Astral Masters and the Golden Dawn

by Golden Dawn Imperator

David Griffin

The Golden Dawn has been plagued for well over a century by the notion of "Astral Masters" as Secret Chiefs. At times these have been called "Sun Masters" and "inner plane contacts" at others. This topic has become actual in the Golden Dawn community today again for two reasons. 

There are presently rumors in our community that the Cromlech Temple's Sun Order is really the Third Order of the Golden Dawn led by "Astral Masters" called "Sun Masters" as well Golden Dawn is led by other "Astral Masters," one of which has been identified as the archangel Raphael.

This idea of "Astral Masters" was taken from Helena Blavatsky's theosophy and was introduced both into the Cromlech temple and into the Stella Matutina. Dion Fortune later incorporated this idea into her Inner Light school. 

Numerous G.D. leaders have spoken out on the dangers and abuses of this "Astral Masters" idea.

Nick Farrell, for example, wrote here:

"I have belonged to groups where the secret chiefs (or contacts) were used as a weapon of control over students. The reason you can't have this grade is because [insert secret chief's name] said so. You can get away with any atrocity because the responsibility for any decision is outsourced to an Invisible Friend."

and here:

"There is a lot that Francis King will have to answer for in the afterlife... astral masters and Steiner within the Stella Matutina is one of them."

Pat Zalewksi replied to Nick Farrell here:

"Hi Nick

I tend to agree. When you chase astral masters you have stepped over the boundary of esoteric knowledge in theology. When it becomes theology you end up in a cult like concept and reason goes out the window."

I have also spoken out against the dangers of the notion of "Astral Masters" as Secret Chiefs for years.

For example, here, where I wrote:

"Unlike today's New Age community, the Golden Dawn, from its very inception in 1888, always has been very clear in its condemnation of these kind of practices [channeling] as potentially dangerous for the human spirit. The Golden Dawn tradition has always scorned passive mediumship and idealized active seership as the only true alternative for a Magician. For example, the original application form of the Golden Dawn in 1888 illustrates this point quite clearly: 

'The Chiefs of the Order do not care to accept as Candidates any persons accustomed to submit themselves as Mediums to the Experiments of Hypnotism, Mesmerism, or Spiritualism; or who habitually allow themselves to fall into a completely Passive condition of Will; also they disapprove of the methods made use of as a rule in such Experiments.' 

The original Neophyte Obligation from 1888 underscores this condemnation of "passive mediumship" or "channelling" even more: 

'I will not suffer myself to be hypnotized, or mesmerized, nor will I place myself in such a passive state that any uninitiated person, power, or being may cause me to lose control of my thoughts, words or actions.'

Thus we see that, contrary to certain claims, putting oneself into a state of mediumistic receptivity, as in the case of New Age "channeling", not only runs contrary to all traditional Golden Dawn teachings, but is even an outright breech of obligation for traditional Golden Dawn initiates."

Pat Zalewksi has echoed my own conclusions about this on numerous occasions. 

For example here, Pat wrote:

"If you want to go to spiritualist or a channeler then that is different from the GD."

Clearly, the conclusions of both Zalewski and Farrell, based on many years of independent research, support my own conclusions in the matter of channeling "Astral Masters," whether "Sun Masters" of the Stella Matutina, the Cromlech Temple, or even in the guise of the "Archangel Rafael."

Let us examine what leaders in the Golden Dawn community have said in particular about the "Astral Sun Masters" of Cromlech Temple's Sun Order as any sort of Astral Secret Chiefs of the Golden Dawn's Third Order.

Pat Zalewksi wrote here:

"If the Cromlech temple is the 3rd Order then Jack Taylor was a member of it. This is the sort of nonsense that comes up when you talk of lineage."

and here:

"I get some dribble about Sun masters (who vanished in 1919 never to return)... Next time I hear about Sun Master I will say get a life and stop being out of date."

and here:

"My own thought is that the communication with the Sun Masters was the prize more than the material. A slippery slope."

The conclusions of Pat Zalewski, based on his independent research, again fully support my own. The Golden Dawn certainly does not need another "Astral Master" cult. We are all too familiar with the sort of abuses of power mentioned by Nick Farrell above.

In the past, the whole channeling of Astral Masters to justify the power of dubious Golden Dawn leaders has led to some pretty serious abuses of power, including one documented case of sexual exploitation. I have by no means been alone in speaking out against this danger.

Pat Zalewksi, for example, wrote here:

"The GD does have some very strong spiritual components as part of its makeup and is does not need channellers waiting for people to obey them ... What we do not need is a another cult with ...[astral masters] ruling it for sexual gratification there has been more than once instance of that already."

Another problem alluded to by Nick Farrell above, is that no one can verify the proclamations made by Golden Dawn leaders channeling "Astral Masters," so leaders can basically justify anything they want by telling their members that the spirits told them to do things that way.

Pat Zalewski addressed this problem here:

"Then you have people running orders that are in direct contact with astral beings such as astral masters. That makes the chiefs word almost omnipotent. You can't argue with invisible entities who give instructions. Usually this will come out in sexual exploitation. That's the potential Waco and Jones syndrome."

Another problem is, as both Pat Zalewski and I have pointed out many times in the past, that channeled "Astral Masters" never seem to really produce any substantial new teachings, as is attested to by entire bookshelves of delusional channeled material in New Age bookstores.

Pat Zalewksi wrote here:

"As far as I am aware MOST of these astral masters give very little in concrete results and just dish out a pep talks on how they should live their lives."

and here:

"At any rate this is my view of it. If you claim this astral contact beyond the 3rd Order then you better produce material that matches it, which should not be lofty statements but clear cut levels of teaching." 

In all of this, the central problem is that the GD is a SYSTEM of magical PRACTICES rather than a “revealed” religion. I recently wrote about this here. The debate over channeled spirits of any kind directing a Golden Dawn order is irrelevant. While a particular magician may, in time, learn to communicate with such spirits, they are not the controlling force or curriculum development team for the Golden Dawn. 

While certain religions of the past and present claim to be guided by revelations from God, the gods, or from angels and spirits, the Golden Dawn makes no such claim and does not require such “authority.” 

Like any university, the Golden Dawn is a SYSTEM of magic compiled through research and documented within a curriculum which is intended to allow others to achieve the same level of spiritual growth as its founders and top “professors.” 

The GD SYSTEM is not the only Path or method; it is ONE Path, ONE method for such attainment. While someone could find their way on their own, it would take a lot longer and potentially waste an entire incarnation.

Pagan author and Alexandrian Wiccan Elder,, Frater Barrabbas recently wrote here:

"Being a trail blazer makes such an individual something of a hero, but there is also a high cost to electing such a path, and that, in all fairness, also needs to be covered ... If you add up all the of years it took me to develop a powerful and generalized system of magick that was useful to more individuals than myself, the final total is something in the area of 20 years... 

I spent many years reinventing the wheel. I had no choice because there wasn’t any Golden Dawn order for me to join, and there weren’t any published books (like David Griffin’s “Ritual Magic Manual”) that showed in detail how to perform magic using the Golden Dawn system. 

Considering that it takes only four years or so for someone to master the Golden Dawn system and undergo the rigorous curriculum and receive mentoring and guidance from experienced adepts, I believe that to be a much better way of mastering the western system of magick. Compare four years to approximately 15 to 20 years and you will easily see that there’s really no comparison at all. 

If I were starting out today, I would join the Golden Dawn and get my foundational knowledge fully established, and then once that was completed, I would be able to experiment with completely new forms. I would have the same competence and expertise that I have now, yet without having used up two decades of my life in getting there."

God, the gods, angels, spirits, and all the rest are accessible to all if one is duly prepared. These “spirits” are not interested in any one Order or Path. They reveal themselves to whoever is prepared. 

