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I subscribe to a page on F***b**k called "Liber Oz," which is mostly pictures. Some of them are intriguing paintings, drawings, and photos that have fascinating occult overtones. But, a bunch of the pics are just tacky, porny pics of 20-somethings with bad tattoos and black panties. This hits on one of my sore points.
I am not a prude by any means; "lust, enjoy all things of sense and rapture," the book says. But I also read: "Be not animal; refine thy rapture! If thou drink, drink by the eight and ninety rules of art: if thou love, exceed by delicacy; and if thou do aught joyous, let there be subtlety therein!"
Now of course I don't want to end up all pestilential. But it does seem to me that there is a really popular idea out there that Thelema is just one long wine-and-drug-fueled orgy. It seems, though, if that's the public image that gets out there, that's the kind of person that's going to gravitate to it. Far be it from me to judge, but this is something I think about.
If I am interested in a path, I'm interested in it because it will lead to enlightenment or realization. (Laugh if you must.) Certainly I agree that enlightenment and realization can happen in a lot of ways, but I insist on enlightenment and realization being more than just "Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die." I don't care for fatalism or cynicism very much. I believe in living life to the fullest, but I think that also includes restraint and awareness. Anyway, that's what I think, and that and $2.00 will get you a coffee.
I am not a prude by any means; "lust, enjoy all things of sense and rapture," the book says. But I also read: "Be not animal; refine thy rapture! If thou drink, drink by the eight and ninety rules of art: if thou love, exceed by delicacy; and if thou do aught joyous, let there be subtlety therein!"
Now of course I don't want to end up all pestilential. But it does seem to me that there is a really popular idea out there that Thelema is just one long wine-and-drug-fueled orgy. It seems, though, if that's the public image that gets out there, that's the kind of person that's going to gravitate to it. Far be it from me to judge, but this is something I think about.
If I am interested in a path, I'm interested in it because it will lead to enlightenment or realization. (Laugh if you must.) Certainly I agree that enlightenment and realization can happen in a lot of ways, but I insist on enlightenment and realization being more than just "Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die." I don't care for fatalism or cynicism very much. I believe in living life to the fullest, but I think that also includes restraint and awareness. Anyway, that's what I think, and that and $2.00 will get you a coffee.
