Pastoral Letter, Feast of Ss Indract and Dominica of Glastonbury, Martyrs
- 5th February 2021
Cari Fratres et Sorores
We find ourselves in the second month of 2021 already and perhaps the less said about it the better. If, at this stage you are still in hibernation then that’s probably what you have chosen, and if you are awake you may be asking yourself “but what can I do?” Perhaps you are even feeling deflated and disempowered, and that is exactly where membership of our order may help. The vast majority of us are effectively powerless against the servants of darkness presently holding positions of power thoughout the world and it is quite obvious now that even our vote counts for little. However, there are a few individuals in positions of power who are fighting for the people and it is for them that we ought to pray and offer support.
We find ourselves in the second month of 2021 already and perhaps the less said about it the better. If, at this stage you are still in hibernation then that’s probably what you have chosen, and if you are awake you may be asking yourself “but what can I do?” Perhaps you are even feeling deflated and disempowered, and that is exactly where membership of our order may help. The vast majority of us are effectively powerless against the servants of darkness presently holding positions of power thoughout the world and it is quite obvious now that even our vote counts for little. However, there are a few individuals in positions of power who are fighting for the people and it is for them that we ought to pray and offer support.
Developing ourselves spiritually, particularly in “Defence against the Dark Arts” (to borrow a well known phrase!) is something that will help us feel empowered again and also enable us to participate in battle on the side of the light. The forces of light and darkness wrestle on earth at this time, but we may, and should, learn to engage in battle on the inner planes too. Whether engaged in physical or spiritual battle, Knights and Dames ought to be conspicuous for our fearlessness and readiness to tackle hostile environments, especially if it means that we thereby further the cause of light and truth and defend the most vulnerable members of society - and here I am particularly mindful of the evil of human trafficking and most especially the trafficking of children for neferious purposes.
I was initiated as a Knight Templar in Scotland back in 2008. It was one of the most significant of the initiations I have been fortunate to receive, and in subsequently founding our own Templar order back in 2010 my intention was to enable a greater number of people, of both sexes, to participate in the egregore of Templarism within an esoteric Christian sacramental context, rather than a Masonic one. The vision for this order was first of all inspired by the Avalonian tradition, that which is now the first grade, the Knights of St Joseph of Arimathea and the Dames of St Mary Magdalene. My own love for the Avalonian mythos was kindled whilst doing my Celtic Shamanism training near Glastonbury back in 2003 as well as studies through the three grades of the the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids some years earlier. However, I wanted to dive deeper into the Avalonian source and follow a different current than the fashionable New Age and neo-Pagan route. I knew that I was seeking something deeply rooted in Catholicism and yet also a magical system. It has taken 10 years of seeking and settling for the vision to become clearer and more communicable. To the first grade, within a few years we added the second and third grades, further developing the Grail theme to include the Pyrennean Grail - based mainly on the Cathar mythos - and the Templar Grail - which is at once more martial, political and magical. The path of the Grail, as the unifying factor, between the three grades has gradually become more focussed, each piece of the jigsaw falling into place at the right time.
Violet Mary Firth - Dion Fortune Now in retrospect, I can see that our “Secret Chiefs” among the early Avalonians were working quietly behind the scenes. Until last year I had read few of the works of Dion Fortune and only had the barest knowledge of the early Avalonians, however further research has proven my intuition that it is they who have shown an interest in our order from the other side of life, since its inception. One might well ask, why would that be so (?), to which my answer might be as follows: I believe that if Dion Fortune were here today she would not be a Goddess worshipping Pagan, for if she were she would not be Dion Fortune! I can proclaim this with conviction, because her Christianity was a fundamental part of her personality. To reject it in favour of full blooded neo-paganism would be to lose a large portion of her soul. This is made clear both in “Glastonbury: Avalon of the Heart” and in the research of Gareth Knight, especially as presented in “Dion Fortune and the Threefold Way”. Therefore it is understandable that her discarnate soul should gravitate towards those who are attracted to that specifically Christo-Pagan Avalonian current with which she was so familiar and to which she devoted her life's work.
It is equally true, however, that Dion Fortune had little time for the Liberal Catholic Church, which again was understandable, mainly for two reasons. Firstly, she felt, rightly I believe, that Theosophy was doing British seekers and the Western Mystery Tradition a disservice by concentrating so fervently on eastern mysticism and she saw right through the error of the Krishnamurti delusion, which almost led to the demise of both Theosophy and Liberal Catholicism. Secondly, as a middle-church Anglican, without a first hand understanding of Catholic sacramental theology, Dion Fortune did not understand the fundamental necessity of the apostolic succession for the miraculous power of the sacraments and sacramentals. From the vantage point of hindsight I believe, and would certainly hope, that her soul now sees the power inherent in the apostolic succession, as Liberal Catholicism has continued to flourish and hold its own small niche against the tide of secularism, whilst her own “Church of the Grail”, not having had a solid sacramental foundation, has had to evolve in directions she could not have foreseen, nor probably chosen. Having that firm sacramental foundation I believe she would recognise that we are well placed to revive the egregore of the Church of the Grail, within our own Order, and I believe that we may do so with DF’s blessing as well as that of the Company of Avalon who were amongst her own inner contacts.
