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Grade 5=6: Adeptus Minor

DEGREE II: THE INNER ORDER (SECOND ORDER)

ALBEDO: Planetary Magic

Grade 5=6: Adeptus Minor (Lesser Adept)

THE SOLAR GRADE — THE HEART OF THE TREE

Sephirah: Tiphareth (Beauty)

Planets: All 7 Classical (focus: Sun)

Tarot Paths: 26 (Ayin/ע - The Devil), 25 (Samekh/ס - Temperance), 24 (Nun/נ - Death)

Archangel: Michael (Tiphareth), Raphael (Solar intelligence)

Duration: Minimum 1 year (typically 2-3 years)

Fourfold Path: Apprentice Wizard

Alchemical Stage: Albedo (The Whitening)

Season: Spring

Body: Silver → Mercurial (approaching Solar)

Magical Level: Astral

Ordo: R.R. et A.C. (Rosae Rubeae et Aureae Crucis — Rose of Ruby and Cross of Gold)

Overview

This is the Solar Grade — the Heart of the Tree

The Adeptus Minor has crossed the First Veil and entered the Inner Order. This grade is centered on Tiphareth (Beauty), the sixth Sephirah, the heart of the Tree of Life, the solar sphere of Christ Consciousness.

The primary work of this grade is the Abramelin Operation (or equivalent) — the systematic invocation of the Holy Guardian Angel over 6-18 months, culminating in Knowledge & Conversation of the HGA.

This is Albedo — the whitening, the purification, the emergence of light after darkness. The lead body of Nigredo is refined into the silver/lunar body, preparing for the solar transformation.

The Tarot Paths

Path 26 (Ayin/ע) - The Devil

Continued from Portal

Connection: Tiphareth → Hod

Work at this level: Recognizing all remaining attachments and releasing them in service of the HGA

Path 25 (Samekh/ס) - Temperance/Art

Continued from Portal

Connection: Tiphareth → Yesod

Work at this level: The alchemical blending, the angel (Temperance) mediating between higher and lower, preparing the vessel for union

Path 24 (Nun/נ) - Death

Connection: Tiphareth → Netzach

Experience: Embracing endings, shedding identity, symbolic death, the death of the personal self

Work: Letting the old self die completely so the Higher Self can be born. Scorpio mysteries, the scorpion/eagle/phoenix transformation.

Core Practices

Daily Practice

LBRP + LBRH (Lesser Banishing Ritual of Hexagram) daily
Middle Pillar Extended (Full Tree activation)
Rose Cross Ritual
ACIM Workbook completion + review cycles
Planetary Hour observations (timing work by planetary hours)
HGA Invocations (daily, during Abramelin operation)

The Daily Rhythm

Morning:

Quiet time with God
ACIM Workbook (or review)
LBRP + LBRH
Middle Pillar Extended
Abramelin Invocation (if in operation)

Throughout Day:

Awareness of planetary hours
ACIM practice
Mindfulness of HGA presence

Evening:

Evening review
ACIM quiet time
Rose Cross Ritual
Journal (magical diary, HGA communications)

Magical Curriculum

PRIMARY WORK: The Abramelin Operation

The Abramelin Operation is a 6-18 month intensive working to achieve Knowledge & Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel.

Traditional Structure:

6 months (short version) or 18 months (traditional)
Daily prayers/invocations (morning and evening)
Purification regime (diet, celibacy or sacred sexuality, ethical conduct)
Withdrawal from worldly affairs (as much as possible)
Culminates in a final retreat (7-14 days) of intensive invocation
The Angel appears (in vision, in consciousness, in knowing)
Knowledge & Conversation is achieved

Alternative Approaches:

Liber Samekh (Crowley's adaptation)
Other HGA invocation systems
The goal is the same: direct contact with your Higher Self/Holy Guardian Angel

Planetary Magic (The Seven Spheres)

The Adeptus Minor systematically works with all 7 classical planets:

The Seven Planets:

