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"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law"
In the Western mystery tradition there is often a practice of setting space, through rituals of 'banishing' or of circle casting. Many of these rituals, such as the Star Ruby, and Lesser Banishing of the Pentagram also have a cosmological element. But how does this setting of space relate to the individual who fills this space. In many banishings there is an implicit or explicit centre, such as the casting of the caim in traditional witchcraft, when the stang is placed at the centre of the circle as the bile or world tree. The term casting a caim comes from Celtic Christianity in which Celtic Christians created space with a circle at which they formed the centre. The physical casting of a circle and the reciting of the caim was also a gesture of protection. An example of a Caim verse is as follows:
"Circle Me Lord"Keep protection near"And danger afar"
"Circle me Lord"Keep hope within"And doubt without"
"Circle me Lord"Keep light near"and Darkness afar"
"Circle me lord"Keep peace within"Keep Evil Without"
"May you be a bright flame before me,"May you be a guiding star above me,"May you be a smooth path below me,"And a loving Guide behind me,"Today, tonight and forever."
I used to speak a variation of this when I worked and lived with children with intellectual disabilities, and these words were spoken in a circle before bed. To consciously stop and use such an affirmation is quite something in strengthening a sense of centre. The term caim means enclosing or encasing.Another such affirmation is found in the lorica of St. Patrick. Lorica is a latin word meaning breastplate (as in armour). A rendering of the breastplate is as follows:
"I arise today"Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,"Through belief in the Threeness,"Through confession of the Oneness"of the Creator of creation."
"I arise today"Through the strength of Christ's birth with His baptism,"Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,"Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,"Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom."
"I arise today"Through the strength of the love of cherubim,"In the obedience of angels,"In the service of archangels,"In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,"In the prayers of patriarchs,"In the predictions of prophets,"In the preaching of apostles,"In the faith of confessors,"In the innocence of holy virgins,"In the deeds of righteous men."
"I arise today, through"The strength of heaven,"The light of the sun,"The radiance of the moon,"The splendor of fire,"The speed of lightning,"The swiftness of wind,"The depth of the sea,"The stability of the earth,"The firmness of rock."
"I arise today, through"God's strength to pilot me,"God's might to uphold me,"God's wisdom to guide me,"God's eye to look before me,"God's ear to hear me,"God's word to speak for me,"God's hand to guard me,"God's shield to protect me,"God's host to save me"From snares of devils,"From temptation of vices,"From everyone who shall wish me ill,"afar and near."
"I summon today"All these powers between me and those evils,"Against every cruel and merciless power"that may oppose my body and soul,"Against incantations of false prophets,"Against black laws of pagandom,"Against false laws of heretics,"Against craft of idolatry,"Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,"Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul;"Christ to shield me today"Against poison, against burning,"Against drowning, against wounding,"So that there may come to me an abundance of reward."
"Christ with me,"Christ before me,"Christ behind me,"Christ in me,"Christ beneath me,"Christ above me,"Christ on my right,"Christ on my left,"Christ when I lie down,"Christ when I sit down,"Christ when I arise,"Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,"Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,"Christ in every eye that sees me,"Christ in every ear that hears me."
"I arise today"Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,"Through belief in the Threeness,"Through confession of the Oneness"of the Creator of creation."
The above caim affirms space through the Christian God, and St. Patrick's lorica describes a truly Celtic Christianity, in which both the Gods and the land are acknowledged. In many ways the lorica is also reminiscent of something else, being the song of Amergin.
"I am a wind on the sea,"I am a wave of the ocean,"I am the roar of the sea,"I am a bull of seven battles,"I am a hawk on the cliff,"I am a teardrop of sunlight,"I am a gentle herb,"I am a boar enraged,"I am a salmon in a pool,"I am a lake in a plain,"I am the vigour of man"I am the meaning of poetry,"I am a spear on the attack (pouring forth combat),"I am the god who fires your mind."
"Who lights the mountain's stony places?"Who announces the ages of the moon?"Who tells the place where the sun will set?"Who calls the cattle from the Sea King's house?"On whom do the cattle of the Sea King smile?"
