The Helios Journal

Every student who enters a true school of inner development carries an imbalance, even if they do not see it at first. Some arrive with strength. They are disciplined, focused, and capable of pushing through difficulty. They value control and results. They respect effort and expect the same from others. Others arrive with compassion. They are thoughtful, empathetic, and aware of the struggles of those around them. They listen, support, and seek to understand rather than judge. Both qualities are valuable. Neither is complete on its own. The purpose of training is not to reinforce what the student already possesses. It is to correct the imbalance. Strength without compassion leads to rigidity. Compassion without strength leads to weakness. The school exists to unite both into something far more effective. In the early stages, this is not obvious to the student. The strong student believes they already have what is required. They see compassion as unnecessary or even as a liability. They...

Every student who enters a true school of inner development believes, at first, that the world is the source of their instability. They point to pressure, conflict, uncertainty, and the behavior of others. They believe that if circumstances improved, their mind would settle. This is the first misunderstanding. The instability they experience does not come from the world itself, but from their relationship to it. The purpose of training is not to remove difficulty from life. It is to build a mind that remains steady within it. The ancient teachers described this as the inner citadel. It is not a physical place. It is a condition of the mind. A state in which the student is no longer ruled by reaction, but guided by awareness and choice. It is the ability to remain clear, even when conditions are not. Most students arrive without access to this. They are pulled by every stimulus. A problem creates frustration. A delay creates impatience. A criticism creates doubt. Their thoughts move qui...

Every student who enters a true school of inner development arrives with a belief that motivation will carry them forward. They expect that if they feel inspired, focused, or energized, they will be able to change their habits and improve their life. This belief does not last long. Motivation is unreliable. It rises quickly and fades just as fast. It depends on mood, circumstance, and external influence. It cannot be summoned consistently, and it cannot be trusted to sustain effort over time. For this reason, the school does not rely on motivation. It trains discipline. Discipline is different. It is not based on how the student feels in the moment. It is based on what the student has decided to do. It is the ability to act with consistency, even when the mind resists. In the early stages of training, this difference becomes clear. A student may begin with enthusiasm. They set goals, create plans, and commit to new routines. For a short time, their effort is strong. Then something shif...

In a previous blog post, I delved into the substantial impact René Schwaller de Lubicz has had on modern esoteric thinking about ancient Egypt. His profound insights and scholarly work opened a new window through which we could view the ancient Egyptian mindset and its manifestation in sacred architecture. As I reflect on the mysteries of Egyptian sacred architecture, I am constantly reminded of the deeper truths that de Lubicz unveiled. Through the time I have spent in temples such as at Abydos and Philae, together with my own research, I’ve come to appreciate the ancient Egyptians' structures as not just physical edifices but as embodiments of metaphysical principles. They stand as silent narrators telling a story of a people who understood the cosmos in ways that we are only beginning to grasp again. In May 2018 I was lucky enough to spend ten consecutive days, meditating in the Temple of Seti I at Abydos, for hours at a time, each day. Abydos is my personal favourite place in E...

René Adolphe Schwaller de Lubicz was a French occultist, esoteric author, and Egyptologist who has left a lasting legacy on the study of ancient Egyptian philosophy and its influence on modern esoteric thought. Schwaller de Lubicz lived from December 7, 1887, to December 7, 1961. He was active primarily in the first half of the 20th century, during which time he conducted his main body of research and writing. His studies on ancient Egypt and his development of the philosophy of Symbolist Egyptology were carried out during his 15-year stay in Egypt from 1937 to 1952, a period during which he conducted an extensive study of the Luxor Temple, resulting in his magnum opus "The Temple in Man." His work, deeply steeped in symbolism and the hermetic tradition, sought to understand the wisdom of the ancient Egyptians through a lens that combined spirituality with an investigation into the sacred science. The impact of Schwaller de Lubicz on modern esotericism is profound, particular...

In the quest for spiritual ascension, the ancient Egyptians understood that harmony between the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual dimensions of being was not just an ideal—it was a prerequisite. At Helios, we continue this tradition, offering a coherent and integrated approach to growth that weaves the wisdom of the ancient Egyptians with the realities of modern living. Nourishing the Temple: The Physical Aspect The journey begins with the physical body, the temple that houses all other states of being. Ancient wisdom advocates for a supportive diet and exercise regimen that aligns with your unique constitution, promoting vitality and strength. At Helios we don't push one diet over another, we encourage you to listen to your own body and understand what's right for you.  Emotional Alchemy: Transmutation of the Heart Emotional turmoil can often be the heaviest chain that binds the soul, limiting its ascension and dampening its vibrational frequency. Our curriculum delve...

The Tarot, a deck of cards rich in symbolism and mystique, has long been a subject of fascination and speculation. My own fascination with the Tarot began around 2001 when I started studying the Tarot as part of my work on my PhD is Esoteric Studies. I read numerous books on the Tarot, my favourite being the classic book “The Tarot: A key to the Wisdom of the Ages” by Paul Foster-Case. Case suggests that the origins of the Tarot are to be found in the Moroccan city of Fez around the 13th Century. Among the many other theories about its origins, one particularly intriguing idea is that the Tarot traces back to the ancient Egyptian mystery traditions, an idea popularised not least by the publication of Aleister Crowley’s “Thoth Tarot” designed by Lady Frieda Harris. This blog post delves into the research and historical evidence to explore the veracity of this claim. The theory that the Tarot originated in ancient Egypt is a part of a larger narrative that connects Egyptian mystery schoo...