RITUAL MAGIC 101: Playing at Magic?

Nick Farrell today published an interesting and thought provoking article called "Playing at Magic." You can read this article here.

Below you will find a few quotes I consider important.

Nick Farrell writes:

“The number of people out there who say they have had no teachers, but have actually experimented with heavier ceremonial magic techniques is frankly alarming. It shows, amongst other things, a level of arrogance and a belief that they are so important that training within an esoteric school is not necessary for them. They have the answers already because they have read about it. But it is not as if they have really studied, or done regular meditation work to reach that state. After playing around with systems they did not completely master, they have just moved onto something else..." - Nick Farrell

Nick really struck a nerve this time that has implications in the entire esoteric community. Clearly the age of information does indeed have negative consequences as well as positive ones. As I have written  over and over lately, the whole "do it yourself" mentality that has become so prevalent in recent years when it comes to Magic is rather alarming. I am really happy to see Nick Farrell addressing this problem as well.

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.

Who really wants a a physician that “did it themselves” without the constraints of some authoritarian dictating what they learn? Do you want a surgeon that read some books and uses what “works best for him?” Do you want a mechanic, plumber, electrician, or any other professional that “did it themselves?” If given a choice between a professional who was trained by experts or who “did it themselves,” which would you choose? Which do you want to be?

Nick Farrell continues:

"One of the downsides of the modern age is that beginners have access to more information than they used to and this makes “dabbling” much easier than it was before." 

"You can usually tell if someone is playing at magic by their tendency to do a lot of different systems, often employing them all at once... But not one of them has focused on a training system to be any good at it, and none of them amounts to much when it comes to magic." - Nick Farrell

I fully agree with several of the arguments presented in Nick's article. Clearly the matter of magical “dabblers” is indeed problematic. I have discussed Nick's article with a number of Alpha Omega and H.O.G.D. members today, and some of them added interesting insights to the discussion. 

For example, this morning Frater E.P.A. a Neophyte (0=0) in our outer order, the H.O.G.D., in a private email wrote to me today:

"I think there are actually two catagories of dabblers:

     1. Those who like dabbling and 

     2. Those who dabble while seeking a Path. 

"Dabblers" who are seekers buy the books from popular authors, they try some of the methods, but ultimately those books do not represent a curriculum. No book is a Path. They are merely a stone or an oasis on the Path. A college uses books; there are no colleges IN a book. A few are lucky and join an Order in the beginning of their search and stick with it. They have a temple nearby with a trained Hierophant and in a few years they are a magician. But what about those people with no temple? No Hierophant? No teacher? By definition, they dabble. They must. I feel very passionately about this because ... 

... I WAS THAT SEEKER!" 

- Frater E.P.A.

To those who "dabble" merely because they like "dabbling," I wish you the best of luck!

Those "dabblers" who are also "seekers," however, I see you as a an essential part of the esoteric community. In fact, it for seekers like you that the Alpha Omega exists to help. You kept trying. You have read the books, you took the courses, you practiced one thing and then another. You are devoted, but lost, souls wandering in the labyrinth, groping in the dark to find the hardened Path.

While the A.O. is certainly not the only Path out there, it is one that is well-worn, easy to follow, and well-lit with the Light. After all, isn’t this “dabbler” exactly the one being addressed in the Neophyte Ritual?

We must face one sad reality though. Even among "seekers," not everyone is ready for the commitment it takes not only to enter the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, but also to graduate and go on to advanced studies in the A.O.'s Second Order, the R.R. et A.C.

It is precisely for "dabblers" who are also "seekers" that the Alpha Omega launched our 1,000 Points of Light initiative. We began by encouraging you to create your own Personal Altars and Personal Temples. Next we created for you, the "Ritual Magic 101" series of articles here on the Golden Dawn Blog as well as live "Ritual Magic 101" Webinars in 8 languages around the world.

The truth, however, is why there aspects of Ritual Magic that can only be taught in person. This is why are coming to you the 2012 Golden Dawn World Tour, and bringing you "Ritual Magic 101" to you - up close and personal - in a series of live Workshops around the globe. For those ready for a serious commitment to their spiritual growth, here is also be an opportunity for traditional Golden Dawn initiation. On our preliminary itinerary, there are presently cities in 5 countries across 3 continents where we will carry the light of the Golden Dawn.

