Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Are Esoteric Orders Merely Relics of the Past?


by Golden Dawn Imperator
David Griffin

The Alpha Omega's 1,000 Points of Light initiative, has been bringing the differences in mission and philosophy between various leaders and orders in the esoteric community into sharp focus. Nick Farrell wrote an article called "Playing at Magic" that you can read here. This article sets forth Mr. Farrell's position on "dabblers" (Self-Initiates and Independent Practitioners of Ritual Magic).

The above article led me to clarify the Alpha Omega's position on such maters in an article called "Ritual Magic 101: Playing at Magic?" that you can read here

This week, Alexandrian Wiccan HP and Pagan author, Frater Barrabbas, who leads the Order of the Gnostic star, set forth his unique position here. I will be quoting extensively from Frater Barrabbas' article, as I find some of the arguments quite important.

Frater Barrabbas wrote:

"The amount of written material on the subject of magick which can be found on the internet and in books is already quite voluminous, and it is quickly growing even as I write this article. There is a vast body of information available to anyone who is either curious or who desires to engage in the magician’s avocation. The number of available temples and organizations is still quite small, and I might add, fairly exclusive.
What this means is that the probability of someone acquiring their knowledge and experience of magick by reading and experimenting is much more likely to occur, in other words, by being a dabbler. As time goes on this disparity will only continue to grow until the population of initiate members of these exclusive groups and organizations will be tiny compared to the population of self-taught and self-initiated magicians. Such a course of self-determination and directed learning even has a fancy label - it is called heutagogy.
So, it would seem that the future of ritual and ceremonial magick belongs to the masses of dabblers and dilettantes rather than to the so-called properly initiated members of occult organizations and formal traditions."
 
"There are a lot of self-trained magicians out there in the world today, and in fact, most of the magicians that I know, even including those who belong to occult organizations are mostly self-taught and self-directed. This is because competent magicians have achieved their results due to their own personal efforts, discipline, experimentation and individual accomplishments. I have also met individuals who were spoon-fed and supposedly trained by some lodge or another and who were actually quite incompetent. What makes someone a good magician has a lot to do with individual initiative, inspiration, and steadfast application of a foundational discipline. There is no guarantee that a Golden Dawn or Thelemic magician will be competent just because he or she received extensive training. This is why I feel that such exclusive organizations are on the brink of being buried in a deluge of dabblers and dilettantes unless they, too, change with the times." 
"Few Golden Dawn organizations appear to be doing anything about the fact that people are acquiring first class publically available information and engaging in a certain amount of dabbling. Many seem to be condescending towards the masses of the uninitiated and act more less as entitled elitists, an attitude that will guarantee a relative future morbidity. What is needed is some kind of outreach, since the population of the self-taught far exceeds the population of the traditional initiates."
Obviously, the Alpha Omega does not share any dim view of Self-Initiates and Solitary Practitioners of Ritual Magic. There are many whom others call "dabblers" who are actually "seekers." It is to help these "seekers" that the Alpha Omega exists to begin with. It is also for these "seekers" that we have created one program after the other - to help them in their Ritual Magic practice so they may become Magicians and not just practice Magic.


We call this training and coaching for independents the "1,000 Points of Light" initiative. Here is a run-down of new A.O. programs for Self-Initiates and Solitary Practitioners.
Personal Temples: We are encouraging Self-Initiates and Solitary Practiioners of Ritual Magic to create Personal Altars and Temples. We are putting them on the map here on the Golden Dawn blog and publishing photos of independent Altars and Temples around the world.
Self-Initiation: We are teaching how the goal of Golden Dawn Initiation and Magic is to strengthen the energetic body and to awaken the Elemental, Planetary, Zodiacal, and Sephirothic Magical Forces in the "Sphere of Sensation" of the aspiring Magician, and are providing the techniques necessary to attempt this on one's own.
Magical Tools: We are teaching about how traditional Golden Dawn Magical Tools are created by publishing photographs of Israel Regardie's tools from the A.O.'s Golden Dawn Museum.
Ritual Magic 101 Webinars: Bring solid Ritual Magic teaching and coaching to self-taught Magicians all around the world.
2012 Golden Dawn World Tour: Since there are aspects of Ritual Magic that can only be taught in person, the Alpha Omega is making Ritual Magic instruction and coaching - as well as tradtional Golden Dawn initiation - available in at least 5 countries over the next year - up close and personal.
Ritual Magic 101 Workshops: lead off the Golden Dawn World Tour
Traditional Golden Dawn Initiation: both in our network of traditional Golden Dawn temples as well as part of the Golden Dawn World Tour.
Frater Barrabbas continues:
"While I applaud the outreach that some organizations are undergoing for those many thousand points of light, there must always be a place at the table for the self-made magician as well, and in fact, they will soon be far more numerous than a thousand points of light; more like a sky brightly illuminated with a myriad of stars. The best thing that can be done for these so-called dabblers (I prefer to call them experimenters) is to make more foundational lore available to them either through published materials or online articles." - Frater Barrabbas
I mostly agree with the above sentiments from Frater Barrabbas. However, not only publications are necessary. This is why we started the 1,000 Points of Light initiative.

