Quote from: Stookie on June 25, 2007, 12:10:01
Crowley called himself "The Beast", referring to the antichrist. Whether he actually believed he was, who knows. Crowley was involved with a number of occult groups before he founded the OTO. He created short-cut paths that skip over important lessons so a person could experience without wisdom and knowledge. Of course his words deny that, but if you do enough research, it's well documented in theosophical and occult literature. Thelema is nothing more than egotism.
Occult means "hidden", and there was nothing said that implicated "occult" to be negative. I was just knocking a opium-smoking, drug-addled occultist and his egotistical teachings.
I apologize if my one sentence on Crowley wasn't informative enough.
Right lets clear up a few things
1) Uncle Al Crowley did not found the OTO . He was originaly a member of the Golden Dawn, was recruited by one Theodor Reuss (http://www.oto-uk.org/OTO-history.php)
2) The OTO is not a cult (its lovely honest ) . A cult depends upon manipulation and control of members under a dictatorial leadership. Nothing of this occurs within an organisation that works on the priniciples of Thelema (again Uncle Al didnt invent this either http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thelema)
3) Yes he had a drug problem , as he himself admited cuased by experimentation and a belief that if a person were innocent he could overcome the effects ( herionwas prescriped to him for his ashma)
4) To Mega Therion or in english BEast describes one of his magikical identities as a male phalic force . in Thelmic cosomologey (not too dissimilar to say Taosim ) we have male (Hadit) and female (Nuit ) principles being brought together . Balance being the key to discover ones will (or Thelema). 666 is a solar number not as demonised by christian one refering originaly to the christian devil (now Lucifer maybe (or Promethius )). And to say he took many shortcuts in his mystical works well , have you even seen the Equinox volume 1 (never mind the numerous Liber's written )
What you say about Thelema is amusing , and well basicly incorrect . As it is an expresion of discovering one's own will then each individual must find many methods and ways . Ego and will seem tied together but to understand one you must embrace the other.
Now Sleski , you maye have very well come across what can be called your HGA (personal angel higher self etc ). YOur truth of being , and as its yours and yours alone its down to you how you interact and communicate with it.
You might want to drop Ameth lodge an email if your intrested (the link above is for their website)again lovely people (i should know i was a member untill last year

Or even better research yourself .
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