Foundation Lesson 1
Beginnings
This universe in which we live, move and have our being is an enclosed environment. From the moment the Intelligent Singularity we think of as God first expanded and filled space with fragments of ITSELF everything from the smallest particle to the largest galaxy has been composed of those fragments. You, your house, the chair you are sitting on, the car you drive… everything is composed of ‘God”. We exist as a whole. What affects us affects the entire universe. We all have a special place in it, because we occupy it for a purpose no other can do. Respect yourself and you will automatically respect others. Learn to love yourself, without that you cannot love anything or anyone else. We are a reflection of the God within. In later lessons you will learn the power of Mirror Magic, and the ultimate Reflection of the Inner Light. It is no accident that we are called Servants of the Light, or that our school emerged from High Initiates trained in Dion Fortune’s School of The Inner Light.
Foundation Lesson 2
The Beginning of the Journey - Creative Visualisation
You may be wondering why you have not as yet been taught anything about “magic, spells, ritual” and all the other exciting things you thought you would be learning. You can’t build a house without a foundation, you can’t write a book from the ending and work backwards, you can’t paint a picture without paint and brushes. As with everything else you have to start at the beginning. What you call ‘magic’ – I call manipulated energy. The kind you are probably thinking about is ‘Disney Magic’ and exists only in fantasy books and film FX.
It may seem, reading books and hearing about ancient priesthoods, that they had some kind of extra power. They did, but we have lost all knowledge of exactly what it was and how they trained to use it. We only have legends, myths, a few preserved books, papers and what has been secretly passed down to us throughout the centuries by the Guardians of the Secret Wisdom. By joining this school you have begun your training as one of those Guardians.
We are slowly coming to understand that the ancients knew more about the primal laws of the universe than we thought. There is evidence that they knew the world was round centuries before Galileo, and that it circled the sun and not the other way round. So much has been lost or deliberately destroyed by those who sought to keep power in their own hands.
Foundation Lesson 3
The Use of Pathworking as a Magical Tool and a Training Process
It is only recently that Pathworking has regained the place it once had in magical training. In ancient times it was used to train Seers and perfect their inner sight on the Astral Level. They were called ‘lookers’ and used a polished bronze mirror or a pool of clear still water as a focus. Gradually they learned to use the inner sight alone, turning inwards and lifting the conscious mind to the Astral Level by the trained will.
When the new Faith of Christianity came into being the old methods of training seers were seen as demonic and almost ceased to exist. Those who followed the old teachings were driven from their temples by the new Faiths.
Those in whom the dedication to their beliefs was still strong sought to preserve the teachings by hiding them under different guises. They knew, that if you captured the attention of the human mind and aroused its emotions you could plant ideas and symbols of the long forgotten teachings deep into the sub conscious. They also knew the easiest way to do that was to entertain them.
Foundation Lesson 4
Mythology
Mythology as a subject on its own is intriguing and informative as it delves deeply into the unconscious mind of the racial soul. Two of the finest writers on the subject are Joseph Campbell and Robert Graves, both sadly no longer with us. Their books and videos are listed at the end of the lesson with those of John and Caitlin Matthews and Gareth Knight, all of which will be useful for your studies.
Joseph Campbell said… “Myths are public dreams, and dreams are private myths.” That alone opens up an enormous vista of possibilities. But first a question: why is a study of myth so important to you as a student?
Because it gives you an insight into how our ancestors thought about the world around them, and how they reacted to unusual and sometimes frightening events. We now know much more about the universe and its laws and have learned to understand them to some degree. But, and it is a big but, there is still much we do not understand. Until we do we may re-act in the same way as our ancestors, attributing supernatural intervention to events we do not fully comprehend. By understanding their reaction we might avoid making the same mistakes.
The ancestors created multiple Gods to deal with nature. Yet the ‘Gods’ emerged (as descendants) from just one Creator God. In modern times, for the most part, we believe in one Creator. But almost without exception all religious systems begin with a single Entity. The Old Testament is a series of mythological stories entwined with legends and fragments of actual history. The New Testament follows a similar theme based on the history of the time. Jewish parables and stories, plus pieces of Folklore, are built around a central legend of a great Teacher emerging from obscurity to build a new concept of racial unity. There were Saviours before The Nazarene and there will be Saviours in the future. They did not fail humanity it was humanity that failed them.
