The egyptian ladder of initiation, and the ancient mysteries.

The Egyptian ladder of initiation, the very first secret society:

0. Aspirant (candidate for admission); earth
PREPARATION-purification of the body and development over control over physical appetites. Preliminary testing in emotional response, intelligence, will power and obedience.

1. Pastophoris (apprentice/Neophyte); water, 'amen'
BAPTISM-Purification of the emotions. Development of love and mastery of the emotions.

2. Neocoris (craftsman/disciple); Air, 'eve'
TRANSFIGURATION-Purification of the mind. Development of understanding and mastery of thoughts.

3. Melanophoris (Master/Initiate); Fire, 'M.C.M.'
CRUCIFIXION-Development and mastery of the will power and ability to act in service in any conditions of life. Experience of humility, death and the underworld.

4. Chistophores (arch mason /adept); Earth, 'ioa'
RESURRECTION- Emergence into a higher life and consciousness. Defeat and mastery of all self illusion and vanity (Gorgon). Investment with the powers and attributes of an adept.

5. Balahate (Philosopher/master); Water, "Chymia"
ASCENSION-Defeat and mastery of the Typhonic energies of life. Mastery of the processes of life (Alchemistry)

6. Maawr (seer/priest); Air, "Ibis"
UNIFICATION- "astronomer before the gates of the gods." Discovery and knowledge of the Divine principles and their spiritual plan.

7. Saphenath Pancar (prophet/illuminated one)
ENTHRONEMENT- "The man who knows the mysteries" Full illumination and unification with divinity.

Arcadia by Peter Dawkins

The Egyptians used a dramatic series of rituals to prepare their candidates for initiation into the lesser and greater mysteries of life. The experience uses the senses of the candidate to introduce him to the lesser mysteries. If the candidate was deemed worthy, he would then be granted apprenticeship into the greater mysteries. This path was concerning the story of Osiris, Isis, Horus, Seth and Nephthys, and the human soul on its path to initiation.

The secrets of the initiation path survived in fragments and pieces in the Crata Repoa.

The Crata Repoa is a work made up of fragments from many ancient authors. The unknown compiler had as his purpose a restoration of the ancient Mysteries based upon the hints and allusions contained in the classical writings. Most of the great philosophers of antiquity were initiates of State Mysteries. In their writings, these men frequently allude to some fragment of the initiatory rites. These hints have been carefully organized, placed in sequential order, and connected with an editorial tissue. The result is a restoration founded upon the actual words of the initiates themselves.
Manly P. Hall, Freemasonry of the Ancient Egyptians

Peter Dawkins elaborates on Hall's passage with this statement:

The Crata Repoa illustrates the usual seven major degrees of initiation that follow on after the initial period of preparation. These seven degrees of initiation are the last seven stages in the Alchemical Work of twelve stages. The first four stages are preparatory, whilst the fifth is the threshold in which the 'White stone' Is born from darkness of Prima materia The threshold plus the first three degrees of initiation form the lesser mysteries of virginity. The final four degrees comprise the Greater Mysteries of Light.

Each set of four degrees is based upon the pattern of (1) birth (or rebirth) (2) desire o learning to love (3) thought or learning to understand, (4) Action or learning to serve.
Arcadia by Peter Dawkins

These steps of initiation are modeled after the process of Alchemy, or to be more specific, the hermetic study of alchemy. There are twelve alchemical steps:
1. Calcination
2. Solution
3. Separation
4. Conjunction and putrefaction

5.Coagulation
6. Cibation
7. Sublimation
8. Fermentation

9. Exaltation
10. Multiplication
11. Projection
12. Completion

These steps are arranged in patterns of four, representing the Expressions of Thoth, Ptah, Ra, and Amen, or Emanation, creation, formation, and Manifestation. These relate to the four elements and the four seasons. The reason there is a grouping of three sets of four is to emanate the life cycle of the Scarab beetle. The Egyptians used the Scarab as a symbol for the processes of life. Alchemically they are as follows:
1.The lesser work (the black phase)
2. The greater work (The White Phase)
3. The after work (The Red Phase)

Dawkins further outlines the symbolism of the scarab:

