I, .............................., being of sound mind and body, on this ....... day of ................................. (An ....... Sun in .......° of .......) do hereby resolve: in the presence of ......................., a Neophyte of the A∴A∴: To prosecute the Great Work: which is, to obtain a scientific knowledge of the nature and powers of my own being.
May the A∴A∴ crown the work, lend me of Its wisdom in the work, enable me to understand the work!
Reverence, duty, sympathy, devotion, assiduity, trust do I bring to the A∴A∴ and in one year from this date may I be admitted to the knowledge and conversation of the A∴A∴!
Witness my hand ...................................................
Motto ....................................................................
| 0. | Let any person1 be received by a Neophyte, the latter being responsible to his Zelator. |
| 1. | The period of Probation shall be at least one year. |
| 2. | The aspirant to the A∴A∴ shall hear the Lection (Liber LXI) and this note of his office; IF HE WILL, shall then procure the robe of a Probationer;2 shall choose with deep forethought and intense solemnity a motto. |
| 3. | On reception he shall receive the robe, sign the form provided and repeat the oath as appointed, and receive the First Volume of the Book.3 |
| 4. | He shall commit a chapter of Liber LXV to memory; and furthermore, he shall study the Publications of the A∴A∴ in Class B, and apply himself to such practices of Scientific Illuminism as seemeth him good.4 |
| 5. | Beside all this, he shall perform any tasks that the A∴A∴ may see fit to lay upon him. Let him be mindful that the word Probationer is no idle term, but that the Brothers will in many a subtle way prove him, when he knoweth it not. |
| 6. | When the sun shall next enter the sign under which he hath been received, his initiation may be granted unto him. He shall keep himself free from all other engagements for one whole week from that date.5 |
| 7. | He may at any moment withdraw from his association with the A∴A∴ simply notifying the Neophyte who introduced him. |
| 8. | He shall everywhere proclaim openly his connection with the A∴A∴ and speak of It and Its principles (even so little as he understandeth) for that mystery is the enemy of truth.6 One month before the completion of his year, he shall deliver a copy of the record to the Neophyte introducing, and repeat to him his chosen chapter of Liber LXV. |
| 9. | He shall hold himself chaste, and reverent toward his body, for that the ordeal of initiation is no light one. This is of peculiar importance in the last two months of his Probation. |
| 10. | Thus and not otherwise may he attain the great reward, YEA, MAY HE ATTAIN THE GREAT REWARD! |
I, .............................. (old motto), being of sound mind and body, and prepared, on this ....... day of ................................. (An ....... Sun in .......° of .......) do hereby resolve: in the presence of ......................., a Zelator of the A∴A∴: To prosecute the Great Work: which is, to obtain control of the nature and powers of my own being.
Further, I promise to observe zeal in service to the Probationers under me, and to deny myself utterly on their behalf.
May the A∴A∴ crown the work, lend me of Its wisdom in the work, enable me to understand the work!
Reverence, duty, sympathy, devotion, assiduity, trust do I bring to the A∴A∴ and in eight months from this date may I be admitted to the knowledge and conversation of the A∴A∴!
Witness my hand [old motto] .........................................
New Motto ......................................................................
