93
Well hey! Didn't lose it! Always nice to hear a success story. I changed my name too, as you can see, a bit closer to home.
Anywho, the practices feel good, eh? When it comes down to it the benefits are markedly practical.
Throw the questions up, we'll have a go!
93, 93/93
Andrew D. Chumbley claimed that his work was was a continuance of the traditional folk cunning-craft of East Anglia and Wessex, if that's an avenue you'd like to explore. Much of his work is personal apophenia and inspiration but I do believe it to carry genuine torch from the past inhabitants of his home. A pdf of his "Azoetia" is relatively easy to find. Also, look for "The Grimoire of the Golden Toad".
In an image, for meditation I s'pose: ageoflucidity.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/crowley-thoth-tarot-scans-prince-of-cups.jpg?w=552
I have shared many thoughts and experiences that you expressed, Laura, insofar as observing in myself growing up the innate ability to slip through the cracks in most if not all situations(physical, spiritual, psychological, so on). I think Frater Horus got across many of the keys of the practice, especially that of rhythm, though I want to stress the necessity of simply tuning the intuition to flow through the undercurrent present(many average folk are not even aware of such a chthonic level of things so often you are the only one behaving with it in mind--opens up a whole new array of action potentialities) in any energetic space(like groups of people) and act/non-act from that vantage. Call it surfing the ever-present Briah if you'd like, silently mantling the situation. Sometimes one may run into competition 
Try making a necklace of some sort to your chosen godform, something with a weight and sway to it.
Iechyd da.
(Afterthought: slipping through the cracks spiritually, as many are likely aware, also, quite simply, just takes a lot of mushrooms and a silly imagination. Funny you mention Loki, there was this one time.....)
@Frater 639 said
"Love to All! Have a wonderful Jupiter Day!
"
@Avshalom Binyamin said
"I'm interested to hear more about some ideas behind using divination as a lead up to a ritual."
This is largely unavoidable for me. Divination(again, for me) is an ongoing mode of interpreting circumstance, which perhaps sees its peak in funneling circumstantial energies into the I-Ching or Tarot but can still be effectuated upon the dispersed qualities of the environment. It's through the messages brought to me throughout my days in this manner that my magick takes its direction, inspiration, and permission to operate. Without it--the guidance and supportive presence of the Angel, which is something that must be "divined" in one way or another--any working I attempt will be absent of evolutionary purpose and momentum.
It takes a huge amount of creativity to engage everyday reality from a driver's-seat mentality. I think that often the only thing that stimulates such degrees of creativity in most people, untrained in the full genesis of their creative mind and the utility of their art, is crisis. I'm reminded of artists who need pain and conflict in order to produce their art, musicians who can only write in D minor
@Jim Eshelman said
"The sort of LSD-like characteristics that I would tie inherently tie to adepthood is everything seeming so vivid - clearer - stripped of smudge overlain by projections and other psychological patterning - inherently beautiful or beatified, and each thing seen in the context of a larger whole - center and context inseparable. (Certainly accompanied by a more natural perception of the inherent connection between things.) That sort of thing."
Well damn dare I say, that's day-to-day life for little Max! Of course, the occasional existential anguish or two does manifest. Call it Lunar Cancer moodiness. Still I feel qualified to comment! he-he
@Frater Horus said
"I wonder how strong it generally gets at adepthood, if there can be such a generalisation. I mean, in everyday life... is it considered "normal" for an adept to see most things and their aura, like say 50/50(physical/aura) , almost like a significant amount of LSD or similar to skrying "quality"? Like seeing everything melting and floating, and very colourful and vibrating, to some degree?
Or would you see such vision capability as mostly independant from adepthood level? And not prone to happen as a consequence of the other practices?"
Concerning auras: it's my experience that different people have different manifestations of/aptitudes within that sort of meta-perception kinda stuff. Think of the current idea of there being particular learning styles geared towards fixation on certain senses over the other, i.e. auditory learners, visual learners, kinetic... I think that some people see colours as extensions/projections of a person, others receive words or sounds(low-high pitch, distorted-clear, specific tones), many also with sensations and textures. Some with all and more!!! But yes, my point is to encourage the exploration of the other senses as possible markers for attainment and conversely roads to the same. One may be surprised by what's under one's radar!
