Hermetic Synaxis Network
Frequently Asked Questions#
Why was the Hermetic Synaxis developed?#
Although many people want to study and practice Hermeticism as a form of spirituality and mysticism, it can be difficult since many of the texts that survive from the classical period are both dense and obscure when it comes to practical details, leaving interested people at a loss about how to actually implement Hermetic spirituality. The Hermetic Synaxis was developed to give people a way to “do Hermeticism” in a way that accords with the classical Hermetic texts using means and methods achievable for real people in our modern day.
Is this some sort of new religion?#
Not quite. The Hermetic Synaxis is a way of “doing Hermeticism”, where Hermeticism is a form of mystic spirituality from the Roman Imperial period of Hellenistic Egypt circa 200–300 CE; the teachings, mysticism, and spirituality of the Hermetic Synaxis are thus quite ancient indeed. However, the specific formulation and structure of how the Hermetic Synaxis “does Hermeticism” in how it applies Greco-Egyptian spiritual texts to build up an all-encompassing practice of prayer, offering, and ritual is a modern formulation geared towards modern people in our modern time. Even though the individual practices and prayers have classical origins, how it all has come together as the Hermetic Synaxis is new.
Who can get involved in the Hermetic Synaxis?#
Anyone! The work of the Hermetic Synaxis is designed to be open to anyone willing to walk the Way of Hermēs. This means that one must be willing to:
Learn from the Hermetic texts
Participate in the monist philosophy and polytheistic theology of classical Hermeticism in a ceremonial context
Grow and develop oneself spiritually, not just in a technical sense but also in a moral and ethical one
Elevate oneself to experience and engage in the works of and beyond the cosmos to as to fulfill both their fate and divine providence
So long as one is willing to walk the Way of Hermēs, the Hermetic Synaxis is designed to be accessible, robust, and practical for all people wherever one might be.
Do I need to already know the Hermetic teachings and texts to participate?#
It certainly helps to be familiar with the texts and teachings of Hermeticism (along with its upstream philosophical and spiritual Greek and Egyptian influences) before engaging with the Hermetic Synaxis, since the more one is familiar with the easier it is to get caught up to speed and to operate more fully more quickly, but it is not required to be so well-studied up-front. Although the Hermetic Synaxis is focused on implementing Hermetic practice rather than studying Hermetic theory, there are opportunities and ways to study and deepen one’s knowledge of Hermeticism both on one’s own and with others in the course of doing the work of the Hermetic Synaxis.
Do I have to convert religions or leave behind my existing traditions?#
Not at all. The Hermetic Synaxis is a non-exclusive spiritual practice, meaning that it does not require conversion, forsaking of existing religious obligations or practices, or anything like that. More than that, the work of the Hermetic Synaxis is designed so that it can be practiced alongside other spiritual practices to supplement them rather than supplant them. So long as you are willing to engage in the Hermetic Synaxis on its own terms, you are free to maintain existing religious practices and spiritual traditions as you like however they might also ask of you.
What sorts of beliefs are compatible or incompatible with the Hermetic Synaxis?#
Following the teachings in the Hermetic texts, Hermeticism can be thought of as philosophically monist and theologically polytheist:
“Philosophically monist” means that there is one Source from which all things come and to which all things return, this Source being both transcendent beyond existence and immanent within existence; this is called “the Godhead” or simply called “God”, and acts as the mystic goal for Hermetic practice.
“Theologically polytheist” means that there are multiple gods of various natures, stations, functions, and roles throughout existence, all of whom deserve worship as the proper means of holding a right relationship with them. Notably, the Godhead, being beyond existence, is not itself a god in this sense and does not deny or diminish the divinity of the gods which are all within and part of existence, although the Godhead itself deserves worship and reverence all the same as if it were a god, albeit in a different manner than the gods.
Beyond these two points, because the Hermetic Synaxis is focused more on orthopraxy than orthodoxy, so long as one engages in this model of philosophy and theology while engaged with the Hermetic Synaxis, one is free to hold whatever beliefs one wishes, especially with respect for one’s other religious or spiritual traditions.
