Why I think Peter Carroll is a Shithead.

[squigglequill]

This is the first of a few essays I'm writing to clarify where I've been, what I've accomplished and where I'm going with my spiritual development, with particular reference to the Occult studies.

So I'm now rereading Phil Hine's book Condensed Chaos, after it sitting forgotten and dismissed on my bookshelf for about a decade. Next to it is Liber

Comments

[zephret]

Thanks for writing all that out! Very interesting.

You know, I've always liked Hine's stuff more because as you said he has a far more balanced outlook on things, and less ego. The astrology thing always irked me too. I wonder why he hates it so much.
I've never been able to track down a picture of Carroll or anything about what he's like in person so that description was very intriguing, to say the least. From what I know, he departed from the IOT sometime in the 90s and has very little to do with it these days.

Interesting to hear your back story. I was the son of a pastor too so I feel some similarities there. But as to the rest of it, holy fuck. I'm just glad you're ok now.

I don't think the connection between chaos and demons is so direct... I mean, yes there is this fascination with the Cthulhu mythos, but that's not an essential part of what the chaos approach is about.

I think because of popular media, there's a whole generation of people interested in magick not for the reasons you said - although I agree that brokenness and such is probably definitely a big part of it for some.

[squigglequill]

I don't think the connection between chaos and demons is so direct... I mean, yes there is this fascination with the Cthulhu mythos, but that's not an essential part of what the chaos approach is about.

Right. But some people might not necessarily understand that when they pick up a copy of Liber Null & Psychonaut, with all those pictures of ghastly creatures and his invocation of Choronzon near the end.

I'm actually kind of glad to hear he left the IOT. Now I'm even MORE interested! But...we'll see. I want to write the rest of these essays because they are serving to help me clarify what I am all about vs. what I am NOT all about.

One thing I can say for sure is that back in my twenties, even though I didn't want to believe it, a lot of my interest was born from escapism and just the simple "Whoa! This stuff is COOL!" mentality. As Hine says, people have gone mad practicing this stuff and so a balanced mind is important but I can honestly say I didn't REALLY understand that back then. I just wanted to get into all kinds of cool, weird shit and avoid reality as much as possible. And the great thing is, I've developed enough that I can look back on this now more honestly and NOT beat myself up over it but look constructively at it.

[zephret]

There's no problem with that kind of mentality! I mean, what else is there to do in life? You could sit around chasing the "absolute truth" goose but why bother, when you could be doing and being who you want?

[squigglequill]

Well yeah but...I guess all I can say is...I go where I'm called.

Not to hold you in suspense but just wait until I get to my tarot essay. Tarot is the love of my life!!...well, one of them anyway. I followed my calling on that and all the rigorous exercises seemed like joy and more joy. I didn't do as well with Qabala and other stuff.

[zephret]

Tarot was one of the things I got into the earliest. Maybe 12 or 13. I've always loved it. I haven't practised as much recently, as I've been studying qabalah and now I'm making the connections to Tarot which I long didn't understand. Whether it's just a later superimposition upon tarot or not, it seems to fit pretty well.