For me personally, it's typically through a combination of sound and sensation that I pick up the subtle state of a person. I find that when I focus on one with intent, even minimally in passing conversation--any addressing of another soul, there is a contraction or dilation of resonance to varying degrees in concordance with the presence of the person. These fluctuations connect me to the quintessence of the person and situation, depending where the attention lies; a function others turn to auras for.
For determining the roots of ones aptitudes in this arena, I suggest sidereal astrology and creative experimentation.
Iechyd.
@Uni_Verse said
"There is joy in this aimless winging"
I was waiting for this to pop up. The content of the post reminded me of that chapter and so I considered if its messages had a place here. I decided not. It's my thinking that the language of LXV is speaking of specific inner operations and conflicts between different modes of the self seeking resolution/sublimation. Here I am talking about why one would tackle the A.'.A.'. system, and the flat experience of simple joy does not qualify to me as adequate motivation for undertaking the Great Work. A happy byproduct, amidst myriad difficult ones... Though the poster has yet to clarify if that's the case or only an aspect of what he's after so all this is all secondary.
@Angel of Death said
"The strangest thing about this shift, which was just like waking up one day, and saying I think Ill be bisexual from now on, Was that I had several married men come on to me, very strongly in a short period of time. To each one I told that I would love to screw them, but I would never hurt a Sister by doing anything behind her back, and that he was looking, she probably needs a good shagging too, so I would have sex with them both. Well, they turned tale and ran away."
This is why I love you, Veronica, or Angel of Death, whathaveyou.
It all sounds so very Binah to me, y'know, this whole "casting off restrictions" business 
I share your perspective on everything being sex, though, in one way or another. Everything. Really. 
Concerning the OT, I too have experienced great trembling. A sort of "too real" sensation. That is when I breathe and establish the Middle Pillar. Shoot right out the top, as it goes!
Sublimate, sublimate, sublimate.
@Laura Marx said
"
Hahaha yes absolutely. And yes yes, I really like their embracing of the Celtic past. There has been a good deal of movement in that direction lately, it will be an honour to be a part of it. And yes! Definately. They are grounded in everyone from Lugh to Connolly, it seems. And I will tell you all about it (or as much as I can not bound by secrecy or some other judge) in time! I'm particularly excited about their Republican leaning and their emphasis on social justice. This excites me a lot. I was looking to be involved in Republicanism/Activism and Magic and was horrified, finding them both to be wholly incompatible. I'm shocked to suddenly find their perfect synthesis. They even have an invocation of Lugh to aid them in the anti-Imperialist struggle, on the first page! Oh, wonder! Oh, joy!
"
All for Celtic revivalism, it's my hope to do much of the same for Welsh culture as per my own blood and heritage. Few here in the States are aware that the historical scaffolding of the first US constitutional idealism is essentially Welsh in intent and origin, a place to finally shake off the monarchy. All of the Celtic states have had their fair-share of pain due to imperialist powers; British history encases many shades of evil, from Rome to the Saxons to the French and Normans onto the 'proper' modern English, all placing a gangrene thumb on the native way of life. It's the same story with the Native Americans, eaten alive for the sake of business, the lowest of motivations worn as the highest of crowns. Celtic revivalism is a tributary of the greater revivalism of Wild Man and the Integral Life.
Magick was an essential part of these organic mindsets and I think it has a natural place in the resistance to powers of oppression, Peter J. Carroll and his "Knights of Chaos" project as an example(get and read The Apophenion and The Octavo by this man if you haven't, or perhaps ask your mentor about him--he used to be involved in various order under the banner of "Chaos Magick", though as of his second Saturn return he's achieved initiation in the Golden Dawn and began involving with the Druid circles around Brighton).
I saw the invocation you mentioned. Read the whole thing glowing
@Laura Marx said
"Ah, yes, absolutely. I am eternally grateful to him. He emphasis on me the need for grounding and being sensible and remaining on earth and not up with the fairies. He's an important man in my life. He doesn't really teach me magic - he himself has given it up somewhat - but he teaches me everything necessary to deal with it. A level head, a questioning attitude, a sense of humour, and so on. Wonderful man. In fact, last week I asked him what element he thinks I correspond to, and he said 'I think you're a closeted earth,' ahaha. As for his experience with occult orders - on some research, the IOOT comes from the same body, roughly, as the order my mentor left and foibles over, but that order dissipated not long after he left, and another order was founded, and that too dissipated, due to their inherent contradictions perhaps, and the IOOT was formed only a few years ago, though by a great deal of extremely talented magicians, without any connection to the OTO. So, thumbs up!"