Foundation Lesson 5
Group Minds and Group Souls
To give you an example of a Group Mind, let us take the birth of a ship. Any ship builder will tell you that a ship is born like a person with a mind of its own! Some are ‘dark’ from the outset, others can be capricious, motherly, even a warrior Queen. Once a ship is named it is considered bad luck to change it. Some names are never used again because of their associations (Titanic and Thetis).
Large or small ships are always female and referred to as ‘she’ or ‘her.’ She is a floating chalice, a womb, a home for those who live and work in her. She adapts her personality to the group mind built by those who are her children. Ships can and do, create a Group Mind from the moment of naming and launching. But the Group Mind does not reach its peak until it is named for it is the men and women who guide and use Her who add the finishing touch. It is then that She becomes fully conscious of Herself and Her place in their hearts and minds.
From the Captain to the youngest and newest able seaman a ship’s crew becomes a team that moves and acts as one when the need arises. The emotions, feelings, highs and lows of the crew re-act upon the Group Mind of the Ship.
Foundation Lesson 6
The Esoteric Path
The reasons for wanting to train in Occult Science are as many and as varied as the students themselves. However, there are some reasons common to all seekers. It is important to go through them and look at the disciplines that will be asked of you and the trials and tribulations that you might be called on to face.
There is a tendency, for those coming into this work for the first time to believe that:
1) There is a quick and easy way in which proficiency can be acquired. There isn’t.
2) Having been conditioned by the Brothers Grimm, Walt Disney and Dennis Wheatley, they believe magic of the “star-on-the-end-of-a-wand” type is a reality and magic happens in a flash of blue flame. It doesn’t.
No one in their right mind would expect to take a weekend course in brain surgery and take up a post as a neurosurgeon the following week. Yet occult training - which at its highest levels demands the self-control of a Samurai warrior, the imagination of da Vinci, and the energy of a circus clown. Plus a passing knowledge of chemistry, math, history, astronomy, biology, architecture, mythology, comparative religion, physiology, psychology, physics and a smattering of Latin, Greek, Hebrew and maybe Sanskrit. Oh yes, and an assortment of general knowledge guaranteed to make you universal mastermind for ten years running.
Foundation Lesson 7
Preparing for Spiritual and Magical Training
Each day offers three contacts with the spiritual world. The first of course is the daily meditation itself and the recording of its results. This is a good time to bring to your attention The Qabalistic Cross. This prepares you for communication with the Higher Self and the Divine Levels and can be used before and after the Meditation and also to open the Quarters of a Lodge or for Ritual.
Stand facing East, feet a little apart and begin with arms at your side. Raise the right hand with the first two fingers extended, the ring and little fingers folded with the thumb covering them (The gesture used by priests to extend a blessing). Touch the forehead and say “ATEH”. Lower the hand and point to the feet and say “MALKUTH.” Touch the right shoulder saying “VE GEBURAH” then the left shoulder saying “ VE GEDULAH” bring both hands together clasped over the heart and say ”LE OLAM… Amen.” This not only clears your place of working it also acts as a magical “Ward” against outside influences. There are other ways of making the Cross and these will be given to you at a later date.
Foundation Lesson 8
The Chakras
Ever since Madame Blavatsky opened Western minds to Eastern Philosophy the word Chakra has been used in many ways, not all of them with success. The West varies in its use and understanding of Eastern ideas, belief systems and the meaning of certain words. There are some excellent books on the chakras that can give us much knowledge and spiritual insight. Having said that, I have tried to find a new way of teaching the subject. Though it does not present it in the way it was originally given I hope it will be more adaptable to Western ways.
The word chakra means ‘A Wheel’ and is shown as such in most illustrations. 1 But over the years I have found it easier and more workable to see and use them as spheres. The spinning motion that activates a sphere can be easily visualised by likening them (on a smaller scale) to the Glitter Balls used in Ballrooms and Discos, or by seeing them as faceted Swarovski crystals that give off multi-coloured rays of light as they revolve. By using them as spheres and infusing them with different colours to express their influences on the body one can greatly add to the magical use of these power points. I use the term power points advisedly for that is what they are and how they can be used.
