chris_judge: "But does this mean that every tangle with Choronzon propels the initiate in this direction? Is is possible to face him without being in the midst of the abyss?"
Personally, I think each person's path is their own. There certainly are likely to be useful similarities such that one can learn from others, but there is bound to be some unique personality involved to the experience for each person, I would venture.
Anyhow, I think one can use such terms and ideas as metaphors (since most everything already is metaphor), and thus can be suitable to many purposes. But, being clear that one is being metaphorical might help avoid confusion with the specific experience. Or, not. Maybe … I'm all for metaphor but also try to keep precise terms for when I need precision. Try to, anyway.
Aribus: "Is there a way to navigate oneself through these dark waters, or should one just accept what comes and goes? If the shore on the other side is the whole without the ego, as to say."
To be brief, I would imagine that one can try to prepare oneself in many ways for such a thing, but I can imagine that it is the work of preparing, ultimately, that might make one more resilient than any specific preparations one might prejudge are needed. Becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable is one way I've tended to think of such things. I guess, without necessarily knowing or speaking for anyone, including myself: one traditional way of being prepared for such an experience is to undergo initiation and to have a serious magical practice. Have the foundation and the skills necessary so that … well, what? So you can throw them out or have them undergo a revolution, perhaps, when the time it right!
Or, not. Maybe …
As an aside, I was just recently reminded by a review of Aleister Crowley's Book of Lies by T Polyphilus that Liber 333 is related to this topic, crossing the Abyss, being a Babe in the Abyss and encountering Choronzon. So, you might want to gander at that while we're talking about it. |
