Welcome back. Today, we finish what I started almost one and half years ago, a three part series on Hermetic Initiation. The first part covered Initiation, and the second covered adepthood.
It has been a long time coming, as these topics are tricky to write about. But anything less than this is not worth writing anymore. There’s enough written about beginner magick and daily spirituality. There’s little more I can add to general discourse. No one needs yet another guide to basic meditation or basic tarot.
Though it must be said, that too many people try to understand the advanced stuff while neglecting the daily work. Remember, this is not a guide to initiation. Reading about adepthood does not replace daily meditation and ritual. This content meant to inspire and to remind people that magick is, in fact, real.
In other words, there’s a lot to be attained. Take your time and read properly to the end. Do it over a few days, if needed.
The Secret Order
First, a person is initiated into magick or mysticism. In the Hermetic tradition, such a person is prepared as a Neophyte, then taken through the four elemental grades: Zelator (earth), Theoricus (air), Practicus (water) and Philosophus (fire), and then spends 9 months in the grade of Portal (spirit). The initiate is trained in the basic symbolism of that particular tradition, and also in basic techniques of spirituality, magick and even material life.
Then, the Initiate becomes an Adept, and enters the ‘Inner Order’. An Adept is one who no longer needs daily training or guidance. The student can now be a teacher, and assist others.
An Adept finds their own path, and is no longer bound to the rules of any esoteric society or occult order. There are three grades for the Adept, poetically named Adeptus Minor, Adeptus Major and Adeptus Exemptus.
Now, this is specific to the Hermetic system. However, all spiritual and magical systems, ranging from witchcraft to yoga to tantra to shamanism to gnosticism, follow something similar. The grades may differ, their names may be varied, but the general idea is the same.
Take this example: there are many cuisines in the world. But generally most cultures use the same basic methods for preparing the same general ingredients: grain, meat, fruits, vegetables, roots, seeds, nuts and berries.
An Indian cooks his onions differently to an Italian. But an onion is an onion, so all methods of cooking it follow similar rules. Pasta and Biryani have the same nutritional value, and generally the same composition. The difference is only in the ingredients available to either culture, and the techniques developed to prepare it.
Magick is not so different.
And so, first come the four lower elements: earth, air, water and fire. These are the four outer grades. Then come the three higher elements: sulfur, salt and mercury. These are the three inner grades Remember, all this is following an alchemical template.
The whole initiation process follows the alchemical analogy:
The prima materia is taken, and it is heated we distill out the water of life (water), the white oil (air) and the red oil (fire). What is left behind was the black, dead substance, called caput mortem.
This poison is then heated slowly until the blackness gives way to whiteness, and this is called the salt of earth (earth). They are combined again in a sealed flask. First the water of life is added to the salt of earth, till it becomes like a shiny white substance. Then the white oil is added, slowly, until the white substance absorbs it. Thus, the White Stone of alchemy is produced, and the Adept can use it to attain perfect health, happiness and wisdom!
This whole thing is an analogy for the first four elemental grades.
As many of you already know, the prima materia represents the spiritual seeker, the Neophyte. Through magical training, they master on their senses (earth), thoughts (air), emotions (water) and will (fire). Each is seperated and ‘alchemically purified’. The final purification, where the caput mortem becomes the salt of earth, is the Portal grade.
The Zealtor will first learn to control the senses and the body. Thus, EARTH is purified and made strong.
The Theoricus will refine and master the thoughts, learning to think critically and truthfully. Thus, AIR is purified and made sharp.
The Practicus will free their emotions from guilt, fear, shame and doubt. Thus, they will learn not to suppress and pollute their WATER anymore.
Finally, the Philosophus will be humbled. The false pride and ego will die, and one shall strive with a steady will and purified heart. Thus, a FIRE awakens inside and burns brightly and freely.
The Portal grade ends when the person invokes their own Higher Self.
Then the materials are joined back together in perfect harmony. This is the analogy for the Inner Order, and for the life of the Adept.
The Adeptus Minor purifies and perfects their heart, mind and soul, and pursues the true will. This corresponds to the alchemical SALT. It is purity and perfection. It is like the purified Salt of earth, produced during the Portal grade meditations.
The Adeptus Major faces their inner darkness, and free themselves from doubt, fear and judgment. This corresponds to alchemical SULFUR, which purges the soul and move one to action. It is like the mixing of the salt of earth with the water of life.
The Adeptus Exemptus consolidates their knowledge, and unifies their ideals, transcending ideology and conformity, and recognizing a brotherhood and sisterhood with all people in the world, and with all other magi and adepts. This is alchemical MERCURY, or perfect virtue and universal ideals. It is like the addition of the white oil onto the shiny substance, producing the White Stone.
