An approach to Franz Bardon's Mirror System

Italian version

Soul formation

In his work “Initiation into Hermetics,” Franz Bardon presents the concept of soul introspection in the first level of the practical section. This process involves an internal examination of an individual’s personality traits, including their strengths and weaknesses. The introspection requires a rigorous and honest approach devoid of self-indulgence or embellishments. It necessitates complete honesty regarding one’s errors, shortcomings, and fragility, including the most delicate nuances. Such a process could be defined as ruthless, as it offers no room for leniency or equivocation.

Individuals with significant experience in the practices outlined in this work recognise that it is a reflective process essential for preparing the psyche for work on the Elements. To avoid imbalances in the overall constitution of the practitioner, it should be accompanied by practices that address the physical and mental bodies. However, the decision to undertake such a comprehensive, and at times, jarring and unpleasant analysis of one’s inner world – and to persist with it – can only be made by a personality that already possesses sufficient strength to withstand the impact of what is, effectively, the exposure of the false self and its deceptions and masks. It is worth noting that when faced with intrepid personalities, the exercise gains its independence concerning the organic set of practices of the IIH, which is explicitly intended to train the practitioner in magic. Undoubtedly, it is one of the most potent self-analysis tools available.

The Mirror

In developing one’s practice, it is recommended to commence with a detailed and comprehensive list of one’s faults. This list should include all weaknesses, with careful consideration to avoid presuming that the weaknesses others perceive are indeed such. The primary objective during this phase is to gain clarity into oneself rather than engage in self-pity. Bardon recommends completing this task within a span of one to two weeks to avoid indulging in excessive guilt feelings; in addition, he suggests reaching a count of one hundred or more defects. While initially, it may seem excessive, this level of granularity is necessary to avoid a cursory analysis.

During the second stage of the Hermetic discipline, defects are assigned to the four Elements, with a separate category (Other) reserved for associations that present ambiguities. However, this stage faces several execution difficulties for various reasons. When dealing with the Elements, individuals tend to elaborate on their meaning based on tangible experiences, considering them solely as constituents of matter. Nonetheless, the Elements of the Hermetic discipline correspond to a more comprehensive view, which will be discussed in the subsequent paragraph. Furthermore, assigning defects to individual Elements becomes even more complicated because one or more character traits, mainly if considered dominant, can break down and give rise to sub-traits. Each sub-trait will then be assigned to one or more Elements. For instance, tobacco addiction may arise from insecurity assigned to the Air Element and a tendency to emulate associated with Water. Alternatively, its deep roots may lie in self-destructive dispositions given by the Fire Element, and so on. (It is important to note that these are mere examples, as each individual has specific attributions.)

Furthermore, a comprehensive list of defects associated with the Elements is seldom exhaustive. Earth aggressiveness, for instance, arises from a tendency to possess, while Fire aggressiveness results from poor control of vital energy. Given these nuances, it is understandable why Bardon avoided delving into the details of defect attribution, preferring instead to encourage student patience and persistence. Furthermore, the classification exercise, which spans one to two weeks, is just the beginning of a long and arduous journey towards rediscovering the Elemental Equilibrium of the psychosomatic whole. Indeed, this journey requires months, even years, of diligent meditation and introspection. While it may appear daunting, the rewards are priceless.

Attributing defects culminate in the third and final phase, which involves their tripartition based on their weight or significance concerning our being. This step is crucial to comprehend which aspects of one’s personality require attention, beginning with the psychic nodes that have the most substantial impact on the personality, followed by secondary factors that are more easily resolved, culminating in the more resistant blocks. Bardon allows for freedom of choice based on attitudes or preferences. In IIH, he outlines three methods for resolving inner conflicts caused by Elemental disorder: self-suggestion, application of willpower, and transmutation of passions into opposite qualities through meditation and introspection. These methods are not mutually exclusive, and it is recommended to employ all of them, emphasising the method that aligns with one’s temperamental characteristics. Meditative practice is perhaps the most suitable for effectively addressing weaknesses, while willpower and self-suggestion are more appropriate after identifying the root causes of unresolved aspects of one’s personality.

For an exposition of the exercises in Bardon’s works, see the posts on Hermetic practices. The article Partition of the Negative Aspects according to the Elements explains the Elements according to hermetic philosophy.

Bibliography
  • Franz Bardon – Initiation into Hermetics – Wuppertal 1971
  • Josef Drábek & Franz Bardon – An Aid for Introspection – Prague 2022