| 0. | Let any Probationer who has coomplished his task to the satisfaction of the A∴A∴ be instructed in the proper course of procedure: which is:— Let him read through this note of his office, and sign it, paying the sum of One Guinea for Liber VII which will be given him on his initiation,7 and One Guinea for this Portfolio of Class D publications, B-G. Let him obtain the robe of a Neophyte8, and entrust the same to the care of his Neophyte. He shall choose a new motto with deep forethought and intense solemnity, as expressing the clearer consciousness of his Aspiration which the year's Probation has given him. Let him make an appointment with his Neophyte at the pleasure of the latter for the ceremony of Initiation. |
| 1. | The Neophyte shall not proceed to the grade of Zelator in less than eight months; but shall hold himself free for four days for advancement at the end of that period. |
| 2. | He shall pass the four tests called the Powers of the Sphinx. |
| 3. | He shall apply himself to understand the nature of his Initation. |
| 4. | He shall commit to memory a chapter of Liber VII; and furthermore, he shall study and practice Liber O in all its branches: also he shall begin to study Liber H9 and some one commonly accepted method of divination. He will further be examined in his power of Journeying in the Spirit Vision. |
| 5. | Beside all this, he shall perform any tasks that his Zelator in the name of the A∴A∴ and by its authority may see fit to lay upon him. Let him be mindful that the word Neophyte is no idle term, but that in many a subtle way the new nature will stir within him, when he knoweth it not. |
| 6. | When the sun shall next enter the sign 240° to that under which he hath been received, his advancement may be granted unto him. He shall keep himself free from all other engagements for four whole days from that date. |
| 7. | He may at any moment withdraw from his association with the A∴A∴, simply notifying the Zelator who introduced him. |
| 8. | He shall everywhere proclaim openly his connection with the A∴A∴ and speak of It and Its principles (even so little as he understandeth) for that mystery is the enemy of truth. Furthermore, he shall construct the magic Pentacle, according to the instruction in Liber A. One month before the completion of his eight months, he shall deliver a copy of his Record to his Zelator, pass the necessary tests, and repeat to him his chosen chapter of Liber VII. |
| 9. | He shall in every way fortify his body according to the advice of his Zelator, for that the ordeal of advancement is no light one. |
| 10. | Thus and not otherwise may he attain the great reward, YEA, MAY HE ATTAIN THE GREAT REWARD! |
I, .............................. (motto), being of sound mind and body, and prepared, on this ....... day of ................................. (An ....... Sun in .......° of .......) do hereby resolve: in the presence of ......................., a Practicus of the A∴A∴: To prosecute the Great Work: which is, to obtain control of the foundations of my own being.
Further, I promise to observe zeal in service to the Neophytes under me, and to deny myself utterly on their behalf.
May the A∴A∴ crown the work, lend me of Its wisdom in the work, enable me to understand the work!
Reverence, duty, sympathy, devotion, assiduity do I bring to the A∴A∴ and right soon may I be admitted to the knowledge and conversation of the A∴A∴!
Witness my hand [motto] ...............................................
| 0. | Let any Neophyte who has accomplished his task to the satisfaction of the A∴A∴ be instructed in the proper course of procedure: which is:— Let him read through this note of his office, and sign it, paying the sum of Three Guineas for the volume containing Liber CCXX, Liber XXVII and Liber DCCCXIII, which will be given him on his initiation.10 Let him cause the necessary addition to be made to his Neophyte's robe,11 and entrust the same to the care of his Zelator. |
| 1. | The Zelator shall proceed to the grade of Practicus at any time that authority confers it. |
| 2. | He shall pass Examinations in Liber E, Posture and Breathing. He shall have attained complete success in the former, i.e., the chosen posture shall be perfectly steady and easy; and attained the second stage in the latter, i.e., automatic rigidity. |
| 3. | He shall further show some acquaintance with and experience of the meditations given in Liber HHH. And in this his Record shall be his witness. |
| 4. | He shall commit to memory a chapter of Liber CCXX; he shall pass examinations in Liber HHH. |
| 5. | Beside all this, he shall apply himself to work for the A∴A∴ upon his own responsibility. Let him be mindful that the word Zelator is no idle term; but that a certain Zeal will be inflamed within him, why he knoweth not. |
| 6. | When authority confers the grade, he shall rejoice therein; but beware, for that is his first departure from the middle pillar of the Tree of Life. |
| 7. | He may at any moment withdraw from his association with the A∴A∴, simply notifying the Practicus who introduced him. Yet let him remember that being entered thus far upon the Path, he cannot escape it, and return to the world, but must ultimate either in the City of the Pyramids or the lonely towers of the Abyss. |
| 8. | He shall everywhere proclaim openly his connection with the A∴A∴ and speak of It and Its principles (even so little as he understandeth) for that mystery is the enemy of truth. Furthermore, he shall construct the magic Dagger, according to the instruction in Liber A. One month after his admission to the Grade he shall go to his Practicus,12 pass the necessary tests, and repeat to him his chosen chapter of Liber CCXX. |
| 9. | He shall in every way establish perfect control of his Automatic Consciousness according to the advice of his Practicus, for that the ordeal of advancement is no light one. |
| 10. | Thus and not otherwise may he attain the great reward, YEA, MAY HE ATTAIN THE GREAT REWARD! |
I, .............................. (motto), being of sound mind and body, and prepared, on this ....... day of ................................. (An ....... Sun in .......° of .......) do hereby resolve: in the presence of ......................., a Philosophus of the A∴A∴: To prosecute the Great Work: which is, to obtain control of the vacillations of my own being.
