College of Thelema: Thelemic Education

@ThelemicMage said

""Get behind me, Satan!"... 'There's a horrible storm brewing and I wouldn't want you to get hurt...'"

😆 😆

@Jim Eshelman said

"
No particular rule, especially because you could be in Asano for any of dozens of different reasons."

Asano Jim, is that near Mexico? 😀

Are we talking with the same Tony that wrote the introduction to Hermetic Alchemy (among many other nice stuff)? That is really cool. Thanks!

I hesitate to mention this, Faust, but banishing inverted pentagram rituals might be good for your peculiar situation. No disrespect to standard rituals, however even though I feel like I've exerted my spiritual energy strong enough, and in the proper fashion when performing an upright pentagram ritual, somehow it leaves me with myself, in my own way, which sometimes, for true seekers, is the worst thing imaginable. I cite the formula for 2 = 0.

After performing banishing rituals with inverted pentagrams, I seem to feel more "feet on the ground" than I do with upright pentagram rituals.

Balancing all energy with spirit with both feet on the ground seems to kind of "pull me into myself", which leaves one less prone to pay attention to one's self.

My Sovereign, and I leave it for the Woman.

@Faus said

"
Well, this is just a small attempt to see the larger picture of initiation. I am trying to establish a more specific set of correspondences between the stages and some of the more distinct experiences like the Vision of Adonai, Kundaline and K&C"

I think every man potentially has his own specific system which encompasses most precisely everything.

It is true and ultimate qabbalah, omniscience. So you might ask yourself that question: how do i achieve omniscience?

That's why Crowley set up a system where everyone is mentored by someone who has already passed through a specific set of tasks. A Neophyte working on this task would have a Zelator as mentor, meaning someone who already knew how this works.

That is a hell of an interesting answer! Thanks Jim.

@landis said

"
@chris S said
"The Theravadin Buddhists are very political, er.. thats all i'll say 😄"

@chris S said

"
No doubt you're already aware of this and its the main reason i avoided it as well, is arguing for doctrine. It's a complete political process that Buddha offered a warning on.."

I know that's all you wanted to say, but would you mind elaborating some? Do you mean political amongst themselves, or involved with modern political philosophies (liberalism, libertarianism, communitarianism, etc...), or both?"

well.. what i was more pointing at was their general avoidance of entering a dialogue with the western magical tradition.
Theravada Buddhism would have to be the oldest form of Buddhism and its quite conservative, imo the establishment of 'right' canon was established by rulers/kings. (man you'll get into heated arguments with this stuff).. So you see i just avoid it.
There were entrances of Mahayana esoteric Buddhism, though rulers ensured that Theravada remained traditional.. so you'll see that contrast with other forms of Buddhism, regardless that a close study include a number of positions that agree with Mahayana teachings.
Basically..Theravada Buddhists consider much of what is found in Mahayana scriptural collections to be not authentic words of the Buddha.
They have always been that way, though took an even stronger stance after incursions by western colonialism and Christianity.
Of course this just generally as a body, individuals may outwardly hold to doctrine close, though do their own thing personally.

@Jim Eshelman said

"I'd never heard of this, but it's certainly a concept compatible with our understanding of Babalon."

I hope that it can be of some use for your guys.

I thought that it is very surprising to see such concept existing inside the catholic theology, the Meretrix clearly indentified with the same archetypical root of the Church itself, Binah.

I’ve read around here that the same idea of "takes in all who approach her" was also connected with Zion.

@Jim Eshelman said

"The Roman Church has long been considered The Bride - specifically the Bride of Christ, but more broadly the Malkuth expression. She is, therefore, Christ's bride who "takes in all who approach her." THe idea is that the Church (generally speaking) can turn no one away. This fits the old understanding of a prostitute (metetrix, in Rome), a women who turned no suitor away."

"This Rahab—in type a harlot, in mystery the Church…did not refuse intercourse to the many men who came her way. The more lovers she has, the chaster she is: a spotless virgin without wrinkle, untouched by feelings of shame, public [plebeia] in love, a chaste prostitute [casta meretrix], an unfruitful widow, a fruitful virgin. Harlot, because thronged by many lovers, with all the enticements of love, but without the stain of transgression, for "he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her" (1 Cor 6,16). Unfruitful widow, because, if the husband is absent, she cannot bear children, but if the husband is there, she gives birth to this people, this great crowd. Fruitful virgin, who bore this multitude with the blessing of love and without the use of lust [In Luc 3, 23; PL 15, 1598]."

From here www.newtorah.org/Casta%20Meretrix.html

@Jim Eshelman said

"And, of course, if there was a historical Jesus, and if (as seems likely) he was married, then he was likely married to a woman with a reputation for being a whore."

What would a pious Christian think if he found out that his “god” is very similar to his ‘beast”?

Knowing this is enriching my understanding of this archetypes and how they behave in the mass-mind through the centuries.

Thanks Jim.

@Mephis said

"To add to this, Eliphaz Levi also mentions them a great deal in his works; in French the word is "larves." This comes from the Latin "larva," meaning "ghost" or "evil spirit.""

Good old Eliphas. I actually had him in mind when writing this question. He has some interesting remarks about the relationship of these shells and necromantic practices. Very relevant to a magician living in necromantic country.

@Avshalom Binyamin said

"They slowly drain your energy, and are often unnoticed. When you do find one latched to you, it may suddenly dawn on you how tender the bite location is."

It seems that the very practice of banishing has this effect of putting pressure on them. Easier to see the enemy if he is choking on poisonous gas.

I am very aware of this and believe me if there was a teacher (of of few different things for that matter ) I wouldn't hesitate, but I really live in the middle of nowhere, and unfortunately like everything else I'll have to find my own way. But I am very careful. I think things take me a lot longer but that's because I do them slowly and properly. And now I have you guys! (haha). So any assistance would be gratefully received.

@Jim Eshelman said

"My main objection is in the fuzziness of meta-samadhis of various types."

I have found the interpretative perspective useful that the "higher" forms of samadhi are dynamic reflections upon the samadhi state, and some very advanced versions having samadhi on the process of samadhi. Meta-samadhi literally. My own experiences, those I've heard from from other people and also Patanjali's take seem to support this POV.

@Faus said

"Well, after shutting down the mind, what would be left to shut down so the Adept can get to ..."

Shutting down the stuff that comes behind the mind, or, in other words, are the deep foundations of the mind - I always interpreted some of Kenneth Grant's stuff as musings about that.

@Jim Eshelman said

"Quick note, Faust: I think that use of "complex" is on-target. However, it might be misunderstood by people who only have encountered the word as meaning "pathology."

But such a structure (or complex) need not be pathological, of course."

Uep, I didn´t see your post in time. Yep, really, more than referring to the most common use that people do of the word, I was thinking in an alternative view of the treatment of complexes people want to change, though I really didn´t know what is the usual treatment for them in therapia or something. ❓

That sounds very useful! Little sleep without compromising the ability for intense concentration is something remarkable. It is interesting to think that the need of sleep may be reduced when Ruach and Nephesh are reconciled.

If it is the result of initiation probably it will take a (very long) while until I am able to do the same.

1342.beta.photobucket.com/user/Peter789123/media/522691_10151307189355155_1414256004_n_zpsb8ed29c7.jpg.html

"I am the warrior Lord of the Forties: the Eighties cower before me, & are abased."

The forties is when Aleister came to some of his greatest realizations, from what I understand -- It was also the decade when the most powerful sacrament of Nuit was first consumed by a human being. The sacrament that would later cause social evolution by the power of at least hundreds of years.

93
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@Faus said

"One more quick question. Do you think that transpersonal psychology would also be a good option?"

Most definitely!

Modern transpersonal psychology has a very clear and direct insight into the nature of human awareness.
If I may, I would suggest to look into the works of Ken Wilber and his Atman Project, AQAL (all quadrants - all levels) and his chart of levels of consciousness.

Not only is it (the chart) in harmony with all known religious and pragmatical Paths (Kabbalah, Vedic, Hindu etc...), it is also very technical and not at all symbolical. No numbers, to the uninitiated funny/strange signs, and no twice wrapped symbols.

It is clear and transparent.
No need to pledge any Oath to anyone to understand transpersonal psychology.

You may also want to look into the work of Dr John Rowan and of course all of the aforementioned pioneers of both humanistic and transpersonal psychology.

Good luck.

Great word.

And yes... to your last question... I think the answer is a clear Yes.

@Faus said

"Somewhere in this forum it was once said (I believe it was Jim) that the skills necessary to be an exorcist where different from those necessary to banish.

I am quite intrigued since I always thought that exorcism = banish.

It makes me ask, what are the skills necessary for an exorcist?"

Being fit, on all levels is the ideal.
Especially physically fit. This work can be very taxing on ones being, and taking care of ones heart, ones mentality, and ones initial health is very important for success.

Exorcism should be thought of like you are untangling a babies hair......you don't want to just rip it the comb through, you need to have patience, persistence and stamina.

Banishing is like getting gum in your hair...you sometimes just have to get out the blade and severe...

Yes. Although, in that cSe, one is a Briatic being and the other Yerziraric.