Thelema Exercises

Will Exercises

2010-10-22T03:10:00.001-07:00

by George Ivanovitch Gurdjieff

Exercises

Plan do do something at a specific time or times and then endeavor to perform the planned action. You may use your powers of Imagination and Visualization to formulate the specific task.
Plan to do a specific Work Exercise at a specific time or in a specific situation.
Spend half the day agreeing with everyone and half the day disagreeing with everyone.

Pondering on Will

Where does our Will originate from?
Who Wills our actions?
What is Self-will?
Is Will different in the three centers?
Is there a difference between Will and desire?
Is there a difference between my Will and the Will of His Endlessness?
What is the Will of His Endlessness?
What has His Endlessness Willed for me?
Can Self-will coincide with the Will of His Endlessness?

Online References:
http://www.endlesssearch.co.uk/exercises_will.htm

Developing Will Power and Self Discipline

2010-10-22T03:09:00.000-07:00

by Remez Sasson

An effective method for developing and improving these abilities is to perform certain actions or activities, which you would rather avoid doing due to laziness, procrastination, weakness, shyness, etc. By doing something that you do not like doing or are too lazy to do, you overcome your subconscious resistance, train your mind to obey you, strengthen your inner powers and gain inner strength. Muscles get stronger by resisting the power of the barbells. Inner strength is attained by overcoming inner resistance.

Remember, strengthening one of these abilities, automatically strengthens the other one.

Exercises

You are sitting in a bus or train and an old man or woman, or a pregnant lady walks in. Stand up and give up your seat even if you prefer to stay seated. Do this not just because it is polite, but because you are doing something that you are reluctant to do. In this way you are overcoming the resistance of your body, mind and feelings.
There are dishes in the sink that need washing, and you postpone washing them for later. Get up and wash them now. Do not let your laziness overcome you. When you know that in this way you are developing your will power, and if you are convinced of the importance of will power in your life, it will be easier for you to do whatever you have to do.
You come home tired from work and sit in front of the T.V. because you feel too lazy and tired to go and wash. Do not obey the desire to just sit, but go and have a shower
You may know your body needs some physical exercise, but instead you keep on sitting doing nothing or watching a movie. Get up and walk, run or do some other physical exercise.
Do you like your coffee with sugar? Then for a whole week decide to drink it without sugar. You like to drink three cups of coffee each day? For a week drink only two.
Sometimes, when you want to say something that is not important, decide not to say it.
Don't read some unimportant gossip in the newspaper, even if you want to.
You have a desire to eat something not too healthy. For the sake of the exercise refuse the desire.
If you find yourself thinking unimportant, unnecessary, negative thoughts, try to develop lack of interest in them, by thinking about their futility.
Overcome your laziness. Convince yourself of the importance of what is to be done. Convince your mind that you gain inner strength when you act and do things, in spite of laziness, reluctancy or senseless inner resistance.

Never say that you cannot follow the above exercises, because you certainly can. Be persistent no matter what. Motivate yourself by thinking about of the importance of performing the exercises, and the inner power and strength you will gain.

Trying to attempt too many exercises when you are still a beginner, might end in disappointment. It is better to start training yourself through easier exercises at first, and gradually increase the number and difficulty of the exercises. Practice will improve and increase your power, giving you a lot of satisfaction.

Most of these exercises can be practiced anywhere, anytime. You do not have to devote special times for them. Believe me, they are very effective. Practicing them enables you to be strong and exercise will power and self-discipline in everything you do. This power would become available whenever needed.

If you practice weight lifting, running or doing aerobics, you strengthen your body. When you need to move something heavy, you have the strength for it. By studying French each day, you will be able to talk French when you travel to France. The same thing happens with will power and self-discipline. By strengthening them, they become available whenever they are needed.

It is important to remember not to choose exercises that might affect adversely your body or health. Deny and give up what is not necessary, futile or is harmful, but not what is vital for your well being. Always use your reason and common sense, so that you do no damage to yourself.

If for the sake of an exercise, you stop doing something that you usually do, and overcome the inner resistance concerning it, you may resume doing it, if it is not harmful. For example, if you love drinking orange juice, and for the sake of an exercise you switch to drinking apple juice, after doing so for some time and after it makes no great difference to you, you may go back to drinking orange juice, if you still like it. The point here is to develop inner strength, not making life difficult for you or continue doing things you don't like to do.

