The Circle of Masters in Prague

Readers and followers of Franz Bardon’s books are often surprised to find that very little seems to remain today either in terms of established orders or groups of students or accomplished adepts who arose from his presence and teachings.

Could it be possible that such a seemingly high Master who made the transmission of hermetic teachings his life’s work, was unable to cultivate successful students? Or that if they were successful, those same students either fell from the path or did not deem the teachings to be worthy of further transmission?

It seems unlikely.

Readers may be interested to hear of what Johannes Von Hohenstatten recounts in his biography of Franz Bardon’s life (Das Leben Des Franz Bardon):

Anion [Seila Orienta] also had many conversations with Ernst Quintscher, and I would not deprive inclined readers of what he told me:

“By a happy coincidence, in which my wife played a not insignificant role, in Prague I met and got to know Irena N[ovakova]. From this I learned certain information, such as that meetings were held regularly in Irena’s apartment. She told me quite seriously that Lumir Bardon belonged to the group and that his father had approved this very apartment, and that the Master had certified him as the head of the other adepts. Other students were Otti Votavova, Maria P[ravica], Ernst Q[uintscher], Mr. M. Etc. .. They were also the first people that my wife and I met in person, except for Otti.

In this circle the Master led his students such that they were progressing quite well, so all people mentioned, for example, were clairvoyant.

…

Over events, concerning Master Bardon, I would write an entire book, but the recollections of the students of the Master, should suffice. Besides Prague, the Master had other students in Berlin and Opava. Also in Essen, he had 18 pupils. I’m still investigating, but without success.

I fear that this group no longer exists. The last clues were there in 1954 and end there.

If it is correct, what can we garner from this account? I would say the following:

1. Firstly that Bardon had direct students and he taught them in person, probably even after his books had been published. It is better to be taught by a Master than a book or he would have disbanded his students.
2. Secondly, that Bardon approved of students operating in groups. He had no inherent view that it is better to practice alone, in fact you would deduce that is it better or at least no worse to practice in a group at least sometimes. Whether this Circle (‘Kreis’ in German) was a full magical order or just a group of individuals, is not entirely clear, but both options seem possible.
3. Thirdly, given that all the persons mentioned had attained the faculty of clairvoyance, they had all reached mastery of at least a substantial portion of the first book. It would seem unlikely that such individuals would fall off the path, or not go on to make further strong progress after the Master’s death.

From all of this, I would say that it seems much more likely that for whatever reason, he left a group of fairly well-attained successors prefer to operate in silence. Having purified their souls and rectified their bodily vehicles, having seen the underlying truth, reason and beauty of the Cosmos, would any individual not fight, mind, body and soul, to their utmost to aid those less mature brethren to reach similar states? One is inclined to say that such personages do further transmit the teachings and attainments privately to others in the self same way that they were taught.

Good day to you!

luxfortis

New Divine Science course on Theurgy

After a traditional year of silence, the Divine Science School opens its door again for an introductory course on Theurgy.

Anyone sincerely dedicated to the Hermetic path and with an abiding inclination towards Franz Bardon and the western tradition will find a depth of teaching in reason, insight and clarity that adds a rich newness to his teachings.

I would be overjoyed if more fellow seekers could appreciate for themselves the beauty and truth of these Theurgic teachings and experience the deep peace that comes from serious pursuit of this path.

There is no charge for the course and enrollment started yesterday (October 16th 2015) and will run probably for the next 3 or 4 weeks before acceptance emails go out. These courses are always heavily oversubscribed so you are advised to act quickly.

http://www.thedivinescience.com/probationer-enrollment-open

If anyone has questions about the course can email The Divine Science at thedivinescience (at) gmail . com, or if you would like talk to me in the first place, please do so.

luxfortis (at) yahoo . co . uk

Ray del Sole in London from 3th to 7th of September

Ray del Sole, the hermetic author and spiritual coach will be London, delivering lectures and workshops on a range of magical and mystical topics, including the nature of the divine, inspiration and intuition, the secrets of vital energy and practical discussions on spiritual evolution.

There is something there for experienced mystics as well those beginning the path so do consider joining the gathering and meeting Ray, myself and other like-minded people. There are still some places spare so secure your place while you can and book now.

