Okay! So this is a website concerned with the practical and accurate practice of magic in the modern day. So why would I write an article that sounds like it’s going to be a crazy conspiracy theorist rant? Also why is this relevant to us today?
Firstly, I hope to pull apart from the romanticism in the Templar story from that for which there is evidence. So this is hopefully not going to be a crazy conspiracy text. That is a practice which is so important in the Occult world where we walk the path that sits somewhere between mundane reality and the lunatic’s fantasy land. So practising walking the fine line of truth is good for our spirituality.
Secondly, the Templars were an inspiration for a lot of the world’s earliest occult orders. Albeit there is no evidence that links them to 18 and 19th century boys’ clubs like Freemasonry, Rosicrucian or Templar recreation clubs. But it did inspire them. Orders like the O.T.O (which publicly identifies as the Ordo Templi Orientis – the Order of the Temple of the East) were often based on a romanticised orientalised version the Templars. This shows there is power in the Templar myth. Much more power than you might realise at first.
The O.T.O’s initiation rituals were used to initiate Gerald Gardiner who created modern day Wicca giving it so much of its basic ritual. So if you work some sort of pagan ritual, which uses the four elements, the four directions, drawing of pentagrams or if you are a Thelemite or an O.T.O member then some part of your practice is taken from a Templar recreation group whether you recognise that or not. I’m sorry to spoil any romantic notion you might have had about practising an ancient, all-female or exclusively pagan tradition, but some part is influenced by the mystery surrounding the Templars. You can deny it, try to rid your rituals of any Templar influence or you can embrace it.
The Templars were an occult power that rivalled the Church, so much so, that people have found it easy to believe it was the Pope who had them physically contained, because he could not deal with their spiritual influence.
When the Templars first began they operated in unique way not seen before. They were warriors, but they lived like monks. They were educated, but lived like the poor. They were religious, but they killed people. The Templar life was not one of pleasantries, but it was chosen by so many.
Why has this strange and unpleasant life-style appealed to so many? I will move to suggest that there was something powerful about the order that made people choose the difficult life.
Why did Masonry create so many of their own Knights Templar orders. Freemasonry today tries its best to cast aside its associations with any singular religion or philosophy and welcome people of all faiths, but one of its highest orders was the Knights Templar and it only accepts Christians. Why would this be allowed to remain at the heart of Freemasonry while it tries to free itself of association with any particular religion? I hope to argue through most of this article that Templarism has an occult power that we don’t notice and it underpins so many of magical traditions for a reason. There is power in it. Surely if we ignore it completely then we will not so easily tap into and understand its power.
One of the services they offered pilgrims was that you could deposit money with them, receive a note from them, carry it throughout your pilgrimage and at another location exchange that note for your money. Does this sound familiar at all? It would seem that the Templar’s influence was not exclusively on the rituals we do as magical practitioners today, but their ideas seem to have massive influence the modern banking system which its notes, cheques, credit cards and online banking figures. The idea that a large sum of money could be converted into something seemingly worthless like a piece of paper, which can later be converted back into the large sum of money. What if you told yourself when you did your LBRP or circle casting ritual that the spirits you used were the same spirits who created our banking system with all its importance and power today? How would that affect your magic? Money seems to be the basis of our society. When we say there’s too many homeless, too many going hungry and too many violent crimes and we ask our politicians to fix it and they invoke their respect and fear for money or the cost to force us to let them get away with their sin. What if we were invoking the power that controlled money to do good? If that power worked for us, instead of against us?
The Templars inspired not only Masonic orders, Banking systems, but it’s mythology sticks around in our minds today. They inpired movies such as Indiana Jones’ the Last Crusade, The Minion (1998), National Treasure (2004), Arn-The Knight Templar (2007), I wouldn’t be surprised if the next Tomb Raider movie (they already came up in the games as the Order of the Trinity). Books about them inspired Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code and The Last Templar. The number of modern video games which feature Templars or something inspired by them is countless. I already mentioned Tomb Raider. I would not be forgiven for failing to mention Assassin’s Creed, but it doesn’t stop there: Dragon Age’s “Templar Order” and Deus Ex’s Templars. There are even games called The First Templar (2011), Stronghold Crusader (2001) and finally Knights of the Temple (2004 & 2005). Sure something which captures our imagination so much it features in this much of our art has some occult stronghold on our minds. It’s time we recognised this power that flows through the blood of our magical traditions and take it back up.
In what situation did the Templars arise?
The Templars like many orders were born as a result of a schism. But while most orders are formed by a group breaking away it wasn’t so. Instead it was born in the middle of the schism. In 1056 the Eastern Church (which mostly lay the ground for the modern day Orthodox church) and the Western Church (the heart of which was Rome) schismed. Pope Leo IX excommunicated the patriach of Constantinople Michael Celarius who excommunicated him right back. This excommunication lay in place until in 1965, but at of the birth of the Templars, this excommunication lay in place.
Not long after this excommunication the Byzantine empire was overrun by their enemies, the Turks. They needed help. The Byzantines had requested aid before, but Popes were unresponsive until, following a request for military aid from Emperor Alexius Comnenus, Pope Urban II gave a stirring speech in 1095 beginning the crusades.
The speech suggested things like remission of sins for going on this “pilgrimage”. A heavenly afterlife and riches in the kingdom of heaven was promised. The schism had gone on too long if Christians came to the aid of other Christians it might heal the divide.
Soon, it became clear that the real plan was to go south and take Jerusalem for the Western Church. Godfrey of Buillon (whose father has fought with William the Conqueror in the Battle of Hastings 1066) sold his land and took out loans to go on the Crusade. He led the siege of Jerusalem, where they arrived in 1099.
At Jerusalem they marched barefoot encircling the city, which they could not penetrate for days, like the Jericho of the Bible. In doing so they whirled many of themselves into a religious fervour with passionate speeches and chants. Then they seized the city with siege towers. How many of us have circled chanting ourselves into a state of trance? What if were to do it with a sense of righteousness? Do we do it thinking “this is how it is done”, “I am righteously breaking down the walls surrounding the mysteries of heaven” or “I am on a path of righteousness with a god and good-will behind me deserving to see the light”? What would be the affect of this line of thinking on our circumambulations?
Godfrey took on rulership of Jerusalem as the “advocate of Jerusalem”, but supposedly refused to be a “king” saying “I will not wear a crown of gold where Christ wore a crown of thorns”. He was announced dead a year later in 1100 and his brother, Baldwin of Boulogne was crowned king of the kingdom of Jerusalem on Christmas day. Godfrey’s death was shrouded in mystery as there was some records him being poisoned by an Arabic Prince, him dying of an illness and one Arabic Chronicler Ibn Al-Qalanisi records that he was killed by arrow in Acre.
Baldwin claimed territory reaching far as Egypt and died just before Easter 1118 when he was replaced by Baldwin of Edessa, who was crowned on Easter Sunday. Notice the use of sacred days for establishing power. It is like in using the dates of Jesus, he is likening himself to Jesus in the same way we choose dates relevant to mother nature and the path of the sun to bring ourselves closer to them.
Baldwin II had endured an interesting experience as a result of the crusades including years of capture both before and after being made king. He was known for his love of money. Interesting that the King who formed the Templars was not the one of the most ideal characters in our story so far.
The Templar Knights are formed
Hugues De Payens suggested to Baldwin II forming an order of monastic knights that would be established to protect pilgrims during their journey. This would have been good for the faith and good for Christian power in the area. The order is formed. Baldwin II eventually stationed the order by the Temple Mount earning them the name the Templar Knights.
It was written much later in 17th century, that he approach the king with 8 other knights who were all his brothers, relatives or related to him through marriage. The other knights were:
- Godfrey de Saint-Omer,
- Payen de Montdidier,
- Archambaud de St. Agnan,
- André de Montbard (Grand master from 1153),
- Hugue de Champange,
- Fulk of Anjou (King of Jerusalmen from 1131) (or sometimes recorded Geoffrey Bison who was possibly Fulk’s son),
- Rossal/Roral and
- Gondamer.
