47. The Fourth Degree of Initiation, Pt. 1

©2001 Athene Bitting All Rights Reserved

XLVII

The Fourth Degree of Initiation:

From Intern to Adept:

The Alchemist

Greater love hath no man than this,

that a man lay down his life for his friends.

—John 15:13

Lecture based Questions:

1. What is required of a Fourth Degree Initiate?

A certain accumulation of Personal Power is the basic requirement for this initiation. Metaphorically, if Personal Power were money, a 1DI would require $1,000, and a 4DI would need $500,000,000. In addition, the disciple will have completed a program of many lifetimes serving others while perfecting the arts, sciences, and leadership. The final step to 4DI is death by martyrdom.

2. Which episodes of Jesus’ life represents this initiation?

Three separate incarnations culminate in a successful 4DI.

•Gethsemane marks the beginning of the initiatory process. One is Betrayal by friends, society, and material systems.

•Stigmata usually lasts less than a lifetime, but the body dies while bearing the marks, which come with the scent of roses, reclusiveness, little need for food, and a healing presence. The Stigmata is an ancient manifestation that occurred before the incarnation of Jesus.

•Crucifixion is the final step necessary to achieve 4DI. One gives up life for the sake of uplifting & redeeming society. A Martyr permanently changes humanity.

3. What is the greatest danger to the candidate at this stage?

In one’s enthusiasm to make a difference in the world, one is constantly being tempted to use personal power. Big karma results.

What is a Dark Master?

This is a 3DI or 4DI who has stepped away from the path of service.

4. What are the keys of accomplishment that must be gathered for the Fourth Degree of Initiation to take place?

•Kundalini has been integrated with the chakras for many lifetimes

•Personal karma is immediately processed in sacrifice and service.

•Fearlessness and knowledge between illusion and reality.

•Many lifetimes of service experienced as a 3DI.

•A certain skill level in nearly all careers.

5. How can we recognize a Fourth Degree Initiate?

To most people, a 4DI seems very impressive. Their great personal power makes them attractive and charismatic, unless they choose to hide these gifts. They have a lot of knowledge about many topics. Some display a careless lack of humility. Having spent many lifetimes already in service to a mission, this is their season to spend their lives in privacy. They are learning discipline and the skills required for Mastery.

6. Meditation Exercise: The Sacred Heart

One of the epithets for Lord Emmanuel—the office of The Sacred Heart— administers strengthening resolve to anyone sincerely looking for perfect empathy. The angels and the archetypes who serve this office are seeking for members of humanity who can serve as positive examples of this unusual passage. One of the great karmic paths to redemption, perfect empathy infuses the disciple’s aura with a contagious quality of good will.

• After aligning the chakras and atoms, focus your intention on the heart chakra. Visualize gold and rose Light permeating and transforming the chakra and all its related organs and systems.

• Say: “Let me be an avatar of the simple path. Let the ability to experience Divine Unity grow within me.”

• Visualize a golden rose. Accept it into the heart chakra, and follow it as it gives benediction to the mental body.

7. Draw or describe one of your helpers.

Have you had a teacher or a mentor? Use this moment to reflect and connect (in thought) with this special person.

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The Choice: Angel or Warrior

This is the juncture about which many of you fantasize—the time when you may choose your expression of evolution. You may either remain on the karmic path and return to physical incarnation as a transmitter of Light or you may serve in the higher realms as an angelic helper. As the littlest angel, you would be trained to assist other angels as a rookie. You would learn the parameters of angelic conduct and the protocol of the angelic chain of command. The laws that govern the realm of angelhood are strict and strong. Perfect obedience is necessary for this road. The individual identity takes a subsidiary part in the superior avocation of worker. Angelic novices are trained to be increasingly specialized in order to enhance their effectiveness. [This is in contrast with the commission to be increasingly versatile, which we follow on the karmic path to Mastery.] On the up side, one who has chosen this path will never again feel the separateness that we feel in the physical body. The golden light of truth is never again hidden from view.

