Societas Rosicuciana in Anglia
Zelator Grade
For a start, a couple of initial points before you get to the study topics.
Firstly, the usual form of address in this order is 'Frater' [FRART-ER] (A Latin word meaning 'brother') Note that the Plural is fratres [FRART-RAYS]. Once your ears are tuned to it, you will hear a lot of the fratres getting it wrong!
Secondly, the organisation - there are 3 Orders, each with a range of 'Grades' (not degrees). Grades I - IV form the first order; grades V to V11 (the Adept Grades) form the second order and Grade VIII and IX form the third order. There must be at least 6 months between Grade I to IV and a minimum of four years between initiation and recieving Grade V.
The Grades are related to the Sephiroth on the Tree of Life (which will be explained) and are:
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Grade
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Title
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Selection for Advancement
|
Related Sephira
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| I° | Zelator | Christian, Master Mason | Malkuth |
| II° | Theoricus | Yesod | |
| III° | Practicus | Hod | |
| IV° | Philosophus | Netzach | |
| V° | Adeptus Minor | Advancement only by the | Tiphareth |
| VI° | Adeptus Major | SupremeMagus or a Chief | Geburah |
| VII° | Adeptus Exemptus | Adept | Chesed |
| VIII° | Magister | Advancement only by the | Binah |
| IX° | Magus | Supreme Magus | Chokmah |
Fratres used to the all-too-common Masonic idea that you get your advancement and your position automatically when it's your turn, have reservations about this new way of thinking. However, you should rememeber that this is NOT a Masonic Order - just one that requires its members to be Master Masons at the time of joining.
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The Lecture on the Numbers in the Zelator Ritual urges you to study the 'Secrets of the Kabbalists'. That is a task which will take you a lifetime and not everybody finds it satisfying. For this Grade you need only understand that the Tree of Life is a map or plan - it describes both the creative forces behind the universe itself and the mind of man. Beyond knowing what it is, you need to know also where your career in the SRIA stands in relation to the Tree. You stand now, as a Zelator, in Malkuth, the material world. You are about to journey back to the divine source from which you sprang. The Grade of Theoricus reflects the Sephira Yesod; the Grade of Practicus the Sephira Hod and the Grade of Philosophus the Sephira Netzach.
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