New Vs. Old Methods Of Initiation Ritual
Channel: Rev Jonathan Barlow Gee
Date: 2023-07-14

PODcast 006 E

Between new & old methods to initiate what is better for esoteric development?

The answer only depends somewhat on what you mean by “old” and “new.” If you go back to the oldest forms of initiation rituals still practiced by indigenous tribal shamans, the ceremonies all involve taking a “heroic dose” of some psychotropic entheogen and, in some cases, going on an independent “walkabout” or “vision quest.” Obviously this is quite different from being “initiated” into several “Scottish Rite Free-masonic” degrees in a single evening’s sitting by simply watching a theatrical performance of their rituals. The mediation of participation in the ritual activities is only one distinction however and not the primary difference - the use of entheogen hallucinogens is. In terms of practicing “self-initiation” into the esoteric mystery tradition, the usual way to do this is by “personal alchemy” or experimenting on oneself using psychoactive drugs. Modern “psycho-nauts” seek to explore the “invisible landscape” of the imagination; many call themselves “urban-primitives” or “neo-tribalists” and many these days practice “chaos” magic entirely without affiliation or else as members of many different kinds of covens. In terms of practicing “group initiation” into such matters, however, Freemasonry takes a different stance on the use of hallucinogenic drugs during their ceremonies and tends to generally discourage such. This seems to be more of an outgrowth of their enlightenment era materialistic scientism than any “moral” puritanism, however, as they certainly do not prohibit alcohol or other legal drugs being used among their members. Ultimately, Freemasonry substitutes the “imagination” and exploration aspect of individual drug-based “self-initiation” with wrote “memorization” of very specific (mostly pointless) lines of dialogue in a ceremonial drama. It does this by making its “ego-death” ritual so unpleasant to undergo, one would not want to do so on any form of hallucinogen.