Relatively few take this direction after walking the karmic journey. One gets used to the speedy ascendance that incarnations make possible. Without the resistant influence of the physical realm, personal power takes a long time to accrue. Also, the path of perfect obedience is not always compatible with one’s inclination. Most of us choose to return to physical incarnation and complete the course of Mastery. This way is rich in diversity, experience, and range. The aspirant to the Fourth Degree of Initiation now embarks on—

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The Path of the Warrior Magician

To the inexperienced neophyte, someone training for the 4DI can seem quite formidable. This one has achieved fearlessness, accumulated much personal power, is capable of great works, and knows illusion from reality. He or she only seems to lack perfect discipline (which most of us avoid as long as possible) and perfect humility (the last hurdle for all of us).

The truth is that the 4DI candidate still requires a full tour of service and training—in and out of physical incarnation. The mental body is perpetually in a classroom environment to learn skills and sharpen focus. The Astral Body is recreated for each physical lifetime and meets the challenges native to astral substance. The physical body acts in a double capacity. It transforms a continuous stream of negative energy from the reservoir of world karma. It also persists in the work of gathering unique experiences and personal power for the soul’s maturity.

Every power, talent, and skill has its application and discipline. Eventually, the seeker wishes to achieve excellence in expressing all modes. She or he has already dabbled in the arts, sciences, worldly charisma, and sport. Now the candidate is ready to make these systems part of his or her advancement in personal energy. The attitude has matured so that discipline ceases to be viewed as a dreaded prison, but rather as a method of achieving greatness.

The path of discipline has its dangers. It is easy for some to be side-tracked by the details of learning. Dark recruiters are constantly attempting to lure the nominee into behavior that will expend personal power.

The work of the 4DI hopeful is threefold, and each initiatory phase contains another twelve sub-enlightenments. It takes an equal amount of energy to traverse the distance from the Third Degree to the Fourth Degree of initiation as it did from Level Zero to the Third. As understanding and skill increase, one’s efforts gain effectiveness and spiritual reward.

Keep in mind that the 4DI candidate is a Third Degree Initiate and has been commissioned with a series of works and services to aid humankind and the Network of Light. Many lifetimes are spent teaching young souls and showing the way to maturity through exampleship. The course creates magnificent ability in the areas of understanding human nature, service as an avatar, and knowledge of alchemy. To avoid pitfalls along the way, it is recommended that the 4DI aspirant take a series of vows and programs. Following are some typical vows.

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Vow of the Warrior

Within the realms of Eternal Light are no boundaries to power or action.

Therefore, I now take this vow

To deal with my time and situation

Within the spectrum of intention and integrity.

Through the successful care of my body, negativity has no hold.

Through the successful care of my thoughts, the world has no power.

Through the successful creation of energy, there is no lack.

I recognize the duty put before me and my ability to enact it.

I put forth my intention of committed effort in all situations.

I take responsibility for creating the opportunities for success and blessing.

Through daily enforcement, I strengthen my resolve and clarify my purpose.

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Vow of the Disciple

This I vow before the Light which I serve and the powers of Creation.

Never to allow obstruction to deter my purpose or desire to do good.

Never to be distracted from Spirit by Body.

Nor to be seduced by will or urgency.

I resolve and vow to follow the stream of Light in all ways and in all things.

My direction is toward endless enlightenment.

At the finish of this road I will understand better than I do now

That this was a path of glory

And it mattered not how or why or where my seeking led me,

but only that I tried and that I was sincere.

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Vow of the Mission

I shall serve others at the spiritual level

Despite the fear of death, despite the commotion of the masses

Let not the path of desire pollute my voice or focus.

My intention is on the path of service.

I now dedicate my existence to the manifestation of blessing on earth.

Here and now, let this be so, now and forevermore,

Throughout eternity I shall stand for Light and Creation.

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Vow of the Alchemist

In the name of the Creative Power

I now manifest within myself

The crucible that transforms darkness into light.

I am a living conduit of Divine Transformation.

Let all good words be fulfilled

Let all good energies be wrought

Let all good hopes come into being.

All this and more I command

In the name of the Most Holy of Holies.