Is the Golden Dawn to Remain a Magickal Order?

by Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn®
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Imperator David Griffin

Occult writer Aaron Leitch recently wrote on Facebook:

"Perhaps one could be a mystic without being a magician but I see no possible way for a real magician to not also be a mystic." -Aaron Leitch

Despite my having clarified the traditional Hermetic distinction between Magick and Mysticism in previous articles, there still remains tragic confusion among aspiring Magicians about differences between these  spiritual disciplines with distinct and diametrically opposed methods and goals.

All science grows in three main phases. These are (1) a common vocabulary, (2) correlation, and (3) effect-cause-effect. This means that every known science began by first establishing a common vocabulary that permitted its proponents to communicate. Without a clear definition of each term, conversations end up turning into arguments even when both sides are actually proclaiming the same truths.

Aristotle was quite adamant that we must always begin by clarifying our terms. Unfortunately, when important terms and concepts, such as “Magick” and “Mysticism” are used with imprecision, we end up fighting about something that isn’t really important.

Since Mr. Leitch does not define his terms, it is impossible to say what his statement actually means. It could mean anything. Mr. Leitch appears to take a position fundamentally different than my own.

Mysticism and Magick traditionally represent two distinct spiritual paths - diametrically opposed in both methods and goals - according to definitions used for Centuries by the Hermetic and Magical traditions, including by luminaries such as Giordano Bruno, Marcilio Ficino, Cornelius Agrippa, Gerolamo Cardano, Pietro D'Abano, Theophrastus Paracelsus, and Eliphas Levi (not to mention the entirety of Egyptian, Chaldeaen, and Sumerian Magick). 

Mr. Leitch's statement does make sense if Mysticism is redefined as but a synonym for "Gnosis" or "spiritual realisation," but the spiritual methodology used by traditional Mysticsm remains diametrically opposed to traditional methods of Golden Dawn Magick.

Is Mr. Leitch's apparent redefinition of Mysticism as merely Gnosis accidental or is it deliberate? There exist two well defined factions in today's Golden Dawn community. On the one hand, you have traditional Magickal orders. On the other hand, you have SRIA (Sociatas Rosicruciana) led Golden Dawn orders like Mr. Leitch's. SRIA in turn argues that the Rosicrucian tradition should be exclusively for Christians and has revived the schismatic G.D. order of A.E. Waite, who eliminated Golden Dawn Magick completely in favor of Christian Mysticism.

Immediately following the 1903 schism, William Butler Yeats wrote an article entitled "Is the Golden Dawn to remain a Magical order?"  Ever since, a chasm has emerged between those in the Golden Dawn community who gravitate more towards the spiritual methods of Christian Mysticism and those who gravitate more towards traditional Hermetic Magick. This has created fundamental differences between one Golden Dawn order and the other, which endure in our community even until today.

The foremost exponent of the Magical path in the Golden Dawn was the great Mage, S.L. MacGregor Mathers, who correctly understood Golden Dawn Hermeticism as a Magical rather than Mystical tradition. Over time, the Magical spiritual path has become more and more pronounced in the Magickal faction of the Golden Dawn community like our order, the European headquartered, Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn®.

A.E. Waite

The foremost exponent of the Mystical Golden Dawn faction was Arthur Edward Waite, who rebelled against Mathers in the 1903 schism to create his Fellowship of the Rosy Cross. Waite completely replaced Golden Dawn Magick with Christian Mysticism. The polarity between Mystical Golden orders and traditional Magickal ones remains entrenched in our community even until today.

The primary difference between Magick and Mysticism lies codified in the actual methods of practice, together with the Mystical or Magical inclinations of the practitioner.

The Mystical path refers to the capacity and will of the practitioner to place oneself in a passive position in relationship to eternal Being and the forces of nature, which the Practitioner begins to invoke and pray to, so they may manifest and enlighten one, thus spiritually uplifting and exalting the practitioner. 

The Magical practitioner, on the other hand, does not place him or herself in a passive state towards natural and Divine forces, but rather in a positive state. Recognizing the Divine Spark inside oneself, the practitioner actively collaborates with Eternal Being rather than waiting for its manifestations.

In Mysticism, the practitioner expects Divinity to manifest itself, and to ascend the staircase that leads from below to on high aided by the Divine hand that takes us and leads us ever upwards.

Magic does not expect this, instead conquering the Inner Planes through one's own effort rather than through Divine aid. Thus, whereas the Mystical approach is one of submission, the Magician instead is a conqueror.

A perfect example of the Magical path may be found in the Mithraic Ritual deposited in Paris, which shows one such practice of divine Ascension of the Magical initiate. While rising towards Divinity to be received like a prodigal Son or Daughter, the practitioner greets the Gods as equals that gradually appear, not fearing them or subjugating oneself before them, but admonishing them and blandishing them with Magical words that open the gates of heaven.

Whereas Magick is based on knowledge, Mysticism is based on on ignorance in the literal sense of "ignoring" or "unknowing." In fact, one of the most important mystical texts in all of Christianity, The Cloud of Unknowing, speaks of making oneself obscure, humble and ignorant before the unmanifest - to remain there, in silence, gradually emptying oneself, while waiting for something or someone (God) to come and fill the void thus created.

Thus two completely different modalities become evident. Whereas the Mystic reflects the Divine light that is poured out upon him, the Magician generates this light, becoming an emitter himself.

I fully support diversity in our community. There is nothing wrong with Mystical Golden Dawn orders. There are many people, after all, who are more suited for the methods of traditional Mysticism than of Magick. For such aspirants, a Mystical Golden Dawn order could be a good choice.

Any misrepresentation of methods from traditional Mysticism as Magick is unethical. Golden Dawn Magick has its own, excellent spiritual methods. When it comes to something as important as people's spiritual development, they deserve informed choices based on reliable information. It is not fair to promise aspirants Magick, then deliver Mysticism instead.

Whereas Mystical Golden Dawn orders are a welcome addition to our community, they need to be honest and transparent about the spiritual methods they actually teach. Here at the European headquartered Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn®, we will always remain a Magickal order. Our entire mission is to make Magicians.

I am not saying we are the "best" Golden Dawn order - only that there are important differences. 

Would you like to learn Golden Dawn Magick?  Why waste years learning nothing more than basic banishing and the Middle Pillar. That is all you get in other orders in their entire outer order! With us, will you empower your life - step by step - with your Magickal practice  from day one on.

Click HERE to explore our Outer Order, undergraduate level Magical training program.

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