Dieter Rüggeberg • Germany

WORKERS FOR THE LIGHT
Interviews with those who promote and follow Franz Bardon’s System

Dieter Rüggeberg • Germany

Mr Ruggeberg, thoughout the world you are known as a tireless worker for the works of Franz Bardon. The great debt the world holds to you for ensuring that these works have become so far spread, is immeasurable. I have written this interview to stand as a record of your effort and opinions.

Q: What inspired you to first promote Franz Bardon’s magical system?

A: In the beginning of the 60ths I came across the teachings of Rudolf Steiner where he pointed out that each human being has so much karmic debt on his shoulders that it is scarcely possible to remove it in one incarnation. These words impressed me very much and I thought by myself that it would not be enough to do the exercises of the Bardon book “Initiation into Hermetics” but moreover I had to reduce my karmic debt as much as possible at the same time. At that time, the English edition of “The Practice of Magical Evocation” was prepared by Mr. and Mrs. Pravica in Graz/Austria and I got my first chance to contribute to the Bardon books. Around 1969 I was offered to take over the management of the published and unpublished works of Franz Bardon. According to the story in “Frabato” this duty was bound to the highest responsibility imaginable and laid on my shoulders as a very heavy weight. Therefore I was in good hope that an initiate would come soon to take the burden over, since I was an undeveloped person with no knowledge in book production at all. But since there was nobody else I agreed and started in 1970 with publishing the 2nd edition of “The Practice of Magical Evocation”. The initiate did not come and therefore I am today still in the same position as in 1970 but very thankful for the great chance I got to contribute to the spiritual development of mankind.

Q: What most disappoints or saddens you about your career promoting the works of Bardon.

A: After 32 years working for the Bardon books and the spreading of about 150 000 books around the world, there are not even ten students of Hermetics on this globe who support the Bardon work (printings, translations etc.) constantly with at least one dollar a year.

Q: What has most pleased you about your career promoting Bardon’s works?

A: The fact that I succeeded to publish the Bardon books in several languages and spread them all over the world so far, that probably no persecution can ever destroy all of them any more in the future.

Q: Many people have mentioned Darker forces trying to prevent these methods being revealed. Have you ever experienced this?

A: Of course, there is a kind of boycott against magic and occultism, mostly exercised by the Christian churches with the same witch-hunting-terms as in the middle age. But since the Christian belief is vanishing and the esoteric interests of many people grew up during the past centuries we had no real severe difficulties. Basically all fanatic religions and materialistic conceptions of the world are the enemies of magic and occultism.

Q: As progress can be slow and hard work, how many people do you believe have the potential to advance beyond the first book of the Franz Bardon system?

A: As I pointed out above, not even ten students of Hermetics support the work of Franz Bardon constantly with at least one dollar in a year. Therefore I have to assume that there are not even ten students around the world who have at least gone through the first three steps of “Initiation into Hermetics”.

Q: Readers of Frabato read of Mrs. Otti Votavova using Franz Bardon’s magic mirror. Did you ever see any of his magical items used?

A: No, I did not.

Q: Are any of Franz Bardon’s students still alive?

A: I have no knowledge about that.

Q: Are there any other texts either in English or in German that you feel are on the same standard as those of Franz Bardon.

A: I know several systems for occult development but in my opinion none of them has the standard of the Bardon system.

Q: Which texts either in English or in German, do you think would be of use to those following Franz Bardon system.

A: I learned a lot through the teachings of Rudolf Steiner (the founder of Anthroposophy) especially concerning the laws of karma, reincarnation and introspection. Moreover I can recommend the yoga books of Swami Shivananda, of Karl Brandler-Pracht and Dr. Georg Lomer.

Q: Did you ever meet Franz Bardon?

A: Unfortunately I never met Franz Bardon personally because he was already dead when I came to the books in fall 1958. Nevertheless I had the advantage to become acquainted with his secretary Mrs. Otti Votavova and visited her through many years in Prag until her death.

Q:Franz Bardon must have had a big library. Tell me did any of the contents survive? Did anyone ever take an inventory?

