Self-Test One
1. The God Thoth and the Goddess Isis are considered to be the founders of this specific lineage of initiates. It might seem strange to suggest that a God and a Goddess could be the founders of a human lineage. Nevertheless, you must remember that Theurgists did not consider contact between divinities and humans to be an exceptional occurrence.
2. Yes, and no; a myth is a specific kind of discourse that describes how ancient people saw and understood the world. It would be better to think of a myth as a story that is trying to answer to the question: “Why?” instead of the question “How?” Science answers the latter question and mythology answers the former. Myth and spirituality search for an understanding of values and beliefs.
3. The Egyptian Ogdoad is composed of four pairs of personified deities. Each pair is composed of a male and female God (a couple). These deities are named: Nun and Naunet, Kuk and Kauket, Hu and Hauhet, and Amun and Amaunet. Each deity has a human body. The Gods have frog heads, and the Goddesses have the heads of snakes.
4. Djehuti (or Tehuti) is the Egyptian God usually known as Thoth. He is the founder of the magical (Theurgic) tradition. He is also known as the Thrice Great (Trismegistos).
5. No, they are not. The Greek Hermes is the symbolic successor of Thoth. We might describe him as Thoth’s cousin. Perhaps this is the reason that there is very little connection between their iconographies. It is interesting to remember that even if Gods share several characteristics they are rarely identical. Furthermore, on the Theurgic level, you must understand that divinities are dependent on their temples, clergy, initiates, and Mysteries.
6. Homer was the first to mention the “Golden Chain of the Initiates.” In The Iliad (Book 8) this famous author describes a golden chain suspended from heaven with all the Gods and Goddesses attached to this chain. Later this symbolic image was used to represent the transmission of teaching and power from a master to his successor in the Theurgic and Hermetic lineage.
7. Even though the cities of Hermopolis and Alexandria were essential to the development of the Theurgic tradition, it was in Apamea, Syria, that Iamblichus founded the Theurgic tradition per se, and unified its rituals and philosophy.
8. The most significant Masonic rituals that can be associated with the transmission of the Theurgic tradition are the ceremonies used by the “Academy of the Sublime Masters of the Luminous Ring” (Académie des Sublimes Maîtres de l’Anneau Lumineux). The full constitutions and rituals were written in 1788 and a copy is currently held in the archives of the Ordo Aurum Solis.
Self-Test Two
1. The word “philosophy” means: “the love of wisdom.” It is interesting to remember that this word was first used by Pythagoras to express the difference between someone looking for the truth and someone who has the truth: a wise man. The teachings of this latter type of person can easily foster dogmatic religious beliefs in others. When you are always searching for wisdom, you must hold onto your ability to reason critically, which is very helpful in magick and Theurgy.
2. Classical philosophy is interesting in many ways. We should keep two main aspects in mind: 1) we must learn how to die symbolically (how to spiritualize your life in order to ascend to the divine); 2) we must learn how to enjoy the life we are living.
3. Even if some Neoplatonists emphasized the influence of the body, which is opposed to the liberation/ascension of the soul, Iamblichus, who was the founder of the Theurgic tradition, clearly emphasized the importance of the body. Everything we experience in life is important and the Corpus Hermeticum explains very well that you can be optimistic about life.
4. No; the concept of “original sin” is a Christian invention from the second century, which was first used in the war between two Christian factions. Eventually this concept (which was rooted in biblical texts) constituted a tremendous power that was used by Christians to impose their political power. Hermetists believe that the soul descends into the body in order to have an experience before returning to its celestial origin, and then being re-born (the concept of reincarnation). There is no malediction in this cosmic law.
5. “High Magick” is another way to speak about “Theurgy,” as opposed to “low magic.”
6. “Goetic Magic” can be dangerous if you use it without a clear understanding of the laws involved. In the same way, your intent plays an important role in determining the consequences of your magical actions. Someone whose work is totally egotistical will necessarily have negative personal results.
7. The goal of Theurgy is to use symbols and rituals to ascend to the divine. This ascension is accompanied with a better understanding of the cosmos and positive consequences in your life.
