For more than three hundred years the practice of Masonic rituals of initiation has been part of Western culture, spreading far beyond the boundaries of traditional Freemasonry. Henrik Bogdan explores the historical development of these rituals and their relationship with Western esotericism. Beginning with the Craft degrees of Freemasonry—the blueprints, as it were, of all later Masonic rituals of initiation—Bogdan examines the development of the Masonic High Degrees, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn—the most influential of all nineteenth-century occultist initiatory societies—and Gerald Gardner's Witchcraft movement of the 1950s, one of the first large-scale Western esoteric New Religions Movements. List of Tables Acknowledgments Introduction
1. Western Esotericism
Introduction The Delimitation of a Field of Research The Research Paradigms of Western Esotericism Western Esotericism in Theory and Practice Western Esoteric Currents Western Esoteric Rituals of Initiation Concluding Remarks
2. Rituals of Initiation, Secret Societies, and Masonic Initiatory Societies
Ritual as a Field of Research Rites de Passage Rites of Initiation Secret Societies Secrecy and Masonic Initiatory Societies Masonic Initiatory Societies Masonic Rituals of Initiation Eighteenth-Century Masonic Terminology Concluding Remarks
3. Historical Background
Ancient and Medieval Sources The "New Platonic Academy" of Florence The Spread of Western Esotericism Across Europe The Esoteric Missions of Giordano Bruno and John Dee Christian Rosencreutz and the Rosicrucian Manifestos Concluding Remarks
4. The Craft Degrees of Freemasonry
The Emergence of Freemasonry Early Freemasonry and Western Esotericism The Pre-1730 Ritual Evidence The Master Mason Degree and the Ritual Enactment of the Hiramic Legend Concluding Remarks
5. High or Additional Degrees of Freemasonry
Introduction Templar and Ecossais Rites Egyptian Rites "Esoteric" Freemasonry True Mason, or Académie des Vrais Maçons Concluding Remarks
6. The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
Introduction History A Note on Sources Description of the Neophyte Ritual &
Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,1648€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.
Extrait
WesternEsotericism and R I ituals of nitiation
HENRIK BOGDAN
Western Esotericism and Rituals of Initiation
SUNY series in Western Esoteric Traditions David Appelbaum, editor
Western Esotericism and Rituals of Initiation
Henrik Bogdan
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK PRESS
Published by State University of New York Press, Albany
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.
For information, address State University of New York Press, 194 Washington Avenue, Suite 305, Albany, NY 12210-2384
Production by Diane Ganeles Marketing by Fran Keneston
Librar y of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Bogdan, Henrik. Western esotericism and rituals of initiation / Henrik Bogdan. p. cm. — (SUNY series in Western esoteric traditions) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-0-7914-7069-5 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Occultism. 2. Initiation rites. 3. Freemasonr y. I. Title.
BF1411.B64 2007 130—dc22
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
2006020829
To Maria
This page intentionally left blank.
List of Tables Acknowledgments Introduction
1
2
3
Contents
Western Esotericism Introduction The Delimitation of a Field of Research The Research Paradigms of Western Esotericism Western Esotericism in Theor y and Practice Western Esoteric Currents Western Esoteric Rituals of Initiation Concluding Remarks
Rituals of Initiation, Secret Societies, and Masonic Initiator y Societies Ritual as a Field of Research Rites de Passage Rites of Initiation Secret Societies Secrecy and Masonic Initiator y Societies Masonic Initiator y Societies Masonic Rituals of Initiation Eighteenth-Century Masonic Terminology Concluding Remarks
Historical Background Ancient and Medieval Sources The “New Platonic Academy” of Florence The Spread of Western Esotericism across Europe The Esoteric Missions of Giordano Bruno and John Dee Christian Rosenkreutz and the Rosicrucian Manifestos Concluding Remarks
ix xi 1
5 5 6 9 17 20 23 25
27 27 30 35 40 44 49 50 51 52
53 53 54 57 60 63 65
viii
4
5
6
7
8
Contents
The Craft Degrees of Freemasonr y The Emergence of Freemasonry Early Freemasonr y and Western Esotericism The Pre-1730 Ritual Evidence The Master Mason Degree and the Ritual Enactment of the Hiramic Legend Concluding Remarks
High or Additional Degrees of Freemasonr y Introduction Templar and Ecossais Rites Egyptian Rites “Esoteric” Freemasonr y True Mason, or Académie des Vrais Maçons Concluding Remarks
The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn Introduction Histor y A Note on Sources Description of the Neophyte Ritual Analysis of the Neophyte Ritual Concluding Remarks
Modern Pagan Witchcraft or Wicca Gerald Gardner and the Birth of Wicca The Crowley Connection Gardner and the Witchcraft Rituals of Initiation First Degree: Witch and Priestess/Priest The First Degree Initiation Second Degree: High Priestess/Priest Third Degree: High Priestess/Priest Concluding Remarks
Conclusions
Appendix Notes References Index
67 67 70 76
8 9
5 3
95 95 95 100 103 107 119
121 121 124 127 128 137 143
145 145 148 153 155 157 160 164 167
169
173 175 209 225
1.1
2.1 5.1
5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5
6.1
Tables
Terminology relating to Western esotericism according to Faivre The building blocks of a masonic ritual of initiation The degree system of theAncient and Accepted Scottish Rite The degree system of theRectified Scottish Rite The degree system of theSwedish Rite The degree system of theRite Ecossais philosophique The degree system ofDer Orden des Gold- und Rosenkreuzes The degree system ofThe Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn