Aurum Solis

Aurum Solis, "Gold of the Sun", is a magical order founded in England in 1897 by George Stanton and Charles Kingold which claims descent from the Ogdoadic Tradition of the Western Mystery Tradition [Denning, Melita & Osborne Phillips. The Magical Philosophy: The Foundations of High Magick. (Castle Books, 2000) ISBN 0-7858-1193-1.] . It is best known through the published works of two of its leaders, Vivian Godfrey and Leon Barcynski. Better known by their pseudonyms, Melita Denning and Osborne Phillips, the husband and wife team together authored many books on different aspects of magical practice, such as "Astral Projection" and "Creative Visualization", as well as their seminal work outlining the corpus of the Aurum Solis and the Ogdoadic Tradition, "The Magical Philosophy."

Despite being a small Tradition and Order, in comparison to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and its descendents or various Thelemic orders, it remains a distinct and unique system of magical philosophy and practice.

The Ogdoadic Tradition

As defined in the Aurum Solis Constitution of June 1999,

The Ogdoadic Tradition is an initiatory system which arose from a fusion of pre-Christian traditions of the Eastern Mediterranean with the mystical teachings, to which no date of origin can be assigned, of the Oriental monasteries: Sinai, Carmel, St. Sabas.

It appears in the traditions of the Hesychasts (around the twelfth century) and in the symbolism of Byzantine art. Its signatures are the Fivefold Pattern of the House of Sacrifice as a plan of working (whether in ritual, pictorial or literary form) and the Eight-pointed Star of Regeneration as an emblem of Attainment. It appears in the insignia, ritual and architecture of the mediaeval Order of the Temple, and to some extent in the symbolism of other chivalric Orders. It inspired the design of the Baptistery at Florence; it appears in the work of Giotto (1270-1337), notably in his representation of the Temple of Jerusalem in the form of the House of Sacrifice, in his frescoes at Padua. It appears in the ritual accompanying the mediaeval Sacrament of Baptism, and in literary form in the works of such diverse writers as St. Bernard of Clairvaux and the great Renaissance Platonist Marsilio Ficino. It has given a structural plan to the Tridentine Mass, and in the present century has been used by Pope Pius XII in his Encyclical De Mystici Corporis [Mystici Corporis Christi] . "Not by the mere occurrence of the relevant symbols, but by their use in a significant context, is this tradition to be traced of which the keyword is Regeneration: a regeneration not depending on creed or sacraments, but upon the understanding and application of unchanging spiritual laws.

"The general historical designation of the tradition is Hermetic: not alone as signifying an involvement with alchemy, but because its teachings incorporate and build upon the works of Hermes Trismegistus."Aurum Solis. [http://web.archive.org/web/20021004031849/www.aurumsolis.co.uk/index-5.html Constitution and Administrative Principles (21 June 1999)] . Retrieved 1/28/2007]

The Aurum Solis Second Hall Rite of Integration comprises a "History Lecture" that further elaborates upon the Order's lineage. [Denning & Phillips. [http://web.archive.org/web/20031011220309/www.aurumsolis.net/historyas.htm A Short History of the Ogdoadic Tradition] in "The Magical Philosophy Series", Volume 1, pp. xxx-xxxv]

Initiatory structure

Again, from the 1999 Aurum Solis Constitution:

The Order has three operative foundation grades:

The first grade is Neophytos (Neophyte), the proper title of which is Apprentice of the Great Work.

The second grade is Servitor (Server), the proper title of which is Servitor of the Secret Flame.

The third grade is Adeptus Minor (Adept), one proper title of which is Priest of the Gnosis.

Unlike the first two grades, that of Adeptus Minor is not fully achieved by initiation. The fulfilment of the grade is by subsequent personal endeavour and reception of the Rite of Ratification, whereby the initiate becomes Adeptus Plenus (Full Adeptus Minor).

Hereinafter, the term 'Adeptus Minor' is understood as carrying only the initiatory status of the third grade, thus not comprehending Adeptus Plenus.

The first initiation (Neophyte) is given in the First Hall. The second initiation (Server) is given in the Second Hall. The third initiation (Adept) is given in the Third Hall.

The First and Second Halls constitute the Outer Order or Lesser Mysteries.

