The Royal Path

THE GREAT WORK: A Complete Curriculum for the Alchemical Transmutation of Consciousness

The Structure of the Path

The Royal Path is the Western Mystery Tradition unified into a single coherent system — integrating Christianity, Hermeticism, Alchemy, Kabbalah, Astrology, and High Magick into one seamless curriculum of spiritual ascent.

Six Alchemical Stages structure the journey: Neophyte (seeking) → Nigredo (blackening, winter, dissolution) → Albedo (whitening, spring, purification) → Citrinitas (yellowing, summer, solar dawning) → Rubedo (reddening, autumn, completion) → Auredo (goldening, translation beyond the body).

Five Levels of Magic correspond to the subtle bodies: Physical → Etheric → Astral → Mental → Spiritual.

Three Orders mark major thresholds: The First Order (Outer Order, elemental work), the Second Order (Inner Order, planetary/zodiacal work), and the Third Order (Secret Order, divine union).

The Tree of Life (ten Sephiroth) provides the Qabalistic map, ascending from Malkuth (Earth) to Kether (Crown) and beyond into Ain (Nothing/Everything).

The Fourfold Path weaves through all grades: Chivalric (the Grail Quest, from Page to Knight to Grandmaster), Magical (from Neophyte to Wizard to Master), Mystical (union with God through ACIM and contemplation), and Royal (from Prince to sovereign King).

The 22 Paths of the Tarot connect the Sephiroth, each path a major initiation corresponding to one of the 22 Major Arcana cards and one of the 22 Hebrew letters.

Three Dark Nights purify consciousness: the Dark Night of the Senses (physical/etheric), Dark Night of the Soul (emotional/psychological), and Dark Night of the Spirit (ontological dissolution).

Three Weddings celebrate union: the White Wedding (Baptism, spring), the Yellow Wedding (Transfiguration, summer), and the Red Wedding (Resurrection, autumn).

This is the Royal Art

DEGREE 0: NEOPHYTE (Pre-Initiation)

Alchemical Stage: Seeking (before Nigredo)

Season: Before winter

Grade 0=0: Neophyte

DEGREE I: THE FIRST ORDER (OUTER ORDER)

NIGREDO: Elemental Magic

Season: Winter

Body: Lead

Magical Level: Physical → Etheric

The Four Elements

🜃Grade 1=10: Zelator (Earth)

🜁Grade 2=9: Theoricus (Air)

🜄Grade 3=8: Practicus (Water)

🜂Grade 4=7: Philosophus (Fire)

The First Veil

Portal Grade

The Tower Initiation — Crossing Paroketh, the First Veil

The White Wedding — Baptism (Spring Equinox)

DEGREE II: THE SECOND ORDER (INNER ORDER)

ALBEDO → CITRINITAS: Planetary & Zodiacal Magic

Season: Spring → Summer

Body: Silver → Mercurial → Solar

Magical Level: Astral → Mental

Ordo: R.R. et A.C. (Rosae Rubeae et Aureae Crucis)

Planetary Work (Albedo)

☉Grade 5=6: Adeptus Minor

Knowledge & Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel

The Yellow Wedding (Phase 1) — Transfiguration begins

Zodiacal Work (Citrinitas)

Grade 6=5: Adeptus Major

The 72 Angels & 72 Demons

Strength Initiation — The Second Major Initiation

Grade 7=4: Adeptus Exemptus

Fixed Star Magic

Preparing to Cross the Abyss

The Second Veil

The Abyss (Da'ath)

Total Ego Death — Crossing the gulf between human and divine

Encounter with Choronzon

The Red Wedding — Resurrection (Autumn Equinox or Samhain)

DEGREE III: THE THIRD ORDER (SECRET ORDER)

RUBEDO → AUREDO: Divine Magic & Beyond

Season: Autumn → Beyond Time

Body: Glorified

Magical Level: Spiritual → Beyond

Ordo: The Hidden Order

Grade 8=3: Magister Templi

Master of the Temple — Binah (Understanding)

The Work is Complete

The Empress Initiation — The Third Major Initiation

Grade 9=2: Magus

The Living Word — Chokmah (Wisdom)

Speaking Reality Into Being

Grade 10=1: Ipsissimus

The Crown — Kether and beyond

Union with the Absolute

Auredo

Translation — The New Jerusalem

The Real World — Complete Forgiveness

Return to the Kingdom

FOUNDATIONAL RESOURCES

Daily, Weekly & Monthly Practices - The rhythm of practice throughout all grades

📜The Canonical Texts of the Royal Art - The essential library organized by tradition and level