A primary focus of any magical Order, and therefore also the AO, is to PREPARE the seeker to make contact with their higher self and beyond. 

The GD is a SCHOOL, not a religion guided by spirits of any kind. 

The moment someone forgets this reality, they become spiritual tyrants, elitists, and prophets. The history of the GD, like any spiritual movement, is littered with delusional aspirants who spoke to some spirit and lost their way.

I have found it amusing when in the past certain others have accused me of trying to set myself up as some sort of Joseph Smith of the Golden Dawn. 

This is rather humorous considering that I have spoken out all along against G.D. leaders channeling "Astral Masters" as Secret Chiefs.

The Golden Dawn did not just fall out of the sky, however. It is firmly rooted in the older Hermetic and Rosicrucian traditions. The Alpha Omega does not live in a spiritual vacuum either. We are well aware that the Golden Dawn is not the first Hermetic or Rosicrucian order in history. 

Today's A.O. is the outer manifestation of a Rosicrucian and Hermetic initiatic center pre-dating the Golden Dawn, which still remains occulted in Continental Europe. From this source, the A.O. has received substantial initiation rituals, spiritual practices, and teachings for the higher grades of the A.O. that go far beyond the Adeptus Minor material published by Regardie. We are already making some of this material available to our own students and sharing it with other groups in our community.

I presently serve as intermediary for this Internal Rosicrucian College and its Hermetic Master Magicians and Alchemists. These are real people representing a real order, however, and not any sort of "Astral Masters." 

These Hermetic Master Magicians and Alchemists are indeed "Secret Chiefs" of the Alpha Omega's Third Order, in so far as they provide advanced spiritual technology and choose to remain shrouded in secrecy. 

They are not any sort of prophets, disincarnate entities, or anything like that, however. They are but the guardians of advanced oath-bound spiritual technology from the Hermetic and Rosicrucian traditions pre-dating the Golden Dawn.

The fact that I serve as a translator and gatekeeper to make this spiritual technology available to the Golden Dawn community, does not make me any sort of "Joseph Smith," however, any more than making data and tech available makes any computer programmer a prophet either.

All that really matters is the availability of the tech, not the individual.

One essential difference between other leaders in today's Golden Dawn community and me is that I have superiors in the order that I report to. 

If I do not do my job correctly, or if anyone on the Alpha Omega does something seriously damaging to the perpetuation of the tradition, I will be removed from my position and someone else put in my place. 

I am completely responsible for those beneath me in the order, which is a principle enshrined in the traditional oath of the Chief Adept in the G.D. I am also completely replaceable. Were I to die tomorrow, someone else would take over my job.

I receive instructions but am not acting as Joseph Smith on anyone's behalf. I learn from from my teachers in Europe. I integrate advanced spiritual practices into the A.O. curriculum to make this tech available to A.O. students and to other groups in the Golden Dawn community who have already chosen to share this tech with us.

Translating spiritual technology, as well my experiences and research so that A.O. students can benefit from it, is “science,” while receiving dogma because I am special in a way none of you can hope for is something completely different.

I know for a fact that there are people ahead of me in terms of spiritual capacity in this life. None of these are “special” in that they are “chosen” in a way that no other person can expect to attain in some lifetime (e.g., Joseph Smith).

Magicians are really no different than athletes. Some athletes are just better and no amount of training (in this life) will allow the average man to equate their achievements. After hard training and experience, an athlete can share methods of training that he found effective and warn us mortals about what doesn’t work (at least for most people).

Someone like Joseph Smith may indeed talk to angels (or be nuts) but lose their way when they think they are "the chosen one" and no other incarnation of human being can achieve the same level of contact. That person then gets a Messianic complex and dooms a generation of followers. They begin telling us what we need to know and not how to practice to achieve similar attainment. This moves us from a practice to a religion.

The Golden Dawn is not a religion and should not become one either. What the Golden Dawn community needs is more good leaders willing to step up to the plate, so we can make traditional initiation available to more people. We do not need prophets.

Even Moses didn’t pretend to be special. He said “God told me this, do these things and ask him yourself.” Oi-vay! Prophets are handy but teachers are more important.

Too many times Golden Dawn leaders have veered into the common trap of being “special” and that people need them as intermediary to higher contact. You do not need any intermediary. You, or any other like you, can become a leader in the Golden Dawn if you only make the effort.

Even my job will one day be fulfilled by my successor. I certainly do not envy her or him either. It is a difficult job with little tangible reward.

The Golden Dawn does not need prophets, but more good leaders. And what matters most about the G.D. is not its leaders either. What really matters are its methods and its spiritual practices and that we make these available to a wide group of qualified aspirants, so they can become Magicians as quickly and easily as possible.

The Golden Dawn SYSTEM is not the only Path or method; it is ONE Path, ONE method for such attainment. While someone could find their way on their own, it would take a lot longer and potentially waste an entire incarnation.

The Golden Dawn a SCHOOL, a SYSTEM, a set of METHODS, that can be taught and learned. There are numerous orders today trying to make this available. 

The Alpha Omega is one such G.D. order. I am not saying we are "better" than any other order, but we DO things differently - and you can do them too.

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

Think Different.

Alpha Omega

Because we make Magicians!

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Alchemy and Golden Dawn Ritual - The Inner Planes

by Golden Dawn Imperator

David Griffin

Recent weeks have seen some highly interesting discussion over on the International Golden Dawn Yahoo Forum, which you can visit here. One relatively new practitioner of Golden Dawn Magic posed the question whether or not Astral Projection is dangerous. One reply led to the below post, which I find important enough to cross-post here on the Golden Dawn Blog.

Popi Oso wrote:

"Greetings Fraters and Sorors.

Reading these posts has been interesting, watching the way peoples thinking and discussing things change over time.

Astral projection is not dangerous. You cannot get lost. You cannot die. There is no such thing as an entity able to overcome the will of your HGA and eliminate your connection with it or life. "Astral nasties" - love that term btb - are nothing more than insects in the food chain of beings, and only live in the lowest levels of the astrals, usually below even the navel center, though a few manage to hook onto human sexuality as feeding sources. They are like leeches. The function of the LBRP is to put a match to them and remove your own lower harmonics of which they resonate with and thus are drawn towards and use as feeding ports.

We live in a world filled with petty people playing silly dramas and generating thought forms with little concern or awareness as to the consequences of the creation of them.

As members of a portion of society focused on development of awareness beyond primal survival, simple sexual gratification and herd instinct , and power over others ( even though many newbies will say that they do wish for power over others - the path is self correcting and as power is gained, the inclination to abuse others falls away due to increasing congress with the laws of cause and effect and power being in direct ration to ones willingness and ability to serve the overall evolutionary process. ) In any case, we become the vanguard of awareness within the body of which we are an integral aspect, humanity. At the heart, we experience a threshold shift and become attuned to greater and more subtle element of life.

These begin as minor shifts, learning how to fly, see auras, attune the body to extended harmonics of awareness, learn assorted given language of symbolisms and create patterns of energy flow within our own eggs which as Kundalini is aroused creates change. Shaktipat, Kriyas, sounds, colors, synesthesia of senses, all are normal and harmelss aspects of altering your body energies into extende ranges of awareness.

The function of the classes and materials as found here are to give pattern to energies which will create changes in your awareness. A symphony only occurs when there is harmony with the assorted wavelengths of sound produced. While it is possible to learn more than one song at a time, serious students do not usually study fifteen differing types of music at the same time, the learn the basics of one style and expand into more, or become masters of one style. As with music, so also with these modulations of energy which we discuss. Delve intently into one, and figure out its tone and range, then extend your studies into others as inclination and interest takes you. But Dive in headfirst, and commit. Dabblers get trivialized and discarded by the body as a whole, because lack of commitment means lack of ability and focus. You will not be capable of expanding into a presence able to hold earth in your hands, if your dancing about like a monkey excited at seeing a cat.

