I think this is an excellent post but I tend to disagree with no. 1 to a degree. Read Regardie's articles in the first volume of the Complete Golden Dawn System on Magic from New Falcon. I think that an order needs to have a certain amount of elitism for it to function on a magical level above the standard. I am of the opinion that Crowley got it wrong that Magick is for ALL. Magic obviously isn't for all as the majority of his student failed to even progress beyond Probationer, let alone Neophyte, y'know, where the real work in the A.'.A.'. begins and most people who take the 0=0 in the GD fail to go beyond that grade.
I think occultism NEEDS to get away from this attitude fluff attitude that it has developed. As an example Thelema has fallen from the standard that it once symbolized in the seventies, supplanted by the Chaos Magic movement. Outside of a few small movements very little is being done in the magical currents that really stands out as taking the current and expanding it except for Pat Zalewski and a small handful like Jason Augustus Newcomb, Mick Staley, Nick Farrell, Aaron Leitch, I love the Cicero's work but it is for the most part material to help the beginner on the path. Their more recent work is a step in the right direction though.
Elitism, keeping out the Inepti and eliminating those who seem to make it in, is a necessary element to maintaining the quality and intensity of an egregore. If the majority of the members are lazy do nothings, then the egregore of the lodge will be weak. If the order cultivates a sense of elitism, a strong ethic instead of allowing weaker brethren to tear down the order, the egregore will be all the stronger. I'd rather have five strong brethren contributing to the egregore than 1000 weak members just distracting from the accumulation of energy.
From a Thelemic perspective remember:
We have nothing with the outcast and the unfit: let them die in their misery. For they feel not. Compassion is the vice of kings: stamp down the wretched & the weak: this is the law of the strong: this is our law and the joy of the world.
Ye are against the people, O my chosen!
The ordeals thou shalt oversee thyself, save only the blind ones. Refuse none, but thou shalt know & destroy the traitors
Despise also all cowards; professional soldiers who dare not fight, but play; all fools despise!
But the keen and the proud, the royal and the lofty; ye are brothers!
All these to me speak to a sense of elitism, especially in Thelema.
Yeah see, by "fluffy bunny" I don't mean "armchair occultist syndrome"--which is far more what you seem to be railing about and I think needs its own item.
12 - Rants and raves about the "right" way to do various practices either online or off (mostly on) while clearly participating in none of them.
Unfortunately, it has been my experience that the leaders and groups that practice elistism are miserable groups that specialize in backstabbing. I know one local member of OTO, who claims to be the only person qualified to teach the occult in Colorado (can't get more elite than that), whose personal conduct in terms of making sure no new group forms and that no one rises up in Grade to pose a threat to them is downright scaring. For me, elitism is a sign that I need to leave, and damn fast.
I think occultism NEEDS to get away from this attitude fluff attitude that it has developed. As an example Thelema has fallen from the standard that it once symbolized in the seventies, supplanted by the Chaos Magic movement. Outside of a few small movements very little is being done in the magical currents that really stands out as taking the current and expanding it except for Pat Zalewski and a small handful like Jason Augustus Newcomb, Mick Staley, Nick Farrell, Aaron Leitch, I love the Cicero's work but it is for the most part material to help the beginner on the path. Their more recent work is a step in the right direction though.
Elitism, keeping out the Inepti and eliminating those who seem to make it in, is a necessary element to maintaining the quality and intensity of an egregore. If the majority of the members are lazy do nothings, then the egregore of the lodge will be weak. If the order cultivates a sense of elitism, a strong ethic instead of allowing weaker brethren to tear down the order, the egregore will be all the stronger. I'd rather have five strong brethren contributing to the egregore than 1000 weak members just distracting from the accumulation of energy.
From a Thelemic perspective remember:
We have nothing with the outcast and the unfit: let them die in their misery. For they feel not. Compassion is the vice of kings: stamp down the wretched & the weak: this is the law of the strong: this is our law and the joy of the world.
Ye are against the people, O my chosen!
The ordeals thou shalt oversee thyself, save only the blind ones. Refuse none, but thou shalt know & destroy the traitors
Despise also all cowards; professional soldiers who dare not fight, but play; all fools despise!
But the keen and the proud, the royal and the lofty; ye are brothers!
All these to me speak to a sense of elitism, especially in Thelema.
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12 - Rants and raves about the "right" way to do various practices either online or off (mostly on) while clearly participating in none of them.
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