174 / Fire and Ice
functions in his office for a legislative period of three years. The spiritual aims of the Brotherhood lie in the direction of mysticism, Rosicrucian sciences, alchemy, esoteric astrology, as well as the scientific study of the whole of occultism, and the penetration of all the religious philosophies—without any dogmatic stipulation of any kind of the individual Brethren. The Brotherhood relies upon the personal intuition of the leading Brethren and tries—by magical ceremonies and holy traditional rituals—to focus itself upon the higher octave of Saturn as aspired to in esoteric astrology and religious philosophy. Saturn as the Guardian of the Threshold, as the highest planetary intelligence of this solar system, is considered the spiritual leader. We endeavor to perceive the planetary vibration of his higher octave. On the exoteric plane the execution of this cult must be carried out accompanied by a certain exclusion of base humanity, and by an aspiration toward an individual and psychic solitude, by a deepening of the whole of exacting, spiritually based knowledge, by a maturing of the inner Man [Menschtum], by simple deepening of cosmic contact with the higher spheres, and through harmony with the infinite conception of God. The Brotherhood itself—containing seeking, serious men—is to be a refuge and a retreat for seekers, borne by true fraternity. Exoterically, it is a superstructure for a worldly cloister of spiritual men and adherents of the secret sciences, for whom a real exile will be offered— in the secular sense as well.