Lectures & Workshops in London from 3th to 7th of September.

New Introductory Class on Theurgy

The School of The Divine Science, opens its doors for its next introductory course on Theurgy – the works which take one to God.

The school, now in its sixth year of operation, is possibly one of the few in this tradition that is openly accepting students and contains teachings advanced by living adepts of the Hermetic tradition.

The probationer class course is a chance for interested students to gain among other things an overview of Theurgy and the school, of basic Hermetic philosophy and to establish a good, daily spiritual practice under the guidance of an accomplished instructor of the school.

The course is free of charge and opens for applications on Sunday 5th January 2014 with classes beginning in mid to late January. Courses are usually over-subscribed and the enrollment period closes once the class is full, so anyone interested is advised to apply promptly to avoid missing out.

I would add that I am a student of the school and have benefited greatly from its teachings, practices and teachers (by the way, all opinions, statements (and errors) in this blog are mine alone and should not be be construed as teachings or views of the School!).

The school does not set out specifically to teach Franz Bardon’s practices on Hermetics although there is nothing I have seen that is in any way inconsistent or at odds with his teachings, and there is in fact much there that supplements and enhances what Master Bardon has written.

There is a FAQ on the school website that answers some of the most common questions that candidates might have.

If anyone has questions about the course, email The Divine Science through the links above, or if you prefer to contact me, in the first place, please do.

luxfortis

Comments from the first and original English IIH

It is not that commonly known that there is a previous English edition of IIH that pre-dates both the Ruggeberg and Merkur editions. It was published in 1962 by Osiris Verlag, 9 years earlier than the first Ruggeberg edition.

Recently I noticed some interesting commentary from the cover/foreword that never made it into future editions (presumably because subsequent publishers did not own the copyright to these comments?) and I am sharing them for readers here:

“Just as each Brother of Light did Fr. Bardon live among his fellowmen, a plain man, whose true name very few of his disciplines have been acquainted with. It was – and continues to be – his task to guide the increasing crowd of his pupils as well as the disciples of spiritual science, with his sure hand, through the gate of initiation.

The new cycle of the Seventh Ray, ray of the ceremonial order or magic, which now has got thoroughly going, induced the Divine Providence to liberate the first three Tarot card which total up to 72.

The present book, entitled: “Initiation into Hermetics” represents the whole of the first Tarot card and comprises the exciting earthly mysteries. The second Tarot card will be published in the volume “Practice of magic Evocation” (the high-school of the adepts). The third Tarot card will be the subject of the third volume: “Key to the true Quabbalah” (Man as a Sovereign in the Microcosm and the Macrocosm).

Having herewith accomplished his mission, he re-entered his spiritual world in July 1958. Advanced disciples, however, will recognise that this book will blaze a pathway for centuries in the new cycle of Rays.”

The foreword runs as follows:

“Meeting the news of the New Age, the human mind is exploring all levels of existence. The earth has become too small for Man who is trying to advance to {the} interplanetary space. He wants  to penetrate to the secrets of nature and to lift the veil of the Sphinx.

The hierarchy, too, is coming to meet this urge for knowledge and is unveiling the long treasured {up} mysteries.

Copies of his book in German language went to the USA, India and Australia, and from there came the cry for an English edition.

There is no doubt that every one who has been searching for the true and authentic cognition, in vain looked around for years, if not even for [a] lifetime, to find a reliable method of training. The ardent desire for this noble aim made people again and again collect a mass of books, from near and far, supposed to be the best ones, but which were lacking a great deal for real practice. not one, however, of all the seekers could make any sense from all the stuff collected in the course of time, and the goal aimed at so fervently vanished more and more in nebulous distances. Provided the one or the other did start to work on the progress after instructions so highly prized, his good will and diligence never saw any satisfactory results. Apart from that, nobody could reliably answer {to} his pressing questions, whether or not just this way he had selected, was the correct one for his individual case.

In this book, the training methods are expressed in simple words, a way followed up to date only in the different mystery schools.

it is therefore my heart’s desire that this book may become a guide for life for all the people who are seriously and honestly searching, and lead them to the target they have been longing for!

We are pleased to express our sincere gratitude to all those of our friends who enabled us to publish this first volume in an English version.

The Editors, Graz, March 1962.

So, what differences or notable points can we discern from this? Perhaps, not much. Just my own musing, but with careful reading one might conclude ideas along the following lines:

1. Bardon had numerous direct students, and supported the idea of a teacher, presumably, above that of self-initiation.
2. Authentic, but closed, mystery schools have similar teachings to Bardon’s techniques, kept private from the public.
3. The concept of a spiritual hierarchy or organisation of which Bardon was a part is true, irrespective of how one views the story of Frabato. And that Bardon has a larger identity than his incarnation (or Avesh) as Bardon, within that hierarchy. Other authors have suggested that the master known as Hilarion might be relevant to this.
4. The concept of the 7 rays, as held by ancient Indian philosophies, theosophy and the ascended masters teachings was consistent with Bardon’s teachings. And that a new cycle of evolution was beginning, around the time of the publication of his books.

Another thing to remark on is that unlike subsequent editions, this edition is not dedicated to Otti Votavova. It is not clear whether that is an omission in this edition, or a subsequent conception in later editions.

The copyright for this edition was held by Rudolf Pravica, possibly a relative of Maria Pravica, Bardon’s secretary, in Graz, Austria.

Aside from the above, the text of the edition is identical (as far as I can see) to the Ruggeberg edition. Alfred Radspieler is named as the English translator in both editions.

The cover also has the Lagavana motif from Muller’s Das Buch Vom Buddha Des Westens, which the Ruggeberg editions also bear.

I am curious about the foreword and commentary in the German editions, and whether it is similar to Osiris, or Ruggeberg/Merkur, or different from both. Perhaps a German speaker might comment?

Book review – Preliminary practice for Franz Bardon’s Initiation into Hermetics

It seems that most seekers who are dedicated to IIH have started the practices a number of times, either restarting from scratch after faltering from the way, going back to better master previous lessons which were incompletely learned or occasionally intentionally repeating the entire course.

Why is this? Is it due to lack of spiritual maturity, lack of understanding of the enormity of the task, lack of practical support for how to go about the work itself, or just that such repetition is one way to gain ability?

When I first came across Bardon, there were no IIH commentaries, and the hopeful student had to pretty much ponder the conundrum of how to tackle the exercises in the best way on his or her own. Now there are three or four well known commentaries on IIH (see my Resources page).

Mostly the advice about preliminaries before starting the course centre on a few well known and well discussed principles – for example, proper intention for spiritual progress beyond gaining of occult siddhis, reading through all the books in sequence first, only starting after ensuring you have enough time on day to day basis or else postponing the task entirely.

‘Preliminary Practices for Franz Bardon’s Initiation into Hermetics’ is Ray Del Sole’s first book, a prelude to his Light on the Path to Spiritual Perfection series. The book is structured as a description of 21 tasks and 10 tips for the reader. The view that Ray presents here is that if the student devotes some months to preliminary effort (coupled with certain other prerequisites) before the work itself, then their attempt and effort is much more likely to meet with success.

The first 12 tasks are for mental development, the next four for astral and the final five for physical development.

And what of the tasks and tips themselves?

In a sense a few of the tasks are relatively apparent, like reading the books through in order, refining ones character, and getting fit and healthy.

Other tasks like gaining assistance from alternative healthcare practitioners like homeopathists, acupuncturists or hypnotherapists, or making a specific dedication or vow before the Almighty before starting, would probably only become apparent to the student after some years of effort.

Still others, like the suggestions on additional spiritual literature or the chakra development exercises, wouldn’t really be apparent to anyone who hadn’t been specifically told about those, either through a teacher or a more experienced student (or perhaps with a good, practical knowledge of yoga for the chakra exercises).

Those who have found and seriously considered Bardon’s practices with an open heart mostly consider the Bardon system as The Universal Initiating System, beyond compare for anyone who has, through necessity or choice, to make their own way along the path. Ray has vast spiritual experience gained over a number of years and it is apparent in his writings that he shares the same views and in the truest sense, it seems that his writings are entirely in accord with Bardon’s teaching.

Masters and other spiritually enlightened persons tend to say that those with the right intention, tenacity and trust in the divine are guaranteed to make progress but for those seekers trying to find a foothold it seems like there are few concrete offers of assistance and few, if any, guarantees on the path.

