Qabalistic track
Okay. This is the experimental part of this Lyceum. We are now off the well traveled road. When I was studying to become a Hierophant, I was given an assignment to research the Star of Ishtar figure and write a paper on it. I was a bit nervous over the prospect, and my first thought was to analyze it through the chakra system. However, when I tried, things just didn't seem to fit. So, I ended up with a whole lot of nothing. Then something happened. I don't know if it was an angel or a demon, but it was on my shoulder and whispering into my ear. The first thing that occurred to me was how well the initiatory Rites fit in with the 32nd Path. I moved on from there, carefully reading all the Magi Rites and actually finding correspondences for them on the Tree of Life. How the Rites got that way, I can't say I know. Was Lady Olivia a secret Qabalist? Or was she just so brilliant and tuned in that her system came out spontaneously meshing with Qabala? Either way, our Lady Olivia has given a great gift to Qabalaists and seekers. The key for me was to find ways to use that gift. I had given up and set the correspondences aside for a while. Now, I've done some work on my own and feel ready to help guide students through these mysteries. I know that some people reading this are experienced Qabalists who will be horrified that some weird Goddess worshiper is dabbling with your system. Please indulge me. And I know that some of you in the FOI may have issues with Qabala and think it's just a system of ancient tomes and obscure knowledge used by rich, white men. Again. Please indulge me. I've done some work myself and now feel ready to guide students through these mysteries. So, I'm taking out and dusting off my Qabalist's hat, and, offering all of this to anyone who is a little adventurous. Give it a shot if you're so inclined. You have nothing to lost but time. And you can always stop your work with this track at any time, in favor of others.
Some of you may be wondering what the heck this Qabala stuff is. It's a system of correspondences whose roots are in Judeo-Christian mysticism. However, that Qabala has little to do with the animal we are after. What we will be studying is the magical Qabala, brought into coherence largely by a magical organization called the Golden Dawn. Its central glyph is the Tree of Life, composed of 10 Spheres, which are states of being, and 22 Paths, which are states of becoming. Everything on the Tree has a group of associations that vibrate in harmony with each other. Some things are inanimate object such as incenses or stones. Some are actual consciousnesses. So, if you want to contact a specific angel, figure out which Sphere its on, then use a Qabalistic exercise to gain access to that Sphere, and call it up. On the other hand, if you need some money, check and see which Sphere is concerned with material gain and use the correspondences to create a complete ritual to conjure what you need.
In Qabala, there are 3 states beyond creation. They're nothing, infinity, and infinite Light. They emanate forth and form the Spheres and Paths. This is the same Light that we are trying to work with in this Lyceum. Everything is the Light. The Qabala is also perfectly balanced, and there is a Sphere relating to our material world, which is every bit as sacred as the most sublime state. Each Sphere has a spiritual experience, which is part of what we're after. It is through these that we learn and grow. Once you've had the experience of a Sphere, you can move on to another part of the Tree. Each Sphere has a virtue and a vice. Often, when we begin work on a Sphere, we first manifest the vice. Then, as we purify the energy, the virtue comes into play. The visions and virtues/vices are good ways for both you and me to chart your progress.
So what are the benefits and problems with working in a Qabalistic framework? The benefits include deepening your experience of the Rite in question, accelerating your spiritual growth, and zeroing in on the exact energy you're targeting. You will have the opportunity to work through a structured system of spiritual growth that will connect you with the primal Powers of the Universe. The only drawback is some loss of freedom. Anyone who chooses this way will need to be willing to work the Rites in an order that corresponds to the Tree of Life rather than simply choosing any Rite they would like to perform as they would be able to if they weren't working in a Qabalistic progression . It also takes more Rites to work through in order to obtain Priesthood. If your goal is attaining Priesthood under a Qabalistic framework, you can expect to spend at least a couple of years, but I think you will find it worth the time and energy. As with most everything else in this Lyceum, Qabalistic work is totally optional. You can use it for one Rite, or you can use it for every single Magi Degree.
One of the first things you will learn from this track is the Lesser Banishing Ritual (of the Pentagram). It will protect you from anything nasty or obnoxious. It will seal your aura. It will purify you. It will allow you to draw the spiritual Light into our planet. This is the part where I find most students rebelling. Please consider using this Ritual on a daily basis nonetheless. It is powerful and it is important. In fact, I would highly recommend to all students that they use it, whether they go on with Qabala or not.
You'll work through the Paths and Spheres in a numerical order. I realize that some authors don't do it that way. I'm just providing a framework that makes the most sense to me. If you have a better idea as to how to go about it, please share it with me.
This track will involve some required reading. I'll make some recommendations. But, I would also suggest you read anything else you can find on the subject that piques your interest.
Once again, if you want this track, be ready for the long haul.
Finally, I'll give you a list of the Magi Rites and their Qabalistic correspondences. You can read exactly why I have drawn them by looking through back issues of The Mirror of Isis. Read them and think about them. If you come up with something you think I've missed, please tell me. I'm always open to suggestions that will prove helpful to this Lyceum.
Some of you may be wondering what the heck this Qabala stuff is. It's a system of correspondences whose roots are in Judeo-Christian mysticism. However, that Qabala has little to do with the animal we are after. What we will be studying is the magical Qabala, brought into coherence largely by a magical organization called the Golden Dawn. Its central glyph is the Tree of Life, composed of 10 Spheres, which are states of being, and 22 Paths, which are states of becoming. Everything on the Tree has a group of associations that vibrate in harmony with each other. Some things are inanimate object such as incenses or stones. Some are actual consciousnesses. So, if you want to contact a specific angel, figure out which Sphere its on, then use a Qabalistic exercise to gain access to that Sphere, and call it up. On the other hand, if you need some money, check and see which Sphere is concerned with material gain and use the correspondences to create a complete ritual to conjure what you need.
In Qabala, there are 3 states beyond creation. They're nothing, infinity, and infinite Light. They emanate forth and form the Spheres and Paths. This is the same Light that we are trying to work with in this Lyceum. Everything is the Light. The Qabala is also perfectly balanced, and there is a Sphere relating to our material world, which is every bit as sacred as the most sublime state. Each Sphere has a spiritual experience, which is part of what we're after. It is through these that we learn and grow. Once you've had the experience of a Sphere, you can move on to another part of the Tree. Each Sphere has a virtue and a vice. Often, when we begin work on a Sphere, we first manifest the vice. Then, as we purify the energy, the virtue comes into play. The visions and virtues/vices are good ways for both you and me to chart your progress.
So what are the benefits and problems with working in a Qabalistic framework? The benefits include deepening your experience of the Rite in question, accelerating your spiritual growth, and zeroing in on the exact energy you're targeting. You will have the opportunity to work through a structured system of spiritual growth that will connect you with the primal Powers of the Universe. The only drawback is some loss of freedom. Anyone who chooses this way will need to be willing to work the Rites in an order that corresponds to the Tree of Life rather than simply choosing any Rite they would like to perform as they would be able to if they weren't working in a Qabalistic progression . It also takes more Rites to work through in order to obtain Priesthood. If your goal is attaining Priesthood under a Qabalistic framework, you can expect to spend at least a couple of years, but I think you will find it worth the time and energy. As with most everything else in this Lyceum, Qabalistic work is totally optional. You can use it for one Rite, or you can use it for every single Magi Degree.
One of the first things you will learn from this track is the Lesser Banishing Ritual (of the Pentagram). It will protect you from anything nasty or obnoxious. It will seal your aura. It will purify you. It will allow you to draw the spiritual Light into our planet. This is the part where I find most students rebelling. Please consider using this Ritual on a daily basis nonetheless. It is powerful and it is important. In fact, I would highly recommend to all students that they use it, whether they go on with Qabala or not.
You'll work through the Paths and Spheres in a numerical order. I realize that some authors don't do it that way. I'm just providing a framework that makes the most sense to me. If you have a better idea as to how to go about it, please share it with me.
This track will involve some required reading. I'll make some recommendations. But, I would also suggest you read anything else you can find on the subject that piques your interest.
Once again, if you want this track, be ready for the long haul.
Finally, I'll give you a list of the Magi Rites and their Qabalistic correspondences. You can read exactly why I have drawn them by looking through back issues of The Mirror of Isis. Read them and think about them. If you come up with something you think I've missed, please tell me. I'm always open to suggestions that will prove helpful to this Lyceum.
- The Rite of Initiation--Path 32
- The Rite of Ordination--Path 20
- The Isian Wedding Rite--Path 16
- The Awakening of Osiris--Path 24
- Mystery of the Spheres--Path 25
- Demeter and Persephone--Path 22
- Eros and Psyche--Path 21
- The Labyrinth--Path 26
- Space Magic--Path 15
- Time Magic--Path 21
- Sun Magic of the Life Force--Sphere of Tifareth
- Lunar Magic of the Tides--Sphere of Yesod
- Earth Magic of Transmutation--Sphere of Malkuth
- Mars and the Morrigan--Sphere of Geburah
- Venus and Vishnu--Sphere of Netzach
- Mercury and Sophia--Sphere of Hod
- Jupiter and Hathor--Sphere of Chesed
- Saturn and Astarte--Sphere of Binah
- Uranus and Sarasvati--Sphere of Chokmah
- Neptune and Ngame--Sphere of Kether
- Pisces and Ceridwen--Path 30
- Aries and Durga--Path 27
- Taurus and Isis--Path 14
- Gemini, Artemis and Apollo--Path 17
- Cancer and Tiamat--Path 29
- Leo and Sekhmet--Path 19
- Virgo and Dana--Path 13
- Libra and Kwan Yin--Path 23
- Scorpio and Kundalini--Path 12
- Sagittarius and Brynhild--Path 18
- Capricorn and Terra--Path 11
- Aquarius and Juno--Path 28