Well, another year's gone by, and I'm going through yet another Solar Return. Happy Birthday to me!
Someone wished me a Happy RO Day on Facebook, and I like it. When I die, I want my feast day to be on May 13th. People should give each other encouragement, and gifts on this day, and I will bring as much prosperity and healing and occult power and wisdom as I can to those who celebrate my feast day.
When I die, that is.
There's a reason my death is on my mind. I'm getting old. My hips hurt if I sleep on them wrong. I just said that. And it's true. I'm slowing down, I can't keep up with all the stuff I could keep up with just two years ago, let alone 20. My goatee is flecked with silver hairs. My daughter said to me the other day, "Dad, I know why you're going bald," and I was like, I'm NOT going bald. She got a serious thoughtful look on her face, and said, "Dad, I know why your hair is growing further apart now."
And it's not just my body, it's my mind. I can't think as quickly as I used to. I talk to a few young guys who are my students and friends, and I can see the difference between us. They're on fire to do as much magic in as short of a period of time as possible, and I'm all, dude, wait, hold on, prepare more, build your way up, take your time, this is going to end weakly if you're lucky, and hurt horrifically if you actually succeed in all the initiations and K&CHGA stuff you've done this week.
And then there's hangovers... My god, hangovers. I didn't really know what those were in my 20s and 30s. I thought I did, but turns out, I was wrong.
They're much worse.
They're much worse.
But on the plus side, with age comes a lot more benefits than aches and pains. I get to sit back and laugh when, despite my warnings, the noobs go boom. I know how to manifest shit they can't even dream of. I have the wisdom to plan, the experience to execute the plan, and the stamina to keep on working through the shit times to get to the end. I've been through enough Shit Seasons to know they're temporary and not to give up when it gets shitty.
And these days I get to plan a lot bigger than I used to. World domination isn't just a pipe dream anymore. I've already started, and it's totally working. My current milestone is to change the face of modern occultism, to connect modern magicians with techniques of Hermetic practice that will blow the doors off their LBRP and Middle Pillar exercises.
So far, so good.
In 17 months, expect something Really Big.
And these days I get to plan a lot bigger than I used to. World domination isn't just a pipe dream anymore. I've already started, and it's totally working. My current milestone is to change the face of modern occultism, to connect modern magicians with techniques of Hermetic practice that will blow the doors off their LBRP and Middle Pillar exercises.
So far, so good.
In 17 months, expect something Really Big.
Ugh... baldness... I've been looking for a baldness cure via magic for years! No luck...
ReplyDeleteDriveby comments here, RO.
ReplyDeleteFirst, I will happily celebrate the Feast Day of Frater Rufus Opus. Because frankly, I'm totally going to keep pestering you with questions postmortem anyways, I might as well pay my respects properly *smile*
Happy Birthday, by the way. I'm not on Facecrack and so missed the memo, but I hope you enjoyed the day.
17 months, huh? I'll keep my ears to the ground and my eyes open; I'm very interested to see what comes.If all goes well I'll be around to see what happens firsthand, via the Red Work series. Cheers to your oncoming success!
I'll be "life the universe and everything" age this summer: 42. I've been through some shit storms myself, though no real magical ones yet. I'm quite satisfied with my magical life, though, thanks to the MAG, my ebony wand, and a ToP.
ReplyDeleteBit of nice work this week — this song came through. Sure, based on GD stuff but totally useable within the framework you've given me. And found this talk by David Kelleywhich articulates the vision of what I'm trying to do in middle school education... again, in line with the chain of manifestation... being constantly creative, disciplined in creation, and focused... bringing good stuff into the world.
You go, man!
My age has been on mind a lot lately as well. I am just at the beginning of the downhill though. I only really noticed it because in the Corps we engage in physical activity to the point that little changes in how you eat or stretch mean a lot. Though I still keep up with the new guys ten years my juniors, I have begun to notice that my recovery is slower than it used to be.
ReplyDeleteSadly, it rolls over a bit into my magickal practice. I have found that I need to plan things out a bit more now. It is just harder to muster the energy to do a major working when you can hardly lift your arms due to soreness. For me, I work around it with scheduling. I’m interested to hear what methods you are using?
Boidh se!
-Spanish Moss
"Lost in a thicket bare-footed upon a thorned path."
http://witchingpath.blogspot.com
Happy belated Birthday.
ReplyDeleteGetting older does suck for the body. But if you have grown during your life there are good things that come out of it too.
YOU'RE getting old. Make me laugh. I have arthritic joints older than you.
ReplyDeleteHappy RO day, dude! I feel your pain with the grey hair, and its true - the hangovers are much worse ... although my hair is still as thick as can be. :-)
ReplyDeleteBrudda RO,
ReplyDeleteYou're hella old. ;-)
Nothing wrong with having some mileage on you....I can't wait to get a few greys in my five o'clock shadow. Look all distinguished, haha.
Happy Birthday, brother. When do I get a preview of the awesomeness you're working on? =)
Happy Birthday RO, but you are dead wrong, we do not get older, our children are the ones that get older...besides it's a matter of attitude, I decided long ago(won't say how long ago) to remain in my 30's so in my mind I'm 30's for ever, LoL!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday RO.
ReplyDeletehttp://wiki.lspace.org/wiki/Silver_Horde - this is what I'm aiming for as for my golden years.
I'll be interested to see if you use magic more or less frequently in the coming years. I've no doubt it will become more powerful.
Hehe... Happy RO Day. I just had my RW day, and I can really identify with the hip pain. Though my hair isn't growing farther apart, more gray ones peak out.
ReplyDeleteI won't even talk about hangovers.
But I really do enjoy what you say about wisdom, manifesting, etc.
We age like fine wine.
Should you predecease me (we're going to be neck and neck on that one, we're about the same age) I'll celebrate your feast day. Let me know what offerings etc. you want or if you aren't picky and want me to choose something that feels like 'you' somehow.
ReplyDeleteI've been noticing age myself. I get up in the middle of the night to go pee, and I'm like "is someone eating rice crispies? In the middle of the night??" and then I realize - that horrific crunching popping sound is my knees. Sigh.
Happy Belated Birthday/RO Day! Yes, I have hip pain and back pain, too! I'll hit the Big 5-0 in November, but I'm looking to get better in the coming years!
ReplyDeleteAs for the cure for baldness...I read about a spirit of Bardon's in the Earthzone who can grow new hair and teeth!
Give it a try! (LOL)
Happy Belated Birthday, RO, From one balding Taurus to another ;-).
ReplyDeleteHad my 30th on the 14th of May. Feeling like I am playing catch up with all this stuff trying to get my magick to work right.
ReplyDelete"I talk to a few young guys who are my students and friends, and I can see the difference between us. They're on fire to do as much magic in as short of a period of time as possible, and I'm all, dude, wait, hold on, prepare more, build your way up, take your time, this is going to end weakly if you're lucky, and hurt horrifically if you actually succeed in all the initiations and K&CHGA stuff you've done this week."
ReplyDeleteYoung bull says to old bull, "Hey, see that pen down there? Let's run down the hill, jump the fence and screw one of the cows!"
Old bull replies, "Tell you what, let's walk down the hill, go through the gate and then screw ALL the cows."
Heh.