Layers of a Godform

One of the ideas that has influenced the material of the BIOGD/BIORC is the idea that the Godforms are constructed from many layers. The Godform of Isis is not the goddess Isis (Ancient Egyptian version or otherwise), rather it is a set of correspondences and energies layered upon one another that allows the Adept to tap into the energies of the cosmic pool that Isis is the guardian of without having to be a devotee of the goddess herself. This is why a Christian RR et AC member can tap into the energies of Osiris and Isis and still be a good Christian, and a pagan can invoke Jesus without having to abandon their gods and goddesses. Needless to say, there are some who consider this a debasement of the truth of "fill in the blank" religion, and an attempt to enslave some aspect of the divine in service of a falsehood--those people are not welcome in the Halls of the Initiates.

The member who introduced the idea of Godform layers into the BIORC was a member of a course ran by Samuel Robinson (Frater Maui), and later advanced to the 6=5 level of Pat Zalewski's Inner Order Course--the idea of Godform layers were part of the BIORC by 2008 (perhaps earlier--bad record keeping abounds in the unindexed stacks). The idea was lifted from Robinson's course, and was a scaffold for organizing material from Zaleweski's course--it was also a way to organize the study of the energetics of the Grade rituals of the Golden Dawn system.

This system of Godform layers was published by Samuel Robinson a couple of years ago in his book, Rosicrucian Tradition of the Golden Dawn: Revealing the Alchemy and Theurgy of the RR et AC. The layers as published by Robinson are slightly different than the version introduced originally into the BIORC system, which took the form of a seven layered system--the two versions are essentially the same, just broke down slightly different. BIORC has decided to use the published version in public, and the original seven layer version in private (which is why members of the BIORC refer to "Seven Layers" rather than six and/or ten layers that the published version has, and the number 67810 actually means something to an Adept of the BIORC).

[The following is written from notes jotted down awhile back during a borrowed reading of Rosicrucian Tradition of the GD, and not directly from the book itself, therefore it differs slightly (or maybe a lot) from what Robinson wrote in his book.]

The first layer is the Guph (Malkuth) of the Godform--this is the physical location of the Godform and its seat of operations in ritual. Golden Dawn tradition refers to those Godforms which are centered on and travel with a ritual officer as having a "Visible Stations." Stationary Godforms anchored to a part of the Temple and/or Admission Badge are said to have an "Invisible Station." There are also a set of Godforms that move during ritual without anchorage to an officer; depending upon whether the Godform's path is mappable or not, these Godforms are said to be "Circuited" or "Free-floating."

The second layer is the Nepesch (Yesod) of the Godform--this corresponds to the Enochian Square assigned to the Godform. This layer tends to operate instinctive, below the level of consciousness, which is one of the reasons that the BIORC does not consider the Enochian Tablets to reach above the world of the elements and planets (in other words, the Enochian system is not considered by the BIORC to be the most advanced magical energies contained in the GD system).

The third layer is the Ruach of the Godform--the conscious deity aspect of the Godform, a form of astral body. With Egyptian based Godforms, Hod is associated with the Coptic Name of the god or goddess that the Godform is based on. With the pseudo-Egyptian Godforms, the name is bastardized Coptic. Godforms based on other "pantheons" [sic] are based on the native languages of their respective cultures. The mythology of the god is assigned to Netzach; the parts of the mythology that do not support its Golden Dawn Godform counterpart are generally discarded. Tiphareth, Geburah, and Chesed are assigned the image and coloring of the Godform--every tool, symbol, and color are placed in the built-up image for a reason.

The fourth layer is the Neschamah of the Godform; this layer is assigned to Binah on the Tree of Life. This layer is associated with the Vault of the Adepts; in particular, each Godform is associated with a corresponding square from one of the walls of the Vault of the Adepti.

The fifth layer is the Chiah of the Godform, its Chokmah. This layer consists of the astrological, archetypal forces behind the Godform, as well as the associated Tarot card as described in the Golden Dawn documents.

The sixth layer is the Yechidah of the Godform, its Kether. According to the published work of Robinson, this layer is the Divine Name from the Hebrew Kabbalah that rules the preceding layer. This is the layer that most upsets the most vocal critics of this method of Godform creation and analysis, for they view it as an attempt to enslave a portion of a true divine entity to a falsehood--of course, by their standards, all members of the GD are heretics, even the most devout.