The Western Gate

The Secret School of Wisdom –
The Authentic Rituals and Doctrines of the Illuminati
Josef Wäges, Reinhard Markner (editors),
and Jeva Singh-Anand (translator)
Lewis Masonic

The Illuminati in question here being that of its correct history, the order formed in 1775 by Adam Weishaupt in ‘Bavaria’, the subject of Lewis Masonics book.
Weishaupt was a professor of law and introduced to Freemasonry by a student, ‘Herr H- Ernst Christoph Heninger‘, whereupon he had the idea to form his own society for the encouragement of ‘new and progressive thought.’ It were humble beginnings with little ambition except to build a body of men for the purpose of building on enlightened thought and (new) ideas.

It should be remembered by us of the modern age where anything and everything can be analysed and researched at a few keyboard taps that in the age of enlightenment such debate and questioning itself was frowned upon, and thus discreet circles, clubs, societies and orders were for those broad shouldered and high brow minded enough a necessity. To have a circle of people who, in history, would entertain ideas such as the earth revolving around the sun, man evolving from apes, that the world itself was a sphere, were all considered points of heresy, treason in fact, and those promoting such dialogue did so under penalty no less of death, or at least to becoming a social pariah.
It were enlightened people who wished to study and propagate these ideas who would form select and elite societies, the admission and initiations of those orders of course promising it’s own penalties and the more ardent the ceremony and the more complex the secret handshakes, passwords and signs the better one would know if they were in select company in order to discus all sorts of subjects without fear of being handed over to the authorities, or enemies. In essence this is the formation of all societies whether they were formed to keep knowledge within a select few, i.e. the objective skill of freemasonry, to art schools, science and offshoots of every religious path, or to in the case of The Illuminati’s beginnings to debate and perhaps promote new ideas contrary to the current level of understanding, the upshot being the necessity to keep the secrets, a ‘closed’ order.
The conspiracy and paranoia regarding any society is instilled by those in power, and thus to those on the outside, who wish to eradicate any form of digression and deviance from their design. The “Illuminati” was surely in the firing line from the day it ventured forth and began to herald the works of philosophers and poets from all walks of life, from all faiths regardless, even Freemasons adhered to acceptability somewhat – their rites being formed from emulation of the stories of the building of the sacred temples of the Israelites, both in the time of Solomon and post captivity under Zerubabel. For the Illuminati, however, ideas were mused….new ideas! This wasn’t good for any conservative and static authority. Books from the leading lights of philosophy recommended was just pushing things too far, not in as much as an exclusive book reading club which would be fine, books are there to be read after all but what differs with the Illuminati is the practical application, where ideas could be fashioned, moulded and worked upon. Yes, worked upon, instilled into the mindset of society, thus far from being speculative and benefitting themselves in their sacred space, the illuminati were operative whose change was for the world.
The Illuminati sought to redress the need for financial standing as a barrier to inclusion into the lodge. Far better the man of knowledge than he that covets gold. This, whether intentionally or otherwise again, at odds with freemasonry where men of good standing and of influence were accepted into the brotherhood, it is doubtful in practice if men of little or no means were ever accepted into its corridors however, and the verbose surrounding this “anyone can join” is pretty much fanciful as opposed to actual.
Weishpuht also insisted, and this a much more workable practice, that every member secretly voice their opinions in a sealed worded envelope every month as to their current views and treatment within the order, this to offset any disharmony, the last thing a society that seeks to promote new world view needs is old age ego and narcissism to affect its order.
On paper, to us in this ‘free’er’ world all seems well though we still have little understanding of the fear and risk that anyone were taking back then in any form of opposition to the status quo. It wouldn’t be long before such membership was banned, that whisperings were gathering favour to encourage those in the know to shop anyone being involved in the ‘dark murky society’ being blamed for everything from the first embers of The French Revolution to manipulation of the Vatican and every Royal household it could, apparently, spread its tentacles to, whether it did or not.
It will always be the case that division begins within, internal suspicions, undermining, finger poking and then inevitably the dismantling of the whole order itself. The Bavarian Illuminati lasted but 8-10 years dissolving soon after being outlawed by the then, Bavarian government.

