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PRACTICUS GRADE: DEFINING THE GRADE
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The Practicus transcends reason and attains understanding (Hod).
The Lustral Water consecrated by the Lunar Blade (Shin), and the
luminescent rays dawning (Resh), completes the paths from there
to here. Now does the unification of knowledge (Ayin), the
expulsion of the source (Pé), and the integrity of discipline
(Mem) navigates the reckoning of ascension. That which has been
attained is now elevated through the right application of
understanding; this shall rekindle the furnace (Tzaddi) and
refine the art (Qoph). Thus is the science made whole and the
structure completed (completion of the system allowing the
unification of ‘any’ and ‘all’ ideas – this is the final stage
of intellectual training, and confirms that the Practicus has
attained one of the three stages of self-sufficiency).
It is not necessary for the Practicus to fully comprehend the
nature of each pathway at the start of the grade, as the tasks,
when completed, crystallize the processes, and more importantly,
the level of accomplishment necessary. It is recommended that
the practical natures of the pathways detailed below be reviewed
prior to admission into the next grade, at which time the degree
of attainment can be self-verified. Special note must also be
immediately given to the passages quoted from Liber XCV as they
contain sufficient counsel to lead the Practicus away from the
perilous qualities inherent to the grade work.
Hod (Cup)
The Practicus attains to the first sephiroth from which the
tasks of the ascending paths (23rd, 26th, and 27th) originate
from within the house, and this through the nature of the
ascension of the 30th and 31st paths. The consecration of the
lustral-water is accomplished through the union of the parts
(Gnana Yoga – 26th path) that the vessel of life (Cup – 23rd
path) is filled and redemption found. Then, and only then, can
the key to the unification of the whole (Liber XXVII – 27th
path) be secured, and this perfects the distinctive
science-system of the Aspirant, now leaping, plunging, and
balancing from the House of Splendor across the paths – not
toward the goals, but rather from the base.
“Then we came out into the Third (or Eighth, it depends
which way you count them, because there are ten) House, and that
was so splendid you can't imagine. In the first place it was a
bright, bright, bright orange colour, and then it had flashes of
light all over it, going so fast we couldn't see them, and then
there was the sound of the sea and one could look through into
the deep, and there was the ocean raging beneath one's feet, and
strong dolphins riding on it and crying aloud, "Holy! Holy!
Holy!" in such an ecstasy you can't think, and rolling and
playing for sheer joy. It was all lighted by a tiny, weeny, shy
little planet, sparkling and silvery, and now and then a wave of
fiery chariots filled with eager spearmen blazed through the
sky, and my Fairy Prince said: "Isn't it all fine?" But I knew
he didn't really mean it, so I said: "Kiss me!" and he kissed
me, and we went on. He said: "Good little girl of mine, there's
many a one stays there all his life." I forgot to say that the
whole place was just one mass of books, and people reading them
till they were so silly, they didn't know what they were doing.
And there were cheats, and doctors, and thieves; I was really
very glad to go away.” [Quoted from Liber XCV]
Pé (Destruction)
Attack the first half of the equation – the source of thought,
balanced with the first half of completion – the system of
science. Then let the tightrope be gripped by the toes, the
clinging despair thudding the heart controlled, and the passage
from here to there navigated once
“The third path is a most terrible passage; it's all a great
war, and there's earthquakes and chariots of fire, and all the
castles breaking to pieces. I was glad when we Came to the Green
Palace.” [Quoted from Liber XCV]
Ayin (Rapture)
The end of this pathway can only be seen when the completed
Magical Lamp has been lit, however the Practicus may still step
upon this pathway and partake of the mysteries therein.
Therefore, beware any system of pure science and intellect, for
the task of the Practicus in this pathway is the comprehension
of the artist method that must be infused into the scheme of the
whole, and this begins with infusion from the inner uniqueness
of his or her soul-source.
“But in the first we came to a mighty throne of gray
granite, shaped like the sweetest pussy cat you ever saw, and
set up on a desolate heath. It was midnight, and the Devil came
down and sat in the midst; but my Fairy Prince whispered: "Hush!
It is a great secret, but his name is Yeheswah, and he is the
Saviour of the World." And that was very funny, because the girl
next me thought it was Jesus Christ, till another Fairy Prince
(my Prince's brother) whispered as he kissed her: "Hush, tell
nobody ever, that is Satan, and he is the Saviour of the World."
