Fama Fraternitatis - 1614

Wiewohl wir nun wohl wissen, daß es umb ein ziemliches noch nicht an dem, da wieder unserm Verlangen oder auch anderer Hoffnung mit allgemeiner Reformation divini et humani, solle genug geschehen, ist es doch nicht unbillich, daß, ehe die Sonne auffgehet, sie zuvor ein HELL oder dunkel liecht in den Himmel bringt und unter dessen etliche wenige, die sich werden angeben, zusammen tretten, unsere Fraternitet mit der Zahl und Ansehen des gewünschten und von Fr.R.C. fürgeschriebenen Philosophischen Canons, einen glücklichen Anfang machen oder ja in unserer Schätz (die uns nimmermehr aufgehen können) mit uns in Demut und Liebe genießen die Mühsamkeit dieser Welt überzuckern und in den Wunderwerken Gottes nicht also blind umbgehen.

Vi vet dock att det enligt vår åstundan och andras förväntningar efter någon tid kommer en allmän reformation av både gudomliga och mänskliga ting. Ty innan solen går upp, upplyses himlen av
MORGONRODNADENS ljus. I väntan på denna reformation församlas några få som med sitt antal skall utöka vårt brödraskap, höja dess anseende och stärka dess förhoppningar och ge de av Fr.R.C. föreskrivna Filosofiska Canons en lycklig begynnelse. I all ödmjukhet och kärlek skall dessa nytillkomna tillsammans med oss dela våra skatter, som aldrig skall förgås, och så lindra denna världens möda och inte längre vandra ovetande om kunskapen om Guds underbara verk.

Howbeit we know after a time there will now be a general reformation, both of divine and humane things, according to our desire, and the expectation of others: for it is fitting, that before the rising of the Sun, there should appear and break forth AURORA, or some clearness, or divine light in the sky; and so in the mean time some few, which shall give their names, may joyn together, thereby to increase the number and respect of our Fraternity, and make a happy and wished for beginning of our Philosophical Canons, prescribed to us by our brother R.C. and be partakers with us of our treasures (which never can fail or be wasted) in all humility, and love to be eased of this worlds labor, and not walk so blindly in the knowledge of the wonderful works of God.

Definition

Det brittiska ordenssällskapet Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn och den tyska Frimurarlogen L'Aurore Naissante, vilket grundades i London 1888 respektive Frankfurt-am-Main 1807, delade på samma hebreiska namn Chevrah Zerach Bequr Aur, förevisat i gyllene gult vid bloggens huvud, vilket ordagrannt kan översättas till “Stigande Gryningsljusets Sällskap”. Denna tyska Rosenkorsiska Frimurarloge i Frankfurt, vilket måste anses vara det ursprungliga modertemplet till GOLDEN DAWN, kallade sig på tyska även Loge sur Aufgehenden Morgenröthe, vilket kan översättas till “Gryende Morgonrodnadens Loge”. Detta skiljer sig åt från den engelska seden att översätta orden Bequr Aur till “Golden Dawn” eller “Gyllene Gryningen”. Med anledning av Rosenkorstraditionens tyska ursprung är en mer korrekt översättning av Bequr Aur, genom franskans L'Aurore Naissante och tyskans Aufgehenden Morgenröthe, inget annat än GRYENDE MORGONRODNADEN. Denna hänvisning till ett stigande gryningsljus, morgonrodnad eller aurora är en klar hänvisning till den allmäna reformationen omnämnt i det ovan citerade stycket från Fama Fraternitatis. Denna blogg har dock valt att behålla den försvenskade anglo-saxiska termen GYLLENE GRYNINGEN för att denna, invand som den är, lättare associeras med den Rosenkorsiska tradition som här ämnas att framställas.

Licht, Leben, Liebe

torsdag 20 maj 2010

A testimonial from a solo practitioner of the Ritual Magic Manual

o

The other day, a year after the publication of my review of David Griffin’s The Ritual Magic Manual: A Complete Course in Practical Magic, I received a mail with a testimony of someone’s personal experience with the magical formulae revealed in that book. It is a fascinating tale that needs to be told, and I have also received the permission by the author to publish it here on my blog. For me it was a true inspiration to read as I hope it will be also for you, and thus I publish his letter almost in its entire:
I wont give you a long boring biography, but I wanted to say that I agree with your review 100%.

I spent almost 20 years studying all aspects of the occult from the armchair. At some point my teacher
...gave be a copy of ISIS UNVIELED by H. Blavatsky, and jokingly instructed me to read that and someday maybe we could have an educated conversation.......approx two years later, I went to visit my old teacher who had since moved away.

While I was visiting him we caught up on old times, and had an educated conversation...lol. When I was leaving he stopped me and asked me to hold up a minute....he disappeared into the back room for a few minutes....when he came out he was holding a book.........he looked at me sombrely and stated; “this has been authorized” and he proceeded to give me a brand new hardback of David Griffin’s
Ritual Magic Manual. To this day he will not talk about the gift or what he meant with his cryptic words.......