If the Neophyte was the Prima Materia, the Adeptus Exemptus is like the White Stone, a perfect medicine. A being with knowledge and wisdom and virtue.
Different systems in the world do this in different configurations. But the general idea is the same.
So, what of the red oil? Isn’t alchemy all about making the Red Stone? Isn’t magick all about becoming a Magi who can DO magick.
Yes. Being an Adeptus Exemptus sounds boring. Who wants to live like some perfect religious saint? Sadly, too many people. Most magicians only go this far, and this is why many magicians and wicthes eventually return to orthodox religions and start preaching a virtuous, sexless life.
Come, let’s go beyond this, my fellow magi.
The Great Deception
What is religion? Religion is meant to help an individual commune with Divinity, using symbols that are specific to their culture and climate. That is what a religion is. ALL religions are ethnic and geographical. This is why they differ, just like music, art, clothing and architecture differs.
Hinduism is merely the religion of the subcontinent, Islam that of the Middle East, and Shinto that of Japan. Note that with religions like Christianity, it tends to differ wildly based on where you live. Hence, Catholicism in Italy is more like the Pagan traditions of Rome, than it is like the Catholicism of England. Why? Because Roman Paganism became Roman Catholicism, and Celtic druidry became English Catholicism and then Anglicanism.
Next. Notice how many religions glorify and worship the symbol of the Adeptus Minor (not even Exemptus). Very often, the ideal of a ‘religious’ person is someone who is detached from emotions, thoughts and actions.
All religious traditions come from magical ones. Religions have remembered the outer order, but not the inner. Thus, if you take religion seriously, they will tell you to first became free from sensual desires, then from critical thinking, then from strong emotions and finally from your own free will. This is correct. They’re telling you to distill the four elements out of your own soul. But then, they stop there. They don’t have the courage to follow the process further.
Thus, the perfect religious person is imagined as a husk, an empty figure. An eternal student, an initiate who is forever stuck in the portal grade, preparing to for a communion which will never come, preparing to meet a God who will never be invoked, except in death.
Caput Mortem. Dead head. Christ who went on the Cross, and never ressurected. This is why organised religions want the individual to suffer and be miserable. The more the misery, the more the religious purity, apparently.
This is why most people have no interest in spirituality or even initiation. Religion is followed only loosely, and people other ways to be spiritual.
Religion is simply a framework for spirituality. The aim of spirituality is to find your life purpose, and to try and follow it. To find meaning and courage and general satisfaction.
If people don’t like religion or spirituality, they should simply focus on Individuation, which is a concept in psychology. I’m sure you’ve heard of it, it’s that pyramid diagram which shows a person’s needs. What is that, if not a parallel to our magical grade system. Thus, this grade system isn’t just in the occult, because something similar exists even in mundane life and in material psychology.
Individuation is a lower form of spirituality, and ALL people should aspire to it. No one should remain like the Prima Materia: full of potential yet becoming nothing. Life itself is a spiritual journey when faced with courage.
All people should strive to follow their path and purpose. Those with religious interest should pursue spirituality. The Occult is for the few. It is for those who want to very, very deep into this.
All of this is magick itself, and Magick is for ALL.
The Happy Adept
Many people who pursue magick and spirituality will only ever rise to Adeptus Exemptus. One cannot choose to go further, it must happen on it’s own.
In Alchemy, the white stone is a substance that grants good health, happiness and joy. So, an Adeptus Exemptus is one who is freed from various karmic bonds and delusions which cause misery. An Adeptus Exemptus knows their own Soul, and follows their own path. Such a person can manifest many good things in life. Such a person can open all eight chakras and such a person lives in alignment with their own higher will.
All people in the world will eventually find their way to this state. For a magician, it may happen in youth. For a spiritual person, in their middle age. For a religious or secular person, in their late life. For a mediocre person who makes no attempts at self mastery, it will happen shortly before their death.
For an awful person who actively resists learning their lessons, and goes out of their way to hurt others, this will happen AFTER death. At least, this is my opinion, based on experience.
So, Hermeticism generally offers guidance up until this grade. It’s almost a bit unfair. It’s like, it takes takes you to the edge of the Abyss, suddenly lets go of your hand, and says
.
.
.
“jump!”
.
.
.
So, you go through the Outer Order, you go through the Inner order. You read all the books, do the rituals and meditations and then, nothing. It stops.
So what comes after the grade of Adeptus Exemptus? Well, an Abyss. An Abyss with no clear path forward. Now, you have a choice. You can remain an Adeptus Exemptus forever. You can be a person who reads other books, dabbles in different rituals, and learns new ways to manifest things.
But you can’t do it entirely by yourself. You can’t do ‘real magick’.
A lot of people, at this stage, decide that magick wasn’t real after all.
