‘An Essential Introduction’ - Magical Peer-Review
As mentioned in our previous blog, we invited Dr Robert A. Plimer to observe our Foundational Workshop, and he has kindly put a quick review together. The workshop is also Session 0 for the full Star Club Cycle and so Bob* refers to this and the introductory Workbook as such in places. Please enjoy his thoughts and feel free to contact us with any questions you might have!
Overview of the Foundational Workshop
Having been invited to attend and comment on the Star Club’s ‘Foundation Workshop’, I was immediately struck by Sef and Dr. Halo’s fervent commitment to the probationer’s questions, especially those regarding the various forms of daily ritual praxeis and to the variety of magical teachings offered even at this foundational level and to what is expected in the higher degrees in the Star Club.
The Star Club offers a comprehensive system for student practitioners in the Magical Artes. ‘Workbook O’, by which is meant the probationer’s induction course, provides students with both theoretical and more importantly a magical outline of the praxeis that from the outset direct students through a more personalised understanding of the ‘great work’, ‘magical current’, and their own relation to the Star Club’s ‘Cycle’ and ‘Framework’.
The central glyph of the Star Club is in that of understanding the function of the ‘Cycle’. This is therefore a prerequisite to the operation, teaching, and indeed to the order’s particular identity – this was well explained to members in the Star Club’s Manifesto and the initial ’Session 0’.
If required, practitioners, who will for the most part study on their own apart from attending more formal Order meetings, magical operations and celebrations; can also seek the advice from a mentor, or can raise a particular question that they might have on a more formal basis on completing a ‘Cycle’ working. Several questions were asked before and during the ’Session 0’ meeting.
‘Session 0’ is therefore principally devoted to rituals including the Qabbalistic Cross (QC), Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram (LBRP), and the Middle Pillar (MP). Intonation and visual forms of stimuli were developed with some slight changes to the more familiar original formulae and this made perfect sense in line with the Star Club’s methodology. These along with other magical techniques that will be used more particularly in later degrees were mentioned and where it was no surprise that students were particularly keen to run before they could crawl. All of these comments were clearly explained by the mentors and related in accordance to the Star Club’s own Framework. The ‘Session 0’ clearly offered students an essential introduction to the Order’s general ethos, but more importantly promoted the importance of procuring, annotating, and more importantly that of exploring one’s own ‘experiences’ by writing up one’s notes in a Journal, Magical and also Dream Diary.
The Star Club quickly aims to establish a synthesis of magical methodologies that include both Eastern and Western praxeis. At this level, these lead to subtle reflections on Pranayama and Etz Chaiim or Tree of Life. Thus, the Star Club utilises various sympatheia, for example: mention was made of the reflection on Adam Kadmon as a Body of Light, and the lightning flash as it emanates through the Tree of Life by enlivening the 10 Sephirah. Practitioners were therefore quickly introduced to several Kabbalistic and metaphysical glyphs and which were juxtaposed with both eastern and western magical meditative methods – in this way the Star Club’s system becomes suggestive of a more Hermetic form of mysticism and whereby initiates are encouraged to find the path leading to: ‘en to pan (All is One). It is clear that the order aims to promote a ‘way’ to engage in more noetic and ‘higher forms’ of energeia – but like all other orders, they begin with the basics – and in this, they promote an atmosphere of welcoming exploration and didactic in the Magical Artes.
Thoughts on Praxis 0 (the Foundational Workshop)
There are 8 parts regularised throughout the Star Club’s ‘Cycle’ meetings. Students are informed that Star Club Cycles meet in order to focus on a particular ‘magical intent’. This is based on a specific ‘projection’ of the group’s noetic focus that is channelled into the kosmos. This is then reflected back and into the lives of the group itself and applied during the course of the Cycle. The technique is also explained through a series of more ‘familiar esoteric maxims’, and which focuses practitioners on their own consciousness through the direction of their ‘will’. This section is wrapped up through an empirical statement, and which begins to outline (e.g. in later cycles) a more magical technique that is then used to engage in a more magical process of disorientation/dislocation of the mind (seperatio). This is described as something that replicates and utilises a cognisance/engagement of ‘the other’ (e.g. unio mystico).
Perhaps, it is here that we now begin to see in the Star Club’s theoria et praxis a more magically induced form of mysticism – especially, as conceived through the enlivening and activation of the subconscious (NB wherein the magical current is itself rooted), and where this can begin to flow into the practitioner’s own ‘conscious dayside state’. Through the magical current is activated and connects the entirety of the individual’s ‘true ‘being’ – that is both the corporeal and incorporeal through the act of cyclicity (e.g. as one’s mind/soul dislimns and then enlivens the body (and vice-versa).
Practitioners also learn to engage in the activation of Enochian vibrations to promote a group ‘chant’ (mantra) whilst understanding the more complex Holy Table(s) used in constructing the Enochian calls. The mantra is then used to project the group’s willed ‘intent’ ad extra out and into the kosmos and where the ‘cycle’ then is closed being finally grounded.
Practitioners are also given direct details of the Order’s leaders and mentors whom they can contact whilst working through the degrees in the course, exercises and Cycle sessions. However, at the heart of the Star Club is that of the student who must ultimately engage and focus their true will by centring it on that of their own goal.
Thus, the Star Club’s ‘Workbook 0’ offers student practitioners a comprehensive glimpse and overview of what is needed in order to participate and become an initiate in that of a fully functioning and modern Magical Order. I highly recommend that those interested in such an Order make direct contact with Sef and Halo.
— Dr.R.A.Plimer (Bob).
* minor edits by Sef for Star Club terminology throughout.
I’d like to extend my thanks to Dr Plimer for this glowing review of our techniques and teaching, and we have more thoughts on the internal practices in our Members’ Area. Our Individual Course is included in Membership and you will receive new material each month, to build up your magical skills and see results in your life wherever you are in the world.
Our new Cycle starts next month, followed by our Open Ritual honouring Inanna - we look forward to seeing you there!
Until next time.