Egregores are an interesting aspect of a space where energy work has been done. With commitment to being a bodhisattvha of earth, freedom to enter into the circle of any group with humans development as a goal becomes possible and easy. I personally don't particularly enjoy the harmonics of most christian protestant groups, because they limit the range of acceptable frequencies into constraints I find onerously limiting. No aura seeing/work, no mental body manipulations, no higher planer work, and give glory to their god for everything rather than risk being noticed for hubris. Bah Humbug, Thor isn't apt to shake the hand of a meek and humble sheep. He'd kill a wolf threatening his mutton, but he sure the hell wouldn't want his followers to Be mutton. In any case, others, such as Eastern Orthodox, Two-by Twos, Original Quakers, whilst using a specific language of the things I mentioned couched in other terms, at least are open to the skill sets involved. thus, entry to not restricted and the egregores do not exclude or make one uncomfortable after you have mastered some basic skill sets for energy manipulation. As a witch says, the key to every door is perfect love and perfect trust. Love under will, as another has been quoted many times.

Bottom line is no, astral projection is not dangerous and its educational and interesting and usually limited to this plane, which is literally, elementary school. What else would you call a place where one learns what the elements of life are and how to bring your own into harmony with yourself? When you make enough progress and begin to climb your way towards eagle peak or above the clouds that fog the minds of humanity and blind them like a warm blanket does... but provides necessary protection whilst the young shoots are developing... when you make it above the clouds, the law is clear that a hermit with a lantern will appear to point you a bit farther on the Path. But you have to learn the disciplines and skills necessary to first find the path, A path, and make some progress within the structure of it, enough to clear away some of the damn sleepers foggy limitations of awareness and get your ass up tall enough to get noticed. Nobody is going to pick you up. Nobody is going to rescue you from your self created nightmares. Nobody is going to beat you down either though.nor will you get gobbled up by some egregious starveling monster of depravity...though your quite capable of creating something nasty enough to hurt you... till you wise up and stop feeding the damned thing.Learn the elements, learn some language skills, learn some energy flows, and above all, focus on having an interesting and enjoyable learning experience, because you will exactly and immutable create exactly what you expect, so learn to manipulate your expectations, its the highest art of the highest sort. It (and it alone) determines what you allow into your reality. (need I find the twenty different quotes which say this in assorted ways?)

But keep in mind one other fact in your Learning to be a Good Observer (Technician, Ambassador and Speaker)- you must first master your own heart. You need to walk the hall of mirrors and see the faces of your won history from the beginning. You have to learn the step up after that of the assorted "-mancies", you have to pass the threshold of historical mystery schools and the secrets they hold dear, and learn to speak from silence in the heart, not knowing what words will come next as you give that truth of an oracle. then you will come to the Commons, that place the threshold of personae ends and only souls continue. You can only step into the clear blue after self mastery in the heart. this in no way is a rejection of you personally, its simply that initiation occurs when someone standing in the light invites you to join them, and as far as I know, it always takes three souls to open the portal.

I could be wrong, i have been, and told so a few times. But, come onto the Path, step up and be counted as a true Seeker and soul ready to uplift humanity as a whole and individual souls as you meet them. I was taught that the Path consists of the members you meet along its ways. 40 years of meeting souls has done nothing to counter that premis. The secrets are an open book found in your own library of your heart above the clouds.  Learn to ask and read, No librarian has ever misled a seeker, and no seeker has ever failed to find soul if they persist."

Love and light

- Popi Oso 

The above post by Popi Oso I find astonishingly accurate according to my own spiritual experience as an Adept, even though Popi uses symbols and terms other than I would have chosen, which is why I have cross-posted it here.

There are a few things I feel that do need adding, however, according to my lived spiritual experience in the higher grades of the Alpha Omega.

The LOWER ASTRAL PLANE is the realm of illusion, which is its greatest danger. This is attested to by entire shelves of useless and delusional channeled material in New Age bookstores.

This is why, in the Golden Dawn, we teach the visionary method of Skrying in the Spirit Vision TOGETHER with safeguards and methods of testing visions.

If we are to conquer immortality with the realization of a Solar Body, however, visionary experience in the Lower Astral Plane is not enough. This is why in the higher grades of the A.O. we teach the true method of Astral Projection for visionary experience in the Higher Astral Plane.

90% of what people imagine as Astral Projection is mere illusion. To explain this, I must demystify these concepts by clarifying their true nature.

The Lower Astral Plane is the realm of visionary experience which one may reach while in a WAKING state of consciousness. Skrying in the Spirit Vision operates on this plane.

The Higher Astral Plane, however, is in reality, the world of DREAMS.

This is why, in the Alpha Omega, the so-called "astral body" we also call the LUNAR BODY, because this body is the vehicle Major Adepts use to travel in the dark and shadowy realm of dreams (ruled by the Moon). This sojourn is also the true meaning of the Nigredo of in Hermetic Alchemy.

TRUE Astral Projection, consequently occurs EXCLUSIVELY in the world of dreams. Any "astral projection" in a waking state is just another delusion of the Lower Astral.

At the successful conclusion of the Nigredo, the alchemist reaches the Albedo - awakening in a magnificent, luminous dream realm, which is the Higher Astral.

It is here, in the luminous Albedo world of the Higher Astral - here and ONLY here - where true Astral Projection may occur for the Magician or Alchemist who has fully cultivated his or her LUNAR BODY.

The transition from the NIGREDO to the ALBEDO in Hermetic alchemy comes with the alchemical first SEPARATION (Separatio).

The true meaning of this involves the separation of the LUNAR BODY (Volatile Mercury, Ruach for the Qabalists) from the PHYSICAL BODY (Caput Mortem, Nephesch for the Qabalists).

TRUE Astral Projection can not be achieved without having reached this first ALCHEMICAL SEPARATION, fully awakening in the luminous (Albedo) world of dreams.

This - and ONLY this - is TRUE Astral Projection.

Thus true Astral Projection is not easily attainable, and most who think they have achieved it are merely deluding themselves.

Even in the Golden Dawn, most Second Order grades remain but virtual and titular, as even most advanced Adepts have not yet transcended the Nigredo with the separation of the Lunar from the Physical Body to fully awaken into luminous, Albedo consciousness of the Higher Astral dream state.

And these advanced states of consciousness are but PREREQUISITES for true Astral Projection!

Again, most people who believe they have already achieved this are merely deluding themselves. Albedo consciousness on the Higher Astral requires a FULLY DEVELOPED LUNAR BODY - and this alone requires years of arduous magical or alchemical practice.

In the Golden Dawn Magical System, the Lunar Body is strengthened using the Rite of the Middle Pillar, and the cosmic Forces are awakened using Elemental, Planetary, and Zodiacal invocation. A disciplined regimen of this Magic can indeed lead to the Albedo - with enough persistence and discipline.

I must also add that Astral Projection is not the goal of the cultivation of the Lunar Body. It is merely one confirmatory sign that the Magic or the Alchemy is working and the Lunar Body is being properly cultivated.

I am glad to help to demystify these things. What remains occulted in the higher grades of the Alpha Omega are the OPERATIVE secrets, the actual advanced magical and alchemical techniques used to safely accelerate these processes.

Thus the true meaning of the transmutation of LEAD into GOLD: is correctly understood as the liberation of consciousness from its prison in matter (the PHYSICAL BODY - lead) - and its transmutation into gold: (a Solar body with the luminous consciousness of immortality inside light).

What can you expect to find in the Second and Third Order curriculum of the Rosicrucian Order of Alpha Omega?

You will find the actual Hermetic and Rosicrucian Alchemical and Magical TECHNIQUES to accomplish this (lead into gold) transmutation of consciousness quickly, easily, and without danger. 