"Which troop, which god takes a knife through gangrene?"Penalties in a spear - enchantments of wind?"
Aspects of this song of Amergin can also be found in the Wesh Taleisin materials. In a postmodern, and mostly post Christian age words calling upon God and deity as the ultimate directing forces seem almost empty. I do not arise in the strength of God, but in my own strength. Nietzsche has declared that God is dead and Sartre has pointed to the fact that in an age when old meanings are dead, that we must create meaning. I believe in myself, in my self-determinism and in the law of Thelema as recognising these. Within the Irish Order Of Thelema there has been an attempt to address the need for a new expression of these old caims and loricas, appropriate to the time and outlook of the age we live in, while still drawing on and respecting these innovations as naturally evolving out of streams of historical practice. The Order has thus devised a breastplate of thelema.
THE BREASTPLATE OF THELEMA
"I Arise today in a mighty Strength!"In the refuge of Nuit!"By the light of Hadit"With the strength, force, vigour of Ra Hoor Khuit!"
"I Arise today"Through the rite of Cath, to Freedom in Discipline!"Through the rite of Fis, to purity of purpose!"Through the rite of Blath, to prosperity in growth!"Through the rite of Seis, to the ordered harmony of one with all!"Through the rite of Mide, to secret source of the sacred Flame!"
"I Arise today, individual and eternal!"In the balance of elements, in the harmony of spheres."In the Strength of the New Law, and love under will."I Arise today in Light, in Life, in Love, in Liberty!"
"I Arise today through the strength of Heaven,"The Light of Sun, Brilliance of Moon,"Speed of Lightening, Splendour of Fire,"Swiftness of Wind, Depth of Sea"Stability of Earth, Firmness of Rock"
"I Arise today against Bonds of Ignorance!"Against falsehood and restriction!"Against Fear and weakness, inaction and apathy!"I Arise today against interference or interruption!"Against deceits of Slave Gods!"Against Unjust Law of Old time past!"Against every superstitious and tyrannical Power"that may oppose the Welfare of the Human Race!"
"I Arise today"With my own strength to pilot me"my own might to uphold me"my own wisdom to guide me"my own eyes to look before me"my own ears to hear for me"my own word manifest within me"my own path before me"Unto the fulfillment of will!"
"The Light of Hadit within me,"The Blue and Gold of Nuit around me"The Red Flame of Ra Hoor before me"True Brethren on all sides of me"True courage within me"Sacred ground beneath me"One star above me"Harmony on my right"Battle on my left"Prosperity before me"Knowledge behind me"Power in height"Power in breadth"Power in Depth"
"Thelema in the Heart of everyone who thinks of me"In the mouth of everyone who speaks of me"In the eye of everyone who sees me"In the ear of everyone who hears me"
"I Arise today in a mighty Strength!"In the refuge of Nuit!"By the light of Hadit"With the strength, force, vigour of Ra Hoor Khuit!"
This is a very special piece for me as it makes reference to both the Gods (Gods of the self as Nuit, Hadit and Ra Hoor Khuit) and to the land through the provincial qualities of the island. This affirmation through the powers of the provinces also charts the journey of the initiate of the elemental cycle within the Order. It also makes reference to 'arising against' tyrannical and limiting forces, as a flip side to having freedom is opposing forces that will thwart that right.I hope the evolution towards this modern lorica, which by all means can be used as a fortifying affirmation, has been of some interest to my readers. One thing which leads me to write this was a comment in a book I recently read about the obsession with banishing to the extent that it almost cancels out invocatory work with fortifying forces. Perhaps, like the caims and loricas of old, such a piece could serve to protect and fortify, invoking the energies of the aeon and the island.I finish with a recitation of the Breastplate
"Love is the law, love under will"
Credit [Frater Docet Umbra] Source: fraterdocetumbra.blogspot.com
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ASSUMING THE GOD FORM OF...
REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING"I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... -Rev. Dr. Martin Luther KingI have a vision of a Golden Dawn unfettered by the animosities of the past - A future where the Golden Dawn is best known for the quality of its teachings, rather than disparagement of its orders, their members, and their leaders.
Sadly, some in our community only write on their websites and blogs "No flame wars or disparaging of others will ever be tolerated," yet nonetheless continue to behave as antagonists. Clearly, such leaders have lost their way.
Others have become entrenched in a quagmire of prejudice against the Fratres, Sorores, and leaders of the Alpha Omega, although they have never met any of us in person.
Others disparage our order and its leaders because, despite lofty words and empty rhetoric, they do not yet fully embrace diversity in the Golden Dawn community. Such leaders remain stuck in a Highlander mentality rooted in the mistaken belief that "There can be only one!"
Let us endeavor to liberate the Golden Dawn from the conflicts and animosities of the past, and to create instead a future congruent with our highest, most spiritual aspirations.
I have a vision of a Golden Dawn where all Fratres and Sorores, solitaries or initiates, of any order or any temple can sit down together at the table of brother and sister hood - And share in the new magic and teachings coming from the Secret Chiefs.
Let us remain mindful that there are no "enemies" in our community, only people with different visions of the future. Let us not descend into name calling and personal attacks on the Internet. It is, after all, our visions of the future that collide - and not our persons.
Let us not allow peace in the Golden Dawn community to be derailed by those who hate us, call us names and disparage our order, its members, and its leaders on the Internet.
May we instead find strength in our diversity - and true community in the plurality of our visions.
I see the Golden Dawn not as a competition between rivals, but as a place where sincere seekers can find enlightenment.
I see the Golden Dawn as a school of energetic evolution - bringing spiritual technology from the past into a new Millennium.
Today, many challenges still remain before us. There are old animosities and grudges yet to overcome - And fears to conquer.
But I believe in the Golden Dawn. I believe in the purity in the hearts of all Fratres and Sorores.
I believe in the power of our love to banish negativity. I believe in the strength of our will to overcome all obstacles, as we meet one another as we truly are in sacred Pow Wow.
The time has come to put the animosities of the past behind us.
Let us stand together for peace in sisterhood and brotherhood, and plant the seeds of a bright and shining future for the Golden Dawn.
INTERNATIONAL GOLDEN DAWN POW WOW
MARCH 29 - APRIL 9, 2013For as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King once said:"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word."- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King
by Golden Dawn Imperator David Griffin
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Through history there have been many secret societies and conspiracy theories about those societies. This is a list of 10 of the most famous and popular secret societies or alleged secret societies.
1. Skull and Bones
Members of the Skull and Bones (George Bush is left of the clock) [1947]
The Order of Skull and Bones, a Yale University society, was originally known as the Brotherhood of Death. It is one of the oldest student secret societies in the United States. It was founded in 1832 and membership is open to an elite few. The society uses masonic inspired rituals to this day. Members meet every Thursday and Sunday of each week in a building they call the "Tomb".
According to Judy Schiff, Chief Archivist at the Yale University Library, the names of the members were not kept secret until the 1970s, but the rituals always have been. Both of the Bush presidents were members of the society while studying at Yale, and a number of other members have gone on to great fame and fortune.
The society is surrounded by conspiracy theories; the most popular of which is probably the idea that the CIA was built on members from the group. The CIA released a statement in 2007 (coinciding with the popularity of the film The Good Shepherd) in which it denied that the group was an incubator for the CIA.
2. Freemasons
Freemasons Annual Meeting [1992]
The Grand Masonic Lodge was created in 1717 when four small groups of lodges joined together. Membership levels were initially first and second degree, but in the 1750s this was expanded to create the third degree which caused a split in the group. When a person reaches the third degree, they are called a Master Mason.
Masons conduct their regular meetings in a ritualized style. This includes many references to architectural symbols such as the compass and square. They refer to God as "The Great Architect of the Universe". The three degrees of Masonry are: 1: Entered Apprentice, this makes you a basic member of the group. 2: Fellow Craft, this is an intermediate degree in which you are meant to develop further knowledge of Masonry. 3: Master Mason, this degree is necessary for participating in most masonic activities. Some rites (such as the Scottish rite) list up to 33 degrees of membership.
