Thelema Portal

Argenteum Astrum, also known as Argentinum Astrum, Argentinium Astrum (Latin for "silver star"), Astron Argon (Greek for "shining star"), or simply A∴A∴(According to the Thelema Website, A.'.A.'. stands for Arcanum Arcanorum; Latin for "Secret of Secrets" or "Mystery of Mysteries"), is a magical order created by Aleister Crowley in 1907 after leaving the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.^[1] The organization also appears in the series of novels of Robert Anton Wilson, with the portrayal in the Masks of the Illuminati containing one of the finest fictional accounts of someone utilizing the A.'.A.'. curriculum. Image File history File links Crowley_unicursal_hexagram. ... Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome. ... The Sorceress by John William Waterhouse Magic and sorcery are the influencing of events, objects, people and physical phenomena by mystical, paranormal or supernatural means. ... A religious order is an organization of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with religious devotion. ... Aleister Crowley, born Edward Alexander Crowley, (12 October 1875 – 1 December 1947; the surname is pronounced // i. ... Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers, in Egyptian costume, performs a ritual of Isis (not a Rite of the Golden Dawn). ... It has been suggested that Timothy F.X. Finnegan be merged into this article or section. ... MASKS OF THE LLUMINATI is a 1981 novel by Robert anton Wilson and Robert Shea, the same tandem that brought about the Illuminati trilogyItalic text. ...

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 shall be the whole of the Law," 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 Ancient Greek noun : will, from the verb θέλω: to will, wish, purpose. ... 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, born Edward Alexander Crowley, (12 October 1875 – 1 December 1947; the surname is pronounced // i. ... Many religions and spiritual movements believe that their sacred texts (or scriptures) are the Word of God, often feeling that the texts are wholly divine or spiritually inspired in origin. ... The Book of the Law (ISBN 0877283346), also known as Liber AL vel Legis, is the text central to a philosophical / magical / religious practice called Thelema, written by Aleister Crowley. ... Lamen of the Ordo Templi Orientis 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 founded at the beginning of the 20th century. ...

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). Other lineages run through pupils of Marcelo Ramos Motta, a student of Karl Germer, who studied under Aleister Crowley. 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.) This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Karl Germer (22 January 1885 - 25 October 1962) was the Outer Head of the Order (OHO) of Ordo Templi Orientis from 1947 until his death in 1962. ... Aleister Crowley, born Edward Alexander Crowley, (12 October 1875 – 1 December 1947; the surname is pronounced // i. ...

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 phrase True Will does not appear in the Book of the Law, the central sacred text of Thelema. ... 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. ... Babalon riding The Beast, as depicted on the Lust card of Crowleys Thoth Tarot. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Within the system of Thelema founded by Aleister Crowley in 1904, the Holy Guardian Angel is the Silent Self, representative of ones truest divine nature. ... Within the mystical system of Thelema, the Abyss is the great gulf or void between the phenomenal world of manifestation and its noumenal source. ...

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. In theory members of the Third Order can generate their own variations of the First and Second Order teachings reflections of their own Understanding.^[2]

Without all Orders

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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 LXI), 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. ... For other uses, see Initiation (disambiguation). ...

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 Tuat. For other uses, see Initiation (disambiguation). ... The astral plane, also called the astral world or desire world, is a plane of existence according to esoteric philosophies, some religious teachings and New Age thought. ...

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. Eka-Pada-Rajakapotasana or Single Legged Pidgeon Asana is Sanskrit for seat. It is no accident that this word be chosen to describe the posture of Yoga. ... Pranayama (Devanagari: प्राणायाम, prāNāyāma) is a sanskrit word that means control (yama) of the life force (prana). ... The rosy cross (also called rose cross and rose croix) is a symbol largely associated with the semi-mythical Christian Rosencreutz (1378-1484), alchemist and founder of the Rosicrucian Order. ... An oath (from Old 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. In the Kabbalah, the Sephiroth (or Enumerations) are the ten emanations of God (or infinite light: Ain Soph Aur) into the universe. ... Yesod (foundation) is one of the important Kabbalistic sephirot. ...

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. A Devotion in Christianity has come to mean time spent alone or in a small group of people reading and studying the Bible in a way as it relates to ones spiritual health and wellbeing. ... An oath (from Old 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: kleśa or klesha) is used to mean defilements or corruptions. Three main kinds of kilesa are: lobha: greed, lust (rāga), attachment. ... Look up sama in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

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" means "Lord of the Threshold,"["Dominus" = Latin nominative case = "Lord;" "Liminis" = Latin genitive case = "of the Threshold"] a substitution for Mathers's old Golden Dawn Grade "Lord of the Portal," the Portal or Threshold in question being a reference to the fact that the initiate is now passing from the Lesser Mysteries of the Outer Order of the GD to the Greater Mysteries of the Inner Order of the RR & AC. Yesod (foundation) is one of the important Kabbalistic sephirot. ... Tiphereth (Glory; תפארת) or Tifereth, Tipheret, Tiferet, or rahamin (mercy in Hebrew) in the Kabbalah of Judaism is the sixth Sephirah on the tree of life. ... An oath (from Old 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. ...

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, representative of ones truest divine nature. ... Many people see natural beauty in the rose. ... A genius is a person with great intelligence. ...

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, force is an influence that may cause a body to accelerate. ...

