Help for Self-Initiates and Solitary Practitioners of Golden Dawn Magick

In the Alpha Omega, we are concerned about the need for face-to-face training and personal support in Ritual Magic. With our 1,000 Points of Light initiative, the A.O. inaugurated a host of new world-wide resources for Independent Practitioners and local groups of aspiring Magicians. These include:

Personal Temples: The Alpha Omega continues to encourage Self-Initiates and Solitary Practiioners to create Personal Altars and Temples. We continue to put them on the map for you here on the Golden Dawn blog, and to publish photos of independent Altars and Temples from around the world for you.

Self-Initiation: The A.O. continues to teach how the goal of Golden Dawn Initiation and Magic is to strengthen the energetic body and to awaken the Elemental, Planetary, Zodiacal, and Sephirothic Magical Forces in the "Sphere of Sensation" of aspiring Magicians. We continue to provide the techniques necessary to accomplish this on your own. 

Magical Tools: The A.O. continues to teach how traditional Golden Dawn Magical Tools are created by publishing photographs of tools of Golden Dawn Adepts, including never before seen photos of Israel Regardie's magical implements from the A.O.'s "Golden Dawn Museum." 

Ritual Magic 101 Coaching Webinars: The A.O. continues to bring solid Ritual Magic teaching and coaching to self-taught Magicians all around the world, in a continuing series of live streaming video and audio, international Webinars.

2012-2013 Golden Dawn World Tour: The Alpha Omega continues to make Ritual Magic instruction and coaching - as well as traditional Golden Dawn initiation - available in more and more countries across the globe.

Ritual Magic 101 Workshops: The Alpha Omega continues to bring magical coaching up close and personal in regular Ritual Magic 101 Workshops.

International Golden Dawn Festivals: The Alpha Omega led the way again in providing training in supplemental Magic newly released by the Secret Chiefs at the 2012 and 2013 International Golden Dawn festivals. These festivals were nonsectarian and open to members of any Golden Dawn order or temple. In this small manner, the AO continues to lead the way in transcending sectarian strife in the Golden Dawn community.

Of course, we continue to provide initiation and training for Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn initiates and members at our traditional Golden Dawn Temples. 2012 is also the 10th Anniversary of the Alpha Omega providing on-line Magic education for students at a distance in our multi-language members' websites as well.

We must face reality though. The A.O.'s beginners' level First Order, the H.O.G.D., is not only the world's most thorough school of Ritual Magic, but it is also the most demanding.

Before H.O.G.D. initiates may graduate and apply for admission to our Second Order, the Rosae Rubeae et Aureae Crucis, they must first have completely mastered everything other G.D. orders offer their most advanced Adepts.

In the R.R. et A.C., our Adepts practice post-graduate level Magic revealed by the Secret Chiefs at the International Conclave of Golden Dawn Adepti last March. The Magic of the A.O.'s Third Order, our Ph.D. level curriculum, includes, for example, Alchemical Magic and Hermetic Internal Alchemy.

Alpha Omega ...
... the Oxford of Golden Dawn Magic.

We don't hand out grades ...
We make Magicians!

But how can the Alpha Omega meet the needs of aspiring Magicians who are not yet ready for such a serious magical commitment as the H.O.G.D. involves?

Alpha Omega's "1,000 Points of Light Initiative" is an innovative program, providing support and magical training for Independent Practitioners and groups around the world.

We began by encouraging you to create a personal temple, even if it is only an altar in the beginning. We next encouraged you to share photographs of your personal altars and temples, so you may further inspire one another. We then created a map of personal temples around the world, so that Independent Practitioners can see that they are not alone.

There are, however, several important needs remaining to be fulfilled:

What about coaching and support for Independent Practitioners?

To meet this need, the A.O. has been offering Ritual Magic coaching in Webinar format. Our pilot program offered free coaching sessions in 8 languages. The first session, in English, was on Saturday, Oct. 27 2012. With this, the AO brought a valuable new resource to the entire community and paved the way for teachers from other orders to follow our lead on their own venues.

It is wonderful to witness Magic teachers from around the world, even Donald Michael Kraig, jumping on Alpha Omega's Ritual Magick Webinar bandwagon over at Llewellyn. The need for more coaching options for Self-Initiates and Solitary Practitioners of Ritual Magick is great - greater than even the Alpha Omega can meet  on its own. It is wonderful to see other teachers pick up our slack and step up to the plate as well!

