Rufus Opus

Tag: Courses

Tag: Courses

  • Red Work Course 2: Hermetic Merkavah

    The Acquiring the Supernatural Assistant Course is coming along nicely, and I’m very happy with the results many of the members are seeing. And so far there hasn’t been much of the shit storm I was concerned about. Of course, this is still pretty preliminary, but I’ve found that the majority of the students have been called to the course at a time in their life where this kind of ritual would be most effective. Many have already been through the Dark Night of the Soul, faced their Gethsemene, and are ready to receive the Solar Helper.

    But it’s time to start taking orders for the next course in the series, Hermetic Merkavah. Where Course 1 takes the student through the Alchemical Black Phase of the Work and the White Phase, the Hermetic Merkavah Course begins the Green.

    In this course, we’ll be focusing on both the macrocosmic initiations and the physical manifestations associated with each of the Archangels of the Planets and their legions of Spirits.

    We will be using the Modern Angelic Grimoire as the primary text book, and we will progress upwards through the spheres based on Ptolemy’s model of the cosmos. I’m thinking we’ll spend about two weeks on each planet, receiving the initiations into the sphere, receiving attunements and instruction in accessing the powers of the spheres in our daily lives, and actually getting stuff from each planet in our physical lives.

    The course will include anecdotal insights I’ve gained about creating talismans, and I’ll detail the steps I take to create the planetary talismans in the appropriate metals, or their equivalents. Heat, beat, repeat, and engrave sums it up nicely, but I’ll go into more detail in the course.

    Looks like it will be a 17-week course, altogether. The Lesson Plan is as follows:

    Lesson 1: Hermetic Merkavah – The path of the Hermetic Magician’s ascent through the spheres is described in the Emerald Tablet of Hermes, and detailed in the Corpus Hermeticum. The system I’m calling Hermetic Merkavah utilizes a relatively simple system of conjuration, initiation, and contemplation to accomplish the Hermetic Great Work. This lesson provides a detailed overview of the Great Work within the Hermetic discipline, and the functional tools necessary to accomplish it using the techniques of the Modern Angelic Grimoire.

    Lessons 2-8: The Planetary Spheres – One lesson for each of the seven spheres of the planets. These will include a conjuration ritual for each Archangel of the Planet, a sample oration, and tips and tricks on receiving initiations into the spheres. These lessons will include personal experiences with the entities, the skill sets I’ve seen improved by working with the specific entities, and suggestions of manifest things to ask for from these spirits. Each lesson will have an initiatory piece and a practical piece.

    Lesson 9: On the 8th and the 9th Spheres – This lesson addresses the Sphere of the Zodiac, and the Sphere of the Prime Mover.

    Making Planetary Talismans – An eBook summarizing my experiences in creating talismans in the appropriate planetary metals or other materials. Most of my techniques are crude and primitive, but there will be no sculpey. If you want to use plastic clay, go ahead, the spirits don’t care, but lately I’ve come to hate the stuff.

    The Course launch date is tentatively set for December 15, 2009, depending on the response I get. Being the holiday season, I know there’s a lot going on for many of us, and starting a course when most sane institutions of learning are going on vacation or break is maybe a little bit unrealistic. It will start no later than January 1, 2010. I can’t think of a better way to kick off the new year.

    I will create a Yahoo Group for this course as well, but it will be mainly for questions and answers, and a forum to discuss our results.

    This course will provide all the initiations I advocate in the Modern Goetic Grimoire. I expect to launch the Modern Goetic Grimoire course in January, if not sooner as well. If you have already received initiation into the spheres represented in the Magic Circle, you’re already ready to begin the Goetic Work. However, taking this course will provide you with practical experience that will aid you immensely in Working with the more materialistic aspects of the spirits of Goety. Working with the Angels gave me the skills and talents that I needed to efectively Work the “demons” of the Lemegeton’s Goetia, and provided instruction and guidance in contacting and working with spirits of the dead and spirits of location.

    Due to the amount of work involved, the duration of the course, and the overall potential for results received, the course will be $65 for each student. Graduates of this course will receive a discount on Course 3: Goety. None of the courses are prerequisites for the next, because I simply don’t know what you’ve been through in your path and can’t say that you haven’t attained the initiations to be successful in the next course. However, I can use monetary incentives to guide you to the initiations I’ve been through that I credit with my success.