This is the Hermetic Science of Immortality and it is the greatest treasure of the entire Western esoteric tradition.

Any initiatic explanation of Alchemy and the Golden Dawn, must of necessity clarify the relationship between Golden Dawn Alchemy and Magic and the Inner Planes, and show the importance of the actual advanced techniques of higher Golden Dawn grades beyond the Regardie material.

Any treatment of Alchemy and the Golden Dawn that does not fully include and illuminate these things has no real initiatic value - and amounts to little more than smoke and mirrors or the blind leading the blind.

The Golden Dawn, after all, is an OPERATIVE tradition, and its grades carry with them very specific states of spiritual awareness and techniques to achieve them. Otherwise obtained grades, no matter how lofty, remain merely titular and virtual.

David Griffin

FRATERNAL DEBATE: "What is the difference between Traditional Golden Dawn and Reconstructionism?"

by Sincerus Renatus

Golden Dawn Reconstructionist, Pat Zalewski, recently wrote:

"I was having a chat today with another GD'er on the Inner Order teachings of some temples which brought up some interesting viewpoints. discussion we talked about the two methods of obtaining GD teachings which essentially is from your own efforts and experience in the GD or bringing in some other orders material en block. It simply depends on the development of the temple or people concerned. If you follow the Mathers pattern of the subgrades (also Portal and 5=6)the elemental rituals then it is unlikely that newer material would explain these ritual levels, especially godforms, diagrams and movement patterns etc.

"However the GD was develop to allow for a growth patterns within the adepts to have the ability to create this material and keep creating it as more inner order members go through the system and add their own input. Now C. has done this, Open Source has done this, Nick has done this and my guys have done this along with many other GD temples. That is the true beauty of the orders teachings in allowing you to create this from 5=6 and up. Its allows different temples to explore different areas. All you have to do is think back 30 years ago in the GD when 5=6 was considered the ultimate and Regardie's books the pinnacle of GD development. With technology being what it is now and the what is likely over the next 30 years much of the material we are doing in individual temples will be leaked to other groups and there will most likely an amalgamation of sorts.

"Now when you bring in other material en block then all of this growth and development that you wish to experience will be bypassed- unless this new material looks at the subgrades from the GD ritual viewpoint and follows the frame work of each level explaining the ritual of previous levels.

"I sincerely wish all those GD temples out there the best of luck and activelyencourage them to start writing their own material for the sub grades and up, including their own rituals above the 5=6."

Golden Dawn Traditionalist, Sincerus Renatus, replied:

These are typical talking points of Pat Zalewski, that the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and its parent order, the Rosicrucian Order of Alpha Omega somehow use "other Orders'" materials. In reality, our order's advanced teachings area not more "other" than the 2nd Order is to the 1st Order. I know for a fact that the new teachings explain external theurgical formula using internal formulas; there is a direct connection and lineage. Thus what the 3rd Order of the A.O. teaches is the crowning of the so-called "Golden Dawn system of Magic" as published by Regardie, et al.

Pat Zalewski is gravely mistaken if he thinks that it is possible to extract higher teachings which will work magically and alchemically from what may be gathered from the published 1st and 2nd Order material. Some may be extracted for sure but the effects on the inititate is marginal from a pure magical / alchemical / energetic level.

There exist 3rd Order formulae from which the 2nd Order formulae derived. The only possible way to receive these teachings is to become inititate into them. This requires a 3rd Order initiate, or what is commonly referred to as a "secret chief". This is the traditional way, and this is the ONLY possible way as well. Any other ways are but "reconstructed" and leads to a dead end, or a pure intellectual exercise, which has no actual significance in the Great Work of transmutation of Man.

Moina Mathers' Alchemical Painting: GD Traditionalists & Reconstructionists

by David Griffin

There has been a great deal of conflict in the Golden Dawn community because the Reconstructionist faction will not allow Traditionalist Golden Dawn orders to function in peace. The way that McDonalds corporation put thousands of independent hamburger restaurants out of business by imposing corporate domination of the industry, Golden Dawn Reconstructionists have attempted likewise to destroy traditional Golden Dawn orders, like the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (HOGD) and our parent order, the Rosicrucian Order of Alpha Omega (AO). This has led to the term "McGoldenDawn" to describe the extreme aggression of the reconstructionist faction in the Golden Dawn community.

They have defamed us on the internet for nearly two decades. They have published our initiation rituals. They have even attempted to demonize our order by rewriting our history. It turns out that this entire Witch Hunt has been manipulated from behind the scenes by the SRIA, a shadowy, anti-Semetic, anti-Muslim, and anti-Pagan organization based in England, with tentacles stretching across the world, including throughout the aggressive Reconstructionist faction of the Golden Dawn community. 

The SRIA has stirred strife in the Golden Dawn community for at least two decades, not infrequently by providing documents to Golden Dawn Reconstructionists to profane through publication, in order to promote their groups. A primary culprit in this profanation of documents has been R.A. Gilbert, who has trafficked in Golden Dawn documents for decades.

The following, an alchemical illustration painted by Moina Mathers, will serve nicely to contrast the difference between the Reconstructionist and the Traditionalist approaches to the Golden Dawn. Comments published by GD Reconstructionists Pat Zalewski and Olen Rush about this illustration will make this distinction clear, contrasted with comments that I will make below.

Sunday April 22, 2012 Pat Zalewski wrote about this illustration:

"One of the most important GD diagrams that to the best of my knowledge has only been published in R A Gilbert's GD Scrapbook (which is online), is the diagram of the winged dragon eating the tail of the unwinged dragon. Olen Rush goes into this as well. This is a diagram influenced by Kirchweger's edition of Homer's Golden Chain. You can also see this in Alchemy and mysticism by Roob, page 404.

Flamel also discussed this principle in his Chymische Werke. The use of the hexagram within the the two dragons by Moina was possibly due to it being similar to, though not identical with the the symbol of the Theosophical society. The text underneath the symbol of Moina is a paraphrase of Kirchweger.

If you go to Roob's book and study the Kirchweger plate, then look at the one on the next page you have the winged and unwinged dragons locked together within a zodiac, which is taken from a Ripley Scroll and is the pictorial basis for the Convoluted Forces paper. From what I can gather the Convoluted Forces diagrams appears to be a mixture of Theosophical, Kirchweger and Ripley. The diagrams are one thing and the text is another, and Agrippa's influence comes in there as well.These are then fused together within a GD frame of reference."

Pat Zalewski

On Sunday, May 30, 2010, Olen Rush wrote:

"Moina's translation/interpretation recovered to the best ability of my squinty old eyes.

This is the wording of the Golden Dawn version of the Figur Abyssi Duplicatae diagram as presented in the previous post. This is the work of Moina Mathers... quite interesting really. Obviously, it is a direct work from the Kirchweger text. Her extrapolation of the Elements to the smaller triangular forms (6 small triangles of the periphery) of the Hexagram differ from the partial diagram I worked with. It had the two furthest right (smaller) triangles of the Hexagram labled with "Terra" for the inferior triangle, and "Vegetabalia" for the Superior Triangle. Comparing to a number of GuRC diagrams... I utilized "Vegtabalia", "Animalia", and "Elementa" on the angles of one (larger) triangle... for the other (larger) triangle I used "Terra", "Siderea", and "Elementa".

In the transcription below, the elements listed in brackets such as: [fire] replace the elemental symbols of Moina's text.  

'Whenever the Dragon meets an enemy, they fight.

The Volatile must become fixed, vapour and [water]

must become [earth]. [Fire] must become corporeal,

so life can enter the [earth]. The superior must become 

inferior, and vice versa. The fixed becomes volatile.

