~ August 18th - 31st 2009 ~
Monday August 31st 2009 – 2:40pm Mick sent his thoughts on Yesod. He included a great picture of the Tatwas (Five Elemental Tides) and their shapes and sacred colors but I couldn't reproduced it well enough on this website without it being 'fuzzy' ... anyway, he writes:
A look at Yesod’s Kabalistic attributes is a good place to start when contemplating the meaning and aspirations of the ninth sphere. The first good clues are in its title: “Foundation” and the spiritual experience of the sphere which is the “Vision of the Machinery of the Universe.” Yesod is where the foundations of Malkuthian matter and energy are constructed out of the five confluent tatwas of the solar current.In this sense Yesod is the strata of elemental machinery out of which the physical universe is structured - the lattice on which it is suspended in eternity. In the Vision of the Machinery of the Universe, the magician begins to understand the elemental realm. She gets to experience the processes by which the elements combine to generate the dream of objective reality. Shaman’s and magicians using certain types of hallucinogenic mushrooms have reported experiences of these elemental machines and holding conversations with the surprising automatic intelligences that operate in them.Maybe the tradition of building one’s own magical instruments allows the magician access to Yesod by getting hands-on knowledge of the elements - their qualities, potentials, amplitudes and possible permutations within herself. Yesod is where the magician’s imagination is organized, strengthened and focused into sharp relief. Here as well, is where the practice of Resh and the Banishing rituals come in handy. Resh opens and balances the four gateways of the Muladhara allowing the magician access to a greater flow of the Kundalini while sensitizing him to the rhythms and cycles of the energies that flow in and through the world. Banishings and evocations of various kinds allow the magician to experiment with mixing or removing the elements and moving them around.The Yetziratic text for Yesod says that it also serves to purify emanations by correcting the “design” of their representations. This corrective function is a clue to the power of Yesod. It is the impulse of equilibration that is set into play for every event that occurs in the dualistic realms. Crowley encourages a student to practice an intense form of self-equilibration in which she calls up and cultivates the opposite of any particular personal tendency she may ordinarily express. In a sense such a magickal practice allows the magician to utilize the power of Yesod to further her development by working with opposites between the conscious and subconscious mind. As a side note, this might also shed light on the antinomian nature of many magickal personalities. An awareness of the self-correcting nature of the universe toward equilibration is certainly a key to any worthwhile vision of the machinery of the universe. It can be a powerful tool for an aspiring magician too.Mick 93 93/93Reply, very, very good ... if we keep all this thought up on definning the postive creative side of Yesod I can't wait until Wednesday when we focus on this sphere's Qliphothic nature.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9:15am An interesting article appeared on-line yesterday about a book titled The Third Man Factor by John Geiger. The article is : "Invisible Guardians: Angels or a Brain Function?" The book description states "The Third Man Factor is an extraordinary account of how people at the very edge of death experience the sense of an unseen presence beside them who encourages them to make one final effort to survive. This incorporeal being offered them a feeling of hope, protection, and guidance, and left the person convinced he or she was not alone. There is a name for this phenomenon: It's called the Third Man Factor." It also adds "If only a handful of people had ever encountered the Third Man, it might be dismissed as an unusual delusion shared by a few overstressed minds. But over the years, the experience has occurred again and again, to 9/11 survivors, mountaineers, divers, polar explorers, prisoners of war, sailors, shipwreck survivors, aviators, and astronauts. All have escaped traumatic events only to tell strikingly similar stories of having sensed the close presence of a helper or guardian. The force has been explained as everything from hallucination to divine intervention. Recent neurological research suggests something else." ... It looks interesting, I'll have to get a copy. ... Click HERE to read the article.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8:30am Frater Petros replied - "Jerry and Jay, 93 Very nicely done. I will have to lay a stone later as first I must lay a stone for Steven Cohen at his Mazevah today. I will place one for you also. Talk to you later. 93 93/93." ....... Reply: Thanks. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8:08am And before anyone asks, in regards to my 7:25am posting, no, I'm not saying Frater Petros looks good in a dress! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7:25am Ok, in regards to my 6:30am posting I ended it by writing - "And finally, yes, your teacher Frater Petros can surely lend us a stone to build upon and being a plumber by trade, he'll even put in running water!" ... and now thinking about it, I don't know if my readers will get it. So, let me explain: the dress of The High Priestess (Moon) is blue and flowing. It not only represents 'imagination' but water as well and in fact, all water flowing throughout the Tarot cards has its origins in her gown. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6:30am In regards to this weeks question, Jay writes - "93 Jerry, At the moment I keep thinking of Yesod as imagination. It's often said that the brain is the most erogenous organ of the body; I might modify this a bit and say that Eros resides in imagination. I feel like this is partially what you mean when you say that Yesod is the animal nature, it's the part of self that first formulates the thought, 'hey, I could fuck that.' Having said that, though, if Malkuth is simply matter, the body in the tangible sense, then Yesod, our soul or perspective, must be everything else, everything we identify as our thoughts and feelings and impressions in general. When we were discussing the circle and the square we touched on the fact that we never really reside in the higher spheres; this funneling effect you're talking about indicates that everything we identify as Hod, Netzach, Tipareth etc. we actually experience in Malkuth and Yesod. As magicians this is where our mentality is very important. How we direct and control our imagination is so fundamental. Every spiritual system has certain axioms that it builds from and those axioms determine the outcome of that particular path. Buddhism starts with suffering, Christianity with original sin etc. As Thelemites we see the universe as the eternal play between Nuit and Hadit, an existence of pure joy for all the sorrows are but as shadows. We hold at the forefront of our minds the supreme beauty of Will and Love, unnasuaged of purpose, delivered from the lust of result. This is the foundation, the model of the universe that we build from. I think it's easy to see how a magician looking to appear smart and mysterious, looking to impress someone or achieve a crazy affect can completely look over the importance of a firm foundation in thought and theory. Perhaps Frater Petros can lend us a stone to build upon... Love, Jay 93 93/93." Reply: Very good. Always remember, all Angels (i.e. your Spirit) are neutral entities. We divide up into either sex upon entering the world of the flesh (i.e. Malkuth/Yesod) and we spend a lifetime questing for our 'missing' opposite which is a quest necessary because this is how Nature unconsciously procreates our species in regards to 'animalistic nature.' Just like animals, of which we are no better, we have urges and thus the slaves shall serve their master, i.e. on Malkuth.Although magick clearly teaches us that this world is our playground, we incarnated into it, so enjoy the sexual experience and all other things, but it also teaches us that we must learn how to redirect the quest for our 'opposite' - inward and away from Malkuth. However, the greatest Sorrow is the shadow that we create upon entering Life regarding this pain of division from our other half which is a folly; in truth, we are not divided. The Angel that is being sought above the Abyss in the City of the Pyramids is, in fact, yourself. This is one of the hardest lesson to be taught in Yesod; that this pain of division is all in your mind. Your imagination (i.e. the tool of the Moon) keeps you focused upon Earth in order for you to experience the world but if used properly it can also free you at the same time in almost daily mind jaunts. But the greater lesson to be learned from 'imagination' is to be found by studying The High Priestess card which rules The Moon. It holds the keys to Yesod. This card's key phrase in Qabalah is called The Uniting Intelligence. It is the path that if properly understood can unite you with the farthest Stars.The human faculty attributed to The High Priestess is 'memory.' This is why magickal diaries are so important. We naturally have 'faulty' memories. Knowing this, how can we ever be reflective of the incarnation that we've chosen if we are sailing without charts and records of our daily activities? Crowley has stated in Magick Without Tears that although the "development of the Magical record is by far the most important of one's weapons. How to use the Record is not easy to explain; but there is a sort of knack which comes to one suddenly." (p.382) You might wonder how you will develop this 'knack' but don't worry in the beginning. When you are reaching toward taking the Oath of the Abyss you'll know the secrets. After hearing Grady talk abut this years ago I wrote an article on the Magical Diary and therein I wrote - "Do not take [this task] lightly. Furthermore, nothing will lead to the destruction of a magician quicker, when reaching the threshold of the Abyss, than if he or she laid a Foundation based on deceit and lies. Such magician can not, I repeat, can not cross Abyss. They are destined either for madness or the Black Brotherhood and their actions shall reveal which path they have taken." ... If 'memory' is a tool of the Moon, learn to use it!And finally, yes, your teacher Frater Petros can surely lend us a stone to build upon and being a plumber by trade, he'll even put in running water! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6:15am Regarding this weeks topic on Yesod, Ricky writes - "Jerry 93, An interesting thought struck me today. I was pondering your recent posts along with your reply to me and came to a minor epiphany. Yesod as our unconscious is the determining factor of our outward actions. It is our Libido and it shapes our personality. Its Nature is 'animistic' and raw. If we endeavor to do anything in the MoE grade it is to get a hold on our Malkuth and to learn to live as a Thelemite. The MoE is the adherent and to do this successfully is to be able to control the animistic nature of our Soul. In this way the spheres of 10 and 9 must be tackled at the same time. It would seem that one who is progressing in the accomplishment of this sphere, or Yesod, would show signs of 'release' from their 'animistic' nature. In other words they begin to control their 'Wants' in favor of the Path to their Will. If this is the case, and it may not be, but if it is, then it would seem that Yesod as the "sphere of illusion" is what we must over come. Since our Daimon is neutral and can be 'persuaded' to either 'good' or 'bad' deeds the goal for the Zelator seems to be to take the Serpent that enters through the Door in the Muladhara and direct it UPWARDS rather than letting it 'droop down' to Malkuth. This reminds me of Liber AL II:26 "I am the secret Serpent coiled about to spring: in my coiling there is joy. If I lift up my head, I and my Nuit are one. If I droop down mine head, and shoot forth venom, then is rapture of the earth, and I and the earth are one." Could this be the choice between the Dove and the Serpent?As with everything at this point in the game. These thoughts and I myself are a work in progress...93 93/93 RickyReply: Very good; its a good work in progress ... you're beginning to understand the distinction between 'Will' and 'Want', which often takes magicians years to fully comphrehend. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5:50am For the history buffs: 8:15am My favorite Virgo was born on this date in Antium, Italy in 12BC. His names was Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus. As a Roman Emperor he is better known by his nickname, or Caligula. It means ‘Little Boots.’ His few years as emperor were marked by erratic behavior and debauchery. He ordered the deaths of enemies and friends alike, he threw absurdly lavish parties, practiced incest with his sisters, and generally abused power while mishandling or ignoring affairs of state. It is said that he never kissed the neck of anyone without saying, “And this beautiful throat will be cut whenever I please.” ……...… and speaking of strange Virgoanian individuals, Colonel Percy Harrison Fawcett was born on this date in Devon, England in 1867. He was the famous explorer who asserted that “the connection of Atlantis with parts of what is now Brazil is not to be dismissed contemptuously, and belief in it, with or without scientific corroboration, affords explanations for many problems which otherwise are unsolved mysteries.” In Fawcett’s chronicles, which consist of letters, manuscripts, and other records compiled by his son, Brian, the Colonel detailed his expeditions into Mato Grosso, South America in search for the ruins of an ancient lost city of Atlantis. However, his private journal ended with his disappearance on May 29, 1925. ……..... and it was on August 31, 1888 that Mary Ann ‘Polly’ Nichols was found slain in Whitchapel. She was the first victim of Jack the Ripper. Her body was discovered in Buck’s Row by Charles Cross, a carman, on his way to work at Pickfords in the City Road. She was Born Mary Ann Walker on August 26, 1845 in Shoe Lane off Fleet Street. She was described by a friend as “a very clean woman who always seemed to keep to herself.” At the time of her death the services of a destitute prostitute like Polly Nichols could be had for 2 or 3 pence or a stale loaf of bread. 3 pence was the same going rate as the price of a large glass of gin. …..…… and finally, Raymond Buckland was born on this date in London into an English Romany (Gypsy) family in 1934. He has studied and practiced fortune telling, witchcraft, Gypsy magic, and other aspects of the supernatural most of his life. He is also the author of more than twenty-five books, including such best-selling titles as Practical Candleburning Rituals (1974), Witchcraft from the Inside (1975), The Magick of Chant-O-Matics (1982), Practical Color Magick (1983), Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft (1986), Secrets of Gypsy Love Magick (1990) and Scottish Witchcraft : The History and Magick of the Picts (1991). He is probably best known for introducing Gardnerian Witchcraft into America, while also being the founder of his own tradition of Witchcraft called Seax-Wica. Besides practicing and writing about the occult his other passion are homebuilt airplanes.