Online References:
http://www.successconsciousness.com/index_000006.htm

Training The Will

2010-10-22T03:08:00.001-07:00

by Life Positive

Method

Vividly visualize all the unfortunate incidents which have occurred in your life as a result of your inadequate will. Examine each incident carefully, formulating them clearly and then make a list of them. Allow yourself to be affected by the feelings, which these recollections arouse—shame, dissatisfaction with yourself, regret, and the desire to change.

Visualize the advantages of a stronger will. Examine and formulate all the benefits and satisfactions and write them down. Allow yourself to feel the joy of these benefits, the intense desire to realize them and the strong impulse to begin at once.

Finally, visualize yourself as being possessed of a strong and persistent will. See yourself walking with a firm step, acting in various situations with decision, concentration of effort, persistence and self-control. Visualize yourself successfully attaining the desired ends.

Online References:
http://www.lifepositive.com/mind/personal-growth/personal-growth/growth-exercises.asp

Irresistible force versus immovable object

2010-10-22T03:07:00.000-07:00

from Will Project Wiki

A physical formulation of the Irresistible force paradox: "What happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object?"

Objective

To test and increase participants' determination by giving them an impossible task, whereby only one person can meet the objective.

Method

The exercise involves one person running from a start point towards a set goal point (a wall, a marked line, or a placed object such as cone or piece of cloth) a short distance away. Another person will stand in front of the goal and attempt to stop them by tackling, grappling, and restraining them. Rules and protective equipment can be varied depending on the nature of the training. It is possible for there to be one runner and a multiple people trying to stop them, similar to Bullrush, although without the group in the middle choosing who runs - everyone takes a turn.

Person organising the exercise will state the to runner, "You will make it to the other side/goal" and to the person opposing this, "You will stop him/her."
Runner will charge as fast as they can towards the goal, which will be guarded by an opponent or opponents. They will use all means and skills within the rules they have been given, but rely primarily on a singled-minded determination that they will reach their goal. They may use affirmation while running, such as "I will make it", "I will reach my goal", etc.
The person or group attempting to stop the runner will use all means within the rules of the game to stop the runner, such as tackling, grappling, and restraining. As with the runner this person may repeat affirmations, such as "I will stop him/her" etc.
The turn only ends under the following conditions:

the runner reaches the goal
the runner gives up
the runner is successfully restrained for a period of time without being able to move
the runner is dragged back to the starting point (meaning they were unable to continue their forward travel)

Roles are reversed, or the next pair take their turn.

Notes

It is possible to ritualise this exercise more. Both participants can be given time to formulate their goal, visualize it, and essentially 'psyche' themselves up before the run.
Remember though that this is more a rugged physical test of determination than of skill, so a predetermined plan is not necessary.

Online References:
http://www.willproject.org/wiki/Methods_for_the_Development_and_Training_of_the_Will#Combative

Cultivación de la voluntad

2010-10-22T03:05:00.000-07:00

from Sendero Magico

El siguiente ejercicio está basado en las descripciones dadas en dos Roles de Vuelo dado por la Orden Hermética de la Aurora Dorada. El concepto principal fue dado por V.H. Soror S.S.D.D. (Florence Farr) en Rol de Vuelo Nº II, bajo el título Tres sugerencias sobre la fuerza de voluntad. Comentarios y sugerencias adicionales fueron dadas por G.H. Frater D.D.C.F. (Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers) en Rol de Vuelo Nº VI, y titulado simplemente Concerniente al Rol Vuelo Nº II.

Método

Siéntese silenciosamente en una posición cómoda.
Cierre sus ojos, y tome algunas respiraciones profundas, relajandose cuando exhale.
Imagine un centro de atracción, ligeramente ubicado sobre su cabeza, con pensamientos radiando hacia afuera, tales como rayos, en un gran globo.
“Querer o desear una cosa es el primer paso en el ejercicio de la Voluntad.”
Obtener una imagen detallada de la cosa que usted desea.
Eleve esta imagen a la contemplación de la Luz Divina al punto ligeramente por encima de la corona de su cabeza.
Imagínese bajando un rayo desde este punto hasta el centro de su pecho (aproximadamente la ubicación de su corazón).
Concentre todos sus rayos errantes de pensamiento en esta imagen hasta que usted sienta que esto es un bola escarlata brillante de fuerza compacta.
Proyecte esta fuerza concentrada en el sujeto o cosa que se desea afectar.
Tome algunos momentos para retomar su atención a la conciencia de vigilia tome unos momentos para llamar su atención.

