Making a Self-initiation Ceremony

[Sincerus Renatus]

I think you should read pages 58-62 in Circles of Power. These pages cover the use of the Openings and Closings so that they can be utilized for SI work.

I quite recently bought that book so I haven't had the chance of reading it yet. Skimming through these pages which you suggested, and some preceding them, it becomes clear that Greer adheres to the Stella Matutina model of First, Second and Third Degrees:

First Degree: 0=0 up to 4=7, i.e. Malkuth.
Second Degree: Portal, i.e. Yesod.
Third Degree: 5=6, i.e. Tiphareth.

Interesting. I guess his model of Self Initiation more links to the Stella Matutina egregore/current than to the original G.D. and A.O. It seems to be a very interesting book. I have to read it soon. Thank's for the tip

In Licht, Leben und Liebe
S:.R:.

[Brother BhDA]

I believe John Michael is a member here, though I don't know if he's been reading of late. Perhaps he could be induced to say something on this?

[aeternitas]

Thank you Samuel, the book is turning out to be very helpful. I wish I had picked it up sooner.

[aeternitas]

After much study, deliberation and practice I've concluded that the performance of any self initiation ritual be held off until the new student be much more familiar with the system, it's language and techniques. In fact I've concluded that were the aspiring practitioner to attempt such a thing it may even be damaging or misleading.
Though I have personally opted to perform a series of Rituals drawn from the Temple Openings of each grade, followed by any closing prayers, such as the Mystic Repast, or the various Elemental prayers etc. corresponding to each grade.
Further, I have begun developing simple "pathworkings" that carry the aspirant through the actual "mystery rituals" such as the Neophyte as he treads the Path of Darkness, where is continually purified and consecrated and confronted by various forces until he arrives at the point of equilibrium, the gate of the hidden knowledge between the Pillars. But creating such a satisfactory pathworking is very difficult and itself requires much study of the rituals and the Neophyte formula etc.
The simplest thing the student could do to satisfy this is to study well the ritual, meditate on its officers and symbols and carry himself through the whole ceremony in his imagination, as Regardie and the Felkins suggested.
As well the new student should study well each knowledge lecture as his simple practices and studies carry him through the first five grades of the Outer Order. After carrying himself, if only symbolically, through to the 4=7 material, the student will have a seven month period to take a deeper look at the ceremonies, and devise his personal initiation rituals and pathworkings, and begin their implementation. At this point I would suggest that the student take up scrying the tatwas in the most basic manner, as well in the Practicus and Philosphus studies, or perhaps before if he feel ready, take up the practices Geomancy and Tarot reading, again in the most basic manner of practice.

I purchased and read Lyam's book, and suggestive as it has been, I have found it unsatisfactory and even misleading. One particular point that I disagreed with was his suggestion that the student begin banishing Saturn in the Zelator Grade. Not only does this seem contradictory to the magician coming into contact with qualities of his Earthy elements and components, but I feel that the student should hold off on Planetary magical operations until he or she has first familiarized themselves with the Elemental Grades, the Elements themselves and the whole of the Outer Order material,even if such operations are simple banishing rituals.
ANd here my thoughts have taken a turn as well. Where I once held that the student could begin the practice of the Greater Ritual of the Pentagram, and the Hexagram rituals, I now think that these should be held off as long as possible, at least until completion of the 4=7, or perhaps the Portal grade material. Until then I think the student should satisfy themselves with simpler practices suggested above, but with the inclusion of the Middle Pillar technique.


So far concerns the Adeptus Minor Ceremony, at this time I have no thoughts, opinions or input on the matter.

[Soror L.E.M.D]

Hi Frater,

Firstly I am making a potentially incorrect assumption that what you are posting about here is a new method of self-initiation into an order to which you do not belong. If you are doing this work for yourself then this is fine- I totally support the idea that there is more than way to self-initiate. However your language in the post is somewhat confusing (perhaps you are trying to be objective?) It seems to me that you are presenting your “new” method as one that others should use. If the latter is the case, what experience or qualifications do you have to create such a method? Remembering that only a few posts ago you could not even answer the simplest question regarding the order and its symbol- but perhaps I am mistaken in your intentions. At any rate please see my responses below

After much study, deliberation and practice I've concluded that the performance of any self initiation ritual be held off until the new student be much more familiar with the system, it's language and techniques. In fact I've concluded that were the aspiring practitioner to attempt such a thing it may even be damaging or misleading.

Frankly I think your advice of delaying any practice is far more damaging that any of the publically available self-initiations, if all students waited until they were familiar with the system no one would start, no one would take that fist step out into the unknown. I feel that you learn and begin to understand the system by working with it, you can learn the symbolism of the neophyte temple, for example, by creating the various tools and regalia and contemplating them during the construction; the same experience cannot be gained by just simply reading about them. Also, and I am sure it has been mentioned in this thread before but the path of self-initiation should not be looked at as a single working, but rather a series or a process, performing the SI multiple times in order to fully come into contact with the current of the GD and the energies in the temple.

