Sorry for my lack of updates lately - my personal and magical life has given me a great deal more to think about lately.
First off, this will be my last entry here, as I've decided to change locations to Wordpress. It's a lot more customizable and easier to work with. The new link is at the end of this entry.
Second, I've been working a lot with our local Denver Temple to streamline our meeting times, location and website.
Third, my personal magical work has taken a huge upswing lately (another high that goes with the lows). This has included working the Tree of Life in its entirety, an Abramelin Operation and much more.
So, without further ado, here's where you can find me from here on out:
http://frateraene.wordpress.com/
Thanks for reading and keep up the Work!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
Work - Getting in the Way
Being a professional writer and editor takes a lot of energy. Sometimes I don't have enough left at the end of the day to write more. My apologies to the readers of this blog for my absence lately. Work has been a bear and from the looks of it, it's not going to get better soon. I promise I'll be back and up as soon as possible.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Starting your own Golden Dawn Temple, Part One
For those of you who don't live nearby a GD Temple, or are not interested in any of the ones that are around you, there is an option that lies just within grasp -- if you have the time, energy and dedication. That's starting your own Golden Dawn Temple.
I won't lie. It's a daunting task.
The paperwork (we'll get to that in a few), the time and money spent on creating your tools, finding a space, recruiting members, etc. You could easily drive yourself out of your mind with all the details. Luckily, we have a great wealth of information readily available to get you started, such as Regardie's books, Chic & Tabatha's "Secrets of a Golden Dawn Temple," Zalewski's commentaries on the 0=0 & 1=10, and many others.
So Where To Start?
First, do you have some others that are interested in starting a group as well? How many, how dedicated, and what's expected? If there's only two of you, you could easily create a "study group" between yourselves, and go through all the Outer Order Material up to Portal. Meanwhile, or perhaps after quizzing one another on the material, you could move into actual initiations (we'll return to that in part two). This is essentially a smaller version of what follows.
1. What's Your Goal?
You should get everyone who will be involved together and decide what you all perceive as the end product of a person going through the Outer and Inner Orders. Is it to become a master magician? To complete the Abramelin Operation? To create a group that performs good deeds in the community? To become the most important Order and rule the others? (this last one is a joke!)
2. Form the Skeletonic Structure
How many people will be the "rulers" of the group? Will it be a completely democratic process to change things? Will you have a Constitution or just be loose with rules? Keep in mind that if your group eventually gets larger it may need more or less structure, so keep things as fluid as possible at the beginning. One excellent resource is John Michael Greer's "Inside a Magical Lodge." You should keep a careful record of everything you decide. It's better to have decisions written down for reference.
3. Create your Temple Implements
If there's several of you, once you've decided on an end goal, you could begin to create your magical implements. This is no small task, but with several people who have access to the right equipment, enough money and enough skill to complete what's necessary, you'll be able to have a nice foundation for future Work. Again, this is very hard work, especially if you're not a carpenter or seamstress.
If none of you have the necessary skills or money (it's expensive!), there's the nice and cheap options. Create your lamens from cardboard. Use a regular knife painted for the Hiereus sword. The creation of tools from scratch does instill within them a degree of energy, and it matters little whether your Hiereus sword is a 14th century rare rapier, or a large knife that's painted in the proper colors. One final thing about the implements - I suggest creating the tools necessary for the major officers (Hierophant, Hiereus, Hegemon) first, as these are absolutely necessary for every Outer Ritual that follows. The lamens and other implements can be made of paper or cardboard at the beginning. This section is optional of course (but it's recommended you take the time to work on the implements), as a dedicated group could really begin working with just personal robes and some concentrated imagination and will.
We'll discuss the next steps you should take in part two to follow. Let me know if there's anything you'd add to these preliminary steps in the comments below.
I won't lie. It's a daunting task.
The paperwork (we'll get to that in a few), the time and money spent on creating your tools, finding a space, recruiting members, etc. You could easily drive yourself out of your mind with all the details. Luckily, we have a great wealth of information readily available to get you started, such as Regardie's books, Chic & Tabatha's "Secrets of a Golden Dawn Temple," Zalewski's commentaries on the 0=0 & 1=10, and many others.
So Where To Start?
First, do you have some others that are interested in starting a group as well? How many, how dedicated, and what's expected? If there's only two of you, you could easily create a "study group" between yourselves, and go through all the Outer Order Material up to Portal. Meanwhile, or perhaps after quizzing one another on the material, you could move into actual initiations (we'll return to that in part two). This is essentially a smaller version of what follows.
