The Religious Movements Homepage: The Aetherius Society

Name:	The Aetherius Society
Founder:	Sir George King
Date and Place of Birth:	January 23, 1919, Shropshire, England (d. July 12, 1997)
Year Founded:	1954
Sacred or Revered Texts:	Between his first contact with extraterrestrials in 1954 and his death in 1997, George King received over 600 transmissions from the Cosmic Masters. Among the most important of these that are still available in book form are The Twelve Blessings (King 1962a) and The Nine Freedoms (King 1963). Selections from these transmissions are sometimes played during the Sunday services. The Twelve Blessings were received on consecutive Sundays between July 27 and Oct. 12, 1958. These teachings are believed to be sent by the Master Jesus who is now residing on Venus and appear to be an extension of the Sermon on the Mount (Aetherius Society, "Essays"). They are part of the devotional practices of the Society’s members. The Nine Freedoms were transmitted in 1961 by the Lord of Karma from Mars Sector Six. They detail with the major steps one must take in the journey towards Cosmic Consciousness.
Size of Group:	The Society offers three kinds of membership: (1) "full," which involves active participation in its activities, (2) "associate," for those who support the aims of the society but do not assume an active role, and (3) "friend," which refers to those who are sympathetic to the Society’s views. There are various groupings of members. "Branches" refers to a center where there are enough members to form a congregation. A "group" denotes the presence of the Society in much smaller numbers, while “representatives” indicate the presence of only one or a few members. It is difficult to find the actual number of participants in the movement since the society does not disclose this information. The Society’s Web Page, however, does list two Headquarters, a European one, located in London, and an American, located in Hollywood, California. In addition to these, there are seven branches, over thirty groups, and about a dozen other representatives. These are spread over several continents, including North America, Europe (mainly the United Kingdom), Australia, and Africa. Barrett (2001: 387) states that according to Bishop Richard Lawrence, the executive secretary of the European Headquarters in London, the membership in the society is in the thousands. Smith (2003: 91) reports that the UFO News UK claimed that the Aetherius Society had "around 10,000 people on its mailing list in the UK alone." A reasonable estimate would put its number of full and associate membership between two and three thousand.
Remarks:

History

The Aetherius Society was found by George King with the goal of "cooperating with Ascended Masters to help usher in a New Age of Peace and Enlightenment upon our world" and of introducing a "Cosmic Concept into the minds of searching and thinking people everywhere." "This Cosmic Concept depicts our true place in creation and has been specifically given at this crucial crossroads in the evolution of humanity" (Aetherius Society, "What is the Aetherius Society").

In 1954, King was researching the field of radionics (a form of distant healing) while practicing an intense regimen of yoga, when he claims to have received a message during a meditative trance. This was a summons from a Yoga Master, later identified as the Master Aetherius, who instructed him: "Prepare yourself! You are to become the voice of Interplanetary Parliament." (Aetherius Society, "Dr. George King, Our Founder"; cf. Melton 2003: 798).

During his lifetime, King cooperated with the Cosmic Masters (which include the Great White Brotherhood of Theosophy), among whom are claimed to be historical figures such as the Lord Buddha, Jesus, and Count Saint-Germain (d. 1784), as well as extraterrestrials known as Master Aetherius and "Mars Sector 6." Members of the Society believe that George King was chosen by the Brotherhood to become the spiritual prophet who transmits messages from the Masters to humankind.

George King has been described both as a "mystagogue" (Wallis 1974), or as someone "who performs magical and/or sacramental actions to promote salvation" (Saliba 1995b: 223). He became interested in spirituality at a young age, first exploring orthodox Christianity and, later, studying psychic phenomena and spiritual healing. After receiving the command to become a channel for the Cosmic Masters, King claimed to have mastered many of the various techniques of Yoga, including Raja, Gnani [Jnani], and Kundalini, all of which led him to consciously attain the state of Samadhi (Aetherius Society, "Dr. George King, Our Founder"). This allowed King to communicate with beings from other spiritual energy spheres. In this state of consciousness, he was able to receive teachings from the Cosmic Masters that the Aetherius Society believes will guide humanity as a whole to spiritual enlightenment. Named the "Primary Terrestrial Mental Channel for the Cosmic Masters," his full title in the Society is "Sir George King, OSP, PhD, ThD, DD, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Aetherius Churches, Founder President of the Aetherius Society." He also boasted other honorary titles, including Prince Grand Master of the Mystical Order of St. Peter, HRH Prince George King De Santori, and Knight of Malta. Certificates of these various degrees and titles are displayed at the Society’s Temple in Hollywood, California.

