Paul Foster Case: Emissary of the True and Invisible Rosicrucian Order

Unveiling Case’s Rosicrucian Sources

The 20th century saw the emergence of several larger than life figures in the Western Mystery Tradition – Aleister Crowley, Israel Regardie, Dion Fortune, and William Gray, to name but a few. All of these were well-known authors who published many popular books on aspects of the Occult. In this post, Steven Tsaliki uncovers a less well-known figure, who stood on par with all of these, was a man named Dr. Paul Foster Case.

This article is a blog contribution from the Fraternitas Lux Occulta in joint partnership with Pansophers.com for the beehive project.

Image credit: Travis Simpkins

EARLY LIFE

Paul Foster Case was born in 1884 in Fairport, New York. His mother was a school teacher and his father curated for a local private library. For a man who yearned for wisdom, this was an ideal situation in which to be born.

Music was to have a major influence on Case’s life. At the age of three he was introduced to the musical instruments of the piano and the organ by his mother, and later became the organist for his local church. Exhibiting musical genius from a very early age, Paul was something of a childhood prodigy.

At only four years of age, Paul was found exploring ‘forbidden books’ in his father’s attic, a sure sign of picking up from a former incarnation. By age seven he could consciously manipulate his dreams and started a correspondence with author Rudyard Kipling on this and other ‘fourth dimensional’ experiences.

Paul’s mother died when he was only 13, and three years later his father remarried and started a new life. At the ripe age of 16, Paul Foster Case was placed in a situation where he had to look after himself, and found work playing the piano and entertaining through magic tricks for Vaudeville theatres. Around this time Case met the occultist Claude Bragdon at a charity performance. Bragdon asked Case the question: “So where do you think playing cards come from?” This question started a lifelong quest for Case, inspiring him to read every book he could find on the subject and conduct extensive research.

Paul Foster Case took responsibility for his own education and was said to be entirely self-taught. He felt that his exploration of the Tarot and the Ancient Wisdom teachings was guided by an inner voice, and that the study of the Tarot itself had stimulated his own ‘inner hearing’ and other latent abilities. Case’s early research led him to rediscover what he considered to be the correct attributes of the Tarot, some of which he published before he was 21 years old in the magazines The Word, Tarota and Azoth, and in his first book An Introduction to the Study of the Tarot (1920).

 

PREVIOUS LIFE AS A KABBALIST

Whilst studying, at the age of 23, Case had a vivid recollection of his previous incarnation as a Kabbalist:

While engrossed in the many attributions between the symbols of the Tarot and the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, Case found that instead of being Paul Case, he had become the Jewish Kabbalist Rabbi Wolff of 18th century Poland. He was sitting in his study pouring over the treatise, The Sepher Yetzirah. The right hand side of the text was in Hebrew, while a literal translation in Latin was on the left page. Amazingly, he was able to read both languages perfectly. Unfortunately, he felt distracted and unable to concentrate. His attention kept wandering back to his daughter, Rebecca. She was already 16 years old and rapidly approaching spinsterhood; a serious problem! How would she provide for herself in her old-age if she didn’t marry? He knew he needed to make a match for her, but he would also have to provide a suitable dowry. As a Rabbi in a very poor community that was going to be difficult. He turned the problem over and over in his mind. In the midst of his anxiety, he again became Paul Case. But now he had the full recollection of his earlier life as a Rabbi.1

One day Case related this story to a librarian at the University of Illinois. The librarian asked about the title of the treatise in his vision. Case answered and added it was a bilingual translation in Latin-Hebrew from his own library at the time. The librarian told Case that in the library there was “one or two [books] in Latin that look like they would be old enough to fit that time period.” Case’s colleague asked if there were any details he could recall that would assist in authenticating the book in question. Case gave the page number of the passage that he had read in his vision and recalled making a note in the margin. The book was retrieved, and Case’s friend began reading the indicated page in Latin asking, “Is this the text”? To which Paul replied, “My God, yes!” There were notes in the margin just as Case had reported from his vision. The back of the book listed Rabbi Wolff’s name and a date from the 1700s.