We must also face the reality that the curriculum of the Alpha Omega's outer order, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn is the most demanding, yet thorough undergraduate level curriculum of Ritual Magic in the world today. 

Clearly, not every Solitary Practitioner is ready for the commitment it takes not only to enter the H.O.G.D., but also to graduate and go on to advanced studies in the A.O.'s Second Order, the R.R. et A.C.

My other concern about Self-Initiation is the way someone can easily portray a magician without ever really becoming one. If someone learns to portray a magician perfectly, they may trick themselves and waste a lifetime living a delusion.

I am not saying the Alpha Omega is the "only" or the "best" school of Ritual Magic. I do become concerned, however, when I read statements like one recently made by Jake Stratton Kent:

"My simple opinion is that Orders (as a genre, not any particular faction) are an outmoded organisational model for modern occultists." - Jake Stratton Kent
Judging from certain parts of Frater Barrabbas linked article, it would appear that Barrabbas shares a similar opinion. I hope I am mistaken. In any case, this is a view that has become all to prevalent in modern occultism.

Why is it that in the esoteric community so many people think that the powerful methods of Magic, Alchemy, and spiritual growth are the one area of life that requires no teacher? This is the one area where it counts the most! We are dealing with our eternal Soul. We are dealing with forces that can literally make a person insane.

I am certainly not saying that there are not any top quality self-taught Magicians around. Frater Barrabbas and Jake Stratton Kent are examples who come to mind immediately. But these are extrordinary individuals, with a level of self-discipline that is quite uncommon.

I certainly do not agree that traditionial esoteric Orders are in any way outmoded - in precisely the same way that universites have not become outmoded. Sure, self-education is possible, and sure, at times even Harvard graduates idiots, but the methods of a top University have plenty of advantages.

The same holds true for the esoteric Order and the aspiring Magician.

Let's be clear that I am not saying the Alpha Omega is "right" - or that we are somehow "better" than other Golden Dawn orders - but we DO use different training methods.

The methods the Alpha Omega uses are specifically designed to facilitate our mission of making Magicians. These methods can accelerate your spiritual and energetic growth and make YOU a magician as well - faster and easier.

I think that experimentation is great advice for advanced Magicians, like Adepts in the A.O.'s Second Order (master's level training).

Experimentation and innovation are indeed essential aspects of Magical practice for advanced, highly experienced Magicians. The “science” of magic is important - but should be done only after one has reached the doctoral stage of the Art.

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, the outer order of the Rosicrucian Order of Alpha Omega is the bachelor’s degree of Magic. Its primary purpose is to educate the aspiring magician in the required vocabulary, symbolism, and practices which are already established and proven to be effective.

The Master’s degree (Second Order level in the A.O.) is an applied approach to the science and/or art under consideration and prepares the student to do secondary research in one specific area of knowledge. The “master” is one who can take existing knowledge and apply it to new situations. Finally, the doctoral degree (Third Order level in the A.O.) is to learn the methods of primary research and obtain the skills to create new knowledge.

The Outer Order beginning student is at the bachelor stage. Undergraduates are not ready to do comparative research of sources. They don’t know enough, or have the skills required, to make informed choices.

This is why the work of a university (or Order) is required. It’s not that the undergraduate information isn’t already available and easy to find. It’s a progressive learning experience that removes the requirement of comparative research skills. 

The Order offers a controlled environment to gain this knowledge and learn these skills. An Order allows the student to focus on what to learn, when to learn it, and to have an expert proclaim – “you have learned it!”

Experienced magicians do a disservice to beginning Magicians by encouraging everyone to start at the doctoral level of personal research. Any professor that tells a student to simply buy a bunch of books, compare what they have learned, and stick with what works, is doing no favors.

Magicians who take this approach are only delaying their growth. There are reasons universities require classically trained Ph.D’s to teach. There are reasons all religions have a school for training clergy.

Before anyone can write poetry, they first must not only learn their ABCs but even the rules of grammar, consonance and alliteration, etc. Rote memorization is not as much fun as writing poetry, but it is nonetheless essential preparation for future poets.

The same holds true for future Magicians. Where the methods of the Alpha Omega differ most drastically from other Golden Dawn orders is the thoroughness of our method teaching the fundamentals of Ritual Magic from day one in the H.O.G.D. (Outer Order, undergraduate level).

Astonishingly, the Alpha Omega is the only Golden Dawn order that teaches Ritual Magic in the Outer Order at all. This makes no sense at all. Why make Golden Dawn students wait four or five years before giving them any training or supervision in Ritual Magic?

