First of all, while I claim to have mastered the jhanas, I do not claim to have mastered being able to talk about them to more discriminating practitioners very well. Jargon is jargon, and I don't think that anyone knows as much as they tend to claim just because they have some sort of mastery over terminology. You seem a bit edgy. Do you drink a lot of caffeine?
I'm disputing your claim, which I'm entitled to do and just as you're entitled to do with any claims I would make. I mean no ill-will whatsoever although I understand how my words would be interpreted as such, for this I do apologise, but I am neither edgy nor caffeine-addled. Would you like to post a practice report and demonstrate what occurs during practice? That way we can begin to understand each other a bit clearer and we can both learn something!
You're free to do and say whatever you want, just don't expect not to be called out on it or to have someone question what you're saying. I posted in the hope of being able to clarify some of the questions you had, particularly since you've come from a similar magickal background to me, and to offer any advice which may be of help to you in the long-term.
My comment about terminology was offered as someone who's still learning how to communicate their own experience in mutually understandable terms, and who has found that lacking this will lead to confusion and an increased risk of inaccuracy in diagnosis. I'm certainly not an expert in jargon, personally I agree with you, but I feel it's important to have terms which are understood universally, as far as possible at least, within a community such as this when you're communicating an interpretation of an essentially subjective experience. Would you agree with that?
There are different ways of looking at what level of jhana there is. Sometimes people divide them up into four, sometimes five, while others still say eight or even higher. I don’t know a whole lot about any of the specific labels that people expect me to use. Even the Sutras themselves seem to say various things depending on the context. I do know that I began with concentration jhanas, though, and was capable of sustaining each one at length, and can still do that. Characteristics are a better way for me to understand what kind of jhana it is rather than a label of some sort of specific level. For instance, first jhana to me is a very thick bliss and is felt more at the skin or body while mentally unifying. They get progressively lighter and more stable as the jhanas get higher like as they gradually become more balanced.
I agree completely. Again, I refer to my earlier point about communicating in a mutually understandable way within a particular community so as to be able to discuss, analyse, and learn about the subject at hand. Your description of the first jhana fits well enough with my own and with those of many others, these are obviously subjective but there's certain things which define each jhana and can be experienced by anyone who practices. Above that, that's a whole other thread for another day.
However, you might be correct in that I have fruitions in the fourth jhana and confusing things. All of the terminology and various experiences are very difficult for me to know exactly how to describe them accurately. Like I said, a lot of my progress has actually happened in the past with other systems before I even read about Buddhism, which is why it might be good for me to understand where exactly I am. I don't know. I know that I am very good at producing the higher jhanas, though, whether I can put my experiences into good enough words for seasoned practitioners to accept or not. Perhaps I should just not say anything at all about anything.
You'll be surprised to hear that I agree with you once again here. The reason I'm saying all of this about clarifying the terminology you're using is to make these things sooooooooooo much easier to define and discuss! It's not about using "good enough words", I'll tell you right now that you're doing exactly what I did when I came on here. Misunderstanding words, confusing terminology and learning very little that's of practical use. This isn't me sitting slagging you off, I completely understand what you're going through trying to line up these experiences and, unless you're a seriously gifted and scholarly magician, you'll waste a whole lot of time on that when you'll learn more from observing the breath for ten seconds. I know this because I did exactly the same and quite probably made an arse of myself (moreso than you think I am right now...Ha!) in the process.
Yes, I'm abrupt and I can be quite short with people. I'd rather be like this than someone who'd blow smoke up your arse and pretend to care about how you're getting on in your practice. I look forward to seeing how things go and please understand that I really mean no harm and wish you the very best of luck with whatever comes your way. If you think I'm a dick, so be it. It's the internet.

It is quite possible that you are correct about everything, though.
That's a lot of ballocks. Nice finishing line though.