Alt.Magick.Chaos Runts
Alt.Magick.Chaos Runts
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From: Data
Subject: Rants
05. Rants
05.05. Thelemite.
"Who calls us Thelemites will do no wrong, if he look but close into
the word. For there are therein Three Grades, the Hermit, and the
Lover, and the man of Earth. Do what thou wilt shall be the whole
of the Law."
Liber AL vel Legis sub figura CCXX. II.40.
From: Tyagi@HouseOfKaos.Abyss.com
>What's a Thelemite?
The word was popularized by Aleister Crowley, whom I find quite
inspirational. It means one who lives by the Law of Thelema.
'Thelema' is a Greek word meaning 'will', and this Law was
expressed by Crowley as 'Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of
the Law.' He echoed a scripture which is important to some
within the Thelemic movement, called _The Book of the Law_.
05.06. Satanist.
From: nemoiii@aol.com (NEMO III)
Two rather helpful books outside the apparent Satanic community
were written by California psychologist Lawrence LeShan entitled
*The Medium, the Mystic and the Physicist* (1974) and *Alternate
Realities* (1976). In the second book, LeShan charts out
approximately four separate but self-contained belief systems
("modes of reality")which, when completely entered, permit the
individual to perform acts considered impossible to the others.
The key, according to LeShan (as well as to Anton LaVey who
wrote the same things in 1969, five years ahead of LeShan's
publications) is to enter into a belief system in which you also
know, while there, that this and *only* this view of the world
is true and all others are false. To achieve that degree of
belief at will is the key to effective magic according to the
Church of Satan's view.
A secondary benefit to this achievement is the delightful
flexibility the Satanist can enjoy in dealing with other human
beings and their varying institutions. The single-belief system
fanatic can only fight for his views and attempt to convert
others (usually causing him to alienate just about everyone not
equally fanatical). These are the individuals who will often
quote from stirring patriotic themes to endorse martyrdom to the
cause. The Satanist can not merely assume the belief system of
the ritual and non-ritual in accord with Satanism, but can move
smoothly through the midst of Christians, Republicans,
Democrats, Independents, nationalists, agnostics, Moslems,
racists, neo-nazis, Wiccans, neo-pagans, communists, socialists,
etc. The Satanist moves like a predator through the human herd,
usually unobserved, taking his pick of the best that is offered.
A true Satanist can go to a party held by his avowed religious
enemies and have a good time, enjoy the qualities of those who
have something to offer and return home afterwards feeling no
guilt or concern.
To the Satanist charges by others of "hypocrisy" are a clear
indication of the limited mindset of the accuser. Ethics are a
guide to action for the Satanist, not a god to be mindlessly
obeyed. All this is beautifully summarized in The Book of
Satan, Part 2, Verse 12 (The Satanic Bible, page 32), "Whatever
alleged 'truth' is proven by results to be but an empty fiction,
let it be unceremoniously flung into the outer darkness, among
the dead gods, dead empires, dead philosophies, and other
useless lumber and wreckage!" The key words to that quote are
"proven by results." Results! That's the purpose of it all.
Nemo, Priest, Church of Satan
05.07. Setian.
From: Michael.Aquino@125-430.wmeonlin.sacbbx.com (Michael Aquino)
The founders of the Temple of Set disagreed with a May 1975 decision
by LaVey to sell the Satanic Priesthood [and all other initiatory
degrees of the Church of Satan] for personal profit. Prior to that
time the Priesthood had been considered a sacred trust, attainable
by personal merit exclusively.
When LaVey announced his new policy, approximately 100 of the
250-total members of the Church resigned on principle. These
would later become the founders of the Temple of Set. It differs
not only in its continuance of strict interpretation of initiatory
standards, but also by an open atmosphere of communication and a
rejection of Judaeo/Christian iconography.
From: Michael.Aquino@f430.n125.z1.fidonet.org (Michael Aquino)
>What is the Setian view on magickal systems, especially those of
>Carroll, Crowley, and Spare?
A general answer to your first question may take care of the others
as well ...
The Temple of Set approaches "magic" with a very broad brush; magic
is magic, be it used for whatever purpose. It involves the use of
principles which have not yet been identified or codified [or
accepted by the establishment] to be classified as "science". Since
it is imperfectly understood and applied, it yields imperfect and
unreliable results. In this it is no different than the science of
flight at the time the Wright brothers & others were trying to get
an assortment of crazy contraptions into the air, usually - but
not always - with comic opera results.