Moon (Yesod) — Gabriel, Monday, silver, receptivity
Mercury (Hod) — Michael/Raphael, Wednesday, quicksilver, communication
Venus (Netzach) — Haniel/Anael, Friday, copper, love and beauty
Sun (Tiphareth) — Michael/Raphael, Sunday, gold, solar consciousness
Mars (Geburah) — Kamael, Tuesday, iron, strength and will
Jupiter (Chesed) — Tzadkiel, Thursday, tin, mercy and expansion
Saturn (Binah) — Tzaphkiel, Saturday, lead, limitation and wisdom

Planetary Work includes:

Lesser Hexagram Rituals (all 7 planets)
Greater Hexagram Rituals (planetary invocations)
Orphic Hymns to the planets (chanting/singing)
Planetary talismans (creating and consecrating)
Planetary invocations (systematic contact with each sphere)
Observing planetary days and hours

The Orphic Hymns to the Planets

Chanting or singing the seven planetary hymns as invocations:

Hymn to Selene (Moon)
Hymn to Hermes (Mercury)
Hymn to Aphrodite (Venus)
Hymn to Helios (Sun)
Hymn to Ares (Mars)
Hymn to Zeus (Jupiter)
Hymn to Kronos (Saturn)

These ancient Greek hymns are powerful invocations of the planetary powers.

The Hexagram

Symbol of planetary magic (as pentagram is for elemental)
Two triangles interlaced: Fire + Water, Above + Below
"As above, so below" — the Hermetic axiom embodied
Used to invoke and banish planetary forces

The Heptagram

Seven-pointed star representing the seven planets
Alternative planetary symbol
Used in some rituals and talismans

Templar Training

Guardian of the Temple

Tiphareth = the inner temple, the heart, the holy of holies

The Adeptus Minor is now a Guardian — protecting the sacred space within, defending the Grail (the HGA, the higher consciousness).

Seeking the Grail

The quest is for the HGA/Higher Self. The Grail is the vessel of divine presence, which is your own higher nature.

Battle with the Dragon

Inner demons, shadow work, confronting all that resists the light. This continues from earlier work but intensifies.

Holy Jihad

Inner struggle toward Truth. The greater jihad is against the ego, not external enemies.

Masonic Symbolism

Master Mason (Full Realization)

Hiram Abiff raised from the grave (resurrection mystery)
The Master was murdered, buried, and now is raised to life
This is the Christ mystery, the Osiris mystery
Death and resurrection as the path to mastery

The Ark and the Shekinah

Understanding the Ark: Covenant, presence of God in temple
The Shekinah (divine presence) in the Holy of Holies = Tiphareth
The inner temple is your heart; the Shekinah is your HGA

Rebuilding the Temple

After destruction (the Tower), restoration. Solomon's Temple represents the perfected human, the illuminated consciousness.

Rosicrucian Work

Entered the Vault

The Adeptus Minor has entered the seven-sided vault and beheld the tomb of Christian Rosenkreutz (the archetypal adept).

The Seven-Sided Vault:

Represents the seven planets
The tomb in the center (death and resurrection)
The ever-burning lamp (eternal consciousness)
The Rose-Cross symbol (perfected human)

Understanding the Rose-Cross

Rose = the heart, the soul, beauty, the HGA
Cross = the four elements, matter, the body, incarnation
Rose-Cross = spirit incarnate, the perfected human, Christ consciousness

The Adeptus Minor is the Rose-Cross — spirit blooming in matter.

Physical Practices

Yoga: Advanced practice, working toward samadhi, solar pranayama (surya bhedana)
Martial Arts: Mastery level in chosen art, potentially teaching others
Any chosen discipline: Should be at proficient level by this grade

Physical practice supports the intensive magical and mystical work.

Laboratory Alchemy

The White Stone (Albedo Completion)

The goal of laboratory work in this grade is to create the White Stone (also called the Lesser Stone or Lunar Stone).