Does it cost anything to engage with the Hermetic Synaxis?#
The educational materials of the Hermetic Synaxis are referred to as the Stoiba, and are freely available for free for anyone and everyone to read, share, and use. You will need to gather some tools and supplies for performing the ceremonies of the Hermetic Synaxis, but everything is intended to be easily accessible without being obscure, expensive, or otherwise difficult to acquire. There are otherwise no dues or fees associated with the work of the Hermetic Synaxis, whether one works in a group or on their own.
What does the work of the Hermetic Synaxis look like?#
The work of the Hermetic Synaxis can be thought of like constructing a building, and just like how every building needs a foundation, supports, and a roof, so too does the Hermetic Synaxis have these things:
Foundation: daily prayer, ideally combined with meditation, energy work, and contemplation
Supports: a set of four activities to be done across a lunar month, consisting of a ritual of purgation and blessing around the New Moon, a ritual of sanctification and healing around the Full Moon, and a support group meeting around the Quarter Moons
Roof: a yearly ritual of exaltation and elevation
Beyond these practices, the rest of the edifice of the Hermetic Synaxis may be filled with studies, offerings, rituals, communions, and other practices as well. Although there are some basic practices that all practitioners of the Hermetic Synaxis should maintain, everyone is free to take them further or deeper as much as they are willing to for their own needs and goals for the sake of progressing along the Way of Hermēs. In more concrete terms, one should expect to set aside 15 or 30 minutes per day for daily practice, an hour four times a month for the monthly rituals, and an hour once a year for a yearly ritual to engage in all the core practices of the Hermetic Synaxis; beyond this, more time may be set aside for further practices on a daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly basis as desired or as needed.
Do I have to initiate into the Hermetic Synaxis?#
No. There are many spiritual traditions that are initiatic in nature, where one requires a formal initiation performed by licensed carriers of the tradition from one generation of initiates to the next, and without such an initiation one cannot licitly engage in the practices of the tradition or study its teachings. The Hermetic Synaxis does not operate like an initiatic tradition; anyone is free to participate in its practices and its educational materials are open to all. In order to participate in a group of the Hermetic Synaxis, one must either find people to form a new group with or find an existing group that will induct you, but this is not a matter of initiation so much as it is group membership. While the Hermetic Synaxis does have its own mysteries for its practitioners, these are experienced through the performing of its ceremonies which are open to all.
Is this a priestly or monastic thing?#
No. Although the work of the Hermetic Synaxis does engage with many spiritual endeavors, no special priestly license or privilege is conferred on you merely by being so engaged, and so there is no ordination or initiation. Likewise, because the Hermetic Synaxis is designed for real people living in the real world, no seclusion, sequestration, isolation, abandonment, or renouncement from the world is expected or encouraged, especially as this generally runs counter to the Hermetic teachings of engaging, co-creating, and perfecting the world in which we live.
Is this a Golden Dawn, Rosicrucianism, Theosophy, or Qabbalah thing?#
No. Although many spiritual traditions over the centuries have arisen to make use of the label “Hermetic” in one sense or another, the Hermetic Synaxis does not involve or rely on any such tradition. Rather, the Hermetic Synaxis is based wholly on the classical Greco-Egyptian spirituality and mysticism as evinced by the Corpus Hermeticum, Asclepius, and other classical Hermetic texts along with the Greek Magical Papyri and other related practices from the same cultural and spiritual context.
Is this a Freemason thing?#
No. Although the community of the Hermetic Synaxis encourages groups to form to engage in spiritual work together, this has no affiliation with or similarity to Freemasonry or other para-Masonic systems. Rather than following hierarchical and centralized lodge systems where lodges must be chartered and institute a system of ranks, groups of the Hermetic Synaxis may arise anywhere at any time so long as enough interested people decide to do so, and all groups are to always operate on an autonomous, independent, democratic, and egalitarian basis without ranks, leaders, or the like.
