College of Thelema: Thelemic Education

@h2h said

" If an investment banker is suffering ulcers because his True Will is to be a musician, it would only make sense to heal if him if he recognizes this fact and wishes to become better so that he can pursue music... "

Hey thanks, h2h!

So healing is really an inner process of transformation. The most another can do is perhaps, send light to help that person see the real need and ... help them to puzzle it out if they ask? I guess in the end it is the person in need of change who finds us, and not the other way around.

Wise words. Thank you.
Donna

@Sphynx said

"

"As counselors or practitioners, we may describe these problems, thus bringing a client to the understanding of what he or she must accomplished, but we cannot "heal" them; it is strictly a matter between the client and his or her soul."
- In Revelation"

Thank you, Sphynx, for giving me a deeper look and much more to consider. This goes way beyond my knee-jerk reaction to "do good"; this was a much-needed enlightenment. Thanks.

Donna

" But AC himself clearly had problems with this thought. His notes to this passage state:
I don’t like the tone of this. Better to put it that the True Will of the patient may find these apparent handicaps essentially helpful, and that all interference is dangerous, especially as the full consequences of any action is [sic] unknowable."

Wo. This stopped me in my tracks this morning. It definitely gives me something to think about!

I'd been thinking that ALL healing was good, period. Thanks for shining more light on this.

Donna

@fraterlvf said

"I am in the beginning phases of working with Thelema, and am beginning to try and tune myself to it. Over the past two years, I have examined a number of 'systems', but Thelema kept whispering to me no matter how hard I tried to go elsewhere. I have decided that this is where I need to be."

Hi Fraterlvf. That is how it was for me as well. Having invested in several systems along the way, it was confusing for me at first to know what to do with my past experiences with God (which were significant to me). I mean, some systems suggest that all others are invalid and best forgotten but one of the things I love about Thelema is that it differs on this.

I've heard Jim say this before:
[Another approach is to take the position that anytime you encounter any Name of God, don't assume it's any particular god at all other than the particular god known intimately by you, WhatEverYouCallIt.]

What a difference that has made. Instead of seeing it as trying to learn a completely new system (again), I am simply going deeper.

It sounds like this path is resonating with you as well. Good.

Donna

@Jim Eshelman said

"BTW, not only positive peak moments, but also horrors and embarrassments. Embarrassments are times we were involuntarily disclosed - to ourselves as much as to others! - that the psyche recoils from and hides (sometimes under other feelings). To come back and examine those times we were "caught naked" is often very revealing."

Heh. Lots of those to choose from so this should keep me busy. Good call.

Thanks for the recommendation of this book -- it's ordered and on the way. These days I seem to be seeing more of the bold strokes rather than just the details. The book sounds like it will add more to the mix. Thanks.

Donna

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

Jim, you said:

@Jim Eshelman said

" As Crowley phrased it in Duty, "Find the formula of this purpose, or "True Will", in an expression as simple as possible." This step gives one the key to one's life and purpose, and access to the great practical technique of Thelema, the living of life in conscious alignment with one's True Will."

So in defining my True Will, would you say that one way could be to look back at my life and find the underlying drive(s) that I have gravitated back to, which resulted in joy and/or a sense of fulfillment? Could it be that I have been over-intellectualizing the process and instead should take a look at where I fit best rather than where I [think] I should fit? Is it more about instinct than conscious thought?

Love is the law, love under will.

Donna

Hello Jim, 93.

Thank you for coming back to clarify and expand on your previous post. This is excellent and is helping me to more fully understand my current place on the path. It helps to know that just because I am not able to make a geographical move yet, that there are indeed, a lot of valuable things still being learned and put into practice.

Sadly, I won't be able to make it to Toronto in August this year, but maybe later in the year the opportunity will open up to travel to there or L.A. In the meantime, I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that your NYC lecture is viable and will be made available at some point.

Thank you again, for always digging deep to pull out the very best to share with us.

93s,
Donna

@Jim Eshelman said

"Recently (say, last 10 years) research in neurology has shown that neuroplasticity - the ability of the brain the grow and reshape itself and repurpose areas to new functions - continues far into adulthood. It's no longer theory, but redundantly demonstrated fact, that intense, concentrated learning - including just about any repetitive practice of intense concentration, as well as the repetitive undertaking of new physical tasks - physically alters the brain in sometimes dramatic ways."

Hi Jim, 93.

I see this often in children who, due to physical handicaps, have no frame of reference for new movements or skills. I pattern new things into their motor memories with repetitive movements or tasks and this changes (and expands) their scope of what is possible and sets up a new section in their neural grid. Those who focus and participate "get it" and move on to more. There's no doubt in my mind that this principle generalizes to other things as well. Thanks for that insight!

93s,
Donna

Heru, 93.

@Her said

"I see these verses as a rebuke against old aeon conceptions of spiritual womanhood. ...

But setting the Virgin Mary up on a pedestal and idolising her as the ideal perfection of womanhood means that every woman on this planet falls short. What complete rubbish!"

Thank you. That's a very good point and it reminds me to see this as aeonic first of all. You're right, this has nothing to do with most of the women on earth, nor could it possibly.

93 93/93,
Donna

@Jim Eshelman said

"**(v. 200) 55. Let Mary inviolate be torn upon wheels: for her sake let all chaste women be utterly despised among you!