Foundation Lesson 9
The Qabalah and The Tree of Life
The Qabalah/Kabbalah is often seen as and held to be a written work and indeed in the last half-century or so a great many books on the subject have been published. However, its teachings were never meant to be written down but to be passed “Mouth to Ear” as an oral Tradition. Tradition is a very big part of Jewish life; one might call it the foundation stone of its people. In the beginning there were very strict rules concerning it distribution, only men of 40 years or over with families and of a studious disposition were considered. Things are very different now.
The western world first became aware of the Qabalah in the early 15th century (coincidently about the same time as the Tarot made its appearance). But, it is clearly of a much earlier date. It has been suggested that Daniel the great teacher, seer, and prophet learned of it during the exile of the Jews in Babylon. He, seeing its potential, might have adapted it to serve his people as a means of connecting with the Divine Creative Essence. Something to give them hope, courage and the incentive to believe in themselves as a nation.
Foundation Lesson 10
The Tree of Life - Part 2 - Tiphereth to Malkuth
Our Descent now reaches Tiphereth, the heart of the Tree, the centre of its teachings. Placed at the middle of the Pillar of Harmony, Beauty, and Balance, it is seen in Esoteric Christianity as the Christ centre. Hold in mind that The Christ Power manifests in every Age as a Saviour and Teacher, bearing the Message for that Age. There is such a message in every Age and each time there is hope that Humanity will take heed.
The Human Vessel housing that exalted Master is always destined to be the sacrifice, which means there must also be a betrayer. The Slayer and the Slain are part of the eternal Battle between Dark and Light. That is the price of the Message. I have already told you …there is no action without a re-action.
Tiphereth is the lowest point the Primal Entity can reach in spiritual form and then only for a short period of time in Earth years. The Human Vessel uses the time to prepare for the Reception of the incoming Power.
Foundation Lesson 1
Beginnings
This universe in which we live, move and have our being is an enclosed environment. From the moment the Intelligent Singularity we think of as God first expanded and filled space with fragments of ITSELF everything from the smallest particle to the largest galaxy has been composed of those fragments. You, your house, the chair you are sitting on, the car you drive… everything is composed of ‘God”. We exist as a whole. What affects us affects the entire universe. We all have a special place in it, because we occupy it for a purpose no other can do. Respect yourself and you will automatically respect others. Learn to love yourself, without that you cannot love anything or anyone else. We are a reflection of the God within. In later lessons you will learn the power of Mirror Magic, and the ultimate Reflection of the Inner Light. It is no accident that we are called Servants of the Light, or that our school emerged from High Initiates trained in Dion Fortune’s School of The Inner Light.
Foundation Lesson 2
The Beginning of the Journey - Creative Visualisation
You may be wondering why you have not as yet been taught anything about “magic, spells, ritual” and all the other exciting things you thought you would be learning. You can’t build a house without a foundation, you can’t write a book from the ending and work backwards, you can’t paint a picture without paint and brushes. As with everything else you have to start at the beginning. What you call ‘magic’ – I call manipulated energy. The kind you are probably thinking about is ‘Disney Magic’ and exists only in fantasy books and film FX.
It may seem, reading books and hearing about ancient priesthoods, that they had some kind of extra power. They did, but we have lost all knowledge of exactly what it was and how they trained to use it. We only have legends, myths, a few preserved books, papers and what has been secretly passed down to us throughout the centuries by the Guardians of the Secret Wisdom. By joining this school you have begun your training as one of those Guardians.
We are slowly coming to understand that the ancients knew more about the primal laws of the universe than we thought. There is evidence that they knew the world was round centuries before Galileo, and that it circled the sun and not the other way round. So much has been lost or deliberately destroyed by those who sought to keep power in their own hands.
