Casanova

Jun 26 16:23 UTC 1994

Here's a combined sex/history/literary/occult/etc
item for you.  (Gotta figure out how to cross-list
this.)  Have any of you had the pleasure of reading
the memoirs of Casanova?  The abridged edition is
but a thin folio, but the unexpurgated (and illustrated)
version runs several volumes. In it an eloquent 18th
century libertine relates his life and loves.  All
this is done after the fact while he is in retirement 
as a librarian at (I believe) the house of a noble in 
Prussia.

Details of mores of 18th century Europe are well covered.
He even describes 18th century condoms when he's having
relations with a nun.  (Yes, I said a nun.  He started out
in the Church, you know.)  He also dabbles in the Cabala and
uses it to swindle two rich merchants.  (He's eventually
imprisoned for possesion of occult books.  His escape from
prison is also described.)

If anyone hasn't read this and would like, I'll see if
I can't find out if it's still in print.

response 2 of 76:

Jun 27 02:13 UTC 1994

Thanks!  Now I'll have to figure out which volume
covered his involvement with the Cabala.  I tend
to think that he tapered off a bit after he
was imprisoned for posession of "heretical works".

response 4 of 76:

Jun 28 16:05 UTC 1994

It's connected to Synthesis in that it mentions a fair
amount of 18th century European occultism.  Besides
the mention of the cabala, there is at least one
incident where Casanova is the intended target of
a bit of sympathetic magic of the.  He also tries a
bit of it himself in an attempt to curry favor with
a certain lady.  These sorts of things are scattered
throughout the volumes of the set.

I found it interesting to hear of some of the beliefs
that were extant at that time directly from the pen
on one who had lived then.  However, this item is
more of historical then current interest.  

Of course I do wonder if there are any cabalists out there.
Supposedly Casanova learned his background in the Cabala
from a relation of a Jewish friend.  I've read a bit
about Jewish mysticism, but I've really no formal background.
This might be an interesting topic for another thread.

response 6 of 76:

Jun 28 17:48 UTC 1994

"You say Qabala, I say Cabala, let's call the whole thing off..."
Oops.  I wax musical.  I didn't know Robh was versed in this
area.

response 8 of 76:

Jun 28 20:40 UTC 1994

No!  I'm not!  I was at work when you entered those responses.
Sorry, I realize my folly, I'm going to quit my job and spend
the entire day sitting in front of my computer, instead
of just four or five hours.

Yep, I'm a Qabalist.

response 10 of 76:

Jun 29 03:10 UTC 1994

well, then, could you explain (briefly, if that's possible) to those
of us who grew uf sheltered catholics?

response 12 of 76:

Jun 29 04:02 UTC 1994

yes...   <sigh>

response 14 of 76:

Jun 29 15:11 UTC 1994

Casanova dabbled in the Qabalah.  In his case, I'm afraid he
used it for dishonest means.  However, there are accounts
of him succeeding in one ceremony beyond his wildest dreams.
This made him a bit timid in further experimentation.
As I mentioned earlier, he was also imprisoned in the
Tuilleries (sp?) or lead-works for possession of manuscripts
that the Inquisition considered heretical.  These were
likely texts on the Qabalah.  I second Rob's motion about
starting a second thread on this in Synthesis.  You don't
generally hear much about the Qabalah and others might
like to know its history.

response 16 of 76:

Jun 30 02:11 UTC 1994

ug, i love reading this item on SEXUALITY and on SYNTHESIS. so, why is it on
sex again?

response 18 of 76:

Jun 30 04:42 UTC 1994

Okay.  Rob, could you please unlink this again.  Since we've
started off on different tangents now, these individual threads
can probably go off on their own.  I just wanted to get the
conversational ball rolling in two different areas.  Thanks!

response 20 of 76:

Jun 30 14:00 UTC 1994

Hey, when I was in abstract math I used to enjoy pondering "intricacies"!
(Abstract math is kind of like the Kabala, but far less grounded in reality.)

response 22 of 76:

Jun 30 18:40 UTC 1994

BLASPHEEMER, YOU SPEAK THE EVIL WORD HERE...
I'm a little emotional about m...ma...mmmmmmmmath....ugh.

response 24 of 76:

Jun 30 19:15 UTC 1994

Michael reads math texts for fun, and chortles over problem sets.  Sick man.