It is equally true, however, that Dion Fortune had little time for the Liberal Catholic Church, which again was understandable, mainly for two reasons. Firstly, she felt, rightly I believe, that Theosophy was doing British seekers and the Western Mystery Tradition a disservice by concentrating so fervently on eastern mysticism and she saw right through the error of the Krishnamurti delusion, which almost led to the demise of both Theosophy and Liberal Catholicism. Secondly, as a middle-church Anglican, without a first hand understanding of Catholic sacramental theology, Dion Fortune did not understand the fundamental necessity of the apostolic succession for the miraculous power of the sacraments and sacramentals. From the vantage point of hindsight I believe, and would certainly hope, that her soul now sees the power inherent in the apostolic succession, as Liberal Catholicism has continued to flourish and hold its own small niche against the tide of secularism, whilst her own “Church of the Grail”, not having had a solid sacramental foundation, has had to evolve in directions she could not have foreseen, nor probably chosen. Having that firm sacramental foundation I believe she would recognise that we are well placed to revive the egregore of the Church of the Grail, within our own Order, and I believe that we may do so with DF’s blessing as well as that of the Company of Avalon who were amongst her own inner contacts.
Tau Blaise - Coat of Arms As God is my witness, when I felt inspired to organise the three grades of our order, to each of which was assigned a different colour cross - violet, blue and red respectively, - each representing a different path to the Grail, I had no idea (until a friend alerted me to the fact) that Dion Fortune had been working with a similar idea, whereby her initiates were expected to be conversant with three different paths at the same time: the orange path of Hermeticism and Magic; the green path of the Avalonian Faery Faith and the purple path of Christian Mysticism. Before I was aware of this fact, I designed my Coat of Arms as Tau Blaise (named for Blaise, the teacher of Merlin). As you see the Druid Faery faith is foundational as the shield has a green background and sprigs of mistletoe on either side of the Grail. The host indicates the centrality of the Eucharistic Christ and the Awen symbol the inspiration of the Druid tradition, but I also chose the drops and rays of the Awen to be coloured violet, blue and red, the symbolic colours of each of our grades. Little did I know that 70 years earlier Dion Fortune worked with the same three colours in her magical operations for the defence of Britain against the evil forces of Nazism.
Gareth Knight, tells the story, “ They had begun (Dion Fortune and her meditation group) by visualising angelic forces patrolling the coasts of the British Isles, but then certain images began to formulate to her meditation group at this time, constellating about certain key Arthurian figures, in the form of a triangle that linked three colored spheres, of red, blue and purple.
Gareth Knight, tells the story, “ They had begun (Dion Fortune and her meditation group) by visualising angelic forces patrolling the coasts of the British Isles, but then certain images began to formulate to her meditation group at this time, constellating about certain key Arthurian figures, in the form of a triangle that linked three colored spheres, of red, blue and purple.
Artwork: Matt Baldwin-Ives In the red sphere a mailed rider began to formulate, grasping a sword, and was identified with King Arthur. In the blue sphere a seated figure appeared, holding a diamond sceptre or rod of power, who was identified as Merlin. And in the purple sphere was seen a figure of the Christ holding the cup of the Holy Grail. By the end of April 1940 this triangle had transformed into a three dimensional pyramid with a figure of the Virgin holding the cup in the purple sphere, whilst the Christ rose to the golden apex of the pyramid.”
It seemed to me that the three drops and rays of Awen, in the colours of our order, on my shield, exactly corresponding to the colours of the three spheres worked by Dion Fortune’s group are at least “meaningful synchronicity”, if not a real sign of her favour and intention that, in our own small way, in these latter days, we might continue to develop her legacy along Christian esoteric lines.
So what can you do? Some of us in the higher grades are presently working, as a group, through “Arthurian Magic” by John and Caitlin Matthews, a book I would highly recommend. I would also suggest that our members read “The Magical Battle of Britain” by Dion Fortune and Gareth Knight, which contains many great ideas for working with the Light and against the Darkness, which now as then threatens to control our world. For initiates of the first grade we have also revived The Guild of the Master Jesus founded by Dion Fortune where you can enter more fully into both the Christian mysteries and the Avalonian tradtion. Where there is sufficient motivation we have many resources to share as well as opportunities for online fellowship.
Fraternal blessings to you all for a blessed Lent and a joyful Easter when it comes!
It seemed to me that the three drops and rays of Awen, in the colours of our order, on my shield, exactly corresponding to the colours of the three spheres worked by Dion Fortune’s group are at least “meaningful synchronicity”, if not a real sign of her favour and intention that, in our own small way, in these latter days, we might continue to develop her legacy along Christian esoteric lines.
So what can you do? Some of us in the higher grades are presently working, as a group, through “Arthurian Magic” by John and Caitlin Matthews, a book I would highly recommend. I would also suggest that our members read “The Magical Battle of Britain” by Dion Fortune and Gareth Knight, which contains many great ideas for working with the Light and against the Darkness, which now as then threatens to control our world. For initiates of the first grade we have also revived The Guild of the Master Jesus founded by Dion Fortune where you can enter more fully into both the Christian mysteries and the Avalonian tradtion. Where there is sufficient motivation we have many resources to share as well as opportunities for online fellowship.
Fraternal blessings to you all for a blessed Lent and a joyful Easter when it comes!
Master of the Holy Celtic Order of the Temple
Be safe, be well, and above all be prepared!
More information about the New Guild of the Master Jesus please see this page!
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