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Master Magician " He experiences Death." - MWT. "…I then proceed to the climax of its career in death and show how this sacrament both consecrates ( or rather sets it seal upon) the previous procedure and gives a meaning thereto, just as the auditing of an account enables the merchant to see his years transactions in perspective." - Confessions. 3rd Degree, This degree is symbolically that of death and general resurrection in the race, its mysteries are concerned with the passage of genetic information from generation to generation. It is termed 'devotion' and in a sense sets a seal upon and gives meaning to the experiences of the previous degrees. This degree gives the Master Magician the potential to establish or assume command of a Lodge of O.T.O.F. This degree relates to the Ajna, Svadisthana, (sexual centre) and the sub-chakkras of the shoulders. These first three degrees are equivalent in essence and effect to the three degrees of Traditional Craft Initiation, purged of uneccesary accretions and aligned to the energies of the New Aeon. Due to this the Foundation has a policy whereby existing initiates, may advance rapidly through these degrees. Taking them consecutively,. Such cases are viewed individually, and provide recognition of the value of other initiatory traditions, such as those of Freemasonry, Wicca etc.. Perfect Magician, (Fourth Degree), and Perfect Initiate " He experiences the world beyond Death." - MWT "…In the next ceremony I show how the individual, released by death from the obsession of personality, resumes relations with the truth of the universe. Reality bursts upon him in a blaze of adorable light; he is able to appreciate its splendour as he could not previously do, since his incarnation has enabled him to establish particular relations between the elements of eternity." - Confessions "This entire cycle of point-events is withdrawn into annihilation." - MWT. "… Finally the cycle is closed by the reabsorbtion of all individuality into infinity. It ends in absolute annihilation, which…may in reality be regarded as an exact equivalent for all other terms so ever, or ( by postulating the category of time) as forming the starting point for new adventures of the same kind." - Confessions, Perfect Magician and Perfect Initiate, these initiations are always taken consecutively, on the same occasion, and relate to the individuals experience after death, and their relationship with the universe. Fourth Degree represents exaltation,or perfection in ones work of incarnation, in practical terms it also entitles the Initiate to enrol as a Student in the 'College of Hermetic Science' a teaching body within the Order which offers instruction in various branches of Magick. P.I. represents annihilation, the reabsorption of the individual into infinity,a return to the womb of the Great Goddess. 4th Degree relates to the Ajna and Manipura (solar plexus) chakkras, P.I. to the Crown Chakkra. This series takes the individual through the entire process of Incarnation in Magickal and symbolic form, all the initiations which follow these are very much based on the Second degree. They relate to the experience of Life and provide authorisation and instruction to perform certain 'jobs' within the Order. These degrees are described in 'Degrees and Offices of the Order'. |
