Study Guide for the 1st Year Student of the Monastery of the Seven Rays (O.T.O.A.

1st Degree Probationer (Malchut) Introduction to the Doctrine of Initiation

Dear student and fellow seeker of LVX/NOX. You have been admitted to the initiated studies of the
Monastery of the Seven Rays as a member of the Ordo Templi Orientis Antiqua. This means you al-
ready were given previous information on what possibilities you will have in the orders but also what
the orders expect from you. We expect your decision to enter this holy fraternity was not lightly taken
and well thought over.

This short study guide given with the initial papers every member receives are meant to help him with
his rst steps inside the Labyrinth. Not everyone will need these papers and additional information
to achieve the desired results as his imagination, experience, magical link to the current and guidance
through his masters in the Orders will be sucient. But many times students are in need for some
additional ideas to get adapted to the particular path we oer here in the O.T.O.A. and the alligned
fraternities as it is very dierent and much more elaborated and demanding than most esoteric organi-
zations.

This study guide concentrates on the work within the O.T.O.A. If you have been given papers regard-
ing the LCN, these at this point are self-explainatory and/or should be discussed with your mentor
directly.

We are concerned here with a guide to the 4 year courses of the Monaster of the Seven Rays, which is
a teaching vehicle of the OTOA. However, in the course of your work, keep in mind that the Courses
of the Monastery are not the entire teachings of the OTOA. They comprise a basic body of teachings
unique to the OTOA. While this is so, one must not forget that the order has many more teachings,
some of them only accessible to the inner temples of the orders. There exist special initiatory cells and
temples and while much is released to the initiated students of the outer temples, more is retained
within the inner sanctuaries for those few and precious students who progress to these portals.

The Course of studies in the OTOA is divided into four-year courses (with more courses in prepara-
tion) oered through the Monastery of the Seven Rays. These courses again have been subdivided in
logical chunks to present the student with most crucial information he must understand, digest and
internalize, before moving on to the next level of studies. It is very much encouraged to conne oneself
to the level of work one has been assigned to and not to work ahead or divert oneself through too much
engagement in the higher level material. This will only cause confusion and distraction and the value
of our approach has been proven many times. During each period of study, the student is required to
write and send regular reports (how to write a report, see the paper on reports included) to a mentor

1
who will then be able to advice and adjust the studies according to the individual needs of the student.
After the intellectually understanding and integration of the principles in the given materials, the stu-
dent is required to hand in a nal report, giving proof of his ability to master the information he has
received. He will then receive the next papers etc. The completion of particular phases of studies also
corresponds with the degrees/grades of the OTOA. While a student is able to see his development on a
certain scale, it does not mean, that these degrees are awarded to him in a formal way and that he will
hold the powers of this degree.

Initiations, empowerments and transmissions are only given on an individual level from master to
chela and only very few people within the orders have the sacramental power to do this. When the
chela will receive such an initiation or empowerments depends on his level of understanding, work,
engagement and potentials, as well as his relationship with the spirits. However, formal completion of
the assigned work does correspond with the aquirement of certain magical and occult abilities which
correspond in secret ways to the degree system and the level of spiritual attainment.

While we do oer help and guidance in various ways, we expect a high degree of creativity and inde-
pendency when dealing with the information you will receive through the orders. You will have to nd
individual ways and approaches to work with the Courses and come up with individual results. With
the guidance provided this is very possible for everyone, however, determination, endurance and the
development of many facilities in the occult psyche are needed.

We also expect the student to truly integrate the lessons and ideas presented to him in his course of
studies. Apart form a theoretical and intellectual absorption and understanding of the material, he
must integrate this practically and directly into his magical persona and transform into a higher being
as he walks along the path. To the serious practitioner, it is clear that this is no easy task and involves
a lot of courage and will. However, this integration of principles and magical/occult skills goes hand
in hand and to be able to wield the powerful magic we possess and to enter the sanctuaries of the Loa,
one must be perfectly prepared in body and spirit.

In Gnosis,
Tau Melchizedek
Sovereign Grand Master
Ordo Templi Orientis Antiqua
& La Couleuvre Noire

2
 Additional commentaries on the rst 16 lessons

I will begin with a quote from Master Bertiaux which you will nd in these rst papers:

The rst years course work at the monastery is a matter of introduction to the teachings of
the outer temple. The nature of occult training is such that it is necessary to clearify a number of points, so
that the student is ready for entry into the temples of the inner court, where in the course of very intense
studies, the keys to occult power, to systems of magic with cosmic dimensions are taught....

