Western Esotericism / Occultism

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What are the occult symbols of the Immortal Death

René Guénon's book on mysticism sheds light on symbolism of initiatory death.

On mysticism & magic, from the book of R. Guenon

For mysticism, as we see from the book, an issue that seems to be poorly understood is that of "mystical death". So we often come across expressions like "virtual death", which testify to the absolute incomprehensibility of the realities of this class. Those who thus express themselves evidently see only the externality of the ceremony, and have no idea of ​​the effects it must produce upon those who are qualified; otherwise they would realize that this "death," instead of being "virtual," is in a sense still more real than death understood in the ordinary sense of the word.

For it is evident that the profane who dies does not thereby become an initiate. The distinction between the profane order and the initiatory order is truly the only one that transcends the contingencies inherent in particular states of being. Therefore the only one that has a deep and permanent value from a universal point of view.

The two versions of death

In relation to this it is sufficient to remember that all traditions emphasize the essential difference between the after-death states of the profane and the initiated. The consequences of death, if we take it in its ordinary meaning, are therefore determined by this distinction. The change that gives access to the initiatory order corresponds to a higher degree of reality.

Certainly the word "death" must be understood here in its most general sense. Every change of state is both a death and a birth. It depends on whether we look at it from one side or the other. Death in relation to the preceding state, birth in relation to the subsequent state.

Initiation is generally described as a "second birth," and indeed it is. The "second birth" necessarily implies a death to the profane world and arises in a way as a direct continuation of it. As for the symbolism of the ceremony, it naturally rests on the analogy that applies to all changes of state. Because of this analogy, death and birth symbolize initiatory death and birth. This is what happens with these borrowed images, the ceremony transposes them into another order of reality.

It is pertinent to specifically note here that any change of state must be considered to take place in the dark. Which explains the relevance of the symbolism to the color black in our topic. The candidate for initiation must pass through utter darkness before reaching the "true light."

The initiatory descent into Hades

In this phase of darkness what is called the "descent into hell" takes place. A kind of "recapitulation" of previous states through which the potentialities associated with the profane state are finally exhausted. This, so that the being can henceforth freely develop the potentialities of the higher order that he carries within him.

On the other hand, similar considerations apply to each change of state, the later and successive degrees of initiation also corresponding to changes of state. For climbing each of the last degrees there will be a death and a birth. If the "gap" will be less pronounced and less fundamental than that of the first initiation, that is, of the passage from the profane order to the initiatory order.

Moreover, it goes without saying that the changes which the individual undergoes in the course of his development are really indeterminate in number. The initiatory degrees conferred ceremonially, whatever the traditional form. They can therefore only correspond to a kind of general classification of the main stages to be traversed. Each of these can summarize a multitude of secondary and intermediate stages.

But in this process there is a point that is particularly important, at which the symbolism of death must reappear in the most emphatic way. The "second birth", can be called mental rebirth. In fact, the first phases of initiatory development must take place in the mental order.

From soul to spirit

These phases are not an end in themselves, for they are still preparatory to the realization of higher order potentialities. Spiritual order in the literal sense. The point in the initiation process to which we allude is that which marks the passage from the mental to the spiritual order. This passage can be thought of more specifically as constituting a "second death" and a "third birth."

It is appropriate to add that the "third birth" will be depicted as a "resurrection" rather than an ordinary birth. It is no longer a "beginning" in the same sense as in the case of the first initiation. Potentialities already developed and acquired once for all will be found again after the passage. "Transformed" in a manner analogous to that in which the "body of glory" or the "resurrected body" represents the "transformation" of human potentialities. beyond the limited conditions that determine the mode of existence of individuality as such.

So if we return to the essentials, the question is rather simple. What complicates this, as it almost always does, are the confusions that arise because of the mixing of considerations that actually relate to something completely different. This is especially the case with regard to the "second death," to which many, not being able to make certain essential distinctions between the various cases to which this expression may be applied, attach a meaning which is peculiarly untimely.

According to what we have just said, the "second death" is nothing but "spiritual death."

For the common man it may be thought to arise sooner or later after physical death, apart from any initiation process. Then the "second death" will not give access to the spiritual realm. It will simply pass into another individual state of manifestation.

The anti-initiation of black magic

There is another, unfavorable side to the "second death"; which is related to "revenge." This latter, in essence, imitates the phases of true initiation, but its results are in a way the opposite of initiation. Obviously they cannot in any way lead to the spiritual realm,

When the person following this path reaches "spiritual death," he finds himself in a state not quite like that of the common profane. It is much worse because of the development it has given to the lower potentialities of the subtle class.

But we will not delve into this further and will content ourselves with referring to the allusions we have already made on other occasions. This is a case that only interests a very particular perspective. In any case, it has absolutely nothing to do with true initiation.

The fate of the "black magicians" concerns themselves, and it would be useless to say the least to give food to imaginary nonsense. Our only concern should be to denounce their offenses when circumstances require and to oppose them as far as possible. In an age like ours these offenses are far more prevalent than those who have not had the opportunity of directly observing them can imagine.

 

Read more in the book about mysticism and magic "The Inner Meaning of Initiation" by Rene Guenon

 

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