In short, whenever "dabblers" are ready to put aside that part of their life and finally BE the magician they have wanted, or pretended, to be for so many years, the Alpha Omega is here waiting to help you further, regardless of the level of commitment you are ready to make.

Sincerely,
Alpha Omega Imperator, David Griffin

Imperator David Griffin
HOGD AO 33 95

A London, UK Personal Temple (1,000 Points of Light Personal Temples Initiative)

Here is a photo of a Personal Temple recently sent to us from London, UK:

Thank you for sharing!

The Alpha Omega invites YOU as well to put your temple on the map by either commenting here or mailing us. Even better, send us a photo of your Personal Temple, to share with other Independent Practitioners around the world. We are all enriched by such sharing.

Here is what another of our readers recently wrote about the 1,000 Points of Light initiative:

"Thank you Alpha et Omega for this wonderful initiative. Finally, self-initiates can look forward to support. I can't wait for the Webinar" - Ralph Brooks, London, UK

Be sure not to miss the FREE! Ritual Magic Webinars in English, beginning on October 27 at 12:00 PM PDT in the chat room of the Golden Dawn Blog. I will personally host the Webinar, and will be available to answer your questions about your Independent Practice of Ritual Magic, offer tips, corrections, etc.

Sincerely,

Imperator David Griffin
HOGD, AO, 33, 90, 96

"Enochian Magic:" (1,000 Points of Light Initiative)

by Golden Dawn Imperator

David Griffin

Golden Dawn Imperator
David Griffin

"An Alpha Omega Magician recently told me there is a lot of new information available on the Enochian Magic system, and that she had heard that the general consensus is that what the G.D. did with it is not 'traditional'.

What Golden Dawn founder, the great Mage, S.L. MacGregor Mathers, did was to take certain basics of the original Enochian system of John Dee, and integrate it into the Golden Dawn System of Ritual Magic, together with Qabalah, Egyptian God Forms, etc.

Golden Dawn Imperator
S.L MacGregor Mathers

Sadly, however, Mathers only managed to accomplish this integration for Golden Dawn Elemental Magic prior to his unexpected death in a flu epidemic.

The Ritual Magic Manual is an fundamental Golden Dawn breakthrough, since after consulting all of the original Dee manuscripts (which I obtained in photocopy from the British Museum), I managed to complete the same line of synthesis Mathers had begun, but for Planetary and Zodiacal magic.

Why practice Golden Dawn Ritual Magic?

"To become a Magician!"

The challenges I faced in this process as well as how I overcame them, is all carefully documented in Appendix 4 of The Ritual Magic Manual, beginning on page 621. This study is called "The Book of the Concourse of Planetary and Zodiacal Forces," which I first published in 1999. Due to its fundamental importance, I have since made this groundbreaking study available for free download here.

Without going into too much detail, the biggest problem with integrating Enochian Planetary magic into the Golden Dawn system was solved by my discovery of a hitherto unnoticed parallel between the planetary arrangement in John Dee's "De Heptarchia Mystica" and the planetary arrangement inside the Golden Dawn's Vault of the Adepti.

All of the correct colors of the Sigillum Dei Aemeth as a Golden Dawn Planetary Tablet of Union follow from this discovery, as illustrated below. Please note that other Golden Dawn authors have since copied my colored Sigillum Dei Aemeth, but without the proper colors and without crediting me for this discovery. Such errors can be highly dangerous if inadvertently used magically. Any coloring arrangement for the Sigillum other than the one below is arbitrary and should not be used as a Golden Dawn Planetary Tablet of Union.

The original Golden Dawn Planetary Tablet of Union, which is illustrated below, is entirely based on the Golden Dawn's Vault of the Adepti, as is thoroughly explained in my "Book of the Concourse of Planetary and Zodiacal Forces" (1999). That the Golden Dawn's Planetary Tablet of Union (shown below) can be used safely and effectively in Planetary Magic, has been verified by countless Magicians in practice over the past 12 years.

