Golden Dawn Harmony

Brothers and Sisters of the Golden Dawn in all temples and orders everywhere:

I was just reading various Golden Dawn Blogs and came across a fascinating post by Morgan Drake Eckstein musing about the possibility of Golden Dawn Unity. Morgan asked:

Morgan Drake Eckstein
"Unified Golden Dawn, is it even possible?"

"Over the last week, since the posting of several Golden Dawn videos posted up on YouTube by the Hermetic Golden Dawn (Alpha et Omega in the Inner), I have been thinking about the possibility of an unified Golden Dawn. The conclusion that I have came to is that we are as far away from an unified Golden Dawn as we were in 1901 after the Revolt of the Adepts. For those who have not studied Golden Dawn history, there were several rival Orders that came out of the Revolt; none of which really got along with one another and all claiming to be the only one really working the system properly.
Sounds familiar, doesn't it?
This last week, several of the Golden Dawn forums and blogs have been busy talking about the errors and merits of what was presented in the videos. Some mud was also slung. Part of it is merely because of past wounds earned during the struggle to be the last Order standing in modern times; the other part was actually based on differences in training and experience. In the end, everyone has agreed that if you don't agree with their opinion, you are wrong.

Or almost everyone. And this makes me think that the internet and legal battles have insured that no peaceful co-existence is possible among the Big Name Orders, and that the little independent lodges should prepare to be destoryed. I so hope that this is merely the paranoia whispering in my ear like a bloated toad.
[For those who do not know, I have been involved in several battles in both the ceremonial and wiccan communities that boil down to "I am the only legitimate XXX in the entire state"; it makes one a touch paranoid, especially one has been expelled merely for not giving absolute obedience to a leader.]
At this point, any call for a unified Golden Dawn is going to be shouted down. I am open to being proven wrong. But in order to have an unified Golden Dawn, or even one where people get along peaceful with the members of the other Golden Dawn Orders, trust has to be possible. And this last week has proven that trust is a rare item in our community."

Thank you, Morgan, for your kind words about the videos. The whole point of making them was merely to share joy about the 100th Anniversary of the Alpha et Omega with the rest of the Golden Dawn community. Despite the personal attacks, it has still been worth it. In fact, you have given our order a marvelous idea.

You are absolutely correct that we need more unity in the Golden Dawn. This was the dream of our late Praemonstrator of the Rosicrucian Order of Alpha et Omega, Marquis Nicholas Tereshenko.

The real question is, however, what sort of model can unite the Golden Dawn? I concur that any sort of a "Unified" Golden Dawn as a single organization is a pipe dream. Would you, Morgan, ever want Bast temple to sacrifice its independence and autonomy? I don't think anyone would want anything like this.

But there is another model and paradigm that I think many of us in the Golden Dawn community will be able to get behind. How about:

"Golden Dawn Harmony"

In my opinion, a big part of the problem of Golden Dawn quarreling is really about "too many Chiefs and not enough Indians." What I mean by this is that too many Golden Dawn Chiefs are putting their personal financial and egoic interests, like the marketing their orders, ahead of the spiritual development of their members.

I believe that most Golden Dawn members want Golden Dawn harmony, no matter which order they belong to. The factional problem isn't coming from rank and file Golden Dawn members.

But, at the end of the day, the Golden Dawn is not about Golden Dawn leaders and their interests. It is about Golden Dawn initiates and their spiritual development.

An important aspect of this problem is that leaders in the Golden Dawn community have a disproportionate public voice. Let's take, for example, the problem that has emerged in recent months of Golden Dawn leaders using blogs to market their orders and criticize other orders. This problem has been made even worse by "anonymous defamation blogs" attacking other orders, also clearly with a marketing agenda.

This is obviously and clearly an abuse of the Blogoshpere and this is a great example of the larger problem. So what is the solution?

The solution is for Golden Dawn members to find their voice and to tell their leaders that they want Golden Dawn harmony. For example, the way to end the factional fighting in the Blogosphere is for more and more Golden Dawn members to start their own blogs and find their voice there as well.

The larger the legitimate Golden Dawn discussion becomes on real blogs of Golden Dawn members, the more difficult it will be for Golden Dawn leaders to hijack that discussion for their marketing agendas or anonymous trolls merely to defame other orders.

You see, in the Blogosphere there is no difference between you or I. What difference does it make to which Golden Dawn order you belong or do I? For that matter, what difference does it make what Golden Dawn Grade you hold or do I?

In the Blogosphere we are all equals. We each have an equal voice. Indeed, this is the beauty and power of the Blogosphere - that a even a Neophyte from a small, independent temple in Denver or Chicago has the same voice as a Magus from one of the largest Golden Dawn orders in the world!

The Blogosphere is not a platform for Golden Dawn marketing or for anonymous defamation of other orders. These are misuses of the wonderful opportunity that the Blogosphere presents to us that, in fact, endanger this incredible potential.

