As we approach Samhain, Halloween, All Saints Day and so on death a theme that’s perhaps even more ubiquitous than usual. And it should be something actively contemplated. Death is something everyone living will experience themselves as well as being affected by the death of others – family, significant others, friends, people they only know from the news, et al. The Tibetan Bardo Thodol includes accounts of the post-death journey of the individual consciousness for study and rehearsal.
Earlier today Dr. Richard Kaczynski posted on his FB page:
“Everywhere I look, it seems like the recent deaths of brethren and other loved ones have left many in the Thelemic community struggling to cope with their losses. The pain of my brothers and sisters is my pain too, so I’m making freely available my paper, ‘Aleister Crowley on Death: Philosophical, Technical and Practical Aspects’ from the NOTOCON X proceedings book, in hope that it brings into my siblings’ grief some solace and possibly inspiration for personal work. If it helps even one person to suffer less, I will be happy.
“The paper examines how the Thelemic canon and the commentaries thereon regard death; what Crowley’s writings say about how death, transmigration, and the soul operate; and Crowley’s recommended magick exercises for understanding death or coping with loss. Be sure to also read Crowley’s ‘Liber 106: Concerning Death.’
“Thank you to Sabazius X and the NOTOCON Conference Committee for agreeing wholeheartedly that helping those of us in pain is more important than selling books, and for giving me their blessing to distribute this extract. Please share, if it is your Will, with anyone who is wrestling with sadness, grief, or loss.”