    Students currently in the Supernatural Assistant Course should abstain from this round of the Hermetic Merkavah Course, as you should be conjuring the SA nightly right about now, and not worrying much about any other spirit than Michael or your Genius. And of course, the students of the Supernatural Assistant Course receive a discount on the Hermetic Merkavah Course. It’ll be here when you’re finished with your current Work.

  • Not too late…

    Just a reminder, it’s not too late to sign up for Course 1 of the Red Work series, Acquiring a Supernatural Assistant. You can sign up through November 15th, and you won’t miss too much to be able to catch up.

  • Lesson 1 Available

    For those who signed up for the course, Lesson 1 has been posted and is now available.

    As I developed it, the structure for the whole series of courses came together. Each is a progression from the one before, and each covers a part of the Emerald Tablet of Hermes. I’m calling the course series The Red Work.

    The Red Work series of courses is designed to take the magician through these phases of the Alchemical Work allegorically.

    In Course 1, Acquiring a Supernatural Assistant, we will go through the Black and White phases, applying the Heat of the Sun to a crucible in the Moon, drawing out the imperfections and other negative qualities that distract us from the Work, and preparing us to perform the next phases of the Work.

    Course 2: Hermetic Merkavah picks up the Green and Red Works. During the Green phase, the magician undergoes a series of initiations into the celestial spheres of the planets and fixed stars. You begin a technique of traveling through the spheres, and receiving spiritual attunements that bring you into harmony with the spheres around you. During the Red Work phase, you’ll be learning to apply the powers and lessons obtained in the Celestial spheres in the mundane world. Early efforts are clumsy, and there’s a learning curve involved, but the awkward stage is mercifully brief. By this phase, you’ve learned to learn, a skill that mitigates all challenges.

    Course 3: Goety begins the Projection phase. In this phase, I’ll be going over the ways to conjure the spirits that I discuss in the Modern Goetic Grimoire. This style of magic focuses on working primarily with the Terrestrial Spirits, the spirits of Nature, the Elements, and the Genius Loci, or spirits of place. It touches on working with our ancestors, and other entities of the recently (and not-so-recently) dead brothers and sisters. It also addresses working with the daimonic spirits of the Lemegeton’s Goetia. 

    While I strongly urge everyone to take them in order, or at least have accomplished the goals of the previous lessons before beginning the next, each course is independent, and you are not required to have taken either of the other 2.

    On a second track, I’m going to develop the Neo-Platonic Basics into a full-blown system that makes use of the series of initiations acquired through the other courses. It’ll be the system that puts a consistent framework around the information in Agrippa, and it’ll teach the practical applications of Agrippa’s Three Books of Occult Philosophy.

    But that won’t be until the The Red Work courses are complete.

  • Attention Supernatural Assistant Course Members

    If you’ve signed up for the course, you’ve been invited to join the yahoo group. 3 of the course members haven’t joined yet, so check the email you used to set up the google checkout account, and look for an invite to the yahoo group. If you have another email address you want to use, let me know, and I’ll send the invite there.

  • How many courses are there going to be?

    Excellent Question, Martialus.

    The Supernatural Assistant course is Course 1. Soon there will be the Hermetic Merkavah course, followed by a Goetia course. Eventually there may be a course on Working with the Elemental Kings as well, though I suspect it will be a lesson or four in the Neo-Platonic System of Magic course.

    So there will be at least 4 Courses in the foreseeable future. And more as I go onward.

    The day I achieved Knowledge and Conversation with my Holy Guardian Angel is the day the keys to the kingdom were handed to me; without that, I wouldn’t be anywhere close to where I am today. So I’m starting with that, calling it “Acquiring a Supernatural Assistant” as a nod to the fact that it isn’t the same thing as the HGA rites of Abramelin or Samekh. Those rites are so misrepresented that 99% of the people undertaking the path have no idea what they’re getting into, how to recognize what they acquire, or even what to do with it once they have it.

    I aim to fulfill my own destiny, my own Will, and do my part in manifesting a generation of magicians fully empowered and willing to become exactly what the Great Work turns us into: fully conscious human beings restored to our rightful place in the cosmic hierarchy, standing firm with the powers of Creation at our fingertips, with the knowledge and wisdom to use those powers as we see fit. Mad Alchemists, tempered in the fires of our passions, hardened and forged by our joy and our pain, and empowered by the light of God.

