speak, as the single best thing I've ever seen in print on the subject. "

Yes, and I'm enjoying Pearls very much! Also read Palmer years ago at your suggestion - another great one!

I think what spurred my question is recent exposure to a few things. One friend showed me his Scientology book ,Self Analysis, and I thought it had good ideas to look at one's thoughts, despite the major problems with Scientology as a whole. I also saw another friend's paper on Nightly Examination of consciousness from a Rosicrucian source. It basically is another form of self analysis to help one look at actions and thoughts in a more conscious way as opposed to being unconscious, or "asleep." I guess I was looking for a Thelemic "version" of something like that.

93!

Are there specific exercises one can do to understand if they are doing their true will? Any action one does could either be ones true will, or an action that is caused/influenced by outside pressure, manipulation, or convincing. The media, family, culture, friends, spouses, government, all exert forces trying to shape or control us. How do we know when we are acting in our own will? Is there a battery of questions we can ask for each specific act?

I guess what I was after is non-occult books, or of course I would say all of Jim's books. I'm after books that you could give a friend who has no interest in the occult but the flavor or ideas of the book are compatable with Thelema. For example, The Alchemist is a great read for anyone but the theme is the search for your true will, even if it isn't called that.

If you were to suggest a few books to a Thelemite, what would you say their library could not do without? The only thing is that they have to have been written in the last 25 years - so no Crowley!

Here are a few to start:

The Alchemist
Let your Life Speak
Inner Gold
Flow

I love the last hardback version you did, but I'd really like to see a Kindle version also! I'd buy both!

Hi all,

My question revolves around this passage of Liber L and how it relates to sacrifice and consecration of our acts.

"Be goodly therefore: dress ye all in fine apparel; eat rich foods and drink sweet wines and wines that foam! Also, take your fill and will of love as ye will, when, where and with whom ye will! But always unto me."

We can "indulge" in these things as long as we do them "unto Nuit," meaning (in my understanding) that we consecrate the action to her and make it holy. It therefore takes on a spiritual dimention rather than just a material one.

Since the actions written all appear to be good or pleasant things, can we do the same with suffering? If we have an intense pain, disease, or problem, can we do it unto Nuit and consecrate that suffering as well?

93 93/93
David H

Ah hah!That is what I've been looking for for years! In both cases they do not speak of the annihilation of separate being into a whole (like in Buddhism), only of personality. In these examples they could stay as individual stars (even if particular points in the whole), only in true perfect form having given up all personality and any fragments that were not part of the true self.

LLLL
Dave

@Jim Eshelman said

"There are similarities to the Buddhist idea. I'd dislike saying they are the same, since Buddhism, to begin with, doesn't accept the concept of an ultimate self, and, at least up to Kether (Hadit), Thelema certainly does."

93 Jim,

How does this work with Binah being the "place" where one pours their entirety to the grail? If this happens at Binah, how can the concept of ultimate self continue "at least up to Kether?"

93 93/93
David

I am unclear on the ultimate goal of crossing the abyss. Is pouring oneself into the grail of babalon the same thing as the Buddhist idea of dissolution of self? If so, how does this fit with the very Thelemic concept of individuality and being a self contained star with it's own path? Does this only apply to certain levels, or is the thelemic view that one always remains an individual unit-star, even after "pouring oneself into the grail?"

LLLL,
David

There is a Golden Dawn verse that speaks of (the HGA?) as "one whom nature hath not formed." What does this mean? Isn't everything of nature? Any ideas? What is considered nature or non-nature?

LLLL,
David

Many interesting responses! Thank you.

On the subject of Astral Projection, can anyone suggest a very good book?

A friend of mine has sponteneous projections and usually onl hovers around her body. She also has increased brathing and heart rate which scares her. Is this more of an OBE in the Etheric, rather than astral world? I'm assuming she sort of gets stuck in the etheric before she breaks free into the astral. Any thoughts or advice I can give her?

93 93/93
David

Yes.

I can have something exist ONLY in my mind where it is not able to be observed in any way by another person. I can also witness something in the objective reality where I can observe it along with you, we both can agree it is there, and we can verbalize similar characteristics even if we both have slightly different subjective views. I can close my eyes and imagine a bolt of lightning, or a "real" bolt of lightning can hit one of us. In the second case, we both can predict the outcome.

In the objective sense also, I could create something and let it go. If I die, it will continue; a book or painting for example: these came from my mind but were brought into objective reality. If I think about the painting, but never paint it. When I die, that is gone.

and...

NO.

Because the only thing that exists is my observation of it, thus all things are in my mind. but for my question I am sticking to my first logic.

LLLL,
David

Greetings, 93,

I was wondering what people think about the nature of astral entities. Do they exist as sentient beings in an objective way, or "just" part of our mind? Do beings that we evoke during ritual exist as a force in the universe like lightning or gravity, apart from us?

And if they do not exist other than in our own minds, how is it any different than lucid dreaming?

LLLL,
David