I like Crowley's analogy of the wars of the 20th century being the labour pains and birth pangs of the new Aeon. Considering it's a 2000 year cycle we are going to experience these pangs for at least the next 100 years and it feels like the chaos and disruption since 911 is 'the big push,'
I think at his most liberal, Crowley was more of a libertine like De Sade. This is to say he believed that certain rare elites were capable of defying social conventions, but for the masses the structure of hierarchy and decorum was still important. Only initiated masters should be taught to transcend those limits. Similar to art schools which teach structure and discipline and only those who mastered those skills can transcend them. A novice who just plays random notes does not create a master's work, only a cacophony.
Very true. Nietzsche likewise in the under read (maybe blame the title) Gay Science, Section 76:
"Thus the virtuous intellects are needed-oh, let me use the most unambiguous word-what is needed is virtuous stupidity, stolid metronomes for the slow spirit. to make sure that the faithful of the great shared faith stay together and continue their dance. It is a first-rate need that commands and demands this. We others are the exception and the danger-and we need eternally to be defended. -Well there actually are things to be said in favor of the exception,
provided that it never wants to become the rule."
So much of AC's writings were not meant to be public. He began putting whatever out at the end of his life, and I don't think it was to democratize the system or promulgate Thelema as much as the goal was to make sure his writings survived the waning and the wars.
Yes, the exception that doesn't seek to become the rule is exactly something the left needs to understand.
They are so in love with the idea that quantity makes for quality that the only way they can champion the right of the exception is to force it out of the dark corners, into the lime light and demand that it becomes the new normal.
Crowley himself a homosexual, stated that he didn't want to defend or normalize, he said "let me play Peter when the cock crows" because he understood that there is a power that the rare exception holds over the common place and popular. This is the power of quality, the top 10 list is always mediocre garbage processed for the inferior minds, but a great work of art stands out, is the rejected stone, and only appreciated by the masters.
I like Crowley's analogy of the wars of the 20th century being the labour pains and birth pangs of the new Aeon. Considering it's a 2000 year cycle we are going to experience these pangs for at least the next 100 years and it feels like the chaos and disruption since 911 is 'the big push,'
I think at his most liberal, Crowley was more of a libertine like De Sade. This is to say he believed that certain rare elites were capable of defying social conventions, but for the masses the structure of hierarchy and decorum was still important. Only initiated masters should be taught to transcend those limits. Similar to art schools which teach structure and discipline and only those who mastered those skills can transcend them. A novice who just plays random notes does not create a master's work, only a cacophony.
Very true. Nietzsche likewise in the under read (maybe blame the title) Gay Science, Section 76:
"Thus the virtuous intellects are needed-oh, let me use the most unambiguous word-what is needed is virtuous stupidity, stolid metronomes for the slow spirit. to make sure that the faithful of the great shared faith stay together and continue their dance. It is a first-rate need that commands and demands this. We others are the exception and the danger-and we need eternally to be defended. -Well there actually are things to be said in favor of the exception,
provided that it never wants to become the rule."
So much of AC's writings were not meant to be public. He began putting whatever out at the end of his life, and I don't think it was to democratize the system or promulgate Thelema as much as the goal was to make sure his writings survived the waning and the wars.
Yes, the exception that doesn't seek to become the rule is exactly something the left needs to understand.
They are so in love with the idea that quantity makes for quality that the only way they can champion the right of the exception is to force it out of the dark corners, into the lime light and demand that it becomes the new normal.
Crowley himself a homosexual, stated that he didn't want to defend or normalize, he said "let me play Peter when the cock crows" because he understood that there is a power that the rare exception holds over the common place and popular. This is the power of quality, the top 10 list is always mediocre garbage processed for the inferior minds, but a great work of art stands out, is the rejected stone, and only appreciated by the masters.