 

THE ALPHA ET OMEGA

Michael Whitty, the Praemonstrator of the New York Thoth-Hermes Temple of Alpha et Omega2 was familiar with Case’s published works at that time and approached him offering membership. Case accepted and joined Alpha et Omega in 1918, quickly progressing through its Outer Order Grades. On 16 May 1920, Case was initiated into the Second Order and given the Magical motto “Perseverantia.” Only three weeks later he was the Third Adept in the annual Corpus Christi ceremony. Case succeeded Whitty within less than a year as the Chief Adept of Alpha et Omega.

A close friendship and collaboration occurred between Whitty and Case from 1918 until Whitty’s passing in 1920. In that short time Whitty helped publish Case’s articles on the Tarot and the two also clairaudiently received and published a text known as the Book of Tokens. Case initially asserted this was a recovery of an earlier text by an unknown Kabbalist, but later confirmed it was directly inspired by the mysterious Master R (discussed further on).

In 1920 Whitty moved to Los Angeles due to health problems and died a short time after. Case attributed Whitty’s death to his use of the Enochian system, which was part of the Second or Inner Order curriculum. Enochian was allegedly a system of Angelic Magic received by Dr. John Dee and his Scryer Edward Kelly in the late 16th century. Case strongly felt this system was corrupt, notably due to the questionable character of Edward Kelly as Dee’s Scryer, attributing it to demonic rather than angelic forces. Case also believed that Enochian was a caricature of an older, much purer system and claimed Master R verified his intuitions.

Case testified to individual cases he knew in which detrimental results followed the practice of Enochian Magic:

I have personal knowledge of more than twenty-five instances where the performance of magical operations based upon the Order formulae [of Enochian invocations] led to serious disintegrations of mind and body… Perhaps the most conspicuous examples of the use of these formulas is A.C. [Aleister Crowley] himself, but there are plenty of others that I have personally witnessed, whose personal shipwrecks have been just as complete even though their smaller tonnage, so to say, makes the loss seem less deplorable… [Michael] Whitty’s health failed as a direct result of magical practices based on Order formulae, but sadly deficient in adequate protection.3

Case also corresponded with noted Golden Dawn Adept and author Israel Regardie over his concerns. Case strongly felt that Enochian was foreign to the overall system of the Golden Dawn and as a result omitted it altogether from his own organisation, the Builders of the Adytum.  However, Case must have felt the elemental tablets were still useful for use in the Outer Order grade rituals and replaced the Enochian versions used in the Golden Dawn with his own adaptations using different scripts.

 

CONTROVERSY WITH MOINA MATHERS

Due to Case’s rapid progression through the Order of the Alpha et Omega, it was inevitable he would arouse jealously amongst some of its longer standing members. Case also had quite a reputation as the most knowledgeable man in the temple at that time. On one occasion Case gave a presentation on the subject of the symbolism of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life and the stations of the temple layout. Paul correctly mentioned that the altar is situated in the position of the Sephirah Yesod, and went on to explain this sphere relates to the creative sexual energy and thus the genitals in the human body to which it is attributed.

Moina Mathers was the wife of MacGregor Mathers and Imperatrix for the Order. Members who were unhappy with Case wrote her, complaining about Case’s “teachings concerning sex magic.” Moina wrote to Case: “I have seen the results of this superficial sex teaching in several occult societies as well as in individual cases. I have never met with one happy result.”

Moina went on to offer guidance to Case, and in one section of her letter she says, “But you and I who would be teachers and pioneers in this Purgatorial World must be prepared before all the gods to be the servant of the Greatest of them All… that is to say of the Osiris, the Christ, the God of the sacrifice of the Self.”

