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To: alt.magick,alt.magck.tyagi,alt.magick.tantra
From: 333 
Subject: Formula of ALIM/ALHIM (was XI degree OTO ...)
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 21:35:32 GMT

50010723 FIom ~! Hkais Saytan!Kaotas

joseph:
>> in theory and practice (the formula of  ALHIM and that of ALIM) and 
>> most particularly the footnote at the end of the chapter?

sri catyananda :
>Thanks for bringing that up, joseph -- it has spawned its own very
>interesting thread (The Formula of ALHIM and of ALIM Part 1) in
>alt.magick -- and it has given me a valuable personal memory flash. 

some old texts which have apparently been lost to the ages.....

To: newaeon@egroups.com
~Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 21:20:37 -0000
~From: mermaid93@earthlink.net
~Subject: Chapter 4

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

The formula of ALHIM discussed in Chapter Four seems fairly straightforward to me.  
However, I am having some difficulty with the formula of ALIM. Part of the 
difficulty I have with understanding ALIM is that Crowley does not seem to 
provide a concrete example for which ALIM is applied. I also have difficulty 
with Crowley's statement, 

#	[i]t is for this reason that their method has always been referred 
#	to the moon, in the sense of the term that she appears, not as the 
#	feminine correlative of the sun, but as the burnt-out, dead, airless 
#	satellite of earth. (p.26, my copy.)  

I hold the opinion that women of Crone Time are not only capable of 
corresponding to the formula of the male, but also that they may not choose 
to define themselves in terms of relationships to the male principle or 
anything else for that matter. I hold the opinion that there are women of 
Crone Time who glow with their own light.  That said, I also realize that 
there are many instances in Crowley's writings that are supportive of the 
Feminine -- more so than many writers of his day. 

Question:  who or what are the Xylenes? My dictionary refers only to 
chemical compounds which do not help me in understanding the comment by 
Crowley: 

#	One must not rely upon the false analogy of the Xylenes to rebut 
#	this argument." (pp. 26-7, my copy.)

In a footnote regarding ALIM, Crowley mentions "Orpheus."  

# Orpheus: A Lyrical Legend is a very long poem set out in three books.  

Here is but the first stanza of "Invoking Hecate" in book III:

#	O triple form of darkness!  
#	Sombre splendour! Thou moon unseen of men!
#	Thou huntress dread! Thou crowned demon of the crownless dead! 
#	O breasts of blood, too bitter and too tender! 
#	Unseen of gentle spring, 
#	Let me the offering 
#	Bring to thy shrine's sepulchral glittering! 
#	I slay the swart beast!  I bestow the bloom 
#	Sown in the dusk, and gathered in the gloom
#	Under the waning moon,
#	At midnight hardly lightening the East;
#	And the black lamb from the black ewe's dead womb
#	I bring, and stir the slow infernal tune
#	Fit for thy chosen priest." 
#	(Collected Works of Aleister Crowley, Vol. III, p.177)

Love is the law, love under will.

Mermaid

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

~Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2000 11:51:34 -0500
~From: "bishop" 

93!~

> But SOMETHING vivifies these elements, doesn't it?  Crowley writes that
> ALIM "only fructifies by the brooding of Spirit."  But didn't the Spirit
> brood over the waters in the Genesis account, too?  I still don't grasp
> ALIM.  ALIM is a sort of koan for me.

ALIM is a tough one I admit. Even my own analysis of it falls short of what
I am sure is most likely a very simple solution.

And the answer to your question is yes, the Spirit did brood over the face
of the deep. But Spirit in either formula, IHShVH or ALHIM, is still only a
single part of the whole, i.e., the [Sh] or the [H]. In both cases, it is
the male principle that unites with an overall female formula to produce a
fertile aspect of creation. In one sense, it is the dove on the OTO Lamen.

I am sorry I can't spend more time on this today. I have to hit the road for
work. But I am most interested to continue this thread and hear more
thoughts from you as well as RoseCrow (and others too of course). I have
enjoyed this a whole lot.

> "man encompassed by the woman", i.e., sponsus and sponsa (Ecclesia).

Male-female, quinessential, one,
Man-being veiled in woman-form.

> Hope the above is helpful in some way.

Very much so. Thank you for such an extended quote.

93/93
bishop
www.kindredx.net
________________________________________________________________________

~Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2000 18:32:58 -0000
~From: rosecrow@earthlink.net

--- In newaeon@egroups.com, "bishop"  wrote:
> 93!~
> 
> > But SOMETHING vivifies these elements, doesn't it?  Crowley 
writes that> > ALIM "only fructifies by the brooding of Spirit."  But 
didn't the Spirit> > brood over the waters in the Genesis account, 
too?  I still don't grasp> > ALIM.  ALIM is a sort of koan for me.
> 
> ALIM is a tough one I admit. Even my own analysis of it falls short 
of what> I am sure is most likely a very simple solution.
> 
> And the answer to your question is yes, the Spirit did brood over 
the face> of the deep. But Spirit in either formula, IHShVH or ALHIM, 
is still only a> single part of the whole, i.e., the [Sh] or the [H]. 
In both cases, it is> the male principle that unites with an overall 
female formula to produce a> fertile aspect of creation. In one 
sense, it is the dove on the OTO Lamen.
 

I have heard that one verse of scripture quoted and analyzed numerous 
times to support various cosmologies...

I have seen it translated as  Spirit, Wind, Air, Ruach Elohim...etc...

I think an analysis of the actual Hebrew text is in order, and I will 
hopefully be able to post more of this at a later date.

Blessings!
RoseCrow

________________________________________________________________________

~Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2000 14:32:37 -0700
~From: "Jones, David R." 

    Do what thou wilt
Shall be the whole of the Law.

Just a thought on possible arrangements:

Aleph
>Male-female, 

Lamed
>quinessential, one,

Yod
>Man-being veiled 

Mem
>in woman-form.

Love is the 
law, love under will.

David R. Jones aka ^333^

________________________________________________________________________

~Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2000 16:20:16 -0700
~From: mermaid93@earthlink.net

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

David R. Jones aka 333 wrote:

"Just a thought on possible arrangements:

Aleph
 >Male-female,

Lamed
 >quintessential, one,

Yod
 >Man-being veiled

Mem
 >in woman-form."

This is fascinating!!  Just a few questions here: could it not be argued 
that Aleph would be better represented by the phrase "quintessential, 
one."?  Madonna Compton in Archetypes on the Tree of Life quoting Paul 
Foster Case says of the Fool card:  "Actually the Fool is not a "him" at 
all, because it is not yet differentiated into any kind of polarity.  
Case has said, "It is neither male nor female" but rather "a Heavenly 
Androgyne." (p.296)  (Also, Aleph's numerical value is one and is the 
first letter of the Hebrew alphabet.)   Lamed as presented in Tarot 
points to equilibrium (Maat's scales) and so suggests to me the phrase 
"Male-female" - suggesting that these two principles are in balance.  
Yod as "Man-being veiled" and Mem "in woman-form" are clearer to me.  
One more question:  I have difficulty seeing these as "dead elements."  
All of these letters seem "alive".  Further thoughts?

Love is the law, love under will.

Mermaid

________________________________________________________________________

~Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2000 19:39:13 -0500
~From: "bishop" 

93!~

Quick comment.

> One more question:  I have difficulty seeing these as "dead elements."
> All of these letters seem "alive".  Further thoughts?

"The word ALIM may in fact be considered as neuter. By a rather absurd
convention, neuter objects are treated as feminine on account of their
superficial resemblance in passivity and inertness with the unfertilized
female. But the female produces life by the intervention of the male, while
the neuter does so only when impregnated by Spirit. Thus we find the
feminine AMA, becoming AIMA through the operation of the phallic Yod, while
ALIM, the congress of dead elements, only fructifies by the brooding of
Spirit." [thus becoming ALHIM -- bishop]

The "congress of dead elements" is something that is almost a misnomer to
me. The individual phsycial elements, the composition of Man, all have life,
sure; but do they together have animated life in the same sense as Man? No.
If you take the "Breath of God," or the "brooding of the Spirit," away from
Man, does he not become just a "congress of dead elements"?

Just some thoughts.

93/93
bishop
www.kindredx.net

________________________________________________________________________

~Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2000 18:17:08 -0700
~From: mermaid93@earthlink.net

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

Bishop wrote:

"If you take the "Breath of God," or the "brooding of the Spirit," away 
from Man, does he not become just a "congress of dead elements"? 

I think I hear you this time.  I think what has kept me bewildered is my 
associating Aleph with breath, spirit, and the like - and not just He.  
(Aleph is sometimes referred to as the Primum Mobile, as well.)  Thanks!

Love is the law, love under will
Mermaid

________________________________________________________________________

~Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2000 21:59:37 -0500
~From: "bishop" 

93!~

> I think I hear you this time.  I think what has kept me bewildered is my
> associating Aleph with breath, spirit, and the like - and not just He.

Since there are so many possible interpretations, it can be taxing to find
one that fits appropriately to a given perspective. Crowley himself confused
the planes more than once in my opinion just with manipulating the Hebrew
around. I don't think it is wrong to associate Aleph with the breath. Of
course, an argument could be made for Aleph being fire as well and only
being used as air (in this formula and seen in my analysis) as a blind.

