John Gilbert, RIP

[ecosophia]

I learned this morning via an email from a friend and fellow initiate that John Gilbert, who brought me into the Ancient Order of Druids in America (AODA) and initiated me into the whole series of esoteric orders and traditions connected to it, passed away on Monday. 

I met John by way of one of those improbable cascades of events you can't get away with if you're writing fiction. I had encountered a reference to AODA in a book on American Druid groups and had tried in vain to get in touch with it.   He was at that time the president of the American Tarot Association, and I wrote to him to ask about being a presenter at a Tarot event hosted by the ATA in Portland, Oregon. After we'd talked about other things via email, I decided that since he was very knowledgeable about the US occult scene, I would ask him if he knew anything about AODA. He responded, "Why, yes.  I'm the acting Scribe of AODA these days." 

As the saying goes, things proceeded from there. 

We only met in person a few times, but we corresponded extensively via email for many years. In the process, I came to realize that John was a bridge to a world that I scarcely knew anything about back then -- the world of traditional American occultism. Born in 1938, he became active in that world when it was still thriving, and remained active all through the long years when so many people lost interest in anything that didn't have a pedigree from overseas.  He studied with Juliet Ashley and Rhodonn Starrus (Matthew Shaw), received the highest degrees of initiation in AODA, the Order of Spiritual Alchemy, the Order of Modern Essenes, and the Holy Order of the Golden Dawn, and was consecrated a bishop in the Universal Gnostic Church. He spent years trying to interest other people in these traditions, with very limited success.  Toward the end of his life, as his energy waned, he quietly wound up those efforts and focused his remaining time on his family. 

To him, and to the traditions and teachings he passed on to me, I owe more than I can possibly say. 

Farewell, John. May the Great Ones welcome you into the halls of Light. 

Comments

John Gilbert

[(Anonymous)]

Please accept my condolences. I am sorry to hear this.

Christine S (UK)

[scotlyn]

I am sorry for your loss. You have written here movingly of memories you cherish of a man you honor. Thank you.

[robertmathiesen]

Condolences and much sympathy, John Michael! It's always painful to lose someone who has had such an impact on one's life. 🥲

Ripples Across the Web

[sothismedias]

My sympathies to you John Michael Greer and all those whose life John Gilbert touched. It is good to know this chain of initiation lives on, and these streams he was active have been revived through your association and friendship with him, and continue to touch many lives.

[cs2]

RIP and many blessings hereafter.

[(Anonymous)]

Condolences, JMG.

—Lady Cutekitten

[(Anonymous)]

Please accept my condolences. His knowledge still lives in you and all of hose that you teach,
Whispers

[fringewood]

I'm sorry JMG for your loss. May he pass in peace.

[brenainn]

I'm sorry to hear this. My condolences for this loss. It sounds like he lived a rich and fulfilling life. May his afterlife be just as rich and fulfilling.

But Not Without Scoring A Win

[(Anonymous)]

All those long, lonely years... and finally he found a student-- who is now teaching thousands.

Win!!!

- Cicada Grove

[(Anonymous)]

Please accept my condolences. He must have been a great man, and I feel as if I owe him a great deal as well for the spiritual traditions that I am now a part of because of his work. Hopefully it was a comfort in his later years to see the AODA thriving. I know I’m thankful to have found it.

Condolences

[lunarapprentice]

Hello JMG,

May his memory always be a blessing. May his inspiration live in you, and through you.

—Lunar Apprentice

[migrantharvester]

My condolences JMG, I will think of him and honor him when I cast the sphere of protection in the morning, and will include him in my prayers.

[(Anonymous)]

Dear JMG,

I'm sorry to hear about his passing. My condolences. I hope he was happy to see the interest in American occultism rise again towards the end of his life, and see the AODA at least grow to a thousand members. He helped to keep it alive throughout the lean years, and pass it on into loving and capable hands. That's quite an inspiration!

- Brigyn

Condolences

[boulderchum]

The triumphant final notes may have sounded, but the beauty of the opera lingers on. I didn't know this man, yet I get the sense that his soul was as mighty as a mountain and longsuffering as an oxen. My condolences go out to you and his family.

Condolences

[(Anonymous)]

Dear John Michael Greer,
My sincere condolences to you on the loss of such a friend and mentor. It is good to think that, although, as you say, he had difficulty interesting people in traditional occultism, given your interest and seriousness about the subject, he did manage to pass so many things on to you. Thank you for sharing this.
MILLICENTLY LURKING

[(Anonymous)]

I'm sorry to hear of your loss, JMG. I'm not so sure he needed to interest a lot of people in occultism; rather, he needed to contact the right few. You were one of the right few and his efforts live on in your efforts. May his transition be blessed.

-Maria

[(Anonymous)]

My condolences, JMG. No doubt you consider yourself very fortunate to have befriended such a soul who was also a link to another time. The world always seems a diminished place when such beings leave the material world… may John Gilbert have a blessed transition.

Ron M

Condolences

[vitranc]

I am sorry for your loss of a friend that I have ever seen you write in such high esteem.

My condolences,
V

[slclaire]

I joined AODA too late to meet John, but not too late to appreciate what he did for the Order when he so generously passed on his knowledge to you and entrusted you with it. I said a prayer for him this morning and now pass on my condolences to you and to all who knew him.

[(Anonymous)]

My Condolences, Mr. Greer! I can only imagine how this must feel. May he have a blessed afterlife and incarnation.

- Matthew Lindquist

[(Anonymous)]

Wow, his success interesting others in his orders doesn't sound limited at all. His soul called out to yours to pass on his initiation as a scribe for the mysteries, and you have lived up to that challenge beyond what his conscious may have ever envisioned. His soul helped dream you into existence, and will live on through you and the scribes you call out to in your turn.

John Gilbert ushered the teachings through a hostile age, calling forth proteges to keep them safely passing along. Would that all our souls knew so clearly what great works they were here for. May he enjoy his well-earned rest.

— Christophe

[ecosophia]

Thank you, all of you, for your responses.

Condolences and prayers

[(Anonymous)]

Dear JMG:

My sincere condolences for your loss and the loss of AODA. Would it be appropriate if I pray for Mr. Gilbert? I have a booklet for a 40 day prayer session for the soul’s journey up the Tree of Life, it’s from an esoteric Christian order from the 1920’s. Or did he identify with a different path towards the end of his life? May he be enfolded within the wings of the Boundless Mystery.

Sincerely,
Anon.

Re: Condolences and prayers

[ecosophia]

I'm quite sure his soul would be very receptive to that; he worked extensively with the Tree of Life.

Can you tell me more about the booklet, and its source? That sort of thing is always of interest to me.

Re: Condolences and prayers

[(Anonymous)]

Dear JMG:

I should correct myself, the prayers I received are on a Word document, but come from said Christian fraternal order. I’m waiting from my friend for permission to share this with you.

Sincerely, Anon.

Re: Condolences and prayers

[(Anonymous)]

Dear JMG:

I heard back from my friend about the Christian esoteric/fraternal order. It was called the Order of the Service of Christ, and it may have also gone by the name of the Magical Church Society. It was London based, possibly in the suburb of St. John's Wood (very posh), active in the postwar 1950-s to early 1960's. It had some links to former members of Waite's FRC, mostly Anglicans. The prayers shared with with me were written and edited corporately. I have the prayers for the seven weeks following death in PDF form, if you're interested what's the best way of sending them to you?

Sincerely,
Anon.

Re: Condolences and prayers

[ecosophia]

Thank you for this! If you'd be willing to put in a comment marked NOT FOR POSTING with your email address, I can contact you with an email address of my own to which you can send them. I'd be very interested in seeing them, and anything else from that organization. -- JMG

John Gilbert: The Druid Call?

[(Anonymous)]

Greetings, JMG

Did John Gilbert speak at the Druid Call that you hosted several years ago in the hills of Georgia? I believe it was him whom I talked with about death. How I wish I had made notes about our conversation!

Brenda

Re: John Gilbert: The Druid Call?

[ecosophia]

That was indeed John -- and it was the last time he and I met in person. I didn't host it, though -- it was hosted by a local group of Druids.

[ashareem]

Just learning of this today through AODA channels, as I've seen off DW for a while. My condolences on his passing. May his spirit be bright on the other planes.

Bishop John Gilbert

[(Anonymous)]

Hello Michael,

I had a feeling that John had recently passed. Sadly, your post confirms it. As you know I worked with John over a period of several years and was involved in many of his Orders, especially the MOGD. Looks like we both have many precious experiences and memories associated with John and his work.

Peace and Blessings to you and to John Gilbert.

Timothy A. Storlie

Re: Bishop John Gilbert

[ecosophia]

Thanks for this! Yes, I remember we corresponded more than once over the MOGD and related subjects.

I am in the process of gathering up and circulating as much of John's teachings and writings as I can. If you post a response to this marked "Not For Posting" with your email address, I'll be happy to get you copies of what I currently have, and if you would be willing to share any of John's material that you have, I'll be grateful (and will see to it that it gets into other hands as well).