Left-Hand Service-to-Others

[Adonai One]

44.15 Questioner: Well, does the left-hand path of this represent the service-to-self path more and the right-hand path the service-to-others?

Ra: I am Ra. This will be the last full query of this working.

This is incorrect. These stations are relationships. Each path has these relationships offered. The intent of the practitioner in working with these powerful concepts determines the polarity of the working. The tools are the tools.

How would a "left-hand" practitioner of the STO polarity act? What would such a philosophy entail?

[spero]

44.15 Questioner: Well, does the left-hand path of this represent the service-to-self path more and the right-hand path the service-to-others?

Ra: I am Ra. This will be the last full query of this working.

This is incorrect. These stations are relationships. Each path has these relationships offered. The intent of the practitioner in working with these powerful concepts determines the polarity of the working. The tools are the tools.

How would a "left-hand" practitioner of the STO polarity act? What would such a philosophy entail?

Your question lacks context. From the previous q&a i worked out it was the left hand side sephirots or left pillar on the tree of life in kabbalah to which you were referring. Ra states the sephirots are interrelated and all available to either path with the intent being the determinant.

So the question you are actually asking is how does the left hand sephirots of Binah-"Understanding", Gevurah-"Severity" and Hod-"Majesty" apply in the positive orientation?

NB there are different translations for the sephirots and i just offered the ones conveniently available. Furthermore a study of the sephirots would be as complex as any study of the tarot conducted on this site, but open to more conjecture without the supporting Ra quotes.

[Adonai One]

44.15 Questioner: Well, does the left-hand path of this represent the service-to-self path more and the right-hand path the service-to-others?

Ra: I am Ra. This will be the last full query of this working.

This is incorrect. These stations are relationships. Each path has these relationships offered. The intent of the practitioner in working with these powerful concepts determines the polarity of the working. The tools are the tools.

How would a "left-hand" practitioner of the STO polarity act? What would such a philosophy entail?

Your question lacks context. From the previous q&a i worked out it was the left hand side sephirots or left pillar on the tree of life in kabbalah to which you were referring. Ra states the sephirots are interrelated and all available to either path with the intent being the determinant.

So the question you are actually asking is how does the left hand sephirots of Binah-"Understanding", Gevurah-"Severity" and Hod-"Majesty" apply in the positive orientation?

NB there are different translations for the sephirots and i just offered the ones conveniently available. Furthermore a study of the sephirots would be as complex as any study of the tarot conducted on this site, but open to more conjecture without the supporting Ra quotes.

The answer is yes. I never thought about it in terms of that but yes. Anyways, one can deduce that the tree's left-hand is simply connotated as "receiving" as opposed to "giving"? Can ones receivings not be directly oriented towards service?

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"In representations of the Buddha image, the right hand often makes an active mudra of skilful means - the earth-touching, protection, fearlessness, wish-granting or teaching mudra; whilst the left hand often remains in the passive mudra of meditative equipoise, resting in the lap and symbolising meditation on emptiness or wisdom."

- Robert Beér's Encyclopedia of Tibetan symbols and motifs

[spero]

The difference between Binah and Chokhmah i liken to the difference between being clever and being wise but this is just a superficial opinion on my part.

There are actually some really interesting discussion even on wikipedia on the relationship between the sephiroths. My personal favourite explanation of the difference between gevurah and chesed is the following

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohr
A descending light is a Divine emanation "from above". It is metaphorically called "masculine waters" and "an arousal from Above" in Kabbalah, based on the verses in Genesis 1:6-8 about the Upper and Lower Waters. The descent of masculine waters can be a free expression of the Sephirah of Hesed (Kindness), which has the essential nature to give Divine blessing in an unlimited way, without considering whether the vessels of the Creation are worthy. Hesed is counterbalanced by Gevurah (Judgement), that measures and withholds the blessing according to the worth and capacity of the vessel. More commonly, the descent of direct light is in response to the ascent from below of reflected light. This "arousal from below", the ascent of "feminine waters", is the spiritual illumination created by each person through meritorious ethical or ritual mitzvot (Jewish observances)

Another way of looking at it, our existence is due to the unconditional love (chesed) of the creator which created the densities, but in order to progress through the densities there is a sense of worthiness or judgment (Gevurah) between crossing the boundaries between densities. The criteria which comprise the conditions necessary for harvest can be viewed as a judgment but they are just reflection of the effort or worthiness of the candidate to progress to the next level and are present on the positive path as equally as they are on the negative.

