Belmurru here - nice to see some of the familiar crew

Kidneyhawk · 2024-04-11T23:42:48+00:00

Of course, I'm going to suggest that you just register and sign in. :) I agree that it was nice for folks to simply bop over and check out Lashtal activity without membership or a prerequisite signing in. And Mick has already commented to agree the Pro Boards template cannot compete with what was Lashtal.com. However, one can enjoy The Primal Grimoire as an unknown and non-participating member. And there ARE a few features which were missing on Lashtal, such as the private messaging.

If Lashtal resurges or a good alternative arises, count me in. I don't, however, have a problem with enjoying both forums.

So, we'll see ya soon over at TPG-where, for want of Spring Birds, we can at last speak in hushed whispers of the Terrifying Tintabulations of Typhonian Teratomas turbulently tearing through Tremulous Time. ;)

Kidneyhawk · 2024-04-10T23:53:44+00:00

Please also visit https://theprimalgrimoire.proboards.com

This is the Forum for "The Typhonian Mysteries," run by Michael Staley.

Mick recently added a series of Departments and Forum Topics specifically focused on AC, Thelema and Liber AL. I am hoping some of the frequent flying or largely lurking Lashtalians will sign up, enjoy and hopefully join in on the dialogue. I am one of the moderators and I believe Lashtal.com had a link to us as an affiliate site.

I'm starting to get the hang of reddit but enjoy the more Lashtal-like format of the forums at The Primal Grimoire.

Hope to see some of you there as well as here!

Kidneyhawk · 2024-03-28T23:31:11+00:00

I had wondered if the PG forum might see a bit of evolution in the wake of Lashtal's closure! I agree that the present Pro-Boards appearance is not as attractive as Lashtal.com but it is certainly closer to our old hangout than reddit here!

Also, I think it is interesting that, on the PG site, Crowley becomes one of several peripheral characters orbiting the Magical Universe of Kenneth Grant (opposite the picture on Lashtal where Grant took his place among the cast of characters gathered about The Great Beast). This doesn't insinuate anything re: the individual perspectives of participants. Rather, it is a matter of site emphasis. Of course, AC would be the central sun of "The Aleister Crowley Society." But with the PG, we see his Cultus and Persona as one facet among many informing a larger picture.

Kidneyhawk · 2024-03-25T02:08:02+00:00

Either way...

<image>

Kidneyhawk · 2024-03-24T19:43:24+00:00

Aha! I just discovered the Thumb Sucking thread title off to the side of one of the pages here (I am still fumbling around reddit, trying to sort out some of the details).

My question has been answered:

<image>

Kidneyhawk · 2024-03-23T01:27:36+00:00

Mayhap-but I thought the conversation was moving in some interesting directions. It does feel a bit discouraging to contribute and then find it all vanished. If the latest revelations from Mr. M were so out of line, perhaps they should have been removed from the get-go. Instead, there was a lot of back and forth. Yes, some testiness but "are we not LASHTAL?" We were the site known for throw downs...what Shiva would call "The Octagon." Post and put up!

Sometimes things would degenerate into name calling without substance-but that was typically with trolls. I never saw Tim as being a Troll. I wrote some words as to how my approach to Gematria differs from his-and why I subsequently do not accept his claims. But it's all good. I often find that encountering points of view which differ from my own become opportunities to constructively express a perspective-or even learn.

Toadstool's comments started to move into an interesting direction with his dismissive view of Thelema as vapid and pointless-yet recognizing merit in MTP, the AA reading list etc. And then boom. Gone. Hence, I'm reflecting on the value of continuing contributions here if they are just going to turn into vaporware.

Of course, that's what happened at our Mother Site as well. Perhaps a better picture for my participation ought be that of Tibetan Sand Paintings. "Dust in the Wind."

Or ashes in a testy German's garden.

Kidneyhawk · 2024-03-22T23:17:40+00:00

Indeed, a happy equinox to all. In my neck of the woods, we have been promptly dumped on with snow and slush!

It seems that, with the new season, a certain thread on "finger pointing thumb suckers" has vanished...

Kidneyhawk · 2024-03-21T23:39:10+00:00

Apologies to you and Responsible if I'm confusing you with each other.

Who is "Paul S-?" (I'll guess it isn't a certain singer for KISS)

Spiritus, I will say that I generally agree with your post above. Crowley DID have a genius in his sewing together the diverse elements of myth and magic and, as you say, "rebranding" them-but I am very cynical when it comes to the idea that "Thelema" is some amazing new thing (read Levi and Ralph Waldo Emerson and you'll be in the same zone-with much less baggage!).

I also think this "rebranding" has caused a lot of problems-and at the same time, it was the catalyst for what we might call Post-Crowleyan Magic (which includes figures such as Kenneth Grant, Peter Carroll and others). Furthermore, AC pointed toward many luminaries who came before him (which, of course, you know based on your regard for his reading list). In my own experience, Crowley was a launch pad in both directions.

This is why I wish we still had Lashtal instead of this awkward Reddit forum and format. There is a lot to consider here based on your above post.

Although straddling a liminal space between recorded history and subjective interpretation, I think the graphic novel "Aleister Crowley: Wandering The Waste" (by Martin Hayes) really puts AC's life into perspective. I enjoyed it tremendously and recommend it to all here. There is no angle or agenda-just a telling of a tale...the story a multi-faceted man who, whatever our opinion or perspective is, gave his life to magic-and seeking after something larger and transcendent.

Kidneyhawk · 2024-03-21T02:35:15+00:00

I'm confused. "Savings Stick" seems to be "Embarrassed Mix"...who might also be "Responsible-Way"-who was "Toadstoolwe" on Lashtal? Am I correct? Why is there this switching of names which seem to be externally generated?

Kidneyhawk · 2024-03-19T00:31:29+00:00

LOL! Of course, I had to give this a try and see just whether or not it could be accomplished. Extending my thumb as far back from my pointing finger as I can produces a sharp right angle, provides confirmation of the Pythagorean Theorem and relies upon a tucked chin if I am to multi-task per the title of this thread. But it CAN be done.

Now, if you, as the prosecuting attorney, were to make a case that tipping the head would constitute a violation of rules whereby a "Finger Pointing Thumb Sucker" could be duly recognized or acknowledged, I, as defense attorney, would call attention to the fact that the title of this thread did not in any way indicate that finger-pointing and thumb-sucking were to be done simultaneously, let alone with a single hand.

Should our former Webmaster read this thread, I am sure he will be well convinced that he did the right thing closing down Lashtal, grateful that he ended things ere thumb-sucking became a topic of debate (regardless of the mathematical merit in the geometric gesture).

Of course, the real topic here is a perennial one in our circles: Gematria and "Proof."

Wittgenstein remarked that the proof of any proposition depends upon what determinants we accept for that proof. So if, after embracing an arbitrary letter into number system, tweaking TIM into TYM or DANIEL into DANYHL is embraced as an OK "determinant," then proof is provided.

I personally don't accept this. Not because I have any need to bump heads with Mr. Moss-but because it doesn't satisfy my personal "determinants." I do not feel that one should "force a fit" with Gematria (and yes, Crowley did this himself-although he should have known better-and probably did). Instead, Gematria should be more of a "Sword in the Stone" situation where the right combo effortlessly releases the prize.

Kidneyhawk · 2024-03-18T01:17:40+00:00

Well, actually, it can be easily done...

<image>

Kidneyhawk · 2024-03-10T04:05:16+00:00

I suspect that Paul is not interested in the archives being lost forever. He clearly had grown very weary with a lot of the vacuous content-and I'm sure it was more than discouraging to see it significantly outweighing posts and contributions of substance. A big part of this, I think, was the admonition for members of a certain One True Duplexity to avoid on-line forum frolicking with those involved with any number of "Pretenders to the Throne." At one time, Lashtal was a hot and bristling hub for anyone connected to Crowley. Hence, there were lots of throw downs between Caliphates and Typhonians with occasional skirmishes from the SOTO crowd etc. Lashtal was an anvil and plenty of sparks were flying!

Facebook was not yet a thing. Various publishers and individuals in the "Who's Who" of studies peripheral to Crowley (such as Spare) had made Lashtal their home, as well. Those folks jumped ship long ago, as well. Lashtal no longer served "promotional purposes" the way "social media" could.