So today's magician must be prepared to achieve some success, but
also to screw up a lot. He may take some consolation in being a
pioneer, but he must also expect that non-magicians will think him
a nut. Thus it has been with all pioneers throughout history. And
of course some of them got somewhere, while others didn't.
No guarantees in this line of work.
The Temple divides magic into only two "colors" for basic purposes:
White and Black. While I could give you a variety of technical
definitions, let's keep it simple: White Magic involves
self-deception as well as the deceit of others, by being based on
mere superstition which either has nothing whatever to underpin it
or which has long since been proven a piece of nonsense. For
example: Judaeo/Christianity and all "occultisms" derived from
it, such as the Cabala.
[Pause here for shock waves to subside.]
Black Magic is magic in which there is no self-deceit whatever.
The magician knows exactly what he is doing, why he is doing it,
and what he expects to accomplish. Associates or assistants also
do what they do with open eyes. Persons, situations, or things
which are the *object* of the magical operation may be deceived,
manipulated, or otherwise changed.
In this sense a Black Magician might conduct a "White Magical"
ceremony for purposes of controlling people who believe in it.
But he would not believe in it, except as a tool, himself.
This dovetails into your question about Set & other gods. Set is not
a cartoon-god like YHVH, Krishna, et al. - but is rather a
*principle* [or *Form* in Platonic terminology] giving substance
and organization to individual self-consciousness. So while you
could theoretically pray or talk to Set, in actuality you would be
praying or talking to the thing which makes yourself yourself -
but which simultaneously enables other independent selves.
One of the founding principles of the Temple of Set in 1975 was that
"all other gods are created by men". This has never been interpreted
as a "sneer", but simply as an important realization of metaphysical
truth. It is precisely the psychecentric consciousness which enables
us to create "gods" and "daemons" to personify wishes, desires,
prerogatives beyond those to which we are limited as
inhabitants/prisoners of a mechanical, physical universe. We
approach becoming gods ourselves - the process which the Temple
summarizes as _Xeper_ - as we strengthen those aspects of ourselves
which are not dictated by the objective universe.
05.08. Greetings
+ 93 ... Ia ... Nothing ...
Nothing is Permited
From: dougg@netcom.com (Doug Grant)
The supposed origin of this statement is from the Hassan I Sabbah of
the Islamic heretical sect the Nizari Isma'ilis, also known as the
Hashasssins. The dictum is seen by some to be the jist of the
highest level of initiation within the Nizari Isma'ilis, wherein
the initiates would turn their backs to Mecca and make this
statement. It has also been attributed to being the last words of
Hassan I Sabbah on his deathbed.
Nothing is True - Everything is Permitted is an english
interpretation of an Arabic statement.
Other translations appear as:
Believe Nothing - Dare All
On Earth There is No Reckoning
The statement was popularized by William S. Burroughs in his many
literary works.
From: "Joseph Max.555"
> What do you mean by that statement, "Nothing is true ...?
There are probably as many interpretations of that particular
dictum as there are for
"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law."
I can only offer my personal take:
"Nothing is True" can be interpreted as meaning nothing is
_absolutely_ true. "Truth" is a theoretical construct, a model
laid over reality to give it meaning. As Poincare' pointed out,
there are always an infinite number of _facts_ available. "Truth"
is derived by choosing amongst those facts and assembling them into
a meaningful model.
It's like saying that neither the metric system or the English system
of measurement is "true". As long as they are self-consistant, they
are _useful_.
To quote Poincare':
"If a phenomenon admits of a particular mechanical explanation, it
will admit of an infinity of others which will account equally well
for all the peculiarities disclosed by the experiment."
So using physics as an example, we can say that Newtonian gravitational
formulae are "true" - we still use them to calculate the trajectories
of space probes. However, when speeds approach that of light, they are
no longer "true", and we must revert to general relativity to obtain
consistant results.
As for "Everything is Permitted", it is merely the consequence of
the first postulate. If nothing is true, that there are no absolutes,
the universe is relativistic (which Einstein pretty much established)
and ultimately arbitrary (and Chaos Mathematics is making a strong
case for that), then we are given the awful freedom to create
whatever universe, whatever reality, whatever TRUTH that we care
to invest belief in - and the freedom to alter that reality as need or
desire may require by altering our beliefs by application of the will.
This, BTW, is what we Chaotes call "meta-belief" - that belief itself
is only a tool by which we create reality. It is a means, not an end;
a vehicle, not a destination.
