Elemental work before and after grade initiations

[Bokeh]

I am currently working my way through the outer order grades as a sole
practitioner (just from books - using quite a few sources to
"triangulate" my own course).

I'm just about to move from Zelator to Theoricus. I am satisfied with
my work in earth, and I've already begun Theoricus grade work.

I have two questions:

1) When do the grade initiations usually take place? Is it at the end
of studying that grade, as a form of "graduation" (ie Theoricus
initiation after completing Theoricus grade work) or is it at the
beginning of the work to signal the initial "orientation" process into
the grade?

I am using divination, cues from synchronicity, and - now - electoral
astrology to select auspicious times for ceremonies, but what is the
standard process?

I initiated into Zelator near the end of the grade work, but feel that
an early initiation into Theoricus is appropriate.

2) If I think of something suitable for earth work while I'm in air,
is it ok to do it now, or should I leave it until the portal grade and
even everything out then? Does it throw things off to keep half a foot
in a lower grade, or is it part of a smooth transition?

Thanks in advance.
Bokeh.

[max555]

On Aug 19, 6:03 am, Bokeh <surelythiscantbetakenalre...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> I am currently working my way through the outer order grades as a sole
> practitioner (just from books - using quite a few sources to
> "triangulate" my own course).
>
> I'm just about to move from Zelator to Theoricus. I am satisfied with
> my work in earth, and I've already begun Theoricus grade work.
>
> I have two questions:
>
> 1) When do the grade initiations usually take place? Is it at the end
> of studying that grade, as a form of "graduation" (ie Theoricus
> initiation after completing Theoricus grade work) or is it at the
> beginning of the work to signal the initial "orientation" process into
> the grade?
>
> I am using divination, cues from synchronicity, and - now - electoral
> astrology to select auspicious times for ceremonies, but what is the
> standard process?

At the end is standard. The ceremony is indeed a graduation - e.g.
after being initiated into the 0=0 Grade, and completing the study
program for the Neophyte and having passed the exam, one "graduates"
into 1=10. It is an "initiation" (root word = "initial") in the proper
sense of the word: it marks the graduation from Neophyte and the
beginning of studying the Earth Element. As a Zelator, your Work is to
assimilate the Earth Element. Once having done so, you're ready to
graduate and begin studying the Air Grade of 2=9.

> I initiated into Zelator near the end of the grade work, but feel that
> an early initiation into Theoricus is appropriate.

I wouldn't rush things. When I suggested that people get out of the
1=10 a soon as possible, that means completing the Work as soon as
possible! The whole point of the process is to focus tightly on each
Element in turn, and to clearly mark progress in the Work. Using
techniques like divination to find an auspicious time to run the
ceremony is fine, but not until you've completed the Work of the
Grade. Otherwise you are "mixing the Planes" and this is not a good
thing.

Patience is a virtue!

>
> 2) If I think of something suitable for earth work while I'm in air,
> is it ok to do it now, or should I leave it until the portal grade and
> even everything out then? Does it throw things off to keep half a foot
> in a lower grade, or is it part of a smooth transition?

Think of it like this: once you've completed the work of the Grade and
graduated, you are considered "competent" and qualified to work with
that Element. So after attaining the 2=9, you're still qualified to do
Earth-related workings. Once you complete all of the Grades and
graduate into Portal, you're qualified to do ALL Elemental works. In
fact, in my Order, that is the very process of the Portal work -
reprising and deepening the study of each Grade. Other Orders do this
at the 5=6 level and designate a series of sub-Grades, e.g "Zelator
Adeptius Minor" (ZAM), "Theoricus Adeptus Minor" (ThAM), etc.

- 555