To: K-list
Recieved: 2000/07/08 18:35
Subject: Re: [K-list] How Long Does it Take? Was Mudras
From: Mrkstavish
On 2000/07/08 18:35, Mrkstavish posted thus to the K-list:
Dear List,
here is a link to an article on how long it takes to achieve some of the
states of consciousness that are often talked about in esotericism. It is a
short essay, and as such I have included it in the email. If you chose to
however, simple hit the following link, and read it online. <A
HREF="http://www.hermetic.com/stavish/essays/how-long.html">How Long Does It
Take?</A>
Sincerely,
Mark Stavish
How Long Does It Take?
By Mark Stavish
for The Wyoming Valley Society for Esoteric Studies
Copyright 1999 Mark Stavish, M.A.
The familiar question “So, how long does it take before I see results?†is
often heard in an esoteric lodge or group, after explaining an esoteric
technique to a new comer to the Work. By asking “How long does it take?†the
student reveals several things that are endemic to modern esotericism.
Lack of Patience: Quarterly Reports and Annual Earnings
Many folks approach esotericism as if they were looking at a business plan:
short term thinking, quick returns, minimal investment, and regular
reinforcement through ‘dividends’ (paranormal phenomena) seem to be the
areas of focus. This lack of ‘long term investment’ strategy short changes
their teachers, fellow lodge workers, and most importantly themselves.
The truth is real, inner growth takes time! If it takes a minimum of eight to
twelve years to become a doctoral candidate in the arts or sciences, how can
we expect it to take any less to become proficient in esoteric practice? Note
that the key word here is proficient, not expert, or master, but technically
capable with dependable results. Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki, a student of the
later W.E. Butler, and co-founder of Servants of Light (SOL), stated in one
interview that it takes nearly ten years to become skilled in magical
techniques. Jean Dubuis, founder of the French alchemical society, The
Philosophers of Nature, has often stated that it can take up to twenty years
of serious esoteric practices to develop a working dialogue with one’s
“Inner Masterâ€.
In the Rosicrucian Manual published by the Rosicrucian Order (AMORC), there
is a section devoted to the topic of psychic illumination and the attaining
of Cosmic Consciousness. The article, written by the organizations founder
Harvey Spencer Lewis, makes several points that are worth restating.
The most progress is often made by those least concerned with it.
Psychic development is uneven, and often only manifests itself in times of
great need.
The length of time for Mastership is unimportant.
“Looking at it broadly, the five or six years required to bring the average
member to the very threshold of Mastership, as compared to one’s whole cycle
of incarnations, is like a pencil dot on a line a mile in length. But how we
can magnify that dot and lose site of the line!â€
Yes, in five or six years it is possible to bring a student to the ‘very
threshold of Mastership’. Yes, the threshold, but not across! In the Golden
Dawn, the first three and a half years were spent practicing only one or two
rituals. The next few years involved learning core techniques which many
schools now take for granted. Thus, five or six years of intense and specific
study was required to learn the necessary techniques to bring one to the
inner point where they might actually become an Adeptus Minor (i.e. inner
initiation), and not just in theory.
Very few students ever progress inwardly that quickly, but along the way they
have the interior experiences that drive them onward to that point, where one
day, they will cross the threshold into true mastership. This crossing may be
in this incarnation or in another. The relevance of time is important only to
the ego, and not to the soul. If your desire is truly soul inspired, then
time will be unimportant to you, and the domain of service will.
If you seek to grow, then serve, and serve anonymously, from behind the
adepts veil. Then you will be in good company and the crossing will not be
far off.
All esoteric exercises are designed to repair our psychic vehicles from the
‘damage’ they incurred in taking on of incarnation. Since they speed up the
process of repair, or reintegration, on the cosmic scale their effects are
nearly instantaneous, it is only to the time-space of Earth that makes it
appear long or short. However, some ideas are worth keeping in mind when
doing exercises.
It has been stated to the author by both Jean Dubuis, and Dolores
Ashcroft-Nowicki that it can take up to 18 months for an esoteric process to
work itself through. In addition, exercises aimed at the lunar world, of
which most are, can take several months for integration, but, we find they
are most powerful in relationship to lunar cycles. Thus, we may be doing an
exercise everyday for several months, but find that it is most ‘effective’
for the days of lunar strength during the month. Although we are not sensing
it, the effects are accumulative, but the power is expressed most easily
during the full moon.
Other exercises aimed at Briah take even longer, as they can be effected in
their initial stages by the effects of the solar year. Thus, a minimum of an
entire year may be needed for these exercises to be established within our
psyche. Like the ‘lunar’ exercises however, once they are in place, or their
function re-established, we are no longer dependent on astrological cycles
for their functioning, it is always available to us.
Concentration: or Why System Junkies Fail
Concentration is one of the key fundamentals to success, visualization and
meditation are the other two. But concentration is not just a mental faculty,
it is also an attitude, an approach to ones inner life. If we spend all our
time looking for the ‘right system’ or combination of techniques that will
give us the experience we are seeking then more often then not we defeat
ourselves. Pick a system and set of daily practices and stick to them! Good
solid basics give more results than the most complex of magical endeavors.
Accumulating initiations and techniques from diverse sources takes us away
from what really matters - the initiation into our Heart, and conversation
with our Inner Master. It is better to chant ‘OM’ everyday for the rest of
your life and nothing else than to technically know a half dozen systems of
magic and end up with nothing but psychic indigestion. Keep it simple and
direct, like the flight of an arrow, and then you will hit your mark.
DISCLAIMER!
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