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Argenteum Astrum, also known as Argentinum Astrum, Argentinium Astrum (Latin for "silver star"), Astron Argon (Greek for "silver star"), or simply A∴A∴, was a magical order created by Aleister Crowley after leaving the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. The organization also appears in the Illuminatus trilogy, though in that book the letters stand for nothing at all, and anyone who claims to know what they stand for thereby proves himself or herself a fraud. Latin is an Indo-European language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ...
The ancient symbol of the pentagram is often used as a symbol for magic. ...
A religious order is an organization of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with religious devotion. ...
Aleister Crowley Aleister Crowley, born Edward Alexander Crowley (12 October 1875 - 1 December 1947) was an occultist, mystic, sexual revolutionary, and drug addict (especially heroin). ...
Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers, in Egyptian costume, performs a ritual of Isis (not a Rite of the Golden Dawn). ...
23 The Illuminatus! Trilogy is a series of three novels written by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson. ...
It is a Thelemic magical fraternity, the goals of which are the pursuit of light and knowledge. Heavily influenced by Aleister Crowley, the holy book of the order is Liber AL vel Legis (in English, The Book of the Law). Its mottos are "Do what thou wilt," and "Love is the Law, Love under Will." (The A∴A∴ shares these mottos with the O.T.O., but the two groups have no formal connection.) Thelema is the English transliteration of the Greek word Θελημα which means will. ...
A magical organization is an organization put up for the furtherance of its members by use of magic or to further the knowledge of magic among its members. ...
Aleister Crowley Aleister Crowley, born Edward Alexander Crowley (12 October 1875 - 1 December 1947) was an occultist, mystic, sexual revolutionary, and drug addict (especially heroin). ...
Many religions and spiritual movements hold certain written texts (or series of spoken legends not traditionally written down) to be sacred. ...
Jump to: navigation, search The Book of the Law, also known as Liber AL vel Legis, is the text central to philosophical / religious practice called Thelema founded by Aleister Crowley. ...
Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.) (Order of the Temple of the East, or the Order of Oriental Templars) is an international fraternal and religious organization. ...
Various lineages of the A∴A∴ claim to survive today that can be traced back to the founders Aleister Crowley and George Cecil Jones. One such lineage is that founded by actress Jane Wolfe (known as Soror Estai). The secrecy, however, makes it difficult to say that any particular lineage is the true descendant of the original society. (See also links to websites of different claimants of A∴A∴ lineage.)
Membership
A∴A∴ is unique in that members officially only know those directly above and below in the chain of instruction. There are no regular group rituals (measures are taken to hide the identity of the Officers during the few Temple initiation rituals), and members are expected to work alone, consulting as needed with their superior in the Order. In this way the founders of the system hoped to avoid the many political problems that allegedly brought about the downfall of the predecessor organization, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. The A∴A∴ claims to be a spiritual organization focused on enlightenment of the individual, with a strong emphasis on maintaining the chain of initiation from teacher to student, and devoting all of one's attainments to those individuals who follow. Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers, in Egyptian costume, performs a ritual of Isis (not a Rite of the Golden Dawn). ...
All members of the A∴A∴ must perform several major tasks including
- The discovery and living out of one's own true will
- The acceptance of the Book of the Law as the sole guide in life
- The recognition that "The word of the Law is θελημα" and that "Love is the law, love under will."
- The acknowledgement of the authority of the offices of the Beast 666 and the Scarlet Woman
- The acceptance of Ra-Hoor-Khuit as the Lord of the Aeon, and work to establish his reign upon Earth
- The attainment of a mystical state known as "the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel"
- The experience of the Abyss
The Book of the Law, also known as Liber AL vel Legis, is the text central to philosophical / religious practice called Thelema founded by Aleister Crowley. ...
Horus is an ancient god of Egyptian mythology, whose cult survived so long that he evolved dramatically over time and gained many names. ...
Within the system of Thelema founded by Aleister Crowley in 1904, the Holy Guardian Angel is the Silent Self, representitive of one’s truest divine nature. ...
An abyss (Greek: a-, privative, bussos, bottom) is a bottomless depth; hence any deep place. ...
Initiatory structure The A∴A∴ consists of eleven grades divided into a preparatory stage and three initiatory Orders, two of which come from the Golden Dawn with few changes. As a result, the name A∴A∴ can also refer specifically to the Third Order.
Without all Orders
Student His business is to acquire a general intellectual knowledge of all systems of attainment, as declared in the prescribed books. At the end of a fixed period, the Student sits an open-book examination to test his reading, after which he passes through a small ritual involving the reading of the History Lection (Liber X), and passes to the grade of Probationer.