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. Universe is a word derived from the Old French univers, which in turn comes from the Latin roots unus (one) and versus (a form of vertere, to turn). Based on observations of the observable universe, physicists attempt to describe the whole of space-time, including all matter and energy and... ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ...

See also: Bodhisattva In Buddhist thought, a bodhisattva (Pali: bodhisatta; Simplified Chinese: , Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: púsà; Japanese: 菩薩 bosatsu; Korean: ë³´ì‚´ bosal ; Tibetan changchub sempa (byang-chub sems-dpa); Vietnamese: Bồ Tát; Thai: พระโพธิสัตว์) is a being who is dedicated to assisting all sentient beings in achieving complete Buddhahood. ...

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 Ancient and Medieval cosmos as depicted in Peter Apians Cosmographia (Antwerp, 1539). ... Chinese Wood (木) | Fire (火) Earth (土) | Metal (金) | Water (水) Hinduism and Buddhism Vayu / Pavan — Air / Wind Agni / Tejas — Fire Akasha — Aether Prithvi / Bhumi — Earth Ap / Jala — Water Many ancient philosophies used a set of archetypal classical elements to explain patterns in nature. ...

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. Universe is a word derived from the Old French univers, which in turn comes from the Latin roots unus (one) and versus (a form of vertere, to turn). Based on observations of the observable universe, physicists attempt to describe the whole of space-time, including all matter and energy and... Mysticism from the Greek μυστικός (mystikos) an initiate (of the Eleusinian Mysteries, μυστήρια (mysteria) meaning initiation[1]) is the pursuit of achieving communion or identity with, or conscious awareness of, ultimate reality, the divine, spiritual truth, or God through direct experience, intuition, or insight; and the belief that such experience is an... Look up understanding in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A word is a unit of language that carries meaning and consists of one or more morphemes which are linked more or less tightly together, and has a phonetical value. ...

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. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article refers to the magical system of Aleister Crowley and Thelema. ... Universe is a word derived from the Old French univers, which in turn comes from the Latin roots unus (one) and versus (a form of vertere, to turn). Based on observations of the observable universe, physicists attempt to describe the whole of space-time, including all matter and energy and... // For the racing driver, see Will Power. ...

Ipsissimus

(10°=1^): Beyond the comprehension of the lower degrees. An Ipsissimus is free from limitations and necessity and lives in perfect balance with the manifest universe. Essentially, the highest mode of attainment.

Known members

Frank Bennett is an Australian jazz singer whose name is allegedly formed from Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. ... William Breeze was born in Paris, France on 12 August 1955. ... Major-General John Frederick Charles Fuller, CB, CBE, DSO, commonly J.F.C. Fuller, (September 1, 1878–February 10, 1966), was a British major-general, military historian and strategist, notable as an early theorist of modern armoured warfare, including categorising principles of warfare. ... Karl Germer (22 January 1885 - 25 October 1962) was the Outer Head of the Order (OHO) of Ordo Templi Orientis from 1947 until his death in 1962. ... Lea (Leah) Hirsig was born into a family of nine siblings on April 9th, 1883 in Switzerland. ... Frater Achad Charles Stansfeld Jones (1886-1950), aka Frater Achad, was an early aspirant to A.A. (the 20th to be admitted as a Probationer, in December 1909) who claimed the grade of Magister Templi as a Neophyte. ... Grady Louis McMurtry (October 18, 1918-July 12, 1985) was a student of Aleister Crowley, and a promoter of Crowleys religion of Thelema. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Victor Benjamin Neuburg (May 6, 1883 - 1940) was an English poet and writer, particularly on theosophy, remembered for his early association with Aleister Crowley, and his publication of the early Dylan Thomas. ... Israel Regardie (Francis Israel Regudy) was born on November 17, 1907 in London, England to poor Jewish immigrant parents. ... Phyllis Evalina Seckler (1917 - 2004), also known as Soror Meral, was a IXth degree member of Ordo Templi Orientis She was Master of 418 Lodge of O.T.O. from its inception in 1979 through 2004, founder of the College of Thelema and co-founder with James Eshelman of the... Austin Osman Spare Austin Osman Spare (December 30, 1886 - May 15, 1956) was an English artist and magician. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

See also

• Thelemic mysticism

Within the modern system of Thelema, developed by Aleister Crowley in the first half of the 20th century, is a complex mystical path designed to do two interrelated things: to learn ones unique True Will and to achieve union with the All. ...

Notes

1. ^ Colin Wilson, Nature of the Beast; page 88
2. ^ "One Start in Sight"
3. ^ What you should know about the Golden Dawn by I. Regardie

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.

External links

General links

• Outer College Curriculum Resources
• Liber LXI vel Causae A∴A∴
• Liber XXXIII, An Account of A∴A∴
• A Syllabus of the Official Instructions of A∴A∴
• One Star in Sight

Lineage links

• thelema.org, ordoaa.org - Jane Wolfe lineage from Crowley.
• redflame.com - Grady McMurtry lineage.
• aathelema.org - Ray Eales lineage from Motta.
• astrumargentum.org.br - a Brazilian lineage
• www.cfrussell.homestead.com/ - David R. Jones lineage
• outercol.org - J. Daniel Gunther's lineage from Motta
• amhr.org - Runar Karlsen lineage