A: Mrs. Bardon, the wife of Franz Bardon, told me that the police in 1958 took all the books with them and never gave them back. Only a few books survived, but mostly German books about medicine. An inventory is not known to me. I was told by Mrs. Votavova that he had a rather big library although this was not so easy during the communist times. As you perhaps know Franz Bardon was a natural healer and was able to cure cancer until the 2nd stage just with natural medicine. This was too much for the so called official doctors of medicine and they tried to drop him down by accusing him to have given the wrong medicine to his patients. Before the trial was finished he died in the prison hospital. During this process all his books were confiscated and never given back. This is the reason why we have only little knowledge about his library. Beside some parts of Dr. Lomer, he had a translation of a book by S. A. Kummer who was perhaps the only rune-initiate in Germany. He even visited the last one with his wife as I know. He also met Mrs. Alexandra David-Neel when she was in Vienna for a lecture. David-Neel was a French female magician initiated in the Tibetan mysteries.]

Q. Many people ask about the source of the Bardon system. Everyone has their ideas about which tradition he drew from. Can you shed any light on this?

A: The magical system of Franz Bardon is an Egyptian one. He points to this in the chapter of “Initiation into Hermetics” where he talks about the muladhara-chakra in Kundalini-Yoga. Several basic exercises of “Initiation into Hermetics” are known in other systems like Yoga and Tibetan Buddism too, but the eastern initiates still keep silence about the complete way. Since Franz Bardon is one of the highest initiates of our cosmic system he of course needs no books from tradition.

Q: Does the FOGC still exist in Germany? Do you know if the mainstream Freemasons were aware of this order?

A: I have no knowledge about the 99-order in Germany or elsewhere. I think that lodges like the FOGC will never die out completely because there existed 99-orders around the world. I have no knowledge whether Freemasonry has taken notice of the work of Franz Bardon and the 99-orders. After my knowledge the whole Freemasonry is rather involved in materialism today what does not exclude that some of them members of a 99-order.

Q: What would be your advice to those following the Franz Bardon System.

A: They should study other occult systems too, because this strengthens the confidence in the Bardon-System. From the experience of a few decades now, I know that the beginners have extreme difficulties with the introspection or self knowledge. Nevertheless this labour is inevitable! Even if most people are not able to do the exercises of the first steps I consider it most important to work on introspection, to change at least a few bad qualities into good ones, what can improve their life situation in many aspects. In addition I recommend a serious study of Karma-Yoga because in my eyes without reduction of negative Karma a greater progress in Hermetics is scarcely possible. Thank you for answering my questions.

Rawn Clark – USA

Rawn Clark – USA

Mr Clark, You are well known as a student of Franz Bardons works and as an author of many works on Magickal practice. Indeed many students who have access to the Internet have found you always willing to help and advise on such matters. Indeed it is at these students request that I would like to ask you a few questions so that we can all know more about Rawn Clark as a person.

 

Q: What inspired you to first promote Franz Bardon’s magical system?

A: 😉 I wouldn’t title what I do as “promoting” anything really. I’m just doing my best to be a good “companion” for folks who are already interested in Bardon’s system. At any rate, there are many layers to what inspired me to become a “companion”. Foremost was the recognition that having someone around to ask questions of could be a great asset when one is just starting out. When I began my own pursuit of IIH, I had no one to ask questions of and so I was forced to figure things out for myself. While I recognize that as a good thing, many parts of it were unnecessary. In other words, some assistance could be a big help, so when the opportunity to assist presented itself via the Internet, I just jumped right in. 🙂 It was clear to me that most of the difficulties that folks were experiencing with the IIH exercises were conceptual, so I wrote about my own understanding of the exercises and very quickly, this proved to be of help to folks. The fact that my work has been helpful is what inspires me to continue.

Q: What most disappoints or saddens you about your career promoting the works of Bardon.

Q: What has most pleased you about your career promoting Bardon’s works?

A: . These aren’t emotions that I experience in relation to my work. 🙂 I don’t have any expectations or any personal needs that could be saddened or disappointed or pleased in this regard. My work is not about me. It’s about the students of Bardon and their needs. It’s about empowering their progress, not my ego needs. I do however, feel satisfaction when I see evidence that I’ve been successful in empowering another’s progress. 🙂

Q: Many people have mentioned Darker forces trying to prevent these methods being revealed. Have you ever experienced this? A: Yes, of course. I think that all of us who have any public role in supporting the increased availability of Bardon’s work experience this to some degree. But their interference, while at times annoying, has no lasting affect. Q: What do you believe is the most important quality of a student of hermetics to possess.

A: I don’t think it can be narrowed down to just one! 😉 So let me give you a short list of what I consider to be some of the more important: Dogged persistence. Radical self-honesty. Patience. Openness. Compassion for self and for others. Unshakable courage. The willingness to question everything.