They’ll say “it’s all psycho-drama and self hypnosis”, and “it’s basically just self improvement”. Many will return to traditional religion and say “witchcraft led me back to find Jesus!”. And like, of course it did. Because Jesus was a witch, don’t you know?
And if you ask an Adeptus Exemptus why they can’t get do magick to get what they want, they’ll angrily say “that’s not how magick works”.
“Astrology is just a tool for introspection. It’s not literally real!”
“The Gods are just symbols. The myths aren’t to be taken at face value”
“Magick is just ancient science!”
HAH. Magick is really real.
They never attained LIBERTY. They never crossed the Kabbalistic sphere of Chesed, which rules morality and virtue.
Even now, I’m sure some high adepts are reading this and fuming and saying:
“nuh uh, magick isn’t actually real. Only stupid people believe that. My masonic lodge taught me all about how everything is actually symbolic..”
You fools. To cross the abyss is to destroy the symbols. Not intellectually, but with living fire.
They’re not bad people though. Many of them are very noble and enlightened souls who live their lives in peace. Others become confused and start resenting the world.
Ultimately, it’s because they chose not to jump. They were satisfied with the White Stone, which is a perfect medicine. They did not pour the Red Oil back onto the Stone, for fear of destroying all their hard work.
Perhaps it is better to remain an Adeptus Exemptus, than to fall into the Abyss. But it is a boring, sexless, sober, and meek life.
Death
Every person lives in a framework of “why” and “because”. In the East, it called karma, which is action.
What does it mean to be bound by karma? It means to be caught up in cause and effect. To act because it creates a result, to live in the right way and avoid the wrong way, to decide and judge how people are or aren’t, and to decide why things are the way they are.
This is the prison of duality. Duality exists beneath the Abyss, which corresponds to the Throat Chakra, and to the Sefirot called ‘Da’at’, or Knowledge.
But every person who has chosen to embrace magick has chosen to ascend and move forward, and to transcend Reason and limitation. Magick is incompatible with blind Reason.
You cannot say “I can manifest my Will” and also “Here is how everything works, and here are all the limitations placed upon me”.
Initiation provides tools and techniques of self mastery. This is not real magick, just spirituality. Then it shows you your own truth Self. This is also not magick, just mysticism.
The Initiate is a spiritualist. The Adept is a mystic. Neither is a magician. High Magick is high magick, and it is true and real. Really real, in the realest sense.
Once the preparation is done, the Work begins. The Initiate spent years meditation, the Adept spent years finding themselves. And now the Heavens open and say “okay, you’re ready. Come, start the work”.
And here, everything falls apart. All sense, all reason, all morality and all techniques.
It is like the Hindu warrior Arjuna, who was trained to be a warrior his whole life, followed his brothers into exile, helped gather an army for a Great War, convinced Krishna to be his charioteer and appeared on the battlefield with his weapons and armor. And yet, at the eve of battle, he became afraid. Not because he could not fight, but because he began to think of the reason, of morality, of virtue, of consequences.
He began to say “I cannot fight because of such and such, this war is unjust because of such and such, this battle will lead to such and such”. That’s what it’s like, to hesitate at the edge.
Because all the rituals and books will only prepare you. The real battlefield is not in the sacred temple, but in the world. Life is the battlefield, the Great Work is actual work.
So, all of a sudden, all the assurances disappear. Because eventually you have to jump. But who will jump? What if everything goes wrong?
I can’t write on this any further. To cross is to cross. The Abyss is crossed suddenly, without preparation or ritual. And you either have courage, or you don’t. You have to accept that you are a magician, and you will do what you will.
And you know it’s happening. It’s not mistaken. It cannot happen without your knowing, nor can it be made to happen. Many people Cross the Abyss in imagination, some Cross in reality.
It requires the uniting of Thought and Experience, and recognizing that the two are one. The Kingdom was enshrined on the throne of Knowledge. It fell, and it must be restored.
And then comes death.
To Cross the Abyss means laying yourself bare and naked before judgement. Your karmic debts, that of your ancestors, those from your past lives, and even those of your culture, family and society.
You have to look at death and not be scared. And then you have to die.
To accept death, pain, suffering and sorrow. To accept who you are, what you have done, and what you will do. The Abyss is crossed immediately, without thought. Because if the whole Universe is conscious, and your whole life is a manifestation of your Self, then why be afraid?
To die means to be free. Then the Red Oil falls upon the White Stone, and the two unite.
There is no name for this grade, but it is similar to the Neophyte and Portal grades. It is a transition period from the Inner to the Secret Order.
Crossing the Abyss is like Persephone’s journey into the underworld. (Yes, that story is poorly misunderstood, like most of Greek mythology).
