But back to the traps - a handful of times I have seen others say (on /r/occult, for example) that he laid some careful traps in the design & perhaps symbolism.
I still dont understand how they are traps .... calculated 'leads' perhaps ... hints of inner meanings ... 'initiated knowledge' (but he says they are in there quiet clearly in places, even with reference to the particular degree), eclectic cross-referencing , etc.
I have a hunch that it may be related to the elemental dignities of the courts, but I can't be too sure.
Oh ... I left out 'complexities' .... the courts do have a different astrological associations ( ruling astrological degrees that bridge two sign). Some might see 'complexities' as traps or tricks if they dont understand them (Clos' link only had 21 quotes , we could add 'traps' as an answer between 7. and 8. )
Isn't it supposed that in the inner order of Rosicrucian orders that there are certain rearrangements of the Tree of Life? Just ruminating - thanks for all the responses thus far. Assuring, to say the least.
Depends what 'Rosicrucian Order' you mean. In the G.D. and some Crowley related Orders the Rosicrucian Degrees ARE an 'Inner Order' . There are different versions of the Tree and some other Rosicrucian Orders may use them, or advocate study of the different types.
Personally , in my own 'personal inner order' I have my own re-arrangement of the Tree ( but its more psycho-astrological than Kabbalistic).
Still havent seen a trap though through all of this though.
The whole system warns one against THE traps though. For example, in addressing the elements ( and their forces and their entitification ) :
" So shalt thou gradually develop the powers of thy soul, and fit thyself to command the Spirits of the elements. For wert thou to summon the Gnomes to pander to thine avarice, thou wouldst no longer command them, but they would command thee. Wouldst thou abuse the pure beings of the woods and mountains to fill thy coffers and satisfy thy hunger of Gold? Wouldst thou debase the Spirits of Living Fire to serve thy wrath and hatred? Wouldst thou violate the purity of the Souls of the Waters to pander to thy lust of debauchery? Wouldst thou force the Spirits of the Evening Breeze to minister to thy folly and caprice? Know that with such desires thou canst but attract the Weak, not the Strong, and in that case the Weak will have power over thee."
Even if one was attracted to practice magick from being involved in the Book of Thoth, the preliminary Liber on practice says this right at the beginning:
http://hermetic.com/crowley/libers/lib6.html points 1 - 5.
Full of warnings against the traps.
Next time someone says that I guess the only way to know is ask THEM what they mean .... and I bet its some sort of confusion or conspiracy theory.
To add my ruminations : Last week I presented a PP on Hermetics, towards the end there were some image collages of symbols showing some things Hermetics represented ... one of the group called out " Illuminati! Thats from the Illuminati! " with a tone of shock or something.
Me; "What's that?"
"WELL ! ... its at least ... Masonic."
"Yes it is."
" And you are okay with that?"
"Yes I am, why ?"
.... .... silence ... I assume he wasn't game to cough up his poorly worked out and ill-informed theory .... but I will be tagged ... OHHH, I will be tagged alright !