We could get all qabalistically excited at the fact that the king and the 9 knights formed a round 10 at the time of formation. We could associate them with the sephiroth if one is so inclined, but naturally records are not so clean cut to be sure that there was 9 knights or who exactly they were. In the 12th century a writer records that they “could raise no more than 9 men” so they were probably less at the time of establishment.
In 1128/1129 Pope Honorious II is recorded as recognising the Order of Templar Knights. Bernard of Clairvaux laid out their plans in what is known as the Council of Troyes and praised them a great deal, which maye have led to their recognition in this meeting.
It was at this time that much of the mythology which surrounded heaven and hell was born. There are some descriptions in the bible some of which was known to the illiterate. But there wasn’t as much art or recorded consistent belief about people going to heaven for eternity when they die other than the end of the world stories. Remember that this is still 200 years before Dante’s vision of the circles of hell, purgatory and heaven. A lot of battles were won at this time when the enemies were fleeing. Too often there was armour for the front of the body, but very little for the back. Having an army so worked into religious fervour and feeling no fear of death, because of an afterlife belief, was immensely powerful. It was written that so long as their banner was flying high they would march on and not flea. By such rules they were a formidable fighting force that the world had not seen before.
When we approach our views of death are we afraid? Could we learn something about our beliefs in the afterlife that would enable us to push ourselves on without fear. As we turn to texts written to us magick workers about death they often view it consistently with a belief in reincarnation or some other non-end. Could this belief free us from fear in our practice?
Suddenly surrounded by prestige, many people wanted to join and naturally a large portion wanted their family members to join non-military roles. So soon there is a large number of supportive roles, only around 10% of the members being active combatants. Others are food, stables, logistics, etc. There becomes a sudden massive growth, connections and power conferred into the order.
New recruits often had to hand over all their property to join the order. This made them completely dependent on the order, 100% bought into this cult, experiencing humility, chastity and poverty. Ultimately initiates are 100% focused on the order’s aims since they cannot establish their own power, find love or attain property. The motto of the order reads: Not unto us, O Lord but unto thy name give glory. Reaffirming this humility and poverty. I question whether members of this order were truly free to do their Will, but if the actions of the order were consistent with their Will then they were so totally focused on it with 0 distractions, because the order had removed all distractions from them. In such a circumstance, they were living truly in accordance with their Will with no distraction. If you were able to remove all money worries, all possibility of property and could work in secret with no judgement from others, then what would you do with your life? If life was going to be totally meaningless and would be over soon as you had finished your goal what would you want to achieve in your remaining time on earth? What do you want to do before you die? Is that your divine Will calling?
Structure of the Order
There was a Grandmaster who was appointed for life. The order lasted mostly from 1118 to 1314 during which time there were 23 recorded Grandmasters, so they would live for an average of 8.5 years from appointment as Grandmaster before they died.
The Grandmaster would have Visitors General who traveled around the regions on behalf of the Grandmaster. They communicated new rules. They could expell people or remove a Master of a local area.
“Masters” were local chiefs. We note that in Freemasonry after he has completed the 3 blue lodge grades a Mason is raised up to be a “Master Mason” and each Mason that sticks at it often becomes the lodge Master at some point for a period of one year.
Under the Masters were the three principle orders. There were the Knights who were men of nobility. They were nobles before they came in. If you didn’t have the role of a knight before coming into the order it was unlikely you would obtain the title. They formed some type of inaccessible elite. Beneath them were the Sergeants who were the trades men. Some of them were combatants, but they weren’t the knights. Knights wore a white tunic and the sergeants were often dressed in black. Beneath them would be the Chaplains who would minister to the needs of the knights and sergeants.
