The Seven Gates

by Frater Pyramidatus 'Do what thou wilt' above the gate, True freedom is your golden fate, A year of toil, a time of strain, A link within the iron chain, If high initiation is what you want, Thou must first become a Postulant. Next, one must forge the physical frame, To one of strength, and surely aim, Towards a body of tempered steel, A toughened spoke within the wheel, The Novice is the second grade, Be thou athlete and unafraid. Then, we arouse thine intellect, To seek all cause, and all effect, Three years of study, science and books, Preparing to receive the LVX, Disciple is the triune grade, Seeking to sharpen the inner blade. Four years of true magical work, Where angels sing and demons lurk, The Aspirant seeks the planets seven, And vows to keep the spheres eleven, Of magick high, and magick low, This grade commands the astral glow. If all rites are duly kept, Then thou may progress to Adept, Five years of silent contemplation, Thou wilt strive through meditation, Seek to unite with cloudless sky, Answer the question, Who am I? Fifteen years of thine devotion, Of settled work and calm emotion, And thou hast the Master's word, To the profane thou art unheard, Thou is crowned with scarlet fire, Freed from the shackles of desire. If for ten moons thou art well hid, Within the depths of pyramid, Make lead to gold, ego to id, And do only as the gods would bid, The Abbot earns divinity, Borne of complete simplicity.