IntroductionNeophyte 0=0 Zelator 1=10 Theoricus 2=9 Practicus 3=8 Philosophus 4=7 econd !

rder" Inter#ediatePortal $rade %deptus &inorus '=( %deptus &a)orus (=' %deptus *+e#ptus 7=4 Third !rder" &a,ister Te#pli 8=3 &a,us 9=2 Ipsissi#us 10=1

The paired nu#-ers attached to the $rades relate to positions on the Tree o. /i.e0 The Neophyte $rade o. 10=01 indicates no position on the Tree0 2or the others3 the .irst nu#eral is the nu#-er o. steps up .ro# the -otto# 4&al5uth63 and the second nu#eral is the nu#-er o. steps do7n .ro# the top 48ether60 The 2irst !rder $rades 7ere related to the .our 9lassical *le#ents o. *arth3 %ir3 :ater and 2ire3 respecti;ely0 The %spirant to a $rade recei;ed instruction on the #etaphysical #eanin, o. each o. these *le#ents3 and had to pass a 7ritten e+a#ination and de#onstrate certain s5ills to recei;e %d#ission to that $rade0 The Portal $rade 7as the initiation ritual .or ad#ittance to the econd !rder0 The 9ircle o. e+istin, %depts .ro# the econd !rder had to consent to allo7 an %spirant to )oin the econd !rder0 The econd !rder 7as not3 properly3 part o. the 1$olden <a7n13 -ut a separate !rder in its o7n ri,ht3 5no7n as the =0=0 et %090 The econd !rder directed the teachin,s o. the 2irst !rder3 and 7as the ,o;ernin, .orce -ehind the 2irst !rder0 %.ter passin, the Portal3 the %spirant 7as instructed in the techni>ues o. practical &a,ic0 :hen another e+a#ination 7as passed3 and the other %depts consented3 the %spirant attained the $rade o. %deptus &inor 4'=(60 There 7ere also .our su-? $rades o. instruction .or the %deptus &inor3 a,ain relatin, to the .our !uter !rder ,rades0 % #e#-er o. the econd !rder had the po7er and authority to initiate aspirants to the 2irst !rder3 thou,h usually not 7ithout the per#ission o. the 9hie.s o. his or her /od,e0