She is a Goddess, an the Adept of the ancient Mystery cult would embody her. Her symbolic journey represents entering the deep, dark recesses into the subconscious mind. The Shadow, the Ego, rises like a great Beast, and his number is 666. This being the number of Saturn, lord of the Throat Chakra.
To Cross the Abyss is the ultimate test of faith. Persephone saw the sacred fruits of the Abyss, in the form of a jeweled pomegranate. She was told not to eat, but eat she did. Why? Because that which is most sacred and true is always placed behind warnings. This is to ensure only those with courage and commitment take this power for themselves.
Thus, through this symbolic act, the goddess Persephone becomes enlightened. She leaves behind her naïve purity and unites life with death. Thus, she becomes both Queen of the Underworld and also Goddess of Spring. This is what Crossing the Abyss looks like, to transcend duality and unite all aspects of your Self.
You know how the story goes. In the Winter, Persephone enters the underworld, and the world becomes cold, dark and dead. Then, in Spring she returns to the over world, and brings the riches of the underworld with her. This then causes life and vegetation to return to the world and flourish. This is the original version of the myth. Symbolically, it represents of one’s Power. It is the circumambulation of the two dragons, the ascent and the descent.
That which was locked away in the Unconscious, becomes conscious. But this is marked by suffering and death, but then rebirth. The ‘suffering’ is just an illusion, a false image created by the mind.
It is rightly called the ‘Shadow’ self. After all, what is a Shadow? It’s something that isn’t real, only an illusion of light.
The Shadow is the part of you that isn’t filled with light.
You don’t have to fill it. Thinking that IS THE illusion, and the falsehood.
Both coexist together, like Yin and Yang.
Read that part again. You don’t HAVE to fill darkness with light. Both coexist, both are inseparable, and both are one.
To put it in the best way I can, Crossing the Abyss is completely unique and distinct for each person. It is a test of faith and courage, and you transcend reason, doubt and duality.
Earlier the Adept had invoked the Higher Self, the now they begin to embody it.
Sometimes, crossing the Abyss may be followed by special rituals. But these rituals don’t mark the beginning of the Abyss, but rather the end of the Adeptus Exemptus grade, where everything is given away. it is like your own funeral, in a way. All the symbols die, because symbols aren’t real.
The Living Fire
In each person, there is a living fire. This fire is the one and only object of worship in every religion and spiritual tradition ever. It is also the only ‘secret’ of the occult.
‘Secret’ because it’s not easy to describe and cannot be imparted. It is esoteric: known from within.
It has been called Krestos (secret fire), it has been called Vajra, it has been called Shakti or Kundalini, it has been called Kaos, it has been called Wyrd, and it has been called many more things.
The text of the Emerald Tablet, written by Thoth Hermes, basically describes this secret living fire. It is the secret of alchemy, of yoga and of magick. In fact, it is really the only secret. It is the fire of the yajna, it is the cross of jesus, it is the lightning bolt in the hands of zeus, it is the serpent upon the crown of osiris.
A person who has awakened this is called ‘enlightened’, for whatever reason. Maybe because it makes you feel light, and take things lightly. Those who have it, can recognize others who have it. It’s very evident if you have it.
I would go so far as to say that it is the only thing that is venerated by humanity. It is who and what we truly are. While some have awakened it, it still moves within and empowers all, and even the most ordinary person draws upon it. It is life and vitality itself.
The fiery serpent at the base of the spine uncoils itself. It rises up, like flaming mercury. It is like turning the ‘on’ switch in your body. As if your body is a mechanism, and this thing is the power source. Once you flip the switch, you ‘turn on’.
The living fire rises up, and stops at the nape of the neck. This is where the spine terminates and the brain stem begins. And here, waves of ecstasy begin. It is like a halo. In fact, it IS the halo that forms behind the head of saints.
Then it rises further, and goes to the crown chakra. Now, storms happen. Generally speaking.
You gotta tame it. You have to bring it down.
How? Well, you’ll know. Or you’ll lose your mind.
It rises and you dwell in ecstasy. Suddenly, all the words of all the prophets make sense. Suddenly, faith makes sense. This is the part of you that is Light, and SPIRIT.
It is the ‘Shin’ which transforms YHVH (Yehovah) into YHshVH (Yeheshuah), and the ‘I’ which transforms Shava into Shiva
Then comes anger. Raging, tempestuous anger. Pure destruction. This is the part of you that is Darkness. It is also SPIRIT.
It is the Tau which turns ASRA (Ashera) into ASTRA (Ashterah), and the fire which turns Parvati into Durga.
Thus, you become like the Buddhas, who have peaceful forms, and a wrathful forms. Angels and Demons.