Simbolismo cabalístico

En cábala, el punto en la corona de la cabeza es Kéter. Usted querrá hacer del centro de atracción la corona real de su cabeza, en lugar de un punto ligeramente arriba (véase la nota abajo con respecto a la ubicación de el chakra Sahasrara). Baje el rayo desde la Luz Divina en Kéter hasta Tiféret, el corazón. Esto sigue el camino de Gimel en el Árbol de Vida.

Tradiciones yóguico hindúes y tántricas (Shakta)

En las tradiciones orientales, el centro de atracción en la parte superior de la cabeza es el chakra Sahasrara (loto de mil pétalos). Algunas fuentes lo ubican en la parte superior (corona) de la cabeza, mientras que otros lo localizan ligeramente sobre la parte superior de la cabeza, como en el ejercicio anterior. El punto en el centro del pecho es el Anahata chakra, el chakra del corazón.

Ambos, el Sahasrara chakra y Kéter, se refieren a la Divinidad, una unión arquetipal con Dios, a menudo descrita como el Yo Mismo Superior (La ‘Divina y ‘Máxima parte de tu alma / conciencia). El Anahata ha sido descrito como “siguiendo su corazón” sobre la base de la orientación de su Yo Mismo Superior.

Otras enseñanzas plantean que kalpa taru (el árbol de los deseos) esta localizado aquí, simbolizando la habilidad de usted para manifestar sus deseos. Compare esto con la Indo-europea etimología de voluntad, que se dice se deriva de la raíz wel-, que significa “desear.”

Source:
Florence Farr - Tres sugerencias sobre la fuerza de voluntad (Rol de Vuelo Nº II).
Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers - Concerniente al Rol Vuelo Nº II (Rol de Vuelo Nº VI)

Online References:
http://www.senderomagico.com/ejercicios/cultivacion-de-la-voluntad.html
http://www.paxprofundis.com/wiki/Flying_Roll_II
http://www.paxprofundis.com/wiki/Flying_Roll_VI

Cultivation of Will

2010-10-22T03:03:00.001-07:00

from Magical Path

Introduction

The following exercise is based on descriptions in two of the Flying Rolls issues by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. The main concept was given by V.H. Soror S.S.D.D. (Florence Farr) in Flying Roll No. II under the heading Three Suggestions on Will Power. Additional comments and suggestions where given by G.H. Frater D.D.C.F. (Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers) in Flying Roll No. VI, and simply entitled Concerning Flying Roll No. II.

Method

Sit quietly in a comfortable position.
Close your eyes, and take a few deep breaths, relaxing as you exhale.
Imagine a centre of attraction, slightly above your head, with thoughts radiating out, like rays, in a vast globe.
“To want or desire a thing is the first step in the exercise of Will.”
Get a distinct image of the thing you desire.
Elevate this image to the contemplation of Divine Light at the point slightly above the crown of your head.
Imagine bringing down a ray from this point to the centre of your chest (approximately the location of your heart).
Concentrate all your wandering rays of thought upon this image until you feel it to be one glowing scarlet ball of compacted force.
Project this concentrated force onto the subject you wish to affect.
Take a few moments to bring your attention

Qabalistic Symbolism

In Qabala, the point at the crown of the head is Kether. You may want to make the centre of attraction the actual crown of your head, rather than a point slightly above (see the note below regarding the location of the Sahasrara chakra). You bring down the ray from the Divine Light in Kether to Tiphereth, the heart. This follows the path of Gimel on the Tree of Life.

Hindu Yogic and Tantric (Shakta) Traditions

In Eastern traditions, the centre of attraction at the top of the head is the Sahasrara chakra (thousand petaled lotus). Some sources place the location at the top (crown) of head, while others locate it slightly above the top of the head, as in the exercise above. The point at the centre of the chest is the Anahata chakra, the heart chakra.

Both the Sahasrara chakra and Kether relate to the Godhead, an archetypal union with God, often described as the Higher Self (the ‘Divine’ and ‘Highest’ part of your soul / consciousness). Anahata has been described as “following your heart” based on the guidance of your Higher Self.