So this structure seems to match many different orders in ceremonial magic having three grades and outer and inner and an elite. I’d like to meditate on this because although I am completely against a lot of it, having the unobtainable elite can sometimes inspire a form of lamaism which does have its benefits in spiritual work as seen in Tibetan Buddhism. But, too often, putting people in unattainable positions of power has led so much to abuse of power in spiritual groups. It might be worth concluding that it is not a good thing in our spiritual orders. Also having roles which are higher than others has often led to jealousy and infighting. I’ve seen my share of people seeking lots of quick grades rather than actually working the material of their grade. I even seen people running around groups worshipping people of higher grades, for want of a better word. I could understand it for orders where they do not respect the material to grow them, but otherwise what’s the point in being there? There is an outer order for those who want to aspire and it is made to serve the inner order. There is an inner order for those who made it up some of the ranks to work together people who demonstrated some commitment. Some respect should be made for those that have hung around for a while and truly got to grips with an order and they should be entrusted with more respect to run the order than others who have just arrived fresh. Is there a spiritual benefit to using this structure? What alternative would be better?
Growth of the Order
Often people heading to Jerusalem to participate in the crusades or to pilgrimage would entrust their estates to the Templars and some of them would not come back. Through this process the Templars acquired lands and power. Also through people joining and giving all their property to the Order.
They begin to establish a method of keeping track of the assets entrusted to them including land. By 1150 they developed a system of record, where a nobleman would attend a commanderie or a prefectory and give his wealth in exchange for a note. You could use this note to make withdrawals along the way. They put people on the land to make sure the lands were profitable while held by the Templars. They underpinned property, ownership, banking and land registry.
The reputation of the Templars was directly connected with the keeping of the holy land. When they started to lose the holy land, there would be less prestige, less pilgrimage. At this late stage there were also competing orders such as the Hospitalers and the Teutonic Order. They are competing for the same customers, prestige and purpose.
At this time the Muslim leadership united under Saladin who is able to recapture the Holy Land in 1187. The Christian leadership was divided into factions. As a result of these things the Templars experienced key losses in power and people.
Without needing the help of the Templars, the Crusaders reattain Jerusalem in 1229, but can only hold it for 15 years. Eventually it returns to Turkish control and remains there for some time.
Having lost their headquarters in Jerusalem they move up to Acre and then to Cyprus. Central Europe has a growing concern about the Mongols and it’s attention turns from the Holy Land to the East. The Templars become less important in the grand scheme of things.
What remained at this time is financial interests with autonomy. They have been allowed for a long to avoid taxes and to have their own autonomy rather than adhere to state legislation.
The beginning of the end
King Philip IV of France was in debt from war with England at this time. Some of this money was probably owed to the Knights Templars, albeit actual records are not forthcoming about who exactly owed what. Pope Boniface VIII is recorded criticising this kings spending. So you can tell there was some political discord here which was not unusual.
What is clear is that the king levied larger and larger taxes, which included taxes against the church eventually demanding half of the salary of the clergy in France. The Pope declares he will not allow church’es property to be transferred to the king of France. Philip organises bishops to condemn the pope and support what seems like is going to become another schism.
During this time many of the clergy including the Templars began to be met with unfair treatment. Either there was a sudden up-rise in crimes against France or the state of France was simply suddenly quicker to arrest priests and Templars and charge them with crimes. It’s not known how fabricated these were, but they were formulaic and match the regular crimes charged against a heretic group.
The pope declared the French crown should be suboridinate to the pope which he didn’t have the power to do with any military might, but he attempted it simply by proclamation. Sadly it did not work. Philip attempted to arrest the pope. The pope died shortly there after.
A new pope arose who just happened to be the Bishop of France, Pope Clement V. It often suggested that favours were exchanged between these two men. These myths often compose the content of many conspiracy theory books often suggesting a Godfather-like promise. I’ll do this for you “and someday, and that day may never come, I will call upon you to do a service for me…”
For some reason unknown to us the new Pope decided to write a letter to Jacques De Molay the last Grand master of the Templars and the head of the Hospitalers and it is suggested he wished to unite the two orders.
Jacques De Molay turned up to meet with the Pope, but the Hospitaliers do not appear to have received their letter or at least did not act as though they had. De Molay used this opportunity to comment on the poor treatment of Templars by King Philip many of whom he claims were given unfair charges. The new French pope confirmed that he sided with Philip and cannot imagine the French state being unfair or unjust.
