AA Grades: Testing versus Initiating
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As I understand it, the AA tests people's attainment of a grade, rather than, as the GD does and the ToT appears to, initiating them into that grade. Some of the grade work makes sense to me in this regard. For example, the Neophyte, associated with Malkuth, etc., must master the astral plane, which I associate with Yesod. So, the Neophyte did the work necessary to show mastery of Malkuth/earth/etc, the AA granted that grade after having done so, and now ze must do the work associated with Yesod/air/etc.
But, then again, Crowley says, "The duties of a Neophyte are in Malkuth, in which is Kether." But wouldn't the Neophyte have already performed those duties (and, of course, have to continue to do so) and now focus on those of Yesod? Also, in 1=10, the Neophyte must work on things I'd associate with the basic getting together of one's shit - Liber O and the 4 Powers of the Sphinx - which I associate with working in Malkuth. I do realize, however, that in the GD, the candidate meets the 4 Kerubx of the Sphinx while traversing the 32nd path and that the angelic choir of Yesod consists of the Kerubim, but I just want to make an argument to make sure I know what's up. But anyway... the practices associated with the grades don't make it clear cut to me.
So... My question:
True of false: In the AA, the magician masters the work of a sephirah/element/etc before attaining the grade associated with that sephirah. In contrast, in the GD, ToT, BOTA, etc., the temple initiates the magician into that grade, awakening the powers within hir, before ze works with those powers.
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@sasha said
"But, then again, Crowley says, "The duties of a Neophyte are in Malkuth, in which is Kether." But wouldn't the Neophyte have already performed those duties (and, of course, have to continue to do so) and now focus on those of Yesod?"
The astral work etc. is not the work of Yesod - it's the work of Malkuth (or, at least, of someone in Malkuth) in order to open oneself to Yesod.
Having opened it, the actual work of Yesod is stabilizing it.
"Also, in 1=10, the Neophyte must work on things I'd associate with the basic getting together of one's shit - Liber O and the 4 Powers of the Sphinx - which I associate with working in Malkuth."
Yes.
"I do realize, however, that in the GD, the candidate meets the 4 Kerubx of the Sphinx while traversing the 32nd path and that the angelic choir of Yesod consists of the Kerubim, but I just want to make an argument to make sure I know what's up."
The assignment of the 4PoS to 1=10 appears to be partly a Four Elements attribution and the Path of Tav which is part of the 1=10 work.
"But anyway... the practices associated with the grades don't make it clear cut to me."
I was pretty thorough on that in The Mystical & Magical System of the A.'.A.'. - and it's mostly laid out that way on ordoaa.org
"True of false: In the AA, the magician masters the work of a sephirah/element/etc before attaining the grade associated with that sephirah."
False.
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@Jim Eshelman said
"The astral work etc. is not the work of Yesod - it's the work of Malkuth (or, at least, of someone in Malkuth) in order to open oneself to Yesod.
Having opened it, the actual work of Yesod is stabilizing it.
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Ahhh..... I think I see. This could explain why the work seems like a mix of two sephiroth to me. Okay, so...
In the AA, the magician does the work necessary to open one's self to the powers of the sephirah associated with the next grade. Having done so, you attain that next grade. At that point, you then work on both stabilizing those powers within one's self and opening one's self to the powers associated with the next grade.
(I think you answered me very clearly, but I think I need to enunciate it myself to make sure that I actually got it.)
Thanks.
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@sasha said
"In the AA, the magician does the work necessary to open one's self to the powers of the sephirah associated with the next grade. Having done so, you attain that next grade."
Exactly! "Follow Hwy X to Pittsburgh. Having done so, you'll be in Pittsburgh."
"At that point, you then work on both stabilizing those powers within one's self and opening one's self to the powers associated with the next grade."
Broadly, yes - though I picked stabilization in that particular example because stabilization per se is an essential 2=9 task, e.g., the Change = Stability formula, the specific yoga as creating steadiness, etc.