Further, I have begun developing simple "pathworkings" that carry the aspirant through the actual "mystery rituals" such as the Neophyte as he treads the Path of Darkness, where is continually purified and consecrated and confronted by various forces until he arrives at the point of equilibrium, the gate of the hidden knowledge between the Pillars. But creating such a satisfactory pathworking is very difficult and itself requires much study of the rituals and the Neophyte formula etc.
The simplest thing the student could do to satisfy this is to study well the ritual, meditate on its officers and symbols and carry himself through the whole ceremony in his imagination, as Regardie and the Felkins suggested.

I think this is a massive mistake; Pathworkings are useful to a point, however if you are able to create a pathworking that takes the aspirant through the neophyte or any of the other ceremonies and has the same effect as a physical initiation or even a self-initiation then why are you bothering with the process at all? Surely any person who claims that the mere sound of their voice is enough to initiate a person must be a Master incarnate and have no need of these foolish human frameworks.

Additionally I do not believe that going through the ritual in your imagination will do anything, many years ago I took part in a neophyte audio project, where a group of fellow students created an audio file of the neophyte, if as you say, going through the initiation in ones imagination is enough then I had better set up a pay-pal account and start selling the file as an insta-neophyte and while I am at it I will tell all those who are working in a physical temple to stop bothering with all the work, since the whole thing can be done in you head.

So far concerns the Adeptus Minor Ceremony, at this time I have no thoughts, opinions or input on the matter.

Why not make a start on the outer order before looking at the inner?

Pax et LVX
Emily

[aeternitas]

Hi Frater,

Firstly I am making a potentially incorrect assumption that what you are posting about here is a new method of self-initiation into an order to which you do not belong. If you are doing this work for yourself then this is fine- I totally support the idea that there is more than way to self-initiate. However your language in the post is somewhat confusing (perhaps you are trying to be objective?) It seems to me that you are presenting your “new” method as one that others should use. If the latter is the case, what experience or qualifications do you have to create such a method? Remembering that only a few posts ago you could not even answer the simplest question regarding the order and its symbol- but perhaps I am mistaken in your intentions. At any rate please see my responses below

Yes, I do not belong to any Golden Dawn Order, and I do not seek to join any Order by self initiation, which would be ridiculous. this is essentially the template of my own personal work. I'am certainly not trying to present anything new or ground breaking, and I am not making this out to be some kind of system that others should follow, though I'm sure a few may take some suggestions and experiment. Whatever secret symbol of central importance you have obtained knowledge of I could care less. But I would say that perhaps that central symbol is the Light or Lux. Learning such things on ones own as one progresses through their spiritual practices are part of the experience.

Frankly I think your advice of delaying any practice is far more damaging that any of the publically available self-initiations, if all students waited until they were familiar with the system no one would start, no one would take that fist step out into the unknown. I feel that you learn and begin to understand the system by working with it, you can learn the symbolism of the neophyte temple, for example, by creating the various tools and regalia and contemplating them during the construction; the same experience cannot be gained by just simply reading about them. Also, and I am sure it has been mentioned in this thread before but the path of self-initiation should not be looked at as a single working, but rather a series or a process, performing the SI multiple times in order to fully come into contact with the current of the GD and the energies in the temple.

I did not say that any practice should be delayed, but I do think there are certain areas that the practitioner should be concentrating on. It would do the beginner no good to jump right in to the Concourse of the Forces. I agree, practicing magic is central to learning the practice of magic.
Again, you've mistaken what I have said. I'am not saying that self initiation work should be performed by some single practice, but as a process. I haven't described a single exercise or process that I would do only once and then move on to the next.

I think this is a massive mistake; Pathworkings are useful to a point, however if you are able to create a pathworking that takes the aspirant through the neophyte or any of the other ceremonies and has the same effect as a physical initiation or even a self-initiation then why are you bothering with the process at all? Surely any person who claims that the mere sound of their voice is enough to initiate a person must be a Master incarnate and have no need of these foolish human frameworks.
Additionally I do not believe that going through the ritual in your imagination will do anything, many years ago I took part in a neophyte audio project, where a group of fellow students created an audio file of the neophyte, if as you say, going through the initiation in ones imagination is enough then I had better set up a pay-pal account and start selling the file as an insta-neophyte and while I am at it I will tell all those who are working in a physical temple to stop bothering with all the work, since the whole thing can be done in you head.