Friday 13th October 1307 many Templars were arrested and many were massacred. In the early 20th century, Freemasons connected this to the unluckiness of Friday 13th, but treating that day as unlucky is new phenomenon and wasn’t around in 14th century.
Many of the charges levied against the arrested Templars seem to match verbatim with the Cathars and many other people’s charged with heresy. As well as mundane crimes such as financial fraud, it is said:
- they spat on the cross,
- they denied Christ,
- they were accused of kissing and homosexual practices, and
- they worshipped idols such as a head (possibly a mummified head or a cat head with three faces).
There is mention of Baphomet which might have been the head we don’t know. There are two main theories as to what Baphomet refers to.
The first theory is that there was a cipher of swapping letters in Hebrew and this name was actually the Greek word Sophia (Wisdom) turned in to Hebrew and encoded by the swapping of letters. Some people see this as a Gnostic idea which is a feminized version of the holy spirit. Another similar idea is that it is the Greek words Baphe Metous or Bapitism of Wisdom. (The presence of the holy spirit is at least once referred to in the bible as a baptism of fire).
The second theory is that the word Baphomet is likely a bastardisation of Mohammed (Mahomet) the prophet or Mammon (false god). A poem written in the 1300’s mentions the false gods “Bafum e Travagam” which could be from where Baphomet was derived, but in the Chanson de Simon Pouille (circa 1230) there is mention of a Sarasin Idol called Befumetz.
Outside of France most Templars were able to fade into obscurity. Some of the Templars joined the Hospitalers. It is rumoured that this was them going underground and they exist till today, but there is no evidence of this.
Jacques De Molay recants the confession and is put to death by burning at the steak. He was supposedly burned in prayer position facing the Notredame. He is recorded saying “God knows who is wrong and will visit justice upon him”. Some say that was a curse and stories are written about the visitation of justice upon those that had sacrificed him.
Those that confessed and repented were pardonned.
Legends
There are many legends for which there is little evidence. The Templars were related to the Cathars, a strict dualist gnostic sect. The Templars went on a mission to discover the Holy Grail and suddenly stopped as if they had suddenly succeeded or found something. Also that they were guarding and hiding the Priori of Zion, the bloodline of Christ descended from the children born between Christ and Mary Magdalene (most likely a 1970s-1980s fabrication).
Symbols such a the Gnostic Sophia, the Holy Grail and the blood of Mary Magdalene form a sacred feminine which was protected by the Templar Knights. So there is a view that albeit all men they carried and protected the sacred feminine through a time of male patriarchy.
Also rumorred is a Templar Treasure and a connection to Roslyn Chapel which some suggest is where the treasure was hidden. The Chapel was built by the St Clair family who had a hereditary connection to the Templars, but it wasn’t built by active Templars.
Connection with Freemasonry is encouraged. Books such as Born in Blood promote this connection, but it is not history. The peasant revolt in France is suggested to be caused by Masonry, but it was is before any organised Masonic group existed. In general Masonic orders tended to be pro-monarchy. In the UK some of the Highest Masons are Prince Philip and Prince Charles. In the 17th century Chivalric order in Freemasonry did exist, but it was promoted by a Jacobite (someone who sought restore the Stewards to the throne), named Chevalier De Ramsay. He promoted Masonry’s origin in chivalry and knights.
Conclusion
Ideas inspired by the Templar Knights are powerful and alive today. There is some incredible power in these ideas which refuses to die with the order. Most modern magickal practitioners in the west inherit this power through some way or another and as such some of our orders and rituals have symbolic connections to the Templar Knights. By observing these connections we can better tap into a hidden power. Some of their ideas lay the foundations for how we live our lives today with banking, economy and globalisation. So that hidden power is strong and has the potential to affect our lives in incredible ways. We do not need to buy completely into conspiracy theories to use that Occult power it’s already there interwoven into our spiritual practice. We just need to see it.