1. Black Phase- The scarab lays its egg, which is black, in a pellet of dung which it burries underground in absolute darkness. (this phase lasts for one month, until the egg reaches maturity)
2. White phase- From this egg a white larva is born. During the second phase ( lasting a further month) this larva feeds off the egg substance. This phase culminates with the larva entering its nymphal state, during which the 'mummified larva works its self transformation.
3. From this mummy emerges the new scarab. Its head and thorax are red, its abdomen and wing sheaths are white, whilst the remaining parts of its body are black.
Arcadia by Peter Dawkins

From this we have a basic principle which has transcended history. It is reborn into the rituals and rites of different secret societies. It also has influences on world religion. Considering the society's members were the high priests of Egypt, of which Moses was an initiate. Numerous Priest-kings have been reborn through history, many of them of Judaic origin.

I am interested to see how much of this knowledge has survived for contemporary use in masonry, AMORC, and other such societies.


[edit on 21-5-2007 by Eyeofhorus]

[edit on 21-5-2007 by Eyeofhorus]

Good read ! Thanks for the info.

I dont see any of this in Masonry FWIW.
Lots of people have written lots of books where they like to imagine a connection to the Antient Mysteries but there is zero proof of this.

[edit on 21-5-2007 by RWPBR]

For what it's worth the Crata Repoa has about as much historical accuracy as many of the other esoteric texts produced in the 14-18th centuries in other words none.

It was quite popular at that time to use the idea that the work was not modern or assigned it to another author for many reasons like if it's old it must be more authentic, or to hide alchemical secrets, or just to avoid being labled a heretic.

Originally posted by Eyeofhorus

I am interested to see how much of this knowledge has survived for contemporary use in masonry, AMORC, and other such societies.

You find it in quite a few modern Rosicrucian/Hermetic groups.

Its interesting that readers are trying to discredit the information you have provided us.
Claiming that the links between ancient egypt and freemasonary are not clear. Oh well.

I find this thread interesting. And further, Manly P Hall is one of the greatest philosophers of our century, who clearly paints such a brillaint truth of how our society operates that after a few chapters of anything by manly p hall i feel i have begun my own initiation into the truth of life

Originally posted by MXIII

Its interesting that readers are trying to discredit the information you have provided us.
Claiming that the links between ancient egypt and freemasonary are not clear. Oh well.

What is really interesting is you think the two posts before yours are an attempt at discrediting.

RWPBR seems to of liked the post, and I also did as well (I flagged and stared the post)



[edit on 5/21/2007 by Cug]

Originally posted by MXIII

Its interesting that readers are trying to discredit the information you have provided us.
Claiming that the links between ancient egypt and freemasonary are not clear. Oh well.

I find this thread interesting. And further, Manly P Hall is one of the greatest philosophers of our century, who clearly paints such a brillaint truth of how our society operates that after a few chapters of anything by manly p hall i feel i have begun my own initiation into the truth of life

I am not trying to discredit anything. I am saying there is no proof of any connection. There are many theories about the beginnings of Masonry and they all have one thing in common...Zero proof.

Manley P Hall was 21 when he wrote most of his books and parroted everything he read. Do you know many 21 year old Philosophers ?

He freely admitted he knew nothing about Masonry when he wrote The Lost Secrets save what he read in a few small pamphlets. He was not a Mason at the time he wrote his "greatest" works and didnt become one until years later.

What makes a 21 year old non Mason an expert on Masonic History and ritual ? His vivid imagination.





[edit on 21-5-2007 by RWPBR]

Originally posted by Cug

Originally posted by MXIII

Its interesting that readers are trying to discredit the information you have provided us.
Claiming that the links between ancient egypt and freemasonary are not clear. Oh well.

What is really interesting is you think the two posts before you are an attempt at discrediting.

RWPBR seems to of liked the post, and I also did as well (I flaged and stared the post)

I did enjoy it. It is very interesting reading. I gave the OP 5 stars.

Egypt as a landscape was founded based upon the model of the human body. This alchemically symbolizes the most pure of all temples.