After receiving his call to channel, King gave up his research and materialistic pursuits in order to publish The Cosmic Voice, a transcript of his communications with the Cosmic Masters, and the Spiritual Healing Bulletin. He also began giving lectures around England telling about his spiritual experiences (Melton 2003: 798). On May 21, 1959, BBC broadcast King while he was in a Samadhic trance, allowing a huge audience to witness his yogic skills (Aetherius Society, "Dr George King, Our Founder"). In 1959, King expanded the Society to the US and established a center in Hollywood, where, in 1960, it was incorporated as a non-profit religious, scientific, and educational organization (MUFON, "Directory of International UFO Organizations"). Since the 1960s, the Society has opened other branches and continued to expand. It continues to publish "Cosmic Voice" (for members and friends) and "The Aetherius Society Newsletter" (for members only).

Beliefs, Rituals, and Festivals

Principal Beliefs:

The Aetherius Society is an international UFO organization dedicated to world peace and enlightenment. The society's religious beliefs encompass the root teachings of world religions, relying heavily on the Theosophical tradition, scientific findings and developments, and a cosmic view of humanity which they claim to have received from the extraterrestrials who are referred to as Cosmic Masters. Ellwood (1995: 394) points out that UFO religions, including the Aetherius Society, believe in "an order of spiritually significant beings between the human and ultimate reality, with which one can have conversational and disciplic relations." Such interaction "opens up a sense of expanded consciousness and cosmic wonder."

The society believes that we each exist within our own consciousness and, therefore, that we will continue to exist even after our physical bodies are gone. Once the soul/consciousness leaves the body, its energy level intensifies and it is transported to the "astral plane" where it will remain until it is ready to be reincarnated in a new physical body. By tapping into what many believe is the "universal consciousness," George King was able to connect with this other level of existence, as had many other practitioners of yoga, meditation, and various altered state exercises. Aetherius Society members believe that the Cosmic Masters on other planets are beings who have learned to control the vibratory rate of their energy level and have chosen to exist permanently on a higher realm of consciousness (Aetherius Society, "Hear the Cosmic Masters").

The Cosmic Masters are believed to be far more technologically and spiritually advanced than we. This has allowed them to avoid detection by radar adn telescopes until they choose to let their presence be known. According to the Society, this has happened repeatedly in the past fifty years. Society members explain that extraterrestrials can decrease their vibratory rate at will and assume physical bodies as easily as they can increase their energy levels and dematerialize. When asked why the Masters choose to visit us, the Society responds that they are benevolent beings who wish to guide humankind in its evolution. They define the evolution process as the journey back to God the Creator. Once a soul masters its lessons on Earth, it leaves the cycle of rebirth and moves on to a more subtle and lasting body. This is described as an inward journey toward the "Spark of God" within us (Aetherius Society, “The Cosmic Concept”).

Not only do these extraterrestrials act as spiritual guides, hey also protect us from both internal and external forces. Members of the Aetherius Society believe that the Cosmic Masters actively prevent ecological disasters, as well as cosmic warfare, and that there are flying saucers hovering constantly around the Earth protecting us from evil and warning us about imminent attacks (Saliba 1995a: 28). At one point, the Cosmic Masters went so far as to devise an invisible barrier around the planet to shield it from destructive forces (Saliba 1995a: 36). Despite their efforts, however, Earth is believed to be presently under attack by "The Black Magicians" who wish to enslave its inhabitants (Melton 2003: 798).

Those souls that achieve enlightenment but choose to stay to help humankind become members of "The Great White Brotherhood" in the spiritual hierarchy of Earth. Those souls that leave Earth may choose to begin life on other planets within our solar system, both to learn new lessons and to help new civilizations. The Aetherius Society teaches that all aspects of the universe, including Mother Earth, are sentient and alive, and at some point in our infinite existence we will merge with other life forms and become moons, planets, stars, and other celestial bodies. These great beings contain the deepest wisdom, are in closest unity with God, and they aid human beings in their path towards enlightenment.