Golden Dawn students are practicing Ritual Magic anyway. Why on Earth should students be left hanging for years without any Magical training or support - while developing bad Magical habits that will have to be unlearned with great effort later? What is even the point of an Order then?

The training methods of the Alpha Omega are as different as night and day from this. In the Alpha Omega, we make Magicians - and we certainly do not expect beginners to try to figure stuff out on their own.

On the contrary, the A.O.'s First Order, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, today offers the most thorough and demanding training in Ritual Magic anywhere in the world.

I have seen the disastrous results of the "experiment for yourself" approach for aspiring Magicians over and over. Every day, students come to the Alpha Omega with bad habits so ingrained in their Magical practice, it will take months, if not years, to correct. This is why we provide thorough training, guidance, coaching and support in Ritual Magic from day one.

In the A.O., we do not advise beginners to "experiment for themselves" as though they were already advanced Magicians. In the Alpha Omega, we teach Ritual Magic with the proven teaching methods used at Universities. 

We expect our H.O.G.D. Undergraduate students to study and master the fundamentals of Magical practice precisely the way we teach them, as is the norm for Undergraduate education.

Throughout the academic world, udergraduates are required to master course curriculum in the manner each Professor requires it. This does not mean that there are not other methods or that experimentation has no value. Experimention and innovation certainly do have their places, especially when writing a doctoral thesis. These things do not belong in the beginner's level though, as undergraduates are not properly trained in comparative research methods.

At the undergraduate level, what really counts is that the Professor has a method that works, and effectively transmits to students the fundamental abilities they will need for more advanced studies. This can not be done properly by expecting students to use post-graduate methods at an undergraduate level.

In conclusion, if your want to "gut it out yourself" you will find plenty of books around and even community leaders who think that traditional Orders are outmoded.

But if you are serious about your Magical education, you will find no more thorough, more complete, and more challenging curriculum anywhere other than the A.O.'s Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. You will also find the same proven teaching methods found in top Universities.

Click here to explore our outer order training program, the H.O.G.D.

Alpha Omega
We don't just hand out grades ...
We Make Magicians!

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

My Dark Shadow EXPOSED


by Golden Dawn Imperator

David Griffin

There have been an astonishing number of brilliant Ideas from Robert Zink lately. Too bad they were all mine. Let me show you ...

I. First, there was my article on Enochian Magic on October 10, 2012.

Then came Bob's Enochian Magic article November 6.
by Robert Zink

II. Then there was my Self-Initiation article October 8.

Then came Bob's Self-Initiation article November 20.
by Robert Zink

III. Finally, there was my announcement on Thanksgiving Day of "Ritual Magic 101" training and coaching on the "Golden Dawn World Tour."
by David Griffin 



Then today comes a workshop Bob calls "Golden Dawn Masters of Magick."

Go figure!

by Robert Zink

There is only one thing I still can't figure out ...

Why can't I shake the feeling something is shadowing me?



Monday, November 26, 2012

300,000 - Happy Milestone, Golden Dawn Blog!



Yesterday, at the conclusion of Thanksgiving Day weekend, the Golden Dawn Blog crossed an important symbolical threshold, with over 300,000 readers since the beginning in 2008. Since the International Conclave of Golden Dawn Adepti last March, circulation of the Golden Dawn Blog has literally exploded with 140,000 page views in the past six months alone.

From the bottom of our hearts, we here at the Alpha Omega and the H.O.G.D. would like to thank you all. 

Thank you, dear reader, for making the Golden Dawn Blog such an important beacon of light for the Magical and greater esoteric communities.

We promise to keep bringing you more and more solid information on Ritual Magic and the Golden Dawn.

Happy 300,000 milestone, Golden Dawn Blog!



Friday, November 23, 2012

RITUAL MAGIC 101: Playing at Magic?




Nick Farrell today published an interesting and thought provoking article called "Playing at Magic." You can read this article here.

Below you will find a few quotes I consider important.

Nick Farrell writes:
“The number of people out there who say they have had no teachers, but have actually experimented with heavier ceremonial magic techniques is frankly alarming. It shows, amongst other things, a level of arrogance and a belief that they are so important that training within an esoteric school is not necessary for them. They have the answers already because they have read about it. But it is not as if they have really studied, or done regular meditation work to reach that state. After playing around with systems they did not completely master, they have just moved onto something else..." - Nick Farrell
Nick really struck a nerve this time that has implications in the entire esoteric community. Clearly the age of information does indeed have negative consequences as well as positive ones. As I have written  over and over lately, the whole "do it yourself" mentality that has become so prevalent in recent years when it comes to Magic is rather alarming. I am really happy to see Nick Farrell addressing this problem as well.

