National Treasure - review by Aaron Leitch
Topic: General Stuff
Greetings folks!

I decided to go see National Treasure last night, so I could review it for the Magickal Origins of the US group.

As I expected, it didn't have anything exciting to the student of early American mysticism. That is to say, the writers were obviously not masons or mages in their own right.

On the other hand, I think they still created something pretty damned cool. To put it simply, this was an Indiana Jones set in the obscure occult realms of American history. The treasure of the Templars- presented as the direct creators of Masonry- had been hidden in America by the Masons among the Founding Fathers. Clues to its location were hidden in places like the back of the Declaration of Independence, the belltower of Independence Hall, the Ben Franklin Institute, and even secret catacombs beneath the Trinity Church cemetery. (Not to mention a race against a group of evil treasure-hunters willing to steal and destroy American historical artifacts to further their own goals.)

I find the comparison between this and Indiana Jones most interesting. National Treasure is the first movie I've seen that treats American history as "old and deep" enough to support such a mystical treasure-hunting story. Sure the Arc of the Covenant and the Holy Grail can support such a story. But, it did my heart good to see that the Declaration of Independence and Liberty Bell could do the same. :)

However, the BEST part of the movie came in the attitude it presented. The main action of the movie was initiated when the main character decided, as did our Founding Fathers, that sometimes one must do what the authorities consider wrong, in order to do what is right. At one point, it was even stressed that our Founding Fathers were traitors who- had they lost the War of Independence- would have been hung, beheaded, drawn and quartered and their entrails burned for their high treason. Therefore, when faced with a similar decision himself, the main character chose to follow their Spirit- to risk it all, and do what was illegal in order to do what was right.

This is well worth a see! And if you're into American Masonic mysticism, you'll be amused and entertained, even if you don't find it educational. I can *definitely* see this raising awareness and interest in this subject matter. I'd like to see more!

(To end with, I'd like to make a suggestion. Anyone who finds this kind of fiction interesting, might want to check out a book by Katherin Kurtz called "Two Crowns for America.")

In LVX
Aaron

Update on Green Dragon Book Signing
Topic: What Aaron's Up To
Hello folks, I've got a small update on my (eventual) book-signing at the Green Dragon Bookstore in Ybor City, Florida.

As you may already know, I was granted the unbelievably fortunate opportunity to have Chic and Sandra Tabatha Cicero pen the preface for "Secrets of the Magickal Grimoires." And, if you're reading this, then congratulations! :) You have the rare opportunity to sneak-preview the preface:

https://kheph777.tripod.com/secretspref.html

The Ciceros were also kind enough to offer this ad for my book on the HOGD website:

http://www.hermeticgoldendawn.org/aaron.htm

I have contacted the Ciceros once again concerning "Secrets" - this time about the book-signing at the Green Dragon. They have agreed to attend (and maybe we can get them to sign a few books themselves...) :):):)

Also in attendance will be Carrie Mikell- the artist who provided several pieces of artwork used in Secrets- such as Icons from Revelation, the Pauline Arts Table of Practice, and more. (See her artwork in the photos section of the Solomonic mailing list: http://groups.yahoo.com/solomonic)

I'm only putting this book-signing info here on my blog for now. Once I am more certain of the August release date for "Secrets", I will make more public announcements. ;)

Meanwhile, feel free to contact or visit the Green Dragon Bookstore! You can always keep checking with them for updates, as I'm sure Paul would like to know how many folks are interested in this event. ;)

----------
GREEN DRAGON BOOKSTORE
1813 E. 7th Ave.
Tampa, FL 33605
(In historic Ybor City)
(813) 247-6412

Paul J. McClain III, Owner/Proprietor

www.greendragonbooks.com
----------

LVX
Aaron

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.

-------------------------
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

Book Signing in the Works?
Topic: What Aaron's Up To
Hey folks!

I've just recently spoken with the owner of the Green Dragon bookstore in Ybor City (Tampa, FL). It looks like I will likely hold a book-signing there sometimes after "Secrets..." comes out next August. (Maybe sometime in September or October, who knows? lol) Nothing is set right now, it is just in the idea stages!

And, I do have ideas for the signing! As the time draws closer, and I see whether or not my ideas will work out, I'll post updates here. ;) For now we just have to keep our fingers crossed that there are no more delays!

LVX
Aaron

Welcome to Aaron's Weblog!
Topic: ** Welcome **

Welcome to Aaron's Weblog!


Click on one of the Blog Topics:

(You can find these links on the left of your screen as well.)

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(See "Old Site Archives" for everything from the "What Aaron's Up To" section of my old homepage.)

Or, for more about me and my work:

Aaron's Homepage

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LVX

Aaron

October 2004
Topic: Old Site Archives

October 2004: Hey folks! Check out

Pagannews.com! My "Thelemic Origins of
Wicca" is currently on the front page. :)

September 2004
Topic: Old Site Archives

September 2004:
Well, I'm afraid there is some bad news about the
upcoming "Secrets of the Magickal Grimoires."
The publisher has- YET AGAIN- put the book on
hold. It is now set to release in August of 2005. :(

In other news, WitchSchool has finally
released the first of my Hermetic classes: An
Introduction to the Hebrew Alphabet. It will soon
be followed by introductions to the Tree of Life,
Astral Travel, Meditation, and more! :)

Speaking of online schools, you might also
want to check out the

Sanctuary of Ma'at Order of the Golden Dawn
(www.ritual-magic.com). The "SoM" was founded
as an online study group for folks who didn't have
access to nearby G.D. Temples, and who believed
in the concept of Self-Initiation. The SoM
curriculum is taken from the Cicero's "Self Initiation
Into the Golden Dawn Tradition" - based upon the
Outer-Order teachings of the HGOD.

