Cicero - Self Initiation into the Golden Dawn Tradition_Part 01

he four Elemental grades beyond Neophyte represent an understanding
of the Elements within the psychological and spiritual
makeup of the candidate. The initiation ceremonies of these Elemental
grades are those of the Zelator, Theoricus, Practicus and Philoso­
" '. I. phusP which are each referred to one of the four Elements of the
"~' Tetragrammaton: Earth, Air, Water and Fire. As a group, these four
grades represent the essential work of the Golden Dawn, that is to equilibrate the
Elemental forces within the psyche of the aspirant. These "inner Elements" can be
characterized as distinct sections of the subconscious mind. The process undertaken
by an initiate advancing throughthe grades is truly an alchemical one; the
psychic mechanism of the candidate undergoes a kind of dissolution during the
ceremony of the Neophyte. The integral Elements are awakened and purified
through the Elemental grade ceremonies, until at length all of the base components
are consecrated and integrated back into the psyche of the Initiate.
The first step is of course to awaken the Elemental portions;'for unless
their existence is realized, the work of alchemical transformation cannot take
place. Through symbol and ceremony, the initiation rites of each grade summon
forth the spirits and entities of a particular Element. Contact with a specific Elemental
force produces a kind of magnetic attraction, whereby the corresponding
Elemental energy is awakened within the sphere of the aspirant. Only then can
further advancement and growth take place. Thus aroused, the Elemental portions
of the mind become consecrated to union with the Higher Self and ultimately
to the consummation of the Great Work. This process allows the initiate to
bring vast amounts of energy and inspiration from the formerly untapped subconscious
depths into the domain of the conscious mind where it can be utilized
for further spiritual growth.
The Element offered for the act of transmutation in this grade is Earthspecifically
the Earthy part of the aspirant's psyche. This ritual is the first to truly
confer the title of initiateupon the candidate, symbolically launching his/her initial
step onto the Tree of Life. Thus do the numbers 1 = 10 refer to this important
first step onto the Tenth Sephirah, Malkuth. The Zelator Grade lays the foundation
for all subsequent Elemental transmutations within the aspirant's sphere of sensation.
The name Zelator comes from a Greek word for "zealot."
27 All of these names, along with that of Neophyte, are titles of traditional Rosicrucian grades.
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