 

Q: Aside from Franz Bardon what other Authors would you recommend?

A: . I’ve been asked that question a lot so on my website, I posted a Bibliography which lists authors and books that I found worthwhile reading. Nonetheless, while reading is great, first-hand experience is what makes for initiation and that’s not something one achieves through reading, no matter how good the author. 🙂

Q: What first inspired you to start writing a commentary on Franz Bardons works.

A: It was actually at the request of the owner of one of the early Bardon-related online discussion groups. She had compiled a few notes relating primarily to the first two Steps of IIH and asked me to flesh it out, so I started writing and before I knew it, I’d written my “Commentaries Upon” all three books. 😉

 

Q: How important do you think the noble actions and intentions of a hermetic student are to his development?

A: They are of paramount importance!!! Without the development of a “noble” character, progress is impossible. This is the essence of initiation and is why Bardon’s system begins with the Soul Mirror, introspection and character transformation.

Q: How important do you think faith in divine providence is to student of hermetic?

A: As important or unimportant as they want it to be or make it to be. It’s not a requirement, if that’s what you’re asking, but it is an eventuality if one progresses very far. But then, what do you mean by “faith”? For the Hermetic, this is not just a bland, unquestioning acceptance which verges on the superstitious. Instead, it is something which grows from the fact of direct personal experience of the Divine.

Q: Are there any systems of spiritual development that are incompatible to Franz Bardons system?

A:. That can’t be answered with a simple yes or no because it has to do with whether or not the practitioner is capable of adapting systems, not whether there is an inherent incompatibility of the systems themselves. Inherently, Bardon’s system can be blended with any other system if the practitioner is adroit enough.

Q. Do you think the nature of a students employment effects his or her path?

A:. Of course, all of the student’s life circumstances affect their path. 🙂

Q: Are there any health problems that you feel would make practice of the system impossible?

A: The student must have a sound mind, but any other physical handicap can be adapted to..

Merkur Publishing Inc. • Salt Lake City • Utah • USA

Merkur Publishing Inc. • Salt Lake City • Utah • USA

Q: What inspired you to promote Franz Bardon’s magical system?

A: Even though your choice of words is quite to the point, it does not really depict how we came into this position. It was quite a gradual process and we found ourselves in this position quite naturally. As far as promoting Franz Bardon’s magical system, this is the first time that someone brought up the word promotion. We never thought of it in those terms; to us it was a very pleasant duty fraught with many challenges. However, it is true that we never dreamed that we would be doing what we are doing, and even after many years we are still overwhelmed by the position we are in, and we are very grateful for it and consider it a great blessing.

Q: What disappoints or saddens you about your career promoting the works of Franz Bardon?

A: We cannot say that we experienced really any disappointments, but we did have our share of countless challenges. In his books Franz Bardon makes the statement: ‘We should be happy about the good things in our lives and learn from the bad things’. What saddens us somewhat is that very few people realize that they have the sacred sciences (the Holy Mysteries) in their hands, and in many instances they are not treated with the respect they deserve. The Hermetic Sciences are not dead letters but are actually the living word. And most people do not take the valuable time that is given to them to study the works of Bardon for the benefit of others. And if they do not want do to it for others they should at the very least do the Bardon exercises for their own benefit. In Initiation of Hermetics, Franz Bardon writes in the epilog: “Anyone who seeks the path to God, (and the path of magic or perfection is the path to God) should take Christ’s words to heart, the great Master of the Mystics: ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself’. these words should be the sacred command for every seeker who is on the spiritual path.'”

Q: What pleases you the most about your career promoting the works of Franz Bardon?

A: That we have been given this great opportunity.

Q: Many people have mentioned darker forces trying to prevent these methods from being revealed. Have you ever experienced this?

A: Do darker forces exist? Yes, they do. But, as to their abilities that depends on one’s belief system. If you believe that the so-called darker forces have the ability to prevent these methods from being revealed, then they have been given this ability by you. However, if you do not believe that they can do this, then they will not be able to prevent it.

Q: As progress can be slow and hard work. How many people do you believe have the potential to advance beyond the first book of the Franz Bardon system?

