[quote author=divine science]
We teach and practice theurgy, which is the operational heart of the otherwise philosophical system called hermeticism.
[/quote]
Hermes Trismegistus from whom the hermetic system is said to have originated, has been discussed by the C's.
[quote author=C's transcripts 941016]
Q: (L) Who was Hermes Trismegistus?
A: Traitor to court of Pharaoh Rana.
Q: (L) Who is Pharaoh Rana?
A: Egyptian leader of spiritual covenant.
Q: (L) In what way was Hermes a traitor?
A: Broke covenant of spiritual unity of all peoples in area now known as Middle East.
Q: (L) Who did Hermes betray?
A: Himself;
was power hungry.
[/quote]
The philosophical side of hermeticism as outlined by a book called Kybalion has been discussed in this
thread .
[quote author=divine science]
Perhaps the most distinguishing factor of our specific lineage of the theurgic tradition is our great emphasis on practice. This system is highly practical in nature, and every student must be thoroughly devoted to the practices.
[/quote]
There is not much detail on practices in the website except for a reference to Franz Bardon's "Inititation into Hermetics".
[quote author=divine science]
Only two practices were chosen from Initiation into Hermetics by Ramose and Veos for integration into the school: the creation of the soul mirrors, and the accumulation of the vital force. Both of these are universal practices, found in all spiritual traditions, and Bardon’s frame for their practice was chosen for its simplicity.
[/quote]
The "soul mirror" creation practice according to Bardon consists of recapitulating one's life events and cataloging every positive and negative character trait. Once catalogued, each trait - positive and negative - is ascribed to one of the four elements (fire water earth air). A few of Bardon's examples: negative traits are anger (fire) , gossip (air), melancholy (earth), shyness (water) ; positive traits are courage (fire), optimism (air), compassion (water) endurance (earth). Thus two mirrors are created: a black one with evil qualities and white one with noble qualities. This activity is to be kept private and according to Bardon, "none but the owner has any right to look into them at all".
This is simplistic black and white view of human character traits without any sense of context. Based on what we have learnt from cognitive science, it is also likely to be pretty inaccurate as mirrors without feedback from others.
Regarding the source of their school, the website is quite secretive. It traces its lineage to antiquity. In the faq section, in answering connections to Golden Dawn, they state
[quote author=divine science]
The number of valid Golden Dawn groups today is likely few, but to those that are sanctioned or were begun with permission, and can draw a direct initiatic line back to Samuel MacGregor Mathers, we have nothing but the greatest regard. It is a beautiful and intelligent system, and being based on a number of ancient theurgic principles, even shares some commonalities with our own system.
[/quote]
Mathers is described as being part of Masonic and Rosicrucian orders. He is described as being eccentric and secretive - in "true Rosicrucian style" (C's said something like Rosicrucian move like thieves in the night). He was also at one time friend and teacher and later enemy of Aleister Crowley.
Back to divine science: their definition of magic
[quote author=divine science]
Magic is the understanding of natural and divine laws, and their conjoined realization and application towards the accomplishment of enlightenment.
.........................
Magic is “divine” because a great deal of its knowledge is usually preterhuman in origin, and because it deals essentially with spiritual laws that supersede the physical world. So, in one sense, it is divine because it is not inherently physical. In another sense, magic is divine because its highest fruits are only achievable by those who have sublimated their character into a noble and righteous status, and because it’s ultimate aim is the realization of God within the self.
To conform to our scriptures, therefore, magic is holy because its aim is The Good, in so far as something is defined as holy in accordance to its reference to The Good. This holiness, this divinity, is the key aspect of magic which separates it from sorcery. For, as we are told by no less an authority than Plato, wisdom is divine. Following this, by such an authority as Paracelsus, whom all will agree to have been an excellent and singularly accomplished magician, we are taught that “magic is wisdom, but there is no wisdom in sorcery.” Assuming them both to be correct, and in tune with the one art of magic which unites them across the centuries, we will then observe that magic is wisdom, and wisdom is divine.
[/quote]
This line of (self-referential) reasoning about the holiness of magic leads them to conclude
that
[quote author=divine science]
Properly understood, if we make “magic” to be the understanding of the universe and its forces, then Theurgy is the application of that understanding to divine and noble ends.
[/quote]
and so
[quote author=divine science]
Theurgy is always beneficent in nature. Be it the spiritual evolution of the individual, the exaltation of the soul or Godhead, the transmutation of the gross into the fine, or the protection of the quality of life throughout the human race, the work and aim of Theurgy is firstly beneficial to the magician, through whom others may come to be benefited.
[/quote]
To sum up,
My general take on all magickal schools -white or black - is that the line of force is gaining power over elements and forces. White magicians claim to use such powers for benevolent purposes - whether there is credible data to support such a claim is questionable. In a STS world, there is a default magnetic attraction towards power - whether it is consciously acknowledged or not. So imo, success in magickal paths may make a person a more potent servant to the 4D STS overlords - or otherwise, they would be "sheep dreaming that they are magicians".
fwiw
The way they speak is a very good sign of their authoritarian leanings, for but one example:
Only awesome!