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Sunday August 30th 2009 – 9:00am A gentlemen name Paul from North Carolina wants to know - "I am greatly enjoying your blog. I'd like to get your opinion on how important you think Yesod is as a Sefirath? Most books paint it as a sphere needed as a foundation into our unconsciousness and as a funnel for all that is descending. Care to clarify your thoughts on this?"
Reply: All spheres 'funnel' downward and so Yesod is both the gate to Above and a door by which the Light from Above descends. It is very important to understand and research this sphere; the reason being is that the majority of all magickal failures can be traced to this Sephiroth. Even those who fall from a greater height from up in the Tree have shown to have built a faulty 'Foundation' which is the meaning behind the word Yesod. This is why I thought it important to discuss this sphere; both from a positive point-of-view and its averse qualities. Remember, there is no race to see who achieves first and this sphere is often neglected simply because in some magician's minds it is a 'lowly' sphere and assumed to easily have been achieved. Although true in some cases, it others it'll be their downfall. In fact, some magicians point out that all our climbing into the branches are simply metaphorical states trying to understand that which descends downward and then utilized through Yesod ... and for those who are in the man of Earth grade you must ask yourself these questions:1. If the Tatwas create our known Universe and are the elemental tides thatdescend downward through Tiphereth (The Sun) onto Malkuth (Earth),what role does Yesod (Moon) play being between the two? 2. If we perform Liber RESH vel Helios which allows us to directly tap intothese four Solar Currents or Tatwas, again what role does Yesod play being between the two in relationship to this ritual?3. If Malkuth is simply our body or mundane shell, then what role does Yesod play in regards to our five senses which helps our spirit experienceits surroundings? The bottom line to this week's enquiry is to make our students aware that when Yesod is fully achieved we gain the Spiritual Experience which is "The Vision of the Machinery of the Universe", although seemingly simplistic ... it is your Foundation ... screw it up and inevitably the machine breaks down!------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6:40am Ah, Yesod. What an interesting sphere. Let us reflect for a moment about the Sacred 'OTO' Well which represents the mundane vehicle of ‘beginnings’ or ‘womb’ through which a candidate is brought to birth into the world, or Malkuth. In the OTO First Degree initiation rite the candidate is prepared by circling the Sacred Well three times; symbolic of the coils of the serpent Kundalini centered in the Muladhara chakra of Yesod. Each time around the Well is called a Pathway; the first being that of Knowledge, then Perfection and finally Truth. One is reminded of the primeval Goddess Ananke who is said to be serpentine, twisting her snake-like body around the whole of creation as her three daughters or Fates; Lachesis, Klotho and Atropos sit upon Thrones and oversee each ‘Thread of Life’ which their mother spins in preparation for a new incarnation. Lachesis rules our Sun Sign. In Qabalah the Sun is ruled by the sphere known as Tiphereth which means Beauty. One must learn to seek the Laws of their Star for in Beauty is eternal Truth reveals. Klotho rules our Moon sign, Qalalistically ruled by Yesod or the Foundation. She rules the pathway of Perfection where we must learn to conquer or put under control our outer personality, our libido and Self. The third fate Atropos rules the Rising Sign, bringing us Knowledge if only we have ears to listen in order to ‘be true to ourselves’ (True Will) as to why we are incarnating. ... I hope this helps our weekly discussion.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6:30am Chapter 0! of The Book of Lies is called ΚΕΦΑΛΗ Η ΟΥΚ ΕΣΤΙ ΚΕΦΑΛΗ. It is a perfect breakdown of the Tree of Life. Although you might want to review the entire page, under the listing for 'The Third Triad' is the following thoughts, in particular about Yesod.:Bearing: preparing.NetzachWavering: flowing: flashing. HodStability: begetting.Yesod------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6:20am For the the history buffs: The author of Frankenstein, Mary Shelly was born on this date in 1797. Her book started as a ‘game’ to while away a few rainy days on a holiday but the result became one of the most shocking and powerful images ever conceived. ……… and Robert Crumb was born on this date in Philadelphia in 1943. As a kid, he and his brother Charles started drawing homemade comic books, like Fred the Cat, for the amusement of himself and his family. In time R. Crumb would become one of the most prominent member of the ‘underground comix’ movement where Fred the Cat eventually became Fritz the Cat, one of Crumb’s best-known characters. R. Crumb is also the creator of Zap Comics, Mr. Natural, Keep on Truckin’, and a lot of other great artwork. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday August 29th 2009 – 7:00pm We've gotten a few good thought provoking pieces so far on the sphere of Yesod. If we keep this up for a few more days we should have quite a good foundation for study in regards to the Qliphothic side of this Sephiroth. Anyway, in regards to this sphere, Joe writes:
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law
Hello Jerry !-I hope this Email finds you well – Healthy and in good spirits! I love these prompts on thinking about the Tree of Life- and someone to share them with…
Netzach- To be Unselfish – To be “self-less” – To not lust for result.
HOD, or "Splendor," is the next sphere up from YESOD;
(number wise- eight to nine) it is where repressed energies are channeled
up from the subconscious, coming from MALKUTH
HOD “is”’ cool, and rational - I find – or I perceive that there are many around me who are stuck in HOD – and I suspect you as a Mentor to many- must see this as well- especially in this so called age of communication – with emails, texts, and lots of words being worshiped as truth- Language becomes an addiction- of a God in itself which is worshipped- so many words so much bla bla bla. People who don’t know when to stop talking- making noises from the body
just to assert ego- or a sense of identity.
HOD receives the raw material received from YESOD, "digesting" it, and then sends it over to NETZACH. (FEELINGS)
Here, if we are respectful of our feelings- but at the same time- from our lessons learned- we should by now “know” how to be objective about our emotions in a very orange way- sure they can inform us of reality- but should not rule.
It is often said that if one wants to understand the messages from our DREAMS then we should remember our emotions, not necessarily the content- in one way- and if we are “disturbed” by the feelings in our dreams then the content itself, the pictures can inform us.
Netzach and Hod “are” a means for some thing else.
Hod may be awe
In the face of hidden spirituality or power
“Awe” could be said to be an Emotion which has inside of it Reverence, Respect, Wonder, and Dread which is inspired by Great Beauty or Genius ( Genitalia) Genesis- The Beginning ( and also the end) –
Beauty “ is” a code word for Netzach
“Balance” manifests itself as a synthesis of our thinking,
feeling and sensing functions.
Balance always, for me seems the key to keep in mind to see if one is either losing or gaining IT in YESOD – But how to communicate THIS thought so that I can get the point across, because it sounds so simple- One can easily see it in others more readily than in one self – folks who are “ unbalanced “ that is, are not so aware of what they are doing within their personae, or mask they choose to wear at any given moment- Maybe, if one has “mastered” Yesod- then one is actually aware that they have many personas/masks/selves to present and can choose to wear whatever mask is appropiate for any moment in which one has to deal with anything “ outside” of themselves. “All the worlds a stage” and “ Life is but a dream” . OK back to eating my cheese.
Agape- JOE from Beverly
Love is the law, love under will.
