An Open Epistle
on the Clerk House
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. - AL I:40
“Establish at thy Kaaba a clerk-house:
all must be done well and with business way.”
Liber AL vel Legis III:411. Within the grade of the man of Earth a student is simply required to follow and carefully learn the Law of Thelema.
2. Creating one's own Universe in the wider Thelemic sense begins once they have entered the second grade, or that of the Lover. It is here that a Star is spawned based on a person's Understanding of the Laws of Thelema.
3. Here the student assumes a new title, that of Adeptus and most will spend the rest of their life trying to fulfill its implications. The Adeptus works primarily within the Qabalistic spheres of Hod (8) up through Chesed (4) on the Tree of Life. This combination of spheres is known as the Ruach - or ego. Although this ego is what animates the Adeptus, they must learn to bring it under control otherwise it corrupts all that lies below on the Tree of Life. The central sphere within the Ruach is Tiphereth, the Sun, their Heart Chakra. This is the natural stopping place on the Tree of Life for most Thelemites and it should not be a bane to anyone if the Adeptus goes no further, unless their ego has gotten in the Way. Remember, to a Thelemite: “Every man and every woman is a star.” (AL I:3) This Star is where the Adeptus naturally seeks to rest. It is source of their Light, their Magickal Power, and it is their Kaaba. Within the grade of the Lover the Adeptus must seek an understanding behind the secondary stage of the Knowledge and Conversation of their Holy Guardian Angel which is fulfilled in this sphere of Tiphereth. If it is the Adeptus’ Will to continue onward, he or she must accomplish this task otherwise they cannot enter into the Hermetic grade. This is not our rule but the Gods.
4. In our grade of the Lover the Hierophantic Task from Liber AL vel Legis tells us, like the second spiritual stage of the Basilidians, “let the fine be tried in intellect.” (AL I:50) We can say no more of these servants who are few & secret except that in this grade we empower the Adeptus with the ability to become a power-zone and to formulate a vehicle within the grade of the man of Earth that can act as an inner and outer extension of themselves. “Establish at thy Kaaba a clerk-house: all must be done well and with business way.”(AL III:41) To understand this verse more clearly the Adeptus must remember, according to the Qabalah, that there are two Trees of Life. The ancient Greeks referred to them as the microcosm and macrocosm. The latter is from the Greek phrase makros kosmos or ‘greater world’ and refers to the Tree of Life symbolizing our Universe, the Heavens above, the Angels and the entirety of God’s Kingdom. It is the objective universe or of those things outside our body. The word microcosm is from the Greek mikros kosmos or ‘little world’ and is a reference to the Tree of Life found symbolically within each one of us, which is a map of our human consciousness and spirituality. It refers to our subjective reality, or everything within, including our Higher Self. Both Trees are identical or mirror images of each other. It is said that God used the same blueprint to create everything from the most exalted to the infinitesimal and to study any part thereof on one Tree will reveal, by analogy, an identical fundamental principle on the other Tree. Thus the principle of magick - As Above, So Below. This means that the microcosmic Clerk House, also known as a person’s Adytum or Inner Temple, is identical to the Adeptus’ macrocosmic Clerk House that they will be establishing on the mundane plane. This is why; “all must be done well and with business way,”
To examine the workings of the Outer,
is to know the workings of the Inner.
Let the Adeptus take heed of this warning.
5. The Clerk House that has been established, both on the microcosmic and macrocosmic Tree of Life, is considered to be an earth-like planet that circles around an individual's Sun and their Sun only. Although kindred souls may be attracted like moths to its Light, the primary idea behind the Clerk House is to offer an Adeptus and their Universe their own personal avenue of expression upon Malkuth and into the man of Earth grade. Be that is it may, the Adeptus must still adhere to all natural Laws and not defy the Universal Will of the Gods who have created our Universe and given him the right to exist in his. Once this has been understood, we encourage the individuality of thought, all Knowledge is accepted, and diversity groomed. We believe strongly that every Adeptus has the undisputed right to ‘do what thou wilt’ and we want each to create their own school of thought. A Clerk House should proudly live by and display Liber OZ. However, this comes with an ominous warning. If the beliefs, ideas and philosophy inherent in a Clerk House are justifiable according to the Adeptus’ own True Will and the Laws of the New Aeon then it will survive and further what Crowley calls this “chain-system.” Otherwise, the Gods are harsh, the ordeals severe and an Adeptus can expect the direful judgments of Ra Hoor Khuit. (AL I:52) What he or she has established will fall by the way-side. Remember - Success is the only proof you need.
6. Of course, like any parent, we will always be there from the beginning to the end, helping in any way that we can in regards to an Adeptus’ needs. However, the teacher mentality abruptly ends in this grade because an Adeptus has reached adulthood. Teaching only extends downward into the man of Earth, to our children. Within the grade of the Lover guidance should be sought from the Holy Guardian Angel. Within this grade there is a deeper fraternal bond that is groomed wherein we are all equal in our quest for the Knowledge of Self and we are all willing to extend our Liberty, our Love, our Life and, more important, the Light of our Star to all who have a need.
7. Every Adeptus is required to bring in new members into the AA in order that they fail not an heir. It is here, in the Lover triad, that our initiates begin taking on students. Most other AA lineages allow a Neophyte, working out of Malkuth, to bring in students, but we strongly feel this is too early in the spiritual process and often hinders the growth of both individuals. We want our teachers to be more familiar with the process before they take on the responsibility of someone else’s spiritual growth.
8. A major requirement according to Aleister Crowley is, quote: “Eleven years of service as an Adeptus” before one can ever be admitted into the next grade, or that of the Hermit. Our Prophet has written that beware less this is not fulfilled for the Gods exact the price one way or the other and if this service is not adhered:
“Self doubt will be one’s curse for the rest of one’s life,
like a harsh wind blown in the face of a traveler
who dares to venture into the desert
unprepared.” - Fr.U.
9. Herein lies the Truth: creating a Clerk House is a demanding task. The affirmation to begin a Clerk House was but a single step, establishing one’s Star upon the Earth. To fully Understand the Clerk House will take years and this journey can only be fulfilled when the Adeptus has finally reached the threshold of the Abyss. Then, if the Adeptus feels that they have fulfilled all the obligations of the Lover grade, having achieved the guidance of their Holy Guardian Angel and knowing the Laws of their planet (i.e. the reasons behind their incarnation) and its relationship to their Sun (i.e. True Will), and they have written out their Thesis on their Universe, which should entail all the above Mysteries, they may wish to take the Oath of the Abyss and throw themselves as a child in quest of a new incarnation.
A FINAL WARNING: LOVERS ARE MORE HARSHLY JUDGE
IF THEY FAIL TO UNDERSTAND THAT IN FORMING A UNIVERSE
THEIR STAR IS NOW HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD
AND IT MUST NOT, I REPEAT, MUST NOT
INFRINGE ITSELF INTO OTHER
UNIVERSES.
Editor's Note: But if the Adeptus has fulfilled the man of Earth
and has understood the Law of Thelema, this should not be an issue.
Love is the law, love under will. - AL I:57
Frater ARETURN TO CONTENTS PAGE
93
