DKMU - LATAM =Keepers of the Watchtowers=

 

Written by Jess Jones  

DKMU LATAM is one of the recent groups to be admitted to the Advocacy Council and is the first Spanish language group to take its place along side the other groups represented. Being a primarily Spanish speaking collective that serves the Latin American community is not the only aspect of this group that calls attention. It also is an autonomous offshoot of the DKMU model with a dynamic and proactive membership that carries the traditions and methodologies that have become the hallmark of the Ellis Sigil as well as the DKMU Godforms.

From these teachings and magical practices has arisen a DKMU that provides its own focus and style not only in ritual and applied construct but in its stated purpose of the group. Even the arrangement and function of the group Administrators is unique to this collective of Marauders and the aspect that is most desired and sought after within the group is participation in group operations.

At the heart of their purpose is the emancipation of the individual through the use of magic to liberate the will, the mind, and body from oppression and to learn the tools to set each practitioner free from those situations that would unduly control or manipulate them. In essence it is Liberation in a magickal sense. The concept of community is also a priority and they have set specific and deliberate undertakings and activities that promote, while still enforcing the concept of individual accountability, a sense of connectedness and sense of group. Included in this idea of group is not merely what the individual should do to participate with group activities but an established concept of active support and direction provided from the group to the individual.

One of the first things that a new member will notice is that the administrators have been arranged in accordance to a construct that they describe as the Five Watchtowers with each administrator being assigned as a Keeper of a Tower and each Tower representing a magickal designation as well as a group function that coincides with its Occult designation. In essence, each Administrator has a given area of concern within the group as well as a Keeper of the Tower who is accountable for relationships between DKMU LATAM and other groups. There is a Keeper of a Tower who's area of focus is education and providing tools for instruction and learning and another who takes on the promotion of group projects and undertakings.

Beyond the logistical concerns each Keeper of a Watchtower also corresponds to a ceremonial function as one might find in a Temple or an Order.

Keeper of the Watchtower of Earth:

He protects the fundamentals of magickal tradition and material to be provided to the community. This person keeps the records of activities and achievements of members of the group and nurtures the Corpus Hermeticum. He coordinates the gathering and translating of knowledge.

Keeper of the Watchtower of Air:

This Keeper is responsible for instructing and tutoring the new members and passing on to them the understanding of the symbols, and terminologies that a member needs. This person also arranges learning platforms such as workshops and courses for education.

Keeper of the Watchtower of Water:

This Keeper is tasked with assisting the individual members of the group to find their way within the collective, to provide assistance to those in need, and to gather resources and responses to individuals who might be struggling.

Keeper of the Watchtower of Fire:

It is in this Keeper's hands to focus on exciting and encouraging the individuals through the use of their symbols and practices of magick. Nothing less than keeping the current aflame with inspiration and to inspire the Occult imagination.

Keeper of the Watchtower of Aether

This Keeper is tasked with working with each of the other Watchtowers in assisting them with achieving their goals, arranging of resources, and also this Keeper represents the group to other organizations and speaks as the public voice for the collective will of the other Keepers.

This arrangement of Keepers is a thing that makes this group different in most regards to any other on line occult group that most of us are used to being involved with. And the effect of this way of structuring their group as well as a redefining of the relationship of the administrators to the membership has a profound effect not only in group culture, which tends to be proactive, supportive, and involved, but also provides remarkable membership involvement and participation. (Current list of Admins: Cristian Rogelio Velasco Gutiérrez, Eduardo Ramírez, Yavhe Alexander, Maximiliano Baratelli, Martin Insaurralde)

The impact of this group on the Advocacy Council has also been profound as the various schools and educational programs chartered by the Council now look to begin providing Spanish Language courses as well as working to translate video courses into usable subtitled lessons. Even this publication is provided with a translate app which immediately translates all articles into Spanish for our newest constituent group. But it shouldn't be thought that the effect is one way, a simple opening of resources made available but from this relatively new and numerically small membership has sprung a multiplying level of talent and involvement. Instructors, Council Members, Mentors, projects leads, and administrative leadership have come from this remarkable and determined assembly of Adepts.