In the rst initial lessons the student is confronted with seemingly easy and well-known concepts like
the nature of the occult universe and principles of occultism. However, these papers lay many vital
foundations in understanding our particular idea of magical work and universes and these ideas dif-
fer fundamentally from other systems of magic. Here we nd gnostic concepts joining magical ideas
and these are clearly presented and one should take time to really read and integrate them. The initial
chapters present in short most secrets of the occult and gnostic world. After many years of studying
and practicing our magic, you will nd yourself going back to these chapters and reading its content in
a dierent way. There is much contained which the supercial reader will miss easily.

Systematically Master Bertiaux explains the nature of the magical and occult universe, our place within
it as adepts and the the rst steps needed to get in touch with the forces of the occult. These form the
basis to be able later to manipulate and build your own magical universe. Like in school be sure you
integrate and understand these fundamental ideas, which have many deeper layers, because if you fail
to do so, all additional and powerful material which will need to rest on this base, will become confus-
ing and will not work. Like a cosmic puzzle all has its place.

You will be explained the nature of occultism, the importance of understanding the symbiosis of art
and science in true occult work. To integrate these ideas and to live accordingly, putting them into ac-
tion is of extreme important for the progress in the orders and our voudon gnostic system. So from the
rst lessons onward, you will be able and you will be compelled to live occultism.

After learning about purication-processes and direction of his desires the student will move on to
studying something about the nature and qualities of some the occult powers which he will be able to
access. It provides a necessary theoretical basis for the future professional training in accessing and
wielding these powers. The necessity for metaphysical surrender are discussed as well as the dier-
ences in power and perecption of the occultist vs. the non-occultist. Very important things to know
indeed if one wants to have an idea where he is heading towards the state of superhumanity!

We will present to you examples of how occult art is realized within some departments of the esoteric
centers of the voudon gnostic continuum, so you are able to get a glimpse of how future work could
look like. At the same time you will receive lessons on occult history and the the nature of the occult
sciences. This and ideas on esoteric cosmology will help you to nd your place within the magico-
gnostic continuum you have joined.

Your rst step on the path within the voudon gnosis ends with the rst occult self examination, which
you will need to complete and attach to your nal report before progressing to the next level of work.

Fraternally,
Tau Melchizedek
SGM OTOA/LCN

3
 Magical/Occult Diary

It is advised that the student keeps a magical diary or magical notebook. In the course of your work,
you will nd that daily reection and occult self-awareness are a key to higher magical development.

You will want to record dreams and visions, rituals, etc., so you can include them later in your reports
to your mentor. It is crucial that these reports are not written from memory, but are based on precise
information taken down before and directly after and in some cases during a ritual, meditation or any
magical work.

This diary then of course must not necessarily include very long daily notes, but should contain the
central things of your magical work.

Usually an entry in the magical diary may consist of elements such as:

The goal of work

Preparations, the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual state before, during and after the
working
The elements of the working
Magical experiences during the working
Conclusions

It is good to leave some free space after every entry you may later want to add some notes on the
longer-term results of the working.

The way you keep a diary and what it contains can be very individual and must not have a certain form
do as you see t. However, you should be able to extract precise and coherent information from your
work.

4
 Requirements for passing to the next degree

In the following we list the requirements to be completed by every student before moving on to the
next degree:

1. A creative essay showing ones understanding of the principles of 1st degree and their relation
to ones occult/spiritual path and life. We expect an elaborate and clear presentation of your ideas. This
essay must show your intellectual understanding of the materials you worked with, but also indicate a
clear absorption of these into your daily life and occult work.

2. A report on the self-examination ritual from the 16th lesson.

3. A report at least every 6 weeks detailing your magical and spiritual work and progress. You can
either send in the magical diary of that period or type up a report covering the period. We expect this
report to be elaborate and reective and including all occult/spiritual activities. We must be able to see
a constant level of work.

4. We expect documented regular and thorough practice of exercises and rituals given in the
courses and others given to you by your superiors in the Orders.

5. An essay on any spiritual-magical-related topic for Instrumentum. Instrumentum is a major

teaching vehicle and communication platform for members of the orders. We expect every member to
contribute to Instrumentum and share some of his work with others. The essay (or art or any result of
occult creativity in relation to the work in the orders) must be of a certain quality and in English. Dont
worry about language perfection, it is not grammar or vocabulary which count.