What is Sothis Lodge?
Sothis Lodge is a research Lodge, chartered on April 16, 2008. The focus of our work is the exploration of the Points Chauds system in a group setting.
What does the name Sothis mean?
Sothis (Greek Σῶθις) is another name for the star Sirius the brightest star in our night sky.
The Sirius system is a binary star system. Sirius A is three times the size of our own sun. Her companion, Sirius B, is a "white dwarf" not visible to the naked eye.
The Ancient Egyptians placed great significance on this star, marking the first day of the year with the heliacal rising of Sirius.
Robert Temple demonstrated that the Ancient Egyptians were aware of Sirius B and the orbital patterns of the binary stary system thousands of years ago, even though modern astronomers did not discover Sirius B until 1862.
What are Points Chauds?
The Points Chauds system was developed by Tau Allen Greenfield, based on work with Docteur Michael Bertiaux, in the mid-1980's. The origins of the concept lie in Haitian Voodoo, and Dr. Bertiaux developed a system of 16 points for use in his Ordo Templi Orientis Antiqua. Tau Allen Greenfield expanded the system to include 97 points and mapped them to the degrees of Memphis-Misraim.
Points Chauds, (French, lit. “hot points”) are locations on the body that can be empowered or activated. Michael Bertiaux referred to them as "magickal engines" and as "both an intelligent entity (beyond human levels of intelligence) and a dynamic process or energy."
In addition to the Memphis Misraim degrees, the points have also been mapped to certain areas of the body, the Enochian Aires and Parts of Earth and the Acupuncture Meridians.
For a general introduction to the Points Chauds system, see Points Chauds 101, Points Chauds FAQ, and 360/90 Points Chauds System for Scrying the Universe.
How are the Points activated?
Normally they are activated by touch by someone who has previously received the points. In the 1980's, Tau Allen Greenfield activated the points by scrying.
What do the Points do?
To quote Tau Naamah's excellent FAQ:
In terms of what they “do,” that’s hard to answer succinctly; in short, they “do” the same things any valid initiatory experience “does,” which is perhaps to say nothing at all if you aren’t working the Work, you know?
So what exactly are you doing with the Points Chauds?
Our agreed method of studying and integrating the Points is as follows:
1) We focus on giving and working the points one at a time, with the working hypothesis that when done individually, with time for study, scrying and assimilating each point, that the system will engender the necessary development of the Body of Light to progress with further Points.
2) In keeping with the system's origins in both Memphis & Misraim and Voudon, we give the first four Points in a formal Lodge setting, using rituals partially inspired by the traditional degrees, but also calling on a specific Lwa for each Point: Atibon Legba for the First, Papa Loko for the Second, Baron Samedi for the Third, and Dambala Wedo for the Fourth.
3) After giving each point, we collectively and individually scry the point. We've also developed personal and group meditations to help explore each point. Recognizing that much of this work is still uncharted, our focus is on learning and recording as much as possible about each Point and about the system as a whole.
One way of looking at the Points would be to compare them to a Tantric Empowerment, which prepares the recipient to begin working with a specific practice. Receiving a Point opens up that degree to be worked or explored by the recipient.
For more details see Sothis Lodge Working Method.
What is your connection to Voodoo?
The roots our of work lie partially in the work of Docteur Michael Bertiaux and his Gnostic Voudon system. While we do not practice traditional Voodoo, we do invoke the Lwa for help and guidance in our work.
What about Memphis-Misraim? Are you Masons?
Our Lodge Charter comes from the lineage of Docteur Michael Bertiaux and Lucien-Francois Jean-Maine who worked with their own revised version of Memphis-Misraim. We use the degrees of Memphis-Misraim as one map among several for reference and study for the Points Chauds.
Sothis Lodge is not Masonic; we claim no authority or privilege within “Regular” Freemasonry, and are not subordinate to or recognized by the Grand Lodge of England or the Grand Orient of France.
Who can get involved with your work?
Anyone who is interested and who is willing to participate in a spirit of good will is welcome, although a background in some kind of esoteric work is always helpful.
How can I contact Sothis Lodge?
Leave a comment on this blog or email us at sothislodge68@gmail.com
