6° Overview
Oct. 27th, 2022 12:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ecosophia
...and here we are! It's been a long road since February, when I posted the first entry in this sequence, but the entire curriculum of the FHR has now been posted publicly. I want to thank everyone who commented or otherwise took part for their enthusiasm and encouragement. The entire set of teachings and rituals has also been released in four PDF volumes under a Creative Commons noncommercial-use license, meaning that it can be freely copied, distributed, and hosted online. My reading of the Creative Commons license is that any other noncommercial use is valid -- for example, if someone wants to do the work of making it available as a print-on-demand printed book and selling it for the cost of manufacture, that's legit, and it would also be within the license to produce a version as a fundraiser for a charitable purpose.
The four volumes are already hosted on four websites that I know of:
FHR material -- Order of Spiritual Alchemy website
FHR material -- Lumen Ecclesia Christi website (scroll down)
FHR material -- neroots.net website
FHR material -- Magick Lore website
Many thanks to the webmasters thereof!
I'm going to wait a few weeks before beginning the next set of document dumps. That'll be the teachings of the Modern Order of Essenes, the healing order affiliated with the Universal Gnostic Church. (It's not affiliated with the Order of Essenes material I put online a while ago, which you can download here.) I've got a bunch of editing and reformatting to do, but once that's done, the fourth I recelved from John Gilbert will be publicly available, and the fifth -- the Universal Gnostic Church itself -- will be next.
With that, I wish all students of the FHR material success in the Great Work.
6° Overview
Welcome Initiate! You have now completed the full course of studies the Fellowship of the Hermetic Rose offers its members, and taken the entire sequence of the Fellowship’s initiations. One stage of your spiritual journey is completed, and another begins.
During the time you have devoted to the work of the Fellowship, you have learned a great many tools and techniques that you can use for your own spiritual advancement. Your task as an Initiate is to put those tools and techniques to work. You will find that continued work with the three basic daily practices taught you in the Candidate grade—the protective ritual, discursive meditation, and divination—will provide you with a solid foundation on which you can build in many ways. Other techniques taught in this course may have given you ideas for further work. By this point in your studies, furthermore, you have read at least fifteen books on occultism, and some of these may be useful sources of guidance and inspiration for the work ahead.
Two things are particularly recommended for your consideration. The first is that you might find it helpful to work more intensively with the teachings of one or more of the other traditions passed onto me by John Gilbert—the Ancient Order of Druids in America, the Order of Spiritual Alchemy, the Modern Order of Essenes, and the Universal Gnostic Church. The first two of these have already been reactivated and may be contacted online at aoda.org and octagonsociety.org respectively. The remaining two have not yet been reactivated as of this writing, but I hope to be able to change that in the years immediately ahead—ecosophia.dreamwidth.org, my online journal at present, is one good way to check on the progress of these projects. Another closely related project is the Golden Section Fellowship, which uses the same basic ideas and structure as John Gilbert’s orders; you can learn about this in my books The Way of the Golden Section, The Way of the Four Elements, The Occult Philosophy Workbook, and other volumes not yet published as I write this.
The second option I strongly encourage you to consider is, a few years from now, to go back through the work you have just completed and do it all over again. No, I’m not kidding! Nobody ever gets everything a study course of this kind has to offer the first time through. Most people find that they learn much more repeating the course than they did when they originally took it. It can also be useful to pick and choose, working with certain exercises at one point and studying certain teachings at another; the material you have received is among other things a substantial reference work on occultism, and you can certainly use it as such. That said, please consider repeating the work at intervals over the course of your life. You will find that each repetition deepens your knowledge, strengthens your contacts with magical energies, and accelerates the process of personal transformation you have set in motion.
The choice, however, is yours. As you will recall from the initiation ritual of this grade, you have set out on the Path of Freedom. You and you alone can decide how to travel that path, and how to continue the great adventure of initiation you have begun.
With all best wishes for your further attainment,
John Michael Greer
The final chapter of The Kybalion may be studied with advantage as you proceed.
* * * * *
Chapter Fifteen: Hermetic Axioms
Symbolism:
Grade: 7°, Adept
Emerald Table: “That which I had to say concerning the operation of the Sun is completed.”
Cabala: Tiphareth to Kether, the Path of Seeking
Tarot: Arcanum 0, the Fool
Geomancy: Cauda Draconis—South Node of Moon in Sagittarius
Text:
“The possession of Knowledge, unless accompanied by a manifestation and expression in Action, is like the hoarding of precious metals–a vain and foolish thing. Knowledge, like Wealth, is intended for Use. The Law of Use is Universal, and he who violates it suffers by reason of his conflict with natural forces.“–The Kybalion.