Sounds like someone I could share easy hospitality with 
Though, I want to say, reading the whole "closeted earth" thing made me think to suggest a meditation upon the Princess of Disks in the Thoth Tarot. Take that as you will
I personally avoided OTO as well, choosing A.'.A.'. as my sole path. I attended a few Masses and general get-togethers at a local Oasis and came to feel that it had nothing to offer me in particular that A.'.A.'. didn't already cover for me. Some time was also spent within the Chaos/Maatian current, which still inspires me in some ways, but again, A.'.A.'. is the basin into which it all collects. The closest thing to IOOT over here, I think, is HOOR, which many members of my lineage are involved with. Perhaps I'll see about that later on.
But I digress!
@Laura Marx said
"Hahaha, just after saying that, you know, I found a ritual revolving the Irish Declaration of Independence, which they perform! Speaking of which, I have my first meeting with them next week
Well there we are That progressed quickly!
Looking forward to hearing about your experiences, Ms. Mary Maude Marx
@HounganRocky said
"I don't believe I ever implied that Voodoo is the only tradition, I did intend to emphasize that the tradition is largely found in African Tradition Religions practiced in diaspora. "
Oh, I didn't think you did, just offering a different angle of approach for the sake of color
@HounganRocky said
"Voodoo is not "passive spirit." The word Voodoo (roughly) translates to: Word and Force. It is more akin to the word Kabbalah than anything else. Just for clarification."
That is etymology I didn't know, thank you. I likened it to passive spirit in the sense of the willingness present to open up to possession by a trusted source. I admit that my understanding of Voodoo is superficial, formed from a distance to the actual traditional core(which actually just contributes to my enjoyment of the thread ).
@HounganRocky said
"
Excellent post! Thank You for sharing such a personal experience.
"
I was hoping to illustrate that Voodoo isn't the only tradition per se that garners these kinds of experiences, one can use "Voodoo"(I call it passive spirit) to open up to the spiritual nexus of anywhere anywhen and extract information, if one employs some creativity.
It was a good topic to start and I appreciate your cordiality and willingness to share information.
"Degrees of Joy activation according to the grades".
Joy activation? Degrees? Why are you interested in measuring joy? And why are you interested in looking at that particular angle of the A.'.A.'. initiatory path? It gives me a bad feeling, like the system is being approached as merely a drug of sorts to induce different colors of "joy", like that's the whole point. Tell me that's a poor impression.
Hmmmm.
I've a few experiences down the roads of this thread.
When I first entered into occult considerations, I was too young for proper initiation, but still I remained submerged in the content, dedicated to it. I was cock-sure too. I found in reading the books of those before me that it was bits and pieces from all over that resonated with me, not one nexus over another. Conglomerate rock. So, in order to simplify the whole thing and discover what was uniquely for me, I decided to employ the above-discussed principle of "passive spirit"(as understood within Golden Dawn terminology) and let what bothers to come through go ahead and come through. I trusted in my own integrity to be able to resist what I needed to. The motto I took for this period of time was Frater Diluvium, Latin for "brother of the flood"(Hebrew gematria: 1172, English: 666, Simple: 111).
This put me through a whirlwind and taught me the definition of bottom, but in the process I learned a very practical kind of magick, a grasp on inner workings born in survival, in the Black Earth, rather than in synthetic effort. I encourage the practice of testing oneself in this way, as long as it is born of that intent. It gets ugly when you approach these manifestations as equals.
Contacting very specific ancestors is a different story(whether they be thought-forms, cognate spirits, genetic memories, whatever you want to call them). About seven or eight months ago I had a dream of being in a grove, a clearing in a forest, in which was built small huts with thatch roofs that were elevated off the ground by a sort of dock system on top of the uneven forest floor. Walking along these docks/walkways, I notice that I am wearing some sort of motley-esque shaman's garb and when I looked up there was a semi-circle of people wearing similar clothes, looking at me as if they knew me. After a second I realized that I 'knew' them too, and that I 'knew' the surrounding forest like the back of my hand. I suddenly felt the most profound sense of spiritual home and rest there, and awoke in that feeling.
