The Probationer Grade

The Oath of a Probationer:

"I, _____, being of sound mind and Body, on this _____ day of _____ (An _____ Sun in _____ degrees) do hereby resolve: in the Presence of _____, an Neophyte of the A∴A∴: To prosecute the Great Work: which is, to obtain a scientific knowledge of the nature and powers of my own being. May the A∴A∴ crown the work, lend me of its wisdom in the work, enable me to understand the work! Reverence, duty, sympathy, devotion, fidelity, trust do I bring to the A∴A∴, and in one year from this date may I be admitted to the knowlegde and conversation of the A∴A∴! Witness my hand: _____ Motto: _____"

• His duties are laid down in Paper A, Class D. (Liber CLXXXV)
• Being without, they are vague and general. He receives Liber LXI and Liber LXV.
• [Certain Probationers are admitted after six months or more to Ritual XXVIII.]
• At the end of the Probation he passes Ritual DCLXXI, which constitutes him a Neophyte.

[Liber XIII vel Graduum Montis Abiegni]

The Task of a Probationer:

• 0. Let any person be received by a Neophyte, the latter being responsible to his Zelator.
• 1. The period of Probation shall be at least one year.
• 2. The aspirant to the A∴A∴ shall hear the Lection (Liber LXI) and this note of his office; IF HE WILL, shall then procure the robe of a Probationer; shall choose with deep forethought and intense solemnity a motto.
• 3. On reception, he shall receive the robe, sign the form provided and repeat the oath appointed, and receive the First Volume of the Book.
• 4. He shall commit a chapter of Liber LXV to memory; and furthermore, he shall study the Publications of the A∴A∴ in Class B, and apply himself to such practices of Scientific Illuminism as seemeth him good.
• 5. Beside all this, he shall perform any tasks that the A∴A∴ may see fit to lay upon him. Let him be mindful that the word Probationer is no idle term, but that the Brothers will in many a subtle way 'prove' him, when he knoweth it not.
• 6. When the sun shall next enter the sign under which he hath been received, his initiation may be granted unto him. He shall keep himself free from all other engagements for one whole week from that date.
• 7. He may at any moment withdraw from his association with the A∴A∴, simply notifying the Neophyte who introduced him.
• 8. He shall everywhere proclaim openly his connection with the A∴A∴ and speak of It and Its principles (even so little as he understandeth) for that mystery is the enemy of Truth.
• One month before the completion of his year, he shall deliver a copy of the Record of his year's work to the Neophyte introducing, and repeat to him his chosen chapter of Liber LXV.
• 9. He shall hold himself chaste, and reverent toward his body, for that the ordeal of initiation is no light one. This is of peculiar importance in last two months of his Probation.
• 10. Thus and not otherwise may he attain the great reward: YEA, MAY HE OBTAIN THE GREAT REWARD!

[Liber Collegii Sancti sub figurâ CLXXXV]

"Probationer" Summary

The Great Work, for the Probationer, is defined as "obtaining a scientific knowledge of the nature and powers of my own being."

"Probation" is defined as an experimental period, during which the individual is tested. The word comes from the Latin, probare , "to prove". In Liber 185 the Probationer is warned to

"be aware that the word Probationer is not a term in vain, but that the Brethren will prove it in many subtle ways when he least expects it."

In relation to the Tree of Life, the Probationer is lost in Qliphoth.

Admission

"After three months, the Student is examined ... and if his knowledge ... is considered satisfactory, he can become a Probationer " (Book Four). The Probationer (0° = 0□) is received by an initiate who is at least one Neophyte (1° = 10□).

The aspirant to A∴A∴ you should listen to the Lesson (Liber LXI) and this note of your function; IF HE WANTS, he must then get the robe of a Probationer; should choose with a deep premeditation and intense solemnity a motto. Upon admission he shall receive the robe, sign the form provided and repeat the oath as appointed, and receive the First Volume of the Book. (Liber 185).

The "First Volume of the Book" contains Liber LXI (Liber Causae) and Liber LXV (Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente), "The Book of the Heart Girded with a Serpent").

The candidate must be guided by a superior in order, at least one Neophyte, who will pass a series of tasks chosen by him allied to one that the candidate himself will impose himself, being also tested in the test of Holy Obedience to his Instructor.