Further, I promise to observe zeal in service to the Zelatores under me, and to deny myself utterly on their behalf.
May the A∴A∴ crown the work, lend me of Its wisdom in the work, enable me to understand the work!
Reverence, duty, sympathy, devotion do I bring to the A∴A∴ and right soon may I be admitted to the knowledge and conversation of the A∴A∴!
Witness my hand [motto] ...............................................
| 0. | Let any Zelator be appointed by authority to proceed to the grade of Practicus. Let him then read through this note of his office, and sign it. Let him cause the necessary addition to be made to his Zelator's robe.13 Let him make an appointment with his Practicus at the pleasure of the latter for the conferring of advancement. |
| 1. | The Practicus shall proceed to the grade of Philosophus at any time that authority confers it. |
| 2. | He shall pass examinations in Liber DCCLXXVII, the Qabalah, and the Sepher Sephiroth. He shall attain complete success in Liber III, Cap I. |
| 3. | He shall further show some acquaintence with and experience of his chosen method of divination. Yet he shall be his own judge in this matter. |
| 4. | He shall commit to memory Liber XXVII and pass examinations in the Ritual and meditation practice given in Liber XVI. Further, he shall pass the mediation practice S.S.S., in Liber HHH. |
| 5. | Besides all this, he shall apply himself to a way of life wholly suited to the Path. Let him remember that the word Practicus is no idle term, but that Action is the equilibrium of him that is in the House of Mercury, who is the Lord of Intellignence. |
| 6. | When authority confers the grade, he shall rejoice therein; but beware, for that that is his second departure from the middle pillar of the Tree of Life. |
| 7. | Let him not venture while a member of the grade of Practicus to attempt to withdraw from his association with the A∴A∴ |
| 8. | He shall everywhere proclaim openly his connection with the A∴A∴ and speak of It and Its principles (even so little as he understandeth) for that mystery is the enemy of truth. Furthermore, he shall construct the magic Cup, according to the instruction in Liber A. One month after his admission to the Grade, he shall go to his Practicus, pass the necessary tests, and repeat to him Liber XXVII. |
| 9. | He shall in every way establish perfect control of his wit according to the advice of his Philosophus, for that the ordeal of advancement is no light one. |
| 10. | Thus and not otherwise may he attain the great reward, YEA, MAY HE ATTAIN THE GREAT REWARD! |
I, .............................. (motto), being of sound mind and body, and prepared, on this ....... day of ................................. (An ....... Sun in .......° of .......) do hereby resolve: in the presence of ......................., a Dominus Liminis of the A∴A∴: To prosecute the Great Work: which is, to obtain control of the attractions and repulsions of my own being.
Further, I promise to observe zeal in service to the Practici under me, and to deny myself utterly on their behalf.
May the A∴A∴ crown the work, lend me of Its wisdom in the work, enable me to understand the work!
Reverence, duty, sympathy do I bring to the A∴A∴ and right soon may I be admitted to the knowledge and conversation of the A∴A∴!