Additional teachings state that kalpa taru (the wish-fulfilling tree) is located here, symbolising your ability to manifest your desires. Compare this with the Indo-European etymology for will, which is said to derive from the root wel-, meaning “to wish.”

Source:
Florence Farr - Three Suggestions on Will Power (Flying Roll No. II)
Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers - Concerning Flying Roll No. II (Flying Roll No. VI)

Online References:
http://www.magicalpath.net/exercises/cultivation-of-will.html
http://www.paxprofundis.com/wiki/Flying_Roll_II
http://www.paxprofundis.com/wiki/Flying_Roll_VI

Saying Will

2010-10-22T03:02:00.001-07:00

from Thelemapedia

Saying Will is a short ritual practiced by many Thelemites before meals, serving a similar purpose as saying Grace does for many Christians. Its earliest appearance in print is in Aleister Crowley’s novel Moonchild.

The ritual of Saying Will is intended to maintain the focus of those who practice it on The Great Work by reminding them that even so mundane an act as eating a meal is an essential part of that Work. In this reminding function, it is similar to the four daily solar adorations of Liber Resh.

Expanding on the practice of Saying Will in Book 4 (Ch. XIII, footnote), Crowley writes:

One may also add the inquiry “What is the Great Work?” and answer appropriately, when it seems useful to specify the nature of the Operation in progress at the time. The point is to seize every occasion of bringing every available force to bear upon the objective of the assault. It does not matter what the force is (by any standard of judgment) so long as it plays its proper part in securing the success of the general purpose.

On a more esoteric level, comparison may be made to a tenet of the Creed of the Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica: “And forasmuch as meat and drink are transmuted in us daily into spiritual substance, I believe in the miracle of the Mass.”

There are several variant forms of this ritual. In the simplest and most common, the leader begins, the participants call out the questions, and the leader provides the answers and closes. This form is suitable for use even when the participants are unfamiliar with the ritual. The type of knock used and wording may be varied according to local custom or particular purposes.

The Common Form

Leader: (knocks 3-5-3) Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

All: What is thy will?

Leader: It is my will to eat and to drink.

All: To what end?

Leader: That I may fortify my body thereby.

All: To what end?

Leader: That I may accomplish the Great Work.

All: Love is the law, love under will.

Leader: (knocks once) Fall to!

An Alternate Method

When all present are familiar with the ritual, it is possible to have the leader ask the questions and the participants give the answers:

Leader: (knocks 3-5-3)

All: Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

Leader: What is thy will?

All: It is my will to eat and to drink.

Leader: To what end?

All: That I may fortify my body thereby.

Leader: To what end?

All: That I may accomplish the Great Work.

All: Love is the law, love under will.

Leader: (knocks once) Fall to!

Source:
Crowley, Aleister. Liber XV, The Gnostic Mass
Crowley, Aleister. Magick: Book 4, second edition. York Beach, Maine: Samuel Weiser, 1997

Online References:
http://www.thelemapedia.org/index.php/Saying_Will
http://www.scarletwoman.org/docs/docs_mass.html

Exercises of the Will in Daily Life

2010-10-22T03:00:00.001-07:00

by Roberto Assagioli

Daily life, with its duties and occupations, presents countless opportunities for developing the will. Most of our activities can be helpful in this way, because through our purposes, our inner attitude, and the way in which we accomplish them, they can become definite exercises of the will.

In the morning:

Rising in the morning at a definite time can be such a drill. Rise ten or fifteen minutes earlier than usual.
Getting dressed in the morning by performing the various necessary movements with attention and precision, rapidly yet not hurriedly.

Here is a very important precious ability to develop in daily life: to learn how to “make haste slowly”. Modem life with its stress and strain tends to create in us the habit of hurry, even when the occasion does not require it—a result of “mass suggestion.”

To make haste slowly is not easy, but it is possible; and it paves the way for efficiency and productiveness, without tension and without exhaustion. It is not easy because it requires of us that we be almost dual: the one who acts, and the one who simultaneously looks on as the observer; yet simply to try to do this constitutes a good way of developing the will.

