Initiation
The process of entry into a secret society or similar organisation. The idea of initiation was certainly inherited by the Egyptians and Asssyrians from older neoblithic peoples, who possessed secret organisations or mysteries" analogous to those of the Medwiwin of the North American Indians or those of the Australian Blackfellows. We read of initiation into the various grades of the Egyptian priesthood and the " mysteries' of Eleusis and Bacchus. (See Mysteries.) These processes probably consisted of tests of courage and fidelity (as do the savage initiations) and included such acts as sustaining a severe buffeting, the drinking of blood, real and imaginary, and so forth. In the Popol Vuh, the saga of the Kiche Indians of Guatemala we have a picture of the initiation tests of two hero-gods on entrance to the native Hades. Indeed, most of the mysteries typified the descent of man into Hell, and his return to earth, based on the corn-mother legend of the resurrection of the wheat plant. Initiation into the higher branches of mysticism, magic and theosophy has been largely written upon The process in regard to these is of course entirely symbolical, and is to be taken as implying a preparation for the higher life and the regeneration of the soul.
Instruments, Magical: (See Magic.) Institor, Henricus : (See Malleus Maleficarum.) Insufflation, says Eliphas Levi, "is one of the most important practices of occult medicine, because it is a perfect sign of the transmission of life. To inspire, as a fact, means to breath upon some person or thing, and we know already, by the one doctrine of Hermes, that the virtue of things has created words, and that there is an exact proportion between ideas and speech, which is the first form and verbal realisation of ideas. The breath attracts or repels, according, as it is warm or cold. The warm breathing -corresponds to positive electricity, and the cold breathing to negative electricity. Electrical and nervous animals fear the cold breathing, and the experiment may be made upon a cat, whose familiarities are important. By fixedly regarding a lion or tiger and blowing in their face, they would be so stupefied as to be forced to retreat before us. Warm and prolonged insufflation restores the circulation of the blood, cures rheumatic and gouty pains, re-establishes the balance of the humours, and dispels lassitude. When the operator is sympathetic and good, it acts as a universal sedative. Cold insufflation soothes pains occasioned by congestions and fluidic accumulations. The two breathings must, therefore, be used alternately, observing the polarity of the human organism, and acting in a contrary manner upon the poles, which must be treated successfully to an opposite magnetism. Thus, to cure an inflamed eye, the one which is not affected must be subjected to a warm and gentle insufflation, cold insufflation being practised upon the suffering member at the same distance and in the same proportion. Magnetic passes have a similar effect to insufflations, and are a real breathing by transpiration and radiation of the interior air, which is phosphorescent with vital light; slow passes constitute a warm breathing which fortifies and raises the spirits; swift passes are a cold breathing of dispersive nature, neutralising tendencies to congestion. The warm insufflation should be performed transversely, or from below upward; the cold insufflation is more effective when directed downward from above."