Probationer (0°=0): This grade exists primarily for the candidate to prove himself capable of executing the Great Work, and to prepare him for his initiation into the A∴A∴ proper. His principal business is to begin such practices as he may prefer, and to write a careful record of the same for one year. In this, he is charged with the tasks of attaining a "scientific knowledge of the nature and powers of his own being". Crowley elsewhere mentions that the Probationer must demonstrate a reasonable level of proficiency in the core practices of the Order (as laid out in Liber E and Liber O). This is primarily to ensure that when advancement comes, the newly created Neophyte will have the necessary experience to guide his own Probationers in their work. Initiation into the following grade of Neophyte is conferred after at least one year, through an unpublished ritual titled Liber Throa. The philosophers stone, a longtime Holy Grail of Western alchemy, is a mythical substance that supposedly could turn inexpensive metals into gold and/or create an elixir that would make humans immortal. ...
Coming from the Latin, initiation implies a beginning. ...
The Order of the G∴D∴ (Golden Dawn)
Neophyte (1°=10): The title of the grade is derived from the Greek neophutos, meaning newly planted. The Neophyte grade is the first grade in which true initiation takes place, and the candidate set in fertile spiritual soil in which to grow. The Neophyte is charged with the task of attaining "control of the nature and powers of [his] own being." This is prosecuted through the acquisition and use of the technique of Rising on the Planes, i.e. by acquiring perfect control of the Astral Plane. Initiation into the grade of Zelator is conferred after a minimum of eight months, through a second unpublished ritual, titled The Passing through the Duat. Coming from the Latin, initiation implies a beginning. ...
The Astral plane, also called the Astral World, Astral Universe or Desire World, is a plane of existence according to various philosophies and belief systems. ...
Zelator (2°=9): His main work is to achieve complete success in Asana and Pranayama. He also begins to study the formula of the Rosy Cross. The word "Zelator" probably stems from the Greek zealos, zeal. This is in reference to the energy-building asanas and pranayamas that characterise the main work of the grade. The Oath of the grade states the Zelator is to "obtain control of the foundations of [his] own being", a reference to the Sephirah Yesod, to which the grade is attributed. Advancement to Practicus is administrative only, requiring no initiatory ritual as such, and may be conferred at any time. A yoga instructor performing an asana Asana is a Sanskrit word that literally means a seat but in the practise of yoga refers to a pose or posture. ...
Prana is the source of which energy evolves from. ...
The Temple of the Rosy Cross, Teophilus Schweighardt Constantiens, 1618 The Rosicrucians are a legendary and secretive order dating from the 15th or 17th century, generally associated with the symbol of the Rose Cross, which is also used in certain rituals of the Freemasons. ...
An oath (from Saxon eoth) is either a promise or a statement of fact calling upon something or someone that the oath maker considers sacred, usually a god, as a witness to the binding nature of the promise or the truth of the statement of fact. ...
Sephirah, also Sefirah (Hebrew language סְפִירָה Enumeration); plural Sephiroth or Sefiroth סְפִירוֹת. ...
Practicus (3°=8): Is expected to complete his intellectual training, and in particular to study the Qabalah. The grade title suggests the "practical" use of the skills acquired through the previous grades. The Practicus is prosecuted to "obtain control of the vacillations of [his] own being", which is to say that he must learn to control his own mind, and become one-pointed in thought, and so in word and action. Advancement to Philosophus, like the advancement to Practicus, is also a purely administrative process, and again may be conferred at any time. The tree of life Kabbalah (קבלה Reception, Standard Hebrew Qabbala, Tiberian Hebrew Qabbālāh; also written variously as Cabala, Cabalah, Cabbala, Cabbalah, Kabala, Kabalah, Kabbala, Qabala, Qabalah) is a religious philosophical system claiming an insight into divine nature. ...
Philosophus (4°=7): Is expected to complete his moral training. He is tested in Devotion to the Order. In particular, this grade stresses the application of adorations to various deities, such as are outlined in Liber Astarte. The oath of the grade characterises this; the Philosophus resolves to "obtain control of the attractions and repulsions of my own being." This effort is the primarily directed toward transcending the likes and dislikes, deliberately defying one's morality, and so on. The aim is to break out of one's predefined idea of self, and reach a perfectly equanimous perspective. Advancement to Dominus Liminis is made at the perfection of this process, and may take place at any time, with no prescribed ritual. Overview Devotion Album Cover Devotion is a music album by CCM artist, Newsboys, released in November 2004. ...
An oath (from Saxon eoth) is either a promise or a statement of fact calling upon something or someone that the oath maker considers sacred, usually a god, as a witness to the binding nature of the promise or the truth of the statement of fact. ...
See also: Klesha, Sama In Buddhism, the Pali word kilesa (Sanskrit: kleÅ›a or klesha) is used to mean defilements or corruptions. Three main kinds of kilesa are: lobha: greed, lust (rÄga), attachment. ...
Sama or Samal is an Austronesian language in the Sulu Archipelago. ...
