ecosophia | The Order of Spiritual Alchemy: 8/8 Instructional Paper (Reply)

As mentioned in an earlier post, I've decided to make the teachings of the Octagon Society, the first of three levels of the Order of Spiritual Alchemy, freely available here. If you didn't read that post, please do so -- it explains what the OSA was and is, summarizes its history, and explains what the teachings are meant to accomplish. You can also find all the earlier OSA posts here. Since the lessons are meant to be done in sequence, if you're just joining us now, please go back to the beginning and start there.

The tools you'll need for this work, as explained earlier, are a notebook and a pen, along with patience and privacy. One piece of advice: read the whole lesson from start to finish at least twice before you begin the work. It was quite common for people back in the day to read only part of the lesson, misunderstand it, and either get the instructions scrambled or fly off the handle completely. We are dealing with emotionally difficult issues here, and it's worth taking the time to be sure you understand the instructions.

The paper below marks the completion of your work in the Octagon Society and provides instructions for those who are interested in going further, to the Order of the Temple of Solomon. You can only do this once you have finished the work of the Octagon Society, and an examination must be taken in order to show that you've done that work. There is also a membership fee, to pay the expenses of the Order of Spiritual Alchemy website now under construction.

I am currently revising the Temple papers and preparing them for the website. The first two steps are complete and the rest are coming along nicely. Without giving too many spoilers, I'll mention that the Order of the Temple of Solomon involves work of the same general kind as the Octagon Society, but focuses on your aspirations, intentions, and ways of dealing with the world rather than the legacies of your past. It also includes a traditional initiation ritual. Finally, those who complete a certain portion of the work will be eligible for certification as teachers of spiritual alchemy.

This is the last post in this series. The rest of the material will be available only to members, and the website now under construction will be the venue through which that is provided. I will post announcements here as the work of rebuilding the Order proceeds.

The Octagon Society

Congratulations on your advancement to the rank of 8/8 in the Octagon Society. You've completed your spiritual journey through our ranks. As an 8/8 you have complete access to all Eight Laws: the Law of Acceptance, the Law of Happiness, the Law of Joy, the Law of Peace, the Law of Forgiveness, the Law of Strength, the Law of Teaching, and the Law of Unconditional Love.

Please don't feel that having attained the rank of 8/8 you're a full-fledged alchemist. You probably aren't. Like most of us, you've most likely made some progress on your spiritual path but you haven't reached the end of the path just yet.

You're invited to revisit the Eight Laws and engage in the suggested tasks again at regular intervals in the future. The second time through this process you'll learn even more about yourself and the Divine. In fact, we encourage you to go through this process a total of eight times. The Octagon Society is built on the number eight:

• Eight Laws

• Eight ranks, 1/8 through 8/8

• Eight separate and distinct tasks for each rank

• Eight repetitions of the process of working with the Eight Laws

• Eight foundations for the work of the Order of the Temple of Solomon

• Eight preparatory skills for the work of the Order of Spiritual Alchemy

• Eight officers in the Council of Guardians

• Eight affiliated orders and organizations*

(*The eight affiliated organizations in the heyday of the Order of Spiritual Alchemy were as follows:

• Universal Gnostic Church

• Universal Seminary

• Order of the Universal Monk

• Order of the Universal Nun

• Order of Spiritual Alchemy

• Holy Order of the Golden Dawn

• Modern Order of Essenes

• Ancient Order of Druids in America

Of these, the Ancient Order of Druids in America is active and the Order of Spiritual Alchemy is in the process of becoming active again. The remaining groups are currently dormant. This may change if there is enough interest in any of them.)

The Examination

Once you have completed the work of the Octagon Society and attained the rank of 8/8 you are eligible to seek membership in the Order of the Temple of Solomon, the second of the three levels of the Order of Spiritual Alchemy. In the Order of the Temple you will be able to take your studies of spiritual alchemy to the next level and add alchemical work with your thoughts to the work you have already done with your feelings. In order to do so, however, you must pass an examination in the work of the Octagon Society, and pay a lifetime membership fee of US$80.00. This is the ony fee you will be required to pay at any point for membership in the OSA.

To take the examination, once you have completed the Octagon Society work, please send an email to orderofspiritualalchemy (at) gmail (dot) com. Include your legal name, your year of birth, and the state or province and the country where you presently live. You will receive the examination by email in return. Complete it and email it back, and further instructions will follow. Only if you pass the examination will you be asked to pay the lifetime membership fee. Thereafter you may proceed to the further lessons the OSA has to teach.

Membership in the Order of Spiritual Alchemy is open to men and women of good character without reference to religion, ethnicity, nationality, or country of origin.

Heritage of the Order of Spiritual Alchemy

The history and origins of the Order of Spiritual Alchemy were discussed in the first post in this sequence. While the OSA has been dormant for some years its lineage remains unbroken. On 8 September 2021, Chief Guardian Charlene Mullen appointed John Michael Greer to the Council of Guardians and resigned her position in his favor. The return of the OSA to active operation is now under way, and anyone interested in contributing time and effort to this project will be very welcome. Those who complete the work of the Octagon Society lessons, pass the examination, and become members in good standing may also be eligible to be appointed to a seat on the Council of Guardians.

As circumstances permit, a website, a moderated forum for members, and copies of the Octagon Society lessons in several convenient formats will become available. I will post details here as the process unfolds.

Adept Master Alchemists:

William Robert Harrison, III 1878 - 1894

Jonathan Alden 1894 - 1911

Mrs. Jonathan Alden 1911 - 1923

Chief Guardians of the Temple: