The Book of The Law Study Group 3.6
Aeon418
The phrase "enginery of war" suggests to me pentagrams and hexagrams. In the various rituals these are set up around our Island-self.
According to the letter/Tarot sequence I've discussed in previous threads this verse would correspond to the letter Vav and the Hierophant. And right there on the card are the War engines. As has also been mentioned before, we are only "at war" when we obstruct or block LVX. (WAR/AWR-Light) The War engines are actually engines of LVX. This is reinforced by the Solar verse number, 6.
The word "Dung" seems significant in relation to the letter Vav because of the correspondence to the sign of Taurus. Could it mean bull shit?
As humorous as it sounds, it just might. (It does put a nice spin on the old phrase, "you're full of it". )
In Hebrew the word shit could be rendered, ShT. If you've read any Crowley you might already be familiar with this. Shin-Teth is the nature of the Aeon of Horus. It is Force & Fire, the very characteristics of Ra-Hoor-Khuit himself.
For more on ShT see the essay that follows Liber V vel Reguli.
http://hermetic.com/crowley/libers/lib5.html
Interesting correspndences:
ShT. Crowley linked this word with the god, Set. In Hebrew the word ShT means transgression. This is interesting when you consider that Liber V begins with an "animadversion" to the New Aeon. (The "sinister" Hierophant gives an inverted sign of benediction.
) This suggests re-orientation. (WAR/AWR)
This is verse 151. 777 gives: IHVH ALHIM IHVH AChD - Tetragrammaton of the Gods is one Tetragrammaton.
The rituals of pent & hex are a unifying engine. They "smite the peoples", the divided and fragmented aspects of ourselves, with Unity - AChD.
AChD has the same value as AHBH, Love, which is Union - Vav.
All's fair in Love and War.
According to the letter/Tarot sequence I've discussed in previous threads this verse would correspond to the letter Vav and the Hierophant. And right there on the card are the War engines. As has also been mentioned before, we are only "at war" when we obstruct or block LVX. (WAR/AWR-Light) The War engines are actually engines of LVX. This is reinforced by the Solar verse number, 6.
The word "Dung" seems significant in relation to the letter Vav because of the correspondence to the sign of Taurus. Could it mean bull shit?
As humorous as it sounds, it just might. (It does put a nice spin on the old phrase, "you're full of it". )In Hebrew the word shit could be rendered, ShT. If you've read any Crowley you might already be familiar with this. Shin-Teth is the nature of the Aeon of Horus. It is Force & Fire, the very characteristics of Ra-Hoor-Khuit himself.
For more on ShT see the essay that follows Liber V vel Reguli.
http://hermetic.com/crowley/libers/lib5.html
Interesting correspndences:
ShT. Crowley linked this word with the god, Set. In Hebrew the word ShT means transgression. This is interesting when you consider that Liber V begins with an "animadversion" to the New Aeon. (The "sinister" Hierophant gives an inverted sign of benediction.
) This suggests re-orientation. (WAR/AWR)This is verse 151. 777 gives: IHVH ALHIM IHVH AChD - Tetragrammaton of the Gods is one Tetragrammaton.
The rituals of pent & hex are a unifying engine. They "smite the peoples", the divided and fragmented aspects of ourselves, with Unity - AChD.
AChD has the same value as AHBH, Love, which is Union - Vav.
All's fair in Love and War.
Aeon418
One of the various meanings of the word dung is to cover land with manure. This fertilizes the ground and makes it productive. Alchemical putrefactio!
ShT = 309. This is also the value of ShDH - Field, soil, land.
The word dung also makes me think of the Scarab beetle as it pushes it's ball of (Sun) dung around. This could be likened to the magician as they work their way around the circle.
Being the god of the Outer order RHK likes beetles a lot, for the aspirant must come through midnight to reach the Sun.(Atu XVIII The Moon.) The practices that fertilize the soil of the aspirant also shake up his/her world through the process of alchemical solve. The Dark Night of the Soul must be passed through, and the illusory aspects of the lower self must be conquered during this phase. But...
ShT = 309. This is also the value of ShDH - Field, soil, land.
