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Post by Yevathik on Jun 23, 2008 15:32:09 GMT -6
Venger suggested I should start a thread about this. This thread is about everything pertaining to becoming and being a member of the Second Inner Degree.
I'll start with one of the most obvious questions: What responsibilities and privileges come with being a WOTD?
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Post by I AM the Way on Jun 24, 2008 10:48:42 GMT -6
opening this up for discussion... what are people's opinions?
VS
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Post by Iven'gahteen on Dec 3, 2008 2:29:17 GMT -6
One responsibility I think would be to be as active as possible here on the boards. I have been guilty of not spending enough time here in fellowship. Finding a task in the job list would also be a great help to the cult. There are so many ways to help out. We are at an infant stage and this is the time to make great strides.
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Post by sin on Dec 3, 2008 7:45:27 GMT -6
Considering it's a second level, I would think sharing with fellow cult members what knowledge and understanding you've acquired being entry level, to second level. What responsibilities do we hold? I would think acting as representatives of the cult, it's theologies and strengthening it's mission statement. In my sphere of reality, as a grotto master I hold weekly meetings with members to explore different topics, and I tie it in to the cult mission. If any member really wants to 'know' what it means to be a part of the organization, I act as beacon for resources and information. Just recently, one of the members advised that he paid a visit to the forum to explore the topics. He voiced that his reasoning was to explore what other members thought of the cult, the mythos and how they apply it to their lives. The meetings are a primer to understanding. Each are working on their cult applications, and when reviewing the questionnaire they found that it wasn't so easy to answer Venger's questions without at least some basic knowledge about the mythos, or the cult. My aim is not to influence their opinions, but to act as 'guide' in finding resources they may be interested in exploring. In the last 6 weeks, we've explored the following topics: 1. Controversialism 2. Satanism 3. The differences between right-handed and left-handed thought 4. The uses and purpose of stigma 5. Basic Lovecraft history 6. The Call of Cthulhu (both in written and audio form) 7. Critical thought 8. Self identity 9. Fourth Way 10. Chaos theory, magic and application This week, we'll be watching The Call of Cthulhu movie, and discussing metaphor. When the group asked me what the goals of the grotto were, I elaborated on it's mission statement: "Study and praxis of COC theologies, acting as an influencing beacon for human development, and harboring its members." My personal mission, is to surround myself with a better quality of people. I'd say, I'm a bit misanthropic. Rather than allowing my hatred towards mankind to fester and be non-productive; I have been active in acting as a beacon for change. I've been holding study groups for years, and regardless of the topic my aim is usually the same: to provoke people to self-examine, become critical thinkers, and shape their own realities. I detest people who are content to be spoon-fed information and be complacent with 'popular view'. Half the time, people don't even know where their views come from, or why they hold a certain opinion - until they take the time to self-examine. I suppose this is why the COC is so appealing to me. It provides themed 'tools'. It's something tangible people can grasp. Yeah, I'm egomaniacal. I know this about myself and I embrace it.
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Post by I AM the Way on Dec 3, 2008 12:43:19 GMT -6
indeed. i see this forum as a 24/7 meeting place for the knights of the round table... or should that be a green trapezoid?
wow, that's all great stuff. i think everything you mentioned is a vital part of being a Cultist.
VS
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Post by Iven'gahteen on Dec 3, 2008 22:57:00 GMT -6
I would love to get your take on the Call of Cthulhu movie. I think it was nicely done for an indie film. Lurker Films have some other Lovecraft films that are worth looking into. They are the films that are shown in Portland every year at the film festival. Oh and I think we all are a bit egomaniacal, I think its a quality cultists all have, lol ! ;D
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Post by Shaz'rahjeem on Dec 9, 2008 3:21:32 GMT -6
Upon becoming a herald, a person should try to awake, then continually double their efforts to awaken in and all things to do with the cult. At least as much as possible, you can't continually double how many post a day you make. Then after one year, of continually pushing hard, trying to almost out do yourself, you will have shown your metal.
