provision

[rm]

My entertainment review contract with Gather has been extended. I'm now absolutely, positively able to go to Detroit. (roy_batty, will I see you there?)

I also found apricot/coconut gluten-free cookies from Australia. While not the ultimate taste sensation, they are very specifically the taste of something that I ate all teh time in Sydney because it was ubiquitous, and it's the first truly Aussie thing I've been able to have since the celiac situation emerged.

Comments

[roy-batty.livejournal.com]

In theory . . . that's the thing (IME) with the O.T.O. Now there are some notable exceptions . . . there always are (and at least a couple of 'em are on my friends list) but folks in the order often seem much more concerned with theory, with debating academic minutia, with regulating dogmatic orthodoxy regardless of weather or not it's been tested in the crucible of one's own psychic back-yard (mixaphorically speaking).

Also, I just get a . . . "slimy" vive off of too many of 'em.

I love (again, IME - YMMV) the Feri attitude of practical aplication. There's plenty of room for theory, but it has a very Gurdjieff-esque attitude of the need for theory to be applied (not just applicable) - to maintain the balance between the "talkeer" and "fetch", between potential and manifestation.

It's like if there's some theory about an approach to fencing, the difference between people who will (in a VERY educated manner) deconstruct and debate the theory, and every now and then do some demonstrations of it - vs. the people who will say "interesting, let me understand that theory, but let's go TRY it, and if it seems likely, let's drill it every day so it's actually functional in a fight".

Oh yeah, and (once again, HEAVY IME caveat) the heavy sexual energy is there, but somehow more overt, cleaner energy, more present but more genuinely interested in discovering peoples boundaries so they can be properly respected - less predatory.

But then - that's my filter.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Your filter syncs with mine pretty strongly. Also I think, from my understanding of it, that Feri handles gender better -- both in terms of flexibility and in terms of women. But again, the problem is the people of the OTO (and yes, I've awesome one's of my friends list too) more than most other things.

I am also with you on the slimy vibe and I think that extends from something I object to in more than just a magickal community sense. There is a profound difference between being sexually open and free and being sexual casual or, even worse to my mind, "look at me, aren't I clever and wicked?" It's a thing going on in society in general that I dislike profoundly , not just because I'm object to it on intellectual and other grounds, but that is a world I'm incapable of navigating -- I'm a serious soul whether I want to be or not, and the assumption that my lack of strictures about certain things makes me find all sorts of ill-considered behavior acceptable makes me insane. I also have to deal with in the OTO as well as other sort of intellectual, geek communities as a rule, the fact that people try to be predatory at me largely because of my physical size and the assumption of acceptability of such behaviors is deeply troubling to me.

The fencing comparison is apt, since we do have classes where we stop pwrrying about having perfect technique (although we much know the rules to break them) and look on what you have to actually do in a goddamn fight.

[roy-batty.livejournal.com]

Interesting . . . I *do* very much hope I can make it to the ISMAC in July (waiting on plane fare to drop, or someone else local to carpool with) - would love to be able to chat about this stuff in person.

And, re a prior comment, don't get me wrong. I *do* like elaborate "high church" ritual (if done well), and get it on a regular enough basis. I'm just more personally drawn to something less . . . Apollonian and more Dionysian for my regular daily (personal) practice.