The Divine Framework
The following framework began under Aleister Crowley under the name: A∴A∴ which stands for Argenteum Astrum, or Latin for Silver Star. It’s members are dedicated to the advancement of humanity by perfection of the individual on every plane through a graded series of universal initiations. Its initiations are syncretic, unifying the essence of Theravada Buddhism with Vedantic yoga and ceremonial magic. The A∴A∴ applies what it describes as mystical and magical methods of spiritual attainment under the structure of the Qabalistic Tree of Life, and aims to research, practice, and teach “scientific illuminism.”
Since Crowley has passed, I made slight alterations, and additions, to his A∴A∴ ladder which I now call the Divine Framework.
In order to reach 4°=7°, one will practice weekly to advance their studies up the ladder below:
Probationer
(0°=0°): The Probationer’s principal business is to begin such practices as he or she may prefer, and to keep a careful record over a single year without showing anyone. Keep these written, recordings, and video reflections private (alternative private IG recommended). This is the role of an observer, or witness, gathering details along one’s personal journey as it relates to Life’s grand sum.
Neophyte
(1°=10°): Has to acquire control of the astral plane. Begins study of Yoga, health, Chakras, gems/crystals, Religious frame works, altars, spiritual settings, and the moral nature of humankind. A true Neophyte will believe in rebirth.
Zelator
(2°=9°): The Zelator’s main work is to achieve complete success in asana and pranayama. The Zelator can choose from one of the many paths of Yoga. Seven common Yogic paths to find union with the higher Self are Hatha (Balance), Karma (Selfless), Raja (Meditation/Prayer), Jhana (Intellect), Japa (Vibration of sound or music), Bhakti (Devotion), and Tantra (Energetic). The individual must read, study, and contemplate the Transfer of Energy before the student can advance upward.
Practicus
(3°=8°): Is expected to complete intellectual training, and in particular to study Qabalah, Bible, Quran, Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavad Gita, Vedas, and any other books required for spiritual growth and/or modern human life. Use the lessons learned to practice spiritual and moral behavior in every day life with respect to the Yamas and Niyamas (moral observances: inward and outward).
Philosophus
(4°=7°): School and more schooling of course. Grow and learn, and is expected to complete moral training in day to day life; you’ll be tested through honesty and integrity even when no one is watching. Express compassion to all Life; it shows in our skin and lasts all our life. Non-violence is the way in which harmony exists, and only after enough practice, will the truest and most honest intentions emerge. Here you will find that the intuition is never wrong; if you listen to your heart long enough you will become a link, or Dominus Liminis, and are expected to show mastery of pratyahara and dharana. This link is like a seed, and we must learn to control the mind long enough to see that within is the way to establish a connection to the divine through our individual form. Many choose a duty after their studies and often devote their lives to it. Others will change duties many times, but all duties should be preformed to the best of our ability. If a passion emerges during your studies, and you feel draw to something artistic, or noble, or if an idea of ingenuity arises, then you ought to examine the framework in their these tiers, but decide the best path for your pursuit. For others, the duty may not be known, and if it lies deeper, then you may feel called to something that cannot be named yet; if there is something pulling at your heart each and every night, then you can become initiated before your creative potential can be illuminated. Continue to water your seed for now, and your light will begin to grow and spread when it is ready. If you feel called, follow the framework in the next two tiers to expose your greatest talents.
In order to reach 7°=4°, one must have completed all lower degrees while practicing daily to advance up the ladder of Initiation:
Adeptus Minor (Without)
(5°=6°): Lesser Adept (Without). Is expected to perform the Great Work while studying Astrology, laws of nature, seasons, and be able to read Astrological Birth Charts before attaining the Knowledge and Conversation of a Holy Guardian Angel.
Adeptus Minor (Within)
(5°=6°): Lesser Adept (Within). Is admitted to the inner practice of the Self through the formula of the pictorial representation of the forces of Nature as conceived by the Ancients according to a conventional symbolism known as Tarot, Runes, or Oracle Cards. The study of Numerology, Mythology, and Greek Gods and Goddesses begin here. You are now entering the College of the High Ghost.
Adeptus Major
(6°=5°): Greater Adept. Obtains a general mastery of practical incantation without comprehension. Coincidences, numbers, and signs appear more often from the seed of Higher Consciousness that was planted so long ago. The truest light of the Self is emerging in the form of thoughts, actions, and virtue. Dive deep into your study of Transmutation, Meditation, and Alchemy.
Adeptus Exemptus
(7°=4°): Exempt Adept requires completion of all these matters listed above. He and she become Brothers and Sisters of the Divine Path, or Left Hand Path. Begin to study to palms of your peers to reveal the truth. This is beginning preparation for the process of stripping away the ego of all attainments. If the link is connected firm in the lower degrees, then why wait on shore? You are your vessel, and this is your life, so if it is time to depart, (only if you are committed to the Self that is within you) then go! Only you know your path, and every path is unique to all form. Built by stardust, cultivated by gravity, grown over years to find a home in body of mankind carrying the light of Christ at your core, settle into the power of this moment. Trust in all that is above, and all that is below. Be brave and take risks, and for this life to become your dream, then go toward “it,” whatever “it” may be. The middle path is challenging, so be ready for the dark night of the soul, who, having transcended reason, does nothing but grow in the womb of its mother. Trust in the universe and have faith it what she’s willing to show. If you keep you heart tuned true, you will soon find yourself a Master of the Temple.
