Ask a Thelemite....

[Octavia156]

I know these type of threads can seem narcissisitc, however I think Thelema is such an important modern religion, that not enough is known about - or what is known is often false, sensationalised or misunderstood.

For those of you that have never heard of Thelema - it is a religious-philosophy, a bit like Buddhism in that respect, of which the central belief is thus:

"every living thing has a purpose for existing"

if applied to humans - its that everyone has a reason d'etre, or reason for incarnating.

It sounds rather fatalistic, but in fact fate doesn't come into it.... because Thelema puts a lot of emphasis on free will, therefore following your "destiny" is a choice, and invariably its not easy!


Thelemites believe that true happiness/contentment/fulfillment/enlightenment comes from finding out what your purpose in life is and going out and doing it.

simplez.

Many people follow Thelema naturally and many religions use its ideology. However I could be considered to be an "orthodox" Thelemite as I follow and use the principles laid out in its inception, and am a member of the Thelemic official bodies.

I would greatly enjoy answering any questions you have about Thelema, and hopefully I can clear up any misconceptions that may be out there.

93,93/93

 

[CynthiaCypher]

Why is water wet?

 

[Caladan]

Have you ever made a 'pilgrimage' to sites which are important to Thelema?
Maybe the Cairo museum, or the Abbey of Thelema?

How do you feel of Crowley's use in popular culture, from the rock scene to modern literature?
Other than reading Crowley's writing on Magick, did you also read his novels? and if you did, how do you feel they reflect his world views?
How do you apply the quest for True Will in your life? does the practice of Magick serves a regular role in this process?

 

[1137]

Is our purpose for existing set or do we create it?

 

[England my lionheart]

What is sex magick,is it actual sex or symbolic in some way and how many worldwide follow Thelema.

 

[GabrielWithoutWings]

What is your opinion on the use of bodily fluids in the Cakes of Light? If you use bodily fluids, did it take time to get brave enough to do so?

Also, how literal do you interpret Crowley's writings? I've heard he had a knack for practical jokes and tangents just to keep neophytes on their toes.

 

[Jesus Pipes]

What are the purpse of ticks? Because those things really **** me off.

 

[Octavia156]

some excellent questions!
I shall start at the top

Why is water wet?

my vain attempt to answer this criptic questions is ask "How could water NOT be wet?"
sorry you stumped me there... though perhaps i shall find the answer in Liber AL one day

 

[beerisit]

You know, I've seen where they set thelemite alight and it goes like a freakin' volcanoe.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

You know, I've seen where they set thelemite alight and it goes like a freakin' volcanoe.

That's Thermite! A Thelemite is a small creature that eats wood.

 

[beerisit]

That's Thermite! A Thelemite is a small creature that eats wood.

Thanks Cyn, sometimes I just can't hide my stupid.

 

[Octavia156]

Have you ever made a 'pilgrimage' to sites which are important to Thelema?
Maybe the Cairo museum, or the Abbey of Thelema?

Yes. My partner and I went to Cairo specificall to see the Stele of Revealing. However to our disappointment it has been "moved to storage" (or bought by a rich Thelemite perhaps?) its whereabouts are unclear/unknown at present.

This year we went back to Egypt for the Feast for the 3 days of the writing of the Book of the Law and on Nuit's day we went star gazing in the Sinai desert. Recommend this whether you're a Thelemite or not!

How do you feel of Crowley's use in popular culture, from the rock scene to modern literature?

Not enough. And not accurate enough. AC was one of THE most influential people of this century and yet he is barely known to the populace. I think the man deserves more credit and much less demonisation... and I await the day when someone actually makes a decent film about Crowley and not sensationalist ******** such as the Chemical Wedding (albeit fantastic acting from Simon Callow).
Luckily more academics and scholars such as Tobias Churton are starting to take Crowley much more seriously these days.

Other than reading Crowley's writing on Magick, did you also read his novels? and if you did, how do you feel they reflect his world views?

I've read his main novels - DOADF and Mood Child. Really enjoed them both and think they beautifully reflect his world veiws. Mood Child is a very clever story of initiation, magick and what it means to cross the Abyss. DOADF is a very valuable lesson on practical Thelema and the process of K&C of the HGA.

How do you apply the quest for True Will in your life? does the practice of Magick serves a regular role in this process?

Best question.
The quest of True Will is completely embedded in my everyday life. This is achieved by the constant desire to improve in order to become a perfected version of myself. This often requires great portions of discipline, as once an aspect of your Will has been understood, all actions must be in accordance with it. If you act against your Will - you know it. (and it usually feels ****).

The practise of Magick is the central role in this ongoing process. By this I mean causing active changes to yourself in order to affect your Universe as a whole. If you mean ceremonial magick - it depends whether it is a useful at the time.
If is be your Will to become a Ceremonial Magician, then you must practise ceremonial ritual every day until you know them by heart. If you fin they work for you then they are a very powerful tool in finding your Will, simply because you spend so much time fixating on being something more than you already are.