Witness my hand [motto] ...............................................
| 0. | Let any Practicus be appointed by authority to proceed to the grade of Philosophus. Let him then read through this note of his office, and sign it. Let him cause the necessary addition to be made to his Practicus' robe.14 Let him make an appointment with his Philosophus at the pleasure of the latter for the conferring of advancement. |
| 1. | The Philosophus shall proceed to the grade of Dominus Liminis at any time that authority confers it. |
| 2. | He shall pass examinations in Liber CLXXV and in Construction and Consecration of Talismans and in Evocation. Yet in this matter he shall be his own judge. He shall moreover attain complete success in Liber III, Cap. II. Further, he shall apply himself to study and practice the meditations given in Liber V.15 |
| 3. | He shall further show some acquaintance with and experience of Liber O, Caps. V, VI. Whereof his Record shall be his witness. |
| 4. | He shall commit to memory a chapter of Liber DCCCXIII. |
| 5. | Besides all this, he shall make constant and profound reflections upon the Path. Let him remember that the word Philosophus is no idle term, but that Philosophy is the Equilibrium of him that is in the house of Venus that is the Lady of Love. |
| 6. | When the title of Dominus Liminis is conferred upon him, let him rejoice exceedingly therein; but beware, for that it is but the false veil of the moon that hangs beneath the Sun. |
| 7. | Let him not venture while a member of the grade of Philosophus to attempt to withdraw from his association with the A∴A∴ |
| 8. | He shall everywhere proclaim openly his connection with the A∴A∴ and speak of It and Its principles (even so little as he understandeth) for that mystery is the enemy of truth. Furthermore, he shall construct the magic Wand, according to the instruction in Liber A. One month after his admission to the Grade, he shall go to his Dominus Liminis, pass the necessary tests, and repeat to him his chosen chapter of Liber DCCCXIII. |
| 9. | He shall in every way establish perfect control of his devotion according to the advice of his Dominus Liminis, for tha the ordeal of advancement is no light one. |
| 10. | Thus and not otherwise may he attain the great reward, YEA, MAY HE ATTAIN THE GREAT REWARD! |
I, .............................. (motto), being of sound mind and body, and prepared, on this ....... day of ................................. (An ....... Sun in .......° of .......) do hereby resolve: in the presence of ......................., an Adeptus Minor of the A∴A∴: To prosecute the Great Work: which is, to obtain control of the aspirations of my own being.
Further, I promise to observe zeal in service to the Philosophi under me, and to deny myself utterly on their behalf.
May the A∴A∴ crown the work, lend me of Its wisdom in the work, enable me to understand the work!
Reverence, duty, sympathy do I bring to the A∴A∴ and right soon may I be admitted to the knowledge and conversation of the A∴A∴!
Witness my hand [motto] ...............................................
| 0. | Let any Philosophus be appointed by authority a Dominus Liminis. Let him read through this note of his office and sign it. Let him cause the necessary addition to be made to his Philosophus' robe.16 Let him receive Liber Mysteriorum. Let him make an appointment with his Dominus Liminis at the pleasure of the latter for the conferring of advancement. |
| 1. | The Dominus Liminis shall proceed to the Grade of Adeptus Minor at any time that authority confers it. |
| 2. | He shall pass examination in Liber III, Cap. III. |
| 3. | He shall meditate on the diverse knowledge and Power that he has acquired, and harmonize it perfectly. And in this matter he shall be judged by the Præmonstrator of the A∴A∴ |
| 4. | He shall accept an office in a Temple of Initiation, and commit to memory a part appointed by the Imperator of the A∴A∴ |
| 5. | Besides all this, he shall abide on the Threshold. Let him remember that the word Dominus Liminis is no idle term, but that his mastery will often be disputed, when he knoweth it not. |
| 6. | When at last he hath attained to the grade of Adeptus Minor, let him humble himself exceedingly. |
| 7. | He may at any moment withdraw from his association with the A∴A∴ simply notifying the Adept who introduced him. |
| 8. | He shall everywhere proclaim openly his connection with the A∴A∴ and speak of It and Its principles (even so little as he understandeth) for that mystery is the enemy of truth. Furthermore, he shall construct the magic Lamp, according to the instruction in Liber A. Six months after his admission to the Grade, he shall go to his Adeptus Minor, pass the necessary tests, and repeat to him his appointed part in the Temple of Initiation. |
| 9. | He shall in every way establish perfect control of his intuition, according to the advice of his Adeptus Minr, for that the ordeal of advancement is no light one. |
| 10. | Thus and not otherwise may he attain the great reward, YEA, MAY HE ATTAIN THE GREAT REWARD! |
I, .............................. (motto), being of sound mind and body, and prepared, on this ....... day of ................................. (An ....... Sun in .......° of .......) do hereby resolve: in the presence of ......................., an Adeptus of the A∴A∴: To prosecute the Great Work: which is, to attain to the knowledge and conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel.