From: Balanone@tefnut.astaroth.sacbbx.com (Balanone)
Any attempt to translate Xeper literally will fail. Approximately,
Xeper is most often used as a verb, referring to willful self-
improvement, self-initiation, self-advancement, and similar self-
initiated and self-produced advancements in being. Add to that the
concept of self-creation (Xepera was the ancient Egyptian god known
for being self-created, did not come from any other source). Add to
that the idea of metamorphosis, like from caterpillar to butterfly,
but often discussed as being from child to adult or from man to god.
05.09. Chaos Star?
"In the distance, he saw the banners of Law and of Chaos raised,
side by side, the one bearing the eight radiating arrows, the
other bearing the single straight arrow of Law. And over all this
hung a huge balance in perfect equilibrium. ... The balance
sometimes tips. It must be righted. And that is the power of
mortals, to adjust the balance."
-- from _The Knight of the Swords_ by Michael Moorcock.
From: jbbell@tiguex.cs.unm.edu (Rev. J. B. Bell)
I know at least three Chaos symbols. The most well-known one in less
specialized circles than Chaos Magick is the simple eight arrows
radiating from a single center. Moorcock appears to have invented
this one, but it's possible it comes from the U.S. military.
The next popular one I know of consists of eight rays whose endpoints
define a square, with a cirle more or less bisecting the longer rays.
This is a trademarked symbol from Chaosium Games, which among other
games publishes an Elric role-playing game.
Finally we have the Star of Chaos that appears to be designed by Peter
J. Carroll. It is the familiar eight rays, but the center is obscured
by an opaque, pregnant-looking circle.
My symbological interpretation of these: the first seems to emphasize
simple dispersion or ordinary material chaos. The second is more
about breaking out of boundaries. The third stresses Chaos as the
origin of being, and the mystery at its center.
I ripped off my personal chaos symbol from Grant Morrison, writer of
excellent comics like _Kid Eternity_ and _The Invisibles_. His is
more of a black sun than a star--simply a circle, surrounded by eight
triangles. I find the black sun associations quite pleasing,
particularly when I found much mention of it in music (most recently
"Black Hole Sun") and alchemy. It is perhaps symbolically more
mystical, with a "leap of faith" or intuition, or Gnosis, between the
original mystery and the radiated points.
In the section on Yantras, in a diagram on p. 52 of
_Tools for Tantra_ by Harish Johari, which I admit is a somewhat
cheesy book, we have a couple of possibilities: one, a set of eight
equidistant lines, not arrows. The header says "Expression. Dynamic."
Then the aforementioned circle with radiating arrows. That says
"Expansion." Not a perfect match, but close enough to be interesting.
From: v306zj7w@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu (Frater ABZU)
The eight sided star appears to be relatively old, - for in the book
Symbols of Prehistoric Mesopotamia by B.L.Goff, fig.45 shows one
quite plailnly, belonging to the Hassunah period (7000=+ B.C.E.).
From: pali151@netcom.com (Sri Palindrome.151)
The Chaostar, is, in fact, the eight rays as you indicate. The
symbol is sometimes used in physics to represent the four
dimensions of matter (length, width, depth, time), and thus also
represents the extension of a point to a line, square, cube, and
tesseract ... by the formula:
- point
- "Xiqual Udinbak"
- line
- "Xiqual Uzarfe, D'kyeng"
- square
- "Xiqual Kudex, Eacht"
- cube
- "Xiqual Ashara, Dijow"
- tesseract
- "Xiqual Thaldoma, Nobo"
05.10. Kia?
From: pali151@netcom.com (Sri Palindrome.151)
Kia is a term coined by Austin Osman Spare as a label for the
unmanifest portion of the human psyche/spirit/etc. Thus, the Kia is
the Chaos within each of us. Being thus, it is the source of
inspiration, and the interface between the finite human mind and the
infinite. It's also, in a sense, the energy that causes us to grow,
change, and expand. Note the similarity between the words Kia and
"Ki," the Chinese word for the vital energy.
05.11. Ouranian Barbaric?
From: pali151@netcom.com (Sri Palindrome.151)
>I don't know the origins or meanings of many of the words mentioned.
The words are in a language termed "Ouranian Barbaric," which is
generated via the Ouranos Rite. Ouranos Baphomet is taken, in
some quarters, as the "god of magick" and source of the Great Work
itself.
http://www.chaosmatrix.com/lib/chaos/ob.html
http://www.chaosmatrix.com/lib/chaos/rites/barbget.html
05.12. Colour of Magic
Humor from Prachett's wonderful book made into tragic magic by
Pope Pete.
http://www.chaosmatrix.com/lib/chaos/texts/octarine.html
http://www.co.uk.lspace.org/
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