What about training and coaching in person?

When it comes to Ritual Magic, there are limitations about what can be effectively taught at a distance. This is why, unlike other Golden Dawn orders, H.O.G.D. members are required prior to graduation to complete all Golden Dawn initiations, physically present with a trained Hierophant in a fully chartered, traditional Golden Dawn temple.

This still does not address the need, however, for local support and in-person training for Independent Practitioners and local groups of aspiring magicians around the world. An interesting discussion arose about this recently on the H.O.G.D. Yahoo Forum, where I was asked what the minimum requirements are to create a Golden Dawn Sanctuary. As part of my answer, I offered to come and assist local groups develop into full fledged Golden Dawn Sanctuaries.

This led to one of our readers, "Hilda," asking me:

"Wow! Is that offer for anyone who gets a group started?"

This led to brainstorming in the A.O.'s College of the Adepti about how we can better meet the need for local support and in-person training - not only for people wanting to form a local Golden Dawn Sanctuary - but also for Independent Practitioners and other aspiring Magicians around the world, still working outside of a traditional Golden Dawn order.

This led to the Alpha Omega creating yet another innovative resource as part of our 1,000 Points of Light Initiative. I am proud today to make the following announcement as part of the Alpha Omega's ongoing commitment to make Magicians:

"I am willing to visit, provide coaching, support, and face to face training in local areas all around the world - and not just for local groups - but for Self-Initiates, Independent Practitioners, and other aspiring Magicians as well ...

I am in the fortunate position that my career leaves me free to dedicate myself full time to the Golden Dawn half a year. Plans for extensive travel to teach in coming months are being fine tuned now.

Having worked as an international tour director for three full decades, I am used to an intensive travel schedule - and my wife and fellow Adept, V.H. Soror D.I.A., also has wheels for feet - so she doesn't get upset about being on the road with me for months on end.

The A.O. is exploring ways to finance necessary travel expenses to provide badly needed local support, without putting undue burden on already overextended A.O. resources. I would gladly finance travel to provide local support myself, but contrary to rumor, I am not independently wealthy.

One good way to cover travel expenses involved in providing local support for aspiring Magicians - would be to give a public lecture on Friday night, followed by a training and coaching session on Saturday. Reasonable fees for these services ought to be able to offset costs. Any local assistance or organizational support to help defer costs would, of course, be much appreciated. 

"As a matter of fact, as long as I am there, I am even willing to provide Golden Dawn initiation to qualified aspirants ...

I remain utterly committed to the Alpha Omega's mission to make Magicians ...

So committed, in fact, I am willing to travel for months on end - from city to city - and country to country - to provide the support necessary to make Magicians.

What if I am a member of a different Order ...

... but would love to discover the unique differences of the A.O.?

Real Magic transcends sectarianism!

I remain open to visit, teach, and do magic with any existing working groups that want to feel for themselves if there is a difference between doing real Magic and acting like a Magician. I will, of course, keep your confidentiality.

In Magical practice, what you do is not nearly as vital as how it’s done. If people have participated in Ritual Magic or initiation in the past but never really felt a change, they will be in for a surprise – Magic Works! It is not just great costumes and funny words.

This is an opportunity to meet me and and to discover for yourself who I really am - beyond how I am portrayed by other Orders or their representatives.

In the Alpha Omega, we make Magicians who arrive at their own conclusions based on personal experience and evaluation of results.

Sincerely,

Alpha Omega Imperator - David Griffin

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

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

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

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

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

- Frater O.B., Alvin, TX

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

- Soror FL, Atlanta, GA

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

- VH Frater K, Berlin, Germany

Frater ATLV, Houston, TX 

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

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

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

- Frater ATLV, Houston, Texas  

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

- Soror SKH, Montenegro

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

- Frater NTI, Gothenburg, Sweden 

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

- Soror LET, Melbourne, Australia

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

- Soror DSLO, Ostersund, Sweden 

C.F. Boone, New Orleans, LA

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

- Charles F. Boone, New Orleans, LA 

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

- Soror PPAS, Amsterdam, Holland

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

- Frater JR, Duola, Cameroon

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

- Frater C.F., Mexico City, Mexico 

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

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

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

- Frater IVIOL, Manchester, England

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

Alpha Omega

Because we make Magicians!

Don't miss:

Golden Dawn Website

Golden Dawn Research Center

Golden Dawn FAQ

Golden Dawn TV

Golden Dawn Radio

Magical Astrology 101: Golden Dawn Dojo!

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

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

Magical and Alchemical Astrology empower you to:

 

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

Announcing the world's first Magical and Alchemical Astrology dojo!

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

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

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

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

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

Free-will donations gratefully accepted.

Unleash YOUR Soul!

Alpha Omega

We Make Magicians!

Don't miss:

Golden Dawn Website

Golden Dawn Research Center

Golden Dawn FAQ

Golden Dawn TV

Golden Dawn Radio

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

Are Esoteric Orders Merely Relics of the Past?

by Golden Dawn Imperator

David Griffin

The Alpha Omega's 1,000 Points of Light initiative, has been bringing the differences in mission and philosophy between various leaders and orders in the esoteric community into sharp focus. Nick Farrell wrote an article called "Playing at Magic" that you can read here. This article sets forth Mr. Farrell's position on "dabblers" (Self-Initiates and Independent Practitioners of Ritual Magic).

The above article led me to clarify the Alpha Omega's position on such maters in an article called "Ritual Magic 101: Playing at Magic?" that you can read here. 

This week, Alexandrian Wiccan HP and Pagan author, Frater Barrabbas, who leads the Order of the Gnostic star, set forth his unique position here. I will be quoting extensively from Frater Barrabbas' article, as I find some of the arguments quite important.

Frater Barrabbas wrote:

"The amount of written material on the subject of magick which can be found on the internet and in books is already quite voluminous, and it is quickly growing even as I write this article. There is a vast body of information available to anyone who is either curious or who desires to engage in the magician’s avocation. The number of available temples and organizations is still quite small, and I might add, fairly exclusive.
What this means is that the probability of someone acquiring their knowledge and experience of magick by reading and experimenting is much more likely to occur, in other words, by being a dabbler. As time goes on this disparity will only continue to grow until the population of initiate members of these exclusive groups and organizations will be tiny compared to the population of self-taught and self-initiated magicians. Such a course of self-determination and directed learning even has a fancy label - it is called heutagogy.
So, it would seem that the future of ritual and ceremonial magick belongs to the masses of dabblers and dilettantes rather than to the so-called properly initiated members of occult organizations and formal traditions." 

"There are a lot of self-trained magicians out there in the world today, and in fact, most of the magicians that I know, even including those who belong to occult organizations are mostly self-taught and self-directed. This is because competent magicians have achieved their results due to their own personal efforts, discipline, experimentation and individual accomplishments. I have also met individuals who were spoon-fed and supposedly trained by some lodge or another and who were actually quite incompetent. What makes someone a good magician has a lot to do with individual initiative, inspiration, and steadfast application of a foundational discipline. There is no guarantee that a Golden Dawn or Thelemic magician will be competent just because he or she received extensive training. This is why I feel that such exclusive organizations are on the brink of being buried in a deluge of dabblers and dilettantes unless they, too, change with the times." 

"Few Golden Dawn organizations appear to be doing anything about the fact that people are acquiring first class publically available information and engaging in a certain amount of dabbling. Many seem to be condescending towards the masses of the uninitiated and act more less as entitled elitists, an attitude that will guarantee a relative future morbidity. What is needed is some kind of outreach, since the population of the self-taught far exceeds the population of the traditional initiates."

Obviously, the Alpha Omega does not share any dim view of Self-Initiates and Solitary Practitioners of Ritual Magic. There are many whom others call "dabblers" who are actually "seekers." It is to help these "seekers" that the Alpha Omega exists to begin with. It is also for these "seekers" that we have created one program after the other - to help them in their Ritual Magic practice so they may become Magicians and not just practice Magic.

We call this training and coaching for independents the "1,000 Points of Light" initiative. Here is a run-down of new A.O. programs for Self-Initiates and Solitary Practitioners.