Sigillum Dei Aemeth- The Golden Dawn's Planetary Tablet of Union

(Colored According to the Vault of the Adepti)

The Good news is you don't need to master all of the material in my "Book of the Concourse of the Planetary and Zodiacal Forces" to practice Golden Dawn Planetary and Zodiacal Enochian Magic!

The Golden Dawn's Enochian Venus Tablet

You will find all of the Golden Dawn's correct Enochian Planetary Tablets, as well as the Enochian Zodiacal Tablet, in color illustrations in The Ritual Magic Manual. You will also find complete Enochian Planetary and Zodiacal magic integrated into all of the Planetary and Zodiacal rituals - in a user-friendly, step-by-step format - integrated using S.L. MacGregor Mathers precise ,original lines of synthesis, as is traditional in the Golden Dawn.

Dr. John Dee

Returning to the initial question, which prompted this discussion, the answer is that John Dee also wrote plenty of details regarding how to practice the Enochian system in a manner completely different than what Mathers did with the Dee material. This is largely presented in a usable format by Geoffrey James in "The Enochian Magick of Dr. John Dee: The Most Powerful System of Magick in its Original, Unexpurgated Form"

For those wishing to practice pre-Golden Dawn Enochian Magic, this book may be used as a grimoire in its own right. I have worked this system with great success for many years.

Remember, there are plenty of knock offs and Golden Dawn rehashes out there, but there is still only one Ritual Magic Manual! ...

... The only place you will find complete Golden Dawn Planetary and Zodiacal magic fully unveiled.

The Ritual Magic Manual

If you would like personal coaching in your Ritual Magic practice, you will not want to miss the FREE Webinar I will be teaching on Saturday, October 27, at 12:00 PM PDT in the Blogchat here on The Golden Dawn Blog.

In order to better help Self Initiates and Solitary Practitioners, I will also be giving away a free electronic copy of the Ritual Magic Manual to all sincere, aspiring Magicians who participate in this groundbreaking Webinar.

Sincerely,

Golden Dawn Imperator
David Griffin

Alpha Omega

We Make Magicians!

A Santeria Personal Temple (1,000 Points of Light Personal Temples Initiative)

An Individual Practitioner of Ritual Magic and reader recently of this blog, "si" wrote:

Dear David Griffin, 

I've just an the email with a picture. In the picture, I'm not sure if you can see it that well because the light from the window came in a bit on the photo. I did edit it to try and enhance it.  

She is a Deity that originated in Mexico; La Santa Muerte. There is a lot of speculation about her because she has gained a lot of fame through the Drug Cartels and she is not recognized in the Catholic Church. As a follower I can say she is not bad. Although, you risk consequences if you do not carry out your part in petitions.

She is a protector. 

A lot of times she is seen with an Owl, Libra Scales and a Scythe. She usually comes with prepared goodies on the bottom of her statue and there are lots of oils and herbal baths that you can do with her. There are cleansings you can do. Each ritual is different. In the photo of my altar, there is some herbs, a mineral and granulated incense sprinkled at the bottom of her along with a neat little picture I've drawn for her.  

To the right is a clear resin pyramid with her in it, it also has some goodies sprinkled in there. She accepts her followers as they are. She only ask that you remain faithful to her. I'm not sure if you've heard of her, but if you have any questions about her feel free to ask me. I do some meditation, I've learned how to astral project and I have "popped" my pineal gland. 

I have questions about that. Maybe you have answers? I feel great though, I've noticed changes with my vision and hearing and I'm drawn closer to nature. I don't really consider myself a certain type. If I need to do something, I try and research as much as I can and do whatever I need to do to get whatever it is I'm wanting done, done. And Thank You for answering my question. 

si

The same Individual Practitioner then wrote a few days later:

Dear David Griffin. 

I hope the picture did not startle any emotions towards me. I am not a bad person, neither is the deity.

Dear "si",

Thank you for sending in a photo of your personal temple. Your desire to become a Magician shines through in your letters to me. Our 1,000 Points of Light Initiative is not at all limited to Golden Dawn style Personal Temples or to would be Golden Dawn Magicians. Our 1,000 Points of Light initiative is our way of reaching our to ALL Magicians of ALL traditions, trying to help you grow in your magical practice.

Why is the Alpha Omega reaching out to practitioners of all Magical traditions?