Why is it that in the esoteric community so many people think that the powerful methods of magic, alchemy, and spiritual growth are the one area of life that requires no teacher? This is the one area where it counts the most! We are dealing with our eternal Soul. We are dealing with forces that can literally make a person insane.

Who really wants a a physician that “did it themselves” without the constraints of some authoritarian dictating what they learn? Do you want a surgeon that read some books and uses what “works best for him?” Do you want a mechanic, plumber, electrician, or any other professional that “did it themselves?” If given a choice between a professional who was trained by experts or who “did it themselves,” which would you choose? Which do you want to be?

Nick Farrell continues:

"One of the downsides of the modern age is that beginners have access to more information than they used to and this makes “dabbling” much easier than it was before." 
"You can usually tell if someone is playing at magic by their tendency to do a lot of different systems, often employing them all at once... But not one of them has focused on a training system to be any good at it, and none of them amounts to much when it comes to magic." - Nick Farrell
I fully agree with several of the arguments presented in Nick's article. Clearly the matter of magical “dabblers” is indeed problematic. I have discussed Nick's article with a number of Alpha Omega and H.O.G.D. members today, and some of them added interesting insights to the discussion. 

For example, this morning Frater E.P.A. a Neophyte (0=0) in our outer order, the H.O.G.D., in a private email wrote to me today:

"I think there are actually two catagories of dabblers:
     1. Those who like dabbling and 

     2. Those who dabble while seeking a Path. 

"Dabblers" who are seekers buy the books from popular authors, they try some of the methods, but ultimately those books do not represent a curriculum. No book is a Path. They are merely a stone or an oasis on the Path. A college uses books; there are no colleges IN a book. A few are lucky and join an Order in the beginning of their search and stick with it. They have a temple nearby with a trained Hierophant and in a few years they are a magician. But what about those people with no temple? No Hierophant? No teacher? By definition, they dabble. They must. I feel very passionately about this because ... 

... I WAS THAT SEEKER!" 

- Frater E.P.A.
To those who "dabble" merely because they like "dabbling," I wish you the best of luck!

Those "dabblers" who are also "seekers," however, I see you as a an essential part of the esoteric community. In fact, it for seekers like you that the Alpha Omega exists to help. You kept trying. You have read the books, you took the courses, you practiced one thing and then another. You are devoted, but lost, souls wandering in the labyrinth, groping in the dark to find the hardened Path.

While the A.O. is certainly not the only Path out there, it is one that is well-worn, easy to follow, and well-lit with the Light. After all, isn’t this “dabbler” exactly the one being addressed in the Neophyte Ritual?

We must face one sad reality though. Even among "seekers," not everyone is ready for the commitment it takes not only to enter the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, but also to graduate and go on to advanced studies in the A.O.'s Second Order, the R.R. et A.C.

It is precisely for "dabblers" who are also "seekers" that the Alpha Omega launched our 1,000 Points of Light initiative. We began by encouraging you to create your own Personal Altars and Personal Temples. Next we created for you, the "Ritual Magic 101" series of articles here on the Golden Dawn Blog as well as live "Ritual Magic 101" Webinars in 8 languages around the world.

The truth, however, is why there aspects of Ritual Magic that can only be taught in person. This is why are coming to you the 2012 Golden Dawn World Tour, and bringing you "Ritual Magic 101" to you - up close and personal - in a series of live Workshops around the globe. For those ready for a serious commitment to their spiritual growth, here is also be an opportunity for traditional Golden Dawn initiation. On our preliminary itinerary, there are presently cities in 5 countries across 3 continents where we will carry the light of the Golden Dawn.

In short, whenever "dabblers" are ready to put aside that part of their life and finally BE the magician they have wanted, or pretended, to be for so many years, the Alpha Omega is here waiting to help you further, regardless of the level of commitment you are ready to make.

Sincerely,
Alpha Omega Imperator, David Griffin
Imperator David Griffin
HOGD AO 33 95

Thursday, November 22, 2012

2012 GOLDEN DAWN WORLD TOUR: "Ritual Magic 101"




2012 Golden Dawn World Tour

Preliminary Schedule

Las Vegas, U.S.A. WORLD PREMIERE! 12/8/2012

Following 2012 Winter Solstice, the Golden Dawn World Tour launches world-wide, presently scheduled to land in 5 countries:

Mexico City (D.F.), Mexico

Barranquilla, Colombia

Sao Paolo, Brazil

Dublin, Ireland

 Berlin, Germany

Itinerary updates and additional details will be posted here on the Golden Dawn Blog as they become available. Would you like us to add your country or city to the Golden Dawn World Tour? Contact us HERE.