8. No, but the contrary is true. See the diagram in Part 2.
Self-Test Three
1. Not completely; according to the anthropologist Mircea Eliade, for example, we can be seen as “Homo Religious.” This term means that everyone has a part of their being that needs to express itself through rituals performed in a sacred world. Myths are as real as matter but cannot be analyzed with the same tools. Theurgists think that we also have the ability to use our rational minds to help us stay balanced in our inner life. These strategies are the safest solution to prevent becoming dogmatic, intolerant, and mentally ill.
2. In Paganism and in the Theurgic tradition, there is a Unique Principle: the Good we cannot conceive of, express, or even pray to. However, there are also many Gods and Goddesses with whom we can establish a relationship. Each of us might think that their Gods and Goddesses are unique, but that doesn’t mean there is only one God or Goddess.
3. Yes, and you can choose more than one divinity. During our lifetime, we may even change the divinity we worship several times. Theurgists use these beliefs from both the religious and the ritual perspectives, which are slightly different.
4. Yes they are. Because the Gods and Goddesses are immortal, it is clear that a monotheist who believes in only one God cannot have any rational reason for rejecting the existence of all the other divinities. Consequently, all the classical divinities still exist today: Egyptian, Hellenistic, Roman, Celtic, etc.
5. They are two main methods: 1) to use the astrological associations between the stars and the divinities; 2) to think about the life of the divinities as it is related in legends and myths.
6. Religion is a human organization generally based on dogmas the believer is not allowed to challenge. Religion has a hierarchical structure; in monotheism (and even more obviously in Catholicism) the priest is set as an intermediary between the believer and God. Spirituality is an individual and inner relationship with the spiritual world. In this case we do not need a human intermediary. We can use rituals and the ascension to the divine to establish that relationship.
7. Curiosity is a powerful virtue that helps us open our minds to people who have different beliefs. That doesn’t mean we will tolerate intolerable behaviors.
8. “In every action, harm no one. For all the rest, you are free to do as you wish.”
Self-Test Four
1. The “religions of the book” are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. They all stem from the Bible but the latter two also developed their own sacred book: for Christianity there is the New Testament and, for Islam, the Koran. The corpus of the current Bible is the result of a strong and continuous selection of texts in which thousands of pages were eliminated in order to calibrate a precise belief and dogma and then impose this belief system and dogmatism on its adherents.
2. Yes, several books are considered to be sacred in the Theurgic tradition. They are: 1) the Chaldaean Oracles; 2) the Corpus Hermeticum; 3) a book written by a prophet (priest) named Bitys (no copies exist today). Other texts that have been discovered in recent years are associated with this corpus; this includes various Hermetic texts that were discovered in Nag Hammadi (Egypt).
3. The Chaldaean Oracles is a book received from the divinities by adepts referred to as the Julians: Julian the Chaldaean and his son Julian. The Theurgists used Theurgic rituals to obtain these revelations.
4. Most of the Corpus Hermeticum has been preserved, even if a few translators changed the meaning of a few parts. Today we only have excerpts from the Chaldaean Oracles. The original text was destroyed. The third text was a book written by a prophet (priest) named Bitys. Very often the destructions of such sacred texts were intentional and were the result of partisans of the new proselyte religious zeal against the old religions.
5. If a book contains an injunction that advocates violence, cruelty, or murder we cannot consider it to be sacred. These behaviors are radically opposed to the principle of a divine essence. This is true even in symbolic and metaphorical terms. There are no valid reasons to use violent words or symbols in sacred writings, which may be taken literally by the adherents of that belief system. It is for this reason that the Hermetic and Theurgic sacred texts have never encouraged violent actions, even in symbolic terms.
6. No; a divine principle cannot be reduced to a specific gender. It is for this reason that we read in the first book of the Corpus Hermeticum: “The Nous God, which is both male and female, life and light . . .” Every human being also has these two genders, which originally existed in them and still exist in them in different proportions.
7. It teaches us the first principle, which is that, as human beings we have a dual nature: mortal and immortal bodies. As such, the Theurgic tradition teaches that both the mortal and immortal bodies require the fulfillment of certain needs in order to be healthy and satisfied. Fulfilling these needs can be a source of pleasure and joy.
8. “That which is below is like that which is above, and that which is above is like that which is below.”
