View source for Adept

{{Short description|One who has attained skill, knowledge or aptitude}}
{{about|adepts in occult organizations}}
[[File:The_Immortal_Soul_of_the_Taoist_Adept.PNG | thumb | right | The Immortal Soul of the Taoist Adept]]
An '''adept''' is an individual identified as having attained a specific level of knowledge, skill, or aptitude in doctrines relevant to a particular occult discipline, such as [[alchemy]] or [[magic (supernatural)|magic]].
According to magical tradition, adepts stand out from others due to their enhanced abilities. All human qualities are developed in them, including intelligence and spirituality. According to [[Theosophist]] [[Charles Leadbeater]], anyone can become an adept through spiritual development and self-improvement,{{sfnp|Leadbeater|2012|p=8}} though others insist that [[Initiation#Religious and spiritual|initiation]] or [[esoteric transmission]] into a [[magical organization]] or tradition is a necessary preliminary.{{sfnmp|1a1=Bailey|1y=1997|1p=215|2a1=Regardie|2y=1984|2loc=Vol. 7, p. 52|3a1=Eshelman|3y=2000}}
==Etymology==
The word "adept" is derived from [[Latin]] ''adeptus'' 'one who has attained' (the secret of transmuting metals).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/adept?s=t |title=Adept - Define Adept at Dictionary.com |work=Dictionary.com |access-date=21 September 2014}}</ref> [[A. E. Waite]] recounts the use of the term in [[alchemy]] in his 1926 book, ''The Secret Tradition of Alchemy''.{{sfnp|Waite|1926}}
==Theosophy==
{{main|Theosophy}}
===H. P. Blavatsky===
[[Madame Blavatsky]] makes liberal use of the term ''adept'' in her works{{sfnp|Leadbeater|1978|p=12}} to refer to their additional function as caretaker of ancient occult knowledge. She also mentions their great compassionate desire to help humanity and also documents other powers of the adept such as being able to take active control of elemental spirits as well as the physical and [[Astral Projection|astral]] conditions of non-adepts.{{sfnp|Blavatsky|1998|loc=Vol II, pp. 588–590}}
===Alice Bailey===
In [[Alice Bailey]]'s body of writing she outlines a hierarchy of spiritual evolution and an initiatory path along which an individual may choose to advance. In her works an Adept is defined as a being who has taken five of the seven [[initiation]]s.{{sfnp|Bailey|1997|p=215}}
==Western esotericism==
{{further|Mystery cult|Rosicrucianism}}
Those who practice [[Western esotericism|esoteric]] arts such as [[theurgy]] and [[Practical Kabbalah|Kabbalah]] are familiar with the word 'adept.' In the traditions of [[esoteric Christianity]] and [[ceremonial magic]], an adept is one who is skilled or profound, but not a master in these arts.{{sfnp|Leitch|2005|p={{pn|date=January 2024}}}}{{sfnp|Von Worms|1975|p={{pn|date=January 2024}}}} Various [[magical organization]]s have steps in which an initiate may ascend in their own system. Some call these steps degrees or grades.
===Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn===
In the initiatory system of the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]], an adept is one who has taken the oath of the 5–6 grade and has been granted the title Adeptus Minor.{{sfnp|Regardie|1984|loc=Vol. 7, p. 52}} Symbolically this degree represents a spiritual aspirant who, having mastered the union of the [[Classical element|four elements]] under an upright and balanced spirit,<ref>{{harvp|Regardie|1984|loc=Vol. 7, p. 25}}. The symbol representing spirit over the [[Classical element|four elements]] in the Golden Dawn tradition is the upright [[pentagram]].</ref> is allowed passage from the ''Portal of the Vault of the Adepti'' into the tomb of [[Christian Rosenkreutz]] in the center of the Rosicrucian Mountain of Initiation, Abiegnus, at the center of the universe.{{sfnp|Regardie|1984|loc=Vol. 7, p. 56}} The grade of Adeptus Minor and subsequent grades, Adeptus Major, and Adeptus Exemptus form the Second Order of the Golden Dawn, also called the Rosæ Rubeæ et Aureæ Crucis (The Ruby Rose and Golden Cross). These grades correspond to the [[Kabbalah|kabbalistic]] [[sephirah]] of [[Tiphereth]], [[Geburah]], and [[Chesed]] respectively.{{sfnp|Eshelman|2000|p=21}}
The oath of the Adeptus Minor includes a provision to "unite myself with my higher and Divine Genius",{{sfnp|Regardie|1984|loc=Vol. 7, p. 42}} a process which is sometimes equated with "[[Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel]]." To undertake this process the Adeptus Minor must reconfirm the work of earlier grades (Zelator through Philosophus) with their newfound knowledge before passing to the Adeptus Major degree, as a full-fledged adept.{{sfnp|Eshelman|2000|p=21}}
===A∴A∴===
[[Aleister Crowley]], who formed the [[A∴A∴]], restructured the Golden Dawn system. This system still holds to three forms of adept.{{sfnp|Eshelman|2000|p=21}}
*Student
*The Order of the Golden Dawn
**Probationer
**Neophyte
**Zelator
**Practicus
**Philosophus
*The Order of the R. C. (Rose Cross)
**Dominus Liminis
**Adeptus Minor
**Adeptus Major
**Adeptus Exemptus
*The Order of the S. S. (Silver Star)
**Babe of the Abyss
**Magister Templi
**Magus
**Ipsissimus
==See also==
* [[Siddha]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
===Works cited===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Bailey |first=Alice A. |author-link=Alice Bailey |title=Initiation Human and Solar |place=New York |publisher=Lucis Publishing Company |year=1997 |orig-year=1922 |isbn=0-85330-110-7}}
* {{cite book |last=Blavatsky |first=H. P. |author-link=Helena Blavatsky |title=Isis Unveiled |publisher=Theosophical University Press |year=1998 |isbn=0-911500-03-0}}
* {{cite book |last=Eshelman |first=James A. |title=The Mystical & Magical System of the A∴A∴ |place=Los Angeles |publisher=College of Thelema |year=2000 |isbn=0-9704496-0-7}}
* {{cite book |last=Leadbeater |first=Charles W. |author-link=Charles Leadbeater |title=The Inner Life |publisher=The Theosophical Publishing House |year=1978 |isbn=0-8356-0502-7}}
* {{Cite book |title=Masters and the Path |last=Leadbeater |first=Charles Webster |publisher=Rough Draft Printing |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-60386-510-4}}
* {{cite book |last=Leitch |first=Aaron |year=2005 |title=Secrets of the Magickal Grimoires: The Classical Texts of Magick Deciphered |publisher=Llewellyn Publications |isbn=978-0-7387-0303-9}}
* {{cite book |author-link=Israel Regardie |last=Regardie |first=Israel |title=The Complete Golden Dawn System of Magic |place=Scottsdale, Arizona |publisher=Falcon Press |year=1984 |isbn=0-941404-12-9}}
* {{cite book |first=Abraham |last=Von Worms |title=The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage |translator=[[S. L. MacGregor Mathers]] |orig-year=1897 |edition=reprint |publisher=Dover Publications |year=1975 |isbn=0-85030-255-2 |oclc=868276719 |url=https://archive.org/details/bookofsacredmagi0000unse |url-access=registration}}
* {{cite book |last=Waite |first=A. E. |author-link=A. E. Waite |year=1926 |title=The Secret Tradition in Alchemy: Its Development and Records |publisher=K. Paul, Trench, Trubner & Company |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IpwLAQAAIAAJ}}
{{refend}}
==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=McCarthy |first=J. |year=2012 |title=Magical Knowledge: Contacts of the Adepts |publisher=[[Mandrake of Oxford]] |isbn=978-1-906958-49-7 |ref=none}}
{{refend}}
[[Category:Ceremonial magic]]
[[Category:Theosophy]]
[[Category:Thelema]]