Carl Llewellyn
Car Llewellyn Weschke was the 7th Grand Master.
On August 17th, 1987, Carl Llewellyn Weschke becomes the 7th Grand Master.
While living in the United States (St. Paul, Mn), both Vivian and Leon resign from the Aurum Solis and choose their publisher, Carl Llewellyn Weschke to become the new Grand Master.
Biography
CARL L. WESCHCKE, (1930-2015) was the Chairman of Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd., one of the oldest and largest publishers of Astrology, Metaphysical, Self-Help, Tarot and True Spirituality books in the World.
Carl Weschcke (a Magician, student of Tantric Philosophy and of Western Magic, and former Wiccan High Priest) played a leading role in the rise of Wicca and Neo-Paganism during the 1960's and 1970s. Author Donald Michael Kraig has referred to Carl Weschcke as "the Father of the New Age" because of his early and aggressive public sponsorship of new understanding of old occult subjects. He withdrew from the public Craft activities in the 1980’s to devote more time to his business and family.
Carl Weschcke was raised in a Roman Catholic family, but was exposed to metaphysics and the occult by his paternal grandfather, Charles Carl Weschcke , who was a vice-president of the American Theosophical Society. Early in life the occult arts and astronomy fascinated Carl Weschcke . His father, a vegetarian and naturalist, and grandfather, an early civil rights activist and believer in reincarnation, were among the many influences that served to shape young Carl Weschcke 's path. He is a life-long student of a broad range of Metaphysical. Spiritual and psychological subjects, and variously studied with the Rosicrucian Order, the Society of the Inner Light, and continues with studies and practical research in Tantra, Taoism, Tarot, Kabalah, Astrology, Shamanism, Wicca, Magick, Psychology and World Spirituality.
He attended St Paul Academy (1936-1948), and then went on to Babson College in Massachusetts where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration in 1951. In 1954, he enrolled in LaSalle Extension University Department of Law home study. In 1957 and 1958 he enrolled part time at the University of Minnesota studying graduate level philosophy courses.
Following graduation from Babson, Carl Weschcke worked in the family pharmaceuticals business, but moved on to follow his dream of becoming a publisher. In addition to eventually becoming president of Chester-Kent, Inc., he was also treasurer of Acme-Northern Industries, a manufacturer of children’s furniture and treasurer of Forest Fuel Corp., a pioneer in wood pellet fuels.
His insatiable thirst for knowledge led him to the University of Minnesota to pursue a doctorate in philosophy. During the 1950's and 60's, he was active in the NAACP and the ACLU, serving on boards and as an officer in their local chapters. His drive to become involved in publishing resulted in his leaving the University before completing his studies, and he went on to purchase Llewellyn Publications in 1960.
Llewellyn was founded in 1901 by Welsh astrologer Llewellyn George, who later moved his operations from Portland, Oregon to Los Angeles. Llewellyn was a small, mostly mail-order operation in Los Angeles at the time, specializing in a limited focus on astrology books, calendars and almanacs.
Carl Weschcke relocated the business to St. Paul and set to work increasing the business to include a complete line of astrology and occult books. Within a decade Llewellyn Publications was publishing 30-50 titles a year, audio and video tapes, and launched a series of magazines: New Dimension, Gnostica, Astrology Now, New Times, and New Worlds.
In 1970 Carl Weschcke opened the Gnostica Bookstore in Minneapolis and the Gnostica School for Self-Development -- establishing the Twin Cities as a major center for New Age resources.
In 1971 Carl Weschcke turned his energies toward hosting several annual festivals. The opening event was called The First American Aquarian Festival of Astrology and the Occult Sciences. The annual festival would later be known as Gnosticon, and would draw many of the best-known Wiccans, Magicians, and Neo-Pagans of its time. Carl Weschcke himself was an initiate of the American Celtic tradition of Witchcraft, brought into the tradition in 1972 by Lady Sheba, where he went on to become a High Priest and Elder in her tradition.
It was in this setting that Carl Weschcke met Sandra Heggum, a priestess in the tradition. They were married in 1972 in a Wiccan ritual of their own design in a Unity Church. In the fall of 1973 Carl Weschcke helped organize the Council of American Witches and became its chairperson. Carl Weschcke rightfully prides himself on having drafted "The Thirteen Principles of Wiccan Belief" Statement, one of the corner stones of modern Wicca. This document went on to be incorporated into the U.S. Army's handbook for chaplains.
Carl Weschcke is no longer active in the Craft, but retains ties to the Wiccan and Neo-Pagan communities through Llewellyn Publications.
Carl Weschke has been the 7th Past Grand Master of the Ordo Aurum Solis. This famous Initiatic Order is an International Order of High Magic founded in Britain in 1897. Since the end of his work as Grand Master in 1991, he remained in close and regular correspondence with both the current Grand Master and previous Grand Master.
He wrote many forewords for the books of the Grand Master of the Aurum Solis, Jean-Louis de Biasi. He continued to be involved to the Order through his advices and various texts in connection with the Order. The archives of the Aurum Solis contain hundreds of emails and letters exchanged between Carl Weschcke and the Grand Master Jean-Louis de Biasi for more than 15 years. These writings are about the Aurum Solis tradition but also Initiatic Orders, Freemasonry, the Western tradition in general, philosophy, religion, theology and contemporary politics. Carl Weschcke was a passionate activist, extremely knowledgeable of American and international politics. The discussions on this point with Jean-Louis de Biasi were numerous and passionate.
Carl lectured by video-conference at the first private meeting of the Aurum Solis held in Las Vegas in 2010. The video recordings of this important moment are now in the archives of the Order.
It was on this occasion in June 2010, that the Order of Aurum Solis awarded Carl Weschcke by a “certificate of recognition” for his numerous accomplishments. Carl Weschcke declared himself honored by this recognition and continued to manifest his support for Aurum Solis, advising the Grand Master Jean-Louis de Biasi in his research and development of this living theurgic tradition tradition.
Carl Weschke remained in close contact with the Grand Master Jean-Louis de Biasi until the day before his death.
After corresponding with Gerald Gardner and several of his associates in the last 1950’s and early 1960’s, he became known for holding the “Carl Weschcke Documents” including a carbon copy of Gardner’s own Book of Shadows.
While still actively associated with Llewellyn, he is devoting more time to studies in quantum theory, Kabbalah, self-hypnosis, and psychology. He is also actively writing, and has co-authored several books with Dr. Joe Slate (Psychic Empowerment for Everyone, Self-Empowerment through Self-Hypnosis, Self- Empowerment & the Sub-Conscious Mind, and Psychic Empowerment: Tools & Techniques) and a new edition with commentary of The Compete Magick Curriculum of the Secret Order G:. B:.G:. originally authored by Louis Culling in 1969. He and Dr. Slate are planning several more co-authored projects.
In addition to his academic degree in business administration, he has a certificate in clinical hypnosis, and honorary recognitions in divinity and magical philosophy.
More documents will be posted here very soon.