Self-Test Five
1. Like any other method of interpreting what we see in the cosmos, Qabalah can be considered to be both a specific tool and a map. When we are travelling in a new country, we may need a map or a GPS. As you know, there are several makers and brands of GPS equipment. Each one has their own way of presenting information; each uses different symbols, etc. It is natural to check, test, and compare them against each other, in order to see which one seems the best to you. It would be strange to say that our map is the only one that has the truth. The same must be said for Qabalah, Christianity, Rose-Cross, Hermetism, etc., even though we often see that companies spend a lot of money and time trying to stop or even destroy their opponents.
2. Astrology uses celestial bodies to explain human behavior and the events of life. It is not clear whether stars and planets can have a real and material effect on our lives. However, the planets and signs were associated with divinities. As such they can be considered to be divine. These Gods and Goddesses can also be seen as archetypes, which are symbolic elements that are also present in our inner being and in the Universe.
3. If you consider that you have two different parts in your being, a spiritual and a physical part, you can begin the work of balancing their needs. A healthy life must involve a well-balanced diet for the physical body, as well as the opportunity to have the spiritual life of your choice without any threats from dogmatic religions.
4. The form of astrology that is used in High Magick (Theurgy) represents the cosmos using symbols of the following principles: the four elements, the seven planets, the Aether, and the twelve astrological signs.
5. Earth is related to the lower part of the body, water to the belly, air to the lungs, and fire to the brain.
6. The Greek letters are: Earth—Gamma; Water—Delta; Air—Rho; Fire—Pi; Aether—Theta. The Hebrew Letters are: Earth—none assigned; Water—Mem; Air—Aleph; Fire—Shin; Aether—none assigned. As we can see the Traditional Qabalistic system is strangely incomplete.
7. Saturn (
); Jupiter (
); Mars (
); Sun (
); Venus (
); Mercury (
); Moon (
).
8. The signs are divided into three quadruplicities, which are: cardinal, fixed, and mutable. In astrology these three groups are alternated, beginning with cardinal and followed with fixed and mutable. Here is the list:
|
Aries: Cardinal |
Libra: Cardinal |
|
Taurus: Fixed |
Scorpio: Fixed |
|
Gemini: Mutable |
Sagittarius: Mutable |
|
Cancer: Cardinal |
Capricorn: Cardinal |
|
Leo: Fixed |
Aquarius: Fixed |
|
Virgo: Mutable |
Pisces: Mutable |
(The cardinal signs are considered to be starting points. The fixed signs are considered to indicate the stabilization of situations or things in general. The mutable signs are indications of situations in evolution or transformation.) The signs are also classified according to a symbolic gender aspect:
|
Aries: Male |
Libra: Male |
|
Taurus: Female |
Scorpio: Female |
|
Gemini: Male |
Sagittarius: Male |
|
Cancer: Female |
Capricorn: Female |
|
Leo: Male |
Aquarius: Male |
|
Virgo: Female |
Pisces: Female |
Self-Test Six
1. When trying to understand the world as it is, you are always using your brain and senses. The senses are rarely objective and the brain is influenced by education. One of the best solutions, in order to avoid or reduce illusions, is to be aware that we are under these influences. We have to develop a larger point of view and a critical mind.
2. We may realize that we have more than one body: one visible and material, the other one immaterial and spiritual. Furthermore, we can look into the Theurgic tradition in order to be more precise. There we will find the five essential parts, which are: the Body, the Body of Light, the Soul, the Spirit, and the Divine.
3. The symbolic representation of a temenos summarizes the five principles of our occult being with two columns (the Body and the Body of Light) plus an upper triangle placed at the top of these columns (the Soul, the Spirit, and the Divine).
4. Each part can be considered to be a real part of us, but like the astrological signs some are cardinal, or mutable, while others are stable. The Soul (Psuche) can be seen as a spiritual, individual, and immortal part, which maintains who we are.
5. As with any map, every tradition has a specific way of representing the cosmos and classifying its manifestations. The Theurgic tradition defines three main levels of manifestation (sometimes with other sub-levels): the Empyrean or Noetic (the highest level), the Ethereal or Noeric (the median level), and the Hylic or Visible (the lowest level). Theurgic rituals and the philosophy of the Western High Magick are rooted in this map.