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3:20pm Regarding this weeks topic about the Qabalistic sphere of Yesod (Moon), Ricky writes:Jerry 93,
Here are some of my thoughts on what may be attained in Yesod.The Sphere of Yesod, in regards to attainment, seems to be a gradual opening to 'enlightenment' from above or the first inklings of Gnosis. Let me endeavor to explain this by my understanding of the 'Machinery of the Universe.' On the Otz Chiim Yesod is the Sphere of the Moon, the consort and counter-part of our Sun Tiphareth. Within this particular phase of the MOE grade it would seem that we should slowly start being influenced by our Sun and our inner Sun is gradually illuminating our Nephesh. In this way we sort of see the Nature of Yesod as bringing Light into our Darkness by reflection or "Light in Extension". JEC Reply : Malkuth-10 is the vehicle that we’ve chosen for our incarnation. But our Soul is rooted in Yesod-9 and it is the lowest quality of our Spirit that is tethered to our human body. The two are inseparable which is why as a man of Earth these two spheres go hand in hand. … Our soul attaches itself to Malkuth (i.e. our body) in order to gain an experience and our Soul is also our unconsciousness, our dream world and all other areas where the fine line of reality is not so clearly defined. In many respects we can say that our Soul is the ‘point-of-view’ of our Spirit rather than an actual independent quality; it is the tool of ‘perception’ which allows the Spirit to be reflective of its surroundings in order to function. To understand Malkuth is to discover how your Soul perceives the world and how it functions. To be successful in Yesod we must learn to control our Soul in our body ... which is an 'energy' driven by slave-like animalistic behavior.Yesod is positioned on the Middle Pillar directly below Tiphareth and is connected to it by the Path of Samech or Art. This card may give us insight into what 'kind' of energy is influencing this Sphere. It seems beneficial to remember that Samech spelled in full adds to 120. This is the same number as the name of the Great God ON. Here it would seem that the Full influence of the two Paths of the Devil and Death are concentrated and directed into Yesod through Samech. Or dare I say this may be the lowest place where Babalon and the Beast conjoin?? This is the full Light of our Sun directed downwards. But this Light must Pass through the Veil of the Holy or that which is called Paroketh. I am not fully sure what this implies. It would seem that this Veil is a sort of lower octave of the Abyss but what is the relation to this Veil and the Light which descends through it? How does it affect this Light? JEC Reply: This is good but I must make one point. I know that many authors attribute 'Samech' numerically to 120 but there are others who do not. Samech is spelt with three Hebrew letters - SMK. .... These being Samech-60, Mem-40 and Kaph-20 which logically adds to 120. But in truth; if you look at the actually Hebrew spelling of this letter you'll notice that the traditional image of Kaph is not used but rather it is a Final-Kaph. Many Qabalists give the value of Kaph 'final' as 500. This makes the Qabalistic value of Samech in some books to be 600. As for Crowley and some Golden Dawners, they are notorious for disregarding 'final' letter values. It is also our Muladhara Chakra which corresponds to Yesod and this is the 'seat' or more appropriately the door way of our Kundalini or Daimon. The 'activation' or attainment of this sphere seems to be where we really start to see the benefits of Liber Resh. Where our door way is built four-fold and equal on all sides to allow the flow of our Daimon through it in balanced proportion. This brings to mind the four-fold doorway which opens in Daleth when Chokmah and Binah unite to bring forth Daath or Knowledge this in the Macrocosm is the Door our Angel descends through for our Knowledge and Conversation. In Yesod we see this on a lower level as our Muladhara is the Doorway of the Daimon. And to open this correctly would enable communication but not conversation with it. Or more clearly, we begin to receive Divine Intuition. JEC Reply : The same process that 'creates' life downward from above the Abyss lays the Foundation stones for our return when climbing the Tree of Life from a Malkuthian point-of-view; and in theory, it is another example of 'As Above, So Below.' In other words; to study how the Tree was created you should enable you, in theory, to climb back into its branches from below.But all of this is in the vein of mystical attainment. What of magick? We know that in magick to truly influence anything we must transcend its plane. Change must come from 'above' or 'within' or whatever. If we were to endeavor to influence anything on the material plane or Malkuth, could we do it from Yesod? I don't think so. Yesod is the frame work of Malkuth. To change Malkuth we must 're-frame' it in a sense. To do this one must at least reside in Hod. This strikes me as correct due to the 'titles' of the aspirant in the MoE and the Lovers grades respectively. One is not really a Magician until they reach Hod, this is lowest area that one can effect change in Malkuth from. This is also apparent in the thought that one never truly attains full control over a sphere until they move to the next. However; the magickal formulae assigned to Yesod is that of ALIM. This according to Crowley is a formulae of the Moon due to its numeration of 81 and is not so much a 'magickal' formulae as it is a formulae of witchcraft. But what does this mean? ALIM is a formulae devoid of the Divine Spirit or H. So it is not a 'creative' formulae. What it is, from this low perspective, is a formula of re-arrangement. To shift things about to seemingly cause change, but this is never a lasting effect. Maybe an example of ALIM might be re-arranging the furniture in the Temple prior to a true ritual.JEC Reply : Never forget that Malkuth is our body and magickally when we refer to Building a Pyramid we are referring to creating our body as a Temple of God. The entire process is a 'spiritual' journey. When you write how Hod is "lowest area that one can effect change in Malkuth from" you forget that we can, and must start taking control of Yesod almost immediately once upon Malkuth. If we do not control our libido we'll end up in the same pickle that the Practicus found himself in whom we've been discussing for the last few weeks. You can't wait until approaching the sphere of Netzach (Venus) to control your animalistic behavior toward sex and especially Love. By then its too late. ... If you treat Love on this plane like it's your toy don't be upset, when approaching the sphere of Netzach, if you find yourself on the receiving end of what you've been dishing out. With this in mind, what is the task of the Zelator phase of the man of Earth and what are the 'Powers and Privileges' conferred ON those who reach this height? Among other things I think it must be to reflect on the subtle reflection of their Sun through their Moon (astral light? or unconscious?) to begin to receive direction from their Angel. 93 93/93 RickyJEC Reply: Over all, very good. In truth, you've been receiving Angelic guidance since childhood; its now up to you to study Self and to determine the methods of how your Angel has been communicating. We mortals tend to think that when our Angel descends it'll communicate in our 'language' rather than archetypal symbols or 'triggers'.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11:51am In regards to CORNELIAS No.11-16, Ricky writes - "I received your package today and let me say; I've only had a chance to thumb through them so far but from reading the fist ten, I am extremely exited about these! The series "In quest of the Holy Guardian Angel" is truly amazing. Within the last few issues, namely 7-9, I think my brain has turned to shit. :) in a good way. There is so much going on here that I can really only say Wow!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7:45am I must apologize to everyone whose emails have slipped between the cracks and gone unanswered these last few weeks. If what you wrote really requires a serious answer, please resubmit it. Thanks for being understanding. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7:00am For the history buffs: Frederick Mellinger died on this date in Bad Wiesse, Germany in 1979. He was an actor and dramatist who immigrated to London from Berlin with his wife and his two sons in 1933. Three years later he moved to Los Angeles. In late 1939 he contacted Wilfred T. Smith the Lodge Master of Agape Lodge and on March 22nd 1941 he took Minerval and First Degree into Aleister Crowley’s Ordo Templi Orientis. He was also a member of the AA. His motto was Frater A.U.M.G. (Arte Unionem Manifestabo Gnosticam). ……..... also, on August 29, 1990 one of the metaphysical giants of the Twentieth Century, Manly P. Hall, died on this date in Hollywood, California, at the age of 89. In 1934 he established the Philosophical Research Society. His Obituary in the Scottish Rite Journal, November, 1990, stated that he was: “. . . often called Masonry’s greatest philosopher. …….. and I should like to mention that Dorian Corey was born in Buffalo New York and he died on August 29th 1993. He was the grande damme of the 1990 documentary film titled Paris is Burning which critics consider an invaluable documentary exploring the end of the Golden Age of New York City drag balls and female impersonators. When he passed away on this date at the age of 53 from AIDS he left behind an apartment filled of costumes as well as a twenty-year old mummified body of a middle aged black man in a trunk. The man had died from gunshot wounds. A note was attached which simply read: "This poor soul broke into my apartment and I was forced to shoot him." Oddly, since Dorian had moved often, he must have been dragging the trunk around from apartment to apartment.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday August 28th 2009 – This notice is to let everyone know that there is an 'OPEN HOUSE' tonight at Love Sake Clerk House ... the subject matter being discussed is how to work through averse or Qliphothic Sephiroth.
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Thursday August 27th 2009 – 11:40am To Frank who finds it hard to understand that our 'daimon' (HGA) is a duel entity bathed in both angelic and demonic qualities. Let me ask you a few questions; what below the Abyss on the Tree of Life is not bathed in duality? Can anyone out there tell me something exempt from this Law?
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9:20am I'd like to address a consistent theme that is emerging in emails of late regarding the Qliphoth and my views on what it is. I personally think Dion Fortune's book The Mystical Qabalah has some of the best descriptions of these evil or averse Sephiroth which some claim are "awful forms, dangerous even to think upon." And I agree with Fortune that 'ignoring' these Sephiroth can ultimately lead to disaster as we have seen of late with the discussion about the recent magickal attempts of a Practicus. You cannot ignore one side of the Scales and expect it to be continual Balanced. Fortune points out that the Abramelin system is one of the "most potent and complete" systems in Western magick. Adding - "According to his system, the operator, after a prolonged period of purification and preparation, evokes not only the angelic forms, but also the demonic ones." One of the best things she writes is:"A good many people have burnt their fingers with the system ofAbramelin, and the reason is not far to seek; for if we examine their records we find that they have never followed the system in its entirety,but picked out a ceremony here and an invocation there for performanceas the mood took them. Consequently Abramelin's system has got a badname as being a singularly dangerous formula; whereas performed in itsentirety, it is a singularly safe one, because it deals with all the reactionsof the invoked forces under what might be termed laboratory conditionsand neutralizes them."It is no secret that our daimon is a neutral entity; both angelic and demonic. Whoever attempts to evoke the daimon (HGA) must realize that if there is a positive aspect, then there must be a negative one as well. If the daimon, being no more that our Kundalini as Carl Jung has demonstrated [The Psychology of Kundalini Yoga, Notes of the Seminar Given in 1932 by C. G. Jung, Edited by Sonu Shamdasani; Princeton University Press, Bollingen Series XCIX 1996], moves into a given Sephiroth it implies that we are activating a Chakra. How the Chakric energy is utilized depends upon the Daimon. If it swings too hard toward a demonic side it shifts us into the averse Sephiroth or backside. Climbing the Tree of Life requires us to embrace not only the spiritual quest but controlling our demon as well; hence the lessons behind the 'Circle Squared' or "One you control, while the other controls you." ... You must maintain an equilibrium. ... Dion Fortune warns us - "There is a point in every magical operation when the negative aspect of the force comes up to be dealt with, and unless dealt with will lure the experimenter into the pit which he has digged. It is a sound magical maxim not to invoke and force unless you are equipped to deal with its averse aspect."This has been the major folly of the Practicus. Within days of trying to cross over from Hod into Netzach his internal Tree blew out his Netzach in his daily life. Love, friends and relationships fell apart but it's not HIS fault and it has nothing to do with him being given the go ahead to assume Philosophus which threw him into an unbalanced state ... it's everyone else's fault around him who caused HIS problems. ... But in truth, we can't even say that he was in Netzach, Netzach simply threw him out immediately and back in Hod where he dug his feet in and flipped to the backside or averse Sephiroth due to the damage he suffered in the Manipura Chakra. As a solution to us trying to help him back into the Light from the averse side of Hod he took the Oath of the Abyss as a means of denial of his failures in the lower Ruach. Yes, the averse side [Square] of each Sephiroth can be a deadly trap. ... And to address Frank's question about the Practicus - "If he fell into the Qliphoth of Hod after failing to fulfill his magickal oaths and obligations correctly then wouldn't his decision to take the Oath of the Abyss means that he actually jumped from the Qliphoth side and is carrying really, really outrageous Karma?" ...... Reply: Yes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7:00am For the history buffs : On this date in 1941 Aleister Crowley recorded in his magickal diaries that while he and his close friend Gerald Yorke were seeing some of their old haunts, Crowley vibrated rather loudly ‘Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law’ from the High Altar at Trinity Chapel much to Yorke’s delight. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday August 26th 2009 – 12:55pm Jerri is back from her visit to Texas and she sent me an email. She writes :
93 Jerry,
