Making Occult Studies more Accessible

[LHX]

It seems that one of the biggest stumbling blocks to making progress in occult studies is the tradition of mystery (or dare i say mahdjgickque?).

We have all but dismantled that aspect of the occult here.

What is the key understanding to accomplishing this?

Does it need to be understood that the occult words and symbols came after the things that they are describing? That they are a part of a process rather than the cause of a process?

Does it need to be understood that a card pulled from the tarot sheds insight on a situation rather than [i/predicting a concrete outcome[/i] of a specific situation?

Ive been taking a look at these occult systems lately - and it seems that they all aim in some way to re-create the universe we are living in - they allow you to take a 3rd person perspective on the situation that you are actually participating in

and the resulting insight is the thing that seems magical, but in reality is just a very useful insight


some people genuinely try to make progress in studying the occult, but there arent many resources available that deliver the raw goods (not many that i know of at least)


there is a lot of people making a lot of money by writing books and confusing their readers


excuse me - my venus is ascending retrograde (how embarrassing!)

[P3nT4gR4m]

For some reason the occult seems to lend itself to superstition. Allegories are taken as histories and metaphor is taken literally. Charlatanism steps up to the plate and suddenly a gazillion would be wizards are trading on the reputation that they can turn people into newts. Science becomes religion. Suggest write a book "Magic without the bullshit"

[LHX]

For some reason the occult seems to lend itself to superstition. Allegories are taken as histories and metaphor is taken literally. Charlatanism steps up to the plate and suddenly a gazillion would be wizards are trading on the reputation that they can turn people into newts. Science becomes religion. Suggest write a book "Magic without the bullshit"

kaBLAOW

i can dig it

[P3nT4gR4m]

Of course best not forget that I'm speaking from the point of view of someone who started studying magic because I wanted to learn how to turn people into newts. I've often wondered if the smoke and mirrors are arranged in such a way as to pique ones interest. A trail of breadcrumbs that leads you to the awesome troof - you are already a newt - but now you've learned how to turn yourself back. Maybe Crowley wasn't such a dumb fuck after all.

[LHX]

i got mixed opinions on Crowley for sure - definitely wasnt all bad

he played his role in advancing the knowledge


my motives for studying the occult were all selfish at first as well

i thought the I Ching was going to open my mind to be able to Save Teh WOrld,Ñ¢



now its just really cool shit and can help put together some ill stories

[P3nT4gR4m]

Yeah so my point being that maybe occult studies shouldn't be more accessible. Maybe the mystique attracts the right kind of student?

[LHX]

point taken

that mystique seems to be sort of like the opposite of existentialism in a way

existentialism seems to promote detachment while the mystique gives people a desire to be much more involved (by perhaps exaggerating how much of a effect they can have on things)

interesting interesting

[B_M_W]

point taken

that mystique seems to be sort of like the opposite of existentialism in a way

existentialism seems to promote detachment while the mystique gives people a desire to be much more involved (by perhaps exaggerating how much of a effect they can have on things)

interesting interesting

I know you are referencing how little an effect of one person with very little effort can be greatly exaggerated. But, the effect of one person with incredible effort cannot.

Reference "The Man Who Planted Trees" somtime, if you are interested.

[LMNO]

We have all but dismantled that aspect of the occult here.

What is the key understanding to accomplishing this?

The first thing we do is mock them openly.  This is cold and harsh, not to mention not completely honest.

Then we learn them about symbol manipulation, projection, the Law of Fives, somatic loops, and propoganda.

If anybody still cares, or can still believe strongly enough, then they have the keys to madgjyiqukkkkeh.

[LHX]

please to be dropping the bomb about somatic loops for the kids who missed that class (if you get a chance)

[LMNO]

Fifth circuit.  It's an extention of the placebo effect, Method Acting, etc.  Basically, once you've figured out how the body sets off its' hormone/chemical cocktail cascade in response to stimuli, you can teach yourself to do it at will, giving you control over your body in almost any situation.




...Of course, it's as hard as fuck to do this.  However, next time you're feeling depressed, force yourself to smile, even artificially.  Eventually, your brain will respond to the physical act of smiling, even if it started out as fake.

[Triple Zero]

oh yeah, that works, definitely.

what especially works for me is when i'm feeling down (usually in combination with tired and a hard working but unsuccessful day) to turn up some happy party song (say, the Michael Viner's Incredible Bongo Band version of Apache) and get on up jump and dance. if the song has lyrics, sing along loudly.

anything to get the act as physical as possible.

in the case of smiling, don't just smile, but laugh. laugh out loud. act out your most convincing laughter.

this is the entire thing about magic. once you know how it works it's not magic anymore. like illusionists at magic shows, it's not the end result that amazes the experts anymore, but the ingenuity of the trick.

[DJRubberducky]

Fifth circuit.  It's an extention of the placebo effect, Method Acting, etc.  Basically, once you've figured out how the body sets off its' hormone/chemical cocktail cascade in response to stimuli, you can teach yourself to do it at will, giving you control over your body in almost any situation.

Oh, hell yes.  I've been playing with this a lot lately.  While I readily admit to having a low threshhold for tears - you could put me in front of a Disney comedy and I'd still find something to sniffle at - I've almost become able to cry on command.

Because I've been playing in a really good RPG and trying to really get into character.

[P3nT4gR4m]

The next step is dealing with 'godforms' ie. invoke a complete paradigm or character almost instantaneously, via whatever ritual stimulation you choose. The higher up the pyramid you can go the more powerful/effective this is.

Notice that although I've gone out my way to strip the mystical gobshite out of the above it still comes off sounding a bit hokey.

[LMNO]

That's because you're still using loaded buzzwords.  And because it has little to no connection to casual human experience.




Note:  Please be aware that I am not saying you are full of shit.