Masons use signs and handshakes to gain admission to their meetings, as well as to identify themselves to other people who may be Masons. The signs and handshakes often differ from one jurisdiction to another and are often changed or updated. This protects the group from people finding out how to gain admission under false pretenses. Masons also wear stylized clothing based upon the clothing worn by stone masons from the middle ages. The most well known of these is the apron.
In order to become a Mason, you must generally be recommended by a current mason. In some cases you must be recommended three times before you can join. You have to be at least 18 years old and of sound mind. Many religions frown upon membership of the Masons, and the Roman Catholic Church forbids Catholics to join under pain of excommunication.
3. Rosicrucians
Secret Symbols of the Rosicrucians
The Rosicrucian order is generally believed to have been the idea of a group of German protestants in the 1600s when a series of three documents were published: Fama Fraternitatis Rosae Crucis, Confessio Fraternitatis, and The Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz anno 1459. The documents were so widely read and influential, that the historian Frances Yeats refers to the 17th century as the Rosicrucian Enlightenment. The first document tells the story of a mysterious alchemist (Christian Rosenkreuz) who travelled to various parts of the world gathering secret knowledge. The second document tells of a secret brotherhood of alchemists who were preparing to change the political and intellectual face of Europe. The third document describes the invitation of Christian Rosenkreuz to attend and assist at the "Chemical" wedding of a King and Queen in a castle of Miracles.
Current members of the Rosicrucian Order claim that its origins are far more ancient than these documents. The authors of the documents seemed to strongly favor Lutheranism and include condemnations of the Catholic Church. Rosicrucianism probably had an influence on Masonry and, in fact, the 18th degree of Scottish Rite Masonry is called the Knight of the Rose Croix (red cross).
There are a large number of Rosicrucian groups today - each claiming to be closely tied to the original. Of the two main divisions, one is a mix of Christianity with Rosicrucian principles, and the other is semi-Masonic. The Masonic type tend to also have degrees of membership.
4. Ordo Templis Orientis
Crowley with OTO Instruments
The OTO (Order of the Temples of the East) is an organization that was originally modeled on Masonry but, under the leadership of the self-styled "Great Beast" Aleister Crowley, it took on the principles of his religious system called Thelema. Thelema is based around a single law: "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law, love is the law, love under the will" [1904]. Membership is based upon degrees of initiation and highly stylized rituals are used. The OTO currently claims over 3,000 members worldwide.
Crowley created a "Mass" for the OTO which is called the Gnostic Mass. Of the "Mass", Crowley wrote:
"I resolved that my Ritual should celebrate the sublimity of the operation of universal forces without introducing disputable metaphysical theories. I would neither make nor imply any statement about nature which would not be endorsed by the most materialistic man of science. On the surface this may sound difficult; but in practice I found it perfectly simple to combine the most rigidly rational conceptions of phenomena with the most exalted and enthusiastic celebration of their sublimity."
The ritual is very stylized and uses virgin priestesses, children, and priests. Many Ancient Egyptian God's are invoked, as well as the Devil, and at one point the priestess performs a naked ritual.
5. Hermetic Order of The Golden Dawn
Golden Dawn Symbolism
The order of the Golden Dawn was created by Dr. William Robert Woodman, William Wynn Westcott, and Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers. All three were Freemasons and members of Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia (an organization with ties to Masonry). It is considered by many to be a forerunner of the Ordo Templi Orientis and a majority of modern Occult groups.
The belief system of the Golden Dawn is largely taken from Christian mysticism, Qabalah, Hermeticism, the religion of Ancient Egypt, Freemasonry, Alchemy, Theosophy, Magic, and Renaissance writings. William Yeats, and Aleister Crowly are two of the more famous members of the group.
The fundamental documents of the order are known as the Cipher Documents. These were translated into English using a cipher attributed to Johannes Trithemius. The documents are a series of 60 folios containing magic rituals. The basic structure of many of these rituals appear to originate with Rosicrucianism. There is a great deal of controversy surrounding the origins of these documents.