I just wanted to mention a fascinating excerpt from Cornelia 13 that I happened upon last night. You discussed an issue, which seems to be very appropriate right now. You talked about the pitfalls that befall Magicians and the spots on the Tree in which they generally seem to happen. You mention 3 areas to look out for: Malkuth, Tiphereth, and the crossing of the Abyss.You talked about the Man of Earth grade, and the thing to look out for was the Kundry-something from without would come along to tempt the male magician to bring him back down to Malkuth. You then mention the Lover grade, and bring up Narcissus was the issue at that point-it would be something from within that could cause a Magician to fall. From my perspective, the failure to properly control ones Ego is the single most cause of failure in Magick-in every single case. This failure is well documented by the lives of varying Magicians in the Grady Bio. This has also been shown by members of our AA that have been expelled, and shown by the struggle that [this Practicus] is experiencing.I do have a question, though. Males experience the Kundry as something outward that comes along to tempt them. In the females case, we become the Kundry. I wonder what might happen then when we (women) enter the Lover grade. The majority of them tend to go crazy! The Narcissistic aspect would still be in play. We must get our Egos under control, but how might this manifest? It won't look the same or be experienced in the same manner as a man. I know that we are discussing this from theoretical land...do you think it could manifest as something outwardly that comes along to tempt us?? Perhaps not...it would still be our Egos which we are trying to get under control, but being that we tend toward Netzach and the 156 pillar, emotion can become our strength or weakness depending upon our focus, and if we are focusing upon relationships, as many women tend to do, this outward Malkuthian aspect becomes our eventual downfall. The Ego of women in general I've found tends to be very connected to our emotions, and the male Ego tends to be very connected to intellect (Hod). We are Love men are Will. In the case of Phylis Seckler one could potentially argue that Grady was her 'ordeal,' in a way...and it was her hatred/love for him that constantly dragged her down to Earth. She took care of him on a Malkuthian level in many regards. Financially, physically, etc. In my assessment, she was plagued by the focus of her emotional connection to him (in it's lower Egoic manifestation-lower Tiphereth) throughout her life which distracted her. In no way am I saying that she was a "failure" or that she was "fallen fruit," look at all the woman accomplished, but this aspect is where she failed to get her Ego under complete and balanced control.What do you think???93 93/93 Jerri Reply: I agree with you. I too think that both men and women function similar as far as what we attract on both an inward out outward level and that we both have the same kinds of temptations ... but it's how we handle our ordeals that is often different; men tend to be over intellectual, women emotional. Personally, I think you guys have the edge up on us.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11:15am Our A.'.A.'. lineage has received the latest complimentary copies of Coph Nia WAND; both the Summer Solstice and Lammas 2009 issues from the Coph Nia Oasis, OTO up in Eugene, Oregon. These newsletters are truly remarkable; 8 1/2 x 11, high gloss, heavy weight paper, really great article on everything from Cefalu to Enochian, lots of photos, drawings and tons of old Grady McMurtry articles. Its always a delight to receive material from friends of Grady. A subscription to this newsletter is $35.00 a year and well worth it, or look to their website for further info www.cophnia-oto.org. Thanks guys for the issues! We are humbled. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9:00am Mary asks why we are "having trouble with the Practicus who is seemingly just doing his Will" ... For starters, sleeping with other women, or using them is not, nor has it ever been the issue. As Thelemites we believe strongly in the slaves shall serve, hence do what thou wilt. But in our A.'.A.'. lineage it's hands off females students coming in; we are not a horizontal fraternity which often looks at all new girls as fresh meat. He knew that. It complicates things and all these blog entries about this kind of meltdown in a vertical school only proves the point. ... Be that as it may, what really pisses me off is that for over six months he came down here to Berkeley to be my friend, to have lunch, to talk with me about magick, to get paperwork, documents and other stuff, all the while hiding the fact that he was sleeping with a student and even worse, teaching her that the correct 'spiritual' behavior is to hide things from your Superior and as long as you don't directly lie to him, you can play 'semantics' ... but "Dishonesty is like lying with your mouth shut." Like his ex-girlfriend, I feel so used. And his attitude about being called on his dishonesty, of his nearly killing me [see Aug.16th 7:30am posting], of my sleepless nights or even the 'stress related' health issues he's caused to my heart of late - is never to once apologize for anything but instead to maliciously blame me in emails for not trusting him. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8:25am By now many of my readers have read the Preamble on The Epistle on the Oath of Abyss which details the history of how a Practicus supposedly took the Oath, melted down and now hates all of us for reasons he has yet to adequately define ... this Epistle being a study of High Magick, its pit falls and what not to do. I want to address a few other email thoughts that have come in last weekend. First, I truly feel that Practicus 'in his mind' believes he's not a bad person but his is a very text-book 'male' manipulative behavior; whether he is doing it consciously or unconsciously. I know him personally, over many years I've watched how he talks about women, I've seen his excuses first hand, his questing for loop-holes and his rationalization of 'semantics' to justify his behavior. We've all known someone like this, some guy who controls his wife or girlfriend not by directly telling them to do anything but implying such in a way that she complies to his wishes. This game of 'semantics' enables the guy, if things go bad, to argue that he's innocent; he didn't do anything that the woman is claiming and its all a figment in her mind, her fault - because he never 'actually' said bla bla bla. The key word being 'actually' ... If you like to watch Court TV shows the excuse by 'semantics' is one of the major defenses by guys who use women but the Judges never seems to buy their story; I wonder why? And the lesson in all this for my students or anyone who is trying to pursue a spiritual path like climbing the Tree of Life, inevitably 'semantics' will catch up to you and the Tree always 'rights the wrong' and it'll cast out any pretender to spirituality. Show me one magick book which says otherwise? You came into this world naked and with nothing and that is how you'll go out ... the only thing that you take out is your WORD. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7:25am For the history buffs: This is the reported date in 1795 of the death of Comte de Cagliostro, the founder of Egyptian Freemasonry. He died mysteriously in the dungeons of the castle of St. Leo, near the city of Montefeltro. He was a victim of the Catholic Inquisition. According to one rumor, his body was discovered in a cell ‘strangled’ to death. Some claimed that his assassins were his jailers. According to the Mortuary register of Santa Maria “His body has been buried at the top of the mountain at the spot where it slopes towards the west, almost at an equal distance between two buildings destined for sentinels and called Il Pallazzetto or Il Casino, on the soil of the Apostolic and Roman Curia, the 28th day at 11 o’clock at night.” ………. And Christopher Bradshaw Isherwood was born on this date in England in 1904. He was a champion with his controversial stand on gay liberation. He was the son of an army officer who had been killed in World War I. As a novelist and playwright he was best known for The Berlin Stories which fictionalize his life in pre-World War II Berlin in the 1930’s. These were later adapted into the stage play I Am a Camera and into the popular musical Cabaret. The latter was made into a movie in 1972 starring Liza Minnelli and Michael York. Isherwood disliked the movie when he first saw it due to its watering down the homosexual role of Yorke’s character. Isherwood never hid his homosexuality and he was seen as a champion for his controversial stand on gay liberation which he clearly reflected in his books. Although he has become a cult figure amongst the modern gay community, he always hated the term ‘gay’ and simply preferred being called ‘queer.’ During his time spent in Berlin Isherwood could often be found in the Cosy Corner which was a small working-class bar often frequented by male prostitutes. It was in Berlin that Isherwood met “the practitioner of the occult, Aleister Crowley” with a mutual friend by the name of Gerald Hamilton, who lived with the Great Beast and his mistress for a while in Berlin in 1932. Shortly after their first meeting Isherwood decided to take Aleister Crowley to one of his favorite spots, the Cosy Corner, for drinks. No sooner had Crowley entered when he declared very loudly, “I haven’t done anything like this since I was in Port Said.” Then, glancing around the room, Crowley decided to stroll up to a “very tough-looking youth in an open shirt, standing by the bar.” Instead of introducing himself like a normal person, Crowley simply “scratched the boy’s chest deeply with his nails.” It’s hard to understand what he might have been thinking, but his actions did not receive the response that Crowley was probably hoping for. pparently the boy was pissed. It is written that “only a sizable gift of money succeeded in restraining the boy from beating him up on the spot.” One wonders just how much money was offered to keep Aleister Crowley from getting punched out cold. Although, typical of Aleister Crowley, it’s a safe bet that some one else came up with the cash and it was most probably Isherwood. Another question could be asked what did Crowley do at Port Said? Years later, in his private journal, Isherwood made a rather amusing comment about Crowley. He wrote, “The truly awful thing about Crowley is that one suspects he didn’t really believe in anything. Even his wickedness. Perhaps the only thing that wasn’t fake was his addiction to heroin and cocaine.” Isherwood died on January 4, 1986 in Santa Monica at the age of 82. ……..… also, the writer Frank Harris died in France on this date in 1931 of a heart attack. He was a friend of Aleister Crowley since the mid-twenties, but on January 2nd 1924 Aleister Crowley recorded this bit of wisdom in his diary about him: “Lunched with Frank Harris. ... But I’m not doubtful about Frank Harris. He is insane.” …….... also, on August 26, 1939 Phyllis Evelina Seckler, also known as Soror Meral, took Minerval Degree into Aleister Crowley’s Ordo Templi Orientis in the sands near Playa Del Rey in southern California, becoming a member of Agape Lodge.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday August 25th 2009 – 12:25pm An incoming email asked not to be posted but I think my reply is pertinent regarding the oath of the Abyss. I replied - "I have deliberately not posted the majority of this Practicus' foul mouthed attacks on me, our Lineage and students which are bathed in egotistical rants that this Practicus is the King of 'his' Hill now ... from of all places, while he claims to be in the Abyss! His emails would clearly show all my readers that this man is hardly a spiritual individual whose guidance anyone with half a brain would ever want to follow. Anyone who is thinking of throwing themselves into the Abyss must be on their guard 'instantly' against demonic thoughts, actions and deeds. This Practicus can't have it both ways. He can't argue that he's not in Chaos in the Qliphoth of Hod but in the Abyss on a spiritual mission, when on the other hand he is text-book case of embracing the Black Brotherhood right from the onset. I do not envy this man right now, his mind must be spinning in the Pits of Because trying to 'reason' a way out of this dilemma. ... and his Demon snickers.
I agree. You made a good point. He has walked himself into a great big Catch 22. If he is in the Qlipphoth of Hod then he still has Angelic guidance and, even though he's ignoring us, his Angel should be able to walk him out of a bad situation. However, I think you forgot to consider the 'full' flip side. He's digging his feet in still claiming to be the Abyss. In his mind he MUST now acknowledge that his Angel has stepped aside and the only Inner Voice, or whispers are those from his Demon ... of which he MUST ignore, control and conquer if he's going to be successful at crossing the Abyss. But, for sake of an argument, let us say that he's wrong and he is not in the Abyss but the Qlipphoth of Hod ... Do you think he'll 'listen' to his Angel's advice trying to walk him out? No. He MUST deny his Angel as whispers from his Demon! ... What to do? What to do? ... Listen to your Inner Voice, or ignore it? ... Sadly, Magick 101, if he is in the Qlipphoth of Hod and he keeps denying his Angel ... he'll fall from Tree and be thrown back to ground zero in Malkuth. Yes, you're right, it is a great big Catch 22." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11:15am Anonymous from Massachusetts asks - "Hey Jer 93. Thanks for the update on your health; get better. ... You haven't been posting much of late about the Practicus and the Oath of the Abyss debacle. Is it over? Care to tell your readers how it ended; been loving the soap opera drama from day one. 93s" .... Reply: Yes, it has been very quiet of late. In truth, thanks to the Practicus' own attitude and Magickal Affirmation he has made it impossible for himself to cross the Abyss. He is now either a Black Brother or, if he wasn't really in the Abyss, he is simply silly and lost in the Qliphoth of Hod. I think he's trying to figure it out. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6:40am For the history buffs: only one thing to mention today, Sweden, under the reign of Queen Christina during 1618-1648, was relatively unscathed by the witch hysteria plaguing the rest of Europe. However, after her the Queen’s death, the country witnessed an outbreak of witch panic. In Mohra, Sweden, in 1699 over a hundred adults and three hundred children were deemed to be witches. The Mora hunt began when a fifteen-year-old boy accused several other children of stealing babies for the Devil. In the ensuing trials, “a number of children were condemned to death, while many others were given non-capital punishments on the basis of testimony by confessing witches that the children had allegedly accompanied them to the Sabbath.” The first executions took place on this date in 1699 where some of the prisoners were first beheaded and then their bodies were burned to ashes. Another thirty-six children were forced to run the gauntlet and were beaten with rods for a whole year, while twenty of the youngest children were thrashed on the hands at the church door three Sundays in a row.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday August 24th 2009 – 7:14am Our neighboring town of El Cerito, about four miles from where I live, got hit with a 2.6 magnitude earthquake just a little after midnight. I slept through it but if I felt anything, I probably thought it was something I ate.
