  We demonstrate how a large spin system ($S=7/2$) with the ground and the
first excited state separated by a seven photon transition exhibit non
equilibrium thermodynamic properties and how the population distribution may be
manipulated using coupling between energy levels. The first method involves
non-adiabatic passage through an avoided level crossing controlled with an
external DC magnetic field and the resulting Landau Zener transition. The
second method is based on external cavity pumping to a higher energy state
hybridised with another state that is two single photon transitions away from
the ground state. The results are confirmed experimentally with Gd$^{3+}$
impurity ion ensemble in a YVO$_{4}$ crystal cooled to 20 mK, which also acts
as a microwave photonic whispering gallery mode resonator. Extremely long life
times are observed due to large number of photons required for the transition
between the ground and the first excited states.