"Because in the Alpha Omega...

... We Make Magicians!"

No your picture did not startle me, nor do I have any negative judgement about it either. I must admit straight away though, that I know almost nothing about Santeria. I am, however, quite familiar with Golden Dawn Ritual Magic, which you indicated to me in a private letter that you would also like to learn. Let me first give you a bit of advice about the Golden Dawn system, and how to practice it safely and effectively, without the need to abandon the magical practice you already have.

First off, it is important, once you begin to practice Golden Dawn magic, that you set up a separate altar for G.D. magic. Set it up somewhere else in the house than where your present altar is housed. 

I suggest this not because I have any negative opinion of Santeria, but because the Golden Dawn has its own unique magical "egregore." An "egregore" is an occult concept representing a "thought form" or "collective group mind", an autonomous psychic entity made up of, and influencing, the thoughts of a group of people. Each magical egregore has its own set of God Forms as well as rites, practices, etc.

Thus, if you wish to practice the Ritual Magic of both Santeria and the Golden Dawn, it is important that you keep them strictly separate. Setting up separate altars in separate places is one way to do this. Another way is to always practice the rites of of each system separately, and not to  ever mix them.

Although I do not practice Santeria, I do practice two separate magical systems regularly myself. In addition to the Golden Dawn, I am also an initiate of "del Bosco Sacro" Italian Pagan clan and therefore practice also the Shamanic Magic of the tradition of the Sacred Forest of Nemi.

I find no difficulty in my practice of these two distinct magical traditions, but I always keep them strictly separate from one another in my practice.

Why practice the Golden Dawn's Magic of Light?

"To become a Golden Dawn Magician!"

On the Golden Dawn side, I would strongly suggest that you come to the Ritual Magic Webinar I will be teaching on October 27 at 12:00 PDT. I can answer other questions for you there. I would also recommend you to keep a close eye on The Golden Dawn Blog between now and the Webinar as I have yet another announcement to make for the "1,000 Points of Light" that will be quite useful for Independent Golden Dawn practitioners like yourself.

On the Santeria side, I can not really advise you as I am not an initiate or practitioner of that magical system. I would strongly recommend, however, that if you want to continue to practice that system, that you find a qualified teacher and do not just grope along in the dark on your own. I am not sure where you live, but many cities in the USA have "botanicas" for practitioners of Santeria. I have little doubt that you can learn a great deal about that tradition by visiting "botanicas" and getting guidance as well as ritual supplies.

Sincerely,

Imperator David Griffin
HOGD, AO, 33, 90, 96

ALPHA OMEGA ...

... Making Magicians - Since 1888!

"Self Initiation," 1,000 Points of Light Initiative: Good News for Self Initiates and Solitary Practitioners!

by Golden Dawn Imperator

David Griffin

"Initiation” simply means “to begin.” Can someone “begin” the magical life through self-initiation?

"Absolutely!"

Like learning any new hobby, learning ritual magic is something anyone can begin at home with a good book, perseverance, and practice. But, like learning a sport, to get good requires an effective coach. Some people may want to hire a good coach from day one to avoid developing bad habits and a steep learning curve. In contrast, some are not sure if they are ready for that level of commitment and are willing to tackle the challenge alone until they are convinced it’s right for them.

Either way, you will have to find a few good resources to start you out. You may be asking yourself a few questions. Have I made the right choice in choosing Ritual Magic? Did I pick the “best” book to guide me through the process? Will I end up creating bad habits that set me back later? Who can I trust with questions as I progress? How will I know if I am really doing it right? Most importantly, you might be asking if self-initiation is really possible.

"Let me share with you my own story in facing this problem over the last two decades ..."

"If you would have asked me about Self-Initiation eighteen years ago, when Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn Praemonstratrix, Cris Monnastre, first appointed me HOGD Imperator, I would have told you: "Self-Initiation is as impossible as self-psychotherapy."

My understanding of the Golden Dawn has evolved a great deal over the past two decades,  however, especially after establishing contact with the Secret Chiefs of the Golden Dawn's Third Order in 2002.