Do I need a teacher to study the Hermetic Synaxis?#
No, or at least, not necessarily. Because the Stoiba is open to all, everyone is free to read, study, consult, and implement the processes and procedures of the Stoiba. However, because everything in life (and doubly so with anything spiritual) is easier with a teacher, it can help to find someone familiar with the Stoiba specifically or the Hermetic Synaxis generally to help guide or mentor those who are new. Joining an existing group is the most reliable way of doing this, but you might also reach out to others online who are practitioners of the Hermetic Synaxis or attend a lecture or study session by those who happen to be teaching it.
Do I need to belong to a group of the Hermetic Synaxis to do this work?#
The Hermetic Synaxis is intended as a group-centered endeavor, since working with others dedicated to the same practice allows for an easier time developing and progressing on our ways of spirituality, accountability, discipline. To that end, it is ideal and always encouraged for people to join or form a group to do the work of the Hermetic Synaxis with. However, for those who are unwilling or unable to belong to a group, anyone can do the work of the Hermetic Synaxis on their own as an independent practice.
Who can join a group of the Hermetic Synaxis?#
The only hard requirements for joining a group of the Hermetic Synaxis are that one must be:
Willing to walk on the Way of Hermēs to develop themselves and support their fellow siblings of humanity
Applying to join of their own free will and awareness
Not automatically or permanently expelled from any other group of the Hermetic Synaxis
Not currently a member of another group of the Hermetic Synaxis
In good legal standing with the broader community where they live
Beyond these hard requirements, individual groups may consider some other factors within reason, but otherwise are prohibited from engaging in discrimination of sex, gender, ethnicity, or many other factors.
Who can form a group of the Hermetic Synaxis?#
The only hard requirements for forming a group of the Hermetic Synaxis are nearly the same as those for joining a group, except that one cannot have been expelled from any other group of the Hermetic Synaxis even if such an expulsion was later rescinded. Beyond that, a group of the Hermetic Synaxis can form at any place and at any time, so long as it has at least four people to form it.
How is the whole community of the Hermetic Synaxis organized?#
The Hermetic Synaxis requires congregational polity as a form of decentralized self-governance for groups, such that each group is autonomous, independent, and without mandatory oversight from any other body except its own as well as the Stoiba itself; moreover, all groups are themselves to be run in a democratic and egalitarian manner. This means that, outside the Stoiba itself, groups do not have a central authority that they have to charter with or answer to, nor is there any one leader or authority who can speak for the Hermetic Synaxis whether for an individual group, association of groups, or as a whole; the same goes for individual practitioners outside of groups. However, groups, group members, and independent practitioners are all encouraged to have open communication and good relationships with other groups, supporting and being supported by others in turn. For groups, once every few years, an intergroup conference is called for representatives of each group to meet, account for their groups’ activity, and ensure that all groups are following the Stoiba in a responsible and standardized way, which also allows for groups to further network amongst themselves.
How can I find people interested in or practicing the work of the Hermetic Synaxis?#
By going out and meeting them! Since the Stoiba is freely shared for free and since everyone is encouraged to share it, chances are someone you know might be interested in the Hermetic Synaxis and could benefit from being tipped off about the Stoiba, whether someone you know personally or a bystander at a local New Age or pagan bookstore near you. You are also encouraged to join the Hermetic Synaxis Network Forum, which not only gives people a means to discuss the Hermetic Synaxis but also to meet others, find groups, set up online meetings, and more!
Do you get anything out of running this website?#
Besides accepting donations (e.g. through PayPal or Ko-fi) to keep this website running, nope! I’m just interested in providing people a way to “do Hermeticism” and to encourage all humanity to walk the Way of Hermēs, whether using the means of the Hermetic Synaxis itself or by inspiring them to do so in their own way because of it. (That said, in that light, there is the benefit of me having more people to “do Hermeticism” with, though, so there is that, too!)