Vocabulary

Question 1

What is the Archeus?

Answer 1

The World-Soul, which contains and coordinates the qualities of all physical things, connecting the lower to the higher. (A subtle, invisible presence which permeates everything in existence, both living and nonliving, and is the primary medium of all invisible forces. It is the binding force between upper and lower, and is the communication medium between the two.)

Question 2

Theoria

Answer 2

Meditation

Question 3

Atelestos

Answer 3

The uninitiated

Question 4

Episteme

Answer 4

Book knowledge

Question 5

Telestos

Answer 5

The initiated

Question 6

Agape

Answer 6

The selfless compassion of the mystic for all sentient things.

Question 7

Alethe

Answer 7

Truth. Literally translated, it means “not oblivion,” and therefore contains in it the theurgic perception of what truth really is.

Question 8

Aletheias

Answer 8

Those who love to contemplate the truth. An Aletheia is akin to idea oriental idea of a “raja yogi” or, even more specifically, a “jnana yogi.” It is someone whose principle spiritual path is the contemplation, meditation, and consideration of spiritual or religious truths. An Aletheia will meditate upon the idea of the Heimarene as an illusion, for example, as opposed to performing meditations or rituals which will forcefully bring about this realization through experience. The famous philosophical debates between Porphyry and Iamblichus are a classical example of the differences between the “passive” or contemplative path, and the “active” or theurgic path.

Question 9

Anabasis

Answer 9

The upward ascent of a soul toward the Good.

Question 10

Anthos Nou

Answer 10

The Flower of the Soul; the transcendental point of self wherein individuality blooms into the unified field of consciousness.

Question 11

Apopteia

Answer 11

The term used to refer to an adept in our tradition. Literally translates to “one who has seen”.

Question 12

Aporia

Answer 12

Pathlessness. When a life has reached a point where there is no clear direction.

Question 13

Apotheosis

Answer 13

Deification. Apotheosis occurs when a being reaches such a high state of realization and authority that he takes upon his shoulders a godly task in governing the world, effectively becoming one of the rulers of the planet.

Question 14

Askesis

Answer 14

Spiritual practice in general.

Question 15

Chorismos

Answer 15

The theurgic separation of the soul from the body so that higher forces may be contemplated.

Question 16

Doxa

Answer 16

Knowledge based on opinion instead of truth. Usually based on a commonly accepted belief.

Question 17

Eon

Answer 17

24,000 year cycle.

Question 18

Gnosis

Answer 18

Gnosis is “true knowledge,” that which is gained through direct inner experience. In our tradition it usually refers to “Heauton Gnosis,” or Self Realization, called Enlightenment. It can also refer to the highest form of specific knowledge though, in the way of direct inner experience being above episteme.

Question 19

Heimarene

Answer 19

World of Fate. This term refers to our world of illusion, which keeps mankind in bondage by presenting the false notion that we are separate from God, and keeps the senses in control of our minds.

Question 20

Hodos

Answer 20

Path, or road. In the theurgic tradition, any spiritual path is a hodos.

Question 21

Hypostasis

Answer 21

A meditative state of absolute absorption in the subject of meditation, so that all difference ceases, and unity is achieved. In theurgy there are three hypostases. In the cosmos they create the chain of contemplation back to The One. In theurgy, they reflect the deep meditative states wherein the mystic unifies himself with progress levels of God.

Question 22

Kalokagathia

Answer 22

“Goodness and uprightness.” It is a combined word composed of a short phrase, “kalos kai agathos,” meaning “the beautiful and the good.” In ancient times it was similar to the medieval idea of chivalry, the way that a good man should conduct himself.

Question 23

Kalva

Answer 23

Spiritual retreat from society.

Question 24

Katabasis

Answer 24

The downward decent of a soul into ignorance.

Question 25

Mageia

Answer 25

The ancient term for magic, the control of natural forces.

Question 26

Meiromai

Answer 26

An ancient Greek word indicating the choosing of a particular lot from amongst many possible choices, synonymous with the idea of True Will, or of a person’s “calling” in life.

Question 27

Moira

Answer 27

Literally, “a portion,” or “lot.” It is the “lot” which one has in life, a person’s destiny, influenced from three different directions: past, present, and future.

Question 28

Nous

Answer 28

Consciousness; the level of divine mind beyond thought and differentiation. It exists as a state of intuitive awareness. The path of theurgy is largely about learning how to place one’s self in the realm of consciousness, thus conquering the lower trappings of mind.

Question 29

Ousia

Answer 29

Being, or “Essence.” It is a more subtle force than energy, which exists at the level of soul. Ousia is the beginning of the sense of something, and its essential and most fundamental quality. It is said that all aspects of mind and intellect descend from Nous, and all aspects of energy, form, and emotion descend from Ousia.

Question 30

Paradeigma

Answer 30

A story, fable, mythology, or life that serves as a model for the ideal initiate. The stories of Dionysus, Horus, and Odin are examples of three main paradeigma used later in our system.

Question 31

Paradosis

Answer 31

The transmission of teachings from master to disciple over the course of time.

Question 32

Phanein

Answer 32

To appear

Question 33

Phantasia

Answer 33

The power of imagination. The word indicates the ability of the mind to shed light upon the mental senses, revealing the form of something imagined to the conscious “watcher,” the self. / The inner light of the mind that allows it to conceptualize and picture something with any of the senses

Question 34

Phantazesthai

Answer 34

To make visible to one’s self

Question 35

Phaos

Answer 35

Light

Question 36

Pneuma

Answer 36

The life force in our tradition. It is controlled by the breath and the mind.

Question 37

Prohairesis

Answer 37

The application of will towards the goal of developing a balanced and virtuous character.

Question 38

Proorizo

Answer 38

“Predestination.” It can also mean “what was pre-determined” or “decided in the past.” Translated literally, it means “before the horizon” and implies setting limitations and boundaries to a range of options. In theurgy, that limiting and bounding factor is the True Will.

Question 39

Psyche Kosmou

Answer 39

The Soul of the World, or “Anima Mundi” of the later Roman philosophers. It is the vast network of energies which allow for life.

Question 40

Psychopsia

Answer 40

Literally “Soul-seeing,” or “psychic vision.” Though in a strict sense it refers to clairvoyance, in its broader application it is used for all of the psychic senses, which allow the soul to figuratively “see” and perceive. Different lineages of the theurgic tradition developed various names for this part of development.

Question 41

Seira

Answer 41

“Chain.” The “seira” in theurgy refers to the “chain of tradition” which spiritually links all the initiates of a certain tradition together. In higher theurgic teachings it also refers to the chain of command between a god and Earth, beginning with the decree of the god and traveling successively through all the spirits involved in making it a reality.

Question 42

Skopoi

Answer 42

Though it refers generally to the goals of all mystics, in our system of theurgy they are narrowed down to what we call the Five Pursuits: love, light, liberty, truth, and peace.

Question 43

Sophrosyne

Answer 43

Elemental equilibrium. Often literally translated as “sagelike” or “wise moderation,” it indicates that one has found his center, and therefore checks all extremes with temperance and moderation.

Question 44

Spheroi

Answer 44

Literally “Spheres.” The energetic chambers of the body are called spheres, of which there are nine main ones in our tradition.

Question 45

Synagein

Answer 45

The synthesis of the mind with the higher self in one sense, and the uniting of the concentration with the subject of meditation in another. In our school, the former definition is most used.

Question 46

Theophany

Answer 46

An appearance of the divine in a form, either to the mind’s eye or physically.