If you are studying Golden Dawn or Hermetic
material alone, you will want to see this for
yourself. The SoM provides you with all the textual
resources you need (you don't even have to buy
the book to get started!), along with a community
of fellow students, Proctors (for personal
instruction) and Instructors (for group classes). All
of this is done on-line. However, if a Proctor lives
close enough to you, you can request some face-
to-face learning. You can also choose to work in a
study group- if you have interested friends who live
nearby. And, working study groups have the
potential to grow into full SoM Temples someday.
So, as you can see, there are many opportunities
here...

More Later!

April 2004
Topic: Old Site Archives
April 2004:
Wow, lots of pretty cool stuff going on...

I'm holding my breath, because I think we *might*
have cleared the last hurdle in the publication
problems with "Secrets of the Grimoires." :):):) It
doesn't look like they will back off of their early
2005 release date... but at least things are rolling
again. I'm putting some corrections in the final
manuscript (many of them supplied by you folks!
Thanks!) and sending in a brand new hard-copy.
I'll keep you updated here from time to time- but
you can get real time info from the Solomonic list.
Which brings me to:

My cyber-life is hopping these days!! First of all,
there is the Solomonic Mailing List:


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/solomonic/

I created this list to go along with "Secrets of the
Grimoires"- so people could get real-time progress
reports on the book, and (once it comes out)
discuss the various subjects the book covers. Of
course, more than this, the list is for anyone
interested in Solomonic or medieval grimoiric
magick. Over the past months, the list has gained
some popularity. The files, links, and photos
sections are literally maxed out. You can find just
about any grimoire here for free, not to mention
pictures of tools and talismans, etc, etc. The links
section rocks, and even has a "Grimoire
Bookstore" where you can order the grimoires
brand-new from Amazon. The list has attracted
experienced Solomonic practitioners as well as
students.

The files section actually overflowed recently...
Someone attempted to upload a whole slew of
documents on John Dee, and maxed out our
account! :) So, to fix this, a few people got
together and created an entire new Yahoo group to
accept these new John Dee files. (The Solomonic
List's first spin-off list!) The new Alchemist Royal
Advisor Dr John Dee group can be found at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AlchemistRoyalAdvisorDrJohnDee
It is VERY worth joining.

Most recently, I've been publishing essays and
book reviews with "Diamond Fire Magazine." This
is an incredible publication folks! I have to say in
all honesty, that this might be the next "Gnosis." It is a professional, insightful, and really beautiful piece of work. The editor is Joseph Polanski, and I can only imagine that this magazine is a pure labor of love for him. I highly recommend subscribing to this one. It's been around for some time, and is not likely to leave us anytime soon. Unfortunately they don't have a website yet. However, you can email them directly and ask for subscription info:

diamondfiremagazine@comcast.net

You will also want to keep your eye on

WitchSchool.com. Some time ago, they
published the first chapter of "Secrets" as an online
magickal history course. Since then, they have
decided to create a new department of the school
for "Magickal Studies." They want to offer a
complete course in Hermetic Magick- from the
basics to advanced work. To this end, they've
asked me to write the entire curriculum. (!!!) Of
course, I just couldn't hope to do such a task
alone. So, when I found out that Nick Farrell was
about to offer his own course through WitchSchool
(on Talismans), I knew I just had to plead with him
to save me!! The result, so far, is an entire
ccurriculum offered by the two of us- some classes
by me, and some by Nick. We are working on it
now, and I'll let you know when WitchSchool offers
the courses. In time, I hope to recruit further
authors into the cause... I'll see who I can interest
in contributing to the project. :)

July 2003
Topic: Old Site Archives
July 2003:
Well gang, it looks like we drew up a bit short on
the July release of "Secrets of the Grimoires." My
book is a rather long one, and that means a high
production cost. Of course, money is tight for all of
us these days. :( This is not the only "more
involved" project that Llewellyn has set back in the
past couple of years. I am merely assumnig this is
the reason for the delay. Stay tuned!, as the book
is now set for an early 2005 release. It WILL be
worth the wait, I promise.

At any rate, there are still some cool things
happening. Check out the Virtual Reality
environment I have created:


The Vault of the RR.'. et AC.'.
https://kheph777.tripod.com/GD/temple.html

April 2003
Topic: Old Site Archives
April 2003:
Cool news on the book publishing front! I have in
my hands the Spring/Summer issue of Llewellyn's
trade magazine "New Worlds of Mind and Spirit."
"Secrets of the Magickal Grimoires" appears at the
centerfold (p 24) with a full page ad. :) :) :) I have
also placed the ad on the web:

https://kheph777.tripod.com/secretscatalog.html

Anyone out there who runs a bookstore might want
to check it out, since they offer a pre-pub discount.
(Orders before 6-1-03) Also, those who edit
various 'zines (print and/or online) might be
interested in chapter one of the book- Medieval
Magick- which I will offer as a stand-alone article.
It can be trimmed down to fit the space you have
available.

Exciting stuff! :)