The [earth] becomes [water], vapour, [air], and [fire],

whilst [fire] returns to the center of the [earth]. Heaven, 

i.e. [fire] must be converted into a first [earth]. The 

Dragon with wings kills the Dragon without wings,

or the latter destroys the former. Thus is manifested 

the Quintessence and its powers." 

Olen Rush

Let us not examine what we do and do not learn about this alchemical painting from Mr. Zalewksi and Mr. Rush. We learn that the drawing was published in "The Golden Dawn Scrapbook" by SRIA agent, R.A. Gilbert, that it appears influenced by Kirchweger's Golden Chain of Homer, that the diagram is called Figur Abyssi Duplicatae, and that Flamel discussed it in his Chemische Werke.

We also encounter, however, some highly speculative data that I believe is also quite erroneous, for example, that the whole is somehow related to Agrippa and that Moina Mathers included the hexagram due to its similarity with the symbol of the Theosophical Society. We also encounter the  completely unsupported speculation that the Convoluted Forces paper of the Golden Dawn is taken from a Ripley Scroll and appears to be a mixture of Kirchweger, Ripley and Theosophy.

This entire approach, including the rather fantastic and highly erroneous speculations, poignantly demonstrate what is wrong with the entire Reconstructionist approach to the Golden Dawn. Through the academic approach of the Golden Dawn Reconstructionists, we do learn some interesting background information, but we also encounter bottomless sacks of red herrings due to rampant and unwarranted speculation, often easily confused with real data.

Completely absent from the analysis of both Mr. Zalewksi and Mr. Rush is why Moina Mathers painted this particular alchemical illustration, and what relevance to or importance it has in the Golden Dawn TRADITION. The Golden Dawn is, after all, a SPIRITUAL TRADITION. One may safely assume therefore, that this illustration has a spiritual significance.

Here we enter the realm of TRADITIONAL Golden Dawn orders like the Rosicrucian Order of Alpha Omega. We Golden Dawn Traditionalists do not need to try to reinvent the wheel, nor do we need to attempt to figure out what things mean based on idle speculation. Since we are initiated into the Hermetic and Rosicrucian mysteries, we are taught the original, spiritual meaning and use of each and every aspect of the Golden Dawn tradition.

As a matter of fact, in the case of this alchemical painting by Moina Mathers, we are in the presence of a symbolical depiction of one of the most important SPIRITUAL PRACTICES of the THIRD ORDER of the Golden Dawn. As Traditionalists, we look at the symbols of the Golden Dawn not to provide historical data or to engage in personal speculation, but rather to better understand how to carry out specific spiritual practices.

I must at this point remind readers that all of the spiritual practices of everything in the traditional Golden Dawn above Adeptus Minor (5=6) remains secret, oath bound material. I am therefore not permitted to divulge the actual details of the spiritual practice of the Golden Dawn's Third Order that this particular alchemical image actually represents. 

I can, however, shed light on its real meaning using the "language of the birds", as Hermetic sages have always done, lifting the veil so that the light beyond may be witnessed, but without ripping the veil away from the door to the inner sanctuary. Thus, while withholding the specific nature and details of the Third Order spiritual practice in question, I may nonetheless shed light on the true meaning of certain of the relevant symbols. 

The two dragons, one winged and the other not, represent the two natures, Sulphur and Mercury, which united together create the Salt. Note also that the two dragons are circulating together, in a counter-clockwise, or widdershins direction. Thus they do not follow the path of the Sun, but follow instead the path of the Zodiac. (Thus Zalewski got this one association right.)

The planets represent the elements to be used in the practice and the timing for the work. The triangles are double because each nature is always double. The central circle represents the philosophical egg, also relevant for this particular practice. This circle also represents the Salt when the two natures are in conjunction.

The hexagram, contrary to Mr. Zalewski's irrelevant speculation, has nothing to do with the Theosophical Society, but it does indeed have an extremely important and profound meaning. The hexagram reveals the mystery of the septenary and refers to the true and proper practice to be performed. Note particularly how the upward pointing triangle is yellow where usually one finds red in most alchemical drawings. This is highly significant, as it represents a very important detail in practice, which must be always considered in this particular spiritual practice.

Finally, I add that this particular Golden Dawn practice of our Third Order may also be ritualised in the Vault of the Adepti as well.

Let he who has an ear, hear. Let he who has an eye, see. For the Sons of Hermes speak the truth and plainly for one with ears and eyes.

Thus we see clearly the true reason that Golden Dawn Reconstructionists are so aggressive towards traditional Golden Dawn orders like the AO. The Reconstructionists remain ignorant of the actual SPIRITUAL PRACTICES hidden in all of the symbology of the Golden Dawn. Consequently, they remain lost in a labyrinth of academic research and sterile speculation.

Since the racist SRIA is trying to set itself up as a faux Third Order, stirring strife, and interfering in the Golden Dawn community for two decades, selectively releasing archival documents to GD Raeconstructionists, one would expect that the SRIA would also be able to transmit the secret SPIRITUAL PRACTICES encoded in the rites and symbols of the Golden Dawn. If the anti-Semetic SRIA is the real Third Order, let them explain to us what the SPIRITUAL PRACTICE is encoded in this painting by Moina Mathers. If the true meaning of the "0=0" was too difficult a test for them, at least they should be able to pass this one.

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and its parent order, the Rosicrucian Order of AO is today the only Golden Dawn order under the direct guidance and protection of the Secret Chiefs of the Third Order of the Golden Dawn in Continental Europe. As such, we have access to the ENTIRE curriculum and SPIRITUAL PRACTICES of all grades of all Three Orders of the Golden Dawn system.

We have already begun to share this incredible knowledge with Adepts of orders from across the Golden Dawn community. We have no problem in sharing these teachings and spiritual practices with other Golden Dawn orders. We have no interest in manipulating or controlling anyone. We are not like the SRIA. We want to see the Golden Dawn thrive as a diverse community. We ask only that aggressive Reconstructionists agree to keep traditional secrecy and respect the sanctity of oath bound material as has always been the case in the Golden Dawn, and that you live and let live, and end your misguided Witch Hunt against traditional Golden Dawn orders like the AO.

SCAM ALERT: The Golden Dawn & Historical Revisionism

Pat Zalewksi today wrote:

Let us: "Try to form our own peer reviewed panel, as due to some tripe coming out recently that masquerades as Historical research, it is needed. We have qualified, people performing that function on this forum"

Clearly the Golden Dawn community's historical revisionists are still reeling from the academic rejection of any semblance of credibility surrounding Nick Farrell's historical revisionist attack books against S.L. MacGregor Mathers and the Alpha et Omega.

So the historical revisionists are are now setting about trying to create a better illusion of objectivity and academic credibility by setting up a kangaroo court board for so-called "peer review" consisting entirely of Farrell, Zalewksi and their historical revisionist buddies.

Well ...

Considering the lies that Pat Zalewksi spread for 5 years following the death of Desmond Bourke that Zalewksi had a letter from Bourke denying any involvement with the Golden Dawn ...

And considering how this nonsense from Zalewski was exposed as a bold faced lie once Zalewksi was forced to publish the completely unrelated letter ...

How can any reasonable person put any credibility at all into the so-called "peer review" kangaroo court Zalewksi is now trying to set up?

Let us remember that this gang of historical revisionists have for years ignored every factual challenge to their revisionist agenda from anyone outside their revisionist gang, and have just kept repeating their revisionist "talking points" instead like a broken record.

Don't these guys have anything better to do?

Like maybe teach magick to their students once in a while?

Will This Never End?

Today Pat Zalewksi wrote:

"With a Secret Chief you have a belief structure and no need to learn; in some cases you even have lineage, which means you also do not have to learn and just get a piece of paper handed to you. I can think of a couple of Orders that did this plus a variant of no lineage, but a lot of SC's and no need to go beyond the published papers. Without a SC you have to learn and produce, because it is not a belief based system and it is processed based."

