To go inside – To begin
Initiation is derived from Latin words meaning “to go inside” or “to begin.” It fundamentally represents the act of starting a new journey or entering into a new phase of understanding or knowledge.
In education, initiation refers to the beginning of learning something new, like “initiation into mathematics” or any other subject. It marks the start of an educational journey.
Hermetic and Mystical Traditions
Historically, initiation has been significant in various esoteric and mystical traditions. It involves secretive, often ceremonial processes meant to impart profound knowledge or wisdom inaccessible to the uninitiated. This concept of initiation was particularly important in hermetic traditions, where it symbolized the transmission of secret wisdom and practices.
Cultural shifts, such as the transition to monotheism in Europe, affected initiation practices. These shifts often led to the persecution of those involved in mystical teachings, which in turn caused these practices to become more secretive and occult.
Secret societies and groups, like the Freemasons and the Illuminati, used initiation to educate their members and bind them to the group through shared rituals and secrets. This had cultural and political implications, as these groups often wielded significant influence.
In contemporary times, initiation can also symbolize personal growth and learning. Mathias discusses how everyday actions and learning can be seen as forms of initiation, emphasizing the active and willing participation in new experiences as a form of personal evolution.
The discussion also connects initiation to spiritual experiences, where it is seen as a journey to deeper understanding or enlightenment. This ties back to ancient practices where initiation was part of a path to understanding the divine or the universe.
33 steps
The Freemasons are noted for having a structured series of initiations, each represented by a degree. Mathias mentions the 33 degrees in Freemasonry, which symbolize various levels of enlightenment and responsibility within the organization. These degrees are akin to tests or exams, where members must demonstrate their understanding and commitment to move to the next level.
Eat Christ’s blood and body
Mathias compares the Christian ritual of Communion, where bread and wine are consumed as symbols of Christ’s body and blood, to a Masonic initiation ritual that involves drinking wine from a skull. The comparison is made to illustrate how rituals in traditions might share underlying themes of transformation, knowledge, or connection with the divine.
7 Then Adam and Eve took the figs and began to eat of them. But God had put into them a mixture as of savory bread and blood.
The first book of Adam and Eve
40 Day fast in the wilderness or desert
Making a 40-day fast in the wilderness was a common initiation requirement of the Egyptian priestly schools.
It was a purification ritual that all prospective students had to undergo. It was considered so arduous and difficult that even the Greek philosopher Pythagoras hesitated before going through it when he wanted to enter one of the Egyptian schools to learn their secrets.
Mathias refers to historical periods when knowledge was constrained by religious or political powers, and how groups like the Freemasons operated in secrecy to continue the education and spread of esoteric and philosophical ideas. This clandestine approach was necessary to protect their members from persecution.
This was Jesus purifying himself before beginning his ministry.
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Matthew 4:1-11
6 Then the angels commanded Adam and Eve to get up and pray forty days and forty nights; when that was done, then Adam was to have sexual intercourse with his wife; for then this would be an act pure and undefiled; so that he would have children who would multiply, and replenish the face of the earth.
7 Then both Adam and Eve received the words of the angels; and the angels departed from them.
8 Then Adam and Eve began to fast and pray, until the end of the forty days; and then they had sexual intercourse, as the angels had told them. And from the time Adam left the garden until he wedded Eve, were two hundred and twenty-three days, that is seven months and thirteen days.
9 Thus was Satan’s war with Adam defeated.
The First Book of Adam and Eve
Baptism
Baptism is a Christian sacrament of initiation and purification that involves the symbolic use of water as a sign of spiritual cleansing. It signifies a person’s entry into the Christian community and is considered a rite of passage in many denominations.
- Water represents Emotions
- Jesus walking over water
Atlantis
Atlantis is cited along with other ancient civilizations like Egypt and Mesopotamia. Mathias suggests that these civilizations were engaged in a deep understanding of the divine or the creation through knowledge, not just through faith. The mention of Atlantis contributes to the idea that there was a widespread initiation practice in ancient times, where knowledge was passed through structured paths, often involving tests and ceremonies.
Resurrection
Chapter XLIX – The first prophecy of the Resurrection. link
1 Then the Word of God came and said:—
2 “O Adam, who counselled you, when you came out of the cave, to come to this place?”
3 And Adam said to God, “O Lord, we came to this place because of the heat of the fire, that came over us inside the cave.”
4 Then the Lord God said to Adam, “O Adam, you dread the heat of fire for one night, but how will it be when you live in hell?
5 Yet, O Adam, don’t be afraid, and don’t believe that I have placed this dome of rock over you to plague you with it.
6 It came from Satan, who had promised you the Godhead and majesty. It is he who threw down this rock to kill you under it, and Eve with you, and thus to prevent you from living on the earth.
7 But, in mercy for you, just as that rock was falling down on you, I commanded it to form an dome over you; and the rock under you to lower itself.
8 And this sign, O Adam, will happen to Me at My coming on earth: Satan will raise the people of the Jews to put Me to death; and they will lay Me in a rock, and seal a large stone over Me, and I shall remain within that rock three days and three nights.
9 But on the third day I shall rise again, and it shall be salvation to you, O Adam, and to your descendants, to believe in Me. But, O Adam, I will not bring you from under this rock until three days and three nights have passed.”
10 And God withdrew His Word from Adam.
11 But Adam and Eve lived under the rock three days and three nights, as God had told them.
12 And God did so to them because they had left their cave and had come to this same place without God’s order.
13 But, after three days and three nights, God created an opening in the dome of rock and allowed them to get out from under it. Their flesh was dried up, and their eyes and hearts were troubled from crying and sorrow.
The first book of Adam and Eve
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