We pass through many portals of initiation in our lifetimes including birth, childhood, adolescence, middle age and death. The spiritual portals are as natural to our growth as these, but are precipitated by the demands of our Soul's evolutionary progress, rather than typical   life development. 

Initiation is a much abused term in esoteric circles, being to some the equivalent of joining an exclusive club and to others an opportunity for "dress ups".  It simply refers to the expansions of consciousness that may come to us upon the path and they are often preceded by struggle and resistance to that which must follow, i.e. greater awareness and increased responsibility to the planet and the Divinity. 

       

"It is all one path, but the Path of Initiation has to be trodden consciously by the thinker functioning through the central organ in the head, and from there intelligently traversing the Path which leads through the three worlds to the realm or kingdom of the Soul. It might be stated here that the awakening of the heart centre leads a man to consciousness of
the source of the heart centre within the head. This in turn leads a man to the twelve-petalled lotus, the egoic centre on the higher levels of the mental plane. The path from the heart centre to the head, when followed, is the reflection in the body of the building of the antaskarana on the mental plane. “As above, so below.""   

Excerpt from The Light of the Soul,
by Alice A. Bailey. Page 295.

As we tread the path of spiritual evolution there comes a time when we approach the Portal of Initiation, a doorway beyond which lies greater vision of the divine Plan, an enhanced sphere of influence and a clearer service orientation.  In approaching the Portal there is a need for both humility and courage, humility to recognise when a power greater than us is beckoning, and courage, because all that is regressive in our nature must be faced. That regression mainly expresses itself as fear. The polarities in our nature are often exposed at the time of initiation because the expansion of consciousness can only occur when the mind and its opposites are transcended.

If initiations have been experienced in previous lives, the Soul will experience "potted" versions of each in the current life, until it reaches the previous point of development. Hence Jesus experienced the Birth, Baptism and Transfiguration initiations in relatively rapid succession in the first 30 years of His life.

The following outline of the 5 major initiations for our Humanity are intended as a guideline. As D.K. is at pains to point out, it is the Soul which takes the initiation. The personality life when it goes with the process, simply experiences the effect in terms of an increased understanding, capacity to love, serve and channel the manifesting will of the Planetary Logos. 

When time permits we will offer some examples of people's experiences to illustrate the following stages.

Ist Initiation  - Birth  -  Aspirant

The first initiation occurs when as a personality, one first recognises one's relationship to the Soul or higher Self, that sublime and eternal being, who makes itself known in some beneficent way, usually during a period of struggle or danger in the life of the personality. Having experienced this light or love, the personality may decide to forget about it as soon as possible, because it threatens its status quo.

Perhaps the term "Born Again", describes something of the process. The person gradually starts to consider themselves as a Soul encased in a physical body with a mind as its instrument.  They recognise the need to curb their physical appetites. The movement is from a focus on sex, drugs and rock and roll, to creative expression of a higher order. There is a shift of consciousness from the physical to the emotional plane. Aspiration and desire remain strong and inner focus shifts from the Sacral to the Throat chakra. The person feels the urge to express their personality life.

2nd Initiation   -  Baptism  -  Disciple

This growth brings an awareness of the troublesome nature of desire, the emotions and the lower will. The aspirant sees the way desire stimulates negative emotions and destabilises the mind. The centre of gravity moves from the Solar Plexus centre, seat of the lower mind and will, to the Heart, bringing an awareness of the needs of others. The attention also moves to the intellectual life and the battle between reason and emotion. The movement is from mere self-interest to taking into account the larger group.

3rd Initiation    -   Transfiguration   -   Genius

Most teachers regard this as the first major initiation and it is at this point that the Soul comes forward and infuses the personality with its qualities of love and light. We learn mental control and use techniques to impact our own and others lives. The Brow becomes for a time the centre of awareness. The personality comes under the control of the higher mind and there is a gradual access to the subtle worlds of the higher mental plane through the awakening third eye. A sense of one's Soul path becomes clearer and a service orientation emerges, as do various seership abilities.

This stage represents the emergence of an integrated personality, one that can impact on its environment. Whatever field the person is serving within, he or she is able to manifest the qualities of the Soul. Whether we speak of artists, visionaries, educators, politicians or businesss people, they inspire higher thought and deeds through their activities.

4th Initiation   -  Crucifixion/Renunciation  -  Prophet

Detachment from the personality life is the true meaning of renunciation and this is what occurs at the fourth initiation. Fourth degree Initiates relinquish their personality attachments and are driven by their exposure to the Plan to share their wisdom through teaching and healing activities within society.

They often have power over the forces of nature and are channels for the planetary and solar energies that seek manifestation to stimulate our planetary evolution. Their activities can appear miraculous, but are simply based on their alignment with the creative point of Spirit, through which all manifestation flows in a sublime outpouring.  The focus is on the heart Centre within the head centre - the 12 petalled lotus), and the plane of intuitive love.

This is the stage when the "Dweller on the Threshold", the personality image of our many incarnations is dispersed through contact with the Angel of the Presence (the Soul). This can be experienced as the death of all one held dear in one's individuality. Thus a major battle can ensue between Dweller and Angel.

5th Initiation   -  Revelation - Master or Adept.

At this final initiation for Humanity the individual life has become infused with the Divine and the centre of focus moves to the plane of spiritual Will. The Monad destroys the Causal body or Grail and the essence of the Soul's wisdom is taken up by it. "I am One with my Father in Heaven."  Here we have the realised Soul or Master, who is completely detached from the 3 lower worlds, but who chooses to remain to serve those still focused on the planes of matter. 

This advance comes about through the raising of energy from the Base to the Crown centre, the channel to the spiritual worlds. Shakti flows up to union with Shiva. These are Masters of life in the true meaning of the phrase. 

There are higher initiations than these, but they relate to the nine expansions through which the Planetary Logos must pass to rise to the 2nd Cosmic Initiation.

It can be helpful to contemplate the attainments and capacities described above but the initiations aren't as neat and tidy or incremental, as the description might suggest. There are minor cycles occurring within each major one and all one can say is that all of the lessons must be learnt, before definitive progress can be made. 

Overview

The first two initiations are conducted by the Christ, who is the head of the Spiritual  Hierarchy, while the latter three are directed by the Planetary Logos, Sanat Kumara. These latter initiations lead to a growing identification with His will and the recognition that we are simply intelligent cells within the body of this vast Being. We also become group (Soul) conscious and function in cooperation with Hierarchy in manifesting the Father's Will, known in esoteric circles as the Plan.

Invitation

Humans do not initiate others, though they may act as vehicles through which initiatory energies and forces are channelled. The main role for human teachers is to prepare people through training in meditation, service and self-knowledge. If you are interested in such training you may contact John at the Foundation