This approach was pioneered by Moses of Cordova. Someone might come with a
problem: "My mother in law has a skin disease and my wife hates me, and I
don't understand what all these things are about." Moses of Cordova could
say; "Well, what is happening there is that within Yesod there is a Binah.
Within that Binah there is another Yesod. In your home, in the Yesod that is
the place where you are just relaxing and thinking, your Mother in law is like
a Binah, ruling that home. Because she has a skin disease, her daughter is
upset and this upsets the life of your home. There are three Trees nested
within one another ..." -- the poor fellow would wander away thinking "what is
going on!?" For Moses of Cordova, it made sense. It can make sense to you
too, but it takes practice. Find occasions to string a Tree of Life simply,
like a gauze net over a part of your life, a little experience or encounter.
Identify the parts of that in very small detail. Usually it's easy to find a
polarity, something that you can build a Tree of Life across, perhaps
something that you like or dislike -- either one, it doesn't matter which.
That's the two extreme points, the Keter and Malkut of a Tree beginning to
manifest. Beyond this, the analysis may begin.
Previous, Part XXVI Next: A little more practical look
Primary Sources
Karl and Edgar:
Here is Karl Germer's account of mounting alarm at signs and portents. Some of this is true enough, but much is paranoia feeding paranoia. We open with Karl's partial transcript of a letter to an unmentioned OTO member and continue with his notes concerning experiences, the latter historically interesting for dates and places. Karl began collecting notes and editing such things in folders about this time, in similar fashion to his multiple notes and drafts of experience in a Nazi concentration camp. In our September '96 e.v. issue, we published a letter on the 1943 e.v. worry mentioned below, from Karl Germer to Max Schneider. There is some independent speculation that a part of the FBI attention may have been related to racism. Sascha Germer taught voice at Carnegie Hall and was perhaps the only prominent "white" voice teacher in the country to engage an African-American student for main stream concert solo study. Mr. Hoover was considered to be unhappy over such contact between the races. Whatever the actual situation, Karl became very repressive of any overt OTO activity, including meetings and initiations. In their last years, both Karl and Sascha became convinced that their car was bugged, that every plane flying overhead was photographing them and that every noise in the bushes was a spy.
K.J.G. Oct 17/49
In this connection I think I better tell you that the FBI has been and is hot
on my trail. You will probably remember their investigation of Agape Lodge
in 1942 or 1943 where -- as far as I know -- Jack and WTS were involved because
of complaints by neighbors. Have any other Lodge members been questioned at
that time? O was called, or better, summoned to the F.B.I. H.Q. and severely
cross questioned. At least since that time (1943), possibly since 1942, my
telephones have been tapped. A friend of mine was called to the FBI last week
(they had recorded a phone talk) to tll {sic} them about it (whether I am a
Nazi, or a Communist, what he knew about A.C., whether he had been in
California, whether he knew thelemic literature, etc. etc.). It so happened
that I had not seen that friend for a year or two, and that he knew or
remembered only vaguely about my talking or showing him Liber AL, and OZ; and
that he is a loyal friend. He has been the first who -- to the annoyance of
the FBI -- called me up at once and asked me what I had committed, and that
they had a 200 page file on my case.
The whole thing is against A.C. and against Thelema (they knew that I had
testified in 1934 for A.C. in his libel suit and that the British since then
have consistently refused a visa to me).
I should not wonder now if they have not for a long time watched my envelopes
to know the names of those with whom I correspond, in order to get data on
the spy net that I control, in the USA and especially in California, but also
abroad. For many years we have had the most peculiar, sometimes naive and
childish experiences. The pieces only now seem to fit together into a scheme.
I presume they know the names and addresses of everybody in Cal. To what
extent they check on them I don't know. The fact is that our phone at H.Q. is
also tapped. As nobody can find the place the first time, we have arranged
for visitors to call us up on the phone from the nearest town or phone, so
that I can meet them and take them up to our house. We are quite secluded and
it begins to be funny for us to see soon after a visitor has phoned that some
lout passes near by to try to get the number of the License Plate or see what
wicked plotters are there.
Of course, we have nothing to hide. We have no secrets. Nor do we try to do
anything even in the slightest to the detriment of the U.S., or the
Government. In fact, my friend advised me to frankly write to Edgar Hoover
and ask for an interview (a thought I've had before). But I'm poor at
talking, I could never expound 93, or, in case of an attack, defend my or our
position decently. The time, I feel ever surer, will come for things of that
sort. I like a fight, a real fight. But it is the Gods who will prepare the
day, and patience can be a great virtue. One must know to wait.
-oOo-
STATEMENT OF OPERATION "SNEAK".
