| Overcoming Inertia By Phaedron Summer is the time of year that helps Nature and its aspirants to grow. You are a sum of your past preparations, yet you can use this season's energy to align with the light force and overcome the darkness of inertia. Every path of enlightenment contains certain training techniques called practices and individualized karmic exercises called disciplines1 designed personally for each student. The student will only face challenges that they are capable of mastering at a given time. Each challenge may be considered a test by the gods and goddesses. Failing such a test is quite permissible; however, rejecting all one's spiritual commitments because of the fear of failing (thus falling) is contrary to spiritual growth. Perhaps you look back saying, I could have or should have done more. Every magickal student does! You have spiritual slumps as well as leaps. Such slumps may influence or even discourage you, causing further indolence; or worse they convince you that you are so far from your goal that you might as well give up. Magick is not merely intellectual. Attainment doesn't occur on a curve scale, as scholastic studies do. It is an art, the rewards are exhilarating. The falls can be devastating. The expectation of profound results all the time can lead to disappointment. Just be devoted to your spiritual growth and persistence. This will help lessen the impact of the slumps. Remember that you progress on different levels. So when you seek only tangible results, you may neglect that which occurs on other planes. Conversely, remember how you have benefited and grown in the past as a result of your practices. Too often, the experienced student forgets that! Often it is not until drifting away from the assigned practices (and sometimes when it is too late) that one realizes the value and direct results obtained from one's spiritual path. Challenges of inertia or laziness are often tests that occur when you are ready to qualify for next level towards enlightenment. An occasional laziness may creep in; this is OK. Don't think you have lost the magick, when it may only be a temporary phase. How can you overcome it? Generally, continue your practices until the spark comes back. It will, if you can ride it out. Enduring, enduring, enduring. (No one ever said it would be easy!) I.A.O. Aleister Crowley was probably the first to publicly explain this inevitable progression of spiritual attainment that unfolds the pattern of all nature. It is the formula of I.A.O. The first stage is I, representing Isis. She is the virgin state of the matter. For the student, this is the stage when any practice or regimen is fertile, undiminished, exciting. Vigor and ardor prevail. The second stage is A, which stands for Apophis (the Egyptian God named Set). Here the practice is transformed from novelty, to dull repetition demanding the stability of endurance. This can be caused by the rebellion of the Lower Self, which is coming under control of the Higher Self. The Lower Self challenges anything that threatens its stronghold. Unknowingly, the student might submit to it. In its negative aspect, Apophis is the destroyer. But do not consider His assertion here as permanent. Apophis is inertia, which can be used as a good training technique or a test. The third stage is O, for Osiris. He is the ancient Egyptian god slain and arisen from the dead. In His rising, He resurrects not as a mortal but as an enlightened god. This resurrection announces Him as superior to His state at the time He was destroyed. Thus, the student that endures the darkness of Apophis emerges as a king or queen who overcomes bondage and restriction. Their practices become better and more productive than before. Of course, not all aspirants believe they can endure this Apophis encounter, and they many give up here. And such I.A.O. cycles may occur at different stages of development, as the student attains. This vital formula, I.A.O., permeates the universe microcosmically and macrocosmically. (That is, you can apply it to other aspects of your life. Think of some of these.) It also applies to the creation as a whole. In short, all comes from the god-self, and all will confront its opposite from which attainment can emerge. Common Obstacles to Spiritual Growth The ego sets enticing traps which lead you backward. They can manifest in these common obstacles that may put you in a magickal slump. Beware of: Intimidation: This is an inner conflict in which a person interprets their lack of something as inferiority. Those who are clearly less attained than the teacher, and struggle with the fact that they know less (or perhaps not at all) may feel intimidated. How destructive this is! Such arrogant roadblocks will hamper you. Never feel intimidated in the presence of a master who offers to guide you. A true master does not intimidate the aspirant. Intimidation is self-created! You are only as inferior as you think you are! The folly here is because the master never regards you as such. In fact, the master probably respects your ambition to pursue a magickal course of spirituality—it is not for everybody. Know and value your place as a student aspiring to mastery. Every master was a student at one time. Making Your Own Disciplines: Sacrifice is a part of the growth process and must be in properly proportion. Too often aspirants demand too many sacrifices of themselves, sacrifices that a spiritual teacher would not require because they are too great. Of course, sacrifices should not be superficial. They must be demanding to be valuable—but they must not be impossible. Inexperience (simply being too close trees to see the woods) is the reason not to assign such disciplines to yourself. Guilt/Reward: These are the powerful childhood hang-ups that take you away from your practices. Everyone who takes it upon themselves to be their own judge (and jury and executioner) hands down judgments that they would never impose on others. It is human nature