Monday, December 31, 2012

Magical Astrology 101: Golden Dawn Dojo!



Astrology helps you understand how celestial forces affect your life at birth, now, and in the future. But why not take charge of your destiny instead of merely observe it?


Discovered in ancient Sumeria, Magical and Alchemical Astrology come down through Egypt, the Hermetic tradition, and the Golden Dawn.

Magical and Alchemical Astrology empower you to:
  • Become the Solar, purely energetic life form all humans are evolving towards.
  • Survive death, consciously immortal inside the stars!
  • Complete your Solar evolution in a single incarnation with Magical and Alchemical Astrology.
  • Transmute lead (Saturn) into gold (Sun) - your physical body into a Solar Body of Light - with Alchemical Astrology.
  • Master your horoscope - and your destiny! Awaken and Balance Astrological forces in your energetic body (aura, "Soul) with Magical Astrology. 
Announcing the world's first Magical and Alchemical Astrology dojo!

Join Golden Dawn Imperator, David Griffin, author of the coveted Ritual Magic Manual, for ongoing, face-to-face energy work and training in Magical and Alchemical Astrology.



David will coach and guide anyone interested in Magical Astrology methods for energetic Soul and cultivation and awakening in an ongoing, bi-weekly dojo style training format. These spiritual exercises involve a series of gentle movements, visualisations and vibrations, which do not require any previous training or experience.

This is a unique opportunity, as in-person training in the methods of Magical and Alchemical Astrology is presently offered no where else.

Space is limited. Enrollment is open. Drop-ins welcome. Please wear loose, comfortable clothes.

Golden Dawn Dojo begins Saturday Jan. 5 and every other Saturday thereafter, at 6:00 PM at Well of the Moon, 2650 S. Decatur Blvd. Suite A02, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Free-will donations gratefully accepted.


Unleash YOUR Soul!
Alpha Omega
We Make Magicians!




Wednesday, December 26, 2012

$ Money and the Golden Dawn

by Golden Dawn Imperator
David Griffin

Recently, a reader of the International Golden Dawn Yahoo forum wrote a post implying that it is somehow scandalous or "unspiritual" that the Alpha Omega charges $144 per year enrollment to study in our undergraduate level training program, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. 

This attitude of entitlement, thinly veiled behind the weird argument that "everything spiritual should be free" is even more prevalent in the Pagan community than it is in the Golden Dawn.

It is important once in a while for leaders in the Golden Dawn community to draw a line in the sand for such irrational thinking. Nick Farrell drew such a line last week, when discussing his considering a return to a teacher-apprentice format (which we have used in the Alpha Omega all along), Nick Farrell wrote here:
"The other side of this is that money will have to change hands. This sort of training would not be for occult tourists and one thing that discourages that sort of behaviour from the student is the fact that they have invested money in it."
- Nick Farrell 
I also drew such a line recently on our Yahoo forum posted the following reply that I feel deserves to be cross-posted here as well:

"In reality, the Alpha Omega offers plenty of free or free-will donation based public services, including our International Golden Dawn Yahoo forum, articles on The Golden Dawn Blog, free Webinars on Ritual Magic, and even Ritual Magic personal training around the world with the Golden Dawn World Tour.

Does anyone honestly believe that providing all these services costs NOTHING?

How about operating three informational websites in 8 languages operated on virtual private server space that requires massive bandwidth. We also have a paid programmers, web designers, administrative assistants, etc., in addition to our volunteer staff.

Does anyone really believe that all of this costs NOTHING?
  1. Golden-Dawn.Com houses more complete Golden Dawn free public information than anywhere else on the web, including our vast. 
  2. Golden Dawn Reference Library, where you will find hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of books available for FREE download.
  3. Our exclusive Golden Dawn Membership Website contains complete course curriculum materials, tutorials forum, virtual classroom with regular classes, on-line testing, etc.
  4. The Golden Dawn Research Center at Golden-Dawn.Org provides extensive research on the Golden Dawn and related spiritual traditions from top scholars around the world.
  5. Golden-Dawn.Info provides a FAQ and fascinating historical information about the Golden Dawn. 
  6. The Golden Dawn Blog provides constant updates, research information, and other essential Golden Dawn topics available nowhere else. 
  7. The Golden Dawn Facebook Group provides answers from Adepts about all aspects of the Golden Dawn.
  8. GoldenDawn.TV brings you Golden Dawn Ritual Magic Training videos and live interactive Webinars. 
  9. Ritual Magic Webinars in our new, live audio and video streaming Webinar Room.
And all of this is provided as a FREE public service!

