Further reading.

Have discovered donaldtyson.com, the website of an occultist. Just when you think you’ve found everything good on the Internet.

Currently reading about Lovecraft, which he makes very real and relevant.

 

Astrological notes.

Aries

lack of appreciation for subtlety, social niceties. “do or die” mentality. No grudges. Can throw themselves into something whole hog and then burn out. Self re-generation.

Taurus

mellow energy. not communicative about deep feelings. slow to anger. Conservative. They handle jealousy poorly. History lovers. Domestic. Keeping busy w/o overtaxing mentally or physically. Affinity w/ earth, nature, agriculture.

Gemini

consciousness/unconsciousness. moody. Curious – but more breadth than depth. Great communicators. Light movement, deft. Can fall in love w/ two people @ once.

Cancer

Responds to cycles, tides. Close to Moon. Moody. Psychic. Dream symbolism. Indirect. Hesitant. Lack of discipline. Avoidance of rebellion. Sense of history, tribal customs. Change is difficult, can be clingy to people and things. A sideways, convoluted approach to things. Wants money not for selfishness but for family. Complex.

Leo

Indifferent to what is outside their “kingdom.”

Virgo

Hypochondriac. Pedantic. Thoughtful and studious. Powerful gut reaction. Eye for detail. Realist – not perfectionist, but diligent. They don’t like attention. Sense of harmony. Natural remedies. Crafts. Sensitive digestion. Assoc. with the soft belly under the diaphragm.

Libra

Moderate. Good judgment. Strong-willed. Their lives center around relationships. Strong sense of justice. Attractive, know how to deck themselves out. Can be swayed by appearances or surface agreeableness. Indecision, resentment, overindulgence. Avoids conflict. Conventional. Good at strategy. Likes sugar. Tendency toward addiction.

Scorpio.

Magnetic. Can be intimidating. Prefer to attack like scorpions – hide and wait. All thing dark. Military association. Doesn’t suffer fools or superficiality. Association w/ Virgo (see glyphs). Mud. Sediment. Deep psychology. Destruction/creativity. Highs and lows. Associated with sexuality – seed. Scorpios have usually been through trauma. Also associated with the eagle, its higher or “redeemed” nature. Associated also with the phoenix.

Sagittarius.

Tolerant, forgiving, enthusiastic. Broad-minded, not rule-bound. Forthright. Despises ostentation. Fierce. Travel. Restless in romance. Creative, likes people more than abstractions. Sporty.

Capricorn.

Ambition drives them forward, Saturn holds them back. Old age is easier. They often seem older than their age. Upward-pointing horns being similar to a crown. Associated w/ wisdom gained by experience. Respect, how others see them is important.

Aquarius.

Modest, humble. “Offering the water.”

Pisces.

Not decisive. Peaceful. Spiritual. Absorbers. Good starters, not good at finishing. Receptive. Can be manipulative.

 

By their fruits.

Have been reading a site called askrealjesus.com, written by someone who is channeling an entity that claims to be Jesus of Nazareth. I am steadfastly agnostic about any entity’s identity, but if the material is good, it’s worth reading.

Still working with the two Agreements and realizing what a challenge they are to practice consistently.

Got a Brighid’s cross for the new house and a Celtic cross as well. Plan to put it on my altar.

As for my online reading, going to begin a complete study of all the astrological signs. Will assist in my readings.

 

Finished Liber Aba. Looking up the LBRP right now…Apparently, the LBRP isn’t something I can — or, rather, want — to do until I understand what-all it is I’d be doing. The premise seems nice, though.

Going to move on to learning what I can about the Hebrew alphabet. Wish I hadn’t given away my resource on it.

 

Some of the Crowley is funny:

This is true enough. In fact, the majority of people who claim to have “seen God,” and who no doubt did “see God” just as much as those whom we have quoted, did nothing else.

But perhaps their silence is not a sign of their weakness, but of their strength. Perhaps these “great” men are the failures of humanity; perhaps it would be better to say nothing; perhaps only an unbalanced mind would wish to alter anything or believe in the possibility of altering anything; but there are those who think existence even in heaven intolerable so long as there is one single being who does not share that joy. There are some who may wish to travel back from the very threshold of the bridal chamber to assist belated guests.

 

Am satisfied with my own momentum in my practice, and the natural elasticity I feel comfortable in. And in this journal. Am engaged now in reading Liber Aba; Crowley deserves his wicked reputation but was an undoubted genius.

Am progressing slowly but steadily in TMQ. It is rich and heady stuff. Part of me suspects that simpler books on the same subject must have been written since, but it is optimal to learn from a real adept, the first time round at least.

Have been journeying nightly with always interesting results. No impulse to write them up here as of yet.

 

Am beginning to think that my practice should be built around this journal.

From a post on Barb:

In determining an appropriate daily practice, I would say the first thing to consider is the purpose/intent/end goal. Do you want to become better at sensing energy? Achieving a clear mind or samadhi state? Connection with the Divine? Communicating with spirits? Then pick one activity or exercise to help with that and do it continuously for an extended period (a month is a good round figure). (emphasis mine) Depending on your intent, there are several magical-attunement exercises that can be done in the background of your day, after an initial period of getting used to it. Feri tradition has a kind of balancing exercise for yourself that, once you get used to it, can be done just taking a walk down the street or even while in a meeting. Self-Reiki can be done while you’re having a conversation with someone else, you just need to be able to have your hands on yourself for 5 or 10 minutes without moving them around too much. I think the real stumbling block is more that every activity needs a week or two (or more) initial setting up period where you DO have to devote energy and attention to it, before it can be done with only half-attention. I personally used to think the LBRP was a little complicated, but I had a friend who’s been doing it for so long that she can run it in under 5 minutes. “Sufficient daily practice” cannot be defined by anyone else, it is solely what YOU feel is a good amount for you.

Someone on Barb is talking about building an astral temple. Am curious about what this is, exactly.

 

Finished off the Barb thread. Now trying to find whatever other threads I can about practices magical.

 

Finished Applied Magic. Starting on The Mystical Qabalah, a rather heartier and more challenging stew.

Finished previous Barb thread. Now on Daily practice: how do *you* stay in shape?

Interestingly, a B-devoted person emailed me today. Just like that.

 

Finished Barbelith thread. I need to develop mine own magical practice. Not sure what is appropriate or what to commit to, so I’m going to start with the top thread on the topic: “Assessing your practice.”

Am about 1/2way through Fortune’s Applied Magic.

Am going to apply myself to Crowley book as well. Have it up on the browser and will keep it up so I can work through it.

Am becoming interested in kundalini yoga, though it seems like there is a dearth of good teachers near my future home.

Orange. Banana.  I feel like my eating habits have improved as a result of recording them here. Mindfulness around this has definitely increased. I am thinking, starting tomorrow, all food entries will be in one daily post so that they don’t clutter up the blog and also to get a better sense of my total intake for the day. It’s easy enough to edit them in.