Clair “E.” Phi “K.” Shun
March 19, 2017
G.D.O’Bradovich III
1
Our essay, “Acceptance: Part the Third”, is in that explicit and unexceptional style so favored and preferred by the Modern Reader. Favored, so that the reader may be absolved a priori for lack of effort to understand, and preferred, so they too, will possess the same thoughts and the identical conclusions of the commentator.
Since esoteric writing creates ambiguity regarding interpretation, we can forgive the Gentle Reader if he reaches the erroneous, although not unreasonable, conclusion that we regard the totality of our work as being produced in vain, and we value it accordingly. We strenuously disagree with this assessment, and can only respond that although our motivation was unknown to us at the time of creation, the results of our more inspired works, and our academically inclined research stand, or perish, either on their individual scholarly merits, or future value to the Gentle Researcher. Therefore, the dignity of the totality of our work should be judged according to its purpose. We may be forgiven if we believe that the design of esoteric writing is to insure that the author has a never ending source of material for further elucidation: continually defending his views from misunderstanding.
Along similar reasoning as the justification of our work, we may state that our personal relationships have resulted in the recognition of the highest virtues, and other admirable qualities or values. The Gentle Reader may recall that Capricorns correctly esteem quality over quantity and this view is valid, not only in the context of material possessions, but also of personal relationships. Whether all of our personal relationships began with value, we cannot state with certainty, due both to the passage of time and to the irrelevance of the inquiry. However, we assure the Gentle Reader that all of our relationships have virtue, value, or both; even when certain parties, Yours Truly included, do not always express these values, or demonstrate appreciation, either in frequency, or in duration.
Since esoteric writing creates ambiguity regarding interpretation, we can forgive the Gentle Reader if he reaches the erroneous, although not unreasonable, conclusion that we regard the totality of our work as being produced in vain, and we value it accordingly. We strenuously disagree with this assessment, and can only respond that although our motivation was unknown to us at the time of creation, the results of our more inspired works, and our academically inclined research stand, or perish, either on their individual scholarly merits, or future value to the Gentle Researcher. Therefore, the dignity of the totality of our work should be judged according to its purpose. We may be forgiven if we believe that the design of esoteric writing is to insure that the author has a never ending source of material for further elucidation: continually defending his views from misunderstanding.
Along similar reasoning as the justification of our work, we may state that our personal relationships have resulted in the recognition of the highest virtues, and other admirable qualities or values. The Gentle Reader may recall that Capricorns correctly esteem quality over quantity and this view is valid, not only in the context of material possessions, but also of personal relationships. Whether all of our personal relationships began with value, we cannot state with certainty, due both to the passage of time and to the irrelevance of the inquiry. However, we assure the Gentle Reader that all of our relationships have virtue, value, or both; even when certain parties, Yours Truly included, do not always express these values, or demonstrate appreciation, either in frequency, or in duration.
Few individuals wake up with the express purpose of making friends, whether real or imaginary. Therefore, while friendships may or may not be magical, they are certainly accidental. We assure the Gentle Reader that Yours Truly did not decide that on a given day to meet certain strangers, for example, Sarah Louise, Robert, Thomas, Brayden, or Denver, with the explicit goal that, in the fullness of time, the recognition of virtues would be realized. “It doesn't work that way.” We are, after all, Occultists, not psychics.
Since our initial encounters with certain individuals are entirely an accident of history, we consider our subsequent behavior to seek further engagement with them as intentional; judging perceived risk versus potential reward; the greater the risk, the greater reward, and we have been duly rewarded. Of course, past performance is no guarantee of future results and, as always, the body betrays the mind. We may say that further encounters with certain individuals that were initiated by Yours Truly were due almost entirely to our intrigue or curiosity.
While our interest in Libras was discovered through our earliest studies of astrology and from our previous knowledge of certain individuals’ sun signs, our attraction to them was attributed to their sun sign being identical to Yours Truly’s ascendant sign. It was only later that our interest in Cancer Geminis developed, or was recognized, and we presumed, or perhaps, justified, that our interest in these select individuals was due to the fact that they are our opposites; that is, they are six months removed from our coming into being, or that they are the identical sign as the midheaven on our natal chart. None of the above mentioned presumptions are certain. While encounters are of a random nature, the Gentle Researcher knows that our interest and curiosity are not accidents either of time or of place, or our coming into being, but are attributable to a certain design, but of a design anterior to ourselves, and seemingly beyond our control, or influence.
We note that a word as presumably explicit as “excursion” has two definitions and, interestingly, these separate meanings are not opposites, as might be expected. Such will be the nature of our departure from our thesis and our detailed examination. One of the reasons for ambiguity in writing is the lack of definitions supplied by the author. “Technical jargon” is a type of undefined term frequently found in esoteric writings. We may say that the effective use of technical jargon will always result in various opinions concerning the one correct understanding. These incorrect opinions invariably have their origin in one of the following: assumptions, presumptions, or suppositions.
One specific example of an undefined term is “Cancer Gemini”, and the lack of an explicit definition throughout our work should not be a cause of concern for either Yours Truly, or the reader possessing general intelligence and curiosity. The “cusp” may be understood as ranging from June 20 to June 24, or the period encompassing the final five days of Gemini’s third decan and the first five days of Cancer’s first decan. As a Great Occultist once said, “The good stuff is never written down.”, and we assume from this statement that there exists a secret oral tradition.
The existence of at least one undisclosed teaching can be confirmed by our reaction when Apprentice Brayden unexpectedly described himself as a “Cancer Gemini”; our confusion accompanied, no doubt, by our perplexed gaze and our bewilderment. Of course, Apprentice Brayden is correct, astrologically and exoterically speaking. Therefore, judging by our puzzled reaction to Apprentice Brayden’s innocent statement, we hinted, albeit involuntarily (once again, the body betrays the mind), at the possible existence of an esoteric meaning for the otherwise innocuous astrological appellation of “Cancer Gemini”.
Since our initial encounters with certain individuals are entirely an accident of history, we consider our subsequent behavior to seek further engagement with them as intentional; judging perceived risk versus potential reward; the greater the risk, the greater reward, and we have been duly rewarded. Of course, past performance is no guarantee of future results and, as always, the body betrays the mind. We may say that further encounters with certain individuals that were initiated by Yours Truly were due almost entirely to our intrigue or curiosity.
While our interest in Libras was discovered through our earliest studies of astrology and from our previous knowledge of certain individuals’ sun signs, our attraction to them was attributed to their sun sign being identical to Yours Truly’s ascendant sign. It was only later that our interest in Cancer Geminis developed, or was recognized, and we presumed, or perhaps, justified, that our interest in these select individuals was due to the fact that they are our opposites; that is, they are six months removed from our coming into being, or that they are the identical sign as the midheaven on our natal chart. None of the above mentioned presumptions are certain. While encounters are of a random nature, the Gentle Researcher knows that our interest and curiosity are not accidents either of time or of place, or our coming into being, but are attributable to a certain design, but of a design anterior to ourselves, and seemingly beyond our control, or influence.
We note that a word as presumably explicit as “excursion” has two definitions and, interestingly, these separate meanings are not opposites, as might be expected. Such will be the nature of our departure from our thesis and our detailed examination. One of the reasons for ambiguity in writing is the lack of definitions supplied by the author. “Technical jargon” is a type of undefined term frequently found in esoteric writings. We may say that the effective use of technical jargon will always result in various opinions concerning the one correct understanding. These incorrect opinions invariably have their origin in one of the following: assumptions, presumptions, or suppositions.
One specific example of an undefined term is “Cancer Gemini”, and the lack of an explicit definition throughout our work should not be a cause of concern for either Yours Truly, or the reader possessing general intelligence and curiosity. The “cusp” may be understood as ranging from June 20 to June 24, or the period encompassing the final five days of Gemini’s third decan and the first five days of Cancer’s first decan. As a Great Occultist once said, “The good stuff is never written down.”, and we assume from this statement that there exists a secret oral tradition.
The existence of at least one undisclosed teaching can be confirmed by our reaction when Apprentice Brayden unexpectedly described himself as a “Cancer Gemini”; our confusion accompanied, no doubt, by our perplexed gaze and our bewilderment. Of course, Apprentice Brayden is correct, astrologically and exoterically speaking. Therefore, judging by our puzzled reaction to Apprentice Brayden’s innocent statement, we hinted, albeit involuntarily (once again, the body betrays the mind), at the possible existence of an esoteric meaning for the otherwise innocuous astrological appellation of “Cancer Gemini”.
If Apprentice Brayden were to inquire of a certain Great Occultist as to the esoteric meaning of “Cancer Gemini”, we would respond that the designation is neither good nor evil, (we are above such opinions), and the term, whether past, present, or future, is not applicable to him. We may venture further and clearly state that knowledge has no obligation to ignorance and we offer the following indication for consideration: Cancer Gemini has one defining attribute, a goofy smile, that hints at shared subjective experiences and recognizes similar virtues. In conclusion to our excursion, we may say, without contradiction, that we understand Apprentice Brayden as a Cancer Gemini, while we never entertained the idea of him being a Cancer Gemini. Such are the results of undefined terms, ambiguity, and the law of unintended consequences, Yours Truly experiencing awkward moments in a social setting.
In conclusion, the Critical Reader may question if the reasons that Yours Truly must continually defend and offer further clarifications both of opinions and of certain positions are due entirely to the lack of organizational thought and poor, rather than esoteric, writing skills.
The Gentle Reader will reach his own conclusions regarding various accidents of history and the resultant values that may, or may not, be initiated by, and proceed from, such encounters.
The Gentle Researcher will know that our virtues are not determined by our coming into being, or accidental encounters with Cancer Geminis, but are the product of long experience, of reasoning, of the recognition of noble values, of the avoidance of mediocrity, and of the disgust of decadence.
In conclusion, the Critical Reader may question if the reasons that Yours Truly must continually defend and offer further clarifications both of opinions and of certain positions are due entirely to the lack of organizational thought and poor, rather than esoteric, writing skills.
The Gentle Reader will reach his own conclusions regarding various accidents of history and the resultant values that may, or may not, be initiated by, and proceed from, such encounters.
The Gentle Researcher will know that our virtues are not determined by our coming into being, or accidental encounters with Cancer Geminis, but are the product of long experience, of reasoning, of the recognition of noble values, of the avoidance of mediocrity, and of the disgust of decadence.