Back in my early years as Golden Dawn Imperator, my opinion of Self-Initiation was greatly colored by what was then touted as Self-Initiation, yet whose methods more closely resembled New Age guided fantasy than any Golden Dawn spiritual practice.

There is, of course, nothing "wrong" with New Age guided fantasy - as far as it goes. Let us remain mindful, however, that the Golden Dawn tradition is MAGICAL rather than New Age.

After 18 years as Golden Dawn Imperator, I remain convinced the absolute best way to create a magician is with traditional Golden Dawn initiation - with the Initiate physically present together with a fully trained Hierophant in a physical Golden Dawn temple.

This is because ...

"A good Hierophant can awaken the magical Forces in your energetic body FOR you ...  

... since these Forces are fully active in the Hierophant's own energetic body already."

Self Initiation books - with working methods more closely resembling New Age guided fantasy than Golden Dawn spritual practice - have contributed to a popular misunderstanding of the true nature of Golden Dawn spritual work. Golden Dawn spiritual practice traditionally uses Ritual Magic and Alchemy rather than New Age methods.

Why go beyond New Age guided fantasy and channelling? 

"To become a Magician!"

Traditional Golden Dawn initiation is about the magical awakening of the LVX current in one's energetic body as well as the awakening and balancing of the Magical Forces of the Elements, Planets, and Zodiac.

What is the significance of awakening Magical Forces? 

"It is what a Magician does!"

In the Golden Dawn's outer order, Earth is awakened in the energetic body in the Zelator grade, Air in Theoricus, Water in Practicus, and Fire in Philosophus. The force of Spirit is then awakened in the Portal grade, before these 5 fully awakened magical elements are balanced and equilibrated in the energetic body of the initiate.

Is it possible to accomplish this on one's own with Ritual Magic? 

"Definitey! ..." 

But - it is also possible to ride a bicycle from San Francisco to New York! - Then again - Why ride a bike, when you can take an airplane and arrive at your destination in only a few hours instead of weeks?

Why initiate through a Hierophant rather than Self Initiation? 

"To become a Magician easier and faster!"

Why try to reinvent the wheel with Solitary Practice of Ritual Magic? The Alpha Omega is not just about "Beginning" ...

IN THE ALPHA OMEGA ...

"WE MAKE MAGICIANS!"

To "begin” is clearly possible on your own, but “to finish” requires help. No matter how talented, every professional has a coach or teacher. What resonates with me is that Ritual Magic can be mastered by any actor, but our goal is not to simply perform a ritual – it is to be a magician. Actors convincingly portray soldiers, surgeons, therapists, and great heroes of all kinds. However, they have not BECOME these people, they only portray them. 

All portrayal is not bad either - not by any means. This is the path of “fake it until you make it.” If I act like a surgeon while I learn to become a real surgeon, in the end I will BE a surgeon. In contrast, if I act like a surgeon but never learn medical science, I am just an actor. Now, as long as I know I am an actor there is no harm done.

The danger is when I start to believe I am one simply because I can portray one so well that people cannot tell the difference (until I am in the operating room, that is!). My fear of Self-Initiation is someone can 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. The real question is:

"What do YOU want? 

... To just do Ritual Magic ...

... or do you want to be a Magician?"

Sadly, at the beginning of the 21st Century, there are still not enough Golden Dawn temples to provide traditional initiation for all aspiring magicians who seek it. Moreover, as I mentioned earlier, there are people who are just not sure if they are ready for that level of commitment and are willing to tackle the challenge alone until they are convinced it’s right for them. 

This is why the Alpha Omega recently launched our 1,000 Points of Light Initiative, to make Magicians - by providing guidance, corrections, etc. for Ritual Magic practice in a series of live Webinars - and by encouraging people to create their own Personal Temple altars and spaces.

This is also why I wrote the Ritual Magic Manual ...

The Ritual Magic Manual fills an essential need for would be Golden Dawn magicians by providing everything you need for the magical component of Self-Initiation on your own, in a complete - step by step - user-friendly format.


In the Ritual Magic Manual, you will find all of the pentagrams, hexagrams, Egyptian God Forms, Enochian and Qabalistic names sigils and names of power, flashing colors, etc. - all in one place!

Why do Ritual Magic? 

"It is the method of the Magician!"

