Michael Bertiaux
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Michael Paul Bertiaux (born 1935) is a philosopher and artist. His extensive use of strong colors, mediumistic inspiration and religious symbolism make his art unique.[citation needed] Bertiaux is also an occultist in the Haitian Voodoo tradition, which he combines with elements from western magick and western sex-magical tradition.
Bertiaux is the Patriarch of the Ecclesia Gnostica Spiritualis, a church tradition drawing upon the apostolic succession. At one time he was the head of the O.T.O.A., Monastery of the Seven Rays and La Couleuvre Noire. He passed the official leadership to Dr. Courtney Willis, now head of Technicians of the Sacred who in turn now shared the leadership with Dr. David Beth, Patriarch of the Ecclesia Gnostica Aeterna[citations needed]
At one time Bertiaux was associated with the claim of being a Grand Master of the OTO.[citation needed]
He is the author of the elusive esoteric text, The Voudon Gnostic Workbook - a strong influence in the Invisibles,[citation needed] a comic book by Grant Morrison.
[edit] Biographical details
Born in Seattle, WA. His father was a captain in the merchant navy and his mother was a prominent theosophist. After completing his BA at the local Jesuit university with 2 majors and 2 minors - focused mainly on philosophy - he began work at Tulane University in New Orleans on a PhD in ontological positivism - he had to cut these plans short when his father became ill and he was needed to return to his native Seattle. Soon after he found himself drawn to the church, and enrolled in the Vancouver School of Theology with the Episcopalian Church as his sponsoring denomination. He graduated with a masters degree in theology and was ordained to the rank of deacon - he then served for a short time as a curate in a Seattle church.
In 1960 he went as a missionary to Haiti to teach philosophy at a college in the capital Port-Au-Prince. There he came into contact with Haitian occultism. Soon after he began his involvement he was initiated into Haitian Gnosis, and made a bishop in the Gnostic church. His superiors in the Episcopalian church became aware of this involvement and had him send back to the USA, where he found his way to full ordination in the priesthood bared. At this stage in his life he went back to theosophy which his mother had instilled in him, bringing him up as a member of the esoteric section. He moved to Wheaton, IL and worked as a secretary at the theosophical society's HQ. He researched and lectured widely.
The final and longest lasting move was next to Chicago where he trained and qualified as a social worker - a job which he did for just under forty years. He worked especially with Haitian communities. During this whole time he was deeply involved in the occultism, theosophy, gnosticism and philosophy. He lectured and wrote widely. Most of his writings came out in the form of newsletters - mailed out to friends and students. He compiled series of these newsletters and lessons into four volumes which were the first four years of the Monastery of the Seven Rays instruction - the Voudon Gnostic workbook then became years 5-8.
He also paints frequently - with the subject matter of his works relating to entities and objects of his psychic-research and experiences - many of his paintings appeared in Kenneth Grants Typhonian Trilogies.
And currently wishes it to be known that he is a devotee of Pola Negri, Nazimova and Nita Naldi - all silent film actresses.
[edit] Books
- Lucky Hoodoo.
- The Voudon Gnostic Workbook.
- A Course In Cosmic Meditation.
- The Hoard of Gold Course.
- The Gnostic Teaching of Michael Bertiaux: Inner and Outer Retreat Lessons of the Monastery of the Seven Rays (Years 1-4).
- Forthcoming: Ontological Graffitti.