That was about 5 years ago. Again I wont give the entire biography, but in brief:

I started using the manual much like you described.....With the knowledge of the generations of research that went into this system, I just simply put full trust in my predecessors and like the path of the Moon, I followed the footsteps very carefully. I didn’t understand at all what I was saying or doing....I just went for it.

The elemental phase was gruelling as each element that I invoked, would put me through about a three week wringer....it was tough....but I learned more about the elements in each of those three week period than all 20 years combined.

Then finally the Greater ritual of the pentagram [Here I suppose the writer actually means the Supreme Ritual of the Pentagram –
S∴R∴]. Wow, after the ritual, I was intensely buzzed for about 6 hours.... I would go into fits of laughter every so often, it felt much like a psychedelic.

I’ve been working with Planetary forces for almost 4 years now, and I love it. I just started working with the subtle, cool, starlight of the astrological realms. The reason I decided to move on to the Zodiacal was instructed to me in Gnosis.

One day while after invoking Venus and Jupiter (as they were in the sky above me), Lady Venus swept me up in her arms and introduced me to Jupiter, he laughed and said that he knew me well. I was between them, wrapped in love as they delivered me to The Emperor. He was much nicer than the image on Crowley’s Thoth deck. He told me it was time to start on my astrological theurgy.

So there you have a transformation story of a solitary practitioner. David Griffin’s
Ritual Magic Manual has transformed me totally.

When I started I was in my 30s and overweight, starting down the other side. Now I am almost 44, and in the best shape in my life. Health wise, Mental, Emotional, and even intellectually transformed. I actually feel and look younger than 5 years ago. Some people tell me they want to be ready before they do ritual.... I laugh to myself because I now know the secret....you really don’t start to understand the ineffable mystery until you actually start ritual.
He ends his letter by saying that he nowadays is confident enough to regularly write articles for the front page of Realms of Magick on the subjects of Tarot and Magickal Forecast.

In my opinion if
The Ritual Magic Manual has made such a dramatic transformation in one of its readers it already has served its purpose. But I bet there are numerous silent practitioners out there all over the world, both solo and in Temple, both outside and inside the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn/Alpha et Omega, that has had beneficial results from the ritual instructions in that book. There clearly is a reason for why this book is so sought after today, judging from the amount of money people are prepared to invest upon a second hand copy; there simply are no other instructional manual on Rosicrucian Theurgy out there of this magnitude. I believe that in the decades to come it will be remembered as a true companion to Israel Regardie’s The Golden Dawn.

S∴R∴

4 kommentarer:

1141 sa...

I'm curious, SR, since I respect your essays and opinions: What is there to say regarding the most frequent complaint about this book, that it contains a good number of blinds (intentional or otherwise)?

It's been said by more than one person that the blinds and/or mistakes in this book are so widespread that if one were able to catch them all, they wouldn't need the book in the first place. Now, I don't have a copy on hand to thumb through myself, but I'd love to hear the opinion of someone who has worked through the system of which this book reveals a sliver.

Sincerus Renatus... sa...

I believe I have already addressed this chritique in my original review. Perhaps I'm a complete ignorantis, but I truly cannot find any serious errors in this book. There are some minor of the cut and past variety, and usual typos, but no scholarly mistakes or intentionally planted "blinds", at least to my knowledge and understanding (which might of course be faulty).

I have found lots and lots of more errors in Regardie's original account of Order material in his 'The Golden Dawn', most of which has been corrected when applied in 'The Ritual Magic Manual'.

Someone was supposed to provide a list to this blog with errors almost a year ago, but that hasn't happened as of yet. Until someone points out serious scholarly errors out to me, I will believe they simply are trying to persuade people from buying the book because they dislike the author, not the actual book.

In Licht, Leben und Liebe
S:.R:.

Frater VL sa...

Dear Fr SR,

I feel really fortunate of being a current member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and I'm glad this Book is the official source for the magic studies.

Before I started in the Order, I read Regardie's books and some other resources on the internet, and despite that the information on the basic rituals are contained in there (with many variations), there was no real guidance on a methodical approach to the study.

When the Ritual Magic Manual came to my hands, I really experienced real progress in my practices. Currently I'm performing elemental and planetary magic and also I have seen changes in my daily life.

VL

Sincerus Renatus... sa...

Care Fra. V.L.,

Thank's for sharing your experience of the Manual. It seems to corroborate the Testimonial that I quoted.

It would be nice if any of my readers, that have had experience of ritual application of the instructions in the Manual, would share with their experiences as well.

I believe this sharing would be much helpful for other lonely searchers. Stories like this may be a true inspiration and in some instances create the final incitement to actually start upon the Path of Return.

In Licht, Leben und Liebe
S:.R:.