Sangreal Sodality

THE SANGREAL SODALITY

The Sangreal Sodality is a magical religious order created by William G. Gray

John Michael Greer speaks of the importance of the Sangreal Sodality and many of its current leaders who studied with William G Gray in The New Encyclopedia of the Occult page 209 and again in the entry for the Sangreal Sodality which starts on page 418 published by Llewellyn in 2004(1)

PURPOSE OF SODALITY

Its purpose is to foster union of the divine with the human through service to both. This service aims at developing what is best in humanity--the "Sangreal." As Marcia L. Pickands, Warden of the Sangreal Sodality, explains: "Whether we define "Sangreal" as "Royal Blood (Sang-real)" or "Holy Grail (San-greal)" it refers to the very best aspects of human nature. What would those aspects be? Simply our desire to do what is right, honorable and good in our relationships with ourselves, our fellow humans, Nature and Divinity."(2)

Rather, they share a single central ritual--"The Rite of Light" (also called the Sangreal Sacrament), which was constructed to help form participants into the sort of people who would sacrifice the worst in themselves to serve the best in themselves and humanity in accordance with the myth of sacred kingship and the mythology of the quest for the Holy Grail.(3)

This is understood to be a task that requires contact and assistance from other beings who are interested and willing to help humans achieve this quest; and the shared rite is understood by Sodality members to be a central vehicle for achieving that goal.

While current members have and continue to make contributions in areas of divination, psychic development, magic and tarot their focus is not on magic merely the achievement of practical ends. Rather, as Dr Michael Dummett explains in the History of The Occult Tarot referring to William Gray's Sangreal Tarot:

" William Gray displays the usual disdain of the occultist for mere fortunetelling. "The primary purpose of the Tarot", he tells us, is not for fortunetelling, but for deepening, sensitizing, refining ordinary consciousness so we can reach a range beyond average awareness"

Thus in,Dummet explains " In 1988 Gray published the Sangreal Tarot, a Contribution to the Doctrine of the Sodality and not, as might be guessed from the title, a description of some newly designed Tarot pack" (page 286)(4)

Indeed, the focus of all workings done by members may be summarized as:

1. Practice of the Rite of Light/Sangreal Sacrament on a regular basis. 2. Mediation between deity and humankind for the purpose of serving our evolution lightward 3 .Willingly Self-Sacrifice for the Good of all by living in service to both god and our fellow humans in a good way

HISTORY OF THE SANGREAL SODALITY

In 1976 William Gray published the Rite of Light along with a call for the those who were so moved to begin temples of the Sangreal Sodality.

In June of 1982 Antonio Delfino in Brazil founded the First Sangreal Temple. The temple was known as Colegio Capitular Pitagoras (page 244 "The Old Sod" Alan Richardson)The Second Temple was formed in 1986 in Johannesburg, South Africa by Jacobus Swart.

Both Antonio and Jacobus were attracted to Bill Grays vision of the Sangreal Sodality through reading the Rite of Lite. Jacobus Swart was especially helpful to Gray in the formulation of the Sangreal concept and he would later be named on of Bill's two spiritual successors.

Organizational Structures

In 1990 when retiring from active service within the Sangreal Sodality, William G. Gray asked one of his two spiritual successors, Marcia L. Pickands, to take responsibility for the development of the Sodality and its curriculum for the 21st Century. (See private letters from William G. Gray to Marcia L. Pickands (1990-1992).

All chapters and branches and Temples are autonomous. There are many solitary practitioners. There is no shared dogma or single unchangeable curriculum. Individual chapters, branches, and Temples can and do establish their own structures and curriculum or they may opt for the assistance, guidance, curriculum, and direction of Ms. Pickands and the Sangreal Sodality International, Inc.

The Sangreal Sodality strives to be a movement as much as or more than an organization. While sharing one common rite, and its surrounding symbolism. Different Temples, Chapters and branches have vastly different religious practices and organizational structures. Some branches could be described as Christian, others Kabbalistic; others draw on particular ancient traditions, paganism, etc. What they hold in common is the Sangreal Sacrament or Rite of Light and the legacy of William G. Gray writings and teaching.

REFERENCES CITED

(1) John Greer The New Encyclopedia of the Occult Llewellyn Publications 2004

(2) Marcia L Pickands, The Sangreal Concept in a Nut Shell at sangreal sodality website

http://www.sangrealsodality.org/component/option,com_kb/page,articles/articleid,36/Itemid,1

(3) William G. Gray The Rite of Light Helios Publishing 1976

(4) Michael Dummett and Ronald Decker,The History of the Occult Tarot Publisher: Duckworth Publishing (November 1, 2002)

(5) Alan Richardson, The Old Sod and Marcus Claridge Ignotus Press 2004

For William G. Gray's Books see related entry for William G. Gray

For Marcia L Pickands Books see related entry for Marcia L. Pickands

OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE SANGREAL SODALITY

• [http://www.sangrealsodality.org

The Sangreal Sodality International- Site of Marcia L. Pickands, Warden and spiritual successor to William Gray and home page of the association.

ADDITIONAL LINKS AND INFORMATION

• [http://www.booksonmagic.org/ Website of Alan Richardson, author of William G. Gray's biography

and well known occult historian and author