Pathworkings and mental/imaginary exercises are highly useful in that they allow you, on a certain level, a deeper understanding of an experience. In the Stella Matutina, it was taught that the student should experience these rituals in their imagination. However, such pathworkings and mental exercises are not the whole of the work. There is no " or insta-neophyte" or "insta-initiation," the traditional ceremonies don't even fulfill that function.
What I suggested was a combination of ritual work, study, and mediations as a aids to the process of spiritual development and initiation.



Finally, the reason I have no comment about the Inner Order initiations is because I have decided to begin with the Outer Order material, which you would have understood if you didn't assume I was a moron.
PS, please don't refer to me as frater, I may be a distant cousin, but I'am not your brother.

[Bráthair FnB]

Hey Aeternitas,

For any system even one is creating whether brand spanking new or a new approach to the GD, a symbol is usually central. The symbol acts as a gateway to accessing the system and for protecting the members of that system. I think people's confusion has been whether you intend to create a new system of Self-initiation completely distinct from the GD or say Seax-Wica for example. If I'm following what you're saying correctly I presume it will be a ceremonial system of magic in which case the Cicero's SI book is still likely to be a good resource.

I would also highly recommend Nick Farrell's book Magical Pathworking: Techniques of Active Imagination as a good resource for developing the understanding of pathworking.

[aeternitas]

I saw that book at the store, I plan on picking it up.

I don't intend on creating any kind of new system, I simply intend to follow out a method of self initiation that suits me. Others before me have done so, well before the publication of the Cicero's book, which I don't much care for.

[Bráthair FnB]

Okay fair enough Aeternitas, but if you're aim is to SI into the GD system then why the reluctance towards using the established approaches such as the Cicero's SI book, even as a rough framework? If you are initiating into the G.'.D.'. system then how do you plan to create the appropriate pathworkings if you don't know the central symbols to the system? I'm not trying to be pedantic but these are pretty important.

I really don't think you'll find any method of initiating that doesn't require reaffirmation at some point. For many even in Orders this is usually done through continued working of the the grade.

[Samuel]

Pathworkings and mental/imaginary exercises are highly useful in that they allow you, on a certain level, a deeper understanding of an experience. In the Stella Matutina, it was taught that the student should experience these rituals in their imagination. However, such pathworkings and mental exercises are not the whole of the work. There is no " or insta-neophyte" or "insta-initiation," the traditional ceremonies don't even fulfill that function.

Aeternitas,

I am rather familiar with SM material, and the opinion that you cite, "In the Stella Matutina, it was taught that the student should experience their rituals in the imagination." is not necessarily the case. While it was certainly Regardie's opinion that the Initiation Ceremonies could be imagined thus by someone that has not undergone them in the physical, that opinion was not shared by the material from Amoun or Smaragdum Thalasse (Whare Ra) , and I highly suspect at Hermes as well. The "Initiate" could certainly review their own initiation ceremony in the imagination and use this to benefit from the experience. This was also true for those whom had served as Officers in the initiation ceremonies. Visualizing the ceremony that you have participated in was what the general practice was within the SM. The initate has the advantage of having been put through the ceremony and hopefully watched several others to get a better understanding.

This brings me to some points about visualizing the Initiation ceremonies; while it is fine, you are going to be missing a great deal to them - a depth of symbolism and ritual since you have never experienced those self same Outer Order ceremonies. In addition, there is a great deal of material which is not in the "published" initiation ceremonies which relates to officer positioning, actions, symbolism, etc. While it is commendable to want to try the visualization method and guided meditation of the initiation ceremonies, I hope that you fully understand the difficulty that you are undertaking without having properly experienced them first hand in a temple with a competent officer corp. I would strongly suggesting at the very minimum that you build the appropriate Officer Tools, diagrams, temples, and walk through the ceremonies physically several times in various roles (officers, candidate, etc) to get a good grasp of the ritual and what is symbolism and energies are taking place in the particular ceremony.

You certainly will have a great deal of material to meditate upon, especially when you get into the upper Elemental Grades (another reason I suggest you create the appropriate diagrams per grade). These will be helpful not only in some guided meditation of the ceremony, but to add depth and understanding to the various portions of the particular ceremony. Depending on which set of rituals you are going to work with, you may have as many as 15 or so diagrams in a grade on which to meditate in addition to creating in your guided meditation or "pathworking". There are also the Admission badges to consider as well, and of course the various arrangements on the Altar.

I wish you well with your undertaking and certainly hope that you are able to do what you want to with this course of action. I will tell you this, that after 15 or so years of participating in the GD, with a great deal of practical temple work as an officer, that I have learned a great deal from participating with a solid set of training, and that even having participated in well over 50 Neophyte ceremonies as an Officer, I still learn something from participating in them (and yes, visualizing them). That requires the original experience of participation in the first place.

In LVX,
Samuel