Barbelith Underground > Temple

Following you over from the Headshop, I can have a go at the question about chi as well. Firstly though, I’d say that I’m very intrigued by the whole notion that something like this might be thought of as existing at all – it’s certainly something that ‘s not acceptable to western science and occupies a fringe space in “alternative health” /healing./martial arts. As such it probably covers a multitude of different phenomena – I think any attempts to put this concept on a scientific footing would meet with the severest resistance. Wilhelm Reich attempted to do this, calling it “orgone energy”. At his trial in ’57, the judge ordered all his the publications mentioning this concept to be destroyed.

As to the with holding back of sexual energy (“karezza”) I think it’s called this is one of those ideas of uncertain status that has been exported from the East without much understanding. As far as I can tell/recall, part of this is popular superstition - quack medicines exist to prevent the loss of semen through wet dreams as this is attributed to a loss of health and vitality. Part of this is probably a carry over from the celibate monastic traditions. I also think some of this has got it’s origins in anti-sex attitudes of ancient Muslim invaders of India who were the first people who smashed up the sexual statuary ancient Indian temples (later followed by Gandhi and Nehru). What I’m trying to get it is the witholding of orgasm or chi or whatever isn’t a fixed and definite technique sanctioned by Eastern tradition. It’s an idea that has multiple points of origin (I’m sure I’ve only covered a few of them), some of which rests in our misunderstandings of Eastern spiritual traditions. That said, it may be a very benefical technique for some people. It might feed into a libratory agenda it might not, I don’t know. I’m not knocking it, but it’d be best to do your own experiments. You can find a discussion of these issues in two excellent books on sex magick – Katon Shual’s “Sexual Magick” and Frater UD’s “Secret of Sex magick (if that’s the right title – can’t remember).

I’d say that’s probably the best way to learn about sexual magick as well– I don’t think I’ve got much to say here, I don’t feel like I’m any sort of expert, it depends on what you mean by it. Do you mean enjoying your sexuality more - surely liberatory - or learning a set body of technique. I've never done the latter but have attempted the former.

Some simple ideas here might be experimenting with your breathing for a start –and see how this affects your emotional and sexual responses. See where your holding back, where you’re tense etc. Any relaxation exercises you can find might be interesting to play with. A not specifically sexual, but very good nonetheless, program of exercises can be found in Chris Hyatt’s book “Undoing Yourself with Energised Meditation”.
This is a excellent article as well.

Actually, this brings up a very good question – on one hand you’ve got sex magick as work – frenzied wanking over sigils to spawn results. On the other, you’ve got sex as play. I’d like to hear people’s experiences or thoughts on the difference between the two.

I don't much about the OTO sexual magick stuff. I guess you'd have to read through the allegorical lines in Crowley's stuff.

Sex Magic