THE DIVINE SCIENCE A Letter of Introduction to Theurgy

2011

A Letter of Introduction to Theurgy

(Byanexpounderofitsdoctrine,FraterRamose)

Iwritethislettertoyoupersonally,tointroduceyoutoafantasticpersonage,theTheurgic Traditionitself.ItisvariouslycalledtheRosicrucianArt,theHermeticScience,theDivine Science,theGreatWork,theSecretDoctrine,theHolyMysteries,theVeritableWork,thePath oftheGood,theCentralPillar,theGreatArcana,TheQuestforImmortality,thePursuitofthe PhilosophersStone,theJourneytotheCityofGold,theSecretofResurrection,theSecretof Secrets,theSanctuaryofSanctuaries,andtheMysteryofMysteries.Itisthesynthesisofall religions;theirreason,theirpurpose,andtheirultimateend.Ithasusedallthegodsandmyths ofmanasitsclothestohideinplainsightthroughoutthemillennia.Itistheaimofreligion pursuedwiththemethodofscientificreason.Itisinturnscienceanimatedbythesoulofart. Itisallofthesethings,butthisallmaywellmeannothingforyouyet.Still,holditcloseat heart.

WhiletheTheurgicScienceisallencompassinginitsreachforresourcestoascendtothe divine,theteachersofthislineagehavereduceditsnamesimplytoTheurgy.Theurgycanbe translatedtomeanTheworkswhichtakeonetoGod,orTheworkingofGod.Inourmind, itpullstogetherunderaclearmeaningallthemethodsofHermeticScience,andputsthemina namesakewhichpreventstheirabusebysorcery.InTheurgy,allworksareappliedsolelytothe attainmentofpersonalcommunionwithGod,calledApotheosisinourtradition.TheTheurgist (alsocalledthemagician)approacheshispathwithhismindandheartyearningforsomething higher,somethinggreater,somethingwhichreligionorphilosophyalonefailtosatisfyinthe advancedsoul.Wornwearyofthelecturesofmenonstages,thewordsofbooksandpages, thestudentrisesandseeksthemages.Forwhatisamage?Itisamagus,awiseman,one whohasmasteredthemagiaorwiseartoftheancientFireSages.Itisonewhohasseen, whohasexperienced,whatisbeyondtheveilofmatterandspiritalike.Itisaperson illuminatedintheinnerglowofpeace,love,light,liberty,andtruth.

ThismagneticpullofthesoultowardsthedivineflameofGodwillresult,inevitably,inthe individualcomingintothehandsofthosewhohavebeenentrustedwiththetaskofteaching others.Iamwritingthislettertoyouinthehopesthatyouareonesuchperson,withoutworry aboutwhetherornotyourtemporarystayalongyourpathwillbewithourteachersorthoseof someotherlineage.Ifyouhavemadeitthisfar,Godwillputyouwhereyoubelong.Even thoughthenamesofourorganizations,lodges,andsocietieschangefromplacetoplace,and

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havechangedoverthecenturies,whetheryouarewithonegrouporanotherdoesnotmatter; onceGodhasbroughtyouintothecircuit,intothisorbit,youwillnotleaveuntilyouareunited withDeity.IwritethisthereforeknowinginmyheartthatIwillseeyoueventually,maybein thislife,maybeinafuturelife,maybeinbetweenlifetimesinacelestialcollege,buteventually allmembersofthispathcomeuponeachother,foritisthesameoverarchinggroupofmasters whowatchoverusall.

