steve ash et al
wrote:
"My problem with that is it implies we are separate from our bodies, a kind of alienation, a tool is usually seen as an extension to 'us', but in this case we actually are our bodies. We may or may not be more than our physical bodies, but we remain as our physical body, rather than having a vehicle or a tool, don't we?"
re:
Well that's the question - opinions vary as we know : )
An important thread within magick is surely that there is some
separation between mind and body -
and that the mind, soul, atman (whatever you want to call it) is a
spiritual substance that can return to the source etc.
I'm not sure how Pagan theology/cosmology etc can work otherwise and all
the techniques of "astral projection"; "path working", "dream
incubation" etc etc.
But even if these questions don't both you - from a purely naturalistic
perspective - we can do things with our bodies and we can do things that
are more mentalistic -
thus we can practice yoga (physical postures) on the basis that they
have a special impact on thinking (they calm the mind etc) .
There are probable other examples of physical practices that can have
some sort of gnostic effect -
so-called "sexual magick" for example - or "Tantra"
isn't that about using the physical as a tool to liberate the mental??
From memory I think the Marcel Maus article is called "Techniques of
the Body" -
(I had terrible trouble finding this as a undergrad - asking libraries
for books by M Mouse - you can imagine)
bb/93
Mogg
PS: As to Tarot another possible origin for Tarot images is the
Renaissance carnival
(see J Burckhardt "Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy") - Don't
know the Parsival myth enough to say whether it is crucial -
according to Wiccan tradition the Tarot represents the journey of Horus
- from "Fool" (disenfranchised) to "Kingship".
> --- On Thu, 1/1/09, ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC automatic digest system <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
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> Re: Bodies as tools
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> My problem with that is it implies we are separate from our bodies, a kind of alienation, a tool is usually seen as an extension to 'us', but in this case we actually are our bodies. We may or may not be more than our physical bodies, but we remain as our physical body, rather than having a vehicle or a tool, don't we?
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