a reply to:
stosh64
I would like to clarify some things.
The imagery given above was used as a blind to hide specific techniques from the uninitiated.
Crowley did not sacrifice children. When were the arrests, the charges filed, evidence given, trials had and convictions found? I fully understand
that I my efforts here may prove fruitless, but I have to give my best effort to put this into perspective, as I just can't stand these accusations,
regardless of my feelings on the man.
Child Sacrifice is completely antagonistic to the Law of Thelema. Foremost, such a thing disregards the rights of the child to pursue his Divine Will
(which is for no one to discern or decide - not even his parents, a ritual magician, nor even Thelemic Clergy), & paramount to the above, is in
direct violation of the Law of Love ("Love is the Law, Love Under Will," - AL I;57), as such an action obviously demonstrates a principle
antithetical to anything that we could even remotely recognize as 'Love.'
The imagery is also used to demonstrate the need for the initiate to 'read between the lines,' & not accept any given thing based upon a cursory or
superficial understanding of it - as we all know that looks and first impressions can be misleading.
In all fairness, many respected occultists, (Rosicrucians, Masons, Illuminati, Theosophists, etc), deeply frowned upon Crowley's effort to convey
rather sacred, beautiful and powerful principles of nature and ritual technique with such dark, morbid & disturbing imagery, as it was seen (and still
is) as debasing & profaning that which is considered Holy, thus earning Crowley a notorious reputation as a Black Mage and a wicked man.
It is well to note that on the other hand, there are many profoundly beautiful and inspiring writings penned by this man - however much material
attributed to Crowley is said to be in fact, 'channeled' by him from a Higher Intelligence. He did seperate all of this material into specific
catagories, e.g. 'inspired scripture,' 'ritual technique (often disguised in confusing imagery as above as he liked to hide the ball,' 'general
commentary,' etc. There is certainly more than meets the eye when it comes to this man & his life's work, like him or not.
Putting Crowley aside, the principles embodied in the Law of Thelema, rather, the message he delivered, is definitely worth anyone's respectful and
open-minded consideration. Many occultists and ordinary folks alike (muggles!) recognize the positivity, growth, tolerance and respect of oneself and
other's espoused and promoted by this religion.
One can jump down this rabbit-hole rather quickly, as even a superficial examination of the two principles, 'Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of
the Law,' and 'Love is the Law, Love Under Will,' would seem to be antagonistic and contradictory pursuits - yet when it is becomes clear and is
understood that "Do what thou Wilt," does not mean, 'Do what you like," new questions are developed and new developments in thought emerge. Oh
curiosity!
The Greek words for 'Will' and 'Love' (Thelema and Agape, respectively), enumerate to the same value, 93. Traditionally, when two words share the
same value (as in many alphabets of old, letters also corresponded to a specific numerical value, e.g. "A = 1, B = 2, etc."), those words were
believed to 'reflect' one another, or in other words, lend greater introspection into the deeper understanding of those general concepts indicated
by the words.
For example in Hebrew Kabalah, specifically utilizing
Gematria, the Words for 'God' and 'Love'
enumerate to the same value, thus indicating the principle that 'God is Love'.
This phenomenon happens all over the old and new Testaments alike, providing the serious student with a new key to understanding traditionally sacred
scripture, which is why so many occultists value the Torah and the Bible as being worth a critical examination and reflection throughout a lifetime.
Back to the two fundamental proclomations given in the
Book of the Law. Thelemicaly speaking,
that both 'Love' and 'Will' share the same numerical value serves to indicate that an individuals Will must certainly be Divinely ordained, for
one of the best attributes of Divinity is that property or characteristic that we call 'Love,' as addressed above per Hebrew Gematria. At very
least, it is praeter-human. Inasmuch, it simply cannot be that one's 'Will' should be some flim-flam wishy-washy desire that might change on the
turn of a dime. Rather, that Will must be something composed largely of, and subject to the law of . . . Love.
Anything else we might call profane desire, want, etc, but 'Love' suggests Harmony. Think of Divine Will be akin to the gravity of the planetary
bodies, or even the forces within the subatomic realm: that force which binds the electron shield to orbit the nucleus of an atom. Indeed, such a
force harbors so much potential energy that the wanton unleashing of it would render planets into rubble. Yet it is seen that there does exist a
Harmony by which the Atomic Realm operates, as do the planetary bodies. Certainly the principles involved in discovering and understanding this
Harmony are fundamental to understanding the entire structure of our Universe and Reality itself.
Mysticism is based upon the prospect that man may align himself with this Universal Harmonium.
High Magick comprises the ritual techniques by which the same may be done, utilizing different methods than that of the Mystic.
Both paths include the principle that when a certain level of Harmony (illumination) is attained, the Mage or Mystic can then influence the operations
of 'Reality' to a certain (or uncertain) degree.
The foolish and unprepared attempts at undertaking operations of this nature have proven to be very dangerous, thus requiring the aid of one's Higher
Intelligence, or 'Holy Guardian Angel,' as it is traditionally called - this intelligence or 'being' may be thought of as the spiritual, but
nonetheless very real, counterpart of the physical self. It is in much closer contact with the Divine Intelligence than the average human being.
This intelligence, being of such a unique nature, provides the student with means & foresight necessary to the accomplishment of the pursuit and
fulfillment of the Will, as having knowledge of one's Will and making contact with this Intelligence are one and the same.
Thus, the serious student must begin a serious introspection and critical examination of himself, and discerning for himself the nature of his Will -
Crowley gave plenty of philosophical fundamentals as starting points - for instance,
here is some
raw philosophy worth consideration.
For more information
O.T.O.
Regarding the 'Void Place of Spirit,' I don't recall anything specific about this - but it sounds akin to the task Initiate crossing the Abyss, the
pseudo-Spehira of Da'ath, transcending the Plane of the Elements and the World of Briah to attain the Glory of the Supernals. I think of the 'Dark
Night of the Soul,' and I get an uncomfortable feeling - having to come face-to-face with the Soulless Denizen of Lovelessness and Confusion, but
emerging as a better being after the Ordeal.
Okay, I need to get up.
xox
-kissy