Today Tony DeLuce wrote:

"It typically takes the exceptionally focused and hardworking Initiate 10+ years to make it to Major Adept and when they arrive they get to perform practices with Magic Squares or begin Herb Alchemy? – both of which in my opinion have nothing to do with the Work of this Grade and could have been taken up as practices pretty much off the street."

In light of thorough, scholarly refutation of similar nonsense published over and over already by GH Frater Sincerus Renatus and me (most recently here and here) what Zalewksi and DeLuce are really up to is already so transparent that it no longer qualifies as fraternal discourse.

Let it suffice to say that, for sloppy reconstructionists in our community, the Golden Dawn Internet Feud is clearly still alive and well!

The continuing attacks on traditional Golden Dawn orders by GD reconstructionists like Zalewksi and De Luce, do raise one question though ...

Don't these guys have anything better to do than endlessly rakeing shit?

The Golden Dawn Secret Chiefs Debate

Recent years have witnessed a dramatic polarization of the various Temples and Orders of the Golden Dawn community into two entrenched camps. The basic fundamental approach to the Golden Dawn of each of these camps is so vastly different that they appear to agree on precious little.

On the one hand, there are "traditionalist" Golden Dawn orders like the August Order of the Mystic Rose and the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, which operates under the authority of the Rosicrucian Order of Alpha et Omega, and others like them. Traditionalist Golden Dawn orders understand the Golden Dawn as but one late manifestation of preceding, Hermetic and Rosicrucian traditions that continue to live until today, and hold that the Golden Dawn can only be properly understood from the greater perspective of these deeper esoteric traditions from which the Golden Dawn originally arose and continues to derive its teachings and its authority, even until today.

Traditionalist Golden Dawn orders hold fast to traditional Hermetic and Rosicrucian values and practices, which include the fundamental importance of things like initiatic secrecy and traditional initiation inside of real Golden Dawn temples, instead of New Age, astral initiation, etc.

Firmly entrenched in the other camp, are "Recontrructionist" Golden Dawn orders like Pat Zalewksi's "Order of the Golden Dawn" and Nick Farrell's "Magical Order of Aurora Aureae." These orders teach that the Golden Dawn has been a fraud from the beginning, founded using documents faked by liers, S.L. MacGregor Mathers and W. Wynn Wescott, who founded the Golden Dawn. G.D. Reconstructionist orders such as these teach as a fundamental tenet that the Golden Dawn is a dead tradition, which died when the Whare Ra temple closed its doors, and that the Golden Dawn today needs to be "reconstructed" according the the personal, ideosyncratic visions of leaders like Nick Farrell and Pat Zalewksi.

Because "Reconstructionist" Golden Dawn orders hold the fundamental belief that the Golden Dawn is a dead tradition, to be reconstructed as anyone sees fit, they feel completely comfortable with throwing out traditional elements of the Golden Dawn, like oaths of secrecy, the sanctity of oath bound material, and even traditional Golden Dawn initiation. Pat Zalewksi and Nick Farrell each have abandoned secrecy, publishing previously secret Golden Dawn material, for example. They rationalize this by considering this as mere "historical" material deriving from an essentially dead tradition.

Since the fundamental approaches to the Golden Dawn are so vastly different between the traditionalist and the reconstructionist camps in the Golden Dawn community are so diametrically opposed, it should surprise no one that there is unending philosophical disagreement between these two camps.

Clearly, the only way that there can ever be peace and harmony in the Golden Dawn community, is if the Traditionalist and Reconstructionist camps can simply agree to disagree, and allow room in the diversity of our common Golden Dawn community even for such fundamental differences.

Unfortunately, however, Golden Dawn reconstructionists appear completely unwilling to leave traditionalist Golden Dawn orders in peace. On the contrary, they attack them repeatedly, which is why Pagan author, Frater Barrabbbas, and others have characterized them as "agressive" reconstructionists. As one example, Nick Farrell, for instance, recently published the rituals of the Alpha et Omega and attacked the notion of the Secret Chiefs in an article that he wrote for an on-line journal.

Few subjects are as contentious between Golden Dawn traditionalists and Golden Dawn reconstructionists as the Secret Chiefs of the Golden Dawn's Third Order, from whom S.L. MacGregor Mathers claimed he received the material for the Golden Dawn's Rosicrucian Second Order, the R.R. et A.C. 

Golden Dawn reconstructionists, like Pat Zalewski's and Nick Farrell, claim that Mathers lied, that his Secret Chiefs are nothing more than figments of Mathers' imagination. Obviously, Zalewski and Farrell can in no way be considered to be in any way objective in this matter. How could they be, since the very existance of the Secret Chiefs negates their most fundamental theory, namely that the Golden Dawn is a dead order whose material is to be dissected as objects of historical curiosity.

To make matters worse, the Rosicrucian Order of Alpha Omega, a traditionalist Golden Dawn order asserts to have not only reestablished contact with Mather's Secret Chiefs, but has even received more Second Order material from them. Evidence for this can be viewed online here and here and here. As additional evidence, the order has also offered to share these advanced Second Order Golden Dawn teachings with qualified Adepts from all across the Golden Dawn community, and has already begun to do so!

All of the above explains why Pat Zalewksi's has published a new series of posts in recent weeks attacking Traditionalist Golden Dawn orders and the Secret Chiefs yet once again. It is noteworthy that Zalewksi really raises no new arguments and most of what he says has been refuted over and over across the Internet, for example by GH Frater Sincerus Renatus on the Gyllene Gryningen blog of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn® in Europe. These articles cah be viewed here, here, and here, nor am I the only one who has needed to defend our order against such nonsense either. They have also been refuted on numerous articles on the Golden Dawn blog, for example here.

Sadly, repeated, thorough, and consistent refutation never seems to stem the tide of disinformation from aggressive Reconstructionists. Let us therefore, yet once again, refute Mr. Zalewski’s latest arguments point by point.

Pat Zalewski

Zalewksi begins:

"Why then would the S[ecret] C[hief]’s make their presence known to the public by “adepts or disciples” of their own teachings? I’d like to know that as well, especially when the SC’s came out of the closet some months ago, went public on a certain GD blog, heralded by the writer of said blog and on an audio interview. It appears that silence is not their concern. All we got from them was wishy-washy bullshit, as one would expect.

What I am getting at is the SC’s producing papers for temples they support, not necessarily for publication.

One of the things you must expect if you follow the SC dialogue is what comes out it. I have noticed that in some temples that claim this very little is produced to back it up in the way documentation for said temples."

How has Mr. Zalewski has come to this conclusion? Has he been present in any of the Temples of the Rosicrucian Order of the Alpha et Omega? Of course not.  Or has he been privy to any of the secret documents of our Temples? No. In other words, he Zalewksi is merely pulling this out of his ... In reality, despite is pretentions, Mr. Zalewski is in no way qualified to judge anything at all relating to any higher and secret teachings of the Second and Third Orders of the A.O. 

Moreover, even though what the Secret Chiefs actually are teaching, remains "oath-bound material," it does not mean that it does not exist, merely because Pat Zalewksi is not personally privy to it. It is his own fault that he has no respect for oaths, unlike Adepts from other Golden Dawn orders that we have already shared some of the advanced Second Order material with.

Mr. Zalewski then continues:

"For example take the GD tarot. What papers have the SC written for this?

What papers have the SC given about Enochiania?

What papers have the SC given in Enochian Chess?

What papers have SC given for god forms?

What papers have The SC given for rituals?

What papers have the SC given about non material alchemy?

What papers have the SC done on the Convoluted Froces?"