Here are the events of Magical World Premiere weekend in Las Vegas (12/7-9/12):

I. WORLD PREMIERE!2012 Golden Dawn Tour - Saturday, 12/8/12, Las Vegas
"Ritual Magic 101" - with Golden Dawn Imperator David Griffin

In anticipation of the 2012 Winter Solstice tour launch to carry the light of the Golden Dawn around the globe, the Golden Dawn World Tour kicks off on Saturday 12/8/12 with a Las Vegas gala weekend and the WORLD PREMIERE of "Ritual Magic 101", bringing solid instruction to Self-Initiates and Solitary Practitioners around the globe, together with the possibility of traditional Golden Dawn initiation.


In celebration of the kick-off of the Golden Dawn World Tour, participants will receive a FREE! electronic copy of David Griffin's coveted Ritual Magic Manual, selling on Amazon new for as much as $1,000!


II. Golden Dawn Initiation  - near Las Vegas, Sunday, 12/9/12, with GH Imperator LeS (David Griffin) and VH Sor. DIA (Leslie McQuade) and Fratres and Sorores of the Alpha Omega.

Sunday, 12/9/12 traditional Golden Dawn initiation will be available (upon approved application) at Alpha Omega Golden Dawn Temple.

Apply for initiation HERE.

III. The Great Rite - Friday, 12/7/12, Las Vegas
Lupercus (David Griffin) and Aegeria (Leslie McQuade) del Bosco Sacro

The Great Rite
Janus (Union of Diana/Dianus)

Interested in Western spiritual sexuality?

Discover mysteries of the The Great Rite from the Sacred Forest Shamanic Pagan tradition (del Bosco Sacro di Nemi) in an evening exploring the Divine feminine and Divine masculine on Friday, 12/7/12. (Ideal for couples. Singles permitted. Non-sexual. Clothes on).

Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii





"I now think that it was influenced by the Greek and Roman mysteries which originally may have come from Egypt."  
- Gerald Gardner, Witchcraft today, Chapter 4

Join us for a ...

... Magical weekend in Las Vegas!

December 7-9, 2012


Complete event details HERE.

To guarantee a seat, RSVP HERE.



Wednesday, November 21, 2012

1,000 Points of Light: A Personal Temple in Montreal, Canada



As more and more aspiring Magicians around the world  share their Personal Temples and Altars with others, the A.O. has now helped put 112 Personal Temples on the map!

A word of thanks goes out to those who have put their Temples and Altars on the map, and especially to those who keep sharing photographs of their work with our readers as well. May 1,000 Points of Light burn ever brighter, as the Magic of Light illuminates more and more people around the globe!

Help us ...
... light Temple Fires of ...
... the Magic of Light ...
... across the globe!

Alpha Omega ...

We Make Magicians!
Since 1888

Today we share a photograph with you of a Personal Temple in Montreal, Canada.



Why are we sharing Personal Altars and Temples?

In in the Alpha Omega, our primary mission is to provide Western individuals with the tools they need for their spiritual and energetic evolution. As a part of this continuing mission, we are  beginning to unveil several valuable new resources for Independent Practitioners of the Magic of Light.

There are Self-Initiates. There are Solitary Ritual Magic practitioners. There are Golden Dawn initiates in orders that will not teach them Ritual Magic in the outer order. There are Thelemites who would like to practice the Ritual Magic of "Liber O." There are Pagans who would like to properly invoke the forces of the Elements, Planets and Zodiac.

What do all of these people have in common? Except for my Ritual Magic Manual, all of these Independent Practitioners have been pretty much left to their own resources when it comes to their practice of the the Golden Dawn's system of spiritual evolution through the Magic of Light.

Well, that has changed, as of now. The Alpha Omega is leading the way for the Golden Dawn yet  once again, this time providing one valuable resource after the other regarding to the Independent Practice of the Magic of Light.

Independent practitioners have had my Ritual Magic Manual to assist them in their practice for over a decade already. Most independents, for whatever the reason, prefer not to work in a traditional order structure. Even among Golden Dawn orders, only the Alpha Omega makes magicians already from day one, even to all Outer Order initiates.

Thus there is a huge body of people out there who have been left with zero guidance from Golden Dawn Adepts in their independent practice of Ritual Magic. The Alpha Omega is now stepping forward, as a community service, to better meet the needs of Independent Practitioners of the Magic of Light.

As the first step in our "1,000 Points of Light" initiative, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and our parent order, the Rosicrucian Order of Alpha et Omega is helping to ignite "1,000 Points of Light" around the globe, with the goal of fostering the creation of 1,000 new Personal Altars and Temples.

Creating a Personal Temple will give your magic great power, because you build energy through constant magical practice in the same consecrated space. There are plenty of good resources available on how to create your own personal temple as well as how to craft magical tools. We encourage you to use these resources, together with your own personal creativity, to create your own, unique personal temple.

A Personal Temple does not need to be complicated. Your tools can be Golden Dawn style, Wiccan style, or whatever style suits you. What is important is that you dedicate a sacred space where you can practice Ritual Magic on a regular basis. It can be as simple or as elaborate as you like.

