Michael Sternbach

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Everything posted by Michael Sternbach

  1. Acting on your true will

    Michael Sternbach replied to Michael Sternbach's topic in General Discussion

    I don't really care who this dude is, actually. Brilliant question! Have a go at answering it, please...

  2. Acting on your true will

    Michael Sternbach replied to Michael Sternbach's topic in General Discussion

    Hilarious! If you have nothing more to offer than twisted facts thrown in, I will follow my True Will and stop replying to you!
  3. Glad I could help.

  4. Video as an acceptable form of evidence

    Michael Sternbach replied to Shadow_self's topic in General Discussion

    All of it is true. In some world!
  5. "The Silent Flute", starring David Carradine. Did I win a prize now? Edit: Just found out that the movie had an alternative title "The Circle of Iron."

  6. Acting on your true will

    Michael Sternbach replied to Michael Sternbach's topic in General Discussion

    I am sure you meant to say: "Someone's a troll on the Internet."

  7. Acting on your true will

    Michael Sternbach replied to Michael Sternbach's topic in General Discussion

    Yes, it's originally from The Book of Lies, quoted by uncle Al himself in a letter which was later included in Magick without Tears. Got it? The Book of Lies was also one of the very first of his books read by yours truly, when I was technically a teenager still, and soon after I had been introduced to the Book of Thoth along with its corresponding Tarot deck (which is still my go-to deck, even though I own many others meanwhile). I then familiarized myself with The Book of Lies, more or less at the same time I also got to know The Book of the Law and Liber 777. Huh? Which chapters did you find difficult to understand? For me, the tie-in was especially with the martial arts I was practising at the time. But sure enough, the same principle applies to any kind of activity performed in the spirit of Zen/Dao, and whether or not it would be labelled as such. Referring back to my previous quote of a quote of a quote, what I find particularly noteworthy is this: All that moves well moves without will. All skilfullness, all strain, all intention is contrary to ease. Seemingly at odds with the general "Do What Thou Wilt" philosophy referenced in the same context perhaps, a statement such as this one should make clear that what Crowley proposed was something way more subtle and deeper than some kind of willful ego inflation (hence the qualifier 'true will'!). Consequently, uncle Al wasn't exactly pleased when some of his students misinterpreted him in the latter sense. As I said before, by no means did I intend this discussion to be limited to the Thelemic concept, though! Be free to reflect on the implications and explications of following one's will with reference to any tradition here, or to none at all. Let's try and get practical! Please consider these questions: How do you make a significant decision in your life? How do you determine whether something is actually "right" for you? Do you welcome a new challenge despite the obstacles it may present you with and keep your eye on its potential rewards? Or do you tend to avoid it unless circumstances force you to dedicate yourself? How does one or the other affect your outer and inner life experience subsequently? How do you deal with the necessity of letting go what's familiar and dear to you? What does it take to make you move out of your comfort zone? How much safety do you require for yourself and others involved before you are ready to make a move? Are you trying to plan ahead of time in minute detail? Or do you prefer to make up stuff on the fly? I would love to hear about your personal experiences! Michael

  8. Acting on your true will

    Michael Sternbach replied to Michael Sternbach's topic in General Discussion

    Actually, no. Crowley's 'Do What Thou Wilt' and Daoism's wu wei are approaches to the same principle, if from somewhat different perspectives. Crowley's precept may focus on the 'will' aspect more (a matter of cultural emphasis perhaps, as Nungers suggested), but the call to follow one's true nature is very much the same in both cases. Let's not forget that Daoism had a definite influence on Crowley's thinking in general (he actually even published a new translation of the DDJ). The following excerpt from a letter he wrote to his 'sister', reproduced in chapter LXVII of Magick without Tears, may serve to illustrate the affinity: The Mountaineer Consciousness is a symptom of disease. All that moves well moves without will. All skilfullness, all strain, all intention is contrary to ease. Practise a thousand times, and it becomes difficult; a thousand, thousand, and it becomes easy; a thousand, thousand times a thousand thousand, and it is no longer Thou that doeth it, but It that doeth itself through thee. Not until then is that which is done well done. Thus spoke FRATER PERDURABO as he leapt from rock to rock of the moraine without ever casting his eyes upon the ground. Or in The Book of the Law. You know the passage well enough. Conclusion: this discussion has for ever abolished the use of the word faith to imply conscious belief of any sort. At least, if there should ever be an element of awareness, it is of the nature of a sudden leap into daylight of the quintessence of a mass of subconsciously selected and ordered experience. Then what, if you please, did Paul mean when he wrote “Faith is the substance of things hoped-for, the evidence of things unseen.” Oh, spot the Lady! Love is the law, love under will. Crowley is talking pure Daoism in the above, for those that are ready to see it. While at the same time hinting at the concordance between the referenced principle and teachings of the Book of the Law.