6. The Knights Templar
Mediaeval Templar's Sword
The Knights Templar (full name: The United Religious, Military and Masonic Orders of the Temple and of St John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes and Malta) is a modern off-shoot of Masonry and does not have a direct tie to the original Knights Templar - a religious military group formed in the 12th century. Members of the Masonic Knights Templar do not claim a direct connection to the medieval group, but merely a borrowing of ideas and symbols.
In order to become a member of this group, you must already be a Christian Master Mason. This organization is a distinct one, and is not just a higher degree of Masonry. Despite Freemasonry's general disclaimer that no one Masonic organization claims a direct heritage to the medieval Knights Templar, certain degrees and orders are obviously patterned after the medieval Order. These are best described as "commemorative orders" or degrees. Nevertheless, in spite of the fraternity's official disclaimers, some Masons, non-Masons, and even anti-Masons insist that certain Masonic rites or degrees originally had direct Templar influence.
7. The Illuminati
The Pyramid, an illuminati symbol
A movement of freethinkers that were the most radical offshoot of The Enlightenment - whose followers were given the name Illuminati (but who called themselves "Perfectibilists") - was founded on May 1, 1776 in Ingolstadt (Upper Bavaria), by Jesuit-taught Adam Weishaupt. This group is now known as the Bavarian Illuminati. While it was not legally allowed to operate, many influential intellectuals and progressive politicians counted themselves as members. Even though there were some known Freemasons in the membership, it was not considered to be endorsed by Masonry. The fact that the Illuminati did not require a belief in a supreme being made them particularly popular amongst atheists. This, and the fact that most members were humanists, is the reason for the widespread belief that the Illuminati wants to overthrow organized religion.
Internal panic over the succession of a new leader, and government attempts to outlaw the group saw to it collapsing entirely in the late 1700s. Despite this, conspiracy theorists such as David Icke and Was Penre, have argued that the Bavarian Illuminati survived, possibly to this day, though very little reliable evidence can be found to support the idea that Weishaupt's group survived into the 19th century. It has even been suggested that the Skull and Bones club is an American branch of the Illuminati.
Many people believe that the Illuminati is still operating and managing the main actions of the governments of the world. It is believed that they wish to create a One World Government based on humanist and atheist principles.
8. The Bilderberg Group
A Bilderberg Meeting
This group is slightly different from the others in that it does not have an official membership. It is the name given to a group of highly influential people who meet ever year in secrecy (and usually with strong military and government sponsored security). The topics discussed are kept secret. The structure of the meetings is that of a conference - usually held in five star hotels around the world. Attendance at the meeting is strictly by invitation only. The first meeting took place in 1954 at the Hotel Bilderberg in the Netherlands.
The original meeting was initiated by several people. Polish emigre and political adviser, Joseph Retinger, concerned about the growth of anti-Americanism in Western Europe, proposed an international conference at which leaders from European countries and the United States would be brought together with the aim of promoting understanding between the cultures of The United States of America and Western Europe.
Although the agenda and list of participants are openly available to the public, it is not clear that such details are disclosed by the group itself. Also, the contents of the meetings are kept secret and attendees pledge not to divulge what was discussed. The group's stated justification for secrecy is that it enables people to speak freely without the need to carefully consider how every word might be interpreted by the mass media.
Needless to say, this group is constantly surrounded by controversy and conspiracy theories.
9. The Priory of Sion
Logo of the Priori of Sion
After the publication of the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, a great deal of interest in the Priory of Sion has been created. Unfortunately for those hoping to find and join the Priory, it is, in fact, fictional. It was a hoax created in 1956 by a pretender to the French Throne, Pierre Plantard. Letters in existence dating from the 1960s written by Plantard, de Cherisey and de S`ede to each other confirm that the three were engaging in an out-and-out confidence trick, describing schemes on how to combat criticisms of their various allegations and how they would make up new allegations to try to keep the whole thing going. Despite this, many people still continue to believe that the Priory exists and functions to this day.
