What are Signs of a Healthy Magical Order?

by Golden Dawn Imperator

David Griffin

Nick Farrell recently published a highly interesting article, entitled "A rough guide for avoiding bad magical groups." You can read it HERE. 

I find that most of Mr. Farrell's conclusions in this arena concur with the results of my own independent research. Clearly, as Mr. Farrell suggests,"Astral-only Initiation" and the attacks on other groups that have all too frequently plagued our community, have gone far to denigrate the overall image of the Golden Dawn.

There are other problems that we have faced as a community as well though, the most flagrent of which was one Golden Dawn leader impregnating the 15 year old daughter of one of his order members. Clearly this has no place in the Golden Dawn. Abuse of power has not been limited to this arena, however. Of late, for example, word has surfaced of certain Golden Dawn groups threatening their members with expulsion (and even black magic attack) if they attend lectures hosted by members of a different order!

The Alpha Omega certainly does not operate this way. We hold personal responsibility as an important esoteric virtue. Thus we do not interfere in the private lives of our members. What then are healthy warning signs when a magical group takes a turn in a mistaken direction?

The Pagan community has dealt with such issues for a long time now and there are a number of good ideas the Golden Dawn community could learn from. For example, in 1979, Druid leader, Isaac Bonewits, constructed an evaluation tool which is now known the “Advanced Bonewits’ Cult Danger Evaluation Frame” or the “ABCDEF” (because evaluating these groups should be elementary). A copy was included in that year’s revised edition of his book, Real Magic. He realize its shortcomings, but felt that it could be effectively used to separate harmless groups from the potentially dangerous ones and distinguish harmful ones from those that are merely unusual to the observer.

Isaac Bonewits

The purpose of the Bonewitz evaluation tool is to help both amateur and professional observers, including current or would-be members, of various organizations (including religious, occult, psychological or political groups) to determine just how dangerous a given group is liable to be, in comparison with other groups, to the physical and mental health of its members and of other people subject to its influence. It cannot speak to the spiritual danger.

Here are the Bonewitz warning signs:

1 Internal Control: Amount of internal political and social power exercised by leader(s) over members; lack of clearly defined organizational rights for members.

2 External Control: Amount of external political and social influence desired or obtained; emphasis on directing members’ external political and social behavior.

3 Wisdom/Knowledge Claimed by leader(s); amount of infallibility declared or implied about decisions or doctrinal/scriptural interpretations; number and degree of unverified and/or unverifiable credentials claimed.

4 Wisdom/Knowledge Credited to leader(s) by members; amount of trust in decisions or doctrinal/scriptural interpretations made by leader(s); amount of hostility by members towards internal or external critics and/or towards verification efforts.

5 Dogma: Rigidity of reality concepts taught; amount of doctrinal inflexibility or “fundamentalism;” hostility towards relativism and situationalism.

6 Recruiting: Emphasis put on attracting new members; amount of proselytizing; requirement for all members to bring in new ones.

7 Front Groups: Number of subsidiary groups using different names from that of main group, especially when connections are hidden.

8 Wealth: Amount of money and/or property desired or obtained by group; emphasis on members’ donations; economic lifestyle of leader(s) compared to ordinary members.

9 Sexual Manipulation of members by leader(s) of non-tantric groups; amount of control exercised over sexuality of members in terms of sexual orientation, behavior, and/or choice of partners.

10 Sexual Favoritism: Advancement or preferential treatment dependent upon sexual activity with the leader(s) of non-tantric groups.

11 Censorship: Amount of control over members’ access to outside opinions on group, its doctrines or leader(s).

12 Isolation: Amount of effort to keep members from communicating with non-members, including family, friends and lovers.

13 Dropout Control: Intensity of efforts directed at preventing or returning dropouts.

14 Violence: Amount of approval when used by or for the group, its doctrines or leader(s).

15 Paranoia: Amount of fear concerning real or imagined enemies; exaggeration of perceived power of opponents; prevalence of conspiracy theories.

16 Grimness: Amount of disapproval concerning jokes about the group, its doctrines or its leader(s).

17 Surrender of Will: Amount of emphasis on members not having to be responsible for personal decisions; degree of individual disempowerment created by the group, its doctrines or its leader(s).

18 Hypocrisy: amount of approval for actions which the group officially considers immoral or unethical, when done by or for the group, its doctrines or leader(s); willingness to violate the group’s declared principles for political, psychological, social, economic, military, or other gain.

PROVEN: Secret Chiefs Complete Golden Dawn Magical System! - Corroboration Pours in From Across the Globe.

