tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256090797190349666.post1570259373897570197..comments2023-09-09T06:37:53.204-07:00Comments on Thelema and Skepticism: Paths on the Tree of Life: Sephiroth 7-10Loshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03552150840148273277noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256090797190349666.post-53887006773413453392015-04-04T03:10:47.378-07:002015-04-04T03:10:47.378-07:00No it certainly isn't terribly useful to wande...No it certainly isn't terribly useful to wander around life in a constant state of unthinking trance. I agree if the internalization of these symbols on the TOL- structure is not enhancing self-awareness in everyday real- time then we are not applying it correctly.ian smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11155149426148864229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256090797190349666.post-20615211679235009682015-03-16T21:14:35.064-07:002015-03-16T21:14:35.064-07:00Nice essay. Lots of good food for thought here.
T...<i>Nice essay. Lots of good food for thought here.</i><br /><br />Thanks, Ian. Yes, my idea going into these posts was simply to provide food for thought. The hope is that readers will use these posts as a jumping off point for their own studies and reflections on the paths. It's worthwhile to sit down with a copy of 777 and think through the different attributions and (especially) to study the intricate symbolism of the tarot trumps with the paths in mind.<br /><br />But the real value of the Qabalah is in applying it to one's own specific circumstances. Using just the paths and Sephiroth I've covered already, it's possible to rigorously analyze many actual everyday situations and conceptualize the interconnection of these mental forces. Actually applying the Qabalah can not only illuminate individual situations but allow the Qabalist to gain insight into structures by which the illusion of "self" is maintained in the first place. Pretty much the only way to overcome this illusion is to become aware of its operation so that one doesn't get fooled by it any more (while one might temporarily shift attention away from the illusions through meditation, it's not terribly useful to wander around life in a constant state of unthinking trance). The Qabalah provides us with one tool to help raise one's awareness of the ways that the mind impedes the process of perceiving and interacting with the world.<br /><br />Crowley said that everyone must build his own Qabalah -- not only must each individual develop a personal relationship with the symbols and correspondences, each individual must *apply* these symbols to his own particular circumstances.Loshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03552150840148273277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256090797190349666.post-61429364557665252182015-03-14T07:16:55.167-07:002015-03-14T07:16:55.167-07:00Obviously as we control and reverse this mechanist...Obviously as we control and reverse this mechanistic loop (of Resh whose ATU attribution is, of course The Sun) the joy and strength of "solar" infusion thereby is the positive aspect of that process. ian smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11155149426148864229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256090797190349666.post-87054621338240910602015-03-14T07:00:27.494-07:002015-03-14T07:00:27.494-07:00Nice essay. Lots of good food for thought here. ...Nice essay. Lots of good food for thought here. Notice how Resh connects Hod to Yesod and Resh is known as "the collecting intelligence." That is, Hod's conscious thoughts and thought-patterns can collect (dis)information from one’s Yesodic internal map of the universe (including self-image) and vice versa in, as you described a feedback loop of distortion. ian smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11155149426148864229noreply@blogger.com