During the day:

Learning serenity or “self-recollectedness” during one’s daily work, no matter how tedious the task may be
To control emotion and acts of impatience when confronted with minor difficulties and annoyances, such as finding oneself in a crowded train, or waiting for the opening of a door, or when noticing the mistakes or faults of a dependent, or experiencing the injustice of a superior.

In the evening:

Controlling the impulse to give vent to our bad temper—perhaps caused by various vexations, preoccupations or business worries —bearing serenely whatever comes our way and trying to adjust any disharmonies in the home.
During a meal control the desire or impulse to eat quickly, while thinking of business, etc. We should compel ourselves to masticate well and enjoy our meal with a relaxed and calm mind.
Resist the allurements of people or things that tend to divert us from our chosen tasks.
Whether away at business or in the home, wherever possible, we must resolutely cease working when tired, controlling the desire to hurry just to get a job finished.
Give yourself wise rest and recreation. During these rest periods, a few muscular exercises or relaxation by means of closing the eyes for a few minutes will suffice.
For mental fatigue, physical exercises are generally the most beneficial, though each individual can find out by practice what suits him best. One of the advantages of such short and frequent interruptions is that one does not lose interest in, nor the impetus for, the work in hand, and at the same time one overcomes fatigue and nervous tension. An ordered rhythm in our activities generates harmony in our being; and harmony is a universal law of life.
Retire at a fixed hour, resolutely interrupting one’s reading or an interesting conversation.

It is difficult, especially at first, to do all these exercises well, and to attempt them all at once would easily lead to discouragement. Therefore, it is advisable to begin with only a few, spread over the day; and when success has been achieved with these, to increase their number, varying, alternating the exercises and performing them cheerfully and with interest, scoring successes and failures, setting oneself records, and trying to meet them in a competitive sporting attitude. Thus the danger is avoided of making life too rigid and mechanical, and we make interesting and colorful what otherwise would be tiresome duties; also all with whom we are associated become our cooperators (without their knowing it!):

A dogmatic superior or an exacting partner becomes can become the mental parallel bars on which our will—the will to right human relations—can develop its force and proficiency.
Delay in being served with a meal gives us the opportunity to exercise patience and serenity, as well as the chance to read a good book while waiting.
Talkative friends or time-wasters give us the chance to control speech; they teach us the art of courteous but firm refusal to engage in unnecessary conversations. To be able to say “no” is a difficult but very useful discipline.

Useless Exercises 2

2010-10-22T02:57:00.001-07:00

by Boyd Barrett

Each task or exercise has to be carried out for several days, usually a week, and then replaced by another in order to avoid monotony and the formation of a habit leading to automatic performance.

Resolution—Each day, for the next seven days, I will stand on a chair, here in my room, for ten consecutive minutes, and I will try to do so contentedly.

At the end of this ten minutes’ task write down the sensations and the mental states you have experienced during that time. Do the same on each of the seven days.

Several other exercises of the same kind:

Repeat quietly and aloud: ‘I will do this’, keeping time with rhythmic movements of a stick or ruler for five minutes.
Walk to and fro in a room, touching in turn, say, a clock on the mantelpiece and a particular pane of glass for five minutes.
Listen to the ticking of a clock or watch, making some definite movements at every fifth tick.
Get up and down from a chair thirty times.
Replace in a box, very slowly and deliberately, one hundred matches or bits of paper. (An exercise particularly adapted to combat impulsiveness.)

Similar exercises can be invented ad libitum. The important thing is not the doing of this or that exercise, but the manner in which it is performed. It should be done willingly, with interest, with precision, with style. Try always to improve the quality of the work, the dearness of introspection, the fidelity of the written account, and above all to develop the awareness and the energy of the will.

It is good to compete with oneself; in other words, to assume a “sporting attitude” in the best sense of the word.

Sources:
Strength of Will and How to Develop It (New York, Harper, 1931)
Training & Developing The Will by Roberto Assagioli
The Act of Will by Roberto Assagioli

Online References:
http://www.synthesiscenter.org/articles/0117.pdf

Useless Exercises 1

2010-10-22T02:56:00.000-07:00

by William James

Keep alive in yourself the faculty of making efforts by means of little useless exercises every day, that is to say, be systematically heroic every day in little unnecessary things; do something every other day, for the sole and simple reason that it is difficult and you would prefer not to do it, so that when the cruel hour of danger strikes, you will not be unnerved or unprepared. A self-discipline of this kind is similar to the insurance that one pays on one’s house and on one’s possessions. To pay the premium is not pleasant and possibly may never serve us, but should it happen that our house were burnt, the payment will save us from ruin. Similarly, the man who has accustomed himself steadily, day after day, to concentrating his attention, to will with energy, for instance, not to spend money on unnecessary things, will be well rewarded by his effort. When disasters occur, he will stand firm as a rock, even though faced on all sides by ruin, while his companions in distress will be swept aside as the chaff from the sieve.