At last week's International Festival of Golden Dawn Magicians, the Secret Chiefs of the Third Order of the Golden Dawn unveiled supplemental spiritual practices for the G.D. Neophyte grade.

Since various leaders of other Golden Dawn orders over the years have falsely claimed that "no evidence" exists of any additional Golden Dawn Magick other than that published by Regardie, we invited our critics and their spies to come and examine the actual supplemental materials released by the Secret Chiefs for themselves.

In fact, we even invited ALL Golden Dawn initiates of all Golden Dawn Temples and Orders, and even Self-Initiates and Solitary Practitioners. Here is what some of those who came and examined the evidence for themselves had recently to say: 

"To anyone who doubts the existence of the physical Secret Chiefs or the authenticity of their Golden Dawn teachings, if you would have attended the Festival, you would have seen it for yourself. I along with many others who did attend, ARE the proof of its power and authenticity. The Festival was open to anyone who wanted to come, so no one who was not here can rightfully deny the authenticity or power of the new material. I attended the whole week of the Festival and I can personally attest to just how powerful the  supplementary Magick newly released by the Secret Chiefs really is." 

- Frater O.B., Alvin, TX

"The spiritual practices hidden behind the symbols of the Golden Dawn are finally being revealed. The Golden Dawn is finally becomming what it should have been since the beginning." 

- Soror FL, Atlanta, GA

"The new material is astonishing in the simplicity of the techniques and the purity of energy. I could really feel that this is what the Golden Dawn was meant to be. If anyone of those present had their doubts about the authenticity of the Secret Chiefs, it truly has been cleared out by the material released the second day alone." 

- VH Frater K, Berlin, Germany

Frater ATLV, Houston, TX 

"A new unbroken oral tradition and direct transmission instead of just the same old stuff from books. 

I attended the entire week of this year's Festival. I truly feel that the Magical material newly released by the Secret Chiefs brings the AO back to a state of unprofaned wisdom and authenticity that has not been seen in the Golden Dawn since the schism of 1903.  

To those who may criticize or deny these new teachings. You had the chance to come and you could have seen it for yourself. My experiences over the week, although short was proof of the potency of the new teachings. I feel honored to be one of the very few in the world who have received this knowledge until now." 

- Frater ATLV, Houston, Texas  

"The vibration very efficient - overall, interesting and energizing. in concept." 

- Soror SKH, Montenegro

"The supplemental materials for the Neophyte grade fits like hand in glove. Some of it is advanced, but when you see it together with the rest of the material it is simple and obvious. You can see that the original material is for learning purposes and the supplemental material is for practical application of the old material. It seems like a natural extension. It is an honor and a privelege to be a part of this historical moment. This Festival has been a page turner in my life."  

- Frater NTI, Gothenburg, Sweden 

"Basically, I felt the purity of the newly released supplemental Magick and it not being tainted by past energy of others. It all feels so clean and undiluted. Working with this GD Magic is a rare experience. When working with GD Magick from published material, you just don't get that undiluted power." 

- Soror LET, Melbourne, Australia

"The fantastic new energy that shined into my being as we did the advanced Neophyte meditation and the rectified Middle Pillar touched my Soul. First to silence, peace, and fulfilment and later brought tears to my eyes. I could really feel the solar energy and the feeling that it stayed with me."

- Soror DSLO, Ostersund, Sweden 

C.F. Boone, New Orleans, LA

"The Neophyte meditation was everything that I thought Magick would do. Every experience that I had ever had in Magick was trumped by that. Bigger than Tantra, bigger than Kundalini." 

- Charles F. Boone, New Orleans, LA 

"I have been practicing Golden Dawn Magick for 25 years and I have never experienced a meditation so profound and effective as the 2.0 version of the Neophye Meditation transmitted to us this week from the Secret Chiefs. Understanding that this is just the barest foreshadowing of what is to come, I am thrilled for the future. Truly, a new day for the Golden Dawn. We have been waiting and we have been answered." 

- Soror PPAS, Amsterdam, Holland

"J'ai resenti les effets sur le corps. Tres bons. On le resents immediatemnet."  

- Frater JR, Duola, Cameroon

"I have been practicing the Magick Golden Dawn for 11 years. I was quite astonished today when I learned the newly released Magick. No one is grafting anything onto the Golden Dawn."  

- Frater C.F., Mexico City, Mexico 

"Just reading some of the new rituals unveiled in the Neoophyte grade is enough to develop an asthonishing spiritual exaltation. I was so surprised to experience this before even actively performing the rituals. 