We have 100 heralds or so. $50 is a good way to keep a heavy flow of nothing from the cult. But it won't motivate you for long. Heralds that are full on for about a months or so, soon burn out. I haven't seen b'lak'neeth on here for awhile. Maybe there is a reason for that, I'm not sure. But a few weeks ago, you would be pressed to find a thread he hadn't posted in. I distinctly remember him writing" I'm not going anywhere Venger," I thought we'll see. Who knows maybe he's on a holiday, or his computer crashed, and is waiting for a new one. In which case I'm sorry. But the reason WoTD are few, other then our youth as an organization, is the inability to keep members here. To keep them motivated. I said something a little while back, that we expect people to manage them selves within the cult. We guide and help as a group, but people want to be babied. Apathy and Slothfulness, are the best weapon the Lesser gods have against us in our social expansion.
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Post by I AM the Way on Dec 9, 2008 11:07:03 GMT -6
it does seem like those who are most eager to be "part of the CoC experience" are the most likely to fall away from us.
thanks for posting your thoughts, Shaz'rahjeem.
VS
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Post by sin on Dec 9, 2008 13:54:35 GMT -6
Good point Shaz'rahjeem, I've noticed several users have dropped off in the last 6 months or so. I guess it all boils down to personal motivation. I don't believe that we are looking to external sources such as the COC to give us what we need - but it serves as a resource for personal affirmations and inspiration.
I am generally self driven, I find useful 'tools' and I know where to find them, and how to use them when I need them. I enjoy the forum for bouncing thoughts and ideas off of other users, it pushes me to truly examine my own thought processes. Awakening? I can't find a better way to break from the culturally induced slumber than to self examine.
Sometimes I find great topics of interest here, and other times I'm like 'Hello? (Echo.) ....where is everybody?'
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Post by Iven'gahteen on Dec 9, 2008 23:49:24 GMT -6
I think that lots of people will drop out or disappear. I have a theory that maybe they jump in before reading the COC and realise that its a tall order to be here. Most people don't want to awaken, they find comfort in the programming of mundane life. Thats just my thoughts on this but it will be interesting to see what happens. I hope everyone is having a great week.
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Post by Shaz'rahjeem on Dec 10, 2008 2:36:26 GMT -6
i think maybe some of them come in not fully understanding everything we are. Therefore after they spend some time aren't interested. Plus like Cora'Sahn said, sometimes we have great topics going, other times, more often then not, we don't have enough buzzing around here. Its easy to say we need to boost forum activity, and at least a few of us have likely applied ritual efforts to it. but we need to take actual action, it wouldn't be that hard and would only require persistence. I started up a bebo.com group for the coc, it would have been as big as the forums or our ning but it would help, but only a few of my sleeper friends joined, just for the hell of it. So i have left it at that. If people from the site start joining, and start participating i would gladly clean it up, and make it serious. www.bebo.com/cultofcthulhu Its pretty easy to make a bebo profile, alot easier then myspace, or face book. That would be a good direction, and not much of a stretch in my opinion, with the amount of profile sites and webgroups our members are apart of whats one more.
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Madguten
Moderator
CoC forum moderator
Woe, to he who hears the howling
Posts: 2,785
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Post by Madguten on Dec 11, 2008 7:27:55 GMT -6
Whenever i see a person is suddenly VERY active here i remember my Rules of Climb and Growth and hope the best for the person.
Ever since Takuam stopped coming here i have stopped warning people that a slow and steady climb will outrace the frantic burst-climber in the long run. Before Takuam left, i saw it as my job to at least inform people of the phenomena, but after he left i no longer see it as my job. People will burn out regardless, who am i to try and make them last longer.
I am tired telling people that the turtle outruns the hare, but often it is the case. We could also say that a slow and steady flame can be more useful than a bright flash of illumination. The steady flame will aid us in our sight, the bright flash will show us our surroundings and then leave us blinded.
I love it when people are super active here on the forum, i just also know that most often, it wont last. But it doesnt matter, we are all different. And we all learn. All productive activity here is of course appreciated, even if it doesnt keep up, but you are right in your talk.
It IS clearly a phenomena here.
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Post by sin on Dec 11, 2008 8:02:46 GMT -6
I guess I'm not burning out, but becoming more and more active on the forum. I'd say in the last 6 months or so, I make it a point to check it daily, and contribute something.