  • Still yet more about the Supernatural Assistant

    Sam Johnson says:

    1. Are there any prerequisites? Or can people without any significant experience follow this?

    No, there are no prerequisites. I’m starting here, and then I’m heading through the Modern Angelic Grimoire, and eventually I’ll get to the Goetic one. I’m recreating the process of initiation I went through in course form.

    2. Are there any *actual* requirements for participants during the course? Ideally everyone would follow the homework and the course as it comes, but failing that due to other commitments at least we’ll have the know-how on hand for the future. We’ll have lost the one-on-one help with you, of course, but still. Is this fine?

    Hmmm. I see what you’re saying. I’m thinking the courses will stand alone. St. Balthazar said on the Lemegeton list that in the grimoire traditions, the books became the initiators, and that’s a great way to encapsulate my intent. The books and course work will give you the steps, and when you follow them, you get the Supernatural Assistant. I think you’d stand more chance of doing the work consistently in a group, where there’s some accountability, some social pressure. You’ll be doing the work solitary, but you’ll have help.

    Whole thing sounds great and I’m grateful you’d even do something like this, but I want to make sure I’m getting the most out of it. Thanks.

    You’re off to a good start. You’re taking into account where you’re at in life, and weighing the commitment thoroughly. That’s the kind of approach that results in success.

    In practice, we’ll be talking about 30-45 minutes per day, split up between the morning when you wake up and the evening before you go to bed. The actual time spent in the Work is relatively small, and I think it fits into the schedule of your average working wo/man or even single mothers of three kids. I’ll be timing the initiations to occur on the weekends (Saturn-day or Sun-day), and there are three time slots that can be used each day, so chances are good you’ll be able to find one that fits into your schedule.

  • What You Get with the Supernatural Assistant Course

    A Supernatural Assistant! Isn’t that enough?

    No? You mean, you want to know what comes with it specifically for $75? You get my warm and kind advice, my best wishes, and a lot of encouragement. You get my undying thanks for the money. What more do you need?

    Ok, sorry, I crack me up.

    NOTE: I fixed the link this afternoon.

    Course Stuff

    The course comes with the following:

    • eBook: The Neo-Platonic Basics – It’s a cleaned up and slightly modified/expanded version of the series of blog posts I wrote as I went through some transformations in the first year after making contact with my own “Supernatural Assistant.”
    • ebook: The Modern Angelic Grimoire – In case you don’t have it, we’ll be referencing this book for some of the initiations.
    • The names of your Genius and Evil Daimon (for those who don’t have them yet)
    • Conjuration Ritual for the Genius (this is different than the conjuration of the Supernatural Assistant)
    • Your Own, Personal, Genius Lamen…. something you can wear on your chest, to make you your best…. (sung to the tune of your own personal jesus; you’ll get an image file that you can print out, or draw out by hand on virgin parchment in the light of the Moon while suffumigating it in the smoke of strange alkaloid herbs)
    • Conjuration rite for the Supernatural Assistant (performed nightly after Lesson 3)
    • Membership with the Yahoo group
    • Personal coaching from yours truly, unless you really get on my nerves or turn out to be some kind of lunatic. If the latter is true, you still get no refunds; I mean it, I’m totally spending the money as soon as it comes in.

    Tentative Course Outline (Subject to change):

    • Lesson 1: Intro and Overview (Nov. 6) – Includes the the evolution from the Supernatural Assistant into the HGA over the last couple of thousand years, an overview of the three-part ruler of the soul, and the role of the Genius from Agrippa’s Three Books of occult Philosophy. This will give you some insight into working with your Genius.
      • Homework: Self Assessment – You’ll get a template to fill out that prompts some self-assessment and contemplation that will help you prepare for the process to come. You won’t have to send it in or post it, but you can if you think it will help you stay honest with yourself and others.
    • Lesson 2: The Power of Prayer (Nov. 13) – Includes an explanation of “enflaming yourself with prayer,” the key to building up an ecstatic relationship with God. Explores Crowley’s early training and how he figured out the Secret of Prayer.
      • Field Trip: Visit a Charismatic Christian Church (totally optional if you think you’ll burst into flames when you cross the threshold, or have bad experiences you don’t want to remember)
      • Homework: Daily Face-Time with God. Here beginneth the transformation that leads to attainment.
    • Lesson 3: Can you smell that smell? (a.k.a. Conjuration of the Supernatural Assistant) (Delivered when appropriate) – Includes an analysis of the Stele of Jehu, the Greek Magical Papyri that’s actually called “Acquiring a Supernatural Assistant,” and Crowley’s Liber Samekh. Also includes the conjuration rite you’ll be using.
      • Homework: Solar Initiation by Michael, Archangel of the Sun
      • Homework: Conjuration of the Genius
      • Homework: Continued daily prayer
      • Homework: Nightly conjuration ritual of the Supernatural Assistant (Should take 10-30 minutes)
      • Homework: Update self-assessment.
    • Lesson 4: Working with the Supernatural Assistant: Practical Applications of your blossoming relationship.
      • Homework: Solar/Saturn Initiation by Michael and Cassiel.
      • Homework: Continued daily prayer
      • Homework: Continued Nightly conjuration ritual of the Supernatural Assistant

    At this stage, chances are pretty good that you’ll be going through some serious hell.

    • Lesson 5: The Map of Hell – Personal observations on the landscape of Hell as it manifests in your life; includes some advice and techniques I found were useful in dealing with the layers and layers of crap that tend to come out in the process.
      • Homework: Stay Alive. Keep at the Work. Even when you hate it. Even when you’re convinced it’s all in your head. Even when you think it’s all from Satan. Een when you really want to quit. Even when you’re so sick of hearing me say “it gets better” that you’re ready to shove my keyboard up my ass to see if I can still type it then, motherfucker! (Seriously.)
    • Lesson 6: The Stairway to Heaven (Is Sitting in Hell) – Reflections on the initiatory journeys we’ve been through and preparation for Hermetic Merkavah, to be explored in full in the Seven Heavens Club. (Or the Hermetic Merkavah course. I haven’t figured out what to call it. I thought the Seven Heavens club was a witty nod to Pat Baker, but I figure it may be too cheesey.)

  • Acquiring the Supernatural Assistant

    The first step in the empowerment process for people to have the kind of success I’ve had with the Angels and Daimons of the grimoires, in my oh so humble opinion, is Knowledge and Conversation with the Holy Guardian Angel.

    “But RO, that takes foooooooorrrreeeeeeevvveeeeerrrrrr….”

    6 months, 11 months, two whole weeks…

    The time frame of how long it takes depends on a lot of variables; your personal religious bias, which traditional approach you pick, and most importantly, what your personal experience is with God. Abramelin purists have their opinions on what is proper, and graduates of the Samekh operation have their opinions on what is proper. I’ve seen Aaron Leitch argue that the spirit of the Abramelin operation is different than the one contacted through Samekh. I’ve had arguments and debates about the subject for years. Regular readers of the blog know my opinions on the subject, and those opinions are definitely not accepted globally.

    So, to help clear the air a lot, or muddy the waters further, I’m going to start a course based on my experiences with the Genius, the HGA, and the Supernatural Assistant. I don’t think I’ll call it “Attaining Knowledge and Conversation with the Holy Guardian Angel,” even though that’s what I personally think it is. Instead, I’m going to call it “Acquiring the Supernatural Assistant.” I’m focusing on functionality of the spirit rather than the belief system it applies to. You can call it whatever you want, but I’m calling it the Supernatural Assistant.

    There will be three branches to the operation: Daily Prayer, Weekly Conjuration, and a One-Time Initiation. I’ll provide the basic stuff you need to accomplish the goal. You’ll get a ritual conjuration to perform, an overview of the evolution of the “HGA” in Western Magical Thought, and how it fits into the system that I’ve developed based on traditional sources. (I’ve realized I can’t really call it a traditional system any more. Disappointing, that, but honest at least.)

    We’ll also have a Yahoo group, open only to members of the class. We’ll be able to discuss things that are happening without fear of slams or appearing stupid in front of allegedly wise and experienced practitioners of the art.

    Now, think about this carefully. Weigh out where you’re at in your life, and what the possible consequences may entail. Going through this process is a lot like the black stage of the Alchemical Work. A lot of negative shit rises to the surface. Addictions, anger management issues, things you’re in rebellion over, and god knows what else. It’s rarely a pleasant journey to the candy land. It’s usually painful and catastrophic. You learn that you’re a fucked up asshole who hurts people for fun, if that’s what you are. There’s no room for hiding from yourself. If you’re a loser, then it will become apparent to yourself and others. It truly sucks at times.

    Why the fuck would anyone go through this shit on purpose? “For the joy set before him, Christ went to the cross.” When you come out on the other side, you’ll be better equipped to deal with life than ever before. You’ll know who you are, you’ll know what you’re supposed to be doing with your life, and you’ll have intimate access to the spirits that manifest your reality on a daily basis. There will be no aspect of your life that is beyond your influence, and few that are beyond your control.