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Sunday August 23rd 2009 – 8:10am Sorry for not answering all your emails this last week etc but I'm swamped with work.
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1:55am Mary sent a nice email, in part she asks if there is no hope for this Practicus, "he being a student and lost Soul" and all. ... Reply: There is always hope. Crowley explains how but this Practicus is so wrapped up in his ego and digging his feet in at this point that to be 'humble' and ask for help would be like an admittance in his own mind that possibly he might be wrong and this is beyond his capability ... and his demon snickers. But at least his loss, as tragic as it may seem, can be a warning to others of the dangers of magick and why, when climbing the Tree of Life, you must never forget that its a spiritual path. ... As to your question - " ... who is he, has he posted on your blog before?" ... Reply: Sorry Mary, his identity is a secret, no concern to anyone. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1:15am For the history buffs: Queen Isabella, the “She-Wolf of France” died on this date in 1358. She had been living at ‘Castle Rising Castle’ in Norfolk, England which was built by the Earl of Sussex in the middle of the 12th century. It was here that King Edward III had his own mother Queen Isabella incarcerated for what he believed to be her part in the murder of his father, Edward II on September 21, 1327. She lived the remainder of her life quite comfortably in the castle but, the older she got, insanity began to set in and she went mad. After her death her ghost has been seen many times running dementedly along the ramparts of the castle and her shrieks of maniacal laughter have often been heard at night. Her hysterical cackling has been described as being “like some mad old witch.” ………. and on August 23, 1930 the founder of the German EDDA Society, Rudolf John Gorsleben died after a long-standing heart problem. ……. And on August 23, 1940 the famous National Geographic photographer and explorer Galen Rowell was born on this date. He published the classic book In the Throne Room of the Mountain Gods (1977). Its 326 pages are filled with maps, black and white and exquisite colour photographs of K2 and its surroundings. The book primarily deals with the 1975 American K2 expedition, although it also mentions historical information on Aleister Crowley’s failed attempt to conquer the mountain. Tragically Rowell and his wife died in a plane crash on August 11, 2002. ……… and finally, in Sao Roque de Fratura, Brazil, a farmhand spotted a strange “monster” in a coffee field on this date in 1996. He described it as being a quadruped gray green creature, approximately five feet long, with a large head and what looked like armor protecting its legs, shoulders, and rear end. It resembled a scorpion lacking its pincers and a tail and it had legs “like an ox.” The creature fled back into the jungle when the farmer began throwing rocks at it.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday August 22nd 2009 – 2:30pm Sorry John, friend or not, your joke about "How many Practicus does it take to screw in a light bulb in the Abyss" was not funny. I am not going to post.
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2:15pm Luna writes about my 11:40am posting - "93! I'm not trying to be rude in any way, but this post about the Indian ritual of "taking the tree" sounds a bit like what the Blog is talking about lately. Remember that I am an outsider and when reading your blog about the tree of life, it is Greek to me 90% of the time....as an ignorant bystander it made me smile to read the post. 93s )O(."Reply: Wow, you're right. I wonder if this is why I liked the story? It is as if unconsciously the story was about me and the Practicus throwing rocks at each other in quest of the Tree. And even more funny, just like last year's Gotmar festival - there is one dead (metaphorically speaking of course). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11:40am Wow, watching the NEWS; it seems in India authorities have banned the annual Gotmar festival. How tragic. This centuries-old festival begins by thousands of residents lining up on either side of a river dividing their two rival villages. In the middle of the river a small tree is stuck into the mud. Then object of the festival is that both teams from opposing villages must try to make a mad dash to retrieve the tree and prove that their village is better than the other one. Simple enough. It sounds like fun. So why ban it? ... Oh, I forgot the other rule. ... Everyone from either shore is allowed to throw rocks at the opposing team to keep them away from the tree. Well ok, last year one person did die and more than 400 injured were injured but what is the world coming to when you can throw a rock at an annoying neighbor?------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11:25am In regards to a statement I made in my 8:42am posting, Mike asks a single, brief question - "93 Jer. Why is what you create in the Abyss autometically evil? 93 93/93 Mike" Reply: Good question. It's not. It all depends on 'what' you project downward. Life dictates that despite being cast into the Abyss, which can be up to a minimum of four years, a magician must still exist in his daily world. It is during that period that he will be tested and tempted. But how? It must be remembered, an Angel can not follow the magician into the Abyss or it would be bathed in Chaos. So, as long as he remains in the Abyss the magician loses his Angel's guidance. The flip side is that the magician must not listen to his personal Choronzon who can still whisper to him; he must survive his temptations and inevitably put him under control every waking moment of his life for at least four years ... all by using just his whit. And here it is, less than two weeks in and this Practicus is not doing too well; if he has really thrown himself into the Abyss at all. Be that as it may, what I'm saying is that a magician must be utterly careful as to what they 'birth' downward while in the Abyss; especially though 'Words' because these are "utterances of the Soul." Hence part of the danger revealed in the Oath of the Abyss - "... that I will interpret every phenomenon as a particular dealing of God with my soul." Yes, God will deal with your Soul. Pay attention, or lose it! ... To cross the Abyss is one of the most spiritual journeys a magician can ever make - SPIRITUAL - you must prove that you are worthy of an Angel incarnated! You must be pure at heart and 100% focused on giving every drop of your blood to Babalon. There is no law beyond do what thou wilt but don't interpret that wrong; each drop of blood spilt toward Malkuth, either seen through words or actions, breeds phantoms of 'Wants' and the Angel that you are trying to become is but a 'Fallen' one. [Hmmmm ... thinking upon the original fall of the Angels according to the book of Genesis 6:4 - "when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men", lusted after them and sleep with them despite God saying don't do it ... sounds familiar, no? ] The bottom line: below Tiphereth after performing Liber Pyramidos, you begin building The Pyramid brick by brick; "Square by Square" ... and from Tiphereth downward to Malkuth the number reflected in a magician's magickal degrees always have the number next to the Circle lower than the number next to the Square. Remember, in regards to the Circle Squared - One you control, while the other controls you. - Below Tiphereth you are building an ascending Pyramid whose base you must build very carefully in order for your Spirit (i.e. Angel, HGA) to indwell therein. This Pyramid is referred to as an ascending Triangle of Blue, whose apex points upward as if to project or allow your prayers to ascend to Heaven. You must learn to build your 'squares' correctly. The correct method is to always remember that anyone can build a nice building, a pyramid, or a pretty looking Temple and fool others on Malkuth, but only devotion and daily prayer toward your HGA will make it truly a dwelling place of their Holy Ghost. Otherwise the Pyramid is just a hollow shell.Then, if you accomplish Tiphereth upward into Chesed, you are in affect creating a Red Pyramid whose apex is pointing downward; often referred to as the descending Triangle or tongue of Grace. This being the giving of kindness and of spiritual fortitude by the Adept back into world; i.e. Malkuth. ... Malkuth also being his own body which implies that his every action, deed and word becomes very important as a spiritual representation of what is descending through him. Together, both of these Triangles create a Holy Hexagram of the Great Work.Once in the Abyss you are in effect standing on the base of the Red Pyramid. Grady's favorite chapter in The Book of Lies was Chapter 69 because it revealed, according to Crowley, the 'secret' to crossing the Abyss for the 'babe' of which the entire book is written for. ... Also, regarding the descending Pyramid, this is why the number above Tiphereth reverse in the Magickal Degrees, it is because they're preparing you to be a vehicle to channel Babalon from above the Abyss. But while in the Abyss your every word and actions in your daily travels must be carefully thought out from a spiritual point-of-view as not to be a reflection one Iota of a 'Want' which is of Malkuth. After you are across you'll understand the full implication of do what thou wilt and how everything in this world is your plaything but until then, as a Babe in the Abyss, you are either of Malkuth or Above ..... and "By their words you will judge them." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8:42am Early this morning I received a scathing email from the Practicus; not happy about our PREAMABLE, calling it “riddled with blatant lies” and “that I am “drawing many of [my] conclusions based upon the LIES of those who attacked me.” Well, for the record, the only attacks the other A.’.A.’. students made was come clean and tell the Superiors in the A.’.A.’. what the Practicus was saying and doing behind their backs. They ‘betrayed his trust’ and for that he now hates them. But of his trust between him and I, he has yet to address, I guess I wasn't important. ... One thing that everyone must know - his version of the story which he now fosters might well be true as to how the meltdown occurred on Malkuth regarding him and his other friends in the A.'.A.'. but the fact remains, as a magician and scientists, we gave him ample opportunity to submit proof that our analogy of the situation was incorrect but he refused. The others, whom he claims betrayed him, submitted their proof to support their side of the story. So what am I to believe? One side submits evidence, the other says accept my word or, and I quote, I “can't have a teacher who doesn't trust and believe in me” You be the judge.He even stated - “I didn't convince, hint or tell her to lie about anything and this is the ultimate lie which shows (that this woman whom he slept with) true colors.” ... This is one of those tit for tats; she said, he said and in truth, we may never to get to real facts nor is it really that important. It is simply a way to side-step the real issue. So, for sake of an argument, let us say that this Practicus never did ask the student in another Clerk House to lie for him and keep their affair secret ... but this is a fact, he, himself, hid the affair from his own Superior knowing how his Superior felt about teachers sleeping with students and the conflicts it causes. And it wasn't just a one night thing that he kept secret but the affair lasted according to his own time frame from January 1st up until early August when he was still text messaging to this girl how much he loved her etc & etc [copies of which she kept of all his text messages; juicy] ... He also is now denying that he ever said that he admitted to his dishonesty about hiding this affair to his Superior, writing - “... you wrote that when confronted with my dis-honesty I didn't deny it...not true...I DID deny it” ... which is actually not true and even in the same paragraph he admits again to having the affair. I am confused. Either you did sleep with your student for over six months and hide it from me, or you didn't? You sure as Hell, knowing my position on student-teacher relationships, tell me. That is the dishonesty to which I refer.He did write another thing worth noting. He wrote - “Finally you wrote in regards to the Oath, that on August 19th I finally came to this realizations myself and informed you of such in writing is totally not true and your putting Words in my mouth. I only agreed that I don't pretend to know everything that taking the Oath might imply... you filled in the blanks from there... I never meant that or said that in any way, your simply reading between the lines.” Perhaps I did mistake what he had written because, in hindsight, he wasn’t clear. In that light it seems that this Practicus still believes he’s in the Abyss and he claims the phrase ‘moved on’ was not meant to imply leaving the A.'.A.'. itself as much as from Grady McMurtry’s lineage and that he is now his ‘own’ lineage. I can only say laughingly, good luck. Who am I to judge. It’s in the hands of the Gods now. But in truth, I stand by my judgment of the facts as I've been taught to interpret them or that he's in total denial; he’s not in the Abyss, he is in the Qliphoth of Hod wallowing in his self-imposed Chaos. He's a text-book case. Still, for the sake of an argument, if he believes he is in the Abyss let's address it from his point of view. After mistakenly thinking that the Practicus had 'quit' the entire A.'.A.'. and not realizing that he simply meant just Grady's lineage, I wrote - "... I’m not accepting your resignation until we meet and talk, or unless you send it in writing (not email), signed, as required. Right now I don’t think you are thinking clearly." ... I was hoping for a cooler head to prevail but he replied - “As far as quiting the A.'.A.'... your right you will never get me to say that in any way so don't expect any signed letters...nor do I see myself as resigning from my Lineage as I will never deny my roots...no your stuck with me even if you throw me out... Just as Phyliss was to Grady even though she threw him out and never recognized any of his Grades but I won't have any affiliating or direct connection with any other Clerk House just as he didn't with her, I'll just be over here on my own doing my own thing that's all.” Can anyone say 'EGO'? ... this is what happens when you jump from Hod and have yet to fulfill the three major Qabalistic spheres where a magician is trained to put their ego under control. Anyway, so he compares himself to Grady. This is like apples and oranges. The difference that he fails to mention is that Grady jumped ‘over’ Phyllis' degrees; he became a Magister Templi while she an Adeptus Minor and her denial, as this Practicus clearly knows, was rooted in their failed marriage and her taking it out on him every way she could. The comparison is silly. And so for the record, jumping into the Abyss only supersedes your teachers authority if they are of a lower degree than what you are aspiring to through the Abyss. I am not. Years ago I swore the Oath of a Magus. Furthermore, as long as he has not yet crossed the Abyss [which could take up to four years] he has a few important things to consider. First, and foremost, you cannot create anything other than a Black Brotherhood while in the Abyss. So what does this say of himself that if within a week of him taking the Oath of the Abyss he's claiming in 'writing' that he is now no longer part of Grady McMurtry's lineage and has now created his 'own' lineage? He created his own lineage????? While in the Abyss he 'creates' ... how utterly hysterically funny is this? I almost pee' d my pants. I spit coffee through my nose! ... But at least this Practicus is finally coming clean and revealing his true intentions to be GOD above not only all of us but of Babalon too ... he knows nothing about either the ways of the Abyss or the City of the Pyramid and he's being stupid at every turn of his defense. If he wants to believe that his 'words' are so powerful that they cast him into the Abyss then let him know this fact, his proclamation of a new Oath on the 19th, WHILE IN THE ABYSS, acknowledging that he is no longer in Grady's A.'.A.'. but he has now created his 'own' lineage is a magickal affirmation that can only bring to birth one thing out of the Abyss - a Black Brother. NOTHING ELSE. It's Magick 101 ... you NEVER swear such an Oath while in the Abyss. Silly boy. And you call yourself a magician.So, much to our regret, this silly little Practicus is still in Grady McMurtry's lineage. Unless we are to consider four possibilities:(1. That he's simply lost in the Qlipphoth of Hod and there is still hope.
(2. That he proclaims himself a Black Brother and create his own lineage while in the Abyss and 'moves on'. [hmm, didn't he do this?]
(3. He resigns in writing from the A.’.A.’. and then he can do whatever the fuck he wants.
(4. Or finally, we get fed up with him and his egotistical shenanigans, and still being his Superiors, we expel him from Grady McMurtry's lineage and help him fulfill his Black Brotherhood.
I warned him that he should carefully consider his every word from here on out, Babalon is watching to judge him as to whether or not he's worthy to enter the City of the Pyramids and I have been about as patient with him as I can at trying to guide him ... but his ego is wearing thin on me.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8:30am For the history buffs: Aleister Crowley and others began their attempt at climbing Kanchenjunga in the Himalayas on this date in 1905. Crowley is recorded as saying that “the Himalayas had cured me of the habit of going to the Alps. I could not play any longer with dolls after wooing such grown-up girls a Chogo Ri and Kangchenjunga.” ……… also, the science fiction author Ray Douglas Bradbury was born in Waukegan, Illinois on this date in 1920, the third son of Leonard Spaulding Bradbury and Esther Marie Moberg Bradbury. He was given the middle name ‘Douglas’ in honor of the actor Douglas Fairbanks. Some of Bradbury’s science-fiction stories and novels have become classics, most notably The Martian Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451 and Something Wicked This Way Comes.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday August 21st 2009 – 11:00am To Mr. Anonymous - you asked on Wednesday if I had to sum up the Practicus', whom we've been discussing all week, number one mistake. It's simple. He forgot that its a spiritual quest and such a journey is built on the actions that you do on a daily basis!
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10:45am To address a local's concern, who sent me a really nice email saying how much they learn about magick when they come over to my lectures on our Open House nights and who wanted to plead for me to 're-open' them ... all I can say is that first and foremost our Clerk Houses are NOT like horizontal Mystery Schools where virtually anybody can attend in the hopes that they might find a glimpse of 'enlightenment' or just camaraderie. Our primary objective is teaching & training those who have taken the proper Oaths and who have joined the A.'.A.'., outsiders can only attend when we are not in private one one teachings relevant to specific individuals. ... We allow other A.’.A.’. inittiates to attend because we're trained at learning by example; which is why we study other magician’s lives, read their diaries and their records .... and, equally important, we allow students to sit in when we are discussing a specific student's progress or failures which can be a bit personal, revealing and pointed. Those not trained in this technique have a tendency to treat what we talk about as food for their gossip circles on the horizontal plane. Hence, we are force to close our doors at specific times. Sorry.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This notice is to let everyone know that there is no 'OPEN' house tonight at Love Sake Clerk House but all A.'.A.'. members are still invited to drop by if they'd like. ... Outsiders cannot attend due to the subject matter being discussed are private teachings. Please pass the word around. Thank you. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All week long we have been dealing with the subject of the Oath of the Abyss and I’ve recently been asked as to why we began this discussion and so, as a summation, I added a PREAMBLE to the Epistle detailing behind the scene issues which contain valuable lessons for all weary travelers on the Tree of Life.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday August 20th 2009 -11:30am To answer a quick question - "If you had to choose one single song throughtout your life to sum up your incarnation, what would it be?" Wow. Oddly, this is easy. It's John Denver's Poems, Prayers and Promises. I like the song alot; it brings back childhood memories and aspirations every time I hear it. A few of my favorite lines are:
And I have to say it nowIt's been a good life all in allIt's really fineTo have a chance to hang aroundAnd lie there by the fireAnd watch the evening tireWhile all my friends and my old ladySit and pass the pipe aroundAnd talk of poems and prayers and promisesAnd things that we believe inHow sweet it is to love someoneHow right it is to careHow long it's been since yesterdayAnd what about tomorrowAnd what about our dreamsAnd all the memories we sharep.s. ... a close runner up might be AC/DC's Highway to Hell.
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7:45am I must throw mea culpas out to all who have written to me this week asking questions etc and have not yet gotten a responce. Due to serious pressing A.'.A.'. issues many of you who are not in or Lineage may find your emails either not answered, or answered in a timely fashion. I have a back-log piling up. Since this blog is primarily for our Students [i.e. members who actually signed the MOE Document] I must deal with them first. If I find any free time, I’ll try to get to the rest of you ... but in all honesty, I may not see the light of day until mid-next week. Sorry. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7:20am For the history buffs: Howard Phillips Lovecraft was born on this date in Providence, Rhode Island in 1890, the only child of Winfield and Sarah Lovecraft. His fans should best remember that when the great god Cthulhu calls, he’ll call collect! ………. And on August 20, 1949 The Evening Star and The Washington Post ran articles about a young boy’s possession. The headlines of the Post graphically told the story: ‘Priest Frees Mt. Rainer (Md.) Boy Reported Held in Devil’s Grip.’ It serves no purpose to go into all the gruesome details behind this incident. However, it is well known that William Blatty, a student at Georgetown University at the time, read these stories in the paper and years later based his book titled The Exorcist upon them. Blatty himself has even stated that the “Exorcist is, of course, based on an actual case that is factual, documented” The real incident occurred in January of 1949 when a young boy (not a girl) was given an Ouija board as a gift by an aunt who had a strong interest in the occult and spiritism. She also knew that she was dying of multiple sclerosis. Being extremely close to the boy, she gave him the board as a means to keep in touch with her after death. She died later the same month on January 26th 1949. ……..… and finally, I should report that on this date in 1996 in West Manchester, Ohio, a teenage girl saw a circular metallic UFO hovering above a group of nearby power lines in her backyard. She claimed that the object had orange, green, & reddish orange lights with a series of rectangular windows around the middle section. The round bottom half of the craft appeared to be gold in color. The girl felt like she was being watched. After viewing the object for about ten minutes, it zig zagged off and shot up into the sky.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday August 19th 2009 – 4:15pm Mr Anonymous wants to know if I thought this “initiate who must have sworn the Oath of the Abyss and pissed you [i.e. me] off is really doomed?”
