Grade 6=5: Adeptus Major

DEGREE II: THE INNER ORDER (SECOND ORDER)

CITRINITAS: Zodiacal & Fixed Star Magic

Grade 6=5: Adeptus Major (Greater Adept)

THE MARTIAL GRADE — SEVERITY, DISCIPLINE, JUDGMENT

Sephirah: Geburah (Strength)

Zodiac Focus: All 12 Signs, 36 Decans

Tarot Paths: 24 (Nun/נ - Death), 23 (Mem/מ - The Hanged Man), 22 (Lamed/ל - Justice), 21 (Kaph/כ - Wheel of Fortune), 20 (Yod/י - The Hermit), 19 (Teth/ט - Strength)

Archangel: Kamael (Geburah), Samael (Mars)

Duration: Minimum 1 year (typically 2-4 years)

Fourfold Path: Journeyman Wizard → approaching Master

Alchemical Stage: Citrinitas (The Yellowing)

Season: Summer

Body: Mercurial → approaching Solar

Magical Level: Astral + Mental

Ordo: R.R. et A.C. (continuing)

Overview

This is the Martial Grade — Geburah, Severity, Mars

Having achieved union with the HGA in Adeptus Minor, the Adeptus Major now undertakes the most challenging work of the Second Order: systematically invoking all 72 Angels of the Shem HaMephorash AND systematically evoking all 72 Demons of the Goetia.

This is shadow integration at the deepest level. This is facing every demon within, every unintegrated darkness, and transmuting it into light.

This grade focuses on Zodiacal Magic — working with the 12 signs, the 36 decans, and beginning work with the fixed stars.

This is Citrinitas — the yellowing, the dawning of solar consciousness, the full transfiguration.

The Tarot Paths

Path 24 (Nun/נ) - Death

Continued from Adeptus Minor

Connection: Tiphareth → Netzach

Deepening: Death of all that remains of the personal self

Path 23 (Mem/מ) - The Hanged Man

Connection: Geburah → Hod

Experience: Surrender, seeing from inverted perspective, relinquishing ego-control, suspension

Work: Sacrifice, gaining wisdom through letting go, the willing victim

Path 22 (Lamed/ל) - Justice

Connection: Geburah → Tiphareth

Experience: Aligning actions with cosmic law, finding harmony through accountability, balance

Work: Karmic balancing, truth-telling, rectification, weighing the heart

Path 21 (Kaph/כ) - Wheel of Fortune

Connection: Chesed → Netzach

Experience: Learning to ride destiny without being trapped, understanding cycles

Work: Accepting fate, surrendering to divine timing, seeing the pattern

Path 20 (Yod/י) - The Hermit

Connection: Chesed → Tiphareth

Experience: Withdrawing to find truth, illuminating soul with divine compassion, solitude

Work: The inner lamp, guidance in darkness, wisdom through withdrawal

Path 19 (Teth/ט) - Strength

Connection: Chesed → Geburah

THE SECOND MAJOR INITIATION

Experience: Taming the beast through love (not force), heart-centered power, courage without violence

Work: Harmonizing mercy and severity, integrating compassion and strength, the woman closing the lion's mouth

Result: The heart opens fully; shadow is completely integrated; you become both tender and terrible

This prepares you to cross the Abyss.

Core Practices

Daily Practice

All previous rituals maintained (LBRP, LBRH, Middle Pillar, Rose Cross)
Supreme Pentagram Rituals (Zodiacal)
Greater Hexagram Rituals (Zodiacal)
ACIM: Living it (no longer just studying — embodying)
Zodiacal timing mastery (working with zodiacal hours, days, lunar mansions)

Magical Curriculum

PRIMARY WORK: The 72 Angels & 72 Demons

This is the heart of the Adeptus Major curriculum and typically takes 1-2 years to complete.