One of the central beliefs of the Aetherius Society is the Law of Karma (Aetherius Society, "Some Basic Principles," cf. King 1962b), namely "the law of consequence with regard to action, which is the driving force behind the cycle of reincarnation or rebirth in Asian religions" (Bowker 1997: 535). Members of the Aetherius Society believe that humankind is severely out of karmic balance and, therefore, is teetering on the brink of total self-destruction, an event which they believe has taken place twice before on Earth. The first catastrophic fall occurred in what is known as Lemuria, or Mu, and was followed by the fall of Atlantis. Before our existence on Earth, Aetherians believe that humankind lived on a planet called Maldek, once found between Mars and Jupiter. The Aetherius Society teaches that this planet was destroyed in a global war which left only an asteroid belt in its wake (Aetherius Society, "The Cosmic Concept").

Members of the Aetherius Society maintain that the end of humankind on Earth will come as a result of advanced technology and increased materialism. Our only hope is to begin focusing on the development of our higher selves and to learn how to practice science within the Law of God. In order to restore balance between technological and spiritual growth, the Cosmic Masters have been given permission to increase their help to humankind. They both guide us towards God with the teachings they have sent through George King and boost our spiritual energy by sending large amounts of positive, healing energy towards Earth at certain times of the year in what are called "Spiritual Pushes" (Aetherius Society, "Operation Space Power").

Now that George King has "moved on," the Cosmic Masters have prophesized that the next Master will come to replace him. On November 23, 1958, the Lord Karma sent a Cosmic Prophecy revealing the coming of the next Master and explaining how to identify him (Aetherius Society, "The Next Master"):

Major Rituals, Festivals, and Practices:

Members of the Aetherius Society believe that service is the key to human salvation (Aetherius Society, "Some Basic Principles").

In its desire to serve humankind, the Aetherius Society has organized a number of world missions (Aetherius Society, "World Missions," cf. Saliba 1999: 134-35), several of which continue today. One of these ongoing mission is Operation Prayer Power which began in 1973. The purpose of this mission is to store "prayer energy" created by dynamic prayer, the recital of Tibetan mantras, and the use of mundras in order that the prayer energy may be sent out in a highly concentrated form to areas that are in need. This healing energy is controlled by cooperating Cosmic Masters who use a device called the Spiritual Energy Radiator to redirect the prayers.

The second mission performed by the Society is Operation Sunbeam. This is directly concerned with the welfare of the planet Earth. Members of the society use energy that would otherwise have been used for the good of humanity and send it directly to the Earth. Between 1958 and 1961 "Operation Starlight" charged nineteen mountains throughout the world with "spiritual energy," naming them as especially powerful psychic centers (Aetherius Society, Operation Sunbeam"; "Pilgrimages to Holy Mountains"). The first transmission of energy to the Earth took place on Sept. 24th, 1966. Since then, over 600 transmissions have been completed. The Aetherius Society believes that each of these acts performed selflessly by its members helps to balance human Karma and, therefore, brings us closer to God (cf. Aetherius Society, "Operation Sunbeam").

The third mission, called "Operation Spacepower," involves cooperation between Interplanetary Beings and the Aetherius Society in order to radiate spiritual power to Earth. Several times a year, a "large intergalactic spacecraft" called "Satellite No. 3" sends cosmic and solar energies which are beneficial to the human race and which are stored by the Aetherius Society in specially designed "Spiritual Energy Radiators" (Aetherius Society, "Operation Spacepower").

Two other missions, called "Operation Starlight" and "Operation BlueWater," were begun by King in the late 1950s, and completed in the early 1960s with the aid of the Cosmic Masters. In Operation StarLight, King climbed to the tops of eighteen out of nineteen holy mountains where he transmitted a charge of spiritual energy from the Cosmic Masters. This spiritual energy has been stored in the mountains so that others may make pilgrimages to there and send out their prayers and healing. According to Saint Goo-Ling, one of the Cosmic Masters, the most potent spiritual practice available to humans is to recite "The Twelve Blessings" in one of these sacred places during a Spiritual Push, also known as a "Magnetization Period" (Aetherius Society, "Pilgrimages to Holy Mountains; "Operation Spacepower"). Operation Bluewater corrected what Society members believe was a warp in the earth magnetic fields caused both by atomic experiments of the 1950s and by the negative thoughts and actions of human beings.