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Post by xenosapience on Dec 11, 2008 13:33:54 GMT -6
Shaz'rahjeem & all; you make some good points. i haven't observed the drop-off phenomenon in effect here, being new, but it's fairly universal and must be accepted to some degree without allowing it to disturb the spirit within.
might i suggest an very initiatory approach? a wizard should be "doing" something; either modding reality or bringing new things in. if an adept has only a few determined activities to perform in pursuance of their duties to the cult, this could quickly become a tiresome grind.
if the wizard is given an initiatory commission it might yield something more. in other words, the obligation of a wizard may well be to write a treatise on some element of cult history or philosophy, do a survey of another philosophy from the cult perspective, develop a functioning ritual, engineer or host some sort of cult event, etc. and of course the natural bent and capabilities of the individual would determine their path, but this generally would put wizards hard to work expanding the cult. not in a controlled or tiresome fashion, but rather in the fashion they themselves prefer. but their obligation might simply be to tirelessly create and expand; that might even be the basis for acknowledgment of "WoTTD" status - having already shown skill and energy through self-directed activities that correctly perceive the needs of the cult and fulfill those. it concretely proves insight, intelligence, and Artfulness.
also the wizard has less chance of growing bored with their activities, and their past contributions to the cult and recognition deriving from these will form strong bonds of retention and serve as motivation for newcomers.
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Madguten
Moderator
CoC forum moderator
Woe, to he who hears the howling
Posts: 2,785
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Post by Madguten on Dec 11, 2008 18:40:39 GMT -6
You are somewhat of an inspiration to me on the matter of getting the cult and the general idea out there and showing it to people. I think your work has inspired me to have a more positive approach when presenting the cult to the outside world.
So true.
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Post by Shaz'rahjeem on Dec 11, 2008 23:27:39 GMT -6
I think the couple wizards we have, are not going to leave, we have been here for a while know, and have been actively involved know as well. Further more, you will likely find a post from one of us in every thread, because we have been here so long we seem to monopolize the conversation. That in it self could be a problem.
xenosapience; I don't think any of us wizard are likely to drop out due to boredom. The idea of writing something on occult history or philosophy etc is a good one, but it's something we usually do anyway. The few of us who can, have written a couple long arduous posts, about various things. As for developing our own functioning ritual... well people should probably be doing that as a herald. Partaking in CoC events is something we all do usually as much as we can. Heralds are currently allowed to create their own grottoes, which i count as a cult event... well their meeting anyway.
I haven't been a wizard for long, nor has anyone. I don't want to start philosophizing bout it, but people should do these soughta things as herald, wizards are people who have "proven themselves to the cult"(Cthulhu Cult) not people who have been here for a year, mulled around and advanced. Once we have wizard run grottoes as its says in the CCbible, heralds will be expected will probably be under wizards. Then that will take the place of them being in cult event, i spose.
I had the thougth for future advancement. If possible, the three month review period could be done with the herald apprenticing a wizard. It would have to be done face-to-face.
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Post by xenosapience on Dec 12, 2008 0:48:27 GMT -6
that makes sense. i felt that people were casting about for ideas in this thread^_^
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Post by sin on Dec 12, 2008 7:54:35 GMT -6
that makes sense. i felt that people were casting about for ideas in this thread^_^ I concur, and your ideas are great and worthy of consideration. Thanks for the feedback, and welcome to forum - glad you made it over.
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Post by sin on Dec 12, 2008 7:56:40 GMT -6
You are somewhat of an inspiration to me on the matter of getting the cult and the general idea out there and showing it to people. I think your work has inspired me to have a more positive approach when presenting the cult to the outside world. Thank you Madguten. As a 'cult' there are creative ways to expose the world to the COC. I find the more people who know about it, from people actually involved (with their own interpretations), the more it attracts an interest. Let's face it, the mission is appealing to those who are interested in their own human development. It sort of sells itself :-)
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Post by charlie_warren on Dec 29, 2013 21:14:17 GMT -6
This thread contains a lot of good insights from other members and outlines goals to shoot for.
When The Stars Are Right!
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