Enrolling as a Student
Submitting your Application
If, after having read this file, you are thinking
of enrolling yourself as a student, proceed with one of the methods below. Please note: our School now offers a faster, more convenient and powerful method for applying to the School, as well as ordering lessons. The new method is via direct electronic application, ordering lessons via PayPal, and receipt of lessons electronically from SOL Headquarters. Full information regarding the online process, as well as a wealth of other resources, can be found at our SOL Administration Site.
For the electronic process, you will need a PayPal account. A PayPal account is very easy to set-up. Read how to set-up a PayPal account or alternatively, watch a movie.
Applicants for SOL lessons are asked to answer the questions appearing in the Application links below. Please read through these questions thoroughly, as they can be of great help, firstly to the Director of Studies in placing them with the right Supervisor, and secondly to the Supervisor in guiding their work. Applications can be submitted electronically here.
That's all there is to it.
When the Director of Studies and the Administrative Resource Council (ARC) have processed your
application, you will be notified by email. Note that processing
of your application will take 6 to 8 weeks. Enquiries will be
answered directly.
Remittance for Lessons is £9.95. For non-UK students, PayPal will do the conversion for you.
Two people living at the same address may apply
as one person and work from one set of papers and text-book. They
are charged as one person, i.e. £9.95 per Lesson. Please remember
to put your name, your Supervisor's name and the number of the
Lesson on the front of each Diary.
Students will be notified of the payment process via email if you are admitted to the School.
Questionnaire and Examination Paper
Part One - Questionnaire
Applicants for the course are asked to answer
the following questions, as they can be of great help, firstly
to the Director of Studies in placing them with the right Supervisor,
and secondly to the Supervisor in guiding their work. All information
is kept in the strictest confidence. It is best to answer the
questions and complete the examination on a separate piece of
paper; but there is no need to write out the questions again -
just number them clearly. Place an "X" against any question
you cannot answer.
- Full name and address.
- email address.
- Date of Birth.
- Place of Birth.
- Nationality.
- What was you religious upbringing as a child; and what
is your attitude to religion now?
- State type of education received, and any qualifications
you may have.
- State job or profession.
- Are you married/unmarried/divorced? If you are married,
do you have children?
- Have you any hobbies and/or interests?
- Are you, or have you ever been a member of another esoteric
Order? If so, do you have the permission of that Order to
join us?
- What are your reasons for wanting to join the SOL?
- Have you ever taken, or do you still take, drugs of any
kind? If so, give details.
- Have you ever suffered from any nervous disorder or depression?
Have you ever had to see a psychiatrist?
- How did you hear about the SOL?
Part Two - Examination Papers
This part of the examination papers is designed
to tell us how deep a knowledge you have of the Occult Traditions,
history and practice. Do not feel disappointed if you cannot answer
all of them; we are merely trying to determine the amount and
type of knowledge you already hold. Remember that the most famous
of occult teachers all had to start somewhere - so you are in
good company. Answer the questions honestly. We are more than
willing to help you acquire the basics with the Preliminary Course.
- Meditation is one of the basic skills of occult training.
What do you understand by the term "meditation"?
- Have you ever had any psychic experiences? If so, give
details.
- What is the extent of your reading on occult and allied
matters?
- Do you have a personal concept of the Creative Source (i.e.
God)?
- Symbology plays a large part in occult work; and a well-trained
occultist must have a good knowledge of the subject. Can you
take a symbol and give an account of its meaning and origin?
If so, do so here, in not more than a hundred words.
- Do you know anything of ritual? If so, give details.
- Mythology is a valuable and important part of your training.
A student must make a detailed study of at least two pantheons
as well as his native tradition. If you have more than a passing
knowledge of the subject, please give details.
Thank you for taking part in this Questionnaire and Examination.
It is not how many questions you answer that matters; but how
you answer. Please remember that all your answers will be confidential.
Only the Director of Studies and your Supervisor will have access
to them.
Rules for the First Degree
Course
All work must be legible if hand-written. If
you do have a typewriter, please use it. You must keep a copy
of your work for your own records.
All records must be prefaced by a separate piece of paper bearing
your name and address, the lesson number and your Supervisor's
name. All papers must be securely fastened together.
Diagrams should not exceed foolscap size and must be signed on
the back.
If Students wish to make a temporary stop in their studies they
must inform both their Supervisor and HQ. Supervisors are located
all over the world and are readily available to HQ.
If no work is received from a student for three months, a letter
of enquiry will be sent. If there is no answer to that letter,
the name of the student will be removed from the Register. A student
requesting leave of absence will always be accepted back; but
if the courtesy of notice is not given, then this could influence
the decision to accept the student back at a later date.
Work must be of a reasonable standard. Continuous submission of
substandard work may result in a student being requested to leave.
We have no desire to waste our time or your money.
Discretion and discrimination are expected of all students concerning
their studies with the SOL There are some people whom you will
find sympathetic to your work; but there will be many who are
not. Lesson papers must never be shown to others - apart from
an interested spouse. The ideas of the School may be discussed
at your discretion.
A Supervisor has little free time - most have a full-time job
as well as offering their service to the School. Therefore, if
you are lucky enough to be invited to your Supervisor's home,
consider it a privilege. Give a time of arrival and stick to it,
circumstances permitting. If you will be late, telephone and let
your Supervisor know. Do not expect your Supervisor to wait in
for you on the off-chance that you might arrive.
If you feel that you cannot find what you seek in the SOL it is
not our policy to hold on to you. All we ask is that you let us
know. We do worry if we do not hear from you. We do not pretend
to be able to suit all would-be students. Neither do we consider
ourselves to be the only School worth studying with. Just one
of many good Schools!
Please read the instructions carefully before starting a Lesson.
If you have a question for your Supervisor,
please enclose an S.A.E. for their reply. In the case of the Director
of Studies, please send an International Stamp Coupon, as U.K.
stamps are not valid in Jersey.
Female students who become pregnant should stop
all Lessons and contact their Supervisor and the Director of Studies
at once.
Do not mix Eastern breathing exercises with
SOL Exercises. They do not mix.
Format for the daily entries
in your record
The way in which your diary record is kept is
as much part of your training as the knowledge in the text. Therefore,
the following format is to be followed in all your daily meditation
work.
- DATE:
- TIME:
- PLACE:
- MEDITATION SUBJECT: Subject is to be written in full each
day, even when repeated. Do not refer your Supervisor back to
the previous day for the title of the meditation subject.
- REALISATIONS: This is the most important of your diary entry.
It is the key to your understanding of the Lesson and the meditation
you have just completed. Train yourself to be straight-forward
and to the point - and, if possible, keep your realisations
within ten lines or so. Again, this is good training, for it
teaches you to discard the irrelevant and find the kernel of
the meditation.
REMARKS: (If any).
- REALISATIONS DURING THE DAY: Sometimes you get further insight
into an earlier meditation, and you should write this down,
noting that it was a later insight.
- N.E: (time of Noon Exercise)
- E.E: (time of Evening Exercise) C.E: (number of Catch Exercises
done)
- TITLE OF BOOK READ: Note the book that you are presently engaged
in reading.
Special Note
Rudeness to Supervisors will not be tolerated.
All Supervisors are people who have given up a considerable part
of their lives to this work and to the teaching of others. Courtesy
is little enough to give them in exchange. One complaint will
bring a reprimand; two complaints means instant dismissal. To
be fair, personalities sometimes clash; and if a student wishes
to change his or her Supervisor a request for transfer will be
granted. The same applies to a Supervisor wishing to change a
student.
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