[Adonai One]

Wise/Clever, Ascension/Descension are relevant here.

How do you feel about this quote, Spero?

"There is a significant difference between the two Tantric paths, that of the right hand and that of the left hand (which both are under Shiva's aegis). In the former, the adept always experiences 'someone above him', even at the highest level of realization. In the latter, 'he becomes the ultimate Sovereign' (chakravartin = worldruler)."

- The Yoga of Power

[spero]

How do you feel about this quote, Spero?

"There is a significant difference between the two Tantric paths, that of the right hand and that of the left hand (which both are under Shiva's aegis). In the former, the adept always experiences 'someone above him', even at the highest level of realization. In the latter, 'he becomes the ultimate Sovereign' (chakravartin = worldruler)."
- The Yoga of Power

I'm not all too familiar with tantric yoga but i think from memory the left hand path and the right hand path are labels similar to sts and sto but not exactly with unique cultural distortions that make it differ from the way Ra set out the sts/sto paths. Its also slightly confusing to assume every mention of the left side or left path is synonymous with the negative since this is not the case in the left pillar of the kabbalah as Ra mentions all sephirots are available for both sts and sto.

[Adonai One]

Haha, I agree with your sentiment.

However, regardless of tantric yoga as a whole, do you think that quote is accurate in any way?

[Hototo]

This maybe an oversimplification but:

Right hand service of others: (I serve you because I see you as a separate being from myself and you have a desire that I can easily fullfill so I serve you, its no harm to me and I get the same in reverse. So all is well.)

Left hand service of others: (I serve you because I want my property/possessions to be well maintained and in good order.)

[spero]

my attempt to view it as accurate would just be me comparing it to sto and sts in the Ra material and noting the difference. if i did that, then i would argue the right hand adept, the word "above him" doesnt apply since they probably embrace unity and brotherhood/sisterhood over concepts like above and below. The left hand path description sounds accurate. i would even offer a better term for the negative adept which seems relevant to our discussion; "ipsissimus". Further research on this term might yield fruit, but i havnt personally done so.

44.16 Questioner: As an ending question I will just ask is it possible then for the ipsissimus to have either positive or negative polarity, or must he be neither?
Ra: I am Ra. We shall respond to the meaning of this term in a specialized sense. The ipsissimus is one who has mastered the Tree of Life and has used this mastery for negative polarization.

Is there any brief query which we may respond to as we take leave of this instrument?

[Adonai One]

This maybe an oversimplification but:

Right hand service of others: (I serve you because I see you as a separate being from myself and you have a desire that I can easily fullfill so I serve you, its no harm to me and I get the same in reverse. So all is well.)

Left hand service of others: (I serve you because I want my property/possessions to be well maintained and in good order.)

Ha, I think property would be the incorrect term.

How about "For I am all, I want all things to be in good order"?

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my attempt to view it as accurate would just be me comparing it to sto and sts in the Ra material and noting the difference. if i did that, then i would argue the right hand adept, the word "above him" doesnt apply since they probably embrace unity and brotherhood/sisterhood over concepts like above and below. The left hand path description sounds accurate. i would even offer a better term for the negative adept which seems relevant to our discussion; "ipsissimus". Further research on this term might yield fruit, but i havnt personally done so.

44.16 Questioner: As an ending question I will just ask is it possible then for the ipsissimus to have either positive or negative polarity, or must he be neither?
Ra: I am Ra. We shall respond to the meaning of this term in a specialized sense. The ipsissimus is one who has mastered the Tree of Life and has used this mastery for negative polarization.

Is there any brief query which we may respond to as we take leave of this instrument?

Intriguing.

However does left-hand truly have to be negative? That's kind of the question I am asking. Haha. It seems you think so.

I apologize if this seems a bit of a maze.

[spero]

However does left-hand truly have to be negative? That's kind of the question I am asking. Haha. It seems you think so.

You make a fair point. perhaps im guilty of jumping the gun and assuming left is negative and right is positive as well lol. technically a great deal of the sts involves always having someone above you even if you strive to ultimately be the one on top, and maybe world ruler can be related in some sense to tarot cards 20 and 21 which could be positive as much as negative. Insightful discussion but yes a bit of a maze lol

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i've been far more active today then i usually ever am lol. i quickly looked at my biorythm chart and i'm, -100% emotional. I always thought that would mean i would be an emotional wreck during those times, but maybe it just means emotions like fear dont get in the way of a good discussion lol.