  9. Acting on your true will

    Michael Sternbach replied to Michael Sternbach's topic in General Discussion

    Better desist, or I might be tempted to evoke those belly dancers from your past that brought you to the limits of your manlihood!

  10. Acting on your true will

    Michael Sternbach replied to Michael Sternbach's topic in General Discussion

    SO Thelema teaches us to follow our 'true will'. Whereas Daoism and Zen advise to act spontaneously, in accordance with one's true nature (wu wei and mui, respectively). Which is understood to be an 'innocent' kind of action, even when it entails dismantling an adversary in a martial arts context. Are those two concepts really different from each other?

  11. Acting on your true will

    Michael Sternbach replied to Michael Sternbach's topic in General Discussion

    They're not?! Now you spoiled it for me! Did you have to say that, mate?!

  12. Acting on your true will

    Michael Sternbach replied to Michael Sternbach's topic in General Discussion

    Oh well, that kind of thing can happen to the best of us...

  13. Acting on your true will

    Michael Sternbach replied to Michael Sternbach's topic in General Discussion

    Whoa! Learning a bunch of new words here... It's much like trying to find your linguistic path through the Dune universe! So in Zoroastrianism the 'greater world' or faravahar is somehow linked to one's 'united' ancestors and/or guardian angel? And at the same time it seems to refer to the ruler's 'kingship in grace'... (That one actually quite resonates with me, especially since you said I was being graceful. :D) Anyhow... Could you flesh all of that out for me a little more, please? One association coming to mind here is Nietzsche's 'Superman', from his favorite of his own books which he may not by chance have titled Thus Spoke Zarathustra. I am actually much more familiar with the ancient Egyptians' terminology than with the Persians'. And now I wonder if the concept of the True Will might have its equivalent in that system as well. (Waiting for the cat to chime in.)

  14. Acting on your true will

    Michael Sternbach replied to Michael Sternbach's topic in General Discussion

    Awesome, I am graceful! Thanks, mate. Just for the record, I did not intend this topic to be another discussion about uncle Al. In fact, I wouldn't have had to mention him at all, but I couldn't help it - his phrases are just SO catchy! How about chewing over my Matrix Resurrections reference for a change? Has anyone in lockdown land actually been able to watch the movie - or, for that matter, to make sense of it? The question of one's true will is central to it in my view. And it does cause the heroic protagonists to wreak havoc on their adversaries (who may be AI's alright, but regardless...) - which illustrates that the add-on 'harm none' is indeed a tricky one. But the aspect that actually interests me most is how following your true will has the power to lead you out of your preconceived limitations and into a greater world. At the end of the day, isn't that what 'cultivation' is all about? The realization of your and your world's full potential?

  15. Solar power in ancient Egypt

    Michael Sternbach replied to Nungali's topic in The Rabbit Hole

    Cool image, Catman! Reminiscent of a Tesla coil. What's the source of it?

  16. Acting on your true will

    Michael Sternbach replied to Michael Sternbach's topic in General Discussion

    The key is removal of those layers of thought and emotion which inhibit your perception of and ability to act upon your true will. Not likely to happen anytime soon. Your task as a soul incarnated in physicality is learning to manifest your spiritual nature to the utmost degree. At the current stage of evolution, few are able to do that. However, each of them is helping to set a path for others to follow.

