Adept

An adept is an individual identified as having attained a specific level of knowledge, skill, or aptitude in doctrines relevant to a particular author or organization. An adept is an individual identified as having attained a specific level of knowledge, skill, or aptitude in doctrines relevant to a particular author or organization. He stands out from others with his great abilities. All human qualities are developed in him, including intelligence and spirituality. Anyone can become an adept through spiritual development and self-improvement. The word 'adept' is derived from Latin adeptus 'one who has attained' (the secret of transmuting metals). Madame Blavatsky makes liberal use of the term adept in her works to refer to their minor function as caretaker of ancient occult knowledge. She also mentions their great compassionate help for humanity and such lesser powers of the adept as being able to take active control of elemental spirits as well as the physical and astral (conditions of non-adepts. In Alice Bailey's body of writing she outlines a hierarchy of spiritual evolution and an initiatory path along which an individual may choose to advance. In her works an Adept is defined as a being who has taken five of the seven initiations.