The word dung also makes me think of the Scarab beetle as it pushes it's ball of (Sun) dung around. This could be likened to the magician as they work their way around the circle.
Being the god of the Outer order RHK likes beetles a lot, for the aspirant must come through midnight to reach the Sun.(Atu XVIII The Moon.) The practices that fertilize the soil of the aspirant also shake up his/her world through the process of alchemical solve. The Dark Night of the Soul must be passed through, and the illusory aspects of the lower self must be conquered during this phase. But...
Initiation in the Aeon of the Child, chpt.4 - Corridors of Twilight covers this phase of the work in detail.
Aeon418
The pentagram. 5 points - Geburah - Mars - War.
From another angle the symbol can be seen as a mediator between the magician and the power that the symbol represents. Once more this suggests the letter Vav.
This definition of an engine makes me think of Crowley's comment on the number 5. "Motion coming to the aid of Matter." Through the symbol of the pentagram the magician tries to tap into this energy and bring it down to a different level. In this respect the pentagram symbol acts like an engine, converting one form of energy into another.
From another angle the symbol can be seen as a mediator between the magician and the power that the symbol represents. Once more this suggests the letter Vav.
Grigori
Dung is such a strange word in this context. It should be a noun, but seems like a verb. And a verb that seems misused in any literal sense.
Also it seems strange to bring tools of war to an island. Who is going to lay siege to the island?
Also it seems strange to bring tools of war to an island. Who is going to lay siege to the island?
Aeon418
Every island is under siege by the sea.Grigori said:
Always Wondering
I found these quotes by Eshelman helpful.
I hadn't made the connection between Nuit and the Qabalistic Great Sea before.
I really like using the phrase Light-enigine. It helps me take the focus off the external.
Sorry, I am having a hard time dealing with this group of verses individually. I have read the esay in Liber V vel Reguli but given my habit of waylaying threads I think I can wait a line or two for my questions.
Not to mention dispersion and Chronozon. I'll find a way to work that in, eventually.
AW
I hadn't made the connection between Nuit and the Qabalistic Great Sea before.
I really like using the phrase Light-enigine. It helps me take the focus off the external.
Sorry, I am having a hard time dealing with this group of verses individually. I have read the esay in Liber V vel Reguli but given my habit of waylaying threads I think I can wait a line or two for my questions.
Not to mention dispersion and Chronozon.
I'll find a way to work that in, eventually.AW
Aeon418
The Great Sea corresponds to Binah. All Binah symbols are lower manifestations of Nuit. So things like the Great Sea, the Great Mother, and Babalon are representative of Nuit. But none of these symbols is capable of containing the totality of Nuit herself. Their chief value lies in their accessablility to our minds. They give our minds something tangible to hold on to.Always Wondering said:
So while Nuit herself is more of a mystical idea that requires a different level of consciousness to understand, all of us are capable of connecting to a symbol like the Cosmic Mother or the Great Sea.
The symbolism of chapter III is very visceral and earthy. The mind seems to be instictively pulled towards literal interpretations. But to me that seems perfect for a chapter aimed at pre-Adepts, whose symbol is the Averse Pentagram. (Turn your Devil card upside down and close his Third Eye.)Always Wondering said:
I have that problem with all 220 verses.Always Wondering said:
I think one of the main difficulties with the format of this study group is it's tendency to view each verse in isolation.
Aeon418
Dung is a noun and a verb. In one sense it literally means manure. But it also means covering land with manure.Grigori said:
ravenest
Aeon418 said:
Yes, an even a high point can be surrounded by water, like the flood that some of us are finding ourselves in.
The sea can be seen as a symbol of the unconscious.
One way I was looking at this, before the flood, was that a strong island or high vantage point can be besieged by the sea (in a cyclone or storm) or a flood of water, symbolised by (among other things) the emotions and feeling realm.
We need to fortify our islands and put in place our practices, especially to be ready for times of tests and trials, within and without.
Todays reading from the Dali Lama reminds me of the importance of DAILY practice. Daily practice certainly fortifies one ... more than trying to get a quick fix (practice when trouble comes).
Okay ... if I have it now, can 'you' please stop raining?