In any case, I think the biggest hint to ALIM was the comment:

"By a rather absurd convention, neuter objects are treated as feminine on
account of their superficial resemblance in passivity and inertness with the
unfertilized female. But the female produces life by the intervention of the
male, while the neuter does so only when impregnated by Spirit."

I wish I had more time right now to elaborate, but I have to run again. I
look forward to continuing this with you later or tomorrow.

> Thanks!

No. Thank you. You and RoseCrow cannot imagine how grateful I am for this
opportunity to discuss this and see reactions to various ideas.

93/93
bishop
www.kindredx.net

________________________________________________________________________

~Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 13:41:13 -0000
~From: rosecrow@earthlink.net

--- In newaeon@egroups.com, "bishop"  wrote:
> 93!~
> 
> > I think I hear you this time.  I think what has kept me 
bewildered is my> > associating Aleph with breath, spirit, and the 
like - and not just He.> 
> Since there are so many possible interpretations, it can be taxing 
to find> one that fits appropriately to a given perspective. Crowley 
himself confused> the planes more than once in my opinion just with 
manipulating the Hebrew> around. I don't think it is wrong to 
associate Aleph with the breath. Of> course, an argument could be 
made for Aleph being fire as well and only> being used as air (in 
this formula and seen in my analysis) as a blind.
> 
> In any case, I think the biggest hint to ALIM was the comment:
> 
> "By a rather absurd convention, neuter objects are treated as 
feminine on> account of their superficial resemblance in passivity 
and inertness with the> unfertilized female. But the female produces 
life by the intervention of the> male, while the neuter does so only 
when impregnated by Spirit."

Greetings Bishop...

This is better stated (sorry have to update!) "But the female 
receives the seed of the male"  This is one polarization, think of it 
as East to West.  "While the Neuter does so only when filled with the 
Spirit"  Think of this as North to South.


> I wish I had more time right now to elaborate, but I have to run 
again. I> look forward to continuing this with you later or tomorrow.
> 
> > Thanks!
> 
> No. Thank you. You and RoseCrow cannot imagine how grateful I am 
for this> opportunity to discuss this and see reactions to various 
ideas.
> 
> 93/93
> bishop
> www.kindredx.net

Many thanks for your response, Bishop...

It seems quite possible that I have come full circle, and see the 
formula of ALIM as one blend which is never fulfilled, and thus 
remains neutral.  It is as if the formula of unity (elemental) is 
inclusive within ALIM, the elements are joined/equlibrated, and the 
entire formula is neutral.  Thus it is awaiting the Indwelling!  

Then again, perhaps it is a microcosmic YHVH?

Blessings!
RoseCrow

________________________________________________________________________

~Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 09:41:55 -0500
~From: "bishop" 

93!~

> This is better stated (sorry have to update!) "But the female
> receives the seed of the male"  This is one polarization, think of it
> as East to West.  "While the Neuter does so only when filled with the
> Spirit"  Think of this as North to South.

To me? -- yes and no.

In Crowley's world there were two basic configurations; male-female and
male-male. Since the 'seed of the male' was the only substance that could be
infused with the Holy Ghost [in his sex magical paradigm], the female, or
more specifically 'the Mouth of Isis,' became the Vehicle of the joy of Man
upon Earth, the vessel that gestated the child of that Union. This fits
along the lines of the IHShVH formula better, but I can see it in the ALHIM
formula as well to a small extent.

Also, one line of thought that no one has been able to answer for me [and
bugs the hell out of me all the time is], which "Spirit" is active and which
is passive? When taken alone, is [Sh] the Active Spirit and [H] the Passive
Spirit? Or is it the other way around.

> It seems quite possible that I have come full circle, and see the
> formula of ALIM as one blend which is never fulfilled, and thus
> remains neutral.

In the same line of thought as above, the male, or more specifically the
'Eye of Hoor [Harpocrates],' utilized "the creative [...] employed
deliberately for destruction, and [...] entirely absorbed in its own sphere
(or cylinder, on Einstein's equations) of action." Since, in Crowley's mind,
considering a male to be feminine was a step down rather than a step up, he
considered such arrangements as neuter. The "absurd convention" is a veiled
reference, IMO, to the male ability to be receptive like a female (in a
manner of speaking, of course) and thus be considered feminine because of
that ability.

ALIM is not fulfilled in the sense that no Child is created through the
"proper" arrangement of the elements. Rather, the indwelling of the Spirit
is not fruitful and is absorbed back into the elements for the sustanence of
the Adept.

> It is as if the formula of unity (elemental) is
> inclusive within ALIM, the elements are joined/equlibrated, and the
> entire formula is neutral.  Thus it is awaiting the Indwelling!

This, however, puts a spin on things I had not considered. I will need to
think on this throughout the day.

