Month: October 2013

More Thoughts on Correspondences

Can it be said that the value a system of correspondences is equal to its consistency?

For example, in most modern hermetic systems gods from different pantheons are grouped by their characteristics. According to Thelemic correspondences, Hermes, Thoth, and Odin may not be the same god but they all serve the same purpose in their pantheon and the same place on the tree of life. In essence, they share characteristics.

From a certain point of view that can be seen as true. All of those gods have aspects as magicians, messengers, and seers. But this breaks down with any close examination. While it can be said that any god can have greater and lesser traits, it’s not hard to argue that Odin’s greater traits are leadership and war, while neither Hermes nor Thoth share those traits in a greater or lesser form.

So when trying to group gods from disparate pantheons together, you’re bound to have inconsistencies.  I would even put forth that the larger a system of correspondences the more likely and extreme the inconsistencies.

But at what point does the system break? Is it the number of inconsistencies or the proximity of the inconsistencies to the core of the system? And, is the fault of the system that it is unable to internalize and explain inconsistencies, or the fault of the magus? Is the only way to have a totally consistent system of correspondences to build one yourself? Would it be useful, because a faultless system would by its nature be limited? Or, would a self-created system at least have faults that the magus can internalize?

And if you have a totally self-created system of correspondences, how do you ever work with other magi?

Learn On

I recently attended a class on the Greater Ritual of the Hexagram put on by my local OTO encampment. Like a lot of people I’ve read Liber O a number of times and I’ve always read it from a chaos magician’s point of view. That being, the first question you ask is, “What’s the point? What results are you looking for?” Crowley, being the obtuse SOB that he was doesn’t give many clues.  

So I listened politely as the class went on and the instructor, who was a good instructor, pointed out the varied, subtle, Kabbalistic correspondences you could employ in the hexagram ritual. He did mention a goal, which is invoking the energies of certain elements, planets, astrological signs, and sepiroth.

At the end I was still pretty much at a loss as to why you would want to do such a thing. I did, however, learn that the pentagram and hexagram rituals in themselves are really just plug-and-play forms that fit well with the system of correspondences used by the OTO. Want to have strength in your life? Look it up in 777 (a fucking arduous task as it’s in no way an easy reference), pick out some correspondences add them to the basic framework of your pentagram or hexagram ritual, and voila, you have something to help you build or understand strength. For example, use the greater hexagram ritual invoking fire, mars, and Aries. Use a red cloth, and five red candles, and etc, etc.

Here’s where they lose me. What if I don’t give a shit about the Kabbala as a system of correspondences? What if I find it annoying and arbitrary? Especially the arbitrary part because if the correspondences have no meaning to me, why would they work?

I understand that they are supposed to be a baseline. The fixed code. The collective unconscious. That if I go deep enough that the Kabbalistic correspondences will have meaning to me. And that their seemingly arbitrary nature is what makes it such a useful system for removing lust of result.

But I can’t help but call bullshit. That those who are immersed in the system find meaning because they immersed themselves in the system. They are not discovering some predetermined key to the universe.

And coming full circle, does it make me a bad magician because I have such a hard time making myself believe in it, especially since it has proven to be useful?

ANOTHER UPDATE

Tumblr can have a supremely asstastic interface sometimes. Only after I sent my first invitation does it tell me, “oh no, you don’t have to have a person’s email for them to join, here’s the link.”

So here’s the link – http://www.tumblr.com/join/9eszYt6DWq

Please read the rest of this post before you sign up. The group is open to anyone who would like to join in the discussion. No obligations at this point.

scrollofthoth:

UPDATE

I have done my best to contact everyone who expressed in interest in the creation of a new magical order. If you would like to take part in a debate on what form that order should take I am starting a tumblr group for that purpose. Unfortunately, in order to invite you to the group tumblr requires me to have your email. If you want to join please send your email via ask or fanmail expressing your interest.