I arrived in New York from France June 1941.
Soon after my arrival the surveillance of me and my movements seems to have
started.
Since 1942 my telephones have been tapped; possibly since 1941 when I lived at
1007 Lexington ave, though I have no evidence of this; but certainly
when I lived at W. 71st St, during the whole period (eight years) when
we lived at 260 W 72nd St. And, of course, when we took our house in
Hampton N.J.
As a result whenever I began a new business enterprise it was interfered with
and wrecked. Mrs. Germer's flourishing music studio has been
destroyed with the most devilishly sinister means. Her best students
have been weaned away or influenced against her, trained to spy on
her, to trap her probably with a view ultimately to frame her, and
through her, me. Some students quite likely were ordered to carry
secret microphones.
It is true that telephones may legally only be tapped
(a) for a limited period only;
(b) by permission of established authorities;
(c) by notifying the persons tapped
then we are not aware that any of these legal rules have been
observed.
The F.B.I. or organisation that has been organising this persecution had
established an office just opposite, and one the same floor-level of
our studio apartment in 260 W 72nd St. New York. From there close
watch was maintained of all our activities. Cars (Cadillacs) were
ready to trail us, even when Mr. G. himself went to meet an
appointment with doctor or dentist, or took Mrs. G. there. From there
a watch service seems to have been organized. When we went to a
theater, opera, or movie there was sure to be a watcher to take the
time of our return at the door, often very late at night.
From the opposite window our apartment windows could be easily seen.
Once Mrs. G.'s most successful singer was invited to the rooms or
offices of the F.B.I. opposite, and was shown how well she could
observe the goings-on in our apartment.
There is evidence that the superintendents of the apartments we had were paid
to spy. This is positive of the apartment-building at 260 W. 72nd St.
Hampton N.J. -- our house there is secluded, but watched closely since we
bought it. A great number of men, women, boys and girls keep close
watch; they must follow instructions from a center which again has
access to the telephone tapping and know our intended movements and
returns. The license numbers of the cars of our visitors were
regularly registered, probably to obtain their names in order to
contact them later. They, though former friends, became invariably
alienated, or began to ask strange questions such as Catholics,
Communism.
Worse than this; Both Mrs. G. and I. have personal files with books,
papers, records, letters etc. While living in New York, we used to
take long vacations, such as one month in the Adirondacks, the
Catskills, 3 months in California, 2 months in Canada. The
regulations in New York say that one key must be left with the
superintendent of the building. We noticed that our papers have been
carefully and systematically searched, not by burglars but people who
were after other things. From Mrs. G.'s files some extremely (to her)
important and valuable records of her former professional activities
have been stolen. In my files, during the New York period, I could
see how greatly they were in disorder. Some books were stolen.
When I moved to our house in Hampton I bought steel filing cabinets
with keys and locks. Yet the Yale locks did not prevent the intruders
from entering our house during our absence, but also had means to open
the steel cabinets, search and take books, papers away from my library
and files. We were while we still had our apartment in New York, in
the habit of leaving our house in Hampton Monday morning, working in
New York till Thursday night, then returning to Hampton. This
schedule was known accurately by the spy system. During the three
days they had ample time to search and keep a tab on what letters were
being written, to whom, and from whom received. The things that have
been stolen have no interest or value to an ordinary burglar. The
hand that is manipulating this has other interests.
Another angle is that our apartment at 260 W. 72nd St. in New York was
wired or connected to a microphone system. The owner of the next-door
apartment was contacted by agents and from being a close friend of
Mrs. G. in particular, began silly questions, and peculiar talk.
Later she tried to interfere in the music lessons of Mrs. G., and
finally the wall connecting to our apartment had either a microphone
installed or otherwise wired. This on top of the automatic telephone
tapping practice.
In our house in Hampton N.J. it seems evident that one has gone a step
further, and that it is wired electrically to record even intimate
conversations. If we plan to drive to Washington N.J. there are sure
to be agents appointed to watch our movements. The same applies
generally. When we plant to drive to New York, or visit so-called
friends (now most of them active agents of the 'System' trying to trap
us into certain kinds of statements which they lead up to, or at least
alienated) out of town, the spys are informed beforehand by phone
tapping or microphone, and can lay their plans to search our records
in our absence.
(to be continued.)
And continue it Karl did, more than forty pages of it, dated as late as 1955 e.v. In the course of time, nearly every American acquaintance, OTO or not, came to be considered a spy.
Previous Primary Sources Next Primary Sources
From the Outbasket
Here are some edited bits from responses to recent email:
P. remarked about a psychological theory that release of repressed emotions or memories is identical with ecstasy and spiritual development.