In the same way that the Bardon exercises cannot really be comprehended through solely intellectual study, there is probably also no single text that can be intellectually absorbed and that will then provide a surefire preconditions for success in IIH. The entire value will be in the manner to which a student can take the preliminary tasks discussed here, put them into action, and make them his own, so to speak. The reader will also appreciate that such an approach is also in fact the only way to proceed with IIH itself.

If the tasks and hints here save you even a small amount of effort then Ray’s small text could be well worth the cover price. I have had very helpful progress through the advice given.

Stejnar’s Guardian Angel Book

Many Bardon practitioners will be aware of the prominent German occultist Emil Stejnar. Stejnar has authored a number of Bardon-related titles and was also the first person to publicly reveal the cypher that Bardon used for the spirit names in the Practice of Magical Evocation.

Although none of Stejnar’s writings have yet been translated into English, a number of his interviews have been translated (by Eva and Bill Cranstoun – see my Resources page) and make interesting reading.

One particularly interesting title is his Guardian Angel Book (“Das Schutzengelbuch”) where he talks about a method of establishing contact with Bardon’s Earthzone spirits by a devotional, non-evocational technique. On the FranzBardonMagi group, Richard Tschudi gives the following synopsis of the method (quoted with Richard’s permission):

Stejnars position is that the Angels Girdling the Earth Zone correlate to the Spirits of Abramelin. Stejnar quotes in his “Guardian Angel” book an Angel speaking to him: “I appeal to you to re-establish the covenant between the Angels and Humankind. It is a covenant but not a substitute for religion or a religious sect. Neither should it ever become a secret society or specialized lodge knowledge. We are here for everybody although not everybody can make contact with us because only a noble mind and pure faith shows the path to us.” (I speculate the Angel refers to the same covenant that Enoch, Abramelin, Abraham from Worms, Dr. Musallam, Rah Omir Quintscher and Bardon made with the Angels or the “Invisible Ones”.)

Stejnar continues that the Angel instructed him that there are four ways to contact the Angels and that he (Stejnar) is to explain three of those four ways:

1. The Path of Devotion and Prayer (German: “Andacht”): the Path of the Pilgrim.

2. The Path of Action. In this path a “priestly” ritual will be employed to reach the Angels. In this second path it is taught how to make the sigil of the Angel irradiant. This is the Path of the Priest.

3. The third Path is the path of Wisdom and makes contact with the Angels through the”Ritual of the Hermetic Four”. This path is open to any Priest who possesses the key to the tetrapolar (four-poled key). This is the path of the Master.

Now what is the simple method to call the Angels according to Stejnar:

Draw the sigil of one of the Angels of the “Guardian Angel Book”. Put the sigil in your left hand. Close your left hand three times each time saying mentally: “You, my helper (say name of the Angel)”. Keep the sigil a few more moments in your hand and be conscious of the fact that the Angel has become aware of you by this secret gesture.

You are also supposed to say a little prayer to the Angel every morning, noon, and evening.

Then supposedly, if your motives are pure the Angel will help you.

This is how you make contact as a “Pilgrim”.

(Lets hope the book gets translated soon)

Emil Stejnar wrote many books. “The Guardian Angel Books” is the only book by him that gives instructions how to passively contact beings. All his other books are more in the style of “Initiations into Hermetics” by Franz Bardon.

It is interesting to note that Stejnar mentions four different methods to contact an Earthzone Intelligence. In Seila Orienta‘s book, The Golden Leaf of Wisdom (“Das Goldene Blatt der Weisheit”, the supposed completed form of Bardon’s fourth book that Orienta read from the Akasha), Orienta mentions the following way to come into contact with an Intelligence’s virtues and powers in his fourth chapter, “Concentration”:

According to the fourth Tarot card may be given instructions that were previously not possible. When we observe a sigil of the second tarot card in the aforementioned form, we will overlook the essence. At low concentrations, it appears in the mind’s eye. This is the moment in which we merge with the will, intellect and feeling with this character. Awareness is a matter of course now we have the properties of that intelligence and can do everything to achieve what is at their disposal.