Does anyone honestly believe that the above - in addition to operating the world's largest multi-national Golden Dawn order - costs NOTHING?

Our outer order, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, is the most thorough college of Ritual Magic anywhere in the world today. We provide course material that would cost hundreds of dollars in books alone to obtain elsewhere. We provide you a proven, thorough, supervised system to learn Ritual Magic with feedback, coaching, and guidance from one of our Adepts as your private tutor.

Begin Rant

ALL OF THE ABOVE is paid for out of extremely meager enrollment ($144 per year), which amount to $12 per month - about the price of a coffee and pastry at Starbucks.

Why is it that people wantonly spend hundreds of dollars on books and many more hundreds of dollars each year on junk food, computer games, and other superfluous things, yet are not willing to spend  EVEN THE PRICE OF CUP OF STARBUCKS COFFEE for their spiritual development and their energetic SOUL, complaining instead that everything should be free!?!?!

Why do some people feel their spiritual evolution and the energetic growth of their immortal Soul are so worthless they are not willing to spend one dime on them?

Let's get real here.

Please excuse me for being so blunt, but if anyone honestly believes that their spiritual growth is not worth even the price of a movie, then the HOGD (AO) is DEFINITELY not right for them.

Here in the Golden Dawn, our initiatic resources are far to precious to waste on people not willing to sacrifice anything at all for their spiritual growth.

Extended Rant

As long as I am ranting about money, there are a few things I have been meaning to clear up for a long time.

I am amazed there are still leaders in the Golden Dawn community that provide not a fraction of the free services the Alpha Omega does, yet turn around and accuse other people of trying to get rich by gaining membership!

And these are the same people that publish 10 books on the GD and market them all over the forums!

On the other hand, I publish endless free teachings on the Golden Dawn websites, forums, and blogs and ask nothing in return. I could republish the Ritual Magic Manual and reap a tidy profit. I could write a dozen new books and reap a really good profit (like they do).

Instead, I create materials for members that pay almost nothing per year. Yet, I am accused by others who are themselves profiteering on the Golden Dawn of trying to get rich.

At least I have a "real job."

End Rant

My above rant seems to have sparked a bit of controversy. One reader of the International Golden Dawn Forum over on Yahoo jumped into the discussion and replied:
"Mr. Griffin, 
[With total sarcasm in my voice] Why don’t you ask the computer network company why they charge you? Then tell the computer hardware people to ask why Dell wants to be paid for the servers. Dell can then ask why the engineers and assembly people want to be paid. Then the employees can ask why the grocery store wants to be paid. Then the grocery store can ask why the farmers and delivery people want money. The delivery people can ask why GM wants money for their trucks and mechanics want money for fixing them. 
It’s just a world of greed!  
Here is a solution to avoid the greedy world of money. How about I do something for someone and then they do something for me in return? I could grow corn and give it away to someone who, in return, builds me a house. Then, everybody is giving things away and no money exchanges hands! What? One ear of corn doesn’t equal one house? OK. I will give one ton of corn. What? Where are you to store a ton of corn that will take you 5 years to eat? Hmm. I know, I will give you some special rocks, each of which represents one bushel of corn. When you need more corn, you can exchange a rock for a fresh bushel. In fact, you could trade my special corn rocks to others who want corn for something they have. If we all accept the special rock as representing the value of another product, then we can trade for anything. No money, just people giving things away to each other and keeping track with a simple rock trading system. I AM A GENIUS! (Stop applauding and bowing, it makes me self-conscious.) 
 
You sir are stealing from the community! You see, when you maintain an Order, you have to keep it running day and night, around the world, where at least one time zone is always awake and asking for advice. You have to spend your nights writing blog posts, refining your curriculum, working with your adepts to improve teaching methods, build and maintain your Temple, and go to your real job in between. Not only do you ask too much, I think you sleep too much.  
I saw on your blog you are offering to travel anywhere in the world to help establish a temple – for free! You’re a scoundrel!!!! Nothing more. 
[End sarcasm]  
We have a world of children that do not understand the money system. John Michael Greer has a wonderful book (which he actually charges money for) titled Mystery Teachings from the Living Earth. Within he provides a meditation to take any object and really think about where it came from, step-by-step. That cup of coffee you’re holding? 
 