The 72 Angels (Shem HaMephorash):

Systematic invocation of all 72 angels derived from Exodus 14:19-21
Each angel rules 5 degrees of the zodiac (72 x 5 = 360 degrees)
Each angel bestows specific grace, virtue, power
Working with angels brings light integration — embodying divine virtues

The 72 Demons (Goetia):

Systematic evocation of all 72 spirits from the Lesser Key of Solomon
Each demon rules specific powers and knowledge
Working with demons brings shadow integration — confronting inner demons, unintegrated darkness
The demons are not "evil" but unbalanced forces that must be understood and integrated

The Process:

Work with one angel and one demon per week (or per two weeks)
Typically work through all 12 zodiac signs, 3 decans each (see below)
Each decan has 2 angels and 2 demons
Invoke the angels, evoke the demons
Integrate the lessons and powers

Why this work:

To integrate ALL aspects of self (light and shadow)
To master the zodiacal forces
To prepare for crossing the Abyss (total ego dissolution requires total self-knowledge)

The 12 Zodiac Signs Exploration

The Adeptus Major spends 1 month on each zodiac sign, exploring all 3 decans.

For each zodiac sign:

Study the sign's mythology, symbolism, rulership, qualities
Invoke the zodiacal archangel (12 zodiacal angels)
Work with the 3 decans (each decan = 10 days or more of focus):

Each decan has 2 Shem angels and 2 Goetic spirits
Invoke the 2 angels
Evoke the 2 demons

Meditate on the corresponding Tarot cards (Minor Arcana: each decan = one card)
Live the virtues and lessons of the sign
Chant the Orphic Hymn to that sign

The 12 Signs and their Archangels:

Aries — Malchidael
Taurus — Asmodel
Gemini — Ambriel
Cancer — Muriel
Leo — Verchiel
Virgo — Hamaliel
Libra — Zuriel
Scorpio — Barbiel
Sagittarius — Advachiel
Capricorn — Hanael
Aquarius — Cambiel
Pisces — Barchiel

Result: After 12 months (minimum), all 12 signs explored, all 72 angels invoked, all 72 demons evoked.

Supreme Pentagram Rituals (Zodiacal)

Invoking/Banishing pentagrams for all 12 zodiac signs
Used to invoke zodiacal forces
More advanced than elemental pentagrams

The 12 Orphic Hymns to the Zodiac

Chanting the twelve zodiacal hymns as invocations (part of the Orphic Hymn collection).

The 36 Decans

Each zodiac sign is divided into 3 decans (10 degrees each)
12 signs x 3 decans = 36 decans
Each decan ruled by specific angels and demons
Each decan corresponds to a Minor Arcana card in Tarot
Deep study of decan symbolism, mythology, and powers

Templar Training

Warrior Monk

Martial and spiritual discipline united. The Adeptus Major is a true Templar Knight — both contemplative and fierce.

Dragon Slayer

Confronting and integrating the shadow/demons. The dragon is the accumulated darkness within. You do not kill it; you integrate it.

Understanding Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual warfare is interior work. The enemy is ego, ignorance, fear — not other humans.

Masonic Symbolism

Scottish Rite Advanced Degrees (Symbolic Understanding)

Understanding higher degrees symbolically (not necessarily taking them)
Knight of the East, Knight of the West, etc.

Knights Templar Degree (York Rite)

The Templar mysteries fully embodied
Red Cross, Knight of Malta symbolism
Protecting the Sepulchre (the heart, the inner temple)

Rosicrucian Work

Adept of the Rose-Cross

Fully understanding the Vault, living the Rosicrucian mysteries.

Study of Rosicrucian Texts

Fama Fraternitatis
Confessio Fraternitatis
The Chemical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz (deep study)

Rose-Cross Ritual Mastery

Daily practice, full understanding of the symbolism.

Creating the Rosy Cross Lamen

Creating and consecrating the Rosy Cross lamen — the hexagram with rose at center, 22 petals (Hebrew letters), worn on the breast.

Physical Practices

Martial Arts: Intense training, potentially teaching, combat-ready
Strength Training: Peak physical condition, warrior body
Yoga: Power yoga, advanced asana, building heat and will

The Adeptus Major is a warrior — physically, mentally, spiritually.

Laboratory Alchemy

Approaching the Red Stone

Alchemical Operations:

Multiplication of the Stone (increasing its power)
Advanced metallic transmutations (working toward transmuting to gold)
Creating Red Tincture (Rubedo approaching)
Fermentation (continued)
Distillation (repeated, increasing purity)

Goal: Begin creating the Red Stone (completed in Adeptus Exemptus)

Alchemy Level

Mental — working with zodiac/archetypes, mental body, approaching causal realm

The Seven Liberal Arts

Quadrivium: Astronomy

Observational astronomy (actual stargazing)
Celestial mechanics (how planets and stars move)
Precession of equinoxes
Fixed stars (Behenian stars, Royal stars)
Planetary movements, conjunctions, aspects
Astrology integrated with astronomy (understanding the actual sky)