Foundation Lesson 3
The Use of Pathworking as a Magical Tool and a Training Process
It is only recently that Pathworking has regained the place it once had in magical training. In ancient times it was used to train Seers and perfect their inner sight on the Astral Level. They were called ‘lookers’ and used a polished bronze mirror or a pool of clear still water as a focus. Gradually they learned to use the inner sight alone, turning inwards and lifting the conscious mind to the Astral Level by the trained will.
When the new Faith of Christianity came into being the old methods of training seers were seen as demonic and almost ceased to exist. Those who followed the old teachings were driven from their temples by the new Faiths.
Those in whom the dedication to their beliefs was still strong sought to preserve the teachings by hiding them under different guises. They knew, that if you captured the attention of the human mind and aroused its emotions you could plant ideas and symbols of the long forgotten teachings deep into the sub conscious. They also knew the easiest way to do that was to entertain them.
Foundation Lesson 4
Mythology
Mythology as a subject on its own is intriguing and informative as it delves deeply into the unconscious mind of the racial soul. Two of the finest writers on the subject are Joseph Campbell and Robert Graves, both sadly no longer with us. Their books and videos are listed at the end of the lesson with those of John and Caitlin Matthews and Gareth Knight, all of which will be useful for your studies.
Joseph Campbell said… “Myths are public dreams, and dreams are private myths.” That alone opens up an enormous vista of possibilities. But first a question: why is a study of myth so important to you as a student?
Because it gives you an insight into how our ancestors thought about the world around them, and how they reacted to unusual and sometimes frightening events. We now know much more about the universe and its laws and have learned to understand them to some degree. But, and it is a big but, there is still much we do not understand. Until we do we may re-act in the same way as our ancestors, attributing supernatural intervention to events we do not fully comprehend. By understanding their reaction we might avoid making the same mistakes.
The ancestors created multiple Gods to deal with nature. Yet the ‘Gods’ emerged (as descendants) from just one Creator God. In modern times, for the most part, we believe in one Creator. But almost without exception all religious systems begin with a single Entity. The Old Testament is a series of mythological stories entwined with legends and fragments of actual history. The New Testament follows a similar theme based on the history of the time. Jewish parables and stories, plus pieces of Folklore, are built around a central legend of a great Teacher emerging from obscurity to build a new concept of racial unity. There were Saviours before The Nazarene and there will be Saviours in the future. They did not fail humanity it was humanity that failed them.
Foundation Lesson 5
Group Minds and Group Souls
To give you an example of a Group Mind, let us take the birth of a ship. Any ship builder will tell you that a ship is born like a person with a mind of its own! Some are ‘dark’ from the outset, others can be capricious, motherly, even a warrior Queen. Once a ship is named it is considered bad luck to change it. Some names are never used again because of their associations (Titanic and Thetis).
Large or small ships are always female and referred to as ‘she’ or ‘her.’ She is a floating chalice, a womb, a home for those who live and work in her. She adapts her personality to the group mind built by those who are her children. Ships can and do, create a Group Mind from the moment of naming and launching. But the Group Mind does not reach its peak until it is named for it is the men and women who guide and use Her who add the finishing touch. It is then that She becomes fully conscious of Herself and Her place in their hearts and minds.
From the Captain to the youngest and newest able seaman a ship’s crew becomes a team that moves and acts as one when the need arises. The emotions, feelings, highs and lows of the crew re-act upon the Group Mind of the Ship.
Foundation Lesson 6
The Esoteric Path
The reasons for wanting to train in Occult Science are as many and as varied as the students themselves. However, there are some reasons common to all seekers. It is important to go through them and look at the disciplines that will be asked of you and the trials and tribulations that you might be called on to face.
There is a tendency, for those coming into this work for the first time to believe that:
1) There is a quick and easy way in which proficiency can be acquired. There isn’t.
2) Having been conditioned by the Brothers Grimm, Walt Disney and Dennis Wheatley, they believe magic of the “star-on-the-end-of-a-wand” type is a reality and magic happens in a flash of blue flame. It doesn’t.