The authors of the well known book, The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, misled by the hoax, stated:
1. The Priory of Sion has a long history starting in AD 1099, and had illustrious Grand Masters including Isaac Newton and Leonardo da Vinci.
2. The order protects certain royal claimants because they believe them to be the literal descendants of Jesus and his alleged wife Mary Magdalene or, at the very least, of king David.
3. The priory seeks the founding of a "Holy European Empire" that would become the next hyperpower and usher in a new world order of peace and prosperity.
10. Opus Dei
Ordination of Opus Dei Priests
Opus Dei is an organization of the Catholic Church that emphasizes the Catholic belief that everyone is called to holiness and that ordinary life is a path to sanctity. The celibate numeraries and numerary assistants live in special centers, while associates are celibate members living in their private homes. The order was founded in Spain in 1928 by Roman Catholic priest Josemar'ia Escriv'a with the approval of Pope Pius XII.
When Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code was published, it claimed that Opus Dei was a secret organization within the Church whose aim was to defeat the Priory of Sion and those who seek to uncover the "truth" about Christianity and the alleged royal bloodline of Christ. Outside of the book, there has been a great deal of controversy over Opus Dei because of the strictness of its religious structure.
The Catholic Church forbids secret societies and membership in them, and Opus Dei investigators have frequently debunked claims that this organization is acting in secrecy to further a sinister agenda
Source: http://mystery4life.blogspot.com
There has been so much buzz these days about the world coming to a complete end, with dispensationists like Harold Camping and others predicting that the apocalypse, as predicted in the last book of the New Testament, called "Revelations" has come to a final and terrible fruition. My friend and blog mate, Ananael Qaa, has been following the latest craze of predictions this year, and after each deadline, nothing has happened. All of the signs were clearly indicative, but the end of world failed to materialize. So I wonder what happened?
True believers would say that the Lord moves in mysterious ways, and the atheists and cynics would say that maybe the terrible God of the Christians just doesn't really exist. Maybe the myths and beliefs are just that, false beliefs based on superstitious ignorance. However, the occultist in me doesn't take sides with the atheists or cynics, instead I think that what is happening is an unfortunate literal interpretation of what is in reality a very allegorical and mysterious prophetic book of the Bible. I have heard it said and found it to be true that if you approach the Bible with a predetermined solution and look into its contents (ignoring all of the scriptural context) for justifications, you will indeed find them. Of course this could be said about any of the sacred scriptures or books of mysteries to be found in any of the religions in the world. A person's perceptions can be ironically mirrored by Holy Scriptures if one digs deep enough or far enough into them, even if those perceptions are completely absurd. Perhaps one could say that the Godhead has a very subtle but quite real sense of humor, and that the joke is on us.
An odd truth is that I myself have found the whole concept of the mythical end of the world to be quite fascinating, and I have realized it in visions and powerful spiritual encounters. However, the difference is that I am not about to go looking for outward signs that the world is going to end suddenly and immediately after my visionary experiences. If you read over Crowley's book "The Vision and the Voice," you will find that kind of mythic theme being repeatably expressed by him. Crowley told individuals that he was the Great Beast of the book of Revelations, but what did he really mean by that? Did the end of the world occur during Crowley's lifetime and we just didn't know about it. Actually, the truth is, yes, indeed, the world ended and then it started anew. It was what Crowley called the birth of the Aeon of Horus, and the mysterious date was in 1904, when the Book of the Law was channeled by Crowley's wife. If you are a Thelemite, then this is an important great truth, to be celebrated during several days in April. So, Crowley was the Great Beast 666, and he caused the world to end through two great and terrible wars, but the world also changed and was reborn. To Thelemites, if the world ends, it is reborn at the same moment, which actually makes a lot more sense. Since that time of the start of the Aeon of Horus, some others have announced the beginning of other Aeons, which would either mean that the Aeon of Horus was rather short lived, or that those others were deluded, or maybe more than one Aeon can exist at the same time. I am not an expert in these matters, and all I have are my own experiences, so I would recommend talking to a real Thelemite about them.