In order to reach the following grades one will maintain devotion to the highest path by following your truest calling. “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law. Love is the law. Love under will:”
Magister Templi
or Master of the Temple (8°=3°): The principal business of this grade is to obtain a perfect understanding of the Universe as held within a single human body. As above, so below, through asana, meditation, and tantra principles we practice until the body reflects the mind to our utmost potential. Once the body and mind are in harmony, or as we are approaching union, the essential attainment becomes the perfect annihilation of that personality (ego) which limits and oppresses his or her true Self. The Magister Templi is pre-eminently the Master of Mysticism, that is, his and her understanding grows to freedom from internal contradiction or external obscurity; his or her work is to comprehend the existing Universe in accordance with his or her own mind. No TV, no news, no social media, and no needless communication; the truest Guru resides within. Proper diet and lifestyle are essential. It takes twenty-one days to break a habit, but we’ll need ninety days before you turn old habitual patterns into your new lifestyle. This grade corresponds to Binah on the Tree of Life, and to the Secret Chiefs in the old Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Aleister Crowley linked this stage with the experience he called Shivadarshana, or resting and relaxing in ones own soul, along with the Four Formless States of Buddhism. A sound body is a reflection of a sound mind; finding the peak of our physical potential prepares the body for the journey ahead. Once the human peak is realized, the body acts as a generator for the higher consciousness that exists in the mental and spiritual realms. We can ease into this higher energy under the proper conditions; first you must be strong, and a strong body is a balanced body. You’ll need to create a Sadhana, or daily spiritual practice (yoga, meditation, asana, pranayama, study, etc). If the mind is trained correctly not only will the body find it’s peak, but you’ll soon be ready to examine the ego. The most important part is to make sure the link you created in the lower degrees is secure through all your training, study, practice, and perseverance. Everything needs to be done with total honesty because you will be tested until failure.
Magus
(9°=2°): The Magus is not male or female, it is, and it seeks to attain Wisdom, declare law, and is a Master of all Magick in its greatest and highest sense. Their will is free from internal diversion or external opposition. Transcendence of the Three Gunas can occur and their work creates their new Universe in accordance with their Will; “do what thou wilt” shall be the whole of the law (Thelema). This grade corresponds to Chokmah on the Tree of Life. Here the Magus has the vision and skillset to create Talisman. True initiation comes from a state of correct mind, and a true Magus may initiate others who are called and ready to advance on their own path. The goal could be for their web to spread and create many links back to the divine. The Magus is dependable to the Spirit and committed aspect of divinity; here their individual link becomes permanently bonded. Various unique aspects of individual’s character may transcend on to the next lifetime, or beyond, if this person is not liberated by the end of this life.
Ipsissimus
(10°=1°): Beyond the comprehension of the lower degrees, the motto of the Ipsissimus states: “Not I, but Us.” Devoted to all and freed from limitation, they find no necessity or attachments as they surrender to supreme faith of God made whole: complete union of the divine Mother and Father in the form of a human body. Transcending the illusion of the material world they live in balance with the universe by a life devoted to preservation of creative energy, or complete chaos of form, leading to recreation. There is no higher realization or attainment. This unity corresponds to Kether on the Tree of Life. Ipsissimus is quite hard to translate from Latin to English, as it is the superlative of “Self,” translating approximately to “His or Her most Selfness,” or “Self-est.” Within us, the Self resides, and the Ipissimus establishes a realization of this truth and embodies it through human form. In order to reach this stage, the individual can attain the condition of this grade by focusing into a meditative trance referred to as Samadhi. Transcendence is a quest for balance with both a motive for discipline, persistence, and the means of achieving the end goal, or supreme devotion to God in all forms of life, nature, and existence. Through this journey, after we become a Master of our Temple, and once we fulfill our duties as Magus, we find divine union. Here God, the Father of the Universe, uses our link to connect with the Divine Mother of the universe, or Ma, who cultivates all life-energy into the hearts of all living beings. Now we are ready to make the final realization. Where as the Magus seeks to further progression of the Buddhist Characteristics: “Wherein sorrow is joy, and change is stability, and selflessness is Self,” the Ipissimus reaches completion to realize that the path is the way; this is when a wave realizes that it is the entire ocean. As Swami Satchidananda said, “truth is one, paths are many.” The Ipsissimus’ devotion leads our essence back to itself through many forms, where union with our higher Self can be cultivated and spread to others for generations to come. By reuniting our awareness with the Heavenly Mother and Father, and realizing God’s presence in each moment, we are free from the future and past to discover and appreciate that this moment is now. Enlightened Beings keep achievements of final grades secret; the mind is focused away from the ego, or “I,” as the belief is in our selves to be all, rather than separate from each other. “Not I, but Us,” and so the Ipissimus maintains an honest intent in all thoughts, actions, and words to embody the Self. If the link is not strong, and a distraction causes disturbance, the connection to the divine could jeopardize the union formed with the Higher Self. If this connection to God is lost, or interrupted, then the realization of chaos may abruptly ensue. Every choice is a lesson, and even all chaos redirects us to recreation, where in time we reestablish a new connection with the divine. Liberation is possible when life is lived true. Continue the work of all the existing degrees, and devote energy to uniting our nature in harmony throughout all existence; this grade is not you, nor is it me, but rather it is us as One. When our world awakens together, once humans find harmony with everything above, and everything below, will the Ipissimus emerge in the hearts of all beings.