Letusmove,inthemeantime,tomorepracticalconsiderations.Iimagineyoumayhave somequestions,andIwilltrytopredictthemasbestasmyownexperiencewillallowme.Ifby theendofthisletteryoustillhavequestionsyouwouldlikeansweredbeforemakingupyour mindaboutbeginninginthistradition,thenpleasegetamessagetomeviaemail.Imaynot replyimmediatelyduetotimeconstraints,butIpromiseIwillreply,andIwilldosotothebest ofmyabilities. Whatisthedifferencebetweenmagicandtheurgy? Thewordmagicevokesmoremisconceptionsthanitdoesspirits.Certainteachers throughoutthehistoryofourlineagehavetriedtosalvagethewordmagicfromtheruinsof superstitionandfear.Pointingoutthatitsrootismagiaanditreferstothewisearts,they havearguednoblythatmagicisthesublimetraditionofattainingtheknowledgeand understandingoftheuniverse,andmansrealrelationshiptoGod.Thepeopleoftheworld, though,haverefusedtolisten.Eventhosethoughttobelearnedonsubjectsofspiritualityand mysticismhaveturnedadeafeartoanydefenseofthewordmagic,andwillnotunderany circumstancesallowthemselvestobeeducatedinthatarea.Seeingthis,itwasdecidedthata newsetofwordsshouldbeused,whichthoughmoreexhaustive,donothavethesuperstitious associationsthatthewordmagicdoes.Indeedtobeabletorecognizethematallbytheir namesrequireseducationinthefieldofoccultism.WereyoutomentionRosicrucianism,the HermeticScience,orTheurgy,tomostpeople,theywouldhavenoideawhatyouweretalking about.Ifyousaidmagic,theywouldinstantlyconjureideasofblackmasses,orgies,candles litinsmokyroomsdedicatedtoinfernallords,etc,etc,etc.Thisseparationineducationopens achannelforamoremeaningfulunderstandingofthistradition.Ifyousaythatmagicisanart andsciencewherebymanelevateshimselfspirituallyintothearmsofGod,fewwillbelieveyou. Ifyousay,however,thatitisTheurgywhichdoesthis,peoplewillbeintrigued.Forthisreason wehaveadoptedthenameofTheurgyasthepractice,philosophy,andsystemitself,inhopes ofbringingthislighttomorepeople.Properlyunderstood,ifwemakemagictobethe understandingoftheuniverseanditsforces,thenTheurgyistheapplicationofthat understandingtodivineandnobleends. Isthissomekindofcult?

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THE DIVINE SCIENCE A Letter of Introduction to Theurgy

2011

Byrealdefinition,anyreligionorcreedisconsideredacult.Christianity,forexample,is scholasticallyconsideredapersonalitycultofJesusChrist.Peopleallowthewordoccultismto besynonymouswithcultsintheirminds,butletisremembereditisspelledoccult,nota cult.Thetruthisthat,bythescholarlydefinitionofacultgivenabove,Theurgyisfarfrom beingone.Infact,beingaTheurgistallowsyoutoenrichthemeaningofthecultsyoumay alreadybeapartof(suchasareligion),orallowsyoutobreakfreeofthementirely,depending onwhatyoureallydesire.Inandofitself,Theurgyhasnorealcreedorlaw,norevenasingle acceptedcorpusofinstruction.Itsrulesandlawsarespiritualinnature,notethicalorreligious. Neitheristheresomesingleleaderwhogathersdevoteesaroundhimself,orwhoisthefaceof thistraditionandlineage.Therefore,withnocentralrule,nobookoflaws,noreligious figurehead,andnoacceptedcanon,itisleftsimplyasanassociationofbrothersandsisters seekingthetruthtogether,underthevoluntaryguidanceofteacherswhoappearthroughout thecenturies.Theironlycreedissimple:Aboveallelse,seekGod.Addedtothis,therearefour universalprinciplesofselfgovernment:seektoknowGod,towillhislightintobeinginthis world,daretoliberateyourselffromthegripofillusion,andpromisetobesilentaboutyour pathtoallbutyourpeersandteachers.Thishasallbeensummarizedasthesimpledictum,To Know,ToWill,ToDare,andToBeSilent.ToseekGodalone,though,onemustsimplyfollow thedictuminscribedattheOracleofDelphi:Man,KnowThyself!

