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.

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.