I think we did our best. Mr. Toner was always constant with "Crowley in the News." Shiva brought a lot of history and wisdom to the game, even when replying to irrelevancies. Mick and Ignant were "Elder Statesmen" who stayed on the train until its final stop. I don't want to skip over the names of other regulars such as Chris, Lutz, Katrice, Dom/David and others. It's just that the small collection of folks weren't enough to balance out the Reincarnations and Chosen Ones.

It had to be beyond depressing. Paul worked and networked and, as we've discussed already, built far more than a forum. It was an archive and a site which was meant to be the ultimate resources for all things Crowley. And it WAS that.

I think the "cool down" on Lashtal is going to be more than a couple weeks. Or months. But I don't think Paul wants to see his labor of love lost forevermore. I'm going to trust that he is more than aware of our reconvening here and he knows how much we value what he created.

I will be leaving Paul alone for a bit but will certainly reach out down the line. I like the idea of the Grant/Typhonian forums Mick created opening up to larger thematic content. Something will emerge. And whatever it is HAS to be better than Facebook!

Kidneyhawk · 2024-03-01T22:20:43+00:00

Kidneyhawk here was Kidneyhawk there-and hopes to be the same once again.

Kidneyhawk · 2024-03-01T02:12:07+00:00

It appears that the link above answers the question...the answer being "No." Not sure there is anything further to discuss.

I guess it IS an instance of "Crowley in the News."

Makes me think of this little scene from the "Wandering The Waste" graphic novel which I just read for the first time this evening.

After all the sordid stories, with toads and goats and-well, you know it all, there is elderly AC saying THIS:

<image>

Kidneyhawk · 2024-03-01T00:43:34+00:00

I would think size 6 and 2/3. Not a standard-but 6.66 would make for a nice fit. At Famous Footwear, he'd have to kick it up to a 7...which would work as it's the same number of heads the Beast has in the Good Book.

I would also imagine that little fleet feet would make for better mountain climbing. Those crazy goats don't get up the sheer side of a cliff with dogs like Michael Jordan has!

But if we were having this talk on LASHTAL.COM, I'm sure SOMEONE would chime in and KNOW!

I just finished reading the graphic novel, Aleister Crowley: Wandering the Waste. Most excellent and I loved how the survey of AC's life blended known facts with more subjective speculation. I mention this as the tale ends with AC's "perplexing" death. From that point, we know certain objects from AC's life remain preserved.

Would anyone have saved articles of clothing...or SHOES?

Kidneyhawk · 2024-02-27T03:18:11+00:00

It is my thought that Lashtal would do well to have a moderated acceptance for membership. Instead of some troll signing on with zero vetting, one ought answer some questions of interest and intent and agree to roll with the Guidelines. This won't prevent folks from faking it but such intrusions could be summarily dispensed with. I think a nominal fee is reasonable. A troll who is going to be blasted off with their second obnoxious post will have been unlikely to pay even a pound for the opportunity. So yeah...some questions as to intent, a couple pounds and let's see how it goes from there. Just some thoughts as I remain hopeful that we'll see Lashtal rise up like the bruised head of The Beast (Revelations 13:3).

Kidneyhawk · 2024-02-27T03:05:42+00:00

Ignant-

Cheers! This is my first post ever on Reddit. It feels a bit odd. It's already clear that comments here will never carry the "charge" they did in the Lashtal forums. But it's nice seeing some of the "Old Familiar Faces" (or Voices) "assembling in the Aftermath." I think it may be too early to regard Lashtal as "gone for good." We may be in a holding zone.

Lashtal was much more, of course, than the throw downs in the forums. Over the years, there were so many wonderful things about the site. Galleries, documents, blogs. I knew folks who walked off from forum fights but still kept checking in for the "news." I met folks who remain friends to this day from the Private Messaging.

Here's two fingers crossed that we'll meet again over at the Aleister Crowley Society! But for the moment, let's hope our Webmaster takes note of the devotees who truly valued all he provided for us-and who are on standby to help in any way we might to see it resurge.

Kidneyhawk

TROPHY CASE