Cicero - Self Initiation into the Golden Dawn Tradition_Part 01

276 SELF-INITIATION INTO THE GoLDEN DAWN 'TRADITION
SECTION 3: Spiritual Entities
In the Zelator grade the student was made aware of the Qabalistic
world of Assiah, the active World which encompasses the sphere
of Malkuth. In the Theoricus grade the initiate is exposed to the
Sephirah Yesod and the World of Formation known as Yetzirah.
(Review the information given on Yetzirah in Chapter Two.) Yetzirah
is the world of the astral plane, an immaterial realm close in
proximity to our own. Both Angelic beings and the illusionary images given form
by the mind of humanity are to be found there.
Astral Spirits
Astral Spirits are those belonging to the astral plane. Such are the false and illusionary
forms, shells of the dead, and ghosts and phantoms. They are detached
and nonconscious beings.
The human Soul is composed of several "layers." The outer layers govern
a person's day-to-day habits, routines, spoken thoughts, and memories. After
death, the higher parts of the Soul continue on the journey of spiritual evolution
to the next level or plane of existence, while the lower parts usually dissipate.
Occasionally, however, these outer shells are inhabited by an Elemental or similar
astral being. This "ghost" then continues where it is and carries on with certain
habits and routines.
Over time these phantoms will tend to disintegrate unless infused with
fresh energy by a person or situation. Many people claim that they can be banished
simply by telling these entities that their physicalbodies have ceased to
exist, and the remaining portion is free to leave.
Elemental Spirits
Elemental Spirits are those belonging to the nature of the Elements. Tradition has
it that some are good and some are evil (although such labels don't really apply to
Elementals). These beings (already discussed in Chapter Two) have hierarchies
similar to those of Qabalistic Archangels and Angels. Elementals are thought to be
childlike and innocent with respect to the human realm.
Angels and Archangels
An Angel is a pure and high Spirit of unmixed good in officeand operation. In the
Qabalah, Angels and Archangels are considered specificaspects of God, each with a
particular purpose and jurisdiction. They are anthropomorphic symbols of what we
believe to be good or holy.Nearly all of the Hebraic Angels have the suffixes "el" or
"yah" at the end of their names, indicating that they are "of God." Powerful Angels
which govern large groups or hosts of lesser Angels are known as Archangels.
The Soul
The difference between the Soul and the Spirit in humanity is as follows: The
human Soul adjoins both the inner realm of Spirit from which it receives direct
inspiration, and the physical or outer world from which it obtains impressions. A