COVID, Crowley and the Crowned and Conquering (Inner) Child

[Wintruz]

Even with the boons of youth and vigour on one's side, COVID with asthma is nothing to trifle with. The virus is less than a joy for anyone but the thought that symptoms could spiral and breathing could be seriously jeopardised is a vexing one. Not that the thought of dying overly disturbs me, it's just that I haven't come this far to go out with COVID.

These thoughts were on my mind across the course of this week's illness; I never did descend into very serious symptoms, but the thought that I might inspired a series of powerful ruminations that tied-in with re-reading Crowley's Thelemic works.

A popular understanding seems to have arisen online wherein Crowley is seen as a "teenage edgelord" and even a "man-child". These comments are deeper than the people posting them understand them to be. Across the world, "maturity" is implicitly understood to mean coming to terms with, and reconciling oneself to, the prevailing status quo. A person is designated "mature" or "sober" when they are aligned to that status quo. Yet, if the thoughts and values of the status quo are less than our potential, "maturity" becomes a disfiguring of the Self.

It is apt then that at the centre of Thelema is the image of the "Crowned and Conquering Child". This Child is not a symbol of society-designated immaturity but of the Self which has not internalised socialisation, which is close to Its essence, Its desires and which holds a limitless conception of the possible. This, united with an adult's knowledge and freedom, makes for a uber-powerful source of magic.

I suspect that the Thelemic Child is the esoteric impulse behind the popular manifestation of "getting in touch with one's inner child". Like most people, I have lost the ability to think like I could at twelve (a pivotal year for me) but I know that gaining access to that way of thinking would create a strong current of magic in my life. It would also help me to appreciate the things I desired most at that age and which I now have but no longer see as magical (for example, a knowledge of the forbidden, access to adult sexuality/men, the ability to eat ice cream and watch horror movies all night, etc.).

If suddenly I were to stop breathing, I would do so happily if I knew that I had fully realised the potential and feelings I had aged twelve. There is wisdom and power in feeding the Child in us and letting it feed us in return.

[Vesperium]

Even with the boons of youth and vigour on one's side, COVID with asthma is nothing to trifle with. The virus is less than a joy for anyone but the thought that symptoms could spiral and breathing could be seriously jeopardised is a vexing one. Not that the thought of dying overly disturbs me, it's just that I haven't come this far to go out with COVID.

These thoughts were on my mind across the course of this week's illness; I never did descend into very serious symptoms, but the thought that I might inspired a series of powerful ruminations that tied-in with re-reading Crowley's Thelemic works.

A popular understanding seems to have arisen online wherein Crowley is seen as a "teenage edgelord" and even a "man-child". These comments are deeper than the people posting them understand them to be. Across the world, "maturity" is implicitly understood to mean coming to terms with, and reconciling oneself to, the prevailing status quo. A person is designated "mature" or "sober" when they are aligned to that status quo. Yet, if the thoughts and values of the status quo are less than our potential, "maturity" becomes a disfiguring of the Self.

It is apt then that at the centre of Thelema is the image of the "Crowned and Conquering Child". This Child is not a symbol of society-designated immaturity but of the Self which has not internalised socialisation, which is close to Its essence, Its desires and which holds a limitless conception of the possible. This, united with an adult's knowledge and freedom, makes for a uber-powerful source of magic.

I suspect that the Thelemic Child is the esoteric impulse behind the popular manifestation of "getting in touch with one's inner child". Like most people, I have lost the ability to think like I could at twelve (a pivotal year for me) but I know that gaining access to that way of thinking would create a strong current of magic in my life. It would also help me to appreciate the things I desired most at that age and which I now have but no longer see as magical (for example, a knowledge of the forbidden, access to adult sexuality/men, the ability to eat ice cream and watch horror movies all night, etc.).

If suddenly I were to stop breathing, I would do so happily if I knew that I had fully realised the potential and feelings I had aged twelve. There is wisdom and power in feeding the Child in us and letting it feed us in return.

I personally agree with it. Maturity doesn't mean to be cold as rocks.

In fact, the emotionally mature man is the one who isn't afraid to cry, for example, or to explain his feelings in a non-violent manner.

Even with Saturn related returns, still, our Inner Child shall always glow up and continue to feed, and also, with the adequate levels of wisdom, feed us too in return.

I hope you are OK as of the moment I wrote this message