When we enter different spaces, different company; when we start a new job, or enter a new social group, many of us find ourselves  code-switching.

Code-switching is a socio-linguistic development of the natural human instinct to mimic and emulate each other within groups. It can be as simple as changing the language, dialect, or cant by which one communicates, or as complex as the nuances of behaviour, fashion and class norms. The danger with code-switching, of course, is that it always involves the potential loss of one's inherent  authenticity. It is also easier to be manipulated or coerced when made susceptible to the social pressures of code-switching, especially when the code itself is connected to status and the expectations of a dominant culture. Everyone loves to feel they  belong.

Code-switching happens in the esoteric community too.

The trends and tendencies in the language of the esoteric have altered over the decades, in response to the modular effects of culture, environment, intersectionality and the discourses of philosophy and science. Long before this, the evolution of religious language and church dogma, and then the Renaissance and the Enlightenment, impacted the manner by which esoteric Truths were communicated.

In this current era, we are seeing Esoterica changing its codes, under the influence of the New Age and its unfolding narratives. During the late 20th century, there was a second occult revival, alongside the folk revival, and a love for the ancient paradigms and traditions saw an upsurge in significant and successful efforts to preserve and uncover what remained of the Perennial Traditions of Occultism the world over. Later, in reaction to this, we saw the evolution of the New Age and New Thought movements, which attempted to integrate Science and Spirituality together, sometimes with mixed results.

The marriage of Science and Spirituality is not new, however. Alchemy is the firstborn child of that Marriage, and its chemical, metachemical and parachemical codes are still highly useful and relevant today. Rather than attempting to sound "scientistic" and "evolved" to convince an audience of its contemporary validity and intelligence, Alchemy  presupposes intelligence, and seeks instead to communicate methodology, practical application, and the Wisdom which this brings, which has far more value. To  know  a thing is half the work. To  understand and  become wise concerning it is the completion of that work.

We think it's important to avoid elitism, exceptionalism, division and confusion in the Mysteries, regardless of the Current and Path concerned. There is but One Divine Process, and the Many Ways to it will tend to converge. Let us give some examples.

When we say  Currents, others say  Spiritual Rays. When we say  Rites, others say  Sacred Traditions. When we say  Degrees, others say  Ascension Process. When we speak of  Transmissions, others say  Activation Codes. When we say something is a  Mystery, others call it a  Master Key. When we speak of  Egyptian Masonry, we also mean  Sacred Geometry (as Masons of Egypt, it is our inherited science after all!). When we speak of an  Initiation, others call it an  Attunement. When we speak of the Masonic  Working Tools, others speak of  Sigils and  Power Symbols. When we speak of  Practical Occultism, others speak of  Paradigm Shifts, Synchronicities and  Timelines. When we speak of the  Lesser  and Greater Mysteries, others speak of  Christ Consciousness, Bodhisattva, or  5D Vibratory Resonance.

When we speak of our  Tracing Boards, others speak of  Mandalas. When we speak of  Stars  and  Nodes, others speak of  Chakras, Nests, Meridians and  Vessels. When we speak of the Great Hermetic Law, we of course mean the  Unified Field. When we speak of the  Gods  or  Neteru, others speak of  Archetypes and  Avatars. When we speak of the  Great Architect of the Universe, others say the  Great Spirit, the Creator, Divinity, GODDESS,  or  GOD.

As you can see, it's simply a code-switch; the essence of Soul and Spirit is unchanging. Metamodern trends may change the  language, but the Ideas and Forms  have always been.

The difference is that NOW, many, many more people are awakened enough to perceive them and gain benefit. It is the duty of EVERY esoteric tradition and every spiritual leader to use their well-preserved wisdom and depth of experience to assist these newly-arrived Old Souls. The world needs Wisdom more than ever!

Technology and practical science have made great advances; this cannot be refuted and everyone has contributed to this. However, one  cannot  and  should  not try to replace the Creative Human Soul with the shadow thrown by its glory, whether that is cyber-tech, AI, or non-human emulation. The Tool is not the Mason!

The code-switching cant of a more scientistic and technologically dependent age will never replace the lyrical depth and wise tradition of the Ancient WORD.