Hi everyone,
I’ve been deeply immersed in some fascinating insights from Israel Regardie, particularly his views on immortality within the Western esoteric tradition, especially the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. It really resonates with many concepts we explore here in AYP, and I wanted to share some thoughts and see what the community thinks.
Regardie had a pretty radical view compared to mainstream religious systems. He stated that “Man is only potentially immortal.” This isn’t about an automatic afterlife or the survival of the physical body. Instead, he saw immortality as something that needs to be earned through conscious spiritual work – a kind of inner alchemical process.
He describes the human being as having a three-fold structure, drawing from Kabbalah:
Nephesch: The vital, instinctual, emotional self.
Ruach: The rational mind, our thinking personality.
Neshamah: The higher, spiritual core, connected to divine consciousness.
According to Regardie, true immortality is achieved when our “purely human part” (Nephesch and Ruach) unites with that “spiritual essence which was never created, was never born, and will never die” (Neshamah). Without this conscious union, the self remains impermanent and dissolves after physical death.
This instantly brought to mind the AYP teachings on the Witness Consciousness. Regardie’s “spiritual essence” or the “Holy Guardian Angel” in the Golden Dawn tradition sounds strikingly similar to the Turiya state in Vedanta – that pure, unchanging awareness that observes all other states of consciousness without being identified with them.
In his analogy of the “Philosopher’s Stone” from alchemy, Regardie speaks of building an unshakeable, fixed center within oneself. This “Stone of Consciousness” is a fully integrated, self-aware state that transcends the fluctuations of thoughts, emotions, and physical existence, allowing awareness to persist even beyond death. It’s about establishing that “unmoved mover” within.
The Middle Pillar Ritual in the Golden Dawn, as taught by Regardie, is essentially a practical method to achieve this. It involves visualizations of light centers, breathwork, and the vibration of divine names, all aimed at circulating energy and consciously centering oneself in Tiphareth (the sphere of the true self). This parallels so much of what we do in AYP with pranayama, meditation, and samyama to stabilize the Witness.
Regardie explicitly stated: “All the rituals and practical magical work of the Golden Dawn are dedicated to effecting this spiritual union with the highest.” This isn’t about external magical power, but about internal transformation – refining the inner world until only the imperishable remains.
For me, this perspective strongly reinforces the idea that liberated living isn’t just about experiencing inner peace, but about fundamentally changing our state of being to one that is inherently immortal. It’s not a belief, but a direct inner experience cultivated through consistent practice.
What are your thoughts on this? Does Regardie’s view on “potential immortality” resonate with your understanding of the AYP path and the Witness Consciousness? I’d love to hear your insights!
Best,
David