The land of Egypt was seen and understood as being a living temple that was being built out of nature by the spirit of god-a work in which man played an important and key role, not only being an integral part of the temple but also to be a conscious assistant to the divine spirit in the alchemical process. Like all temples, it is patterned upon an eternal archetype which is true for all life forms, and which is exquisitely expressed in the human form of man himself- the crowing in achievement of nature. To understand the human form is a key to understanding all life forms, including the great temples of the landscape in which man lives and has his existence.

Egypt is a landscape temple-one of the many landscape temples of the planet earth, Which itself is but one of the 'landscape' temples of the solar system, etc. Its spine is marked by the river Nile. Its head is to the north, and its body is to the south, The seven great centres that the Egyptians established along this Nile marked the seven major focal points of energy (or charkas) in the body, which manifest physically as certain endocrine glands, ganglia and plexuses, and groups of organs that serve particular functions that can be identified in seven main groups. Each of these great centers had teachings concerning life and the particular function which that centre played in Egypt, the principles of which were identified and referred to as the Neters (or gods); and those that were initiated into and worked in those centres were serving the purpose of that centre in respect of its role in the whole Kingdome of Egypt.

1. Root: Island of Philae and the town of Elephantine
2. Sacral: Thebes
3. Solar plexus: Abydos
4. Heart: Hermopolis
5. Throat: Memphis
6. Brow: Heliopolis
7. Crown: Behdet (and heliopolis)

Arcadia, peter dawkins

On the riddle of the sphinx

The symbol of the bull was of particular importance for Egypt throughout its history, but especially from the 1st to the 17th dynasties. When the 18th dynasty pharaohs came to the throne of Egypt the symbol of the ram was introduced-the head of the ram replacing the head of man on the sphinxes at Thebes, for instance.

The first and main cycle of Egyptian pharonic civilization, which ended with Pharaoh Akhenaton at the culmination of the 18th dynasty, spanned therefore more than just the astronomical taurean age. These astronomical ages were recognized by the Egyptians, and their civilisation adapted accordingly, but the cycle of their civilization was not governed primarily by such ages. There was something even more significant in the heavens which governed that particular cycle of Egyptian civilisation-the association of two great constellations that have special significance to each other, one near the north pole and the other in the zodiac. These two constellations, which determined the whole length and course of the first cycle of Egyptian pharonic civilisation, were Ursa Major, The Great Bear, and Leo, The lion. This particular journal is not the place to go into detail about why this is so; but it is enough here to give the hint. Suffice it to say that Leo is also a symbol of the heart, and Ursa Major was considered by the Egyptians to be the magical "thigh" of Taurus, the latter symbolizing the illuminated mind and referred to as the "eye" of Horus. With this 'thigh of the eye of Horus,' Ptah (the creator god signifying the voice of god) 'opened' the mouths of divine entities and the souls of the dead.

Arcadia, peter dawkins

It carries so much symbolism that it is hard to find a place to begin. The sphinx is a symbol of a change in the format of the worlds greatest civilization. The end of one era of living, to be followed by another great civilization, which will rise, flourish, and then decline, just as the cycle is spposed to. It is a marker of time, and knowledge. It symbolizes a great knowledge of the elements, astronomy, governence, and the mysteries of the universe, including the timescales of their civilization, and those that will follow.

Those who have read Oedipus rex know that his fame came from his understanding of the riddle of the sphinx. The union of the illuminated mind and the heart, are symbolic of a divine leader. In this instance the face of Horus the second (the king to reign over all) and the body of Leo. It would now make more sense to you in terms of Greek tragedy, why disobeying the prophecy of the Oracle was Oedipus' downfall. The answers are more than likely written in the stars. It seems that in truth Oedipus' mis-understanding of the riddle, was his downfall. This is where the Irony of Greek tragedy plays in. It is irony in its true sense. It is a Greek tribute to the Egyptian culture. This is where the dual meaning of Horus comes into play. Horus the elder, cast Seth into the underworld, and reunited all things that Seth had destroyed. Horus the second was the earthly manifestation of Horus the elder, the one who was qualified to rule over the kingdom. In is fame Oedipus forgot his role as a leader, to listen to the people, and neglecting to believe his fate he unwillingly brought upon himself the wrath of Horus the elder.
.

[edit on 22-5-2007 by Eyeofhorus]

Originally posted by RWPBR

Originally posted by Cug

Originally posted by MXIII

Its interesting that readers are trying to discredit the information you have provided us.
Claiming that the links between ancient egypt and freemasonary are not clear. Oh well.

