Esoteric Orders and Their Work

By Dion Fortune and Gareth Knight

From the British occultist and author, a classic study of what esoteric orders are and what they can offer initiates.

People have been interested in secret traditions since the beginning of time. Fraternal brotherhoods and sisterhoods, and secret orders of varying degrees exist in every country, race, and religion.


In Esoteric Orders and Their Work, author Dion Fortune gets to the root of exactly what esoteric orders are, leaving no stone unturned. The chapter "Esotericism, Occultism, and Mysticism" defines what esotericism is in relation to exotericism—in layman's terms, the inner life versus the outer one. In "The Origin of the Mysteries," she looks at how esotericism grew hand-in-hand with the evolution of humankind, discussing how humans evolved from a group soul (still present in animals today, i.e.: packs of wolves) into a singular soul. "The Paths of the Western Tradition" is a discussion on the different schools that have developed (known as Rays) and how students, after having formed a solid base of knowledge, work through each ray on their way to becoming closer to an esoteric ideal. She expounds upon Masters in "The Evolution and Functions of the Masters." We discover that they are not so much superhuman entities as beings who have learned all they need to know on the physical plane and now teach from the ethereal. Chapters such as "The Right and Left-Hand Paths" and "The Use and Power of Ritual" explain the differences between Black and White Occultism, and how long-kept-secret rituals taught only to initiates are used to further the order's members along their paths.


Today, in the centers of the civilized world, there is renewed interest in esoteric schools, and although they may be misunderstood by the mainstream, some of the noblest people have been among their advocates. This book removes the shroud of mystery and fear from esotericism and makes the Western Mystery Tradition accessible to anyone who has ever been curious about this fascinating spiritual path!

Revised edition contains a new foreword by Gareth Knight, and an index.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Jun 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9781609254896

Dion Fortune

DION FORTUNE, born Violet Mary Firth (1890-1946), was a prominent British occultist, author, psychologist, teacher, artist, and mystic. Schooled in Western Esotericism, she was influential in the modern revival of the magical arts. She was also a prolific writer of the supernatural and the occult in both novels and non-fiction works. As a psychologist, she approached magic and hermetic concepts from the perspectives of Jung and Freud. Known to those in her inner circle as DF, her pseudonym was inspired by her family motto "Deo, non-fortuna" (Latin for "by God, not fate"), originally the ancient motto of the Barons and Earls Digby. Fortune died in 1946 from leukemia in Middlesex, London, at the age of 55.

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

IN all ages and among all races there has existed a tradition concerning certain esoteric schools or fraternities, wherein a secret wisdom unknown to the generality of mankind might be learnt, and to which admission was obtained by means of an initiation in which tests and ritual played their part. Whoever is familiar with the literature of folklore and anthropology knows that this belief exists among primitive peoples, from the Eskimos of the Arctic Circle to the Digger Indians of Tierra del Fuego. Whoever has also studied history knows that it has prevailed from the first dawn of human culture. To-day, in the centres of the civilised world, this belief is still alive ; and although it may be ridiculed by the orthodox-minded, an unprejudiced observer cannot fail to note that some of the noblest of men have been among its advocates, and that the greatest creative intelligences have, almost without exception, borne witness to a source of inspiration in the Unseen.

It is hard to believe that this rumour should be so widespread and so long-lived if it were entirely without foundation ; moreover, the fact that it has the same form among races who have had no intercourse with each other, such as the primitive Mexican and primitive Egyptian, is a further evidence in favour of its truth. It is not possible to demonstrate to those who are without the pale the existence of the organisations to which we have referred, because with the revelations of their secrets comes the obligation of silence. It is permissible, however, to give sufficient information to enable the earnest seeker to discern the path whereby he may approach the entrance to one or another of these schools, and for that purpose the following teaching concerning the esoteric orders and their functions is placed before the reader, though the proofs of the statements therein contained must of necessity be withheld until he shall have entitled himself to receive them.