Trace that back – all the way back. Think of all the lives that touched that cup of coffee. You will find your feeble mind cannot possibly keep track of the journey.
You will need to consider how you got to Starbucks, the car you drove, the clothes you wear, and the money you used to purchase it. And that’s just to get you to Starbucks. What about the car you drove, the roads you drove upon, the gas in your car, the tankers that brought the gas to the station, and so on. Where did the coffee cup come from? How many lives did it take to get it to your local Starbucks? What about the beans, the lid, the chair you sit on while drinking it? The lights that power the Starbucks? All of this should be FREE? WHY???? 
Yes, some people are writing occult books and making a pretty penny to do it. Bless them. Yes, you are charging to join your Order. Bless you. And, of course, bless Starbucks, the meeting place of choice for people who want to enjoy a $7 drink in comfort while reading your free blog on their $800 iPad using the Starbucks wifi and condemn you for charging to join. 
   
Why can’t you provide free products like Starbucks and Apple?
You’re a scoundrel!"

"Why does it some days feel like you just cant win?" 

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Season's Greetings


From Isis Mother Temple ...
... of the Alpha Omega
Merry Christmas,
Happy Hanukkah,
and Good Yule ...
... to YOU!

... from the Fratres and Sorores of the ... 
... Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn ...
... and the ...
... Rosicrucian Order of Alpha et Omega!

David and Leslie Griffin
GH Frater LeS and VH Soror DIA


Monday, December 24, 2012

1,000 Points of Light: A Personal Temple in West Virgin



As more and more aspiring Magicians around the world  share their Personal Temples and Altars with others, the A.O. has now helped put 144 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 ...
... all across the globe!
Today we share a photograph with you of a Personal Temple in Clarksburg, West Virginia, from Frater L.I.S., who writes:

Fratres and Sorores, 
I would like to add my personal temple to your online blog.  It is located in Clarksburg, WV USA.  Please find a picture of the altar for your review and posting. Thank you again for all of your hard work bringing the Golden Dawn tradition to the public.

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













Click HERE to explore our Outer Order, undergraduate level Magical training program, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn!"

Friday, December 21, 2012

Sex-Magick and Scientific Discourse (Reply to Peregrin Wildoak)

by Golden Dawn Imperator
David Griffin

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”
- Albert Einstein

Peregrin Wildoak recently wrote an article in reply to a recent post on the Golden Dawn blog called: "Sexuality and the Golden Dawn." You can read the G.D. Blog article here. You can hear the original interview on Blog Talk Radio here. You can read Peregrin's reply here.

There is much to agree with in Peregrin's article, not the least of which is the article takes a tone akin to scientific discourse that enables the discussion to advance.

You may have noticed that, over the past several months, the Alpha Omega has been working very hard to improve the quality of dialogue in the Golden Dawn community, so that philosophical discussion can more easily advance.

In the past, dialogue easily got bogged down by Golden Dawn scholars (myself not exempted) presenting positions as though they were the "right way" or the "true Golden Dawn way." Dialogue in the past at times got derailed by subtle forms of mudslinging or even open personal attacks.

The purpose of scientific publications is to create a conversation based on logical reasoning and/or experimental research. Doctoral students are constantly reminded they are “joining the conversation” through their research.

All of us are doing nothing more than continuing a conversation that started nearly 200 years ago. Peregrin’s essay on sex in the Golden Dawn exemplifies the type of “conversation” we at the A.O. hope to inspire within the G.D. community.

For too long, leaders within the tradition have sniped and fought each other to the detriment of ourselves and of the Golden Dawn community.

To this end, we at the AO several months ago introduced three guiding principles for entering a conversation that we strive to conform to with each new blog article. The time has come to offer thes principles to the community at large to enhance our dialogue and move toward a respectful approach to sharing and learning from one another.

They are:
  1. Never negative.
  2. Attack poor reasoning - not people.
  3. Offer alternative approaches or answers – not the “right” way.
Perhaps this list will grow over time. While we as a community have not yet reached the rigor of the scientific journaling process, we can only begin this transition by supporting one another.

My personal mission is to contribute to the Golden Dawn community by correcting the damaging methods that have crept into it over the past decades (myself not exempted). The previous path of the G.D. leadership would not have left a lasting legacy worthy of praise by future generations.

“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.“
 - Thomas Jefferson

With these few guiding principles set forth, let us move forward to discuss the "sex" question.

Peregrin Wildoak writes:
"There is no evidence the Golden Dawn taught sex magic, even at its highest levels... 
...sexual magic was not part of the classical (pre 1903) Golden Dawn. And the other day I saw comments from Pat Zalewski and Nick Farrell echoing this view."
I am pleased to see that, according to Peregrin, not only his independent research, but also Pat Zalewski’s and Nick Farrell’s independent research support the Alpha Omega's philosophical position, I have stated over and over for years, for example when in reply to fear mongering marketing, I wrote here:
"Indeed so-called "gutteral sex magick" has no place in the Golden Dawn. There is no Golden Dawn order, nor has there ever been one with orgies nor the sort of practices ascribed to Aleister Crowley."

W
hen it comes to sexual magic, the real question is not where the Golden Dawn was before 1903, but rather which direction the Golden Dawn should go here and now in the 21st Century.

"Gutteral sex magick?" Is there anyone in the Golden Dawn community who can take such a rumor seriously? Sadly, not everyone outside the community is as knowledgable as we are. When people go to Google searching for information about the Golden Dawn, then read things like "Golden Dawn sex-magick is a red herring designed in to take advantage of lower desires," it harms the entire G.D. tradition.

When it comes to negative marketing, we as a community can do better (myself not excepted). I am pleased several Golden Dawn leaders are taking mature positions that help dispel false rumors about "hedonistic Golden Dawn sex cults." Such things harm the entire Golden Dawn.

Peregrin continues:
"This does not mean the Golden Dawn rituals and teachings are devoid of the symbolism, connections, motifs and structures for sexual magic."


I am pleased to see Peregrin’s research supports the repeatedly revealed teachings of the Alpha Omega, for example here:

"In the Golden Dawn, all of the rites, symbols, and even implements and vestments are permeated through and through with the fundamental doctrine of sexual polarity."


To my knowledge, the statement I made repeatedly (here, for example) still remains true today:
"The Alpha Omega is the only Golden Dawn order that offers traditional Hermetic spritual practices in the highest grades that include spiritual sexuality."
Let's be crystal clear about one thing though. I am not referring here to "sex-magick" nor have I ever been referring to "sex-magick" in this context either. 

Over the years I have clarified again and again that practices involving spiritual sexuality in the highest grades of the Alpha Omega are those of Hermetic Internal Alchemy - not "sex-magick."

I have also revealed Alpha Omega teachings regarding the true nature of Hermetic Internal Alchemy repeatedly over the years as well, for example in 2005, when here I wrote:
"Hermetic Internal Alchemy is in reality a system that uses the subtle fires of the human body, including love and sexuality, as potent tools for spiritual development by transmuting the matter of the physical body into ever purer and more refined forms of energy." 
And here when I wrote:
"The Secret of transmutation of all metals into gold lies inside each and every one of us - for the "Prima Materia" (First Matter) of Internal Alchemy is the living matter of our physical bodies. The "Opus Magnum" (Great Work) of Hermetic Internal Alchemy is the transmutation of Lead - the matter of your physical body - into Gold - pure Solar Energy, Divine consciousness, and immortality. 
This Internal (PHYSICAL) Transmutation is fueled by the internal fires of your body - among which LOVE and SEXUALITY are primary motors for spiritual and energetic evolution. 
Hermetic Internal alchemy is "internal" in the sense that we use an inner laboratory, an internal athanor, and an internal fire - all inside of the human body in a PHYSICAL sense"
Peregrin continues:
"Any practical magical exploration of these themes however is best conducted well outside the gaze of the Neophyte and indeed the Outer Order."


Again, Peregrin’s philosophical position supports the long-held Alpha Omega position I have revealed repeatedly, most recently here:
"Such teachings are of the variety "go home and practice with your husband, wife, or partner(s) depending on your gender, sexual orientation and relationship style."


Referring to a letter from Moina Mathers to Paul Foster Case, reproduced from the recent GD Blog article, Peregrin writes:
"There is nothing here that indicates methods and processes for physical sexual magic were taught at all."



Yet once again, conclusions of Peregrin's independent research support my own philosophical conclusions (See above).

Peregrin continues:
"The “not mere theory” clause is obviously used to emphasise the implicit warning that “sex matters” not be approached before the adept is completely in control of his “passionate self”.

Again, Peregrin's conclusions support the long held philosophical position of the Alpha Omega. Alpha Omega teachings still have more to say on this subject, however.

What does Moina Mathers really mean when she writes:
"In fact, we only give a rather complete explanation of this subject in that Grade where the Adept has proved to be so equilibrated and spiritualized that he is complete lord of his passional self."  
Is Mina talking about asceticism? Is she uttering some sort of moral injunction against sexuality? Since we don't have a time machine, it is impossible to prove what Moina Mathers really meant.

Moina's statement does, however, make perfect sense in light of teachings I received as Apprentice of Hermetic Master Alchemist, Frater Lux E Tenebris. 

Although (due to oath-bound restrictions) I can not go into detail about the actual methodology of Hermetic Internal Alchemy, the time is ripe to lift the veil just a tiny bit more.

The Hermetic Alchemical Initiatic tradition teaches that, prior to even beginning the alchemical processing of Hermetic Internal Alchemy, the the Adept must first gain complete mastery of his or her emotions.

This is accomplished by cultivating ongoing emotional balance and equilibrium at all times in daily life. This is not any sort of moral injunction, but rather a technical requirement of alchemical processing.

And this is only ONE prerequisite to begin Hermetic Internal Alchemy. Yet how many Second Order Adepts have achieved even this? Few. Very few.

The problem is that alchemical processing in Hermetic Internal Alchemy requires "circulation," as frequently alchemical processes in an external laboratory do as well. "Circulation" within the human body, however, can be quite dangerous for someone who is not properly prepared.

When it comes Internal Alchemy, since the entire alchemical Opus occurs in the laboratory of the human body, everything about us gets "circulated," including our emotions.

"Circulation" in Internal Alchemy is meant to purify and exalt our spiritual nature. However, if an unprepared alchemist circulates mood swings or even powerful emotions, they may end up creating greater and greater emotional instability instead of spiritual exaltation.

This is a fundamental reason why the actual spiritual practices employed in Hermetic Internal Alchemy have always been reserved for the highest grades of Hermetic or Rosicrucian Orders, even those that came long before the Golden Dawn. These particular spiritual practices can be extremely dangerous for the unprepared - and, practiced improperly, can lead to self-destruction rather than spiritual exaltation.

This is why they have always been kept so secret. This is also why they should never be attempted without the guidance and supervision of a Master Alchemist.

I invite the reader to again examine Moina Mathers statement again below, In light of this discussion, it should now be readily understandable.

Moina Mathers wrote:
"We only give a rather complete explanation of this subject in that Grade where the Adept has proved to be so equilibrated and spiritualized that he is complete lord of his passional self."
Peregrin continues:

"The dangers of prematurely acting within the sexual-magic realm are real, as are the results which are sadly visible in any modern Neo-Pagan and magical community."
"physical sexual magic should be limited to the Inner Order, if undertaken at all. 
In fact, I would say a rough rule of thumb would assign the practices to the Chesedic Adeptus Exemptus grade."
Peregrin's conclusions, based on many year of his own magical experience, yet once again closely mirror my own long held philosophical position on this subject. Of course, Peregrin is not talking here about turning the Golden Dawn into some sort of hedonistic sex cult.

Peregrin is talking about serious occultism and has obviously given the matter a lot of thought. If one were to introduce the Science of Sexual Magic into the Golden Dawn, I concur with Peregrin that the Adeptus Exemptus grade would be a logical place to begin to introduce the fundamentals.

The Alpha Omega could be very helpful with this process, since we have a huge amount of oath-bound material concerning sexual magick, even though we have so far chosen not to include it in our own curriculum. I am certainly not opposed to the idea. If the Golden Dawn community wanted to move in this direction, the Alpha Omega could certainly be of assistance.

I do foresee fundamental obstacles, however, in addition to the one briefly touched on by Peregrin above. We are all aware of the sexual abuse that has occurred under the guise of "sex-magick" in the Neo-Pagan community as well as in the wider magical community. The Golden Dawn community has not been immune issues surrounding sexual abuse either.

I mention this not to point a finger at or "attack" any particular person, but because sexual abuse is a serious concern. There is a very real risk that introducing sexual magic into the Golden Dawn's Second Order, might unintentionally open the door for the sexual abuse of Golden Dawn members. I would very much like to hear how Peregrin and other Golden Dawn leaders propose our community might overcome this obstacle.

The other danger is that if Golden Dawn orders decide to expand their curriculum to include sexual magick, they open themselves to the sort of fear mongering negative marketing attacks like those we have already seen. I would like very much to hear how Peregrin and others who would like to see sexual magick included in the Adeptus Exemptus grade, propose that our community tackle this problem as well.

It would be extremely risky for the reputation of the entire Golden Dawn for anyone to include sexual magick in any grade of any Golden Dawn order, unless the problems of sexual abuse and fear mongering marketing are first addressed by the community and lasting solutions found.
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."
- Albert Einstein

Think Different.

Alpha Omega
We Make Magicians!

Click HERE to explore our Outer Order, undergraduate level Magical training program, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn!"

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Mayapocalypse Now!


"To all of you who said ... 

... the world would end today ..."
- Bart Simpson


Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Master Magicians and Golden Dawn Apprentices (Reply to Nick Farrell)


by Alpha Omega Imperator
David Griffin

Frater Nick Farrel recently wrote an article entitled "Apprenticed to Magic". You can read it here.
Nick Farrell
I am frankly surprised how much there is to agree with in this article.

Yes, we DO need to “put our foot down” and teach the right way to do things as I have written over and over, for example here.
Yes, there ARE crazy kids jumping into the deep end of the pool with the grown-ups, as I have written about previously here.
Nick’s experience suggests that “money will have to change hands.” The Alpha Omega agrees completely and looks forward to one less person attacking the A.O. for accepting dues.
Yes, there ARE too many “Orders” just doing the Regardie book. I have documented this for decades, for example here.
Yes, the competition between orders has repeatedly gone too far. I have written about this extensively, for example here.
Nick Farrell writes:
"I used to think that the relaxing of systems at the end of the 20th century and the access to more information thanks to the Internet was a good thing. I liked the ideas of the autocratic orders which were the bane of my existence had faded.  Now I am not so certain."
Nick Farrell has been involved in the Golden Dawn a long time and his experiences reflects a common theme. It’s wonderful reading about his evolution as a teacher of the occult because it is one that I have been spared. The Golden Dawn System of Magic was designed to avoid many of the problems Nick has encountered.

Nick writes: 
"There once was a time that you would be taught by one person who would show you their magical system, which was often worked out over years by experience."
Frater Farrell need not convince me of the importance of the Master-Apprentice relationship in the Golden Dawn. My own Appenticeship to Hermetic Master Alchemist, Frater Lux E Tenebris, has been worth its weight in gold - And in more than one sense!
The Master-Apprentice relationship lies at the very heart not only of the Golden Dawn, but of the entire Hermetic and Rosicruican traditions. It has always been this way. It is this way today. And it will always remain this way as well.
This is why, in the Alpha Omega, the magical development of each new student is taken on by an A.O. Adept from the outset. As one advances in the A.O., this Master-Apprentice relationship takes on more and more importance.

It is for this reason, due to the need for direct coaching, that the A.O. created our 1,000 Points of Light initiative. This is why the Alpha Omega presently provides Ritual Magic coaching to Self-Iniaties and Solitaries in 8 languages in the form of Webinars, Workshops, one-on-one Skype sessions, and ongoing Ritual Magic dojos.

Nick Farrell feels compelled to “go back to the old ways” after his vast experience working with initiates. Fortunately, the AO doesn’t have to “go back to the old ways” because we never left. In fact, they aren’t the “old ways” at the AO, they’re the “Only Ways.”
I am pleased to witness how Isis, at long last, is gathering together the divided pieces of Osiris, as Adepts from across the entire Golden Dawn community begin to stand together - not under the banners of the A.O. - but as a community sharing a common spiritual philosophy - united by our mutual obligation to properly train the Adepts of the future.
The need for enough Golden Dawn Adepts to properly train Apprentices is great - greater than even the Alpha Omega alone can bear.

Only as a community of Adepts drawn together by the strength of our common Rosicrucian bonds can the Golden Dawn claim its rightful place in the 21st Century.

Stand with us.

Alpha Omega
We make Magicians



Alpha Ωmega Mystery School Livestream