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An Article From:
Summer 2000, Vol. 75, Number 3
“And now abideth...”
A Profile of Reverend Doctor Russ Durocher
Gnostic Priest, Teacher, Hermetic Astrologer
Introduction by Wm. H. Jeffrey
Some people do not feel awkward talking about themselves. If
weencounter such a person, we may find they are not really talking
about themselves, but about their work. They are sharing what they
love. If, during such an encounter with such a person, we listen
carefully, we may learn how a person sounds when they have found
their cos-mic work, and perhaps that person’s fire may ignite our
desire to find our work. As a further treat, we will have the
opportunity to learn how another sincere and dedicated human being
sees and lives life.
When I asked “Dr. Russ” for information about himself for this
profile, he
offered not a list of credits, but a teaching which exemplifies what
he is. To the extent that one comprehends what he has written, that
is the extent one will see the author. Because of what Dr. Russ
wrote, I felt it appropriate to present it to the reader as he did
to me.
One comment that may help gain even more from this profile is that
there are several functions of high ritual magic: The first is to
provide a framework and discipline for one’s spiritual practice. The
second is to produce results—to bring into manifestation what one
desires. The third is to provide a common symbolic language that the
conscious and unconscious minds can share and use to communicate.
The fourth is to generally raise the vibratory frequency of the
soul/subconscious by intentionally and regularly exposing it to high
ideas and high ideals. The fifth is to bypass the censor function of
the conscious mind, thus allowing ideas to be communicated
undistorted between the conscious and
unconscious minds. The sixth is to facilitate communication between
the
conscious and unconscious minds even when one is not engaged in the
ritual. The seventh is to provide a common spiritual practice that
can be the basis for a community’s work. The eighth, which is not
obvious to a casual observer, is that rituals such as Dr. Russ uses,
present over time a complete initiatic path which becomes impressed
deeply on the soul/subconsciousness of participants.
From this point in the profile, except for the last paragraph, Dr.
Russ speaks for himself (his work).
“I joined the Church of Light in 1981 after much independent occult
and
astrological study. After the initial neophyte level of involvement
(conventions, correspondence with other members, etc.), it was clear
to me that my proper role was (and is) a “low-profile”
one—consisting of prospering the CofL with financial gifts and
quietly bringing people drawn to my work into contact with Hermetic
ideas. “My background is clergy-training in the Anglo-Catholic (High
Episcopal) Tradition. After proceeding even further with study (CofL
and other schools) I chose to leave the mainstream church to pursue
an independent priesthood/ministry in the Gnostic/High Ceremonial
Magic Tradition, coupled with a very active teaching ministry
emphatically oriented toward the life-changing value of the Hermetic
System of Astrology (interestingly, back in 1982 at the East Coast
CofL convention in Albany, Allan Curthoys, while looking at my
chart, told me that my work would be ceremonial magic; of course, it
already had been during my time in the mainstream church).
“A particular specialty of focus is assisting students in the use of
Jupiter
energies to understand and successfully demonstrate true and lasting
prosperity, not only in 2nd House affairs, but in all departments of
life — in other words, Spiritual, Mental, Personal and Cosmic
Alchemy. “Obviously, Course XVIII: “Imponderable Forces” is also
quite important in my work, especially Serials 185 and 187; along
with the Angelic references in Courses II, III, IV, VII, XVIII, XIX,
and particularly XX, as well as Burgoyne’s writings.
“It’s my personal feeling that one of the things really lacking in
so much of today’s metaphysical/occult work is authentic, enriching,
well-understood and well- performed ritual. I have found repeatedly
that affirmations and other mental alchemy techniques work so much
more profoundly and fully when coupled with the illustrative drama
of sense-involving ceremonial — and there is no more highly evolved
and refined expression of this high ceremonial/magical approach than
the stately and intricate rituals of the historic Christian Church
(now largely abandoned in the unconscious attempt of “churchianity”
to catch up to the Age of Aquarius). I hasten to add that this
expression and intent can only be apparent when the mind is freed
from the narrowness of orthodox dogma and blind belief, so that the
traditional ritual is released from these shackles (and domination
by the dogmatic members on the inner plane who still hold to the
narrow beliefs) and able to soar and express the high vibratory
levels of Gnostic/Hermetic understanding (in this, I am in
concurrence with Zain’s ideas expressed in Course XVIII). However, I
venture much further than Zain, in that I believe these Ceremonial
Rites must be rediscovered and experienced as the Soul-Initiation
Mystery Dramas they were designed to be, rather than as an
expression of the decaying dogmas of “western priestcraft” holding
blind believers in bondage to maintaining their clergy’s “special
privilege.
