College of Thelema: Thelemic Education

I'm curious if talents are ever irrelevant to one's true will. I would imagine that any special ability one has would equip him or her to best fulfill themselves. For instance, if someone is an amazing painter, or insanely good at math - I'd imagine that stuff should at least be incorporated heavily into one's life - if not strictly being a part of one's true will per se.

Is it alright to let natural gifts be squandered? Is it often a case of having stuff you don't need anymore (assuming you developed them in a previous state of existence) and that's the end of the topic?

@Jim Eshelman said

"I'm now working on a three-year project that the public will never see - all leading up to the New Era of the Aeon of Horus that begins at the vernal equinox of 2014."

Hi Jim,

Would you perhaps elaborate on the above "new era"? Is this something publicly known to be coming?

Perhaps this is better for general discussion but...

there is a masonic book by T Hogan which appears well-regarded and which states of Jesus the Nazarene: in Sanskrit, the “Nazor” was the name of the third eye said to be opened at illumination. A “Nazorean” is then one...

while that's an interesting interpretation, I can find no such term in yoga literature via Google etc. even using alternate spellings. Anyone have a clue where this comes from? I doubt the author simply made it up entirely.

carpet sounds like a good idea. maybe just keep things tidy and have a portable altar space for icons, cards, whatever. I have heard it is ideal to have a space that's not used for anything else, but in a 1-bedroom you've got to improvise the best you can. Living in an apartment made me very jealous of those with multiple rooms

Thanks Jim. For the benefit of those curious: I did further research (aka looking at a copy of the book) and found he is quoting Mabel Collins' Light on the Path. I don't know much about her at all, except it seems to predate Liber AL. I was surprised because I figured the "warrior" motif was something Regardie was using as a way to give the HGA a Horus-motif in the spirit of Thelema; and perhaps he was, but I was unaware of the term already existing.

@Jim Eshelman said

"
Actually, if one hasn't commited to being a voice for a particular system, it's not at all difficult to move more or less seemlessly through different systems.

Well, he was a very accomplished initiate. It's popular in some circles to disparage his actual attainment, but that approach is, at best, ignorant.
"

I am curious about your remarks above. If you can move seemlessly through systems, why commit to one to begin with? For example, is Thelema primarily "relevant" in its approach to the HGA - and everything after that becomes somewhat arbitrary?

What sort of circle disparages him? Hard-core thelemites?

I don't own Regardie's One Year Manual but I've read through it. I am intrigued by its history - because he mentions he first published it with Christian references. I also noticed he refers to the HGA as one's "inner warrior."

I would appreciate any knowledge of the above. The "Christian" version - 12 steps to spiritual enlightenment - is out of print and costly. I'm really curious what he wrote as an alternative to the Thelemic etc. framing he later reverted to.

Also curious about this "inner warrior" concept. It appeals to me, but I'm wondering if this was solely his phrasing, presumably chosen to reflect a Horus-archetype, for this book alone.

As a wider topic, I'm curious how Regardie fused all this stuff, because it seems to me he adopted Thelemic principles as well as Christian etc. without labeling himself too strongly.

I don't think Fr. Oz and other commentators (I believe Tanhaus is another's nom de plum) are helping that much, because while they spread the "word" they are filling a vacuum which gives them a disproportionate influence on shaping outsiders' opinions. I don't know if youtube videos are Thelema's "best foot forward" and I don't know if I'd be inclined to take it particularly seriously if I saw these guys as my sole exemplars when I was a complete newbie.

Regarding the "troll" (?) post above - I am aware that the world of occultism, Thelema included, seems crazy/weird/silly/ridiculous to a lot of outsiders... I think it all comes down to the reverence one brings to it, and a lot of folks don't have much to go round.

17 is pretty darn young. I won't comment on any of the psychological advice or whatever, but I will say that you are thoroughly earth-bound (As in, a member of human society) and you must get a game plan together in terms of how you will provide for yourself. You need to either learn some sort of trade or go back to school, graduate, and get higher education. I would worry myself much more over my practical realities than any sort of spiritual stuff going on.

Thanks Edward and Jim.

@Jim Eshelman said

"
@Escarabaj said
"What is the true Tree of modern Jewish Kabbalah?"

Some variant of the Ari-Gra Tree; which is regrettable, because this is the result of committee action of Zohar apologists over several centuries, trying to retrofit a design to the Book of Splendor.
"

Where can I learn more about this history? Do you mind elaborating on the above underlined?

What does the book of Splendor say - as far as I can tell, there is nothing saying "this is what the Tree looks like" from an ancient source.

I've been reading a bit about Tree set-ups and am aware there have been a bunch of alternate Trees over its evolution. I have been reading some of the other threads on Tarot attributions here, and am curious what merits there might be in different set ups for the Tree itself, not simply Tarot path attributions.

What is the true Tree of modern Jewish Kabbalah? Is it the A. Kircher version? I've seen some Jewish Kabbalah Trees where there are criss-cross paths between Chesed and Geburah to Binah and Chokmah. Also, Malkuth may link only to Yesod.

In one book Michael Kraig talks about the Tree as concentric spheres, almost like the Enochian aire system.

I've found one group which uses the Perfected, or Gra, Tree, and an initiation system following Franz Bardon.
www.abardoncompanion.com/Gra/index.html

What happens if you use these mapping systems instead?

were you raised in a barn? Shut the door!

I'm curious who I'm really praying to...

On one hand, when I pray to God, I'm thinking of a Nuit-like concept. Praying to whatever force there might be out there, the Lord of the Universe type deal.

On the other hand, I recognize that any conception of God is limited by my mind, and still might implicitly be describing my HGA - even though I am aiming to signify something greater - because, to me, the HGA seems more personal than "God."

So I'm curious if it's really one-and-the-same thing or not.

With Thelemic terms, I guess I'm asking when you are addressing Adonai vs. Nuit, and if you can even really get to the true Nuit without knowing Adonai first.

I am curious if anyone out there has composed a "family tree" of the various AA branches. I don't know how taboo it is to actually list them all here - given it being a TOT site - but I would appreciate a link or something if such a thing exists. This is really just for personal curiosity, I don't plan on joining any of them any time soon. I have read Gunther's book, and the intro. cryptically mentions 3 fraters putting that branch back together - I can't find any info. on who they are/were or how they got "empowered" to do so. (So to come clean, I guess I'm most interested in the mysterious AA branch of Gunther - feel free to delete the thread if this is not for discussion)

EDIT: while I'm on the topic, a GD lineages chart would also interest me.

This is a question primarily directed at Jim or any other Crowley expert/researcher. Mention is often made "we know from his diary at the time that he..." but where are these diaries? Private copies of museum pieces?

I know some diary material is published. Do the pros have access to tons of stuff we amateurs don't?

@IASVN said

"Yes, until her grandparents and husband arrive to find us naked in bed, and I'm chased off the property under the barrel of a 30-06. Despite my protests, the husband refused to pay me the 200$ his wife had promised me for building her a chicken coop "

wow that's a story to tell the grandkids there... but you must have had some brass ones to ask the husband for money - or were you trying to legitimize your presence in his household?

I read somebody's commentary saying it means a slug, somehow I remain doubtful. He seems to mention slime a decent amount though.

So while I'm specifically curious about that phrase, I'm generally curious if anyone has insight into Crowley's numerous "creatures of slime" references. I recall reading a snippet of his obscene poetry where he refers to the female lubrication as slimy... im going to think he's not talking about that here.

very interesting about harmony and rhythm. What might melody be - netzach?

I was thinking of acting as using more interpretation and mental processes, hence Hod. I was thinking of Netzach as representing more of the energy and stirring that music can create.

I was thinking of, let's say, Keanu Reeves etc. doing music, or countless 80s pop icons like Prince trying acting back in the day and not shining particularly brightly. OK, my examples weren't particularly high brow or informed, but I have yet to see any "musical genius = acting genius" predictability although I grant they're more closely related than many other fields. My own pet theory is that acting requires the ability to cast aside one's personality, whereas music tends to broadcast it. that's why I think actors can play the role of rock star, usually singing other's music (like Jeff Bridges put out a country blues album, I believe) whereas musicians tend to look uncomfortable acting behind the camera.

I know a lot of thelemites are into music and/or acting. I'm curious if they break down differently in the qabalah. I'm guessing acting uses more of Hod, while Music is more of a pure Netzach thing (although I would be inclined to put both primarily in Netzach).

Just wondering what people think about these two arts. Does anyone here have an opinion on either?

You know how good musicians usually dont make good actors, and vice-versa? I'm wondering what the difference would be in terms of the two skills. This is, to some extent, a general discussion question but I'm interested particularly how they relate to the Tree (and while we're at it, the zodiac symbolism, etc.)

@Frater 639 said

"
Hope this answered some questions and made you laugh a bit. "

Yes, thanks Frater, and to others who replied.

Basically I just read the same technique in two separate books, both endorsing it. Didn't know if people use it (and leave me in the dark about it) and/or if it has bad side effects.

Funny thing is some other recent post was about excess "wanking." I guess if people are gonna do it they might as well put it to use.

Have you never heard of phone sex?

Seriously though - I'd appreciate someone's input towards my actual question - the efficacy and safety of this sort of sigil charging practice.