Neitheristheresomesuspensionofindividualliberty.IndeedoneoftheFiveGreatPursuits ofthepathoftheTheurgyisLiberty,allfivebeingPeace,Love,Truth,Light,andLiberty.A studentwillbeexpectedtolistento,honor,andrespecttheteacheroverseeinghisprogress.In practicehoweverthisisnodifferentthananyschoolwhereanythingisbeinglearned.The studentisnotexpectedtosurrenderhisreasonorhisindividualitytotheteacher;infactitis theteachersjobtohelpcultivatethatindividuality,sothatthestudentcandiscoverforhimself whathispersonaldestinyisinlife,andthenpursueit.Nooathsaretaken,nopactsaremade, nocontractsaresigned,nofeetaretouched,noeyesareaverted,noheadsarebowed,no kneesarebent.Everystudentisfreeandindividual. CananyonepracticeTheurgy? Theurgyisforeveryone.Nomatterhowold,nomatterwhatgender,nomatterwhatrace ornationality,andcertainlynomatterwhatreligion.Itisnevertoolatetostart,andhistoryis richwithexamplesofpeoplewhobegantheirsearchfortruthinthetraditionofTheurgyata lateage.Nomatterhowold,youcandramaticallyenrich,andevenextend,yourlifebytaking upthepracticesofthissystem.Forthosewhoareyoung,itisbecomingacommonpractice (foreveryonessafety)nottoacceptanyofficialstudentswithinthistraditionwhoareunder theageofeighteenunlessateacherhasspokenwithaparentoverthephoneandconfirmed thatisalright.Nostudents,forspiritualreasons,areacceptedundertheageofsixteen.Toa genuineteacher,itshouldgowithoutsayingthathewillbecompletelyblindtotherace, nationality,orgenderoftheindividual.Allagoodmentorseesisaseekeroftruth.This traditionisopentoallpeople,andalwayshasbeen.
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NeitherwillanylegitimateTheurgicschooldifferentiatebetweenvariousclassesofwealth. Ithasalwaysbeenthetraditionthatallpeopleofanybackgroundandanysocialclassorcaste shouldbeabletoseektruth,andsincetimeimmemorialthetemplesandcollegesofthis lineagehavebeenameltingpotofalldifferentsocialandfinancialranges,bringingalltogether intoacommoncasteasbrothersandsistersofthelight.Tothatenditshouldbenotedthatno wealthorfinancialpositionisrequiredtoadvancespiritually.Youwerebornwitheverything youneedtoseekGod.Wesimplyshowyouhowtouseitall. IsTheurgyagainstmyreligion? Thismuchdependsentirelyuponyourowninterpretationofthescripturesofyourcreed. YouwillswearallegiancetonostrangegodsifyoupursueTheurgy,norwillyoubetoldto changewhoyouworship.YouwillbesupportedentirelyincontinuingtoworshiptheGod whichyoualreadydo,becauseTheurgyisnotareligionandhasnothingtodowithcultsor creeds.ItwillhelpyoudeveloparealandtangiblerelationshipwithGodinyourlife,nomatter whatnameyourGodmayhave,norhowmanytheremaybe.Infactitisarequirementfor laterstagesofpracticethatnostudentofthistraditioncanrenounceorblasphemeagainstthe GodofhisBirth,beingthereligionofhisfamilyinwhichhewasraised.ManygreatTheurgists havecomefromallbackgrounds,andabranchofTheurgyhasbeenreservedwithinallthe worldsgreatreligions.

Allyoucandoismakeasinformedachoiceaspossiblewiththeinformationyouhave.Ifit aparticularlydifficultdecisionforyou,thendontmakeitnow.LettheUniversegradually showyouwhichwayyoushouldgo,onGodstime,notnecessarilyyours.

