I started out to see what the Websters Dictionary has to say about the terms: "Ritual" and "Initiation". I was surprised to find an abundance of material on these words. Much of it was valid to the use of these terms in Mysticism. First, I will recommmend that you look up these terms individually and then I will briefly try to discuss them from a Mysticism/Rosicrucian standpoint. For your convenience, I am including the URL to Websters Dictionary: Click here.

I checked out to see what information The "Virtual Alchemy Website" had on Ritual and Initiation. There are several links regarding these two subjects as they apply to Mysticism. I have copied these pages for your convenience. I did not delete the ads of the sponsors, as I did not feel this would be proper for the use of the search engine for the search. When you arrive on the search page you might click on search again to allow for any update that has been made. To check the findings on Ritual, click here. To check the findings on Initiation, click here.

Ritual, Initiation as well as Symbolism are valuable tools in the study of Mysticism. These items are essential to the proper study and understanding of the subject. Initiation is used as a preliminary introduction to a higher study to follow or a higher degree of study. Ritual is well integrated into the studies to make the subject or principle better understood. An Initiation is also a Ritual, but a particular type of Ritual. Initiations are usually a combination of esoteric and exoteric principles brought to "partial realization" at the time, but will be more thoroughly understood after that particular degree is completed. The student is left with a strong desire to complete the study or degree. Ritual is more emotionally integrated into the studies and meditations. This, of course, is not only important in Mysticism, but is also, to a lesser degree, important in all types of studies.

In addition to the above items, I am adding a few more for your consideration. There might be some duplication, but I will leave that up to you. This should give you a pretty good idea of the subject and it's use in the study of Mysticism.

1. Corpus Stavish - For the writings of Mark Stavish, Click here.

2. Mark Stavish - Porte Lucis Method of Jean Dubuis. Click here.

3. Mark Stavish - The History of Alchemy in America. Click here.

4. Anthony House - Identifying Some First Steps of Alchemical Initiation. Click here.

CAUTION: We are placing the above link (number 4) here to show you the various types of initiations in Alchemy. Unless you have had laboratory experience in Alchemy, Do Not try this experiment. Limit yourself to vegetable materials only. Mercury and other dangerous chemicals should not be used. It is possible to study Alchemy without laboratory work. For those students that have an intense interest in the Alchemical Laboratory, it is adviseable to have an experienced Alchemical laboratory teacher or Master.


The classic book by Israel Regardie "The Golden Dawn" is an excellent book containing the ritual and initiation as revealed by the author. The publisher is Llewelling Publications. I recommend the book only to acquaint you with some aspects of Initiation and Ritual as applied to the Golden Dawn and Rosicrucians. You can borrow a copy from a library as you will not need to go into all aspects of the book. It is only to give you some idea of the endless amount of ritual/initiation that exist. It gives me the feeling that "enough is enough". The followers of The Golden Dawn would not agree with me. Ritual and Initiation is important to the study of Mysticism, but each of us must use common sense as we see it.





 
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Serafine Anthony Lemos - Hayward, CA, USA

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