The two worlds of Voudon and Gnosis merged together within the unique expression of a religious community called the Monastery of the Seven Rays. Having a history that is as colorful and mysterious as the variety of individuals involved in this esoteric movement of the spirit, the Monastery stands apart from traditional expressions of monasticism in the East and in the West by existing on a physical plane, but more especially by also being a psycho-spiritual locale, accessible to all who knock upon her celestial doors. For each Postulant of this Monastery there is a particular work to do, a particular Gnostic space to dwell within, and a particular sacred injunction to fulfill for the betterment of the globe. SYZYGY by Tau Palamas is one such legacy. It is simply the reflections of one student of this delightful and challenging superstructure of mind-stuff--The Monastery of the Seven Rays.
"This true Labor of Love offers one of the best introductions to our School and Work that we've read. From the curious seeker to the seasoned Pilgrim on the Path, there is guidance and illumination in this volume which will speak time and again to the deepest levels of spiritual longing...With gratitude to Tau Palamas, we whole heartedly recommend SYZYGY as one of the best books of the year!" --Kyle Fite, SGM, Ordo Templi Orientis Antiqua & La Couleuvre Noire
"A wonderful exposition and elaboration of the Monastery of Seven Rays material through the eyes of a true modern-day Christian mystic! I highly recommend it to anyone studying the work of Michael Bertiaux, but the Opus stands alone in that you could create a system of Work from this book alone! For those interested in Martinism and Ecclesiastical Gnosticism this book is also of great value, and certainly compliments the work of L'Ordre Martinesiste de Chenu (it is on the reading list)! Highly recommended!"-- Kevin Davis, Sov. Insp. V°, Ordre Martinesiste de Chenu
"'Syzygy' is the appropriate name for this text, yoking together as it does a wide variety of divergent streams. This is at one and the same time a deeply personal account of Tau Palamas' own spiritual journey and a rigorous examination of the Monastery of the Seven Rays' practice in relation to other currents and approaches. The journey is a sometimes dizzying one as Tau Palamas reels from one subject to the next, and from personal reflections to deeply theoretical speculations, the whole thing supplemented with a parade of stark and arresting images from his own paintbrush. This is a demanding text, perhaps at times too adventurous; one certainly not for the tyro. Its ultimate effect, however, is properly magical, and no one interested in contemporary magical praxis and Bertiaux's work will be left disappointed."
~Abathur V°, Grand Master of the Friary/OSF
"A tour de force of creative synthesis, this extraordinary book sets out to fuse one of the most avant-garde branches of contemporary Western esotericism with the traditions of monastic prayer, contemplation and ritual, and carries out this more than usually demanding task with aplomb. Students of the mysteries weary of the rehashing of familiar teachings that dominates today's occult publishing scene will find it a welcome if dizzying breath of fresh air."
~John Michael Greer, Grand Archdruid of the Ancient Order of Druids in America
"Syzygy is a fascinating exploration of the Voudon-Gnostic philosophy of Michael-Paul Bertiaux and the Monastery of the Seven Rays. The author, a Gnostic Bishop, takes us through his practice and experiences, telling us about meditation and prayer, Saints and spirits, magick and healing and even death and the dead. In the second half of the book, he offers practical ritual techniques to experience what he calls "the Otherworld" for oneself. I suspect students of the Voudon-Gnostic coursework will find this text an invaluable companion for their studies."
~Aaron Leitch, author of Secrets of the Magickal Grimoires and The Essential Enochian Grimoire.