After stewing on it for a bit, I found out where the grove was. Wales, before Rome, and the Saxons, and Normans... The thatching and walkways gave it away, and the colors. I saw my brother playing a historically-based video game partly set there and there they were. This aroused an interest in that place, which I hardly recognized as an entity separate from England. I discovered its unique language, culture, myths, music... In having my mother listen to some Welsh-language music, she was reminded of when she was young and her grandmother(my great grandmother) came to visit shortly before her own death. She couldn't afford to raise my grandfather when he was born so she gave him to a neighbor and he was raised thinking his own mother was the "nice neighbor lady", but revealed herself once she knew her death was near, sparking the visit. She came all the way from the UK to Michigan. While she was here, she would trail off the longer she would speak into some "incomprehensible" language and have to be shaken back to English. Upon hearing the music she realized it was Welsh she was speaking.
So now, the dream comes full circle. Turns out I was dreaming of being in Wales due to being, y'know, Welsh. Didn't even know it was something to be until after the dream. This sparked me into really diving into the Mabinogi, getting a teacher for it out of Bangor even, and engaging the place on a spiritual level. I see my work with this as a practice in honoring the past, exploring the roots of myself, and setting foundations for the future that are informed by the movements of what came before it. It's a matter of momentum. I feel that the flavors of one's True Will are largely influenced by ancestry and that a Thelemite can gain much from exploring a spiritual relationship with their genetic past. Without becoming a bigot regarding other genetic streams, of course...
93, 93/93.
@Laura Marx said
"WOW. Thank you so much Melinydd! You have told me three things I had no idea about! I will address them in order;
"
I aspire to do nothing less than tell people things they have no idea about
I'll respond in order as well, as it only seems appropriate.
@Laura Marx said
"...moreso than I can really express. "
Oh have I indeed waded those waters. I find that a majority of what is truly experienced when psychologically catalyzed by esoteric information remains outside the fringes of communicable language. Art perhaps is as close as we'll get, otherwise the Sign of Silence will suffice
@Laura Marx said
"Second: Wow! This is something that really surprised me. I really had no idea about any of this. They operate in Belfast, also, which is 15 minutes from where I live. Very exciting! The only Thelemic Order I was aware of operating in Ireland were the O.T.O.I., which my mentor was a, I believe, 6th Degree adept in, if that's the correct terminology (he only mentioned his grade once and refuses to speak of it by and large - modesty, maybe). He left after a while, finding it, well... I won't be libelous, but he cautioned me away from it regardless. This, though, this looks very exciting! So, I am very inspired by being told this, thank you.
"
At the very least, their website has considerably high production value Looking closer, I really enjoy their embracing of the natural Paganism of the Isles within a Thelemic mindset. There's an organic strength to it, and again, I sense a firm foundation in history at play in their workings. Can't stress that importance enough!! Personally, though, I reserve judgement 'till seeing the eyes of their practitioners. Luckily for you they're right down the street. How exciting that must be
I'll add that I think it's spectacular that you already have a level-headed mentor with experience in occult orders as a starting point in all this. Did I say luck? Do you even believe in that stuff?
@Laura Marx said
"...although admittedly my knowledge of Irish history isn't nearly as good as it ought to be."
On this bit: have you read the Táin Bó Cuailnge? Irish myth. If not, it's a great place to start. Heart then head
@Laura Marx said
"As for the Masons: well, I had no idea! I know that Northern Ireland is run by a kind of 'king pin' lodge called the Orange Lodge, which split away from regular Freemasonry a while ago and is now well buried in politics and, well, again, libel. Regardless; I don't believe I've ever passed a town or even a village without a big masonic lodge! One thing I've always really wanted to do is become a Mason too, and that's something I'd like to do, but I was under the impression Irish Lodges were Regular? As in, they do not admit women. Which puts me at something of a disadvantage, ahaha. I had intended to move to London for the irregular societies brought over by Annie Bessant (another socialist woman comes up in this conversation! I will be making a name for myself!), but if there are irregular lodges in Ireland that brings me joy."