The Third Hall, which incorporates also the higher mystical degrees of the Order, constitutes the Inner Order or Greater Mysteries.

Initiates of the various Halls are addressed as Companion.

The name AURUM SOLIS is generally applied to the entire Order, but properly refers only to the Outer Order; the name of the Inner Order is STELLA GLORIOSA.

The three foundation grades of the Aurum Solis have correspondence to the three "Gate Sephiroth" of the Qabalistic Tree of Life: the grade of Neophyte to Malkuth or Earth, the grade of Servitor to Yesod or Luna, and the grade of Adeptus Minor to Tiphareth or Sol.

The initiation rituals themselves are resplendent with unique and beautiful symbolism, and are in many ways the heart of the Tradition. The three ceremonies are referred to as the Rites of "Induction", "Integration" and "Elevation" respectively, and can be found in their entirety in the book "Aurum Solis: Initiation Ceremonies and Inner Magical Techniques" by Osborne Phillips.

History of the Aurum Solis

Birth of the Order

Just before the dawn of the 20th Century in England there were a number of "antiquarian" and "folklore" societies who chronicled curiosities and pursued their own chosen researches. One such society was known as "Societas Rotae Fulgentis (Society of the Blazing Wheel)" and had been slowly amassing a wealth of knowledge and research from the various antecedents of the Ogdoadic Tradition.

From this Society came two dedicated occultists, Charles Kingold and George Stanton. In the changing religious and political environment of the late 19th century they decided to take the core philosophy of the Societas Rotae Fulgentis and constitute it into a living magical and initiatory occult order, establishing the Order Aurum Solis in 1897 “to re-establish the Wisdom of the Mages and to proclaim anew the Secrets of the Alchemists.” George Stanton was the first Warden of the Order until the outbreak of World War I.Fact|date=February 2007

The early Order

The order continued to grow and thrive under the guidance of Stanton until the outbreak of World War I, which saw the cessation of order activity. From the early 1920s and onward, with the introduction of new initiates, the order gradually began to divide into the older membership who pursued their chosen studies on which the order was founded and the new membership who brought in more of a Masonic as well as Golden Dawn background. However this divide would not become fully apparent or divergent until later years, and indeed, proved to be a fruitful field for collaboration and expansion of order philosophy and practices. Notable in this period is the Rabbi Morris Greenberg who contributed much to the order's understanding of the Hebrew Qabalah and who continued to be a valued resource even in his last days in the 1930s at Bournemouth.Fact|date=February 2007

In the politically charged environment of the late 1930s, the order issued the following statement regarding two prevalent philosophies in Europe, Communism and Fascism:

The development of the individual towards perfection, we hold to be a sacred duty: and we work for the common good, as a means towards the perfecting of every individual. To invert this ideal, and to regard the individual existing only for the good of the race as a whole, is to stultify all higher aspiration, and is directly opposed to the purposes of Occultism."Fact|date=February 2007

When World War II broke out in 1939, order activity again ceased. After the war ended in 1945, many members began working with other ceremonial magicians in Europe to cleanse the astral aftermath of the war and re-establish channels with the Divine. (While there is no known connection, Dion Fortune also contributed to magical workings related to WWII.) These workings proved quite powerful to the members involved, who brought that resulting vigor and zeal back to order when it officially resumed operation in 1949 and was reorganized.Fact|date=February 2007

However the seeds of schism planted by the influx of new initiates had grown, and in 1956 the leadership of the order conducted a review of the whole question of magical workings, their different styles (ancient vs. modern) as well as their role within the order and issued the following statement:

Initiation into an understanding of the Occult powers does not necessarily result in the ability to make magical use of those powers. In English Freemasonry (the only type of Freemasonry reviewed in this instance) a type of ritual has been developed which is designed to initiate the understanding but, by deliberate intention, not to lead to ceremonial magick. The Freemasons do not claim and do not wish to be magicians. A Masonic type of ritual is not therefore likely to be suited to a magical Order."Fact|date=February 2007

This conclusion was to result in a split in the order, with the supporters of the more modern, Masonic-style ritual breaking away in 1957 to form the "Hermetic Order of the Sacred Word", or "Ordo Sacri Verbi". The Aurum Solis completely reorganized its ritual structure along the original lines conceived of by its founders.Fact|date=February 2007

Denning and Phillips

Melita Denning and Osborne Phillips are the pen-names of Vivian Godfrey and Leon Barcynski,Fact|date=July 2007 who together authored many books in the early days of Llewellyn Publications, chief among which is the formal presentation of the Order Aurum Solis' philosophy and praxis: The Magical Philosophy.

Phillips began to receive magical training at the age of 16 from Ernest Page. For some time in the early 1970s, he was the head of the Aurum Solis psychic investigation team. Phillips was also a pupil of U Maung Maung Ji, a lecturer in Eastern philosophies, who worked with the UN Secretary-General U Thant. He is a Fellow of the International Biographical Association, a Life Patron of the American Biographical Institute, and an Honorary Fellow of the Anglo-American Academy.Fact|date=February 2007

Melita Denning was the first female Grand Master of the Aurum Solis, from 1976 to 1997. At one point Denning spent about six years traveling throughout and gathering occult knowledge, chiefly from the Middle East and the Mediterranean. These studies led her to discover the work of the Aurum Solis on kindred matters. She studied Jungian psychology under Buntie Wills, herself a student of C. G. Jung's friend Toni Sussman. Denning was invested Dame d'Honneur, OMCT, in 1968 by the Geneva Grand Priory of the Sovereign Military Order of the Temple. She was also friends with Olivia Robertson, the founder of the Fellowship of Isis, since they were young women. Denning spoke English, French, Italian and Latin.Fact|date=February 2007

Around 1971, Denning and Phillips began working with Carl Llewellyn Weschcke. Around 1979 they moved to the United States. In June 1982 they were consecrated Autocephalous Bishops of the Paracletian Church by Herman Adrian Spruit, the founder of the Church of Antioch. In 1983, they both consecrated Carl Weschcke into the same bishopric. Around 1984, they began working with William Stoltz and initiated him into the First Hall. On 8 July 1987, Denning and Phillips retired from the Aurum Solis, and Weschcke became the Grand Master. Yet on 23 June 1988 both resumed office at the unanimous request of the members; Denning as Grand Master and Phillips as Administrator-General. Fact|date=February 2007

The modern Aurum Solis

In 1989 the two returned to England, and the Grand Commandery of Athlit relocated. On 30 January 1994, Vivienne O'Regan, author of The Pillar of Isis, was established as Administrator-General of the Aurum Solis by Denning. In 1997, Denning was diagnosed with cancer and died on 23 March. Vivienne O'Regan is established as Prior of the Order on 3 May 1998, then Deputy Grand Master on 9 September 1998, and then Acting Grand Master in December 1999. On 11 April 2001 Phillips resumes office as the Grand Master of Aurum Solis.Fact|date=July 2007

On October 5, 2002 the Aurum Solis was reconstituted as an exclusively Christian Order. [Aurum Solis. [http://web.archive.org/web/20021201094457/www.aurumsolis.co.uk/ Aurum Solis: The Order of the Sacred Word] . Retrieved 7/19/07] Shortly after, the Aurum Solis Publications Office website displayed a slightly different message. [Aurum Solis. [http://web.archive.org/web/20030320104742/http://www.aurumsolis.co.uk/ AURUM SOLIS: Condito MDCCCXCVII Constat] . Retrieved 7/19/07]

Eight months later, on June 14, 2003, Phillips retired as Grand Master and was replaced by Jean-Louis de Biasi, the current (as of April 4, 2007) Grand Master, who issued a declaration emphasizing the scientific and Hermetic nature of the Order. Notably, no mention was made of Christianity in this declaration. [de Biasi, J. L. (June 2003). [http://www.aurumsolis.net/declarationjune2003.htm Declaration of the Grand Master] . Retrieved on 4/4/07]

On January 1, 2007, the website of the Aurum Solis published a statement by Osbourne Phillips (past Grand Master of the Aurum Solis), entitled "Aurum Solis: The Grand Master and Charters of Succession". [Phillips, Osbourne (January 2007). [http://www.aurumsolis.net/20070101_osborne_phillips.htm AURUM SOLIS: THE GRAND MASTER AND CHARTERS OF SUCCESSION] . Retrieved 7/19/07]

References

External links

* [http://www.aurumsolis.net/ The Official Website of the Aurum Solis]