What is really interesting is you think the two posts before you are an attempt at discrediting.

RWPBR seems to of liked the post, and I also did as well (I flaged and stared the post)

I did enjoy it. It is very interesting reading. I gave the OP 5 stars.

Unhuh. How do Masons have such a good understanding of the Hermetic Corpus, the Kabbalah, astrology, etc. (all of which are incredibly ancient), if they themselves are not incredibly ancient?

Originally posted by uberarcanist

Unhuh. How do Masons have such a good understanding of the Hermetic Corpus, the Kabbalah, astrology, etc. (all of which are incredibly ancient), if they themselves are not incredibly ancient?

Why would you have to be ancient to have a good understanding of those subjects? All you need to do is read.

Originally posted by uberarcanist
]

Unhuh. How do Masons have such a good understanding of the Hermetic Corpus, the Kabbalah, astrology, etc. (all of which are incredibly ancient), if they themselves are not incredibly ancient?

Speaking for myself I do not claim an understanding of those thing. I am not a student of them. I am a student of Masonic Origins.

RWPBR, your study of masonic origins will necessarily be incomplete if you do not address these influences. Cug, merely reading literature on these subjects is not sufficient, as their primary development came in a mystery context, wherein lay people were deliberately excluded from the true meaning of the concepts.

[edit on 22-5-2007 by uberarcanist]

Originally posted by uberarcanist
RWPBR, your study of masonic origins will necessarily be incomplete if you do not address these influences. Cug, merely reading literature on these subjects is not sufficient, as their primary development came in a mystery context, wherein lay people were deliberately excluded from the true meaning of the concepts.

[edit on 22-5-2007 by uberarcanist]

I see no influences to address. I deny the Egyptian mysteries had anything to do with the origins of Freemasonry.

Originally posted by RWPBR

Originally posted by uberarcanist
RWPBR, your study of masonic origins will necessarily be incomplete if you do not address these influences. Cug, merely reading literature on these subjects is not sufficient, as their primary development came in a mystery context, wherein lay people were deliberately excluded from the true meaning of the concepts.

[edit on 22-5-2007 by uberarcanist]

I see no influences to address. I deny the Egyptian mysteries had anything to do with the origins of Freemasonry.

So the Hermetic Corpus has no influence whatsoever, then, on Freemasonry?

Originally posted by uberarcanist
Cug, merely reading literature on these subjects is not sufficient, as their primary development came in a mystery context, wherein lay people were deliberately excluded from the true meaning of the concepts.

True, well true a long time ago. The mysteries are no longer hidden, they are out there for those who are willing to do some studying.

Originally posted by uberarcanist

So the Hermetic Corpus has no influence whatsoever, then, on Freemasonry?

If there is any influence it is Ex Post Facto to the origins of Freemasonry and exists only in the minds of those who feel influenced by it.

Because the origins of Freemasonry are lost to the mists of time, many like to paint their own picture on the blank canvas of Masonic origins.

I have an large library of Masonic literature going back to 1800 and have read items dating to the 1750's. Dismissing the obvious indulgent histories such as " Adam was the first Mason" or "Enoch was the first Mason" etc the idea of the Antient Mysteries as the origin of Freemasonry do not appear until about the mid 1800's and even then they were opinions and interpretation of an individuals Masonic experiances filtered through his education in the classics as was common at the time.

Wow Excellent Stuff...

Those further interested in this process should check out the some of the books by Isha Schwaller De Lubicz. In particular "Her-Bak: Egyptian Initiate."

"The Opening of the Way" by the same author is also good.

Lastly, "The Sacred Tradition of Ancient Egypt" by Rosemary Clark is a decent modern book on the subject.

C

I believe that Masonry is a direct descendant of the mystery religions of old and that the fact that it has changed a lot from those religions does not disprove this.

Masonry and ancient mystery religions share many common threads including but not necessarily limited to:
1. Secret knowledge
2. A hierarchical structure with more and more being revealed as the candidate progresses.
3. A use of alchemical concepts.
4. A use of astrological concepts.
5. A use of the "great chain of being"
6. A use of metaphorical concepts.