  17. Acting on your true will

    Michael Sternbach replied to Michael Sternbach's topic in General Discussion

    Old3bob, I sympathize with your objection. No doubt this is a difficult subject. In theory, by following your true will - which is the mandate of your spiritual inner self - you will be acting in ways that would benefit the whole. But as a matter of fact, we can't even always know what the ramifications of our most well-intended actions may be. And yet act we must. You mentioned tyrants imposing their will to power on countless innocent people and thereby causing untold suffering. My first question would be, are they actually following their true will? Or are they (perhaps along with those of lesser, but nonetheless destructive enough influence) so divorced from their innermost divine self that they are no longer able to do so? We might assume this to be the case, however, there is another consideration to make. Wars and other destructive mass events - dreadful as they are - do not occur without reason. For the sake of humanity's evolution, smouldering conflicts must eventually be worked out one way or another. Old structures must be destroyed and give way to new ones. Sadly, as a species we have not yet attained the wisdom to always do so in non-violent ways. All this ties in with our evolution from instinct driven creatures to sophisticated creative entities. It's a fair assumption that a lion chasing after an antelope is following his true will. And surely the antelope is doing the same by getting the heck out of there! The Dao is non-partial. It does not conform to our standards of morality. It sets in motion whatever forces may lead to a new balance and a more evolved condition overall - eventually. And while doing so, it reckons in terms of decades, centuries, millenia. We humans are overwhelmed with such a perspective. Often enough, we don't see the big picture. God's ways are truly inscrutable. The philosophy of "do what thou wilt" is meant as a guide line for spiritually oriented individuals seeking to play their rightful part in the cosmic game regardless. Well understood, it's probably the best advice that anyone can be given.

  18. Question regarding color meanings

    Michael Sternbach replied to Shadao's topic in General Discussion

    Hi Shadao, What comes to mind is that black, white, and red are actually the three central colours of the Great Work in western alchemy, which is aimed at the creation of the Philosopher's Stone. The finished Stone itself is described as being of a deep purplish red. However, before that, it will pass through lighter hues - starting from yellow, so the orange and red tones you described would be somewhere mid-way. All of that after having gone through the initial black and white stages, to be sure. I find these associations particularly fitting because what you saw was located in the area of your crown chakra, and the Philosopher's Stone is frequently associated with royalty, gold, the Sun, and so forth, which can all be seen as analogous with the crown. To sum this up, I think the colours you described as showing themselves in that location might indicate that you are approaching a realization of your inner 'solar' self, with some 'speckles' of the foregoing stages still lingering. It would be interesting to see if the red part is going to intensify, with the orange one being reduced in due course. Cheers Michael

  19. A still mind is divine...

    Michael Sternbach replied to Ajay0's topic in General Discussion

    A still mind is one that is allowing thoughts to come and go, but doesn't get entangled in any of them. A solid rock in the turbulent waters, as it were. Also, there is no singular state of mind that fits every situation. For instance, I sometimes like to spend hours deeply immersed in thought. However, every time I am faced with twenty adversaries swinging weapons at me, I make sure I keep my mind in that free flowing state, because the moment it stops I'd be cut down.

  20. simplify

    Michael Sternbach replied to zerostao's topic in Daoist Discussion

    Catdog

  21. Colloidal Silver: The Alchemist's Quicksiler

    Michael Sternbach replied to Draco's topic in Healthy Bums

    Draco, Colloidal silver can be expected to have therapeutic merit when indicated, but I wouldn't take it indiscriminately - at least not for very long. Also, I wonder why exactly you called it "the Alchemist's Quicksilver" in your topic header? Silver and mercury are both used by alchemists, however, they are well understood to be two quite distinct substances. Even though it's true that terms in alchemy tend to be a bit of a mess traditionally, and I can not rule out that once some alchemists may have mixed them up the way you suggested.

  22. Colloidal Silver: The Alchemist's Quicksiler

    Michael Sternbach replied to Draco's topic in Healthy Bums

    What manufacturing method did you use? As it happens, I was just part of a discussion regarding this topic on Alchemy Forums, where I suggested applying sodium citrate as a reducing and stabilizing agent to a solution of silver nitrate. Which is basically the classical method, used by Michael Faraday back in the day (oops, pun pun...). But I am aware there are various ways of getting noble metals in colloidal form, and I would be curious to learn yours! That's amazing! I know of a single observation of naturally occurring gold colloid only, and guess what, it's from downunder too! https://www.researchgate.net/publication/224923601_Naturally_occurring_gold_nanoparticles_and_nanoplates I wonder if this could have been from the same source, actually.

  23. simplify

    Michael Sternbach replied to zerostao's topic in Daoist Discussion

    Concorde

  24. simplify

    Michael Sternbach replied to zerostao's topic in Daoist Discussion

    Virtual

  25. simplify

    Michael Sternbach replied to zerostao's topic in Daoist Discussion

    Kettlebells