Through a calm, steady, and absolutely unmoving mind, heart and body, the raging fire is calmed, and brought down. And so, it descends, now moving down the spine, and reaches the base again.
The rise was the ascent, and the bringing down was the descent.
Rituals may be done during this time, or other practices may be undertaken to ease the process.
Now you know why the symbol of the serpent biting it’s own tail is so important. You’ll also see where the idea of a ‘dragon’ comes from, since this secret fire is a like a serpent which ‘rises’, as if it has wings.
You can also see why it has been visualised as lightning, and why so many gods in so many cultures are either holding a bolt of lightning, or a lotus at the base of the spine, or have a halo behind their head, or a serpent on the forehead. Many symbols, the same thing.
We will call this grace.
NOW, you can do magick. Not just spells and rituals, but true High Magick. Now you can pronounce the names of the Gods. You are a lamp. This secret, living fire is like the oil which has been ignited.
You may ask “how can I awaken the living fire in my own body”
Do the work. Keep going. Expand your soul. You’ll get there.
There are some people reading, who have already done this. When I first started magick, I used to read all these books and never knew who was ‘the real deal’ and who wasn’t.
I used to think, for example, that Aleister Crowley was a fool and an edgelord. But recently I read his Book of the Law again, where he describes “the fire that burns upon the forehead”. I knew, at that point, that he knew. Because now I know. It’s an attitude, a recognition of the flame within another.
You don’t become a ‘special person’. You stop trying to become one. See, people will look at me and think I have the secret flame, but I see it in the eyes of every person, and especially in the eyes of every magician. They’re just so lost in thought or distracted, that they don’t see it mine or in their own. And I can’t show them.
But it’s good, because all see it eventually. It is their own, true being.
The Secret Order
Now that we have gone past the esoteric and mystical stuff, we can return to the grade system.
So…what comes after the Grade of Adeptus Exemptus? You Cross the Abyss.
And then come the last three grades. As you can tell, these grades cannot really be ‘given’ by some spiritual group. No one can claim the title. But, for the sake of convenience and personal growth, these three grades represent the ‘Secret Order’.
The 8th grade of Hermeticism is called Magister Templi. This means ‘master/mistress of the temple’. It is a similar rank to High Priest/Priestess. The number of this grade is 8=3.
Because generally such a person is now capable of running an Order or Temple. Or, hell, you can go create your own religion.
Me? I think I’ll eventually create a new brand of Hinduism, combined with Hermeticism, which is more fit for the Age of Aquarius. But I don’t plan to preach it publicly.
I’ll just push it into the collective consciousness and have people subconsciously pick up on it c:
Or maybe I’ll start one of those weird Hindu cults. I’ll put on some fancy robes and grow out my beard. We’ll have drug fueled orgies well into the night! And then we’ll invoke some Gods.
Maybe I’ll finally find a girlfriend.
Tfw no Amazonian warrior to lift you off your feet.
Anyway.
A Magister Templi integrates all of their knowledge and wisdom into a single, integrated whole. A master symbol. The Rose Cross, the Solomonic Mandala, the Tree of Life, the Kaalachakra: all these are examples of such master symbols. They were made by magicians who came before. Some may adopt existing ones and integrate their knowledge into it, some may create a new one.
A unified understanding of life, magick and the world comes into the mind of the Magister. This is why they are called “Magister Templi’. With such a complete understanding, they can perform their own rituals, create their own systems, and lead others in ritual and magick. They can formulate their own understanding of everything.
Some even went on found entire religions and spiritual traditions based on their knowledge.
That’s all it is. A Magister Templi does not live in a fragmented reality, where many different theories of life co-exist. Rather, one, comprehensive, and unified understanding is formed.
As such, this grade can be seen as a bit boring. It is an intellectual grade, if we can even call this a ‘grade’. You could say that everything ‘clicks’ together.
Now, a person is doing High Magick in the purest sense. Magick for the sake of magick. No more doing rituals for some specific purpose. No more cause and effect.
The Magister must see light and darkness in everyone and everything.
The Magister shall recognize that everything is good, and exactly as it must be.
This grade corresponds to the Third Eye, or Mind Chakra. It also corresponds to the Sefirot of Binah (Understanding).
And it is rightfully called so. It is the grade where understanding and knowledge dawns on the Adept. It is also associated with sorrow and suffering.
You know how they say that when you become enlightened, you become one with the Universe? It’s mostly true. But with all the love and happiness, you also feel all the sorrow and pain.
This is overwhelming at first. Imagine feeling the sorrow of all beings in the Universe. But eventually you accept it. It is what it is. One must do one’s Will, not fight against the harmony of the Universe, nor intervene in the karmic journey of others.
Do What Thou Wilt shall be the whole of the law.
Life and death are the same.