It’s not entirely clear to me, but I speculate that perhaps this corresponds to Stejnar’s second or fourth method.

As a footnote, I would mention that most readers will be aware that neither usage of the PME sigils was what Bardon intended and is contrary to his instructions – I have not practiced these methods and I am not recommending them, I leave it each to apply their own judgement on this.

4 element vs. 5 element initiatory systems

In the Bardon system it is pretty clear that the much of the first initiation is the mastery of the four elements: fire, air, water, earth. For the sake of clarity, let’s this a four element system even though it is implicit that mastery of the Akasha as a fifth – or first – element, if you like, is also integral to the process. Although somewhat more veiled than Bardon – according to the symbolism of the system – it would seem likely that four elements mastery must also be an important part of Indian, Tibetan, Japanese and many other initiatic traditions.

And what of the apparently different approach of Chinese and Taoist systems – apparently having evolved entirely differently from four element systems – that contain the notion of five elements, fire, earth, metal, water and wood? How are we to understand the differences, is there a direct correlation or mapping between the two?

My first consideration of these differences started from a viewpoint put forward by Eric Yudelove in his book, The Tao and the Art of Internal Alchemy. Eric is a long time direct student of Mantak Chia and and also a practitioner of the Bardon system. He suggests that the differences can be accounted for by analysis of the different properties of the air element and that we should view metal and wood as two poles, if you like, of air. Air being the mediating element between fire and water, must contain properties from both elements, for example heat or cold, or wetness or dryness. Under this thinking, metal is the dry, cool pole of air, whereas wood is the warm, moist part.

While initially this answer seems to be at least, simple and conceptually satisfying, the theory didn’t seem to fully answer questions about the practical differences (from my own limited view at least) between the basic techniques of the two paradigms. Why for example, is direct accumulation of universal five element energy not a large part of Taoism, in the way that accumulation of universal four element energy is important in Bardon? What would be the Bardon interpretation of the seemingly complex cycles of creation and control?

The answer came to me as in what appears to be one of the few systems that integrates both views: certain schools of the Japanese art of Ninjitsu. Ninjitsu lore holds that the esoteric teachings of the fighting art come from the Himalayan Ninpo Mikkyo tantric teachings. The four (plus Akasha) element philosophy ‘Go Dai‘ is termed the ‘five elemental manifestations‘, whereas the five element philosophy ‘Go Gyo‘ is termed the ‘five elemental transformations‘.

The differentiation between static and dynamic seems key in explaining some of the differences in philosophy. The concept of the Yin-yang symbol at the centre of the Pa-kua symbolises the view that every absolute contains within itself the root of it’s opposite, a transformation that can and will occur over time, as nothing except the absolute or Tao is unchanging. Unbalanced mercy or charity can prevent a individual from learning important lessons necessary for further improvement, for example, whereas oppressive force and dominion and the harsh circumstances these entail can stir the virtues of courage, bravery and hope in opposition.

Under Hermetic philosophy, the alchemistic maxim ‘solve et coagula‘ (dilute and rarify) is a shorthand also for a large part of the Bardon exercises. We condense and encourage higher virtues, while dissolving our vices and baser behaviour. Elemental and universal energies are accumulated in our bodies, while contradictory influences and expelled.

The properties of the 4 elements, heat/cold, brightness/darkness, thickness/thinness, motion/stillness, and so on, are fundamental properties of existence or manifestation, so the four elements are likewise spiritual analogies to that existence. This is confirmed from perspective of Tarot philosophy and from a numerological perspective. The Emperor, the fourth card, sits on a cube, which is the square of four in three dimensions, the symbol of absolute stability and lawfulness in matter. This card is interpreted to symbolise the Key to Hermetic Philosophy, the wisdom of divine lawfulness of existence. Again note the emphasis on universal existence and manifestation.

In my understanding, the five element system, basic practices like the Inner Smile, the Healing sounds and the Microcosmic Orbit draw on the more general universal energies like Heavenly Chi, Earth Chi and Cosmic Chi to add power, but do not attempt to condense universal five element energies (if that were even possible) into the body. Instead, analogies of season, positive and negative emotions, cardinal directions, colour, divine animals and so on are used to shape, gather and purify, even transform, existing personal energy into corresponding primarily primary and secondary internal organs.