The rituals and the ideas, the lessons and the laws conferred upon the Bavarian illuminated are all revealed within this book. Its doctrine revealed through each progression.
At the outset one is taught to be humble and subservient to the laws and rule of their country. However the higher grade of Minerval Illuminati is only achievable if one has passed all three Masonic grades- apprentice, fellow craft and master, and if not there had to be good reasons why they would be allowed to progress. In this scenario it is not strictly true to say that all members of the Illuminati were Freemasons as it is not the case the Illuminati were an offshoot of freemasonry veiled in an almost black budget scenario. The Illuminati were a separate concern to Freemasonry although this requirement to pass the higher grades shows the parallel and merging lives of its members.
In this advancing grade we see the intent that each member is instructed to do their upmost to influence society, at the same time instilling on them the need to understand and appreciate the structure of subordination, and the need for masters. Clearly, in order to affect change one would have to be the master or at least counsel and advisor to them. The illuminati is then to, ” execute everything that is good without resistance, to eliminate flaws, remove obstacles, to pull evil out by the root“. Immediately the wording itself at surely even the second glance would raise an eyebrow, especially by inquisitors seeking to defame the illuminati;- “To execute all that is good?”… is this meaning to establish or to destroy? Secondly, of course what is good? its subjective, is good to proffer the division of wealth first to those that would rule? and then trickle down tokens of gratitude to the subordinates, or is ‘to be good’ the division of wealth across all classes. This then would be a question of capitalism versus common-ism, and what is good is entirely dependent on your viewpoint. What is flawed? who are we to say? But if previously we had been told to be humble and practice the laws of the land, but the king was a despot maniac, clearly mad, and therefore flawed…. How do we as Illuminati’s act?
In the long past it were the warriors who would rule, by their bravery, skill and strength protecting the herd and tribe. As we progressed to farmers, so it would be those with the skill of nature who were able to see the seasons and cast crops by tides of the moon, that celestial lunar clock. Then came the cunning, who instead of having each tend to their field of crops, combined them all and became the lord over the field, to distribute the goods and wealth accordingly, as they see fit. Each person allocated their position and society born with an overseer, now fitted with a crown for good measure. What is flawed? What is the alternative?
The Illuminati, include this statement in one of their edicts,One can do anything with men if one can use their prevailing inclinations to one’s advantage.
The subtle art of manipulation and its inference is expanded throughout, that one should piecemeal ask questions of a persons thoughts on things, to gradually instill in them the art of questioning. It may well be that the Illuminated has the answers but by subtle craft of subliminal suggestion, by reverse psychology and the dropping of rice in the maze the subject of the illuminated comes up with a great plan or idea, and is congratulated by the illuminated, “however did they come to reach that conclusion?” The Machiavellian illuminated feigns, indeed as a further edict states men can be changed into anything.
Within this Minervalis Illuminatis degree the brethren are shown the role of instructor, wisdom enabler and perhaps more tellingly architect of fate, but what is fascinating and equally clever is there is no direct instruction to be an influencer in broader society. Instead each edict is given as a more general theme, as an understanding of how nature and society works, but always with the inference that society is ripe for being moulded into ones design albeit using the higher grades influence on the lower grades, subordinates, as models for a wider concern.

The split with freemasonry is further revealed and strengthened by the inclusion of the three grades of freemasonry, introduced to offset the “vile and corrupt” brothers who have tarnished the name of freemasonry. That freemasonry is seen as self-serving and elitist infers the Illuminati to be subservient to society and the common man, but to rebuild society one has to follow its own master plan, in which case far from being servants to the higher cause, it paves the path of the higher cause.
Freemasonry long since had ditched its original operative masons/architects/builders in favour of the higher classes, fashionistas and men of influence. The Illuminati it will be remembered was instilled to include not architects and builders, but intellects, artists, philosophers from the off. Symbolically where Freemasons were the builders, the Illuminati would be the over-seers in charge of telling the architect what to build.
In the Lesser Mysteries Class of the Illuminati we see the structure of its design, Physics,Medical,Mathematical,Natural history,Political , ‘Artists and Craftsmen’ and ‘secret sciences and special knowledge’.It were an agenda of renaissance that each man would study knowledge born and raised into these ‘sciences’. These contrary and in competition with the Freemasons requirement of study of the seven archaic ‘liberal sciences’ (grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy.)
It would be easy to outline the rituals and charges met with each additional class, but that’s what the book does, and obviously will do it better than a compact edited form I could offer, but to reiterate that the Illuminati’s concerns were much broader and its influence far loftier than the freemasons and more dangerously, contrary to the established order, take this charge from the initiation of ‘Lesser Regent Degree’ ;-
“he wishes to be free of his bonds”
“They do not wish to free him. they benefit from his enslavement”
“Who has put him in servitude?”
“Society, the state, scholarship and false religion.”
“he wishes.. to be free…to become a renegade and a rebel?”
“Nay! he wishes only to fight hand hand hand with us against the misuse of state constitutions, the corruption of morales and the desecration of religion..”
It were ceremonies such as this that ultimately condemned the Illuminati, members were becoming more prominent in society and jealousy, envy, fear and wrath came into play as the illuminati and other secret societys were banned.

A fascinating and well put together book my only complaint being I wish it were available as a hardcover, even better a fine bound edition as it certainly is worthy of being a classic and essential work in any esoteric library.

It should always be remembered, for every one society alike the Illuminati there are in fact others far more influential and usually directly in the gaze of the public, be it broad based media, news agencies who determine what to say about who and when, advertisement agencies who engineer what is acceptable and fashionable, algorithms designed to influence every person’s habit, subtle society programmes whether it be under the cloak of what is woke, or correct, or progressive or liberal etc, countless consultants whose job it is to make the workforce more efficient and compliant, all these things are not necessarily engineered by a secret society or government, covert or otherwise but a recipe born from zeitgeist, public momentum and evolution, a product of the cultures apathy and the eagerness of those who wish to get rich. That the Illuminati sought to bring about change in “corrupt religious and political leaders” is akin to any protester waving a banner or having a quiet word in the ear of a councillor in local government. Everyone is, and certainly can be an influencer and the modern age is awash with this idea, and no-one body has the monopoly on it. We are all, each, the Illuminati.