Theos-Talk Archives (August 1998 Message tt00407)

Here's something on spiritual experiences and "Initiation" from L. G.
Plummer's article "The Sacred Seasons and Initiation in the May, 98
"Theosophy World":

        ".... When one moves into the fourth Initiation, which is related to
the Winter Solstice, he has learned that the four seasons of the year relate
generally to the four periods of human life:  infancy, adolescence, maturity,
and then death, or the passing.  The Initiation at the Winter Solstice, which
is the fourth, brings the Initiant to the point where he experiences what he
had previously been taught:  he begins actually to learn by experience.  And
when he comes back, he then is able to Teach."

              Most descriptions I've read about mystery school "Initiations"
seem largely to be symbolic, or recapitulations of what happens in real life.
(But then, the real Mystery Schools probably don't get written about!) They
are not real initiations, but meant to symbolize a stage that the aspirant
goes through.  Rawson (?), I think, gives a really impressive description of
one in Isis Unveiled.
                    -  Jake J.