College of Thelema: Thelemic Education

There isn't a lot to do to take first. Learn your modes of recognition and ask for sponsors. There was a time not to long ago you could take Minerval and I° on the same day.

I've heard stories that Germer was trying to recognize Barron as a Master of the Temple but discussions fell off for one reason or another.

Old post but he used the greetings in that letter because Chic and his first wife were OTO members at the time, I believe they even had a camp there. I'm not sure when he quit but I think his ex may still be a member.

The Order was an attempt at reworking the golden dawn and eliminating those elements that Crowley felt caused initiates to fail. He felt that group work often discourages practical, personal work and people would be promoted because they were liked rather than quality of work and dedication to the Order. By eliminating group work from the curriculum the idea was that people would focus on their personal development rather than get together for tea and gossip about other brethren. A reaction to his own experiences in the golden dawn where his own advancement was crippled by gossip when he was ready for advancement to adeptus minor. These flaws were the primary failure of the golden dawn and why it failed to initiate.

in spite of the student-teacher rule of the Order they often would congregate congregate at the Equinox headquarters under Crowley. He found the rule impractical in practice. When he was made X° for English speaking countries he found a vehicle better suited to promulgate the Law of Thelema and develop his forming ideas for a Thelemic society which he outlined in the Blue Equinox, while also preventing overlap with the system of the A.'.A.'. He also discouraged the tea party attitude in OTO lodges as seen in MWT. While I love the OTO and think they are doing great work, I think he'd be rather disappointed with the direction of affairs in many lodges after reading Unknown God. I personally think he needed to pull the stick out of his ads.

Older thread I know but I suggest digging up Marcelo Motta's text Astral Attack & Defense. It covers a lot of the same ground, literally, as Fortune as it started as a translation of her work but becomes it's own thing about chapter 4 on.

Another suggestion, as ridiculous as it sounds, get books on pick up artistry. You will learn applied body language and use of voice by studying their material very in depth.

@kasper81 said

"i did this earlier for first time in years in fact properly thanks to this movie www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPTyDBFCVN0

i used an altar and 4 elemental weapons and afterwards i focussed on that Abbey of Cefalu self portrait of Beast and felt a strong solar force "behind me" from West overwhelming and a vigour and euphoria overtaking my personality as I had to moan loud and long AUMGN for a few minutes

pretty cool ritual and yes i used the Boleskine quarter as near enough the right direction from my location"

There is a rather big error in this video in the beginning.

@Duo Columpnas said

"93's, all.
For those who passed that particular test... What were the characteristics of a "Siren" as opposed to a good friend and true lover for you in retrospect?
Also, is this Ordeal universal to all Probationers/aspirants?"

This is easy... do you view this person as your Babalon? Do you think it is your True Will to be with them? Do you choose her over your obligations and work in the Order? If you said yes to any of this... you are on the path of failure.

@Jim Eshelman said

"Probationers are always given the chance to betray the Order. That's their challenge."

Yep... thus the Siren... Neophyte is the Vampire.

You can actually forge your weapons from whatever materials you have at hand and skill allows. Liber A vel Armorum is more of a description of the alchemical processes undergone in the psyche during that particular grade. While it is IDEAL to have forged your weapons according to Liber A, it is often impractical and quite expensive. Gold is not cheap. I used a copper tube bought at a hardware store and gold wire I purchased in a craft store to create my wand. My disk, the design I received in a vision a couple years back and involves a lot of color so I purchased a wooden disk and paint to craft it. The design features a black background, so gold... wouldn't work, nor silver and wax... well... impractical to work with in color.