The Ancient Mystery Schools by Njabulo Phiri

Civilization and progress have often been associated with the western world. This is owing to the self-allotted role of the European people in the history of humankind and the perception this has resulted to, of the European cultures as compared to those of other peoples of the world. A world in which colonialism has had its chance as a factor influencing history, those who had been colonized still recognize not their culture and values, but the Europeans’ as ‘superior’ and good and progressive. History shows us that most of the people who carried the torch of progress have often been people who had been initiated into what was known to the ancients as ‘Mystery schools’ (what we came to know as ‘secret societies’ today), and that most of these schools in their earliest appearance, were situated in Africa – particularly Egypt. This essay paper looks at the existence of Mystery schools, their essence, and their role in shaping history as we know it. Moreover, the paper will try not to confine the phenomenon of Mystery teaching within the boundaries of Africa, while emphasizing the fact that Africans were at the fore of this phenomenon.

The teachings of ancient mystery schools are comprised by numerous different elements including ritual, especially at the stage of initiation. At initiation, ritual plays an important role in introducing the individuals in question, to certain knowledge which has been passed down from times immemorial. Also, during initiation rituals, initiates are advised never to reveal any information either about the initiation ritual itself and/or the teachings passed down to them by masters of ancient wisdom. Part of the reason as to why this is done is because having been initiated, the initiate is then considered to have been reborn and is therefore – because of this – very different from a non-initiate.

Therefore breaking the code of secrecy by any member of the mystery school is an act which is punishable; that is to say that whichever member reveals anything taught in the mystery temples is subject to punishment. This is because the un-initiated mind – as masters of wisdom would put it – is not ready, by virtue of being a non-member, for these secret teachings. Therefore from these ancient mystery schools we derive the more contemporary “secret societies,” and I shall show how these have sought to liken themselves to the ancient mystery schools.

As I have pointed out in the beginning, the existence of mystery schools is not exclusive to ancient Africa, but is rather a phenomenon which came to be characteristic of almost all human civilizations of the ancient world. However, since the sort of knowledge these ancient schools dealt with came to be considered primitive and un-civilizing, other parts of the world –including the Western world – stopped participating in mystery temples. But on the contrary, people of African descent – as well as some parts of the eastern world – continued following the way of the ancient masters. Thus their position today in the world, as supposedly ‘uncivilized’ people can somewhat be attributed to this. As we shall see, those who sought to be initiated into ancient mysteries – such as Pythagoras – were often referred to the masters in Egypt, and it is partly because of this reason that I (throughout

this paper) will treat not only Egypt but the whole of Africa as the primary source of these mysteries. In this way, western mystery schools to which I will refer will only serve as a mirror of a predominantly African phenomenon of the ancient times. Pythagoras is therefore a perfect example of an ancient scholar whose innovations were deeply influenced by the mystery teachings.

Pythagoras of Samos: a glimpse into the life of a member of the ancient mystery schools

Little or nothing is known about the life of Pythagoras as an initiate of the ancient mystery schools. Perhaps most of the people – including myself – only know the man’s contribution to mathematics and philosophy, but do not really know that all this came as a result of being a member of mystery schools. According to Black, “The early Greek philosopher Empedocles said Pythagoras could heal the sick and rejuvenate the old. Like the Buddha he could remember his past incarnations and it was even said that he could recall the entire history of the world from the beginning.” (2007: 188) To someone who is a non-initiate this sounds un-real, but the mystery schools believe that there are other realities beyond the material world.

Moreover, such memory of the history of the world from the beginning can only be attained through years and years of meditation and self-seeking. Black (2007) furthermore writes, “His wisdom was the result of years of research and multiple initiations into Mystery schools. He spent twenty-two years learning the secrets of the Egyptian initiate priests.” (p.

188-189) Thus as we shall, later, see, Pythagoras had dedicated his whole life to

understanding the way in which the universe worked; and as a result was later initiated into Egyptian mysteries. This, it can be said, had a tremendous impact in his life since he had much to contribute to human civilization.

Through mathematics, Pythagoras discovered the musical octave. “By a process of trial and error he determined that the musical notes that sound beautiful to the human ear correspond to different weights [of steel bars]. He then calculated that they were proportionate to one another in a mathematically precise way. It is from these calculations by Pythagoras that we derive the musical octave we understand and enjoy today.” (2007: 189) Were it not for the secret knowledge possessed by Pythagoras and many other initiates, civilization would have been slow, or the word would have no meaning at all. This then brings us to the point that Mystery schools vary in their nature and function.

For initiates in mystery schools study and appreciate Natural Laws (of the Universe), they acknowledge the principle of the Yin and Yang; which is to say that they believe that in order to know good, you must have been exposed to or have experience something bad. Therefore there are societies which have dedicated their whole course to something bad, such as that of Aleister Crowley (a man that proclaimed himself the ‘Beast’/666). Thus we can see that mystery schools of ancient times only provided knowledge and it is up to those who seek it how to use it. This I say because although Pythagoras is an ancient figure, Aleister Crowley also visitied the mystery schools in Egypt and it was from then on that he decided to introduce anti-social elements to the society to which he belonged (i.e. the ‘Order of Oriental Templars’ [O.T.O.]).

However, people like Pythagoras used the knowledge of mystery schools in a positive way which has come to benefit most, if not the whole of humanity. According to Black (2007), “Pythagoras was able to grant his pupils a great vision of the spirit worlds, which he would then interpret for them. Out of this, the first discursive teaching, would emerge mathematics, geometry, astronomy, and music.” (p. 189) Thus we can see how those who sought knowledge of the mystery schools with pure hearts could make that knowledge work for not just the individual but the rest of the people.

Black (2007) furthermore writes, “Pythagoras attracted murderous rage from those excluded from his inner circle. He refused to admit a man called Cyron into his Mystery school because of his reckless, imperious behavior. Cyron stirred up a mob against Pythagoras. They broke into the building where Pythagoras and his followers were meeting and set fire to it. Everyone inside died.” (p. 190) Thus we can see how the secret teachings were supposed to stay secrets shared only among initiates.

West African Secret Societies

What I can say about African secret societies or mystery schools is that their main focus was to build and maintain harmony in the community. Membership and initiation – as in the mystery schools of the western world – were exclusive to certain individuals who were thought to be prepared for the secret teachings. What is also to be taken into account is the fact that almost every individual – in one way or the other – came into contact with mystery teachings for there were certain rituals which were performed for individuals when they’ve reached a certain stage in life. According to Witherby (2003), “Members gain merit by refusing all earthly comfort and happiness that bar the path of spiritual purity.” (p. 219) Therefore abstinence from worldly things is one of the things characteristic of all the secret societies. This is because it is only through that way that individuals seeking to be initiated can attain the knowledge they seek therein.

The influence of ancient mystery schools on contemporary secret societies: George Washington and Freemasonry

According to Black (2007), “the aim of Freemasonry…was (and still is) to help lead humanity through the age of materialism while keeping the flame of true spirituality alive.” (p. 349) A secret society whose origins go back to the medieval period, Freemasonry has often been mistaken for something else in the present day. As some scholars have argued, the emergence of Freemasonry came as a result of wanting to imitate stone-masons and their craft, but in a moral and philosophical sense. Freemasons, it is said, sought to use the tools of stone-masons to build moral values. That is to say, through attaching and giving meaning to stone-masons’ tools (i.e. the square and compass), Freemasons sought to teach men how to uphold their moral values through parables involving the tools which they have attached meaning to.

“The architecture of Freemasonry grows out of an occult, magical tradition of invoking disembodied spirits that goes back to ancient Egypt. ‘When the materials are all prepared and ready,’ it is said, ‘the architect shall appear.’” (2007: 350) The notion of Freemasonry as an architecture comes from the idea that God or the Supreme Being is an Architect, whose grand design is the universe. Therefore Freemasons are architects whose craft is concerned with shaping and upholding one’s morals. In this way Freemasons – being, predominantly, people in leadership positions around the world – have pretty much influenced even the architecture of certain buildings in most metropolitan areas around the world.

These buildings often differ from other city buildings, for they bear certain significance to the Freemasons of that particular town. Such buildings are often marked by statues of certain human-like figures, which represent something to the Freemasons. However, this influence is not only enacted for aesthetic reasons: each and everything in those buildings is calculated – in some cases – so as to correspond to certain astrological and astronomical events.

Black (2007) writes, “It is significant that at the very moment George Washington laid the foundation stone of the Capitol building, Jupiter was rising in the East. The phrase ‘Annuit Coeptis’ which hovers above the pyramid on the dollar bill is adapted from a line in Virgil’s

Aeneid – ‘Jupiter, favor us in our undertaking.’” (p. 350) Thus we can see how not only in America, but across the world, Freemasons have made their presence felt in the public sphere although they are a contemporary secret society. “Washington, then, built his city under the sign of Virgo, inviting the Mother Goddess to participate in the destiny of the United States.” (2007: 351) Thus we can see how most of the things we come to take for granted when we take a walk in town – for instance – have much significance for the future of any people whom some of their leaders are freemasons.

Black (2007) furthermore writes, “By inviting the Mother Goddess to participate in the destiny of the United States, Washington was also looking forward to a new age, a new dispensation. The United States would dominate the world – if Washington’s prayers in stone were answered and the ancient prophecies came true.” (p. 351) Therefore according to the author, it would be rare to find that the position of the United States today came only as a co-incidence.

Conclusion

The existence of secret societies has been something which has puzzled most people for they do not understand their nature and function. In as much as most of these societies are especially portrayed in a negative manner, some of them had been established for a good course. What baffles people even more is the way in which these societies have been portrayed as secretive organizations, leading to their conclusion that then they must be evil. Mystery schools have been there throughout the course of history to serve as a source of information whose value is so important that the mind whose focus is still on the material world does not qualify for admission. Therefore civilization has been pushed by the existence of these schools and the results are all in-front of us all to see.

Written by Njabulo Phiri [Published on Proudly Afrikan; proudlyafrikan.org/the-ancient-mystery-schools]