About 1. Thanks for bringing back to the fore this ever-relevant question, and to our good host for sharing his thoughts. I am also a newcomer to this corner of the web, but here's something relevant : there's this book for which JMG provided a commentary on his main blog. The Cosmic Doctrine, by Dion Fortune. You can get a copy of it and follow the chapter-by-chapter commentary here : https://www.ecosophia.net/tag/the-cosmic-doctrine/ Said commentary had also been made in to a book : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5SCN1GM/
Not the easiest of roads, I guess some would concur, but one that's rewarding in terms of insights, food for thought... And, again, totally relevant to your question. The age-old "What are we doing in here ?!"
Re: Like a moth to a flame
https://www.ecosophia.net/tag/the-cosmic-doctrine/
Said commentary had also been made in to a book :
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5SCN1GM/
Not the easiest of roads, I guess some would concur, but one that's rewarding in terms of insights, food for thought... And, again, totally relevant to your question. The age-old "What are we doing in here ?!"
~Thibault