After some 26 years of working with Golden Dawn ritual and basing magical operations on the structures of the Neophyte grade ritual, it finally makes sense. 

I have been perpetually groping towards this level of understanding and now it is as though the light has been switched on. The world's great esoteric streams all use certain methods of blinding and encrypting teachings in their outer grades. Finally we can experience this authenticity of lineage here in the outermost grade of the Golden Dawn."

- Frater IVIOL, Manchester, England

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

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Llewellyn Publishing and Christian Segregationist Wolves in Pagan Sheep's Clothing

One participant at the International Festival of Golden Dawn Magicians, today informed us that another Golden Dawn order, the other party of the famous Golden Dawn trademark settlement agreement (here) claimed at Pantheacon 2013 that their order "is bringing Paganism into the Golden Dawn."

I was quite surprised by this odd claim, considering that the order in question is led by Llewellyn authors who also lead segregationist, "Christian only" esoteric orders. You can read more about this subterfuge, documenting its connection to Llewellyn publishing HERE.

The Pagan led Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and its parent order, the Rosicrucian Order of Alpha Omega, initially applauded the new, allegedly "pro-Pagan" stance of that order, even though it seemed somewhat hard to believe, since two of their leaders also lead Christian segregationist orders. 

By a bizarre twist of fate, the other shoe dropped today when a spokesperson for the same G.D. group again wrote that "all modern Magick is of CHRISTIAN origin and that there is no such thing as ancient Egyptian Magic." This is not the first time that representatives of this G.D. group led by segregationist, "Christians only" Llewellyn authors, have published this argument.  HERE is one example. We have refuted this already in the past as well (for example HERE).

Since the Alpha Omega is ecumenical and non-sectarian, we invited even leaders and members of that order to come and examine the A.O.'s Egyptian Magic for themselves at this week's International Festival of Golden Dawn Magicians. Instead segregationist leaders threatened their members with expulsion if they came to the Festival.

Why is it that their Christian led Golden Dawn order, on the one hand, behaves in such a blatently sectarian manner, yet at Pagan events pretends they are "bringing Paganism into the Golden Dawn?"

Actions speak louder than words.

In any case, we have already refuted that tired argument in the past (for example here). It is in reality Christianity itself that is a reformulation of ancient Egyptian and other Pagan traditions - and not the other way around as the wolves in sheep's clothing would like you to believe.

Take, for example, the "mythical" story of the life of Jesus Christ himself, which has been "borrowed" nearly wholesale from Egyptian myths of the life of Horus!

Check this out:

Check these parallels:

1. Both were conceived of a virgin.
2. Both were the "only begotten son" of a god (either Osiris or Yahweh)
3. Horus's mother was Meri, Jesus's mother was Mary.
4. Horus's foster father was called Jo-Seph, and Jesus's foster father was Joseph.
5. Both foster fathers were of royal descent.
6. Both were born in a cave (although sometimes Jesus is said to have been born in a stable).
7. Both had their coming announced to their mother by an angel.
8. Horus; birth was heralded by the star Sirius (the morning star). Jesus had his birth heralded by a star in the East (the sun rises in the East).
9. Ancient Egyptians celebrated the birth of Horus on December 21 (the Winter Solstice). Modern Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25.
10. Both births were announced by angels (this si nto the same as number 7).
11. Both had shepherds witnessing the birth.
12. Horus was visited at birth by "three solar deities" and Jesus was visited by "three wise men".
13. After the birth of Horus, Herut tried to have Horus murdered. After the birth of Jesus, Herod tried to have Jesus murdered.
14. To hide from Herut, the god That tells Isis, "Come, thou goddess Isis, hide thyself with thy child." To hide from Herod, an angel tells Joseph to "arise and take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt."
15. When Horus came of age, he had a special ritual where his eye was restored. When Jesus (and other Jews) come of age, they have a special ritual called a Bar Mitzvah.
16. Both Horus and Jesus were 12 at this coming-of-age ritual.
17. Neither have any official recorded life histories between the ages of 12 and 30.
18. Horus was baptized in the river Eridanus. Jesus was baptized in the river Jordan.
19. Both were baptized at age 30.
20. Horus was baptized by Anup the Baptizer. Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.
21. Both Anup and John were later beheaded.
22. Horus was taken from the desert of Amenta up a high mountain to be tempted by his arch-rival Set. Jesus was taken from the desert in Palestine up a high mountain to be tempted by his arch-rival Satan.
23. Both Horus and Jesus successfully resist this temptation.
24. Both have 12 disciples.
25. Both walked on water, cast out demons, healed the sick, and restored sight to the blind.
26. Horus "stilled the sea by his power." Jesus commanded the sea to be still by saying, "Peace, be still."
27. Horus raised his dead father (Osiris) from the grave. Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave. (Note the similarity in names when you say them out loud. Further, Osiris was also known as Asar, which is El-Asar in Hebrew, which is El-Asarus in Latin.)
28. Osiris was raised in the town of Anu. Lazarus was raised in Bethanu (literally, "house of Anu").
29. Both gods delivered a Sermon on the Mount.
30. Both were crucified.
31. Both were crucified next to two thieves.
32. Both were buried in a tomb.
33. Horus was sent to Hell and resurrected in 3 days. Jesus was sent to Hell and came back "three days" later (although Friday night to Sunday morning is hardly three days).
34. Both had their resurrection announced by women.
35. Both are supposed to return for a 1000-year reign.
36. Horus is known as KRST, the anointed one. Jesus was known as the Christ (which means "anointed one").
37. Both Jesus and Horus have been called the good shepherd, the lamb of God, the bread of life, the son of man, the Word, the fisher, and the winnower.
38. Both are associated with the zodiac sign of Pisces (the fish).
39. Both are associated with the symbols of the fish, the beetle, the vine, and the shepherd's crook.
40. Horus was born in Anu ("the place of bread") and Jesus was born in Bethlehem ("the house of bread").
41. "The infant Horus was carried out of Egypt to escape the wrath of Typhon. The infant Jesus was carried into Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod. Concerning the infant Jesus, the New Testament states the following prophecy: 'Out of Egypt have I called my son.'"
42. Both were transfigured on the mount.
43. The catacombs of Rome have pictures of the infant Horus being held by his mother, not unlike the modern-day images of "Madonna and Child."
44. Noted English author C. W. King says that both Isis and Mary are called "Immaculate".
45. Horus says: "Osiris, I am your son, come to glorify your soul, and to give you even more power." And Jesus says: "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once."
46. Horus was identified with the Tau (cross).

Day 3: International Festival of Golden Dawn Magicians

Today's teachings at the International Festival of Golden Dawn Magicians were once again dominated by Egyptian Magick from the new Egyptian Section of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, the outer order of the Rosicrucian Order of Alpha Omega.

"Once again, the Alpha Omega leads the way - divesting the Golden Dawn of Christian trappings and returning to the Egyptian Pagan roots, from which the Golden Dawn arises!"

The Magick of Isis - Alpha Omega

The Rite of the Qabalistic Cross, for example is a Judeo-Christian adaptation of a purely Pagan Rite from ancient Egypt.

Here is what one Magician attending the International Festival of Golden Dawn Magicians said today about the difference between the Golden Dawn's Christian "Rite of the Qabalistic Cross" compared to the Egyptian Pagan original revealed at the Festival for the first time this week:

"The effect was direct. It was an enormously pure energy. It feels part of a very different egregore than the Rite of the Qabalistic Cross, because the energy was so much stronger and purer." 

- Frater N.T.I., Gothenburg, Sweden

The highlight of the today's work at the Festival was the initiation of two new Adepts into the 5=6 Adeptus Minor grade. VH Frater S.M. will be carrying the light of the Golden Dawn back Mexico and VH Frater S.M. will carry this light, for the first time as well, to Africa. 

Here is what they had to say, following these quite historic initiations:

"C'est une tres grande responsabilite, mais je sens que l'Afrique est pret a recevoir la lumiere de la Golden Dawn"   

-  V.H. Frater J.R., Africa 

"Llevar la Golden Dawn a Mexico es un peso muy grande, con una gran responsabilidad, pero que se carga con mucho gusto y con muchas ganas. Mexico necissita esta luz. Es un honor contraer el compromiso con Alpha y Omega de servicio para la gente de Latina America." 

- VH Frater S.M., Mexico

On the negative side, a "dust devil," (the desert version of a tornado with gale force winds) blew through today. We tore down the tent city amazingly fast. VH Frater H.I., from Germany, however, was not fast enough. This made for the following fascinating scene, entitled:

Hierophant vs. Dust Demon

Day 2: International Festival of Golden Dawn Magicians: "Magick is PHYSICAL"

Day 2 of the International Festival of Golden Dawn Magicians began with the first Magical training sessions. This years (second annual) G.D. Festival contains 3 ongoing classes

• Golden Dawn Dojo - with Imperator David Griffin
• Secret Chiefs' Magick Revealed - with Imperator David Griffin
• A.O. Egyptian Section - with HPS Leslie McQuade and HP David Griffin

Day 2 of the G.D. Festival kicked off with Golden Dawn Dojo.