A: Only very few human beings have the answer to that question. Because those who have succeeded would not break the seal of silence. Breaking the seal of silence would mean also loosing everything you have gained. Therefore, we do not know how many have succeeded or how many are progressing toward that goal. However, there should be considerably more now than in the past, otherwise these books and the knowledge they contain would be in vain. Anyone who is serious, and who follows the instructions exactly, acquires the necessary virtues and eliminates his passions and does not waste his time with other meaningless endeavors, has the potential to master the exercises in Initiation. Any person who wishes to succeed on the path to God requires the necessary virtues, because they give him the strength necessary to accomplish this; whereas his passions consume the energy he requires. When these books were not available to the world at large, the number of people who reached the level described in Initiation of Hermetic were about four in a billion.

Q: What do you think is the most common characteristic that holds a student of Hermetics back?

A: Pride!!!!

Q: How can the previously mentioned characteristic be overcome?

A: By turning it into love, especially love for thy neighbor and above all for God, and then turning it into humility without losing the virtue of love. This of course is a task that requires a strong will. But a person who has pride has no will of its own, and such a person is completely controlled by his passions. However you can regain your will through love.

Q: Are there texts either in English or in German that you think would be of use to those following Franz Bardon’s system?

A: Yes, there are. Once you have worked through the maze of available literature on this subject, including all the well-known authors, there is only one which emerges — the writings of Jakob Lorber. He received his information through the Inner Word, which means directly from Divine Providence or God. Everything that has been taken out of the Bible is now available again through his writings. His first work, The Household of God contains in detail information that was/is not contained in Initiation into Hermetics. Besides that it contains historical information from Adam to Noah, and for those who are interested in the exact location of Atlantis, which in those days was called Hanoch, this too is available. Jakob Lorber’s books, twenty-five in all, contain details not contained in the Bardon books. We have assumed that Franz Bardon was aware that these books existed. And of course it is up to the seeker of truth to find them. However, if you spend your time on other literature in this field you have to expect that you will experience many dead ends.

Q: Many people ask about the source of the Bardon system. Everyone has their ideas about which tradition he drew from. Can you shed any light on this?

A: There is only one source and Franz Bardon mentions it several times. Divine Providence!

Q: It is mentioned in an article by Franz Bardon called “Hermetic Sciences” that when we perform our exercises to develop ourselves (microcosm) this also causes an equivalent change in the universe (macrocosm). Can you explain this more?

A: If you can imagine, on the physical level, if our lives were curtailed or extended, what kind of consequences our presence or lack of presence could cause. This also applies when we rid ourselves of our negative characteristics. Not only does this change in us affect the people in our surroundings, but also the spirits we attract and those we reject. From there it is a chain reaction, and it affects everything. This is very briefly the explanation and if you meditate on that you will find more variations and also the deeper meaning of the above statement.

Q: What would be your advice to those following the Franz Bardon system?

A: We get many calls asking for help with the exercises. This help cannot be given until all the preliminary work has been done by the student. Most of the callers expect results without adhering to the instruction given in the Bardon books. The exercises in his books do not require a teacher in the earlier stages, which is mentioned in the instructions. However most students do not even seem to have read that portion of Initiation. Before anyone begins with the practice the theory has to be studied to the point that it is completely committed to memory. And later when a teacher is needed, Divine Providence will provide one for the student. Failure will be imminent when the student is convinced by someone else, that they need a teacher or initiator at the earlier stages of their development.

The negative characteristics have to be completely eliminated or a least to be brought into some kind of a balance. For example: 21 negative characteristics of the fire element, 20 negative characteristics of the air element, 19 negative characteristics of the water element, and 18 negative characteristics of the earth element. What is of the utmost importance as a student of Hermetics or to the aspiring magician is to keep silent about your personal progress, otherwise you cannot be or become a magician. These are the basic rules to succeed.

As supporting literature, not in place of the Bardon system, it would be advantageous to read Seven Hermetic Letters by Dr. Georg Lomer, and all the Lorber books which are presently available. All students of the Bardon system of Hermetics can keep up with Faulks Books for all future titles.

Q: In Questions and Answers, by Dieter Ruggeberg, Franz Bardon recommends that the student pray before he performs his exercises. He also talks about magical prayer. Could you explain a little about this and perhaps recommend a prayer that the student could pray before his exercises?

A: If we want to succeed in our spiritual development, we are really on the path to God, becoming one with God. Therefore we have to ask Him for guidance, and that He help us to be obedient in every way to Him, and only to do His will. We must ask God to bless our food before we eat, thank him after we have eaten, ask Him to bless our home, because all the instructions in the Bardon books are divine laws belonging to the divine order. Therefore, any student who is not within this order will not succeed. And remember: with God all things are possible, without God nothing is possible.