DoIhavetobesecretive?Canmyfamily/friendsknow? Webelieve,especiallyinthebeginning,thatanysupportonecangarnerforthepursuitof thispathcanultimatelyonlybehelpful.Ifyoubelievetheywillbeopentoyourpossiblenew journey,thenyoushouldtakeeveryopportunitytospeaktothemaboutit.Thatwayyoumay evenattractthemtothepossibilitiesofTheurgy.Inallinstancesthough,actwithacoolmind. Theurgyisnotareligionorcreed,andconversionisstronglyoppositionaltothetenetsofits traditions.Knowwhenyouhavesaidenough,andneverpushthesubject.Somepeoplewill notbeaccepting,andthatisfine.Donotletitweakenyourresolve.InsteadseekGod,andlet othersseethepositivechangesthatthepathhascreatedinyourlife.Then,eveniftheydonot quiteapproveofitorunderstandit,theywillnotopposeiteither.Noonecanarguethata calmmind,controlofyourlusts,andthetransformationofvicesintonoblevirtues,isabad thing.Letyourselfshine,andletsuccessbeyourproof.

ThesocalledLawofSilenceis,inaway,selfsustaining.Itispartiallyanexerciseof commonsense,andlargelyanautomatichappening.Itisnotsomestrictvowwhichone swears.Anewstudentonthispathwillspendthefirstseveralyearslearningwhatarecalled

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theLesserMysteries.Thismeansthatinsomeplaceoranother,alloftheinformationhas beenpublishedsomewhere.ThevalueoflearningthemfromteachersoftheTheurgictradition inastructuredmannerissimplythattheteachercananswerquestionsthatabookcannot, andcanfilltheteachingswithspirit.Likewiseateachercandirectlyoverseeyourprogress,give advice,andcatertoanypersonalpeculiaritiesthatmaybenecessaryforyouradvancementasa uniqueindividual.Asystemofinstructionorganizesotherwiserandomlylocatedclustersof informationintoacoherentprocessofunderstanding,buildingupongraduallyacquired knowledgeinanintelligentandsensibleorder.Otherwise,thebeginningstudent,notknowing anybetter,mightbeattemptingtorunbeforehecanwalk,orhemightbewalkinglongafterhe isreadytostartrunning,duetoalackofdirection.Sointhatsense,oneisnotlearning secretsatallforquitealongtime.

Muchlaterdownthepath,forthosewhomakeitalifepursuit,aretheGreatMysteries. Thesearekeptsecretivenotsomuchbysomeconsciousdecision,butoutofcommonsense. Likemathematics,physics,astronomy,orchemistry,thehigheraspectsofTheurgyhasa languageuniquetoitself.Justlikeitisuselesstodiscussthefineraspectsofadvancedchemical notationswithsomeonewhoisnotalsoanadvancedchemist,itisuselesstodiscussthefiner aspectsofadvancedTheurgywithsomeonewhoisnotalsoanadvancedTheurgist.Thereisno bindingoathofsecrecypreventingtheaveragepersonfromunderstandingadvanced chemistry,andanyonecanlearnit.Buttodoso,onemustbecome,overtimeandwithgreat personaleffort,anadvancedchemist.ThesamegeneralruleappliestoTheurgy,astoanything else.

Isrenunciationorsomeothersevereasceticismrequired? Absolutelynot.Infact,theTheurgictraditionstronglyencouragesitsstudentstotakeup familylives,withallthatitentails.Therearesomepeoplewho,becauseoftheirownunique nature,findgreatbenefitintemporaryorevenprolongedperiodsofasceticism,seclusion, isolation,etc.Itisnottheplaceofateachertostopsuchanundertakingunlessheknows firsthandthatitwouldbecounterproductivetothatparticularstudentsadvancement. However,itisneverencouraged.Agoodeducationandapositivehomesituationshouldbean aspirationforallpeople,andisstronglysupportedwithinthissystem.Therearemanylessons thatcanbelearnedinsecludedcavesormystictemples,buttherearealsomanyequally importantlessonsthatcanonlybelearnedfromaspouseandchildren,andfromtheinherent trialsandtribulationsrequiredthereby.

IvereadaboutOrders,Lodges,Temples,Societies,Fraternities,etc.Isitpossibleto advancewithoutbeingamemberofanythinglikethat?CantIjustpursuethispath alone?