The different occult schools declare themselves to be the holders of a secret traditional science, communicated to them, in the first place, by divine founders, and enriched and revised from time to time by great teachers ; this science concerns the study of the causes that lie behind observable phenomena and condition them. After preliminary tests as to character and fitness, the occult fraternities are prepared to communicate the theory of this science to accepted candidates, and subsequently to convey the powers for its practical use by means of ritual initiations. These, briefly, are the claims made for the occult schools by those competent to speak on their behalf.

It is very frequently, and very reasonably, asked why it is that societies avowedly formed for the service of humanity, and having such valuable teaching to give, should not freely communicate it to all comers ; should not, moreover, conduct active propaganda work in order to induce people to come and share in their wisdom, and not, as they appear to be doing, hide themselves away as if seeking by every possible device to avoid observation and prevent themselves being discovered by those who would learn from them.

The answer to this question will be found when the nature of occult science is understood. It concerns certain little-known powers of the human mind and certain little-understood aspects of nature. Were its researches into these subjects purely theoretical there would be no need to guard their findings so carefully, but the knowledge of the facts thus discovered immediately reveals their practical applications ; knowledge bestows power in this field of research, even more than in the fields explored by orthodox science, for the power thus rendered available is the power of the mind, and the effects of the use of this power are so far-reaching, whether for good or for evil, that it is a thing not lightly to be trusted into the hands of any human being. Just as the Dangerous Drugs Acts restrict the purchase and administration of potent drugs, so do those who are the custodians of this ancient traditional knowledge seek to safeguard its use. Being of so subtle a nature, it is impossible to guard it from abuse at the hands of the unscrupulous, and therefore its custodians do all in their power to prevent such persons from gaining access to it. Hence the restrictions with which its teaching is hedged about. But the restrictions are no more severe than those which attend the practice of medicine, for which a five years’ onerous apprenticeship is required. We are so accustomed, however, to see spiritual teaching freely given, to hear the call, Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters of life and drink freely, that we cannot understand a policy which refuses any stream from this spring to those who are

Reviews for Esoteric Orders and Their Work

[swibells · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Omg, Melissa Ma'am, I'm in love with you and this series! That's all I can say, I'm too overwhelmed! On to the next one! <3

[lisarector · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

WOW! Even better than the first one.

This series is right up my alley. I loved everything about the characters and the pacing. The main enticement for me was how the two main characters had such draw to each other. Every look was laced with fire. I just wanted to devour every moment the characters had together. Plot wise, the story is a light read, but that doesn't matter because everything else it smokin'! The plot does intensify at the end. The story is leading up to some exciting stuff in the next novel. I love how everything is being tied together. The little hints keep pulling me through the series eagerly.

Reader Rated for ages 14 for moderate sensuality, but no sex. It's pretty much steamy touches and looks. It's a hot read that stayed totally clean!

[jjmcgaffey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I like this series - it's fluff, but just deep enough that the characters are distinct and vivid in my mind. Michelle has an odd power (like each woman in this series) - she gets a stock tip once a week, and _must_ tell someone. She's an orphan, with her stepfather as guardian - but he's come under the control of a man who (at the beginning of the book) she learns is a werewolf (or at least, she learns his teeth get big). She runs, with her small stepbrothers, trying to escape the power of the werewolf Blake. And then she's trapped, caught by Blake's agents - until a man comes out of nowhere, deals with them, and gets her and her brothers away. He offers safety, but Michelle has learned all too well that letting a man have power over her is a bad idea. And then she discovers he is also a werewolf... The somewhat sketchy world limned in Hope(less) gets filled out a bit more, the werewolves learn more about what the Forlorn really are, and Michelle and Emmitt build a solid relationship on some very shaky ground. One funny thing, for this read - I just finished a Heyer about two brothers, with the more serious one having a romance and his more flighty brother interfering. So watching Jim mess with Emmitt was extra amusing (though I don't think I'd have found him amusing in real life). Jim was also exactly what the boys needed. Watching the three of them begin to recover from the abuse they've suffered is excellent. Enjoyable, and I think rereadable.