posted February 10, 2005 09:28 PM         

Yup, that about sums up the old man. He was just a big silly, really. But loveable in odd way - like a wayward child.

Now the OTO on the other hand, evolved into a bunch of Class A wack-jobs. I would even go so far as to say they are almost scary - and I very rarely say that. Although maybe it's just all of that sex magic stuff they hold so dear that makes me antsy. I haven't the stomach for sex magic.

Daf, if you're still around ...

posted March 30, 2005 03:02 AM         

By the way, his friends in the Golden Dawn were none other than Yeats, Waite and Dion Fortune who wrote a very valid book on psychic self defense.

Many of his rituals and much of his writings are misunderstood, as were his ceromonies. I will say no more on this matter other than, he was able to bring to the surface the hidden occult. Nothing new or shocking to those that could see beyond their box. Catholic Mass is a wonderful display of occult force, the ordination of priests, the altar, consecrations and so forth. A little clue to guide you as you read some of his work. The sexual activity was to generate a certain type of energy that he quite rightly knew he could use. Not the best way, but I can understand why he did it.

I'd also like to add that his wife Rose was just as interesting. She was well known for her channelled writings and trance states.

Interesting yes, totally off his rocker? Don't you believe it!

Gia

posted March 30, 2005 04:38 PM         

Spiritual practices are pursued in the context of various systems of attainment, which are appropriate to different types of aspirant, differentiated by race, culture, personal psychology, and degree of realization or "grade." Consequently, not all practices are suitable for all aspirants at all stages of development. Recognizing which practices are suitable to which aspirants at different stages of their spiritual development is the special skill of a spiritual master.

In the system of the A...A..., the grades correspond to specific tasks and corresponding attainments, arranged in an hierarchy. Many of these tasks and attainments have become the special study of parapsychology and transpersonal psychology in recent years. In the system described by Crowley, these are the main attainments of the Outer Order (collated from the three main documents describing these attainments, Liber XIII, Liber CLXV, and "One Star in Sight"):

¨ The Neophyte formulates the Body of Light (popularly known today as "astral projection").

¨ The Zelator masters Hatha Yoga, specifically, Asana and Pranayama, resulting in the experience of “psychic opening.”

¨ The Practicus achieves Kundalini Awakening, so-called (see Lee Sanella, The Kundalini Experience).

¨ The Philosophus masters Rising on the Planes (popularly known as the "out of body experience" or "OBE").

¨ The Dominus Liminis acquires the power of mental Concentration (ekagrata).

¨ The Adeptus Minor attains the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel, so-called, corresponding to the Hindu trance-state known as Atmadarshana, but with important differences as well.

The work of an aspirant to the A...A... is so subtle and advanced that it is beyond the ability of most people, although a few aspirants attained high grades in the A...A... during Crowley’s lifetime. The tests, some of which are published, which Crowley applied to aspirants in order to qualify were very stringent, and Crowley did not grant grades casually. For example, one has to "astral travel" through an abstract symbol that one has never seen before and describe a vision the character of which is consistent with the symbol's meaning in order to pass the test for "rising on the planes."

Crowley was promoted to the leadership of the English branch of the O.T.O. in 1912 e.v., and he used this order ever afterwards as a vehicle for popularizing the Law of Thelema, as well as the practice of the Supreme Secret of the O.T.O. During his lifetime, this secret was zealously guarded, although it is not always discreetly hinted at in the esoteric literature of the day and by Crowley himself. However, since Crowley’s death the cat has long been out of the bag. The Supreme Secret of the O.T.O. is nothing other than the use of sex in the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment, equivalent in fact to a Western Tantra. Sex is, of course, the single most powerful psycho-physiological energy in man, so pressing it into the service of spiritual development is a natural evolution, once one overcomes the restriction of shame. From the Tantric point of view, sexual abstinence is really a form of "sex magick," so-called, since sexual abstinence modifies the sexual instinct. Exotericism sees in sexual abstinence the rejection of sexuality per se as contrary to the spiritual life, but the Tantric view is more subtle and profound. Rather than rejecting sex, the Tantric practitioner seeks to sublimate the sexual energy, inhibiting its outflow so that the energy accumulates in the brain, its original source, where it induces the state of illumination (the physiological precursor of enlightenment). Once one realizes that this is how sexual abstinence actually works, the possibility of a contrary methodology presents itself to the discerning consciousness. Instead of repressing the sexual energy, one can intensify it to the point where the sheer excess of sexual arousal causes the energy to ascend the spine and, once again, "illuminate" the brain. In the latter case, however, the body is also "illuminated." Thus, the formulae of sexual abstinence and orgiastic excess are realized to be essentially identical, variations of the same underlying energy-economy.

The members of the O.T.O. are encouraged to engage in practical experimentation, and many members pursue various tasks connected with the Great Work. This is especially true of the followers of Kenneth Grant, who has created a system of Thelemic attainment strongly suggestive of Vodou, the primal religion of Africa and humanity, since, according to current archaeological research, humanity originated in Africa.

In addition to the major tasks of the Great Work described above, committed Thelemites are enjoined to engage in a number of regular daily practices that have the effect of disciplining and directing the mind and regulating one’s life according to objective natural cycles. These include (based on the Official Publications of the A...A...):

¨ A short reminder of one’s dedication to the Great Work, spoken before meals.

¨ Rituals of purification and empowerment, performed at the beginning and end of each day (see Liber V, XXV, and XXXVI).

¨ A daily eucharist (see Liber XLIV).

¨ The adoration of the Sun, followed by one hour of meditation, repeated four times daily; thus, the truly committed Thelemite, like the followers of the Sant Mat, meditates four hours per day (see Liber CC).

¨ Adoration of one’s Star, performed as it rises above the horizon (see Liber CMLXIII)

In addition to the foregoing, members of the O.T.O. observe the Gnostic Mass (see Liber XV), in which the Supreme Secret is rehearsed and an eucharist consumed by the celebrants, and various visualization practices. The Book of the Law also refers to the spiritual use of drugs, which informed the spiritual practice of many significant spiritual teachers before their criminalization, including Georges Ivanovitch Gurdjieff (according to Timothy Leary), Julius Evola, Aldous Huxley and others. Drugs are also an integral part of many different South American aboriginal shamanic cultures. The traditional cultures of the Quiches, Incans, Mayans, and Aztecs bears many striking affinities to the Law of Thelema, more so even than Africa.

Just a little snippet of Crowley's Law of Thelma.

I'd like to point out the religious and fundamental Christians tried to blacken his name and work many a time. He played up to them and much of his so called black works are thinly disguised if you know where to look. I urge those who have read some of his works to do so again, with new eyes. You will probably see things that you missed. He may have seemed like a fool to some and he played his part well. In truth he was deadly serious about his craft, suffered fools badly
and turned away many who tried to join his groups regardless of their wealth. He was a very clever guy. Died in Hastings East Sussex which is a place I know well. He was born in October I believe.

Gia