“Yes, there are two paths you can go by
But in the long run
There’s still time to change the road you’re on.”

“And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul.
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How everything still turns to gold.
And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last.
When all are one and one is all …”

”And she’s buying a stairway to heaven.” ~ Led Zeppelin

How can we ordinary folk earn the right to mount the stairs to the Temple of Temples? All religions and folkways and mores of societies give us deceptively simple guidelines of behaviour. It is easy to talk the talk, but the application of these principles and rules in our moment for moment living is another story altogether

Is it as simple as deciding to live consciously and in respect of everything upon our planet and to assist others and ourselves with our inner and spiritual advancement? Is this equivalent to the sacrifice of the self-unto-the-self? Is this self-emulation? And is it too far fetched a thing to expect of ourselves? To exist in a higher state of consciousness is to earn the right to tread the Path of the Adepts. How can we be certain that we are headed in the right direction?
One of the world’s foremost Occultists, H.P. Blavatsky, wrote the following beautiful words in 1890:
“Behold the truth before you: A clean life, an open mind, a pure heart, an eager intellect, an unveiled spiritual perception, a brotherliness for one's co-disciple, a readiness to give and receive advice and instruction, a loyal sense of duty to the Teacher, a willing obedience to the behests of TRUTH, once we have placed our confidence in, and believe that Teacher to be in possession of it; a courageous endurance of personal injustice, a brave declaration of principles, a valiant defense of those who are unjustly attacked, and a constant eye to the ideal of human progression and perfection which the Secret Science depicts -- these are the Golden Stairs up the steps of which the learner may climb to the Temple of Divine Wisdom.” -- Collected Writings 12:591
What did she mean by a clean life? Our inner ideals and the way we live our life must be harmony one with the other. Purity of body will lead to purity of mind and purity of life. Your mind, your heart and your essence will be pure. Strict honesty and truthfulness, temperance, morality, ethics, kindness, goodness, and compassion will go a long way to refine our essence.

And an open mind? This means that we have to be open and accepting of what is on others people’s minds. We have to be accommodating of their perspectives, whilst still remaining true to our own principles and without veering off the Path. Do not be rigid, but change your views and your opinions as you learn and progress. Do not be so rigid that you cannot evolve and ascend those stairs.

What would be a pure heart? This entails sincere and honest concern for others. It is compassion untinged by ego, likes and dislikes.

An eager intellect? Test every truth that you are taught and then feel the reality of the truth within you. These will instill devotion in you heart for your Path, for your Teacher and for your Gods. Knowledge will come through study and contemplation and these in turn, will infuse in you the essence of the Wisdom of the Ages.
What might an unveiled spiritual perception be? The great Stoic Philosopher and Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius wrote:
“In the universe, reverence that which is highest: namely, that to which all else ministers, and which gives the law to all. In like manner, too, reverence the highest in yourself: it is of one piece with the Other, since in yourself also it is that to which all the rest minister, and by which your life is directed.”
In the spiritual journey we rediscover this godlike part of ourselves; an unveiled spiritual perception is necessary in order to see our Inner Divinity at work in us and the very same potential in all and everyone.
What is “the brotherliness with your co-disciples?” On our Path we find how often we agree on the ideals but argue on how to get there. As in a family, those closest to us, end up bearing the brunt of our idiosyncrasies. Can’t we see everybody’s truth as another facet of the diamond of life? The solar diamond of Truth.
“A readiness to give and receive instructions”: Are we prepared to pay our dues and to put in our effort to contribute towards our own spiritual advancement, as well as that of others? We need to realize that there are those of us who know a little more than the next person, and those of us who know a little less than the others. We should be committed to listening to everybody’s teachings for only in this way will our inner teacher come to the fore. Only in this way will we develop discernment.

What is “loyal sense of duty to the teacher, a willing obedience to the behests of Truth, once we have placed our confidence in and believe that teacher to be in possession of it”?
We all go through phases of knowing and not knowing and those of us on this Path are aware that oft our perception of the Truth is dependant on our life experiences, social extraction, etc. Our mentors are important for our spiritual evolution and our relationship with our teacher is a sacred bond. The teacher is you spiritual mother/father and hones in us those qualities which will lead us to spiritual maturation and the gradual acquisition of Eternal Wisdom. It is important therefore to choose the right teachers for he/she will point the way to the Golden Staircase that leads to our Inner Sanctum.

And what could “a courageous endurance of personal injustice, a brave declaration of principles, a valiant defense of those unjustly attacked” be?
We are a race of warrior-priests, irrespective of our colour, gender or background. Are we ready to face the battles and pay our dues and contribute as best we can when it is our turn to contribute towards the equality of all, to the gradual liberation of others, to the prying open the doors of perception of the ignorant and harmful? Haven’t the Gods perhaps put us here to guide them or to set things right? Part of a Warrior’s qualities of courageous endurance include discipline, self-control, bravery and valour. Are we ready to employ these in the furthering of Spiritual Morality as a whole?

And what is “a constant eye to the ideal of human progression”? It is natural for those of us busy with the spiritual ascension of this gilded staircase, to experience despair when confronted with the behaviour of other fellow Pagans, those whom we so laboriously taught and abandon the Path, as well as that of other human beings in general. The Initiate should not despair but be more resolute in leading the way, and assisting those who have strayed to find the Path again. Allow the forces of love, compassion and understanding to lead the way. One can either be dedicated to the Path of Compassion or the Path of Selfish Spiritual Evolution. Keep your eyes on the goal. It is well worth striving for.

Introspection is what we need to employ in the sincere answering of these questions. How much effort are we prepared to put towards mounting the stairs to this Temple? And what are our motives? What is it that spurs us upward towards the Good? What will happen when we humbly knock on those Temple doors? And what will we be able to learn once we are within its walls?

In all your dealings be Godlike fellow Pagans and fellow Warriors.

BB !
Morgause

Inspired by the writings of H.P. Blavatsky,
Andrew Rooke’s article (the Golden Stairs to the Temple of Wisdom) in Sunrise magazine, April/May 2005
Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven