The Book of The Law Study Group 3.62
Zephyros
I'm too lazy to open the commentary just now, but this verse makes me think of the phallic, orgasmic Tower, the ordeal of Fire. We come to Nuit through what was seen in the old Aeon as a trial, but here the test (in essence, having sex) is in itself bliss, and then we reach the orgasm allowing union. This isn't "be fruitful and multiply" but rather a delivery of any act (any act is an act of sex) from the "lust of result." Any tribulation is bliss, as it is your True Will to undergo it.
This verse may be urging us to practice Sex Magick.
This verse may be urging us to practice Sex Magick.
Aeon418
As Crowley pointed out in his commentary on I:65, To Me in Greek is Το Μη = 418.
The verse number reduces to 8. (6+2=8) 8 = ChITh = 418.
There are 65 letters in this verse. ADNI = 65.
There are 16 words in this verse. The 16th path is Vav - Atu V The Hierophant.
This verse is the 207th in the book as a whole. 207 is the numerical value of both AVR - light, and AIN SVPh - the limitless.
Taken as a whole I see lots of numerical pointers to the HGA. It is towards the HGA that we are to direct our reverence. The 'tribulations' are the means by which the HGA works with the aspirants soul. I'm thinking of both the paths of Samekh and Peh here, and the trial and testing that one undergoes on those paths.
III x 62 = 186 - QVPh, Atu XVIII The Moon. The Dark Night of the Soul?
186 is also the value of γολγοθα - Golgotha, the place of the Skull (XIV Art?). The ordeal of the legendary Jesus at Golgotha is a graphic description of how the personality-self experiences these times of tribulation. But does the perspective of the personality-self provide a clear picture of what is actually happening?
The verse number reduces to 8. (6+2=8) 8 = ChITh = 418.
There are 65 letters in this verse. ADNI = 65.
There are 16 words in this verse. The 16th path is Vav - Atu V The Hierophant.
This verse is the 207th in the book as a whole. 207 is the numerical value of both AVR - light, and AIN SVPh - the limitless.
Taken as a whole I see lots of numerical pointers to the HGA. It is towards the HGA that we are to direct our reverence. The 'tribulations' are the means by which the HGA works with the aspirants soul. I'm thinking of both the paths of Samekh and Peh here, and the trial and testing that one undergoes on those paths.
III x 62 = 186 - QVPh, Atu XVIII The Moon. The Dark Night of the Soul?
186 is also the value of γολγοθα - Golgotha, the place of the Skull (XIV Art?). The ordeal of the legendary Jesus at Golgotha is a graphic description of how the personality-self experiences these times of tribulation. But does the perspective of the personality-self provide a clear picture of what is actually happening?
ravenest
Maybe it does if it sees the wonderful gift of life and incarnation - regardless of 'ordeals', 'suffering' or pain as bliss
And even at 'The End' when one 'comes through' it all there is the bliss of disolution (Nuit)
Aeon418
Maybe it does if it sees the wonderful gift of life and incarnation - regardless of 'ordeals', 'suffering' or pain as bliss
I'm sure the resurrected Jesus would agree with you.
It's a shame that Christianity focused on the wrong bit. But perhaps it had to be that way...
Aeon418
In his own commentary Crowley mentions the significance of the etymology of "tribulation." Closrapexa, you might find the last part amusing. 
I find the link to threshing boards quite interesting. Threshing boards were used to separate grain from straw. That brings to mind a few well known biblical quotes. (Matthew 3:12, Luke 3:17) I wonder if the Hierophants hand gesture could be interpreted as a winnowing fork?
But I have no idea what a winnowing fork looks like, so it's just idle speculation.
I find the link to threshing boards quite interesting. Threshing boards were used to separate grain from straw. That brings to mind a few well known biblical quotes. (Matthew 3:12, Luke 3:17) I wonder if the Hierophants hand gesture could be interpreted as a winnowing fork?
But I have no idea what a winnowing fork looks like, so it's just idle speculation.
Zephyros
Apparently I've obtained my long-desired reputation for thinking of nothing but sex. At last!!
In any case, lucky the 1956 version of the Ten Commandments is among my favorite movies (lots of affliction plus four hours of hearing my name, although my name isn't God, unfortunately) so it was easy to check. In any case, a winnowing fork is like a fork only made of wood, with a gap in the middle between the tines, to allow the chaff or whatever through (I must admit to never having winnowed).
It does kind of look like his fingers, actually, although I would expect to see that kind of symbolism on the opposite piller. But I suppose it's implied in who and what he is.
(I'm not really here though. The Lovers are playing unfairly; analyzing them is looking at two cards at once! Right now I'm working on this excellent article about Cain, although it doesn't actually answer my questions. Hopefully by the time I finish summing it up in my notebook I'll know more about him.
www.aish.com/jl/b/eb/ca/
In any case, lucky the 1956 version of the Ten Commandments is among my favorite movies (lots of affliction plus four hours of hearing my name, although my name isn't God, unfortunately) so it was easy to check. In any case, a winnowing fork is like a fork only made of wood, with a gap in the middle between the tines, to allow the chaff or whatever through (I must admit to never having winnowed).