The Blogosphere is a place where we in the Golden Dawn community can all gather together as equals and discuss things that lay close to our hearts. Here there are no orders. Here there are no temples. Here there are no grades. Here we are all just Brothers and Sisters of the Golden Dawn and we all have an equally important voice.

Numerous of our Golden Dawn brothers and sisters from a variety of temples and orders are already speaking out against the misuse of the Blogosphere by anonymous trolls to attack and defame other orders. Well, there is a simple solution to this problem, and you, my dear Brothers and Sisters of the Golden Dawn are the solution.

What we need is a multitude of Brothers and Sisters of the Golden Dawn, from all of the temples and all of the orders, each with his or her own Golden Dawn related blog. You each have the same right to be heard on your own blog as do I or any Golden Dawn leader.

How many of you are fed up to the gills with all of the constant bickering?

How many of you are fed up with Golden Dawn leaders constantly trying to demonize other Golden Dawn orders or their leaders?

How many of you are fed up with anonymous trolls spreading defamation that harms not only this order or that temple, but the reputation of the entire Golden Dawn?

Well, I say - Brothers and Sisters of the Golden Dawn, the time has come to make your voices heard!

Far too long have Golden Dawn leaders had a disproportional voice in our community to that of their members.

And far too long have Golden Dawn leaders abdicated their responsibility to promote Golden Dawn harmony!

There is no need for us to go on shouting at one another. I have no doubt that there are many among us who have grown weary of all the shouting.
Let us instead speak softly with one another. For a multitude even of whispers is more powerful than the loudest shout!

And remember, the Golden Dawn is about YOU and your spiritual development.

Do you want Golden Dawn harmony? Then the time to remain silent is past. It is time for the silent majority of Golden Dawn members to find thier voices and to speak out in favor of Golden Dawn harmony.

We are magicians. Let us prove that our magic is true by together manifesting Golden Dawn harmony.

A Personal Invitation to the

Golden Dawn Harmony - International Conclave

Vernal Equinox (March 19-25, 2010)

Paris, France

Here at the HOGD/AO, we were already thinking about Golden Dawn harmony when we were making the YouTube ritual and conclave films in Paris. We were thinking, wouldn't it be nice if Golden Dawn brothers and sisters from every temple in the world had the opportunity to be here with us?

Well, guess what. This is exactly what we here at the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, the outer order of the Rosicrucian Order of Alpha et Omega are going to do.
We are inviting YOU right now - to the Golden Dawn Harmony - International Conclave on Vernal Equinox, 2010!
What better way to promote Golden Dawn harmony than with a solid week of lectures, rituals, workshops, and party together? And what better place to do this than in Paris in the Spring - and hosted by the world famous Ahathöor Temple, No. 7 founded in 1892 by S.L. MacGregor Mathers no less.
I believe that Golden Dawn intiates from around the world are greater than the differences between us. I also believe that the time has come to put our differences behind us once and for all. This is why we are announcing our next International Golden Dawn Conclave almost a full year in advance.
And this time we are extending a personal invitation to every single Golden Dawn brother and sister from any Golden Dawn temple or order anywhere in the world!
That's right. YOU are invited! All initiates of all Golden Dawn orders and temples. Even your leaders are welcome. In fact, we are even extending this invitation to initiates of Rosicrucian orders as well.
And speaking of which, we are already putting together another powerful panel of speakers for the conclave that this time will represent not merely the Golden Dawn, but a broad spectrum of the greater esoteric community as well.
Never before has there ever been such an amazingly international and eclectic Golden Dawn event like this. It is our sincere hope that leaders of other Golden Dawn orders are finally willing set quarreling and factionalism aside - or at least for a week, any way! Why not join us instead in promoting Golden Dawn harmony together in Paris?

And even if your leaders decide that fighting and factionalism is more important than Golden Dawn harmony, you are still invited anyway!

Like I mentioned earlier, the Golden Dawn is not about the egoic or financial interests of its leaders. It is about the spiritual development of its members.
YOU - the brothers and sisters of the Golden Dawn - are what matters - YOU and nothing else. If you and other Golden Dawn initiates want harmony - then what our leaders want can't stand in our way. Golden Dawn harmony will manifest - with us or without us!

Golden Dawn initiates and leaders can either get on the harmony train with the rest of us - or they can get left behind at the station.
Either way, Golden Dawn harmony is an idea whose time has come - this train is on a roll - and nothing can to stop it!
Why?
Because the vast majority of Brothers and Sisters of the Golden Dawn from all around the world want peace and harmony in the Golden Dawn community - no matter which temple or order they belong to.
And because together - in harmony - there is no force in the universe that can stop us!
See you in Paris - at the Golden Dawn Harmony International Conclave!

Sub Umbra Alarum Tuarum, Yeheshua

David Griffin

G.H. Frater Lux Ex Septentrionis

Imperator Ordinis, Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn

Rosicrucian Order of Alpha et Omega

"Ex Deo Nascimur.

In Yeheshua Morimur.

Per Sanctum Spiritum Reviviscimus"