(v. 201) 56. Also for beauty's sake and love's!**"

Wo. Umm, Jim -- could you expound on this a little? Thanks.

Donna

Yes. I have used my credit card for it twice (my machine crashed and I had to reorder it.) No problems at all and I really love the trainer.

Donna

@SophiaLux said

"Indeed I know there is a lot to do on my own. A supportive community is always an asset though."

SophiaLux,

I have been in a similar situation for a few years and after looking at my options, my solution was to become a member of Aspirants to Light, which has been spoken of on this forum. I still live far away from the magical communities I link to, but I travel to them several times a year to attend meetings and spend quality time with a growing number of Thelemites. This face to face contact fills a lot of gaps for me, even though it seems like it is over far too quickly when I'm on the plane home.

Maintaining relationships via e-mail and occasional phone calls has helped me to continue the Work where I am without feeling so isolated. It is making a tremendous difference for me, until I get to the point of being able to relocate. This solution is not for everyone, but I thought I'd toss it out as another option.

In LVX,
Donna

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

Wow, Jim.

Bingo. These things are exactly what I've needed to hear! You've also reminded me that I need to let go of my perfectionism and just jump in. Much obliged.

Love is the Law, love under will.

In L.V.X.,
Donna

93 Steve,

Yes, thanks again for the link. I downloaded it and am reading it today.

93s,
Donna

@Jim Eshelman said

"... Is it that you don't see the path of derivation? How one Sephirah flows forth naturally from its predecessor? Or is it that you don't see the patterns and interrelationships inherent in the finished product?"

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

It is the latter, definitely, so thank you for your list of patterns. Some I knew and others are new to me, especially the last two. In order to truly understand and be able to work with something, having contexts in which to place them are important for me. Fortune is great for information, but my problem has been more with the contexts and interrelationships.

Thanks for your help, Jim. It was great to be there last month.

Love is the Law, love under will.

In L.V.X.,
Donna

93 Draco,

Yes, it did seem overly-complex and intellectualized at first, and then I began to realize that the details were needed to flesh it out. I am not in any way complaining, as I see the beauty of it and sense the flow of energies. I guess it will just take time and my impatience with myself is no doubt, something else I should be working on.

Thanks for your help.
93s,
Donna

@Chris Hanlon said

"Perhaps the image of the tree is disjointed to you because it is like a mosaic that forms no picture. There are many ways to view the tree, other than the form of a tree with globes on it."

93 Chris!

That is a very good insight, thanks. The onion analogy is much more real to me and easier to work with, thanks!

The only other form I knew about was the Cube of Space which was more confusing to me because I was not already grounded in the Tree and had no additional frame of reference to correlate it to. Your suggestion of an onion is much more concrete. It also underlines the fact that I am only learning one level at a time before peeling it to expose the next one (even though I know that the onion in my hand encompasses it all). I can comprehend it so much better in this form.

Thanks again.
In L.V.X.,
Donna

@Jim Eshelman said

"Can you say more about the disjointedness? About what seems disconnected with what?

This is a fascinating question for me because the one thing that, from the beginning, was most obvious to me was the interconnectedness and patterned relationship of the 10 Sephiroth - and it was Fortune who gave me that. It seems a particular strong point of her book. Unless I'm misunderstanding what you're seeking here."

93 Jim,

It seems as if my problem lies more in trying to inhale the whole thing at once instead of being content with working on it one level at a time. There is definitely an awareness of the structure of the system, I am not quite as lost as I might have seemed, but I guess I am just impatient with myself more than anything else.

When I am around people who talk about levels easily I wonder why I can't keep up with the conversation, but it occurs to me that everyone I talk with on my trips to Toronto and now LA have years and years of study and experience under their belts.

The sense of fragmentation has more to do with not being able to keep up with comments like for example, about something being at the Briatic level, for instance. I have to stop and access that file in my head and scroll through it to understand what they're saying and by then the conversation has moved on. My frustration is in my inability to keep more than a couple of balls in the air at once.

93s,
Donna

@Edward Mason said

"Other people find it artificial, or over-worked. I know I did when I first encountered it years ago. It didn't tie in to anything with which I was familiar. Is that what you're asking about? "

93 Edward,

The idea of it not tying into anything with which I am familiar is a part of it, but I have learned new systems before and run easily with them. I think though, that the gravity and importance of this knowledge separates it from the rest and so, I am perhaps demanding more of myself than is required at this point in my path.

Rather than trying to bite off the whole thing at once, I might do better to concentrate on the level on which I dwell and get to know it in-depth and simply be content with a working knowledge of the rest of it, until I reach the next level. Does this sound feasible or is it a cop-out?

93, 93/93
Donna

Wow, guys. Now I know why Edward has been encouraging me to voice some of my questions to the forum. Your quick response is overwhelming (in a good way.) I've been out all day and just got home to find all of your responses. Thanks!

To Steve: Yes, I've downloaded it to my home computer and laptop so I can pull it up whenever I've got some spare time as well as setting aside time to read and meditate on it. Thanks for directing me to the 2nd chapter especially. That he offers this whole thing as a free download knocks my socks off.

I've got to go back and print out the other responses before I can reply but it will be sometime tonight.

Donna