As a related concept, Bill Mistele writes in one of his articles about the differences between personal vital force and universal vital force, a distinction which is particularly highlighted within IIH in the step 3 section on healing.

A useful conclusion would be to view the five transformation elements as personal vital force related to five different processes within the human vital body. They may also be related to the five pranas in yogic philosophy, prana, apana, udana, smana and vyana which compose pranamaya, one of the five sheaths or koshas inthe human vital body. I leave further exploration of these ideas to a future post.

Bardon’s 1958 Obituary

In quiet appreciation of the memory and sacrifices of the Master, here is a recent translation from the original German text that readers might be interested in (as usual, apologies in advance for any mistakes and omissions in the translation):

Bardon-Obituary 1958

The “Occult voice” (Okkulte Stimme) – the predecessor of “Esotera” – gave this response to Bardon’s death (beginning on page 7, the issue of 10th October, 1958):

From the life of a Great Magician by Eberhard Maria Körner

Franz Bardon, one of the few great magicians and adepts of our time, was recalled to a different dimension on the 10th July.

Initiates would have expected this change of plane as a duty and a not unfamiliar event. But many of his students and readers of his works may have been touched by this initially painful, surprising and inexplicable event.

For this search and for those interested in magic and who might perhaps want to address Bardon’s work in the future, I am permitted now to report more on the life and associations of this great magician, all of which is drawn from direct sources.

By way of introduction, I can outline the following description of his general activity:

Franz Bardon was best known during recent years to a wide audience of German occult circles through his magnificent works “The Way to true Initiation”, “The Practice of Magical Evocation” and “The key to the True Quabbalah”.

In these works, he revealed on behalf of Divine Providence, on whose service he always acted without reserve, for the first time in earthly history truths which until then were “hermetically sealed” ie. were secret. In these, he gives precise instructions on magical actions, as always in a mature manner.

He was also a magical researcher of high degree, because he opened up realms which were previously inaccessible even to some of the initiated.

He communicated with all 360 intelligences of the “Zone Girdling the Earth”, knew their names and properties, and published their sigils (invoking symbols). But he also knew about the intelligences of other zones, the Moon, Venus, Sun Spheres, etc. and wrote about them in detail.

High insiders, such as the Master-Therion-circle (“Meister-Therion-Kreis”), found through Bardon confirmation of precise theoretical knowledge about the structure and nature of the cosmic spheres, and furthermore Bardon opened the way for well-known physicists and mathematicians like de Witt to fully confirm in a scientific manner the truth of these vast new territories!

As far as I am allowed to say here, I will now give some insights in the life and private particulars of the Master:

Franz Bardon was born on the 1st December 1909 in Troppau (in Czech “Opava”). Troppau was also the earthly place to his passing on. On the 16th July 1958 his physical body was cremated there.

As he always had the ability to depart his earthly shell during his lifetime, a rapid destruction of the same seemed appropriate.

His life was a worthy sacrifice for a true adept, for he took no regard for himself from foreign karma, and he was given the gift and skill, as one of the few chosen ones, to really alleviate and change human suffering.

Bardon was chiefly a medical practitioner. To initiates he is also known as the leader of a powerful white lodge, tasked at the time with the fight against the notorious former “99-lodge” and its demonic goals.

At that time he traveled extensively and directed his insights to those in his talks who had the “ears to hear”.

During the Hitler regime Bardon suffered terribly, but escaped death because he had other missions to fulfill. Of his enormous skills Hitler himself and some of his contemporaries had been convinced. After the war he devoted himself exclusively to his healing work in his home town. But soon he was to become known throughout the country.

Bardon took only the most serious cases in treatment, which were, according to the view of other doctors “incurable”. But he healed! For example, 300 of the most seriously ill people from all over Czechoslovakia were his patients, suffering from epilepsy, mental illus, cancer, Lupus, tuberculosis, blood poisoning and similar cruel diseases. He could also regenerate internal organs, in one case growing a fresh lung, such “miracles” and more.

Bardon extended the life of the then President Benes, who had been ill with cancer on his death bed, by around three years more.

