Practical Ritual Lodges

The purpose of the Ritual Lodges forming under the Universal Enlightenment umbrella will be to conduct ritual magick. They will not be social clubs, initiatory fraternities, drug parties or sex clubs. The lodges will come together monthly (or more often if all are interested) and conduct specific ritual work for personal development, magical exploration, thaumaturgical experiment, or theurgical harmonization.

There will be three different basic kinds of Lodges: Outer Lodges, Inner Lodges and Supreme Lodges. I will describe them individually below. There will be no requirement to be a part of any of the other branches to be a part of an Outer Lodge, and the majority of practical occult work will take place in these Outer Lodges. It will not be a requirement to be engaged in the Evolutionary Hermetic Curriculum for magical development. It will not be a requirement to participate in Meditation Classes or the Esoteric Book Club.

These lodges will be operated as individual and autonomous bodies, although in most cases they will be formed out of one of the other branches of the organization, and so will be connected in that way. It will of course not be a requirement to participate in magical lodges to be a part of other branches of the organization. My intention is to help create bodies that are mutually supportive, interconnected, but not dependent upon each other. A person can participate in all or one of the branches, and still be considered a full member of the family.

However, in order to work together effectively in a magical circle, everyone in the Lodge must be in a harmonious state of accord. So, being invited into a Lodge will be a matter of being voted in by a unanimous secret ballot amongst the current members.

If someone seeks to join a lodge and is refused there will be two remedies. One, the person could become more active in other aspects of the organization, and so become better known. Two, the person could start their own Lodge if they have the prerequisites. The Lodges and their requisites are described below. 

Outer Magical Lodge (Sublunary Elemental Magick)

Outer Lodges will meet monthly (or more) and conduct the basic elemental rite. As this is a frame ritual of opening and closing, whatever practical work you choose will be worked as the main event. The basic ritual will celebrate and invoke elemental forces and most of the work will probably be along those lines, but this is no hard and fast rule. Planetary magick and other forms of ritual may also play important roles in individual groups.

The specific practical work undertaken will be decided by the group, and ritual roles will be assigned by lottery. Thaumaturgical Ritual Lodges, Theurgical Ritual Lodges, Enochian Ritual Lodges, Advanced Meditation Circles, Psychic Development Groups, and even Master-mind Lodges will form as variations and mutations of the basic model. Some lodges may closely resemble witchcraft covens. Work specifically relating to the New Training Program may be undertaken by Lodges in which this is appropriate.

Requirements:

One magician who has completed Phase Three (or the New Hermetics Course or some kind of equivalent in another group)

Two other magicians of any experience level.

A working space of sufficient size and temple accouterments.

When three or more magicians are in the same locality then an Outer Magical Lodge may be formed, as long as one of them has completed enough magical work to be able to hold the thing together. (This will be a flexible criteria, especially at first). This is a very liberal policy. I want to make it very liberal because I would like to see people working magick together under the auspices of this organization. As long as there is some-one with sufficient experience to keep the thing from immediately derailing I want to actively encourage group workings around the world.

It is probably a best practice to get to know each other for some time before making such a commitment. I have some specific plans for allowing a working group to organically blossom and anyone interested in this should contact me at jason@newhermetics.com. The first step would be to start a chapter of the Esoteric Book Club and/or Meditation Class, and to enthusiastically promote the same, as this will bring interested parties to you, and you can choose each other as suits your mutual fancies.

Inner Magical Lodge (Lunar/Solar Planetary Magick)

When three or more members of the third phase or higher (that are all working the basic elemental rite) are assembled in geographical proximity they can gather together at least four times per year at the cross quarter festivals (or nearby) to conduct the solar rite. Workings can also be conducted more frequently as desired.

Supreme Magical Lodge (Stellar Magick)

Members of the seventh phase or higher (who work the other rites) in geographical proximity can come together twice a year for the stellar rite, to consecrate artifacts for lodges, to birth and establish egregore, to meet on matters relating to satellite bodies etc.

Generally speaking, the vernal and autumnal equinox are ideal places for large gatherings of all members, to conduct rites on a large scale, to create bonds of friendship and fraternity among the wider organization as a whole, to create and sustain the collective magical power of the organization. These sorts of rites may be arranged by the various councils and committees that form for those purposes.

The solstices will be important times for group work regarding creating and maintaining magical egregore. 

(Anyone who has completed my New Hermetics training may form a lodge at any time. Just let us know that it is there so that we can connect you with members. Others who have either finished the basic course or who feel they are qualified should contact me at jason@newhermetics.com to discuss it further. Please also feel free to contact me to find local lodges or groups in formation).

Please forgive our appearance while we move into the neighborhood