Q: Is there a cost?
A: The preliminary lessons and the first grade, The Octagon Society, are free. If you pass the examination and wish to continue to the inner grades, there is a one-time lifetime membership fee of $80. We are a nonprofit. All fees go toward the expenses of running the order, such as web hosting.
Q: How much time should I spend on each lesson?
A: Follow the recommendations in the lessons. Generally, 15-30 minutes per day is sufficient. Unless otherwise stated, we recommend a minimum of one week and a maximum of two weeks on each lesson. It’s important to keep moving forward. Progress, not perfection, is the goal.
Q: Will I have to show my journal to anyone?
A: No. Your journal is entirely yours. No one from the Council of Guardians will ever ask to see it, not even as part of an exam.
Q: What do you mean by “shame/guilt/forgiveness/etc.”? The definition seems murky.
A: Many students find at least one of the terms confusing. Start by looking the word up in a dictionary and rereading the lesson. Then, try to arrive at your own understanding of the difference between, for example, “blame” and “guilt.” If it’s still unclear, email the office. We’re happy to answer questions!
Q: Can I repeat the lessons?
A: You can, and should, repeat the course once you’ve completed it. We don’t recommend repeating lessons before finishing. That’s a clever trick people play on themselves to bog down and never get around to finishing the work. Perfection is the enemy of progress. Once you’re done, these tools are meant to be honed and used over a lifetime, and they benefit from repeated attention.
Q: Can I sign up for a mentor?
A: Yes! We offer free mentorship upon request. Visit the Contact page and let us know what kind of help you’re after.
Q: Do I have to believe in a higher power to benefit from this course?
A: Yes. This course refers only to “the Divine,” and makes no assertions about who or what that may be. But in order to fully benefit, you should believe in some concept of the Divine that makes sense to you in the context of the lessons. It won’t play well with atheism.
Q: Is this work compatible with my spiritual beliefs?
A: The work is designed to be compatible with a very broad range of beliefs. Only you can answer this question with certainty, but it’s probably “yes.”
Q: I love these lessons, can I reprint them on my own website?
A: No. The material on this site is copyrighted. Legally, you can quote small portions, totaling less than 500 words, if you include a citation. Otherwise, please link to this website.
Q: How can I support the mission of the Order of Spiritual Alchemy?
A: The best way to support the order is to do the work! Complete the lessons of the Octagon Society and become a member of the organization. You can also share a testimonial of your experience if you feel moved to do so. Beyond that, any time you tell a friend or family member, share a link on your website, or social media platform, you’re helping to keep the course and the tradition alive. Having done that, if you wish to make a donation to the nonprofit, click here!
Q: I’m having trouble creating a forum account. I get redirected to some wp-admin page. Can you help?
A: Yes! Our forum is a WordPress plugin that works by creating a WordPress user account. This is a totally expected behavior. After signing up, you will have to return to http://www.octagonsociety.org/forum/ in order to post. If you’re still having trouble, please contact us for assistance.
Here is a handy visual guide to the process.