As I mention in the Ritual Magic Manual, if need be, you can practice Golden Dawn magic with nothing other than your index finger! On the other hand, you could craft all of the wands, swords, banners, robes, etc. that make up a full Golden Dawn temple. The choice is yours - and yours alone.

If you would like to do something in between, for Golden Dawn magic, what is most essential is to create an altar space and to place something to represent each of the four elements on it.

Some people use nothing more than a fan for air, dirt for earth, a cup of water, and a candle for fire. Others like to craft and consecrate classic Golden Dawn magical implements; an air dagger, a fire wand, a water cup, and an earth pantacle, each with the correct sigils and names of power.

Certain Wiccan practitioners prefer to work with a wand for air, an athame for fire, a cup for water, and a pentacle for earth. Other Pagan practitioners reverse the wand and athame, more closely resembling the Golden Dawn arrangement.

Personally, I recommend to begin with the basic components used in the Golden Dawn's magical Eucharist; a red rose for air, a cup of wine, a candle for fire, and bread and salt for Earth.

See ...
"you can set up a Golden Dawn style altar with nothing more than a few things available in most kitchens." - David Griffin - Ritual Magic Manual
What really matters is that you practice magic, then practice, practice, and practice even more. Try to set aside an hour a day for your magical practice if you can.

You will quickly see for yourself how much it helps to have a dedicated space for your magical practice. You do not need an entire room for this, although that would be ideal. When an entire room is not possible, you can always store your altar in a corner of a room, then bring it out when you are ready to practice. With time you will begin to feel a sense of awe, a sense of the sacred, merely by entering into your personal temple space.

Our first goal with this 1,000 Points of Light initiative, is to motivate you to create your own personal temple, and to help individual practitioners to create 1,000 new personal temples around the world. Can you imagine the power for spiritual growth that will be generated by 1,000 new personal temples all around the world?

... And there is no better way to motivate ourselves to create a beautiful personal temple than to share the fruit of our work with others. The Alpha Omega therefore invites you to send us a photograph of your personal temple once it is set up, and we will publish it for you here on the Golden Dawn Blog!

What better way to learn and to gain inspiration from one another?

We invite you to share your Personal Altar or Personal Temple here as well. Just tell us what city you are in, and we will put you on the map!

You can also email us a photo of your personal temple HERE and we will publish it to share it with readers here on The Golden Dawn Blog. (Please try to keep the file size somewhat small. Please also let us know if you would also like your name or motto to appear. Otherwise, we will include only the city).


Imperator David Griffin
HOGD, AO,  33, 95

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Golden Dawn in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz


Das letzte Webinar auf Englisch zum Thema Ritual-Magie der Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn® mit Golden Dawn Imperator, David Griffin war mit 67 Teilnehmern aus 18 Ländern aus der ganzen Welt sehr gut besucht.

Wegweisend für den Golden Dawn in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz, hat der Alpha+Omega-Orden vor kurzem unsere virtuellen Tempel mit Live-Video/Audio-Functionen aufgerüstet, mit einer maximalen Kapazität von 500 Teilnehmern.

Begleiten Sie uns am Samstag, 24. November 2012, um 21:00 Uhr für ein besonderes Webinar in deutscher Sprache, direkt geführt vom Mutter Tempel des Alpha+Omega-Orden in Pahrump, Nevada (USA).

Klickt HIER, um den virtuellen Golden-Dawn-Tempel von Alpha Omega, am  Samstag, 24. November 2012 um 21:00 Uhr einzutreten.

Alpha Omega
Wir machen Magier!

Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn@ 
Imperator David Griffin 
Ordo Rosae Crucis Alpha Omega


Sunday, November 18, 2012

RITUAL MAGIC 101: Invocation and the Middle Pillar

NEW Series!

Discussion 1:
Invocation and the Middle Pillar

by Alpha Omega Imperator
David Griffin

There has recently been an interesting discussion on the Golden Dawn Yahoo Forum regarding the correct order of parts of ritual when using Golden Dawn magic. For example, I was asked about whether one should banish before or after the Rite of the Middle Pillar. You can read my answer here.

Today a Golden Dawn Forum reader emailed me an answer to a similar question written by Donald Michael Kraig. I found Don's answer fascinating and thought provoking as it underscores some of the different methods used by the Alpha Omega and other Golden Dawn orders.

"Catanzarocritters" asked:
"Should the middle pillar be done before or after an invocation?" - Catanzarocritters
Donald Michael Kraig replied on the Magical Working Group in message 19138:
"If you were alive 100 years ago and nobody who could answer that question was around, what would you do? 
Many people just gave up. Other did what, IMO, is at the foundation of magick and alchemy: they experimented. 
Try doing the MP before your invocation. Keep accurate records of the situation going in, how you felt about the ritual, and the results.  
Do this repeatedly for a minimum of a week and perhaps as long as six weeks or more. 
Then try doing the MP after your invocation. Again, keep accurate records of the situation going in, how you felt about the ritual, and the results. Do this repeatedly for a minimum of a week and perhaps as long as six weeks or more. 
Finally, compare your results. Which worked the best for you? 
I would suggest that magick evolves and improves when we're all scientific explorers, not when we only follow what is written in a book as if it had been chiseled in stone. 
That being said, for me, doing the MP before an invocation works better." - Donald Michael Kraig
I agree 100% with Don Kraig that there is no "right" and "wrong" way of doing things when it comes to Ritual Magic. Don is right on the money with this one.

First off, let's be clear that I am not saying the Alpha Omega is "right" - or that we are somehow "better" than other Golden Dawn orders - but we DO use different training methods.

The methods the Alpha Omega uses are specifically designed to facilitate our mission of making Magicians. These methods can accelerate your spiritual and energetic growth and make YOU a magician as well - faster and easier.

The advice in the above post typifies the "experimental method" recommended by most Golden Dawn orders - even for beginners:
"Try it one way and then the other and find out what works." 
This is great advice for advanced Magicians, like Adepts in the A.O.'s Second Order (master's level training).

Experimentation and innovation are indeed essential aspects of Magical practice for advanced, highly experienced Magicians. The “science” of magic is important - but should be done only after one has reached the doctoral stage of the Art.

I am all for using the scientific method to analyze ritual practice. However, I would not advocate that an undergraduate (Outer Order Student) attempt this form of ritual study. They are not in a position to interpret “what works.”

What does “works” even mean? How would I know it works? It feels good? Demons appear? I win the lottery? The bigger question is what is the intent? How would I even begin to know that my magic “works?” That is the real question. Once that is known, troubleshooting and creating ritual is easier.

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, the outer order of the Rosicrucian Order of Alpha Omega is the bachelor’s degree of Magic. Its primary purpose is to educate the aspiring magician in the required vocabulary, symbolism, and practices which are already established and proven to be effective.

The Master’s degree (Second Order level in the A.O.) is an applied approach to the science and/or art under consideration and prepares the student to do secondary research in one specific area of knowledge. The “master” is one who can take existing knowledge and apply it to new situations. Finally, the doctoral degree (Third Order level in the A.O.) is to learn the methods of primary research and obtain the skills to create new knowledge.

The Outer Order beginning student is at the bachelor stage. Undergraduates are not ready to do comparative research of sources. They don’t know enough, or have the skills required, to make informed choices.

This is why the work of a university (or Order) is required. It’s not that the undergraduate information isn’t already available and easy to find. It’s a progressive learning experience that removes the requirement of comparative research skills. 

The Order offers a controlled environment to gain this knowledge and learn these skills. An Order allows the student to focus on what to learn, when to learn it, and to have an expert proclaim “you have learned it!”

Experienced magicians do a disservice to beginning Magicians by encouraging everyone to start at the doctoral level of personal research. Any professor that tells a student to simply buy a bunch of books, compare what they have learned, and stick with what works, is doing no favors.

Magicians who take this approach are only delaying their growth. There are reasons universities require classically trained Ph.D’s to teach. There are reasons all religions have a school for training clergy.

Before anyone can write poetry, they first must not only learn their ABCs but even the rules of grammar, consonance and alliteration, etc. Rote memorization is not as much fun as writing poetry, but it is nonetheless essential preparation for future poets.

The same holds true for future Magicians. Where the methods of the Alpha Omega differ most drastically from other Golden Dawn orders is the thoroughness of our method teaching the fundamentals of Ritual Magic from day one in the H.O.G.D. (Outer Order, undergraduate level).

Astonishingly, the Alpha Omega is the only Golden Dawn order that teaches Ritual Magic to beginners from day one.

This makes no sense at all. Why make Golden Dawn students wait four or five years before giving them any training or supervision in Ritual Magic?

Golden Dawn students are practicing Ritual Magic anyway. Why on Earth should students be left hanging for years without any Magical training or support - while developing bad Magical habits that will have to be unlearned with great effort later? What is even the point of an Order then?

The training methods of the Alpha Omega are as different as night and day from this. In the Alpha Omega, we make Magicians - and we certainly do not expect beginners to try to figure stuff out on their own.

On the contrary, the A.O.'s First Order, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, today offers the most thorough and demanding training in Ritual Magic anywhere in the world.

I have seen the disastrous results of the "experiment for yourself" approach for aspiring Magicians over and over. Every day, students come to the Alpha Omega with bad habits so ingrained in their Magical practice, it will take months, if not years, to correct. This is why we provide thorough training, guidance, coaching and support in Ritual Magic from day one.