Case resigned as Praemonstrator, responding to Moina: “I must beg you to believe that I have no desire to be a ‘teacher and pioneer in this Purgatorial World’. What prominence I have had has been thrust upon me. What exploration of undeveloped fields has fallen to my lot has been more the result of guidance than by choice; and now that guidance seems to have removed me from the high place to which I have never really aspired.” He further went on to say, “The relief is great. I am now free to pursue my studies and my life without incurring some of the dangers that beset more prominent members of the Order.”4

For Case, the subject of sex in relation to spirituality became increasingly important. In his Book of Tokens he states:

You must alter your conception of sex in order to comprehend the Ageless Wisdom… It is the interior nervous organism, not the external organs, that is always meant in phallic symbolism and the force that works through these interior centres is the Great Magical Agent, the Divine Serpent Fire.

In other books Case made further mention of practices involving the redirection of sexual force to higher centres of the brain in order to induce supersensory states of consciousness. This is reminiscent of contemporary occultist Dion Fortune, who was also dismissed from Alpha et Omega on similar grounds for publishing certain ‘secret teachings’. She even wrote a book titled Esoteric Philosophy of Love and Marriage.

 

MEETING WITH THE MASTER R

Many years earlier, in 1909 or 1910, Paul Foster Case said he was approached in Chicago by a man on the street named Robert Fludd, a local physician. Fludd knew Case by name and told him:

I come from the Master of Wisdom who is my Teacher as well as yours. He gave me your name, told me where I would find you at this specific day and hour and sends a message. You are now at a crossroad in your life. If you decide to continue in your musical career, you will be successful. You will have a little more of this world’s goods than most. You will have a relatively happy and easy incarnation. However, if you take the other road, you will be dedicating yourself to fully serve humanity and play a vital part in its evolution for this coming Aquarian Age. Your life will be hard. You will be subjected to forces difficult to withstand. Tests and trials will be with you throughout your incarnation. Sorrow will walk with you often. You will not receive any recognition or glory. The recognition of your contribution to the Evolution of Humanity will start to come only after you have left your physical body. The Masters await your decision, for it will take them many Earth years to find a suitable vehicle for the Vast Soul who will incarnate for the purpose of continuing the Great Work which you will have started in its revised phases for this era. The Masters promise nothing except to give help in all phases of the Spiritual Teachings. They wish you to know that hard though your life will be, in the final analysis, you will not starve to death.5

Case accepted without question.

After he resigned from Alpha et Omega in 1921, Case made contact with what he considered to be an advanced Adept of the mysterious Third Order. This occurred through a simple phone call and much to Case’s surprise he recognised the voice that had been guiding him through his life. It was Master R who had specifically visited New York to train Case in establishing the next stage of the mysteries for the coming Aquarian Age. Paul then physically met Master R and spent three whole weeks receiving personal instruction and direct transmission of the Ageless Wisdom.

This ‘Master R’ was said to be the Master Rakóczi, often referred to by the Theosophist Madame Blavatsky as one of her Ascended Masters or Mahatmas. Master R was also said to be synonymous with the mysterious Count St Germain, who was rumoured to have lived for several hundred years, and spotted in many places throughout Europe at different times, being a confidant and adviser to prominent members of the aristocracy

 

BUILDERS OF THE ADYTUM

After the fallout with Moina Mathers and his resignation from Alpha et Omega, Paul Foster Case went on to found his own School of Ageless Wisdom in 1922, just a few weeks after receiving instruction from Master R. This school later changed its name to the Builders of the Adytum, and still exists today.

Arthur Edward Waite, one of the founders of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, once wrote to Case asking, “What books have you written?” to which Case replied, “most of my writings have been written in the form of lessons.” The correspondence courses for the Builders of the Adytum (BOTA), which incorporate the lessons, and go for up to 15 years, demonstrate the vast output of Case and his successor Ann Davies. These courses cover the mysteries of the Holy Kabbalah, Tarot, Spiritual Alchemy and sound and colour work. BOTA also offers an introduction to group ritual known as the Pronaos, and holds a unique Kabbalistic Sunday service at its Los Angeles and New Zealand headquarters.

