For quite violently terrorizing reasons that cannot be told without causing many a skeptical eyebrow to be raised in disbelief, and in wonder, at the credibility of both my sanity and overall grasp of reality, I had begun studying Alchemy when I was three years old.
Sounds impressive? It isn't, really - there's not an unfathomably huge amount that can be absorbed by a three-year-old, after all... but I *was* quite eagerly driven, and I soaked up what I could like a sponge, as though my very life depended upon it.
And that wasn't very far from the truth.
But anyway, I had sought a deeper understanding of things - very strange things and events - that I had witnessed, and which affected me every day of my life from then on, but most effectually up until I was about 13 years old.
Now, as there seems to be about as many definitions for the term "Alchemy" as there are alchemists, let me just provide a simple definition which would best fit the usage of the term in this particular post; "the logical study and scientific understanding of the tangible and measurable mechanics behind precisely *how*, things that which are often called "paranormal" or "supernatural", work."
Later on, as I grew, I learned about Enochian sorcery as well... but again, was more interested in how it all worked, the gears and mechanisms behind the action, the causes and effects... I was not disappointed.
One major influence in all this was my mother's studies... or rather, it was a major domino, so to speak, in a line of a few which knocked down in line to cause my path to unfold. She had, since childhood, been involved in Masonic youth groups, gradually ascending the ranks which culminate into what is known as the Order of the Eastern Star - a branch of "Female Freemasonry". She was on that path up until about a couple years after I was born, and had moved on to a different path.
But as a result, we had known Masons, both of the usual variety as well as the female kind (both very similar, both very different), and those circles touched upon further other circles and groups, which led me to further learnings, and so on, and I got to learn a great deal as a result.
In time, when I got older, I even acquired some Masonic friends of my own, though quite very few, and far in between, on my life's path thus far... but my most favourite among them is one I know well today, Good Sir Brian L. - Brother, Friend, Knight.
Though I did understand quite a bit about Speculative Masonry on my own, through my studies, he himself (without betraying any "secrets") had shed much more light for my understanding than I had before. Sometime in the future, I hope to stand with him in that circle perhaps, and he's said he'd be with me that I may stand with him.
But I digress...
Now, while my mother had once followed the Masonic path, I myself did not - I became a Rosicrucian... under the tutelage of others, in the hopes of learning much more in my alchemical studies, up until about the time my son was born, when there was quite an internal scandal involving the order's Imperator. That particular order had fragmented into a small few factions, the two main ones being the old order, now transformed into merely a lineage-less corporation, and the other, founded anew under the True Imperator, keeper of both halves of the Nodin Manuscripts.
Some years later, I did rejoin on my own, but from afar, and in a manner as to keep secure my identity from being known (thank you, internet). But recently, I had quit the whole thing, finding that I no longer could find what I sought after... the whole thing had long been turning more and more into a sort of Christian Mysticism as I went through the levels of it, and quickly became no longer a viable source of alchemical academic learning for me.
Also, I couldn't help but notice a certain air of, "We who are not as you are" kind of elitist attitude, pervading throughout it all. Too much pomp, and "Look at me, see how great I have become".
BLEAH!!
Now, that's a little bit too cult-ish for me. No-one is above another, as though a higher life form, more entitled, more "further along the path" than another, no - all humans are created equal.
So, I moved on.
But the arcane sciences were not my only interests... I also strove to learn about wilderness survival, and martial arts... particularly tàijíquán and qigong, internal martial arts and their alchemies, involving the bio-electromotive force... I also craved to learn the Way of the Sword, and I vehemently sought to learn all I could about Knightly Virtues, High Morals, and I did so quite religiously.
Of course, as time went on and I began to have children, they were unsurprisingly quite like myself... my son, had his own (though very light in comparison to mine, thank God) brushes with the paranormal, and I got to teach him how to see with sharper eyes, the forces which bind all together and flow all about.
I opened his eyes to akasha, that which occultists might call "ether", or the "aura" - what scientists might term as the bio-electromagnetic field, or bio-electromotive force... what alchemists would call the quintessence, the Prima Materia, the First Matter... and through teaching the principles of martial arts, the same - Qi, Jing, qigong, etc. - how it is seen, felt, cultivated, accumulated, focused...