This morning David Griffin taught the principles involved in the fundamentals of Golden Dawn magick. Today's class was entitled:

"Magick is PHYSICAL."

The class concretely demonstrated the energy dynamics underlying the classical Golden Dawn's System of the Magick of Light. Here is what one Golden Dawn Magician, Frater Solomon, visiting from Cameroon, Africa said about G.D. Dojo:

"The energy was cleansing and I could feel it immediately in my body. During the exercise, I could feel negativity being removed from my energetic body." 

- Frater Solomon, Doala, Cameroon

Next up, our HPS, VH Soror DIA, taught the first, basic exercise of the Alpha Omega's new Egyptian Section. There was as much excitement generated about this Egyptian magick as there is anticipation about Tuesdays "The Rites of Nephthys," celebrating the inauguration of the A.O.'s Egyptian section.

Here is what one visiting Golden Dawn Magician said about the Magick of the Alpha Omega's Egyptian section:

"I have been practicing Golden Dawn Magick for 11 years. I was quite astonished today when I learned the most basic magical practice of the Alpha Omega's new Egyptian section. The Rite of the Qabalistic Cross is very powerful, but this Egyptian basic ritual is even better. I was very surprised, because one notices changes from the power of this practice immediately. 

By the way, no one is grafting anything onto the Golden Dawn. The A.O.'s Egyptian Section is NOT Golden Dawn. It is Egyptian magick in a separate section of the A.O. and does not pretend to be anything else. The A.O. is obviously much more than merely Golden Dawn. 

What I  do not understand is why, when we invited the whole community here, anyone would choose to stay home rather than sit down with us as brothers and sisters and learn the Egyptian magick, but instead say unfraternal things about us on the internet. Why should anyone pass public judgement on something that one remains completely ignorant of by choice?" 

- Frater C.F., Mexico City, Mexico

On a negative note, the hot tub is still down today for the second day in a row. The technician is coming back later today, so we are all crossing our fingers. 

Next, it was on to Neophyte initiations for the rest of the day. With seven candidates, this was bound to be a marathon session. We all survived it all. Here are our candidates and initiating team, all sending their warmest greetings.

The only dark spot in the whole day? Believe it or not, the hot tub is still not ready. The pool technician fixed the last problem, but the gas still will not kick in tonight.

Grrrrrrrrr!

PS: Oh yes. And the Texans did eventually show up. Hungover, broke, and mumbling something about a strip club. :-)

International Festival of Golden Dawn Magicians: Day 1

by Golden Dawn Imperator

David Griffin

Today was arrival day at the second annual, International Festival of Golden Dawn Magicians. All in all it was a very chaotic day for both Leslie and myself. 

First off, today concluded a full month of construction and improvements here at Isis Temple, which we did our level best to have ready in time.

For example, we added a 1,500 sq. ft. patio to create space enough to accommodate more people, as well as  a 2 acre campground area.

It is a good thing we were prepared, when people today began to arrive from Latin America, Australia, Africa, Sweden, Holland, the UK, France, and from accross the USA. 

This year's festival has an even more international draw than last year. And no wonder, with the Secret Chiefs releasing the rest of the Neophyte material (magical and otherwise) originally intended for the Golden Dawn, but cut short by the 1903 schism and ensuing chaos.

The real dark spot in the day was that the new hot tub is still not ready. We have been working on it for well over a month now, with one problem after the other cropping up - from a heater going out to last minute conndection problems. The technicians promise it will be fixed by tomorrow, so hopefully the group will, after a full day of magick, fnally ibe able to soak and relax in a new Grecian Spa holding up to 20 people!

I was greatly disappointed the tub wasn't ready when the first guests arrived today, but at least everything else was.

There was also a bit of chaos at the airport, since not everyone provided us with complete and accurate arrival information. This should have been expected, with arrivals from so many different countries all on the same day.

At the end of Day 1, everyone eventually made it in time though to inaugurate the new fire pit and drum circle here at Isis Temple. 

Everyone that is - except the Texans.

Why?

Well - we all know Texas is famous for producing rugged individualists.

The Texas delegation, it seems, remains intent on sleeping in Las Vegas and coming out to the Festival only during the day (due to Las Vegas famous night life?). 

I tried to tell them they are really going to miss out on something magical, but then again ...

... is there anyone out there who has been able to convince a Texan of anything, once they had set their mind to something different?