Personal Temples: We are encouraging Self-Initiates and Solitary Practiioners of Ritual Magic to create Personal Altars and Temples. We are putting them on the map here on the Golden Dawn blog and publishing photos of independent Altars and Temples around the world.

Self-Initiation: We are teaching how the goal of Golden Dawn Initiation and Magic is to strengthen the energetic body and to awaken the Elemental, Planetary, Zodiacal, and Sephirothic Magical Forces in the "Sphere of Sensation" of the aspiring Magician, and are providing the techniques necessary to attempt this on one's own.

Magical Tools: We are teaching about how traditional Golden Dawn Magical Tools are created by publishing photographs of Israel Regardie's tools from the A.O.'s Golden Dawn Museum.

Ritual Magic 101 Webinars: Bring solid Ritual Magic teaching and coaching to self-taught Magicians all around the world.

2012 Golden Dawn World Tour: Since there are aspects of Ritual Magic that can only be taught in person, the Alpha Omega is making Ritual Magic instruction and coaching - as well as tradtional Golden Dawn initiation - available in at least 5 countries over the next year - up close and personal.

Ritual Magic 101 Workshops: lead off the Golden Dawn World Tour

Traditional Golden Dawn Initiation: both in our network of traditional Golden Dawn temples as well as part of the Golden Dawn World Tour.

Frater Barrabbas continues:

"While I applaud the outreach that some organizations are undergoing for those many thousand points of light, there must always be a place at the table for the self-made magician as well, and in fact, they will soon be far more numerous than a thousand points of light; more like a sky brightly illuminated with a myriad of stars. The best thing that can be done for these so-called dabblers (I prefer to call them experimenters) is to make more foundational lore available to them either through published materials or online articles." - Frater Barrabbas

I mostly agree with the above sentiments from Frater Barrabbas. However, not only publications are necessary. This is why we started the 1,000 Points of Light initiative.

We must also face the reality that the curriculum of the Alpha Omega's outer order, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn is the most demanding, yet thorough undergraduate level curriculum of Ritual Magic in the world today. 

Clearly, not every Solitary Practitioner is ready for the commitment it takes not only to enter the H.O.G.D., but also to graduate and go on to advanced studies in the A.O.'s Second Order, the R.R. et A.C.

My other concern about Self-Initiation is the way someone can easily portray a magician without ever really becoming one. If someone learns to portray a magician perfectly, they may trick themselves and waste a lifetime living a delusion.

I am not saying the Alpha Omega is the "only" or the "best" school of Ritual Magic. I do become concerned, however, when I read statements like one recently made by Jake Stratton Kent:

"My simple opinion is that Orders (as a genre, not any particular faction) are an outmoded organisational model for modern occultists." - Jake Stratton Kent

Judging from certain parts of Frater Barrabbas linked article, it would appear that Barrabbas shares a similar opinion. I hope I am mistaken. In any case, this is a view that has become all to prevalent in modern occultism.

Why is it that in the esoteric community so many people think that the powerful methods of Magic, Alchemy, and spiritual growth are the one area of life that requires no teacher? This is the one area where it counts the most! We are dealing with our eternal Soul. We are dealing with forces that can literally make a person insane.

I am certainly not saying that there are not any top quality self-taught Magicians around. Frater Barrabbas and Jake Stratton Kent are examples who come to mind immediately. But these are extrordinary individuals, with a level of self-discipline that is quite uncommon.

I certainly do not agree that traditionial esoteric Orders are in any way outmoded - in precisely the same way that universites have not become outmoded. Sure, self-education is possible, and sure, at times even Harvard graduates idiots, but the methods of a top University have plenty of advantages.

The same holds true for the esoteric Order and the aspiring Magician.

Let's be clear that I am not saying the Alpha Omega is "right" - or that we are somehow "better" than other Golden Dawn orders - but we DO use different training methods.

The methods the Alpha Omega uses are specifically designed to facilitate our mission of making Magicians. These methods can accelerate your spiritual and energetic growth and make YOU a magician as well - faster and easier.

I think that experimentation is great advice for advanced Magicians, like Adepts in the A.O.'s Second Order (master's level training).

Experimentation and innovation are indeed essential aspects of Magical practice for advanced, highly experienced Magicians. The “science” of magic is important - but should be done only after one has reached the doctoral stage of the Art.