In the A.O., we do not advise beginners to "experiment for themselves" as though they were already advanced Magicians. In the Alpha Omega, we teach Ritual Magic with the proven teaching methods used at Universities. 

We expect our H.O.G.D. Undergraduate students to study and master the fundamentals of Magical practice precisely the way we teach them, as is the norm for Undergraduate education.


Throughout the academic world, udergraduates are required to master course curriculum in the manner each Professor requires it. This does not mean that there are not other methods or that experimentation has no value. Experimention and innovation certainly do have their places, especially when writing a doctoral thesis. These things do not belong in the beginner's level though, as undergraduates are not properly trained in comparative research methods.

At the undergraduate level, what really counts is that the Professor has a method that works, and effectively transmits to students the fundamental abilities they will need for more advanced studies. This can not be done properly by expecting students to use post-graduate methods at an undergraduate level.

Judging from the magical advice given in the post that prompted this exploration, it appears there is an even more fundamental difference between methods used by the Alpha Omega and other G.D. orders. This should not be surprising, since different Golden Dawn orders have different goals for their students.

In the Alpha Omega, we are clear that our mission is to make Magicians. We therefore use teaching methods that help us make Magicians faster and more effectively.

In the Alpha Omega, our goal in making Magicians is for our students to eventually complete the Opus Magnum, or Great Work. This we understand according to its classic meaning in the Hermetic tradition - the cultivation of a Solar Body of Light, with its attendent higher consciousness through energetic evolution. In short, the Alpha Omega teaches how to "grow Soul" using Ritual Magic and Alchemy.


Thus, according to the mission of the Alpha Omega and our spiritual goals for our students, when it comes to the question:

"Should the Middle Pillar be done before or after an invocation?" ...

We teach beginning students that the Rite of the Middle Pillar should be used AFTER an invocation. The reason we do this has to do with both the function of the Rite of the Middle Pillar and of Invocation for spiritual development seen as energetic "Soul" growth.

In the Hermetic tradition, "Soul" is not some abstract concept. It is our energetic essence that survives death, which lies dormant and undeveloped in the vast majority of human beings.


The method to accomplish this energetic awakening lies hidden in the initiation rituals of the Elemental Grades of the Golden Dawn's outer order, which are still consistently used all across the Golden Dawn community.


Using these initiations, the Magical Forces of elemental Earth, Air, Water, and Fire are awakened in the Initiate's "Sphere of Sensation" (energetic body, or "Soul") one at a time, then balanced and equilibrated with the element of Spirit in the Golden Dawn's Portal Grade.

The Golden Dawn's system of Ritual Magic does not stop there, however, and neither does beginner's training in the Alpha Omega.

Golden Dawn Ritual Magic systematically awakens in the energetic "Soul" body, not only the Magical Forces of the Elements, but also of the Planets, the Zodiacal signs, and of the Sephiroth.


In the Alpha Omega, we use this system of Astrological Magic as the primary tool for energetic "Soul" growth for beginning Magicians in our First Order (undergradute level).

In this system, the Rite of the Middle Pillar serves to strengthen the energetic "Soul" by charging it with LVX energy (called chi, kundalini, etc. in the East).


The purpose of systematic and repeated invocation of Magical Forces (Elements, Planets, etc.) in Ritual Magic, is to awaken and balance all the celestial Forces in the energetic "Soul" of the Golden Dawn Magician.

Therefore, the Alpha Omega teaches the Rite of the Middle Pillar should be used following invocation, in order to effectively strengthen the invoked (awakened) Magical Force in the energetic "Soul" of the candidate.

The systematic awakening of the celestial Forces in the energetic "Soul" of the Magician is symbolized by the Rose of Spirit (the energetic "Soul") blossoming upon the Cross of Matter (the physical body).


This is the true, occult meaning of the word Rosicrucian. Thus, the Alpha Omega is seen as a true Rosicrucian order in the most traditional sense of the word. Our Magical and Alchemical methods for spiritual, energetic "Soul" growth are authentic, traditional methods used by the historical Rosicrucian tradition since the beginning.

In conclusion, I am not saying there are no other ways of working with Golden Dawn Magic. There is a difference in the methods used, however, from one Golden Dawn order to the other, as well as in our respective training goals.

In the Alpha Omega, our training methods are geared for our goal to make Magicians and for our students to fully cultivate their immortal Solar bodies. This why, unlike other Golden Dawn orders, the A.O. teaches students Ritual Magic from day one. It is also why our entire Magical and Alchemical Curriculum is finely honed for the fastest and easiest energetic "Soul growth" possible.

I am not saying the Alpha Omega is superior to other Golden Dawn or Rosicrucian orders. We merely have different goals - and as a consequence - we use different training methods.

Click HERE to explore our Ritual Magic training program for beginners, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.

Alpha Omega
We don't just hand out grades ...
We make Magicians!

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