No. I've never joined BOTA. I've considered it from time to time, but I don't know that I can fit another group into my life at this time. Perhaps someday. I have heard very good things about it.
hah. I would answer exactly the same. Considered it time to time, but can't find enough time for another group in my life. I've just followed your sub stack enough that knowing other members I figured it'd be the sort of thing which would catch your eye.
That being said, self-directed study programs are extremely valuable and provide something that has stark contrast in a good way with the exoteric organizational bits / politics of an actual fraternity. I often find myself wishing the craft had fewer buildings and deleveraging angst because working through a lot of those things takes time away from other laudable pursuits.
Not odd at all. There is something there that is never explored, or hardly at all. Ever stop to wonder where or what the answers come from when divining or consulting via tarot card, I-Ching, casting lots, or other forms of cleromancy? I wrote an article on this and the answer goes way back, even before written records, as it suddenly appears in the Bible and Greek philosophy. Surprisingly enough Socrates was said to gain his insight through his own Daimon; according to the ancients, it's a spirit that is attached to the soul (within). Here is a link if you would like to discover more: https://truthprevails.life/topics/f/demons-and-angels
I've wanted to write a bit of a longer reply, and find myself with the opportunity to do so this evening. Alas though, it won't offer much I'm afraid.
Properly utilized, Tarot works. Of that I have no doubt. It works if we are using it for divination and it works if we are working with it for (using the very modern term here for clarity, even though I don't like the term) manifestation in our lives. I know this, because I have used it and those uses have on an extremely consistent basis, proven to me that it works.
How it works, well, I have to say that I don't know.
To explain a bit further, as time has passed, I have held differing opinions about how it works. Including the view discussed in your article. Some of these, maybe even all of these differing opinions might not even be fundamentally different, rather different perspectives and ways of communicating about the same thing. But I can't explain it to my own satisfaction, no matter what the opinion might be. Given that, I feel that I must say that I don't know. If someday, I can explain it to my own satisfaction, well then I'll be able to declare that I do.
I'm not sure if this makes any sense, but it is reflective of my thought process.
I hope by sharing my thoughts and research it does not come off like I am forcing or imposing my conclusion, but instead just someone who has contemplated this topic and pointing to the teachings of the ancient and ascended ones, who went into great detail of who, what, when and how of cleromancy. To me this discovery is like when scientist discovered the quark.
We both can testify divination works, as with numerous others who may have not completely understood “how,” including some of the Greats such as Carl Jung with the I-Ching. Others, such as Socrates lived by this divination he referred to as a Daimon. It is also further explained as the Atman in Vedic literature and the “I Am Discourses” attributed to Count Saint Germain (who happens to have been a Freemason and Templar).
Socrates, for example, spoke familiarly of this daimon (higher self) as the tutelary that gave guidance and answers he posed. He joked about it and obeyed blindly the indications it gave. Eventually, his friends never took an important step without consulting it. But the daimon had its sympathies, and when it was unfavorable to the questioner it remained absolutely silent. The daemon would always warn Socrates if he was undertaking something inappropriate, but remain silent if he did good. Linked to this, the one well-known fact about Socrates' daimon is that it made no sign of opposition during the trail that would condemn Socrates to death. In a 1778 painting called “The Death of Socrates” he is seen pointing upwards, as his disciples/students are in distress because of his impending death after drinking hemlock. Socrates was charged with corrupting the minds of the youth by introducing theosophy that opposed its established religion. As stated by Plato, he was pointing upward to his higher self, and believe so much that he did not fear death, or doubt a second in his divining.
Are you a member of BOTA?
It's interesting that people are bugged enough about Tarot to create the need for such a separation.
"All the (symbolic) tools of Masonry indiscriminantly"
No. I've never joined BOTA. I've considered it from time to time, but I don't know that I can fit another group into my life at this time. Perhaps someday. I have heard very good things about it.
Are you a member?
https://www.bota.org/
hah. I would answer exactly the same. Considered it time to time, but can't find enough time for another group in my life. I've just followed your sub stack enough that knowing other members I figured it'd be the sort of thing which would catch your eye.
That being said, self-directed study programs are extremely valuable and provide something that has stark contrast in a good way with the exoteric organizational bits / politics of an actual fraternity. I often find myself wishing the craft had fewer buildings and deleveraging angst because working through a lot of those things takes time away from other laudable pursuits.
I understand your perspective. It does often seem that we are so busy with the business of Masonry that Freemasonry itself gets neglected.
BINGO! "By doing so we are exploring deeply within ourselves. We are following that ancient instruction: V.I.T.R.I.(O.L.)"
Thank you Brother. I'm glad you enjoyed my odd little post!
Not odd at all. There is something there that is never explored, or hardly at all. Ever stop to wonder where or what the answers come from when divining or consulting via tarot card, I-Ching, casting lots, or other forms of cleromancy? I wrote an article on this and the answer goes way back, even before written records, as it suddenly appears in the Bible and Greek philosophy. Surprisingly enough Socrates was said to gain his insight through his own Daimon; according to the ancients, it's a spirit that is attached to the soul (within). Here is a link if you would like to discover more: https://truthprevails.life/topics/f/demons-and-angels
I enjoyed the article, thank you!
I've wanted to write a bit of a longer reply, and find myself with the opportunity to do so this evening. Alas though, it won't offer much I'm afraid.
Properly utilized, Tarot works. Of that I have no doubt. It works if we are using it for divination and it works if we are working with it for (using the very modern term here for clarity, even though I don't like the term) manifestation in our lives. I know this, because I have used it and those uses have on an extremely consistent basis, proven to me that it works.
How it works, well, I have to say that I don't know.
To explain a bit further, as time has passed, I have held differing opinions about how it works. Including the view discussed in your article. Some of these, maybe even all of these differing opinions might not even be fundamentally different, rather different perspectives and ways of communicating about the same thing. But I can't explain it to my own satisfaction, no matter what the opinion might be. Given that, I feel that I must say that I don't know. If someday, I can explain it to my own satisfaction, well then I'll be able to declare that I do.
I'm not sure if this makes any sense, but it is reflective of my thought process.
I hope by sharing my thoughts and research it does not come off like I am forcing or imposing my conclusion, but instead just someone who has contemplated this topic and pointing to the teachings of the ancient and ascended ones, who went into great detail of who, what, when and how of cleromancy. To me this discovery is like when scientist discovered the quark.
We both can testify divination works, as with numerous others who may have not completely understood “how,” including some of the Greats such as Carl Jung with the I-Ching. Others, such as Socrates lived by this divination he referred to as a Daimon. It is also further explained as the Atman in Vedic literature and the “I Am Discourses” attributed to Count Saint Germain (who happens to have been a Freemason and Templar).
Socrates, for example, spoke familiarly of this daimon (higher self) as the tutelary that gave guidance and answers he posed. He joked about it and obeyed blindly the indications it gave. Eventually, his friends never took an important step without consulting it. But the daimon had its sympathies, and when it was unfavorable to the questioner it remained absolutely silent. The daemon would always warn Socrates if he was undertaking something inappropriate, but remain silent if he did good. Linked to this, the one well-known fact about Socrates' daimon is that it made no sign of opposition during the trail that would condemn Socrates to death. In a 1778 painting called “The Death of Socrates” he is seen pointing upwards, as his disciples/students are in distress because of his impending death after drinking hemlock. Socrates was charged with corrupting the minds of the youth by introducing theosophy that opposed its established religion. As stated by Plato, he was pointing upward to his higher self, and believe so much that he did not fear death, or doubt a second in his divining.