The Society of Inner Light's prime purpose is to maintain and expand the bridge that exists between outer life in the world and spiritual forces upon the inner planes.
History:
It was founded in 1924 by Dion Fortune - Violet Mary Firth - at the instance of an inner plane Master. That is to say by a spiritual being who, having experienced and learned the lessons of life on earth, has no further need physically to incarnate, and has undertaken to help humanity progress by giving spiritual insights to those who are attuned to receive them. The general aim of this is the balanced earthing of spiritual principles, under the general headings of Power, Love and Wisdom.
Dion Fortune's career began as a student of psychology but she developed an interest in esoteric theory and practice as a result of psycho-spiritual experiences through the development of her natural psychic gifts, which made her more readily aware of the worlds of causation behind physical appearances, normally beyond physical perception.
Her major inner plane contacts were first made at Glastonbury, a highly charged spiritual centre with Christian spiritual roots centred upon the Abbey, legendary roots centred upon its Arthurian and Grail legends, and Elemental roots centred upon the Tor and surrounding hills.
One result of her experience and research was a number of books. An early important one, "dictated" from inner plane sources , is "The Cosmic Doctrine", which describes in symbolic terms the divine creative process, from its cosmic inception to its expression inhuman and universal evolution. Another is "The Mystical Qabalah", an exposition of the Qabalistic Tree of Life which clearly explains the pattern of spiritual and psychic forces which play through the universe and which form the make-up of every human being.
She soon attracted a group of followers and over the years produced teaching on a wide range of metaphysical subjects, including masculine and feminine relationships, the esoteric orders and their work, the training and work of an initiate, the Arthurian legends, principles of esoteric healing and much else besides. The Society continues to attract a steady stream of dedicated men and women, most of whom have acquired a degree of practical realisation of the worlds behind appearances, through their natural or trained psychic or intuitive powers.
Philosophy
In keeping with Qabalistic teaching the Society considers that the whole human being consists of three basic elements:
1 The Incarnationary Personality which is the normal human personality that we develop from birth and which is formed and influenced by a variety of factors hereditary, environmental, cultural, educational and so on.
2 The Evolutionary Personality (sometimes also known as the Soul, Individuality or Higher Self) which encompasses the essence of experience of previous lives. Its influence may well be the positive demonstration of unique abilities at one or many levels, the downside of which may be the need for lessons in life yet to be learned.
3 The Divine Spark or Spirit which emanates both the incarnationary and Evolutionary Personalities which should be its servants. Needless to say, direct awareness of this state may not be achieved immediately and the reality of its existence may seem imperceptible, even though our very existence depends upon it. Its full expression would be likely to produce sanctity or genius and at the present stage of the world is a somewhat rare condition.
The Work
The overall work of the Society is to develop its members to their highest potential through the development of higher consciousness and balanced expression of the whole integrated being in physical life on Earth.
Admission is open to both men and women who have successfully passed a Study Course, by correspondence, which usually takes a year to complete. It is designed to give an adequate knowledge of the Tree of Life of the Qabalah, and involves a meditation discipline and the submission of regular written work at fortnightly intervals, followed by a short interview.
Preference is given to U.K. based residents and to those who have to some degree demonstrated that they have established a life for themselves in the outer world. The Society should in no way be regarded as a refuge for the distressed from life's battles or a lonely hearts club. Applicants should usually be not less than twenty?five though there can be exceptions.
The religious standpoint of the teaching of the Society is Christian, although with no particular denominational bias. In no way do we encourage sectarianism, fanaticism or bigotry. What we look for most of all is sincerity and dedication, and a desire to seek and give a life of service to the betterment of the human condition and enlightened stewardship of the environment.
Those with a hidden agenda who believe that the practice of "magic" will help them with their mundane life, personal desires, fears or ambitions, should look elsewhere. The Society is not for them, and admission, if achieved, would only disappoint them.
After admission, training continues through Three Degrees of the so?called "Lesser Mysteries" which are broadly based upon traditional Masonic symbolism. These are designed to develop and strengthen character, to give experience of ceremonial working, and to develop the visionary powers of the mind as a means toward attaining higher consciousness. The work of each Degree is unlikely to be achieved in less than a year. Academic course work continues along with a meditation discipline and regular practical group working which takes place once a month.
Those who successfully pass through this process, which tends to bring about
tests of character that are expressed in the circumstances of daily life, may
elect to move on to the "Greater Mysteries", which are concerned with
developing consciousness at the level of the Evolutionary Personality and ultimately
the Spirit. This is the level of the Adept as a natural progression from that
of the Lesser Mystery Initiate. Here specialised work may be undertaken under
the direction of the inner plane hierarchy.
The Society, the mundane vehicle of the Fraternity, is a registered Charity,
overseen for practical day to day purposes by a Council of Management.
Apart from the pre-admission Study Course fees, there are no mandatory financial charges required of members, only biannual voluntary donations, but volunteers for practical service are always welcome, when needed, as Study Course supervisors, part-time office workers and those who can contribute to the maintenance of the house and grounds.
The Society has no close links with others professing similar goals at this time, though it recognises that it may not be alone in pursuing these.