Magick is real.
Stand up for your beliefs, take what you want, and don’t hurt others. Clear intent, followed by clear action, will create magick.
Work is the key to life.
At this stage you are basically an ‘ascended master’. It is important to keep pretending to be normal, however, otherwise people will get scared of you. Or they’ll worship you. Both are undesirable.
The Elixir of Life
The next grade is 9=2. This is, ironically, just called Magi.
How do you transition to this grade? Well, it’s pretty insane.
The Kundalini rises to the head, and activates the Pineal gland. This is the sacred union of male and female. This gland then activates the Pituitary gland, which then produces the elixir of life.
“Oh my God Raven, that’s fucking insane!”
I know. Who the hell thought this Universe into existence.
But anyway, this elixir is what is called ‘The Blood of Christ’. To partake of this sacred substance is the real meaning of ‘Eucharist’. Thus, this is the real ‘Mass of the Holy Ghost’.
It is also called Amrita, or Nectar. In Hindu tradition, it is produced when the Gods and Demons together churn the cosmic ocean. This is done with a great mountain, which is seated upon the back of Kurma, the mighty turtle, and they tie the mighty serpent king around it. Then, both sides tug on this rhythmically, to produced elixir. The mountain is the spine, the serpent is the kundalini, the churning ocean is your own existence, and the turtle is the base of your spine. The Devas (gods) and Ashuras (devils) represent the ascent and descent respectively, the ecstasy and the wrath.
So do you become immortal? No. The Soul is already immortal, and the body will eventually fade. But this substance is a healing substance.
And yes, it is a physical liquid. It really does feel like a tiny serpent on the forehead, and it trickles down the front of the skull and falls onto the brain.
The skull itself was the Holy Grail. Christ was the secret fire which rose up the spine, then ‘died’ to produce this liquid.
It does not produce hallucinations. But it is preceded by a strong visionary experience. Not random, but done through deliberate invocation. I knew I was invoking, I did not think I would produce the Elixir that very day. But by the Gods, it was delightful.
So now, having partaken of the Elixir, you will begin the transition into the grade of Magus.
The grade of Magus corresponds to the Crown Chakra, and the Sefirot oh Chokmah (Wisdom).
What is the meaning of ‘Magus’? It means “one who reaches into the Void, and creates”.
So now you can do magick. Good job. It’s the end of the journey.
But really, it is only the beginning. Because now that you can really just do magick, you can focus on living life properly and honestly, without worrying about your magical practices, or about anything holding you back.
Now there is no ‘bad’. There is no “I cannot do such, because of such”. All the burdens have been lifted from one’s shoulders, and one cannot make any more excuses.
Imagination is like Silver. Experience is like Gold. Both now become one. This is called the alchemical marriage.
If you could completely and fully integrate them, to literally unite your inner and outer world, then you would be able to perform miracles.
Interestingly, mixing gold and silver produces electrum. This type of metal was used to coat the capstones of the great pyramids, and is also used in various religious artefacts and images. Pure gold is too soft, silver tends to tarnish. But electrum is hard and generally does not rust. It was also often used for coins in the ancient world.
I still can’t turn water into wine though, sadly. The Gods tell me it is entirely possible. But I think it is being kept from me. When I asked for this power they said “what would you do then? drink wine every day? would you want that?”
I shall report back on that.
However, it is much easier to visualise wine, and state “I shall have wine”, and then find that the Universe will aid you in acquiring it. It is better to manifest your reality than to perform literal miracles. Miracles are possible, but are more of a gift from the Universe. Manifestation follows the laws of the Universe. One cannot force one’s Will upon the elements. It is a violation of natural order.
One must be in harmony, and all shall be given.
Each person must follow their own path. None must beg or demand that this kind of power or knowledge may be imparted for free.
So what does a Magus do? Well, whatever they want, basically. Usually, most Magi will now focus on their life’s ambition, and often uplift themselves, others and the world.
True magical power comes from service. One must do something freely for the world. For me, it is this blog. Since my magical path is that of a scholar, I write about magick, and give it freely.
I also write books, check them out here. Thanks c:
In exchange, my power, knowledge and happiness grows, and I can focus this power towards my own goals.
In general, one can dispense with elaborate ritualism and implements. But using them makes the magick more focused and powerful.
The kundalini energy is what’s actually called ‘magical energy’. That’s the stuff that wizards would shoot out of their wands. A Magus can channel this living fire through their hands, and direct it.
That’s the only difference between the Magister and the Magi. The Magister can tap into the living fire, but the Magi can direct and control it.
You ever see all those pictures of Egyptian gods with both their hands stretched outwards? Especially Isis and Nephthys? That’s basically what’s being shown. They’re performing magic, since both are goddesses of Magick. This magical energy is the same energy that gives life, and is the root of the whole universe. This energy IS the Goddess, and the sense of bliss that is felt IS God.
