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Thelemic Magic: Beyond Crowley, Occultism

To: alt.magick.tyagi,alt.magick,alt.thelema,alt.pagan.magick
From: 333 
Subject: Thelemic Magic: Beyond Crowley, Occultism
Date: Tue, 04 Jun 2002 06:07:07 GMT

50000120 IVom

333:
>> ...how is Thelema related to occultism and why?
 
> You have a lovely way of stating things that whirl around in my mind, 
> unexpressed. I'm also confounded on what makes a magical method 
> "Thelemic" as opposed to "unthelemic", and why that should matter. 

as nobody appears to be running with this one, I'd like to take a
shot at it myself.

Thelema is related to occultism in that 'will' is the primary
variable behind magical power and success. the technique of
the Magical Link (as Crowley called it in "Book Four") is the
necessary which is fueled by this will (thus I have elsewhere
called it 'willforce' and many before me 'willpower').

the reason that many wish to call a magical method 'Thelemic'
or indeed to encompass it within an instruction envelope they
call 'Thelema' is that it genericizes it and therefore gives
their identification an air of authority. there is a direct
comparison when the Wiccan calls hir religion "witchcraft"
and expects that this should be considered the only and most
authoritative type of witchery (rather than, say, the herbal
and magical wiles of countless peasants throughout the
world that preceded hir).

there is another reason which proceeds from the cultism that
runs rampant around Crowleyanity: that which is called
'Thelemic' may be associated with the various salvation and
social works programs that are promoted by 'Thelemic
organizations' under this banner. whether they are indeed
'Thelemic' in the sense to which I refer (supporting and
inspiring individual will and the potential for its free
expression) would need be evaluated individually (I have
repeatedly claimed that organizations are not so supportive,
in their overall result, and I've yet to see evidence that
contradicts this).

> Is it the frame? What would make a thelemic frame more 
> effective than any other frame?

it is cultspeak. when you call something by the preferred name
(like 'Christian' amongst Christians or 'Buddhist' amongst
Buddhists), then this makes clear your approval of its
integrity to the Herd behavior and ecclesiastical norm.

actually, the reason 'Thelemic' is best applied to liberative
magical enterprises is that they are INDIVIDUAL, WILL-BASED
OPERATIONS DESIGNED TO DEPROGRAM THE INDIVIDUAL AND REVEAL
HIR GENIUS TO THE WORLD. this might take place through
ordeal, through an act of stupendous achievement, through
the construction of a cult for the Herd to follow, or any
other of a number of works.

> As it stands, it appears that the frame "Thelema" is a misnomer 
> for Crowley's Judeo/Greco/Christian/Oriental/Pagan Stew. Not that 
> it's too much of a problem, just that stew by any other name is 
> still stew.

my aim is to replace that for 'Crowleyanity' and reserve 
'Thelema' for something much more substantive. your
queries in response to mine were quite inspiring. thanks.

blessed beast!
______________________________________________________________________
(333) nagasiva@luckymojo.com; http://www.luckymojo.com/nagasiva.html
I don't read everything here; cc me if you absolutely want a response.

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