When signing the oath, the candidate must choose a motto that suits him best. 

The Probationer's robe is a white Tau-shaped robe (without a hood), with gold accents along the bottom hem, the sleeves, and near the neckline. At the front is a scarlet staff. On the back is a hexagram, formed from a blue descending triangle interlaced with a red rising triangle, and with a golden Tau in the center.

Probationer Work

Probationer. - Your main job is to start the practices you may prefer, and write a careful record of them for a year. (One Star in Sight sub figurâ CDLXXXIX).

The essential purpose of the probationary degree is thus that the aspirant will explore a wide variety of instructional materials and, above all, find his own methods and work styles. Thus, any attempt to pre-specify tasks should be vague. The Probationer is given an extensive curriculum of study materials, consisting mainly of all Class B publications of the A∴A∴. "He may choose whatever practices he chooses, but in any case he must keep an accurate record so that he can discover cause and effect in his work, and so that A∴A∴ can judge his progress and direct his further studies ".

He is to memorize a chapter of Liber LXV ... (Liber 185)

Liber LXV is Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente, "The Book of the Heart Girded with a Serpent."

In addition to all this, he should perform any tasks that A∴A∴ appropriate to entrust it. (Liber 185)

The Probationer's Journey

In Eight Lectures on Yoga , Aleister Crowley describes how the work of the early phases of A∴A∴ was developed:

"The question for me is also to describe a method of procedure which will be sufficiently elastic to be useful to every human being. I have tried to do this by combining the two paths of Magick and Yoga. If we perform the preliminary practices, each according to his capacity, the result will surely be the acquisition of a certain technique. And this will become much easier as we advance, especially if we bear it well in mind not to attempt to discriminate between the two methods as if they were opposing schools, but to use the one to help out the other in an emergency. [...]

You are expected to spend three months at least on the study of some of the classics on the subject. The chief object of this is not to instruct you, but to familiarise you with the ground work, and in particular to prevent you getting the idea that there is any right or wrong in matters of opinion. You pass an examination intended to make sure that your mind is well grounded in this matter, and you become a Probationer. Your reading will have given you some indication as to the sort of thing you are likely to be good at, and you select such practices as seem to you to promise well. You go ahead with these, and keep a careful record of what you do, and what results occur. After eleven months you submit a record to your superior; it is his duty to put you right where you have gone wrong, and particularly to encourage you where you think you have failed." (IV.22+24.)

The basic instructions on "the two paths of Magic and Yoga" are, respectively, the documents in Class B Liber O vel Manus et Sagittae and Liber E vel Exercitiorum . These practical instructions are the foundation of the A∴A∴ Scientific Enlightenment system. GH∴ Frater OM emphasized its importance clearly in an editorial in Equinox Vol. I Nº 7:

"I am authorized to say that no one will be admitted as a Neophyte unless his year of work [as a Probationer] yields considerable skill tests in the fundamental practices, Asana, Pranayama, Assumption of God-Forms, vibration of divine names, rituals of banishment, and invocation, and the practices set forth in Sections 5 and 6 of Liber O. Although he is not examined in any of these, elemental experience is necessary so that he can intelligently assist those who will be under him."

Advance to Neophyte

The minimum probation period shall be one year. Probationary Degree lasts at least a year or so. The shortest date for advancement is "The next time the sun should enter the sign in which it was received." (Liber 185)

When the sun is again under the sign of the commitment assumed, the Probationer must submit his diary and submit to the Ritual DCLXXI. The Probationer is to deliver a copy of his Diary from this period to his Neophyte and then recite the chosen chapter of Liber LXV. This must occur one month before the end of the probationary period (ie, at least eleven months after admission).

According to (Liber 185), "any Probationer who has completed his task to the satisfaction of A∴A∴" will be prepared for the advance to Neophyte.

He must remain chaste, and reverent toward his body, for the ordeal of initiation is not light. This is of peculiar importance in the last two months of your Probation. (Liber 185)

The Probationer shall remain free of all other appointments for a whole week (which is the duration of Neophyte initiation).

In some cases, the Probationer may be eligible for six months there and then may submit to a special ceremony, Ritual XXVIII, Liber Septem Regnum Sanctorum.