> Then again, perhaps it is a microcosmic YHVH?

I concur in a sense.

> Many thanks for your response, Bishop...

As I told Mermaid, thank you for the wonderful thread. You both are truly
making me think harder than I have had to in a while over this formula.

93/93
bishop
www.kindredx.net

________________________________________________________________________

~Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 08:46:26 -0700
~From: mermaid93@earthlink.net

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

David R. Jones aka 333 wrote:

"Just a thought on possible arrangements:

Aleph
 >Male-female,

Lamed
 >quintessential, one,

Yod
 >Man-being veiled

Mem
 >in woman-form."

Further thoughts yield that He could be represented here by 
"quintessential" (Quinta = fifth, 5 the number of He, essence relating 
to He:
"Consider then the secret meaning of the letter HEH.
For even as I am the Essence,
And Idea, and Interior Nature
Of every Ox, of every House,
Of every Camel, and of every Door,
So am I also the Essence,
And Idea, and Interior Nature
Of every Window."  (Book of Tokens, Paul Foster Case, pp.51-2.)  (He 
here, as universal life force.)  In short, it is possible, in my 
opinion, that we could have ALHIM here - or at least the components of 
ALHIM.

More thoughts:  When we look at Crowley's words on the Fool card - 
especially concerning the connection to Zeus Arrhenothlus, it could be 
argued that Aleph pertains to "Male-female".  (The Book of Thoth, 
p.64.)  However, Crowley also says of the Fool card"  "BE NEITHER MAN 
NOR WOMAN, BUT BOTH IN ONE." (P. 254)

Love is the law, love under will
Mermaid

________________________________________________________________________

~Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 20:03:44 -0000
~From: rosecrow@earthlink.net

--- In newaeon@egroups.com, "bishop"  wrote:
> 93!~
> 
> > This is better stated (sorry have to update!) "But the female
> > receives the seed of the male"  This is one polarization, think 
of it
> > as East to West.  "While the Neuter does so only when filled with 
the
> > Spirit"  Think of this as North to South.
> 
> To me? -- yes and no.
> 
> 
> Also, one line of thought that no one has been able to answer for 
me [and> bugs the hell out of me all the time is], which "Spirit" is 
active and which> is passive? When taken alone, is [Sh] the Active 
Spirit and [H] the Passive> Spirit? Or is it the other way around.

I think that Shin is Active and He is Receptive.  We seek, via 
prayer, ritual, etc... to receive the Active Spirit, and activate the 
Receptive Spirit which is inherent (indwelling)within in us.

NOTE:  I normally utilize the terms active and receptive, instead of 
active and passive.

> > It seems quite possible that I have come full circle, and see the
> > formula of ALIM as one blend which is never fulfilled, and thus
> > remains neutral.
> 
> In the same line of thought as above, the male, or more 
specifically the> 'Eye of Hoor [Harpocrates],' utilized "the creative 
[...] employed> deliberately for destruction, and [...] entirely 
absorbed in its own sphere> (or cylinder, on Einstein's equations) of 
action." Since, in Crowley's mind,> considering a male to be feminine 
was a step down rather than a step up, he> considered such 

arrangements as neuter. The "absurd convention" is a veiled
> reference, IMO, to the male ability to be receptive like a female 
(in a> manner of speaking, of course) and thus be considered feminine 
because of> that ability.

I can only hope this was his true intention!! LOL!

In truth, we are all feminine and masculine...as creatures, humans, 
we are basically feminine, i.e. receptive by designation of the realm 
to which we are assigned.  I believe we all begin with the female 
chromosone for that reason, because we are in the Sphere of Malkuth. 
The Active or masculine principle is what drives us on toward Yesod.  
As Yesod is Air, we return to the synthesis of elements that preceded 
our manifestation.  From this point, the Pillars become our gender 
representation, and each Sephira must be balanced by it's reciprocal 
Sephirah.

When we achieve Tiphareth, our true first taste of Unity is 
initiated.  It is perhaps in this sphere that ALHIM is activated???  
Just pondering!

> ALIM is not fulfilled in the sense that no Child is created through 
the> "proper" arrangement of the elements. Rather, the indwelling of 
the Spirit> is not fruitful and is absorbed back into the elements 
for the sustanence of> the Adept.

Is this not the reason why there are 3 figures in the Lovers Card?

> > It is as if the formula of unity (elemental) is
> > inclusive within ALIM, the elements are joined/equlibrated, and 
the> > entire formula is neutral.  Thus it is awaiting the Indwelling!
> 
> This, however, puts a spin on things I had not considered. I will 
need to> think on this throughout the day.

Yes...I think I will be meditating on this some more!  Excellent!

Blessings!
RoseCrow

________________________________________________________________________


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