February 14, 1982

In May 1966, a transmission was delivered by the Master Aetherius, in which specific directives were given to The Aetherius Society.

During this transmission, the Master Aetherius outlined the various categories of membership and, for the first time, coined the term ‘Member-Initiate’.

The first initiation ceremony took place at the Royal Westminster Hotel, London, England, on Sunday, August 30th, 1981, which marked the beginning of a new era in the life of The Aetherius Society. More than 60 people received their Temple Degree initiations.

Each initiate then took their piece of prasad, blessed by His Eminence, and then the envelope containing their Temple Degree examination and initiation certificates. Finally, the medal with a ribbon, signifying the color of the degree of their initiation, was placed around their necks.

This was a vivid and moving ceremony, which portrayed the passages of the aspirants through the symbolic portals of initiation, into the mystical Temple Order of The Aetherius Society.

This was repeated on February 14th, 1982, in a moving ceremony which took place at the American Temple of The Aetherius Society in Los Angeles, where 54 members became Temple Degree Initiates.