~There are a few exceptions up the ladder of Devotion, and this path is explained in the unique categories below:
Divinum Enim Esse
(28°=28°): Divine Beings, Virgin Mothers, Benevolent Fathers, Light Workers, Tarot Readers, Healers, Yogis, Reiki Practitioners, alternative medicine professionals, Shamans, Witches, Channels, Volunteers, Bohemians, Travelers, Wanderers, Nomads, Alien, and God born are kept in this category. Unqiue paths require unique choices and so it is up to you how you’ll foster the divine gift received at birth or found later in life. If there is a connection to the divine, then “do as thou wilt will be the whole of the law. Love is the law. Love under will.” Create a personal framework and find your rhythm to determine how this uniqueness can better serve us as whole. By sharing our gifts, we get what we give, and giving makes our gifts flourish. This path is a pursuit that may lead through many lifetimes toward the deepest discoveries of your blessing(s). Past life regression may be worthwhile; consult you local medium.
Tricksters and Artifacts
(33°=33°) They may, or may not be, possessed. If the energy of lost spirit has taken hold of you, then this is something you can try to be, and soon you will fail, or you can try to fight it, and soon it will fight you, or you can let it be, and it will be you. Either way, watch and see what it does, become a personal observer as you stand by ever watchful of the rambling mind. A black sheep in it’s nature, this oxymoron is a strange fool, and here lessons are examined through duality to find harmony in chaos. Crazy Wisdom is the teacher behind the trick, and so if you must play both sides, then live by “as above, so below.” No need for hope, throw out all your fears; this embodies the sadness hidden within the fearless nature of a hero. You can play life how you’d like, but just remember how every choice changes the way. Tricksters and artifacts own nothing; not living nor dead, yet alive and dying together. Every night they pass on, and every morning they arise a new. This is not something to try, it is to be, as it is. Often a Master of the Temple (8°=3°) finds the path of spiritual warrior, and along the road to fearlessness they transform into the Trickster unintentionally (Heath Ledger). Many cultures find this character dancing at funerals, a clown during the ceremonies, and illuminating a play for all it’s worth, but the highest form may be that of a Mad-Bramacharya, or a celibate devote with a tantric obsession. They are sparked by Krishna Consciousness, or complete awareness of the present moment that everything becomes magick, or surreal. Maybe only a madman can expose an illusion, but surely the illusion would only be known to him or her? Unlike a monk, this Trickster is aligned to play, to act, and to recreate more stories, more truthful illusions, by revealing the higher Truth in the process of existing. Not painful or painless, the Trickster exposes the masks we wear so that the nature our of true Self is seen in all it’s grandness. Take the journey along any six moons and you can discover that tricksters are more than misfits; they are our ancestors passing through to laugh at who we’ve become. There is nothing to hold onto here, just let go to flow, and as Ram Dass would say, “there is no where to stand.” The result of all a trickster’s action achieves that which is nothing; never do they gain, or lose, in any event because this grand play was never theirs to begin with. The playful nature, or action, was just something to do while the time passes by before we die and are reunited with all energy. Then we bow, and the trickster reveals he/she was just a character teaching us how chaos and pain prepares us for deep contemplation. These individuals tend to be loners, or even viewed as alien to their own kind. Their art tends to shine like Van Gogh’s Starry Night. Their life is often stuck in a dark night that never seems to fade, and yet they still depart into the darkness to make it their home. By a trickster’s presence alone they reveal a secret of illumination hidden to the rest of our world; this is the life of an artifact, or the trickster within the Self. Banksy could be viewed as a modern day Trickster. Never interested in fear, they laugh away all hopeless, for the Trickster knows that the soul never dies; it carries on and changes bodies each time around. A trickster is not afraid, nor is it hopeful; it has died too many times to know the difference and so it is always present, and here right now. Every life-time the Trickster accepts a unique role unlike any form before it, but as they grow into their skin they soon realize they are out of place, and so the Trickster becomes determined to reveal itself hiding behind your mask. They’ll go as far as needed to discover all the tricks and tips a human might possess. The Trickster is here to remind us that we are all simple fools in a funny game.