That view seems to be an exaggeration made to put forward a particular
theory. There is some truth in it, but not to that extreme. Attainment of
the heights of spiritual development does require transcending petty worries
and such repression. Some spiritual development is always possible, without
that release. Many of the more effective techniques actually use such stress
emotions to break through, and it is possible that spiritual ecstasy requires
some balancing with such flaws in the psychology -- the old theory that beauty
is not possible without ugliness to give it a contrast. Tarot uses imagery to
open paths in the mind which may be inaccessible to words alone. Magick
explores the paths of the mind, often applying the functional relations of
mental processes to things sensed in outer life. Qabalah combines structure
with mysticism. All transform the conscious mind via unconscious association.
Initiations are forms of psychodrama, and most employ crisis induction to
produce the necessary change. Religious initiations, such as marriage, 1st
communion and priestly consecration, may ask little more than overcoming stage
fright and making a commitment in plain words before witnesses. Even those
initiations commonly require formulas of dramatic change that involve a death
and rebirth of sorts.
Initiations intended to advance grades or degrees in organizations of a
mystical or magical character commonly employ sensory stimuli (lights and
physical exertion are the most common) and crisis induction questions or
situations.
For individual work, the Goetia are sometimes used to externally personify
character and emotional faults as "spirits" which may be controlled by
external means. Crowley advocated what he called the NOX formula, deliberate
use of stressful emotion to induce excitement for ultimate use in another way.
The normal state of a living organism, human as well as everything else, is
passivity, bordering on sleep. Stimuli are required to do anything, whether
those stimuli are physical drives (hunger, pain, pleasure etc.) or mental
drives (conceptions of necessity, of impossibility, of attraction etc.). To
obtain an ecstatic experience deliberately, it is necessary to create a
situation in mind and/or in body which provides the correct stimulation.
Refined methods may use purely mental structures for this; but commonly some
physical aspect is also necessary, even if it is only a form of body yoga
where internal body sensations are used to induce ecstasy.
It is also necessary, for a deliberate and controlled ecstatic experience,
to prepare oneself to "go in that direction" when the conditions are created
for that effect. This includes both avoidance of distraction and training to
react in a particular way to the selected stimuli.
The ecstatic experience requires some stress or problem to exist.
Resolution of that problem is liberation from that stress. Ecstasy is the by-
product of that release. More narrowly still, this is why people sky-dive --
the fear of free fall overcomes some other mental, emotional or physical
problem for a moment of ecstasy. In the latter case, the resolution is
usually temporary, but the ecstatic experience may be enjoyed repeatedly. In
the former case, a permanent resolution of a repressed negative emotion may
produce ecstasy only once, with no possibility of recapturing that pleasure by
the same means later. Magical techniques are intended in part to produce
either repeated ecstasy or a progression of ecstatic experiences. Initiations
are intended to induce an ecstatic experience under circumstances that imprint
or re-direct the mind into some new sort of work, new view on life or other
association with the purpose of the initiation. As the name implies,
initiations are beginnings of something new. The ecstatic experience may take
place during the ritual or later, as the situation produced by the ritual
plays itself out.
M. asked about summoning a spirit to material manifestation and about shape changing.
To manifest on the physical plane, a spirit must have either a material
observer capable of transforming a spiritual perception into physical results
or a vessel to inhabit. The former is called a "materializing medium" -- in
that case the effects on the physical plane are produced by a human being.
The latter varies greatly, from using a human being as a container for the
spirit, using some object, using a material like water or smoke on to the
extreme of producing some sort of substance just while the spirit is present.
These different approaches also vary in difficulty. The easiest is to allow
the spirit to inhabit a living human being. The most difficult is to have the
spirit use some lifeless matter or form itself to a physical presence from
whatever is already in the environment. A materializing medium works well,
but this sort or person is very rare and the results may have more to do with
fantasy than the independent workings of a particular spirit.
In the case of shape changing, the same conditions apply for summoning of a
spirit. Each of us is in fact a spirit inhabiting a material body. It is
very difficult to change the shape of that body to resemble another physical
thing, aside from minor and gradual adjustments. Through practice, one can
change ones self-image to another form. It is more difficult to make that
form visible to others. The most common technique for shape shifting aims at
possessing another body, not changing ones own body. This is the practice of
inhabiting the body of a bird, animal or other human. The last is considered
immoral, but all of these acts of possession are difficult.
