First-timer greetings!

[Cybernetic_Jazz]

Hi everyone!

Not sure where to begin, I'm kind of new to this research as of last year but since maybe April of 2012 or so I've been digging at things starting (regrettably as a lot of people do) on the NDE and new age research which then lead me eventually to the more original historical basis of what's out there in the occult world as well as to what aspects I want to research.

I have to admit already that I'm straddling a strange line. Big reader of the bible and for right now I tend to look to it as a primary filter for which directions I'm willing to explore and which I'd rather, at a minimum, pass for a later date. My primary interest is in the Kabbalah/Tarot/Alchemy system, particularly meditation on the major trump (Paul Foster Case IMHO has been indispensable there), learning more about the depth of the tree of life, and as of recently I'm starting to learn a little bit about how to work the 32 paths to which sounds very promising. Also with respect to the tarot I did like Tomberg's 'Anonymous' Meditations a lot as somewhat of an aside from Case's work just for the sheer amount of information and what at least seems to somewhat novice eyes like a good map of the terrain with respect to what's what, albeit his use of the Marseilles deck makes his book a bit more of a knowledge-sharing memoir than something that would dovetail with Sephir Yetzirah.

Overall I'm finding tarot study fascinating and having the Universal Waite I'm also looking out across B.O.T.A and a few others to sort out what the differences are and what each major trump deck is intended to convey. My goal really is to look at the nuts and bolts of my own consciousness, see how it comes together, see what kinds of subroutines are running the show, what kinds of energies can enrich my progress (whether reincarnational or otherwise), and additionally this seems like a great way to 'keep myself out of trouble' and dedicate my spare time to spiritual self-improvement rather than on the TV, video games, or at the bar. If I can I'd like to find consistent access Yetzirah and Briah to aid in my self-discovery, self-direction, getting to know my creator, etc. etc.. I don't know how much Rudolph Steiner's work parallels with Kabbalah, sounds like it's likely the same thing but from a different angle of approach, but a lot of what he talks about in How to Know Higher Worlds has been very inspiring to me along the way.

My hopes aside from furthering my Kabbalah/Tarot/Alchemy understanding and learning about the different tarot decks as well as the paths is to figure out around the way, if I do decide that this stuff is for me in the long run, which initiatory societies out there tend to have a more dominant focus on the divine/sacred or vertical axis over the ceremonial/horizontal.

Anyway I'm looking forward to finding some great threads and possible making a friend or two in the process! [smile2]

[Nahemah]

Oh my. [grin]

Hello and welcome to the forum and slow down a bit mate your blinding me with insight! [eek]

Thelema sounds right up your metaphorical alley.

albeit his use of the Marseilles deck makes his book a bit more of a knowledge-sharing memoir than something that would dovetail with Sephir Yetzirah. ]

Hah.I learned on the Marseille deck,it was a case of necessity breeds invention and its not easy to do.
The Marseilles is the least visual deck there is,especially on the minor arcana cards,as far as I'm aware. It fosters a need to look within,thereby assisting the student in intuitive and 'blind' reading skills.

Howzat!

Have you looked at the Mirror Tree yet?

Many questions,but not many clues...Do elucidate further,please.

And more later. [thumbup]

[Asurendra]

Hello

[Cybernetic_Jazz]

Oh my. [grin]

Hello and welcome to the forum and slow down a bit mate your blinding me with insight! [eek]

Meh, I know a little - hoping to know a little more eventually. I hear occult knowledge and spiritual development is a long-term goal and I'm guessing a handful of well-aimed books is probably just a drop in the bucket. Most of my experience prior to this year was just psychedelic exposures to what was probably astral, the rest I'm trying to still construct a basic understanding.

Thelema sounds right up your metaphorical alley.

I might have to look at that a bit closer. I tended not to view Crowley in a particularly bright light but then again its true I've read more about him than by him. Liber 777 didn't seem like particularly bad work for a concordance.

Have you looked at the Mirror Tree yet?

My Kabbalah's still pretty limited. I've read Aryeh Kaplan's Sephir Yetzirah, tried Lon Milo's Chicken Qabalah before that, and I've got Dione Fortune's Mystical Qabalah that I shelved for a second to look at the pathways more. A few scraps from MP Hall's Secret Teachings and Agrippa's 3 Books and I still don't feel like I've done much more than scratch the surface. Clearly it's a voluminous system and so much of it seems to be about experiencing it over and above just collecting the data.

[ne1]

Hello and welcome.

It sounds like you are on a very noble path and have a great start. Good luck to you.

[Moon Sage]

YHVH Elohim!

Stuck in Binah...... Welcome! [yay]