Hebrew Language

Reading Sefer Yetzirah (with understanding)
Advanced Gematria
Beginning to read Zohar excerpts

Solomonic Curriculum (Advanced)

Full Goetia/Shemhamphorash Operations

All 72 demons evoked (as described above)
All 72 angels invoked
Creating demonic and angelic seals
Understanding the hierarchies

Timing and Technique

Lunar mansions (28 mansions of the moon)
Astrological timing (planetary hours, days, zodiacal timing)
Circle, triangle of art, consecrations

The Qliphoth & Shadow Tree (Integrated)

When working with the 72 demons, the Adeptus Major encounters the Qliphoth — the shadow side of the Tree of Life.

The 10 Qliphoth (reverse Sephiroth):

Sephirah	Qliphah	Meaning
Kether	Thaumiel	The Twins of God (duality, separation)
Chokmah	Ghagiel	The Hinderers
Binah	Satariel	The Concealers
Chesed	Gha'agsheblah	The Shattering
Geburah	Golachab	The Burning
Tiphareth	Thagirion	The Disputers
Netzach	A'arab Zaraq	The Ravens of Dispersion
Hod	Samael	The Poison of God
Yesod	Gamaliel	The Obscene
Malkuth	Nahemoth	The Whisperers

How to Work with the Qliphoth:

Study theoretically (understanding the shadow tree)
Encounter during Goetia work (each demon reveals qliphothic aspects)
Integrate through alchemical transformation (poison becomes medicine, lead becomes gold, shadow becomes light)
Transcend by crossing the Abyss

The Tunnels of Set (22 paths between Qliphoth):

Advanced shadow work
Can be explored via pathworking/visionary work
Complementary to the 22 Tarot paths (light side)
These are not "evil" but unbalanced forces

Study Focus

Qabalah

Geburah (Strength) — the fifth Sephirah, Martian sphere, severity, judgment, strength
Understanding severity as purification, as necessary force
The sword of Geburah cuts away all illusion

The Zodiac

Deep study of all 12 signs
Understanding zodiacal symbolism, mythology, correspondences
Decans, lunar mansions, zodiacal degrees

Shadow Work

Jungian psychology (shadow, anima/animus, integration)
The Red Book by Jung
Understanding the unconscious

ACIM

Living the teachings (no longer studying — being)
Embodying forgiveness in all situations
Seeing the world as classroom for awakening

The Third Dark Night: Dark Night of the Spirit (Begins)

When: Adeptus Major through Adeptus Exemptus, culminating at the Abyss

What dies: The entire sense of being a separate entity, the "I" itself

Symptom: Total annihilation approaching, "I am nothing," ontological crisis

ACIM Theme: Complete ego dissolution, "There is no world"

Crisis: Ontological — death of the separate self, loss of all reference points

This Dark Night deepens throughout this grade and culminates at the Abyss.

Path 19 - Strength: The Second Major Initiation

Connection: Chesed → Geburah (the horizontal path balancing Mercy and Severity)

When: Late in Adeptus Major, approaching Adeptus Exemptus

Experience:

Taming the inner beast through love, not force
The woman (Sophia, the soul) gently closes the lion's mouth (the beast, passion, ego)
Uniting mercy (Chesed) and severity (Geburah)
Heart-centered power, courage without violence

Symbolism:

Leo (solar power, heart, strength)
The serpent coiled in strength (kundalini, ouroboros)
Lemniscate (infinity symbol) above the woman's head

Initiation:

Mastering the balance of compassion and power
Becoming both tender and terrible
The heart fully opens
Shadow fully integrates

Result: You are prepared to cross the Abyss. Only those who have balanced Chesed and Geburah can survive the crossing.

Advancement Requirement

All 72 Angels invoked and integrated
All 72 Demons evoked and integrated
Zodiacal mastery (all 12 signs worked, all 36 decans explored)
All 12 Orphic Zodiacal Hymns mastered
Shadow work culminated (descent into the underworld and return)
Supreme Pentagram and Greater Hexagram rituals (zodiacal) mastered
Red Tincture created (or inner equivalent)
Path 19 (Strength) initiation integrated
Ready to advance to Adeptus Exemptus (7=4) and begin fixed star work