It does kind of look like his fingers, actually, although I would expect to see that kind of symbolism on the opposite piller. But I suppose it's implied in who and what he is.
(I'm not really here though. The Lovers are playing unfairly; analyzing them is looking at two cards at once! Right now I'm working on this excellent article about Cain, although it doesn't actually answer my questions. Hopefully by the time I finish summing it up in my notebook I'll know more about him.
www.aish.com/jl/b/eb/ca/
ravenest
I'm sure the resurrected Jesus would agree with you.
It's a shame that Christianity focused on the wrong bit. But perhaps it had to be that way...
I never understood why the main image is the death and not the ressurection. I used to think; how many people were crucified? Is not the significant issue that Christ was supposed to have arisen from the dead. Imagine the glorified image of ressurection being over tha altar instead of one of torture and death.
But then, it is an image of the dying god, the old aeon and like blue lodge masonry the word is lost. What a place to leave the candidate! Of course one can progress beyond to the Royal Arch and discover the lost word and its significance ... or one can keep seeking and find Thelema
Zephyros
Religious and sexual and painful ecstasy aren't that different(I know, I should find something else to talk about, but there it is). The rather pornographic image of a suffering man together with a very real, ecstatic, sexual love rather than the abstract love of Judaism contributed to Christianity's great appeal. There is a reason why Jesus has such great abs in all statues and paintings.
Jesus died for your sins, look upon my six-pack and despair!
Resurrection just doesn't have that star-appeal Mel Gibson could make a movie out of. Not to mention there is also an element of guilt. God resurrected Jesus, but it was Man who killed him. Well, not Man, exactly, the Jews did, and here we have Set. Only instead of one man, the killers of this Dying God were the entire race of Jew-das Iscariot.
To answer your question, ravenest, it's all a question of marketing.
Of course, seen another way, although it would be in direct contrast to the rest of the book, based on this verse alone, this could be understood as the ecstasy of self-flagellation.
Read a certain way, what I've just written could lead to the gallows. Rest assured I have nothing against Christians, nor am I anti-semitic (although I'm allowed to be (; ).
Jesus died for your sins, look upon my six-pack and despair!
Resurrection just doesn't have that star-appeal Mel Gibson could make a movie out of. Not to mention there is also an element of guilt. God resurrected Jesus, but it was Man who killed him. Well, not Man, exactly, the Jews did, and here we have Set. Only instead of one man, the killers of this Dying God were the entire race of Jew-das Iscariot.
To answer your question, ravenest, it's all a question of marketing.
Of course, seen another way, although it would be in direct contrast to the rest of the book, based on this verse alone, this could be understood as the ecstasy of self-flagellation.
Read a certain way, what I've just written could lead to the gallows. Rest assured I have nothing against Christians, nor am I anti-semitic (although I'm allowed to be (; ).
ravenest
Man! That cracked me up!!!
- it’s not for me through ... but then again, apparently I weird ... I don’t connect love and hate.
I was bought up as a Roman catholic and in that regard
) collective ... um, 'ecstatic sexual pain zone'. No one died for my sins ... what sins! What the hell are you talking about ???!!! (lookout, you have triggered him off!)!
Try to make me feel guilty will you (reminds me of the time my mate in lower high school was told to hold out his hand for the strap for six of the best , he goes; sure ... first one he grabs it and starts smacking the abuser about the head with it ... beautiful!
There you go again!
No you wont ... you will go STRAIGHT TO HELL! And when you get there you will admit, I have been bad, punish me for my sins. And of course the devil will say. "No."
(that was the bit that cracked me up) Certainly! Just as I am 'allowed to be' anti-white western Anglo Roman Catholic
Okay you were bought up how you were and if you want to connect pain and sex and ecstasy that’s fine
- it’s not for me through ... but then again, apparently I weird ... I don’t connect love and hate. I was bought up as a Roman catholic and in that regard
I say; shove it up your (not yours C. but the expounder of that doctrine
) collective ... um, 'ecstatic sexual pain zone'. No one died for my sins ... what sins! What the hell are you talking about ???!!! (lookout, you have triggered him off!)!Try to make me feel guilty will you (reminds me of the time my mate in lower high school was told to hold out his hand for the strap for six of the best , he goes; sure ... first one he grabs it and starts smacking the abuser about the head with it ... beautiful!
Ya gotta drop this guilt trip man .. its all tied up with the basis of thinking someone is so special (theologically) and when they get stick (because of attitude, or the fact that merde can happen to anyone) it must be because God, or our lover or parents are punishing us because we did something wrong ... guilt! Even my closest two indigenous friends (who have the MOST valid reason to complain about anyone's treatment of them) get remorse or guilt expressed to them by individual whitefellas tell them they have to get over that.
yes ... yes it is ... thats sooo depressing that it bought me down off my rant.To answer your question, ravenest, it's all a question of marketing.
There you go again!
No you wont ... you will go STRAIGHT TO HELL! And when you get there you will admit, I have been bad, punish me for my sins. And of course the devil will say. "No."
(that was the bit that cracked me up) Certainly! Just as I am 'allowed to be' anti-white western Anglo Roman Catholic 