“From this Soul-Initiation standpoint, Jesus of Nazareth is
transformed from the vicariously atoning “Savior of the World” into
the Hero of the Initiatic Alchemical Mystery Drama — the example of
the high dominant vibratory rate toward which all on the Path of
Unfoldment are striving. In
other words, the Christ (Divine) Consciousness, expressed through
the Nazarene is representative of the potential for us all. Jesus
becomes the representation of each of us in our personal alchemical
journey.
“The Angels, and the Archangels in particular, become quite
significant as
well. They represent the various aspects of transmutation necessary
in our personal consciousness for this process of personal
alchemicalization. The Archangels of the Four Seasonal Quadrants
play the major roles: Michael, the Archangel of Fire and Ruler of
the Autumn Quarter, who offers us the Sword of Truth (a bit of “C.C.
Zain” i.e. “A Sword of Light”); Raphael, the Archangel of Air and
Ruler of the Winter Quarter, who offers us the power of healing;
Gabriel, the Archangel of Water and Ruler of the Spring Quarter
(Easter, Resurrection), who offers us the means of
discovering our own strength to fulfill our life’s mission (cosmic
work); and
Uriel, the Archangel of Earth, Ruler of the Summer Quarter, who
guides us to the full appreciation of the love and beauty of
Creation (expressed in the Ritual Mystery Drama in symbolic form, as
well as in Nature Herself).
“The Gnostic “Christian” understanding (as opposed to the orthodoxy
established for political purposes by the Roman Emperor Constantine,
and destined to become the prevailing form) always maintained total
agreement with Hermetic ideas and understood the Nazarene as the
symbol of the Master Initiator/Hierophant/Teacher, contact with whom
can only be established on the inner planes through elevation of the
personal vibratory rate. Jesus himself said, “It is the Father
within me, not I, who doeth the works.” And — “The works I do, you
will do also, and greater works than these will you do.” Properly
understood, these statements, cloaked in Piscean Age poetry and
symbology, are speaking
across oceans of time to the entire human race as it enters the
Aquarian Age. The early Gnostics always understood the Nazarene’s
message to be one of personal initiation into higher consciousness,
and their suppressed scriptures (lost for 1700 years and
rediscovered in Nag Hammadi, Egypt in the 1940s) substantiate this
to an extraordinary degree. “Therefore, the Eucharist (from the
Greek: “thanksgiving”) is celebrated here in the High Ceremonial
style: in colored vestments (derived from planetary vibrations),
with processions, chants, incense, candles, icons (which are really
a form of Tarot Arcana), bells, genuflections, elevations,
consecrated bread and wine, etc., but free of dogma and within the
context of the Gnostic, Hermetic awareness and understanding. Each
Service concludes with the invocation of the Archangels for healing
and upliftment of consciousness. Participants are taught that they
are enacting their own personal alchemical drama, offering their
personal subconsciousness a vivid symbolic “treatment”
of great and profound impact and pronounced benefit in their
personal unfoldment and successful demonstration of greater
happiness, usefulness and spirituality.
“All of this is perhaps more “Golden Dawn” in approach and tone,
than
strictly BofL, but certainly free of the sojourns into the “grey
areas”
which were so attractive to certain members of that peculiar
organization.
“Finally, in addition to all of this activity, I maintain a
world-wide counseling/consulting service, helping clients with
Hermetic Horoscope Readings and related tools. Much of my Horoscope
Reading is done on audio cassette tapes and mailed out to clients in
many places. I also do quite a bit of telephone counseling. (Here
the specialty often is business, financial, career,
prosperity-related.)”
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not
charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal....And
now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of
these is charity.” King James Bible, 1 Corinthians 13.
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