My spiritual beliefs reinstate the role of the feminine face of God, restoring the harmony of the Mother alongside the Father. This unification for the fullness of God is a necessity for the interpretation of balance and communion.
My teachings are grounded in the wholeness of the Mother and the Father, by which the Holy Child is conceived through the intercession of the Holy Spirit. I affirm the triplicity of the Holy Family as a reflection of the most Holy Trinity and acknowledge this cosmology as a synthesis of esoteric Christianity, humanitarian, and Hermetic philosophy:
Esoteric Christianity:
- I acknowledge the concept of the Divine Spark (the soul) which resides within all living creatures and connects us directly to God.
- I utilize a litany of symbols and allegories found in Christian scripture as a means to illustrate deep spiritual truths.
- Through the mystical interpretation of the life of Christ, I view his teachings, death, and resurrection as a blueprint for our own inner transformation.
- I place emphasis on personal, direct experience of the Divine through prayer, meditation, and humanitarian practices.
Gnostic Teachings:
- I believe in the feminine principle, often represented as Sophia (Gnosticism), as the personification of wisdom and counterpart to the traditional male depiction of God.
- I seek to understand that which is “hidden”; to achieve insight (gnosis) into our divine nature and our relationship to the cosmos.
- My cosmology speaks of astral realms and heavenly creatures that are encountered on the soul’s journey to the Pleroma (Heaven); the fullness of God.
Hermetic Philosophy:
- I acknowledge the Hermetic axiom “As above, so below; as below, so above,” to illustrate the duality between the celestial (macrocosm) and the individual (microcosm).
- My belief in the transformative power of “alchemy” as a spiritual process is understood as a method to develop the soul.
- An appreciation that true knowledge (Hermetic wisdom) about the nature of the universe can be discerned through the study of nature’s patterns.
Creed of the Astrum Temple
“We believe in the Divine, infinite and eternal, from whom all existence flows, both seen and unseen, known and unknown. We affirm the presence of the Father, whose guidance is the law of the cosmos. We honor the blessed Mother, the sacred garden of all creation, from whom all life is defined. We embrace the Holy Spirit, the fire of divinity, who begot the most Holy Child.
We believe in the intercession of Saints and Angels, who by their agency, petition on our behalf. We strive for the transformation of the soul, transmuting the lead of our limitations into the gold of higher purpose. We commit to the path of Christ, recognizing in him the heart of humanity; to embody compassion, justice, peace and the celebration of the Mystical Body, affirming our wholeness in spirit and diversity of expression; to break bread with all the children of the earth at the table of reconciliation.
AMEN.”
The Holy Trinity
The Father – The Architect:
The strength of the Father alongside the wisdom of the Mother illustrates the divine duality of creation. As the architect of the cosmos, the Father transcribes the word of the Mother, enacting as One; the full face of God. This principle of polarity is essential for balance in the universe; for the masculine aspect of the Father provides the seed of action.
The Mother – The Primordial Source:
The Mother, as the first and all-encompassing expression of divinity, represents the “word”. She is the source of the ineffable and unknowable God (known as the ALL in Hermeticism). Her existence precedes all creation and her wisdom embodies the totality of the seen and unseen realms.
Holy Child – The Individual Soul:
All sentient and living creatures are the Holy Child(ren) of the Mother and Father. We are a microcosmic reflection of the macrocosmic Holy Trinity. The development of the soul is an ongoing quest to realize our divinity as we strive to live in celestial harmony with the cosmos.
Holy Spirit – The Principle of Animation:
The Holy Spirit, borne from the union of the Mother and Father, is the animating principle, the “logos” in Gnostic teachings and the “Nous” of Hermetic philosophy. The Holy Spirit begot the Holy Child, instilling life with a soul; with consciousness to connect with all living matter.
“The Sun asks not for monuments or shrines; its temple is the sky, its altar, the horizon. Seek not to immortalize your name in stone but to enshrine your deeds in the legacy of love and kindness.”
Liber Solis 5:10
The Temple’s Basic Principles
The Pursuit of Gnosis: to seek direct, personal insight (gnosis) beyond what is taught in traditional doctrines. To engage in deep contemplation, meditation, and the study of sacred texts to understand the inner workings of divinity and the self.
Living the Christ Principle: to emulate the qualities of Christ; unconditional love, compassion, forgiveness, and humility, which forms the Temple’s core moral and ethical framework. To strive to embody these virtues though daily interaction and decision.
Spiritual Alchemy: to seek the transformation of the soul from a state of fragmentation to wholeness through introspection, awareness of our shadow, and humanitarian practices that align with our divine nature.
Sacred Stewardship: to uphold the sanctity of the earth and all life therein. To act as stewards for the environment, promoting peace, conservation, and respect for the balance of power.
Community and Service: the Temple stresses the importance of community support and service. We are encouraged to build a community of peace, come to the aid of others, and engage in acts of charity and social justice.
Continual Learning and Adaptation: to encourage ourselves to remain open in light of new truths and epiphany; to seek wisdom from other traditions, philosophies, and scientific evidence.
Respect for Diverse Paths: while the Temple is a tradition all it’s own, we recognize and respect the validity of other faiths in the universal quest for divinity, understanding, and connection. We affirm there are many pathways to God, and each of us are called in our own unique way.
“Per Astra, Ad Divina – Through the stars to the Divine.”
The Astrum Temple 