As time went on, my path found me on the other side of the world, with my little daughter, while I kept in close contact with my son back home. I asked that he turn his heart and mind's eye now to Knighthood, and cultivating the Knightly Virtues which are the tools of the swordsman, the martial artist, the Alchemist.
He does very well, and of him I am so very proud indeed. A damned good swordsman, a virtuous young man, a scholar and budding alchemist.
But I saw the need for something... more. There are many more things which are my fatherly duty to place before him to enrich his path, but things which prerequisite lessons/deeds must be accomplished first. So I pondered the degree work of Freemasonry... which would, indeed, provide a good deal of orderly structure... but... was it the best idea?
I thought about the chivalric orders I had been a part of in my life. A couple are not very known, another is fairly known... one is known to nearly no-one, as it only exists through bloodlines, and does not congregate per se.
But as for other chivalric orders, I'm comfortable enough with the idea of Speculative Masonry, at least through the first main three degrees (which truly, are the ONLY degrees of Freemasonry Proper), and through the *appendant* degrees of the Holy Royal Arch, the degrees of the Krypt, and so on, and even the Grand Commandery, the three major Chivalric Orders of the York Rite - the Knights of the Red Cross, the Knights of Malta, and the Knights Templar... but beyond that, I've always seen things get a little... well... hinky...
Also, I sort of feel... I don't know... weird - about becoming a part of a group which only accepts "certain types". I mean, there ARE black Freemasons, but they are segregated apart from the whites... now, they say themselves, these black men, that they are "self segregated"... but why?
I'm fairly certain they have their reasons, but... ??
And that's to say nothing of the segregation of the sexes, by the way.
Further, though Freemasonry is NOT a religion, and doesn't require you be any specific religion (only that you believe in an all-powerful creator), more than half of the Chivalric Orders (there are many more besides those mentioned above) *require* you to be Christian - and even trinitarian - to be knighted. And that's just something I am not... and the whole trinitarian thing is the number one reason, it seems, that Rosicrucians (or those of kinship teachings) are never admitted into those orders... at least not without blatantly compromising the concepts of their academic - or even spiritual - paths.
I think maybe that Freemasonry is NOT an inappropriate thing in and of itself, but perhaps it's just not the right thing for what I was specifically looking for in this particular case - a means to guide my children (and myself, with them), both, son AND daughter, inclusively into a system of morals and virtues, to be shared with their Human brothers and sisters of all nations and tribes ad peoples and tongues...
It seemed to me that a secret society, or even a "society with secrets", might not necessarily be the way to go, again, in this particular case. After a long spell beyond deep maturity, perhaps, depending... but as for this moment, that future I cannot see.
Besides, while the elitism of some secret societies might not necessarily be found among the Masonic Lodges (or perhaps it can be), there is still a feel of separateness from the rest of the world - of being "set apart" - and I rather feel the need to raise my children with more of a sense of unity, as opposed to one of exclusion.
But then, elitism *IS* a big problem with many societies, secret or otherwise...
Then there is also the matter of un-earned
pride... the lure of it... when some organizations boastfully tout primeval
origins (Ancient Egypt? Antediluvian? Please... ), or even that their
origins are "veiled in mystery", as though such in and of itself would automatically
bestow a high and unquestionable legitimacy... which would tend to tug at certain types of would-be
members who might seek a validation beyond their worth, a prominence
unwarranted, as easily as slipping on a coat, simply by pledging themselves as a member.
Now, this
is NOT to say that all who are in such groups are pretentious fakes - but that a group with
such a prideful quality might attract such, as flies to honey... and thus would be one I'd rather steer clear from... and steer my children
from as well. I would much rather they (and I MYSELF) learn to take the
courage to take on something which, though right and morally
upstanding, may be WITHOUT the assumed legitimacy of having been established "since time immemorial"... and therefore, as a result, might even incur some ridicule - and yet remain faithful, holding steadfast to the *timeless values and virtues* therein represented... THIS would earn moral character, THIS would warrant validation of soul.
