Magic, consciousness and detatchment... can you still have a normal life? (Jesus, ritual)

[Mike182]

reading Magick by Alister Crowley, the first 2 out of 3 sections outline the ceremonial magic, meditation and preperation for ritual that Crowley studied in the Golden Dawn. the emphasis is heavily placed upon a renunciation of social and working life in favor of attaining serious growth in meditation and yoga for pretty much the first year.

is it possible to find a balance between the necessary meditation, yoga and ritual sessions required for a measured progress, sleep, and a full life of employment and socialising? or does one need to cut himself off from the world for half a year to a year to achieve that initial breakthrough?

for those who don't know, the basic overview is that the great historical figures who had the spiritual/mystical experiences of profound note are those who went away from the world (Buddha, various Hindy Gurus, Moses, Jesus, Muhammed) for a long time to just meditate and contemplate God, and when they returned they were destinctively changed and renewed. the change and renewal is brought about by the revelations they received and the breakthroughs they made during lengthy meditations, and for us to achieve the higher levels of consciousness we to must commit to this.

other conditions are reduced food intake, reduced sleep etc, which can have the same affect. the best results are found in a renunciation of the social world along with food and sleep deprivation... and with this in mind it is hard to find a balance or having that necessary social life and work life, while also making spiritual progress.

what are your thougths on this? is the Golden Dawn style of magic and ceremony the wrong style for someone looking for a spiritual development and a social life?

[Willamena]

I don't think it's necessary to divorce yourself from life. Some Buddhists practice zazen only 20-40 minutes a day. From what I've read, ritual and meditation can bring one to a realization of enlightenment, but you can get the same thing by accident, walking down a street. Or typing on the Internet.

[UltraViolet]

Originally Posted by Mike182

reading Magick by Alister Crowley, the first 2 out of 3 sections outline the ceremonial magic, meditation and preperation for ritual that Crowley studied in the Golden Dawn. the emphasis is heavily placed upon a renunciation of social and working life in favor of attaining serious growth in meditation and yoga for pretty much the first year.

is it possible to find a balance between the necessary meditation, yoga and ritual sessions required for a measured progress, sleep, and a full life of employment and socialising? or does one need to cut himself off from the world for half a year to a year to achieve that initial breakthrough?

for those who don't know, the basic overview is that the great historical figures who had the spiritual/mystical experiences of profound note are those who went away from the world (Buddha, various Hindy Gurus, Moses, Jesus, Muhammed) for a long time to just meditate and contemplate God, and when they returned they were destinctively changed and renewed. the change and renewal is brought about by the revelations they received and the breakthroughs they made during lengthy meditations, and for us to achieve the higher levels of consciousness we to must commit to this.

other conditions are reduced food intake, reduced sleep etc, which can have the same affect. the best results are found in a renunciation of the social world along with food and sleep deprivation... and with this in mind it is hard to find a balance or having that necessary social life and work life, while also making spiritual progress.

what are your thougths on this? is the Golden Dawn style of magic and ceremony the wrong style for someone looking for a spiritual development and a social life?

It makes me laugh because this all just seems to be my life.
Not even like I planned it or anything.
I left the churches and between that and my world view outlook,
found myself almost totally socially isolated for a long long time,
(I'm talking YEARS).

Meditating and Contemplating God,
is what I do in all things...
quite naturally and automatically...

I'm now in my third season of change renewal and breakthrough.
The last season included sleep deprivation...
(working night shifts, without sufficient time during the day to make up for the lost sleep),
and NOW in this season,
is added to that MAJOR food deprivation,
and intense exercise (a TOTAL life change),
as I take "magical" "steps" towards a more total change,
in my own physical existance (on top of the spiritual).

Still besides my teen age daughter...
my whole social life is online/long distance.

Yet...
that's just how it all came out.