(03-13-2009, 12:47 PM)Alkhemist Wrote: I ask that those who feel the Priesthood idea does not resonate with them to consider that there are still those of us out here to whom it does resonate, so that does not make the idea of a Priesthood of Ra a bad one. It just means that you don't resonate with it.
I spent a year in seminary at one point because I experience a "Calling" to it. If I were a Christian, I'd most likely live in a monastery. My Calling is to the devotional life and a life of STO, so I still need to find a way to express this using Ra's teachings, because they are what I most resonate with.
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...a group of people wishing to devote themselves to the study and practice of the Law if One within a framework of a Rule of Life might be the best method. Such a group could include study meetings, daily meditation and contemplation, and even something so mundane as writing for a group newsletter. The reason to have such a group would be to train those who want to add a deeper dimension to their LOO study, to provide support in the form of community, and to nurture and inspire those drawn to the life of a mystic.
I've heard from several people on this idea, so maybe this is the way to go. It could be a beautiful community for those drawn to it.
Alkhemist, I agree with you that, just because not everyone resonates with the idea, does not mean there is no place for it. Now that you've clarified more details of what you had in mind, it's not quite what I originally envisioned either. So it might not be for me either. Nevertheless, I do see the value in it for those who resonate with such a structure, and there needn't be any conflict; as you say, those who don't resonate can simply ignore it! We certainly don't need a consensus on this. Those who are interested can simply move forward, and those who aren't, simply not participate. I encourage you to be true to your calling and your nature!
I also offer this suggestion: You might consider broadening your parameters a bit. Many people follow the Law of One without ever having heard of it or the books. Find those people. The label they may wear has very little relevance. I know that there are many people out there who are disenchanted with organized religion. I personally have met a number of them recently at another online forum: former Christians who feel that they have no home, no roots. They are searching.
Some of them emailed me, asking me for book recommendations. They said they resonated with many of my words...that it struck a chord within them. This despite the fact that I never, ever mentioned the words 'Law of One' at all! But just in everyday discussion, the Law of One concepts shone thru in my postings enough that they recognized it.
There are many such people, who may never find this forum because they haven't even read the books yet. Therefore, my suggestion is to not limit yourself to those who already know they aspire to follow the Law of One teachings. Send out a beacon, to attract those who desire to follow the Law of One teachings, even though they don't know it consciously yet.
Reading the books would likely be necessary for membership in your sacred Order, and my guess is that those who answer your beacon would be thrilled to read the books. By broadening your search outside the current Law of One community, you might reach many people who will resonate with your idea, that you otherwise would not have connected with.
It appears that only a small number of the members on this forum seem to resonate with the idea of a priesthood. Perhaps because those who have already discovered the Law of One tend to be rather independent of any sort of structure anyway, and maybe that is partially what attracted us to the teachings, initially. But many others might be attracted to the teachings, who do seek more structure. The teachings aren't just about shedding structure, obviously! There is so much more! The teachings clearly state that the STO path may be found via religious practice, for those who resonate with it.
After all, we all know that the Law of One extends beyond any sort of dogma or doctrine, and yet, never does it condemn the following of such, for those who wish to do so. Look at how Carla follows the path of Christian mystic: free of the restricting Christian dogma, yet embracing so many aspects of the Christian path. She is a living example that it can be done! How many others out there identify with the Christian path, who would resonate with your vision? How many self-proclaimed Buddhists? Hindus? How many of various other religions who might welcome integrating the Law of One with their current spirituality? And how many who have left their respective religion because it did not satisfy their yearnings, yet still seek that sense of belonging, community, and structure? How many who are looking for exactly what you are offering, but just don't know it yet, because they haven't read the books yet?
My suggestion is to cast your net in a much larger and deeper space. The Law of One is much bigger than our little group. We just have the advantage of being able to articulate our understandings, because we've read the books. But there is a larger audience out there who might embrace the books and maybe even your community. By broadening your search parameters, you'll have a better chance of finding them.
Just an idea to consider!