Like Jeet Kune Do (in Defense of Liber Null)

[jamadara]

I suppose this could have gone as well or better beneath "Paradigmal Piracy," but I (obviously) decided to put it here. Link.

[Theodore Prince]

Nice article Star.  I recall a couple of years ago, I began corresponding with an individual who was in the IOT.  We got talking and he wanted me to join but due to circumstances at the time I didn't complete my MMM.  Anyway (there is a point here) it struck me how opposed to Carroll he was.  He told me that he didn't like his writings and considered them "unimportant."  I found it odd and made me wonder what the IOT was really all about.  As well he made the argument that "you can learn everything about Chaos Magick by reading about Zen."  His favorite book was "Zen Mind Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki.  Anyway, I liked your article and was just struck by the parallels with my own experience.

Cheers...Theodore

[jamadara]

Who's Star?

Yeah. As I said in the article, that point of view is not uncommon in my experience. I myself felt similarly during my first round with this stuff (Psychonaut I). My perspective has changed much since then, esp over the past year. My attitude toward Peter's work was often skeptical to acquiescent. Now as I review it I often find myself thinking, damn, that guy really knew what he was going on about (any hint of antihero worship still annoys me, however).

Thank you for your feedback.

[Theodore Prince]

Sorry, that's just a habit--"Star" I use like some would use "man," "homie," "brotha", et al.  No it's not because I'm a Thelemite 

peace...Theodore

[Isis]

Jamadara.... Did you start your own church?

[jamadara]

Jamadara.... Did you start your own church?

Negative, Ghostrider; the pattern is full.

The title of that particular section of my website developed out of my wondering how I might respond to this, but I (like to think I) have better things to do than lead a cult. It became a convenient place for me to post some material re magic.

[Isis]

Jamadara.... Did you start your own church?

Negative, Ghostrider; the pattern is full.

The title of that particular section of my website developed out of my wondering how I might respond to this, but I (like to think I) have better things to do than lead a cult. It became a convenient place for me to post some material re magic.

Darn, and I just have decided to lead my chosen people. To wear polka dots.

[Annihilation]

Since chaos magic does not use a monoparadigmatic approach, it does not have the attractive that makes religions and ideologies so dangerous: the offer of explaining everything for you, the promise there were no significant things to learn beyond a certain teaching etc. (For a highly enlightening book on the subject, or basically on how religions work, go read The Sacred Canopy now.)

So since chaos magic does not have the tools that basically addict people to it, the most crucial step for anyone to begin to "get" chaos magic is an alternative incentive to spending time and effort on it. (The fact the IOT requires a training that appears to be mostly a display of dedication should say something.) If someone feels the romantic ideal of an Asian-style master levitating in a lotus seat, redefining the universes, gets his/her juices rolling, then why not? Liber Null may be more for pragmatic experimenters, and seems to work best for people frustrated with traditional systems of western esotericism. This poster was, to his lasting shame, a member of the latter group, and has grown very fond of Liber Null indeed.