As you can see, dear reader, in the other chapters, we have spoken of basic, fundamental tests that one needs in order to enter into the initiations of the minor mysteries; that’s why these initiations in the minor mysteries are also called “the probationary cycle” in order to enter into the higher initiation.

In this probationary cycle the initiate is tested on his/her capacities of discipline, of obedience and of will power in relation to the body of the doctrine.

These initiations in the minor mysteries are graded according to the effort and to the clarity we have in our comprehension and doctrinal practice.

A person cannot become an initiate if this person does not break with the ties he has with other teachings or doctrines that are antagonistic to the doctrine of the Christ.

A person cannot become an initiate if he has no comprehension of what he is doing and does not have the

Will power to do it; the person must have the correct way of thinking, correct way of feeling, correct way of behaving doing things with a correct effort; he must have a correct way of earning a living and these are among others the essential conditions in order to be an initiate.

Remember, dear reader, the initiation is received internally; this means, it corresponds to the ‘Intimus’. It is also necessary to comprehend that in our physical structure and internally we have three brains; each one of these brains has its laws and corresponds to its order in the divine trinity.

The thinking brain corresponds to the father.

The motor brain corresponds to the son.

The emotional brain corresponds to the holy spirit.

To come out well in an initiation one needs to adjust our deeds in our life to three conditions:

-what we think

-what we do

-what we feel

The initiation, says the V.M. Samael, is our very life intensely lived.

It could be that a person qualifies in his actions, in his sentiments but not in his thoughts; it could be a person qualifies in his thoughts and in his sentiments but not in his behavior nor in his deeds; others can qualify in their deeds and in their thoughts but not in their sentiments.

I believe that you, dear reader and esoterist are sufficiently intelligent to comprehend what we are saying here.

The divine trinity has to be represented in this work in equal parts in order to qualify in any of the initiatic processes.

The probationary cycle is what determines if the person is apt to enter into another level of the work; also, it is necessary to clear up that with very rare exceptions to the rule, the person is living this process without knowing it.

The interesting thing is that the Gnostic student comprehends that from the very moment of his initiation into the Gnostic studies, every step he takes correspond to his re-structuring on a physical, moral and esoteric level.

During this probationary cycle the person goes through nine initiations of the minor mysteries; as we have already said, these steps remain engraved on his Consciousness and with very rare exceptions, this person realizes which initiation of the minor mysteries he is going through.

Of course, it is necessary to admit that in the fifth initiation of the minor mysteries, the initiate is given a symbolic sword and is declared: hierophant in the minor mysteries.

In the eighth initiation of the minor mysteries, the initiate goes through situations where he has to develop the maximum of his patience and comprehension because to the contrary, he will be stopped.

In the ninth initiation of the minor mysteries this person is declared a master in the minor mysteries.

If the person is not married, then he awaits the time when he will get a partner and begin his formation of the superior existential bodies of the being.

In this chapter we also want to clear up that necessity to do the work with equilibrium – all of which is related to the initiation. All of this together with the mystic death, the awakening of the Consciousness since the case could arise that there may be some people who are interested in the initiations but do not exercise their Consciousness in order to awaken since they do not go about the conscious effort of the mystic death.

The results are: these people are halted in their work.

In the probational cycle a series of events occur to this person that have an intimate relationship with all of the processes in his self-realization.

Dear reader, in this esoteric Christic work each person has to know how to control himself, know how to direct himself and above all, make his inferior nature obey him; anything to the contrary means that you will be enslaved by this inferior nature. You will then be one more in the crowd; perhaps you will be talking about what you could have done and did not do.

V.M. Lakhsmi (excerpt from “New Year Message 1993”)