Source:
Talks to Teachers-New York, Holt, 1912, pp. 75-76
Training & Developing The Will by Roberto Assagioli
The Act of Will by Roberto Assagioli

Online References:
http://www.synthesiscenter.org/articles/0117.pdf

Developing Strength of Will

2010-10-22T02:54:00.000-07:00

by Roberto Assagioli

To insure success, it is of paramount importance that a proper preparation be made to create the initial urge and impetus; this preparation should arouse a lively, fervid and even passionate desire to develop the will, leading to the firm decision to do all that is necessary for attaining that end.

For this purpose, the following exercises will be found very helpful:

Settle yourself into a comfortable position, with your muscles relaxed.
Reflect on the foregoing statements and apply them to yourself.

Picture to yourself as vividly as possible the harm, to yourself and to others, which has actually occurred, and which might occur, as a result of the present weakness of your will. Examine these occasions, one by one, formulating them clearly; then make a list of them in writing. Allow the feelings, which these recollections and forecasts arouse, to affect you intensely: shame, dissatisfaction with yourself, revulsion against the repetition of such conduct and an earnest desire to change this condition.

Picture to yourself as vividly as possible all the advantages the training of your will can bring to you; all the benefits and satisfactions that will come from it to yourself and to others. Examine them carefully, one by one, formulate them with clarity, and write them down. Allow the feelings aroused by these anticipations to have full sway: the joy of the splendid possibilities that open up before you; the intense desire to realize them; the strong urge to begin at once.

Picture yourself vividly as being in possession of a strong will; see yourself walking with a firm and decided step, acting in every situation with full self-control; see yourself successfully resisting any attempt at intimidation or enticement; visualize yourself as you will be when you have attained inner and outer mastery. This is the technique of the “Ideal Model”. The whole exercise makes use of the technique of visualization because of its value and effectiveness in any creative process.

This exercise consists of using reading material particularly suited to the cultivation and reinforcement of the feelings and determinations aroused by the mental visualization of the previous exercise. It should be encouraging, optimistic and dynamic in character, apt to arouse self-reliance and to incite to action. Very suitable for this purpose are biographies of outstanding personalities who have possessed great willpower, and books and articles intended to awaken the inner energies. But in order to get full benefit from such a course of reading, it must be performed in a special way. Read slowly, with undivided attention, marking the passages that impress you and copying those that are most striking or which seem specially adapted to your case. It is well to re-read these passages several times, absorbing their full meaning.

Source:
Training & Developing The Will by Roberto Assagioli
The Act of Will by Roberto Assagioli

Online References:
http://www.synthesiscenter.org/articles/0117.pdf

Willful Control

2010-10-21T04:02:00.001-07:00

by Harry Palmer

This is a powerful exercise for learning to operate from the viewpoint of transcendent will. You may make many tries before the ability becomes effortless. The exercise uses a gradient approach that can be used to dissect associations and habitual behaviors and reduce the influence of the lower realms of will.

Objective: To place behavior under the control of the transcendent will.

Expected Results: Recognition of your own motivational forces and their associations, and the ability to turn them off and on.

Instructions: The exercise is done for five minutes each time and starts with the student sitting or standing quietly. (A coach is beneficial, but not required.)
    After the start, the student may remain still or move anywhere, may do or not do anything, may think or not think about anything, may feel or not feel anything, as long as he or she deliberately originates (either vocally or mentally) the decision to act before acting. Any involuntary thoughts, feelings, or actions (autopilots) discovered should be: 1) brought to a full stop, 2) copied and originated, and then, 3) from source viewpoint, either continued deliberately or turned off.
    The point of the exercise is for YOU, acting as transcendent will, to deliberately control all thoughts, feelings, and actions.
    Any confusion, hesitation, emotion, distraction, or overwhelm is probably a misaligned motivational force (autopilot) arising from a lower realm of will. And even though these misaligned motivating forces may initially seem very strong, bringing to a full stop, deliberately copying, and repeating them will disempower them.

Example: Student begins by standing.

    (Originated decision) “I’m going to walk over to that wall.”
    (Involuntary movement) Student catches himself scratching the left side of his head. (Stops, notes to himself an emotional impulse of uncertainty.)
    (Copies the involuntary movement and originates new decision) “I’m going to scratch the left side of my head and feel uncertain.” (Repeats until the action is under the control of the transcendent will.)
    (Originates new decision) “I’m going to stop scratching the left side of my head.” (Does so.)
    (Originates new decision) “I’m going to look out the window.” (Does so.)

Option: The student can expand this exercise to an even more advanced level by noticing whether the bulk of involuntary behaviors (autopilots) are reactions, emotional impulses, criticisms, or efforts.
    Once this is established, refer to the Realms of Will table to determine what efforts will awaken the next realm of will.

Source:
Basic Will Course pp. 9-10

Online References:
http://www.avatarepc.com/html/basicwill(eng).pdf
http://www.avatarepc.com/

Conquering Worry

2010-10-21T04:01:00.001-07:00

by Harry Palmer

What you can deliberately create and willingly experience, you can also cease creating.

Objective: To recover source Expected Result: An increase in selfconfidence Instructions: Pick a frequent worry and outline the sequence of thoughts and circumstances that lead up to the worry.
Deliberately create, and willingly experience, the thoughts and circumstances in sequence until the worry fades and you recover the viewpoint of source, i.e., the choice of whether to worry or not. (Turn it on; turn it off.)

Note: Imagining something worse than will make a worry manageable.

Source:
Basic Will Course p. 8

Online References:
http://www.avatarepc.com/html/basicwill(eng).pdf
http://www.avatarepc.com/

Taking Control

2010-10-21T04:00:00.001-07:00

by Harry Palmer

The transcendent will can copy exactly the autopilot functions of the lower realms of will (particularly those that are motivating unwanted behaviors), take deliberate control, and switch them off and on until they are under control. For example, copy the desire to twirl hair, etc., turn it on, turn it off, turn it on, turn it off, etc. until it is under the deliberate control of the transcendent will—you.

Objective: To identify motivating forces on automatic and take control of them.

Expected Results: Stillness, reduction of stress, recovery of creative power.

Instructions: Identify an automatic reaction or impulse and copy it exactly and repeatedly (without harming anyone) until it comes off automatic and is under the control of your self-determined will. (Turn it on; turn it off.)
If the reaction or impulse is concerned with an addiction or a socially unacceptable behavior, repeatedly dramatize the desire for the action, as if on stage, without actually doing anything. (Turn the desire on; turn the desire off.)

Source:
Basic Will Course p. 7

Online References:
http://www.avatarepc.com/html/basicwill(eng).pdf
http://www.avatarepc.com/

Disciplining the Will

2010-10-21T03:56:00.001-07:00

by Harry Palmer

Objective: To place the control of attention under the will.

Expected Result: Noticeable increase in self-control.

Instructions 1: Pick a stationary object. Direct your attention to it (examine it) for a period of two minutes. Any time your attention wanders, bring it back.

Instructions 2: Do each of the following five steps for approximately one minute.

Recall the earliest time you can when you survived a threat to your survival. Think it through, beginning to end, for approximately one minute.
Recall the earliest time you can when you felt good. Think it through, beginning to end, for approximately one minute. c. Recall the earliest time you can when you were right. Think it through, beginning to end, for approximately one minute.
Recall the earliest time you can when you discovered something important. Think it through, beginning to end, for approximately one minute.
Recall the earliest time you can when you helped someone. Think it through, beginning to end, for approximately one minute.

Repeat steps a through e at least three times, each time seeking an earlier memory.

Instructions 3: Pick a spot 8 to 10 feet from your location. Draw an imaginary line from the tip of your nose to the spot. With the forefinger of one hand, and then the other, trace the imaginary line from a few inches in front of your nose to the full extension of your arm. Repeat this exercise until you can willfully control the motion of your finger. (Try the same exercise with an imaginary line from the throat and the heart.)

Source:
Basic Will Course p. 2

Online References:
http://www.avatarepc.com/html/basicwill(eng).pdf
http://www.avatarepc.com/

Awakening the Will

2010-10-21T03:55:00.000-07:00

by Harry Palmer

The will awakens slowly from sleep. At first it feels overwhelmed by the turbulence of thoughts that buffet it. Its initial attitude is: “Just tell me what you want, and I’ll do it.”

Objective: To decrease mind drift, daydreaming, self-criticism, indoctrinated thinking, by awakening the will.

Expected results: Calming, perceptual changes, increased awareness.

Instructions: 1) Take a walk, 2) notice something, and 3) decide how you would describe it.
Move on to something else and decide how you would describe it. Continue the exercise for 20 to 30 minutes. If at any time you become aware of being distracted, just return to the exercise without any self-criticism.

Source:
Basic Will Course p. 1

Online References:
http://www.avatarepc.com/html/basicwill(eng).pdf
http://www.avatarepc.com/

The Value of the Will

2010-10-21T03:35:00.000-07:00

by Will Parfitt

Relax and centre yourself. Think of times in your life when you have missed an opportunity or caused pain to yourself or someone else through your lack of will. Picture these events as vividly as possible and allow the associated feelings to affect you. Now write down a list of these times in your life with which you have just connected. Let yourself really desire to change yourself so that you have more will.

Reflect on all the opportunities and benefits there would be both for yourself and others if your will was strengthened. Think clearly what these advantages would be, then write them down. Allow the feelings aroused by these anticipated advantages to really affect you. Feel the joy that these opportunities could give you, the satisfaction you would feel if you were stronger willed. Let yourself really feel your desire to become stronger in this way.

Finally picture yourself as having a strong will. Imagine yourself acting in every situation with firm decisions, focused intention, and clear awareness. Visualize yourself walking, talking, sitting and simply being in a way that exhibits your mastery over the will. You are strong, yet subtle, firm yet kind, acting with skill and discrimination. Realize you can use this technique to strengthen your will whenever you choose.

Source:
Psychosynthesis: The Elements and Beyond (ISBN 0-9552786-0-0) p. 64

Online References:
http://www.willproject.org/wiki/Purpose_and_the_Creative_Will
http://www.willparfitt.com/
http://www.psavalon.com/

Introduction

2010-10-21T03:30:00.000-07:00

The word thelema (θέλημα) is classical Greek, signifying the appetitive will (desire) and sometimes sexual desire. In early Christian writings the word to usually refers to the will of God, but is also for to the human will, and also the will of the Devil.

In the Renaissance, Dominican monk Francesco Colonna wrote the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, in which the protagonist, Poliphilo, has two allegorical guides, Logistica (reason) and Thelemia (will or desire). Colonna’s work was influential on the Franciscan monk Francois Rabelais.

In the 16th century, Rabelais wrote two novels, Gargantua and Pantagruel, in which he featured a fictional Abbey named Thélème. The only rule of this Abbey was “fay çe que vouldras” (“Fais ce que tu veux,” or, “Do what thou wilt”).

In the mid 18th century, Sir Francis Dashwood inscribed the adage on a doorway of his abbey at Medmenham, where it served as the motto of The Hellfire Club.

Aleister Crowley (1875–1947) was an English occultist and writer. In 1904, Crowley claimed to have received The Book of the Law from an entity named Aiwass, which was to serve as the foundation of the religious and philosophical system he called Thelema.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the was a great deal of interest in the human will, with numerous books appearing and proposals for a psychology of the will. From various sources, magical to mundane, exercises have been written so that individuals may become aware, experience, and develop their will.

Psychosynthesis, a branch of Transpersonal Psychology, features the concept of will as a central function of the human psyche. Roberto Assagioli, founder of the Psychosynthesis movement, synthesized his spiritual wisdom with contemporary psychoanalytic and psychological knowledge, writing a book entitled The Act of Will. In this book, a culmination of Assagioli’s lifelong research into the Will, he proposed the Will Project to thoroughly investigate all aspects of the Will.

It is from these and other sources that the following exercises have been taken (some slightly adapted), and released into the public domain in an act of goodwill, that anyone interested in personal development may benefit from inclusion of these exercises into their daily life.

- The Editor

Note: Exercises are organised in the order they were ‘discovered’, not in any specific, ranked order.