An Essay on the Fundamental Principles of Operative Occultism

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THE QUESTION is asked, "What must I do to unfold the divine powers latent within myself?" While it is not possible to give a direct answer to this question, we may cast some light on the subject by defining the fundamental principles upon which the Mystery Schools ancient institutions of secret spiritual and philosophical instruction of all ages were established as institutions of philosophic, ethical, and religious culture.

The Schools of the Mysteries are composed of illumined men and women who have been accepted into the company of the Immortals. To reach this exalted position requires an almost inconceivable amount of preparatory labor; for if man would associate with these advanced types of humanity, he must raise himself to their level.

Realizing that nothing is more dangerous than the indiscriminate circulation of occult hidden or secret secrets, the Mysteries established their schools for the purpose of concealing rather than revealing knowledge. They were the original and sole custodians of all the divine arts and sciences, the secret keys to which they revealed only to those whom they considered qualified to receive them. Inasmuch as man's power increases with his knowledge, the secrets of Nature's finer forces cannot be revealed to him until he has passed through these Mysteries, which test him as to his motives and demand certain standards of moral and philosophic excellence.

Before the candidate is in a position to begin his studies in occult philosophy (which, if successfully completed, will result in discipleship and final admission into the Mysteries) he must first lay the ground-work by familiarizing himself with certain systems of ethics and gain at least reasonable proficiency in several material arts and sciences.

(1) The candidate must realize the value of education. While the ignorant person may be capable of spiritual growth, the fact remains that man's ethical progress is seriously retarded through ignorance of the material arts and sciences. Not realizing the great value of discipline, many students of the occult sciences ridicule modern educational systems, which excel because they discipline the mind. Learning how to study is a prerequisite to effective studying. Before it is possible to think, it is necessary to train the mind in reason, continuity, and logic, the essentials of thought. In the last analysis, all the so-called material arts and sciences are reflections of the Secret Wisdom. A man with an understanding of mathematics cannot help but know more of the Divine Plan than one without. Pythagoras the ancient Greek philosopher and mathematician demanded proficiency in music, mathematics, and astronomy of all candidates seeking admission into his school.

Before a candidate can honestly seek admission to the Temple of Wisdom, he must prepare his offerings and bring them to the Temple. The only possible offering which he can make is himself, and this offering is acceptable only when it is usable for the dissemination of wisdom. The more nearly perfect that vehicle is, the greater its usefulness. If he can speak a dozen languages, he has a decided asset. If he is skilled in chemistry, gifted in oratory, clear in thought, he has valuable talents which can be quickly turned to the service of mankind. If the candidate, regardless of his sincerity, presents himself at the door of the Temple ignorant and untrained, it is first necessary to equip him for his work. This process requires years. A person willing to consecrate himself unselfishly to the service of God, the first requisite for entrance into the Temple, should certainly be willing first to educate himself by learning what the material world has to teach. He must never seek for the Masters of Wisdom until he has something of real value to offer them, for usefulness is to a great measure limited by intelligence.

(2) The candidate must understand the importance of continuity. The curse of the modern world is its inability to finish the enterprises which it begins. As a child starts several things and completes none of them, so the child-mind in man vacillates from one activity to another. Failure to achieve is the result of scattering the power of the mind over too great an area of endeavor. Man cannot cultivate a quality more essential to his spiritual well-being than that of finishing what he begins. Success can never be achieved in the material world without at least a reasonable development of the power of continuity. In matters pertaining to occultism, the same is true. A person who studies several lines of philosophy may call himself broadminded, but if he carry none of these lines to a

successful culmination he is, in reality, "scatter-brained." Again and again such a person turns off and tries a new road, when just a few more steps upon the old one would have brought him within sight of achievement.

(3) The candidate must recognize his debt to society. If in his zeal to unfold his spiritual nature he neglects those daily labors which have been assigned to him in the material world, he can never hope to attain true spirituality. Each individual born into the physical world has obligations which if not assumed by him must be carried by others. Among the Hindoos Hindus, for example, the debt which the Brahmin the highest priestly caste owes to the race that produced him is very keenly felt. This debt is not paid until a son is born to him and he has lavished upon it the parental regard and care which he previously received from his parents.

Woe to those who neglect their fellow creatures to serve their God! In this world it is necessary first to earn the right to the leisure time which is essential for personal improvement. The chief reason why people are always confronted by problems is because they are ever seeking to evade problems. So many say, "Life is just one difficulty after another," when, in reality, it is the same difficulty presenting itself again and again, because it is not mastered. The candidate is urged to face and settle each problem of his life. In this way perplexities are eliminated and more leisure is available for ethical progress. The prosaic duties of daily life are builders of character, and those unable to cope with them are as useless in things spiritual as they are in things material.

Occult development is an exceedingly slow process. The results of the time and energy expended are often imperceptible. This brings discouragement; the candidate gives up the struggle, considering the task before him a hopeless one. Discouragement is one of the temptations placed in the way of the candidate by the Mysteries, for in spiritual matters he who can be discouraged is not worthy of encouragement. It is by means of discouragement that mediocre minds are eliminated. Recognizing the difficulty of preserving enthusiasm, the ancient Mysteries demanded it of their candidates, for only those who year after year struggle on to the single goal, wandering in darkness but with one-pointedness and perfect faith, are considered worthy to enter the Temple, the House of the Immortals.

(4) The candidate must realize the importance of motive. An analysis of motives generally demonstrates that they are basically selfish, regardless of how unselfish they may appear. Only those who assume the study of occultism with the highest and most unselfish motives can hope to succeed in this the supreme science. In the present age nearly every one has ulterior motives, most of which center around the aggrandizement of the individualized not-self, mistaken for the Self. We desire power that we may be recognized as powerful; we desire wisdom that we may be recognized as wise; we gravitate about important people in the hope that we may shine a little with their reflected glory; we seek to be virtuous that one man may say to another, "There goes a Godly person!" To the average person it is inconceivable that greatness should not promenade itself across the stage. A study of the men and women who have become great, either in spiritual or in material affairs, reveals, in the majority of cases, humble, retiring individuals whose greatness is never offensive. Those who study occultism, hoping thereby to improve their material condition, fail utterly. Before power can be safely entrusted to man, he must become absolutely indifferent to it. Perfect unselfishness is perfect consecration to the service of the One Universal Self.

Before anyone begins a study of the mystic sciences with the hope that he will add to the dignity of his position or to the weight of his coffers, he should consider for a moment the social, financial, and worldly position of those who during the ages past have been recognized as exponents of occultism and philosophy. Count Cagliostro an 18th-century Italian occultist, languishing for years in prison; Marshal Ney a French military commander, an exile living under an assumed name; Abbe Villars a 17th-century French author, murdered for writing his Romance of the Gnomes original: "Le Comte de Gabalis", a book about elemental spirits; these are but a few examples demonstrating the rewards which the world holds out to those who try to educate it. In order to serve more effectively, a few initiates those who have been admitted into secret knowledge (such as Count St. Germaine a legendary alchemist and Francis Bacon an English philosopher and statesman) were placed in positions of world power. But with this increased dignity came increased responsibility. The crown of spiritual adeptship is a far heavier one than the crown of material rulership. The use of occultism for the gratification of desires constitutes black magic the selfish or harmful use of spiritual power.