“I am of the opinion that Westcott’s Four Color Scale Enochian Tablets were intended for use in the higher grades, particularly the 6=5 grade of Adeptus Major. This grade corresponds to the Sephirah of Geburah on the Qabalistic Tree of Life, and to the paths of Lamed and Mem, attributed to the Tarot trumps of Justice and the Hanged Man.
“The folios that follow contain the Golden Dawn’s ceremony of initiation into the Adeptus Major Grade. It is titled “Ritual of the 6=5 Grade of Geburah being the Book of the Conference of Signs in the Grade of Adeptus Major,” copy number 4. This copy of the ritual, from the private archives of the HOGD, is the only known copy in existence. It was typed by Carnegie-Dickson, who provided a two-page preface (dated November 2nd, 1945) stating that he copied it from two copies by Brodie-Innes. He also notes that his source copies were used by Sub Spe (Brodie-Innes) and G. H. Frater D.D.C.F. (Mathers). A typeset transcript of the document follows the folios.
“This document is interesting in that it provides new insights into various Grade Signs and Mystical Titles. However, I feel that, as a ritual, it is dry and lacking in magic. It certainly does not rise to the potency of either the Stella Matutina’s 6=5 Ritual or the Adeptus Major Ceremony of Waite’s Independent and Rectified Rite.”
Excerpt
From The Book of the Concourse of the Watchtowers
5 Comments
J.C. · April 2, 2012 at 7:50 pm
It was nice to see the manuscript, so thank you for making it available. We thought the same of this document, that it was quite dry, but still worth reading and studying.
Why do you suppose these peculiar tablets from Westcott were intended for 6=5? Do you suppose it is because of the depth of experience and knowledge with a few different fields of Adeptus Minor studies that seems required to get anything much from them?
Tabatha · April 3, 2012 at 1:03 am
One reason is Westcott's comment in Flying Roll XVI: The History of the Rosicrucian Order:
"In the 5=6 Grade the symbolism of the Rainbow Colours is especially exemplified a range of Colour which may be said to be the most apparent and obvious: while the 6 = 5 Grade is of interest to many of us, especially because the colouring is different."
Frater Yechidah · April 3, 2012 at 1:32 am
Good points, Tabatha. I didn't consider that Flying Roll in relation to this, but it is very suggestive.
I also agree that Mathers' 6=5 is not quite up to scratch compared to other 6=5 ceremonies. There are some good bits and it has potential if it was further developed, but as it stands I'd be hesitant to call anyone who went through it an Adeptus Major.
LVX,
Dean.
Tony DeLuce · April 10, 2012 at 5:50 pm
I don't believe comparing the A.O. 6=5 to those of Waite and Felkin is valid. For one, the A.O. 6=5 was / is not intended to be an "Initiation" ritual in the same sense as the others are and in the same sense as the 0=0 to 5=6 are. It was / is merely meant to pass on the Apostolic succession of the Major Adept grade and this it certainly does by means of the words and signs ( and as everyone that has extensively used the words and signs of the Golden Dawn grades will be aware of the tremendous power these confer when used appropriately)to those who are prepared from someone who can tune their conscousness to such.
I would also note that not a single major off-shoot of the A.O. developed or believed in any "Initiation" or elaborate outer ceremonies above the 5=6 grade and this includes Aleister Crowley, Paul Foster Case, and Dion Fortune. The last outer ceremony of the A.'.A.'. is the formula of the G.D. 5=6 but done at his 2=9 level ( A.C. basically threw away the entire First Order and required much of the essential ZAM and ThAm to be completed in his 1=10 grade *before* the 5=6 equivalent at 2=9 ) and Crowley had a curriculum all the way to his 9=2. And Case and Fortune definitely believed that all Initiations past the 5=6 were / are interior and developed no outer ceremonies above the 5=6.
If one is working a formula where Yetzirah is used to Initiate into Assiah in the First Order and utlizes Yetzirah as a brdige to Briah in the Second Order one could argue, in this case, that to have an elaborate outer ceremony at the 6=5 and 7=4 levels is a return to a First Order formula. In such a process it is the curriculum and consequently the attainment of the Second Order Initiate that is of fundmantal importance and not any Group ceremony that might be developed or done.
Now that doesn't mean having elaborate rituals for the 6=5 and 7=4 would necessary hurt the process and one could argue they might even assist it in some way depending on how a Second Order is constructed.
I just believe it is unfair to compare these dramatically different approaches and suggest that the A.O. 6=5 ritual was / is somehow inferior to what Waite and Felkin developed.
Is is the Work done in the Second Order that confers the grade – passing through the Waite or Felkin 6=5 certainly won't make anyone a Major Adept either.
in L.V.X.,
Tony
Tabatha · April 11, 2012 at 2:06 am
Thanks Tony, I appreciate your thoughts on this. And you are absolutely correct in that it is the Second Order Work that makes a person a 6=5, not a ceremony.