The Society of Guardians is a Contemplative and Mystical order in the Western Esoteric Tradition that was been active in New Zealand since 1970. It had existed in Australia from the 1930’s and prior to that in London, England from the mid 1870’s.The early Christian influences of the Society are said to derive from the Franciscans of Sicily, the Camaldolese Benedictines of Northern Italy,  as well as the Rhineland Mystics of Germany. Our Kabbalistic and Esoteric egregore derives from the Christian Kabbalah of the ‘Platonic Academy’ in Florence, Italy and later German and French Esoteric Christian and Kabbalistic orders. 

The Platonic Academy of Florence was established during the 1400’s under the patronage of Cosimo Medici. Flavius Mithridates (Guiglemo Raymond Moncado) a Jew from Sicily who converted to Catholicism joined the Academy working under Pico Della Mirandolla and Marsilio Ficino to translate Kabbalistic texts by Abraham Abulafia and his student Joseph Gikkatilla. Mirandolla and Franciscan Friar Francesco Giorgi Venteto (1466-1540) alongside Georgios Gemistos Pletho, a Greek Philosopher were key people in the Academy. The members frequently collaborated with the Camaldolese Benedictine order and met at the Santa Maria Degli Angeli monastery. It is said that the order established by this group in 1498 was called "The Fratres Lucis" (Brotherhood of Light). 

The teachings of Christian Cabala (Kabbalah) from Florence were taken to Germany in the early 1500's by Johannes Reuchlin (1455-1522) who had been a student of Mirandolla and Friar Venteto. Johannes Trithemius (1462-1516), Abbot of the Benedictine Monastery of Spanheim was taught Kabbalah by Reuchlin. Trithemius was deeply influenced by 12th Century Benedictine Abbess Hildegard of Bingen's teachings, and drew deeply on her spiritual and natural philosophies to shape his own system of Christian Humanism and Magical Theology. 

Trithemius's students were Paracelcus and Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa (1486-1535). Agrippa was also spiritually mentored by Friar Paolo Ricci (AKA Camillo Renato), another Sicilian Franciscan. 

The Fratres Lucis were revived in Frankfurt-Am-Main, Germany in 1782 and claimed a lineage linking them back to the Platonic Academy. Kabbalistic scholar Franz Josef Molitor describes how the founder of the Frankfurt order was initiated by "a Franciscan Friar who possessed occult knowledge received from a Kabbalistic mystical Sect". Franciscan superiors were not called Abbots or Prior, but a Guardian (Custos). It is from this Franciscan association that our Society's name derives. 

One of our predecessors in the Society was Mieczysław Demetriusz Sudowski, AKA Michael Sadau (1897-1971), a Polish Catholic esotericist who adopted the pseudonym 'Mouni Sadhu' (meaning Silent Monk). During his life he had been part of Rosicrucian group in Europe during the 1920's and studied various French and Russian esoteric traditions. Mouni Sadhu was greatly influenced by Paul Sedir (Yvon le Loup) and dedicated one of his books to him, while also translating Sedir's book "Initiations" from French to English. Sedir, had been a prominent French mystic, esotericist, and Gnostic Bishop who played a central role in the late 19th Century French occult revival. He was a leading member of The Kabbalistic Order of the Rose Cross (Ordre Kabbalistique de la Rose Croix), the Martinist Order, and the Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor (which claimed descent from the Frates Lucis), while also being a professor at the Ecole Hermetique (Hermetic School) in Paris. 

Sedir had a profound spiritual crisis after meeting a mysterious Christian Mystic named Monsieur Phillipe de Leon. He later gave up all titles, esoteric order ranks and occult activities and embarked on a path of deep Christian Mysticism following the 'way of the heart'. Mouni Sadhu later followed Sedir's lead and moved away from Magical orders to a Mystical, devotional path. Later, he had ongoing correspondence with Christian mystic and Catholic Trappist Monk Thomas Merton, and Theosophists C.W. Leadbeater and Annie Besant and spent time staying at the Monastery of St Vincent de Paul in Paris and and at the headquarters of a Christian Mystical society (Les Amites Spirituelles) founded by Sedir. In 1949 Mouni Sadhu lived in India as a disciple of Ramana Maharshi at Arunachala, at the same time French Benedictine Monk Henri le Saux (Swami Abhishiktananda) was staying at the ashram. Le Saux co-founded the Shantivanam (Forest of Peace) Christian Ashram with another French Catholic Priest Fr Jules Monchanin one year later. The leadership of Shantivanam was later taken on by Camaldolese Benedictine Monk Bede Griffiths.

When Mouni Sadhu first met Ramana Maharshi he was mentored and introduced by a fellow Polish man, and  fellow Theosophical Society member who had been a long-term close disciple of Ramana Maharshi and lifelong friend of Jiddu Krishnamurti. This was Maurice Frydman (sometimes spelled Freedman). Frydman, while Jewish by birth had become an Orthodox Christian monk living in a monastery, then later became an Engineer and was influential in Indian politics. Mouni was undoubtedly influenced by both Henri Le Saux and Frydman. He continued to write numerous, influential esoteric and spiritual books including on Tarot, Meditation, and Theurgy and immigrated to Melbourne, Australia in late 1949 where he resided until his death in 1971. 

Mouni Sadhu had for a time been a part of Russian/Armenian Philosopher, Mystic and Spiritual teacher Gurdjieff's group, but they had a falling out and parted ways. Gurdjieff's statement "the only initiation is self initiation" was however later adopted by Mouni Sadhu.  

Michel Tyne Corbold (AKA Michael Freedman) joined the Melbourne sanctuary in 1959, and was a member of Mouni Sadhu's 'Arunachala group'. He had previously been a Methodist minister in Western Australia, and later became a renowned meditation teacher through his own training in India, where he lived for some years. Bede Griffiths three pillars 'Communion, Compassion and Cooperation' which represented the core framework for the evolution of humanity, as well as his emphasis on non-dual god consciousness, the sacredness of creation, inter-religious dialogue and respect, and a reverence for the Masculine AND feminine aspect of divinity were all adopted by the Late Senior Guardian Michael Freedman. 

Michael Freedman's spiritual name within the Society was" Thamris Gnostes". In 1967 Michael was made the new Senior Guardian and in 1969 he moved to Auckland, New Zealand with his wife Susan, where he worked as a Psychologist. He opened the "Sanctuary of the Angels" in a villa in the suburb of Mt Eden in 1970 and offered monthly seasonal rituals, a weekly 'Mystical Mass', esoteric study groups, meditation evenings, and spiritual retreats. He also co-published a successful esoteric journal 'Magic Pentacle' and translated several historical esoteric manuscripts from Latin, Greek, and Hebrew including one of Giordano Bruno's texts and a rare version of the Sepher Yetzirah. Michael passed to higher service at Midsummer Eve, 20th December 1996. 

About The CURRENT SENIOR Guardian 

The current Senior Guardian, Ciaran Masterson, has been involved with the Guardians Tradition, as well as  Contemplative Mysticism for over 35 years. He had grown up in an esoteric family (that included Theosophists, and Rosicrucians) and was introduced to Michael Freedman by his mother in 1991, then  attended ceremonies and tuition at the Mt Eden Sanctuary until 1996. After Michael's death he continued his studies under other senior adepts of the Society as well as through Esoteric Orders and has led a ritual group of the Celtic Magical Tradition for the last 25 years. On the 18th of June, 2016 he was invested as Senior Guardian by the previous Abbess and Prior of the Society.

Ciaran was previously an ordained priest in the Old Catholic/Liberal Catholic and French Gnostic Christian traditions and offered Public Eucharist/Mass services for 10 years. Ciaran coordinates and leads the evening Celtic services, seasonal ceremonies, and contemplative meditation sessions and healing services.  Professionally, he works as a Psychological Therapist in both the public sector and in private practice and has also been a University Lecturer. He has a strong interest in Ancient Mythology, Cultural Anthropology, World Religions, Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, and Jungian Analytical Psychology. 

While a Pakeha New Zealander by birth, Ciaran is of English/Welsh, Irish, and Scottish ancestry. He  lives in Titirangi with his wife and two children and has led personal development and Christian Meditation groups, and conducted Celtic rites of passage (baby blessings, adult baptisms, weddings/hand-fasting ceremonies, and funerals) as a celebrant. He is also a registered counsellor who offers Spiritual Direction and Supervision.