"8° Gradus Mercurii — This degree must be earned by work. The initiate must have been a member for at least three years. The conditions for the conferring of this degree are: 1) mastery of ritual, symbolism, and esoteric teachings of the apprentice grades, 2) knowledge of theosophical doctrines (karma, reincarnation, the seven principles, and the planes of existence), 3) mastery of basic astrology, 4) basics of symbolism, and 5) a written work on the elementary concepts of the R+C."
The Tau or Cross represents the body. The Rose symbolizes the expansion and death of consciousness.
" According to Israel Regardie, the Golden Dawn rosy cross contains attributes for the Elements, Planets, Zodiac, Hebrew alphabet, alchemical principles, the hexagram and pentagram, the Sefirot of the Tree of Life, and the formula of INRI."
— William S. Burroughs (The Western Lands)"
The inverse of INRI is IRNI and is connected with : "IRNI
| Acronym | Definition |
|---|---|
| IRNI | Intermediate Range Nuclear Instrument |
"
This glyph became a talisman used by the White Lodge to bring together the Apollonian Order of the Cosmos. As they succeed in objectifying and classifying they add limbs to the Tree of Life. Elementary elemental rituals, planetary rituals, and zodical references could be tabulated. It even fell in line with the Music of the Spheres.
With this White magic came a promise and faith. But as we see in the Book of the Law, "I give unimaginable joys on earth: certainty, not faith, while in life, upon death; peace unutterable, rest, ecstasy; nor do I demand aught in sacrifice." There is a fork in the road, and unless your household God is Elegba, you may find incertitude. The answers will be revealed. The occult remains bountiful.
The Cross is what you bear if you follow the White Lodge.
"Now it is clear what she has woven in her dance; it is the Crimson Rose of 49 Petals, and the Pillars are the Cross with which it is conjoined. And between the pillars shoot out rays of pure green fire; and now all the pillars are golden. She ceases to dance, and dwindles, gathering herself into the centre of the Rose. Now it is seen that the Rose is a vast ampitheatre, with seven tiers, each tier divided into seven partitions. And they that sit in the Amphitheatre are the seven grades of the Order of the Rosy Cross. This Amphitheatre is built of rose-coloured marble, and of its size I can say only that the sun might be used as a ball to be thrown by the players in the arena. But in the arena there is a little altar of emerald3, and its top has the heads of the Four Beasts, in turquoise and rock-crystal4. And the floor of the arena is ridged like a grating of lapis lazuli5. And it is full of pure quicksilver6."
49 is a key number in The Mystical Heptarchy. The Rose is Nuit and The Cross is Hadit. The Grade of Adeptus Minor in the System of the A.'.A.'.
"The Order of the Rose Cross"
"The Order of the R∴C∴ (Rose-Cross)
- Adeptus Minor (5°=6#): The Grade of Adeptus Minor is the main theme of the instructions of the A∴ A∴ It is characterised by the Attainment of the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel. His work is to manifest the Beauty of the Order to the world, in the way that his superiors enjoin, and his genius dictates.
- Adeptus Major (6°=5#): His work is to use Magical Powers to support the authority of the Exempt Adept his superior. He achieves self-reliance, the proper use of Force, and the authority to govern the lower grades.
- Adeptus Exemptus (7°=4#): The Adept must prepare and publish a thesis setting forth His knowledge of the Universe, and his proposals for its welfare and progress. He will thus be known as the leader of a school of thought. He will have attained all but the supreme summits of meditation, and should be already prepared to perceive that the only possible course for him is to devote himself utterly to helping his fellow creatures.
- (Babe of the Abyss)—the link: The Grade of the Babe of the Abyss is not a Grade in the proper sense, being rather a passage between the two Orders. It is an annihilation of all the bonds that compose the self or constitute the Cosmos, a resolution of all complexities into their elements, and these thereby cease to manifest, since things are only knowable in respect of their relation to, and reaction on, other things.
"
The Seekers of L.V.X. , "Know then, O my Son, that there be many Crosses and that the Symbolism of these varieth according to the Art of the Wise which giveth them due Proportion; so, too, are to be found Roses whose Petals signifie a Five-fold, and a Twenty-two-fold, and a Forty-nine-fold Order. These, again, may seem to be united or divided, in whole or in part; yet each Symbol concealeth its aspect of the One Secret most perfectly, according to the Understanding of the true Seeker after L.V.X."
from Frater Achad's "
DE MYSTERIIS ROSAE RUBEAE ET
AUREAE CRUCIS
"
An 18 page essay explaining the symbolism of the Rose Cross. Further:
" John Dee intended to use the Enochian Keys to “open the 49 Gates of Wisdom/Understanding” represented by the 49 magic squares in Liber Loagaeth."
It is a doorway into Enochian Operations. This information is given to the Triad above the Rosy Cross. "The Enochian Calls “open” various parts of the Enochian system, which is itself a complex representation of the various parts of the magical universe. There are a total of 49 calls, the first 18 of which open parts of the Enochian watchtowers; the last 30 of which open the Enochian Aethyrs, which can then be “scryed” or explored psychically."-Jason Louv
To compose the Divine names one uses a hebrew rose. 
"
| Vernal Equinox | Autumnal Equinox | Approximate Dates |
| Void | Gemini | Sagittarius | 6840 - 4320 b.c.e. |
| Chaos | Taurus | Scorpio | 4476 - 2306 b.c.e. |
| Isis (Parthenogenesis) | Aries | Libra | 2306 - 156 b.c.e. |
| Osiris (Self Sacrifice) | Pisces | Virgo | 156 b.c.e. - 1904 e.v. (0 e.n.) |
| Horus (Analysis/Disintegration) | Aquarius | Leo | 1904 - 4064 e.v. (2160 e.n.) |
| Maat (Synthesis/Re-integration) | Capricorn | Cancer | 4064 - 6224 e.v. (4320 e.n.) |
| Anubis | Sagittarius | Gemini | 6224 - 8384 e.v. (6480 e.n.) |
"
Rubric of The AeonsShowing Solar data pertaining to zodiacal events. The invention of a new calendar.
The Seven Principles of Man
First Principle-The Physical Body (Guf or Guph)
Second Principle-The Astral Body (Akashic Clairvoyance in the Corpse Pose)
Third Principle- Prana The Life (Taoist Chi /Morphogenetic Field)
Fourth Principle- Kama The Desires (Realm of Hungry Ghosts)
Fifth Principle- The Thinker or Mind (Ruach)
Sixth Principle- The Spirit (Neshimah)
Seventh Principle- The Monad (Chia)
Theosophy is a rather recent collaboration of ideas that have influenced and been influenced by some of my Teachers. There is a notion that once a curse has been set, it will respond to its target, then return on the path of least resistance, which is what Theosophists point to being the same path it came from. Thus returning the spell caster with disaster. Guns and spells do not function in this manner. There is no retribution or returning karma. This is something they got wrong. There are many things that they got wrong. They did this with the express purpose of discouraging certain behaviors.
Their writings remind me of hobbyists describing the Mysteries of the Pyramids. Some of it fantastical and other parts connecting various random information to convey a position. Probably Theosophy by Rudolph Steiner is a good primer for Theosophy. This is definitely White Lodge Magick. I was exposed to Thelema before Theosophy so I have vastly took a pass in their research. Thought Forms by Annie Besant is a work that is worthy of evaluation. I have a copy in the library. Important topic for the formation of Egregores.
Don Karr
With the LUX and NOX formulas, we have elemental and planetary rituals. The gestures are composed to facilitate physical manifestation. The Thelemic Rose Cross ritual is suitable for use as put forth by The Order of the Thelemic Golden Dawn. There are many treatises about the Tree of Life, Frater Achad being one good one, but the system is definitely artificial and requires a method of action coined by Dali as Paranoiac Critical Method. Methods such as Gematria are particularly useful. Also, utilizing an Enochian dictionary to write your petitions to the celestial beings or infernals can induce this state of being.
Astrology for me has been a concept related to Astro-Geomancy as outlined in Stephen Skinner's books. Special assignments given by the Golden Dawn, Agrippa, Gerard of Cremona, and Christopher Cattan. 
Also speaking for the constellations are the 72 angels and 72 demons of the stars. LeMULgeton by Leo Holmes is an excellent guide for more information.
"Throughout the pages of this work, the author attempts to relate both Lemegeton and Mul.Apin (a Babylonian compendium that deals with many diverse aspects of Babylonian astronomy and astrology), attributing the Goetics to the Sumerian Constellations (which include single stars and planets) neglecting the prose’s linear flow for the sake of mythic astronomical approach. For that, the author analyzes every possibility – similarity in names, coincidental depictions, mythological attributions and even Constellations’ modern names – following the order in which the demons are presented in Lemegeton."
I find this information more practical in terms of magick rather than the zodiacal information. Again, it is an artificial construct forcing Chaos to Conform. Imposing structure upon Nature is often expressed in this art. It keeps confusion and fear at bay. To important features to altered states of consciousness pursued by the shaman poet artist. Symbols have limitations where the divine or spiritual essence blurs these lines. A biochemical reaction to symbols is a state of possession. That is not to say they do not produce almost geometric representation, some of the definition to the Angelic.
Instead of Unifying Kether, the Tree of Death has Thaumiel, the mythos connected with the origin of the Solar System as we know it. It is the Dark Tale of Saturn. One must pass through DAATH on the Tree of Life to see the Tree of Death. Accessing it through ritual is the goal of the apprentice. The advancement of ritual stages gets you there. My practice has been with the Star Ruby and Star Sapphire Rituals. I have been entertaining a Satanic version but have not implemented it. It is in Goetia Daemonum.
The Rose and Cross also signify the Communion with the Holy Guardian Angel. This mysterious connection is an indication that one has progressed beyond the Ruach. There is some connection with the Neshimah and their is an appearance of clairvoyance. A signal beyond the senses, leaving impressions upon the Ruach often interpreted as images or words. These connections are further explained with the Eight Circuit Model, as well as guidance for getting there. Further on the scale is the perception of the Monad, or Chiah. A culmination upon Death, the uniting of opposites. These aims can be accomplished by the White and Black lodges, and many of their methods blur in Thelema.
•HIHV, sign Capricorn, element Earth - a finder of flaws, punishing the disloyal; invokes the severe angel Vabashiah, banishes the merciful angel Shabuel;
•HVIH, sign Pisces, element Water - protective, creative, psychic, sees to it that others act responsibly; invokes the severe angel Vamediah, banishes the merciful angel Demuel ;
•VHHI, sign Gemini, element Air-exposes all deceit, tests friendships; invokes the severe angel Hiviah - "the angel of lies"- and banishes the merciful angel Vihael.
The four fold formula of INRI is that Jesus descended into Hell before Resurrection. It is the fore tolled Apocalypse. The method I found most promising for explaining the formula of INRI is found in Tetragrammaton by Donald Tyson. He interprets it as YHVH and reveals a method of operation which requires the use of many rings adorned with sigils. When used in conjunction with Enochian operations one has powerful spiritual tools. Marilyn Manson was apparently influenced by Tyson's work during the making of AntiChrist Superstar and adorns some of the sigils on the album cover.
Tyson's methods are sound for the White Magickian and require adjustment for the Black. All this can be taken as conjecture at this point because it is currently beyond my grade and interest. The secrets to reincarnation and the nature of Death have been exposed. It is a matter of finding your own explanation that coincides with experience. Basically, man is tied to the moon and destined to parish like a jagger stone being thrown to the ocean for smoothing. Energy manifests and changes eternally; evolving not reduing to a state of Death as envisioned by those petrified by its stare.
All this is true up to a certain grade, but it hasn't even involved the theory of Parallel Universes. It is also worth noting that elemental and planetary influences from the East can be very useful to the student. Tattwas and the Eight Trigrams are excellent in terms of reconciling differences. Mudras can supplement God forms, and yantra for magic squares. Part of accepting the White Lodge premise is acceptance of the Big Bang Theory. This model of creation is central to a previous Solar model. An initiating agent is needed. The documentation supporting this theory is vast and shows the reach of its logic in scientific dogma.
Plasma theory, Electric universe theory, Orgone theory, and Ether physics from Tesla are some interesting dimensions of evaluation. I am currently looking into them.
