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How Do You Process Information as a Golden Dawn Magician?

February 12, 2015, 1:03 pm
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by Guest Blogger
Frater Reflect (H.T.U.U)
Cameron Holden Gaster

Qabalah derives from the word Qebel which means "to receive". There is good reason for this. The best technology in the past for organising and storing certain information was the organic human biocomputer. Does this sound strange? It shouldn't. There were no pcs, laptops, tablets, or even word processors. Using Magic, the Alchemist could nonetheless use the Tree of Life symbol system to program and file information in the mind of the alchemist.


The use of talismans have more applications then people oftern realize. Think of a talisman as a disk of containing software. Once you download the information it can be readily accessed whenever needed. All you need is a password.

When I was in confinement in prison, which was a small closet sized room with one other person and you never are able to leave for months,  I had a roommate who kept pacing back and forth in the cell.

I thought he was rapping because he was waving his hands around as though he was rehearsing music. I was surprised by his answer when I asked him what he was doing. He told me he was going over books. 

"Books?" I asked. 

"Yes. I've memorized eight whole books," he replied.

I obviously didn't believe him at first. But after spending three months in the cell listening to him recite every single word of certain books from start to finish, I was astonished. Some of these books I was even familiar with. This impressed me deeply, because at the time I was studying ways to store information in my mind, since the Golden Dawn requires so much memorisation of material. After all, once an alchemist has studied aspects of nature, they still needs to organize and store this information.

The Qabalistic Tree of Life provides an excellent symbol system for this purpose, not completely unlike a computer desktop.



Let's take, for example. a Mercury talisman.


To begin with, Mercury corresponds to the Sephirah of Hod on the tree. Hod and Mercury represent splendor, aspects of the intellect state,  and other associations. To Hod and Mercury are attributed certain names of power, expressions of writing, language, communication, science, magic, alchemy, etc. I can therefore file any given experience or knowledge of these subjects in to the filing folder of Hod, just like a folder on a computer desktop.

So as not to need to have these associations run through your mind all day, you can store it in a talisman, as you would a DVD or backup disk on a computer. In this way, certain key words can be awakened and reawakened in the mind of the Magician.

Thus Golden Dawn Magicians use the 10 folders of the Qabalistic Tree of Life as a filing system for information and for life experience.

There're many ways to apply this technology once we understand how it has been used it in the past.

For example, how about a certain fragrance a loved one regularly wore. What does that scent later awaken in you when you come across it radomly waling in public. Does it not conjure up memories or feelings associated with that loved one, that you mentally attached to that smell? 

For example, my grandmother loved cardinals (bright red birds). Since she passed away, my Mom and I have attached happy memories of my Grandmother to the symbol of a cardinal. So every time my Mother or I see a cardinal, even if only in a picture, we automatically reflect on Grandma.

This process can be extremely useful. Understanding how to attach thoughts to tools therefore makes "programming" your "bio computer" simple.

The true lab of the alchemist exists on many levels; the chemicals in your body, to accessing and taking conscious control of the subconscious system that controls your body, etc. The spiritual technology of the Golden Dawn can help you harness the power of this ancient filing system of associations built up for Centuries around the Qabalistic Tree of Life.

As a modern individual, I can hear you object: "But we have books, internet, etc. Why do I need to approach my owna minds though it were a computer?" 

Why? 

Because this process itself is an alchemical process that changes and evolves you in our quest to become "more than human."

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Hate Bloggers Attack Nick Farrell: Golden Dawn Fundamentalism?

February 14, 2015, 12:15 pm
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by Golden Dawn Imperator
David Griffin

Nick Farrell's Peace Initiative
You are likely by now aware of MOAA leader, Nick Farrell's, peace initiative to end defamation in the Golden Dawn community. I fully support this initiative, as I set forth in the below State of the Golden Dawn address, which I released last week at Candlemas.



The truce arising from the Farrell initiative has held for over a week now. There have been no attacks on any Golden Dawn leader posted on Mr. Farrell's group nor any other major Golden Dawn group on Facebook.

The only sad news this week came when Golden Dawn hate blogs attacked Nick Farrell for silencing them by no longer allowing them to promote posts on his Facebook group, thus depriving them of any meaningful traffic or readership. Nick Farrell deserves much credit for standing up to these hate blogs.

In other developments, Olen Rush commented on YouTube beneath my "State of the Golden Dawn" video, pointing out that he has completely taken down his blog where once numerous attacks on our order were housed. Mr. Rush pointed out that negative references to that blog still remain today on the Golden Dawn Blog. In respect of Mr. Rush's effective takedown request, I yesterday removed any and all reference to Olen Rush from the Golden Dawn Blog. I took this action unilaterally and unconditionally in yet a further effort to support Nick Farrell's peace initiative - as well to inspire others in the Golden Dawn community to also do the right thing.

Nick Farrell deserves much credit for persevering in his peace initiative, despite being attacked by the hate blogs this week. There have always been - and will always be - a handful of extremists in the Golden Dawn community - and hatred will never be completely banished. Extremists can not continue to tarnish the reputation of the Golden Dawn, however, unless we allow their hatred to continue to have a disproportionate voice.

But does this mean that there can be no legitimate debate in the Golden Dawn community? Especially when it comes to the legitimate differences between one Golden Dawn order and the other? Does the public not have a right to know these differences?

This idea is being put to the test today over on Nick Farrell's group, where my name is being invoked once again this morning, this time in connection with the position of various Golden Dawn orders on the practice of Magick in the Golden Dawn's outer order.

Today's discussion arose when Dean Wilson, leader of Ireland's "Ancient and Honorable Order of the Golden Dawn" set forth his position that:
"the Elemental Implements should not be made in the Elemental Grades" of the Golden Dawn's outer order.
Golden Dawn author, Pat Zalewksi, leader of the Canadian "Order of the Golden Dawn" replied:
"You have get me here Dean as I have never heard of a GD order making elemental weapons in the outer order. Its bloody ridiculous for many reasons."
Morgan Drake Eckstein, of the Colorado based BIOGD, replied:
 "(I have heard of these Orders doing this.... ) I personally think that they should be made as a set in the Inner."
Samuel Scarborough, representing an order I can't mention here by name due to a legal agreement you can view HERE wrote: 
"Unfortunately, Pat Zalewski, there are those that claim to do GD work, yet do drop Inner Order material into the Outer. Those organizations previously named certainly are the most well-known for this particular (and other) set of practices."
Another group member made clear who they were talking about, suggesting "Griff's order""does quite a bit of this sort of thing".

A leader of Sam Scarborough's order wrote:

"Amen and Amen! Bravo Dean!"

Let me first make clear why I am summarizing and replying to this discussion here rather than directly on Nick Farrell's group where it occurred. I am banned from Nick Farrell's group. Even today, despite Nick's peace initiative, I continue to be mentioned in discussions on Mr. Farrell's group, yet denied any possibility of direct reply. This dynamic has contibuted heavily to decades of Golden Dawn community polarization.

Moving on to relevant points of discussion, we observe that there is a faction of orders in the Golden Dawn community that do not permit use of the Golden Dawn's elemental implements in their outer orders. 

In fact, these orders reserve all practice of Magick for their Inner Orders. Not one of these groups will give you any Magickal instruction or coaching until you reach their Inner Order, which typically takes at least five years.

The position of our order, the European headquartered, Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, in this matter is quite different that those of other orders stated above. We are, in fact the ONLY Golden Dawn order that will teach you Magick from the very first day your are accepted for membership in our order.

In 1888, in Victorian England, it made sense to make people wait until the Inner Order to learn the secrets of Magick. But today, when you can buy all that same "secret" magick for $37.95 from Llewellyn (discounted to $24.50 on Amazon), does this still make sense? Times change and no one can put the genie back in the bottle. The reality is that, due to the publication of basic Golden Dawn material by Crowley and Regardie, there is an entire army of self taught solitary Golden Dawn magicians out there picking up bad habits and in desperate need of proper training, guidance, and coaching. Our order's position is that it makes no sense at all to make people wait for years on end without proper Magickal training. We are a school of Magick, after all, and not of history.

For the sake of argument, let's say you join one of these orders that make you wait years before Magickal training? Just what Magick will you learn once training finally arrives?
This - And little more.

This is not at all the case with our order. We are Golden Dawn traditionalists. All of the Magick and Alchemy we teach in our First, Second, and Third orders comes straight from Hermetic, Rosicrucian, and Golden Dawn initiatic sources. 

We are very fortunate to have far more to offer our students than just what's in a Llewellyn book. In our order, we offer the complete three order training program originally envisioned for the Golden Dawn, but only partly realized by S.L. MagGregor Mathers.
Let us return to the discussion that prompted this article, the question of whether or not the Golden Dawn's elemental implements should be used by Magicians in the Elemental grades of the Outer Order. In our order, students do use these Magickal tools in our Outer Order. They use them to master the Forces of each Element using invocation of published Qabalistic and Enochian Magickal forces.

Unlike other Golden Dawn orders, however, our Second Order contains a great deal of unpublished Hermetic Magick. One part of this is Chaldaen Magick. Our Adepti Minori also make and consecrate new Elemental tools, but tools that use unpublished Chaldean Magickal entities, names, and sigils. These are used for secret Chaldean Hermetic Magick that is available in no other Golden Dawn order.

Is it any wonder that we are today the world's largest and fastest growing Golden Dawn order?

I respect that other Golden Dawn orders choose to make people wait for Magick like in 1888. It is our diversity that makes our Golden Dawn community so rich. I am not not implying that any of my colleagues from other orders are Golden Dawn Fundamentalists. Still, we as a community should be ever vigilant for the dangers of all forms of extremism including dogmatism and fundamentalism.