The Ritual Magic Manual contains not only the Elemental invocations necessary for the successful magical completion of the Golden Dawn's outer order. Additionally, ALL of the magical Forces of the Planets, the Zodiac, and the Qabalistic Sephiroth are included as well, each using a complete, traditional Golden Dawn Ritual invocation.

Here is what some Magicians who have worked with the Ritual Magic Manual are saying:

"The Ritual Magic Manual is packed with all the Rituals practiced by the Magical order. If you have this book along with Donald M. Kraig's - Modern Magick, then you are off in Self Initiation." 

- Ixus Radion 

"Self-Initiates will find the magical training you need here. Solitaries will find no more thorough a reference manual. Pagans will find the Golden Dawn's "Book of Shadows." Thelemites will find 'Liber O' on steroids." 

- Frater WA 

"Everything needed to complete GD basic magical training is between these covers - with some vital extensions of the Enochian Work too... pronunciation guides, 12 Zodiacal Kings, Colour and the Sigillum, etc."  

- Ad Astra 

"As to the overall accuracy of names and sigils in this book, Griffin notes the instances where he corrects (or deviates from) established sources: examples of this include (much-needed) revisions to the Hebrew spellings of the Qlipothic hierarchy given in Crowley's 777." 

- David L. Smith

Since the Alpha Omega is out to make magicians with our 1,000 Points of Light initiative - I will personally be providing Ritual Magic coaching - without charge - during our first scheduled Webinar in English, on Saturday, October 27, at 12:00 PM PDT, here in the chat room of The Golden Dawn Blog.

I am also concerned about how expensive the Ritual Magic Manual has become. With scalpers asking insane prices reaching $1,000 for a new hard bound copy, the Manual has moved beyond the financial reach of many aspiring magicians today.

In the Alpha Omega, we reward Magicians who demonstrate merit. Therefore, I will be giving a complementary electronic copy of The Ritual Magic Manual to all sincere, aspiring Magicians who attend the Ritual Magic Webinar on October 27.

"See you at the Webinar!"

Golden Dawn Imperator David Griffin

ALPHA OMEGA ...

"MAKING MAGICIANS - SINCE 1888!"

A Personal Temple from Western Kentucky (1,000 Points of Light: Good News for Solitary Practitioners and Self-Initiates)

Today we share a photograph of a Personal Temple from Kentucky. Together with the photo, this Independent Practitioner wrote:

Care Imperator Griffin,

This is not a full out view but I hope it is useful. I am located in (ommited), KY. I think that it may be wise to only publish Western Kentucky because of the hostility in the area toward anything not fundamentalist Christian. I may be being slightly paranoid, but it is extremely difficult to put into words the experience of living in the Bible Belt as a magician.

A Personal Temple From Western Kentucky

Thank you for sharing. It is sad to hear that even today there still remains such religious intolerance in a country like ours, which was founded on principles of religious freedom and tolerance.

In the Alpha Omega, we accept candidates for initiation from all religious faiths on an equal basis, including Christians, Pagans, Muslims, and yes, even Thelemites!

Our order is based on principles of personal responsibility, personal liberty, and self-determination. Each member of our order is accepted for initiation - and advanced in grade - exclusively according to individual merit. We do not discriminate due to race, religion, gender, sexual or political orientation.

We invite you to put your temple on the map by either commenting here or mailing us. Even better, send us a photo of your Personal Temple, to share with other Independent Practitioners around the world. We are all enriched by such sharing.

Here is what another of our readers recently wrote about the 1,000 Points of Light initiative:

"I'm excited about the resources and I like the support offered. So far, I have a table the size of a kitchen table filled with candles, resin incenses, a small picture of the tree of life and a dagger...Thank You Mr Griffin for being a great leader within the Golden Dawn that cares about other's spiritual growth. I really loved this blog post!" -Soror V.F.

Be sure not to miss the FREE! Ritual Magic Webinars in English, beginning on October 27 at 12:00 PM PDT in the chat room of the Golden Dawn Blog. I will personally host the Webinar, and will be available to answer your questions about your Independent Practice of Ritual Magic, offer tips, corrections, etc.

Sincerely,

Imperator David Griffin
HOGD, AO, 33, 90, 96