[Hototo]

Edit: Cant be bothered to get the Quote function to work well since it breaks up the replies so I'll just leave this here and say that left hand path can legitimately view you as property.

[Adonai One]

Well, spero I updated the thread to see if I can make the objective more clear. lol. Thank you for your thoughts so far!

[spero]

Well, spero I updated the thread to see if I can make the objective more clear. lol. Thank you for your thoughts so far!

This may sound like a reprimand but u really need to stop editing your opening thread and title. Doing so can change the entire tone or intent of a thread which sometimes develops a certain tangent as it progresses. This can make people's posts appear off topic and obscure when originally they were not. This has been frustrating enough that i routinely consider and do quote your entire opening posts as a pre-requisite to engaging in discussion with u. Please respect the time people take to answer your questions by not doing this in the future. Consider it a simple courtesy and not an express command. A simple post from you is all that is necessary to redirect the flow of conversation, as after all, it is your thread. Alternatively a new thread with a more specific opening post and a reference to the old thread would suffice.

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Cheers for the change Adonai, and thanks for being a good sport about it. I'm sorry if i sounded rude in my above post, its just it elicits a strong feeling and i thought it would be good to get it out in the open so it doesnt come between us having a great conversations in the future. I've alot of respect for you for taking it so well

[Adonai One]

I originally wanted to ask this from a point-of-view that would allow others to form their own hypothesis and theory irrespective of mine. Since this will likely be a vague discussion as it stands, I will admit that I find myself to be a left-hand but service-to-others individual.

This might be controversial:

I serve others because it pleases me because when I please another it is indeed pleasing myself. When I help another or bring them pleasure, I feel the pleasure as inherently mine. To me to serve another is to serve myself. I feel as the receiver in all my givings as well being given to by the giver. I do it all for myself for I am all things. I view another as myself with their freewill and all. I hope this makes sense, haha.

Is this a correct way to view the left-hand path? As one who seeks self-gratification? Because I am indeed selfishly gratified by the pleasure of all, by the enablement and empowerment of all as being infinity. I am selfish but not out of a desire to put all under my reign but because I recognize all as inherently unified as one self. Thus I feel I selfishly receive with every giving.

Anyways, I appreciate any comments to further enhance the meaning of this dichotomy or to just prove me as a clown.

I mean, how does my perspective differ from the right-hand path? Haha.

[spero]

Its possible for people to think they are sto but carry on with thoughts and distortions that are sts. A good example of this are the people of Maldek.

The peoples of Maldek had a civilization somewhat similar to that of the societal complex known to you as Atlantis in that it gained much technological information and used it without care for the preservation of their sphere following to a majority extent the complex of thought, ideas, and actions which you may associate with your so-called negative polarity or the service to self. This was, however, for the most part, couched in a sincere belief/thought structure which seemed to the perception of the mind/body complexes of this sphere to be positive and of service to others.

It may therefore be possible for a person or society to believe they were sts, but in holding to thoughts, ideas and actions consonant with the positive polarity (e.g. respect of free will, freedom from slavery) they are instead polarizing in a sto manner.

So my take on this paradox is there are certain "thoughts, ideas and actions" that align themselves to the sts or sto polarity regardless of your personal "belief/thought structure". This contrasts to the interpretation that a lot of people hold that it is your intention and belief which dictates polarity rather than the thoughts and actions themselves.

[Unbound]

I believe that the channelers of the Ra material were sadly using a concept of the left hand and the right hand which is part of popular, social culture. The claim of the left hand by satanic or luciferian groups or "black magicians" is actually an enourmous corruption of the ancient path of the Divine Feminine which is the womb of activity from which springs the individual self.

Black magic and white magic are not deduced by the hand but the way in which the hand is used. In Voodoo there is the black hand and the white, but then there are also "black people" and "white people". It is seen that both black and white individuals possess both hands but each utilizes them towards a different focus.

The left hand relates to the path of individuation, the total realization of Creatorhood as self. The right hand relates to the path of integration, the total realization of Creatorhood as other-self. Individual and collective, hand in hand.

At one point, the left hand path was what one "graduated" to from the right hand path. When one was able to see the full context of themselves as other-self, then the path of individuation would be explored. I see the difference in natural tendency towards individual or collective to be a manifestation of the continuing progress of each individual which happens over many lives. Some individuals may have already thoroughly explored the right hand or the left hand, and may now be working with both. Some may have gone through much of the left and now need to examine the right, or vice versa.