I do not believe that the claim holds up that Masonry is merely a revivalist movement that brings back secret societies centuries after they had fallen into disuse. Rockpuck did a pretty good job recently of showing that the Masons can trace their origins to at least the Knights Templar; I believe that whatever ritual(s) the KT may have developed was (were) resultant from the pagan and/or esoteric milieu the KT found themselves in.

[edit on 22-5-2007 by uberarcanist]

Originally posted by uberarcanist
I believe that Masonry is a direct descendant of the mystery religions of old and that the fact that it has changed a lot from those religions does not disprove this.

Masonry and ancient mystery religions share many common threads included but not limited to
1. Secret knowledge
2. A hierarchical structure with more and more being revealed as the candidate progresses.
3. A use of alchemical concepts.
4. A use of astrological concepts.
5. A use of the "great chain of being"
6. A use of metaphorical concepts.

I do not believe that the claim holds up that Masonry is merely a revivalist movement that brings back secret societies centuries after they had fallen into disuse. Rockpuck did a pretty good job recently of showing that the Masons can trace their origins to at least the Knights Templar; I believe that whatever ritual(s) the KT may have developed was (were) resultant from the pagan and/or esoteric milieu the KT found themselves in.

Good response. There are a few problems with your theory though.
3. A use of alchemical concepts.
4. A use of astrological concepts.
Both of these aspects did not appear until years after Masonry went public in 1717. Look into the real reasons the Antients split with the GLE and research the rites of the Antient York Masons and how they differed from what the "Moderns" in London promoted at the time.

I agree with Rockpuck's Templar Origin theory as it is the only one that seems to fit all the mysterious pieces together but evidence of this is thin at best, requireing a bit of faith to bridge the gaps in facts.

Seeing as how we do not know for sure what secret rites the Templars had, if any, we cant say that they were influenced by any group in particular save the Catholic Church.

Your theory, as interesting as it is, is based on conjecture (Templars) backed up with speculation (maybe mystic/gnostic traditions) predicated on myth (Antient Egypt). As a self professed scholar I can deal in only the facts and they seem to be lacking.

Originally posted by uberarcanist
I believe that Masonry is a direct descendant of the mystery religions of old and that the fact that it has changed a lot from those religions does not disprove this.

I can agree only in part. There is much evidence that Freemasonry, in some respects, could be a revival of the Ancient Mysteries, but I do not believe it could be regarded as a direct descendant, at least in the literal sense.

Masonry and ancient mystery religions share many common threads including but not necessarily limited to:

2. A hierarchical structure with more and more being revealed as the candidate progresses.

I'm not sure if the Masonic system could be classified as "hierarchical", as it is fundamentally based upon egalitarianism. Also, I cannot agree that "more and more is revealed as the candidate progresses" because nothing is actually revealed that he shouldn't already know, at least theoretically.

3. A use of alchemical concepts.

This is an interesting point because it assumes that the Ancient Mysteries had alchemical concepts as well, which they probably didn't. Alchemy didn't come in vogue until the middle ages, long after the Mysteries had become extinct.

However, there is no doubt that alchemy had influenced Freemasonry. In "The Muses Threnodie" published in 1638, almost a century before the first Grand Lodge was founded, there is a poem containing the lines:

"For we be brethren of the rossie cross; we have the mason word and second sight..."

This shows an early connection between Freemasonry and Rosicrucianism, and the latter, of course, was based on alchemy.

4. A use of astrological concepts.

This is probably correct, although Freemasonry would concentrate on the concept of astronomy, whereas the ancient mysteries used the more superstitious forms of astrology.

5. A use of the "great chain of being"

I'm not aware of any such use in Freemasonry...nor in the Ancient Mysteries, for that matter.

Rockpuck did a pretty good job recently of showing that the Masons can trace their origins to at least the Knights Templar

I strongly disagree. The Masons can trace their origins, through the Regius Manuscript, to York, England around the year 900 A.D. (and possibly further back). This predates the Templars by at least 2 centuries.

Also, the Templars were of French origin, while Freemasonry's are English and Scottish. Masonic Templarism was not invented until the middle of the 18th century, when English Masonry had spread to France.





[edit on 22-5-2007 by Masonic Light]