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Inourtradition,thisiscalledSelfInitiation.Thosewhohavesuccessfullyfollowedthat patharereveredequallywiththosewhohavegrownupinalargegroupormoreorganized structureofthissystem.Itisourbelief,though,thatasuccessfulpathofSelfInitiationrequires auniquelyadvancedsoul,andinmanyinstancestoevenassumeonesselftobesuchathing willcausedefeatandensurefailurefromtheveryonset.Iflogicisapplied,wewillseethat anyonewhowishestothoroughlypursueanyfieldoflearningoftenchoosestodosoina universityorsimilarlystructuredsetting.Onecould,forexample,theoreticallylearnallthe properproceduresforheartsurgeryfromabookathisowndiscretion.Mostpatients, however,wouldliketoknowthatthesurgeonabouttooperateonthemhassomehigh educationataprestigiousuniversity.Why?Becauseitisaffirmativeofastandardofsuccess, andastandardoftruth.

ItisasimilarsituationinTheurgy.Foryourownsake,youwouldprobablyliketoknow whetherornotaparticularbookyoupickedupisasolidsourceofinformation,orifitisfilled withthewhimsicalimaginationsofitsauthor.Likewiseyoucannotaskabookanyquestions youmayhaveonanyparticularsubject.Ifastatementyoureadseemsambiguous,youhave norealwayofclarifyingitsmeaning.Youmayreadacertainpractice,butwithoutsomeone thereguidingyouandwatchingoveryou,youmayperformthatpracticeincorrectlyforyears, neverquitegettingthefullbenefitoutofit.You,ofcourse,wouldbenonethewiser.Inthe realmofspirituality,though,thereisanevenfurthertwistaddedtotheequation.Partofwhat youareovercomingisapartofyourself,anditisdifficultforapersontoaccuratelyand adequatelyfacethemselves.

IfyoupursueTheurgyfarenough,therewillcomeadaywhenthereisnopersononEarth whocanguideyouanyfurther.Fromthereon,youwillhaveplentyoftimetoapplywhatyou havelearnedtoleadyourselffurtherinyourspiritualascent.Inthemeantime,forthosefirst fewyears,takeadvantageoftheexperiencesandgenuineknowledgeofthosewhohave alreadyaccomplishedmuchofwhatyouaretryingtoaccomplish.Itisnotsomethingthat couldeverberegretted. IveseenthatsomeOrders,Societies,etc,chargeafeetostudents,orforlecturesand classes.Why?Isntspiritualityfree? Nothingworthhavingisfree.Youwillpayforeverythingsomehow,whetheritswithcoins andpaper,orwithemotions,actions,andmorepersonalsacrifices.Asmanylegitimate spiritualreasonsasthereareformembershipdues,classfees,etc,thereisonemajorreason whichistheeasiesttoexplaintothosewhoarenewtoallofthis.Ifyoufindyourselfinagroup whereanoccasionalfeeisrequested,consideritthecostofhelpingthenextpersonlearn Theurgy.InagenuineTheurgicsocietyorcollege,allfundsthatareraisedthroughthestudents gotowardsfightingthegoodfightintheformofgettingmoreinformationoutthereabout thesystem,makingitmorereadilyaccessibletoothers,andincreasingthequalityofthe learningexperience.Toanhoneststudentoftheseholymysteries,thatshouldbeseenasa beautifulfulfillmentofaninherentlysacredduty.Ifyouhavebenefitedfromthespiritual traditionyouarefollowing,thenitshouldbeadeepburningdesireinyourheartthatothers
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whowillcomeafteryoucandothesame,andcanexperiencethethingsyouhaveexperienced. Thusifyouobligeyourselftoasocietyorfraternitywhichrequiresmembershipduesorthe likes,youshouldseeanyfeesorduesasasacredopportunitytohelpotherseekersoftruththe waythatyouhavebeenhelped.Afterall,ifyouarelearningthemysteries,itisprobably becauseofaduepayingmemberwhocamebeforeyou.Youaresimplypayingthefavor forwardinanunendingcycleoffellowshipandservice.

