The Gateway
(- threads, 11 posts)
 About William G. Gray
General Thread
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~a
biography~ His major contribution to the Western mystery
tradition and the occult was the development of "The Rite of Light," also
called the Sangreal Sacrament. This was regarded by many, including Israel
Regardie, as having given ritual expression to the innermost mysteries of
the esoteric orders in a way that did not limit itself to any given
religious orientation. His prolific writings are regarded as among the
foundations of occult and ritual studies by both practitioners and
scholars. In 1990 he retired from active service in the
Sodality, leaving the responsibility for the future development of the
Sodality and a new curriculum for the 21st century to one of his two
successors, Marcia L. Pickands. (References throughout letters from
William Gray to Marcia Pickands 1990-1992.) Unlike many occult leaders,
William G. Gray left no organizational structure and no blueprint for the
future development of the Sodality. He felt that his time and epoch was one in which it
was essential that individuals called to this path would rise up, connect
with one another, and make decisions from that organic spiritual union
among companions about the best ways to express that spiritual reality in
the world. He called on individuals and challenged them to consider the
creation of "a materialized focus for the Sangreal Sodality as an
organized affair on this earth (Sangreal Sacrament, Weiser, 1983, bottom
page 172). "Would you like to see a Sangreal Sodality of some
material kind with Temples, regular rituals, administrative officials,
carefully selected membership, and every facility expected of modern
associations? Because if so, you will have to start building all this up
for yourself. You can certainly have it if you want it, but you will have
to work for its arrival" (Sangreal Sacrament, Weiser, 1983, page
173). Since his death, many have felt called to this path
and joined together to do just that. Others have maintained solitary
practice of Sangreal rites or gathered in smaller autonomous Temples that
may or may not know of one another. Just before his death he asked author Alan Richardson
to write his biography. For this reason leaders of the Sangreal Sodality
call Richardson Gray's "official biographer". The book, "The Old Sod - The
Odd Life & Inner Work of William G. Gray," by Alan Richardson &
Marcus Claridge was published by Ignotus Press in 2003. Bibliography |
William G. Gray
William G. Gray (1913-1992) was an English occultist,
the founder of the magical order the 