So I sought out this, and I looked for that, and I perused through the other thing... and I found a few interesting groups. One was a group of people in the SCA, who have chivalric orders of their own, complete with heraldry, swordsmanship, horse riding, etc. - which is all superbly wonderful... but I found it wasn't quite what I was looking for... because while the cultural lore and accuracy of it is quite nobly upheld, and they do have a set of ethics and moral guidelines, of those two things, the scales seemed far more tipped to one side than the other - that is, for what I was specifically looking for.
To make an already long story somewhat shorter, I'll just say that I found a few different things, all of which fell short of what I was trying to find - a system to use (or emulate) which includes martial arts/fitness, cultivation of chivalric virtues, and a focus on the higher mysteries, the subtler sciences, such as alchemy - all in one system.
Then I stumbled upon a group who seemed VERY virtuous, respectful, upstanding, and very uplifting for each other - they also follow the "Way of the Sword" - and martial arts in general, and offer much data on the topic, and groups for support... physical fitness is much encouraged.
They also study what I've studied in Alchemy all my life - akasha, the quintessence, Qi/Jing, prana, that same singular stuff of which has many names worldwide in every cutlure!
And strangely, it seems they offered *LEGAL KNIGHTHOOD*... now, in the United States, there's otherwise no such thing... being there be no royalty to proclaim anyone a knight - but royalty is not the only institution which can bestow such - there is also the institution of religion - which is why people can be knighted through Freemasonry, as to their connections with the Holy See, across the Atlantic... and therefore can become Knighted in the Chivalric Orders of The Red Cross, Malta (Hospitaller/of St. John), and Templar - but yes, religion even on American soil - even if that one be based on the studies and contemplation of the First Matter, akasha, etc..
"Religion?", you might ask... yes, but not really - it is a NON-THEISTIC religion... it does not worship anyone, nor any thing, not even akasha itself - it does focus it's attention on this universal energy field, but not in worship - rather, it *celebrates* its existence, as a unifying force of nature that we all share, everyone, the world over, in every culture.
It can actually be seen as an "overcoat" religion, or like one friend in the forums had said it sounded like I was likening it to, a "religion expansion pack"... to be taken on over one's own core faith - there are utterly no aspects of it that conflict with the tenets, laws, ethical codes, virtues or morals of any religion whatsoever.
In fact, *even atheists* have taken on this religion.
**(And do allow me to take a small moment to say something in defence of my atheistic friends, whom to others' minds might seem devoid of spirit; people being atheist does NOT necessarily mean they are incapable of having any sense of spirituality. Many, even millions of atheists the world over, are involved in non-theistic religions, of which, there are a multitude to choose from. They are NOT soul-less clods, simply because they see no existence of deity.)**
In this, we all, no matter what philosophy, faith, or none at all - Muslim and Christian, Jewish and Buddhist, Midewiwin and Jehovah's Witness, Asatru and Haudenosaunee, Agnostic and Atheist, Evolutionist and Creationist - all are joined together in peaceful harmony with each other under one banner which joins us all.
So then... how did all this come to be?
Many moons ago, a very famous writer had asked his mother, "Mom, if there's only one God, why are there so many religions?" and that stuck with him as he grew older. He saw the whole world's theologies as though like that story of the four blind men feeling out different parts of the same elephant - they each had different stories to tell ("It's like a long rope!", "No, it's like a wide wall!", "No, it's like four straight trees!", "No, it's like a big, flat, leathery wing!"), but they all were describing the very same elephant.
Later, during a time when this world was in its many times of distress and upheaval, many years ago, he noticed that the newer generations, as well as the one passing, were falling out of caring about the deeper mysteries which we all share in on this Earth, in the midst of wars, political crazinesses and governmental strifes... so he sought to put something together to bring us all together and look again to higher things.
He had said that he wanted to make something that spoke to everyone of every cultural background and faith, and make them look again at the wonders that are beyond our provincial differences, to ponder again the mysteries which we all take root in.
He spoke with Joseph Campbell, a well-known world cultural historian and author, and learned even more about the universal themes behind the world's legends and parables... and he put together a masterpiece which spoke to us all.
This new work of fiction, based on truths from all cultures, brought us all together. Now we use this as a universal book of parables, so to speak, as the basis of our teachings, which are really just another way to express the teachings of all our individual faiths, but in one universal manner. One example of such a parable lesson is HERE.