 

ANN DAVIES

In 1944, a young girl by the name of Ann Davies (later known as Soror Resurgam) reluctantly accompanied her sister to a public talk. The talk by Paul Foster Case was on the subject of the Tarot. Ann knew nothing of the Tarot at the time, and was somewhat skeptical about the subject, later admitting she did not want to be there. This attitude soon changed. She recounts in a recorded lecture:

The door opened and lightning struck! Imagine!… as his eyes met mine, we both experienced an intense shock of recognition that was soul shaking. Along with this recognition, I was aware of many other elements. Infinitude looked out from behind his eyes and smiled into my soul. I

knew him so well and yet I couldn’t understand why…. He rushed over to me in front of everyone, threw his arms around me and said, “Oh my god, I’m so happy to see you again! Oh, isn’t this wonderful!” And of course I knew him. I have known him throughout eternity. That moment there was thunder and lightning, but in between, there was confusion.6

It certainly sounds likely that the two knew each other in a former incarnation. They recognised each other as if long lost friends, to begin a new journey and work together where they had left off from their previous incarnation.

Ann went on to assist Paul in his teaching and in running the Builders of the Adytum. Together they wrote, mailed out lessons, and ran the organisation. In fact, Ann was to be the successor, becoming head of BOTA in 1954 when Case passed away, and maintained this position until her own transition in 1975. Ann was a teacher and spiritual leader in her own right, penning several courses for the BOTA curriculum and publishing three books of her own. She also gave many lectures, some of which were recorded and made available.

 

OUIJA BOARD & COMMUNICATIONS

Some of the most significant material that Paul Foster Case received from Master R occurred during February 1947 to November 1948. This material was received with the assistance of Ann Davies and Paul’s wife at the time, Harriet Case. The three of them held sessions in an attempt to receive messages from Master R, sometimes through the use of an Ouija board. On a few occasions the communications were cut short due to unfavourable influences or conditions, and the Master postponed. The communications themselves were eventually discontinued due to Master R needing to devote his full attention toward certain world events of the time in the Middle East.

Over the two years Paul, Ann and Harriet received some outstanding teachings. At first glance much of this appears scattered and incoherent due to some transmissions being cut short. However, the communications contain a corpus of received advanced Kabbalistic wisdom on the Tree of Life and the Tarot. Anyone with sufficient training in the Western Tradition and an understanding of Gematria (a sophisticated system of Hebrew numerology) can glean much wisdom contained within its pages. The contents of these communications were published in 2013 in the book Paul Case: His Life and Works by Dr. Paul A. Clark.

 

LATER LIFE & DEATH

Case continued his life’s work writing and teaching until his death. It is said he often used what little money he had to sometimes pay the postage for lessons to be mailed to students. The prophecy of his meeting with Robert Fludd seemed to come to fruition, and Case gave up what would have been an easy life to pursue the mysteries for the spiritual welfare of humanity. It is said that in his later life students would often bring plates of food to his lodging as there were times he could not even afford a meal.

Case died of a heart attack in 1954 whilst vacationing to Mexico with his second wife Harriet, leaving behind a vast corpus of material.

 

WORKS & LEGACY

All of Case’s works come highly recommended on the topics they covered. Case’s Magnum Opus remains the True and Invisible Rosicrucian Order. In it he examines the Rosicrucian grade system as it relates to the Tree of Life and the Tarot cards. He also explores the inner symbolism and meanings of the Rosicrucian Manifestoes in extraordinary detail.

His Tarot: A Key to the Wisdom of the Ages was and is the clearest and best introduction to the 22 Tarot Trumps available. The Book of Tokens is a beautiful work offering meditations on the Tarot Trumps and one cannot but feel inspired when reading it. Other well-known works included The Masonic Letter G; Daniel: The Master of Magicians; An Introduction to the Study of the Tarot; Highlights of Tarot and The Great Seal of the United States.