 

[Octavia156]

Is our purpose for existing set or do we create it?

Both.

 

[Octavia156]

What is sex magick,is it actual sex or symbolic in some way and how many worldwide follow Thelema.

Thelema highlights the notion that "everything is fornicating all the time".
Its formula is that of The Child - the Creation born out of the Union of Opposites: Thesis + Antithesis -> Synthesis. Every thought, action or manifestion if the product of the union of the infinite with the infintessimal.

Sex Magick uses this formula of the Creation of a Magickal "Child" as a medium for transmuting your Will. It can be both physical and symbolic.

I don't know how many Thelemites there are around the world - no clue. There are (i estimate) 5k active and organised Thelemites in OTO worldwide... and probably more in othet Thelemic groups. solitary practioners, perhaps more unconscious practioners - millions?

 

[The Sum of Awe]

1) Are there moral limitations to "do as thou wilt"? Or can you literally do anything?

2) What are your views on Chaos Magick?

3) Can you explain how to prepare for a ritual?

4) What are your beliefs on metaphysics (God, soul, afterlife, etc.)

5) How often should one Thelemite practice Thelema magick?

6) Are you restricted to only practicing Crowley's magick or can you practice any magick you wish?

 

[Orias]

You should already know whats wrong with these questions.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

And... he goes offline

 

[Octavia156]

What is your opinion on the use of bodily fluids in the Cakes of Light? If you use bodily fluids, did it take time to get brave enough to do so?

The use of "active ingredients" in the cakes of light are powerful use of tantra, to turn something mundane into something magickal. In the Gnostic Mass the cakes of light symbolise the spermatozoon and are the active male element in the creation of the magickal Child of the ritual.

As a communicant of the Gnostic Mass, I am almost indifferent to the presence of the active ingreidents - asit borders on symbolic anyway. The "active" cake must be burnt to ash, of this a pinch is spinkled into the cake of light mixture.
Being a Preistess takes great courage. BUt the making of the cakes of light are probably the easiest bit.. as Cyn pointed out - extracting fluids comes naturally

Also, how literal do you interpret Crowley's writings? I've heard he had a knack for practical jokes and tangents just to keep neophytes on their toes.

tough question. I dont actually think Crowley ever intends to trick or mislead us. He definitely wanted us to laugh! I think his crypitcness, when not for literary purposes, is either meant to provoke meditation or simply aimed at an intellect far higher than the averge reader, thus is takes much "reading round the subject" to eventually grasp what he's getting at. If you find Crowley's writings hard to penetrate, author like Lon Milo DuQuette go a long way to simplifying his ideas for us lay persons!

 

[CynthiaCypher]

Are there moral limitations to "do as thou wilt"? Or can you literally do anything?

That doesn't mean what most people think. It's more about love than anything.

 

[Caladan]

Yes. My partner and I went to Cairo specificall to see the Stele of Revealing. However to our disappointment it has been "moved to storage" (or bought by a rich Thelemite perhaps?) its whereabouts are unclear/unknown at present.

I was at the Cairo museum shortly before the Egyptian revolution, it does have an impressive historical collection, I got to see the Narmer palette and the Merneptah Stele. I had to go on a desperarte quest inside the museum to finally track down the Merneptah Stele.

This year we went back to Egypt for the Feast for the 3 days of the writing of the Book of the Law and on Nuit's day we went star gazing in the Sinai desert. Recommend this whether you're a Thelemite or not!

I agree! I spent a couple of weeks in Sinai.

Not enough. And not accurate enough. AC was one of THE most influential people of this century and yet he is barely known to the populace. I think the man deserves more credit and much less demonisation... and I await the day when someone actually makes a decent film about Crowley and not sensationalist ******** such as the Chemical Wedding (albeit fantastic acting from Simon Callow).
Luckily more academics and scholars such as Tobias Churton are starting to take Crowley much more seriously these days.

I think that being controversial is one of the reasons Crowley has got such reputation, and I tend to agree that many people focus too much on his flaws instead of the counter cultural role he played.

I've read his main novels - DOADF and Mood Child. Really enjoed them both and think they beautifully reflect his world veiws. Mood Child is a very clever story of initiation, magick and what it means to cross the Abyss. DOADF is a very valuable lesson on practical Thelema and the process of K&C of the HGA.

I have a copy of Moonchild. I'll get to it eventually.

Best question.
The quest of True Will is completely embedded in my everyday life. This is achieved by the constant desire to improve in order to become a perfected version of myself. This often requires great portions of discipline, as once an aspect of your Will has been understood, all actions must be in accordance with it. If you act against your Will - you know it. (and it usually feels ****).

:yes: