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The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, as it is commonly referred to, was probably the single greatest influence on 20th century western occultism. Influences on Golden Dawn concepts and work include Christian mysticism, Kabbalah, Hermeticism, freemasonry, theosophy, Eliphas Levi, Papus, Enochian Magic, and medieval grimoires. It was the focal point of the development and redevelopment of magical thinking in Europe. In it, most concepts of magic and ritual that have since become core elements of Wicca, Thelema, Western Mystery schools and other forms of magical spirituality were first formulated.

Roots of the Golden Dawn Tradition

The fundamental basis of the Golden Dawn tradition is a collection of documents known as the Cipher Manuscripts, written in English using a classic occult cipher alphabet, which were discovered by Westcott around 1888 among the papers of the late Masonic scholar Kenneth Mackenzie. The Manuscripts give the specific outlines of the Grade Rituals of the Order, and prescribe a curriculum of specifically graduated teachings that encompass the Hermetic Qabalah, Astrology, Tarot, Geomancy and Alchemy.

Considerable controversy surrounds the origins of the Cipher Manuscripts. Westcott claimed they were obtained from a German Adept of the Order named Fräulein Sprengel, who wrote letters to Westcott and Mathers granting them permission to establish the Order in England. Mathers later claimed that only the letters were forgeries, but it seems unlikely that Westcott or Mathers wrote the Manuscripts themselves, as some believe.

Prominent Golden Dawn researchers (R.A. Gilbert, Darcy Kuntz, Carroll Runyon) theorize they were the result of the work of a group of Masonic scholars belonging to the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia, a Rosicrucian society limited to Master Masons. Both Westcott and Mathers, and their original partner Dr. W.R. Woodman, were all members of the SRIA, which uses a Grade system almost identical to the one described in the Manuscripts. According to the theory, the system of the Manuscripts was developed by noted Masonic scholars Kenneth Mackenzie and Frederick Hockley, who were members of a special group within the SRIA called "The Society of Eight".

The Development and Diversification of the Tradition

Mathers eventually developed an Inner or Second Order with teachings considered beyond the scope of the Outer or First Order as described in the Manuscripts. Unlike the Outer Order, the Inner Order or "Rosæ Rubeæ et Aureæ Crucis" (R.R. et A.C.), taught practical magical techniques which were prohibited in the Outer Order.

The original Golden Dawn orders dissolved into schisms, notably the separation of a large group of Second Order members from the leader of the Second Order, Macgregor Mathers. After a series of public scandals (resulting in the exposure of the once-secret Order), groups once affiliated with the Golden Dawn ceased using the name by 1903. Notable offshoots include the Alpha et Omega under Mathers, the Stella Matutina under Dr. Robert William Felkin and John William Brodie-Innes, and the Ancient and Rectified Rite under Arthur Edward Waite.

In 1909, Aleister Crowley, a former member of the London Lodge and of Mathers' Alpha et Omega, began publishing the Outer Order rituals in his periodical, The Equinox. The first article included a notice that more of the Golden Dawn's materiels would be published in future issues. He was sued by Mathers for copyright violation in 1910. On March 21st, the case was heard by three law lords. Mathers' counsel, Sir Frederick Lawrence, argued that Crowley had broken his oath of secrecy by publishing his former teacher's materials. The lords found for Crowley and awarded him court costs, on the grounds that Mathers had waited until the next issue of The Equinox was about to appear before taking action (instead of when the supposed breach first occurred), and further publication could do neither him nor his reputation any harm. Also, the ritual texts had already been entered into the public record during the aforementioned scandal trials of 1902.

The Modern Revival

The various offshoots of the original Order continued to function, and the Stella Matutina was joined by Israel Regardie in the 1930s. Regardie had been Crowley's secretary from 1928 to 1930. After leaving Crowley's employ he wrote two books on Western Esotericism, The Tree of Life and A Garden of Pomegranates. Regardie joined the Hermes Temple of the Stella Matutina in 1933 and became an Adept in 1934. In 1937, fearing the Order was falling into decay and wishing to preserve its teachings, he published a large part of the Stella Matutina documents in a series of four books, The Golden Dawn: The Original Account of the Teachings, Rites and Ceremonies of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (Stella Matutina).

Various versions of these rituals have been published by Llewellyn Books and New Falcon Publications, among others, continuously since the 1960s; thus the Golden Dawn's work played a major role in the occult revival of the 1960s and 70s.

Regardie was involved in the reactivation of a portion of the Order in the United States, though he never officially belonged to any of the various groups that established new Golden Dawn temples before his death in 1985.

Contemporary Golden Dawn Orders

Today, several organizations carry on the Golden Dawn tradition. Among these, the following are particularly significant:

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Inc.

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn Inc., a non-profit religious foundation established in Florida, USA, by Charles 'Chic' and Tabitha Cicero and Adam Forrest, holds the United States trademark rights for "Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn", and are the foremost proponents of the traditional Stella Matutina system. Cicero and his first wife, Eva, started as an O.T.O. camp in 1977, were intrduced to Regardie by Behman in 1982, and were in contact with Regardie until his death in 1985. The Ciceros have written numerous books on the Golden Dawn tradition, under the Llewellyn Books imprint, a publisher which- though this collection is unconnected to the Ciceros (in fact, the introduction was written by Patricia Behman a/k/a Cris Monnastre)- also publishes the best selling version of Regardie's collection, "The Golden Dawn" . The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn Inc. has a number of affiliates and autonomous licensees, operating Golden Dawn temples worldwide. The affiliated Temples of HOGD Inc. generally adhere to the original teaching curriculum and ritual forms of the Order as described in Regardie's books. The autonomous licensees diverge from tradition in that they practice Thelema, Martinism, self-initiation, and astral initiation.