Here we come to the crux of the matter. Pat Zalewksi sees the Golden Dawn as little more than a series of papers. In Pat Zalewksi's personal, reconstructioist vision of the Golden Dawn, he considers spiritual development to be basically an intellectual exercise. Mr. Zalewski’s vision of the Golden Dawn, is that of intellectual understanding - and to manufacture even more convoluted teachings. 

Traditionalist Golden Dawn orders, under the guidance of the Secret Chiefs, on the other hand, understand that the entire purpose of the Golden Dawn is:

"...to become more than human"

I will have more to say about this central point later. First, however, to add to the above I have to say something regarding Zalewksi's laundry list of “G.D. teachings”. Without going into details regarding the particulars of the teachings that have been transmitted by the Secret Chiefs and and about to be transmitted in the near future, I must ask: Why should the Third Order have to adapt itself to Mr. Zalewski’s personal vision or standards of the Golden Dawn? Who, after all, does Pat Zalewski think he is?

Clearly, Zalewksi's entire line of argument is absurd. The Third Order obviously has no need to conform to Zalewksi's personal, idiosyncratic view of the Golden Dawn. Zalewksi is welcome to take his own order in any direction he likes. This adds to the overall richness and diversity of the Golden Dawn tradition. Where problems arise is when reconstructionists like Zalewksi refuse to show the same tolerance and respect for diversity by incessantly attacking  traditionalist Golden Dawn orders and fundamental cornerstones of the Golden Dawn tradition like the Secret Chiefs of the Third Order.

Zalewski continues:

"These are all legitimate questions and should be asked. These are some of the weak spots in the original GD papers that should be filled in. Now I have done my bit in this area and claim no SC guidance and I challenge the SC’s in said temples to do better than what I did in the published area, as a mere plodder."

To be honest, with a few early exceptions, most of what has been published by Mr. Zalewski, in my opinion, has not been particularly impressive, especially not in his later works. This is strange, especially considering Zalewksi's claims to have been initiated, however irregularly, as an Adeptus Exemptus (7=4).

Some of his early writings on Golden Dawn Ritual are quite interesting, at least in parts. But there are also so many errors, and Mr. Zalewksi has been repeatedly caught misattributing his own inventions and constructions to others, like S.L. MacGregors or a "Whare Ra oral tradition."

Zalewksi continues:

"If you are a member of a temple that claims Secret Chiefs then you should have access to material that that goes way beyond what I have published, and if you don’t, then there is a problem with the SC or your chiefs."

Contrary to Pat Zalewski's misrepresentations, the teachings coming from the Third Order into the Second Order of the Alpha et Omega really do go beyond anything that Mr. Zalewski has ever published. Unlike Mr. Zalewksi's convoluted teachings, however, the teachings of the Secret Chiefs derive from actual esoteric transmissions and focus on the spiritual development of the Adept rather than on convoluted intellectual analysis.

Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa

Sadly, oaths prevent me from going into much more specific detail. One example that has already been made public as evidence of the factual existance of the higher Second Order teachings and practices, regards the Kameoth or Magical Squares of the Seven Planets, which clearly interconnects in a direct way. I previously wrote:

"Let us consider the Golden Dawn’s use of the magical squares originally published by Cornelius Agrippa in ‘Three Books on Occult Philosophy’. The Golden Dawn’s (5=6) Adeptus Minor grade does not really add much of interest to the knowledge of the magick of magical squares beyond that published by Agrippa. The mere advanced (6=5) Adeptus Major and (7=4) Adeptus Exemptus grade curriculum, however, teaches how each Adept can construct their own magical squares, as well as the deeper secrets of the squares published by Agrippa.

For example…no one in the entire esoteric community has known that the squares published by Agrippa and included in the Golden Dawn's (5=6) Adeptus Minor grade curriculum are not the real squares, but are only encrypted versions, and only the tip of the iceburg of a vast, incredible system of theurgy that unlocks untold numbers of parallel dimensions on the inner planes, ultimately culminating in union with the Divine at the center of the square, properly understood as a three dimensional cube. …no one has understood either what the “planetary seals” published by Agrippa really are, when in fact, they are keys to “unseal” the “sealed” squares in order to reveal the true, unencrypted magic squares, and to unleash the true magick and full power of the system.

Once unlocked with the proper initiatic keys, these magical squares reveal to the advanced Adept the entire, secret magical hierarchy of entities of the Golden Dawn system of magical squares, that remain safely encrypted from those who would seek cheap notoriety by publishing the secret names and sigils of the true, servient spirits of Agrippa’s squares."

This is but one example of the quality level of the newly received Second Order teachings from the Secret Chiefs. This is clearly not mere "wishy-washy bullshit" that Pat Zaewlski tries  to assert as a mere "Golden Dawn flame war" tactic. Zalewksi's comment about "wishy-washy bullshit," itself amounts to little more than a desperate and deceitful attempt to divert attention from the actual, substantial corpus of new teachings and techniques for spiritual development that have recently become available to Adepts from across the entire spectrum of the Golden Dawn community!

Zalekwsi's strategy all along has been to ignore all actually presented evidence, repeating over and over that there is "no proof" as though he were a parrot, while secretely trying to provoke traditionalists to release even more information. Another example of actually presented evidence is the recent analysis by Third Order emmisary, Frater Lux E Tenebris, which sheds major new light on the Adeptus Grades of the Second Order. Let me quote some pertinent parts concerning the true nature of the Adeptus Minor (5°=6°), Major (6°=5°) and Exemptus (7°=4°) Grades and the corresponding initiation rituals:

"The three Adept rituals of the R.R. et A.C. are but one valid albeit late manifestation of earlier Rosicrucian rites that contain the knowledge of death, the knowledge of the universe beyond, and of rebirth and regeneration. These rites, which TOGETHER contain the requisite knowledge to become a TRUE Adept, are in reality but three degrees in one.  […]

Inside of the human being who undergoes these initiations and performs these techniques, changes that occur are not merely mental, but also energetic, biological, and cellular. […]

If the mysteries of death are those of the Adeptus Minor, who sacrifices him or her-self scientifically, in order to transform into a different substance (as can be observed in any cabinet of chemistry or physics laboratory where matter is studied), then in the grade of Adeptus Major (6=5), consciousness is gained in the LITERAL sense. […]

During the 6=5 initiation of an Adeptus Major, a special magical technique is employed, which LITERALLY detaches the soul of the candidate, separating it from the physical body, so that the Adept may have the literal experience of what actually happens when you die. […]

In the tomb, in which the Major Adept is enclosed, there is all of his/her consciousness, and in the “world beyond the tomb,” the consciousness of the Adept encounters the consciousness of Nature, once the consciousness of the Adept has been detached from its physical vehicle by 6=5 rites of Magic.

Once the Adept’s consciousness has been magically detached from his or her physical body, he or she then confronts what the Adept knew or thought to be – with what is in reality, and thus can make a complete correction in the eyes of God. It is in the 6=5 grade of Adeptus Major, therefore, that contact can truly be stabilized with one’s higher Self, Divine essence, or “Angel” (and not in the 5=6, as has been popularly misunderstood for over a century). […]

Far removed from all metaphor and mysticism, the LITERAL bath of the Adept in the Upper Astral realm, where resides that which does not live on Earth, reawakens the powers slumbering within the Adept. Thus, it is upon entering the 7=4 that the keys are bestowed of how to use these awakened powers for the common good, as well as to lead the Order. This is why the power to reconstitute the Order, if necessary, has at all times in history resided with Exempt Adepts, together with the Hermetic and Rosicrucian lineages of our Order, as is also the case with the Golden Dawn.