And that is how George Lucas had made the epic story of Star Wars - and we, who take on the name JEDI, unite together in the studies of the mysteries of the Force - that which has bound us all on Earth together all throughout human history.
The Bio-electromagnetic Field, Prana, akasha, Qi/Jing, Ki, etc.
The Force.
So this work of his has become a tome of guidelines for our system, though it's creator, George Lucas, never intended for us to make of it what we have.
Beyond his real-world-lore-inspired work of inspiration which we draw from, he has nothing to do with us, nor we with him... though I'm certain we'd be quite thrilled, should he join us ;)
But wait, does that mean we're a bunch of prancing robe-wearers with lit-up plastic swords?
Oh, HELL no.
Now, don't get me wrong here, if I had one of those hefty, lit-up, acrylic light sabers, then YEAH, I'd wanna duel all night! ahahahaha
See, there is a difference between "role players" and "cosplayers"...
ROLE PLAYERS (in the extreme sense) are like those who like to dress up as characters, canonical or not, of fiction they identify with, and try to live their lives as though they live in that world of fiction - much like the "otaku" of Japan - even *insisting* that the fiction they identify with is the true reality, and tend to have problems with everyday existence when they encounter evidences that such an idea clearly isn't so.
COSPLAYERS are those who, for instance, might dress up as any of many fictional characters like, for example, the superheroes from "The Avengers", and visit children in hospitals, do some charity work, or even just attend good-old nerdy conventions for such recreation, *and then they go back to their normal, everyday lives*.
(Of course, at some conventions etc., there does seem from time to time, to be a space in between where these two tend to blur lol)
But no, while we aren't exclusive, and while we don't shun cosplayers, that's just not what we're all about. We welcome all, and yes, most of us like to have fun too... but we are very-very serious about our path.
The cultures and spiritualities of Earth that this is drawn from reflect their sources; Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Animism faiths - such as is found among the Native Americans, the Ainu from Japan, the Maori of New Zealand, etc. - Asatru, Taoism, Buddhism, and the list goes on... it is not drawn from fiction or myth, but from the sources from which myth and fiction spring forth from.
The main fact that needs to be understood here, is that there are those that wish their fantasy ideas would be the *real life*, and so they seek to live accordingly, as if they live in the fantasy...
- And then there are those of us who live in the real world and seek to manifest our highest ideals in reality - we Jedi in this context are of the latter sort.
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There is a very definitive difference between people who want to bring the fantasy of the fiction into their lives and pretend they live in Star Wars... and a serious practitioner of philosophy with both feet firmly planted on this Earth, who, at first, bettering one's self ethically and morally, then seeks to help make the world a better place.
Because a serious practitioner of Jediism sees that it isn't "all about the movies"... no.
Rather, due to the fact that George Lucas had drawn from the universal themes found in the legends, tribal stories, scriptures, tomes and sacred texts from Earth's many cultures from all over the globe, in order to make a single unifying and universal vehicle for moral inspiration that all faiths can relate to, then clearly, the most important fact to realize is this;
The movies, in truth, are actually meant to be about *all of US*.
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As the words on our front page, at the time of the initial writing of this blog post, clearly state;
"We are not a community of Star Wars roleplayers, but a church of the Jediism religion. The Jedi at this site are not the same as those portrayed within the Star Wars franchise. Star Wars Jedi are fictional characters that exist within a literary and cinematic universe.
The Jedi discussed within this website refer to real people within this world that live or lived their lives according to the principles of Jediism, the real Jedi religion. Jedi followers, ministers and leaders embrace Jediism as a real living, breathing religion and sincerely believe in its teachings.
Jediism does not base its focus on myth and fiction but on the real life issues and philosophies that are at the source of myth."
Since the summer of 1977, when I was 9 years old, and had first seen our new incarnation of ancient scripture/legends/stories on the big screen as "Star Wars", That little boy I was had from that very moment knew, in Heart of Hearts, that I was a Jedi - now, a lifelong alchemist, a seasoned student and practitioner of a handful of arcane sciences, have recognized the parallels - and some years ago from now, I had finally decided to make it official with the Temple of the Jedi Order...
And so, I am a Jedi.
My name in the Jedi Temple Forums is Tarran.
All are welcome - and May The Force Be With You, Always! ^_^