The Hermetic Teachings, while always having been kept securely locked up in the minds of the fortunate possessors thereof, for reasons which we have already stated, were never intended to be merely stored away and secreted. The Law of Use is dwelt upon in the Teachings, as you may see by reference to the above quotation from The Kybalion, which states it forcibly. Knowledge without Use and Expression is a vain thing, bringing no good to its possessor, or to the race. Beware of Mental Miserliness, and express into Action that which you have learned. Study the Axioms and Aphorisms, but practice them also.
We give below some of the more important Hermetic Axioms, from The Kybalion, with a few comments added to each. Make these your own, and practice and use them, for they are not really your own until you have Used them.
“To change your mood or mental state–change your vibration.”–The Kybalion.
One may change his mental vibrations by an effort of Will, in the direction of deliberately fixing the Attention upon a more desirable state. Will directs the Attention, and Attention changes the Vibration. Cultivate the Art of Attention, by means of the Will, and you have solved the secret of the Mastery of Moods and Mental States.
“To destroy an undesirable rate of mental vibration, put into operation the Principle of Polarity and concentrate upon tile opposite pole to that which you desire to suppress. Kill out the undesirable by changing its polarity.”–The Kybalion.
This is one of the most important of the Hermetic Formulas. It is based upon true
scientific principles. We have shown you that a mental state and its opposite were merely the two poles of one thing, and that by Mental Transmutation the polarity might be reversed. This principle is known to modern psychologists, who apply it to the breaking up of undesirable habits by bidding their students concentrate upon the opposite quality. If you are possessed of Fear, do not waste time trying to “kill out” Fear, but instead cultivate the quality of Courage, and the Fear will disappear. Some writers have expressed this idea most forcibly by using the illustration of the dark room. You do not have to shovel out or sweep out the Darkness, but by merely opening the shutters and letting in the Light the Darkness has disappeared. To kill out a Negative quality, concentrate upon the Positive Pole of that same quality, and the vibrations will gradually change from Negative to Positive, until finally you will become polarized on the Positive pole instead of the Negative.
The reverse is also true, as many have found out to their sorrow, when they have allowed themselves to vibrate too constantly on the Negative pole of things. By changing your polarity you may master your moods, change your mental states, remake your disposition, and build up character. Much of the Mental Mastery of the advanced Hermetics is due to this application of Polarity, which is one of the important aspects of Mental Transmutation. Remember the Hermetic Axiom (quoted previously), which says:
“Mind (as well as metals and elements) may be transmuted from state to state; degree to degree; condition to condition; pole to pole; vibration to vibration.”–The Kybalion.
The mastery of Polarization is the mastery of the fundamental principles of Mental Transmutation or Mental Alchemy, for unless one acquires the art of changing his own polarity, he will be unable to affect his environment. An understanding of this principle will enable one to change his own Polarity, as well as that of others, if he will but devote the time, care, study and practice necessary to master the art. The principle is true, but the results obtained depend upon the persistent patience and practice of the student.
“Rhythm may be neutralized by an application of the Art of Polarization.”–The Kybalion.
As we have explained in previous chapters, the Hermetists hold that the Principle of Rhythm manifests on the Mental Plane as well as on the Physical Plane, and that the bewildering succession of moods, feelings, emotions, and other mental states, are due to the backward and forward swing of the mental pendulum, which carries us from one extreme of feeling to the other.
The Hermetists also teach that the Law of Neutralization enables one, to a great extent, to overcome the operation of Rhythm in consciousness. As we have explained, there is a Higher Plane of Consciousness, as well as the ordinary Lower Plane, and the Master by rising mentally to the Higher Plane causes the swing of the mental pendulum to manifest on the Lower Plane, and he, dwelling on his Higher Plane, escapes the consciousness of the swing backward. This is effected by polarizing on the Higher Self, and thus raising the mental vibrations of the Ego above those of the ordinary plane of consciousness. It is akin to rising above a thing, and allowing it to pass beneath you. The advanced Hermetist polarizes himself at the Positive Pole of his Being–the “I Am” pole rather than the pole of personality, and by “refusing” and “denying” the operation of Rhythm, raises himself above its plane of consciousness, and standing firm in his Statement of Being he allows the pendulum to swing back on the Lower Plane without changing his Polarity.