Reply: Good question. We really don’t know the outcome of anyone’s ultimate quest but as teachers we are trained at not only guiding but knowing the pitfalls and advantages of each magickal degree. In other words, this Practicus’ behavior is text book failure; its like watching someone run in slow motion toward a cliff and you can see the outcome long before you hear him scream. We’ve been yelling at him to stop all week but inevitably, due to Free Will, the outcome is his to pick. The bottom line is that an Initiate should never be so presumptuous to think that he, and he alone, knows better than his teacher and then, at a critical moment, disregard their advice and keep running toward the cliff. Why bother joining a magickal fraternity if this be the case? A person joins the A.’.A.’. because they want the teachings, they want someone who has traversed in the areas of the Tree that they now seek and most important, they want someone to be watching their back so they don’t get in trouble. Why ignore all this when you need it the most? The greater tragedy, above all else, is that this Practicus has walked himself into a corner thanks to the immensity of his ego. He can never admit to having erred, or even to apologize for his transgressions against his students, other local A.’.A.’. initiate or even to his Superior; all of whom he fucked over 'prior' to himtaking the Oath of the Abyss as a defense mechanism in order to avoid facing the music for the mess that he had recently created between three Clerk Houses. Yes folks, this was the Practicus’ way of saying “I took the Oath, I’m beyond your criticism and I don’t have to listen to you anymore. Everything is between God and me and I don’t have to prove anything to you.” ... Great reason for taking the Oath, no? Anyway, to apologize now would mean that he swore the Oath of the Abyss on the bodies of fellow travelers and what kind of a foundation stone is this for the Pyramid that he's trying to build in Binah; the City of the Pyramids? Instead, it is simpler to throw 99% of all his friends and fellow travelers in Grady's A.'.A.'. aside like used clothes so that he can create phantoms of denial and believe whatever he wants.Remember, the breakdown of the three grades in our Order is the man of Earth, the Lover and the Hermit. In One Star in Sight it refers to these as The Golden Dawn, the R.C. (Rose Croix) and the S.S. or Silver Star; this being the English for Argentium Astrum, or A.’.A.’.. Now in Liber LXI vel Causae it clearly states – “Listen, we pray you, with attention: for once only does the Great Order knock at any one door.” This not only refers to Order as a whole but as Grady McMurtry often pointed out, it especially refers to the Inner Order of the A.’.A.’. to which many aspire in their Noble Quest. You have but one chance at crossing the Abyss and proving yourself worthy to reside in the City of the Pyramids and if you blow it, you can never attempt it again. Sadly, this Practicus' solution, rather than facing the obvious phantoms, is to hide himself away in his room; to lose all his many friends and associates, all the while babbling endlessly as he tries to convince himself in a Pit of Because that he hasn't screwed up the one goal that he so coveted his whole life. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11:35am And Luna writes, regarding Steve Cohen's headstone - "The silly news is that no one checked with the cemetary about headstone rules...and though the stonecutter was going to do the Nuit/Bast Hadit, and Babe was good with it, she then submitted the design to the cemetery and they said "NO GRAVEN IMAGES". She said that if Steven had been a violinist that we would not beable to put a carved violin on his headstone, let alone an Egyptian Goddess. Oh well, it was an interesting exercise nonetheless. It seems that 2009 is all about learning by trying. Hopefully 2010 will manifest some bigger fruit (and now that Leigh is a fullblown surreal silly person I think that we will reach a few goals with no problem). He ordered 10 more of those rubber demons...and he wants me to make female yonis for some of them. He is really loving being in our neck of the woods and knowing us all. Love to you...great seeing you ... your face did not show any signs of blood pressure problems, at all. I was very happy to see how clear and calm your face was...Keep up the good work. 93s )O(."------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7:25am am For the history buffs: Jehenna de Brigue and her neighbor Macette de Ruilly had been accused and convicted of sorcery and witchcraft but their execution was postponed when it was learned that Brigue was pregnant. However, under a severe and excruciatingly painful torture, Brigue confessed that she really wasn’t pregnant and so on this date in 1391 both she and her neighbor Ruilly were burned alive at the stake, which is the first recorded European secular witchcraft burning in history. …......… and on this date in 1924 Jo Di Mambro was born in Pont-Saint-Esprit, France. At a very early age he became interested in esoteric studies and in January of 1956 he joined the Rosicrucian Order of AMORC. He remained heavily involved in this group until 1969. Eight years later, or on July 12, 1978, he established the Golden Way Foundation in Geneva whose officially stated aims was that of chivalry. In the early 80’s he met Luc Jouret, who was born on October 18, 1947 in the Belgian Congo to Belgian parents. Oddly, Di Mambro arranged for Jouret to meet his friend named Julian Origas, a supposed former Gestapo agent who had founded the Renewed Order of the Temple (ORT). This group combined the ideas of the Knights Templar and Rosicrucian together. In 1981 Jouret became a member of ORT and by the time of Origas’s death in 1983 he had become a Grand Master. Within a year, however, Jouret was forced out of the group but he did not go peaceably. He took over half of the members with him. Together, Jouret and Di Mambro, decided to form a new organization with Di Mambro as the hidden master and Jouret as its outer. They called it The Order of the Solar Temple; or International Chivalric Organization of the Solar Tradition Founder. At its height in January 1989 there were 442 members but by the early 90s a dissatisfied membership began to drop off drastically. Out of this conflict came the idea of preparing the group for an apocalyptic “transit” to another world. This journey came in the late night of October 4, 1994 when the town of Chiery, Switzerland became aware of a huge building burning on the edge of town. In another town, Granges-sur-Salvan, another house was burning. By dawn, 53 people were found dead in Switzerland and Quebec, including both Jouret and Di Mambro, all the result of a mass suicide, with a hint of murder. In December of 1995, another sixteen followed suit. Finally, in March of 1997, five more people died in Quebec. The left behind three teenagers who refused to participate, but who were able to partially explain what happened. They first attested to the victims’ willingness to simply want to die and then said that their final message to the world made it clear that they were the last ones ready to take that final ‘transition.’ …....…… and the artist Jacob Epstein died on this date in 1959. He had designed the burial tomb of Oscar Wilde which outraged many for its obvious and blatant display of a male organ on the naked figure. Inevitable a ‘plaque’ was placed over the offending part, hung in the fashion of a fig leaf. However, the plaque did not remain there long as some poets and artists raided the cemetery and removed it. Not long afterward the noted magician Aleister Crowley approached Epstein in the Cafe Royal with it dangling round his neck. Then, after taking the plaque off, Crowley presented it to Epstein as a gift. ……..….. and they called him the Most Beloved Sri Gurudev, His Holiness Sri Swami Satchidananda. He died on this date in 2002, obtaining what is called Mahasamadhi, or the state when the soul’s conscious exits the body. The physical cause of death was a ruptured thoracic aneurysm, he bleed to death internally. He was 87. He was born in Tamil Nadu, in South India in 1914 and first came to the United States in 1966 where he began teaching Yoga. He established the very first yoga center in America; now known as ‘Integral Yoga International.’ He is famous for being the ‘guru’ who officially opened the rock concert known as Woodstock in August of 1969. Years later he bought land near Buckingham, Virginia to create his own personal ashram which he called ‘Yogaville.’ However, contrary to the swami’s alleged status as a devote celibate and despite the requirement that his devotees not marry and refrain from sex, Satchidananda, like many Eastern teachers, was plagued by allegations of sexual improprieties by female members who alleged their spiritual mentor had exploited them sexually. When the stories of his sexual misconduct broke in the press Satchidananda refused to apologize, deny or admit guilt. Instead he publicly stated, “Don’t judge me, I am your guru. If you choose to believe it you can leave right now. Or, if you have faith, you can stay and continue in my service.” Needless-to-say, hundreds left.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday August 18th 2009 – 5:45pm Kenneth Robinson, the old Lodge Secretary to Brocken Mountain Lodge OTO writes - "... you shouldn't feel compelled to follow the model of the Great Beast so closely ;-) Dull sounds pretty good about now." ... Reply: Yes, I agree but then again, I wouldn't be having so much fun bitching and moaning.
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2:00pm I received this email from Jerri; subject title "Abysmal thoughts..." , she writes, "93 Jerry,Well here are a few of my mental ramblings regarding this Abys(mal) topic...I've no clue whatsoever, just throwing a couple of my thoughts out there...In my consideration of the process of crossing the Abyss, I've been pondering the circle/square concept quite a bit. No, there would be no circle/square...only the square. The square is analogous to our bodies, the base of the pyramid, and the elements right here on Earth, which we and the physical universe are all comprised of--it is the Demons who are the creators of the physical and we simply do not get rid of our Demon and LIVE-it is always with us!! Ok, so, why no circle?! This has been what is troubling me...but it makes intellectual sense to me in this regard- the 'Angel' and the 'Demon' are 'one' and the 'same' above the Abyss...I suppose it is the only way to describe that from down here below. From Below the Abyss, I can only think in these terms to describe it...I intellectually grasp that there still may be "separation" but instead of contradiction and duality, it is unity and oneness...the Abyss is the gateway (just as Yesod is the gateway of formation to the making...or material)Perhaps this is one way the path of the Universe and Saturn relates- Yesod to Malkuth is the descent of the astral imagination or formation into the world of making...Binah to the invisible Daath to Chesed might represent the spirit's descent, thus constriction and/or division into the Ruach, the creative world. Yesod would appear to be the lower octave of Daath. "imagination" (Yesod) vs "knowledge" (Daath)Also, the implication here, if I am to follow this intellectual thread of mine, there must be another "Dweller" in Yesod. Perhaps of a more personal or egoic type nature...in Daath the Dweller might be more Universal??? I've read a bit regarding this Dweller (on the Threshold of the Abyss), and one of the ideas seems to be that he is the astral representative of all of our evils, horrors, fears, and terrors (karmic debts, even???) from our previous incarnation that we must eventually face as they have been unconsciously shaping us since the beginning of our present incarnation...hmm...it seems that there must be far more to it than this though...I don't know...again, I've no clue...just a few of my thought processes....Hope you are having a fabulous day...be careful...I am worried about you...no walking in front of moving vehicles or leaving your door unlocked!!! If you start eating veggies, I am REALLY going to freak out!!!!93 93/93 Jerri Reply: Mostly amusing and right on the money but obviously off in a few areas; you're thinking too much. A Dweller in your libido? Sounds personal, no? This could be the making of a great scifi story. ... Also, close your eyes and 'talk to yourself', you'll get the answers. I'd give you a better reply but I'm hungry, having a late lunch, early supper .... a huge Salad; the shredded carrots are so fresh, little tomatoes, cucumbers, raisins, the 'four-types' of lettuce crispy etc and etc and all rather tasty. I've also been drinking lots of water all day! After awhile Jerri would reply - "A dweller in my 'libido' sounds quite lovely right now... :0 And, a salad...and water?!?!?! Please...Now I KNOW you're full of it!!"I immediately wrote back - "Jerri 93 Ya know, I do eat salad, I like salads; especially with French Dressing ...Here is what I got for our novel so far : She was good Catholic girl and although she sat there naked as the day she was born, she refused to touch herself. That’s when she heard it, a faint whisper at first and then a little voice. Slowly she looked down and saw a tiny little man, no bigger than a penny, climbing through her pubic area ... he waved, smiled and introduced himself as the Dweller in her Libido. With mouth wide open, she ..... Ok, I admit, its not much ... I'm still working on it :)
Much love, hugs & etc. 93 93/93 Jerry
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2:10pm pm Regarding what we've been talking about today or of a magickal blow-out in Hod; let me address a few incoming emails from a different point-of view so that you all might understand what I mean. I am not sure I'm making myself clear. ... The term 'blow-out' is a reference to any uncontrolled issue that are occurring in a specific chakra which one is presently working with; issues either in your mind, your health, or in your life (i.e. Malkuth); or all of the above. As a scientist, magicians use 'themselves' as the great experiment and occasionally we blow up a test tube or two by accident. No biggie. Just clean up the mess, learn by it and move on! MIND : The sphere of Hod on the Tree of life is what in the east they call their Svadhisthana chakra. In his Introduction to The Tibetan book of the Dead (1960) Carl Jung (1875-1961), the founder of modern analytical psychology, writes, “One often hears and reads about the dangers of Yoga, particularly of the ill-reputed Kundalini Yoga. The deliberately induced psychotic state, which in certain unstable individuals might easily lead to a real psychosis, is a danger that needs to be taken very seriously indeed. These things really are dangerous and ought not to be meddled with in our typically Western way. It is a meddling with Fate, which strikes at the very roots of human existence and can let loose a flood of sufferings of which no sane person ever dreamed." ... In other words, if the Kundalini is incorrectly applied in any given Chakra, physical or mental disabilities can easily afflict an individual and often from a ‘psychologically point-of-view’ they appear to be plagued by manic and psychotic episodes as their internal pendulum swings from one extreme to another. It is not uncommon to find such individuals suffering from 'obsessive' periods of great elation or bliss to extreme anxiety and fear, often hallucinatory bordering on schizophrenia. This is not solely my belief on damaged chakras but Carl Jung's too. ... In most cases blow-outs in all of the Chakras affect the mind in a similar manner. To understand what actually occurs the best example is the similarities of your psychic system to twenty-two-gauge wire. How much current could you draw before the wires burned out? Could it draw 100 amps? Of course not; a burnout would be inevitable because most psychic systems are ill prepared for any influx or surge of ‘life current’ due to incorrectly using a Chakra. This is why magician study and try to do things correctly. There is a time tested system that seemingly works as if to slowly 'upgrade' your system (i.e. wires) as you climb the Tree.