For those who might not quite understand what an Aeon is, it's analogous to an "age," except with deeper occult implications. We all know that Christianity was born during the beginning of the age of Pisces, and that we are now waiting for the birth of the age of Aquarius. Some have said that the age of Aquarius has already begun, and others have said that it hasn't yet arrived. An age is defined as a period of time that it takes for the natural phenomenon of the precession of the equinoxes to move through one whole sign of the zodiac. Precession through an astrological sign takes around 2,166 years, and precession through all twelve signs takes around 26,000 years. Thus an astrological age is roughly little over two millennia, and the movement is backwards, so that's why the current age is Pisces, the previous age was Ares, and the next age is Aquarius. Is that quite the same thing as what Crowley was talking about in regards to the Aeon of Horus? Maybe it is, and then again, it more likely represents a powerful worldwide spiritual transition announced by some kind of spiritual avatar, which is what Crowley meant when he talked about it.
Whatever the case, as you can see, ages are born and then after two millennia, they pass away into another new age. The old order fails and disintegrates, and a new order rises in its place. Between the two ages there can be a lot of disruption, chaos, and even a dark ages lasting for hundreds of years. The beginning of the Age of Pisces also saw the beginning of the decline of the Roman empire, which as it fell, accelerated into the Dark Ages, at least for Western Europe. During this same period, the near east and the far east thrived, but Europe was thrown into chaos and barbarism for three or four centuries. With this in mind, it isn't inconceivable that the Age of Aquarius may have a very dark and disastrous beginning for much of the world. Only time will tell, and human ingenuity will be severely tested when fossil fuels become less available and much more expensive to extract. What will save us is radically new technologies, but equally, what might doom us is our inability to change until we absolutely have to (and then its too late).
From my own personal experience, I have been having visions, from time to time, of the end of the world occurring through some terrible catastrophe, and often they are based on a kind of world holocaust. They have occurred in my dreams, visions, and in my communications with spirits. Yet I know that this phenomenon has to do with the crossing of spiritual boundaries and limnal points, and it doesn't indicate that the world is literally going to end. I see it as a powerful and profound mythic and symbolic experience, but it represents that I have crossed a boundary to witness and see things that are beyond the threshold of this age. I am, ostensibly, seeing just slightly beyond this spiritual age and into the next one. Even so, what I am seeing is distorted and hindered by my beliefs, which are rooted in the current age. Still, I believe that as I become more spiritually advanced, I will be able to peer into the next great Age (or Aeon) and see it with a crystal clarity. I certainly haven't achieved that degree of clarity yet, but some of what I have seen and experienced has been a potent influence on my magickal practices and spiritual beliefs. It is, in a word, one of the more important sources of my inspiration and creative magickal work.
So how does one break through the boundaries of the current age and experience the emanations of the next and future age? I don't deliberately set out to achieve this phenomenon, but it does happen every time I work with mystical and magickal systems that test my current beliefs and force me to shed my biases and imbedded fictions. Encountering spirits, whether Godheads or even earth-based spirits, can have this effect, and so can meeting remarkable men and women. Pushing the envelop of one's mystical and magickal knowledge can also produce the phenomenon of crossing the Aeon Threshold, as I call it. That boundary and barrier is out there, and most are comforted by it (abiding within its protective envelop), but others seek to break through it. I guess you could say that I have always been one of those whose search for occult knowledge and spiritual truth forced me test all of the beliefs that I possessed. To discard what was obviously false and to adopt what was shown to be experientially true, this relentless process could easily make today's great realizations into tomorrow's discredited delusions. The process of seeking occult truth is without end, and it always leads one to that terrible and implacable boundary, with seemingly evil forces warding it from any entry. To cross this boundary is to experience the darkness and bitterness of the apocalypse, but just beyond that dark and terrifying vision is the dawning light of a new (and hopefully) better age. As a high plane traveler, I have skirted this boundary from time to time, hoping to catch a glimpse of the next great age.
Frater Barrabbas
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