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

Imperator's Vlog, February 27, 2015

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

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

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

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

The Vulcans in turn led me to some of the most formative questions of my life: 

• "Are we alone in the universe? 
• "Do life forms exist beyond the limits of our perception? and 
• "If so, how can we contact them?"

These questions led me to Magick.

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

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

You were - my childhood hero.

Live long and prosper, 

Spock - old friend - on the other side.

Secret Chiefs REVEAL: "Why Secrecy?"

by Golden Dawn Imperator

David Griffin

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

In the case of the Golden Dawn, each new initiate is admonished to remain silent, maintain secrecy, and receives a password, "Harparkrat," the name of the Egyptian God Harpocrates, also known as Horus the Younger.

One of the first things each new Golden Dawn initiate learns is how to perform the Golden Dawn's "Sign of Silence," depicted in statues of Harpocrates holding his index finger to his lip. I recently revealed the occult use of the Sign of Silence in the Magick 101 television series. You can learn how to correctly use this incredibly powerful magickal tool HERE.

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

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

Why Secrecy?
by Hermetic Master

 Lux E Tenebris

Thank you for inviting me to comment on the role of secrecy in the Hermetic tradition. The primary function of secrecy in esotericism is not to manipulate others, which has unfortunately been done and continues to be done in bad faith by persons who are not Hermetic Masters. A true Hermetic Master never causes his students to suffer, but maintains secrecy of the more advanced practices rather to protect the body, soul, and mind of the Apprenctice not yet prepared to assimilate these techniques, which when practiced by individuals not yet evolved enough would certainly destroy them. 

Let us take a simple example. Let us say that one of my students tries to convince me to give him or her an advanced alchemical technique. I observe in the behavior of the student that they are not yet ready to have and practice this particular processing as they have not yet reached the necessary degree of spiritual maturity. Because the disciple is insistent, however, I allow myself to be convinced, give in, and give the technique to them anyway. The student diligently begins with the practice and as a consequence either goes mad or dies, which, by the way, are very real dangers with Hermetic alchemy. 

Now why did this tragedy occur? It occurred for the simple reason that the Apprentice used an instrument much larger than themselves that requires a profound level of spiritual maturity for its use, for which the student was unprepared. No true Master Alchemist would, of course, ever give such a dangerous technique to an unprepared Disciple of the Art. 

This same line of reasoning is followed today by more advanced nations in the sense of superior democracy in regard to, for example, smaller nations still ruled by dictators that, if were they to possess atomic weapons, would use them to destroy others and themselves. Can you imagine if Osama Bin Laden were in possession of the secrets of how to build atomic weapons? This is why nations like the USA protect the secret of the creation of atomic bombs...in order to protect an infantile humanity from self-destruction. 

No Hermetic Master who is a true Master would ever give everything all at once to an Apprentice. It is the proper development and spiritual maturation of the Disciple over time that determines their capacity to assimilate more advanced spiritual techniques with their attendant higher states of awareness and realization. 

If we plant an apple tree, we accept that five long years will pass before the tree will ever bear fruit. Why then should we expect it should be different with the Secret Hermetic Science? 

Moreover, alchemical processes are not truly "secret." On the contrary, all of the secrets of true alchemical processing are described in alchemical works very clearly. It is the infantility of students or their laziness to study which prevents aspirants of alchemical wisdom from discovering for themselves the secrets of the Royal Art. 

Aspirants today are unwilling to sweat on the books and in the laboratory as have done all true Children of Hermes and thus have discovered the true significance of every term and all of the sequences to put into operation the secrets of the Great Work. 

But today, in the age of the Internet, aspirants want easy, immediate, and complete access to information. Above all, they do not want to sweat and work! 

Of course not. They want to be able to go to a bookstore and buy a book like they do with Regardie's Golden Dawn, or even better yet,Google a website and voila ... to become a Hermetic Alchemist reading in clear text all of the secrets of the Royal Art! 

Such is the mentality of the 21st Century. 

But with Hermetic Alchemy, alas, this is not possible. 

To explain why, let me give you an example from modern physics. There exist in libraries books with the knowledge to build nearly anything, either good or evil, explaining all of the accumulated science of man. 

But how many people dedicate themselves to a profound study of the matter? 

Likewise many aspire to the light but only the fewest obtain it because it is "difficult" to study and to practice. 

No...aspirants of today want to have everything clearly written and readily understandable. 

And even the Hermetic Masters are accused today that "we keep secrets only to manipulate others," merely because, as we have done for countless Centuries, we speak, write, and discourse with you using the very symbols of the Sacred Science itself. 

But were I to reveal to you the deepest and most profound secrets of alchemical processing, how many of you would understand? 

How many of you would have eyes to see? 

How many, ears to hear? 

How many would succeed to perceive the naked truth in itself? 

Few. 

In fact, only the fewest of the few. 

I repeat to you once again, as has been written and said over and over by the Hermetic sages of all ages, in words that are as true today as they were in ancient times: 

"Everything is clearly revealed, but not perceived.

Eyes behold but they do not see!

Ears listen but they do not hear!" 

