After more than 25 years training a good number of students, learning from their successes and failures in addition to mine, and in more recent years finally gaining a much clearer insight into how and why the O’s system of the use of symbolism and ceremonial actually works in practice, I cannot give clearer instruction than what follows to ALL students of the G.D.
This assumes you are a member of a sincere, working Temple:
– Apply discipline in mundane and spiritual spheres. Make things happen. Make decisions and do not procrastinate. Be active. Use routine to your advantage. Be determined. Be in the front seat driving.
– Attend all the Ceremonies that you can. Take a role in an Office as often as you are able, and in as many Offices as you are qualified. Become thoroughly familiar with all the Ceremonies, the Officers, their floor movements and positions, speeches, diagrams etc and the symbolism contained therein, and ponder these mysteries as your core pursuit as a student. Tabulation works well in this endeavour.
– Keep silent. Keep personal insights to yourself as deeply personal – no matter how profound they seem. Bottle up (Hermetically seal) these insights tight, and let the Spirit do its transformational work in darkness and obscurity. Be reverent, be humble, and keep an eye out for spiritual pride. Do not let others know your occult interests. Do not wear the Order like a badge of honour for all to see. This is what it means to “wear the clothes of the country” you are in – to be incognito.
– Do your own work, on your own. Join the dots and look for the links yourself. Do not rely on others work, even past adepts of great repute. They will unintentionally rob you of insights you can achieve yourself. There are no shortcuts. Discover the freedom of being wrong so that you are open to new possibilities. Exercise intuition in all your O. studies, and in life’s decisions. It is the use of intuition that will lead and guide you to be more than human.
– Look after your health. Be mindful of what you eat. Spend time in nature and seek unity there. Try and live as long as possible fit of body and mind, that the Spirit incarnate in you is present and active in Assiah for the longest possible time; so that many new seeds may be sown.
And equilibrium in everything.
Kasmillos