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, the outer order of the Rosicrucian Order of Alpha Omega is the bachelor’s degree of Magic. Its primary purpose is to educate the aspiring magician in the required vocabulary, symbolism, and practices which are already established and proven to be effective.

The Master’s degree (Second Order level in the A.O.) is an applied approach to the science and/or art under consideration and prepares the student to do secondary research in one specific area of knowledge. The “master” is one who can take existing knowledge and apply it to new situations. Finally, the doctoral degree (Third Order level in the A.O.) is to learn the methods of primary research and obtain the skills to create new knowledge.

The Outer Order beginning student is at the bachelor stage. Undergraduates are not ready to do comparative research of sources. They don’t know enough, or have the skills required, to make informed choices.

This is why the work of a university (or Order) is required. It’s not that the undergraduate information isn’t already available and easy to find. It’s a progressive learning experience that removes the requirement of comparative research skills. 

The Order offers a controlled environment to gain this knowledge and learn these skills. An Order allows the student to focus on what to learn, when to learn it, and to have an expert proclaim – “you have learned it!”

Experienced magicians do a disservice to beginning Magicians by encouraging everyone to start at the doctoral level of personal research. Any professor that tells a student to simply buy a bunch of books, compare what they have learned, and stick with what works, is doing no favors.

Magicians who take this approach are only delaying their growth. There are reasons universities require classically trained Ph.D’s to teach. There are reasons all religions have a school for training clergy.

Before anyone can write poetry, they first must not only learn their ABCs but even the rules of grammar, consonance and alliteration, etc. Rote memorization is not as much fun as writing poetry, but it is nonetheless essential preparation for future poets.

The same holds true for future Magicians. Where the methods of the Alpha Omega differ most drastically from other Golden Dawn orders is the thoroughness of our method teaching the fundamentals of Ritual Magic from day one in the H.O.G.D. (Outer Order, undergraduate level).

Astonishingly, the Alpha Omega is the only Golden Dawn order that teaches Ritual Magic in the Outer Order at all. This makes no sense at all. Why make Golden Dawn students wait four or five years before giving them any training or supervision in Ritual Magic?

Golden Dawn students are practicing Ritual Magic anyway. Why on Earth should students be left hanging for years without any Magical training or support - while developing bad Magical habits that will have to be unlearned with great effort later? What is even the point of an Order then?

The training methods of the Alpha Omega are as different as night and day from this. In the Alpha Omega, we make Magicians - and we certainly do not expect beginners to try to figure stuff out on their own.

On the contrary, the A.O.'s First Order, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, today offers the most thorough and demanding training in Ritual Magic anywhere in the world.

I have seen the disastrous results of the "experiment for yourself" approach for aspiring Magicians over and over. Every day, students come to the Alpha Omega with bad habits so ingrained in their Magical practice, it will take months, if not years, to correct. This is why we provide thorough training, guidance, coaching and support in Ritual Magic from day one.

In the A.O., we do not advise beginners to "experiment for themselves" as though they were already advanced Magicians. In the Alpha Omega, we teach Ritual Magic with the proven teaching methods used at Universities. 

We expect our H.O.G.D. Undergraduate students to study and master the fundamentals of Magical practice precisely the way we teach them, as is the norm for Undergraduate education.

Throughout the academic world, udergraduates are required to master course curriculum in the manner each Professor requires it. This does not mean that there are not other methods or that experimentation has no value. Experimention and innovation certainly do have their places, especially when writing a doctoral thesis. These things do not belong in the beginner's level though, as undergraduates are not properly trained in comparative research methods.

At the undergraduate level, what really counts is that the Professor has a method that works, and effectively transmits to students the fundamental abilities they will need for more advanced studies. This can not be done properly by expecting students to use post-graduate methods at an undergraduate level.

In conclusion, if your want to "gut it out yourself" you will find plenty of books around and even community leaders who think that traditional Orders are outmoded.

But if you are serious about your Magical education, you will find no more thorough, more complete, and more challenging curriculum anywhere other than the A.O.'s Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. You will also find the same proven teaching methods found in top Universities.

Click here to explore our outer order training program, the H.O.G.D.

Alpha Omega

We don't just hand out grades ...

We Make Magicians!