It is not generally known that Paul Foster Case also rewrote the Golden Dawn grade rituals, purging them of elements he deemed inharmonious to the overall integrity of the system. Case did establish a Second Order curriculum for his own organisation, which was minimal, and he made changes to the Rosicrucian Vault as it was received from the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. He also wrote many grade papers for his own Order that provide excellent material rivalling anything of his contemporary occultists.

The teachings and writings of Paul Foster Case have influenced many in the past few decades and remain as clear and insightful today as when written. Case’s teachings on the Tarot and Holy Kabbalah are second to none in depth and breadth. In recent years, many of his earlier writings have been re-published in order to make the teachings more accessible (7). It is said that much of Case’s early material is some of his most advanced work. There is still unpublished material held by BOTA and one of its successors, the Fraternity of the Hidden Light. In time, it is hoped that more may be made available to the public.

The Builders of the Adytum and the Fraternity of the Hidden Light continue to offer Paul Foster Case’s teachings to sincere students of the Western Mystery Tradition around the world. His legacy lives in the work he left behind and will continue to inspire and guide many who seek the Ageless Wisdom and the Path of Return.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Steven Tsaliki, also known as V.H. Frater S.I.A., is the Chief Adept and founder of Resurgam Lodge No. 23 of the Fraternity of the Hidden Light. Steven has been a student and practitioner of the Western Mystery Tradition for over 20 years and is based in Adelaide, South Australia. He can be contacted at floaus@hotmail.com.

The Fraternity of the Hidden Light (LVX Occulta) is an Aquarian Age School teaching in the Western Mystery Tradition tracing direct lineage to the Alpha et Omega through Paul Foster Case.  The Fraternity offers a range of introductory courses and has lodges worldwide.

Seekers can contact the Fraternity of the Hidden Light through their website at www.lvx.org.

FOOTNOTES

*Originally published in New Dawn Magazine Vol.9 No.2 as “Paul Foster Case – Maestro of the Tarot and kabbalah”. This version has been slightly modified.

  1. Dr. Paul A. Clark, edited by C. L. Forbes, Paul Foster Case – His Life and

Work, Fraternity of the Hidden Light, 2013, 14

  1. Alpha et Omega was an offshoot of the Hermetic Order of the Golden

Dawn founded in 1888 that was still loyal to founder Macgregor

Mathers after several schisms and break away groups formed.

  1. Review by John White, Paul Foster Case – His Life and Work by Dr. Paul
  2. Clark. Fraternity of the Hidden Light, 2013 (review located at www.

jwmt.org/v3n26/clark_review.html)

  1. 4. cit., Paul Foster Case – His Life and Work, 51, 53
  2. 5. Paul Foster Case, www.arcane-archive.org/tarot/paul-foster-case-1.

php

  1. Op. cit., Paul Foster Case – His Life and Work, 98
  2. See Occult Fundamentals and Spiritual Unfoldment – Volume 1; and Esoteric Secrets of Magic – Volume 2, both published by the Fraternity of the Hidden Light.

REFERENCES

Paul Foster Case – His Life and Work by Dr. Paul A. Clark, edited by C. L.

Forbes (published 2013 by Fraternity of the Hidden Light)

Occult Fundamentals and Spiritual Unfoldment – Volume 1: The Early Writings

by Paul Foster Case (published 2008 by Fraternity of the Hidden

Light)

Occult of Personality: Podcast 42 – The Life and Work of Dr. Paul Foster

Case (http://occultofpersonality.net/podcast-42-the-life-and-work-ofdr-

paul-foster-case/)

Occult of Personality: Podcast 66 – Dr. Paul Clark (http://occultofpersonality.

net/podcast-66-dr-paul-clark/)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Foster_Case

Golden Dawn Biographies, www.golden-dawn.org/biocase.html

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