J. raised a question about "Laws of Nature" and modern science.
Although some physicists still favor the notion of Laws of Nature, most do
not. The water-shed was Heisenberg and Schrodinger. The Uncertainty
principle is often explained as "observation altering results", but that's a
euphemism. Heisenberg notes that knowledge of the state of small quanta
presents a fundamental ambiguity. To an extent, knowing position fuzzes out
knowledge of motion and knowledge of motion fuzzes out knowledge of position.
When Schrodinger and Dirac described small quanta, probability distribution
mathematics turned out to be necessary. The classic case is a particle in a
"box". It turns out for small quanta that there is a finite probability of
finding the particle outside the box, even through system constraints would
appear to require the particle to stay in the box. Bose and Fermi discovered
that some particles, notably electrons, do not have the quality of identity.
It is not possible to solve the equations for a Helium atom and conserve the
assumption that electrons can be distinguished from one moment to the next.
Although electrons are often described as particles, they also exhibit a wave
phenomenon nature, as though they were patterns of wave interference which
mimic some of the behavior of particles. In particular, an electron can go
from one place to another without traversing the space between those points.
The upshot of all this was fall-back to the model theory of epistemology:
The "laws" of physics are actually summaries of data, not anthropomorphic
constraints on the universe from a divine mind or set of rigid relations. All
phenomena described by modern physics are held to be described by probability
relations, not absolute laws. One outcome of this was the development of
chaos math and physics, the mathematics of progressed random perturbations in
large aggregate systems. In Newtonian physics, the systems are artificially
simple and predictable with precision. In large aggregate real systems, as
also in small quanta systems, prediction is only possible by probability
distributions. For large aggregate systems, the number of events and
particles tends to produce "strange" but stable results. For small aggregate
systems of small quanta, single events have no finite solution predictability at all, just probable result distributions, which have no significance for
precision prediction of a single event.
Even in older physics, the "action at a distance" nature of vector force
fields presented an intractable problem in terms of a philosophy of "Laws of
Nature". The system began to totter when Michelson and Morley were unable to
detect motion through the luminous aether. The rise of Uncertainty and
Quantum Mechanics put paid to the hope of a "law" that would explain away
these difficulties. All this upset Einstein, who did not want to believe in a
god who played craps with the universe.
Actually, stepping out of physics, this really comes down to the same issue
seen in theology on the questions of Determinism and Free Will. It turns out
that all large aggregate, large quanta systems appear to be determined. All
small quantum single events are undetermined. When you pour sand in a box,
you cannot predict where individual sand grains will lodge. You can predict
the general shape of the composite mass of sand grains in the box.-- TSG (Bill Heidrick)
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Thelema Lodge Events Calendar for May 1997 e.v.
| 5/4/97 | | Gnostic Mass 8:00PM Horus Temple | | Thelema Ldg. |
| 5/5/97 | Beltaine in Berkeley Hills. Leaving
OZ house 6:15PM | Thelema Ldg. |
| 5/6/97 | New Moon in Taurus 1:47PM | |
| 5/11/97 | Thelema Lodge Luncheon Meeting 12:30 | Thelema Ldg. |
| 5/11/97 | Gnostic Mass 8:00PM Horus Temple | Thelema Ldg. |
| 5/13/97 | Thelema Lodge Library night 8PM
(call to attend) | Thelema Ldg. |
| 5/17/97 | Thelema Lodge OTO initiations
(call to attend) | Thelema Ldg. |
| 5/18/97 | Gnostic Mass 8:00PM Horus Temple | Thelema Ldg. |
| 5/19/97 | Section II Group reading with
Caitlin: Huysmans Enroute
8PM at OZ House | Thelema Ldg. |
| 5/21/97 | Tarot with Bill Heidrick, 7:30 PM
in San Anselmo at 5 Suffield Ave. | Thelema Ldg. |
| 5/22/97 | Full Moon in Sagittarius 2:13 AM | |
| 5/18/97 | Gnostic Mass 8:00PM Horus Temple | Thelema Ldg. |
| 5/26/97 | Sirius Oasis meeting 8PM Berkeley | Sirius Oasis |
| 5/28/97 | Thelema Lodge Library night 8PM
(call to attend) | Thelema Ldg. |
| 5/30/97 | "The Houses in Astrology" workshop
with Grace in Berkeley 7 PM | Thelema Ldg. |
The viewpoints and opinions expressed herein are the responsibility of the
contributing authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of OTO or its
officers.
Thelema Lodge
Ordo Templi Orientis
P.O. Box 2303
Berkeley, CA 94702 USA
Phone: (510) 652-3171 (for events info and contact to Lodge)
Production and Circulation:
OTO-TLC
P.O.Box 430
Fairfax, CA 94978 USA
Internet: heidrick@well.com (Submissions and circulation only)
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