Concerning Irregular lodges in Ireland, that I don't know. I've personally written off Masonry almost entirely at this point, least of all on account of the exclusion of women. I find it distastefully "Old-Aeon" as a whole, ritual themes and all. I'll still party with the guys, however Still, if it is your Will to explore what Masonry has to offer than I wish you power to your work. I certainly wouldn't want to spend too much time in London. Big cities aren't my thing. The Masons you'll find out in the country will most likely be the most integral, methinks. So says the Welshman...
@Laura Marx said
"
Third: WOW. WOW! WOW! I'm honestly speechless about this. Honestly, I was beginning to lose a lot of respect for Crowley, after reading his "'Monsters', N-words and Jews" chapter from Magick Without tears (in which he didn't say N-words), which contained even anti-Irish slurs. Hearing this has deeply changed that image of Crowley. Ah, the man confuses me so, you know. He is so contradictory! A great dialectic of a man. And I think that's indeed what he advocated! Me and my mentor wrote a song called 'Dear Edward,' which goes 'You're an [x], you're an [x]' etc., listing two contradictory traits ('shewing two contrary states' as Blake would say, or 'fearful symmetry') of his per sentence. "
You know what it is about Crowley? A sense of humour
Though, when it mattered, he was there, lucid and intent.
@Laura Marx said
"I wonder if it could be adapted into a ritual that could be performed by myself or other Thelemic republicans - or if it has already been done so? Regardless - hearing that he was part of the revolution has lifted my spirits a great deal. Thankyou a lot for sharing that with me. "
If anyone would know about that, it would be the guys at the Irish Order of Thelema. But yes, happy to shine another light on the man and thicken the plot a little bit. You're very welcome.
93, 93/93.
Regards,
Max
Cheers, Ms. Laura Magdalene Gonne. Or rather, sláinte mhaith!
Firstly, welcome welcome. Good place, good info, done good things for me and many others within our Current.
Secondly, this: irishorderofthelema.com
As far as I can tell, our Brothers and Sisters in Ireland are among our most passionate and firmly rooted. I've only met a few, but they shared a love of history that had me beaming. I'm in the States and many of my fellow youths here pay no mind to the past, and so engage life with no foundation. The above link could be a great resource for you, I'm thinking, if you weren't aware of that organization already.
A past-Master of one of my local Mason lodges got his Degrees from Irish Masons, something he came to be very thankful for. Apparently the vital, Alchemical core of Masonry is upheld more assiduously in Ireland, while in the States it becomes increasingly buried by paper-grades and clubishness. You're in an advantageous position as an Aspirant, even if it may not seem so.
Thirdly, I'll share this with you, a relatively well-known story about Crowley, maybe you've heard of it: www.politics.ie/forum/history/13974-declaration-independence-irish-republic-crowley-1915-a.html
93's and best wishes.
This is wondrous.
Diolch.
@Frater Horus said
"
333, what a terrible experience. "
Bloody terrible. Literally the worst.
Hey! The best things are built from the bottom up, yeah?
@Frater Horus said
"Thanksfully i do have other artistic means of expression than going through walls
Thanks for sharing your practice, interesting
"
Iechyd da
@Frater Horus said
"
Yes very right. I did some dangerous mistakes with magick in the past but i'm actually quiet now, it is not dangerous things i'm seeking. More artistic kind of transgression than "extreme" stuff."
Well same here my brother. Blew myself the fuck up with 333 shenanigans, much like you. Are you finding that no medium can express your artistic self other than the manipulation of siddhis for amusement?... Seriously, if that's really the case then go ahead and bang your head against that wall all you like. I personally keep my sorcery to the practice of making aural or visual art that provokes certain seed-ideas which plant themselves subliminally and grow as a natural realization within the psyche of the beholder, hopefully as a catalyst for Initiation.
@Frater Horus said
"
Of course not.
It is just a small part.
But it seems it is important. I dont know why."
I understand that. It seems overly ascetic to cast off the siddhis as superfluous distractions. They can become well-worn tools like anything else, used to the purposes of the holder. Go ahead and give it a go. See what happens to you.
It's just a small part, right?
You know why you're here, right?
You won't cause damage to other people, right? This includes their psyche. Austin Osman Spare once conjured an elemental for two laypeople and one of them went insane then killed themselves because of it. Practice Mercy.
But still, my point is that when you bend something pliable, IT SNAPS BACK.