Therefore I repeat: 

Just as there exist symbolical languages for physics, chemistry, and philosophy, without which you can not truly understand these sciences, so in alchemy there also exists a symbolical language that since millennia has been beneath the eyes of all in books, in cathedrals, and in every construction of the ancients. Even the fables of storybooks are full of these symbols! 

Thus you can not accuse the Hermetic alchemists of hiding things from you or speaking in riddles. It is only that we are speak in a different language, known in alchemy as "The Language of the Birds." 

How can you expect to understand this language any more than Sanskrit unless you likewise learn its rules and symbols with great effort, and to study, study, and study more? 

Thus it is not we, the Sons of Hermes that you should accuse of speaking in riddles and of keeping secrets from you! 

No. You should blame yourselves instead for not having studied enough and researched enough! 

In fact, the alchemical maxim is quite clear and enough to come to an understanding of the entire Opus: 

"Lege, lege, lege, et Inveniens." 

For those of you who have not applied yourself to understand Latin, this means in terms that even limited understanding might yet grasp: 

"Read, read, reread, and you will find." 

Thus you may understand the truth that I speak to you as all of the Sons of Hermes who have come before me have also said, that everything is already written and it is only the ignorance and the intellectual laziness of those who approach the Sacred Sciences that serve as "natural selection" to screen out the undeserving by their own work from the truly deserving that are committed to and conquer the mysteries. 

In the Sacred Science, not everything can be given to everyone even if it is revealed because: 

... the Science can not be given, but rather...

...it must be conquered. 

It is not enough to have faith to become a true Initiate, but one must above all study, work, and engage oneself to the very depths. 

How many are capable of this? 

Few. 

This is why true Initiates have "always" been few... 

...and today are even fewer. 

And everything not successfully conquered on one's own remains shrouded in mystery waiting to be discovered, and becomes "secret" only to the degree that it does not become conquered and discovered by hard work and research. 

It is like as if I should enrolls to study Physics at the University. During my first year everything that the researchers of Theoretical Physics are doing will certainly remain "secret" to me. But if I apply myself I can unlock their secrets, as they are already revealed but in a language that I must first learn. Unless I learn this language, however, theoretical physics will always remain a mystery for me. 

But to return once again to your original question: 

You ask me: 

"Why do you speak in riddles, and why have the alchemists always spoken like this as well?" 

I do not speak in riddles. I have always spoken forthright and clearly with you. 

The problem is rather with your understanding. 

I speak with symbols that you do not understand only because you have not studied them. Study the symbols of Hermetic Science and you will understand me completely. Then you asked me: 

"Is this not only a manipulation?"

I have already explained to you that unfortunately there are others who do use this science to manipulate others. I do not manipulate anyone, however. In fact, I am not even interested in having Disciples. 

...and like me, there "are" others, even if we are few.

Hate Bloggers Attack Nick Farrell: Golden Dawn Fundamentalism?

by Golden Dawn Imperator

David Griffin

Nick Farrell's Peace Initiative

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Today's discussion arose when Dean Wilson, leader of Ireland's "Ancient and Honorable Order of the Golden Dawn" set forth his position that:

"the Elemental Implements should not be made in the Elemental Grades" of the Golden Dawn's outer order.

Golden Dawn author, Pat Zalewksi, leader of the Canadian "Order of the Golden Dawn" replied:

"You have get me here Dean as I have never heard of a GD order making elemental weapons in the outer order. Its bloody ridiculous for many reasons."

Morgan Drake Eckstein, of the Colorado based BIOGD, replied:

 "(I have heard of these Orders doing this.... ) I personally think that they should be made as a set in the Inner."

Samuel Scarborough, representing an order I can't mention here by name due to a legal agreement you can view HERE wrote: 

"Unfortunately, Pat Zalewski, there are those that claim to do GD work, yet do drop Inner Order material into the Outer. Those organizations previously named certainly are the most well-known for this particular (and other) set of practices."

Another group member made clear who they were talking about, suggesting "Griff's order" "does quite a bit of this sort of thing".

A leader of Sam Scarborough's order wrote:

"Amen and Amen! Bravo Dean!"

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

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

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

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

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

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

This - And little more.

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

We are very fortunate to have far more to offer our students than just what's in a Llewellyn book. In our order, we offer the complete three order training program originally envisioned for the Golden Dawn, but only partly realized by S.L. MagGregor Mathers.

Let us return to the discussion that prompted this article, the question of whether or not the Golden Dawn's elemental implements should be used by Magicians in the Elemental grades of the Outer Order. In our order, students do use these Magickal tools in our Outer Order. They use them to master the Forces of each Element using invocation of published Qabalistic and Enochian Magickal forces.

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

Is it any wonder that we are today the world's largest and fastest growing Golden Dawn order? In case you are interested, here is a direct link to our order's application process.

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

The Golden Dawn is not a religion, Israel Regardie is not Martin Luther, and the Llewellyn book is certainly not a "Golden Dawn Bible."

I am not claiming that our order is better than any other - only that we do things differently. There are important differences between Golden Dawn orders and the public deserves to know what these differences are.

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

How Do You Process Information as a Golden Dawn Magician?

by Guest Blogger

Frater Reflect (H.T.U.U)

Cameron Holden Gaster

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

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

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

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

"Books?" I asked. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why? 

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