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The Advancement section of the Newcomer infosheet is here reprinted in full:
"Some may have their curiosity sated by this introductory document, others piqued. For those inclined to delve into the communal aspect, a definition of the Neophyte Grade is included, with information on how to proceed, and an appended section regarding self-initiation."
'Neophyte' Defined
"Other traditions may argue against this definition, but in ours a Neophyte (1°=10º) is a standard member. There are no requirements, beyond genuine interest (although many groups stipulate 0° involvement for a year), and no responsibilities, beyond those expected anywhere. It is permissible for a Neophyte to borrow the Handbook of their initiator (or any member of the Grade 2°=9º or above) as a ‘working copy’ to find their footing in the tradition. It is expected they apply the methodology entailed in §II (why join otherwise?), but, of course, plenty of people prefer a casual relationship to their faith, and there’s nothing wrong with that. To each their own, whatever is most effective, as spirituality is fundamentally a personal endeavour.
To get involved: talk to your local group! Have a think beforehand about your motivations - while we don’t mind academic study, it can be frustrating to be surrounded by looky-loos rather than actual study-mates. That’s not a recipe for a real Community, so many groups filter out those best suited to remain at 0°. Membership is not required for attending meetings, but, as Crowley put it in one letter, 'If you’re looking for a peepshow, try the penny-machines on the boardwalk!'."
On Self-Initiation
"While it is obviously ideal to have an established group to engage with the communal aspect, it is not always possible and we don’t like to discriminate on any grounds - including circumstance. We’ve experienced a positive effect on our lives from Thelemic Spiritism, and are thereby motivated to share what we’ve learned in case it would do anyone else similar good. The days of properly secret esotericism are long gone, and we must keep up with the times to keep this tradition, so important to us, alive. This is what led us to the decision to compile and release our O.O. documents, with sections added (and amended, in some places) for clarity. Along with this, modified versions of the initiation rituals were written and included for special cases. We recommend you pause your reading here and see if there’s a local body, to at least have the option of experiencing the system as initially designed. Further, as specified in the [other] documents, a key requirement for any advancement is the need for someone to fulfil the role."
Our documents have been collected here in print form.
Made With The Approval Of The I.O.