To be a Magi is to be in the presence of the Divine. It is like returning to Eden.
Some readers may be thinking “oh, that sounds amazing. I want it right this instant”.
You can tap into it easily. In this moment, if you could align yourself with your Higher Self, it will flow into you. The only difference between a Neophyte and a Magi is this:
a Neophyte thinks he must become a Magi to do magick, while a Magi knows he could do magick even as a Neophyte.
The Magi can remain in the high state of consciousness at all times. A Neophyte can attain it momentarily by clearing the mind.
In truth the whole grade system isn’t even real. People just have a lot of guilt, shame and trauma, and that’s not real either.
Abandon it.
What Comes After
There is, in theory, a ’10th grade’ in Hermeticism.
It is called ‘Ipsissimus’. It’s number is 10=1.
There have been those who have claimed to be this grade. But it is questionable if being one is even possible. It would indicate a complete union with the Higher Self. In other words, to be in this grade would mean no longer having a Higher or a Shadow Self. There would be only one Self.
The term itself seems to mean something like ‘oneself’ or ‘that which is’. I am not certain, and not much is written on this topic.
The general consensus is that an Individual never actually becomes Ipsissimus while still alive. Some small degree of separation always exists. However, one taps into this state when one is doing one’s true will.
You must have heard of the concept of ‘Flow’, which is described as complete absorption in some task, and it is frequently expereinced by high performing athletes, artists, musicians and speakers, among other things. Any truly meaningful or creative skill can manifest this state of Flow, and the world of self help is full of books and courses which help you enter flow.
It’s ironic, because almost everyone experiences flow, not just some 10th grade magi.
I myself experience it when I draw or write or hell, when I’m playing a video game or working out. This state of mind is accessible to everyone at all times. It is a state of mind where time apparently disappears, everything feels effortless and one is completely and wholly focused on the present moment, or the task at hand.
To me, this is a very uplifting and positive thought. This means that the ultimate goal of attainment is actually as open to the ordinary person, as it is to the Neophyte, Adept or Magi. The whole grade system simply helps you become more able to channel this state of mind.
The grade of Ipsissimus corresponds to Kether (the Crown), and the Sri Chakra, which is the 8th and final chakra. It represents the ‘Genius’, or ‘locus genii’.
It is, literally, your own higher genius. Genius is not something a person is born with, it is the power and energy present within all individuals. All individuals can call upon their own Genius, and draw it down when they work.
Following a magical tradition helps a person become more and more aligned with the Genius, or inner Daimon, and manifest it. When you are following your true Will, the Genius becomes manifest. In that moment, one is an Ipsissimus. In this state, there is no mind, no thought, no feeling. Rather, there is a apparent unity.
Think. Think back to when you do something effortlessly, and become totally absorbed in it. There is no sense of time or space, and everything happens perfectly as it is. For many people, the only experience of this state is either during sleep, or heavy intoxication. Ultimately, finding things you genuinely care about, and doing them, can help manifest the genius more often.
If a person could be in this state at all times, they would be like a living God upon this Earth. They would simply act. Thought and action would be completely one. There would be no precursor to action, and thus no karmic prison.
The Path of Initiation
Consider what we’ve just come upon. The genius, the higher self, the state of an Ipsissimus is manifested when one is entirely absorbed in work.
So, the real path of initiation lies….in work. The Great Work is just made up of smaller works.
So what kind of work? Well, any chosen work.
See, there’s a reason why so many esoteric orders are centered around some skill, knowledge or craft. It’s why witchcraft is called witch-craft.
For example, Masonry literally came out of ‘masonry’. The Freemasons were originally called Stonemasons, and there were literally ‘stone masons’, as in: people who carved stones and laid bricks for the building of Churches and such. Onto these stones, they carved symbols and images. Magical attainment within the group was literally one and the same as mastery of stone-craft.
The Alchemists were literally chemists, ie herbalists, healers and medics. Alchemy is the art of mastering the various chemical processes and making tinctures and ‘potions’ out of herbs, minerals and metals.
The Kabbalists and Pythagoreans were concerned with mathematical prowess. The Astrologers were focused on understanding, calculating and recording the motion of the stars. They were astronomers and mathematicians in the most literal sense.
Ever heard of ‘magic squares’ and terms like ‘mathemagic’ or ‘math wizard’. This is because being a mathematician and being a wizard was one one and the same, in various occult groups.
In Hermeticism and Witchcraft, the focus was on ritualism and invocation. The Zen Buddhists mastered various artistic crafts. The Knights Templar and Cult of Mithra were magical orders where you had to be an accomplished soldier to advance in the grades. The Shaolin monks trained to master martial arts, and also Buddhist sutras, to attain mystical powers.
