For those who come to this site and may not have a lot of time with the information and also for discussion among those who are familiar with the Elyon, I have decided to weigh in on some of my ideas concerning the orders of Urianism.
Throughout history, where religion is concerned, there have always been differences of opinion. A person within a group may receive a direct revelation from Spirit and find that it leads them away from the general consensus of the group. Others may read the same words that everyone reads and yet, find themselves with an interpretation that veers away from the group understanding. This has led to many schisms over the millennia and has, in fact, helped the enemies of faith and Spirit more than it has helped the people of faith trying to understand and reach out to God.
Through many communications I have witnessed with Spirit over the years, I have come to somewhat of an understanding of why Uriel structured Urianism with the Orders from the start.
Understand, first of all, that my opinion here is just that, an opinion.
The purpose of the Orders in Urianism is to set up a structure of generalized archetypes that act as a guide when a person attempts to walk the path of Spirit. Each walk is different and personal, just as each relationship with God is different and personal. In fact, the Elyon speaks often about forming a personal relationship with God and I cannot stress enough that it is not only possible but very real and highly recommended.
That being said, the purpose of the Orders is multi-fold.
On one hand the Orders serve as areas of ideology that a person can find a connection with. Examples have already been given on this site in relation to the Violet Order. I will give a few more here.
Someone who wants or has a tendency to express their love for God with the working of their hands and desires to build sacred spaces and the like, is someone who fits within the Tan order. Tan being a color associated with sand, dirt, earth etc. This is a person who serves Spirit in the material world and in a material way. It is someone who builds the foundations upon which other orders can express their own relationships with Spirit. These are the pyramid builders, the Cathedral builders....as well as those who build roads, houses, cars, furniture, power lines and the many other material things that help the faithful while on this planet in this life.
However, this does not mean that a person is pigeonholed into an Order. The Tan order can also have a bit of Blue in it when a member builds a structure to house doctors, nurses and the afflicted. The order can have a tinge of Red when a Tan member builds a weapon or a prison. I can go on, but the point has been made.
Having said that, a member of the Tan order is a member whose general and predominant expression in the faith is with their hands and with the construction and design of material things. A member of the Tan order, especially a Priest, is encouraged to practice the mystical arts taught in the Elyon. Encouraged to teach others, advocate for the afflicted, speak for justice, administer mercy, include beauty in their works and strive against evil. Being a member of the Tan order does not limit a person to only expressions of material faith. Just as being a member of the Violet order doesn't mean that you have to spend all your time meditating.
This set up of archetypes is designed to help the faith maintain cohesion and resist the tendency towards schism and fracture. It allows each Urian to practice their faith comfortably and yet stay within the framework of the faith as outlined by the Elyon.
Each order, and pillar as well, is answerable to the 20 laws, the steps of the faith and the principles of the faith and training. Expressions of the faith will differ but ultimately The Elyon is the final word.
That is part of the things going through my head in regards to the orders of Urianism. Remember that it is only my opinion and in no way constitutes an effort to force anyone to adopt my interpretation.
God Bless You
Great post brother. I'm a little puzzled by the date of this post. It appeared in my most recent urianism community notifications.
Kabbalah is something we can learn from, but we should make it our own, and tweak it accordingly... With Gnosticism and Jungian psychology tempering it, though tailored to our specifics... Remembering that we are supposed to visualize standing in the tree, thus reversing the poles in a way. The Left Pillar, though, is called Severity, and the Right Pillar is overall called Mercy... While the Middle is Mild.
I've always felt that women were more nurturing and kind, in general, easier to get along with than men... The White/Right Pillar is the kinder gentler side of God - so I've always associated it with the feminine overall and after a general fashion.... While I've noted that men tend to be sterner and more about rules, order, and rigidity, as well as aggression. In friendships between men, there is always tension, a need to neuter the competition, and establish pecking orders - which always seemed/felt rather dark side to me. Yet, in the God of the Bible and the Quran we see this masculine nature, while in the Christ ideal we see a feminine/gentler aspect of God... Certainly Baha'i is a kinder and gentler perspective, though still morally conservative (even if most Baha'i tend to ignore that).
The middle to me, always felt like something other, beyond, not duality, but a third polarity... A third identity beyond masculine or feminine - an thereby transcendent. The Path of the Arrow is the most ascetic, direct.
In the end, we need the polarities to achieve balance, in ourselves and the world, because the world is not fluffy bunnies and rainbows - and idealism, however fanciful and nice, simply falls down in the face of the realities and the facts of life (Survival of the Fittest and all that).
Wonderful conversation... And I'm so impressed with your knowledge of Kabbalah. Good job! My "take" is mine, and in no ways nullifies yours.
Peace Be Unto You
Oh, and for the feminine/masculine part: A Urian climbs from the ground up. White robe is considered feminine as Netzach and Chesed are feminine with Chokhmah functioning as an Animus.
Theoretically.. :)
There are 24 books in the tanakh. I think 2*12 is significant in KAballah, but I do not remember from the top of my head :)
I do wonder of one thing, and that is why white robe is considered feminine and black robes masculine?
Chokhmah is considered as the masculine giver to the feminime Binah, While both Gevurah and Hod are masculine and both Chesed and Netzach are feminine. In a Jungian sense it parallells how men has a feminine Anima and females have the masculine Animus
I assume that in the Urian sense, which draws on both Kaballah and Jungian psychology one can theorize the following: Having a black robe means to be focused on loyalty to God and protection of boundries. While being prone to lash out a little emotionally(Binah correcting Malkhut).
Having a White robe means to be focused on enduring the mistakes of others to be able to make Gods love avaliable to all. While being firm in the sense of pointing out that devotion to God enables us to climb out of the darkness(Chokhmah as the giver of light/inspiration/idea/blueprint/archetypes[of creation] to be put into practice).
Having a grey robe means to be focused on freeing the world from the attachments of darkness through the realization of what is beautiful and harmonious. While powered by will/drive/desire(Keter).
Pure theoretical, of course :) Now I wonder how that translates into 24 archetypes. :D
The three pillars and seven sashes creates twenty-one homo-angelic personality types (e.g. sacred archetypes). In fact, the Order of Uriel (Cult of Truth) itself is an eighth sash (silver?), and another three archetypes (white silver, dark silver, and gray silver).