This is accomplished by all individuals who have attained any degree of self-mastery, whether they understand the law or not. Such persons simply “refuse” to allow themselves to be swung back by the pendulum of mood and emotion, and by steadfastly affirming the superiority, they remain polarized on the Positive pole. The Master, of course, attains a far greater degree of proficiency, because he understands the law which he is overcoming by a higher law, and by the use of his Will he attains a degree of Poise and Mental Steadfastness almost impossible of belief on the part of those who allow themselves to be swung backward and forward by the mental pendulum of moods and feelings.
Remember, always, however, that you do not really destroy the Principle of Rhythm, for that is indestructible. You simply overcome one law by counter-balancing it with another, and thus maintain an equilibrium. The laws of balance and counter-balance are in operation on the mental as well as on the physical planes, and an understanding of these laws enables one to seem to overthrow laws, whereas he is merely exerting a counterbalance.
“Nothing escapes the Principle of Cause and Effect, but there are many Planes of Causation, and one may use the laws of the higher to overcome the laws of the lower.“–The Kybalion.
By an understanding of the practice of Polarization, the Hermetists rise to a higher plane of Causation and thus counter-balance the laws of the lower planes of Causation. By rising above the plane of ordinary Causes they become themselves, in a degree, Causes instead of being merely Caused. By being able to master their own moods and feelings, and by being able to neutralize Rhythm, as we have already explained, they are able to escape a great part of the operations of Cause and Effect on the ordinary plane. The masses of people are carried along, obedient to their environment; the wills and desires of others stronger than themselves; the effect of inherited tendencies; the suggestions of those about them; and other outward causes; which tend to move them about on the chess-board of life like mere pawns.
By rising above these influencing causes, the advanced Hermetists seek a higher plane of mental action, and by dominating their moods, emotions, impulses and feelings, they create for themselves new characters, qualities and powers, by which they overcome their ordinary environment, and thus become practically players instead of mere Pawns. Such people help to play the game of life understandingly, instead of being moved about this way and that way by stronger influences and powers and wills. They use the Principle of Cause and Effect, instead of being used by it. Of course, even the highest are subject to the Principle as it manifests on the higher planes, but on the lower planes of activity, they are Masters instead of Slaves. As The Kybalion says:
“The wise ones serve on the higher, but rule on the lower. They obey the laws coming from above them, but en their own plane, and those below them, they rule and give orders. And, yet, in so doing, they form a part of the Principle, instead of opposing it. The wise man falls in with the Law, and by understanding its movements he operates it instead of being its blind slave. Just as does the skilled swimmer turn this way and that way, going and coming as he will, instead of being as the log which is carried here and there–so is the wise man as compared to the ordinary man–and yet both swimmer and log; wise man and fool, are subject to Law. He who understands this is well on the road to Mastery.“–The Kybalion.
In conclusion let us again call your attention to the Hermetic Axiom:
“True Hermetic Transmutation is a Mental Art.”–The Kybalion.
In the above axiom, the Hermetists teach that the great work of influencing one's environment is accomplished by Mental Power. The Universe being wholly mental, it follows that it may be ruled only by Mentality. And in this truth is to be found an explanation of all the phenomena and manifestations of the various mental powers which are attracting so much attention and study in these earlier years of the Twentieth Century. Back of and under the teachings of the various cults and schools, remains ever constant the principle of the Mental Substance of the Universe. If the Universe be Mental in its substantial nature, then it follows that Mental Transmutation must change the conditions and phenomena of the Universe. If the Universe is Mental, then Mind must be the highest power affecting its phenomena. If this be understood then all the so-called “miracles” and “wonder-workings are seen plainly for what they are.
“THE ALL is MIND; The Universe is Mental.”–The Kybalion.
(no subject)
Date: 2022-10-27 05:50 pm (UTC)Who knows, the odd retro-tech aficionado might just be looking for something like this :)
(no subject)
Date: 2022-10-27 10:29 pm (UTC)All of the Good Stuff!
Date: 2022-10-27 05:50 pm (UTC)I can see that the next couple of decades of my life are going to be quite an interesting ride with all of this material you are releasing.
Thank you for everything that you do for us underlings.
Ian
Re: All of the Good Stuff!
Date: 2022-10-27 10:30 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2022-10-27 11:19 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2022-10-28 03:54 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2022-10-30 05:36 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2022-10-29 03:59 pm (UTC)Thanks again,
Jeff
(no subject)
Date: 2022-11-01 04:24 am (UTC)FHR
Date: 2022-10-30 10:58 am (UTC)Kybalion
Date: 2022-11-06 02:29 am (UTC)Re: Kybalion
Date: 2022-11-06 03:59 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2022-11-11 12:05 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2022-11-11 02:16 am (UTC)