CONTENTS

Editorial Note XIII
Preface 1

1 The Initiatic & Mystical Paths 7
2 Magic & Mysticism 13
3 Various Errors Concerning Initiation 17
4 Conditions for Initiation 22
5 Initiatic Regularity 28
6 Synthesis & Syncretism 37
7 Against Mixing Traditional Forms 43
8 Initiatic Transmission 48
9 Tradition & Transmission 56
10 Initiatic Centers 60
11 Initiatic Organizations & Religious Sects 67
12 Initiatic Organizations & Secret Societies 72
13 The Initiatic Secret 84
14 Initiatic Qualifications 91
15 Initiatic Rites 104
16 Rite & Symbol 110
17 Myths, Mysteries, & Symbols 115
18 Symbolism & Philosophy 124
19 Rites & Ceremonies 130
20 Ceremonial Magic 135
21 Psychic 'Powers' 141

22 The Rejection of 'Powers' 147
23 Sacraments & Initiatic Rites 152
24 Prayer & Incantation 159
25 Initiatic Trials 166
26 Initiatic Death 172
27 Profane & Initiatic Names 176
28 The Symbolism of the Theater 182
29 'Operative' & 'Speculative' 187
30 Effective & Virtual Initiation 193
31 Initiatic Teaching 197
32 The Limits of the Mental 205
33 Initiatic Knowledge & Profane 'Culture' 211
34 Academic Mentality & Pseudo-Initiation 216
35 Initiation & 'Passivity' 222
36 Initiation & 'Service' 228
37 The Gift of Tongues 232
38 Rose-Cross & Rosicrucians 237
39 Greater & Lesser Mysteries 244
40 Sacerdotal & Royal Initiation 250
41 Some Reflections on Hermeticism 255
42 Transmutation & Transformation 263
43 The Notion of an Elite 269
44 The Initiatic Hierarchy 274
45 Traditional Infallibility 279
46 Two Initiatic Devices 286
47 Verbum, Lux, & Vita 291
48 The Birth of the Avatāra 297

Index 301