1. What's Your Goal?
You should get everyone who will be involved together and decide what you all perceive as the end product of a person going through the Outer and Inner Orders. Is it to become a master magician? To complete the Abramelin Operation? To create a group that performs good deeds in the community? To become the most important Order and rule the others? (this last one is a joke!)
2. Form the Skeletonic Structure
How many people will be the "rulers" of the group? Will it be a completely democratic process to change things? Will you have a Constitution or just be loose with rules? Keep in mind that if your group eventually gets larger it may need more or less structure, so keep things as fluid as possible at the beginning. One excellent resource is John Michael Greer's "Inside a Magical Lodge." You should keep a careful record of everything you decide. It's better to have decisions written down for reference.
3. Create your Temple Implements
If there's several of you, once you've decided on an end goal, you could begin to create your magical implements. This is no small task, but with several people who have access to the right equipment, enough money and enough skill to complete what's necessary, you'll be able to have a nice foundation for future Work. Again, this is very hard work, especially if you're not a carpenter or seamstress.
If none of you have the necessary skills or money (it's expensive!), there's the nice and cheap options. Create your lamens from cardboard. Use a regular knife painted for the Hiereus sword. The creation of tools from scratch does instill within them a degree of energy, and it matters little whether your Hiereus sword is a 14th century rare rapier, or a large knife that's painted in the proper colors. One final thing about the implements - I suggest creating the tools necessary for the major officers (Hierophant, Hiereus, Hegemon) first, as these are absolutely necessary for every Outer Ritual that follows. The lamens and other implements can be made of paper or cardboard at the beginning. This section is optional of course (but it's recommended you take the time to work on the implements), as a dedicated group could really begin working with just personal robes and some concentrated imagination and will.
We'll discuss the next steps you should take in part two to follow. Let me know if there's anything you'd add to these preliminary steps in the comments below.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
The Future & the Past
I've been asked several times by potential members as well as members of other groups what our particular Temple does to expand upon the information given in Regardie's "Golden Dawn" and other published content. The answer is simple:
"Sorry, that information is secret."
That turns off a lot of potential members, and some members of other groups take that to mean that there is nothing offered beyond the printed material. Sorry, but there are oaths that I abide by, and part of that oath requires keeping privately circulated material private. I understand the argument that all the currently published information wouldn't exist if Regardie had not broken his vows, but I would argue that it was necessary for the Golden Dawn to exist after the breakup of the Stella Matutina. The rebirth of the Order because of increased interest in the 1960s helped make that a hopeful thing of the past. There are far too many Orders, Temples, etc. running today to let it go extinct.
I will say that from day one, I know the group I belong to has explored and expanded upon the standard material given while staying true to the original concepts. While I personally believe that the basics of the GD system should be kept (the outer separate from the inner), there is a lot of work to add onto even the basic outer system. Take it for what you think it's worth, but never take things for granted.
"Sorry, that information is secret."
That turns off a lot of potential members, and some members of other groups take that to mean that there is nothing offered beyond the printed material. Sorry, but there are oaths that I abide by, and part of that oath requires keeping privately circulated material private. I understand the argument that all the currently published information wouldn't exist if Regardie had not broken his vows, but I would argue that it was necessary for the Golden Dawn to exist after the breakup of the Stella Matutina. The rebirth of the Order because of increased interest in the 1960s helped make that a hopeful thing of the past. There are far too many Orders, Temples, etc. running today to let it go extinct.
I will say that from day one, I know the group I belong to has explored and expanded upon the standard material given while staying true to the original concepts. While I personally believe that the basics of the GD system should be kept (the outer separate from the inner), there is a lot of work to add onto even the basic outer system. Take it for what you think it's worth, but never take things for granted.
What to Think of a Hand of Peace
The Golden Dawn has been shattered into remnants of its former unity since the schism of 1899. Without going into the particulars of that (since most readers here would be familiar with the history), the Order essentially broke into splinter groups. Since that time, many groups have formed independently, many of whom are online and offer various forms of initiation.
Being a practitioner of Golden Dawn style magic for some 15 years, most of which were solitary, I've always been dismayed at the attacks many of these groups made upon each other. When I moved and found a group here in Denver, I was apprehensive and at the same time excited. My time with the first group did not last long past my initiation into the 1=10 grade of Zelator, and my move to another group here proved more fruitful. I am not here to cast aspersions on any one group, and I can only speak about the one I'm currently a member of, and I refuse to break my vows to any group I belong to in any way. I am a member of, but do not speak for my particular Temple.
