Hi Caroline,
So, thank you for the dialogue first off. Crowley's
works has many tiers and levels. We could limit
ourselves to discussing just the formal magickal
techqnues as per Liber Aba, or delve into the more
particular issues of the ontology of Thelema and its
relevance in general.
A large part of this will be based on our criteria for
evaluating truth, and our relationship to method. Of
course, everyone will approach this material
differently depending upon their previous values, and
frame of reference.
One of the things I've had to do lately is revaluate
some of my own reactions to Crowley in terms of what
buttons his work was pushing, and why. He was a
provacateur. I wouldn't say that anyone should take
any authors work without critical reflection, yet, at
the same time, some of our most cherished values are
worth "reevaluating" as Nietzche might say, because
they might limit our understanding and create our own
projective reactions in the face of those things that
make us uncomfortable.
I must say up front, that I am biased, as I do accept
Liber Al, along with the Holy Books, as a series of
revealed teachings which speak tp the condition of
human evolution.
Is there a way to engage Crowley's work and ideas with
a "Critical Enthusiasm" that walks a line between
belief and rejection?
If we did this, could we tease out new dynamic and
vital insights? Of course, much of this would have to
be based on praxis as well as theory for it to be
meaningful. The method of "Scientific Illuminism"
Crowley posited bares a marked resemblance to the
radical empiricism of William James....By doing
certain things, certain results follow. Maybe we might
repeat some of Crowleys experiments and then see what
results follow for us? Can we test and verify as one
does in the natural sciences?
That seems to be one of the basic things that sets
magick apart from mere ideology.
Regarding strengths and weaknesses, I think it comes
down to experience. The workings at Cefalu, the Paris
working, and other kinds of extreme magickal
experimentation are things worth exploring in theory,
if not in practice.
These kinds of experience based domains of magickal
practice are exactly the kinds of areas I would like
to share dialgue around in support of my own magickal
refinements, as well as the enrichment of our common
understanding.
All the best,
Mark
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