Alchemical Operations:

Creating Philosophical Sulfur (fixed principle, the soul)
Creating Philosophical Mercury (volatile principle, the spirit)
Distillation mastery (repeated purification)
Working with metals (planetary correspondences: lead, tin, iron, copper, silver, gold, mercury)
First Conjunction (wedding of sulfur and mercury)

The White Stone:

Can transmute base metals to silver
Represents the purified consciousness
Lunar/silver consciousness (not yet solar/gold)

Alchemy Level

Astral — working with HGA, perfecting the astral body, preparing for mental realm

The Seven Liberal Arts

Quadrivium: Music

Music theory (scales, intervals, harmony)
The Music of the Spheres (planetary harmonics)
Pythagorean music theory
Scales and modes (Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, etc.)
Chanting, toning, sacred sound
Hermetic understanding of sound/vibration
Using music and sound in ritual

Hebrew Language

Reading simple texts, Psalms
Gematria (Hebrew numerology)
Notarikon, Temurah (letter permutations)
Reading Sefer Yetzirah

Solomonic Curriculum (Continuing)

Angelic conjuration (Shemhamphorash angels, planetary angels)
Creating planetary talismans
Working with Psalms and divine names
Timing by planetary hours and days
Consecration rituals for talismans and tools

Study Focus

Qabalah

Tiphareth (Beauty) — the sixth Sephirah, solar sphere, Christ consciousness, the heart, the center
Understanding Tiphareth as the mediator between above and below
The crucified god, the sacrificed king
Beauty as the reconciliation of opposites

The HGA

What is the Holy Guardian Angel?
Higher Self, divine genius, personal daemon, inner Christ
The HGA as the link between human and divine
The Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage
Liber Samekh (Crowley)

Christ Consciousness

Tiphareth is the Christ center
Understanding Christ as archetypal solar consciousness
ACIM: embodying the teachings, living as Christ

ACIM

Workbook completion (all 365 lessons)
Review cycles (returning to lessons with deeper understanding)
Text mastery (forgiveness, atonement, holy relationship)
Manual for Teachers

The Second Wedding: Yellow Wedding (Transfiguration)

This wedding occurs in two phases for the Adeptus Minor:

Phase 1: Albedo Culmination (End of Adeptus Minor)

Season: Summer (Citrinitas), ideally on Transfiguration (Aug 6) or near Summer Solstice
Alchemical: Fermentation, yellowing beginning
Symbolism: Transfiguration on the Mount — Christ's face shining like the sun, garments white as light
Body: Silver → Mercurial
Ritual: Climbing the mountain (literal or visionary), beholding the Light Body, donning yellow robe

Result: Solar consciousness dawning, HGA union achieved, Mercury body activated

Phase 2: Full Realization (Adeptus Major)

The full transfiguration continues into the next grade

The Second Dark Night: Dark Night of the Soul

When: Portal through Adeptus Minor

What dies: Emotional attachments, personal loves/hates, egoic desires

Symptom: Emptiness, loss of meaning, emotional flatness, "I am nothing"

ACIM Theme: "I am not a body, I am free," letting go of special relationships

Crisis: Psychological — losing sense of personal self, all that made you "you" dissolves

Resolution: Union with HGA, finding true Self beyond personality

The Dark Night of the Soul is resolved in this grade through the HGA contact. The personal self is surrendered, and the Higher Self is born.

Key Experience: Knowledge & Conversation of the HGA

This is the defining experience of Adeptus Minor.

After months of daily invocation, purification, and preparation, the Angel appears.

Forms this may take:

Vision (seeing the Angel in light)
Audition (hearing the Angel's voice)
Knowing (direct gnosis, union of consciousness)
Presence (overwhelming sense of the Angel's presence)

What happens:

You know your true name
You know your true purpose (True Will)
You receive guidance directly from higher consciousness
You are never alone again — the Angel is always present
Your life becomes a dialogue with the HGA

After K&C:

Daily communication with HGA continues
HGA guides all magical work going forward
You are no longer operating from ego but from Higher Self

Advancement Requirement

HGA contact achieved (Knowledge & Conversation)
All 7 planetary invocations completed
All 7 Orphic Hymns mastered
White Stone created in lab (or equivalent inner alchemy)
Solar consciousness stabilized (living from Tiphareth, not ego)
LBRH mastery
Oath taken as Journeyman Wizard
Ready to advance to Adeptus Major (6=5) and begin zodiacal/demonic work