No one in their right mind would expect to take a weekend course in brain surgery and take up a post as a neurosurgeon the following week. Yet occult training - which at its highest levels demands the self-control of a Samurai warrior, the imagination of da Vinci, and the energy of a circus clown. Plus a passing knowledge of chemistry, math, history, astronomy, biology, architecture, mythology, comparative religion, physiology, psychology, physics and a smattering of Latin, Greek, Hebrew and maybe Sanskrit. Oh yes, and an assortment of general knowledge guaranteed to make you universal mastermind for ten years running.
Foundation Lesson 7
Preparing for Spiritual and Magical Training
Each day offers three contacts with the spiritual world. The first of course is the daily meditation itself and the recording of its results. This is a good time to bring to your attention The Qabalistic Cross. This prepares you for communication with the Higher Self and the Divine Levels and can be used before and after the Meditation and also to open the Quarters of a Lodge or for Ritual.
Stand facing East, feet a little apart and begin with arms at your side. Raise the right hand with the first two fingers extended, the ring and little fingers folded with the thumb covering them (The gesture used by priests to extend a blessing). Touch the forehead and say “ATEH”. Lower the hand and point to the feet and say “MALKUTH.” Touch the right shoulder saying “VE GEBURAH” then the left shoulder saying “ VE GEDULAH” bring both hands together clasped over the heart and say ”LE OLAM… Amen.” This not only clears your place of working it also acts as a magical “Ward” against outside influences. There are other ways of making the Cross and these will be given to you at a later date.
Foundation Lesson 8
The Chakras
Ever since Madame Blavatsky opened Western minds to Eastern Philosophy the word Chakra has been used in many ways, not all of them with success. The West varies in its use and understanding of Eastern ideas, belief systems and the meaning of certain words. There are some excellent books on the chakras that can give us much knowledge and spiritual insight. Having said that, I have tried to find a new way of teaching the subject. Though it does not present it in the way it was originally given I hope it will be more adaptable to Western ways.
The word chakra means ‘A Wheel’ and is shown as such in most illustrations. 1 But over the years I have found it easier and more workable to see and use them as spheres. The spinning motion that activates a sphere can be easily visualised by likening them (on a smaller scale) to the Glitter Balls used in Ballrooms and Discos, or by seeing them as faceted Swarovski crystals that give off multi-coloured rays of light as they revolve. By using them as spheres and infusing them with different colours to express their influences on the body one can greatly add to the magical use of these power points. I use the term power points advisedly for that is what they are and how they can be used.
Foundation Lesson 9
The Qabalah and The Tree of Life
The Qabalah/Kabbalah is often seen as and held to be a written work and indeed in the last half-century or so a great many books on the subject have been published. However, its teachings were never meant to be written down but to be passed “Mouth to Ear” as an oral Tradition. Tradition is a very big part of Jewish life; one might call it the foundation stone of its people. In the beginning there were very strict rules concerning it distribution, only men of 40 years or over with families and of a studious disposition were considered. Things are very different now.
The western world first became aware of the Qabalah in the early 15th century (coincidently about the same time as the Tarot made its appearance). But, it is clearly of a much earlier date. It has been suggested that Daniel the great teacher, seer, and prophet learned of it during the exile of the Jews in Babylon. He, seeing its potential, might have adapted it to serve his people as a means of connecting with the Divine Creative Essence. Something to give them hope, courage and the incentive to believe in themselves as a nation.
Foundation Lesson 10
The Tree of Life - Part 2 - Tiphereth to Malkuth
Our Descent now reaches Tiphereth, the heart of the Tree, the centre of its teachings. Placed at the middle of the Pillar of Harmony, Beauty, and Balance, it is seen in Esoteric Christianity as the Christ centre. Hold in mind that The Christ Power manifests in every Age as a Saviour and Teacher, bearing the Message for that Age. There is such a message in every Age and each time there is hope that Humanity will take heed.
The Human Vessel housing that exalted Master is always destined to be the sacrifice, which means there must also be a betrayer. The Slayer and the Slain are part of the eternal Battle between Dark and Light. That is the price of the Message. I have already told you …there is no action without a re-action.
Tiphereth is the lowest point the Primal Entity can reach in spiritual form and then only for a short period of time in Earth years. The Human Vessel uses the time to prepare for the Reception of the incoming Power.