    The operation’s goal is to get the Supernatural Assistant, but the process itself makes you a magician. It’s hard to explain to people who haven’t gone through it, but when we’re done, you’ll totally understand. Everything negative that is revealed to you during this process turns from a weakness into a strength. Life won’t be all roses and perfect, you’ll still slip and forget you’re a magician from time to time, you’ll still have bills and taxes and people who suck in your life, but you’ll never be alone. You’ll have someone with you forever who will be able to help you, no matter how badly things may be going.

    I don’t know how long it will take you. Based on previous experiments, less than half of the people who start will finish. Some folks will have already been through hell in their lives and have as easy of a time as I did, and two weeks of doing a daily ritual will be sufficient. For others, the process may take a year of Mondays.

    There are NO REFUNDS, and no guarantees of success. I’ll spend the money as soon as I get it, I guarantee that much. Your success will be dependent on a number of factors, primarily your devotion to the Work.

    You will have me to talk to at least once a week, and daily on the group, as long as I have an hour or so to address any questions. You’ll have your other classmates to talk to as well. I’m thinking it’s going to be easier to do if you’re not going through it alone.

    The first class will be shipped on November 6th. That’s the official date of Samhain this year, if my sources are accurate. I’ll have to check with Lavanah to make sure, she’s usually on top of things. I’m only going to be starting one of these courses every three months. Due to the closeness of the 6th, you can sign up for this course through November 15th.

    I’ll be taking us through both Saturn and the Sun on this trip, so gear up, hold your breath, and pray for safe passage.

    To enroll, click on the buy now button below the Courses on the right of the blog. Assuming I’ve set it up right, you’ll get an email link. Send me your email contact information, and I’ll add you to the group.

    Coming soon: The Seven Heavens Club: A course of initiation through the seven planetary spheres.

  • Hermetic Course Outline

    Before I LOSE all my work, I’m posting the high-level outline. There are additional specific tasks under the following bullets that are detailed assignments and instruction.

    This will be a paid course. One of the sessions will include the Modern Angelic Grimoire, specifically rewritten for this course. I’m charging for it because:

    • I’m investing a lot of time into the development of this course
    • I will also be grading the work from my students, providing insight and direction as necessary
    • Most importantly, people who don’t pay for stuff don’t do the Work. It saves me a lot of wasted time.

    Now, there’s this idiot friend of mine that got all stoned and said that I should NEVER charge for spiritual teachings because if it was RIGHTEOUS, then the UNIVERSE would support me.

    For all you people that expect the UNIVERSE to pay my mortgage for teaching you, please feel free to go directly to the UNIVERSE for your education (i.e., fuck off).

    There are three basic levels I’m working on:

    The “Novice” Level

    Covers the core basics of Hermetic Magic.

    • The Elemental, Planetary, Celestial, and Trans-Celestial Spheres
    • The Goal and Role of a Magician
    • Finding and Using Occult Resources
    • Holy Guardian Angels, Geniuses, and Agathos-Daimons
    • Spirit Conjuration Basics
    • Practical Magic for Every Day Activities

    The “Adept” Level

    Covers The Great Work in Practice.

    • Attaining Knowledge and Conversation with the HGA
    • Practical Planetary Magic (Modern Angelic Grimoire)
    • Introduction to Hermetic Merkavah
    • Practical Sub-Lunar Magic

    The “Magister” Level

    Covers the “PHD” level of Hermetic esoteric practices that don’t even get really interesting until you’ve done the preparatory work of the initial levels.

    • Hermetic Alchemical Transformation of the Body, Mind, and Soul
    • The Eighth and Ninth Spheres
    • On Becoming a “Power”
    • The Final Transformation

    This is all pretty formative, and as I provide the sessions to my test crew, we’ll see how it works out. I’m still working on the cost per session. I expect to be running these in parallel, so at any given time any of you could be taking any level of the classes, assuming you have finished something of the previous levels. In plain English, that means they won’t cost too terribly much.

    If you’re already sure you’re past the Novice stage, I’ll take an essay explaining some basic stuff in lieu of the first course, but the things I’m teaching build on the previous Work, and it won’t do a lot of good if you haven’t done some basic initiatory stuff I’ll be covering in the Novice sessions.