The recent move by Fr. David Griffin's group, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn to attempt to ease the years of fighting between different groups has got me to thinking about the future of the Order. Fr. Morgan's post on his blog "Gleamings from the Dawn" may be correct about the impossibility of a unified Golden Dawn. But is that such a bad thing?
The issue of the legitimacy of any group that offers initiations is a major concern, but out of the scope of the current discussion. Let us assume that all the major players in the current US GD scheme are "legitimate," whatever that may mean. Ignoring off-shoots like the Thelemic Golden Dawn, there are currently three major GD Orders in the United States, the Cicero group, Robert Zink's group and David Griffin's. These three groups have existed in one form (or name) for as long as the Internet has existed, and have in some way or another "announced" their presence to the world. Remembering as far back as I can, I don't remember a time when these groups weren't in some form of competition with each other. How can we all come together? Bro. Griffin says that,
What would a combined "Order" gain the community? There are three GD groups here in Denver, and I personally know that at least one of those has open relations with local Rosicrucian groups, and friendly relations with other GD groups, but has no interest (to my understanding) of joining with any over-arching GD merger. I feel extremely content belonging to a group that is far more interested in practicing the Work, including at least opening and closing at every meeting, education and officer training than one that is concerned with other Orders and the management or lack thereof involved in joining all groups together.
In my opinion, the egregore of the GD is large enough to handle those who perform rituals incorrectly, or those who include outside information including Celtic or other mythological godforms, or Thelemites. We'll never be a united community as David Griffin correctly mentions though until we do set aside our animosities. And this goes for everyone, including myself. In this blog, I'll do my best to never cast aspersions on any of my brothers or sisters in the Great Work.
Being a practitioner of Golden Dawn style magic for some 15 years, most of which were solitary, I've always been dismayed at the attacks many of these groups made upon each other. When I moved and found a group here in Denver, I was apprehensive and at the same time excited. My time with the first group did not last long past my initiation into the 1=10 grade of Zelator, and my move to another group here proved more fruitful. I am not here to cast aspersions on any one group, and I can only speak about the one I'm currently a member of, and I refuse to break my vows to any group I belong to in any way. I am a member of, but do not speak for my particular Temple.
The recent move by Fr. David Griffin's group, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn to attempt to ease the years of fighting between different groups has got me to thinking about the future of the Order. Fr. Morgan's post on his blog "Gleamings from the Dawn" may be correct about the impossibility of a unified Golden Dawn. But is that such a bad thing?
The issue of the legitimacy of any group that offers initiations is a major concern, but out of the scope of the current discussion. Let us assume that all the major players in the current US GD scheme are "legitimate," whatever that may mean. Ignoring off-shoots like the Thelemic Golden Dawn, there are currently three major GD Orders in the United States, the Cicero group, Robert Zink's group and David Griffin's. These three groups have existed in one form (or name) for as long as the Internet has existed, and have in some way or another "announced" their presence to the world. Remembering as far back as I can, I don't remember a time when these groups weren't in some form of competition with each other. How can we all come together? Bro. Griffin says that,
[Our] Hermetic and Rosicrucian spiritual lineages can transcend faction and unite us all, while totally preserving the complete independence and autonomy of individual temples and orders.This may be an excellent first step, and is in theory a beautiful idea, but how far would we have to go to "ensure" the inclusion of all the differing off-shoots that exists in the GD paradigm? Would there be inclusion or exclusion of Thelemic orders? How about groups that practice GD Work, but don't call themselves such? I highly doubt we'd all be happy about the inclusion of group "Enter Name Here" or group "Other Group" in a united Order.
What would a combined "Order" gain the community? There are three GD groups here in Denver, and I personally know that at least one of those has open relations with local Rosicrucian groups, and friendly relations with other GD groups, but has no interest (to my understanding) of joining with any over-arching GD merger. I feel extremely content belonging to a group that is far more interested in practicing the Work, including at least opening and closing at every meeting, education and officer training than one that is concerned with other Orders and the management or lack thereof involved in joining all groups together.
In my opinion, the egregore of the GD is large enough to handle those who perform rituals incorrectly, or those who include outside information including Celtic or other mythological godforms, or Thelemites. We'll never be a united community as David Griffin correctly mentions though until we do set aside our animosities. And this goes for everyone, including myself. In this blog, I'll do my best to never cast aspersions on any of my brothers or sisters in the Great Work.
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