In the Egyptian and Norse tradition, mastery of magic meant mastery of the written and spoken word. That’s why the word ‘spell’ exists, because magic was dependent on spelling out words. Its also why ‘grimoire’ and ‘grammar’ sound similar. It’s also why Egyptian magic is so concerned with hieroglyphs, while Norse magic is based on Runes. Almost all Norse magic is based on words, rhythm and song. Meanwhile, Egyptian and later magic is based on the hieroglyphs themselves.
This is also why Japanese magi, such an the Omnyoji, take so much time learning calligraphy. Similar to Egyptians, they literally believe that perfect calligraphy can make magic happen. What you draw IS your magic.
In India, there were various yogic paths, each focused on things like the pursuit of knowledge, the mastery of the body, performing acts of devotion etc.
The Bhagawat Gita describes karma yoga as the only true yoga. ‘Karma’ here may be described as ‘work’ and is done in accordance with ‘Dharma’, and it literally refers to the vocation you follow. Yes, really. Today, many Hindus think that ‘Dharma’ means nobility, or duty, or religion. But it actually means something like ‘vocation’ or ‘profession’ or ‘assigned role’.
Your Dharma is your Karma. Your spiritual path is in your works.
Now, this is not the only kind of magick. There are other paths. But in the Age of Aquarius, it may as well be the primary form of initiation. Aquarius is ruled by Saturn, and Saturn is the lord of work and action. Faith, ecstasy, visions and martyrdom should be left behind in the Ages of Pisces and Aries.
This is also the reason why Mercury is the planet of Initiation, but is also said to rule daily activities like commerce, travel, carpentry, and a whole bunch of other mundane things. In truth, Mercury rules daily work, and daily work is the path of initiation.
So, in order to find one’s path of magick, one should first find one’s talents, and refine those into skills. I know, it sounds boring, but these will become the tools that the magician employs to perform magick. And most magicians will find themselves to be multi-talented.
But this rule applies even to the average person. This is literally the purpose and path of life, in my opinion. The Age of Aquarius is the age of the Technocrat, and the magicians of this age are not priests and kings, but rather professionals, intellectuals, artists and engineers.
Look around you, look at your fellow magicians. You’ll see that it’s true. Some of the most capable people these days create real wealth and economic value (water), create artistic content and media (fire), pursue and share intellectual and academic ideas (air) or build and test new kinds of technology (earth).
Sure, these can lead into ignorance or slavery, but they can also liberate and exalt the Soul.
At least, this is my opinion.
So, people who are confused about their spiritual path or want to initiate themselves into magick, or want to attain spiritual powers and gifts: first find your talents. First find out who you are, what you can do, and what is your role in the modern world. When you find your daily works, you will discover your Great Work.
Your skill is your magic. Be an artist, be a musician, be a entrepreneur or be a tailor. Be a soldier or be a writer or be a researcher or be a lawyer. Be a hostess, be a cook, be a cobbler or be a psychic. It doesn’t have to be the ‘job’ which makes you money, but then it should be a hobby or vocation that you commit time and energy into.
But don’t let it be an empty label. Don’t let me hear “I am a senior account executive”. That’s not work, that’s a title. Within that title, there has to be actual work.
Generalists are the bane of the world, and the bane of magick.
A magician shall be a specialist. Specialize in multiple things.
Walk each path to the end.
When you master your outer work, you shall master your inner self. Soon, you will find the elements, the planets, the zodiac and the trinity in the work that you do, in the skills you develop, and in the knowledge your pursue.
Magick is not separate from mundane life. It is ONE and the SAME with what you do on a daily basis. But if you can’t see magick in the coffee you make, where you unite milk and coffee in a cup, and then stir it with your spoon, to make your self more alert, then you will never be see it when the Gods appear. After all, what is the brewing of coffee, if not true alchemy.
Now, that’s all I have for you. I promise not to disappear for another six months.
I have decided to finally move to YouTube perhaps. Instagram has proved to be a profoundly toxic platform, and that’s the reason I rarely post. I generally dislike most social media, but WordPress is an incredibly outdated platform. They have never censored me or caused me any issues, but damn. It’s like using a website from 2005. So we shall see what the future holds.
In this age of Ai infested rot, I promise to write my own words and continue to use real photographs. The content here shall always be curated and hand written. I will not rot with the rest. If I do use AI, it’ll be something well made and worthwhile, not just mass produced nonsense.
If you want to support me, please consider donating.
Until then! Love and peace.
Hail Hermes.
The Goddess is Supreme.
I shall eat the flesh and poison till I awaken.
Between The Pillars 