Controversies

To date, the Aetherius Society has been a benign presence in the community of UFO-based new religions, and has not been involved in major controversy.

Internet Links

Links to the Aetherius Society on the Internet are few and, with the exception of its official Web Page, contain little information. Its official Web page (www.aetherius.org) remains the best source of information, and explains briefly what the Society is and what its main aims are, gives a brief history of George King, and describes its major beliefs (including the option of hearing some transmissions of the cosmic masters) and its current activities (missions and pilgrimages). The Society’s locations with addresses and contacts throughout the world are provided in detail. There is, however, no information on its organizational structure and financial status. There are also several recommended links which point to the Aetherius Society’s connections with the New Age and Eastern Religions. Among these are:

The European Headquarters in London sponsors and runs the Inner Potential Center, which has its own Web Site (www.innerpotential.org) and which focuses on healing, yoga, metaphysics, and the psychic and spiritual sciences. While this site does allow one to keep up with the various activities of the Society in the U.K., it does not reproduce the materials contained in the main Web Page of the Aetherius Society.

Chrissie Blaze (www.Chrissieblaze.com), an astrologer, author, and lecturer, was a close student of George King's for 25 years, and has been an ordained minister in the society since 1985. Her Web site has a short biography of King, a brief section on the Twelve Blessings, references to King’s books, and information regarding various Aetherius Society events.

Dave Davies, lead guitarist and founder of The Kinks, also maintains a Web site on New Age spirituality (www.davedavies.com/splanet.htm). He includes some articles related to the Aetherius Society's teachings and several materials, as well as a biography of George King, whom he labels "an Aquarian Master," and which is credited to both him and Chrissie Blaze.

The December 18, 2001, edition of Anthony James' now discontinued "UFO News UK," contained a report of a visit James made to a meeting of the Aetherius Society (http://ufoinfo.com/ufonewsuk/v01/0108.shtml). James provides a short description of the Society and reproduces some of the question and answer period held at the end of the session.

At least two Web sites have simply reproduced an earlier version of the Religious Movements Homepage profile. One, Dee Finney’s "UFO CULTS" (http://www.ufos-unbound.com/ufos/ufo-cults.htm), takes a decidedly anticult perspective, and replicates many of the conceptual problems related to new religions that led to such abuses as coercive deprogramming. "Metareligion," which is the Internet project of a Mexican mechanical engineer, also simply reproduces the earlier Religious Movements Homepage profile, but within the context of a more tolerant conceptual framework.

Research Bibliography

Aetherius Society. "The Cosmic Concept"; retrieved from www.aetherius.org/NewFiles/Cosmic_Concept.html, January 24, 2005.

_____. "Dr. George King, Our Founder"; retrieved from www.aetherius.org/NewFiles/Dr_George_King.html, January 24, 2005.

_____. "Hear the Cosmic Masters"; retrieved from www.aetherius.org/NewFiles/Hear_the_Masters.html, January 24, 2005.

_____. "Operation Space Power"; retrieved from www.aetherius.org/NewFiles/Operation_Spacepower.html, January 26, 2005.

_____. "Operation Sunbeam"; retrieved from www.aetherius.org/NewFiles/Operation_Sunbeam.html, January 26, 2005.

_____. "Pilgrimages to Holy Mountains"; retrieved from www.aetherius.org/NewFiles/we_do_pilgrimages.html, January 26, 2005.

_____. "Some Basic Principles"; retrieved from www.aetherius.org/NewFiles/Beliefs.html, January 26, 2005.

_____. "The Next Master"; retrieved from www.aetherius.org/NewFiles/Next_Master.html, January 26, 2005.

_____. "What is the Aetherius Society?"; retrieved from www.aetherius.org/NewFiles/Aetherius_Society.html, January 24, 2005.

_____. "World Missions"; retrieved from www.aetherius.org/NewFiles/we_do_world_missions.html, January 26, 2005.