Magical and alchemical techniques are given in this grade that carry the Adept to triumph in his or her Opus Magnum (Great Work). Far from all metaphor and mysticism, these techniques are physical, observable, and have nothing to do with mysticism, obfuscation, or the sort of smoky theological arguments about these grades that have appeared in books and on the Internet of late. […]

In this state, the Adept comes to understand the language of Nature, even to perceive and to comprehend the Universal movements of the Spheres. The Adept understands even life and death, living on the extreme peak of both. The Soul of the Adept is quiet and balanced – and nothing can shake this Soul – becoming what Agrippa called a Static Soul – a Soul tranquil, equilibrated, and no longer fluctuating.

Thus we witness the miracle of the trinity of grades of the true Rosicrucian Adept, the nature and purpose of which is totally different than what people had come to think and write of them today. Although to the outside, these initiations appear to be three grades, they are in reality but one deeply profound initiatic process, which fully develops the Soul of the Adept."

This is clearly not mere "wishy washy bullshit" as Pat Zalewksi's flame war would like you to believe. Frater Barrabbas Tiresius, a well respected Alexandrian Wiccan High-Priest has observed all of this  from the perspective of the pagan and non-Golden Dawn perspective. He recently wrote about the above on his blog, Talking About Ritual Magick:

Frater Barrabas
Alexandrian Wiccan Elder and Pagan Author

"I have been carefully studying a recent transmission from the spokesperson for the secret chiefs of the HOGD faction of the Golden Dawn, translated and edited by David Griffin for the benefit of everyone. This transmission is entitled “Traditional Initiatic Meaning of the Three Grades of the R.R. et A.C.,” and was written by Lux Et Tenebris. […] What was being transmitted was truly remarkable, and it was obviously far beyond anything else that I have read on the same subject. […]

Most of the Golden Dawn organizations seem quite unable to write about anything substantive when it comes to the degrees beyond Adeptus Minor. I would suppose that it might have something to do with the fact that the Golden Dawn material which is in the public domain only goes that far, and the various degrees and lore beyond that point have been, at least up until to now, merely suppositional. Some might say that the higher degrees of the second order (5th, 6th and 7th) are too secret and mysterious to talk about, or that those who could talk about them are oath bound and constrained to be silent. Of course, that hasn’t stopped some in the Golden Dawn community from writing and talking about nearly everything in a public forum, so I suspect that it mostly has to do with the fact that the higher degrees are essentially undiscovered country for most GD organizations.

Yet in this specially transmitted document are the definitions of the initiatic degrees of the vaunted second order of the Ruby Rose and Golden Cross, written by someone who is the gate-keeper for the third order. You should expect that such a revelation would be quite remarkable if it were indeed a communication from the secret chiefs. Such a communique would have to walk a very fine line between being revelatory, and revealing confidential and oath bound information. I have carefully read over this transmission and I have found it to be profoundly revealing and truly amazing. […]

I have shared this transmitted document with my peers, and they all agree that it is remarkable and quite amazing. I have seen nothing like it in the various Golden Dawn material that I have in my possession or have ever read about. It is deep, profound, and also, quite insightful. I found myself saying, “Of course, it was all so obvious!” at various points while I was reading it. If anything could convince me that the various claims made by David Griffin of being in contact with secret chiefs were true, this brief transmission should prove it beyond dispute."

Such is the material, which Pat Zalewksi, using feigned objectivity, would unreflectingly dismiss as "wishy-washy bullshit."

Zalewski continues:

"There is a lot of bullshit floating about re astral contacts who produce nothing. The chances are you’ll be told that the SC don’t do this type of advice. Well isn’t that convenient!"

Here again, Zalewski shows no understanding of the value of, nor respect for, oath bound material. Instead, in typical flame war style, me merely dismisses out of hand all actually presented evidence.

Zalewski continues:

"Now you can stick your head in the sand and ignore what I have said here or ask the hard questions. Mathers never finished the 5=6 degree and SC’s and today we hear that the SC’s come in and try and give advice for the 3rd order when they have not finished delivering the full 5=6? If the SC’s have not delivered the full sub grades of the 5=6 then we have to argue what good are they. It is most likely that someone is trying to pull the wool over your eyes if they have not – and go figure who."

Here Zalewksi is just pretending there is no evidence, yet once again. Zalewksi continues:

"The SC’s are like santa clause in a impoverished area. Lots of best wishes and no presents."

This last statement removes any and all doubt that what Zalewksi is really up to here is merely engaging yet once again in cheap, "flame war" propaganda. This sort of nonsense has gone on far too long in the Golden Dawn community, and it creates the false impression that the Golden Dawn is nothing but a bunch of groups that are at one another's throats all the time.

Enough is enough already.

Furthermore, Zalekwsi's reference to “Santa Claus” of course tries to instil the idea of Traditionalists as myself adhering to a belief system instead of science. Peregrin Wildoak has lately suggested something similar on his blog, comparing Traditionalist Golden Dawn with a confessional faith. Nothing can be further from the truth. 

The Secret Chiefs are sharing their wisdom right now in our modern age. It is shared to the Second Order of the Rosicrucian Order of Alpha et Omega – and as I just said, the Alpha et Omega in turn is sharing this material with worthy Adepts of any other Golden Dawn Order. This is a FACT, not a fantasy or a dogmatically held belief.

Unlike Pat Zalewski, there are many brother and sister Adepts in Golden Dawn orders across the Golden Dawn community who respect the sanctity of oath-bound material and who deserve to have access to traditional Hermetic and Rosicrucian teachings beyond the Adeptus Minor material published by Israel Regardie.

As I previously wrote on this blog, and Pat Zalewksi is well aware:

"Let it be known that the Rosicrucian Order of Alpha et Omega does not want to dominate any other order. On the contrary, we want to see the entire Golden Dawn community continue to grow in the direction that was originally intended for the Golden Dawn by the Secret Chiefs of the Third Order. We therefore have no problem with sharing the teachings of the higher grades beyond (5=6) Adeptus Minor with Inner Order Adepts from Golden Dawn orders and temples other than the AO.

Please understand, however, that we must be extremely careful about whom we share this unprofaned material with, as I am personally accountable to ensure that this material will not be profaned like the (5=6) Adeptus Minor material was by Crowley. To qualify, therefore, you must have not only been physically initiated as a (5=6) Adeptus Minor, but you must prove yourself trustworthy, be willing to swear to keep the advanced grade material secret, and you must actually keep your word as well.

Unfortunately, there are individuals in our Golden Dawn community who would stop at nothing in order to gain cheap notoriety. These individuals would publish anything they can get their hands on just for cheap fame. And by this, they prove that they are not true initiates, because initiatic secrecy has at all times been considered necessary not as a question of power, but rather as a question of sacredness. The Divine Science should never be profaned."

Zalewksi then concludes:

"So what does this third order teach that is so astounding? The answer is Alchemy. So you can skip the GD and do alchemy under the new fabricated rules. If you are already an alchemist and work the mineral world, then you can skip the order and do your own thing, so even the SC and 3rd Order can be bypassed."

Has this flame war nonsense not gone on far too long already?

Clearly, alchemy is indeed an essential aspect of both the Hermetic and the Rosicrucian traditions. Furthermore, the higher and secret initiatic transmissions regarding the Royal Art of Alchemy definitely do offer a most excellent opportunity for spiritual development.

But for Pat Zalewksi to so arrogantly belittle the entire Hermetic and Rosicrucian traditions in this manner, merely betrays his faulty understanding about the true Hermetic or Rosicrucian traditions, and anything beyond his intellectual and convoluted reconstructionist approach to the Golden Dawn.

At the end of the day, this approach to the Golden Dawn, espoused over and over by Golden Dawn reconstructionists, like Pat Zalewski and Nick Farrtell, can be nicely summed up in Zalewksi's own words, quoted directly from above:

"you can skip the order and do your own thing."

The choice has never been clearer. You can either:

"Do it yourself" with Pat Zalewksi 

or you can choose instead the

Traditional, Rosicrucian, and Hermetic Golden Dawn!