HEALTH : The Svadhisthana Chakra (8-Hod) is your conscious ego's way to meddle with the sexual Muladhara (9-Yesod) which is the libido and it does so either in a positive or negative way. It is said that the Svadhisthana rousts the Serpent (i.e. Kundalini) ... It is in the sphere of Hod that we intellectualize our sexual proclivities and work the often blind sexual libido to manifest our desire in our body; as we've come to understand them from childhood lessons about 'sex'. ... Blow out here or damage your Svadhisthana ... and kiss a healthy sex life good-bye. To quote one source - "Often, if there are issues in the Svadhisthana, impotence can become the physical disease in our bodies due to 'thought' being incorrectly used to move the libido over a period of time." With women the sexual drive also dies ...
REALITY : From a mundane point-of-view a classic blowout in one's life would be rooted in faulty sexual urges (originating from 'thoughts' in Hod) that convince you that it's ok to be disrespectful of the Laws of your mates Universe while simply trying to get laid. Some men in OTO circles were 100% guilty of this because the Order taught that women were just 'vehicles' for men; so to the untrained it implied that they could be dishonest and lie, possibly even cheat or giving the impression of impropriety as long as they inevitably get into some girl's pants. Such mundane sexual shenanigans, all under the pretences of 'questing for spirituality' and 'learning sex magick', inevitably causes friction and fights in one's life because ensue ... screw up your Svadhisthana and usually "that which is concealed often becomes known." There are some classic stories about a few OTO bodies melting down due to their sexual antics - "Hey little girl, wanna be a priestess?"
"I am the secret Serpent coiled about to spring:
in my coiling there is joy. If I lift up my head, I and my Nuit are one.
If I droop down mine head, and shoot forth venom, then is rapture of the earth, and I and the earth are one." - Liber AL vel Legis II:26
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11:40am It was in October of 1908 that Aleister Crowley performed a Magical Retirement in Paris which he refers to as John St. John (The Equinox Vol.I No.1) Of course the 'Great Obligation' that he mentions is based upon the magickal principles and theory of The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. He had established the A.’.A.’. less than a year earlier and was still coming to terms with ‘New Aeonic’ ideas, while often using the old, or that which he knew and felt comfortable. Still, as an over-view of one's affirmations leading up to the 'Oath of the Abyss', it is gem to consider.To quote a part from John St. John : "Quite slowly and simply therefore did I wash myself and robe myself as laid down in the Goetia, taking the Violet Robe of an Exempt Adept (being a single Garment), wearing the Ring of an Exempt Adept, and that Secret Ring which had been entrusted to my keeping by the Masters. Also I took the Almond Wand of Abramelin and the Secret Tibetan Bell, made from Electrum Magicum with its striker of human bone. I took also the magical knife, and the holy Anointing Oil of Abramelin the Mage."I began then quite casually by performing the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram, finding to my great joy and some surprise that the Pentagrams instantly formulated themselves, visible to the material eye as it were bars of shining blackness deeper than the night.I then consecrated myself to the Operation; cutting the Tonsure upon my head, a circle, as it were to admit the light of infinity: and cutting the cross of blood upon my breast, thus symbolising the equilibration of and the slaying of the body, while loosing the blood, the first projection in matter of theuniversal Fluid.The whole formulating the Ankh--the Key of Life!I gave moreover the signs of the grades from 0= 0 to 7 = 4.Then did I take upon myself the Great Obligation as follows:I. I (name) a member of the Body of God, hereby bind myself on behalfof the whole Universe, even as we are now physically bound unto thecross of suffering: II. that I will lead a pure life, as a devoted servant of the Order: III. that I will understand all things: IV. that I will love all things: V. that I will perform all things and endure all things: VI. that I will continue in the Knowledge and Conversation of My HolyGuardian Angel. VII. that I will work without attachment: VIII. that I will work in truth: IX. that I will rely only upon myself: X. that I will interpret every phenomenon as a particular dealing of Godwith my soul. And if I fail herein, may my pyramid be profaned, and the Eye be closed upon me!"------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11:30am Here are some more lessons for all to learn. I have been chatting back and forth with Frater T’ai Li Heng about the Oath of the Abyss, magickal obsessions and other subjects; part of which reads - "Yes, [this Practicus] still befuddles me too. You wrote – “His psychological complex must run deep” ... and they do; he and his father fight like cats and dogs. It is amusing that the ‘first’ obligation that I imposed upon him outside of his general practices was to begin the Circle Squared Diary so we could establish his ‘glitch’ ... Now, regarding the 40 Buddhist Meditations, the one attributed to Hod is “Analysis into 4 Elements” (777 Col.XXIII) which is why I wanted him to reflect upon the ‘Square’ (Elements, Malkuthian) in that sphere, Yesod and Malkuth and let us know his understanding of how he is ‘controlling’ these while building a Temple (Circle) for his Spirit. He is obviously ‘thinking’ wrong somewhere, but where? ... Instead of fulfilling this requirement, what does he do? Nothing! He refuses to do what I requested and defiantly takes the Oath of the Abyss behind our back instead, as if this will get him away from ‘dad.’ If we are suppose to interpret every phenomenon to be a direct dealing with God and our soul; he’s beginning by blindly denying why he’s jumping out of the frying pan into the Fire (of Hell). [As magicians, we cannot not believe in coincidence, ... otherwise, why keep diaries to help us discover our unconscious behavior?]Is it Hod you ask? Yes. It is ‘Intellect’ gone haywire trying to justify ‘his’ Universe above Nuit’s. Also, not a good start when throwing yourself into the Abyss hoping to embrace Nuit. It dooms you from the start. Sadly, being ‘obsessed in Hod’, I am reminded of Grady’s talk about how its impossible to stay in any given sphere of the Left or Right Hand Pillars for too long. Nature cannot allow a person to be 'unbalanced' in their Ruach and if you don't keep moving forward, you’ll fall (and I can hear Grady laughing, choking on pot saying “a snail’s pace is OK, just keep moving!”). Crowley, and even most magickal schools in general, will tell you that the most comfortable stopping places are always on The Middle Pillar. However, since our little [Practicus] cannot go forward until he resolves issues, he must get his 'act together' or he'll be thrown out to Malkuth. Then, to paraphrase Phyllis Seckler, “Fruit that falls from the Tree doesn’t re-attach itself.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7:40am Here is another story in life of J. Edward Cornelius to amuse you: I did another ‘first’ last night. I must have been so ‘spacey’ of late with all this Abyss talk that I totally forgot to lock my apartment door when I went to bed. Around two in the morning it slowly opened. I’m a light sleeper. Hearing the door slowly creak open made me jump, startled, wide awake, I sat up in bed. I starred from the blackness of my apartment into a well lit hall; which is actually only a few feet from my bed. I was wondering if someone was trying to break in? I heard nothing; my mind also listened attentively for any of the numerous girls from the other apartments who might be walking down the hall. I knew that someone had to have opened their door and due to both our apartment windows being opened, it created a vacuum in the hall which popped open my unlocked door. It has happened before during the day but never at night. Luckily I didn’t hear anyone but my heart pounded as I got out from under the covers, stock nude - yes, I sleep nude. I don't own pajamas, nor even a bathrobe and my pants were across the room in the opposite direction. What to do? So, slowly I got up and made my way to the door. I had this dread that some cute young Asian girl would be walking by ‘just’ as I was standing there naked reaching for the door knob. All I could do at that point would be to smile and say 'Hi." ... I knew that if this happened I sure as Hell was going to be labeled the old long haired naked man building manager pervert for sure. Luckily no one was around as I peered out into the hall. I gave a sigh of relief, scratched my nuts, closed and locked my door ... and went back to bed. .... enough of the Abyss for one night!------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6:10am Consider this piece written by Aleister Crowley in Liber Aleph which explains why an Adept Exempt must 'jump' into the Abyss and what happens if he fails. - "Of the Black Brothers, o my Son, will I write these Things following. I have told thee already concerning Change, how it is the Law, because every Change is an Act of Love under Will. So then he that is Adept Exempt, whether in our Holy Order or another, may not remain in the Pillar of Mercy, because it is not balanced, but is unstable. Therefore is the Choice given unto him, whether he will destroy his Temple, and give up his Life, extending it to Universal Life, or whether he will make a Fortress about that Temple, and abide therein, in the false Sphere of Daath, which is in the Abyss. And to the Adepts of our Holy Order this Choice is terrible; by Cause that they must abandon even Him whose Knowledge and Conversation they have attained. Yet, o my Son, they have much Help of our Order in this Aeon, because the general Formula is Love, so that their habit itself urges them to the Bed of our Lady BABALON. Know then the Black Brothers by these true Sign of their Initiation of iniquity, that that they resist Change, restrict and deny Love, fear Death. Percutiantur." - On the Black Brothers, Sons of Iniquity, pg.104Note: The 'Knowledge and Conversation' to which Crowley refers is actually his Higher Self in
Tiphereth and not that of the actual 'objective' Angel; he would make this distinctionin Magick Without Tears.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6:00am For the history buffs: Urbain Grandier died on this date in 1634. He was a French Catholic priest of St.-Pierre-du-Marché of Loudun in France. Trouble began at the Ursuline convent in Loudun when some of the nuns started accusing Grandier of bewitched them by sending the demon Asmodai to commit evil and impudent sexual acts with them. This resulted in Grandier being arrested on November 30, 1633, interrogated and judged by an ecclesiastical tribunal. At first he was found innocent but, having made an enemy of notorious Cardinal Richelieu, he was ordered to stand trial again. However, there never was a second trial, nor did the Nuns ever testify. Grandier simply confessed to everything after being tortured through unspeakable horrors. His accusers even produced a forged ‘pact’ that Grandier had supposedly signed with several demons. Finally, on this date, Richelieu consummated his vengeance by finding Grandier guilty where he was immediately taken out in the courtyard and burnt alive at the stake. Predictably, Urbain Grandier went to his death maintaining his innocence. …..…. On this date in 1850 a giant in French literature, Honore de Balzac, died in Paris. He boastingly drank an average of fifty cups of coffee a day and some believe that his death was simply the result of caffeine poisoning. He has also been called the world’s greatest literary glutton. It has been written that a “typical meal for the French novelist consisted of a hundred oysters for starters; twelve lamb cutlets; a duckling with turnips; two roast partridges; sole a la Normonde; various fruits; and wines, coffee, and liqueurs to wash it all down.” He wrote many great ‘observations’ of the world. Like “Man can start with aversion and end with love, but if he begins with love and comes round to aversion he will never get back to love.” ……..… And Roman Liebling was born on this date in Paris in 1933. He later changed his name to Roman Polanski. He was the husband of the murdered actress Sharon Tate and the director of the infamous psychological Satanic thriller titled Rosemary’s Baby (1968). After his conviction for the statutory rape of a 13-year old girl, Polanski fled from Hollywood and America to France in order to avoid prison. …..…… and on August 18, 1972 is the ‘date’ given at the beginning of the fictional movie, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, as to when the murderous rampage took place.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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