May the A∴A∴ crown the work, lend me of Its wisdom in the work, enable me to understand the work!
Reverence, duty, sympathy do I bring to the A∴A∴ and here and now may I be admitted to the knowledge and conversation of the A∴A∴!
Witness my hand .............................................................
Let the Adeptus Minor attain to the Knowledge and Conversation of his Holy Guardian Angel.
Notes:
In the original printed edition the Oath of a Probationer had in the corners the four mottoes: Life—Putrefaction—Death; Love—Passion—Debauch; Light—Perception—Darkness and Liberty—Power—Duty. This is possibly the earliest appearance of the alliterative "Life—Love—Liberty—Light" formula, although "Liebe, Licht, Leben" (German: "Love, Light, Life") was the name of the (probably fictitious) Mother-Temple of the Golden Dawn.
1: In 1912 this was modified, and as a further device for filtering out time-wasters an additional preliminary grade of "Student of the Mysteries" was instituted. Students were given a list of books and told to go away and study them for three months, then had to pass an examination (open book) before they could be admitted as a probationer. Two past papers may be found in Equinox IV (1) and Remembering Aleister Crowley by Kenneth Grant. The reading list consisted of:
(Most of the above links take you offsite; only 777 and The Sword of Song are local)
One modern group claiming to represent the A∴A∴ has drawn up a Task and Oath for the Student grade in similar form to the other Tasks and Oaths of Liber Collegii Sancti, which may be found online at their Outer College Curriculum Resources site (the reading list is similar to the above but adds Crowley's Book of Lies, probably on the basis that the 1913 paper asked students to write commentaries on five chapters thereof).
2: During the Equinox period, a London robemaker called William Northam was (according to advertisments in the Equinox) entrusted with the manufacture of robes and other ceremonial apparel for the A∴A∴ According to various extant contemporary photographs and descriptions, the Robe of a Probationer was a white Tau robe with no hood. On the breast is an upright pentagram; on the back a hexgram consisting of an ascending red triangle and a descending blue triangle, with a golden Tau in the midst. According to Liber Vesta vel Paroketh sub figurä DCC, an account of the Outer Order robes by a modern A∴A∴ group based on some early Crowley notes and sketches (published in Equinox IV (1)), the pentagram is scarlet and the base, neck and cuffs of the robe are edged in gold.
3: Volume I of the 1909 first edition of QELHMA, containing Libri LXI and LXV.
4: A clarification of the work expected of Probationers wsa given in the editorial to Equinox I (5):
. . . although he is permitted to select the practices which appeal to him, he is expected to show considerable acquaintance with all of them. More than acquaintance, it should be experience; otherwise what is he to do when as a Neophyte he is consulted by his Probationers? It is important that he should be armed at all points . . . no one will be admitted as a Neophyte unless his year's work gives evidence of considerable attainment in the fundamental practices, Asana, Pranayama, assumption of God-forms, vibration of divine names, rituals of banishing and invoking and the practices set out in sections 5 and 6 of Liber O. Although he is not examined in any of these, the elementary experience is necessary in order that he may intelligently assist those who will be under him.
