From 'The Messenger' (Blavatsky Lodge magazine), April 2008

In this section:

• Power of the Mystery Tradition flows through an unbroken line
• Egypt and the hidden power in museums
• Theosophical leaders developed during Egyptian lives
• Egyptian symbology points to a higher truth
• The call to humanity of the Mother of the World
• In The Heart of the Atom
• The Path is always available
• The question of self-defence

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Geoffrey Hodson’s practical book “Illuminations Of The Mystery Tradition” published by the Theosophical Publishing House Philippines in 1992, was compiled by his wife Sandra Hodson from his diaries, some of which had been published following his death in Auckland on 23 January 1983 as “Light Of The Sanctuary, The Occult Diary Of Geoffrey Hodson”. Born in England 12 March 1886, the first entry of “Light Of The Sanctuary” begins in 1922 and represents a chronological selection of some of his occult experiences until 1983. As noted in the Diary entry of 2 January 1976, the intention was to publish the writings in two parts with Sandra, who was also a former General Secretary of the New Zealand Section, being free to edit the previously unpublished material into a second work as a ‘philosophy of life’. It may be useful to note that the word ‘Occult’ occurs frequently throughout the works, and if Theosophy, Divine Wisdom, in its abstract sense is the source and fount of all spiritual knowledge, then one view of Occultism is that it is the science of revealing for oneself the truth that lies behind the veil of limitation, ignorance and illusion.

The work, as the title conveys, represents an overview and introduction to some key aspects of the Mystery Tradition. Geoffrey Hodson notes “just as all Manus and all Logoi derive Their power from the central Source, whether Solar Logos or Cosmic Logos, so all Hierophants derive Their official power and the Initiatory creative fire which has been delivered to Them from the One Hierophant of a planet. Thus, within the Mysteries, Greater and Lesser, the line of descent is preserved” (Page 11). “The Theosophical Society is both a Spiritual and a Temporal order; it has its occult and its physical organisation and activity. Hierarchy rules in the former and democracy in the latter. When the presiding official is chosen by the free vote of the members, the official of their choice receives the occult recognition and power appropriate to his office, his spiritual stature, and his work” (Page 12). Manu in the passage above means ‘thought’ and Logos means ‘word’ – there is a good introductory glossary towards the latter part of the book which gives more detailed descriptions.

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The historical section under the heading of Part 1 includes some fascinating insights into the Mystery Tradition in Ancient Egypt. Geoffrey Hodson indicates that the real reason for the development of mummification was the preservation of atoms, especially from the brain, to be used in later incarnations of the same [Immortal] Ego and “so carry over some memory and highly evolved atoms to make easier the re-expression of the qualities and faculties displayed and developed in that life” (page 25). He notes that this concept was imitated by uninitiated priests and later by others. This is not an unusual concept if one examines other traditions. Buddhism for example includes the doctrine of the ‘Skandhas’, bundles of attributes or tendencies that are physical, moral, mental and ethical, and which are passed from one incarnation to the next. Can it be too difficult to imagine advanced souls on the threshold of spiritual wakefulness participating more consciously in this process? Even more, the historical aspects present a continuous flow of spiritual power into the future when we realise, as Hodson notes, that “the museums of the world are real centres of Egyptian magic and power. Most of the funerary and other objects exhibited were magnetised with varying degrees of potency and some of them very powerfully by the Adepts themselves” (Pages 32-33). “The British Museum is indeed a mighty occult centre affecting the life and evolution of the British nation.” “That is the reason for the guidance of archaeologists who so often make what they consider a “lucky” dig. There is no luck about it. They are directly guided to buried occult treasure though they rarely suspect the fact. Some do, but never mention it.”

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In the Gospel stories, Jesus once advised his disciples to refrain from any concern about how well the people would regard his teachings, the great wisdom given within a new form, saying that while the people may later hate his disciples, still they will hate him first. Equally in modern times, the teacher informs Geoffrey Hodson that “after H P Blavatsky, your great leaders, A Besant and C W Leadbeater, have played a very great and noble part in the process of unveiling. For they are both Egyptian Egos and received much of their training in the land of Khem. The world scorns them as was inevitable. We honour them as amongst the very greatest of the servants of the Brotherhood” (pages 33-34).

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Geoffrey Hodson explores a great deal of the Egyptian symbology, showing for example the similarity in meaning between the Barque of Ra and the Ark of Noah. The Barque of Ra is represented by a stationary dual-natured prakritic envelope, the upadhi or material container, positive on the outside and negative on the inside, while the Solar Disc represents the ensouling Spirit-Life. One can also see similarities between the ram-headed Ra and the Christian “Lamb of God”, both related to the astrological Aries, and question how the Egyptian religion, in using natural symbols, could ever be accused of animal worship. In reading the depictions of the work of the Sanctuary, which included the Egyptian hieroglyphs and artwork, one begins to wonder if the modern artist could be equally inspired to go beyond commerce and even art itself to convey cosmic truths for the thousands of years to come, and for the benefit thereafter of the millions of souls who would gaze upon the images.

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A number of Theosophical works have been produced since the 1920’s when Annie Besant, C W Leadbeater and Geoffrey Hodson drew the world’s attention to the great life that is the Mother of the World. Sadly, few of these books are still in print and some, such as CWL’s “The Masters And The Path”, in which many of the sections regarding the Mother Of The World were edited to remove such references. In the “Illuminations Of The Mystery Tradition”, it is stated that Isis may be considered in its cosmic aspect and also it’s planetary aspect, represented by a great adept. The holder of the office of Isis in Egyptian days “was a very glorious and beautiful female adept Who took the whole Egyptian nation under her charge, and for at least 10,000 years guarded and inspired its progress and development from birth to death. She was a very wonderful Being Who has now gone to higher spheres of Buddhahood” (page 71).

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This centre is Immaculate,
This is the Eternal Virgin, Isis,
The Mother of all the World, the Cosmic Lotus,
The Universal Womb from which all Worlds are born,
In which they yet remain.

This is the Mother God
Manifest through all fecundity on Earth,
The Heavenly Queen, Whose empire is the World,
Whose subjects are all beings.

Her throne is the heart of every form
However great, however small,
The single and the many celled,
The atom and the sun.

The Universal Isis is the sum
Of all Her microcosmic Selves in every form,
And yet transcends,
She is the heavenly Lotus plant, ever in full bloom,
Moulding and containing the whole Universe;
The chalice of Her flower is filled with wine of life.

Though ever She brings forth, She yet remains Immaculate;
In purity unstained She is the Mother of all Worlds,
Whom in their inner Selves all beings worship and adore.

Who finds Her in the Self finds all,
Who liberates Her there is free,
Who becomes the Eternal Virgin, has reached the Goal (page 71).

As an aside, it may be worthwhile to note that Geoffrey Hodson’s article, “The Call Of The World-Mother”, was published in The Australian Theosophist, July 15, 1929, and that the Adept Who is the present holder of the office of World Mother does not seem to require a new and separate organisation or study group, that may risk creating further intellectual divisions. Rather, the call appears to encourage individual meditation on the ideal of true womanhood and motherhood, and especially practical service to all women and children throughout the world through existing organisations and forms. The article states “the splendid ideal of perfect womanhood, once more presented to the world, would find an answer in every human heart, for none has grown so cold to love and tenderness as to be deaf to the call of the Mother of the World. Her service must have its place in every forward movement in every measure of reform. The concept of the Mother Aspect of the Deity must be brought back into the religion of the West, so that it may permeate every order of society. Of what real value is the consecrating of churches and shrines to Our Lady, if, by their acts and in their lives, men deny the very principle for which She labours from age to age?”
Geoffrey Hodson enumerates how the principles of the Human Being relate both to Freemasonry and Theosophy, and is the means to understanding the Mysteries. Isis was the feminine deity that was as highly esteemed in Egypt as Osiris, and perhaps western countries could feel inspired to regard the Lady Mary, mother of Jesus, with a similar reverence. From the union of Osiris and Isis comes Horus or Christ, which is not Buddhi alone, we are informed, but Atma-Buddhi-Manas, if we may use the Theosophical and Sanskrit terms, or the Higher Self-Spiritual Soul-Immortal Ego.

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It is from here that the second part of the book begins, which is called “Entering The Mysteries In Modern Times”, reminding the reader that the Mysteries have always been available to humanity if willing to follow the safe guide, by becoming a student of Theosophy. In this section, a great deal of practical advice is given including the necessity for purity of motive, kindness, vigilance and avoiding condemnation of others. There are also many passages to challenge our conventional viewpoints and to help one to think quite deeply if the mind is open, aware that “large numbers of people have turned away from the Ancient Wisdom as a result of uncontrolled doubt, doubt which mastered them, darkened their minds, and put out the light of intuition.” It has occasionally been suggested that the question is more important than the answer – perhaps it is more important to question why we question, so as to better understand the answer. As the master states, “therefore, pursue and hold relentlessly to what you know or intuitively perceive to be true.”

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There is also advice for troubled times, though as with any vow or saying each one is more likely to be successful by being fully responsible for one’s own actions. In the event of obsession by an unwanted superphysical entity, the master suggests the following course of action. Of course it is prudent to present the warning that the suggestion, like all aspects of this article, does not constitute any recommendation that the suggestion must be put into practice, that anything stated in this article is for informational purposes only, and that the reader is therefore completely responsible for all risks and for the results of one’s own actions.

“Each morning, mid-day, and evening, and whenever feeling approached by evil beings, with strong will and thought, mentally and verbally repeat the following vow: “

“‘May Divine Power and Divine Light descend upon and shine within me. I am that power. I am that Light.’ Pause for full realisation at least 30 seconds. Then say, ‘Aum’ or ‘Amen’“.

“Each morning, mid-day, and in the evening, at times most suitable to yourself, think of yourself as having an aura of brilliantly shining white light; for such an aura – when clearly perceived – would be a beneficial defensive ‘armour’, namely, powerfully radiant white light shining from within the middle of the head out for two yards or so beyond the body in all directions. During this exercise, you must not for even a moment allow yourself to think of the ‘enemy’, which you must train yourself to exclude totally from your consciousness, your brooding thought, and every other association in toto” (see page 162 for all of the published instructions given by the Master).

In the question of self-defence, there is a passage which states the true occultist never defends himself but relies purely upon the law, never rebukes others but relies upon the silent rebuke and the certainty that each one learns from the law. Yet it is also stated that one must be ever ready to fight, not for oneself, but for the master’s work, for to remain passive in the face of attack upon the Masters’ work or upon Their servants constitutes disloyalty and even participation in the attack. For oneself however, one never fights.

There are so many more insightful passages into the nature of loneliness, karma, death and other subjects. While it is often difficult to work out the correct path through life, the reader will find that there are many fascinating ideas presented within this volume, and when worked out for oneself, which can be of immense assistance in preventing many errors,  and many lives redressing those errors. A little study of the right knowledge, checked against observation and experience, can help to draw one into that higher intuition that lies within all of us.

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