Temple vs. Self Initiation
Topic: Esoteric Stuff
I just posted this inside the Virtual Sanctuary, and I thought it might help some folks who come through here as well. Especially those who have questions on what "Self-Initiation" is all about.

Let me preface this, also, by saying that "Self-Initiation" has NO relationship with "astral" initiation in any way whatsoever. I can not stress enough that so-called astral initations can do NOTHING for one on a spiritual level. At most, it can gain you membership in groups that use such initiations. However, it will not change you personally in any way.

In the SoM, you have to do the work- which is essentially the same as the work done by members of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.

So, here are my thoughts on Self-Initiation vs. Temple Initiation.

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Self Initiation is different from group initiation. However, I wouldn't say one is missing the "meat from the nut" in the group setting. With Self Initiation, you have to learn the material before undertaking the Rite. However, with a group Initiation, you have to learn the material after taking the Rite.

I think both are acceptable. Of course, with either groups or solitary work, the GD Initiations are intended to awaken and purify the Self of the candidate.

However, with a group, you are also taking an initiation into the egregore of that Temple or Order- its spiritual guardians, its karma, etc. Those guardians are intended to guide the study and progress of the student, so that the student will fit in with the "greater whole" of the Order itself. Therefore, it is best if his initiation takes place first, so that he is introduced to the guardians of the egregore beforehand.

A self-initiation is *entirely different* in nature. There, one is merely taking the symbol-set used by the Order and applying the system to awaken and purify the Self. However, one is not attaching himself to the egregore of a group or Order. He has only his personal guardians to deal with.

Of course, nothing in the Universe is black-and-white. There is always a middle ground to consider. (Two forces, and one always uniting them.) In that light, I should add that a GD Self-Initiaion does not *lack* introductions to the Angels and Guardians of the GD Current. If you perform these Rites, the Angels will hear it and come to see what is up- have no doubt about that! And, keep at it long enough, and you'll get to know them pretty well. However, one is still not going to interact with Them as if one were a member of an Order. (*Believe* me when I say They are stricter on Order members.)

Then, finally, we have the SoM - which is some kind of strange 21st-Century mixture of these concepts. It is still a process of Self-Initiation where your own Guardians are more important than Secret Chiefs. However, I think the egregore of the SoM itself is going to keep growing - and our students will get some taste of what is expected of members of a greater group-mind.

So remember to perform that solo (or group!) Equinox ceremony every six months, and use the SoM Password of the Equinox. LOL

LVX
Aaron