5: The early version of the A∴A∴ Neophyte Ritual, Liber DCLXXI vel TROA, began with the candidate spending six days in silence and solitude in the Chamber of Purifications; on the three latter days he was given in turn three questions to meditate on and reply to in writing.
6: Something which certain modern claimants to the mantle of A∴A∴ would do well to remember.
7: Volume II of the 1909 first edition of QELHMA consisted of Liber VII.
8: The Robe of a Neophyte was black, with a hood. According
to Liber Vesta vel Paroketh, the robe also has a descending red triangle (in outline) on the breast,
and an eye in a triangle design (gold on silver) on the brow. This has been disputed; an alternate
account of the Outer Order robes, supposedly derived from a typescript prepared by F.I. Regardie while he
was Crowley's secretary in the late 1920s, was published in the journal of the College of Thelema, Black
Pearl, in the late 1990s, and in an appendix to James Eschelman's book The Magical and Mystical
System of the A∴A∴ According to this the Neophyte robe was plain black with a hood; the
Zelator robe adds a silver eye in a triangle on the forehead; the Practicus Robe adds a hexagram of 48
rays (silver) around the triangle; the Philosophus robe adds a calvary cross of six squares (in various
colours) on the breast; and the Dominus Liminis robe places a rose emblem at the centre of this cross.
Contra this, it has been suggested that the dark-coloured hooded robes with a rose cross on the
breast and the eye in a triangle surrounded by a 48-rayed hexagram on the forehead of the hood, as worn
by Crowley and Leila Waddell in a number of contemporary photographs, were in fact one or another of the
Second Order robes; specifically, that in the photograph The Silent Watcher is
believed to be Crowley's red Adeptus Major robe; it is likely that the Adeptus Within and Adeptus Exemptus
robes were of a similar design, but different colour.
9: Liber H has not been definitely identified as far as I am aware; the Neophyte section of Liber XIII gives no clue as to its nature or contents, and no work of that title has been published; it may not be extant. Some writers have suggested it is the same as Liber HHH, the actual practice of which pertains to the grade of Zelator.
10: This was the third and final volume of the 1909 first edition of QELHMA.
11: According to Liber Vesta vel Paroketh this was a purple square below the level of the knees.
12: The original printing of Liber CLXXXV had "to his Zelator"; this has been changed on the basis that the general rule of the outer order grades, as far as can be ascertained from other references in Liber CLXXXV and elsewhere, was that the person supervising any given aspirant was, or at least in that instance functioned as, a member of the grade above; i.e., Practici supervising Zelatores, Philosophi supervising Practici, etc. Similar amendments have been made to the equivalent sections in the tasks of the Practicus and Philosophus.
13: According to Liber Vesta vel Paroketh this was an orange sash affixed to the left sleeve.
14: According to Liber Vesta vel Paroketh this was a green sash affixed to the right sleeve.
15: This work has not been definitely identified and it is possible that it is no longer extant. Because of the dates involved it cannot be Liber V vel Reguli. In Liber Viarum Viæ is a reference to Liber V under the head "the Formulation of the Flaming Star" (referred to the Path of Heh) which suggests some manner of Pentagram ritual or meditations on that theme. It is unlikely, too, to be Crowley's "True Greater Ritual of the Pentagram" as published in The Magical Link in 1999 as that is said to be for the use of Adepts only.
16: According to Liber Vesta vel Paroketh this involved replacing the black hood with a white hood, with the "three Neteru" (the triple Egyptian "axe" hieroglpyh signfying "the Gods") below the eye-holes. The robe of an Adeptus Minor is not described in Liber Vesta, but according to William Northram's advertisments in the Equinox it added an unspecified symbol to the robe of a Probationer (compare Liber VIII).
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Key entry, HTML coding and notes by Frater T.S.