that students are too severe with themselves. I see it repeatedly. No wonder they loose enthusiasm. On the other hand, the same occurs with disproportionate reward. Often the student rewards himself with things not truly beneficial to their well being. The do-it-yourselfers can testify to this. Even the great adept Aleister Crowley rewarded himself with self-destructive recreations, thinking they wouldn't hurt him because of his level of attainment. Seek union with God (the goal), not reward or penalty. They shall come to you, as you are fit to receive them. (See Crowley's Adjustment Tarot card for further reflection on this.) Quotas: These are expectations you put on yourself, your ego. Simply, there really are no standardized accomplishments in magick. There is no yardstick of individual attainment that is the same for everyone. Each soul has its own Will, pace, level and chores (karma) to address. Very often the aspirant regresses back to school when they were compared to standards and their peers. Spirituality imposes no such measurements. Yet the student might fabricate a standard requirement in their practices if they are still attached to the obsolete mind-set of following other people. Thus, they may even create such high standards as an excuse to withdraw from difficult disciplines. Therefore, just do as you will, without analyzing the practices and their relevance to your greater development. Aspects: Yes, the old reliable planetary formations can manifest spiritual slumps. Here, again, you see the necessity to keep a good magickal record to see the effect these aspects have on you. Remember not to be ruled by the stars! The reason for using astrology is to be immune to the planets' negative influences and to be receptive to their positive ones. When people approach me to study, I often find that they have fallen from a perfectly fine path that was suitable for them because they didn't know how to handle these conflicts. They've actually thrown away a fine opportunity to learn and then decided to seek a different path that they thought wouldn't have such slumps and tests. I tell them that if they don't expect both high and low points, they'll simply drop this (and every other path of enlightenment) when such tests come and they'll be searching forever. So, go the long haul. Don't mistake failing for Falling! You can overcome such crises and slumps if you handle them accurately and clearly. Getting Out of a Rut Here are some ways to overcome the forces opposing spiritual growth: Vary your practices! Most of the stagnation cases I see can be remedied by going back to the basic multitude of practices and seeing what you've omitted along the way. Perhaps you chose your favorites or those you're most familiar with to practice all the time. Don't regiment yourself into a rut. How can the various specific disciplines and practices which your spiritual master has given you be inspiring if you fall into a rigid routine? Fluidity is essential in magickal prowess. If you do your practices at night, wake up early and do them in the morning instead, or outside, or in a different order, etc. When self-made distractions occur: stop, then ask yourself, Why am I doing this? Try to evaluate the reasons. Don't skip over them, they're too important. You must deal with them. Writing about them will help bring about solutions. Also, if you don't, you might repress them if they reoccur. Such discoveries will place things in proportion. Stay close to your Hierophant/Priestess/spiritual teacher, so as not to get lost or waver. The energy of your spiritual teacher is one of the best tools you have. Also, of course, it their job to be keenly aware and to support you magickally (not only emotionally) through the slumps. They will help you, guide you and inspire you. This proximity element is fundamental in traditional Hermetic organizations. Discover how you learn/grow. See why you have high points and low points. Then you will know what to overcome, and what to use more. Wallowing in inertia is not constructive, and should be replaced with self-understanding. Also be aware of such influences as weather, associates, things that trigger unpleasant memories (and your reactions), newspapers, media and anything else that competes for your energy to fulfill your practices and grow spiritually. In Closing If you desire the knowledge of the great magickal tradition, accept the Laws of the universe. Be willing to act, not just fantasize. The magickian seeks the opportunity to unite with the Creator and demonstrate their intentions. So, revel in the times of your inertia and become the sacrificed then resurrected Osiris. These breakthroughs will help you to grow. No matter how difficult they may seem, the gods and goddesses never design them to be heavier than you can carry or overcome—for this is Truth and Liberation! Notes 1) A discipline is a field of expertise and practice such as art, philosophy, healing, astrology, etc. Do not confuse it with the synonym that suggests an authoritative reprimand or demand. NOTE: Only an attained spiritual master is capable of seeing and knowing how and when to disseminate these important disciplines that affect your soul. If you are willing to perform the acts of anyone other than a master, be judicious. Although titles can be used by anyone, one who is bold enough to declare themselves a Master is either genuine or crazy. The true master will not fear to identify himself as such. Their deeds, not words, demonstrate their authority. 2) The rewarding lessons of ego may seem harsh at the time. Do not confuse this constructive harshness with the devastation of falling. 1993 The Holy Order of the Winged Disk, All Rights Reserved. Phaedron is the G. H. Hierophant of the Holy Order of the Winged Disk, Director of its International Academy of Hermetic Knowledge and author of The Practica Arcanum. For more information call (804) 293-7485, or send $1 to: PO Box 4384, Charlottesville, VA 22905. | 