We were a very great company, and I can't tell you of all the
strange things we did and said, or of the song we sang as we
danced face outwards in a great circle ever closing in on the
Devil on the throne. But whenever I saw a toad or a bat, or some
horrid insect, my Fairy Prince always whispered: "It is the
Saviour of the World," and I saw that it was so. We did all the
most beautiful wicked things you can imagine, and yet all the
time knew they were good and right, and must be done if ever we
were to get to the House of Gold. So we enjoyed ourselves very
much and ate the most extraordinary supper you can think of.
There were babies roasted whole and stuffed with pork sausages
and olives; and some of the girls cut off chops and steaks from
their own bodies, and gave them to a beautiful white cook at a
silver grill, that was lighted with the gas of dead bodies and
marshes; and he cooked them splendidly, and we all enjoyed it
immensely. Then there was a tame goat with a gold collar, that
went about laughing with everyone; and he was all shaved in
patches like a poodle. We kissed him and petted him, and it was
lovely. You must remember that I never let go of my Fairy Prince
for a single instant, or of course I should have been turned
into a horrid black toad.” [Quoted from Liber XCV]
Mem (Lustration)
The end of this pathway can only be seen when the completed
Magical Lamp has been lit, however the Practicus may still step
upon this pathway and partake of the mysteries therein.
Therefore, let the Practicus identify the bonding process of
Love, and this as the consecration of the representation of the
whole, established in the one system. This is a special
blessing, existing within water and fire and without fire and
water, and it is the right combination of these elements within
that transmutes the Lustral Water into a awareness, achieving
holiness.
“To go through the first you must be painted all over with
blood up to your waist, and cross your legs, and then put a rope
round one angle and swing you off. I had such a pretty white
petticoat on, and my Prince said I looked just like a white
pyramid with a huge red cross on the top of it, which made me
ever so glad, because now I knew I should be the Saviour of the
World, which is what one wants to be, isn't it? Only sometimes
the world means all the other children in the dream, and
sometimes the dream itself, and sometimes the wake-things one
sees before one is quite, quite awake. The Prince tells me that
really and truly only the First House where his Father lived was
really a wake-house, all the others had a little sleep about
them, and the further you got the more awake you were, and began
to know just how much was dream and how much wake.” [Quoted
from Liber XCV]
Shin (Death & Waking)
When the Lustral Waters are poured into the Cup, the pathway is
secured (accomplished within the House of Splendor).
“This passage was all fire and flames and full of coffins.
There was an angel blowing on a trumpet, and people getting out
of the coffins. My Fairy Prince said: "Most people never wake up
for anything less.” " [Quoted from Liber XCV]
Resh (Dominance)
When the Lunar Dagger is thrust into the Lustral Waters filling
the Cup, the pathway is secured (accomplished within the House
of Splendor).
“So we went (at the same time it was; you see in dreams
people can only be in one place at a time; that's the best of
being awake) through another passage, which was lighted by the
Sun. Yet there were fairies dancing in a green ring, just as if
it was night. And there were two children playing by the wall,
and my Fairy Prince and I played as we went; and he said: "The
difference is that we are going through. Most people play
without a purpose; if you are traveling it is all right, and
play makes the journey seem short."” [Quoted from Liber
XCV]
Tzaddi (Perception)
The Zelator comes to reason the motions. The Practicus comes to
understand the scope.
“Then there was another passage which was really too secret
for anything; all I shall tell you is, there was the most
beautiful Goddess that ever was, and she was washing herself in
a river of dew. If you ask what she is doing, she says: "I'm
making thunderbolts." It was only starlight, and yet one could
see quite clearly, so don't think I'm making a mistake.”
[Quoted from Liber XCV]
Qoph (Second Sight)
The Neophyte learns the method. The Practicus understands the
principles.
“We walked through a pool, each on the arm of a great big
Beetle, and then we found ourselves on a winding path. There
were nasty Jackals about, they made such a noise, and at the end
I could see two towers. Then there was the queerest moon you
ever saw, only a quarter full. The shadows fell so strangely,
one could see the mysterious shapes, like great bats with
women's faces, and blood dripping from their mouths, and
creatures partly wolves and partly men, everything changing one
into the other. And we saw shadows like old, old, ugly women,
creeping about on sticks, and all of a sudden they would fly up
into the air, shrieking the funniest kind of songs, and then
suddenly one would come down flop, and you saw she was really
quite young and ever so lovely, and she would have nothing on,
and as you looked at her she would crumble away like a biscuit.”
[Quoted from Liber XCV]
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