By this act Bardon also won the goodwill of the government of his country, and he then worked in Prague as a private consultant to high officials. He was tolerated due to his achievements and his magical work, for he was never shut down due to political interference. His practice in Troppau was not abandoned and he continued to treat the poor for free.

Bardon was aware of all of his incarnations. His last four incarnations on Earth are known of. His penultimate birthday was the 15th February 1677. Then, in this incarnation, he took with the consent of Divine Providence and the person concerned, the body of a young man and at the age of 18 years, in Germany, Bardon was known under the name “Frabato”.

He also possessed the “philosopher’s stone” and had perhaps the most perfect alchemical laboratory in the world. He was as at home in the astral plane as in the mental plane and could also act directly in Akasha, dissolving both time and space and “causal reality” (Ursachen schaffen) as is said in magic.

A lady, whose last incarnation was in Tibet (in her youth manufacturing Tibetan silverwork, whose proper preparation is still not known!) even then had Bardon as her master, and she sought and found him in the present.

Besides direct magical healing powers he used for special cases also spagyric (magnetic healing) elixirs. He concentrated in that way eg. the essence of 10 kilograms of certain herbs in a single drop of a drug. Such performance was probably unmatched by any healing magic so far! His magnetism was so strong that by mere concentration of his odic charge he could shatter a crystal mirror!

Franz Bardon was a kind man, of helpful, simple character, and he also displayed a sense of humor, and paternal strictness where necessary. To the uninitiated, as with every true Master, he never revealed his true mission, and he consistently rejected any cult of personality.

He accepted only a small number of personal students, but had always magical oversight of each of his serious followers and readers.

His works he wrote by explicit order of the Divine Providence. These three books reveal the secrets of first three “Tarot cards”. These each represent pages in the “Book of God”, that is, the entire divine hierarchy, which is symbolized in 72 cards!

Bardon knew however about all of these cards. For this fact will shed light on the true size of this man, because already the Master of the first three “Tarot cards“, that his present station is of a true adept, above space, time and causality.

It should be mentioned from the start that an attempt of some astrological interpretation of Bardon the magician would be wrongheaded, as he was the master of any Self-karma and thus able to overcome the effects of the horoscope. Being a Magician means being a ruler in voluntary compliance with Divine law!

The master himself described his life in novel form, entitled “Frabato”. This book is about to appear at the end of the year.

Here I would like to describe a personal experience: I had at that time the job of bringing the manuscript of this novel to Prague for correction. Since the project was rushed, obtaining an official permit in advance would have taken too long, and I trusted therefore on the magical protection of the manuscript by the Master. At the border all my travel companions (it was a tour group) were subjected to a general search. Every last corner of luggage and clothing were checked. The manuscript I had just put in my suitcase, only covered with my pajamas. Now, while all other cases literally were turned inside out, the young official said to me “it’s good” after I opened the lid only slightly!

This little episode may be a modest example of the possibilities in Bardon’s possession. Of course, I traveled as an ordinary tourist like the others and had no special powers.

During the last months of his earthly life were still heavy going for Bardon. At the behest of the Divine Providence, he still took up the karma of many people.

He was aware of his immanent departure, because with the revelation of the first three Tarot cards his earthly mission of this aeon was accomplished.

For he who lives and acts within the spirit of Bardon‘s works is rightly regarded as a pioneer in the dawn of the new era of synthesis, the appearance of Union with the Divine order.

Franz Bardon bowed to his recall, and passed over to those planes that constitute his true home. From there he continues to work, voluntary servant of his high mission, and is also still connected to his loyal friends, students and readers here.

One thing that does come across quite strongly is that Körner has the highest respect for Bardon, as “a true adept, above space, time and causality“, a “master of self karma […] in voluntary compliance with divine law“, but also from a more human side, that he was “a kind man, of helpful, simple character, and […] displayed a sense of humor, [who] consistently rejected any cult of personality“.

After the 50+ years that have elapsed since Bardon’s death, it can be difficult for modern readers to gain a sense of the accuracy of some of the common tales that we hear, and we can perhaps wonder whether they have sprung up over that period due to an element of embellishment or mythology. One of the interesting things for me about reading this contemporary article is that it gives us an idea of Bardon’s standing and the perception of his actions and activities during or near to the time he was alive, and so should be ‘closer to the mark’.

