Greetings and Hello!

Different magical 'paths' use energies called 'currents' that flow through the 'third order.' Within the Thelemic Tradition this is reresented as the 93 current. While in most Golden Dawn traditions it is refered to as the 120 current.

As to what those numbers mean, that is something you will need to discover for yourself.

LVX

Shadow - 93. (g)

Crowley used a lot of gematria in analyzing the Book of the Law. But one of the early pieces of numeration he explored was 'the word of the Law', given by Nuit in Chapter 1 as thelema. In the original ms, Crowley spelt this in Greek, appropriately. In Greek gematria, thelema (Will) enumerates to 93.

Additional analysis turned up that agape (Love) also adds to 93. Thus, 93 is gematric shorthand for 'Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law' (associated with thelema) and 'Love is the law, love under will' (associated with agape). 93 is therefore representative of the 'long form' of the greeting adopted by Crowley and recommended by him for use by Thelemites - ie. opening a conversation or letter with 'Do what thou wilt...' and closing it with 'Love is the law...'.

93 crops up again and again (and yet again) in Thelemic magick - sometimes with an elegant synchronicity, other times by rather labored respellings and fiddling with gematric methods. Often, the term '93 Current' is applied to the Crowley-derived schools of occultism (and thus the band Current 93 adopted the name in its turn).

Zat help?

Hmmm. This could be debated. I think the idea of the 3rd Order may have been more a requirement of the concepts of the time than an actual fact. It is certainly the case that some Orders are enlivened by an inner current (so called 'contacted' Orders), and others are not, but whether or not this equates to a 3rd Order is doubtful. It always seems to me that this method of explaining the 'contact' idea actually imposes a structure upon a series of events, dynamics and purposes that are not easily structured in this way.

In any event, I do not know of the 120 current, although I am aware of the gematria of the number.

I think there is a danger here... It can be proposed that currents exist and change according to the needs of the period. We must be careful however not to go beyond describing the action and properties (and perhaps seeking to understand the reason for) these currents. There is a clear danger of going beyond this process and actually imposing one's own ideas upon the currents, thereby debasing them (the real meaning of blasphemy). What the Thelemites have done, intentionally or not, is to claim ownership of the Thelemic Current, whereas these things cannot be owned. At it's lowest level, this manifests as no more than a form of tribalism.

My opinion.

Deep waters.

Gatekeeper

It's funny how things happen. I was unaccountably concerned last night about my own response to the original post, and thought some more about it. II remembered (a recollection from some years ago when I last had an active Lodge life in the accepted sense), that 93 was also the gematria of Thelema. As you will know, according to conventional gematia, concepts enshrined in words with equivalent numerical values have equivalent inner meanings, so AGAPE (Love) and THELEMA (Will) are equivalent. I certainly believe this is so but is most often obscured by common misperceptions of both concepts.

My belief is that Crowley was very often misunderstood, often by people taking a superficial view of what was said. It is certainly the case that many magical aphorisms have levels of meaning, and that as one develops, one revisits previous understandings to find that one's perceptions have changed and that a deeper level of meaning is evident. This is true of the expression 'Love is the :Law, Love under Will'. Very often misunderstood, particularly by those who profess it most enthusiastically.

Crowley made a particularly profound observation about Yoga (Book 4 as I recall). He said 'Yoga is Union', and repeated it several times to make the point. The same applies to Love: Love is Union (it will be evident that we are not talking of Love in the commonly used senses of the word here). It is clear therefore that Love, Will and Union are inseperable concepts.

A useful meditation here is the Path linking Binah and Tiphareth, symbolised by the Tarot Card 'The Lovers', the Letter Zayin (Note the symbolism of Zayin - a Sword), and the Astrological Sign Gemini. In these symbols, the nature of the relationship betwen Love and Will are made clear.

Fraternally,

Gate - 93.

Gods know that is sadly true. Not that he didn't help the process along, from time to time.

I have to say it...I am getting mildly annoyed by the repeated, backhand implication that you have it all right on Thelema, and Thelemites of your acquaintance have it all wrong. There are two problems. You have not told us your own understanding of Will and Love, though insofar as your remark on Yoga goes, I agree with you so far. More to the point, perhaps, apart from dismissing these 'misunderstood' concepts by those of us who profess Thelema, you haven't told us what the misunderstandings are.

I've only been at this about 30 years, and that time has taught me, above all else, how little I know or can ever know. But it seems a bit hard to be tantalized with hints that I've missed the boat, without even knowing which pier you feel I should have been on.

Well, not to discount the quality of instruction in either Book 4 or Eight Lectures (for I think he makes the statement in both), yoga DOES mean union, among other things. I mean literally, not merely by implication. And a yoke - that which joins things together. An old Latin teacher of mine surmised that yoga and the Latin word jugum (joining, union...and yes, a yoke) derive from the same IE root. Whether this was scholarship or wishful thinking I am not competent to judge.

I would say rather that Love (in the agapic sense, the 93 sense, if you will) is the impetus towards Union, the motive power which permits the I to approach the Thou, until the duality ceases to exist. This is what Crowley was expressing in his discussion of the concept 0=2, or so it seems to me. Elsewhere, the Beast speaks of the driving necessity in mysticism to unite passionately with all phenomena, piercing the 'otherness' that makes them appear to be outside oneself. This action culminates in the grade of an 8=3, when the unit is with the Universe as a whole.

No argument there...but since I have heard the same thesis expressed by a numner of my Brothers and Sisters in the OTO, I am still not clear in what manner, o to what degree, we have erred in understanding these concepts.

All the Binah paths seem to provide grist for this mill, since Cheth, the Chariot, seems to comment on the method of approaching the Union, as the Lovvers does upon its culmination. And the Empress upon its action in the Universe once achieved, come to think of it.

Regards

Of course for the European G.D. members, it will be the 210 current...

Greetings,

I fear I have caused offence. Unintended.

Let me see if I can clarify some of the points you have found irritating...

Hokay, taking the points in turn.

Not repeated since until the few days I have had a policy of not posting. Nor backhanded - it is my experience that the most intense proselytising is frequently done by the newest converts, and this applies equally to 'mainstream' philosophies and religions as much as to Thelema. To this extent I think what I said is both clear and correct. The Masonic exhortation 'neither ...... nor an enthusiast be' is good advice - in this case, 'enthusiast' is taken as 'zealot'.

I intended no implication that I have it all right on Thelema, indeed, I know little about Thelema beyond the broad principles, it was not my chosen path. Similarly, I have no acquaintances who are Thelemites. To be honest, I have gained this impression from what is available to all from some of the less moderate postings on usenet. I am sure that we both feel embarrassed about the antics of some of the more vociferous and argumentative of those who customarily sign themselves '93'. One of the least understood concepts of Thelema is that of the Will - which regularly gets confused by the relative newcomer with 'desire' or 'desire strongly'. This is the clear context in which the comment was made, and I believe I did therefore make it clear (although I should perhaps taken more time over wording?) as to what I believe the misunderstandings are.

30 years is a long time and makes you (in time) 3 years my senior although my actual magical work in the last 10 years has been almost non-existent. I agree that the more one knows, the more one realises how little one knows.

I did not intend tto tantalise, plain speaking is a virtue which I try to practice. Dark hints and cryptic allusions are the province of the poseur, and I do not see myself in that role. Neither did I expect the criticism that I have implied you missed the boat - no such implication is possible since apart from some interesting posts over the months, I do not know you. It therefore follows that I do not know whether or not you have missed any boats, and could not suggest any particular pier for the same reason.

Agreed, except for the Latin which I am not in a position to agree with or otherwise. I didn't do very well at Latin...

Again, I am not in a position to judge and made no such inference. Many absolute truths are reflected in the teachings of more than one tradition. I have no doubt the elders of Thelemic Lodges are the spiritual equal of those anywhere, but again, this was not what I said.

Also agreed, although I share Regardie's view that if the 5=6 Grade experience has been truly experience then there is no point to further Grades. Taking a historical view, the existence of Grades beyonfd a certain point has more to do with administration, completeness and symmetry than anything else. A detailed knowledge of the work of the Golden Dawn Lodges and their source, the SRIA has given rise to this clear view, but it is only one person's view...

I also doubt the wisdom of ' unite passionately with all phenomena, piercing the 'otherness' that makes them appear to be outside oneself'. The reason I doubt it is the fact that the Will only becomes effective and perceptible in the absence of desire, and the word 'passionate' implies 'great desire'. This is not to deny the principle of what Crowley said, but the terms in which it is expressed in this instance.

I don't think I agree with this. My understanding of the Paths of the Empress and the Chariot are that they are quite different principles from the one I was alluding to (i.e. the relationship between the Higher and Lower selves and the uniting force of Higher Love, Union). The caveat upon this is that clearly the paths of Beth and Daleth impinge upon those of Zayin and Cheth since they nourish the Sephirah which gives them their origin.

Hopefully this helps to explain what I was trying to say. I have no particular axe to grind about Crowley or Thelema - I am not an expert in either. However I am not insensible to the (often poor quality) utterances of many of those who proclaim the loudest praises of both. I am sure that in your own private moments you share mine and Crowleys view on the enthusiastic but immature novice. It was after all himself who commented on the proposed homunculus of (Parsons I think) - 'The idiocy of these louts fairly drives me frantic'. It seems he also despaired at the misinterpretation and abuse of his principles!

Is it possible you felt a little defensive about what I was saying? If so there was no need.

Fraternally,

GK -

It may well have been irritatbility due to a combination of fatigue and a headcold ('Excuse me, Miss!' 'Miss?' 'Sorry. I have a cold.' - The Holy Book of Python).

Perhaps more so in the smaller, presumably more intensely felt beliefs - though this can be mixed with the legendary zeal of the convert, since members of most magical groups/philosophies/religions are converts. As you note...

Arguably true, though the other point to keep in mind is how rarely the most frequent usenet posters represent typical adherents of their respective traditions. It is also a medium that is notorious for unclear communication, which is ironic given that it is designed to facilitate clear communication. Corporate studies have, similarly, shown that email is the medium where people are the most abrasive in business commnications. The concensus is that it is the combination of: - lack of realtime feedback in tone of voice, body language, etc., the non-verbal cues that keep face to face or phone discourse from getting too far off track, and...

- the speed of response and data entry, unlike written memos, letters, papers for meetings, etc. which are usually reviewed, rewritten, etc.

The process of refinement, of initiation on the interior planes (regardless of what ceremonies one has experienced physically) seems to me to include the critical ability to distinguish between 'Will' and 'want.' So does the simple process of becoming mature (making the unwarranted assumption that we've done that (g)), and in this as in much else, the spiritual maturation process mirrors the physical/psychological/social one.

'Do what thou wilt...' is certainly laden with pitfalls for the unwary since it precludes any external set of rules by which to measure the distinction. The decision on right action must come from within (as in most other paths, Thelema just cuts loose the safety net right away, or so it seems to me).

I come up against a dilemma - I hate making veiled reference to oathbound matters when I can't be explicit, but will say that this is a central theme of the Minerval degree on the OTO. Certain exposes (ahem mumble Francis King grumble cough) are around which will let the reader look into this, at least in the redaction of the rituals that were available to 'Uncle Frank.' While I will not speak to the accuracy of the text in King, it would be a useful reference in this matter.

Sorry...I missed it. As you ask further on, might I have reacted defensively to a perceived criticism, the answer is (obviously) yes. After a few zillion times running into people saying 'Oh, but you cannot simply do as you wish,' I have, I fear, reacted to the echo of those discussions rather than what was actually said. I must apologize for that, and do.

Oh, I was bloody awful at it...hence my own caveat about not being able to say if his observation was accurate (g).

I've always admired Francis for (among many, many other things) his statement that 'Student' was one of the most 'exalted' titles a magician could claim. An elder Brother of mine once made a similar remark about the Minerval degree - if it took, we'd never see the initiate again (at the Order, that is) since he'd achieve his illumination and go off to do his Will without further reference to OTO. For those of us who are slower learners, we have these additional degrees...

It's a valuable inoculation against hubris when achieving the 'dignity' of Knight of this and that, or Prince of here or there, to reflect that if I had my act together, I wouldn't be in the lodge getting initiated to that degree.

There are valid reasons (I certainly hope) that I took that next step, as I hope there are for all initiates, but its a good tool for remembering why we took that first step, and all the ones that may come after, whether in a formal initiatory tradition or in our personal magical curricula.

Agreed there.

You are too modest. Your view must be accurate, for it agrees completely with my own (g).

It's a paradox/koan issue, I think. Language gets slippery in dealing with these issues. The key for me is my own understanding of that line from the Book of the Law, again in Chapter I: 'For pure will, unassauged of purpose, delivered from the lust of result, is every way perfect.'

This does not preclude passion in the quest, the fiery dedication to the pursuit of Union which lets us consecrate the body and mind, the desires and ego, all the tools we bring to the job, to achieving that ultimate goal. The exhortation in the Zelator grade ritual (copped by Crowley for Liber Librae) is also on all fours with this: 'Think rationally. Act passionately. Be yourself.'

Passion here, I would propose, comprises the qualities of dedication, appreciation of the aesthetics of what you are doing, and commitment to pursue it to the end despite all obstacles.

It was just a top of the head reaction - popped into my mind with enough emphasis that I thought I'd toss it out.

It was indeed the Parsons/Hubbard working. And Crowley certainly got upset more than once when he found himself being wilfully (as opposed to Will-fully (g)) misread. Though some of the bases of misunderstanding were self-inflicted, and perhaps prove that even the Logos of an Aeon needs a good editor (g).

See above - a new touch near an old scar can trigger an inappropriate response.

Regards,