6. Hermetism, Neoplatonism, and Theurgy consider the Soul to be immortal. Consequently, when the spiritual parts of your being are embodied at your birth, you can understand that they return to their origin after your death and come back in a new body. This is called “metempsychosis” or “reincarnation.” From the Theurgic point of view these consecutive lives offer each of us an opportunity to continually make progress.
7. Theurgic rituals are used as tools to ascend to the Divine following what is called “the path of the return.” It is easy to understand that there is a precise progression that can be taught to you by people who have already completed or experienced this journey. As with any physical expedition, training is essential to avoid any injuries and to approach the ascent safely. Many occult societies keep advanced techniques secret. Their goal is not to retain a special power for themselves, but to be careful about what is provided to the neophyte. It is easy to understand that you do not give the keys of a race car to a neophyte driver.
8. “Aurum Solis,” the “Gold of the Sun” is a witness to the key role of Helios in Theurgy. From the beginning of the Western magick tradition, the sun has been considered to be the perfect representation of “the Good.” We cannot really address our prayers
to this divine principle, but the sun is clearly associated with it. Even the rays of the sun are considered as living and spiritual manifestations that can help us in our Theurgic rituals. As Plato explained, fire is the lower manifestation of the sun and consequently of “the Good.” This is also the reason why fire has a precise role to play in the rituals and visualizations.
Self-Test Seven
1. The pentagram is a geometric figure with five points. As you can see in Part 7 of this book, each one is associated with a specific element. The pentagrams are used in two different ways depending on the tradition. In the Golden Dawn a pentagram is drawn by facing the direction of this element. The same “logic” is used for banishing an element. In the Aurum Solis, the pentagram is drawn starting from the point associated with that element. To invoke, the logical movement consists of drawing the pentagram clockwise from this point.
2. Yes, the tool used to draw a magical figure is very important. The goal is to concentrate a specific energy and activate it in a specific figure created on the invisible plane. The result is very different depending on whether you use your finger, a metallic blade, a knife that has already cut meat, or a piece of wood. If you have some doubt about what you can use in your individual rituals, just use your index finger. It is safer and easy to carry with you.
3. Yes and no; the Theurgic tradition believes that the physical world is good and there is nothing to banish from it. Consequently, there is no need of any kind of exorcism. However, just as you might be dirty after engaging in outdoor activities, there are some situations in which your invisible bodies need a substantial scrubbing. In this case you can use the pentagram as a cleaning tool. In the same way it is sometimes useful to protect ourselves and to balance our inner energies.
4. Yes; when we draw a pentagram without any vibration of sacred names we activate (or deactivate) the element we chose. When we vibrate a specific word, a new level of magical work is added; we are invoking an individual power that is related to the element we chose.
5. Each day has twenty-four planetary hours, twelve during the daylight, and twelve during the night. The first planetary hour of the day corresponds to the planet of the day. That means, for example, that the first planetary hour of Sunday (day of the Sun) is the hour of the Sun. You can find the chart of the days, planets, and their divinities in Part 7, “Planetary Days Unveiled.” The sequence of the planets is: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury, and Moon. You will understand this sequence if you look at the diagram at the end of the section in Part 7 entitled “The Forgotten Principles.”
6. No; the duration of the hours varies according the time of the year and the duration of the night and day. To summarize, the duration of a day hour is the duration between sunrise and sunset divided by twelve. This is the same for the calculation of the night hours, using sunset and the sunrise of the following day.
7. If you just use a standard calendar there is no way to be sure. In this case the days are totally arbitrary and have no correspondence to any astronomical, astrological, or magical principle. This is precisely why High Magick and Theurgy used the ancient magick and astrologic lunisolar calendar to obtain a real and precise determination. The first day of the week, which is a Saturday, corresponds to the day of the New Moon. The following day is the day of the Sun, and so on. This sequence is recalculated at each New Moon. You can find a chart that explains this calculation in the section in Part 7 entitled “The Forgotten Principles.” Planetary powers cannot be used arbitrarily with any success.
8. In the magical and Theurgic traditions, the day begins at sunset, which is the moment that determines the planetary character of the day.