I've never been much of a joiner, so I suppose that's reflected in my question posed as the thread title.

I tend to see such orders as yet another reflection of the human tendency to insist that people jump through the established hoop to get the piece of meat, at which point, the successful jumper is handed a medal identifying hir as having done so. In a magickal order, that "medal" of course is likely to consist of the right to append certain symbols after one's name or to wear certain identifiers of the achievement.

While I can see merit in those of like mind working in conjunction to accomplish worthy spiritual tasks or services to humankind, I have mixed feelings about the significance of such designations as, "Magister Illuminatus Superior" or "Grade 8=4  vs. Grade 0=0," except possibly to those jumping through the same series of hoops. Not that anyone else likely cares...

Comments, anyone?

[QUOTE=DotNotInOz;235684]I've never been much of a joiner, so I suppose that's reflected in my question posed as the thread title.

I tend to see such orders as yet another reflection of the human tendency to insist that people jump through the established hoop to get the piece of meat, at which point, the successful jumper is handed a medal identifying hir as having done so. In a magickal order, that "medal" of course is likely to consist of the right to append certain symbols after one's name or to wear certain identifiers of the achievement.

While I can see merit in those of like mind working in conjunction to accomplish worthy spiritual tasks or services to humankind, I have mixed feelings about the significance of such designations as, "Magister Illuminatus Superior" or "Grade 8=4  vs. Grade 0=0," except possibly to those jumping through the same series of hoops. Not that anyone else likely cares...

Comments, anyone?[/QUOTE]


Hi DotNotInOz,

I agree with you, like designations such as Your Highness and Your Majesty, there are lots, Father Superior, Mother Superior, Your Excellency, Your Holiness.  There was a designation for a position in the United States, but I can't remember what it was now.

The value in joining a magical society is not really about the ranks you achieve.  The titles are meaningless (if ostentatious) to people outside the order, because they can't understand their significance.  To people below you in the society, your title holds little significance because they don't understand the rituals/initiations/etc. that you had to undergo to reach that rank.  It is only to those above you in the order -- who understand where you are in your development -- that the rank has  meaning.

So what is the purpose of the magical society?  It leads you through a process of advancement.  Not only do your skills evolve, but more importantly, your understanding evolves as you progress.  This is not to say that you cannot learn or achieve anything without joing an order, merely that you have little means of comprehending the relevance of what you learn, or of putting it all together. 

Take school for example.  You might learn Newtonian physics and use it successfully to answer most questions.  But then you come across a situation where those rules break down and no longer seem to apply.  You need a different way to understand things, such as relativity or quantum mechanics. 

Similarly in magick, sometimes your understanding fails. The magical society brings you to those breaking points, and shows you  new perspectives that transcend what you already know.