For myself, I seek the Middle Path, which is also the Left Hand path but only when equally balanced by the right. I seek not to be either individual or collective, but a perfect harmony of both.

What most think of as the Left Hand and the Right Hand I conceptualize in a different way due to these confusions and instead refer to the White Grail and the Black Grail. The White Grail is filled from above through service to all and the expansion of the self to include other-self. It is the cup that is infinitely filled with new light.

The Black Grail is filled from below through service to self. Divinity is "caught" in the cup and kept at the level of only the self and circulated with the self and the contraction of the self occurs until other-self is no longer seen to exist except as a means to an end which is Creatorhood of only the individual. This cup is ever losing its essence for it is ever losing its abundance due to the entropy of the individual attempting to separate itself from unity. There is always something to lose on the path of the Black Grail, and that is the individual self, and it is the fear of this loss which grips the Black Heart in every moment.

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Oh, and thus to address the topic, yes, certainly one may be in service to others while walking the Left Hand path, however if one has never walked the Right Hand, how will one know the other? The Right hand is concerned with becoming one with the other, the left hand is concerned with being one with the self.

To me, I see it that the greatest chance of pursuing the Black Grail comes from the attempt to walk the Left Hand path without acknowledgement of the Right. This is akin to going without a hand and insisting that the capacity to grasp is the same with only one hand. Undoubtably, some situations require the strength of both hands.

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To exemplify.

Christianity - Right Hand, Gnosticism/Luciferian - Left Hand
Islam - Right Hand, Sufism - Left Hand
Judaism - Right Hand, Kabbalah - Left Hand
Buddhism, Sutras - Right Hand, Tantras - Left Hand
Hinduism, Shiva - Right Hand, Kali - Left Hand (among other pairings)
Taoism, Yang styles - Right Hand, Yin styles - Left Hand
Freemasonry, Jachin - Right Hand, Boaz - Left Hand (technically a form of Hermetic Gnosticism)
Voodoo, White Hand - Right Hand, Black Hand - Left Hand
Etc, etc.,

I believe the Golden Dawn also uses White Hand and Black Hand. Study may also be made of the Cadeceus of Hermes on which the snakes represent each path upon the Tree of Life.

[Adonai One]

It seems I have been in the left-hand path for some time. This attitude is an extreme minority in my social memory complex especially while retaining a high positive polarity, which I am often surprised I have.

I have only this to ask: Macrocosmically, isn't there only one self?

[Unbound]

No, the Self spreads across the spectrum of infinity, so it is only applicable to say there is one self in this way if you realize that microcosm and macrocosm is a continuum, so more like microcosmic/macrocosmic and macrocosmic/microcosmic.

You are one self in microcosm and one self in macrocosm, however the macrocosmic self includes multiple microcosmic selves as its selves/cells. I see it is like a body, the totality of something or gestalt is macrocosm and its assemblage parts are microcosms. For our bodies, macrocosmic/microcosm has the view of ourselves as being a hologram.

From my view I am a macrocosm to the microcosm of all the cells and aspects of my body. I am a microcosm to the macrocosm of the Earth. The Earth is a microcosm to the macrocosm of the Solar System, and the Solar System is a microcosm to the macrocosm of the galaxy. So on and so forth.

Truthfully, the One Infinite Creator transcends being either microcosmic or macrocosmic because it is both in all situations so the nature of its presence cannot be placed in either context unless you are examining the relationship only between parts of the Creator. It could perhaps be said that the infinity of finiteness is the microcosm to the infinity of the Creator, but properly the Creator is that too, so truly microcosm/macrocosm, or As Above, So Below as it is known Hermetically is actually the eternal dynamic the Creator has with its Creation through holographic interplay.

There is only one true Self, but it cannot be placed in to either microcosm or macrocosm, for it is these things. Important to remember is that our experience stems from our interrelating with the other aspects of the Creator which are eternally present. So, really, the next macrocosmic self of myself is actually my Higher Self, and the macrocosm of that Higher Self is an even greater higher self.

Once you realize that every single octave in existence shares a single core it is easy to see that the octaves are interlocking circles and that, entered in to the Creator, any one of them may be accessed and each of them holds potential for a new macrocosmic and microcosmic experience.