Whenexaminingfeesandmembershipdues,alwaysconsiderthequalityyouarereceiving inexchange,andthesizeofthecost.Somefeesaresimplyoutrageous,andalittlebitof commonsensewillgoalongwayinprotectingyourself.Ifyouarelookingtojoinan organization,findoutifitisnonprofit,orifinsteadexcessfundsgointosomeonespocket.No oneshouldgetrichoffamysticalsocietymeanttopropagatespiritualteachings.Be particularlycautiouswhendealingwithsingleindividualsaroundwhomanorganizationis based.Ifthesocalledspiritualleaderofthesocietywearsfinewatches,dressesinnice clothes,andhasamultitudeofcarsparkedoutsideamansion,awarningflagshouldgooff. Overall,applycommonsense.IfyoureallylikethesoundofaparticularHermeticOrder,for example,buttheduesseemhigh,trytofigureoutwhy.Getafeelforthemissionofthat Order,andseeifitjustifiesthecosttothestudenttoaidinthatmission.Ifyouarepaying good,thenthequalityshouldalsobegood.Ifyourepaying$100amonthforamonthlyletter inthemailasyourteachings,andafacelessnameatthebottomofapageasyourteacher,then allisnotwell.Ontheotherhandifyourteacherisreadilyaccessible,yougettospend extensivetimewithhimandengageinpersonallecturesanddirectteaching,$100mayhardly seemenough.Inallsituations,usecommonsense. Iveheardaboutinitiationceremonies.Whatarethose?Doyoudothem? Initiationsaresymbolicceremoniesmeanttoexaltthemindandcharacterofthestudent, turnhismindtowardsGod,andtoserveaspowerfulperiodicremindersofhispath.Itisalsoa sortofsymbolicreward,akintotheGraduationCeremonyofacollege,whereoneisbeing ceremoniouslyacceptedbyhispeersashavingreachedacertainachievement.Itisa reaffirmingexperiencetothepersonbeinginitiated,andstronglycementsthefeelingof fellowshipwithallotherTheurgistsoutthere,whethertheyareinthesamegroupornot.An initiationisalsoatimewherethestudentgetstoreflectonwhateverpersonalpromiseshehas madetohimselfinregardstohismysticpath,andwherethoseconvictionscanbe strengthenedbyadisplayofsupportfromhisbrothersandsistersonthepath.

Inourgroup,whichfunctionsprimarilythroughtheDivineScienceWebsite,weonlyoffer initiationsbeyondthefinalclassthatcanbetakenonline.Oncethestudentreachesthatpoint, allfurtherinstructiontakesplaceinpersonattheconvenienceandabilityofthestudenttovisit histeacher.Theceremonyservesasanaffirmationofallthatthestudenthasaccomplished,as wellasareminderofallthatstillremains.Wedonotchargeforinitiations;itisarightthe studenthasearnedthroughhardworkalready.

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Itismyhopethatthisbriefletterhasservedtoanswersomeofyourmorebasicquestions regardingthisincrediblepath.Ultimatelytheonlywaytoknowitsefficacyandtodetermine whetheritisrightforyouistotryityourself.Ifyouobtainsuccess,ifyouseeprogress,andif yourheartismovedbywhatyoulearn,thenyouhavefoundyourwayhome.Ifnot,thenthe UniverseiscallingyoutosomeotherbranchoftheSacredScience,whereyourdestinyis waitingthereinapathmorefittotheuniquepersonalitythatyouare.Weinviteyoutoread theotherarticlesthatareavailableonthewebsitetofurtherfamiliarizeyourselfwiththe teachingsofthissystem.Ifitseemstoringtruewithyou,thenpleaseconsiderapplyingtoour IntroductoryCourse.Itisonlytwomonthslong,andprovidesenoughinsightintothetradition tomakeaneducateddecision.

FraternallyintheLight, RamoseDaskalodos www.thedivinescience.org

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