So far, I have not been able to discover further information on the scientist de Witt, who looked for scientific proof about the cosmic spheres, or of the possible identity of his supposed penultimate incarnation on the 15th February 1677 (aside from the rather dubious list of possible incarnations given by Otti Votavova in Frabato). Interestingly, Körner does mention the 99-Lodges, and this being prior to the publication of Frabato.

The “Master-Therion-circle” is it seems a reference to Aleister Crowley, a connection which is mentioned by a number of sources, but again I have not heard any specific details about the relationship between the two magicians.

This text was included in the 1990 German Aurora Verlag version of Frabato, it has not been included in any other version of Frabato I have come across. More recently, it was also included in Johannes Hohenstatten‘s “Das Leben des Franz Bardon”.

In addition to the usual sources, I would encourage those interested in a historical perspective of Franz Bardon’s life to read Frater Ramose’s excellent A Perspective on Franz Bardon.

Otti Votavova on Initiation into Hermetics

Here is the preface to the second edition of Initiation into Hermetics, written by Bardon’s student Otti Votavova. I have taken this from the French edition (Le Chemin de la Veritable Initiation Magique, translated by Alexandre Moryason) because to my knowledge this preface has not been made available in any English edition.

In it, Votavova speaks of the growing popularity of Bardon’s works in many countries (remember this is 1957, only one year after the publication of the 1st German edition), and also acknowledges his gratitude towards the “great enthusiasm” of the German publisher Hermann Bauer (note, this is before Votavova’s letter to Hermann Bauer, dated 2nd Feb 1959, where she strongly criticizes his supposedly unauthorised alterations to the Frabato manuscript).

In a recurring theme that will strike a cord with many Bardon practioners who have been party to various conversations in online forums or other venues about the rigour of the system, and the lack of discipline of many who start the training, Bardon also warns those who omit exercises or even entire steps, that they may “reap failure or incur various injuries”. Those who train consciously however, may “develop hidden abilities” and “act effectively in the sphere of material affairs”.

Anyway, without further commentary, here is the translation:

A few months after its release, the first edition of this book was completely sold out. This was predictable and not surprising given the richness and rarity of this work.

To satisfy the public interest in this book, the author decided, in agreement with the publisher, to reprint and despite a tight deadline, a second edition and this, under a revised format.

“The Way of Initiation into Hermetics” is now in the hands of sincere seekers living not only in Germany but also in Europe. Many scholars, anxious to find the true path leading to perfection, also possess this book. In such a short time it is already known in other parts of the world, America, Australia and Asia. The credit belongs to the Bauer publishing company, of great reputation, and the happy owners of this book will certainly be grateful to him. As such, the author expresses to Mr. H. Bauer gratitude for the great enthusiasm he has shown towards the publication of these works. In this second edition, he also thanks, in all sincerity and affection, all those who wrote to him.

Franz Bardon considers, in fact, that the greatest reward for his hard work lies in the great interest that his works arouse, which he has published only under the specific request of Divine Providence. In fact, he is not a professional writer but a doctor and this task occupies him enormously. The mission that God has granted to him is essentially to progress on Path of Perfection and likewise through his books to progress all seekers of the Truth. However, readers will certainly understand that due to the limited time allotted to him, he can not take personal requests into consideration.

After reading numerous letters to the author, it seems that many people deliberately jumped steps or did not engage in exercises that were agreeable.

Franz Bardon, however, often mentioned in this book, and formally, from the point of view of efficiency in Magic, this attitude is incorrect and he has also stressed how important it is for the student not to rush because it not only reaps failure but also incurs various injuries.

The main exercises published in this book contribute to the development of hidden abilities inherent to the physical body, the psyche and the mind of man. With the awakening of the faculties, students may improve, according to his will, his existence in this world because in every man lies different desires, ideals and aspirations. Consequently, he who practices each step contained in this document, one after the other, thoroughly and conscientiously, may himself then act effectively in the sphere of material affairs.
Franz Bardon finally calls the Divine Blessing on all his readers, hoping that they show much patience, perseverance and great love for the wonderful exercises based Hermetic Science. “May,” he said, “this second edition of my first book soon reach those whose thirst for knowledge is great! ”

May 1957
Otti Votavova