Movement and the Aeons
So I'm now in Toronto, living with morganxpage. Our dwelling-place is called The Nadir.
I've been thinking about the Aeons recently, and I have an idea of why so many Thelemites are such jerks. Whether or not the Aeons of Isis, Osiris and Horus represent historical epochs (which is certainly up for debate) they can also be seen as periods of personal development. The Aeon of Isis is the infantile illusion of omnipotence, of union between the ego and the unconscious; it lasts until the first time the mother simply cannot or does not provide what the infant is demanding, and then the Aeon of Osiris begins. You have bratty kids, sulky teenagers and impulsive young adults; the death-and-rebirth cycle of Osiris is an apt metaphor for the continuous striving toward individuality alternating with deflation of the ego. Finally, having resolved their psychological issues regarding their childhood and established a conscious dialogue with the unconscious, these adults may enter into the personal Aeon of Horus (there may be more to it than this, but it's not immediately important to my argument).
Now, in his various commentaries on The Book of the Law, Crowley proposes a formula of child-rearing designed to emphasize Horian individuation and early discovery of true Will. This is, in theory, an excellent method to ensure that the children of Horian parents remain Horian (it will remain theoretical until it is properly put into practice). But what if the parents are still Osirian? Then the child will have to pass through an Osirian period of development himself; and it is during this tumultuous phase that they will be most drawn to "alternative" religions like Thelema, as a method of rebellion.
Since there are plenty of Osirians still around (indeed the majority of people alive today), we can statistically assume that many Thelemites are themselves Osirian. We are thus faced with an unfortunate situation: thousands of Osirians around the world believe themselves to be Horian, when in fact they have not gone through the necessary personal development to reach that point. Furthermore, they are likely to pass on much of their Osirian baggage to their children unless they can deal with it themselves before having any children. Long story short: we may have the new formulae, but the Aeon of Osiris is far from over.
I've been thinking about the Aeons recently, and I have an idea of why so many Thelemites are such jerks. Whether or not the Aeons of Isis, Osiris and Horus represent historical epochs (which is certainly up for debate) they can also be seen as periods of personal development. The Aeon of Isis is the infantile illusion of omnipotence, of union between the ego and the unconscious; it lasts until the first time the mother simply cannot or does not provide what the infant is demanding, and then the Aeon of Osiris begins. You have bratty kids, sulky teenagers and impulsive young adults; the death-and-rebirth cycle of Osiris is an apt metaphor for the continuous striving toward individuality alternating with deflation of the ego. Finally, having resolved their psychological issues regarding their childhood and established a conscious dialogue with the unconscious, these adults may enter into the personal Aeon of Horus (there may be more to it than this, but it's not immediately important to my argument).
Now, in his various commentaries on The Book of the Law, Crowley proposes a formula of child-rearing designed to emphasize Horian individuation and early discovery of true Will. This is, in theory, an excellent method to ensure that the children of Horian parents remain Horian (it will remain theoretical until it is properly put into practice). But what if the parents are still Osirian? Then the child will have to pass through an Osirian period of development himself; and it is during this tumultuous phase that they will be most drawn to "alternative" religions like Thelema, as a method of rebellion.
Since there are plenty of Osirians still around (indeed the majority of people alive today), we can statistically assume that many Thelemites are themselves Osirian. We are thus faced with an unfortunate situation: thousands of Osirians around the world believe themselves to be Horian, when in fact they have not gone through the necessary personal development to reach that point. Furthermore, they are likely to pass on much of their Osirian baggage to their children unless they can deal with it themselves before having any children. Long story short: we may have the new formulae, but the Aeon of Osiris is far from over.