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Post by eldritchentity0 on Jun 29, 2010 11:07:37 GMT -6
Gender Theory is a very fascinating and developing subject. The easiest way to understand Gender is to see it on a sliding spectrum scale. It is variation, not dichotomy. The LHP is indeed majority male. But there have been many left-handed females. I have also met many female witches, who are left-handed in nature, but do not identify with the left-handed cultures, specifically because of the masculine/aggressive thematics used. Of course, we have archetypes such as Lillith, Hekate, and Kali that are amazingly feminine and left-handed. Personally, the way I see it, there is masculine and feminine found within BOTH genders. A male can be both assertive/aggressive and nurturing/soft. A female can also be both assertive/aggressive and nurturing/soft. If they can only be one then there is imbalance. Again this is for the sake of categorization and conversation. All gender is relative and varies greatly. As for males or females having any more difficulty on the LHP. This can be seen either way. Females are raised to be more passive and submissive, although this is fading in modern times. So this programming may create obstacles. But, as my High Priestess has always said, "women are typically better at magick because they don't have a dick to deal with." What she meant by that was not feminism, rather, males, especially in our culture, are raised to be egotistical and headstrong, which can create an obstacle. I see no innate qualities in either that make one any harder to Ascend as the next. To say a male makes a better magician or Ascends easier on the LHP is the same talk found in patriarchal religions like Christianity and Islam etc. One requires both energies. That is exactly what I was trying to say, I see gender energies as relative and not set in stone. As I said each and every person can speak for themselves and it is their choice to describe themselves as feminie or masculine as they so choose. Ultimately the need to break down and use masculine and feminie or label it such in my own opinion is human nature so that they may understand the world around them better and that is fine and all but it shouldnt define WHO you are and what you are capable of. Awake! His ichor cleanses the world!
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Post by Apsara Kamalli on Jun 29, 2010 21:33:01 GMT -6
From Gurdjieff: "This reassuring and scolding, this momentum of daily life that tells us all is true and proper just the way it is, is called feminine dominance. Feminine dominance keeps the world in its orbit around nothing, going nowhere. It is feminine dominance that has us believe that we already have a soul and are going to heaven, and it is feminine dominance that evokes feelings of outrage at the thought that this is not so. Feminine dominance makes us feel guilty about asserting ourselves, or taking a moment longer than the world would like so that we can see more clearly who and what we are. The artificial emotions of feminine dominance (attitudes connected with "should" and "should not") supplant the real emotions of conscience. To question the world as it is, is to risk being considered a fool, a madman, an outcast, or perhaps a bookworm. "Life is great, just get on with it." But this is where life deceives us most, in the mistaken assumption that its own ends have meaning and purpose, and that moreover we are obliged to pursue those ends. The influences that accompany this momentum - money, career, spouse, family, country, health, pleasure - the Fourth Way calls Influences A (also referred to in these pages as life). As long as a person believes primarily in Influences A and devotes his time and energy to acquiring them, he will not be interested in spiritual work, even if he says he is." So the idea here is that women, or the feminine influence on our society, is what is holding our species back from awakening? That, because of the female influence, we are too wrapped up in pursuit of keeping up and acquiring the biggest house, the flashier car, and the coolest party invitations?
Just because men do all of these things in order to guarantee they will continue to get laid doesn't mean women are too blame for it. Women want attention. If men secure the necessities of their survival needs (influence A's) and then move on to his spiritual work (influence B's), women will still want attention. Do you think that woman's need for attention keeps her from focusing on her spiritual work? No more than a man's need to get laid. The key is for both sexes to come to that realization, and move beyond it.[/b][/quote] Most religions do put men on a pedestal compared to women. This has not always been the case, and I don't think it will remain this way either. The pendulum has begun to swing back the other way recently with the feminist movement and acceptance. Hopefully, it won't swing too far.
I am very familiar with "The Rope" group that Gurdjieff guided. Yes, they were all women. Most were lesbians. I wonder if this lean towards the masculine side is what lent validity to Gurdjieff's decision to work with the group in the first place?
Most of the women were established in their career fields when they chose to follow his teachings, and they remained connected for years even after Gurdjieff was no longer involved. But "The Rope" group was somewhat disconnected from his other followers. There's something to be said about it, but I haven't been able to put my finger on his motivations yet. Any suggestions?
Awake!
AK
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Post by I AM the Way on Jun 29, 2010 23:31:54 GMT -6
Just to clarify, that quote was not from Gurdjieff but the guy who wrote the introduction to Girard Haven's book Creating a Soul.
What I personally believe he was trying to say was that there are universal forces at work which try to derail us. These forces create an unproductive mindset which is slightly more prevalent in females than males... at least a few decades ago. I don't know if it's accurate or fair to ascribe such universal traits to the feminine persuasion, but I thought it was worthy of notation since we were discussing the Fourth Way and women.
Again, it sounds like the author of that particular passage had been "done wrong" by various women in his past, and he was making a gross over-generalization by naming it feminine dominance. Just my three cents.
Awake!
Venger As'Nas Satanis Cult of Cthulhu High Priest
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Post by Apsara Kamalli on Jun 30, 2010 6:00:02 GMT -6
Just to clarify, that quote was not from Gurdjieff but the guy who wrote the introduction to Girard Haven's book Creating a Soul. I didn't absorb that. Thank you for the correction.Very worthy notation. Thank you.
It is prevalent in all of us to become derailed. This is the force that some see as the universe working against us. I don't see it that way. If this derailment happens, it is because we haven't done enough to secure our foundation. Maybe we haven't made the right choices, or our focus was misplaced. Either way, it is always "fixable" by us and our desire to move beyond it so that we can go back to working with our B influences.
Awake!
AK
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Post by boksmutant on Nov 29, 2010 2:17:44 GMT -6
Boudicca comes to mind from the days of the picts. Did you hear, Mel Gibson is doing a movie on her.
She was a bad ass against the Romans. Should be interesting.
Awake!
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Post by I AM the Way on Nov 29, 2010 10:18:27 GMT -6
I think you meant salons.
Awake!
Venger As'Nas Satanis High Priest Cult of Cthulhu
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Post by I AM the Way on Nov 30, 2010 0:08:41 GMT -6
Ok. Not sure where Emerson was coming from, but from my perspective (and most people reading this) salons are high-class literary and artistic meeting places in Europe offering liqueur, while saloons are wild west establishments serving gulping whiskey, full of gambling and whores.
Yes, I see you chose that one for a reason. Thanks for providing a quote.
Awake!
Venger As'Nas Satanis High Priest Cult of Cthulhu
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