The Golden Dawn is not a religion, Israel Regardie is not Martin Luther, and the Llewellyn book is certainly not a "Golden Dawn Bible."
I am not claiming that our order is better than any other - only that we do things differently. There are important differences between Golden Dawn orders and the public deserves to know what these differences are.

One thing has became clear today. Despite ongoing success of Nick Farrell's peace initiative, meaningful debate about differences between Golden Dawn orders remains hobbled across different Facebook groups and blogs rather than in direct dialogue. I am optimistic that also this situation may yet improve. In any case, we as a community must not allow Nick Farrell's peace initiative to be scuttled by extremism in any form.
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Secret Chiefs REVEAL: "Why Secrecy?"

February 18, 2015, 10:32 am
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by Golden Dawn Imperator
David Griffin

The principle of initiatic secrecy is a fundamental hallmark of the Hermetic, Rosicrucian, and Golden Dawn traditions. In fact, it is an absolute cornerstone of EVERY true initiatic and arcane school.

In the case of the Golden Dawn, each new initiate is admonished to remain silent, maintain secrecy, and receives a password, "Harparkrat," the name of the Egyptian God Harpocrates, also known as Horus the Younger.
One of the first things each new Golden Dawn initiate learns is how to perform the Golden Dawn's "Sign of Silence," depicted in statues of Harpocrates holding his index finger to his lip. I recently revealed the occult use of the Sign of Silence in the Magick 101 television series. You can learn how to correctly use this incredibly powerful magickal tool HERE.

The question of the true function of secrecy arises over and over, because a lot of people mistakenly believe that secrecy is just a tool to manipulate others. Few things confuse people today about the Golden Dawn as much as the reasons for secrecy in the Golden Dawn and the Hermetic tradition.

The question came up again this week HERE on the Golden Dawn Facebook group. Several years ago, I asked my alchemical Master, Frater Lux E Tenebris to comment on the true value and function of Hermetic secrecy. Here is what he had to say.

Why Secrecy?
by Hermetic Master
 Lux E Tenebris
Thank you for inviting me to comment on the role of secrecy in the Hermetic tradition. The primary function of secrecy in esotericism is not to manipulate others, which has unfortunately been done and continues to be done in bad faith by persons who are not Hermetic Masters. A true Hermetic Master never causes his students to suffer, but maintains secrecy of the more advanced practices rather to protect the body, soul, and mind of the Apprenctice not yet prepared to assimilate these techniques, which when practiced by individuals not yet evolved enough would certainly destroy them. 
Let us take a simple example. Let us say that one of my students tries to convince me to give him or her an advanced alchemical technique. I observe in the behavior of the student that they are not yet ready to have and practice this particular processing as they have not yet reached the necessary degree of spiritual maturity. Because the disciple is insistent, however, I allow myself to be convinced, give in, and give the technique to them anyway. The student diligently begins with the practice and as a consequence either goes mad or dies, which, by the way, are very real dangers with Hermetic alchemy. 
Now why did this tragedy occur? It occurred for the simple reason that the Apprentice used an instrument much larger than themselves that requires a profound level of spiritual maturity for its use, for which the student was unprepared. No true Master Alchemist would, of course, ever give such a dangerous technique to an unprepared Disciple of the Art. 
This same line of reasoning is followed today by more advanced nations in the sense of superior democracy in regard to, for example, smaller nations still ruled by dictators that, if were they to possess atomic weapons, would use them to destroy others and themselves. Can you imagine if Osama Bin Laden were in possession of the secrets of how to build atomic weapons? This is why nations like the USA protect the secret of the creation of atomic bombs...in order to protect an infantile humanity from self-destruction. 
No Hermetic Master who is a true Master would ever give everything all at once to an Apprentice. It is the proper development and spiritual maturation of the Disciple over time that determines their capacity to assimilate more advanced spiritual techniques with their attendant higher states of awareness and realization. 
If we plant an apple tree, we accept that five long years will pass before the tree will ever bear fruit. Why then should we expect it should be different with the Secret Hermetic Science? 
Moreover, alchemical processes are not truly "secret." On the contrary, all of the secrets of true alchemical processing are described in alchemical works very clearly. It is the infantility of students or their laziness to study which prevents aspirants of alchemical wisdom from discovering for themselves the secrets of the Royal Art. 
Aspirants today are unwilling to sweat on the books and in the laboratory as have done all true Children of Hermes and thus have discovered the true significance of every term and all of the sequences to put into operation the secrets of the Great Work. 
But today, in the age of the Internet, aspirants want easy, immediate, and complete access to information. Above all, they do not want to sweat and work! 
Of course not. They want to be able to go to a bookstore and buy a book like they do with Regardie's Golden Dawn, or even better yet,Google a website and voila ... to become a Hermetic Alchemist reading in clear text all of the secrets of the Royal Art! 
Such is the mentality of the 21st Century. 
But with Hermetic Alchemy, alas, this is not possible. 
To explain why, let me give you an example from modern physics. There exist in libraries books with the knowledge to build nearly anything, either good or evil, explaining all of the accumulated science of man. 
But how many people dedicate themselves to a profound study of the matter? 
Likewise many aspire to the light but only the fewest obtain it because it is "difficult" to study and to practice. 
No...aspirants of today want to have everything clearly written and readily understandable. 
And even the Hermetic Masters are accused today that "we keep secrets only to manipulate others," merely because, as we have done for countless Centuries, we speak, write, and discourse with you using the very symbols of the Sacred Science itself. 
But were I to reveal to you the deepest and most profound secrets of alchemical processing, how many of you would understand? 
How many of you would have eyes to see? 
How many, ears to hear? 
How many would succeed to perceive the naked truth in itself? 
Few. 
In fact, only the fewest of the few. 
I repeat to you once again, as has been written and said over and over by the Hermetic sages of all ages, in words that are as true today as they were in ancient times: 
"Everything is clearly revealed, but not perceived.
Eyes behold but they do not see!
Ears listen but they do not hear!" 
Therefore I repeat: 
Just as there exist symbolical languages for physics, chemistry, and philosophy, without which you can not truly understand these sciences, so in alchemy there also exists a symbolical language that since millennia has been beneath the eyes of all in books, in cathedrals, and in every construction of the ancients. Even the fables of storybooks are full of these symbols! 
Thus you can not accuse the Hermetic alchemists of hiding things from you or speaking in riddles. It is only that we are speak in a different language, known in alchemy as "The Language of the Birds." 
How can you expect to understand this language any more than Sanskrit unless you likewise learn its rules and symbols with great effort, and to study, study, and study more? 
Thus it is not we, the Sons of Hermes that you should accuse of speaking in riddles and of keeping secrets from you! 
No. You should blame yourselves instead for not having studied enough and researched enough! 
In fact, the alchemical maxim is quite clear and enough to come to an understanding of the entire Opus: 
"Lege, lege, lege, et Inveniens." 
For those of you who have not applied yourself to understand Latin, this means in terms that even limited understanding might yet grasp: 
"Read, read, reread, and you will find." 
Thus you may understand the truth that I speak to you as all of the Sons of Hermes who have come before me have also said, that everything is already written and it is only the ignorance and the intellectual laziness of those who approach the Sacred Sciences that serve as "natural selection" to screen out the undeserving by their own work from the truly deserving that are committed to and conquer the mysteries. 
In the Sacred Science, not everything can be given to everyone even if it is revealed because: 
... the Science can not be given, but rather...
...it must be conquered. 
It is not enough to have faith to become a true Initiate, but one must above all study, work, and engage oneself to the very depths. 
How many are capable of this? 
Few. 
This is why true Initiates have "always" been few... 
...and today are even fewer. 
And everything not successfully conquered on one's own remains shrouded in mystery waiting to be discovered, and becomes "secret" only to the degree that it does not become conquered and discovered by hard work and research. 
It is like as if I should enrolls to study Physics at the University. During my first year everything that the researchers of Theoretical Physics are doing will certainly remain "secret" to me. But if I apply myself I can unlock their secrets, as they are already revealed but in a language that I must first learn. Unless I learn this language, however, theoretical physics will always remain a mystery for me. 
But to return once again to your original question: 
You ask me: 
"Why do you speak in riddles, and why have the alchemists always spoken like this as well?" 
I do not speak in riddles. I have always spoken forthright and clearly with you. 
The problem is rather with your understanding. 
I speak with symbols that you do not understand only because you have not studied them. Study the symbols of Hermetic Science and you will understand me completely. Then you asked me: 
"Is this not only a manipulation?"
I have already explained to you that unfortunately there are others who do use this science to manipulate others. I do not manipulate anyone, however. In fact, I am not even interested in having Disciples. 
...and like me, there "are" others, even if we are few.

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"Live Long and Prosper" A Golden Dawn Tribute to Leonard Nimoy (1931-2015)

February 28, 2015, 4:28 am
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Imperator's Vlog, February 27, 2015

Today the world grieves the passing of Leonard Nimoy, who played the original role of Mr. Spock, first officer or James T Kirk aboard the star ship Enterprise passed away today at his home in Los Angeles. He was 83. 

The first time I laid eyes on Leonard Nimoy in his role of Mr. Spock I was mesmerised. I was 11 at the time and at a boy scout meeting when I saw Mr. Spock on TV in the next room. I was drawn to him like a magnet.

That was it. Every chance I got, I found one excuse after the other not to go to boy scout meetings for the rest of the year, so that I could watch the adventures of Jim Kirk and Spock. There is no television series that had a more profound impact on my spiritual life than Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek which I discovered at a very formative age.

Leanord Nimoy, in his role as the Vulcan first officer aboard the Starship Enterprise led me to first contact with Vulcan culture. 

The Vulcans in turn led me to some of the most formative questions of my life: 
  • "Are we alone in the universe? 
  • "Do life forms exist beyond the limits of our perception? and 
  • "If so, how can we contact them?"
These questions led me to Magick.

Leonard Nimoy. Thank you for the inspiration that led me to discover the reality of the inner planes and to establish contact with the beings living on those planes.

So tonight, in honor or your memory, and in recognition of the profound impact Spock had on my spiritual attainment, I salute you, Leonard Nimoy, and I dedicate tonight's vlog to you. 

You were - my childhood hero.

Live long and prosper, 
Spock - old friend - on the other side.
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Preparations for MagickAll 2015: April 10-12, 2015 at Shadow Mountain

March 1, 2015, 2:46 pm
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Maxine and Alex Sanders
Here at the Golden Dawn's Alpha Omega Temple, we are hard at work preparing for  MagickAll 2015, our yearly gathering of magickal tribes.

The event this year will be one weekend only, April 10-12. Although donations are gladly accepted, our yearly MagickAll gathering is our free-of-charge gift to the Magickal community.

In light of last year's problems, we will not release the final schedule until the last minute. Here is some of what you can expect though. 

Experts will lecture on the following Magickal traditions:
  • Golden Dawn Magick Dojo
  • Thelemic Magick
  • British Traditional Witchcraft & Alexandrian Magick
  • NLP and Magick
  • Shamanic Magick
  • Astrology and Magick
  • Hermetic Magick
  • Shamanic Drumming
On Sunday, April 12 there is the possibility of Golden Dawn Neophyte initiation (prior application required) as well as first degree Wiccan initiation in a solid Alexandrian lineage (only 2 steps removed from Maxine and Alex Sanders through Janet and Stewart Ferrar).  

Here is more exciting news. Saturday night's MagickAll highlight is the "Shadow Mountain Micro Burn." With the assistance of the Las Vegas' Burning Man community, we are presently lining up DJs, fire spinners, etc. It will be awesome.

Here at Shadow Mountain outside Las Vegas, we are fortunate to live on an ancient lake bottom similar to the playa at Burning Man's Black Rock City. To create enough room for the "Micro Burn, we are reconstructing and doubling the size of our dance circle.

We thought you might enjoy seeing some of the work preparing for this amazing event. Here is Golden Dawn Cancellaria, Leslie McQuade, happy as a clam at the helm of her "weapon of mass construction."

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ASTONISHING Golden Dawn News!

March 3, 2015, 2:18 pm
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by Golden Dawn Imperator
David Griffin

As you are likely already aware, the Golden Dawn community began an epoch of unparalleled peace and prosperity, when Nick Farrell recently launched a peace initiative you can read about here.
Nick Farrell
You can hear about my reply to Mr. Farrell's peace initiative in the video embedded below.


Peace is breaking out all over. Over past weeks a lot has happened, although it has occurred discretely. After attacking Nick Farrell for his peace initiative, the hate blogs that have plagued the Golden Dawn community have fallen completely silent, deprived of traffic and furious with Nick Farrell for no longer allowing them to promote their posts on his 7,000 member Facebook group.

Perhaps the most pernicious problem the Golden Dawn community has faced has been decades of polarisation. In recent years, this polarisation has been perpetuated by misguided individuals spreading polarising myths, such as:
  • "There has never been any strife in "the Golden Dawn community. We all get along." 
  • "All of the problems come from "outside troublemakers" (with an implied finger pointed towards our order).
  • A variant on this "us vs them" polarising theme has been that "all problems come from 2 groups that treat the Golden dawn like a business model."
In recent weeks, Aaron Leitch and Samuel Scarborough, have silenced all those who attempted to spread such polarising myths. For such peacekeeping efforts, Aaron Leitch and Sam Scarborough deserve HUGE credit. The peace that has maintained in the Golden Dawn community over the past month wouldn't have been possible without efforts like these, as well as without Mr. Farrell having effectively silenced the hate blogs.
Deborah Leah Shaw
Finally, special commendation goes out to two individuals who have done more than any of us to see that this peace process does not get derailed. These are two members of various Golden Dawn Facebook groups, Deborah Leah Shaw and Andrew Martini.

Andrew Martini
So where is the ASTONISHING Golden Dawn news I promised you in the headline? You might want to sit down before you read on.

I nearly fell off my chair last weekend when I was approached by Steven Ashe bearing a message from Robert Zink, making a take down request of all articles critical of him and promising to do the same. Steven Ashe also deserves commendation for his unsolicited diplomatic efforts in furthering Golden Dawn peace.
Steven Ashe
Yes! Golden Dawn peace continues to spread - and the long and laborious process of removing remnants of decades of tensions continues.

The week before, I had been approached by Olen Rush with a similar take down request, which I immediately honored.

I admit that Robert Zink's take down request request presents me with a conundrum, because there are things about Mr. Zink's past behavior I do not endorse and can't support at all.
Robert Zink
After careful consideration, however, I have decided to honor Mr. Zink's request. The main reason for this is the positive impact this decision will have on the momentum Nick Farrell's peace initiative has been gaining in recent weeks.

After two decades of overt and covert strife in the Golden Dawn community, from the Internet all the way to trademark wars before the US District Court, peace has at long last arrived and seems it is here to stay.

As the Golden Dawn community continues this peace process with a long overdue Internet cleanup of the remnants of strife gone by, It is my fervent wish for the Golden Dawn that the greater Magickal community will see the Golden Dawn for what it is, a community of advanced Magicians with the spiritual maturity and wisdom to put old conflicts and grudges where they belong - in the past.

May the Golden Dawn always remain a shining beacon of light ... 
... for those still groping in darkness!

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International Grand Sabbat of Alexandrian Witches ... MagickAll 2015!

March 9, 2015, 12:29 am
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International Grand Sabbbat of Alexandrian Witches
Gather with us at Shadow Mountain
Pahrump, NV - April 12, 2015
Hosted by ...
 
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Grand Sabbat: The Wicker Man Burns 4/11 at Magickall 2015

March 11, 2015, 6:04 pm
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at Shadow Mountain
Pahrump, NV
April 10-12, 2015

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UNEARTHED IN PARIS: The Tomb of Golden Dawn Founder S.L. MacGregor Mathers

June 19, 2014, 7:46 am
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(EU OHIM reg 000063925)
by Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn®
Imperator David Griffin

The Great Mage S.L. MacGregor Mathers founded the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn's Rosicrucian Inner Order, the Rosae Rubeae et Aurea Crucis in 1892. According to Mathers, he founded the R.R. et A.C. using materials from the mysterious "Secret Chiefs of the Third Order," whom Mathers claimed to have met in person during his sojourn in Paris in 1891. 

The central symbol of the Golden Dawn's Rosicrucian Inner Order is the Vault of the Adepti, based on the legend of the tomb of the founder of the Rosicrucian movement, Christian Rosenkreutz (Frater CRC). The founding document of the historical Rosicrucian movement, the Fama Fraternitatis, speaks of the discovery of the tomb of the Rosicrucian founder as follows:

"While repairing a part of the building of the College of the Holy Spirit, he endeavored to remove a brass memorial tablet which bore the names of certain brethren, and some other things. In this tablet was the head of a strong nail or bolt, so that when the tablet was forcibly wrenched away it pulled with it a large stone which thus partially uncovered a secret door, upon which was inscribed in large letters Post CXX Annos Patebo -- After an hundred and twenty years I shall open ... 
... Now as yet we had not seen the dead body of our careful and wise father, we therefore removed the Altar aside, there we lifted up a strong plate of brass, and found a fair and worthy body, whole and unconsumed, as the same is here lively counterfeited, with all the Ornaments and Attires; in his hand he held a parchment book, called T."
GH Praemonstrator Jean Pascal Ruggiu of Ahathoor Temple No. 7
and Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn® Imperator David Griffin 
inside the Vault of the Adepti of Ahathoor Temple No. 7 in Paris

The Golden Dawn community received wonderful news last month when Jean-Pascal Ruggiu, former Imperator of the Ahathoor Temple No. 7 in Paris, reentered the Golden Dawn, exercising the power in him vested by his traditional Golden Dawn warrant, assuming the mantel of Praemonstrator of Ahathoor Temple No. 7 in Paris, the office once held by Marquis Nicholas Tereshenko and earlier by S.L. MacGregor Mathers.

Last week, the Ahathoor Temple No 7 in Paris rocked the Magickal community with yet again with another bomb shell:

"GH Praemonstrator Jean-Pascal Ruggiu of Ahathoor Temple No. 7 announced his discovery in Paris the hidden tomb of Golden Dawn founder, S.L. MacGregor Mathers!"

Rosicrucian Golden Dawn Founder
S.L. MacGregor Mathers

Considering the importance of the Vault of the Adepti to the Golden Dawn and of the Tomb of the Founder, Christian Rosenkreutz, to the entire Rosicrucian movement, the discovery of the tomb of the Golden Dawn's Rosicrucian founder, S.L. MacGregor Mathers (nearly 120 years after his death), is an event of unparalleled Rosicrucian and magickal importance.

Tomb of the Golden Dawn's Rosicrucian Founder, 
S.L. MacGregor Mathers (1854-1918)
For this article I interviewed GH Praemonstrator Ruggiu (7=4) regarding his discovery of Mathers' tomb. Here is what he had to say:
"Together with Nicolas Tereschenko we conducted a great deal of research into public records and cemeteries in Paris, but without success in finding Mathers' tomb. I continued my research for many years. Most recently, I sought and obtained permission to visit various private cemeteries in Paris. 
It was in once such private cemetery that I finally discovered our Mathers' tomb. When I finally stood in front of the tomb of the founder of our order, it was amazing! The only feeling like this I have ever had was the first time I entered the Vault of the Adepti, like standing before the tomb of Christian Rosenkreutz. 
I could not believe that I finally found it ! And the grave was so beautiful, filled with Golden Dawn symbols - The sun rising over the ocean made in mosaic - and even the Celtic cross above. There is also a mysterious inscription that I still can not decipher. It might even be in the Celtic language. I will publish my findings once I finally succeed to identify the script and translate the inscription. For the moment, I am keeping the location of the tomb secret, as there are so many quarrels on the Internet and people are acting so crazy in the Golden Dawn community."
When I met Jean-Pascal Ruggiu in 1995, he served as Imperator of Ahathoor Temple No. 7 in Paris, while Marquis Nicholas Terescheko served as Praemonstrator. This historic meeting signaled the beginning not only of an abiding friendship, but also of an important initiatic relationship, as GH Frater Ruggiu initiated me into the higher grades of the R.R. et A.C. When in 1997, GH Frater Ruggiu initiated me into the Adeptus Exemptus (7=4) grade, he invested me not only with various Golden Dawn and Rosicrucian lineages held by the Ahathoor Temple, but also a vast array of Gnostic lineages while consecrating me to the episcopate. Thanks to Jean-Pascal Ruggiu and Dr. Robert Word, today I one of but a handful of Pagan Gnostic Bishops. For all of this, I shall remain forever grateful.

The Athathoor Temple No. 7 of Paris today operates as an independent and autonomous, traditional Golden Dawn order under the authority of GH Praemonstrator Jean-Pascal Ruggiu (7=4), in formal amity with our order, the European headquartered Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn®.



(EU OHIM reg 000063925)
Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn®
Making Magicians - Since 1888

Click HERE to explore our Outer Order, undergraduate level Magical training program.
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Columnhenge & AΩ Temple at Shadow Mountain

April 3, 2015, 7:38 am
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With only 3 days remaining before the Golden Dawn Family Reunion, there is still plenty of infrastructure to finish. Today we put up the outdoor shade structure. I am back on my feet after oral surgery, even though my face is still swollen like I just finished a bout with Rocky Balboa.
The picture above shows the work in progress on the new columnhenge. Shadow Mountain is in the background.
This year's MagickAll gathering of Magickal traditions will be held here April 10-12.
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The Secret History of Egyptian Freemasonry

April 15, 2015, 1:08 pm
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It is my great pleasure to announce that on April 10, 2015, the first lodge convened of the Sovereign Sanctuary of Alpha Omega of the Ancient and Primitive Rite of Memphis of Egyptian Freemasonry.

The Sovereign Sanctuary of AΩ operates completely separately and independently from the EU headquartered, Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. 

Please note:

  1. Women are admitted on an equal basis with men.
  2. In our higher grades, we teach the secret Magick and Alchemy of the original Arcana Arcanorum. Unlike most Freemasonry, our masonry is not merely symbolical or speculative. We are operative, esoteric Masons.
  3. We have established formal recognition and reciprocity with a network of lodges of Egyptian Freemasonry all across the world.
  4. Those interested in becomming an Egyptian Freemason or in forming a lodge of Egyptian Freemasonry are invited to contact me privately.
The Secret History of Egyptian Freemasonry
From a private manuscript translated into English by
Golden Dawn Imperator David Griffin
Count Alessandro di Cagliostro
Among the "schools of transmutation" that have existed through the Centuries, the association known as the Neapolitan Hermetic School claims the distinction of being the oldest in the West. It was at the time of Emperor Augustus that a small colony of Egyptians settled in Naples (in the area known today as Piazza Nilo) bringing with them the oral tradition of the secret techniques they had learned in their homeland. 

The forced Islamization of Egypt would nearly erase these techniques, except for a restricted circle of initiates of the Christian religion, until, in the nineteenth century, certain of Napoleon's officers who were initiated in Italy found with great emotion a substantial correspondence between rituals in their possession with those still in use in the land of the Pharaohs. Rarely have Master Masons found better opportunity to accomplish the secret task of their degree, to "unite that which had been divided." 

The passing of centuries, however, has left its mark. The complex events related to "Masonization" of the Neapolitan Hermetic School in the eighteenth century have contributed to confusion about the kind of spiritual operations that had actually been practiced, and even about their purpose. This short essay reaffirms that the entire complex of the Hermetic operative tradition of the Neapolitan School, which was intended from the beginning for the achievement of inner transmutation [Hermetic Internal Alchemy], and that the subsequent inclusion of para-religious elements could and should be abandoned. 

According to a forcibly approximate reconstruction, it is known today that the original levels of training were three in the Hermetic Neapolitan School. Regarding the first level we do not have much to say. It was but theoretical - and fundamentals of Hermeticism were taught and learned - the science of analogies, symbolism (which within the Neapolitan School was extraordinarily rich and extensive compared with that of other Hermetic schools) and probably also the "Art of Memory." 

In the second level, the actual work of transmutation itself [Internal Alchemy] began, according to a technique characterized by a peculiar form of spiritual practice involving sexual energy. The complex of rituals, etc., later introduced into Freemasonry relative to this practice became known in Latin as the "Arcana Arcanorum."

The true nature of the "Arcana Arcanorum" became one of the best kept secrets in the history of esotericism. Not until 1897, in Paris, the occultist Sedir (born Yvon Le Loup, 1871-1926) published a paraphrased version of the "Arcana Arcanorum" in the form of a pamphlet entitled "The Magic of Venus", but the obscurity of the terminology adopted by Sedir made it nearly impossible to understand almost anything. To briefly summarize, the Arcana consist of three "Magisteriums", plus a Greater Arcanum (or "Secretum Secretorum), which together comprise a system for the regeneration of the physical body and the cultivation of a body of glory [Solar Body of Light].

For reasons not entirely clear (and still much debated), in the mid-eighteenth century significant parts of the Neapolitan Hermetic School decided to merge with Freemasonry. Certainly the dazzling spread of Freemasonry during those years weighed heavily in this decision. Freemasonry was seen as a means to propagate the Neapolitan school outside of Italy. Without a doubt, the special nature of Masonic symbolism played a role in this decision; elastic and capable of easily absorbing and syncretizing very different esoteric systems. This was a feature of Freemasonry especially compatible with Hermeticism, a component of which was included already in Masonry from the beginning, namely the Hiramic symbolism.

There is no doubt that the Neapolitan School was aware from the beginning of the limitations and disadvantages inherent in this operation. Although elastic in symbolism, Freemasonry was rigid in ritual, and would never have allowed the practice of Hermetic transmutation within the columns of the Temple. Moreover, a serious risk of the operative tradition losing its quality for the benefit of the symbolism was also present from the outset. 

But the opportunity to set out in detail, the rich universe of colored symbols that marked the work in a magnificent perennial fresco likely to spread throughout the world, was a temptation that no Hermeticist worthy of the name could resist: A testimony analogous to that represented by the Pyramids, a message to the future, a puzzle to decipher ... certainly also a kind of insurance against changing times, ensuring that the Neapolitan school could rise above any disaster, and recompose the Liber Mutus [silent book] of its symbols where the transmuted Body of Glory had laid eyes on them again. 

It was thus decided to give birth to three systems of Masonic degrees, each of which is described in an allegorical level of instruction: the Rite of Memphis for the first Magisterium, the Rite of Misraim for the second, and Egyptian Freemasonry for the third. 
Prince Raimondo di Sangro di Sansevero
The Rites of Memphis and Misraim both arose in Naples, as a result of a collegial work conducted by many leading figures of the Hermetic Neapolitan School, including, Prince Raimondo di Sangro di San Severo (1710-1771) (to whom we owe the construction of this extraordinary Hermetic monument that is the Chapel of San Severo in Naples) and Baron Henri Theodore de Tschoudi (1724-1769), author of the “Catechismo Massonico della Stella Fiammeggiante” [Catechism of the Masonic Blazing Star.] 

Of the two Rites, the Rite of Memphis was entirely speculative from the beginning, as was the work of the first Hermetic Magisterium it overshadowed: that is, its rich symbolical content was not matched by the practice of any transmutative operations. The Rite of Misraim instead indeed included the practice of the Arcanum (the work of the second Magisterium). Within but a few years, however, as the Rite of Misraim became part of the circuit of international Freemasonry, as anticipated, the Hermetic operative practices sadly were abandoned, because they were perceived outside Naples as presenting an obstacle to the ready acceptance and dissemination of the Rite.

Due to their similarity, the two rites were merged and separated several times, until 1908 gave rise to the final merger. Regular Freemasonry recognizes this as the "Ancient and Primitive Rite of Memphis and Misraim." This rite is, however, in reality neither very ancient nor primitive, because the original purpose of transmitting the first two Magisteriums of superior Hermetic training had been entirely abandoned and lost. The transmission lines of the two separate rites, however, have not completely gone away, and still survive - thanks to the selfless commitment of a few passionate Masons - within small, "irregular" Masonic Orders. 

The task of shaping the structure that overshadows the work of the third Magisterium was assigned to Count Alessandro di Cagliostro. With regard to the biography of this extraordinary man we will write almost nothin, save that his identification with the person of the adventurer Giuseppe Balsamo of Palermo is historically inaccurate: the result of an orchestrated anti-Masonic smear by the Roman Catholic Church. Let us not forget that the real Cagliostro was put to death by starvation in a Vatican prison.

Certain historians of Freemasonry have gone so far as even to speculate that Count Alessandro di Cagliostro never really existed, citing similar cases found in different traditions - for example the figure of Manu in Hinduism - characters whose historical existence are doubtful, but that were created to symbolize and summarize them in the name of a particular function: in the case of Manu, the "primordial legislator," in the case of Cagliostro the "Masonizer," meaning the author of the transposition of the ancient rites of transmutation into Masonic terms, a phenomenon which Cagliostro saw only as the protagonist of the Neapolitan Hermetic School, and that was verified all around Europe in the eighteenth century. In fact, one of the most salient traits of the legendary biography of Cagliostro has to do with his travels in many different countries. 

While not agreeing with this extreme hypothesis, there is no denying that "Masonizing" was the most important aspect of Cagliostro's mission. The task of this implementation had been entrusted by Cavalier Luigi d'Aquino (1739-1783) who according to tradition was also Cagliostro's initiator. Cagliostro had met d'Aquino in Malta in 1766 and went with him to Naples in 1773; here was initiated into the third Magisterium, and with his help, undertook the first sketches of the gigantic work of transferring the entire Hermetic corpus into allegorical form. Ten years later, the news of the death of his teacher took Cagliostro to Paris, and it was in this city that Egyptian Freemasonry was founded. 

Unlike the Rites of Memphis and Misraim, in the terminology of Freemasonry, Egyptian Freemasonry is an Order rather than a Rite: that is, while the first two are optional enhancements to the degree of Master Mason, Egyptian Freemasonry encompasses all three levels (Apprentice, Companion and Master). Thus it represents a sort of parallel Freemasonry, completely independent of the body of regular Freemasonry. 

Structured in this manner, Cagliostro obtained two results for the Neapolitan Hermetic School. First, Cagliostro gained the possibility to initiate women - who, then as now, were excluded from regular Freemasonry. Secondly, Cagliostro guaranteed the preservation of the autonomy of Egyptian Freemasonry, thus averting the threat of a forced suspension of the operative work of Hermetic transmutation, a problem that the Rite of Misraim was already facing, after only a few years.

In this article, we have seen that, although the esoteric content of the former was abandoned early on, the Freemasonic Rites of Memphis and Misraim, as well as the Cagliostro's Order of Egyptian Freemasonry were, in reality, attempts made by the Neapolitan Hermetic School to transmit beyond Italy the highest mysteries of Hermetic Internal Alchemy, the Royal Art of physical transmustation, the ancient Egyptian science of immortality and of the energetics of the human body.
Domenico Bocchini
I will not go into further detail here regarding the history of these operative and transmutative Hermetic mysteries, except to mention that Lord Edward Bulwar-Lytton was also an initiate of this same center of Hermetic operativity. Lytton was initiated while in Italy by Domenico Bocchini in the catacombs of San Gennaro at Capodimonte.
Lord Edward Bulwar-Lytton
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How On-Liine Trolls Manipulate Public Opinion and Attempt to Manipulate Spiritual Communities (Is Alexandrian Wicca Under Coopt Attempt?)

April 20, 2015, 4:33 am
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Don't miss this incredible, breaking news story about new, additional revelations about the use of professional, paid on-line trolls to attack the reputations of targets on the internet HERE.



Defamation campaigns by anonymous on-line trolls are no stranger to either the Golden Dawn or the Pagan communities. My reputation was targeted for decades by on-line trolls using anonymous websites, blogs, and ads for them on Facebook and Yahoo. In the Pagan community, the same thing happenned to American Pagan activist, Starhawk, and Australian Pagan leaders She DMontford, Lizzy Rose, and the late David Mattachik, among others. Shortly after the death of David Mattachik months ago, a "target list" was exposed on this blog with these names and other spiritual leaders on it. 

I am not saying that either the NSA or Monsanto are necessarily targeting spiritual leaders, but stories like these about paid professional trolls kind of make you wonder, don't they? I mean, come on - 20+ years is an extremely long time for a defamation campaign to continue against any one person. It is nothing short of miraculous that my reputation has survived intact until now. Now who might have a vested interest in manipulating the Golden Dawn and Pagan communities by using paid, professional trolls for to target spiritual leaders for defamation? And why?

And what about that target list of people who are either dead or have been targeted for defamation by on-line trolls for extended periods of time.



Both the Golden Dawn community and the Pagan community (in Australia and in the USA) caught a lucky break a few months back, when thanks to a mole in a "secret" group, a "target list" that included an entire list was exposed of people who are either recently deceased, recently arrested under suspicious circumstances, or have been subjected to years of defamation and reputation attack by on-line trolls.

Since this "target list" was dragged into the light, there has been a period of peace where the defamation stopped. This peace continues to hold in the Golden Dawn until today, to the great credit of many Golden Dawn leaders and initiates.
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Beltane, Alexandrian Wicca, and the Passing of Alex Sanders

April 30, 2015, 11:07 am
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by Sean McCabe, Leslie McQuade, and David Griffin

I. Commemorating the Passing of Alex Sanders
by HP Sean P. McCabe
Progenitor - Hibernian Line of Alexandrian Wicca
Imperator for England, Ireland, Scottland, and Wales - 
Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn®
 (EU OHIM reg. 000063925)
Baphomet Presides Over Alexandrian Wiccan Rite
led by Alex Sanders and based on cross gender sexual polarity

This week we celebrate the Festival of Bealtaine traditionally the end of winter and the beginning of summer in the Celtic wheel of the year. We also mark the anniversary of the passing of Alex Sanders and celebrate his life and the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca which he so kindly made available to everyone. He was born Orrell Alexander Carter on 6th June, 1926 and his Craft name was Verbius. 

Alex Sanders was not shy of the media and there are umteen photos of him and Maxine in the public domain - but I think his hallmark ritual photo is that of Baphomet - the Horned God. 

The Bel-fire is the name of the Celtic god Bel or Balor and can be traced back to the Middle Eastern Baal. The Gaulish-Celtic equivalent Horned God is Cernunnos who mates with the Great Mother not unlike the Celtic Pan. The figure of the Horned God, Baphomet became enshrined in the cultural psyche and is recorded in many medieval paintings and woodcuts, some bearing the motto: Solve et Coagula, to dissolve and congeal; to separate and join together.

At the International Grand Sabbat of Alexandrian Wicca held at MagickAll 2015 in Pahrump, Nevada we joined together, earlier this month, not only as Barefoot Coven, Hyperborea Coven and Coven Hibernia but also to celebrate the life of Alex Sanders. What better way to celebrate and honour Alex' life than by his favourite and traditional iconic image of Baphomet presiding over the Grand Sabbat!


Afterwards during the festivities the Wicker Man burned upon the saucer valley ground which rests over a primodial reservoir of water and as the flames danced into the night sky, Nuit smiled upon us from the starry heavens - the Star Goddess!

I wish you and yours a very Happy and enjoyable Bealtaine and your Bel-fire burns bright! 

Blessed be,
Sean. P. McCabe 
(Sean McCabe was initiated into Alexandrian Wicca by Janet Farrar - thus his lineage is as close to Alex Sanders as any man can be).




II. The True Meaning of Beltane
by HPS Leslie McQuade
High Priestess of Barefoot Coven
Hibernian Line of Alexandrian Wicca
International Cancellaria -Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn®
 (EU OHIM reg. 000063925)

Beltane is about sex. In the old days, you would go to the ritual bonfire, become God or Goddess, and when your eyes locked with that particular someone, it was off to the privacy of the wilderness to have divinely inspired, ecstatic sex.

Witches know that the Star Goddess says “…Behold ~ ALL acts of love and pleasure are my rituals”. The Great Mother says “and as a sign that ye be truly free, ye shall be naked in your rites…and ye shall dance & sing, feast, make music and make love …all in my praise. For mine is … joy on earth”.
Our society, for being so hyper-sexualized, is a culture starving for Authentic Sexuality. Beltane is the time of year the clean, pure joy of human sexuality can be explored in the way the Goddess intended. Sex is most certainly NOT only for procreation. Sex is good for your soul. Look at nature. There is no sadomasochism in Nature. Authentic Sex is deep, passionate. It gushes out of you like spring melt-water pushing boulders down the mountainside, laughing at the trees as it tumbles by. Authentic Sex leaves you feeling rejuvenated and alive, as if your very soul has been scrubbed clean. People can see the change on you. They say “you glow” or “you’re just beaming today”. That’s Authentic Sex.



So I’ll say it again. Beltane is about sex. It’s a Pagan Holyday celebrating sexual mysteries ~ mysteries of the very Fires of Creation.

Happy Beltane!


II. "Walpurgis Night"

by HP David Griffin of Barefoot Coven
Hibernian Line of Alexandrian Wicca
International Imperator - Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn®
 (EU OHIM reg. 000063925)

Baphomet Presides Over A Walpurgis Night Celebration

Tonight Europe celebrates "Walpurgis Night." Walpurgis Night is the English translation of Walpurgisnacht, one of the German names for the night of 30 April, so called because it is the eve of the feast day of Saint Walpurga, an 8th-century abbess in Germany. It is actually Beltane's eve, a remnant of the Pagan past of Germany. In German folklore Walpurgisnacht, also called Hexennacht (literally "Witches' Night"), is believed to be the night of a witches' meeting on the Brocken, the highest peak in the Harz Mountains, a range of wooded hills in central Germany between the rivers Weser and Elbe.

In Sweden, today is a day when children dress up as witches and tonight, as a remnant of Scandinavia's Pagan past, all across the country people will gather to light the bonfires of "Valborgsmäsafton," popularly considered a rite celebrating the coming of Spring and the passing of Winter's darkness. According to Swedish folklore, tonight witches fly on their broomsticks to "Blåkulla" to celebrate the Sabbat.

A Walpurgis Night Bonfire in Sweden

It is quite fitting as HP McCabe writes above, that today Alexandrian Witches of the original Hibernian line celebrate the life and passing of Alex Sanders. For me, tonight is also a time when I remember my Swedish Son, Adam Kadmon, who passed away in a tragic car accident last July. Tonight I shall remember with mixed pleasure and sadness all the times Adam and I stood together, enjoying the beauty and warmth of Walpurgis Night bonfire.

Tonight, Adam, you shall be sorely missed. May the Goddess tonight bless both you and Alex Sanders as those who love you honor you.

Adam Kadmon Griffin (1992-2014)


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Does Astral-only Initiation Work? Consensus Among Golden Dawn Experts

May 23, 2015, 8:37 am
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The discussion regarding the alleged benefits and limitations of "Astral-only" Initiation, created by Esoteric Order of the Golden Dawn leader, Robert Zink, has gone on for years in the Golden Dawn community and resurfaces from time to time. This time the discussion has been revived again in a blog article by Mr. Zink.

The fundamental question is whether or not anyone can be exclusively astrally initiated at a distance.

Proponents of Astral-only initiation claim that a group or people (or a Temple) can initiate a person by perfoming a ritual somewhere else for a person separated by geographical distance, allegedly initiating the candidate by reading off their name in Temple during the ritual. Other claims made by proponents of Astral-only initiation include:
  1. Astral Initiation accomplishes everything that traditional Golden Dawn initiation does
  2. The original (pre 1903) Golden Dawn practiced Astral Initiation.
  3. Critics of Astral-only Initiation do not understand that all magick takes place on the Astral Plane.
  4. Astral Initiation helps those who would otherwise not have access to Golden Dawn initiation.
Let's examine what various leaders and members of the Golden Dawn community have said about these claims over the years. To begin with, the late Frater Donald Michael Kraig, in an article entitled Ritual and Ritual Theater wrote here:
"Some events are both ritual and ritual theater. For example, in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, initiation rituals involved a group of officers and the initiate. However, there could also be an audience that participated very little in the ritual. So the actual initiation is both ritual and ritual theater. The involvement of others and their energy, as well as the initiate seeing the activity of others and of the temple, makes the very concept of “astral initiations” into the Golden Dawn dubious at best."
There have been numerous other voices in the Golden Dawn community who have spoken out about the ritual theater aspect of Golden Dawn initiation over the years. In March, 2009 Open Source Golden Dawn Chief, Joseph Max, wrote in a post that you can still read here):
"The Hall of the Neophytes is full of much interlocking symbolism designed to have a specific effect on the Aspirant at the point at which they "light up.". Any ritual of High Magic is a work of psycho-dramatic performance art. All Ritual is Drama, as all Drama is Ritual (ask the ancient Greeks.) It is powerful Magic in and of itself. 
So... if the Awakening of the Body of Light *is* Initiation (the first one anyway,) it doesn't matter how it comes about, even spontaneously. But *Golden Dawn* Initiation is a sub-set of this phenomena; it's aimed in a definite and unique direction down a particular Path of Attainment. It comes from the Neo-Platonic tradition of Ritual Drama, so the powerful effects of psycho-drama are part of the system. It's a "play" performed for an "audience" of one. 
Therefore the question comes down to: can a Golden Dawn Initiation, that will effectively awaken the Body of Light AND point the Aspirant down the unique Path the Golden Dawn School follows, be accomplished *without* the live dramatic component, and the personal involvement of the Aspirant in that performance? 
Personally speaking, I think it would be difficult. It's certainly possible to accomplish psycho-dramatic impact with solo visualization (in fact it's one of the things a Golden Dawn school teaches,) but for a rank beginner without any background to do it? That would be a rare talent." 
On the question of the ritual theater aspect of Golden Dawn initiation, former Hyperborean Adept, Sincerus Renatus wrote here:
"The ritual is a drama, a play, which also has as a function to impart a though form or cognitive structure into the candidate, a theme so to speak, which gives a tone or atmosphere for the Grade. This has to be experienced live and in person, not read through or imagined in the inner eye. Compare this to reading a novel and watching a stage play; two legitimate artistic expressions but quite different in nature and quality. Full and physical initiation is a stage play of old Greek dramatic proportions."
On this same subject, Golden Dawn member, "Polimetis," writes here:
"[Proponents of Astral-only initiation] always argue that Initiation is not Theatre and is all about the astral (forgetting, as you say, the importance of basic psycological and emotional impact!)? Well, actually, ancient Drama comes directly from the Dyonisian and Eleusinian Mysteries, and Tragic Festivals continued to be a sacred ceremony and a sacred experience for the Athenians, which is, actually comparable to intiation ceremonies (especially masonic high degrees where only a few of the candidates participate, and most are just onlookers!). 
I'll bet no one in ancient Greece could say that if the director mentions the name of an Athenian citizen that was out of town, before the perfomance of a Tragedy, would ‘astrally” experience the awe and pity that the tragedy inspired, and the psycologically healthy Catharthic effect of actually seeing the sacred perfomance!" 
I am pleased to see that not only Donald Michael Kraig's independent research, based on so many years of magical experience, but also the independent research of Joseph Max, Sincerus Renatus, and Polimetis support my own conclusion that Astral-only Initiation does not accomplish everything that traditional Golden Dawn initiation does.

Let us move on to examine the claim made by proponents of Astral-only initiation that the original (pre 1903) Golden Dawn or its offshoots practiced Astral Initiation.

Noted magical author, Nick Farrell (Chief Adept of the Magical Order of Aurora Aurorae), writes here:
"If astral initiation was used within the GD there would be some evidence of it... If an astral initiation was taking place then where and when and why did it not leave a trace of paperwork? There are no records of astral initiations being performed, nor any members who are identified as being part of the GD who had their initiations astrally recorded. Nor is there any mention of the procedure being used in the various editions of by-laws, nor any diary notes from anyone saying that they had taken part in an astral initiation. While we have access to many different GD rituals, there are no recorded instructions for how to perform one..."
"Occam’s razor tells us that if all the evidence suggests that we have to assume that it is logical that the Golden Dawn did not perform astral initiations." 
Golden Dawn scholar, Samuel Scarborough, chief of the Ordo Stella Matutina Golden Dawn writes here:
"I think of myself as something of a scholar on the GD as well as a serious student of the GD system. The same can be said for Nick Farrell or Imhotep, or several others that say that these astral initiations are not verifiable, nor were they done in the original GD or AO or SM after the 1903 Schism in the regular sense. There is no evidence for “astral” or long-distance initiation from those orginal bodies.

I disagree with certain groups that claim that these astral (long-distance) initiations were commonplace within the original Golden Dawn. I have never seen the evidence to support the claim. Nor can I think that Westcott, Woodman, and Mathers received some astral initiation as founders of the GD in the first place."
I am pleased to see that again the independent research of Nick Farrell and Sam Scarborough support my conclusion that the original Golden Dawn did not practice Astral-only Initiation. There appears to be a wide consensus in the Golden Dawn community regarding claims made by proponents of Astral-only initiation. Mr. Zink has been invited over and over to provide evidence to support his thesis that the original Golden Dawn practiced Astral only initiation. He has so far failed to provide even one shred of evidence to support this odd claim.

Let us move on to examine their claim that critics of Astral-only Initiation do not understand that all magick takes place on the Astral Plane.

In this regard, Nick Farrell says here:

"Physical initiations have an astral component. But if you mean do I think it is possible for someone to initiate you into the 0=0 grade of the Golden Dawn without you being there I would say that it is unlikely. I would say that it would take a supremely good magician (angelic being, or secret chief) to be able to do that. I do not think that simply performing the ritual with a stand-in is enough."
On Nick Farrell's blog, Golden Dawn member, "Magician," also addresses this claim here:

"The discussion isn’t about whether or not magic can work at long distance. The discussion is about if initiation ceremonies can work long distance where there is no way to infuse the physical symbols into the aspirant’s sphere of sensation."
I have addressed this issue numerous times over the years as well. For example, I write here:
"No one is disputing that there is an astral component to both initiation and magick. However, what proponents of Astral Initiation do not understand is that this astral element is rooted in the physical body. They reach a completely erroneous conclusion that, merely because an astral component is there in initiation, they can make you a full Golden Dawn initiate from the comfort of your armchair on the other end of the world..."
Proponents of Astral Initiation allege that it accomplishes everything traditional, physical Golden Dawn initiation does. Golden Dawn leader, Peregrin Wildoak comments in this regard here:
"I do think since the GD initiations were designed for phsyicality, and some of the important parts are done physicially, the control a phsyical initiation has to produce an inner experience for the initiate is beyond anything an astral initiation can do."

Donald Michael Kraig writes here:
"The true astral initiation occurs when both you and the higher initiation forces/energies/spirits of the group are ready for it to happen. No sooner. No later. The physical initiation may help it occur sooner, perhaps simultaneous to the physical initiation. But because so many people these days want to be initiated, some groups have specialized in offering astral initiations. But are they valid within the Western Mystery Tradition? 
If you take someone with little or no training and tell them to visualize walking around a triangle (as I was for an Order a long time ago), the answer is decidedly NO!" 
... and ...
"This means that although so-called “astral initiations” sold to you may make you a member of a group (and allowed to pay them nice big yearly or monthly dues), on a spiritual basis it usually is meaningless."
Nick Farrell adds here:
"A physical initiation is an intensely emotional experience with physical and emotional reactions that have a deep impact on the person. For an initiation to have any impact, such a person should be able to feel something, if not at the immediate time, but in their dreams immediately afterwards. However the reports of people who have undergone astral initiations ... have been extremely nebulous or non-existent (or) have included comments which were so nebulous that they are more likely to be psychosomatic or wish-self-fulfillment."
Samuel Scarborough has this to say here:
"Does long-distance (astral) initiation work? Well, I would say that at best it would be dubious... My concern, and most whom disagree with long-distance initiation, is that there is no way to verify that the person being initiated is actually receiving the energy due to the gap between the initiating body and the candidate."
Golden Dawn Adept, V.H. Frater P. commented here:
"What i miss in this debate is the simple fact that, apart from the energetic transmission from the Hierophant unto the candidate, it is impossible to impregnate the MIND of the candidate with the physical symbols that are displayed in these ceremonies. For doing this, the candidate has to be physically present, and able to use his eyes! Moreover, by blindfolding him/her and exposing him to a dramatic procedure, his mind is made extra sensitive and absorptive. This is an ancient technique."
Enochian Magick author, Scott Stenwick, wrote here:
"My issue here is not that magical force is impossible to transmit over a distance. Rather, mystery traditions make use of a specific piece of psychological technology, the cultivation of cognitive dissonance through uncertainty. If, going into an initiation, you have absolutely no idea what is going to happen, the mind enters a state that is both hypervigilant and more open to suggestion. A good mystery tradition initiation, then, takes advantage of this unusual state of mind to imprint the principles taught by the degree. While there should also be spiritual forces brought to bear during the ritual, the imprinted memory of the experience serves as a sort of "anchor" within the initiate's mind that allows him or her to connect with them more easily." 
I am pleased to see that yet again, the independent research of a wide cross-section of the Golden Dawn community, including Donald Michael Kraig, Peregrin Wildoak, Nick Farrell, Sam Scarborough, and other Golden Dawn members, based on many years of initiatic experience, support my own conclusion that the astral aspect of initiation does not at all negate the necessity and importance of the physical aspect of initiation. I have spoken out on this many times in the past, for example here:
"It has been argued that there is always an "astral" element in any genuine Golden Dawn initiation. This is true in the limited sense that the energetic or "astral" body of the candidate is always ultimately impacted by the initiation. In other words, the initiation ritual works on many levels and affects not merely the physical body of the candidate. This does not mean, however, that the actual physical presence of the candidate is not required."
... and here:
"There is an actual transmission of energies from the physical body of the initiating Hierophant to the physical body of the initiate. To fully transmit these energies and fully awaken the LVX current in the energetic body of the candidate is extremely difficult to fully accomplish even under the best of circumstances - with the candidate physically present in the temple."
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Liberty RAPED! NSA & FBI Warrantless Spying EXPOSED: Millions of Americans Violated!

June 4, 2015, 4:41 pm
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by Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
Imperator David Griffin
On Thursday, May 4, 2015, a unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit ruled that the National Security Agency’s collection of millions of Americans’ phone records over the past decade has been illegal all along. This decision could never have happenned had whistleblower Edward Snowden not risked his freedom to alert the American people to the flagrant infringement of our liberty.

Not only did the NSA illegally spy on the American people...They deliberately concealed the truth as well. When asked point blank about this, the Director of National Intelligence lied even to Congress. 

On March 12th, 2013, during a United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing, Senator Ron Wyden asked Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper the following question:
"Does the NSA collect any type of data at all on millions or hundreds of millions of Americans?"
Director Clapper responded"No, sir."
Incredulously, Senator Wyden asked "It does not?"
Director Clapper responded: "Not wittingly. There are cases where they could inadvertantly perhaps collect, but not wittingly."
So that Director Clapper would be prepared to answer, Senator Wyden gave these questions to Clapper's office a day in advance of the hearing. Upon the hearing's completion, he also gave the Director a chance to amend his answer. He opted not to do so.
Then - on June 6th, 2013, NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed to the world that the NSA was indeed engaged in a secret program that was collecting tens of millions of Americans' phone call records. The American people was finally able to break through the wall of NSA lies and deceit. For this we owe a debt of gratitude to Edward Snowden.
Further revelations would unveil NSA programs collecting Americans' web browsing histories, chat logs, email usage and even their physical locations! The NSA had been illegally collecting data on hundreds of millions of law abiding Americans, and continues to do so today.

James Clapper later apologized to Congress in a letter, saying his answer was "clearly erroneous."

In reality, the National Intelligence Director's answer to Congress was "clearly a lie." He should, in fact, be tried for perjury.

How can the American people place our trust in an intelligence community that has shown such contempt for the rule of law that it has illegally spied on us for over a decade, lied to Congress about it, and likely continues to do so today in every arena where they didn't get caught yet?

This week Americans won a small victory in the struggle against abusive spying when the "USA Freedom Act" was signed into law, prohibiting the NSA from continuing to vacuume up all metadata of all phone calls of all Americans, and requiring individualised warrants to access such data from phone companies.

This is a step in the right direction, but it does not go nearly far enough. On February 23, for example, NSA Director Adm. Mike Rogers squared off against top security experts from the tech industry, in a series of exchanges about giving government built-in access to the encrypted data of tech firms’ customers. Law enforcement and intelligence officials claim they need such access, via so-called “back doors” (or front doors), in order to effectively track criminals and foreign spies. How are we to trust they are not already using this to further violate the privacy of American citizens?

In fact, judging by NSA's track record of lies and deceit, we may be certain the NSA today continues - without individual warrants - to improperly vacume up and store vast amounts of Americans' data using cell phone interceptors, backdoors to computer networks on on-line services, and among other things, a world-wide network of street corner surveillance cameras linked with facial recognition software.

All of this continues today - without regard for the Constitution, the privacy rights of American citizens, or even the rule of law.

Truth be told, we have no idea how deep this rabbit hole really goes. In breaking news, only this morning the New York Times reported:
"Without public notice or debate, the Obama administration has expanded the National Security Agency’s warrantless surveillance of Americans’ international Internet traffic."
Are American citizens supposed to just blindly trust such an intelligence community?...The same intelligence community that this week alone has been caught twice carrying out warrantless surveillance of law abiding Americans - with powers kept secret until caught in the act?

On June 3, the same day the USA Freedom Act was signed into law, the Associated Press (here) exposed the FBI using surveillance aircraft over American cities with planes bristling with cameras and cell phone interceptors capable of scooping up vast amounts of American citizens' data.

What is worse - the Associated Press exposed the FBI's use of  a host of front companies and dummy corporations, to conceal FBI responsibility for this rape of privacy of American citizens.
Suchotal surveillance is a tyrant's dream. But in America, we do not live in tyranny - at least we are not supposed to. As Americans, we have a reasonable expectation of privacy guaranteed by the Constitution. This expectation of privacy has been rendered moot by rampant secret intrusions in our lives by an out of control intelligence community.
What do NSA head, Michael Rogers, and Gestapo head, Heinrich Himler, have in common? Each one of these men preside or presided over the world's most intrusive spy network.

Should we blindly trust either of these men? 

No. We should not.

Instead, we should reclaim our right to privacy that was paid for with the blood of our forefathers. We must ensure that future generations will continue to enjoy the the fruits of liberty.

A primary reason the American revolution was fought was to end British soldiers' intrusions in the homes of countless Americans using general warrants. Today, the NSA and the FBI again use the same general warrants to rape the privacy rights of millions of law abiding Americans.

The faith and trust of the American people in our government has been seriously eroded by such travesties, together with lies and deception from our intelligence community. If America is to survive as a nation, the faith and trust of the American people must be fully restored. For this to occur, mass surveillance without individual warrants must end - not just for telephone metadata - but in every arena of our lives.

Let us recall that...

"A People does not exist by virtue of the State.
A State exists by virtue of the People."

And - As history has proven time and time again...without the faith and trust of its people...no State can at length endure.
Sign the petition to end NSA illegal spying HERE.

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UNVEILED: Israel Regardie's Personal Rose+Cross (Unpublished Photo)

June 24, 2015, 9:51 am
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by Golden Dawn Imperator
David Griffin

Israel Regardie
Lately, there has been a spate of posts dissing the importance of Israel Regardie written by people who claim a connection to the old Whare Ra temple in New Zealand. Aaron Leitch recently wrote about this here. Believe it or not, for once I agree with Frater Leitch about something. What I can not agree with, however, is Frater Leitch's historical revisionism in describing the Golden Dawn revival in the USA as beginning with the consecration of the Vault of the Adepti in Columbus, GA, as though Cris Monnastre had nothing to do with it. Yes, it is true that Israel Regardie and Cris Monnastre traveled TOGETHER to Columbus, GA and that Regardie did consecrate a Vault of the Adepti there.

Here is where history ends and revisionism begins in Frater Leitch's account, with Leitch claiming that this journey marked the beginning of the Golden Dawn revival in the USA. This is a complete fabrication.

The TRUE origin od the Golden Dawn is to be found years earlier, when in 1977, Israel Regardie and Cris Monnastre together performed a nine month Magickal working, performing an Opening by Watchtower every Sunday, with the expess intention for the rebirth of the Golden Dawn in America. Judging from the state of the Golden Dawn today, the magickal operation was a smash success.

It is important to note that Israel Regardie consecrated the Vault of the Adepti in Columbus, GA for the express purpose of initiating his only disciple, Cris Monnastre in that Vault. Contrary to false claims, NO ONE associated with Aaron Leitch's group today was initiated by Israel Regardie.


In 1994, Cris Monnastre appointed me as Imperator of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. When she decided to move on to more mystical spiritual pursuits in 1996, Cris Monnastre passed to me her Golden Dawn trademark rights together with Isreal Regardies elemental tools, Enochian Chess set, and his personal Rose+Cross that he had inherited from Elsa Barker.

 Israel Regardie's Rose+Cross Lamen
Worn by RR et AC Chief Adept
David Griffin




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Are YOU a Slaver or a Liberator?

June 26, 2015, 9:53 am
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by Golden Dawn Imperator
David Griffin


In my view, there are three classes of people. First there is the sleepwalking mass of humanity - moved by forces they can not see and have been taught to believe do not exist.

Secondly, there are "Slavers" - Black Magicians who for centuries have worked to enslave humanity. Today slavers have the upper hand with much of humanity enslaved by debt, and with the world-wide police state and surveillance grid nearly in place. Slaver Magicians would keep humanity forever endentured to serve as human livestock for labor.

On the other hand, there are those of us who are "liberators" by nature. We are not satisfied merely to preserve the vestiges of freedom that still exist today. Instead, we work tirelessly on the inner planes for the liberation of mankind.

Is it an accident that our culture has been taught not to believe in Magick, while at the same time Slaver Magicians hold humanity hostage?

Is it an accident that, whenever Magicians of light and liberation open our mouths or raise our wands to defend the sleeping masses against encroaching darkness - someone always comes along to chastise that we are politicising Magick?

Let me clue you in on a little secret ...

Magick has been politicised for Millennia! 

The only real question is - which side are YOU on?

I, for one, have pledged my Magick sword and wand to the cause of CHIVALRY - to help those less fortunate than myself. Taking this stance has not made me popular. In fact, it has made me a target. Since decades, I am defamed on the Internet. There have been repeated death threats and magickal attacks.

But I am still here, and as the old saying goes: "What does not kill you, makes you stronger!"

Looking at the world today, it is obvious we Magicians of Light are losing the struggle for the liberation of humanity.

The Slaver Magicians are powerful and well entrenched. They think they have all the exits from this planetary prison covered.

In fact, at this point in history, the few of us who still carry the banners of freedom and light look like Don Quixote fighting windmills.

But our struggle continues ...

And the fate of humanity hanging in the balance!

Over the past three Full Moons, we have worked one element each Moon, with the intention of purifying and element and healing our planet. This Moon we complete the cycle with Elemental Fire. The Fire element is extremely important, covering everything from freedom and privacy to fossil fuels, alternative energy sources, and the energetic evolution of humankind.

Will YOU not take stand with us and be counted among the LIBERATORS of humanity?

I urge you - stand with us this Full Moon! Raise YOUR wand with us in liberation of our people and protection of our planet.

Synchronize YOUR Magickal intention with ours at the exact hour of the Full Moon on July 1, 2015 at 7:19 PM PDT.

The forces of darkness are formidable, but united in Chivalry, we can still  turn the tide.

The time has come for the Magick of Light to rise in Chivalry to restore balance - For there is much at stake.


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Regardie's Confession

July 19, 2015, 8:07 am
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Regardie's Confession


In 1937 Llewellyn published the first of four volumes,
written by Israel Regardie,
that revealed the Golden Dawn Rites and teachings.

Those four volumes have been republished over and over again,
for almost 100 years.

The idea was to preserve the Golden Dawn's teachings through self study. But...

Dr. Regardie wasn't able to reveal everything!


For the first time ever, the complete, 3 order Golden Dawn Magick System is available to anyone who is bold enough and dedicated enough to learn it...

You no longer have to end your Magickal training at Minor Adept,
as has been the case for 100 years.

The Secret Masters have finally revealed the rites and rituals

to attain even Ipssissimus (10=1)


...an initiatory level many believed was only attainable on the astral
if it even existed at all!

THE WHOLE TRUTH REVEALED!  on the
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The Golden Dawn's Finest Hour

July 21, 2015, 10:13 pm
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by Golden Dawn Imperator
David Griffin
As you may already know, thanks to the Golden Dawn peace initiative launched by Nick Farrell last Winter, the Golden Dawn community has enjoyed months of peace, harmony, and prosperity.

You may remember from last February this Vlog article:


For the first time in months, peace was  this week disrupted when a blogger hiding behind anonymity resumed attacks on Golden Dawn leaders, this time Martin Thibeault (co-leader with Pat Zalewksi of the "Order of the Golden Dawn") and myself.

I will not permit outside agitators cowering behind anonymity to fan flame wars in our community.

In light of the attack, I contacted Martin Thibeault directly. Guess what? It turns out he wants harmony to prevail in our community as much as I do.

Upon GH Frater Thibeault's request, I caused a number of old articles critical of Thibeault and Zalewksi.to be removed from our order's websites, blogs, etc.

Robert Zink, leader of the Esoteric Order of the Golden Dawn, months ago approached me with a similar takedown request. As a consequence, GH Frater Zink and I each cleaned up a number of old articles.

There still is a lot left to do, but the peace process started by Nick Farrell still progresses today - And Golden Dawn leaders are not letting ourselves be manipulated by outside agitators. Who do they think they are dealing with, anyhow?

Instead, we stand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity.

The time has come to take a stand. The Golden Dawn community is under attack from outside agitators.

Will YOU stand with us - in defense of peace, prosperity, and undisturbed spiritual growth in our community?

YOU have the power to make the decisive difference.

Outside agitators can continue their nonsense only as long as you - the grass roots Golden Dawn - permit them to.

YOU can put a stop to this - once and for all!

How?

Simple.

Whenever and wherever you find anyone fanning flames of discord in our community...

Confront them! Call them on it. Tell them to stop.

Only you can do this. We Chiefs of the Golden Dawn can provide you with solid leadership, but we can't do everything ourselves.

This is YOUR community too.  It is up to YOU to help protect it!
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Wiccan Origins and Born-Again Crowleyanity

August 31, 2015, 8:04 am
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by Alexandrian Wiccan High Priest
Golden Dawn Imperator
David Griffin

Over on his Talking About Ritual Magick blog, Llewellyn author Frater Barrabbas (Brian Watling) wrote:
Frater Barrabbas/Brian Watling 
"If you are going to advertise that you can teach and initiate magicians so that they may be elevated to an Ipsissimus (the highest degree possible: 10 = 1) then learn how to spell that word before you post the advertisement. Not being able to spell this word certainly doesn’t give your potential students (or anyone else) the confidence that you know what you are talking about."

I wrote and thanked Frater Barrabbas for pointing out all the buzz in the magickal commiunity over the "Ipssissimus" typo on our order's newly redesigned website HERE.  In case you missed it before, our order just completely remodeled our website and online school; classroom, curriculum, teaching methods - everything - including bi-weekly Magick webinars FREE! for Golden Dawn members.
I also had a very serious word with our order's marketing company about the typo!

However, Barrabbas/Watling continues:
[Gerald Gardner's] "The Great Rite, however, was based on the Thelemic Gnostic Mass."
In my opinion, Thelemic zealots have overstated Crowley's influence on Wicca for years now, while simultaneously ignoring the importance to Wicca of Gerald Gardner's visit to the Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii during his sojourn in Italy prior to formulating Wicca.

Gerald Gardner
In Witchcraft Today, Gerald Gardner wrote:
"I had always believed that witches belonged to an independent Stone Age cult whose rites were a mixture of superstition and reality ...
... and when I visited the Villa of the Mysteries at Pompeii I realised that the great resemblance to the cult. Apparently these people were using the witches' processes. I know, of course, that ancient and modern writers have agreed that the Greek mysteries of Dionysus, Zeus, Orpheus, Zagreus and Eleusis were similar; therefore since each mystery had different rites and myths but was the same, this must mean that they had some inner secret.
...Scholarship has made repeated efforts to discover what took place until the Villa of the Mysteries was discovered. The paintings contain the answer, for they extend all round the walls of the hall."
At the very centerpiece of the frescoes of the Villa dei Misteri in Pompeii, Italy, appears the Hieros Gamos, the wedding ceremony of Dionysos and Ariadne. Thus, it is clear The Great Rite finds its roots in the rites of ancient Paganism, as rediscovered by Gardener in the frescoes of the Villa of the Mysteries - rather than in Aleister Crowley and the OTO's Thelemic church. In fact, one might even wonder if the ancient Pagan sexual mysteries depicted in the Villa of the Mysteries,  might not be the true source of the sexual mysteries of OTO as well, despite misdirecting OTO origin lore about the orient. This would be the complete opposite of what Barrrabas has suggested.


The Hieros Gamos is by no means the only element of Wiccan ritual originating in the frescoes of the Villa of the Mysteries. For example, the Wiccan use of the scourge figures prominently below where a woman prepares to strike with a whip a young woman who is leaning on another's lap.


So, in response to Brian Watling's (aka Frater Barrabbas) questionable attribution of "The Great Rite" of Wicca to Aleister Crowley and the OTO's Gnostic Church, I have but one question:

"Where is our Wiccan scourge in your Crowelymass?"



Rule No. 1 - When you convert to Thelema from Wicca, don't accuse adherants of your former religion of sectarianism while you misattribute the origins of Wicca to Aleister Crowley. It just makes you look silly!
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