Dominus Liminis (the link): The grade of Dominus Liminis is a "bridge" that connects the outer Order of the G∴D∴, centred in Yesod, with the Order of the R∴C∴, centred in Tiphareth. The work of the Dominus Liminis extends and refines the work of the previous grades, synthesising it into a coherent whole. The self-control of the Neophyte, the energy of the Zelator, the one-pointedness of the Practicus and the indifference of the Philosophus are fused together, and turned to the work of strengthening and refining the faculty of aspiration. Indeed, the oath of this grade is precisely this, to "obtain control of the aspirations of [one's] own being". The title "Dominus Liminis" is another reflection of this aspiration: it means "the threshold of the Lord", a reference to the fact that in the next grade, that aspiration will be turned to the attainment of the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel. An oath (from Saxon eoth) is either a promise or a statement of fact calling upon something or someone that the oath maker considers sacred, usually a god, as a witness to the binding nature of the promise or the truth of the statement of fact. ...
Within the system of Thelema founded by Aleister Crowley in 1904, the Holy Guardian Angel is the Silent Self, representitive of one’s truest divine nature. ...
The Order of the R∴C∴ (Rose-Cross)
Adeptus Minor (5°=6): The Grade of Adeptus Minor is the main theme of the instructions of the A∴A∴ It is characterised by the Attainment of the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel. His work is to manifest the Beauty of the Order to the world, in the way that his superiors enjoin, and his genius dictates. Within the system of Thelema founded by Aleister Crowley in 1904, the Holy Guardian Angel is the Silent Self, representitive of one’s truest divine nature. ...
Many see natural beauty in the folded petals of a rose. ...
A genius is a person with distinguished mental prowess. ...
Adeptus Major (6°=5): His work is to use Magical Powers to support the authority of the Exempt Adept his superior. He achieves self-reliance, the proper use of Force, and the authority to govern the lower grades. In physics, a force is an external cause responsible for any change of a physical system. ...
Adeptus Exemptus (7°=4): The Adept must prepare and publish a thesis setting forth His knowledge of the Universe, and his proposals for its welfare and progress. He will thus be known as the leader of a school of thought. He will have attained all but the supreme summits of meditation, and should be already prepared to perceive that the only possible course for him is to devote himself utterly to helping his fellow creatures. Jump to: navigation, search The deepest visible-light image of the cosmos. ...
Jump to: navigation, search Meditation refers to any of a wide variety of spiritual practices (and their close secular analogues) which emphasize mental activity or quiescence. ...
See also: Bodhisattva Jump to: navigation, search Prince Siddhartha Gautama as a bodhisattva, before becoming a Buddha. ...
Babe of the Abyss (the link): The Babe of the Abyss is not a Grade in the proper sense, being rather a passage between the two Orders. It is an annihilation of all the bonds that compose the self or constitute the Cosmos, a resolution of all complexities into their elements, and these thereby cease to manifest, since things are only knowable in respect of their relation to, and reaction on, other things. The cosmos is thought of as an orderly or harmonious system. ...
Look up element in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...
The Order of the S. S. (Silver Star)
Magister Templi or Master of the Temple (8°=3): His principal business is to obtain a perfect understanding of the Universe. The essential Attainment is the perfect annihilation of that personality which limits and oppresses his true self. The Magister Templi is pre-eminently the Master of Mysticism, that is, his Understanding is entirely free from internal contradiction or external obscurity; his Word is to comprehend the existing Universe in accordance with his own Mind. Jump to: navigation, search The deepest visible-light image of the cosmos. ...
Mysticism, from the Greek (mueo, to conceal), is the pursuit of achieving communion with, or conscious awareness of ultimate reality, the divine, spiritual truth, or God through direct, personal experience (intuition or insight) rather than rational thought; the belief in the existence of realities beyond perceptual or intellectual apprehension that...
Understanding is a psychological state in relation to an object or person whereby one is able to think about it and use concepts to be able to deal adequately with that object. ...
Look up word in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Word may mean: Word (linguistics), a unit of language that symbolizes or communicates a meaning Microsoft Word, a word processor Word (computer science), a small group of bits Word may also be: In hip hop slang, an exclamation indicating deep and complete...
Magus (9°=2): Attains to Wisdom, declares his law, and is a Master of all Magick in its greatest and highest sense. His will is entirely free from internal diversion or external opposition; His work is to create a new Universe in accordance with his Will. Wisdom is the ability to make correct judgments and decisions. ...
Magick is an alternate spelling of magic, coined by Aleister Crowley to differentiate the true science of the Magi from all its counterfeits. In the broadest sense, Magick is any act designed to cause intentional change, for example, changing the channel on your television set. ...
Jump to: navigation, search The deepest visible-light image of the cosmos. ...
The grammar in this article needs to be checked. ...
Ipsissimus (10°=1): Beyond the comprehension of the lower degrees. An Ipsissimus is free from limitations and necessity and lives in perfect balance with Nature. Essentially, the highest mode of attainment.
References - Free Encyclopedia of Thelema (2005). A∴A∴. Retrieved March 27, 2005.
- Crowley, Aleister (1990). "An Account of A∴A∴" in The Equinox (Vol. I, No. 1). York Beach, Maine: Samuel Weiser.
- Crowley, Aleister (1997). "One Star in Sight" in Magick: Book Four. York Beach, Maine: Samuel Weiser.
- Crowley, Aleister (1982). "The System of O.T.O." in Magick Without Tears. Phoenix, AZ: Falcon Press.
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