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn/Rosicrucian Order of the A+O

Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn/Rosicrucian A+O is currently a sole proprietorship originally organized as a general partnership in 1992 by Patricia Behman (aka Cris Monnastre, a student of Regardie's) and David John Griffin. Behman had operated the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn temples in Los Angeles throughout the 1980s. Prompted by Regardie, Behman formed an unincorporated association with Charles Cicero and Adam Forrest. After withdrawing her endorsement from that organization in 1992 to continue the unschismed version with Griffin, she eventually sold her partnership interest to Griffin in May, 1998. Griffin's H.O.G.D. has modernized the practices of the original Order of Westcott and Mathers since it teaches all the previously published Inner Order materials and practices (notably by Regardie) in the Outer Order. It thus allows adepti to follow a structured curriculum in advanced Hermetic Alchemy. The material taught in their Outer Order is described in "The Ritual Magic Manual: A Comprehensive Course in Practical Magic", by David John Griffin. Mr. Griffin holds the European Community trademark to the name "Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn" registered with the Office of Harmonization in the Internal Market (O.H.I.M.), holds the trademark in Canada, and has a contractual agreement with H.O.G.D. Inc. to share the name "Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn" on a worldwide basis.

The Ordo Stella Matutina

The Ordo Stella Matutina is a modern esoteric order that offers traditional Golden Dawn teachings. The primary vehicle for instruction over the internet is through the Hermetic Sanctuary of Ma'at. The group offers traditional physical temple initiations as well as courses on Self-Initiation into the Golden Dawn Current. The Order's teachings primarily adhere to the original Stella Matutina versions, as taught by Dr. Felkin, and Dr. Israel Regardie, as well as teachings of the Traditional Golden Dawn and its primary founders; Dr. Willianm W. Westcott, Dr. Woodman, and S.L. MacGregor Mathers. However, Self-Initian itself does not conform to thede teachings. The Order provides online instruction for distance members who do not live a nearby temple. They do not offer long-distance or Astral initiations. Students can work through the curriculum at their own pace and may receive initiations at one of the local temples or by using the Self-Initiation techniques outlined in the book entitled "Self Initiation into the Golden Dawn Tradition" by Sandra Tabatha and Chic Cicero of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Inc.

The Esoteric Order of the Golden Dawn

The Esoteric Order of the Golden Dawn (E.O.G.D.) is a modern Golden Dawn Order founded by Robert Zink, Sonya Zink, John Brawl and Zack Ramsey in Fontana, California in the early 1990s. The original name of the order was Eternal Circle of Light and then Hermetic Order of the Eternal Golden Dawn. The name underwent change to "Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn International". Under threat of a lawsuit over the use of the name "Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn International" in the USA, the group chose to go by the name "Hermetic Order of the Morning Star International" for a number of years. After being granted a license by HOGD, Inc., they then again changed their name to "Esoteric Order of the Golden Dawn". The organization holds a license with the H.O.G.D. inc. The E.O.G.D. has several Temples and Sanctuaries and study groups around the world. In addition to these local groups, the E.O.G.D. offers teaching and on-line classes for correspondence members. The E.O.G.D. is well-known for long-distance or "astral" initiations of correspondence members, a practice very tenuously based on the Emerald Tablet of Hermes statement: "That which is above is from that which is below, and that which is below is from that which is above, working the miracles of one."

Whare Ra

While most temples of the Alpha et Omega and the Stella Matutina became dormant by the end of the 1930s, the exceptions were the Hermes Temple in Bristol which continued until World War II, and the Whare Ra temple in New Zealand which lasted into the late 1970's. In the early 1980s, the Whare Ra Temple was re-organized by Pat and Chris Zalewski, and continued operation until the end of the 1990s. The Zalewskis have written several books on the Golden Dawn (also published by Llewellyn Books). Though the Whare Ra temple is in abeyance, Zalewski offers private courses in advanced Golden Dawn studies.

See also

• Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
• Argentinum Astrum (A.A.)
• Hermeticism
• Magic (paranormal)
• Tattva vision

References

• Ithell Colquhoun, The Sword of Wisdom, a Biography of S.L. Macgregor Mathers and the Golden Dawn
• Cicero, Chic and Tabitha, "The Essential Golden Dawn" (Llewellyn, 2003) ISBN 0738703109
• Greer, Mary K. Women of the Golden Dawn. (Park Street, 1994) ISBN 0892815167.
• Griffin, David John, , The Ritual Magic Manual: A Complete Course in Practical Magic (Golden Dawn Press, 1999) ISBN 0395925037
• Gilbert, RA. The Golden Dawn: Twilight of the Magicians. The Aquarian Press, 1983. ISBN 0850302781.
• Howe, Ellic. The Magicians of the Golden Dawn: A Documentary History of a Magical Order 1887-1923. Samuel Weiser (1978). ISBN 0877283699. (Widely regarded by historians as the definitive history of the Golden Dawn.)
• Regardie, Israel, et. al., eds., The Golden Dawn: A Complete Course in Practical Ceremonial Magic (Llewellyn, 1989) ISBN 0875426638

External links

• Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn/Rosicrucian A+O
• Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Inc.
• Ordo Stella Matutina
• The Open Source Order of the Golden Dawn
• The Hermetic Fellowship
• Builders of the Adytum (B.O.T.A.)
• Servants of Light
• Esoteric Order of the Golden Dawn
• Photocopies and the translation of the original Cipher Manuscripts (www.hermetic.com)

• Hermeticism
• New religious movements