Date: Wednesday, July 28, 1999 11:57 PM
Subject: Re: The Fool and the Darkness
Just got off the phone with a friend, where we were discussing the "Dark
Night", and I had a few insights that I thought I'd share.
Observation, and Induction: The positive effect of a Non-Dualistic thought system
(such as ACIM), is that for the beginner who embraces it, it leads them to think that they
can just "fly up to heaven" and escape all the bad shit. The actual
affect upon one who sticks with it, however, is that it leads them to soar up like
Icarus, high enough to where the Sun melts the wax off their wings, and sends them tumbling headfirst into the sea.
Thus their happy plunge into Darkness. If one is only "lukewarm", however, they will not
stick with
and apply the concepts to their life to the point where the purgative process can
melt their wings off. Thus "lukewarm-ness" is the greatest
hindrance which prevents the happy fall.
Hypothesis:
Other spiritual systems and processes, also employ a form of this intensification-dissolution pattern, in order to
eventually lead the aspirant into the necessary purgative processes.
Verification:
In my experience of using the Tarot, I have had a similar yet more precise experience.
In my studies, and meditations, I found my desire nature being greatly intensified. These "areas"
of desire intensification would be
stimulated by a particular Tarot Key each time. It is probable that the particular Tarot
Key that stimulated me at the time, was related to something in my personality that was
receptive to this particular symbolism and it's principle, and thus in need of refinement via
experience.
Thus I would pursue and obtain various objects and experiences in accordance with these
Tarot-stimulated desires. After working to obtain the object of my desire, I would
recognize something of what I had gained in terms of relationships and experience in the
pursuit of the goal. It would not be long thereafter that the desire would fade and fall
away like an empty husk - an outworn form. This process would be repeated many times.
In my case, each time, I was aware of a particular Tarot Key having been the inspiration or stimulus of that desire.
Thus what was once a tremendous desire, would later fall away of its own accord.
This is of course a natural process -getting what we think we want, and then after we
get it, realizing that the "thing" wasn't IT. The difference
is that with a spiritual discipline in the occult tradition (the Tarot meditations for
example) there is a great "intensification" of desire
in the specific areas which are determined by one's resonance with particular Keys/Principles.
In other words, using the Tarot is like inviting the Higher-Self to employ a guided laser beam
to burn up via intensification those specific "desire attachments" that need to be purified
(see K14 - Temperance).
Now the question is:
Does this just keep going on and on forever, pursuing one delusional desire after another?
If one sticks with the practices I don't think so, due to the fact that our desires are
intensely activated in those areas where we need it in order to us to "burn them out". The
only caveat here is the case where one is "lukewarm". In that case one may either fall
away from the practices
out of neglect, or may just use the materials for intellectual pleasure or as a comfort mechanism, thus
never achieving the critical temperature necessary for this purgation to take place.
This is not a criticism of those who are "lukewarm". If one is lukewarm, it's because
that's what the
Higher-Self has determined is needed for that vehicle for now.
So this accelerated process of "getting what one WANTS" continues for
a time, in accordance with what that personality needs to reconcile in the world of sense.
As these sensate desires get purged one is left more and more desolate, for the things that
used to please begin to lose their savor, thus throwing into question the value of the whole
of one's past beliefs, practices, and pleasures. This, in my experience, is also coupled with
an intensified awareness of one's own condition of limitation and imperfection. I've
become aware of my foolishness.
In other words, those desires which used to hold one in rapt fascination, lose their ability
to hypnotize, thus leaving one waking up just enough to see themselves caked in their own
shit. I think this shock can be somewhat mitigated IF one is able to laugh at their own
shit.
Thus, the darkness and desolation of Calcination (K4).
One might reasonably object to the above on the basis that to the degree we have
established contact with the Inner Teacher (K5), those desires of sense get replaced with
higher desires. I think there is possibly some mitigation, but by and large, our sense related
desires (at this stage at least) are by far the most powerful ones, and their loss of savor is
far from pleasant. The contact with the Inner Teacher, however, is what prepares one for
the next Alchemical stage of Congelation, which may not necessarily be chronologically
after Calcination. The Alchemical process could be some Calcination, some
Congelation, some more Calcination, some more Congelation, etc.... I Don't know.
The most surprising discovery for me in all this, is my conclusion that the Alchemical
process of Calcination is not something that I consciously initiate. It happens naturally (as
explained above) as one proceeds with the Tarot Practices, and their pursuit of their
desires. I suspect that the
following stage of Congelation (K5) is also a natural consequence of Tarot
practice as well.
I offer these hypotheses to the list as a candidate for truth, and I certainly would
welcome challenge and alternate explanations.
