AFTER SOLAR LODGE

Book III - Beyond The Veil
Page 2

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The Rising Phoenix

The Rising Phoenix was written by Shiva in 1979. It is a synthetic thesis that correlates various streams of the White Brotherhood. Here follows a summary:

The (Great) White Brotherhood is the spiritual hierarchy of the planet, overshadowing and infusing itself into all 'lesser' systems. The western manifestation is best known to us as the A\A\ . Although it includes full training and practices in mysticism (specifically Raja Yoga), it is nonetheless presented and viewed by most people as a magickal (outwardly-directed) curriculum. It has a strong Egyptian-Hindu foundation. In recent times, proponents included MacGregor Mathers, Aleister Crowley (see photo >), Frater Aquarius, and Israel Regardie. It is the Yang stream of the White Brotherhood.

The Oriental manifestation is best known to us as the Transhimalayan White Brotherhood. Although it includes training and practices in magic (White Magic - enacted non-ceremonially on the mental plane), it is nonetheless presented and viewed by most people as a mystical (inwardly-directed) curriculum. It has a strong Tibetan-Hindu foundation. In recent times, proponents included the "B" Women: Blavatsky, Besant (< see photo), and Bailey, plus Muriel Isis Dorner. It is the Yin stream of the White Brotherhood.

The A\ A\ system is composed of 10 grades, plus 2 preliminary levels and 2 links. The grades are attributed directly to the Tree of Life. The lower grades (the outer order) are usually conferred by an Initiator in a ceremonial rite; The middle grades (the inner order) may be conferred or may be self-initiated. The higher grades (the supernal order) are usually self-proclaimed. The Master Therion revised this curriculum and presented it as a system of self-initiation.

The Transhimalayan system is composed of 9 degrees, but only 6 degrees can be assigned to correspondence with the Tree of Life. The 3 higher degrees - not listed on the chart - (Mahachohan, Nirmankaya and Adi) correlate with the 3 negative states that surround, precede and give rise to the Tree of Life. There are also 2 preliminary levels and various 'links' that are referred to as "gaps in consciousness." The grades are self-earned. That is, when the candidate completes his or her task(s), the initiations are conferred on the inner planes by various hierarchical entities, either in the dream-state or in full waking consciousness.

Star System is composed of 10 grades, plus 2 preliminary levels and 2 links. The grades are attributed directly to the Tree of Life. It is a correlation and synthesis of the above two streams.

The Rising Phoenix correlated these major streams of Initiation, and included further correlation with the 10 (or 12) degrees of the OTO and the 33 degrees of Freemasonry. The "bottom line" was that the A\A\ presented the most practical approach to the path of initiation, but that the Transhimalayan system offered extremely valuable details and concepts that simply are not addressed in the A\A\ training and texts.

It must be said that Crowley's texts are pretty straightforward, even if there are a lot of footnotes saying, "See Liber 418," etc., thus producing a gigantic, literary, jigsaw puzzle.

Some of Bailey's texts are straightforward, especially her first book, Initiation - Human and Solar, and her final offering, The Rays and the Initiations. The other Bailey books can sometimes be moderately informative, but most are (as Jack Schwarz put it) "totally incomprehensible."

The Rising Phoenix included a little poem that summarizes the path:

The Rising Phoenix

BEHOLD the Textbooks, Rising High, Piled to the Roof.
See the Mystic: Detached, Alert, from the World aloof!
Wielding the Dagger and the Disk, bearing Cup and Rod;
Sitting in Silence, trying to risk, the Subtleties of God!

The Lamp is Lit, the Circle Banished, the Mind held Steady Still.
The Angel called; the ego vanished; naught remains but Will!
She struck the Bell; He lit the Flame; we uttered the Mysterious Name.
The Lord of Light heard our Plea, The Divine Plan was ours to see.

All is Gone; it is All Done; there comes an end to All the Fun.
The Lofty Phoenix has burned this day, leaving soot and ashes from his play.
From the Ashes in the Nest, the Bird rises up anew.
It is not me, nor of the Rest; The Phoenix-Bird is YOU!

Rise up Bright Phoenix, and in rising, Spread your Paragon Wings;
Break Forth in Song, and show us how, The Solar Angel sings!
For from the Flame, and from the Ash, and from the Light Above,
The Phoenix is no more than Man . . . raised on the Wings of Love!

AGAPE

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