Best of luck with all of your magical practices.

magicalrecord:

A clarification – I am interested in hearing from everybody, not just folks who live in the US/Ohio River Valley. Though ultimately, I am looking to form a real-world not virtual magical order.

scrollofthoth:

A New Magical Order

Yesterday, I wrote a short post on the need to create a new magical order that wasn’t based on a particular faith. It seemed to generate some interest with responses like:

“Exactly what I needed to hear.”

“A tremendously large one (need), and once someone starts the snowball effect will do the rest.”

“I think the need for useless secrecy needs to stop. This is the age of open source, where you should be able to take other people’s code adapt it and make it work your way.”

The responses are pretty encouraging and despite trying and failing at creating magical groups through tumblr before, I am willing to give it another shot. Or at least start a discussion on what a new magical order could look like.

I am talking a physical, in person, initiatory order. In my original post I envisioned a group that had an Inner Order, something akin to the OTO, which functioned as the “social” arm of the order and the branch that performed physical initiations. And also an Outer Order that acted as a magical peer group. Something like the A.’.A.’. where the main purpose is reviewing each other’s work and developing courses of study.

Of course all of this would be open for debate and change. The only thing I know personally is that I would only be involved in the creation of such an order if it were founded on and maintained democratic principles. Not saying that leadership structures could not be created, only that ALL members would have a say in the direction and practices of the organization regardless of grade or rank.

For some interesting observations on the politics of magical orders – see this post by Phil Hine – http://www.philhine.org.uk/writings/gp_schism.html

So if I receive more than a couple of responses to this post, I’ll set up a tumblr group to facilitate the discussion. I’ll even go so far to say that if at least three people who live in the Ohio River Valley are willing to sit down with me face-to-face, we will officially get this party started. If folks want to start their own local nodes, that would be fucking awesome. Ideally, such an organization would be local, regional, national, and international.

UPDATE

I have done my best to contact everyone who expressed in interest in the creation of a new magical order. If you would like to take part in a debate on what form that order should take I am starting a tumblr group for that purpose. Unfortunately, in order to invite you to the group tumblr requires me to have your email. If you want to join please send your email via ask or fanmail expressing your interest.

Best of luck with all of your magical practices.

magicalrecord:

A clarification – I am interested in hearing from everybody, not just folks who live in the US/Ohio River Valley. Though ultimately, I am looking to form a real-world not virtual magical order.

scrollofthoth:

A New Magical Order

Yesterday, I wrote a short post on the need to create a new magical order that wasn’t based on a particular faith. It seemed to generate some interest with responses like:

“Exactly what I needed to hear.”

“A tremendously large one (need), and once someone starts the snowball effect will do the rest.”

“I think the need for useless secrecy needs to stop. This is the age of open source, where you should be able to take other people’s code adapt it and make it work your way.”

The responses are pretty encouraging and despite trying and failing at creating magical groups through tumblr before, I am willing to give it another shot. Or at least start a discussion on what a new magical order could look like.

I am talking a physical, in person, initiatory order. In my original post I envisioned a group that had an Inner Order, something akin to the OTO, which functioned as the “social” arm of the order and the branch that performed physical initiations. And also an Outer Order that acted as a magical peer group. Something like the A.’.A.’. where the main purpose is reviewing each other’s work and developing courses of study.

Of course all of this would be open for debate and change. The only thing I know personally is that I would only be involved in the creation of such an order if it were founded on and maintained democratic principles. Not saying that leadership structures could not be created, only that ALL members would have a say in the direction and practices of the organization regardless of grade or rank.

For some interesting observations on the politics of magical orders – see this post by Phil Hine – http://www.philhine.org.uk/writings/gp_schism.html

So if I receive more than a couple of responses to this post, I’ll set up a tumblr group to facilitate the discussion. I’ll even go so far to say that if at least three people who live in the Ohio River Valley are willing to sit down with me face-to-face, we will officially get this party started. If folks want to start their own local nodes, that would be fucking awesome. Ideally, such an organization would be local, regional, national, and international.